The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-09

(and do so gladly the chief financial bur
g. IL Will remove the feeling Of Inc
quality existing IN the minds OF many
Intelligent aymen Will enlist their lnhu-
ence. and thus add greatly 10 the splrltull
power and practical efficiency OF tHV
Church.
men and thereby Increase their interest,
and thus bring about closer union OF
hearts and hands throughout the Chur'h.
S. The present plan gives power 10 neg
alive legislation. but power 70 only SUI
gest affirmative leEis alton. Inc power OF
affirmative or negative Legislation sn9ulu
be equal with both ministers ana i"y-
men. ..- -
9. The property and secular Interests OF
the Church have become so large ana I'M
pOrtant. and the necessity for me use o.
the best business knowledge ana eNpsl-
ence so imperative that the BODY govern
ing the same by its legislative actlon
should have at least equal ecclesiastlcal
and secular representation.
ONLY EXCEPTION.
n Every other Protestant denomina.
ton including the Methodist Episc9pal
church South the Canadian Methodist
eqUal lay and ministerial represen non.
In view OF its uniform success there can
De no doubt OF the wisdom, as Wen az
the justice, OF granting like equa repre,
sentation in the Methodist Episcopai
II. IL is unauestionably desired by the
Church al largo. as Is INDICATED ~ nc
almost unanimous vote IN favor OF ~ %
al least fourteen conference laymen as
sociations. two State conventions ana sew
eral local lay associations. besides nineiy,
six per cent. OF several hundred pelso,,al
letters from all parts OF the Melhouis-
Episcopal Church. received in answer 70
an Inquiry upon this subject dlerected 70
men who were known 20 be MetnoulSl,
but whose views on this question were
not known 10 US.
representation and the only plan now be-
fore the Church. and is uncomplicateo oy
any other Issue. as were all FORMER PIOp-
ositlons which have been negatiVed either
hy General Conference action or the min
Isteriai vote IL Is right and II Is wise. IL
is democratic; II springs from and sp'
peais 10 the people. II is IN line WIN
republican government, ana N harmony
with the genius and spirit OF the age.
IL Is desired only for the glory OF COO ana
the advancement OF Ills cause among ".
Wherefore. In behalf OF the great bouy
OF our Iaity. comprising 50 'arRe pro-
portion or our beloved Mn'hodis' snS'.1-
pal Church. we respectfully. but earnest
iy anncal 10 YOU dear brethren. Tor Your
generous and hearty personal support.
Is II tho nnurh 10 ask you IN hoth SPEAK
and vote for It in your conference!
WHAT BISHOPS SAY.
The Advocate will also contain mrR'
number OF opinions from bishops. minis
tiers and laymen In favor OF equal lay rep
resentation.
The bishops quoted say:
Bishop Bowman-"I believe. upon the
whole. that II would be best for the lay
men TO be In the General Conference IN
equal numbers with the clergy Tnis
would bring the ministry and the PEG.
pie a little closer together and II wouid
learn the fatty to take more inteieH. IN
the general affairs of the Church, ana 10
study the pollty OF the Church more
fully and carefully than they now do
Bishop Merril-"Ever since lay repre-
sentation has been In the General Con-
ference IL has been my firm persuasion
that satisfaction would not be secured w
lay delegates equal in numbers 10 the
ministerial delegates. l am In FAVOR or
a liked and deanite arrangement TO this
end
Bishop Foss-"In a general way, the De-