The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-05-29
To the Laity Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

"
Conference has designated for determining,
by the votes of the adult members of our
Church, the question of Lay Representa-
ton is rapidly approaching. During the
month of June you will be called upon to
express your opinion upon this vital sub
ject. As joint Committees, having, in CO
operation with other committees. 4 super
vision of the effort making to secure Lay
Representation, we desire to present you
some suggestions in relation to the perfor-
nance of the duty devolved upon YOU
The considerations which make Lay Repre-
sentation desirable and expedent are to our
minds so numerous and weighty, that we
must content ourselves with selecting those
which can be most readily brought within
the compass of brief address.
1. And we remark, first, that the nature
of the business transacted in the General
Conference is not such as to make the par
ticipation of laymen therein at all inappro-
pirate. The General Conference of 1868
acted, among the rest, on the following
topics On union with African Meth
odist churches, on the Book Concern, and
especially on the purchase of New Connec-
tional buildings, on the Centenary of Meth
odism, passing upon the Report of the Cen
trail Committee, and giving orders as to the
disposition of the Correctional funds, on
the Chartered Fund, on Church Extension
on Book Depositories, on Theological Sem
inaries, with particular reference to their
charters and organization, ON Education,
especially the creation Of a Central Educa-
tional Board, on Episcopacy and timer
ancy, on Lay Delegation, OH the Charter of
the Missionary Society, on the rights and
powers of Mission Conferences, on the Pre-
siding Eldership, on the order of business
in Quarterly Conferences, on the improve
ment Of the weekly papers, on the estab-
lishment of new periodicals, on Sunday
schools and tracts, especially the organiza-
ton of these departments, and the appoint
ment of Secretaries for them, and on the
Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
These were not incidental, but the princi-
pal subjects of deliberation, and required
for their determination not only theologi-
cal learning, but the highest financial, bust
ness, and legal intelligence. Isit unreason-
able to say that body having such various
interests under its care needs, to aid its de-
cisions, suggestions from the chosen men
both ofthe laity and ministry of the Church,
2. In the very nature Of the case, it is
important that the leading questions which
come before deliberate bodies should be
looked at from different points Of VIEW
And in the Church, composed, as it is, of
ministry and laity, two points Of view al
ways exist AS the ministry and the laity
must act together in order to bring out the
whole force of the Church, so should they
consult together in order to bring out the
whole thought of the Church. Moreover
it has been found valuable, in deliberative
assemblies, in order to prevent hasty legis-
lation, that important questions should be
passed upon twice or thrice, and, wherever
it is practicable, by two separate branches
of the legislature. A General Conference
composed of ministers and laymen would
have precisely this security. All questions
would be looked at from the two sides of
and wherever the importance Of the ques-
tons demanded it, the separate votes of the
ministry and the laity could be taken
What guarantee this would be of stable
legislation for the present and future Of
Methodism, we need not point out to you.
3. AS fact of experience, laymen have
| proved to be valuable members of ecclesias-
! teal assemblies. In our Annual Confer
ences, where they have been incidentally
and somewhat irregularly brought in, their
services have proved to be most useful
In our Centenary Committees, in the COM
missions appointed by the General Confer
ence, and in our Missionary, Tract, and
other Boards, they have given a vigor to
the prosecution of the work of Methodism
which the ministry would not willingly be
without The President of the late trien-
NAL Convention of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church, in his parting address, bore
testimony that the laity in that body had
sat all times been at once progressive and
eminently conservative that their pres
ence was can effectual preservative against
caste legislation" and that they contributed
"largely to the dignity, courtesy, and high
character of the General Convention. -
American Churches are to-day inquiring
earnestly how they can best utilize lay
agencies, and bring fully into the service
of Christ the working energy of their men,
bers. If other Protestant bodies are now
moving in the direction Of closer union
of the ministry and laity, in all Christian
counsels and labors, is it time for our
Church either to stand still or to move in a
direction precisely opposite9 God is every
where drawing pastors and people more
! closely together. and if Methodism feels the