The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-03-27
ELECTION
OF TRUSTEES.
Interesting Session of the
M. L. Conference Yes.
terday Afternoon.

| insurance and claims on the stew
| ards funds were received.
Rev. w. l.. S. Murray stepped t.
the front with the resolutions on th'
election of church trustees. The
resolutions were as follows:
Whereas, The last General AS
scmb!y Of the State of Delaware
repealed the law authorizing the
election of church trustees. whicl
had been in use for lis years; anG
"Whereas, The same body en-.
acted in lieu thereof alaw referring
the whole matter to the laws Of each
denominations; and
"Whcreas, Our Church law in
such cases takes the election away
from the laity and authorizes the
pastor or presiding cider to "omi-
nate, and the quarterly conierepce
to confirm: therefore be it
"Resolved. l, That paragraph
30l OF the discipline be so amended
that the local church may have the
right to vote for trustees without
nomination by hepastor or presld-
ing elder whenever the membership
OF the church shall so elect. "
-, That our delegates to the
General Conference be instructed to
present this memorial and do what
they can to have this amendment
adopted.
The Rev. II. G. Budd saw no
cause tor complaint on the part of
thelaymcn. John Wesley $ preach
ers were sometimes ousted from
their churches by the members Of
the Church of England, who got
into the church tor the purpose.
The rule was made. to meet this.
He held if the preacher did not
have the right to nominate the
churches IN somc,cases would be IN
danger. The Legislature merely
restored the church law which was
right. He moved that Conference
not concur in the resolution, but
withdraw it.
DR.. Murray replied. The Disci-
pine of the church, he said, pro-
ildGu tllul III tllC (lSStloii vi ~ uS-
tees the churches should conform
to the State law where there is one.
A State law had existed for lis
years to allow the people to elect
their own trustees. This law was
repealed and a new one passed
providing election according to the
Discipline. This rule. under the
Discipline, was intended for rural
districts where the election of truss
tees might be neglected. 1t is not
asked that this be changed, but
that churches may elect where they
desire. Allthc Methodist churches
in Wilmington have elected their
own trustees until this year. AS
pastor he was willingto be relieved
of this responsibility. Lavmen and
ministers are coming together. The
laymen have already asked for this,
TO refuse 1t is to show lack OF
confidence in the laymen. 1t was
an unfortunate thing that this
change was made. The shortest
way out is to give the churches theI
right to do as thay have for lis
years. The laymcn have been 10y
al in the past and they will be in
the future.
Rev. II. W. Todd spoke also in
favor Of the resolution. The pastor,
under this law, has the entire Off
cial board in his hands and no one
can oppose his will. The laity has
nothing to say. Restriction of suf-
lrage is not popular at this period.
Rev. II. A. H. O'Brien asked how
the law affected churches under
special charters. He was answer
ed by DR.. Murray, who said that so
far as he knew, no churches had
special charters.
Mr.. O'Brien said Frederick
church had and the trustees elected
their own successors.
Dir. Murray said unless some
thing was done, the Legislature
would be appealed TO- This is not
desirable. The General Conference
is the place to go.
Rev. ~. E. Smoot said he did not
undcrstend why Delaware wanted
a law different from Maryland.
Rev. II. II. Coursey protested
against the passage Of the resolu-
ton lie wished that some church
people had showed the same inter-
est in suppressing the liquor traffic.
He was not opposed to giving the
laity their rights, but he was OPP
posed to changing the laws. There
is no trouble down the State. Here
people are dragged out to vote for
trustees when they have not attend
ed a prayer meeting or given cent
to benevolcrces.
Rev. I. d. G. Hanna said he saw
no reason why the laymen should
not choose trustees. Why minis
ter should have all the power he
cou Id not see. A minister can name
the thirteen stewards, he can license
the eXhortcrs and class leaders and
control matters. Our church gov
ernmentis almost autocratic. There
is tendency to make it more demo-
cratic. Laymen would do no harm
in the annual conferences. 1t has
been said there is politics in Will
nington. That is true, but it is
better to have politics in the whole
crowd than wholly in cne man.
The Rev, ". b. Guthrie denied |
hat the minister could control the
quarterly conference.
Rev. II. &. Budd said he was /
sorry to see 50 much feeling over |!
his matter It should be settled |
,oolly. He did not have the slight
.st personal interest IN the matter.
A misconception has gotten into the
minds OF some OF the members over
he church law. Most of the States
lave followed the church law,