The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-09
LAY REPRESENTATION.
Large and Interesting Meeting Of the Inv
Members of the Methodist Church.

Ho'V hibhO d very ldISe meeting OF lay men,
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church was
held in Green Street Church, to consult
together upon the subject of the laity being
represented in the Conference.
John M. Maris Esq, called the meeting TO
order and suggested that Rev. Thomas r.
Tasker should occupy the chair, which was
unanimously agreed to. The Vice-Presidents
were Mr. William Brown of Green street.
John Whiteman of Arch street, and e. j.
Yard of Union street The secretaries we're
John r. Lewis of Spring Garden, and Thomas
Sappington of Tabernacle. Rev. DIR. Carroll
then gave out three verses of the 21Sth hymn
which was heartily sung, and followed with a
most appropriate prayer, in which the reve-
rend gentleman thanked God for His many
mercies TO the Church in times past and i'm
plored the Divine help in the discussion of
the important question which would soon be
decided. At the request of the chairman the
choir sang very sweet hymn.
The President said as the meeting would be
addressed by Bishop Simpson and their late
pastor, he should occupy but a very short time
with his remarks For more than three gene
rations the subject of lay delegation has been
a matter of discussion with our great minds
both in England and America. Learned men,
judges, writer's, and Others have been for it
and against it. Once he thought the subject
neither food nor medicine, and that the
Church had better let it alone Before we
get it the people will have TO understand pro-
perly. for one was then set down as OPP
posed to it; but was never opposed to it, |
deprecated it at that time, and on account of
the spirit in which it was introduced in the
Church. Now the indications tend towards
lay representation, and my own feelings and
conclusions lead me to think that the time
has come. There never was such good feeling
in the Church in America as at the present
+bo fboi,
lay brethren the matter will rebound to their
advantage and the good of the Church. The
ministry have chiefly agitated this question,
and have felt that there was always power
outside themselves which, if linked with
them, would result in great benefits to the
Methodists at large l believe that has been
a conviction with them, and if so, it proves
that the view we take of the question is
correct and proper one. l find l am drifting
into a speech, but | must check myself. At
one time we could not broach this question
without raising i'll passions and dissensions
among us If the lay representation is right
it is expedient, and if it is eXpedient it is
right. There are enough of those that desire
it who can wait until there are sufficient of
those who do not desire it do. 1 must con-
clude by stating that 1 favor lay representa-
ton
Rev. Alfred Cookman, of Grace Church,
Wilmington. then made an address. He com
menced by referring to the rapid events which
have taken place during the last few years.
and cited the inauguration of Grant, the
efforts made by the Cubans for their indie
pendence, the speech of Sumner on the Ala
bama question, the driving of the last spike
of the Pacific Railroad, the decoration of the
soldiers graves with the fragrant flowers of
May, the union of the Old and New Schools
of the Presbyterian Church, which example
he hoped would be followed by all the different
gn1 lin and
in a few days there would be twenty thou
sand voices singing peace jubilee at Boston,
and now we have the important question of
lay representation to act upon. L do trust
that we may have men and women to be
actors in the great matters that affect the
Church of Christ, and also the government of
the country When I received an invitation
to be present here, the chairman stated he
wanted to enlist the sympathies of the women
of Philadelphia in this very important matter,
and from the language in which the letter was
drawn it might be implied that 1 was ladies'
man, and / am perfectly willing to remain
under that implication
Mr. Goodman then related very touching
incident in his experience with a car con-
ductor which bore upon the question of
motherly love- He reioced at this juncture,
when we are contemplating such a funda-
mental change in the Church, to call to our
aid the female members. He was proud
after lapse of eighteen hundred years, tina
the Methodist Episcopal Church was the frs
Christian denomination which carried out tina
great and glorious principle OF st. Paul, to the
effect that there was no distinction between
Jews or Gentiles, or any of mankind. We,
who are prepared to toll and die, if need be,
for our Church, must necessarily be anxious
at the position which we are to take before
the world at large, and am convinced of the
good that will result from lay representation.
Once 1 was opposed to it; but now, thank
God 1 am for it. Without this lay represen-
tation we are apt to depend too much upon
ourselves, and we must thus detract from
the prosperity and glory of the Church. II
has occurred to me that by the introduction
of the lay element into our councils, we shall
be drawing the great heart of the members
further into the Church L do not propose tc
go into a long argument upon this question
as q matter has been fully ventilated in oul
religious newspapers, and Bishop Simpson ha'
spent great deal of his time in urging the
importance of the subject. This month oul
continent will be as it were a Methodist bat
te-feld to decide the question of the lay
representation In Wabash avenue the vote
has been taken-1l4 for it, and only one
against it; Smoky Pittsburg has voted upor
the subject and in favor oflt and in Whining
ton, at Grace Church, on Saturday evening
last. all the members voted for it with the
exception of one individual, who subsequently
} came and begged TO withdraw his vote The
result was that Grace Church, Wilmington
returned 153 votes for it, and nom
ooa;net II (ADnIauea \ Now challenge VOI