Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-14
BY LARGE MAJoRIrIEs.
Bacon Resolutions Passed by the Lay
Conference at Baltimore.


Conference at Baltimore.
The lay conference Of the Baltimore con-
ference completed its business late last
evening, having passed the Bacon resolu-
lions by large majorities, and having elect
ed two delegates to the general conference.
The delegates elected were: Alexander
Ashley Of Union Church, Washington, and
VIM. A. Leech of Madison Square Church,
Baltimore. The alternates are: George W.
F. Swartzell of Hamline Church, Washing
ton. and Louis NJ. Bacon of Hereford cir
cult. East Baltimore district.
Debate on the Bacon resolutions was
spirited, and was listened to by a large
number of the ministers. who thronged the
room during the afternoon session of the
lay conference. as they had no meeting OF
their body.
champions of the resolutions in the two
bodies. After the first resolution was pass
ed yesterday providing for lay representa-
ton in the annual conference one of the
laymen proposed to let the other two reSo-
buttons go by the board. This brought
forth opposition from those who declared
the ministers were making the fight for
the laymen in their conference and she uld
be supported by having the laymen, in
turn, support their measure for election of
presiding elders and relief from absolute
authority of bishops.
The laymen went further in passing the
last two resolutions by changing the third
to provide that no appointments shall be
made without confirmation by 4 ma iority
of the bishops cabinet. The committee re-
Port of the ministers, upon which was mod
eled the resolutions introduced in the lay
conference provided only for one-thirl of
the cabinet to support the bishops action.
In the case of the Baltimore conference,
which has five districts, this would mean
two votes. or, three, with the bishop In
other conferences, with a greater numb er
OF presiding elders, it was thought the one
no or rycr1p
check on the sway of the bishop.
A. e. Duval of Washington opposed the
election OF presiding elders because ne
thought there was a covert attempt to
wipe out the eldership entirely In that
case he wanted the intention fairly and
squarely expressed.
Samuel Ii. Walker of Washington said
the action was only in the line of pro-
gressive Methodisn, and was due the laity
for their prominence in church affairs. He
said churches had done without ministers,
but never without the laity, and might as
we'll be closed without women.
Louis VI. Bacon, Il brother of Rev. Geo.
c. Bacon, who originated the resolutions.
led in the fight for their adoption by the
lay body.
The first resolution was adopted by vote
of % to 6.
The second item had a vote in its favor
of 96 to 10. The third had ~ to IS votes
in it's favor.
Rev. George c. Bacon was invited to
seat on the platform, after the vote was
announced and was received by the con-
ference, standing. He expressed his appre-
citation of the action of the members in
voting as they Gid.
Mayor Hooper. who was a delegate from
First Church, Woodbury., a suburb Of Bal
hmore, arrived in time to vote for the
delegates. but did not get vote on the
resolutions.
General conference was memorialzed by
the lay conference to appoint commits
sion of equal ministerial AMI lay member
ship to formulate a constitution for the
NJ. E. Church. providing for equal repre-
sentation in the general conference and for
such other changes as the growing needs
of tine church demand.
The conference declared against pool SELL
ing and winter horse racing, AMI sent
petition to the Maryland legislature ask
ing the members to defeat bill there for
racing and pool selling at the Arlington
track.
James z. Ingram of Baltimore vas pres
ident of the conference; David P. Miller of
Cumberland. vice president; w. Grason
Bishop, secretary; F. E. Tasker, assistant.
The resolutions committee comprised: ].
T. Mitchell and A. b. Duva1 of Washing
ten district; a. r. Cathcart, B. F. Bennett,
Baltimore; w. C. kirwan, John S. Berry,
West Baltimore; w. NJ. Winks, w. T. Har-
rison, East Baltimore; F. NJ. Reynolds, I.
F. Bender, Frederick