The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-14
Methodist Conference Considers The
Famous Bacon Resolutions.
The CHURCH hEELS RADICAL CHANGES
SO Says the Rev. Geo. 4. Bacon, Author
Of the Eesolutions-rheirA Adoption,
He Says, VIII be Beneficial 10
the Cause Of Morality.

delegates, back OF them hundreds OF IA
tercsted spectators were Gathercd while
the galleries were similarly crowded.
Two Of the most important subjects to
be considered by the conference were on
the programme as special orders. lhe
first to bee considered were the now-famous
Bacon resolutions. which. II embodied In
tho law OF the Church. would enlarge the
powers OF the Conference, and restrict
the authority OF the bishop. The Sec
oad special order was the election OF dele
safes TO the General Conference, wtsch
meets in Cleveland. O., IN May.
In addition TO these attractive features
OF tho conference sessions, the lay con-
yenuon, which meets every four years.
/ gathered together in the locture-room OF
/ the church An animated and interesting
discussion attracted and held the atten-
ton Of as many auditors as could crowd
/ into the hall.
Rev. George c. Bacon. the author OK
the Bacon resolutions, was the cynosure
COR all eyes as ne hustled about the con-
ference halls this morning. His black
eyes danced with restless energy, az lie
gave his reasons for sprirging his resolu-
| lions on the Church.
DIR. BACONS REASONS.
.sThc Methodist Church needs to have
many radical changes in It's government
and this Is only the beginning of things
ia thai direction. Had the Cnur'h bcen
alive 10 it's interests years ago there Woum
bavo been no cause for the separation
Rf "a
away a large body Of men who were need
/ eG.
.This step with reference 10 lay repre-
sentatlon i'm the annual conference, II
| taken will remove the radical cause i"r
the existence as a separate organization
OF the Methodist Protestants, ana VIII
urobablv result i'm a combination ot the
/ two. which cannot but De beneficial 10 INC
/ cause of morality"
! A Modification Of the third Bacon reso-
luton, recommended by the committee yes
terday explains It's meaning more iu''S
| II was also recommended that the reso-
lutions be referred 10 the general confer
once. TO be embodied I'm the law OF the
/ Church The resolution, as tn'N "'tc
/ discussed this morning, are as t"Ho"S'
.rhat We .itor the admission "a lay-
ION 10 tn. Annual Conference IN Fuch
/ proportion as shall hereafter be deter
mined
THAT we favor the election Of presiding
elders by the Annual Conference.
THAT we favor making the pfesldin8
elder the constitutional advisers OF IN"
| blshop. and that 10 appointment he
! made without the concurrence OF At ie"se
one-third OF his cabinet.
For two and a half hours the resolur
tions were discussed by leading members
of tho conference. They were then laid
aside 10 be again taken up as the special
/ order of the day tomorrow The DIS
! eussfon encroach-d upon the time for the
second special order of the day-the elec-
ton Of delegates TO the General Confer
once-and that order went without umo
being named for its consideration.
The best OF good feeling prevailed
throughout the days discussion OF ths
resolutions. bat there was apparent an
undercurrent Of determination 10 nght it
/ out on the part Of the respective adVo7l
Gates OF the majority and minority re-
ports.
Rcv. !. \. Price opened the discussion
/ I'm fnvor Of the majority report by say
| ing that the Methodist Church Is noted
for the work OF It's laymen Other de-
/ nominations give the laiiy representation
so that the Methodist Episcopal Church
| stands alone in this respect As they are
/ represented m the Quarterly Conference
/ and Sorcral Conference they should also
J hav representation in the Annual confer
c.ee The laymen have an interest IN all
the bcaeheorces. IN the matter OF educa-
I lion. and other questions. they furnish
/ the money and should nave something 10
! say about how it Is expended. As we now
stand Mr. Price said. We are non-catho-
/ llc. non-Niethodist. and nCn-American.
Taking up the matter of the. election of
| presiding elders De said that, rs Il ~ now
constituted the Office Is very Unpopular
TRUST THE BISHOPS IN PART.
The election OF presiding elders -
! needed. for we are willing 20 trust them.
{ and the bishops. too in part. t.augh-
/ ierD We are willing 20 trust the bishops
/ Jointly with the presiding elders
ia conclusion Mr. Price said There
7 has been such an administration OF our
affairs for years that there should be
change and even some of those VINO are
/ opposed to these resolutions say 50. too
Rev. 8. II. Gun mings the blind clerg,
man. spoke against the resolutions In l
/ humorous strain. fil OF vciled satire.
which kept his auditors I'm laughter most
OF the time Ills sentiment that There Is
nothing I love SO mach az tho old alma
mater Of Meth0dism. n Is vel founded.
well grounded. and o.yincly Illuminated"
WAS applaudcd.
Rev. n r z. Rice Of Washlnstao.
! favored all the resolutions Rev. Dr.
| Hugh Johnson. also OF Warrington, favor
! ol lay representation. but as he opposed
/ The ether two propositions, he would
vote against them 81
Rev. ]. c. Nicholson. of Cumberland.
and Rev. A. j. GIL. OF Baltimore. quss-
toned II any man living could be foind
NJ 10 exercise the autccrstic powers now
. given 70 q bishop. They favored the reso-
luton. the expression that 'one OF The
evils OF this power Is that Il suppfes'rs
the manhood Of ou- clergy being loudly
! 8pplauded.
ON motion, the resolutions vent over
until tomorrow morning.
The lay electoral conference was or
| ganlzei by the selection OF James j.
| ingram as president. There was lively
parliamentary tangie over the Bacon reso-
lutlons. which finally resulted IN the reso-
| lutions and all others being referred to
the Committee on Resolutions.
AT the afternoon session OF the lay elsc-
toral convention the Bacon resolutions
were adopted almost unaniinous,y ". A..
Ieltch. OF Baltimore, and Alexander Ash
ley, OF Washington. ID. c.. were eleclci
delegates. and G.. W. Swartzer, OF Wash,
ircton. and l. VI Bacon, OF To~son.
Md. alternates, to the General Conference.
which meets In Cleveland. o.. In May.
The convention adjourned sine die.