New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-14
LAY REPRESENTATION.
MEETING IN OPPOSITION TO THE INTRODUCTION
OF LAY DELEGATES TO THE GENERAL CON
FERENCE OF THE NJ. Il. CHURCH.

MEETING IN OPPOSITION TO THE INTRODUCTION
OF LAY DELEGATES TO THE GENERAL con-
FERENCE OF THE NJ. Il. CHURCH.
A meeting of those members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church who opposed to the introduction OF
Law Delegates to the General Conference held last
evening in the South secondst. NJ. L. Church About 100
persons were In attendance. Prayer offered by the
Rev Mr. Hatfield, after which the Chairman, James W.
Bradley said that the object Of the meeting was 10
hear from some Of our friends in opposition to Lay Dele
gation~ The Rev. Mr. SAKE said that he had been
practically ayman for ten years and thought ne oIEeu
Where Is the necessity for change, he asked We haI
minister who desired IT, OF be,t ' Iod f
the same There agitation In the church ana or no
law repTesentation lie said that ministers give up GER
tain rights, and in return should nave the igh's ,ey
tam uuinterfered with Influential business men VIII
not be willing to take the time to attend the conferences
and such will be able to go are such as ogI 10
Inv The interference OF aymen in It's management, anu
putting the affairs Of the church more ana more NY
toi lends viii Increase these troubles. The Rev. MI
ATans said he was not champion either way, but he
had some doubts on the subject Inc Gar5 nmd Tho
s%bme success of the century OF their rule shows o
high wisdom Of the policy they naus of the
rich Men bunder into wealth, ana gGt rlcn ny iuo I
and then want to rule eyeIything me W liz ovr
satisfied. Strike out 100 wealthy men iio VIZ arc
nent and n would dead as the antldluHahs hlo
The most troublesome men IN etf,y S region These
are the men who favor Lay DelegallOns-e WIZ y,
sppCclcs and sign documents IN us lhNuI'
he pryed good Lord deliver us" The preachers ~
snch by Divine call" Is it right that laynen should
sit on the same seats with them as their equls anu
pecrs1 Are they equal in the sight OF Godi
The Rev DR.. James Porter was the next speaker DI'
Porter is the most prominent opponent or lay delegation
in tLe denominations and last published pamphlet
on the subject the divine right OF the clergy TO RUE
He was formerly Assistant Book Agent but having tRtd
of reflection to that POSITION he Is now engaged III inc
business Of insurance agency. DR.. Portcrs first point
WAS that the eadcrB OF the lay delegation movement
were the former leaders Of the Pro Slavery party In the
Church who had taken up this question as means OF
rcpairng the power they had lost by the triumph OF the
Abulitionsts. That Is the only reason 1t has Dceh
revived. The increase OF the finances OF INC
Church Is urged as argument. The Wealth
of the church has been gathered by the ministers, and Is
ain controlled by the laymen. There Is legislation m
tho Conferences except spiritual matters Who should
settle where TO but the ministers them
selycsi Law delegation would make slaves OF the poor
ministers lie would not respect minister who would
remain a minister under such circumstances. NO one
would respect a minister who would be mean enough TO
STAY under such government. The speaker criticised
the plan proposed aud said that 10 really gave no IN
crease Of power 10 the dear people NJ
all He also said that IL excluded the
10000 local preachers OF the Church from
membership IN either the Electoral or the General
Conference He spoke Of the expense which Lay Dele
CATION would Involve, and wondered who would pay It
not the Missionary Society. nor the Book Room; they
had burden enough Would the "dear people y
Law Delegation had wel-nigh killed some churches
which had tried IT, and DR. Porter warned his hearers
against LAYING their hands the Church OF God FOR
himself. he said, he did MT 10 did Mt make any
difference TO hun who was Bishop, who was IN power
I'm beyond that" other addresses were made by o
few gentlemen from their seats.