New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-03
" r. GENERAL CONFERENCE.

THE rAy DELEGATES oCESTION-RECONSTRUC-
TIoN OF THE NJ Z. CHURCH IN THE SOUTH.
From Our SPe''A' wi CHICAGO, May 90, 1858.
The great question of this session of the Gen
oral Conference that OF SO changing the form of govern
ment as 10 admit laymen into the General and Annual
Conferences It is this change that The Methodist an
ablyedted weekly Of New-York, specially advocates.
The change is claimed as q matter OF right To
the laity, duty of the ministry. and measure
fraught with good to the entire church. The pres,
ent arrangement is regarded by inimlcal
TO the spirit Of the free Institutions Of the country
democratic and capable of being made very oppressive
upon tho people Nor is subject OF anxiety and
agitation 1t has been agtaed more or less 40 years and
SeGe e av seem to have the
sympathy Of the public and OF large majority or the
sfa1 Ss d IN M avor have been
presented at this session OF the Conference ana ABOUT
circumstances against &C. This however fair test in
asmuch as many have not agaed the subject and others
have resolved to leave the Conference TO act OF not ac
In the organization of the delegated General Confer
ence 18O8 six restrictive rules agreed upon
lack Of any better name the Constitution. Now the
enactment OF this measure is thought 10 SVo
OF these restrictions, and hence to involve an act 70 COZ
summate which the General Conference Is incompetent
The principal difficulty lies here. The report OF the com
principal weakness Many who favor the change THINK
the restriction must be removed by %O
three-fourths vote Of the annual Conferences
in accordance with the rules governing @ It,Ia
changes In the early days Of Mehodsm there was te
or no occasion for delegation nasmuch as the preaon
ers went without call ana often laDotfu ,Sir
sttueney while the purely spiIlt 10 rnnt
calling alone employed them Now, tle case " S
Large financial enterprises for iss3s % hrns
extension, book and newspaper puDshing, V.o' n
into requlson the practical business sagacS, eAPJL
and sympathy Of ana ne aTg for
the introduction OF lay delegation INTO Wy Wy
G4 1SSnsnt. as on t a subject we're made by
Dr. L. o. Haven President Of Michigan University key
rrbt Of jn"is Rev A. Wheeler of Ohio; Dr. Lowrey
Of Cincinnati Rev. q. Haven, OF Boston DR. j. MeSh
took and ID. Curry, Of New-YOrk; Rev. G. Munger OF
Maine and some others. Tho principal question was
upon the legality of the proposed change. all expressing
readiness to adopt IL when the people express desire
therefor plan was presented by Bishop Ames for the
organization OF house Of laydeegates, which should
General Conference An these plans were then
referred TO special committee, consisting OF Leading
hone OF being able TO harmonic upon plan
that would obyiate all the objections raised or hat coud
reported plan that met with great favor After few
remarks by Dr. Porter, it was adopted almost ulaI
it, favor IL proposes submit the subject 70 the people,
with plan which seems quite fair III its provisions and
ferenoes their action. Now If the people so vote lay
representation is morally certain In the NJ r. ChufGh.
the Committee the State OF the Church. ana weekly
religious paper was ordered at NeW0Ileans, one AZ
in Tennessee. aud for that purpose the DOok agents
at Cincinnati were authorized TO expend 800
annually for each, over and above the income
which they might produce The Missionary and Church
Extension Societies were also instructed 10 noeay sup
Should be sand that this great extent prose
cted in the interest and the benerof the freedmen
who are ocking 10 the old NJ. f. Church by hundreds
and Thousands II the people will second the efforts OF
the church The result will be sublime and glorious, the
strong hand OF Mehodsm shall lift the desplsed ana ig
norat race from superstition and sin to intellectual ana
spiritual light and prepare them for high literary and
political position in this great and growing republic Re
construction viii doubtless be thus facilitated on sound
and permanent basis.
The Freednens Aid Society OF the NJ l.. Church Is cog
nate and cooperative with these having almost the same
ultimate object in view and may possibly be merged uto
one or both OF the abOvenamed organizations; but II
not Is safe say there will be no conflict OF Jnrlsdc-
ton or waste Of strength by both occupying the same
field To the neglect Of others.