The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-05-01
The Lay Delegation Movement in the NJ
E. Church.

During the month of June next ques-
ton will be submitted to the votes of the
entire membership Of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, male and female, above the
age of twenty-one years, the decision of
which cannot fail to have marked inllu-
ence for good OF evil upon the future of
that large and rapidly growing denomina-
ton. This question is, whether the laity
shall be represented in the legislative as
sembly of the church, or whether the law
making power shall remain, as it has here
tofore, solely in the hands of the ministry.
The subject of Lay Representation first
began to be agitated among the lIethodists
half a century ago, and in 1926 the Rev.
D. B. Dorsey was expelled from the Balti-
moro Annual Conference for circulating a
paper called "NIutual 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 1928, when the expulsion of Mr..
Dorsey was confirmed. This and other ac-
ton on the same subject, taken by that
body, led to the secession of a large num-
Der of ministers and laymen who originated
the methodist Protestant Church, - which
to-day numbers-together with the "Meth-
odist Church." which is an off-shoot from
it-no less than 122, 1000 members. The
subject continued to he discussed by many
who preferred to influence the Church from
within rather than to leave it. In 1910 the
General Conference said: eve should
prove recreant to the trust committed to us
were we in the slightest degree to yield to
the spirit of Innovation The General
Conference of 1852 replied to petitions for
a change, that there was "a strong opposi-
ton in the great mass of the membership
to the proposed change" and that there
fore they deemed it 'inexpedient to alter
the economy of the Church. During the
year 1852 paper called the Philadelphia
Christian Advocate was started for the pur-
pose of advancing Lay Representation
In 1856 the General Conference spoke of
the matter as one which might be practi-
cally dealt with in the future, but thought
that any change would be inexpedient at
at that time. Petitions bearing on that
subject were presented to the General Con-
ference of 1860 1t was amply discussed,
both in committee and III General Confer
ence, which finally resolved, 'That We, the
Methodist Episcopal Church in General
Conference assembled hereby approve of
the introduction of Lay Representation into
this body when it shall be ascertrined that
the Church desires it In order that the
desire of the Church in the premises might
be ascertained, measures were adopted for
having the question put to vote i'll every
Annual Conference, and in every congrega-
ton of the Church, in the years 1861 and
1862. III the meantime the civil war arose,
and larger and more exciting interests
absorbed the popular attention. The vote
was very light, having been taken in conf
paratively few churches. As reported at
the General Conference of 1864 it stood
Of ministers, 1888 votes for and 5000
aginst; of lay voters, 1884 for and 1855
against-giving a clerical majority of 1871,
and a lay majority of 1871 against lay
representation in the General Conference.
declared, "That while we reaffirm our APP
proval of Lay Representation i'll the Gen
eral Conference whenever it shall be ascer-
tanned that the Church desires it, we see
no such declaration of the popular will as
to justify us in taking advanced action in
relation to it..
In July, 1860, paper was started i'll New
York city by a company of New York lay
men, for the purpose of advocating the in
terests Of the laymen in the Church. 1t
has been edited by the Rev. DR.. George
Crooks, who has had as his associates some
of the ablest writers of the denomination.
The special work of this journal has been
the dissemination of intelligence concern
ing the lay representative movement, and
arguments favorable thereto; and such has
been the change in the popular feeling
among the Methodists, that none of their
papers, official and non-oficial, are openly
opposed to the ''innovation once so siren
uously resisted, and all but one OF two are
outspoken in it's favor.
Previous to the session of the General
Conference, in May, 1868, most of the An
nual Conferences had adopted resolutions
favoring some action on the subject Of lay
representation by that body, and petitions
for and against such a course had been cir
culated more orless freely among the men,
bers. These petitions were presented to
the Conference; those favoring change of
Church politely signed by s5, SIS male men,
bers of the Church above the age of twenty
one, and petitions opposed to change,
signed by 1928. After careful considera-
ton, and diligent effort to reconcile conflict
ing views, resolutions were adopted, by the
nearly unanimous vote of 231 to 3, embody-
ing plan by which lay representatives,
chosen by laymen, should be admitted to
seats and votes in the General Conference,
the adoption of the plan being subject to
the approval of the ministers and lay men,
bers of the Church., such approval to be
manifested in way pointed out by the
resolutions, the second of which reads
During the month of June, 1869, on any
day except the Sabbath, the time to be de-
termined by the pastor and the two laymen
appointed by the Quarterly Conference as
hereinafter provided, there shall be held
general election in the several places of
worship of the Methodist Episcopal Church,