The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-24

! complying with the demands of the law re-
garding marriages. THE courts no longer
require us to be sworn in court. Our SIM
pie yea or nay is sufficient. So also do the
courts hold that the meeting performs the
function of q priest at marriage ceremo-
MES" The speaker described his first mar
riage ceremony, which he performed trenl-
OF the church although the elders had adj
vised him to perform it. Since then he had
studied the question and had come to the
conclusion that in solmeniZing marriages
the pastor was doing the will of God, the
same as when he took the bereaved by the
hands and consoled them.
JOHN H. DOUGLASS'S TALK.
The next speaker was John H. Douglass
of Oregon, who made quite lengthy talk,
which was punctuated by a good many
amens from the delegates. The main point
he emphasized was that the minister must
be divinely called by God to his work.
Peter preached" said he, under the di
rect power of the Holy Ghost. That is the
way the pastor should preach nowadays.
Is there ever a person led to conviction
by eloquence?" great many noes
came from the audience at this point. Con-
tinuing the speaker said that essays, .edi-
torials, "sermonettes" and the whole bar
rel of manuscripts" should be burned and
that the pastor should rely on the Holy
Ghost for what he breaches. You can't
stand It," said he, Ito get away from fun
damental principles, and we want to be-
ware of multiplicity of conferences, plans,
from the influence of the spirit. The gospel
calls for as much sacrifice to-day as ever,
and may God save us from professional ma
ence, but be always flaming heralds OF the
cross"
DR. James Thomas, of Baltimore declared
there was danger of exalting officialism
over spiritualism. DR.. Thomas, who is
physician whence his title, is one of the
most pronounced conservatives in the con-
ference, and his speech brought Charles lib
bits, of California, to the floor as de-
fender of the views given in the papers.
He said that the church ought TO minimize
that view of the preacher that treats him
as a chief physician in a hospital and mag
nifes that view which regards his as
foreman over a company of laborerS.
DR. William Pearson, of Penn College, at
Oskaloosa, Ia, made a few remarks, and
the conference by vote authorized the pub
location in the minutes of a paper he had
prepared on the general subject under dis
cussion. This paper first indicated the re-
lation Of the various yearly meetings to the
society. 1t laid the foundation of church
government "in the priesthood OF believers,
which is comparable to universal Suffrage
ciety of Friends in each separate yearly
meeting is organized on the New Testament
and republican basis. 1t is of the highest
Importance to the citizen to know that his
cherished citizenship assures him the right,
if his gifts prove his fitness, to fill by the
grace of his fellow-citiZens the highest Of
flee in the Republic. Even so in the church,
every member has the right to fill the high
est position for which his natural and spir-
IL is also just and very encouraging to
humber Christians" DR.. Pearson then
representative one governed by purely
democratic principles, extending from the
monthly to the yearly meetings. He next
took up the subject of the elders, saying
that they and the ministers constituted the
basis of the whole pastoral system This
body of elders and pastors" said he, ARE
the New Testament pastors and teachers,
equal in authority, but the ministers, on ac-
count of their additional gift Of the minis
try, fill the leading place in the worship
and work everywhere"
SOME VARIED VIEWS.
The next speaker was Absalom Rosen-
berger, who said that every member was
entitled to solemnize marriages as far as
the church was concerend. but so far as
the law was concerned the duty devolved
on the minister alone. Thomas Newlin
thought that the minister should humbly
accept the advice of the elders. Robert r.
Murray of New York, thought that there
was danger of the church members losing
their birthright in exchange for a. gentle
despotsm. Another delegate thought that
greater danger was to be apprehended from
the congregations than from the official
pastor. Congre gatiOnS are getting particu-
lar as to who breaches to them and the
kind of preaching he gives them Timothy
Nicholson affirmed the same view. num-
Der of elders gave their ideas, including
Thomas n. White. of Henry county this
state VINO DeleNcO Inat the tlfne is coming
when the elder may be useful again. Mr.
McPyle, James Wood, James B. Unthank
Ezra Hawks. Hartha Lindsey and Eliza
| Thorn also spoke as elders. Thomas
Brown. the author of the first paper deliv-
cred. closed the debate in a rousing speech,
reviewing the arguments he put forth in
his address. He said that there was no
thought of one-man power in anyone's
mind. In his paper he said final appeal
in all cases is left to the monthly meetings
and not to the olders.
THE RESOLUTIONS
AS a sequence to the memorable debate
the business committee introduced the fol-
lowing resolutions. which were adopted:
THE various gifts bestowed upon the
church by its Gracious Head must be dill
gently fostered and used If His purposes
toward us and through us TO the world are
to he fulfilled. Each gift must be recog-
nZed, encouraged and developed upon its
] -I..-l