Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-13
Bacon Resolutions Discussed at Bal
timore.
PREACHERS SPEA
List Of Local Delegates to the Lay
Conference.
CHI RICH EXTENS ION
special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

BALTIMORE, Md, March 13.-Both the
ministerial and lay bodies Of the Baltimore
annual conference of the NJ E. Church met
today at Broadway Church. Interest CEN
tered in discussion of the Bacon resolu-
tons and in the election of delegates to the
general conference from both local bodies.
Majority and minority reports on the
Bacon resolutions were Sc. down for the
especial order at $50 O'Clock. An effort was
made to defer the election of delegates I'M
til Monday. but failed owing to the estao-
lished custom of holding the election or
Friday, which the older members of the
conference would not break
The memorial of the conference of law
men held last June also went 20 the COM
mlttee having in charge the Bacon reso,u-
uons. The memorial in lorses the senti-
ments of that paper, but leaves it with the
ministers to decide
Inc tull text of the resolutions as finally
amended III committee is as follows:
mat we favor the admission of laymen
to the annual conference in such proportion
as snall hereafter be determined.
Ihat we favor the election of presiding
elders by the annual conference
mat We favor making the presiding ell
ders the constitutional advisers of the
bisnop ana that no appointment be made
Witnout me concurrence of at least one
third of his cabinet"
Owing to the lack of one member of CON-
ference, that body is entitled to only four
delegates to the general conference. This
was another reason for the desire to post
pone the election until later in the session
Blshop Warren yesterday set at rest the
minds OF the anxious ones by stating if
the transfer was not made in time a fifth
delegate could be elected later
Opening the Discussion.
The church was crowded this morning
When Rev. j. A. Price opened the discus
SIGN on the Bacon resolutions by present.
ing the arguments for the majority report
He said: THE majority of the committee
are not hostile to the economy of the
church. They have pride in it's success, and
do not wish TO embarrass the work. hut
promote 1t. Laymen should be admitted to
the annual conferences, because thew all
ready have a place in the quarterly and
ulStrlct conferences and in the general con-
ference. In other denominations the laitv
nave vote, and m other branches of the
Methodist Church. The laity are Interest,"
ed in all great questions which come before
TINS body, and they pay the money raised
!or benevoleEces. AS it now stands there
is no way for the laity to express an opin-
ion on mooted questions unless they call g
convention"
Mr.. Price characterized the present law
OF representation as "non-apostolic. non
Protestant, non-Met hotlist and nonSamer.
cam" ~
change is needed in the selection of
presiding elders he said, ROW the most
unpopular office in the church We elect
every thlns else, why not elect presiding
elders! We are not under a monarchy. If
Methodist ministers cannot be trusted with
such an election, who can be? Let the ure-
SIDING elders be elected for a term of wears
ana an annual expression of confidence
taken. The conference has rights to he
recognized, and it is not necessary to 20
outside OF the Baltimore conference to find
tne need OF a change. In times past no re-
spect mas been paid to the voice of confer
ence. We ought 10 have greater powers
than are given today
Rev. s. H. Cummings, the blind preacher.
made the opening speech for the minority.
their views In an allegorical comnosition
ne reviewed the opposition to the .Epis-
copal machlne,' as he characterized it.
Rev. Hugh JOhnstOn's Views.
Rev. Hugh Johnston of WASHINGTON said
ne was not satisfied with either report. and
would at the proper time offer a substitute
embracing approval of lay representation
IN the annual conferences. He, claimed that
the resolutions would take away in niece
meal the Episcopal powers which could not
be removed as a whole
Inc chief executive he said. "is al
ways conceded the right to choose his own
ADVISERS. 1t seems you are on the wrong
track, barking up the wrong tree. If a
chdhee is wanted why not have ouadren-
NAL election of bishops? Election ~ ~.
Siding elders would open the door far Pa.
Sdihins. II would not remedy the evils
ou In. give greater ones by raising discord
me third item Is unconstitutional tt
would give double episcopacy. You com.
plain of the power of the hisbons nn+
fold" po"ers Aity
RI; Rev. NJ. F. B. Rice of Washington said:
.h,,rah Is need Ct modification in the
a Instrumentation
mlnds OF the bishops as to their power in
the poi1ty of the church. 1t must he nm
derstood system should exist for the sake
tenn" AVA "Ss-
Rev. J. c. Nicholson denied that consti-
tutlonal power was given the bishops'
cabinet. He quoted John Wesley as first
assuming the whole power of appoint
ment Tor himself, but not to be followed
by his successors at the head Of the church.
Rev. A. j. Gill said there never had been
and never will be perfect peace in the
church under the present government n
has a foreign spirit he declared. con.
ficting with American principles Powers
OF bishops jar on the sense of American
manhood and liberty. They are wrong in
principle if not in exercise Such powers
ought not be in the hands Of the best men
under the sun. He paid Bishop Warren a
compliment by saying the friends Of the
episcopacy had made point by sending
such fascinating and charming man as
presiding officer
Near the close Of the morning session the
discussion was suspended to allow the
presentation of the report Of the Preach
ers' Society by Summerfield Bacon.o
An effort was made to postpone the reso-
buttons to give way to the election of gen.
eral conference delegates, but the motion
failed.
The Lay Conference.
The laymen's. conference was a long
while getting to work. One hundred and
fifteen delegates were present when J. s.
Rawlings called the assembly to order.
James E. Ingram was elected president
Alexander Ashley of Washington opened
with reference to the needs in the church
to bring it's business methods up to date.
The morning session was taken Up with
discussion of how the Endorsement of the
Nicotine NeutraliZed