Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-09-14
Lay Representations the Meth
Odist Episcopal Church.


Odist Episcopal Church.
At tho Cincinnati Conference, now in ses-
ion at this place, the Rev. A. Lowry, Chair
man of the Committee, on lay delegation,
submitted the following report:
REPORT.
1t is the opinion Of your Committee that
the proposition to introduce lay representa-
ton into our Annual and General Confer
ences most deeply concerns the Church.
No question Of more serious interest has oc-
cupied the attention Of either the ministry
or membership for the last 20 years. The
present agitation, If prudently directed,
may have tho effect to add a new element Of
efficiency to our system Of no ordinary pow
er. If iniudiciously managed or thrust into
our organization without restraint or limita-
ton it may necessitate such changes as will
amount to revolution in our polity. The
great question therefore, is, not, shall we
have lay delegationl but how shall it be in
troduced, and yet leave the itinerancy in
tsct2 How shall il be made to operate so
as 10 increase and not abate the effectiveness
Of our present plant If lsymen come into
our judicatories and are vested with equal
prerogatives with the Ministry, will they he
willing to leave the appointing power in
tbs hands Of the Bishops VIII they not
soon claim to choose their minister and al
so to fix the length Of time he shall serve
theml lfso, and the work Of supplying
charges be divided by acknowledged right
between the Bishops and laymen, will not
the ministry justly claim the corresponding
privilege Of negotiating for their places!-
And when this occurs, will not the Episco-
pacy be superseded and the itinerant plan be
broken up!
We do not affirm this will be necessary
result. And If it can be and is avoided, the
proposition must be universally conceded
that to draw our membership into closer
union and more general cooperation with
the Ministry is an object which cannot be
too highly estimated.
The following are some the beneficial
effects which we think would spring from
the introduction of the lay element:
First, 1t would allay the present agitation,
preclude its recurrence, suppress disafiec-
ton and the desire to organize independent
Congregational Churches, and remove the
most Objectionable feature in our system, 70
wit: the entire exclusion Of the laity from
our legislative body, while the laws and reg
ulations made and governing the member
ship may be, at any time, altered or repealed
by the ministry.
Second, 1t will disarm enemies without
and silence malcontents within, and satisfy
the reasonable demands Of the fast friends Of
the church, among whom VIC number al
most the entire membership, to be empow-
cred to participate in the enactment Of the
laws by which they are governed.
Third, 1t will probably result not only in
giving the ministry more adequate sup
port generally, but in deyising q method
which will facilitate the acquisition Of that
support independently of the pastor and by
the abandonment ofthe present plan, which
seems to dole it out in driblets as a mere
charity,
Fourth, 1t will unquestionably, we think,
augment the contributions to our beneyo-
lent enterprises. This will be natural con-
sequence Of bringing our members into con-
tact with our benevolent enterprises in their
inception, and having them organize in their
Joint counsels and prayers. 1t will be a
great cain TO have all our causes Of Educa-
ton, Literature and Missions, baptized with
lay approval at their birth. They must feel
deeper responsibility, and take livelier
interest when such is the case, than they do
ar can do under the present arrangement.