The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-03
Many of the Latter Wanted to Sit Separate
from the Divines, and They We're Permitted
to Do So After Long and Warm Debate.
Wrangle Over Drawing Seats, in Which
the Word "Shenanigan" Was Used.
Colored Brothers Gets First Choice-Meeting
Place Changed from an Opera House to the
Omaha Exposition Hall-Night Reception.

OMAHA, Neb., Mey 2-The twenty y-fourth
auadrennial conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church was called to order al
Boyd's Opera house this morning by Bishop
Bowman, and DR.. s Monroe was elected
permanent secretary. The entire morning
session was devoted to discussion Of the
proposition to seat lag delegates separate
from the clergy. During the dis
cuasion DR.. John Lanahan saia
he wished to congratulate the lsymen
upon this demand. He had always be-
lieved that the laymen had been at great
disadvantage in sitting among the minis
ters IN the conference. He believed that
the laymen would have more influence and
power in the conference by being seated
separately. He believed that the mimic
ters would be pleased to have the laymen
seated separately if they wished to have 10
so.
Mr.. Shinkle. of Kentucky, vigorously
combated the idea of separate seating,
Il do not congratulate the layman upou
this demand for separate seating" said
Mr.. Shinkle. 81 know that at the meeting
we had the other night seventy-one out Of
one hundred laymen voted for the separate
seating They wanted the sheep and
the goats separated. Some thought they
should be called sheep and Iambs Well,
l want to plead for the lambs.
want the laymen and the ministers seated
together. / want the advice of the minis
ters and want the ministers to get advice
occasionally from the laymen. II we are
seated separately il will have the appear.
ance OF antagonism. The Methodist Church
Is not q divided body. 1t is one church for
ministers and laymen. IL we laymen are
showed off in one corner We shall appear TO
be interlOpers when we 90 over to speak to
the ministerial delegates. L want equal
representation In the conference for the lay
menr-remember that-but am opposed ia
the separation of the lay and ministerial
delegates. Please, brethren, do not sep
arate the laymen from the minlsters /
don't want to be separated from the minis
ters. l have never yet been advised In o
conference to a wrong thing by q min
lister. 1 hope, brethren, that this resolu-
tiOn will not carry. 1t Is wrong step. and
we shall regret it if the lsymen and minis
listers are separated"
WANTED TO BE PLACED on AN EQUALITY.
Mr.. Murray, of Central Pennsylvsnia,
lay delegate. said they were glad to do
honor to the ministers. but they wanted 60
be seated by themselves for the Influence
IL would give them in the conference. They
had lost their individuality heretofore. as
the 100 laymen had been interspersed be-
tween over three hundreds ministers. One
advantage the proposed order of things
would give would be the posi- bility of con-
ferrng together. They merely wanted to
be placed on an equality with the minis
ters.
Mr.. Field, of Philade ell phia, said that there
was no thought of arousing antagonism be-
laVn md ha mir flsfa n
desire was TO create q closer union by plac-
ing the laymen where they could do the
most for the interests they represented.
DR.. j. NJ. Buckley. editor of the Christian
floor. He said the object of giving laymen
representation in the conference was
not to increase the size of the body,
but to secure the assistance of the
the church. Had the lsymen been given Q
fair chance to exercise equal power with
the ministersf DE-. Buckley thought not
tie recounted tho story OF conference legls-
lation upon the subject and held the lay
men had been handicapped by failing to
get a separate vote in the conference when
they had demanded it. "Nine-tenths
of the laymen." said DR.. Buckley, ATTEND
but one General Conference but the
ministerial delegates usually go co confer
ence after conference and the bishops who
preside know them. The bishops are not
acquainted with the laymen. and when
they arise on the floor of che conferences
along with half a dozen ministers, what is
the usual RESULT The presiding officer
usually recognizes some ministerial DELE
gate and the layman sits down"
DIR. Lewis Curtz. of Chicago. said that 10
was simply question of privilege for the
laymen and not OF compulsion. II they
wanted TO sit by themselves the ministers
could not do less than grant their request.
+. Ii. Root. Of Buffalo. q layman. spoke
In opposition TO the separate seating
han Ha Ufeh ha6 IN nd
unity all though. and he believed that
separate seating would result in a SEM
blance. at least. of discOrd and lack Of
unity of purpose.
somebody had evidently been scared be-
fore they were hurt. There seemed TO be
little apprehension that they were not all
mem bers Of the same church. He could not
understand why the ministers were afraid
of something because it was proposed by
the laymen of the conference. He hoped
the ministers would see that there was
dang ger IN voting against the resolution.
After long wrangle. during W hich many
motions and counter-m otions were made,
the conference decided to allow lay dele
gates who so desired TO select seats separate
from the ministerial delegates. On motion
OF Dr. Pullman G section of the hall was
set apart for the lay delegates and then the
choice of seats by lot was commenced.
LIVELY wRANGLE.
After the recess the conference reassem-
bled at p. NJ. at the Exposition Hall,
where all future sessions will be held. and
attempted to get through the task of
securing seats. This was no easy job.
DR.. Shickley attempted to have the
motion TO allow lay delegates to
choose seats by themselves recon-
sldered. and succeeded in getting it
so modified that If a lsyman wanted 10 sit
among the preachers he could. Then o
wOrdy wrangle ensued on the allotment of
seats. A colored brother. Rev. X. r.. Gil
ham, of Missouri. secured the first seat and
took the best one in the house. amid much
laughter. The drawing of seats
progressed, but. before the adj
journment. Mr.. Young. OF North Dakota,
took umbrage because bis name did
not appear. and plainly stated that there
was some 'shenanegan' with the hat" ana
quite heated colloquy ensued. At o
o'clock all the seats had not been assigned.
as quite number were lnsinuating that
they were not getting a fair shake of the
nat. Praise God from all blessings flow"
was sung and the delegates adjourned un-
I'll tomorrow.
10 night the delegates and visitors were
rendered reception by the Mayor and city
otncers- The meeting was called TO order
10y Bishop Newman. of Omaha, and after
the usual devotional exercises. Mayor
George l.. Bemis was introduced, and
delivered the address of welcome.
IN which be extended the hospitality Of
the city TO the MethodIsts and their
friends: President Davis. OF the City
Council. spoke of Our City Governmentn
detailing the history of Omaha from it