The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-29
vHEN the general conference
IL OF the Methodist Episcopai

\\A\K church Is called TO order In
NW the Auditorium at Chicago
AJAX next wednesday, Ii VIII
face the third important
change in internal AFFAIRS IN It's history.
In 1874 the Methodist church divided upon
the question Of slavery into the Metno-
dist EPISCOPAL church and the Methodist
Episcopai Church, South. This was the
FIRST great crisis after the frst delegated
conference In 1919. and the meung was
held in Baltimore. In 1858 az = meeung
Of the general conference In the OLD First
church. Chicago. Iaymen were accorded
representation. and in the conference OF
is72 lay delegates were seated
The general conference Of 1900 Will be
confronted with the question. Shall lay
men have as many votes as clericais IN
the governing body OF the Methodist
church," Three hundred provisional gel,
s~s,es laymen elected by the 14s annual
Conferences represented. win ask to be
~tven n voice in the general conference.
thereby establishing equal lay represent
tafion.
mlttedf
Thts Il the greatest question in matters
~ noIitv which has come before the Me-
thodist conference In thirty years. At
present tho general conference IL made
i'm ~ two Law delegates from each OF the
"a annual conferences and missions. and
one ministerial delegate for every forty
1--WE ministers In tho conferences. This
gives the clerical party nearly twice as
many votes as tho laymen, although the
Inymen represent a. constituency Of 5000
on ana the ministers a constituency Of
1900
II n certain that equal lay represents
tion--the same number OF plain church
members voting as ministerial in the gem
sral conference.-the be conceded. The
men and women who listen to the SER
mons, pay the pastors. support the mis-
stonaries and build the churches have
asked for an equal voice in church at
fairs and have practically served notice
that they intend TO have II. But whether
the 800 provisional delegates will be seat
ed az members OF the conference at this
meeting or walt till four years hence IL
another matter. Early In the session.
probably the first day. the contest will
bekin
Bishop Andrews. as senior bishop in
the order Of election, will preside on that
day. Bishop Andrews Is a genial. kindly
faced. white-haired old man, His voice
IL gentle. his manners unassumng. and
his rulings eminentIy fair and often given
IN a way that conciiiates the defeated
party. He Is not a ministerial turist. like
Bishop Merrill or n sharp debater and
ready orator. like Bishop Fowler. hut he
II man TO preside benignly over a heat
ed church meeting.
Owing TO tho present complexion Of tho
general conference the question will be
settled by the votes OF the preachers, IL
the laymen are admitted at this session
they will be very likely to elect them
selves 10 some Of tha secretasyships OF
book concerns. missionary boards and aid
societies. where salaries are involved and
where sums OF money aggregating over
50 900. 900 are expended annually, At this
time all those offlces are held by minis
tern.
Dr. Buckley Champion Of Laymen.
Some OF the strongest champions Of the
lay cause and the immediate admission
Of tho provisional delegates will be found
among tho preachers themselves. Fore
most among these Is DIR. J. NJ. Buckley,
editor for twenty years OF the Christian
Advocate OF New York III We could
only get Buckley on our side he ~ a.
COED as nifty votes" said the laymen.
But DIR. Buckley wayered He ts q
stickier for the church constitution. and
he Is the best-posted man on legal church
hirtory In America, Recently he came
out IN a strong editorial declaring for
the admission OF tho provisional delegates.
and there was rejoicing in the lay camp