Evening star., 1900-05-02
WILL ADMIT LAYMEN
Important Action Taken by Meth
odist Conference in Chicago.
Big CROWD AT THE AUDITORIUM
Bishop Bowman Declared the Open
ing of the Conference.
BISHOP MERRILL PRESIDES

CHICAGO. ILL.,, May by a unani-
nous vote today the delegates to
| the Methodist general conference de-
cided to give equal lay representation in all
Methodist conferences. The announcement
| of the vote was greeted with cheers, as 1t
was victory which had been fought for
| for hundred years.
fight expected over the matter,
but it did not materialize. The matter
was introduced by Rev. ]. NJ. Buckley of
| the central New York conference. He
moved the adoption of the rules of the last
general conference with the exception of
1 and Is. This carried almost unani-
, mously. and DR.. Buckley asked the vote
| on the Rock River proposition.
The proposition made at the Rock River
conference was for equal lay representa-
ton in all Methodist conferences. annual
and general. The proposition was read and
the unanimous approval followed. The
| book of discipline in reference to represen-
| tation at conferences was changed to read
accordingly.
DR.. David S. Monroe Of the central Penn
sylvania conference was elected secretary
of the general conference by acclamation.
He called the roll of districts and delegates
in alphabetical order.
The vote which provided for equal lay
representation was taken and the fight for
| the seating of the 141 provisional delegates
| begun. Their cause was relieved of an em-
| barrassment by the withdrawal of all
CLAIMS of rights to a seat by Mrs. M. Y.
McMahan of Griggsville ILL., In her COM
munication she said she believed that by
withdrawing she would aid the PROFESSIONALS
| in securing seats.
The twenty-ninth general conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church-the TWEEN
ty-third of the delegated congresses-began
here this morning. 1t will last a month,
and is expected to be the most important of
aps, III
| 1874, when the southern branch of the
church severed relations with the main
| body over the slavery question.
The pit of the Auditorium Theater was
filled with delegates from north and south
! and east and west-Warne and Smith from
India, bronzed by the sun of the equator;
Hagan and Camphor from Liberia, and in
Vulnerable Others, representing Methodism
| in all parts of the world. Further back n
| the big hall where the conference is to be
held We're the spectators and the provisional
delegates whose fight for admission to the
conference Is expected to occupy the Irst
days of the meeting.
Opened by Bishop Bowman.
The peals of the great pipe organ were
still echoing when venerable white-haired
man, Bishop Thomas Bowman, arose to de-
clare the conference opened.
Behind Bishop Bowman were the other
| bishops in the places Of honor on the stage,
| the remainder of the aSsemblage, became
silent as the veteran bishop raised his hand.
In few words he called attention to the
| Importance of the conferences, counseled
conservatism and the gravest consideration
of matters which would be brought up, aid
| then declared the conference open.
Bishop H. w. Warren. following Bishop
Bowman, announced the first hymn. which
was sung with vigorous enthusiasm by the
great audience.
The Apostles Greed, led by Bishop J. NJ
Thoburn Of India, was recited by the
audience. and then Bishop c. ID. Foss de-
| liyered prayer. This was followed by the
| reading of Psalm 46 by Rev. H. II. Lowry,
DID, of the north China conference. The
Gloria then chanted. the second
Scripture lesson from the first chapter of
Acts, first to fourteenth paragraphs, read
| by Rev. Austin Griffin of the Wyoming
| conference, and another hymn announced
by Rev. Harry Swan OF the west Texas
conference.
A prayer by Rev. H A. Goblin of the
northwest Indiana conference followed. and
| was succeeded by another hymn, announced
by Rev. Jacob Yunkers of the north Ger
many conference.
Bishop Merrill Presides.
AS the last note Of the hymn died away
| Bishop s. NJ. Merrill took the chair, the
| first move made in the business Of the con-
ference. Grave questions confront the
gathering. The lay delegates demand vote
| for vote with the clerical representatives
and there are al provisional lay delegates
awaiting action by the conference. A de-
| termined effort will be made to raise the
| ban on dancing, card playing and theater
going, and arguments advanced for the
conservation OF bishops of limited jurisdic-
| ton, the dropping Of time limit on pastor
ates, and the referring Of the election of
the conference editors, secretaries and book
agents to the committees governing the
different societies. 1t is also expected that
at least some steps may be taken looking
| to the reuniting Of the south branch of the
church with the main body. There will be
a general morning session of the entire con-
ference every day except on Sundays. The
fourteen standing committees, whose func-
tons are analogous to those of congress-
ional committees, meet three times a week.
seven each day, and report to the general
conference such resolutions as are deemed
worthy of general discussion and action.
OF the $50 delegates entitled to seats the