The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-09
METHODIST LAYMEN.
The Coming Meeting i'm the Interest
of Equal Representation.
Washington Post.

washington GOSl.
A very important meeting of the laymen
of the M e. Church. of Indiana, will be
held at Indianapolis the 18th proXimo
The call for it is signed by some or the
leading citizens of the State, including
men of national regulations. The obJect
of this meeting will he the organization or
a movement inimical to the l9most unTe-
stricted domination Of the clergy IN the
affairs of the church. Prior to 1917 lay
representation was unknown in the Meth
odist General Conference. This year, AFTER
a long struggle the lay influence secured
recognition, but to only very limited ex-
tent. Among the first lay delegates was
Hon Richard w. Thompson, and his mama
is appended to this call. The signers rep
resent that minority of the preachers, as
sumirg that they have the power under the
organic law of their church, are determined
to resist the demand of the laymen-thay
think it q reasonable and modest oe-
mand"-for an equal voice with the preach
ers in the General Conference. These lay
men assert their belief that the minority
has right to defeat the VIII OF the ma
jority They put themselves on the broad
ground that the majority must rule, ana
that there should be no taxation without
Just and equal representation.
The Hon. VIII Cumback, ex-Leutenant
Governor of Indiana, and one of the most
influential laymen in that great religious
body. puts his name at the head of the
call for the indianapolis meeting, and will
take an active part in the movement there
and elsewhere. In a contribution TO the
Western Christian Advocate, Mr.. Cumback
submits that one General Conference has
no right to say what its successor may or
may not do. He holds that the restrictive
rules" to which the clergy hold so
tenaciously and by which the present
policy of the church is upheld. are void
This is taking the bull by the horns in the
frankest possible way. 1t is the beginning
Of a contest that must inevitably result In
favor of the laity. They support the
preachers and If they persist in their de-
mand for fair representation they will get
it, But the Methodist Church Is used to
hard and exciting contests, and seems to
thrive best when it has this sort of excite
ment Just at this time it has number OF
disturbing questions. The women desire to
be admitted as delegates. and their wish
should be granted. Then there Is feeling
among many Of the clergymen that the
bishops are too dictatorial. and they occa-
sionally free their minds on this subject In
the most unmistakable language But this
Indiana movement is calculated to create
more friction than any other question OF
policy, for it arrays the clergy ana the
laity in two contending parties on sub
ject Of general and personal interest. The
clergy will not yield without a great deal
of pressure. but they will eventually have
to acce6e to the demand. for IL is founded
in Justice and will be supported by the
most influential members Of the church.
not only in Indiana, but in all the States
There will be a period of agitation in all
the conferences. but II will be wholesome
a great deal better than stagnati0n.