The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-02
RECENT M. E. CONFERENCE
SUPPLEMENT TO DIR. T. A.. GOODWIN'S
LETTERS TO THE JOURNAL,
Showing Briefly what Was Done by
the Conference in Relation to Some
of the Important Questions.

General Conference by a resume or what
was finally done by 1t. The difficulty in
this is the fact tina many Of the most
significant things are only in embryo, the
real outcome depending upon contingencies
that may never happen. For instance, take
the proposed new constitution. That must
pass the ordeal of the annual conferences
before 1t can take effect, and all that
seems to be accomplished by 1t may be
void. Thus the apparent enfranchisement
of the laity. even in the only thing In
which they are to nave a voice-the cleo
ton of representatives to the General Con-
ference-may not materialize, and the
seeming triumph of the woman will be no
triumph at all. On the other hand, the
further restrictions of their ~prerogatives
may fail. Now they can become mem
bers of an annual conference by authority
of the General Conference, as in the case
Of the Japan Conference. which is to have
laymen hereafter, IL the new constitution
is not adopted. but not If it is; and no
General Conference can thereafter provide
for laymen in the annual conference.
Now, local preachers, who are laymen,
may become bishops, as in the case of
Bishop Taylor, but then no emergency at
home or abroad will allow the church to
utilize such rare qualifications for a bish-
OPP. Evidently the laity gain nothing val
liable under the new constitution, but they
are powerless in its rejection, for only the
ministers are to vote upon it.
METHODS OF BISHOPS.
Speaking generally of the conference. 1t
may be said that at least nine-tenths of
the members, ministerial and lay, came
intent on reforms where custom had fos-
tered great abuses. These lay mostly in
the methods of the bishops and of the pub
fishing interests. The reforms needed and
effected may be seen in the resolution
adopted almost unanimously that they
should not receive pay for dedicating
churches. after a vain attempt to amend
the resolution by substituting charge"
for receive" meaning to leave no room
for extra compensation. Later, on the lee
ture income was attacked by a resolution
to district the work into contiguous con-
ferences and to arbitrarily assign every
bishop to a specific residence instead Of
leaving them TO assign them among them
selves as heretofore, and to require them
TO devote their whole time to such pas
toral work as belongs to chief pastors,
within their respective districts. This
meant, in plain English, to all who could
read between the lines, they must with
draw from the lecture field. As to the dis
tricting, that was not mandatory, but the
location of residences is. and II was done.
How far the bishops will conform to the
request remains to be seen. That the Cen
eral Conference can and ultimately will,
if necessary. arbitrarily fix the districts
and assign the bishops was seen in fixing
the Asiatic and European districts and
CT ~ fzh0D f0~ forrr a 60 m Zach
What more was implied in the reform
purposes OF the conference was developed
in the vote of censure upon Bishop Wal
den and the dramatic scene on the last
night of the session, in which Bishop
Goodsell represented the episcopacy and
DIR. Buckley the conference There was
not the least bit of the personal in the
transaction, but it was the asserting of
over the e~piscopacy. whether at an annual
conference in dealing with the preachers
or as the presiding officer in the General
Conference arrogating improper authority.
The unbounded applause at every thrust
of DIR. Buckley abundantly indicated the
pleasure and sympathy of the conference.
Some characterized the conference as icon-
oclastic. Perhaps ii was in it's treatment
of the TRADITIONAL customs and assumption
of the episcopacy, which had well-nigh
taken the place of the original idea of a
general superintendent.
REFORM ELSEWHERE.
The reform purpose cropped out at sew
eraI points. S-uperannuated bishops had
been called ''noneffective;' they are here
after to be plain opportunities" like all
other WORKOUT preachers. They had been
retired practically at full pay. plus receipts
from lectures, dedication and other special
sermons and royalty on books. Now, like
other superannuates, their sources of in
come are to be taken into account and
their allowance to be graded accordingly,
but in no case to exceed one-half the salary
of an effective bishop. 1t had long been
the custom to allow an editor or other off,
Ger not reelected full pay until work was
found for him by the bishop. The new
rule allows him but half pay. with the in
dication that hereafter all who accept an
editorship or other office will take their
chances of reelection without claim for
post-of1cial support. This same purpose of
economy was shown in disseminating sew
eral official papers that did not meet ex-
penses, in the cutting down of subsidies on
those that remain and In closing several
nonself-supporting repositories. 1t found a
further chance in requiring the amount of
each salary 10 be published once a year in
every official paper. This may lead to
unwisdom of allowing the same salaries to
remote papers as to central and larger
ones.
The admission of as many lay delegates
Do VI DilfliStcildt TcpTtStntdlNCS 10 POI ducu
as a great concession to the laity, whereas
not one of them represents a single lay
man as such. They represent the quarter
ly conferences only, which are the crea-
lures of the pastors.
The only important change In the educa-
tional department is a rule to accept diplo-
mas and the like from such other than
Methodist schools as are approved by the
university senate or the same terms as If
from Methodist schools.
The unconditional abolishing Of the time
limit was adopted after a thorough discus
sion. This restores the itinerant system to
its original condition. Every pastor is
movable at the close OF any year at the
pleasure of the bishop presiding. who may
take his W means 10 ascertain the pro-
priety of continuing him another year. 1t
is likely TO shorten more pastoral terms
than 1t will lengthen.
The status of the so-called amusement
question is generally misunderstood. II
stands in the Discipline in connection with
the renting of houses for saloons, the sign
ing of petitions for liquor license and such
offenses against which the moral sense of
universal Methodism Is a unit. Unwisely,
these prescribed things were TO perish with
the abolition of the chapter. Had the COM
mittee on revisals provided to transfer
them 10 the chapter on Immoral Conduct
from the chapter on 'Imprudent and Un-
christian Conduct" providing for the ia
booed amusements in the way IL proposes,
making a chapter of advice to Chris
tians.' the whole report would have been
adopted by a large majority. The temper
ance committee had a report prepared for
this transfer, but II was so disheartened at
the fate of its omnibus report that IL was
never presented, and II II had been IL would
nave awaited nothing. because IL made no
provision for the amusement part of the
A.