The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-12

also in fine fettle, and the "on-the-fence"
division, who say they want to see their
women admitted. but do not want them to
join the conference through any bubble of
legal forms. were prepared to alphabetically
present their views.
The Rev. ]. w. Butler. of Mexico. pre-
sided over the devotional services and
Bishop Fowler took charge of the business
/ session. In accordance with a resolution
recently adopted the conference hall was
draped in the national colors to-day. After
the official journal had been approved
delegate from India called attention to the
fact that all of the members were not
American citizens, and asked to have the
union jack displayed on the platform with
the stars and stripes. The suggestion was
greeted with shouts of disapproval, and
Bishop Fowler prevented trouble By ruling
Ii out of order.
After quiet was restored consideration of
the question of admitting women as dele
gates to the General Conference was taken
up the special order of the day. Con-
siderable feeling developed among the con-
tending speakers during the discussion that
followed. but before any action could be
taken a notion offered by Delegate Charles
w. Smith, of Pittsburg, TO postpone con-
sideration of the matter for several days,
was carried.
/ Delegate A. b. Leonard. chairman of the
joint committee of fifteen appointed from
the Missions Society, Church Extension So
| ciety and Freedmen's Aid and Southern
| Education Society to consider plans for the
| consolidation of the three organizations,
| then presented the committees report. The
committee considers consolidation neither
| advisable nor practicable. but directs that
the bishops nominate commission to con-
| sist of three bishops, six ministers and six
| laymen, said commission to submit Its plan
| OF consolidation to the next General Con-
| ference. After a brief debate the report
| of the committee was adopted
Delegate Emmons, of California, had a
resolution adopted indorsing the move
ment to secure an amendment to the Con-
CT on nf q nrr1fo 70 mt
church property from taxation. The con-
ference then adjourned.
The woman question received the atten-
| ton of the committee on revisals to-day, a
| resolution being reported by subcommit-
| tee providing for such a change in the Dis
| cipline would permit the licensing of
women as local preachers and exhorters
After long debate the resolution was
voted down.
A discussion of the time limit occtfpied
over two hours at the meeting of the COM
mittee on itinerancy to-day, but the COM
mittee failed to reach an agreement.
The subcommittee of the committee of
| the state OF the church. which has in hand
| the question of amusement and the re-
moval of the ban on certain kinds of
aumsements, is literally swamped with me-
MORALS and petitions pro and con. AS a
result the committee asked to-day for more
time to report.
The committee on boundaries took action
to-day to correlate all the Japanese work
on the Pacific coast and in the Hawaiian
islands into a mission to be known as the
Pacific Japanese Mission.
AT a meeting of the committee on the
Epworth League to-day ii was decided to
recommend to the conference the appoint
ment of a general superintendent for the
Junior Epworth League. 1t was also de-
cided to continue in Office the secretary in
charge of the work among the colored
churches.
The entire board of bishops of the Meth
odist Church was declared effective by the
committee on episcopacy, and a recommen-
dalton to the General Conference was
adopted favorfng their retention and the
election Of four additio lal bishops, two OF
whom are for the missionary field. Chair
nan Buckley will present this report to
the conference tomorrow and will ask that
the election be postponed from Monday to
Tuesday to enable the committee to take
action on other matters pertaining to the
bshopric election. Most important of
these matters is the question concerning
the colored bishops. on which a sharp fight
is anticipated. 1t required four hours in a
stormy secret session to reach the con-
clusion on the retention of the bishops and
at times there was danger of as many as
four losing their positions on the ground of
inefficiency.