The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-07
The Electoral Conference Of the M, e,
Church.

Church.
As no newspaper has given a report of
the Electoral Conference of Laymen held
at Moline on the Oath ult., while the Cen
trail. Illinois Conference of the NJ. E.
Church was in session there, we have made
inquiry concerning 1t and learn that the
discipline of the NJ. E. Church provides
that two lay delegates, to the General
Conference of the church, which meets
every four years, shall he chosen by an
Electoral Conference of laymen, to be held
in connection with each annual conference
at its:last meeting prior to the assembling
of the General Conference.
This Electoral Conference is composed
of one layman from each circuit or station
within the bounds Of the Annual Confer
ence, which are chosen by the last Quarter
ly Conference of each charge previous to
the meeting of heAnnual Conference. E.
ID. Sweeney, Esq, was the delegate from
Rock Island.
The General conference is the legisla-
tive body of the church, and is the only
power that can change its discipline or
church government. Lay representation
is new feature in the polity of the
church, it having been adopted only about
six years since. 1t was question long
agitated, and fnallys adopted by large
majority of the church voting upon it.
The lay delegates consist of two laymer
for each Annual Conference; and the
clerical delegates of one member for every
forty-fve members of the Annual Confer.
ence.- There are about 80 conferences II
the United States, and there will be in thu
next General Conference about one laymar
to two clergymen.
The Electoral Conference met at 10 O.
clock A. NJ, in the Baptist church in Mo
line, which had been kindly furnished b,
that denomination for the purpose. TIL,
conference was called to order and a com
mittee on credentials, and one on perma,
nent organization. were appointed. TIL
former reported SO delegates present an,
entitled to seats. The committee on OF
ganization reported the names of Judge J
E H. Culver, of Pontiac, for chairman, an
; Jesse L. Knowlton, Of Peoria. for seere
tary. The conference then adjourned t
. meet at 2P.M.
On the reassembling of the conference a
Informal ballot was had for delegates. Tn
, prominent candidates were Judge Hama
( man, of Knoxville; Col. Logan, of Cartf
: age; Daniel McWilliams, of Dwight; Jess
L. Knowlton, of Peoria; and E. W. Sper
). Ger, of Rock Island. A formal ballot Wa
y, then had, which resulted in the choice (
r Judge Culver as one of the delegate
# Mr. E. W. Spencer, of this city, had It'll
e next highest number of votes, and, {
s motion, was declaredathe other delegat
by reclamation,
After the election of delegates, resoi
:, tons were offered declaring that the co
II ference was in favor of the modification
of the system of Presiding E!ders,-tl
modification OF this system being one
- the important questions now before Il
, church, and which will be in some way &C
- ed upon by the next General Conferenc
" These resolutions were promptly laid up'
&c the table, thus showing that the lay ell
;" ment of the Central Illinois Conference
u loyal to this old institution of the churc
&c The conference then adjourned, the
Il being no further business beforeit
~ The conference to which Judge Gully
and Mr.. Spencer are elected delegates,
appointed to meet at st. Louis on the fl
d. day of May, 1876, but there is large pc
es ton of the church in favor of changi
an the place of meeting to Baltimore. III
It, conference will be the most important Q
an held for many years, aud will be look
mo- forward to with great anxiety by t
% church,