The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-22

Lenox homestead at Twelfth street was
conceded. but the advisability OF return 10
the old building was insisted on. me IN ~
piration of the morning hour caused c0hsld-
Grafton of the report to so over tll the
afternoon session.
At the opening of the afternoon session
of the assembly the floor was granted 70
eX-PreSident Harrison, a member or the
committee of eleven as he was compelled
to leave Immediately. He began by speak
ing of the personality of the committee as
representative of the intelligence and con
secration of the church. 1t was not denied,
he said, that circumstances might arise
which would make the sale of the new
building advisable, but for the present
things should remain as now, adding mat
in the words of another eX-PreSident 1T is q
condition. not a theory, that confrontS US.
1t was stated that the policy of the build
ing has been fully approved by the assem-
bly, of 1894. The committee of eleveen; Wnen
it met. found there was no proposal from
any one TO purchase the building and TO or
der its sale would be to depreciate its market
value 1t was admitted that about $l5,00O
should have been added to the cost or the
building as interest, but this was onset py
$25 600 which should be charged to rental Tor
space occupied by the boards OF missions
1t was also contended that under normal
circumstances the income will be suinclent
to furnish sinking fund TO provide Tor the
cost of the building. The Recommendation
of the committee only contemplateS the re-
tention of the building until the present
conditions ceased, and did not bind further
At the close of General Harrison's re-
his long report interiecting remarks in re-
ply to the previous speaker, till called TO
order by commissioner. The readlnS 0c-
cupied nearly all of the remainder OF the
afternon session. AT its conclusion the re-
port was received and a motion made to
substitute it for the majority report.
ELDER HUEYS SPEECH.
Upon this motion the floor was given to
Elder Samuel B. Huey, of Philadelphia &
member of the committee. He appeared, he
said not as the representative OF the
boards. and not to minimize the gravity of
the questions in the minority report, but TO
set forth the state of affairs found to exist
in New York when the committee got there.
He reviewed the action of the board in
commencing the erection of the new bulId-
ing. and also the action of previous assem-
bles in approving the plans of the board.
The committee considered the existing cir
cumstances not those of four or five years
back 1t examined the accounts ana TOOK
the testimony of experts as TO the pros
poets, and was led to the conclusion tnat'
if any course was unwise, that course
would be to force a sale OF the premises.
for if times improved conditions would
change and the prospects OF successStui S', to op-
out that delay III the complexion OF tne
building occasioned q loss of $20,OO0 in rental
of store on the ground floor. The testimony
OF real estate operators was quoted TO the
effect that the sale of the IWelfth-street
property could be more readily erected
than the sale of the Twentieth-street prop
erty Applause greeted the statement that
the men in charge of the missionary boards,
who were well known in business circles,
had said that they can and will see the
matter through if the assembly would keep
its hands off, and without the loss of a dol
lar of principal or interest. The speaker
did not follow Mr.. McDougall in his legal
argument as to a trust created by the Will
of Mrs. Robert l.. Stuart, but stated that
eight lawyers on the committee or eleven
united in opposing the view of a single
practitioner. He concluded with the plea
that the assembly trust the men placed in
the charge of the interests of the church.
To adopt the minority report, he said, was
to discredit all those men, to discredlt the
assembly, and to confess failure. Adopt
the majority report he exclaimed, and
announce to the church that we are going
forward to prosecute church work" The
expiration of the session caused the matter
to go over till morning, when it was made
special order for half-past IL.
The evening session was devoted to a
public meeting of the board of publication
and Sunday school work, DR.. Withrow pre-
siding. Addresses were made by Rev. DIR.
James A. Weden, superintendent and two
Sunday school missionaries, Rev. Joseph
Brown, Wisconsin, and Mr.. r. Il. Sulzer,
Minnesota Members of the assembly had
their first opportunity to hear Mr.. John
Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, and he was
greeted with rounds of applause.