The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19
A NEW MEETING HOUSE
WESTERN YEARLY MEETING wREST-
LING WITH THE QUESTION.
QuaIkers Refuse Application for An
other Yearly Meeting-Much In
tercsting business.

Friends was taken up and settled. For on
ly few years, comparati lively, has the
Friends Church had the pastoral system,
but since its Introduction there has been
department of church work known as the
Evangelistic Pastoral and Church Exten-
sion Department, at the head of which
there has been a general superintendent.
Although the cost has been only a few
hundred dollars yearly to support this Off
Ger, yet there has been a feeling on the part
Of some that the Office might be dispensed
with, and the money be expended in the
local churches. A vote showed only five
favoring the abolition Of the office, while
upwards of $50 were recorded against its
abolition. 1t is generally considered as a
triumph for the aggressive movements in
the church.
The trustees also reported on the question
of remodeling the large yearly meeting
house at this place. referring the whole
question to the meeting at large. Action
was deferred until next week. There is a
decided renewal of feeling that some ac-
ton must be taken this year toward secur-
ing better accommodations so far as a
building is concerned. Some favor remod-
cling the present structure, while others
want new house altogether. Still another
class want TO sell the present house and
grounds and erect a summer tabernacle at
some other place. Some few favor the tent
plan, so that the yearly meeting may cir
culate from place to place, thus bringing
the annual gathering more in touch with
the membership at large.
a member who has large business expe-
rience with the church work said yesterday
that he had been told that Tor the past
thirteen years it had cost at least $50 10
keep the present house and grounds in re-
pair for each day the Yearly Meeting has
been in session. This will be strong ar
sument in favor of new house.
The night session was attended by an
audience that completely filled the large
west room of the church. The exercises
We're in charge of Naomi Shaw, Superin-
tendent of the womens foreign mission
department, who announced that the in
terest In mission work had been unusually
good the past year. Miss Sarah Lindley,
who has been the Yearly Meeting mission
airy and a teacher in Mexico for three
years, was the speaker of the evening. She
gave an interesting account of the work at
Cedral and Matehuala, speaking of the ig
norance of the people and the obstacles to
Christian work. Yet amid it all many con-
verts are being made.
Wraps and furs were necessary this morn
ing. The large tent was completely filled
at the 8 o'clock eVangelistic services when
a feast of good things was presented. Rev.
Jones, of Massachusetts, gave a discourse
on the twenty-third Psalm, followed by
Rev Barr, of Kansas, who urged the neces-
s1ty OF entire CONSIDERATIONS to God. The
usual revival services followed, closing
AT the 10 O'Clock business session creden-
tials We're read for Rev. Charles d. w.
Hiatt, of Fairmount, Ind. AS foreshadowed
in the Journal report already given the
committee reported adversely to the estab-
hshment of new Yearly Meeting at Ma
ron. The report was signed by the eleven
members OF the committee, unanimous de-
clSlon being reached after having visited
all the meetings joining in the request. The
Friends in northern Indiana, though it is
known that there is considerable opposi-
ton to the proposition in several of the
meetings. Outside of KOkOmo and New
London pretty unanimous sentiment ex-
lists antagonistic to the proposition, the
feeling being expressed that Indiana and
membership of about thirty-six thousand,
can fully occupy the field. The new yearly
meeting would have had membership of
about eight thousand, leaving Indiana and
Western Yearly Meetings still the largest
on the American continent In this con-
nection it may be said that there are more
Friends in Indiana than in any other State
in the Union, and Hamilton county has
more Friends than any other county in the
of evangelistic work, presented the annual
report of the department, showing the con-
dltion to be healthy. The work in each of
the sixteen quarterly meetings was detailed,
and the following summary is taken; Num-
Der of meetings, ZIG; revivals held 1903; con-
versions, 6g9; renewals, 576;. aecessions to
ministers able for active service, $50; meet
ings having pastors, So; new meetings 2;
l.
repaired, Il; cost, $l1s5; amount paid for
s4,174
AT the afternoon session to-day the con-
dition of Earlham College, in which this
Yearly Meeting has a joint interest with
Indiana Yearly Meeting was considered.
The following was taken from the report
of the trustees: president Mills calls our
attention to the undue competition of the
state colleges against the UNCONVENTIONAL
colleges His statements are backed by mis-
own experience as president of Earlham
College, and corroborated by. the testimony
of the presidents of every denominatlonal
college in Indiana. The trustees of the nom
state colleges know that the facts given
you are not overdrawn Perhaps
of Indiana are aware to what an extent
this burden on them is growing year by
year and we believe it right and proper 10
give few figures taken from a report of
the auditor of state made to the president
of the Indiana Senate in January 1897.
covering the cost of the state colleges for
thirty wears. showing an expense to the
State of SO. 495, $500, an average of over
$4,000 per year, which amount in itself
increase of this incubus. The first twenty
years the expense averaged only $4,000 per
annum The last ten years 1t averaged
of this decade the cost was 1857, 40. Is
there not in this abundant food for reflec-
ton and action on the s,s part Of the tax
not be defended on the ground of economy,
for the fact is the personal cost to the
colleges as at the nonstate schools.
An eminent educator declares publicly that
every student in the state colleges was
costing the taxpayers $50 per year, and
still without materially decreasing the
necessary expenses of the student"
President MilIs's report shows the follow
ing: Students. 240; in college department,
205; graduating, Is; in preparatory depart
ment, %; music, g. Friends in college, lSS;
professors, Is. Eleven Yearly Meetings are
States were represented, 244 pup Is in all de-
partments. President Mills discussed at
length the contest between the state and
nonstate institutions now going on. 1t is
proper to say that Earlham has come into
great prominence of late years and is
now regarded as one of the best educational
institutions in the State.
Lewis +. Stout presented the report on
Bible schools and education. About three
fourths of the membership is enrolled in
is regularly in attendance. There are four
Friends academies in the Yearly Meeting
Bloomingdale, Vermillion Grove. Ill, Cen
trail Academy at Plainfeld and Union High
School at Westfield-which has recently
been reorganized as q Friends school Rev.
= w. Raidabaugh of Chicago followed
fhe report in an earnest plea for higher
standard in the Bible school and more 10y
al support OF means that are advantageous
in Bible study.
Tonight the Christian Endeavorers pre-
scented an interesting programme before q
large audience. Tomorrow viii be the big
will be many thousands on the grounds
and many services will be held.
Conference Officers.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
PORTLAND. Ind, Sept. l&-The Wes-
leyan Methodist Conference. now in session
81 Rrvanf has named the following cop