Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-26

render the body naturally conservative.
This was finally changed to require a two
thirds vote of the general and three
fourths vote of the annual conferences to
effect change. This is, of course, a
rather rigid measure, but all measures
that become a part of the church law
should be mature. Personally, / am one
of the conservatives. and believe in holding
fast to the good things that we have. Our
developed, and any legitimate movement
toward a modification of the economy of
the church is not to be regretted.
Il have been favorable from the first
to this equality, and believe that it would
conduce to the peace and harmony of the
church. Any church is crippled by an agi-
tation that produces feeling of aliena-
ton between ministers and laymen.'
Indulses in Criticism
A letter has been received in this city
from leader of the movement who re-
sides IN Baltimore. and in the course of
MS communication he referred to the rules
mentioned by Bishop Merrill, as follows:
What are called the restrictive rules
were enacted by small minority of tray-
cling preachers of the time assembled
in general conference in 1905
Many affect to believe that these rules
We're made binding upon all future general
conferences, and the whole church as well
"i' Soiie NIGH cHuTcn ulSn1tarieS and all-
thcrltles seem to consider them the very
Kernel of the constitution of the NJ n
church, though few of them agree as to
whether we really have any constitution
al an other than the book of discipline as
Whole And although these rules are
alleged to have often been conveniently
uisresarded. and the particular one rela-
tive to the produce of the Methodist Rool,
Concern Always has been and is, / believe
still disresarded without special demur, vet
we of the millions are estopped of this
privilege and right of equal representa-
uon and the church of this benefit because
OF the operation of one of these rules, con-
Fenlent!y invoked to prevent it, no change
can be made in the composti6n of the
general conference without the consent of
tWo-thirds of the general conference and
thrte-Iourths of the members of the an
nual conferences SO it is that cne-fourth
plus one preacher. can defeat the wishes
OF the entire laity, and three-fourths of
the preachers less one-t1at is to saw less
imam 4,.o preachers, including supernu-
nerar1es, Superannuates and ministers en-
gagged in various secular pursuits-can de-
1eat the Will of nearly three million Law
men and 1900 preachers. May we not
nope and expect that the voice of united
and aroused iaity may be heard and re-
spectfuliy regarded by our clergy, and
mat action may be taken at the yery
earliest possible time to concede to the
iaymen this important and rightful privt-
lege?'
Not sufficiently Democratic.
In the beginning Methodists were sub
jected to autocratic government, John Wes-
ley exercising the autocratic power While
the government has been modified since
his day, 1T has not yet become sufficiently
democratic to satisfy men who are .accus-
toned in political matters to regard with
extreme d1sfavor the rule of class
American Methodism, from the Baltimore
conference of 1874 to the BROOKLYN confer
cree of 1872. was controlled solely by the
ministers. In that year laymen We're adj
nltted Tor the first time to the legislative
Cody, the basis of representation being so
unequal. however, that the ministerial del
eSateS outnumbered the lay more than two
TO one This inequality of representation
continues, and until it is changed and equal
that there will be discomfort
The movement in favor of lay representa-
Ion began as early as 1921, and it took
ffty years of agitation to secure any con-
Cession from the ministry The failure to
concede lay representation caused a seces-
SION, which resulted in the organization in
ISL of the Methodist Protestant Church.
which accorded equal representation to
the ministers and laity.
1t Is said that the opposition with which
some of the ministers resisted the appeal
OF the laity for representation in the gem
erai conference is not to be at all com
pared. so intense and bitter was it, with
ment for equal representation.
Leading Topic in 1924.
Lay delegation was leading topic of
discussion at the general conference of
1874, and again in 1898, and in 1910. In
1s44 and 1S4S the subject was lost sight
of because of the overshadcwing import
ance OF the issues resulting in the sep
aration of the church south. But in every
general conference, from 1S4S to 1872, the
Question OF conceded representation to the
laity was matter of more or less discus
sicn.
Some of the advocates of the movement
say they believe that all that is needed
TO secure their object is to convince their
ministerial brethren that the laity are
very much in earnest in the matter. and
that the thing asked for is right and
proper 1t Will be urged that in the Pres
byterian Church, since 1856 the laymea
nave had In the general assembly equal
representation with the ministers and If
has created no dissatisfaction and given
rise to no demand for change In the
national council of the CONGREGATIONAL
churches the laity have equal representa-
ton with the ministry, and the last mod
orator of that body was layman-Nelson
Dlngiey OF Maine. In the Baptist Church
there is also no discrimination against the
laity.