The New York herald., 1863-03-17

INFORMANT MEETING or LAyMES AT THE JOHN
STREET cHURcH-RExARxs oY 0oysnSoR WRIGHT
AND BISHOP siArsos, Erc.
Pursuant 20 a circular invitation signed by number
Of wealthy and prominent laymen IN this city, public
meeting held the John street Methodist church
yesterday afternoon FOR the purpose Of giving the friends
Of lay representatives the Methodist Episcopal church
opportunity for consultation and comparison Of views
II Is tho opinion OF the leaders IL ths movement "tLai
the times call for tho adoption 10 fur
ther this good and bcnnooni movement. Our brethren
rhilsde phia having ssued call for convention u
laymon IL s proper lha, the Nethodists OF New York
should make some appropriate response"
1t is well known that weekly Journal, called The
Aetaodia, which edited by Rev. Dr. Crooks strongly
the election u aymen to represent the church
tho annual and general conferences Since the last
General Conference held n Buffalo subject of lay
CATION has excited considerable interest," and much dis
cnssion has been had upon u somc favorng the adms
sion Of laymcn and others, especially Ministers orposg
The cburh Was well hlIed by ministers and prominent
laynien Of this and the adjoining city. On m1on Hiram
~ Forester, Fsq., was appointed to preslde, after
which tho meeting vas opened with prayer by tho Rev.
Dr. Durbin.
10 cnsider the subject of large and growing interest 10
all of the Methodist Episcopal church. IL could
not be pleasant recctoa 70 intelligent Metbodls that
theirs was tho only leading Protestant denomination
whore IA ymen deamed be Incompetent be the
peers of the clergy IN tho legislative conferences VI the
denomination. He announced that Bishop Jane. would
have been present were not for his abfonce from the
city
Tie cali of the meeting was read, whercupn, on
motion ~ Rev. Dr. STRONG committee Of three mp
pointed 10 draft resolutions While tho committee were
absent paper. prepared by q convention ~ laymeD
recently he'd ~ Philadelphia read by the Secretary,
which presented strong arguments IA favor VI Jay dclega
ton
Mr.. HasKN,L, of Philadelphia made few remarks and
occupied Inc time until The Committee Resolutions
turned. they reported set ~ appropriate resortions,
and recommended tho calling Of Laya Convention
Nov. Il. NJ Han1aD, of Brooklyn declared himself in
favor o the movement aud was followed by Governor
Wright. of indiana who has bcen member of this de
nomination for forty years lie had long been q the
opinion that ose which tho Methodist church com
mit,ed VAS in no, idcn'i'ying The ministry more
perfect Systcm of lay delegation In respect the ray
presiding elders and ho looked forward W the
time shen The ymcn win be introduced luo Tie c,uu
els u The church, Tho church was miniature govern.
nent. and he had any pgwor IL the matter he would
make the bishops the executive the minister's tbo senate
and the aliy house " represenalyc1 Just ike tbs
National government The people shoud hs represented
IN the law making power and he glad ~ believe that
hIcth@srn was running IN that direction The organ1
iiou The churches In the West BY necessity were den
tfy ng the hym-n with tho ministry IN re'al5n 10 their
ray " the ministers wanted better pay he cahortcd
them favor lay delegation Tefore Ave years he hked
for chluse relation to the length of time for mnlrr ~
remain al one church. tho change to DEPEND upon tho
section Of country and the people where they go. lie
that tho itinerant system had duo much good
but hetbodhm must bs adapted " ths condition ~
the country. The leople the bone aud sincw of
Mtthvufm Hha to' offnhc iaN nyHt DC 80 tlnngrd as
that tho voice of the I.oJfe shall BE- heard "a
the settlement o. all the questions affecting the prospcrty
n the church He intended 70 b. present at The Couven
ton 10 May and bep forward the movement ns much AZ
be could and he authorized 70 say that favor
Of the subject would come from Iowa ami The Rocky
Mountains
phhop snrsos, one or the bishops q The ri.hodst
church made brief addross, avoviDg his sympathy In
q lay delegation he pleased 10 observe from
made by the President that the friends u the
movement Did Dot purpose with any Other
movement, IIs had admired the patience and bfohcyiy
pdness which manifested for many years by The
engaged Ia forwarding tho a lay delegation
~hen hn that the great interests of tho charrs
we're attended 10 BY them, bc deeply convinced ~
their sdeiiiy 30 all her nstiatons Hs woali Isc 20
have the operation % ths lslty 10 eyerythpg that
tcudcd 10 building up and adorning she church. IN
copelwnn requested them IN tho further decutrioU N
.ha suhe cot 70 avoid efiunatoa ard unkuf ~orde fu
there would bs opro~iirn tot He rM wliiug - salt
unt the Judgment of the whole church ia favor a
this change ts poity, and be believed that
tho people bad tho sb,ect fairy laid teors them they
woah be In favor ~ ~
Afsv remarks we're made ~ nr Dvsrs trf Co'org
CrEsDcs
amer The spponincrt of committee x ssven 70 rsks
The Becsssary srrspremet,g ior hs cooreLlen = Nst
he meet rs sajoorDsd