The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-03
IN GENERAL CONFERENCE
The Twenty-Fou Quadrennial ses-
sion Of Methodist Episcopal
Church Representatives.
Opened at Omaha Monday Morn-
ing by Bishop Bowman, Who
Will Preside.
Membership OF the BODY ana How Con.
stituted-Important Questions That
Will Bo Considered.

stituted--ImPortAntQ Questions That
| Will Ha Considered,
! OMAHA, May 2.--The twenty-fourth auad-
rennial conference of the Methodist church
convened here this morning by Bishop
Bowman. The entire morning .ossion was
devoted to the discussion of a proposition
to send lay delegates separate from the
clergy.
During the discussion OF resolutions TO
seat lay delegates separately, DIR. John
Lanahan said he believed laymen would
have more influence and power in tho con-
ference BY being seated separately. Mr..
slnkle, OF Kentucky, vigorously combattsd
the idea. He wanted the adyioe of minis
tera and wanted ministers occasionally to
get advice from laymen. He wanted eaual
representation, but opposed separation.
Mr. Murray Of Pennsylvania, said laymsn
merely wished to be placed on an equality
with ministers. Heretofore thev
had lost their individuality. Or.
Buckley. editor OF the Christian
Advocate, thought laymen had not
been given fair chance to exercise equal
power with ministers. Nins-tenths of the
laymen, said he,' attend bat one general
conference, but ministerial delegates 20 to
conference after conference and bishops
VINO preside know them. Bishops are mot
acquainted with iAymen and when they
arise OH the floor with half a dozen ninis-
ters the result is usually that The presiding
officer recognizes some ministerial delegate
and the iaymen sits down. After a long
wrangle the conference decided to allow
delegate laymen who so desired to select
seats separate from the ministers.
The general conference is composed Of
ministers and laymen. Each annual con-
ference elects delegates on the basis OF one
for every forty-fve members, and two lay
delegates. There are about 13O annual
conferences These are situated not only
in the United States, but in Mexico, South
America, Japan, China. India. Africa, Bul-
garia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany. Sweden,
Norway and Denmark. Delegates will be
at Omaha from all these countries.
The meeting Of the legislative body Of
such church must be Of grsatinterest, nos
only to Methodists generally, butto all who
ars concerned in the progress of the Chris
tian religion 1t is a great church-in num-
Der Of members, wealth, resources and
piety-in all the institutions connected with
tbs maintenancs and propagation OF re-
ligion. Its vast army of ministers contains
many of the ablest and most cultivated
preachers on the continent. Its Iaity in
cludes = large number of statesmen, iurists,
lawyers, physicians and teachers Of emi-
nence and influence. The business men OF
every class, also included, embrace thon-
sands of the most prosperous, successful
and active workers of their order.
large number of very important ques-
tiona will como before this body. 1t will
be remembered that the great question that
threw the last general confer snce into suoh
paroxysms was as to whether women should
be admitted to the general conference as
delegates. This same question will un-
doubtedly come before the body early in
the session.
Up to this time no woman has served AZ
delegate in the general conference. Some
were chosen delegates in 1888, but they
were not permitted to take their seats.
to submit two questions 10 the church:
First. to Rthe laity. male and female. in
each congregation. whether women should
be eligible; next, to the conferences,
whether the restrictive rule bearing on the
subject of general conference representa-
election of women unnlistakably legal.
In the first case the laity, by consider
able majority. favored the eligibility of
women. The total vote, however, was but
a small fraction of the entire membership.
1t is alleged that while probably every.
women voted, great number were too in
different to the question to trouble them
selves to vote; yer if they were compelled
to vote they would have voted negatively.
In the question of altering the restrictive
rules majority of three-fourths Of ali the
present and voting was required.
In this case the returns showed small
majority in favor of the eligibility Of
but falling very far short OF the
-equirsd thrse-fourths. The German and
conferences were we'll nigh
,olid against the proposed measure and the
,olore6 conferences largely so. The east
arm conferences were heavily against but
,he western and northwestern were equally
Itrong the other way.
The delegates are probably, by small
msiority in favor of the admission Of
Komen. and they may undertake to estab-
ish their position by the passage of law
% that effect by bare majority vote Of the
general conference. This would cause
great feeling and vigorous opposition and
would subject the church TO no little strain.
The Methodist press has devoted very
nuoh space for the last two years to the
discussion Of this vital question. DIR. j.
Il. Buckley. editor of the New York Chris
ian Advocate, has led the opposition.
md auch men ss DIR. Parkhurst, editor OF
iion's Herald, Boston, apd DIR. Edwards, of
he Northwestern Christian Advocate, Chi
ago. and DIR. Moore. OF the Western Chris
ian Advocate, Cincinnati, have ehum-
'ionsd the cause of ths women. The fight
raged with rigor on both sides, but Tor
ONE months there has been u sort of truce.
The conference will bs asked to recou-
ize the demand that is increasing eyery
ay for equal representation of laymen
nth minister's i'll the great council of the
hurch. The large majority of laymen CON
cnd that the present basis of represents
ion il manifestly unjust. The demand is
or reduction OF the number OF delegates
nd M equal number of delegates and
linisters from each annual conference. 1t
difficult to see, for instance, why two
llnlsterlai and two lay delegates could
OF represent the Rock river conference in
no general conference, as we'll ~ six min
tiers and two laymen.
The church sends one delegate for every
? 900 members, ON which basis the last
sneral conference had 463 delegatss-at
FAST twice AZ many AZ were needed. Tho
dyooatss of equal representation COM
lain that the expenses OF the general con-
renee are too great. The cost of the Lass
nsral. conference was ever $6S,OOO, OF
hioh there was received from the churches
bout 81. ZOO. from other SOURCES $8, 900.
'aving deficiency OF $4,000. which was