The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-09

appear, had been expelled. Having condemned as
htrctica the course Of these eCcesastics the Gene
RAJ conference subsequently made tender of recon
claton by the passage of resolutions declaring that
all the ministers and members who had been eX-
PEELED for ahliating with the Union Societies., and
reading 1.-THE Mutual Rights organ might be re-
stored TO the Church disseminating the
revolutionary associations and confessing that
Sby 'OhsR and P"PSG d S5s not ADMIT Of
vndication." But this action OF the General Con-
large body Of ministers and laymen, by whom the
Protestant Methodist Church, now a very respect
able body in point of numbers, was organized,
For some years subsequent to this, the agitation
was not renewed; but lay representation continued
TO have its open and avowed advocates. The Gene
raj Conference Of 1910 obliged to express itself
with great clearness upon the subject large
number OF petitions for lay representation and other
changes were presented to the Conference, but the
committee to whom they were referred reported
"that it not eXpedient TO change the form of the
Church government in any OF the matters suggested
The Conference was equally emphatic, passing reso-
lntiOns which declared that radical changes in the
economy Of the Church were conceived to be
fraught with danger" The petitions for lay repre-
sentation were further denounced and rejected be-
cause it appeared that they had been obtained by
operation 9ndSr te m U5 anS
not of original dissatisfaction"
There was then another period Of inactivity, but
the agitation was renewed in 1852 in March of which
year Lay Representation Convention was held in
this city, followed in May by meeting OF laymen
who were opposed to the innovation. Petitions and
cOunter-pettons were presented to the General Con-
ference Of that year. and to both sides patient,
taken
The subject was brought before the General Con-
of 1856 by the presentation Of numerous pet
tiOns, but no action was taken, the report OF the
committee to whom the petitions were referred re-
porting that "such a change in our economy is not
desirable, OF, at least not practicable under the cir
cumstances," while the Conference resolved "that
any change is ineXpedient at the present time"
Thus the advocacy Of lay representation in the Me-
thodist Church ceased to be heretical and inhamma
tory and the change was regarded as only tempora-
rily neXpedient.
The agitation OF the subject now became ncessant
and unceasing, and so powerful did the movement
become that the General Conference of 1862 by reso
luton, approved OF the introduction OF lay repre-
sentaton into that body when it should be ascer-
tanned that the Church desired it."
Provision was made for taking a vote upon the
question, with the following RESULT
Ministers. Laynler.
For Lay Representation. .......1,83S 2S,SS4
Against Lay Representation. .9,O69 1855
Majorities against. .........1,73l 1891
This result was brought about by various causes,
but it did not dampen the ardor Of the advocates OF
reform; the General Conference OF 1864 held in this
city, again affirmed its approval Of the change,
whenever it should appear that the Churca desired
it. just previous to the General Conference OF 1865,
nearly every Annual Conference formally endorsed
the proposition and in May of last year, the General
Conference took the action that is set forth above
The greater number Of the churches throughout
the country have fixed upon the latter part OF the
month for the time of voting upon the subject, and
some time must therefore eapse before the definite
result can be made known.
Last evening a large meeting in favor OF lay
representation held in the Green Street Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, at which addresses were de-
livered by the Rev. Bishop Simpson and the Rev.
report of the proceedings and speeches will be found
on the third page OF to-day's issue.