The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-15
THE REVOLT OF LAYMEN
DELEGATES WILL BE APPOINTED TO
A NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Will Cumback VIII Probably Preside
over the state Conference at
Roberts Park To-Day.

meet at ~ o CLOCK this morning at ROBERTS
Park Church for the purpose of protesting
against the representation accorded to lay
men in the conferences of the church. The
meeting is regarded as one of the most i'm
portant in the history of Methodsm and
is the forerunner of similar gatherings to
be held in other States. It is expected that
these meetings will eliminate in national
convention of laymen to be held in October
of next year.
All laymen in sympathy with the move
ment for better lay representation are in
vited to attend the meeting to-day, and the
official church boards and local church or
CARNATIONS throughout the State have been
urged to select and send representative men
ard women. AS great interest has been
manifested over the State in the movement,
and as the railroad rates are low a large
attendance is expected the more enthusiast
tic predicting five hundred delegates. A
number Of prominent men from other
States are also looked for.
VIII Cumback will probably be chosen
as chairman at the morning session, and
will deliver an address. Committees on res
olutions and other matters will be ap-
pointed, and also a permanent executive
committee. In the afternoon Col. Eli Rit-
ter will make an address on 1.-The Restrict
i've Rules" L. c. Hogate will speak on the
subject, viii Better Business Management
Be the Result of Equal Lay Representa-
tion?" and C. c. Binkley on the subject,
How Shall We Secure this Right?'
The enc purpose of the meeting is to take
steps looking TO the securing of equal rep
resentation for laymen and ministers in the
conference. The printed call states that
the ratio of representation in the Indiana
Conference is now for the preachers one to
every forty-five and for the laylnen one
for every $4,000. The call goes on to say:
The laymen furnish the millions of
money to carry on the work of the church
in all her various departments. The i'm
policy, to say nothing of the injustice, in
denying them an equal voice in its dis
bursements and in the general manage
ment of the church is painfully apparent.
It cannot be denied that the usefulness of
the church is greatly impaired, and the
contributions to her greater growth and
development are hindered by keeping her
great interest practically under the control
In the General Conference the call says
that two and half million laymen have
but one-third of the representation and
1900 preachers have tWo-thrds. THE
sound and impregnable American doc
trine," continues the call, applicable to
the church we'll the state, that a ma
jority should rule and there shall be no
taxation without a fair, just and equal
representation. is set aside by the minor
Ily. Inc call Is SlSDeu Dy over llly PROM
inent laymen including such men as VIII
Cumback, N. f. De PAW, r. N. Lamb, V.
T. -Malott, John Clarke Ridpath, John b.
Conner, John Fl. Baker, John S. Patterson,
r. w. Thompson and Glenn Studebaker,
and the majority of those men have signi-
fled their intention of being present Rich
ever, cannot be present, having sent a let
ter stating that his health will not permit
of it.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS.
Last evening the provisional executive
committee held a meeting in the private
office of the Denison Hotel, at which were
present David E. BEEN, of Spencer chair
man; Glen Studebaker, gof South Bend;
John b. Conner and w. G. Van Ardsdel, of
Indianapolis; VIM Cumback, of Green's
burg; B. f. Ibach, of Hammond; G. c.
Binkey of Richmond, Mr.. Miller, of Ris-
ing Sun; l. III. C. Royce, of Terre Haute;
Mark L. Denote, of Valparaiso; William
Newkirk, of Connersville, and others. The
committee was in session several hours
outlining the work of the convention. Mr..
Cumback, after the meeting adjourned,
stated that the committee was in thorough
unison and was actuated by kindly feel
ing toward the ministers, but with firm
purpose to accomplish the relief sought.
He said he had been in corre-
throughout the country and that
many other States were preparing to fol-
s..
undertaking. A similar convention to the
present one will convene in Baltimore in
October and the States of New York,
Pennsylvania, Colorado, California, Ohio
Iowa, Nebraska and others will shortly call
conventions.
A NATIONAL CONVENTION.
"The convention said Mr.. Cumback
will appoint thirty delegates to national
convention that will be called to meet in
October of next year. We will try to get
this convention to meet in Indianapolis"
The Methodist Church is over a hundred
years old, and up until 1868 was governed
wholly by the ministers, since which day
the present system of representation has
been in vogue. 1.-THE times change" said
Mr.. Cumback," and progress demands a
more liberal and modern church polity"
The committees on resolutions and ar
engagements appointed several months ago
have held several meetings recently and
drafted resolutions which will be intro
duced to-day and have made all the ar
engagements for the gathering The MEM
bership of the provisional resolutions COM
mittee is as follows: John b. Conner and
eX-Judge Lamb, of Indianapolis; Judge g.
w. Grubbs, of Martinsville; Il. g. Hogate,
of Danville, and John Il. Patterson, of
Knightstown. The arrangements commit co unit
byville; Glen Studebaker, of South Bend
c. G: BinlSley, Of Richmond; j. J. Todd, of
Button; DIR. G.. w. II. Kemper, of Muncie
l. H. c. Royse of Terre Haute and Col
James F. Elliott, of Kokomo
While the securing of equal representa-
ton is the direct purpose or the laymen,
some collateral reforms are also held in
view Some modification of the itinerant
system is among these prospective reforms.
The leaders in the movement are confident
of success and predict that the movement
will become so formidable that the min
listers will withdraw their opposition in a
short time and grant the reforms de-
manded. In order to accomplish the change
in the system of representation the Cen
eral Conference must agree TO II by a
two-thirds vote and the local conferences
by a three-fourths vote, and this means
that the ministers must vote for their own
abdication of authority.
DIR. GOOdwin's Readable Pamphlet.
'The Evolution of American Methodism"
is the title Of a booklet of thirty-two pages
Just issued by Rev T. A. Goodwin, d. D.,
of this city. The substance of it was de-
livered last summer as lecture at the
Acton Assembly, and much of it repeated
at the time In the Journal. The principal
part of the book consists of incidents in
early Methodism, chiefly in Indianapolis,
illustrative of many of the customs of early
Nrethodists which have passed away and
are quite unknown to the Methodists Of
to-day, and roseate view of the Method
ism OF the future, when the laity shall have
been enfranchised, and, as he puts ii, the
episcopacy and ltineracy restored TO their
early efficiency, hence subtitle, 'Or the
Methodist Episcopal Church, as it was, as
it is, and it is to be, gives some inkling
to the character OF the book Many OF the
incidents seem improbable, but there are
many living witnesses to the most extrava-
giant, and yet II is evident he could have
told much more Of tle same sort If the