The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-11

his report has decided TO withdraw from
the missionary field for at least year,
owing 10 enfeebled health caused by ex-
posture to the burning sun In India
DR.. j. B. Scott. editor OF the Southwest
ern Christian Advocate. conducted the oe-
votional exercises OF the morning. and. &C
cording 10 a special arrangement made De-
tween Bishops Foss and Mallalieu, the
session. as Bishop Foss was anxious TO
have the pleasure Of introducing his ola
friend, Bishop Thoburn. and consequently
retired from the chair. After the recess
Bishop Foss resumed the chair.
On motion of Delegate Charles OFT. OF
the West German Conference. the Board
of Bishops was directed to appoint two
fraternai delegates to attend the next
Church South and one TO the next confer
ence of the Canadian Methodist Church
Delegate 1. L. Thomas. of Washington,
had passed resolution fixing Monday,
May u. as the time for introducing min
listers of other denominations
The report of the special commission on
revision Of the organic law Of the church
was then taken up as a special order Ar
ticle 8, defining membership In the Gen.
eral Conference, was read by the secre-
tary. This raised the question of the ad-
mission of women TO the conference as
members and much discussion followed,
but nothing definite came out of the con-
fusion, the subject being deferred TO make
way for the order Of the day, the quad
rennial reports of the missionary bishops
from India and Africa.
Bishop James H. Thoburn submitted the
report on the work in India Ii was an
exhaustive review of the missionary work
accomplished there
Bishop Hartzell. missionary bishop 10
Africa, followed with his first quadrennial
report of the episcopal work In the dark
continent. The report thoroughly dis
cussed the African work as regards It's
condition when Bishop Hartzell succeeded
Bishop Taylor four years ago.
In discussing India the bishop said the
famine and the pestilence had been detri-
mental to missionary work. but, In spite
OF these drawbacks there was an increase
ago. the missionary community now num-
bering 111.000 souls. In speaking of the
church's invasion of the Philippines he said
that arrangements for permanent religious
services had been made in Manila The
bishop asked to have his salary cut in half,
so that he could have an assistant bishop.
as, owing to poor health. he would be un-
able to return to India alone.
The suppression entirely of the use of to-
bacco among the Methodist clergy Is the
end sought in memorial filed by the Della
ware Annual Conference. The memorial
Is In the hands Of the committee on itin-
erancy.
The committee on revisals will consider
request from the California Conference
that the bishops formulate four years
course of study, which all young preachers
will be requested to pursue after having
been admitted to conference.
The Iowa Conference has asked that the
editorship of the Epworth Herald and the
secretaryship of the Epworth League be
combined
The Laymen's Association of the Rock
River Conference has asked that the men,
bership of the local committees of the Book
Concern be increased from three to five.
II asks, further, that two of the five MEM
bers of the Western local committee be
given Chicago and the other three to Gin
cinnati, the headquarters of the Western
concern.
The members of the Sunday-school Union
and Tract Society committee to-day
frowned on a proposal to move the head
quarters of the union from New York to
Chicago by the decisive vote of 81 TO !. and
by an almost equally overwhelming vote
defeated a motion to make no recommended
ton to the conference in regard to the col
location Of the unions Offices.
The committee Freedmans Aid
adopted a resolution against the CONSOLE
cation of that society with the church
extension and the mission society of to-
day. The members made an explanation
that their action on the resolution was
not to be construed that they were OPP
posed to appointment of a committee on
consolidation by the General Conference
to consider the matter and report four
years hence. A proposition from the Gem
eral Conference to separate the education
al work of the South along color lines was
referred to special committee.
The conference committee on education
fixed an educational standard for admis-
sion into the work of the deaconess
The resolution on the educational quail
ficatfons for preachers provided that all
candidates for the ministry must com
rlete a full collegiate course of study be-
fore applying for admission to an annual
conference
The report of the subcommittee as to
the qualification for deaconesses was
sent back to have a more practicable
standard fixed.
By refusing to continue the publication
of the Northern Christian Advocate at
Syracuse until the four conferences agreed
TO furnish bonds indemnifying the Meth
odist Book Concern against loss in its
operation the committee on book concern
hy decisive vote declared its intention
of suspending all papers which have been
run at loss during the past four years.
The Northern Christian Advocate was a
test case and the ministers who were anx-
ious TO have 1t continued in spite of the
fact that 1t has cost the church SIS, 40 dur
ing the past quadrennium were voted down
in committee by a large majority. The
papers which at present are either being
operated at a loss or under subsidies and
which are likely to be either discontinued
or consolidated in the interest of economy
are: Western Christian Advocate, North
western Christian Advocate, Central Chris
tian Advocate. Christian Apologist Omaha
Christian Advocate. Haus' and Herd, Meth
odist Review. Pacific Christian Advocate,
southwestern Advocate. Methodist Advo-
cate Journal, Rocky Mountain Advocate
and California Christian Advocate.
Consideration of plans for a rigid collec-
ton of the fund for the support of the
episcopacy, consisting of tax equal to IL
per cent. Of the combined salaries of the
preachers. also occupied the attention of
the committee. Owing to the laxity of the
different conferences a deficit Of $4,000 ex-
| lists. A report of the subcommittee was
read, urging the ministers and presiding
| elders to use extraordinary energy in COL
| lecting the funds to cover the deficit The
report was sent back to be amended
A subcommittee of seven was appointed
| to consider suggestions for the revisal of
| the church hymnal
Before the committee on missions Dele
| gate Ames, of Pennsylvania. proposed a
| commission of five bishops, Ave preachers
and five laymen to consider consolidation
of benevolent societies and report at the
next General Conference.
| The committee favored the consolidation
| of three theological schools in Japan into
| one institution, to be conducted under the
/ joint jurisdiction Of the Methodist Episco-
| pal Church and the Methodist Episcopal
| Church South and the Methodist Church
| CT Canada. A recommendation that the
name of Bishop Thoburn's district be
| changed from india and Malaysia" to
| '"South Asia" was approved.