The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-23

New YORK, California and New England
declined to appoint a member of the COM
mittee. There ensued veritable tempest
In teapot that lasted for nearly two hours,
The yearly meetings that appointed mem
bezs of the committee were as follows:
Ohio. John Pennington; Indiana. Elwood o.
Ellis; Western. Robert +. Pretlow; Iowa,
Emma F. Coffin; Kansas, Cyrus r. Dixon;
Wilmington, +. b. Miner Oregon, Alfred
I. Ware; North Carolina, Mary c. Woody.
When the Eastern delegations refused to
appoint, John Pennington, of Ohio, made
an animated speech, in which lie insisted
that 1t was unfair that these delegations
should be excused from taking part in the
matter If some delegations may decline,
he said, ito act on this subject others may
decline to act on other subjects, and the
unity and harmony of the conference will
be at once broken"
The delegations which refused TO appoint
after Mr. Pennington sat down felt called
upon 10 make explanations shat no dis
courtesy was intended upon their part. and
that they were willing that such delega-
tons as desired to do so might so with
the production OF a nymnaI. Or. Thomas,
OF baltimore, was particularly opposed 10
the ldea OF Il nymnal, ana after the discus
sion had gone on TO extreme length he final
~ said That his delegation would appoint
a member of the committee whose sole duty
would be TO merely consider the propriety
OF making the proposed publication instead
OF going ahead and carrying cut the work.
The resolution appointing the committee
was thereupon changed IN compliance with
Dr. ThOmas's idea, with the addition that
IN case 1t decides that ~ is appropriate then
IT shall 80 ahead and formulate hymnal
II the way is open.
This new resolution being adopted, the
Baltimore delegation named Samuel X. Neal
as member of the COMMITTEES. California
named Amelda L. Tibbits and New York
Harry r. Keats. New England also APP
ira cd nftg~ flG1a - n
matter disclosed the fact that Eastern
Quakers are still conservative in the matter
of music, which is quite in contrast with the
spirit of the Friends of the West. where
some of the churches have organs and
choirs. During the latter part of the dis
cusson delegate aroused the humor OF the
conference by saying, 81 Let us sing. Inc
chairman declared ii perfectly in order, ana
thereupon the conference sang IN a hearty
manner Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
After the discussion was all over a long de-
bate ensued on a proposition TO expunge all
the discussion from the minutes OF the con-
ference, but the motion vas nnally lost. Inc
committee having in charge the hymnal
proposition was allowed to retire, and at a
late hour still in session.
At $3.50 o'clock the programme or the even
ing was taken up. but one OF the TWO pa
This was by Allen Jay, whose subject was
what is Pastoral Work?" Previous to the
reading of the paper however, the commit
tee on business reported resolution on
higher criticism which, after a slight dis
cusson, adopted. This resolution was
as follows:
I'm the activities of modern thought new
questions are constantly presented TO the
church. Among these are those growing
out of what is called higher criticism, ana
upon these true Christians desire 10 take
correct positions. We desire to have the
absolute truth of God, and we approve Of
the efforts of true scholarship that is con-
secrated to the service of God to correct
the text of the Scriptures, and we rejoice IN
all the Investigations that aid in the true
understanding of the revealed word. but we
wish t. condemn the frequent attelnpts 70
attack the integrity of the Scriptures ana
to undermine their authority which varying
forms of unbelief make upon the canon
under the cloak Of higher criticism ana
which work very serious injury 10 those
who are msled by them. 1t sometimes re-
quires a highly intelligent and sanctihed
Judgment to detect the purpose of these at
tempts and our church demands OF its
qualified members that they give dingent
attention 10 these and warn members
against them. We cannot too earnestly ad-
wise the members Of the church at large TO
reject all claims of authority for changes
of any form or character in the recognized
versions until these are confirmed by the
conscience of Christian scholarship.
The paper. of Mr.. Jay occupied the re-
mander of the evening and VIII be discussed
this morning. In Fart 1t Is as tolows:
WHAT is PASTORAL WORK?
cit is not within the province of my pa
per to speak of the pastors call or his quail
iications. 1t is for me TO speak of his
duties. But will pause long enough to say
the call must be of God, and the qualifica-
lions those winch come from InuCH Sluuy
and prayer, under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit.
THE character and life of the pastor is
of great Importance 1t has been said, The
visible rhetoric of the minister's daily life
is more decisive in influence than the audi
BILE rhetoric of his sermons The time was
when the minister was first and the man
second; now the man is first, or the min
istry has no place or power Take heed
TO thyseIf' should never be forgotten. There
should be a burning zeal for the sal
walton of souls. Not seeking a place. but
seeking by study and prayer q fitness for
the place that God will open for those who
are prepared for the work. knowing that
"A stone that Is fit for the wall will not be
Pastoral work is endless. 1t will never
be done while there are souls to be saved,
lieved, while men and women are strug-
Cling under the load of sin, while Gods
children themselves are reaching up for a
closer walk with Him. Pastoral work is
that of a good shepherd feeding the flock
of God, leading them onward TO higher and
nobler lives. His ministry is such as will
build up the believer. giving a loving in
vitation TO the soul that is seeking Christ
and a warning note TO the sinner 1t Is
always lifting up Christ
In his work among men he needs tact.
which has been termed "a finer love- This
tact is of the heart; the heart that is
warmest will be the most successful in win
ming souls and building up the church.
",Those who are engaged in pastoral work
praying that the Holy Spirit win enable
them to use its precious truths to the bless
ing of those who come TO them for help,
meeting their doubts. fears and unbeiiefs
with the assuring words of thus saith the
Lord IT is the duty of all such workers
to be familiar with its sacred truths and
to use them much God honOrs His own
word.
AN the families should be visited enter
ing into sympathy with them. knowing
their home life. and thereby being better
prepared to win their confidence and love.
AS far possible the pastor should know
the spiritual condition of all those among
whom he IS called to labor In order that
no should be neglected the pastor
should have calling book. in which should
be recorded the names of each family and
their children and the date when the last
call was made. and such facts about each
as may have impressed his mind. These
facts will bring them fresh before his mind
as objects of special prayer. In this way he
ing often upon a few favorite families
while neglectng others. thereby giving
ground for just complaint. Pastoral work
should always be such as would tend to
unite the members of the church and make
each feel that he is an object of love and
care.
DIVERSIFIED LABOR.
''In this diversity OF work the pastor
needs that wisdom that cometh down from
above. which is given to those who seek for
it in prayer and waiting upon the Lord to
know the mind of the Spirit. To the man
I'm business the message should be such
that he would feel the Importance of do
ing unto others as he would have them