Show THE METHODIST CONFERENCE q A Warm Discussion Over Seating Laymen Separately Sep-arately from tho Ministers OMAHA May 2 The twentyfourth Quadrennial conference of the Methodist church was convened hero this morning i by Bishop Bowman The entire morning I session was devoted to discussion of the proposition to seat lay delegates separately from the clergy During the discussion of tho resolutions to seat lay delegates Dr John Lanahan said he believed laymen would have more influence and power in the conference by being seated separately Mr Sinkle of Kentucky vigorously combat tod the idea He wanted the advice of ministers and wanted the ministers occasionally occa-sionally to get advice from laymen He wanted equal representation but opposed separation Mr Murray of Pennsylvania said the laymen merely wished to bo placed on an equality with the ministers Heretofore they had lost their individuality Dr Buckley editor of tho Clwlsttan Advocate thought the laymen had not been given a fair chance to exorcise equal power with the ministers Ninetenths of tho laymen said he attend but one general conference but tho ministerial delegates r dolelutes f po to conference after conference and the bishops who preside know them The bishops are not acquainted with the laymen lay-men and when they arise on the floor with l h f half a dozen ministers the result usually is the presiding officer recognizes some minister delegate and the layman sits down After a long wrangle the conference decided de-cided to allow lay delegates who so desired to select seats separate from the ministers The drawing of seats by lot then began and continued until 730 this evening when the conference adjourned until tomorrow |