New Britain herald., 1925-09-19
NETHOD|STS ARE
 URGED ID UNITE
UnifCation Of North and South
 Is Advocated
ADVICE OF LAYMEN'S ASSN.
Admission of Lsymen Into Annual Conference Is Another Item Sought by General Board-State- ment Is Given Out.

Chicago, Sept. 1s Rl-Laymen of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the Methodist Episcopal church south were urged in a statement issued today by the executive committee of the general laymen's association of the Metho- dist Episcopal church to vote for unifcation. The statement signed by George Dixon, Chicago, presi- dent. was sent to all bishops to be read at the annual conferences and by the secretaries at laymen's meet inss.
 It urged also that the five mill lion members of the Methodist Episcopal church vote for admis- sion of laymen into the annual con- ference and pleaded for unanimous cooperation and support for the world service commission.
 Headquarters of the general lay mems association have been estab- lished in the Chicago temple.
 Text of Statement
 The statement said:
 Concerning the admission of laymen into the annual conference. we heartily support the amendment admitting laymen into annual con- ferences, which was adopted by the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church at Springfield. Mass, in May, 1924. and sent to the annual conference for consider ation and action. We urge its adop- tlon as 1t was sent down by the general conference. without any amendment. We call attention to this general conference action. which states: Iaymen shall be ad- mtted to the annual conferences under such conditions and regula- tions as the general conference shall from time to time determine"
 The very simplicity of this pro- pesal gained for it ready approval and 1t was carried by the general conference by an almost unanimous vote, ministerial as well as lay. Anyone who is not opposed to lay presentation in principle can vote for this amendment. If any ar rangements do not stand the test of actual experience, other general conferences can make such modifi- cations as seem desirable.
 "A careful study of the vote of the various conferences on the ad- mission of laymen into the annual conferences calls for more informa- ton from and energetic action of laymen at annual conference ses- sions,
 We urge the unanimous coopera- ton and support by the entire church of the world service commis- sion as the agency of the Methodist Episcopal church with a program or unified benevolences, which includes foreign and home missions and other benevolent activities, by organizing world service councils in each dis trict and local church. At the an rual and district conferences, the world service program should be en- dorsed and interest of the world service program properly guarded. This claim should be considered sa- cred and supreme. It needs our prayers, thought and money
 The time has come for the lay men to help re-establish the con- fdence Of the church in the work cf the church, in the laws of the church and in the institutions of the church. As Dr. David D. Downey said recently. laymen can help the church in three ways, evangelistic emphasis. restoration of the spiritual and confidence in the church, and by holding fast 10 our Christian liberty, we will do great things for the cause of God in our day and generation we recommend favorable action on unification of the Methodist Epis- l copal church and the Methodist Fpiscopsl church south, and earnest : lv pray for its happy consummation. i We extend felicitations to our lay brethren of the Methodist Episcopal church south and earnestly hope their vote will speed unification that we may be one of Christ Our Lord and Saviour"