New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-20
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
THE LAY DELEGATION MOVEMENT IN THE
NJ L. CHURCH

submitted to the votes OF the entlre membership OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church, male and female.
above the age of 81 years, the decision of which
cannot fail to have a marked influence for good or
evil upon the future of that large and rapidly grow
ing denominations This question is. whether the
laty shall be represented in the legislative assembly
of the church. or whether the law-making power
shall remain as it has heretofore solely in the hands
of the ministry TO fully appreciate the Importance
which MethOdists themselves, of either way OF
thinking attach to the result of the forthcoming ex-
pressions of the popular WILL it will be well to glance
at some of the circumstances of the origin and
growth of Methodist EpiscOpacy rs an ecclesiastical
system.
When John Wesley, in 1889, at the solicitation OF
| Whitefeld who had preceded him in the work, COM
menced his public ministries as field preacher III
| England he had evidently no design OF organizing
church; nor does it appear that subsequently, wheh
! he numbered his followers by thousands, and many
societies had grown up and were with their pastors
| under his supervising care he had any thought oil
constructing an Ecclesiastical system outside and
independent of the English Church. Of which he
himself lived and died member. Ito instituted
Society as an Evangelizng Supplement to the
Established Church, and all the distinguishing
peculiarites of this Society except those pertaining
TO religions faith and life were the result of accident
'NN'~-
ship moro clearly manifest than in that bright in
tuition which. rs by q FASH discerns the true
meanings of things present; and which in the same
instant adapts itself to the shifting circumstances of
the hour or day." Lay preaching forced itself on his
attention as a good thing. and he adopted it; the
class meetings arose by accident, and became part
of his system Being but Society, and not Church.
Wesleyan Methodsm was ruled by its founder with
almost absolute sway and no Governmental func-
tons or Independent Liberty Of action were allowed
to his preachers or to the people.
In 1854 Mr. Wesley took the first step toward the
organization of Church" and in this as in other
measures, he seems to have followed only where ne
cessity or well-defned eXpediency led him. PreVl-
GUS to this time Methodsts had considered themselves
as EpscOpalians and had received the sacraments IN
the churches and from the ministers of the Estab-
lshment; but in America there were now some 81
Methodist preachers and 1900 Methodist laymen.
They were scattered all over the country, and the
Episcopal churches being few and inaccessible to
many. this large body of Christians was deprived of
all church relationship, and of participation in
the sacraments Wesley plying their condition, and
vet wishing to avoid irregular" action, besought
the Bishop of London to ordan ministers who should
administer the sacraments among the American
Methodists of America The request being refused
he thought himself authorized by the necessities of
the case to himself ordain Thomas Coke, already
Presbyter in the English Church. Superintendent
| or Bishop for America. On Christmas day, 1854 rs
many as possible of the Methodist preachers in
America met in Baltimore, Bishop Coke presiding
| and the Methodist Episcopal Church was formally
! organized.
| Though this church has, ever since. evinced the
same aptitude in adapting its poty to changing cir
! cumstances, which characterized its founder, and
L ,ts
spect and generation felt for Wesley has induced the
continuance in the church, of a system, based upon
the practice of Mr. Wesley toward his society From
the first the ministry has been the sole legislative
power the people haynelno effective voice in the max
ing of laws and the election of church officers. Each
church gets one minister. In the Quadrennal General
Conferences until 1872 all travelling ministers of the
denomination were entitled to seats and votes Since
that time the General Conferences have consisted
of delegated members-thcmselves ministers and
chosen by ministers. The church edGces are held
By laymen, but for the Of the church, and the
pulpts can only be occupied by such ministers as are
appointed by the bishops. Probably no other church
organization exists completely under clerical con-
troll THIS has been owing to the influence OF no
especial class in the church the ministers nave ar
rogated to themselves more than has been willing
| " conceded by the people There has
The Church has been well enough as it is. There has
probably been no time when then the aity, taken as
whole have been in advance OF their ministers on
the subject OF laymen's nights. The subject of Lay
Representation first began to be agitated among the
MethOdists half century ago, and in 1926 the Rev.
d. b. Dorsey was expelled from the Baltimore An
nual Conference for circulating paper called Mu
tua Rights" the object Of which was to advocate the
introduction Of laymen into the Councils of the
Church An appeal was taken TO the General Con-
ference of 1923 when the expulsion of Mr.. Dorsey
was confirmed. This aud other action on the same
subject, taken by that body, led to the secession
Of large number of ministers and laymen who
originated the Methodist Protestant Church.
which to-day numbers-together with the MethO-
dist Church." which is an ofshoot from it-no less
than $4,000 members. The subject continued to be
discussed by many who preferred TO influence the
Church from within rather than to leavei it, In 1870
the General Conference said I'VE should prove
recreant TO the trust committed to us in the
slightest degree to yield to the spirit of innovation"
The General Conference Of 1852 replied TO petitions
for o change that there was "a strong opposition
in the great mass of the membership 10 the
proposed change" and that therefore they
deemed it "inexpedient TO alter the economy
of the church." During that year (lS59l a paper
called The PHILADELPHIA Christian AdrOcate was started
for the purpose of advancing Lay Representation.
In 1856 the General Conference spoke of the matter
as one which might be practically dealt with in the
future but thought that any change would be mex
pedient at that time. Petitions bearing that sub
ject were presented to the General Conference of
1860 1t was amply discussed. both in com
mittee and in General Conference. which finally
resolved, "That we, the delegates Of the Annual
Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in General Conference assembled, hereby approve
of the introduction of Lay Representation into
this body when it shall be ascertained that the