The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-13
THE LAY ELECTORAL CONFERENCE.


Immediately after the adjournment OF the Annual
Conference the lay delegates took possession OF the
Dody OF the church, aud having previously appointed
Judge Tallman, OF P0ughKeepsie, temporary Chair
man,
Bishop AMES according to Instructions pre-
sented the greetings OF the ministers to their lay
brethren. The Bishop pleasingly alluded 10 the
change which had neen 30 tremendously effected In
the polty Of the Church. Methodism, he said was
inheritance, not creation OF theirs ana the CON.
peteness of legislation consisted In the Judgment OF
the people sanctoning every enactment The Church
OF 1872 was very different from the Church OF II sc
or 1902 and the changes that have been effected In
the government and polity OF Metnodlsm have
kept pace with the Will and judgment OF the
people. lie had no knowledge OF another
instance In civil or ecclesiastical life
wherein the governing powers were 80 ready and
willing TO share their authority and responsibility
as the ministers are In this instance, to share botn
with their lay brethren. The habits Of thought
different with ministers and laymea. The lawyer
must have his lee before ne undertakes case; the
merchant the price or his goods before Ne parts
Win them; but The minister gives to tue Church
his service aud his time and talents, and the laiy
are under obligation TO paw tnem one dollar.
slct,' added The Bishop, III never knew fewer bad
economy And he believed no other denomlna
ton had trespassed upon this patent or peculiar
usage OF MeIhodlsm lie was glad 10 know that The
lay delegates uld not claim tler present position
az a right or q privilege, but SIMPLY asked to be
al lowed TO share the burdens and Responsibilities OF
the Church with the ministry, and TO be made more
useful IN carrying forward It's great enterprises
The Methodist Is now
THE LARGEST CHURCH ON THIS CONTINENT;
It's corporate wealth is greater and its increase
much more than any other denomination. Tie
Presbyterian Church, winch united couple OF
years ago, narked TINS event by collection oi over
So 900, 900 Tor all It's correctional interests This
Bisnop Ame5, without any planning any special
objects being brought before us, nave raised for
Cnurcn purposes alone an annual average lor the
last four years or IS, 250, 000 The Bsnop ackn0w
edged that he Was slow OF neart 10 believe mat the
proposed change TO lay delegatonl vas wise. But
ne confessed himself wiser To-day than he was yes
tcruay. Wise men, lie sad, change their minds
bur tools observation-disclosures ne was now glad
to see the lay brethren what they are ana where
Judge TALLMAN, IN taxing the char, said the
Is not ruled by priests and winch is determined not
TO convert the world by priests alone, but by priests
ana people: ana our duty, said ne is to elect TO
General Conference such men have SQUAD minds
in sound bodies and are soundly converted. ZAP
The REV. Mr. Newman was then appointed Sec
rotary and Father Bronson, OF Wisconsin, led In
prayer,
were then appointed as follows, win their dis
tricts-
on Permanent COMMUNICATIONS H. Smith,
Elenville; James Robson, PoughkeeDsle; john l..
Slole, NewDurg; DR.. Westlake. RalneoecK; George
G. becker, Prattsvllle, and Stephen Barker, New
York district.
on oredentta,s.-James Il: Phillips, Newburg;
Nelson Boucher, Rhinebeck; J. T. harrington, New
YORK; J.. p. More Prattsville; w. NJ. Nelson, Ellen
vile; Or. Harvey, PoughSeepse, and q. Q. North,
at large.
MIR. Brown NewDurg, Judge Groo, Elenville; l..
Reeves frattsviile; A. d. WhitocR, Poughkeepsie;
John Rowe, Rnneoeck, and w. u. Skldmore, at
Recess till two P. NJ.
Upon Resembling the Committee on Permanent
organization reported Tor President OF the COnven-
ton Hiram Forester; Vice Presidents, Messrs. FL
lott Nelson, Ward, Ferris, Groo and Durham; Sec
Nntupn n In
Forester, being introduced In q few words, thanked
the convention, and urged the members 10 Calm.
ness IN trer proceedings.
me rules OF the Annual Conference were then
adopted for the guidance OF the Lay Convention.
The printed list Of delegates was on the suggestion
oil Inc Committee on Credentials, adopted as cor
rect.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The Committee on Resolutions presented a series
when set out by thanking Col for the closer union
between members and ministers OF the QhuTc4
wncn this measure Will produce; and while IL Will
bring the aIty into the cOunseis or the CHURCH, 1t
viii greatly increase Metnodisnl. We han the
Adoption OF lay delegation a happy omen
OF future and evidence OF the disnterested
devotion OF the ministry to The Church, to whose
se,i.sacrificng spirit they bear estnony and nope
that tue lalty VIII emulate them IN tneir devotion
and con ecration TO tae Cnurcn. The resolutions
also tender SYMPATHY TO the Bishops IN the death
OF tner colleagues, ask change IN the tenure OF
the episcopal ONCE, and are strongly opposed 10 ITS
llmitatlon TO four years. They are also opposed TO
declare THAT good falth requires the admission OF
the lay delegates 10 The General Conference under
quent NOTIFICATIONS 10 be adopted by the ministry
and the aity conformity. Tne report was adopted.
An informal ballot was tnen taken Tor two dele
gates TO the General Conference, with following
resuit-Whoie number OF votes cast, 1875, OF wnicn
w. j. Groo received 90 g. &. North "a, j. Il. Cornell
Sc, q. Decker s., an the scattered. Two dele
gates were voted FOR on each ballot. formal bal
iot was then taken, which elected Judge Groo 10y "a
votes A second ballot gave G. {. North 81 ana ].
Il. cornell 63, between these two candidates
the contest prevailed until q q North was elected.
The usual complimentary resolutions We're passed
to the trustees OF the cGurch, the ConvenuoH's
terialuers presiding officers, &c., after which the
Law Electoral Conference adj burned sthc dtc.