Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-06-03
For the Gsllipolis Journal
Lay Delegation In the N. 3
Church.

VuUItus
This is question that should COM
mand the attention aud most thorough
investigation possible, on the part of
both the ministry and laity Of the
Church, for it is quite evident that the
nature of the question is such that il
appeals to every individual member of
the Church, for all possible watchful-
ness and activity, so that the peace
and prosperity of our common Zion
may not suffer.
1t is not new question in the NJ. E.
Church, for as early as 1928, it was
agitated, not only among the laity, but
the ministry manifested no little interest
in the discussion of the measure, and
the result was not all by any means.
that the ardent admirers of the meas
ure desired, or the opponents foresaw,
for it is manifest that both parties suf-
fered no small loss. Since 1898 till
within few years past. there has not
been much agitation of the question by
either party.
The General Conference of 1900
which body is composed entirely Of
clergymen--by formal vote expressed
its willingness to admit lay delegates
within its body, whenever the laity as
membership, desire it; and the Gener-
al Conference of 1864 concurred in this
action. This action on the part of the
ministry must show that the clergy as
a body, are not opposed to ''Lay Dele
CATION" when the membership of the
Church desire it. The question was
submitted to the membership of the
Church for an expression, and that ex-
preston when taken, was adverse to the
measure; consequently, the ministry
have thought, and still think, that so
long as the membership do not desire
the measure, it is not only inexpedient
but perhaps hazardous to adopt it.
But the General Conference of 1868
still anxious to hear another expression
from the membership of the Church,
has submitted the question again, ask
ing that vote be taken during this
month, in all of OF the Societies of the
Church.
We must not overlook the fact that up
to this time the membership of the
Church have not desired LAY Delega-
ton"
am not unaware of the fact, that pc
titions have been circulated among the
membership of the Church; and that
the General Conference has been petit
toned on the question; but it is obvi-
GUS that the moral influence of the petit
tions must fail, unless they compose
quite a respectable percentage of the
membership; the largest, as yet, COM
posed but twenty thousand, out of
membership of no less than one mil
lion communicates; and it is a fact
that a number of these petitioners were
not members of the Church.
We are not making an argument, pro
or con, on the question of "Lay Delega-
tion," but simply showing where the
clergy stand, as body. Neither will
we enter into a discussion of the legal
questions, that may or may not, be con-
nected with the measure. 1t is very
manifest, however, that the General
Conference cannot, by majority, vote
to change the organic law of the Church,
as that "Lay Delegation" can be ad-
mitted into that body, or into any 9th
er legislative department ofthe Church;
every person who is conversant with
the discipline" of the NJ. E. Church,
must admit that the provisions therein
made, for change of the organic law
of the Church; are such that no dele
gated body, without the authority of
the Annual Conferences can change
any of the organic laws of the Church;
hence, this undoubtedly is one of the
reasons why the General Conference"
hiss made the record it has, on the ques-
ton of clay Delegation" The Gen
eral Conference instead of recommend
ing the measure to the Annual Confer
ences-which bodies hold the legal
power of this question, as well as all
other questions touching change of
the organic law of the Church-for
their concurrence or non concurrence,
has first called on the membership of
the Church for an expression, and,
though their expression cannot settle
the legal question, relative to the intro
duction of Lay Delegation" into the
General Conference, yet the expression
which they may give must go very far
to settle the question for the present
at least; and may we not hope that it
will be such as to make it finality.
There are not less than six hundred
thousand communicates in the M. E..
Church, who are legally entitled to
vote on the question of Lay Delega-
tion;" and it must appear obvious to all
that if, for instance, but twenty-five
thousand of this number-this being
the number of petitioners praying for
this measure at the session of the last
General Conference should vote for it,
and though this should be majority |
of votes cast, yet it is quite probable
that the moral influence will be so small !
when compared with the mass of the
membership of the Church, that the
Annual Conferences will still think it
hazardous to authorize the General
Conference of 1879 to make any change
in the organic law of the Church, by
which LAY Delegation can be ad-
mitted into that body. The ministry
of the Church. as a body, in their leg
islative capacity, have ever sought to
know the wishes of the laity of the
Church on this question, and they pro-
pose to take no legal measures for a
change in the polity of the Church by
which the laity can be represented in
the General Conference, till that desire
is expressed.
As to the merits or demerits of "Lay
Delegation" much has been said on
both sides, and ably so to; and it is very
manifest that if Tone halfis well found
4 L 4 L II