The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-03-16
Pastors of the Richmond M. E.
District Are Divided on the
AdvIsabiIity of Returning to
Old Custom.
RACE QUESTION ENTERS
THE DELIBERATIONS.
Arguments Presented on the
Proposition of Confining Me-
gro Bishops to Negro
Church Affairs.

Whether or not it would be advisa-
BILE to return to the former plan of
placing a limit upon the time minis
ter in the Methodist Episcopal church
may serve one pastordte. was one of
the principal subjects for discussion
"a the conference Of the ministers Of
the Richmond district held at the
First NJ. +. church today. Another
subject that brought forth great diver
sity of opinion, and which will be re-
flected in the affairs of the church in
future years, dealt with the proposal
to confine negro bishops to the super
vision of affairs of negro congrega-
tions only.
The Richmond district extends in
its confines west as far as Greenfield,
south to the National road. north as far
as Portland and east to the state line.
1t includes thirty-six charges and
thirty ministers are enrolled in the
work. The district conference today
served as a preliminary meeting to the
general Northern Indiana conference
which will be held at Anderson the
first week of April. The district con-
ference was well attended.
Guild a Candidate
One of the most important results OF
today's gathering from a local stand
point, was the unanimous selection of
the Rev. 7. NJ. Guild as a candidate to
the general conference of the MethO-
dist church of North America. which
will be held at Baltimore Md. Tho
Rev. T. NJ. Guild is the present presid-
ing elder OF the Richmond district He
is unusually popular with the minis
terS under his control and will receive
their solid support at the Anderson
conference. Six ministerial delegates
will be chosen.
Division Of Opinion.
A number of the ministers of the dis
trict hold there should be no limit on
the time a minister may remain at
charge. if no complaint be made
against his services or no request made
for a change. A few years ago the
Methodist church maintained a time
limit of five years. Upon the eXpira-
ton of this period it was mandatory
charges. This limit was removed and
now minister may be retained by one
charge as long as is desired. 1t is ar
gued in behalf of the time limit, that a
minister becomes familiarized with the
affairs of his congregation and is bet
ter able to supply their wants. Those
who oppose the time limit do so on the
ground of preferring an open field in
which to work Many of the young
er ministers belong to the class favor
ing the limit. They assert it happens
too often a minister IS called TO
charge and his parishioners are SO
well pleased they prefer to retain him
indefinitely. The consequence is that
the majority of the best charges soon
come to be held by men. who are per
manent in their position and as CON
sequence there is nothing to be as
pired to in the way of a large congrega-
tion and a big salary
The Race Question.
There is a wide variance in the
views of members of the denomination
upon the question of race. BY some
lay and ministerial members. it is held
tnat it would be more advisable to
avoid the possibility Of racial i'll feel
ing by having colored bishops in
charge of cOlored churches. A. the
present time there are white bishops
exerting supervision over coIored
charges and in few remote instances
colored bishops having authority over
white charges The problem is one
shat will take conservative thought to
solve.
A very interesting paper was read
this morning by the Rev. Fred NJ
Tnornburg of knightstown. on What
should determine the preachers stand
ing in the conference" This after
noon the Rev W. ". Martin of Green
field. read a paper on the subject
After the Revival-What:"
Presiding Elder T. NJ Guild spoke on
the need OF each charge raising its
share OF the benevOlence funds. He
called attention to the fact that the
thank offering on the last Sunday in
March is to be donated TO the Metho-
dist Hospital at indianapolis