The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-23
TOPICS OF THE FRIENDS
PASTORAL WORK AND INDIANS OC-
CUPY MUCH ATTENTION.
Sociological Resolution Adopted
Regulation of the Ministry Dis
cussed-EvangeIistic Authority.

church on the corner of Alabama and
Thirteenth streets. In the quaint calendar
of the Friends it was the sixth day of the
week and the 22d of the tenth month of
the year. The plainly-garbed followers of
Fox began the day with a joint half-hour
session of prayer with the Christians at
Roberts Park Church. The departing
Christians afterward said that this prayer
service was the most spiritual and bene-
fetal OF all their devotional services during
their long convention After it was over
the Friends repaired to their own chapel
and continued their conference.
In the assemblage yesterday, to show the
absence of color or finery affected by the
Delegates, it may be said there was but
one woman who had even SO much as a
red rose in her hat and that was an arti-
fetal one. The simple black garments of
the rest, relieved only by slight touches of
white, seemed by the law of contrast TO
emphasize the natural beauty of the fair
sex, and the effect gave a pleasing rather
than a severe aspect to the gathering.
The discussions during the day were quite
interesting, affecting, as they did, many or
the practices and principles of the church.
During the morning and afternoon the
questions of the regulation of the ministry,
the enlargement of the authority of the
evangelistic committees the promotion Of
work among the Indians, the construction
and adoption of a hymnal, and the attitude
of the Friends to sociology and to higher
criticism were the important matters dis
cussed At times the debate grew warm,
but never acrimonious, there being wonder
full consideration paid to everybody
views. Something humorous now and then
crept into the proceedings, and 1t was evil
dent that the Quakers do not interdlct a
decent Indulgence in leVity so many
speakers being DESTROYS to talk on dlfIer-
ent topics, it became the duty OF ,. T..
Nicholson, the presiding officer, to hold
them in check by gentle though recent
less exercise of his authority. When
topic came up he glanced over the confer
ence and ascertained by catching the eye OF
a delegate, or by observing the nod Oh ms
head whether he wished to speak on that
subject, and thus, continuing, Jotteo down
a half a dozen or more names on slip OF
paper before the discussion began. Thls
list of speakers then became the pro-
gramme for the time being, and the Tune
allotted to the topic was divided between
them. The question of what topics are TO
be discussed is regulated by the printed
programme, supplemented by reports mace
from time to time by the committee on
business This business committee is in
reality a committee on rules, and at any
time it has the right to report something
which then becomes the immediate order of
business. All resolutions must go through
it's hands, and it is the real authority over
the conference.
REGULATION OF THE MINISTRY.
The first subject discussed in the morn
ing was the regulation of the ministry.
Elwood o. Ellis president of Paramount
Academy of Indiana, delivered a carefully
prepared paper on the matter lie said
that neither the Bible nor church tradi-
tions handed down definite directions for
the government of the church. The pres
ent system of the church was the result Of
practical growth regulating itself accord
ing to the needs of the times. He said that
the principal objection of the system was
that the ministers were too often ham,
pered for means upon which to SubSist he
was not in favor of secular employment OF
preachers, and emphasized the necessity
OF proper preparation OF the young peo-
pie for the ministry. He called attention to
the fact that there was one preacher to
every ninety-one Friends, and that this
superabundance of ministers should be oD-
waited by an extension of the field OF WORK.
Ample provision, he said, should be given
to all who wish to devote their whole time
to preaching the gospel The meetings
should be lett to determine for themselves
whether or not they should have a minis
ter. and they should properly take care of
him afterwards. The most important part
of his address, however, was his idea that
there should be some organized supervision
over the qualifications of the ministers and
their appointment to the various meetings.
1t is understood that this need of super
vision expressed by the speaker does not
imply the creation of an epiScOpacy or &C.
advisory institution that might assist the
meetings in being properly supplied by
After the delivery of Mr. Elliss paper.
Eliza c. Armstrong, editor of the Friends
Missionary Advocate, initiated the discus
sion OF the topic concerning the authority
of the evangelistic committees of the vari-
Gus yearly meetings She said, in part:
Our church must have an advance agent,
call it eVangeliStfc committee or any other
name. 1t must do the character of work
that Paul did-push1ng far out with the
message of salvation; its one aim, the ex-
tension of the kingdom of God. 1t must
gather converts, organize them into
churches and place them in the care of an
under-shepherd 1t will take money to keep
this work going, and the birthright mem
bers and new converts must be taught to
contribute to it as God hath prospered
them. This is both scriptural and Qua
kerly."
The discussion of the addresses extended
into the afternoon session. Many spoke in
appreciation Of both, among those who so
more, of Kansas; Harry Keats, of New
York; Walter Malone, of Ohio S. Adelbert
Wood, of Kansas, and David Simpson, of
North Carolina. In the afternoon DR..
James K. Thomas of Baltimore, voiced the
sentiment of those who are opposed to
change in the system governing the
preachers. He said that in London. when
George Fox lived, the preachers subscribed
their names to a roll and divided the field
among themselves. He believed that the
preacher should be governed only by the
direct and personal call of the HOLY Shirt
when it came to deciding upon his field Of
labor. The evangelistic committees, he de-
clared, are useful in their sphere, but they
can only cooperate with the divine power.
Harriet Green, of London. declared that it
all comes back to individuality at last She
said that no power can qualify and none
appoint save the Lord God. She told of a
meeting where there We're six preachers
and there never was experienced the time
when two of them wished to speak at the
same place at the same time. She said that
God was the great head of the church.
and that by keeping in touch with Him
there would be no difficulty in the matter
of having qualified preachers. Rufus Jones,
of New England, feared that giving more
authority to the eyangelistic committees
harsh and fast things with the spirit of
God all out of them" He said: Keep
the hands Of the man under the wing
Francis w. Thomas, of Indiana MAIN
tanned that the authority of the evangel-
istic committee does not SuperSede the law
of the discipline of the church already laid
down. The point Of danger arose when it
might take a man out of the field and
place him somewhere else, thus superseding
the authority of the church where he was
placed Emma Coffin, of Iowa, spoke in
favor of preparing the way for the young
people to the ministry. David Hadley. of
the Western meeting, said the Friends or
ganization, by divine grace, was a congre-
gatiOnal one. 1t had a government of the
people by the people. There is no dan dan
the people need leaders who can uncon-
sciously as ii were. direct them along the