The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-29
CITY INTELLIGEN
.on Applr1oNAL IooAl IrnMs snn OUTSIDE FAems..
lay REPRESENTATIOM.

dw.ssas bv President william III. Allen,
william j. Jones, Esq, OF Maryland,
and Others-Interesting Statistics.
Last evening an important meeting of the
members and friends Of the Methodist Eplsco-
nal Church was held in the Spring Garden street
Church (Rev. Alfred Cookmau's). The OBJECT
of the meeting was to take intuatory steps 10
secure the representation of the laity In the
~ovions conferences. This subject has for a
long time been earnestly discussed, and now
energetic movements are 10 oe lhaug guIaVeu 10
have IL take practical form.
Although the weather was inclement, yet a
ooodlv number turned out to advocate the
measure by their presence. AT o'clock the
meeting was called to order. John L. Maris,
ESQ. was selected as Chairman, and John
Fields 5Esq., was appointed Secretary. Before
entering upon the business of the meeting a
hymn was sung, and prayer offered by Rev. Mr..
Tasker.
Mr.. Hieskel read a resolution, drafted by the
Committee on Organization, appointed at pre-
yious meeting, which set forth the expediency
of forming a society for the purpose of obtain
ing a representation of the lay members of the
Church in the conferences, and submitting a
plan therefor In order that the meeting might
fully understand the purpOrt Of the resolution,
President William II. Allen was called upon to
speak. The following is a full report of his
interesting and statistical address:-
Mr.. President and Brethren-Friends of Lay
Representation:-I am disappointed, and am
sure that every one present is also, at the
absence of Judge Bond, the eloquent keen.
wltied speaker, the bold and able champion of
the rights of the people, both in the Church
and the State; and none of you can regret more
than myself that l have been called upon to
make the first address this evening-the post
which Judge Bond was expected to occupy. l
hold paper containing some statistics which
think prove three things: = First, That the
Methodist laity are loyal to their Church, and
ought therefore TO be trusted as delegates to the
Conference. Second, That they are liberal con-
trlbutoTs to support the Church. and should
therefore have a voice in the expenditure of
their contributions Third, That, considering
their disabilities, they are remarkably patient,
and that now patience having had its perfect
work, they should be fraternally welcomed to
the Conference / shall ask your indulgence
while read these statistics, and make a run
ming commentary on them.
The Methodist Episcopal Church numbers,
exclusive OF the Southern Church, 1876 travelling
preachers and 1893, l94 members-that is one
preacher to 1877 members. On the supposi-
tion that the preachers receive on an average, a
support equivalent to 5000 each, yearly, the cost
of supporting the ministry of the Church is, in
round round :, numbers, 4,6oO, OeO per annqm.
and paid cheerfully, for they believe with Paul
that they who preach the gospel should live of
the gospel.
The Church owns 10 462 houses of worship,
valued at $50, 000 These were built chiefly
by the voluntary contributions of the laity, aud
though they are in the care OF lay trustees, they
are, where the State laws do not interpose, the
property OF the Church; and the travelling
Church.
The Church has twenty-five colleges and
theological schools, and about eighty-two
seminaries OF lower grade. These, with their
grounds, buildings, apparatus, libraries, furni-
tuTe, and endowments cost at least five millions
OF dollars They were built furnished, aud en-
dowed by the laity chiefly. They are governed
by trustees, a majority of whom, with the single
exception of Dickinson, are clergymen. Their
presidents and most of tn cir professors are cler-
gymeu. Their committees of visitation and
examination are usually clergymen and their
endowments are either held by their patrontsng
Conferences, or by trustees appointed by the
Conferences, and responsible to them; or by
Boards in which the clergy have always ma
jOrity.
The Church has sixteen official periodicals,
edited by the clergy, and controlled by
the General Conference. Next TO the pulpit
they are the most powerful instrument IN form
ing the opinions and guiding the minds OF the
people. As there is usually discrimination
between the clergy and the laitY in the sub
scription price for these (the clergy receiving
them for cost or for less than cost while the
laity pay more than cost) it is fair TO say that
all of them are supported by the laty, at an ex
pense OF at least three hundred thousand dollars a
year.
The appropriations for missions for 1867
amounted 70 over million; and that sum has
DtSnt VI VIII Dts ldlSbu NY INC CONTRIBUTORS Ol
the lalty, chiefly. | say chiefly, for l am not
ignorant of the fact that the clergy contribute
freely to the missionary and other benevolent
enterprises OF the Church, and l say it to the
credit OF these self-denying men, that of the
money they receive from the laity Tor their
support, they do set apart q liberal sum for
benevolent objects. But it Is not to be forgotten
that few OF them could do this If the laity did
not make them their almoners by providing
the means. l will not detaln you with the sta
tistcs of the Tract, Bible, and Sunday School
causes, but will simply add that these aud all
other benevolent enterprises of the Church are
managed under the direction and supervision oil
the General Conference. There are lay trustees
Conference leglslates for them all. The trustee
are executive and administrative officers, unde
rules prescribed by the General Conference.
AN this immense organization has grown a
by the zeal of the clergy and latty, and by tn
money OF the laity, in one hundred years. AM
when It was proposed to raise million dollar
as thank Offering in 1866, the centennial year
the laity responded with nearly six millions
The donors were permitted to name the specln
objects to which their donations were to be ap
Piled, but ali these objects are in one way o
other under the authority Of the General o
Annual Conferences, in which the laIty hay
neither voice nor vote
The fact that the laiLy have enabled tn
Church TO carry forward their great works VIII
out any etiectual control over the eXpenditur
OF their money, nor any directing influence !
the Institutions or legislation OF the Church
seems 70 me 10 be abundant proof that they ar
oyal and liberal, aud having done all this Will
knoeklng at the doors of the Conferences, an
Oeing refused admission, Is good proof OF thel