The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-11-06
MEETING or LAYMEN
OF Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, in Columbia.
Some of the Most Prominent Laymcn
in the State Were Present and Dis
cuSSed Affairs.

Some OF the laymen of the Metho
dist Church. South, held meeting il
Columbia last Wednesday evening t,
consider certain things connected
with the management OF tn,
church. The notice OF the meeting
was very short, or no doubt there
would have been a larger attendance
The Columbia Record, from which
paper We take this account of the
meeting. says Col R. ". Simpson, Of
Pendleton. life president of the board
Of trustees Of Clemson College, was
called 20 the chair, and Mr. ". w
Watson, OF Batesburg, was requested
| 70 act as secretary.
There were present about thirty
laymen and one minister, the Rev
Coke D. Mann, Of Oconee In the
| body were noticed Mr.. Cole L. Blease
of Newberry, president pro tenn of the
state senate; Mr.. w. H. McCaw. a
well known newspaper man of Col
umbia; Col. w. W. Lewis. leading
lawyer of Yorkville, and commander
OF the First regiment of state troops;
Col. Thos- c. Hamer, Of Marlboro.
rgeant-at-arms Of the house; Mr.. P
L. Sturkey, of Greenwood well
known travelling man; Mr.. T. G. Glib
son, one of the wealthiest planters Of
Greenwood county; Mr.. G. Lang An
derson, secretary of the Williamson
cotton mills and promoter Of the pro-
posed s250.000 mill at Blacksburg;
Messrs. II. C. Strauss, C. P. Hodges,
c. E. Breeden, D. NJ. D. Mcleod. H.
N. Prince. S. L. Nichols, Stackhouse,
ETC.
As stated by the chairman, the OBJ
ject Of the meeting was Ito consider
the state of affairs in MethoGism and
to take such steps as may seem fit
toward remeding existing evils"
The raising of preachers salaries was
discussed, as was also the question
Of the adoption Of fixed salary for
the presiding elders. who are now
paid on the precentage plan.
Col. Simpson, speaking for his as
sociates. said that he was loyal
Methodist. and wished to see res
toration of the church in this state.
There are too many mere sermon
izers," he declared, among the min
listers, we need a few more Christian
gentlemen" Col Simpson thought
it but just that the laymen, who pay
the expenses of maintaining the
church. should have some represen-
tation. He thought the iaymen should
at least have an advisory commission
in touch with the bishops cabinet.
Col. Simpson had set of resoiu-
tons drawn up. which he offered as
The first Of these were
adopted. It is in substance, to the
effect that the laymen present were
loyal Merhodists and would stand for
the ultimate and highest good of the
church of their fathers. The object
Of this was to make it clear IN the
outset that it's trainers were not seek
ing the disruption of the denomlna-
ton nor planning an insurrectionarE
Col. Simpsons second resolution
brought forth comment of one kind
or another from almost everyone
present. 1t was practically this:
That the laymen present view with
sorrow that spiritual decadence OF
the church and the "misanagement
Of IS affairs
There were some opposed to this
and some in favor Of it. The party
that seemed to be n the majority
thought the resolution too sweeping.
and were of the opinion that so small
a body of men. at so early a stage OF
the contemplated campaign, could
not safely and wisely take such raol-
cal measures. lest they frighten away
from thier standard the more con-
servative of the laymen who are IN
sympathy with them, but not as yer
aligned with them openly.
There was discussion ad libitum
upon this resolution. Members rose
ana debated the question at length.
and hotly. Col. Simpson offered to
amend his resolution, by striking out
-he words "mismanagement' and IN
:erting unsatisfactory management.
However, this did not meet with the
majorily's favor, and after CONSIDER
able more debate, new resolution
vas drawn up and adopted. "Resolv-
I'd, That the chairman Of this meet
ing appoint one or three men from
,ach presiding elders district TO-
Yards organizing the laymen Of the
C.rnli.aa Cnn nferance