The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-09-18

the membership of the church was in
some way connected with the social
ed secret or fraternal organizations
on account Of the benefits and protec-
ton to be derived therefrom. One
minister stated that some of the best
| members of the church in his meeting
/ were thus connected and it would not
do for the meeting to revert to the
old blue-laws with which the church
was formerly restricted. 1t would not
do for the melting to legislate against
itself in this manner, by stating that
its members should have no connec-
tion with the secret organizations. 1T
would be suicide"
An effort was made to discourage
| debate on the question and to get a
vote upon the supplemental report OF
the committee, but the debate was
voted down. Numbers of members
were on the floor calling for the rec
ognition of the clerk. The floor was
refused only to be yielded at another
moment. The debate grew of intense
interest, as the women began express,
ing their opinion on the subject. 1t
was clearly evident that no vote on
the probelm could be reached before
adjournment, hence by general consent
the matter went over to the afternoon
| session.
Saturday p. m.
The meeting met at O'Clock pursu
ant to adjournment and took UP again
the question Of the amendment on sec,
ret societies. Prayer was offered and
but small disposition was evidenced
to reopen the discussion Of the morn,
ing. The motion to include all sec.
ret societies in the article treating
this subject was lose. An amendment
was then offered to strike out the
amendment including only "oath
bound societies." and to rest only up
on the advice of the Uniform Discl-
pine" The amendment was also re-
fuseL and the amendment to supple
ment the section by the rule Of disci-
pine concerning oath bound So
cieties" was adopted. This disposi-
tion of the problem was thought by
the majority to be the best Tor all in
terests of the meeting.
Albert Hambleton of the OskalOosa
meeting offered an amendment con-
corning the ordinances which was
adopted without delay. The vote was
then called for upon Isom P. WOoten's
motion to adopt the report of the COM
mittee appointed to finish interpreted.
ing and supplemental rules. The re-
port was ADOPTED as amended by prac-
tically unanimous vote. Mr.. Wooten
then moved that the Uniform Disci-
pine" as supplemented by the work
of the committee be adopted. The
moment was most impressive and the
members felt the Importance Of the
action about to be taken. Many heads
were bowed in silent prayer and the
Then in a most impressive manner
Mr.. William Hadley, calling attention
to the consciousness of the RESPONSE
bility of the act, asked for a division
of the house on the motion to adopt.
The Uniform Discipline, with supple
luenI dl dL IlClSS Was duOpISu WIN uuI
few dissenting voices. 1t is the gen.
eral feeling among Friends that the
action of Iowa Yearly Meeting in thus
adopting the Discipline is a decided
step in advance and is in the interest
of the better and more thorough work
of the church. The act of the meeting
is also thus regarded by other demon
nations. The new Discipline will go
into effect January l, 1908 in Iowa
Yearly Meeting churches.
More Epistles.
Quite a number of epistles from
other Yearly Meetings of the United
States were read to the meeting and
many pleasing items and sentiments
were heard and it was regretted that
lack of time did not permit comment
and discussion of the letters.
The question of delegates to the five
year meeting to be held at Indian
apolis was brought up and the follow
ing members of the meeting were
named to care for this matter: Albert
Hambleton, b. G. Nevill, Alice Han
son, c. Beede, A. J. Hanson Mary 7.
Thomas, Jos. Sopher, Eunice Macy,
A. H. Lindley, A. Rosenberger, Eliza
Lindley.