New-York tribune., 1900-05-03
METHODIST LAYMEN WIN
EQUAL REPRESENTATION ALLOWED BY
GENERAL CONFERENCE - PROV1-
SIONAI. DELEGATES SEATED.
fpY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.

n
ference of the denomination The great prob
Ion, which had been confronting the Methodist
Fpiscopal Church and had loomed portentously
before the ouadrennial Conference, that of equal
representation for lay and ministerial delegates.
WAS settled decisivey. To the laynen was
granted all they asked. No opposition was
made to the motion giving them equal repre-
sentatfon and after cloud of skImishes over
parliamentary law the assembly voted solidly
In affirmation
Aside from settling this nomentous issue the
Conference it is expected. will be one Of the
most memorable in the history of these famous
gatherings The session began at the Audi
torium o'clock and the morning session was
conducted throughout with order and precision.
At 12:5S o'clock the formal vote of the Con-
ference TO give lay delegates equal representa-
tion and seat the provisional delegates, pro-
vided there not more than six objections
any provisional delegate. announced.
This prompt result achieved because Mrs.
VI. Y. McMahan. the provisional dele
gate from Griggsville. Ill. withdrew her claim
10 a seat.
To the surprise of many Methodists the Audi
torium not densely thronged had
been anticipated. It was thought that at least
FIVE thousand persons would turn out for the
opening session and that the huge hall would
be packed. Broad patches of vacant seats,
however, showed all the lower floor; the
balcony was not half filled and nobody sat in
the upper galleries. The delegates sat in the
body OF the house and there We're present. out
side Of those having direct business at the Con-
ference, possibly twelve hundred persons.
They viii come later" said an aged Bishop
with smile People do not care for the
routine work of sessions. Wait till the third or
fourth day; Their they will fill the house TO the
very walls"
OPENING RELIGIOUS EXERCISES.
Devotional exercises began the day. Bishop
Bowman, venerable with his fourscore years,
eldest Of the seventeen bishops who sat on the
platform. presided over the services. Bishop
Thoburn led in the recital of the Apostles Greed
and Bishop Foss prayed. Bishop Merrill pre-
sided over the business session. The roll was
called. and there was some laughter when
resignation handed in from a Wisconsin
delegate, who explained that he had not seen a
church in three years, and did not believe him
self entitled TO the rights of the meeting.
The Rev. DR.. David s. Monroe, of the Central
Pennsylvania Conference was elected secretary
and skrmishng at once begun The Rev
DR.. J. NJ Buckley, of New-York, became DOM
mating spirit at once. and suggested a shorten
ing Of the routine by adopting the rules of the
last Conference with some few exceptions. One
moment later the question of equal representa-
Conference confronted the gathering and TWEEN
ty ministers their feet. demanding the
floor and battling with spirit. Through a cloud
Of motions, amendments and Lay it the
table," cries, the vote was reached.
II was moved 10 call for the vote of the
nual conferences on The Rock River PROPOSE
ton fer equal ministerial and lay representa-
ton. DR.. Buckley on his feet amid din
OF cries Of Mr.. President" and Point Of or
DER which confused the secretary that he
announced the Rock River Conferences vote on
a totally different proposition instead Of the
one at hand DR. Buckley read the propositions
approved by the Rock River Conference. that
there should be lay delegate for every minis
terial delegate. and that the provisional lay
delegates be admitted to seats in the Confer
DR.. Buckley moved for vote upon the
first Of these propositions There was much dis
cussion from all parts Of the house, and then
the question Of whether the votes should
be recorded by rocall or by stand up count.
DR. Buckley said that great questions the
brethren liked TO have their names duly recorded
as individuals. and there much applause.
1t decided to call the roll. and when the
names were read the victory of the laymen be-
came complete.
SEATING PROVISIONAL DELEGATES.
Then came the question of seating the pro-
visional delegates, and the air full of ora
tory pro and con, DR. Buckley again coming to
the fore with a fiery speech, which in its
peroration when the Bishops gavel fell heavily
for the hour for adjournment. 1t was voted to
extend the time. and l o'clock found the debate
still vigorous. The speaking almost wholly
in favor Of seating the provisional delegates,
and the motion TO admit them, subject in each
case to challenge by six regular delegates, was
read and carried with great applause.
Seats have been provided" said Judge O. H
Horton. rising. for the provisional delegates,
who now, thank the Lord, part OF this Con-
ference" The name of Caleb H. Butterworth,
Of New-Jersey was challenged. causing slight
sensation. Otherwise the rOllcall of the pro-
visonal delegates proceeded quietly to the end.
Early in the session it became apparent that
there would be difficulty in seating the pro-
Visional delegates Those who had threatened
70 oppose the move on constitutional grounds
changed their minds the last minute. They
were probably influenced in this course by the
cteEer plan decided upon at a meeting OF the
leaders on Tuesday night, whereby the woman
question was eliminated from the controversy,
for the present at least Those present at the
meeting were 4. b Leonard, 7. H Murray j.
". Buckley r. E Pattison. c. J. Little A. w.
Harris, J. T. Goucher. J. W. Hamilton and w.
F. Warren.
The outline Of the plan was given in DIR. Buck
leys resolution and written motions. To pre-
vent the case OF Mrs, MacMahan. Of Griggs
Vile, the only woman delegate. being dragged
into the situation inopp0rtune time, the
Nisional delegates except where six delegates
object 10 the seating Of a provisional member.
In that event the case Of the delegate objected
10 would be taken up by the Conference later
for adjudication. This was designed 10 cover
the case Of Mrs. MacMahan and calculated TO
produce harmony.
On the platform the Conference session to-
day were Bishops Thomas Bowman, S. NJ. Mer-
rIli. F. @. Andrews, H W. Warren, c. D. Foss.
]. r Hurst. w X Ninde, j. NJ. Walden w. T.
MalIalieu. c. H. Fowler. ]. H. Vincent, J. y.
FitzGerald, l. W. Joyce. D. A. Goodsell, c. c.
McCabe Earl Cranston, J. N. Thoburn and
J. c HartzelI