The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-26
fsThe University Question" In
First vi. Il. Church.
Why DIR. Smith Was Not Chosen
Pastor.
HAMILTON WILL SAY
Bishop Asked to Select
Preacher for Topeka.
His Choice Will Be Accepted as
Final.

| The university Question" as it is
now getting to be known over Kansas
by the Methodists of the state, was
in a great measure responsible FOR the
| failure of the members of the First
| Methodist church of Topeka to them
| selves select a minister for their pulpit
and Bishop Hamilton has been ap-
| pealed to, to make an, appointment
| under the regular conference rules OF
the church, namely. that whoever is
sent here must remain, and the church
must accept him for stated period:
| Matters came to d focus when Dr.
J. r. Smith, pastor of the Trinity
Methodist church of Omaha, one of
the most brilliant ministers who was
ever in this city, refused to consider
a call, because certain members OF the
Topeka church felt that he might be
hostile to the building of a Methodist
university in this city, because his
brother Dr. Conger Smith, a preacher
at Leaven worth, is on the board of
trustees at Baker university. The OBJ
jecting members of the First church
apparently had no further reasons for
their refusal to accept DIR. Smith, than
''he might possibly be Influenced by
his brother in regard to the university,
and we don't want to take any
chances"
The University Question, began
when Mrs. Eliza Chrisman bequeathed
100000 to the First Methodist church
of this city for a Topeka university.
One of the conditions was that a sim
of the original 100000 may be put to
use for educational purposes That
was almost four years ago. No sub
ScriptiOnS have yet been raised The
matter has been. discussed pro and con.
A number of the members are in IA
vOr of building the school here, while
others who have subscribed to Baker
university, think that the Baldwin in
stitution ought to be maintained ex-
clusively and that another university
should not be built here, to what they
think, the detriment of both.
Consequently factions have arisen in
the church and the feeling extended it
self to the selection of the minister While
there are a great many members of the
nothing to do with the university ques-
ton and no word in the matter one way
terested themselves Immediately either in
the proposed Topeka school or Baker, are
whichthe occupant of the pulpit might ex-
exercise against them.
DR. J. r: Smiths failure to take the To-
peka pulpit is therefore explained exact
" by this trouble. He was decidedly &C
to the major part. of the congrc-
cation, but when he learned that there
was dfssension on account of the -'univer-
Slty question he at once refused to have
his name considered further. At the con-
ference meeting of Nebraska he was sent
pack to the Trinity Methodist church at
0 On at an increased salary Bishop
the privilege of selecting its own minister
was much surprised that the Topeka con
greSation did not take DIR. Smith. His
recommendations were gilt-edged and
rare
The official board considered several
names for the pulpit since DR.. Smith was
here DIR. Mcfarland made several rec
concentrations. But the board. after dis |
cussing the matter. deemed it wise to re- |
fer the entire matter to Bishop Hamilton |
and let him make an appointment. He |
will do at an early date 1t is not J.
known whom the bishop is considering for
the place. although some of the members
of the church think that he may send DR.
Smith back here. That is hardly likely