The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-18
DIR. Berry Has Lost Many Votes, DIR.
Kelly Has Withdrawn, and Rev.
Bowen Ii Practically Beaten.
BLOW AT THE CHURCH ORGANS
NO RELIEF FOR CERTAIN CHURCHES
IN MARION COUNTY.
Votes Cast for DIR. Quayle for Bishop,
Notwithstanding "Parson"
Goodwfn's Advice.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

ence in an effort TO elect a bishop. but
without result. On the fifth ballot, the last
announced to-day, DR.. Berry still led with
PSI votes. Spellmeyer was next with 2i9
and Hamilton only one vote behind with
PAS. DIR. Moore had $50 Rev. J. w. Z.
Bowen, the colored candidate. was prac-
tically out of the race, his vote having
fallen to ninety-four. The result OF the
sixth ballot will be announced when the
conference meets tomorrow,
The discussion of the Northern Chris
tan Advocate on Wednesday clearly in
dicated the purpose of the General Con-
ference to take a new departure in the
periodical department of their publishing
interests. The report of the committee on
the Northern Christian Advocate. referred
to already, was adopted. cutting that pa
per off from the official list with the
avowal that its treatment was not to be
regarded as a precedent for all nonself-
supporting papers. The concern, for the
present at least, will continue to subsidize
papers to a limited extent in the frontier
conferences, but it will not run at loss
papers in the old and settled parts. IL
the incidental utterances OF some who are
very near the fountain OF information may
be relied on there will ultimately be not
more than two if more than one official
weekly. all other church papers being pri-
yate or local enterprises. If suggestions
and discussions in the committee and on
the floor indicate anything there will be
complete revolution in the book business
as we'll as In the periodical department.
Several book repositories, such as are in
Detroit, Boston and st. Louis. will prob
ably be discontinued or greatly modified in
scope, and the books printed by the con-
Germ will find a market only as other books
do. Most, If not all. the repositories have
been worked at a loss for decade or
more. All this means a radical change in
the methods of the management OF that
wonderfully successful institution.
THE BISHOP QUESTION.
The discussions of the bishops I'm the
episcopal committee continue to draw full
house whenever that committee meets.
which is on Mondays. Wednesdays and Fri
days. The sessions are all open to the pub
lic but most of the business Is blocked
out in large subcommittee. The most
significant. business OF Wednesdays ses-
sion was the conclusion that bishops should
be retired to the superannuated list at the
first session after they had reached seveif-
ty-two. Some in the committee wished to
retire them to the conferences from which
they had been elected, but this did not pre-
vail. Some proposed the election of bishops
for a term. of years, but that did not OBJ
tain. All this was before the speech or
DR.. Lannahan had been read. IL is very
strengthening to the reformers to ind that
Bishop Merrill believes that bishops should
be elected for limited number of years.
and when superannuated IL should be in the
conferences from which they had been
al fad In or1ar RI N M
istry. Backed by such an opinion, IL seems
probable the friends of the reform will
make vigorous effort in the conference
to so amend the report as TO make IL con-
form to Bishop Merrilps idea indicated
in the editorials in the Western Christian
Advocate in 1871, and on the strength OF
which he was elected in 1872.
The developments of the last two or three
days will go far to strengthen the reform
ers. Sixty-seven were voted for on the
first ballot and nearly as many on the sec
ond, while only two were wanted, while q
strong minority wanted none at all, which
would be fifty stronger to-day than on
Tuesday when the proposition 10 have none
received a large vote Even IL the report
of the committee shall become law TO re-
tire all at seventy-two IL is manifest that
the popularity Of Bishop Merrills opinions
as brought out in DR.. Lannahan's pub
lished speech has greatly increased since
the election, which leaves several out for
ever who have been candidates for twenty
years. with no show for even a future can
didacy seeing that they are hard pressing
upon the time limit" Some of them will
be more than three score and ten by the
time of the next General Conference. Re-
inforced by these enforced auxiliaries,
stranger things have happened than the
radical change Bishop Merrill contended
for in 1871 before that platform carried
him into the life tenure office and silenced
him forever on the question.
THE TINE LIMIT.
Speaking of the time limit, reminds me
that the committee has recommended its
abandonment. That has been done twice
before but the conference has refused to
concur. In this instance IL is probable that
three years will become the limit, with
provision for exceptional cases- This seems
to be the preference of the bishops, and the
laymen generally opposed TO no limit
at ALL The clamor for its removal comes
mostly from the pastors Of city churches.
The laymen dread the perpetual agitation,
the getting rid OF an unpopular preacher,
and there are but few preachers who re-
tain long the unanimous choice of their
church. With end TO the time In view
the dissatisfied sing, Our bondage, II VIII
end by and by and keep quiet: whereas.
If no end was in sight, the attempt TO bring
an end will cause trouble, as IL often does
in churches where no such provision for an
The petition of the North Indianapolis
and the HaughvilIe and Flackville churches
TO be placed in the Indiana Conference so
| the other city churches, cannot be granted.
because the necessary preliminary steps
had not been taken. The rule requires that
| the conference 10 be affected should be
notified. By an oversight this was not done,
hence the petition could not be granted
The Edwards-Lewis attempt TO provide
| for licensing women 10 preach has been
shelved. They expected this. but women
| will preach all the same
| Speaking OF license reminds me that al
| the temperance committee. on Wednesday.
| that old straw was threshed over and over
| again, and two or three OF the speakers In
sisted that IL there were no licenses there
| would be saloons. just as they harangue
| county audiences. having no respect for
| the probable greater intelligence OF the
verted none. and a minority report viii
| transfer the discussion from a packed COM
mittee TO the conference. where the nom
sense will be confronted by men OF practi-
| cal methods. The report OF the majority ap-
! pears I'm the Daily Advocate. where its
| ''exasperating" language will be ventilated.
| IL can never pass the General Conference
| in its present shape The minority report
will also appear In time 20 be studied.
The proposed new constitution Is yet the
| order OF the day. IL strikes a snag at points
quite unexpected every once I'm a while. IL
| will probably be "the order OF the day for
| q week yet and be again indefinitely post
| poned. too late in the session 20 provide
| for any steps 10 secure new and Amers-
| canized constitution.
| DIR. Quayle continues to be voted for Tor
| bishop. Notwithstanding my protest. Il b
! some comfort. however, 20 know he vtu
got make Il now. ana he nevor WI unleU