The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-19
A METHODIST HOSPITAL.
Conference of Preachers Decides to
Begin Work Immediately.

Begin Work Immediately.
For a year past it has been talked in
philanthropic circles that a movement was
under way to provide a Methodist hos
pital and Deaconess Home to meet the
charging needs of that denomination
throughout the State and in this city. 1t
now appears that on the initiative of the
Indianapolis preachers meeting the several
annual conferences appointed special COM
mittees to confer as to the desirability Of
proceeding at once with the project. A
meeting was held yesterday in Roberts
Park Church, delegates from various parts
of the State being present, among whom
were Leslie ]. Naftzger, d. D., Muncie, and
Rev 70. F. Gregg. Kokomo, representing
the North Indiana Conference; Rev. e. H.
Brumbaugh, ID. d., Charlottesville, and
Rev. L. ]. Bassett, d. D.. and H. A. Ogden,
D. D., Covington, representing the North
west Indiana Conference; and Presiding Ell
der f. b. Rawls, and Revs. F. S. Tincher,
Greensburg, c. Il. Bacon and G. G. Lasby,
of this city, from the Indiana Conference.
In order to have a full discussion and Sc
cure all possible information concerning
the work contemplated, invitations were ex-
tended to Mrs. Lucy Rider Meyer, of the
Chicago Training School, and to represen-
tatives of the three woman's home mission
airy societies of the Indiana conferences,
and also to the pastors of the German
Methodist churches in this city. On behalf
of the German MethOdistS, Rev. A +. Ear
well was present, and the ladies' organiza-
A. Andrus and Mrs. A. V. p. Adams, of
ShelbyVille The meeting organized with c.
c. Lasby chairman and e. b. Rawls secre-
tary>
The necessity of such work was dwelt
upon by the chairman in a brief speech
and the preliminary steps were reviewed.
nf CT al n
the speakers generally. 1t was pointed out
that with Cincinnati to the south and Chi
cagO to the north, Indiana is pasture
ground for both, and is herself practically
unrepresented in the great humanitarian
movements of the church by any institu-
ton. The needs of to-day were emphasized
and the demands of the coming decades
when the State will have a population of
ten millions within her borders about one
hour had come to do something, and all In
diana Methodism was looking for the meet
ing to devise some wise measure along this
line. After a full exchange OF views 1T was
unanimously agreed that the deaconesS
work should be placed under the care of
the Woman's Home Missionary Society, and
that a plan of organization should be eff
fected whereby, jointly, with that society,
the several conferences should own and
control the property and superintend the
work as 1t might expand.
Temporary quarters will be secured at
once and Miss SWartZ q graduate of the
Training School of Deaconesses at Wash
ington, d. c., will take charge of the work
The hospital feature of the movement will
be inaugurated just as soon as suitable
provision can be made for the same. A sub
committee of seven We're appointed to for
mulate plans, to be submitted at a later
meeting, to be called by the chairman, pre-
paratory to presenting the same to the
various bodies for ratification. 1t is ex-
pected that from a strong institution in In
dianapolis other cities and towns will draw
in coming years supply of well-trained
workers and that no Methodist in need of
the best surgical skill will have to leave
the State or depend upon the bounty of
other churches to satisfy his wants. With
the hearty cooperation of the Epworth
leagues and Woman's auxiliaries thousands
of dollars can be raised yearly, and 1t is
rumored that there are parties who con-
template doing something handsome at no
distant day in the shape Of cash and
property contributions.