The Globe. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 764, 1 December 1876, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1876.

In one of the telegrams of yesterday’s issue an announcement of great importance to one section of the community was made. We refer to the telegram stating that the various Presidents had agreed to the admission of laymen to the Wesleyan Conferences. The details of the proposal are not to hand, and therefore we are not in a position to say what proportion the representatives of the laity will sustain as compared with the clergy. But whatever the proportion, it is satisfactory to know that the principle of lay representation has been affirmed, and is soon to he acted upon. Hitherto the Conference, which is the highest legislative body in Connexion with the Wesleyan Church, and which transacts at its annual meetings all the important business of the connexion, has been composed exclusively of clergy men. It is henceforth to include laymen. The result cannot but be a healthy one. The wonder is that the Wesley ans should be the last branch of the Protestant Church to call laymen to its councils. It could not be denied that the principle, upon which action has now been taken, was Scriptural; while the examples of the Presbyterian Church, and the Church of England in the colonies, were practical proofs of the wisdom of acting upon it. Better late than never. Many advantages will flow from the course which has been now taken. One of the first will be the infusion of more liberal ideas into the government of the Church. We do not mean to imply that the laity, as a body, are more liberal than the clergy. Pacts do not justify such an opinion, though it is one that is commonly held. It is a curious commentary upon this opinion that, in the controversy which arose in connection with the blackballing of Mr. Pitchett by the Young Men’s Christian Association of Dunedin the majority of the clergy taking part in the business of the meeting called to consider the case were not opposed to his admission to the association. Mr Pitchett was blackballed by the laity. The resolution of Dr Copeland upholding the action of the Board of Management was carried by 50 to 31 votes. With this fact before us we dare not say that the laity as a body are more liberal than the clergy. Yet as the laity have a more general education, and are not bound by special obligations as to dogma and ceremony it is probable that from their ranks liberal ideas will more readily flow, and that there will be a gradual leavening of the whole body with such ideas. This is what we mean when we say that one of the earliest results of the admission of laymen to the Conference will be the infusion of liberal ideas into the government of the Church. Another advantage will be that there will be less tendency to divisions. Hitherto the only way which was open to a

■Wesleyan to keep pace with progress, if he felt that hia Church was a laggard, was to secede, and found another sect. In this way the Wesleyan body, young as it is, has thrown off several off-shoots, which have become vigorous branches of the great tree. Now the aggrieved Methodist will, like an ordinary Englishman, air his grievance in public discussion, and endeavor to convince his confreres in Conference, that he is right, and induce them to accept his idea of progress. We hope to see the Conference take yet one other step, viz., admit the newspaper reporters to a reporter’s table. This step would be even more full of wisdom than the one that has now been taken.