The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-05
Says a Chair of Common Sense Is
Needed In institutions which Train
Youths for the Ministry.
TOO MUCH BOOK LEARNING
PIONEERS OF METHODISM HAD NO
SPECIAL TRAINING, HE SAYS,
Therefore Their Preaching Was Gen.
uine and Direct from the Heart
Proceedings of Conference.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
SOUTH BEND, Ind, Sept. 4.-Bishop
Isaac w. Joyce. who is presiding over the
Northwest Indiana Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, caused much
comment to-day in an address by saying
he favored the founding of a chair Of COM
mon sense in theological schools. "It is a
real fact" he said, that God calls poor
boys to the ministry and they are forced to
go through many sacrifices in order to
reach the place where they are fully
equipped for the work of the ministry. The
pioneers of Methodism had no theological
training. or at least the training of theolo-
gical schools. Therefore their preaching
was genuine n right from the heart. / do
not wish to be put down as against the
theological school, but 1 do wish these
schools would introduce a new chair and
call it the chair of common sense. 1t is
needed in the training of young men for
the ministry. Some of them actually lose
their best traits by too much book learning.
The preacher should be skillful in himself
and the school should help his skill to
reach the hearts of men. 1t should be the
first thought of a preacher to appreciate
first that those who come to hear him are
always full of heartache and they are look
ing for consolation extended to them in
such a manner as will be effective and will
act as a balm for the affiiction that is
troubling the soul"
Immediately after the conference journal
had been read this morning by Secretary
Maxwell, the bishop announced that the
Rev. w. p. McKinsey, the Rev. j. S. Hoag-
land, the Rev. A. T. Briggs, the Rev. S. p.
Colvin and the Rev. NJ. III. Appleby would
compose the commission to confer with a
commission from the North Indiana Confer
ence with reference to the change of con-
ference boundaries.
The next business of the conference was
that in which all were vitality interested,
the election of delegates to the General Con-
ference. DIR. ID. NJ. Wood, of Valparaiso,
was the only minister selected, although DIR.
Schell is in the lead with seventy votes.
The lay electoral conference met in st.
Paul's Memorial Methodist Episcopal
Church this morning, with Nj. f. O'Rear, of
Oxford, as temporary chairman. Two hun
dred delegates were in attendance. Com
mittees representing the five districts of the
conference were appointed TO perfect a pre-
liminary organization to examine credentials
and to report on resolutions. The
reported to the conference that it had de-
cided on the Hon. Mark l.. Denote, of
Valparaiso, for chairman, and NJ. +. O'Rear
for secretary. Chairman Denote opened
marks, and the regular order of business
was taken up. The lay delegates elected to
the General Conference, which will be held
i'm Los Angeles, Cal, next May, are as fol-
lows: j. V. Kent, Frankfort; b. +. Keiter,
Lafayette; w. L. Carpenter, Brazil; Mar
vim Campbell. South Bend. The alternates
chosen are: B. f. Ibach, Hammond; w. 5.
Roney. Terre Haute; j.. w. Trotter, Dan
Vile; o. T. Jones, Plymouth.