The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-09-30
Difference of Opinion Devel-
oped in Indiana Yearly
Meeting as to Naming OF
FraternaI Delegates.
REV. LUKE WOODARD LED
OPPOSITION ELEMENT.
SpIit of Many Years Ago When
The Hicksite Branch Was
Formed, Is VividIy Recalled
BY the Discussion.

Recause the Hicksite branch OF the
Friends church seeded from What 10
termed the orthodox branch OF the
church many years ago, several OF the
older ministers. attending the Indiana
yearly meeting of Friends, ana III
whose minds is fresh the occurrences
surrounding the session, refused 10
sanction the appointment of two dee
gates and two alterEates from the
Indiana body to the Hickslte CONFER
ence to be held at Lake Wlnona next
August. to which the Indiana yearly
meeting was invited. The matter came
before the Indiana meeting at ils
morning session today and elected
more comment than has any one sub
iect coming before the body up-to-
date. The discussion lasted 1or
almost forty-five minutes. The mat
ter was finally decided and delegates
were appointed over the voice OF
large number of dissenting Friends.
Woodard Leads Opposition.
The Rev. Luke Woodard one of the
oldest pastors in the Indiana yearly
meeting. objected more strenuousiy 10
the appointment of delegates to the
Hicksite conference, than did any OF
the others making known their opln-
ions on the subject. Mr.. Woodard
said that the Hicksites had seeded
from the orthodox Friends body be-
| cause among other things they refus-
ed to believe In the divinity OF Jesus
| Christ. The Indiana yearly meeting
| of orthodox Friends, he believed
should not, by the naming of two del
egates to the Hicksite conference, IN
dicate that the Indiana body is in SYM
pathy with the Hicksites and their
doctrines and that the members of the
| seeding church would take the ap-
pointment of the delegates in the light
that the Indiana body was just the
least bit relenting and countenanced
the teachings of the Hicksite branch.
There is tendency today among the
Friends to carry fraternai relations
with other churches too far, Mr..
Woodard maintained.
| Wrong Impression Growing.
Others speaking for the opposition
maintained that in the past few years
since friendly relations have in way
sprung up between the Hicksites and
orthodox Ouakers, the world was
pointing finger toward the ortho-
dox Quakers and saying They are ac-
cepting the teachings of the Hick-
Sites" People are being made to say
that the two branches of the church
were being made to believe alike, the
main essential being that Jesus Christ
is not divine. This very feature was
decried and by the appointment of the
two delegates to the Hicksite confer
ence it was feared that the world
would think that the orthodox Friends
had accepted the teachings OF their
brothers who seeded from the orig
inal beliefs of the Quakers. Robert
Douglas, in order to compromise the
attitude Of those objecting to the ap
pointment Of delegates, asked the
} body to reply kindly tc the invitation
of the Hicksite Friends but not ap
point delegates.
Russell Was in Favor.
Prof. Elbert Russell, professor oi
biblical history at Earlham college
and who IN past years mas ldheu al
active stand for closer relationship
between the various religious demon
nations of today, spoke for the ap
pointment of delegates. For mum
ber of years he said the churches
were tending toward common
ground on which the great work o
Christianity might be carried forward
The seeking of this common ground
, does not mean that the individual
churches are by the seeking. dropping
their individualities and own beliefs
Meetings held for the discussion o.
!, philonthropic subjects need not mear
. the laying down of doctrines To ths
: younger ones in the Friends church
he said. the bitterness OF the secession
of the Hicksites is NOT SO great, ant
for that reason the younger ones be
lieved in a closer relationship oI
questions broader and without the
scope of doctrines. He said If there
were a place where the Hicksites anc
orthodox Friends could get togethel
to better carry out the world wide
questions of philanthropic interest, i