The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-09
APPEAL FROM LAYMEN
Equal MISREPRESENTATION IN METH
ODIsT CONFERENCES ASKED.
Ministers Urged TO Give Generous and
Change-Views of the bishops.


Christian Advocate of tomorrow will con-
tain the following appeal, which is signed
by a large number of laymen. and is 70 be
sent to every minister of the Methodist
Episcopal Church throughout the world:
AT the close of the last General Con-
frenoe large number of lay delegates met
and appointed committee with instructions
TO adopt such measures would promote
favorable action by the ministers on the
proposition to amend the restrictive rule. so
that the General Conference shall be COM
posed of an equal number of ministerial and
lay delegates. The committee finds that in
many annual conferences the vote on this
question has been taken without DEBATE,
that is to say without due public consider
alton. This, in some cases, is the result of
Indifference; while in others ii seems to be
the method adopted TO defeat the PROPOSE
ton. The laymen feel that a subject of
such Importance deserves the freest and full
est discussion of its merits, and in no case
should action be taken in a way that could
seem to be dscourteous to those who are
patiently waiting your Your fraternal action 1.soo
1.-The question will again come before
your annual conference at its session in 1893
in a proposed amendment to change the Dis
ciplne so that the number of lay delegates
to the General Conference from all the con-
ferenceS 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 an
nual conferences, we, on their behalf, take
this method of calling your attention to the
proposed smendment, and respectfully ask
your careful and prayerful consideration of
the same for the following reasons:
"First-The present plan of minority lay
representation has failed to satisfy the
church, and has created an impression that
our ministers distrust 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
"Second-It IS unfair still further to in
crease the disparity now existing by adding
only ministerial representatives when
conference grows beyond the limit of two
ministerial delegates
"Third-It is unjust to the church to de-
| prive it of the advantages that might be
gained from the experience and. wisdom of
laymen who have helped to make the con-
"Fourth--It is not just to give to sixty
| seven conferences equal representation and
| to fifty-five conferences unequal representa-
| ton, when the siXty-seven conferences,
with their ninety-one lay representatives,
| have only about 100000 members, and the
fifty-fve conferences, with their 40 lay rep
| resentatives, have over 2000000 members.
"Fifth-It is not right that the smaller
and weaker conferences should have rela-
| lively larger decoration than the larger
and stronger conferences. who have to bear
| land do so gladly the chief financial bur-
| dens of the church.
"Sixth--It will remove the feeling of in
| equality 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.
| "Seventh--It will add responsibility to the
! laymen and thereby increase their interest.
| ana thus Dr1ng ABOUT a closer union OF
| hearts and hands throughout the church.
"Ninth--The present plan gives power to
negative legislation but power to only sug-
gest affirmative legislation The power Of
! affirmative or negative legislation should
| be equal with both ministers and laymen
| "Ninth-The property and secular inter
| ests Of the church have become so large
| and important, and the necessity for the
! use of the best business knowledge and ex-
perlence so imperative: that the body gov
| erning the same by its legislative action
| should have at least equal ecclesiastical ard
| secular representation.
| "Tenth-Every other Protestant deromi-
! nation including the Methodist Episcopal
! Church South. the Canadian Methodist and
| the English Wesleyan now have equal lay
| and ministerial representation. In view of
| it's uniform success, there can be no doubt
| OF the wisdom, well as the justice, OF
! granting like equal representation in the
! Methodist Episc opal Church.
| "Eleventh-It is unquestionably desired by
| the church at large, as is Indicated by the
! almost unanimous vote in favor of it by at
! least fourteen conference laymen's associa-
! tons. two state conventions and several To-
cal lay associations. besides 96 per cent. of
several hundred personal letters from all
parts of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
received in answer to an inquiry upon this
subject. directed to men who were known
to be Methodists, but whose views on this
question were not known to us.
''Twelfth-It is the simple question OF
equal representation and the only plan now
before the church, and is uncomplicated by
any other issue. as were all former propo-
sitions which have been negatived either by
General conference actlon OF the MINISTERIAL
vote. 1t is right and it is wise. 1t is demo-
cratic-it springs from and appeals to the
people, 1t is in line with republican govern
ment, and in harmony with the genius and
spirit of the age. 1t is desired only for the
glory of God and the advancement of His
cause among us.
Wherefore, in behalf of the great body of
our laity, comprising so large proportion
of our beloved Methodist Episcopal Church,
we respectfully but earnestly appeal to you,
dear brethren, for your generous and hearty
personal support Is 1T too much to ask you
to both speak and vote for it in your con-
ference?'
WHAT THE BISHOPS SAY.
The Advocate will also contain large
number of opinions from bishops, ministers
and laymen in favor of equal lay represen-