Daily American telegraph., 1852-02-11

Reported for the Daily American Telegraph.
The "Lay DeIegationv Meeting at the
M'Kendree Chapel.

MKendHee Chapel.
In the public papers of last Saturday appeared
a notice inviting the male members Of M'Kendree
Chapel favorable to sending delegates to a con-
vention of laymen proposed to be held in Phila-
delphia on the third Of March next, to meet in
the basement Of said chapel on Monday evening.
And on Sunday morning, near the conclusion
Of service, Mr. j. c. Hardness appeared in the
altar of the church, with a paper in his hand,
which he requested the preacher in charge to al
low him to read Permission being granted, Mr..
Hardness proceeded to read the paper, which
stated, in substance, that, whereas the aforesaid
notice had appeared in the public papers, and
whereas the question involved in it was one of
vital interest to the whole church, it had been
deemed advisable, upon consultation among the
brethren, to invite aU the members, male and fe-
male to attend the meeting on Monday evening,
that after quietly witnessing the proceedings of
the friends of the proposed measure, the whole
society might take up the subject for considera-
ton, and take such action thereon as to them
might seem proper
Accordingly, on Monday evening, very large
portion Of the society, male and female, with
respectable representation from the other sta
tons of the city, appeared in the basement of
the church.
French S. Evans local preacher present, re
quested brother Robb," another local preacher
to open the meeting with prayer Mr.. Robb
proceeded to the stand, and announced the hymn
commencing - g
"Jesus, united by thy grace,
And each to each endeared"-
which the whole congregation, rising, sang with
fine feeling and effect Mr.. Robb then offered
up fervent prayer, which eioited warm re-
sponses from the congregation, and then retired
to his seat Er sr-
French S. Evans then approached the stand,
and stated that nothing but stern sense of duty
could have induced him to be present, as he was
laboring under very severe indispostion. He
stated that he was the person who had inserted
in the public papers the call for meeting of the
male members Of the church favorable to sending
delegates to the convention in Philadelphia; and
he desired to explain the considerations which
had moved him to take that course. In the first
place, he would read the address of a meeting of
the male members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in the city and county of Philadelphia
to the ministry and membership of that church
in the United States. This was document of
considerable length, and presented a number
of arguments in favor of introducing the princi-
pie of lay representation into the councils of the
Methodist Church. Mr.. Evans stated that some
time in the month of January he had visited
Baltimore, and conversed with a number of Meth
odists and found that rather n feverish excite
ment existed in their minds upon the subject of
lay representation. They interrogated him, he
said, concerning the movement in Washington
of which he assured them he knew nothing.
Shortly after his return to this city, the meetings
at Wesley Chapel were called, the first of which
only he attended. lie said that his motive for
calling this meeting was simply peace. He knew
the subject had caused much agitation; and he
thought if he should call meeting of the friends
only Of the proposed change, and converse freely
with them on the subject, that would be an end
of the matter. He did not know but two per-
sons in MKendree station, beside himself, who
were friendly to the change; and he thought if
they should hold o meeting, they would be 50
ashamed at seeing themselves in such lean mi
nority, that they would just adjourn and go home,
and say no more about it. This was his motive
for calling the meeting, If any supposed that he
meant to convene the few friends of the measure
for the purpose of electing themselves delegates
to the Philadelphia Convention, and then palming
off the proceedings as the action of the male mem
bers Of MKendree Chapel, they did him great
Injustice He had never sought prominence
among his brethren. He had lived long enough
in the world to learn that retired corner suited
him best Indeed hardly anything short of
revelation from Heaven, or n stern and in1pera-
tive conviction of duty could induce him to leave
his family for the purpose of attending any pro-
tIacted session of such convention or of the
General Conference. He did not mean to impugn
the motives Of the brother who had read the
notice in the church inviting all the members,
nldle and female, to attend the present meeting.
He had no doubt his motives were pure. But,
he asked did It not seen, like design to over
awe When, in all the history of the church,
was it known that the Ssters--Giod bless them
he was glad to see them here-but when was it
known that the sisters were invited to attend
business meeting? However, he questioned no
ones motives. lie stated that he was very
unwell; he supposed his physician was now
at his house, as he had been constrained to
summon him; and he hoped the congregation
would not consider it any sign Of disrespect it, at
the conclusion of his remarks, he should retire
from the meeting. He believed he had now said
all he wished to say, and would retire
SO saying, he resumed his cloak and hat and
left the meeting