The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-22


formulate plan for closer union. to be
submitted to the yearly meetings for their
approval. and which will become operative
when adopted by such q number Of them
may be agreed on.
"As many practical benefits would result
from some uniform disciplinary regulations
in all the yearly meetings on the American
continent, it is advisable to appoint a COM
mittee 10 consist of two representatives
from each of the yearly meetings TO pre-
pare discipline for submission TO the year
ly meetings for their approval, and which
will become operative in those accepting 1t
when adopted by such number of them
as may be agreed on
The declaration of the business COM
mittee provoked some discussion from the
delegates. but the consensus was favorable
TO the report. The delegates realized the
gravity of the question they were about
to pass upon, and the report was read to
them again and again. delegate from
Ohio wanted TO know what the effect would
be where some Of the yearly meetings fail
to concur in the report. and declined TO
join in the new movement. The delegate
desired TO know If the members of such
yearly meetings would still be considered
Friends. James Wood replied that they
would not be affected by the movement.
Only they would feel that they were not
quite in touch with the deliberations of the
central body. 1t explained that in the
event OF the adoption of the declaration py
the conference the committees would be
appointed from each set of delegates and
these committees would place the pr0po-
the yearly meetings have been held TINS
year. except the Baltimore Meeting, so It
was understood nothing could be done until
the next yearly sessions
1t was decided to vote on each section OF
the report separately. James Carey Thorn
as. who opposed the movement arose to
explain his vote. He said it was with the
understanding that the matter was to be
left entirely with the yearly meetings that
he had consented to vote in the affirmative.
John Pennington. OF Ohio, arose to say that
he believed the difficulties which the church
seemed TO fear would never be met by legis-
lation. He begged the conference not to act
at this time on the question. The report
was then put to a vote and unanimously
adopted The conference decided to APP
point but one committee instead of two rs
the report recommended. 1t was thought
one committee could act intelligently on
nounced that the committee would be
named at the evening session.
PERIODICAL LITERATURE.
Absalom Rosenberger then came to the
platform to contribute his paper on Our
Periodical Literature" He said
In these times of rigid laboratory meth
DDS there is some hazard in undertaking
the discussion of any important theme
without first having made an extensive
collation. of related data upon which to
ground all assumntfon and conclusion At
the peril of encountering severe criticism,
both as to facts and methods, let It be as
sumed that the character of every age has
been largely nodded by the literature, ana
especially the religious literature, of that
and the preceding ages The interdependas
ence and interacton of the life of a people
upon it's literature and of their literature
upon the life of the people produce TAR
reaching results. IT is a matter of Interest,"
ing speculation as to the probable condl-
ton and continued existence of the Latin
race had healthful moral literature -four
ished at the zenith of Roman glory, even
when entering the shadow of decline.
"A profoundly philosophical soclolog1st,
in recent treatise on the rise and 1all or
ancient civilizations and of their compare
tive virtues put into contrast with our own,
arrives at the ultimate conclusion tnat the
enduring element of modern elvlh2atlon
consists in the superior principles OF the
Christian religion whereby personal rights
and individual liberties are granted a con-
sideration hitherto unknown. How this en-
during element or vital principle Is to be,
come operative in the life of nations and
be kept in a healthful state is a serious
problem. Does it shed forth its beneieent
rays with equal radiance upon all Christian
nations? Why is there such feeble emlS-
sion of light in Spain Russia. Mexico ana
most Of the South American republics, COM
pared to the splendor that Eliminates every
country where the Anglo-Saxon is the dom.
inant language? 1t is worthy OF note thas
in one there exists the most ultra censor.
ship of the press; in the other the utmost
freedom, subject to the interests OF pubic
policy and an action for damages in tha
courts of the land for the abuse of this
privilege Hence the fact that free press
both secular and ecclesiastical, has been
a potent factor in the obtainment or THESE
maintenance of their pristine virtue Will
depend largely upon the same means OF
grace that first brought their fruition te
.Before the reformation in Germany
both ecclesiastical and civil censorship pre-
vailed so vigorously that not pooK'
pamphlet or paper was admitted into cir
culaton until it had undergone the ordeal
Of searching examination. AS a conse-
uuence the common mind was kept in dense
ignorance and in abject servitude to church
and state. The south CT Germany resisted
the reformation and closed the door against
the more generous spirit that was stirring
the nation and, as q consequence, behind
it's careful barbados entered general dc,
cay. The north, on the contrary removed
every barrier and made an open channel
for the incoming tide of broadening hte:
Hitherto the south had been the center OF
learning, but this refusal marks its Down
fall and the transfer of its distinguished
position as the land Of universities 10 inc ine
more enterprising north. Whence came TINS
veritable resurrection of the Masses me
ieformer poured forth from pen ana press
literature that opened the most dormant
mind to a sense of its high privilege ana
sacred obligations. The learned discussion
the carefully prepared theses ana the me ere
ter, that simply poured forth IN constant.
ly swelling stream proved a dynamic OF
still continue to strike the shore Fisher
says the Jesuit society has accomplished
little in the higher walks Of literature ana
philosophy which require the genial atmos-
phere of freedom; and its training as
rule has not been to stimulate and fructity
the m aetv aRd 40 an9 put On Desoag
wars prevented immediate harvest IN
Germany. but the eighteenth century aEy
nitz and from this on the achievements OF
German scholars have been surpassed Dy
nothing ancient modern. Following the
reformation in England was the dlstln-
pushed age OF Elizabeth, the era or Spen-
ser and Raleigh, of Bacon ana Sha .h
peare and Professionalism, then the Syno-
nym for soul-efnancipation, was the me-
giving element in the atmosphere IN Wnlcn
the eminent authors of that ana the lolloW-
ing ages drew their inspiration.
s'HOlland arose victorious from It's StruB-
giles with imperial Spain and became sec
ond Greece for the number and erudltion or
it's scholars and for the universal lntelli-
gence of it's people Scotland touched by
the stirring breath of the times emerged
from loathsome ignorance and from SerNlle
dependence upon the nobility to bold de-
land its general intelligence and the liter
ary eminence which great array OF us
tinguished names in science ana letters
have given it, arose from the ashes OF the
old order of things.
WHAT A FREE PRESS HAS DONE.
what would have been the colonial days
and the warm period of the American revo-
luton without free press to stir up the
common mind TO the point Of action? An
obscure and insignificant press kept alive
the anti-slavery agitation until the shack
les fell from four million dusky children.
TO whom the emancipation proclamation
became a sacred document. No political or
ganization is considered on working ba-
sis until provision has been made for the
able exposition Of it's doctrines through
some kind of a periodical. How offcn
great reform is set into motion by some
obscure author whose soul flashes out in
,,ttarouca in behalf 0f soma