The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-11
TIME LIMIT
QUESTION THAT is WORRYING
METHODIST FALL CONFERENCES.
Lively Debate on the Subject Expect
ed mt Los Ange1es-RemOvalo of
Publishing Plants.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, Oct. 10.-Methodist fall con-
ferences are developing unexpected heat
over the matter of the pastoral time limit.
A considerable element in the churches is
demanding the restoration of that limit.
This element declares that pastors, secure
in their places lack incentives to labor for
new members and to study that they may
preach good sermons. 1t is said that the
spirit of Methodism has waned, and that
leadership is beginning to wane, the spur
having been removed. Friends of the no.
limit plan pleading in it's behalf, not
that it is the best plan but that it has not
yet had sufficient test. Apologies for it
are heard, where there were prOclamations
of its superiority. Formerly, as will be re-
membered, ministers must change at the
end of year. Then came the two-year
limit, next three years, and until in
1900 the limit was removed altogether Now
reaction has set in, with tremendous de-
mand that three years be made the limit
and not five as was the limit when it was
removed. 1t is certain that there will be
lively debate on the subject in the Los
Angeles General Conference.
Hardly less heated is the discussion, not
lates to general business policy, over the
proposed removal of publishing plants from
New York and Cincinnati and their loca-
ton in some small city, possibly in Indiana.
Friends of the change plead economy, and
opponents of il are retorting that the Meth
odist Church is not in the publication bust
ness to make money, but to preach the Cos
pei in printers ink. The profits of the bust
ness go to the support of WORKOUT preach
hn fxryO raIo &c In.
figures. $3,0OO,OO0. The proposition is to
make book repositories only in Cincinnati
and New York and do the printing and
manufacturing of books in plants costing
less than the present ones. Sales of the
two concerns just a little exceed 100000
year and since their establishment some
have sold literature exceeding $40 900 600 in
value. New England and New York are
particularly bitter against the proposed re-
moval of the Eastern concern. Leaders in
and near the respective cities of New York
and Cincinnati declare they will win and
compel the plants to remain where they
are. IL a fight follows, as seems likely it
will not be the first one that publishing in
terests have caused American Methodisn.
A proposition that Methodist leaders ex-
pected to excite discussion and perhaps
lead to sharp controversy has fallen fat.
1t is the consolidation Of benevolent organi-
cations. 1t is an effort in the direction of
fishing concern proposition, it means the
removal of some institutions and the wiping
out of others What seems strange to the
leaders is that so many care about one and
so few about the other. 1t is proposed to
create three official boards. One of these
will be foreign missions, the other home
missions, and the third, the name not yet
selected, to have charge of educational
work. AT present foreign and home mis-
sion work is carried on by one society, con-
tributions being divided in the proportion
of 55 cents for foreign to As cents for home
work on each dollar received. The CONSOLE
dalton. if effected, will cover all benevo-
fIncn Of he
carry work as heretofore. the same
bearing the relation to the general work of
the denomination that it respectively does
now. 1t is provided that the Board of
Foreign Missions shall have Headquarters
in New York, Home Missions in Philadel-
pha, and Education in Cincinnati Metho-
dist leaders say they wish fall conferences
would pay more attention to this impor-
tant matter and less to some others