The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-02

ers. Before they can become members of
the quarterly conference they must be
confirmed by that body. An effort was
made to authorize the quarterly confer
nomination of the pastor, but IL failed.
Good as far as II goes.
The mmitt On education recon-
mended that IL reduire a majority OF the
bishops to confirm the election of a pro-
fessor in any one of the theological schools.
That is to meet the case of Prof. Mitchell,
the reputed hereto, in the Boston Thec-
logical School. The charter OF the school
requires only three to confirm. and in law
the charter will prevail. but it is supposed
that Professor Mitchell will not insist on
holding his place If any less than a ma
jority vote TO confirm him. The report was
adopted.
The editorship and the secretaryship of
the Epworth League were consolidated,
and DR.. Berry, the former editor. was
elected to the management of both depart
ments In the interest of economy.
The life tenure of the bishops was much
discussed in the episcopal committee. but
II became complicated with a companion
question, the doing away with missionary
bishops, and this question, in the abstract,
became complicated with the India mission
work, so that all were left for further ac-
ton in the future, with the thought appar-
emily predominating that In the near future
there would be no missionary bishops-that
all bishops would be elected for a term of
years and assigned to contiguous territory
for a specified period. These all persisted
together. except that as an experiment two
missionary bishops were elected for India
and two bishops were assigned each to a
local diocese for four years. one in Europe
and the other in eastern Asia and Japan,
and the home bishops. The bishops. for the
first time, were arbitrarily located at given
points with a reQuest-not a command,
not quite ready for that yet-that they con-
fine their work within those limits for a
full quadrennium. The whole is tentative,
PREPARATORY for a diocesan episcopacy with
time limit applied.
After all, the removal of the time limit
was the only radical change in the Dis
cipline, the sentiment for economy and
business methods not requiring any change,
and the same may be said of the general
overhauling of the bishops. What will be
the outcome of the proposed new constitu-
ton none can foresee. DR.. Buckley an
nounced his intention to fight its approval
through his Advocate. because 1t makes 1T
possible for the woman to get into the Gen.
eral Conference. What l can do to prevent
its approval shall be instant, earnest and
unceasing. But / can have no vote. No
layman has. or 1t would be buried deep.
1t graciously comedies that laymen may
once In four years elect delegates to the
General Conference, but that Is all. Lest
some time some coming local preacher.
some second William Taylor. be In demand
for a bishop they provide that the church
shall not elect him.. In the discussion on
the question Of laymen In the annual con-
ferences, the chief advocates were minis
tiers, yet the clause forever excluding them
was voted to remain in at the very moment
that the representatives from Japan were
asking that they may have laymen in their
ing that they might. If this constitution is
adopted that conference cannot have lay
men in Ii any longer. and no other confer
ence can, no matter what may be the de-
mand. In short, II ~relegates the laity to
the rear in everything but the General
Conference. I. A. G..