Evening journal., 1908-02-11
SHY ON GIVING
LAYMEN POWER

The plea for equal representation OF
lay delegates with ministerial dele
gates at the annual conferences OF the
M. r. Church. made bv the congresa-
ton of Washington Heights NJ. r.
Church. resulted in a spirited discuss
sion at the weekly meeting of the NJ.
r. Preachers Association in Union
Church yesterday The discussion
was led by A. r. spaid, superintendent
OF county schools, who spoke in favor
OF equal representation from the view
point af the laity
A majority Of the clergymen present
seemed favorable to the proposed
change.
Besides Mr.. spaid. the speakers were
the Rev. DR.. Hiram w. Kellogg, OF
| Grace NJ p. Church: the Rev. Dr. W.
l.. S. Murray. OF Washington Heights
| NJ. e. Church. which brought the ques-
ton M in a, resolution recently; the
Rov. James r. Nicholson. of the First
NJ =. Church; the Rev Dr. Watt, Of
! SMYRNA; the Rev. j. T. Prouse, OF
Kineswood M. r. Church the Rev. c.
#. Anderson. Of New Castle and the
Rev. C. A. Hin, OF ST. Paurs NJ. E.
Church.
In his contention for equal represent
tation Mr.. spaid made the point that il
the laity could do good in the General
Conference. they could do good In the
annual conferences; that the high aver
age intelligence of Methodist laity
would be Of help rather than hinder
ance to the clergy. and that attendance
by the laity &C the annual conferences
would be an uplift for the laitv itself.
In advocating a closer relationship be-
tween the lily and the clergy he sug-
gested the placing of laymen on iuries
TO try clergymen. Mr.. Spaid also
depressed TO express his disfavor OF
the present method of conference en-
tertainment, asserting that the expense
should be borne by each church that
sent delegates.
Dr. Kellogg expressed his belief IN
IA democratic form Of church govern
ment. but disapproved OF the sugges-
ton that laymen should help to trS
lclergymen. He thought, however. thai
the present manner OF entertaining
delegates to the conferences was bur
densome.
The Rev. c. T. Wyatt opposed eaua
representation at the yearly confer.
ences on the ground that the yearl,
conference was an executive bod,
! purely. He thought that the laity al.
, ready exerted too wide an inhuencl
over Methodism and believed In
strongly centralized church govern.
/ larization Of the church's functions
our attitude toward the sacramento
, have cheapening effect" he com
] mented.
Dr. Murray favored the entrance o
the laity into all affairs Of the church
but saw no reason why they shoul,
care TO take up purely ministerial az
y fairs in themselves
4 The Rev. Mr. Nicholson's views wer
4 Especially interesting as from minis
t ter Of the Methodist Protestan
Q Church. because Of advocacy Of It
4 equal representation. MY experienc
!. lof 3s years as lay delegate and as
member OF the ministerial body OF m
s church has been exceedingly favor
2" able" he said Il like Il. ] find thi
many questions arise at the annu.
conferences that are OF more vital In
lterest 10 the local churches than ques
u tons at the General Conference.
: the four years interim OF General Con
ference questions come up that vital
concern the local churches and I
- which the votes OF the laymen are alb
solutely necessary. He predicted sue
cess for the movement for equal rep
Presentation IN the M. Il. Church.
( No Reason In Il
y The Rev. Dr. Robert Watt protest
. led against the movement as revolu
I ltion that had no reason. 1.-THE churc
d government OF the NJ. F. Church Is al
lready an ideal Democracy" he as
serted. THE layman has the Who'll
business now What good or neces
sity is needed that the layman ca
lsupply by attending the annual con
!. lferences2 No new principle Is 10 b
drought up by equal representation
There will be absolutely no place "a
THE layman I'm the annual conference
mot one-tenth Of conference layne
lcare for equal representation in IN
T. lannual conferences. The laymen al
= READY have nine-tenths Of the churcl
The movement Is only a ohild's buh
lble."
z The Rev J. T. Prouse thought IN
!. llaity should be admitted as "they hav
r Everything now" The Rev. G. I. Al
= lderson saw no reason for the represen
: tation OF the laity at the annual con
: lferences. Or. G. A. hin did not thin
that laymen themselves favored IN
movement.