The national Republican., 1869-03-10
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

streets. The church wac about half filled
with m audience Of ladies and gentlemen,
among whom were noticed many prominent
Methodists Of this city. Al 8 o'clock the
Ian, Of Iowa, who had been chosen to pre-
side, and at his request Rev. DR.. Phelps
offered up fervent prayer.
The chairman then said that the chief
object OF this meeting was to listen TO nd
dresses from eminent gentlemen on the sub
ject OF the representation Of the laity In the
councils Of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
As the affairs OF the Church are at present
managed, the ministry In the annual and
general conferences are the ultimate arbitcrs
In the settlement Of questions arising on
points Of church discipline. The ministry
is the sole power that has the direction and
management Of the machinery and work Of
the Church.
It has been questioned by many whether
or not the admlttance Of the lalty as a part of
the governing power would not Increase the
efficiency Of the church. OF course there Is
something to be said and arguments to be
advanced on both sides Of this question.
And 1t was to hear one side OF the question
the congregation had assembled. II has been
said on the one side that the Methodist
Church, under the government of the min
istry, had been blessed with great power for
good, and that under the management Of the
nt.an
should justify the belief that the miniStry
was sufficient to control Its workings. This
>ay be all true, but would not the infusion
N: " a.. enterprising spirit Of the lay members
y, ~ ' ho c "rch create new yigor and Increase
It's efficiency, ,c..
had Jcsired the seyera, societies OF the Church
throughout the country to debate the question
among themselves, and express their lndg-
ment BY the individual votes OF the members.
II was proper, therefore, that the several con-
grcgations should meet for the discussion of
the proposition.
Mr.. Harlan introduced, as the hrst speak u,
Rev. DR.. McKendrec Riley, Of Covingtcn,
Kentucky, who said that Il must be Is
take-he was not layman, but one OF the
travelling ranks Of the ministry; and IL might
not be considered altogether proper that lie,
q minister, should be found contending that
the laity Of the Methodist Church were en-
titled to and should have voice In Its coun-
ellis and government. He had thought much
on. the subject, and had finally arrived at the
conclusion that the change should be made
speedily, and that II would result greatly TO
increase the efficiency Of the Church.
The question Of lay representation In the
annual and general conferences had been
agitating the church almost ever since lis
organization, and he was inclined TO the
belief that the laymen are more 10 be blamed
than any one else for their non-admlttauce.
He did not believe that the admission Of the
laity would destroy one Of the prerogatives
of the ministry; he did not believe that 1t
would weaken the power OF the church ia
admit laymen to voice in the councils, but
was persuaded that the power for good would
be increased; and, believing this, he ndvo
Gated the change. There was nothing in tn
Scriptures TO authorize the ministry 10 hav
ecclesiastical control Of matters relating {,
church government.
1t is true that when the apostles were ap
pointed they had great powers conferred
upon them; but this was necessary owing Il
the crude state of civilization and the Chris
tian religion. IL became necessary after
wards that their work should be enlarged
and therefore they were instructed by tn
Divine Spirit to choose certain men Of goo
report who would act as deacons and al
sist them. So II was In the beginning OF tn
Methodist Episcopal church. Our father
had vast power given them, and exercise,
great prerogatives. They could admit tht
membership of the Church, and they coul,
dismiss a member whichever in the judgmen
of one OF them 1t was necessary; but tha
soon changed for as the Church advance,
Improvement was made. Committees wer
appointed toinvestigate breaches of the law
and an opportunity given au offender to d,
fend himself. So 1t has progressed; and no
the last thing TO be done to increase the sy
TEN of church progress is to take in the va
talent of the laity and admit them to q volC
in the government Of the Church.
For the Church not to do this is to exhib
lack OF conformity to the spirit Of the r,
publican institutions of this country. 4
some length the speaker reviewed the yarlou
attempts made In past years to procure
representation Of the lalty In the councils {
the Church. The men who made these Al
,t,,h0 ., =
precipltatc, and undertook too much. Thei
attempts were different from the moyemen
now IN operation. He believed that tn
hand of God was directing the present at
tempt of the lalty, and they would succeed
In the Presbyterian, the Episcopallan, in
deed all the churches save the Methods
Episcopal and the Roman Catholic, lay REL
resentation was allowed, and 1t operated fc
good. Are there not men enough In Ii
laity of the Methodist Church with as muc
ability, as much piety as the laity of 9th,
church organizations And were they NJ
as capable Of administering the business
the Church as the lay delegates In 9th,
churches Men can be found In the secula
walks OF life of sufficient judgment an
ability to direct and manage the affairs {
State, and why are they not of sufficler
ability to aid In governing the affairs of III
Methodist Episcopal Church Where is th
danger OF bringing into the conferences ,
the Church these lay delegates, whose ente
prise and yigor would do much to increa
It's efficiency The speaker then traced Il
great improvements and progressive NOV
ments which are discernible In church al
school extension. The old Quaker-fro
churches of past years have given way
these magnificent temples. Colleges q
springing up all over the country under Il
auspices of the Methodist conferences. TT
wealthy men of the laity, the middle ella
and the poorer class, are all contributing
these great achievements, and why should n
these laymen be more interested In the wo
by having a voice In the work
The tremendous publishing interests of 4
Methodist Church should be aided by 1
shrewd business men of It's laity; and not
the ministers, who are not calculated for d
work. There Is no contrOverting the stat
ment. The secular interests Of the Chur,
would be better managed by business Ia
men than by the Minister'S and If they we
placed In the hands of such men, the mini
ters wonld have more time TO attend TO the
legitimate duties. As an evidence of so
fogyism," the speaker mentioned the fa
that the book concern In New York WI
located away down In Mulberry street, o,
Ui the business centre, and not In one of Il
most prominent business localities, as
should be. The Western book concern al.
was located at Eighth and Market street.
- N'HN 'hHNtl, Wnen IL should be down 9
routth street. The infusion of "new blood
IN the management Of these affairs by havin
shrewd business laymen In charge, won
MAKE great change in the yearly exhibit
Of these institutions.
Methodism has ACCOMPLISHED mucb
went out with the first wave Of ciyilizotio
in this country. The speaker lad seen ~
evidences blossom like the rose " ma, A.
the active working Of the ministry and iai,
Of the Church. lie believed God woulI
his wisdom, bring about the desired resni
Let the laymen of the Church be zealo,
and faithful, and trust In the Lord, and SO,
etime will arrive when they will be allow
avoice in the deliberations for the adyanc
ment aud prosperity Of the NJ. Z. Churc
Senator Wiley, OF West VirginIa, W
then introduced by the chairman. He sa
tnAt ne desired tito be understood that W hi
ever was the result Of the present moyeme
10 obtain lay representation, he was In fay
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church, Law del
CATION or no lay delegation, and he propos,
TO fight II out on that line il il TOOK him a
his life. In commencing his remarks ii
Senator expressed the warmcst feelings
love and admiration for his Church and Ii
ministers, which no event could ever destro
The fact stands prominent forth that in II