OCR Text |
Show Women In Methodism. There are few words moro frequently abused than the w ord epoch making " "Vet -epoch-making" Is a most th Toniy n1? ,h.?t ad.oua,'' Ascribes the ?e cent action of tho Melhodlst conferences confer-ences In giving women tho right to sit ".1. .Br.Tral ronfTcnco on tho same terms with men. Not that the grant-n,f grant-n,f ,of the right will In Itself revolu. tlonlzo the Methodist church. It may be years before women appear at the general conference In any such num. bers as to alarm those persona who havo a. dread of -petticoat government.' govern-ment.' It may be that th-re will be uttlo apparent change In the manage, ment of church enterprises and the tone of tho general church policy. Hut tho mero act of giving women permission to enjoy the rights which nre accorded to all other lay members of the church organization ls deeply significant. It marks clearly and definitely the tendency toward an Increase of power for the laity and toward the elimination of distinctions in the lay body The Methodist church In giving up the policy poli-cy of clerical predominance. It Is be. coming a church of "the people There is no doubt that In doing this It Is accommodating ac-commodating Itself to a drift of thought that ls In certain quarters exceedingly etrong It Is gradually mnklng It Impossible Im-possible for the -liberal' and the ' indifferent" in-different" to say that the church" Is nothing but a small group of clergy, and that this small group forces Its opinions on every one else The advantages ad-vantages gained are obvious The church becomes moro democratic It represents more accurately the will of the majorltj-, and to do that Is to conform con-form to ' modern American Ideals " Yet the policy embodied In the change ls certainly not to be found in tho original orig-inal purpose of the Methodist church When vesley laid hands on Coke fiere is evrty reason to believe that he intended in-tended no diminution ot clerical power, and for many yenrs after that time the control of the church was undoubtedly lodged In the hands of the "ordained minlstrj-" That period Is now brought to an end The la j men's electoral meetings have authority to vote on all constitutional questions; the vote nee essory for the amending of the constitution consti-tution Is reduced from threo-fourths to two. thirds; and distinctions of sex In the lay membeishlp have disappeared. All these things, however, are merely a reflection of a tendency that has been long apparent Tho laity Is increasing In comparatlvo strength nnd Influence. Under the new- constitution the Methodist Metho-dist church Is as "progressive" In the matter of church government m almost any ono could wish Chicago Tribune. |