The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-12
And Delegate Lay and Clerical of
the Methodist Church Compose
a Splendid Assembly.
CHANGE IN ORGANIC Law
Giving Laity Equal Representation,
Made without Dissenting Voice.
Tribute to the Late Moody.

1
ium, Of Chicago, is enough to challenge
the respectful attention II not the en-
thusiasm Of the visitor. The college Of
bishops upon the platform! venerable
Christian statesmen and the delegates
clerical and lay filling tier upon tier.
sprlnlled with representatives from
every land, make u body that would
compare with any legislative assembly
in the world.
It gave confidence to all to see Bishop
Merrill. the senior effective bishop, and
the acknowledged parllamentarlan Of
the church, with his hand on the helm
at the opening session. An action was
to be taken that could not be surpass-
ed in Importance by anything which
should be done subsequently. Three
fourths Of the annual conferences had
voted to give equal representation to
the laity and delegates elected provIs-
ionally to the concurrence, were pres
ent awaiting such concurrence of the
general conference. Without a dissent
ing voice this change in the organic
law OF the church was made. The roll
Of the provisional delegates was called
and they were seated side by side, with
their fellows in the various delegations.
A Change cOnsummated.
Thus was consummated change, the
FIRST step in which was taken in 1872.
after protracted agitation and bitter
opposition. Analogy would now seem
to demand the introduction of lay del
eEates into the annual conferences and
such a proposition is now before this
body. The best arguments against it
are that iaymen already have the quar-
terly conferences and that the annual
conferences at all events are not legis-
latIye, but purely executive bodies In
which laymen would have no func-
tIons.
The successful seating OF the provls-
lonal delegates was In Jeopardy from
the fact that a woman was in their
number and the eligibility Of women
had not been voted upon by the an
nuat conferences. The attempt to seat
the PROFESSIONALS, including the women,
would certainly have failed of the re-
1uired two-thirds vote OF the confer
ence. The situation was happily re-
lIeved by an admirably worded letter
from the woman delegate, in which.
without waving any of the rights in
yolved In the eligibility of women, yet
for the sake Of removing the hindrance
to the admission of the PROFESSIONALS.
she announced that she would not pre-
sent her credentials.
Presentation Of Bishops Address.
Perhaps the next most important
matter was the presentation OF the
bishops address, supposed to have
been written by Bishop Andrews and
read by him most effectively. 1t re-
views the Episcopal administration for
the quodrenium, both at home and
abroad. 1t contains 5000 words and
consumed two hours in the reading. OF
It DR.. James Robertson, fraternal del
egate from the Irish conference, said;
81 regard 1t as the greatest utterance of
ecclesiastical craftsmanship" Some of
the salient points are: That the time
limit for the pastorate be either reduced
to three years or removed altogether;
that the transfer OF ministers from con-
ference to conference be more frequent
and easy of accomplishment; that su-
perannuates be better provided FOR;
that the report OF the commission on
organic law of the church be adopted;
that changes of discipline be made only
by concurrent vote of both orders; that
a cogent statement be inserted In the
discipline, showing the perlls Of many
forms OF amusement. Upon the latter
point the bishops say: Experience has
shown that 1t is impossible to impose
upon youthful and immature Christians
which many a sanity soul of thought
full choice imposes upon itself"
Practical Measure Adopted.
A practical measure was adopted
when II was ordered that church regis
ters should hereafter be supplied with a
place for the separate enrolment Of
baptized children and that certificates
for such baptized children be furnished
parents on removal so that their names
may be transferred to the record of the
church their parents may Join. By this
plan It Is hoped that baptized children
may be held In the church and pastoral
supervision be maintained over them.
some might discover an additional
trend toward rituatism in the order to
have the entire ritual found in the hym-
nal.
Methodlsm has claimed Its share in
Dwight L. Moody by reverently adopt
ing an appropriate tribute to his mem
ory.
The usual propositions, in the inter-
ests OF economy, for consolidation Of
the benevolent societies and the perl
odicals have been made and halt has
been called to the supposed mercenary
habits OF some of the bishops by order
ing that they shall not receive any
thing above actual expenses for SER
vices at dedicntions, etc,
Resolutions and Memorials.
A prodlgious number of resolutions,
memorials, appeals. petitions and