The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-04
BISHOP ANDREWS's ADDRESS.



CHICAGO, May s-The interest of the
delegates to the Methodist Conference to-
day was centered in the reading of the
bishops quadrennial address, by Bishop K.
G. Andrews. The address, which was pre-
pared at the recent meeting of the board of
bishops i'm Indianapolis, was called for by
Dr. Frank NJ. Bristol. of Washington.
Bishop Andrews was given close attention.
and when the spectators gathered from the
report that, while the country had in
creased fourteen-fold during the past hun
dred years. the Methodist Episcopal
Church had developed ninety-seven-fold,
they applauded enthusiastically.
The bishops address stated that the
church will not abandon its position on the
liquor question. On the contrary. aroused
and indignant at the aggressions of the
liquor power, at the inexcusable miscar-
riage of the anti-canteen law and at the
new perils in which the Nation is involving
it's new possessions, 1T will summon and
pledge all our ministers and people TO
more determined struggle against this
enormous evil.
As to marriage and divorce: I'm the pres
ence OF this evil the church cannot allow
its rules on the subject of divorce and re-
marriage to be in any case imperative and
void. Let, If need be, the church law be
amended to more perfectly express the
New Testament rule of marriage. But by
the voice of its public assemblies, by its
pulpits and by the 5udicious exercise of
discipline the church should keep itself
pure and aid the civil law and the prac-
tices of society to become pure.
"Closely associated with these evils is the
popular passion for unwhoiesome. coarse
and debauching amusements. Whoever
watches the daily press cannot miss the
evidence of shameful degradation in the
theater, concert and dance hall and on the
race course. And the tendency to great ex-
cess, also, in other comparatively innocent
forms of amusement cannot escape atten-
ton. The seriousness of life seems largely
forgotten the opportunities of usefulness
unoccupied, the vigilance necessary for
Righteousness relaxed and the love of the
pa ssing world gaining in masterfulness. 1t
is not to be wondered at that every earnest
age has tended to reprobate all amuse-
ments as incompatible with the Christian
life. Experience has shown that it is i'm
possible to impose on youthful and inma-
u
ly soul, of thoughtful choice. imposes on 1T
self The attempt to force absolute alb
stentation from recreative amusements re-
acts toward unrefined indulgence. dis
tinction between the admissible and the
inadmissable, is, therefore. imperative. So
great is the danger to spiritual life that we
suggest that it would be profitable to place
among the special advices of the Disci-
pline a brief but cogent statement of the
perils which attach to many amusements.
of the evils inseparable from others and OF
the principles by which the Christian
should regulate his choice among them and
his use of them" The address recommends
either the abolition Of the time limit on
pastorates or return to the old three
year-limit rule.
When the session opened this morning
crowd of delegates who were formerly in
the provisional ranks created furry of
amusement when they called at the en-
trance reserved for delegates. They had
neglected to secure cards of admission
and were promptly denied admission
by a portly doorkeeper, who. having
been a soldier in Cuba, was TO do nothing
not officially ordered. They retreated from
that door and entered unchallenged with
the crowd at the entrance. General Mon
roe told them they could secure tickets of
admission by merely asking for them and
thus the incident closed.
The devotional exercises began at 8
o'clock, Rev. William Burt. of Italy. lead
ing. The business session was presided
over by Bishop E. G. Andrews. He car
ried the bishops report, 1900 words. deal
ing IN a general way with Methodism. its
work and progress in all parts of the hab-
table globe.
A report that at an informal meeting
of leading members of the committee on
episcopacy last night II was agreed that
five bishops be retired and six new ones
elected, was In regard to the first item.
denied by Bishop Merrill this morning.
Nothing in that direction has been DONE"
he said. 1.-The report is merely a bit of
political poetic license. according to my
| belief" Those slated in the rumor for
retirement were Bishops Merrill. Foss, An
drews. Hurst and Walden.
When the business session got under way
twenty alternates were seated in place OF
absent delegates, Frank Kern being given
the seat made vacant by the withdrawal
| of Mrs. NJ. Y. McMahan-
George H. Cissell Northwest Indiana
Conference then made a motion modifying
| former action and directing that the
committee on boundaries be formed in
accordance with tho rules OF the Disci-
pline The Discipline provides that this
committee shall be composed of one min
lister from each conference and each pre-
sided over by bishop. DIR. j. NJ Buckley
protested against the adoption OF this mo-
ton and substituted another giving the
committee an equal number OF lay and OF
clerical delegates. DIR. Buckleys motion
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