The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-01
Transfers, 6; consideration. ...........


To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
In the laymen's preliminary meeting in
Indianapolis to plan for the September con-
vention there were some strange utterances.
Among them are the following: Captain
Ritter declared, II don't want to go to the
General Conference again until the re-
strictive rules have been abolished" Now.
dear brother Ritter do not smash the
heavenly trust in that way How could
Bishop Merrill expound the law if YOU were
not there to help? Now, don't say that
again for fear some weak brother might
think you do not love the Methodist Epis-
copal Church.
One of the fathers in Israel, brother Cum
back, said to brother Ritter, "Will you
kindly explain what-those rules are?"
mo man on earth can explain them" re-
piled brother Ritter These rules are sim
ply an act of the conference. They may
be abrogated and our General Conference
can take such action as will admit the law
men,
Let us see what these restrictive rules are
that no man on earth can explain and
may be abrogated." Here they are:
Article l. The General Conference shall
not revoke, alter nor change our articles
of religion, etc.
'2. The General Conference shall not al
low of more than one ministerial repre-
sentative tor every fourteen members of
an annual conference; nor of IA less number
than one for every forty-fve nor of more
than two lay delegates for an annual con-
ference, etc.
80. The General Conference shall not
change nor alter any part or rule of our
government so as to do away with the
episcopacy nor destroy the plan of our
itinerant general superintendency, etc.
"A. The General Conference shall not re-
woke nor change the general rules of the
united societies.
% The General Conference shall not do
preachers of trial by a committee, and of
appeal; neither shall they do away with
the privileges of our members of trial be-
fore the society or by committee and of
an appeal.
g The General Conference shall not APP
propriate the proceeds Of the Book Con-
pose other than for the benefit of travelling
supernumerary. superannuated and worn
out preachers, their wives, widows and chill
dren.'
These are the restrictive rules that
brother Ritter cannot understand and that
no man on earth can explain, but can be
abrogated. Who can abrogate them? There
is but one way to change them, and that
an orderly, constitutional way. Paragraph
g. Discipline of 1896 p &c So provides that
upon the concurrent recommendation of
three-fourths of all the members of the
several annual conferences who shall be
present and vote on such recommends ton,
then a majority of two-thirds of the Gen
eral Conference succeeding shall suffice to
alter any of the above restrictions except
ing the first article; and also, whenever such
alteration or alterations shall have been
first recommended by two-th rds of the Gen
eral Conference so soon as three-fourths
of all the annual conferences shall have
concurred as aforesaid such alteration or
alterations shall take effect. The constitu-
ton of the church to which these re-
strictive rules apply is found in Part III,
first chapter of the Discipline of 1885,
Smash the heavenly trust;' Abolish the
restrictive rules" or II don't want to go to
the General Conference again" These ex-
pressions have a Southland sound that re-
minds US of 1856. 1860 and the results.
S. p. COLVIN.
Rockville. Ind. June ..