The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-23
THE M. E. CONFERENCE
RECEPTION TO MINISTER'S LAST
NIGHT IN HARTFORD CITY.
Gathering on KfnfOIISs at Lebanon to
ty-FOurth Anniversary.
special to the 1ndianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
HARTFORD CITY, Ind, March 22.-The
fifty-fifth annual session of the North
Indiana Conference will convene in the NJ.
E. Church tomorrow The visiting minis
tiers, with their wives, were given recep-
ton tonight, and tomorrow there will be
probably eight hundred visitors in the city.
Among the noted Methodists who are to
add zest to the conference this week are
Rev. Joseph Berry editor of the Epworth
Herald; Rev. David H. Moore editor of the
Western Christian Advocate; Rev Wm
Spencer, corresponding secretary OF the
Church Extension Society; Rev A j..
Palmer, corresponding secretary of the Mis-
sionary Society, and Rev. j. w. Hamilton,
corresponding secretary of the Freedman s
Aid Southern Education Society. These
men and many others scarcely less notable
are on the programme during the course OF
the conference. On next Saturday, the an
niversary of the Womens Foreign Mission
airy Society, the conference will be adj
dressed by Miss Ella Vicl1ery, missionary to
Rome
The Rock River Conference resolution.
consideration of which was postponed at
the last conference, will come up at this
meeting The resolution is on the demand
of the lay members for equal representation
at the General Conference, the only law
making body of the church. 1t is subject
which past conferences have approached
rather shrinkingly. On the one hand are
the lay members, who pay the salaries and
produce the money for the missionary and
other funds, ana on the other are the tradi-
tons of Methodism. which, since the early
days of the sect. have given the ministers
a power in the General Conference against
which the laymen could not raise hand.
The iaymen demand that the representation
be equally divided between them and the
ministers. Thirteen conferences have de-
clared in favor of the resolution, and lead
ing Methodists say that the North Indiana
Conference will do likewise
The alleged indisoretions OF Rev. Driver.
the Marion preacher, are the subject Of
much talk among both the ministers and
lay visitors. The ministers are cautious in
their comments, but now and then one is
found who says that Rev. Driver is not al
ways actuated by the wisest of motives.
The committee of ministers which went to
Marion to investigate the charges against
Rev. Driver will report to the conference
next Thursday. On that report will depend
whether Driver will be tried. 1t is the pre-
vailing opinion that sufficient evidence will
not be found against Driver to warrant his
expulsion from the ministry. 1t IS believed,
however, that DR.. Driver Will take advan-
tage of the opportunity to withdraw from
this conference with honor, which, possibly
may be extended to him.
A great deal of discussion is being in
dulged in by memoirs Of the church as to
who will succeed DR.. Herrick as presiding
elder of the Muncie district. 1t is said
twenty-six ministers are being talked of for
are Rev. c. u. Wade, of Wabash; w. D.
Parr, of Kokomo: e. F. Hasty, of Pendle
ton; A. w. Lanport, of Union City; G: w.
Lynch of Redkey, and George II: Hill Of
that Rev. c. u. Wade, Of Wabash, will cap
ture the plum.