The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-03-15
KANSAS LAY CONFERENCE
Delegates Elected.

EMPoRIA, KAN, Mar. 8, 1872.
The Lay Electoral Conference o
the NJ. E. Church, for the State o
Kansas, met in the NJ. E. church, il
the city of Emporis, Kansas, at s
o'clock a. m. j. j. Wright, dele
gate from the Emporia station, re
ceived the Conference with short
address of welcome, as follows:
BRETHREN OF THE 1sT LAY Con-
FERENCE OF KANSAS AS the dele
gate from the Emporia charge, and
in behalf of the Methodists of this
city, 1 extend to you a cordial well
come. We feel it to be no ordinary
honor to haYe this Conference as.
sembled here. am glad that the
last General Conference saw it right
to open the way for an expression
by the people upon Lay Representa-
ton. The final ballot of that body
gave q showing of 231 for, to
against the proposition.
The Methodists throughout the
land said by their votes, zoe are tor
1t. The church in its action on
this subject has evinced determin-
alton TO walk shoulder to shoulder
with the progressive and liberal
spirit of the times. Our minister
al brethren, sensitive to every whis-
per that comes from the great Meth
odist army of the land, and accus-
toned to watching from the bull
warks of Zion, saw that the time
had fully come for this forward
movement, and the order was given
with an implicit faith in the right
fullness of the final issue.
Both the laymeR and the minis.
ters are required to make 3 COM
plete church. And now in future
we viii share more perfectly with
our ministerial brethren the respon-
sibilities of Methodism. By par
ticipation in the proceedings of the
General Conferences, attachments to
the church of our choice will be
strengthened, and cooperation in
all its governmental affairs will
give to the Iaity an added sense of
their greater nearness to every relig-
ious interest.
look over this body to-day re-
Numbering that it represents over
1900 of the population of this new
commonwealth. Here on the west
ern rim of civilization they are
como to help plant christian princi-
Piles, and to aid in laying the foun-
dalton of great and prosperous
State.
The self sacrifice which it takes to
break away from lifelong assecia-
tions and kindred ties and loves,
and go out on the frontier among
strangers, to make new surround
ings and new homes, requires brave
hearts and daring spirits. / feel
that / welcome such men to-day.
More than this, l feel that / well
come those who are the friends of
our Divine Master: those who are
trying to do successful battle in the
army of our God. Brethren, es-,
teem 9 membership on this floor an
honorable distinction.
This IS an Electoral Conference !;
hence our proceedings will be brief;
but the business of our assembling
is important. While we come to-
gether as strangers, I trust that We
will find, before we separate, that we
are drawn into closer fellowship and
stronger christian sympathy
Again 1 welcome You.
On motion Of j. j. Wright John
W. Roberts, OF OskaIoosa, was
elected temporary President.
The President then read the 18th
chapter of Romans; the Conference
Joined in singing "a charge to keep
1 have" and the President led in
prayer.
On motion of w. W. Stewart
one delegate from each Presiding
Elders district was appointed .
committee on credentials. The fol-
lowing were appointed: Edward
Allen, Ardon Mead, w. W. Stew