Evening star., 1897-05-17
THEY WANT EQUAL RIGHTS
Steps Taken to Increase the Influence of
Laymen in General Conference.
A Movement In the M. e. Church to
ton In Deliberative Bodies.

A few prominent laymen Of the Baltimore
conference Of the M. E. Church met in Bal
timore the evening of the 11th instant for
the purpose of taking the preliminary
steps for the organization Of a permanent
laymens association. Such associations
have already been organized in some Of the
more prominent conferences in the east and
west, notably the Philadelphia and the GEN.
trail Illinois. Action is being taken looking
to such organization in each Of the more
than one hundred conferences in the United
States, and, as soon as practioable, CEN
trail organization, composed of delegates
from the conference associations, will prob
ably be formed
For nearly half century, it is said, there
has been growing conviction among the
more thoughtful of the laity that there is
too much power held by the ministry over
the temporal economy of the church and
SO the question OF lay representation in the
general conference was agitated, resulting
twenty-five years ago, in the admission to
that body of two laymen from each annual
conference.
Step in the Right Direction.
This, 1t is claimed, has proved to be a
step in the right direction, resulting, it is
believed, In advancing the general interests
of the church; but the plan is now regard
minority representation to the laity, and
discriminating against the larger confer
enceS.
1t gives to them only the representation
Ii accordS to the smaller ones in some of
which equal representation with the min
lStry obtains, while, from the larger con-
ferenceS, delegations are composed of twice
as many ministers as laymen. In some
cases. 1t Is alleged, even a greater inequali-
ty exists.
n in, fba
terence, 1t is believed, would bind the min
lstry and laity more closely toge.her would
give It's proceedings greater innleace with
the membership of the church: Wouid So
cure larger nDerality in the support of The
ninlstry, the missionary cause and all the
benevoiences of the church; would remove
somewhat prevalent conviction that there
now exists in the church a measure of ec
cleslasiicism not in keeping with a republic
can government, and would give to the
ia-ty voice In church legislation equal to
that accorded it in the general councils of
other leading denomina tions
The Law of the Church.
10 secure equal representation in the
general conference the law of the church
requires that the proposition shall first
nave the Endorsement of three-fourths of
the members of the annual conferences.
present and voting, this action to be con-
frmed by at least two-thirds vote of the
general conference This proposition was
submitted to the annual conferences by
the general conference Of 1892, when the
vote stood 1884 for and G13S against 1t
was again submitted by the general con-
terence of 1886 The vote in the annual
conferences as now reported stands .6,619
for and 1888 against, showing small ma
5ority against the measure, as compared
with the former vote, and also showing
an increase of 3,12o for, as against an in
crease of 1.SGO against the proposition
This result, 1t is believed, is largely due
to the efforts of the laity at the last gem
eral conference. and to the agitation of
the question by them In different confer
ences during the past year. 1t Is also
taken to indicate that the ministry will
probably in due time concede to the laity
the rights claimed. The vote of the Bal
timcre conference at its session in March
last a for and 100 against the meas
ure.
Other Important Questions.
While this question of equal representa-
tion is, perhaps. the most prominent one
before the lay members and upon which it
is desired to secure such action as will
give them larger influence in the law max
ing body of the church, it is not by any
means the only one in which they are spe-
cialiy interested but their efforts will prob
ally be mainly directed to its adjustment,
and when they shall have secured an equal
voice with their ministerial brethren on the
floor of the general conference, other queS-
tons OF vital Importance to the church,
and especially affecting the laity, will, it
is said, receive their consideration and
action.
This movement among the laity is said
to be far more general than it has ever
been in the past, and will doubtless grow
as time passes. The contemplated action
of the laity of the Baltimore conference
will, therefore, be watched with great in
terest by ali who have the welfare of
Methodism at heart.
The committee has fixed the Sth Of Oc-
tober next for the meeting of the conven-
ton, and will request each church to send
five delegates. This will bring together
some six or seven hundred representative
laynaen, whose action will have no small
share in molding at least part of the
future policy of the church.
SUMMER CRUISING ARRANGED.