Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-26
APPEAL OF THE LAITY
Representation in the Conferences
of the M. E. Church.
OPINIONS OF PROMINENT BISHOPS
Object of Lay Members Likely to
Be Accomplished.
QUE STION AN OLD ON E

Since the pubicdtlon IN Inc star, week
or 50 ago. of the views of Bishop Hurst
on the subject of lay representation in the
annual conference of the Methodist Epis-
coral Church. the movement has received
Il great impetus. and advices received by
those who have the matter in charge are to
the effect that. after more than thirty-four
years of agitation, the long wishedfor OBJ
ject is about to be accomplished.
Among those who have lately expressed
approval of the idea are Bishops Walden,
Fowler and GoodseI. All these leaders of
Nethodism VII be IN Baltimore this week
in attendance at the se,rni-annual meeting
of the board of bishops, and although it
is MOI probable that any official action will
he then taken by them. it is nevertheless,
considered by many persons that knowl-
edge of the opinions of those bishops who
have had anything to say the subject is
a matter of general Importance.
Bishop WaIdcn's Views.
Several years ago." said Bishop Walden,
Il first publicly stated that i had come
TO believe that the local and general in
terests of our church would be promoted
and conserved by giving the district stew
ards a seat in the annual conference. The
annual conference may be called a pri-
mary body. il has no constituency; itin-
Grant preachers are members primarily be-
cause OF their office The steward has
Jwo-fold office, by which he is related both
to the pastoral charge ana the district. TO
the quarterly conference and the district
meeting, a position that may be the most
favorable foc acquiring needful informa-
ti0n as 10 the locdl church and to the
district al large. He might properly be-
cause of his Cfflce, be given seat in the
annual cC@tererce. and be there because Of
the possibilities of an intelligent and effec-
tive service ] have not ht sitatd to express
Methodist meetings. This implies an adj
vantage in having Enthusiastically irtelli-
gent layInen in the annual conference"
Equality Strongly Endorsed.
Bishop Fowler said: The Methodist
Church is one throughout its membership.
Any man awakening antagonism between
laymen ard ministers is an enemy TO the
church. II laymen want equal representa-
tion, they should have it. The change in
actual power for the laymen is so slight
that 1t could not make percept!ble shock.
One body with equal members would neu-
traiize the tendency to awaken antagon-
ism. Submit the question, with no rider
for reduced representation, and let the
whole body settle that problem when it
must New conditions with great institu-
tons, churches and enterprises demand all
the varied gifts of all the membership"
Bishop GoodselI: Il am and have been
heartily IN favor OF equal representation
IN the general conference. Also of the ad-
mission OF laymen, under limitations. to
the annual conference. There is a strong
current visible in the direction of the great
er participation OF Iaymen in the general
and annual COZ fere1ceS. and to the election
OF trustees and stewards by the vote of
all the adult members of the church. The
equalization of lay ard clerical delegates
seems likely to take place at no distant
date. The sentiment which acquIesces in
the presence Of iaymen as members of tht.
annual conference is by no means so larpe-
ly developed.
The ministry feels that, as the begin
nlngs OF the ministry are wholly III lay
hands. in the matters of license and recon-
nendatton. arC. that minister has a vote
In the trial OF a layman, the laity ought not
TO be admitted 10 vote on election to orders
nor III ministerial trials, nor in admission
on trial There would probably be no ser-
Gus disturbance of constitutional euuiIib-
Tiusn. could these questions be reserved to
tie ministery- The practical difficulty in
such case of entertaining the annual con-
ference is already being met by the neces-
SHY, IN some sections. of providing by an
other method than that of hospitality. Up
on such equalization the question would
soon arse whether annual conferences
could not be trusted with local legislative
powers, not in cortrayention of the au-
thority of the general conference. but in
local adaptation of general legislation sim
liar TO those powers possessed by diocesan
conventions. And il any are seeking for
brake on the possibility of overriding our
constitution by hurried vote of an excited
general conference, 1t could be found in
granting initiative and referendum to the
annual Conferences thus constituted"
Bishop McCabe Dissents.
Bishop McCabe does not take kindly to
the plan favored by his four colleagues
above named He said: Il do not think 1t
would be helpful TO the church at ALL As
to equal lay representation in the general
conference, l am no enthusiast in favor of
il. to say the least. If 1t comes L will take
IL as providential. but this proposition to
place al! our monetary interests in the
hands of laymen fills me with alarm. No
hrst-class busiress man. lawyer, merchant
or manufacturer could afford TO accept the
positions our CHURCH offers for such meager
salaries as these officers receive
Men who have failed in business would
lie almost sure to be selected. Look a.
our grand book concern. Through hun
uTed panicS II has come unscathed. Men
whose checks would not be accepted in
bank for an Overdraft of 80 have recently
signed statements that preachers know
little about business and that laymen are
nee,.ed To take charge OF the monetary af-
fairs OF the church,
The Annual Conference.
Bishop Merrill said: NO church machin-
cry Is more dependent on the laity than
that Of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 1t
is as intimate and as close as any de-
nomination There is no possibility of
NqSeAA TIE annual con-
ference, as there is no representation at
all 1t is not delegated body. but the
ministers are members of the conference.
and become such by a process of proba-
tlon and examination. They are men,
berS. There is no delegation, no repre-
sentation except in a general sense The
minister represents the interests of the
church and people.
The annual conference is not a law
making body, and has no power as such. So
the general conference. a different view
is taken 1t is Delegated body, about
the only one of which we know ANYTHING
since the first admission of laymen /
have believed the time would come when
the church would demand representation
of laymen in the general conference equal
In number TO the ministry. / am satisfied
that such an equality should be brought
about, and that the church is willing and
ready for such a move, and that it will
come The last general conference Vas
favorable to this action.
The Law of 1872.
I'm 1905 a law was made to go into eff
TEST in 1872. by which no modification could
be made in he Ia w Of fho oh NIT