The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-09

ence in granting equal lay and ministerial
representation at all General Conferences.
but. except under special provision, ex-
Guiding laymen from all Annual Confer
ences, was adopted after a hot debate.
Bishop Warren presented the report OF
the committee which was appointed four
years ago to revise the organic law OF the
church. Important changes were also made
in the method of balloting on certain ques-
tions- The main provisions were as follows:
THE ministerial and lay delegates shall
deliberate together as one body. They VIII
also vote together as one body. with the
following exceptions: On every question
which proposes a change in the discipline
they shall vote separately. They shall vote
separately on any other question when re-
quested by one-third Of either order of del
egates present and voting. In all cases of
separate voting IL shall require the concur
renee of the two orders to adopt the pro-
posed measure. except that for the change
of the constitution a vote Of two-thirds of
the General Conference should be sufi-
cient."
of constitutional amendments, was altered
TO read as follows: THE concurrent recon-
mendation of two-thirds of all the men,
bers of the several annual conferences
present and voting and OF two-thirds or all
the members of the lay electoral confer
ences present and voting shall suffice to
authorize the next ensuing General Con-
ference, by a two-thirds vote, to alter or
amend any of the provisions OF TINS con-
stitution, except Section 1, Article 10; and
also. whenever such alteration or amend
ment shall have been first Dy
the General Conference by a two-thirds
vote. then so soon as two-thirds or all the
members of the several annual conferences
present and voting and two-thirds OF all
the members of the lay electoral CONFER
ences present and voting shall have con-
CURED therein, such alteration or aitera-
tons shall take effect, and the result OF the
vote shall be announced by the general
superintendent"
nr Cho-14z Y sx&I1 - fha Corroff Rth-
lical Institute, explained that the result
would be to exclude laymen from the an
nual conferences, except by a three-fourths
vote of the ministers and a two-thfrds vote
of the General Conference.
Another important change adopted pro-
vides that travelling preachers shall be or
ganized by the General Conferences into
annual conferences, the sessions OF which
they are required to attend
In opposition to the exclusion of the lay
men from annual conferences, speeches
were made by DR.. j. M. Buckley and DIR:
A. B. Lee. A motion to reconsider was lost
by a large majority.
1t was formally decided that the begin
ming of elections be made the order of the
day for May II, and that they be taken up
in the same order as at the previous con-
ference-bishops first, editors second and
so on down to the minor officials. 1T was
also resolved to adjourn sine die on Tues
The committee on book concern began
its business in earnest to-day. Chairman
Shaw announced the personnel of hve sub
committees to which were referred the
various memorials and petitions submitted
by the General Conference. The subcom-
mittee which will consider the important
question of consolidating several of the
Christian Advocates in the interest of
economy is known as the on
periodicals and Is composed of the follow
ing: James N. Gamble. A. w: Harris. w
H. Thomas. H. H. Shier, J. F. Merry. S.
w. Truesdale. H. z. Warner. ]. O.. Cum
ningham, r. E. Gillum, II. G. Itch and j.
A. Wallace. The other subcommittee
named were on book repositories. book
agents, episcopal fund. salaries and mis-
cellaneous.
There will be a bitter fight on Thursday
when the committee On Sunday School
Union and Tract Society takes up for con-
sideration the proposal to elect for that
organization a General Conference CORE
spending secretary and an editor for its
periodicals. The opposition developed this
afternoon at the. committees meeting. In
an acrid speech Judge Mansfield, of Ohio.
charged the representatives of the union
with using ingenious arguments" in sup
port of their measure which, he said. had
for it's object mainly the increased per-
quisites allowed to the corresponding Sec
retaries appointed by the General Con-
ference. Judge Mansfield also rebuked
Chairman H. NJ. Hamill for making a
speech in favor of the memorial after the
matter had been passed over for considera-
ton on Thursday.
Exciting scenes marked the meeting of
the on church extension this
afternoon. The occasion for the trouble
was the presentation of a report by DIR. j.
NJ. King from the subcommittee appointed
last Saturday from members of the mis-
sionary, church extension and the freed
mems aid committees TO for---,late n plan
for the consideration of the benevolent
societies. DIR. King stated that II was not
a complete report. but that he desired to
submit the recommendations TO the full
committee for approval. The report op-
posed the immediate union of the societies
mentioned because of the legal complica-
tons likely to arise in settling the uues-
tons of property right and ~endowments.
As a way out of the difficulty the report
recommended that a special commission
composed of three bishops. six ministers
and six laymen be appointed by the Gen.
eral Conference TO decide on a plan for
uniting the organizations and report TO the
next General Conference.
In discussing the report DR.. King said
The sentiment of the committee of fifteen
is undoubtedly in favor of consolidatins
the Freedmen's Aid Society with the home
department of the Missionary Society. The
members are, however. opposed to unit
ing these societies with the church ex-
tension society at this time
The u~tterance of this opinion was the
signal for an outburst of disapproval from
members of the committee. A dozen dele
gates Jumped to their feet and shouted for
recognition. They wanted to discuss the
report but were ruled out of order as DR.,
King declined to yield the floor. The dele
gates made so much noise that DIR. King
was finally compelled to take his seat. A
score of members were on their feet al
once. Delegate Bartholomew, of the New
England conference, was the first to catch
the eye of the chairman.
This committee has the right to discuss
anything that is referred to it by the Gen
eral Conference" shouted the speaker ex.
citedly- w won't be gagged by this COM
mittee of five"
DR.. King rose and tried to explain tina,
the comm had been appointed by
the general and was responsible
TO that body alone, but he could not be
| heard.
Delegate Whitlock moved that the report
of the subcommittee be approved and the
| motion was put through under the gavel
This was the signal for a hostile demon,
stration on the part of a majority Of thos,
present.
During the disorder which followed some
body moved a reconsideration of the vote
| and Ii was carried. The committee ad
journed amid great confusion, while a scor,
of members were on their feet shouting fol
recognition. The matter will be referred
to the General Conference tomorrow fol