The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-29
FRIENDS ARE ALARMED
REPORTS ON THE STATE OF THE
CHURCH NOT SATISFACTORY.
Yearly Meeting in Progress at Rich
mOnd Urged by Leaders to Build
Up the Society.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
RICHMOND, Ind, Sept. 2S.-One of the
most important discussions before the In
diana Yearly Meeting of Friends was that
pertaining to the state of society, the re-
ports on which were not wholly satisfac-
tory. Francis w. Thomas, of Dunreith
who is loked upon as the father of the
Yearly Meeting, and whose remarks are
considered of especial weight, made AN
earnest appeal for faithfulness on the part
of the ministers in preaching the gospel
He called attention to the fact that the
deaths during the past year have been
more than the births, and that the num-
Der of deaths of ministers was greater
than the number of new ministers re-
corded, and these facts, together with the
fact that the membership decreased during
the year. are of a nature to cause serious
consideration. Mr.. Thomas is alarmed at
the neglect of duty and thinks every men,
Der should take his place as a recruiting
officer.
Ira c. Johnson, assistant clerk of the
meeting and also leader, said he feared
the Friends in some quarters are not pa
tient and long-suffering enough with mem
bers who often could not pay their meeting
meetings, and he knew of many who had
been dropped off the church list in this
way, which accounts to some extent for
the decrease in membership. ]. o. Binford,
superintendent of the evangelistic and pas
toral work, agreed with Mr.. Johnson The
Rev. Jacob Baker, of Michigan, made an
appeal for a better support of the minis
try, which he thought would insure an
increase in membership.
The committee on evangeistic and pas
toral work made report showing the fol-
lowing: Series of meetings held, l26; meet
ings in which there were no series of meet
ings, Is; number processing conversion, 72I;
applications for membership, 40; number
of meetings having regular pastors. 81;
meetings without pastoral care, %; number
of pastors, Al; number of ministers recelv-
ing support, 81; number of ministers able
for service. 161; number giving evidence of
call to the ministry, 60; number OF
churches built, /; cost of churches built,
$1,120; number of churches repaired, %, at
a cost of $3.50; number of mission stations,
2; money used for eV6ngeiStic work s., 625;
money used for pastoral work. $14, $50. The
committee asked for the continuation of
the Sl,50 appropriation and that Joseph ..
Binford be continued as superintendent,
which was approved. y collection of more
than $500 was then taken for the work. The
petition that came up from Paramount, Ma
rion and Wabash quarters for the estab-
lishment of an independent Yearly Meeting,
to be held at Marion was referred TO
committee to visit the quarters and report
next year.
This afternoon the time was devoted to
the educational institutions. The report
from Spiceland Academy showed en-
rollment of los and nineteen graduates.
The enrolment this year is increased and
the outlook encoura ging. At Paramount
Academy there was an enrolment OF rs
and thirty-five graduates. There are now
twenty prospective graduates. Eight
thousand dollars has been raised to meet
the present Indebtedness. which is about
$4,000. The interest centered in the report
of Earlham College, which is the chief
educational institution. This was present
ed by President j. j. Mills. The enroll
ment was 249. exclusive of the summer
school. which is an increase OF per cent.
over the preceding year. There were forty
graduates. Special attention is called to
the Biblical department. in which twenty
three persons took work the past year.
The total number who have gone out from
this department is sixty-five. Ten other
ministers of prominence and wide influence
are numbered among the graduates of
Earlham in recent years. The religious in
tereSt has been maintained in the college
The institution has been literally remem-
bered in a financial way, the total being
S3S, 613.S2. Nine yearly meetings We're rep
resented among the students and % per
cent. of all the students were Friends.
The session this evening was devoted to
the Christian Endeavor work and Prof
Robert l.. Kelly delivered the address. The
details of the report of the Bible school
committee show the following: Number of
scholars. BIOS; number of shoots. 100: num-
Der of teachers. SIC; money collected, So
27452.