The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-09
LAY VOTE TO BE MADE LARGER
MOVE ron Equal REPRESENTA-
TION AMONG METHODIsTs.

Representation to Come Before
the General Conference This
Year-FuII Text of the AppeaI-A
vOr of the Movement.
Chicago, Feb s-The Northwestern
Christian Advocate of tomorrow will con-
tain the following appeal which is signed
by large number of laymen, and is to
be sent to every minister of the Methodist
Episcopal Church throughout the world:
Dear Brethren-At the close of the last
general conference a large number of lay
delegates met and appointed commit
tee, with instructions to adopt such meas
ures as would promote favorable action
by the ministers upon the proposition to
amend the restrictive rule, so that the
general conferences shall be composed of
an equal number of ministerial. and lay
delegates. The committee find that in
many annual conferences the vote on this
question has been taken without debate,
that is TO say, without due public con-
sideration. This, in some cases, is the re-
suit of Indifference; while in others it
seems to be the method adopted to defeat
the proposition. The laymen feel that a
subject of such Importance deserves the
freest and fullest discussion of its mer-
its, and in no case should action be taken
in way that could seem to be discour-
teous to those who are patiently waiting
your fraternal action.
1.-THE question will again come before
your annual conference, at its session in
1885, in a proposed amendment to change
the discipline so that the number of lay
delegates to the general conference from
all the conferences shall be the same as
the number of ministerial delegates.
AS the laymen are deeply interested in
the proposed change and have neither
voice nor vote in the annual conference,
We on their behalf, take this method of
calling your attention to the proposed
amendment, and respectfully ask your
careful and prayerful consideration of the
same for the following reasons;
Il. The present plan of minority lay
representation has failed to satisfy the
church, and has created an impression
that our ministers dislrust the laymen;
the adoption of this amendment will not
only correct these evils, but will carry to
its logical conclusion the action of 1872,
which admitted laymen as delegates in the
general conference.
20. 1t is unfair still further to increase
the disparity now existing by adding only
ministerial representatives when a cQpfer-
ence grows beyond the limit of two minis
terial delegates.
80. 1t is unjust to the church to deprive
ADVANTAGES mi ha eyain
from the experience and wisdom of lay
men who have helped to make the confer
ence grow. -
Il, 1t is not just to give to sixty-seven
conferences equal Representation and to
hfty-fiVe conferences unequal representa-
ton, when the siXty-seVen conferences
with their nineiy-one lay representa- tives
have only about 100000 members and the
hfty-fve conferences with their 10 lay
| representatives have over 100000 men,
bers.
"a. 1t is not right that the smaller and
weaker conferences should have relative,
ly larger delegation than the larger and
stronger conferences who have to bear
(and do so gladly the chief financial bur-
dens of the church.
" 80 1t will remove the feeling of inc.
| quality existing in the minds of many in
| telligent laymen, will enlist their influence.
and thus add greatly to the spiritual
power and practical efficiency of the
church.
81 1t will add responsibility to the law
men and thereby increase their interest,
and thus bring about a closer union of
hearts and hands throughout the church.
g. The present plan gives power to neg
alive legislation but power to only suggest
affirmative legislation. The power of af-
hrmative or negative legislation should be
| equal with both ministers and laymen.
20. The property and secular interests
of the church have become so large and
| important, and the necessity for the use
of the best business knowledge and exper-
fence so imperative, that the body govern
| ing the same by it's legislative action
| should have at least equal ecclesiastical
| and secular representation.
10. Every other Protestant denomina-
ton, including the Methodist Episcopal
! church, South, the Canadian Methodist
and the English Wesleyan, now have equal
| lay and ministerial representation. In
view of its uniform success, there can be
no doubt of the wisdom, as we'll as the
| justice, of granting like equal representa-.
ton in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
III 1t is unquestionably desired by the
church at large as is indicated by the al
most unanimous vote in favor of it by al
least fourteen conference laymen's asso-
Citations two state conventions and severa
| local lay associations, besides ninety-siX
| per cent. OF several hundred personal let
tiers from all parts of the Methodist Epis-
! copal Church, received in answer to an in
! quiry upon this subject, directed 10 mer
who were known to be Methodlsts. but
whose views on this question were not
known to us.
'12. 1t is the simple question of equal
representation and the only plan now be.
fore the church, and is accomplished by
any other issue as were all former propo-
sitons which have been mega.
lived either by general con.
ference action or the ministerial
vote. 1t is right and it is wise 1t is
democrauc-it springs from and appeals &c
the people. 1t is in line with republican
government, and in harmony with the
genius and spirit of the age. 1t is desired
only for the glory of God and the ad.
vancement of His cause among u.s.
Wherefore, in behalf of the great body
of our laity comprising so large a proper
ton of our beloved Methodist Episcopal
Church, we respectfully, but earnestly an.
peal to you, dear brethren, for your gen
erous and hearty personal support Is II
too much to ask you to both speak ano
vote for it in your conference?"
The Advocate will also contain a large
number of opinions from bishops, minis
ters and laymen in favor of equal lay rep
resentation. The bishops quoted say:
Bishop Bowman--I believe, upon the
whole, that 1t would be best for the lay
mon IN no fbsa syaparal OOn faranna IL