| Show LAY REPRESENTATION Hundred Years Fight Among Methodists is Ended I CONFERENCE SETTLES IT II I I Equal Lay Representation in All Methodist Conferences is Granted Announcement Made in the General I Gen-eral Gathering That tho Conflict I Waged So Long Was Over Received With Cheers Provisional Delegates I Are SeatedContest Was Expected at This Meeting I I Chicago May 2The pulpit and pew share equally in the highest governmental govern-mental body of the Methodists Without I u dissenting vole the general conference confer-ence at the Auditorium today ratified the action of the annual conference in extending equal representation to the laity The provisional legates were admItted without it contest rs M Y McMahan withdrew her claim to a seat in the conference rather than jeopardize the status of her male colleagues The step taken makes the Methodist church n democratic body the rule of the preacher passes with the century The Episcopacy in the church long since has been restricted to a superintendence without any authority au-thority beyond the placing of ministers minis-ters and suggestions to the general and annual conferences I The ministers were more enthusiastic over the loss of their power than the laymen over their additional power I There were 157 provisional delegates elected to lill up the disparity Jn their proportional representation Only eightylive however responded to the rollcall following their admission The limited lay representation gave tho pews 125 votes Four ministerial delegates dele-gates were absent As the roll was made up today there were 356 preachers nnd 23G laymen on the regular list I GREETED WITH CHEERS 1 The vote was greeted with cheers over the victory which had been fought for over 100 cars A contest was expected but It J did not materialize The matter was Introduced by Rev J M Buckley of the Central New York conference lIe moved the adoption of the rules of the last general conference with tho execution of rules 1 and IS Tills was carried almost unanimously and Dr Buckley asked a vote on the I Rock River conferences proposal for 1 equal lay representation in all Methodist Method-ist conferences annual and general The proposition was read and unanimous I apporval followed BOOK OF DISCIPLINE CHANGED I The book of discipline In reference to representation was changed to read I thusThe lay delegates shall consist of one layman for each annual conference except ex-cept such conferences as have more than one ministerial delegate Which I conferences shall each bo entitled to as many lay delegates as ministerial delegates dele-gates u inc general coiucrcnce snail not allow al-low of more than one lay representative for eco fourteen members of un annual an-nual conference nor of n less number than one for every foriyflvp nor of I more lay delegates from any annual conference than there are ministerial delegates from such annual conferences I confer-ences provided that when there shall bo In an annual conference a fraction of twothlrdsutho number which shall be fixed for the ratio of representation such annual conference shall bo entitled en-titled to an additional delegate for such fraction and provided also that no conference shall be denied the privilege of ono ministerial and one lay delegate PROVISIONAL DELEGATES ADMITTED AD-MITTED The provisional delegates by a practically prac-tically unanimous vote were admitted to seats There were some doubts as to the outcome of this matter early but the vole for the equal representation proposition cleared these away and the overwhelming victory was not a surprise sur-prise WILLLAST ONE MONTH The twentyninth general conference of the Methodist Episcopal churchthe twentythird of tho delegated congresses congress-es began here today I will last a month and Is expected to be the most I important since tho memorable one of I 1S4I when tho South branches of the I church severed relations with the main body over thft slavery question MANY GRAVE PROBLEMS Grave questions confront the gathering gather-ing Among others a determined effort will be made to raise the ban on card playing dancing and theatergoing and the arguments advanced for the consecration of bishops of limited jurisdiction I juris-diction the dropping of the time limit I on pastorates and the reference ot the election of conference editors secretaries secre-taries and book agents tj the commit ices governing me aiiierent societies it Is also expected that somo steps maybe may-be taken looking to the reuniting of the South branch of the church with the main bQdCALLED CALLED TO ORDER The peals of the great pipeorgan wee I still echoing when venerable white haired Bishop Thomas Bowman arose to declare the conference opened Behind Be-hind Bishop Bowman were other bishops In the places of honor on the stage Thcee In common with the re malndcr of the assemblage became silent l si-lent as the venerable bishop raised his hand Briefly he called attention to the Importance of the conference counseled cunservatlsm on the greatest of matters which would be brought up and then declared the conference open OPENING hYMN Bishop H w Warren announced the first hymn which was sung with vigorous vigor-ous enthusiasm by the great audience Tho Apostles Creed led by J M Tlio burn of Indiana was rendered and then Bishop D C Foss delivered a pniyer Tills was followed by the residing of Psalm xlvl by Rev 1 l Mowry D D of time North China conference The Gloria wa then chanted the second Scripture lesson from Acts L 111 was read by I the Rev Austin Griffin Grif-fin of the Wyoming conference and another an-other hymn announced by Rev Harry Swan of the West Texas conference A prayer by Rev Hilary A Gobin of the Northwest Indiana conference followed I and was succeeded by another hymn announced by Rev Jncob Yonk > of tho North German conference FIRST BUSINESS MOVE As the last note of the hymn died away Bishop S M Merrill took the chair the first move made In the business busi-ness of the conference Dr HC Monroe of the Central conference I ference was elected secretary of the conference by acclamation He called I the roll of districts and delegates |
