Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-13
Another Busy Day Among the Meth
OdiStS in Omaha.
THE FREEDMAN'S AID BRANCH
Of the Church Called Into Question by Resolution
to Investigate That Departmsnt--JOssph W.
Newman PresideS Over the Meeting and
Maintains 0rder--Matters Considered.

favorite with Bishop Newman. The
opening lines: "ln the cross OF Christ
glory, towering DER the wrecks of time,
all the light of sacred story, gathers
round the sacred head" Bishop New
man held the conference to strict OBJ
servance of the rule demanding
good orders He raped on the stand
and called for the absolute suspension
of all conversation during the reading
of the minutes.
The roll call Of conferences was called
for the Offering Of resolutions and me-
MORALS. DR.. Lanahsn offered a resolu-
tion providing that the bishops might,
in following the rules already in vogue,
count FIVE years in every ten for the ap-
pointment of The itinerary ministry.
That is, to permit minister to be re-
turned to charge after the lapse OF
five years. This Is simply to make the
rule more definite. A resolution was
introduced by book agents of the church
calling for revision Of the church law
relating to the management OF the pub
fishing houses. On account OF the fact
that a part of the law had become obso-
lete, DR.. Hunt wanted the Committee on
Book Concern to make the revision and
then report the action to the conference.
DR.. Neely wanted the paper referred to
the Committee on Revisal. IL went TO
the Committee on the Book Concern.
a resolution was introduced declar-
there should be two more assistant sec
retaries elected for the Freedmans Aid
and Southern Education Society on ac-
count of the enormous growth, and at
least one colored man should be elected
as Assistant Secretary. Referred TO
the Committee on Freedmans Aid. A
resolution was introduced favoring the
amalgamated of the Freedmen and
Southern Aid Society and the Educa-
tion Society OF the Board OF Educational
Society, which has been a separate or
ganization, having the work OF assist
ing and supervising the entire educa-
tional work of the church. The reso-
luton was referred to a special commit
tee for consideration. Another Freed
men resolution came floating in, declar-
ing that the expenditures and debts OF
the organization have largely increased
during the past four years, despite the
fact that the receipts had also greatly
increased, and the work done
had not shown a corresponding in
crease, especially among the colored
people of the South. An investigation
and report OF the causes was demanded.
Referred to the Freedmens Aid Com
mittee.
The regular order was suspended for the
purpose of resumlng the discussion Of the
constitutional revision. DIR. j. L. Goucher
of Baltimore, first took the floor. Speeches
were limited to ten minutes. DR.. Goucher
did not agree with the conclusions Of the
constitution commission. Dr. +. B. Bris-
tol of Chicago, the next speaker, held that
there was no such thing as the constitution
OF the genera n 'er, nee apart from the
constitution of the NJ. T.. Church.
1.-The laymen at this conference hold their
seats here by statutory enactment said DR..
Bristol This conference can at any
time by statutory enactment admit equal lay
representation" Applause,
Judge Lawrencs, of Ohio, now got the
floor. He was given the most profound az
tention He said the object of this great
discussion was to determine what the con-
stitution Of the Methodist Episcopal church
was. He agreed with DR.. Bristol in the
statement that the constitution OF the
Church embraced the constitution OF the
general conference, but he held that the
plan Of lay representation did not depend
upon statutory enactment Tor one OF the re-
strictive rules had been changed constitu-
tiOnally to admit the laymen.
DR.. hynett who wanted 10 contradict q
statement made by Judge Lawrence with
regard to his utterances, but Rev. Douglas
OF Indiana, had the floor by right Of prior
ity in springing into the arena.
A heated contest followed between Dr.
Kynett and several others, who thought he
should not allow himself TO catch fire be-
cause some one had said that his speech of
the day previous was revolutionary. DR..
Kynett was shut out for the time being.
DIR. Neeley, Rev. Douglass, Rev. II.
Ridgeway, OF the Rock River Conference; /;
DR.. Prenton. of New York; DR. J. H.
Potts, of Detroit, and Mr.. J. H. Murray, Of
Pennsylvania, were given a voice in the
discussion. Mr.. Murray is lawyer with
voice that reaches away out in the vesti-
bule. Il do not share" said he, ''in the
fear which some OF my ministerial breth-
ren have with regard 20 the safety Of the
laymen of this body" Laughter. 1--WE
are here to stay" Applause. IF our
seats are in danger, the seats Of the min
listers are also in danger, because there has
been no legislation on this particular
question since 1872, and the rights Of the
ministers in this body rest upon exactly the
same act that the seats of the laymen rest
upon"
When DR.. Kynets fnall succeeded in
securing recognition he was greeted with
applause He proceeded 70 refutatiou Of
the remarks Ahat had been made the day
before by Dr. Buckley with reference to
his inconsistent attitude, and he also re-
piled to the speech of Judge Lawrence,
who had characterized DR.. kynett's opinion
as being revolutionary. DR.. hynett de-
clared there was no such thing as the con-
stitution of the general conference. Itwas
the constitution Of the NJ. E. Church II
this document was simply the constitution
of the general conference, then there were
thousands Of ministers who were not held
by any constitutional enactment because
they were not members of the general con-
ference. [Applausel.
DR.. J. NJ Buckley created a laugh by
witty sayings, and then declaNed that he
had no sympathy with the statement that
there was no such thing as constitution
Of the general conference. Prior 10 1883,
everything in the discipline was the consti-
tuition on the Church.
DR.. J. w. Graw of New Jersey. said he
was weary of the discussion. and he moved
the previous question. The previous
question was called. That was the amend
meut offered by DR.. Bridgemont to amend
the motion of the report. The amendment
was tabled.
DR.. Goueher offered q substitute knock
ing out nearly all Of the preamble aud de-
claring that the section OF the law enacted
with relation 10 lay representation partOok
was constitutional The substitute was
adopted by an overwhelming vote.
DR. Neeley sprang . his feet and moved
that the further consi3 ton Of the rsporf