Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-05-27
RIGHTS OF LAYMEN.
CONTINUANCE OF THE FIGHT
AT OMAHA,
Investigations I'm the Air-Educational
Societies Alleged to be Too Lavish In
Their Expenditures-T o-Day's Pro.
ceedlnRs.

] Ihelr expenditures To-Day'6 Pro
ceedInRs.
OMAHA, Neb., Nav 14.-Bishop Johr
p. Newman presided over yesterdays
session of the Methodist conference
and W. X. Ilalstead of Indiana con
Quoted the devotional exercises 10
was raining and the hall was damp nd
cold, so that hardly a quorum was
present when the conference was called
to order. The action of the
committee on Episcopacy in re
fusing to recommend the election
of additional bishops was the topic
of discussion among the delegates dur
ing the reading of the minutes The
decision comes like n flash of lightning,
as the candidates had all along figured
on more influence than the bishops,
! and they had no idea the Episcopal
board could thwart their desires
The episcopal fight out of the way the
scramble for Off les under the book
concern will become more earnest
! DIR. Spence, of Holston, asked that
two assistant secretaries of the Freed
mems Aid society be appointed to assist
in the work. The request wrs referred,
and on motion of DIR. Hunt the honor.
airy secretary (Mr. Rust) of that society
was given a seat on the platform.
A special committee of four laymen
and three ministers was asked by DR..
Depaw of Pennsylvania to inquire into
the feasibility of consolidating the ed
ucational societies. DIR. Depaw de-
, clared that during the last year the ed
vocational societies had collected $751;
673 at an expense of between $40, 600
and $50, 900. He denounced this ratio
of expenditure as unbusinesslike and
dema nded that the committee be APP
pointed and instructed to make
thorough investigation.
Mr.. Pyne stated that the committee
courted an open, thorough and efficient
investigation and it would show that
every dollar expended was for the
good of the church and society.
The committee on Freedmens Aid
and Southern Educa tional society was
directed by a resolution to inquire into
the finance of that society, as it was al
legged that its expenditures have in
creased rapidly without a proper
tional increase in the schools
or their efficiency. 1t was
further alleged that while white
schools had multiplied rapidly, but few
or no negro schools had been secured.
The special order of the day being
taken up, DIR. Goucher resumed the
floor and addressed the conference on
the report of the constitutional COM
mittee. In 179s, he said, the first gen.
eral conference was held. In IL were
no laymen. The ministers had built
up the church and the laymen claimed
no representa- ton in its government.
In 1908 a constitution was accepted
and every conference since then had
met under its provisions and limita-
ton, thus making the constitution in
effect a constitutional enactment. In
regard to the plan of lay delegates,
the doctor said the constitution of 1908
allowed the laymen as we'll as minis
ters delegates.
DR. Bristol of Chicago argued that
there was no such thing as two const-
buttons and argued that it would be
impossible to have a constitution for
the conference and one for the church.
He held that under such leasoning the
church would have to derive it's life
rum bhc BCnCldi conference. w ldb Is
needed, he declared. lis that we should
decide what is the constitution of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and once
decided it will be forever"
AS he took his seat at least twenty
five men sprang to their feet, demand
ing recognition. DIR. Brlstol's speech
opened new thought and his oppo-
nents wanted to stifle 1t. Judge Law
renee of Ohio, amid applause, secured
the floor. He said there is no such a
thing as n constitution of the general
conference. There was solely con-
stitution of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
After much desultory and rather
acrimonious discussion, Dr. Graw
earned the thanks and heartfelt graft
tude of every one by moving the pre-
vious question, which was ordered.
The amendment to the amendment
and the amendment were both voted
down and vote on the substitute of
DR. Goucher was taken up, accepted
and adopted,