Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-26
THE METHODISTS
Decide to Make Church Display at the Worlds
Fair-Lay Delegates and Ministerial Dele
gates to Sit in Equal Numbers in
the General Conference.

OMAHA, NEB., May 95.-The report
on the Columbian Exposition matter,
demanding Sunday closing, was present
ed to the General Assembly to-day soon
after the session opened. The report
was accepted. A second part recon-
mended the appointment OF a commis-
sion to make a Church exhibit. This
excited some discussion, but was finally
adopted.
The committee on lay representation
reported in favor of equal lay and cler-
ical representation in the General Con-
ference, one lay man and one ministe-
rial delegate for each forty-iye minis
ters in the annual conference. spir-
tied debate ensused followed by decld-
edly close work in ballots.
DR.. Neely called for vote by orders
upon the committee report. Tne result
was: Laymen, for, 143; laymen, against.
administers, for 1877; ministers, against,
lOs. The chair decided that the report
had been adopted.
DR.. Buckley held that the commit
tees plan would make a very large gem
eral conference, but IL would bring
about a scaling down OF the basis OF
representation TO reasonable and
practicable point. DR.. Neely was OPP
posed TO the increase of lay representa-
tion without referring the matter TO the
annual conference He held that the
rank and file OF the ministry should be
consulted upon the question.
DR.. Arthur Edwards, OF Chicago, ad-
vanced the opinion that In the near
Al, ha = N
general conference-a house OF lIymen
and house of clergyman. mo, no"
shouted several members. DIR. Edwards
favored the plan OF the United States
Congress.
DIR. Neely now played parliament
airy trump by calling for vote by or
ders upon the committee repof. The
result stood as follows: Laymen for,
l43: laymen against, IL; ministers for,
i97; ministers against, los. The chair
man held that the report had been
adopted by the concurrent vote OF both
orders. Some of the delegates held
that it required two-thirds majority
of both orders TO carry a vote when
there was a division. The question
was referred TO the Judiciary Commit
tee.
The committee on the next ecumen'
ical conference submitted report In
favor Of having committee appointed
consisting OF eighteen members TO act
upon the matters relating TO the inter
estS Of the Church in the next ecumen-
ical conference. Carried.
The committee on seating the next
general conference submitted report
favorlng the separate seating OF
the laymen and ministerial delegates,
having section set aside for the lay
men. Adopted.
Every ear was bent to catch the re-
port OF the Committee on judiciary,
! touching the prerogatives OF the bishops
at meetings of the book committees
when vacancies were TO be filled. The
Judiciary Committee decided that the
bishops had n right TO discuss questions
before the committee only when the
committee gave them such privilege.
| The bishops had no right TO vote In
meetings OF the book committee. They
might vote upon the action OF the book
committee in their own meetings. and
the bishops might concur or refuse 10
concur In the action OF the book COM
mittee. The bishops have the veto
power upon the action OF the book COM
mittee upon all matters pertaining to
elections, but they have no right to vote
! In the meetings of the book committee.
The report was adopted.