The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-23
THE REVOLT OF LAYMEN
MEETING TODAY IN INTEREST OF
METHODIST CHURCH REFORM.
Demand to BE Made for Fairer Rep
resenfatiOn in the Government
of the Church.

There will be a conference of Methodist
laymen at the Denison House this after
| noon in the interest of a movement which
| promises to work a great change in the
government Of the Methodist Church
| throughout the land. The laymen feel that
they are not given proper representation in
the government of the church to which
they contribute so much support, and in In
diana they have taken the first step to
bring about a reform, the meeting which
is to be held to-day having been called some
time ago.
1T is understood" said Journal re-
Greensburg, that there is to be d meeting
Of Methodist laymen at the Denison
Wednesday afternoon. What is the object
Yes said Mr. Cumback, Some of the
men who signed the call for the state con-
vention in September viii be here with
some others to make arrangements for the
September meeting. The call for that con-
vention has attracted the attention of the
whole country. 1t is the initial movement
for great and needed reform in the polty
of the Methodist Church. AS my name
was first on the list on the call | have had
letters asking for copies of the call from
New York Ohio, Kentucky, California,
Colorado and other States, From these |
learn that like meetings Will be held in the
several States for the same purpose. AS
our Indiana convention is the first it is of
the utmost Importance that it shall be free
from fanaticism-that is, it shall be con-
sentative and dignited; that it shall treat
the question firmly, yet fairly, and be a
guide to the conventions that may and will
come after ours The consultation at the
Denison tomorrow is to secure that end.
rs the agitation likely to be continued?
was asked.
The agitation of this question" said Mr..
Cumback, will go on until the laymen
have equal rights in the General conference
| of the church. 1 do not anticipate that
any bitterness or schism will result from
the discussion While the laaymen are IN
! % md fnnl fhnxy q 70 n
and while they will be persistent yet they
will Loyalty bide their time, knowing that
at no distant day the justice Of their claim
the people and the pastor is very close
| The preachers are with us by a large ma
! jority and will sustain our Just demand.
They are constantly In touch with the peo-
pie and recognize the worth and deYouon
of the laymen to the church Under the
present policy of the church the bishops
are the obstructionsts in this progressive
movement. They are so far removed from
the common people that not l per cent.
Of the lay members eyer see or near
bishop They are not often taken from the
| itinerate preachers. They are taken from the
| colleges and universities or from the oooh
concerns and editOrships, and have much
| less sympathy for the laymen than the
preachers who minyle constantly with
the preachers in their hands. They have
been able to command more than one
annual conferences to vote against the lay
men. The Methodist Church has no con-
| StitutiOn. the only SemDla0ce TO organic
law is What is called the restrictive rules. :,
| The General Conference is the supreme
| legislative body of the church, and is com
| posed of delegates chosen every four years.
| At some time in the past one General Con,
| ference undertook to say what the General
| Conference in the future might, or might
| not do They take the unwarranted ground
| that no General Conference shall change
| the representation unless three-tourths OF
! shall assent to such change. That action is
| beyond the scope~of their authority and is
| an attempt to restrict the action OF
| body that has equal authority ana power.
| 1t is through this unwarranted resu1ctlon
| that the bishops defeat the laymen. More
| the General Conference voted for equal
| representation. to be defeated by the MINOR
| ity vote of the preachers under the di-
rection of the bishops, by the enforcement
| of this unparlamentary restriction AS
said before, the bishops are not usually
taken from the ranks of the people, ana as
| by custom, and not by law they have a
| life tenure Office, they become autocratc
and indifferent to the wants OF the common
TO look for their support. AS they have
high salaries and their travelling expenses
paid it requires large sum to meet their
| the several congregations and 1t is MADE
the duty of the preachers in charge TO see
that it is paid. 1t would seem they would
desire to- secure the good will OF the lalty;
1t may be that they fear that with an equal
number of laymen in the General ConIeT-
ence there might be an interference Win
their life tenure of office. They may APP
prehend that the laymen would put them
on a. district and have each one of them
work in a certain territory, and not allow
them to work all over the country as now,
and also have one or two of them travelling
round the world all the time, at great ex-
pense 1t is possible that the rule they
now so freely apply to the OLD servants OF
the church by experimenting them might
be applied to them when they, become too
catch the American spirit that no church
government can long exist in this country
without the. consent of the governed.
Rut they will know more when they bow
down their Episcopal ears and learn wisdom
from the people who support them. Equal
REPRESENTATION means many reforms.