Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-05

renniai General Conference of the Method
ist Episcopal Church was called to order at
Boyd's Opera House this morning by
Bishop Bowman. MIR. S. Monroe was
elected permanent secretary. The entire
morning session was devoted to d discus
sion OF the proposition to scat the lay dele
gates separate from the clergy.
During the discussion, DIR. John Lana
han Of Baltimore, said he wished to CON
graduate the laymen upon the demand.
He. had always believed that the laymen
had been at great disadvantage in sitting
among the ministers in the conference.
he believed that the laymen would have
more influence and power in the confer
ence by being seated separately. He be-
heved that the ministers would be pleased
10 have the laymen seated separately il
they wished to have it so.
Mr.. oinkle of Kentucky, vigorously COM
batted the idea of separate seating II do
nor congratulate the laymen upon this
demand for separate seating" said Mr..
Sinkle. Il know that we had the meeting
the other night and II out OF about 100
lAymen voted for the separate seating
They wanted the sheep and the goats sep
arated. Some thought they should be
called sheep and lambs. We'll, want to
plead Tor the lambs. want the laymen
and ministers seated together. want the
advlce OF the ministers and ] want the
ministers to get advice occasionally from
the laymen. IL we are seated separately il
Will have the appearance of antagonism.
The Methodist church is not divided
body. 1t is one church for ministers and
laymen. If we laymen are showed off in
one corner, we shall appear to be inter
lopers when we go over to speak to the
ministerial delegates. want equal renra.
sentation in the conference for the law
men, remember, but | am opposed to the
separation of the lay and ministerial dele
gates. Please, brethren, do not separate
the iaymen from the ministers. don't
want to be separated from the ministers. |
have never yet been advised in general
conference to do Il wrong thing BY a min
lister. hope, brethren, this resolution will
carry. III IS wrong step and we shall re-
greet It Il the laymen and ministers are sep
arated'
DR.. J. NJ. Buckley, editor OF the Chris
uan .adoocdte OF New York city, said the
object of giving laymen representation In
the conference was not to increase the
size OF the body, but to secure the assist
ance oil iaymen in the framing Of the laws
OF the church. Had the laymen been given
q falr chance to exercise equal power with
the ministers? DR.. Buckley thought not,
He recounted the history of conference
legislation npon the subject, and held thar
the laymen had been handicapped by fail
ing TO get separate vote in the conference
when they had demanded it. Nine-tentbs
OF the !aymen," said he attend but one
general conference, but the ministerial
delegates usually go to conference after
conference, and the bishops who preside
know them, The bishops are not ac-
qualnted with the laymen, and when thew
arise on the floor of the conference along
with half a dozen ministers, what is the
usual result? The presiding officer USUALLY
recognizes some ministerial delegate and
the layman sits down.
DR.. Lewis G. Curtis OF Chicago said that
it was simply question of privilege for
the laymen and not OF compulsion. If
they wanted TO sit by tn emselyes. the min
listers could not do less than TO grant their
request.
+. IL. Roof of Buffalo, layman, spoke
IN opposition to the separate seating
scheme. He wished to see harmony and
unity all through, and he believed that
separate seating would result in n sem
blance, at least, of discord and lack of
unity of purpose
Ex-Governor Evans of Colorado stated
that somebody had evidently been scared
before they were hurt. There seemed TO
be little, apprehension that they were not
all members OF the same church lie
couln not understand why the ministers
were afraid that the laymen think it wise
u condemn a thing Just because il was
Proposed by layman of the conference,
ana hoped the ministers would see that
There was danger in voting against the
resolution.
After a long discussion, during which
many amendments and COMMUNICATIONS
were made, the conference decided to allow
Jay ueieeales VINO so desired to select their
seats separate from the ministerial dele
gates.
On motion of DR.. Pullman. a Section of
me nall was set apart for the delegates and
lhen the choice Of seats by lot was COM
menced.
"A colored brother, Rev. II. +. Gillian of
missouri, secured the first seat and took
Sne pest one ~ the house, amid much
laughter. The drawing of seats progressed
put +. }. Young OF North Dakota took
unbrage because his name came not, and
PLAINLY stated that there was some
shenanigan with the hat and quite a
heated colloquy ensued. At 6 o'clock ali
lhe seats had not been assigned and quite
number were insinnating that they are
not seI.inB ialr treatment. Praise God
from Whom All Blessings Flow was
sung, and the delegates adjourned until
tomorrow.
WELCOME RECEPTION.
Tonight the delegates and visitors wore
given a reception by the mayor and city
oiheers' The meeting was called 10 order
py blshop Newman, Of Omaha and after
the usual devotional exercises Nlavnr
george L. licinis delivered the address of
welcome in which he extended the hosti-
their friends.
President Davis eff the city council
spoke Of Our City government detail
ing the history Of Omaha from its birth to
the present day, and explaining the
machinery by which the government Is
managed, lie spoke Of the phenomenal
growth Of Omaha, which in q decade had
grown from village oil l,O10 souls To the
metropolis inhabited by $4,000 pcopie
and closed with words Of welcome.
Mt. r. D. l.stabroak, whose fame us All
orator extends even to the national capitol.
SPOKE on "On Guests and Ourselves Fl
Inc young man words We're heartily an
plauded, and after his allotted time Had
Deen up lie was urged tn 20 on
western MetnuulsmN wa, the theme of
an excellent speech Nv Judge jacob taw-
cett' lie described the trials ami hard
Ships OF the western circuit rider and dwelt
upon the great influence which Aiethodism
now eXerts in the west.
The response To the speeches was by
bishop Bowman. whose lovable counter,
ADce Won the hearts Of all. He spoke al
the doubt with Which The conference ,yas
given to Omaha, but stated that uiI ,ln.bts
nan been dispelled by the haspitable treat
ment accorded them
Resolutions were then presented to the
mayor AMI bishops, after which r0lresa-
nunts were served in tie banquet nan
aulolnlng and All hour spent III making
new friendships and renewing Old ones.
OMAHA, NEB., May 3.-Thc second day's
meeting Of the Quadrcnnial Methodist
Episcopal Conference WAS opened With
Bishop Merrill Of thicago III tile char.
The galleries and baironii., Vpre er,,vfal