The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-23

RESOLUTIONS OF THE METHODIST Law
| MEMS CONFERENCE.-The Convention NJ
Methodist laymen, which has been in Coz.
sion in New York during the last weoI
adopted on Friday the following resoln,
| tons:
HesolUed, That in the Judgment of tb;.
| Convention the time has fully come whon
the Iaymen of the M. T.. Church should no
more intimately united with the Ministrv
| in the management of it's general Interest,"
and that the proper mode of securing this
would be by providing for an equal repre9
sentation OF the laity in the General Confer
ence. ...
| Resolced, That we are led to ask for
representation of the laity in the General
Conference, from a conviction that, if once
| established, il wo'd act beneficially upon
all the interests of Methodism. The laitv
brought to share in the responsible care Of
Methodism, would rise to a higher appre
| citation of their duties a new trust would
be committed to them, which, we believe.
| they would accept with the determination
| to be faithful to its obligations; an album
dance of talent which now remains unused
would be brought into the service of the
Church, the practical experience of Law
men would be blended with the clear NOR
al Judgment of ministers in the examina-
ton, the discussion and the settlement of
important questions, so that the two orders
acting together, would, in our judgment
form such deliberative body as would be
most likely to counsel and decide wisely
for the welfare of the Church.
ResOlUed, That we ask a representation
of the laity in the General Conference be
cause it is right, as well as because it is e1-
pedient. Such an incorporation of the lai-
ty with the ministry in the government of
| the church is in conformity with the order
and usage of primitive Christianity as set
forth in the New Testament, and is more
over one of the distinctive features of Pro-
testantism, all the branches of which pro-
fess to found their systems of doctrine and
government upon the word of God. And
there is, in our opinion, no reason why
Methodism should permanently depart
from these, its proper guides in faith and
practice, or continue under the odium which
now rests upon us. jim this respect, in COM
parison with other Protestant churches.
ReSOfUed, That no sufficient reason can
be found for the exclusion of the laity
from the general conference in the necessi-
ties of the itineracy. The history of Meth
odism has proved that the laymen Of our
church are as much attached to the itinerant
plan of preaching the gospel as its minis
try can be. They apprehend as clearly as
the ministry the advantages of our peculiar
economy, and they have proved ready
as their ministerial brethren to endure the
sacrifices which it demands of both preach
CiS TIC ptOpit. IiS
that the Introduction of Lay Representa-
ton into the General Conference will of it
self specially endanger the itineracy, is, in
our estimation, grOundlesS, and does in
Justice to the steadfast attachment of the
laity to the cause of Methodism.
ResOtUed, That it is our conviction that
the more perfect union of laymen, with
ministers in the legislation and admins
tration of the Church, under the carefully
guarded limitations of law, would be a
security against the danger of irregular
action, to which every sytem is liable,
wherein the great mass of the Government
have no representation in the governing
assemblies. History shows us that the
people are ever more content to submit
with the greater patience to duties and
burdens in the establishment of which
they have themselves taken a part. The
admission oflay representatives to the Cen
eral Government would, we believe, give
greater heart to the people in carrying on
the large enterprises which must be under
taken for the proper fullment of the mis-
sion of MethodiSm, and would be Il prOteg-
ton against liabilities to schism.
ResOtued; That a convention Of lay dele
gates be held in the city of Philadelphia,
on the 18th day of May, 1884, to take such
action on the subject of lay delegation as
may then be proper; and such delegates be
chosen in accordance with plan to be de-
Vised by committee Of seven, to be ap-
pointed with power by this Convention.
ReSOtUed, That another committee of If
teen be appointed, with power to add to
their number, to present these resolutions
and the entire subject OF lay representation
to the consideration of the ensuing General
Conference and the said committee are
hereby instructed to confer with any COM
mlttee upon lay representation that may be
appointed by the General Conference and to
report to the delegate convention provided
for by the preceding resolution.
ReSolOed, That the first named committee
be also finance committee. to devise ways
and means for raising the necessary funds,
and the said COmmitteea are hereby INSTRUCT
ed to report some style of finance as earl Y
| as practicable to this Convention.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE Wharf.-The ou-
preme Court of the United States in its de-
cision on the prize cases at the last term,
unanimously held that civil war exists
which draws after it all the rights and con-
sequences of any public war, and that the
rebels are subject to all the conditions OF
war. Mr.. Justice Nelson said:
In case Of Il rebellion or resistance by a
portion of the people of a country against
the established Government, there is no
doubt, if in its progress and enlargement
the Government thus sought to be over
thrown sees fit, it may by the competent
power recognize or declare the existence of
a state of civil war, which will draw after
it all the consequences and rights of war
between the contending parties, as in the
case of a public war. Ea
The majority of the Court held that the
war dated from the proclamation of the
President; the minority that it dated from
the act of Congress of July 18th.
The ma ority of the Court held that the
war exists not only between the United
States and individual rebels, but between
the United States and the rebel States Mr.
Justice Grier said: a.
Under the very peculiar Constitution Of
this Government, although the citizens
owe supreme allegiance to the Federal
Government, they owe also qualified al
legiance to the State in which they are do
miciled. Their persons and property are
subject to its laws. Hence in organizing
this rebellion they have acted AS STATES
claiming to be sovereign over all persons
and property within their respective lin
its, and asserting right to absolve their
citizens from their allegiance to the Fede-
raj Government. Several of these States
fn q co.,