New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-03
THE OMAHA CONFERENCE.
1T BEGINS WORK BY SEPARATING CLERICAL
AND LAY DELEGATES
PRoPOTTiON-STqRRING SPEECHES FOR AND
AGAINST THE INNOVATION MADE
RIGHTS OF RESERVES
Ter TELEGRAPH TO THE THbUNE..


Ter TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE:
Omaha, Neb MAY 2-At the last General Meth
0dlst Conference in 1855. the delegates had haidly
taken their seats before they were plunged into bat
Tie over the momentous woman question: This
morning. directly after the rolcall at the opening OF
the twonty-frst conference. fight was pretiptated
the question Of equal lay and ministerial represeh
tation BY q motion offered by minister. Pos'mas-
ter Field. Of Philadelphia the laymen's Champion
was ready with the amendment calling for separate
seats which prepared the Saturday night eau
Gus. and spirited contest ensued. AS one deiegd'e
remarked ten speeches were made. FIVE In faVOr OF
separation. four against. and one on both sides MI
Field. Dr. j. NJ. Buckley. the Editor OF hThc Christian
Advocate Judge Murray. OF Altoona. and eX-Gov-
emor Evans OF Colorado. who gave his name 10
Evanston ILL.,. were the leading advocates OF separa
ton. opposed to them were the scholarly DR.. Nicely
DR.. Y. G. Queal. Bishop Newman and Amos Slnk'c'
Of Kentucky. who built Methodist church at Coving
ton at his own expense. One speaker no sooner sal
down than dozen others arose shouting Tor recos
milton. and the aged Bishop Bowman. who presided
air OF mild expostulaton. 1t was soon seen.
however that many ministers favored the separation
OF the aymen and although the opponents OF the plan
tonight msnfully and The session prolonged con
sideruby. majority OF both lay and clerical delegates
decided In favor Of separate seats for the two orders
at tho future sessions In Exposition Hall, Tie lay
delegates for the first time since their admission 10
the General Conference IN 1871. Accordingly NAV slt
together by themselves.
The Conference met In Boyd's Theatre. The stage
was set with pnatial box scene' for n Russian
mclodrama In which Rhea appears tonight. and here
amid prancing cupids and FlOrentine vases the SX-
teen reverend bishops sat In their skull caps and
spectacles, Bishop Bowman occupying a tasseed arm
chair in the centre The floor was reserved for del
egatcs, but there were many women I'm the crowded
galleries and boxes. The coored representatives sat
we'll In in he
Stage besides Bishop Bowman. included Bishops s. NJ
Merrill, Of Chicago: Il. 5. FOsteT Boston; 4. &.
Andrews. New-York C. D. Foss. Philadelphia J. F.
Hurst. Washington. D. c.; II. W. Warren. Denver:
W. F. Mallalieu. NewOrleans: ". y. Nnde. TopeNa
Kan.: Charles II. Fowler San Francisco: John NJ.
Wnlder. Cincinnati John ~ Vincent. Buffalo; James
n. Fitzgerald. Minneapolis Isaac W. Joyce Chat
tanooga John p Neyman. Omaha; Daniel A. Good
sell, Fort Worth Tex, and two missionary bishops
William Taylor, OF Africa md j. NJ. Thorburn. OF
India With these were Chaplain c. c. McCabe. OF
NETWORK; DR.. John Lanahan. OF Baltimore; DR.. W. T.
Moulton. Of England the British Wesleyan delegate
ard 4. j. Palmer, OF New-York.
Promptly at o o'clock Bishop Newman rcad the
1o1st and 122d Psalms from John Wesley's Bible
bearing wesley's autograph the fly leaf, which was
presented to the Methodist Church by Samuel Waddy
IN English Member Of Parliament. A hymn was sung:
bishop Foss offered prayer; Bishop Merrill read another
passage Of Scripture; Dr. Parker led with another
hymn: DR.. John Lnnahan. of Baltimore. prayed and
then Dr. s. Monroe. OF Pennsylvania the secretary OF
the General Conference Of 1885, called the roll. 451
delegates answering their names. DR.. a. b. Leonard
Of York. nominated DR.. Monroe secretary OF
the Conference. This was promptly seconded. DR..
John W. Shank, Of Omaha asked for assent by accamn
ton Manley S. Hard, of Wyoming was also nom
mated and DR.. Buckley. of New-York, called for
ballot. DR.. Monroe received 343 votes, and was de-
clared elected. Mr. Hard and Charles j. Hudson were
selected assistant secretaries. The rules Of the Inst
Conference we're adopted for use until new ones arc
framed.
The laymen's battle began when DR.. Nicely moved
that the different delegates draw lots for their seats
In the Exposition Hall.
Postmaster Field at once jumped mp with his rsolu-
ton calling separate seating on the same floor for
the lay delegates, and offered IL an amendment.
DR.. Alfred Wheeler, OF Pittsburg. tried to have n
committee appointed consisting Of one member from
each conference. to report the whole subject but
the effort fruitless. Then everybody plumed him.
self for fight.
"Mr. Fields motion is good one,' said the white.
haired Lanalan, of Baltimore. pacdly. IL con-
graduate the laymen most heartily on their request.
have seen for twenty that they placed at
great disadvantage The ministers shall be glad 70
sct their request"
al want to say that DO not congratulate the lay
men," retortcd Amos shinke, bclligcrently. Ninety
seven out Of 1876 nymcn only at that meeting on
Saturday and twenty -four Of those said they wanted
to sit with their delegation. Have you heard q
any difhculty disturbance from our association
Sir. Chairman what are we here for To pass laws
for church government and don't want to be set
aside like the sheep from the goats. I want the I'D
vice Of my ministerial delegates, and certainly want
to give them some advice. separate and little
screen would make two distinct houses. II you want
US TO 60 away say so; but unless You shall SO.
WON'T Pray let the lay delegates who want to sit
with the ministers do So"
"Mr Fields amendment offers no idea Of IN
tagonism,7 demonstrated Judge Murray, Of Altoona.
GAN we want is to have influence made efficient
by tho removal Of certain nconvcnicnces and obsrc-
lions TO legislative work. The individuality OF 100
men seated among over 300 Is practically lost II
this amendment prevails then confer together
which heretofore has been impossible. We so
united ii that have voted three to ono in favor
Of Mr. Fields proposition"
I" Unless this request Is granted, said Mr. Field
imprcssively, IL really don't what business we
have here as laymen. This General Conference is
going 70 make an In Church history and all
laymen ask is 10 share, we ought. in your great
burden
I'VE are one Church, said DIR. Queal. awe have
but one aim. Then what wrong Is TO be rghtcd or
what right secured by this movement do not
see that aymen have any interests imperllled But
II they assert that they not fairly treated we
want to have II clearly understood. We not
political convention and not Congress- II
there different sides In the Methodist BODY We are
travelling on the shelving shore that will wreck us
socn. We must be one shall cease TO be as we
are. am surprised that my friend Lanahan should
be so radical In his Views. II the laymen US as
much they profess, let them consent to sit with
u.s."
Then DIT. Buckley took of his skull cap and came
down to the orchestra rail- I" i advocate, as a con-
sentative, the granting this request he said facing
the audience "Laymen originally admitted for
four rcasons-that they might be interested and edu
Gated that might benefit by their counsels, and
that they might constitute an effective check on the
legislative power Of single house. The truth IT, Mr..
President you know to-day all the ministers the
moment they rise; you don't know in ten Of the
laymen. The ministers practised public speakers
tho laymen not. separate seating would Obvste
every difficulty and do no HARM and the laymcn de-