The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-15
BEvERIDGE TO MINISTER'S.


Senator Albert j. Beverage was present
at the opening of the Methodist conference
yesterday morning and addressed the pas
tors briefly. He said the ministry of the
churches in this country is related to the
ongoing of the State. While there is alb
solute separatio of church and state, yet
there can no more be a separation of the
consequences of the pastors work upon
the church and Nation than there could
be a separation of the blood and the bone.
1.-The ministers of the gospel" said the
senator. mo matter to what church they
belong. are the active organized agents of
moral conservatism in the state and no
state can endure for any length of time,
the people of which are not fundamentally
righteous" Senator Beveridge made the
point that there must be progress and
progress in material matters means change,
but in moral matters IL means absolute
permanency. In the realm OF intelli-
gence," the senator continued. whether in
science, craftsmanship or literature, prog
ress means change, but in human charac-
ter, in the great foundation principles OF
morality, progress means permanently, and
while Huxley or Spencer or Pasteur or any
one else can not be said to have had the
last word in science, the Savior can be
said to have uttered the final word In
morals.
IL think our church is to be congratu-
lated that il is the most perfect organ
ization except one. perhaps, spiritually. in
the world. This is the age of organiza-
ton. Our church is on one hand church
of the people and on the other hand it is
a church of close, almost military, organ
iZation, and organization is merely the
hammer by which we drive the wedge
home.
mo person will ever make me believe
that any one of us laity is more greatly
interested in the permanency of the church
than the preachers who give their lives to
Those action
out of the judgment of a lifetime and clari-
flying il with prayer to God will have as
clear an understanding as to whom 1t IS
wise to elect as the great heads of our
organization as the laity could who can
only give it a part OF their attention.
"One thing that has always distinguished
our bishops is peculiar quality of COM
mon sense. The Methodist bishop, whether
by the wisdom OF you gentlemen in elect
ing them, or whether by the providence
of God, which watches not only over this
church. but the destinies of the world, has
given US a body of men distinguished from
the first. 1t is with one exception the
greatest body Of ecclesiastical administra-
ton the world has ever known"
The conference resumed its business ses-
sion after Senator Beveridge's remarks
w. A: Walker. E. F: Lewis. w. s. Nc
Raaf and c. V. zenor were admitted tc
| conference on trial. The conference passed
a resolution favoring the suggestion of the
| bishops to raise, in this conference, an
amount equal to 81 a member as perma-
| nent fund, the interest of which should &C
| to the support of the superanuated preach
ers and the widows and orphans of de-
ceased ministers of the Indiana Confer
| ence. The resolution suggested that Bishop
| Joyce and the present board of presiding
elders be requested to apportion the amount
/ to the several districts OF the conference
not according to membership, but accord.
| ing to their ability to pay. The further
suggestion was made that general super.
| intendent be appointed to raise this money
lxxyifb ont inf RI
| under him in each district, to serve with
| out salary Later In the day the Rev
| William McHester, of New Albany, was
| appointed superintendent to raise this en-
dowment fund.