Daily Republican., 1878-11-14
A Bssh.p I. . Qnsu asry.

4
AT the lats session 0f the Wsst Wis
consin Conferences, the Bishop lsctured
the Conference on the Importance oI
guarding the door VI Itin-rancy. In or
der to purge and purify the ministry
not dnly In doctrines, discipline and
literature, but also In manners, Gus
toms, habits and usefulness. We send
cut men as ministers, who areexpect
10 move IN the best Of society, and be
ft examples to follow; not clowns. To
do this, respect mus, be had TO aate-
cedents; such as birth, parentage, edu.
cation, early training, and especially
their call to the ministry, for In these
days men are seeking this Office as they
would trade, profession, or other
business calling to secure a living, and
a respectable position in society.
w. should admit none to this Office
who are not called of God to il Also,
to keep abreast OF the tines II is neoes-
sary TO purge our ltineran' ranks Of
those who do not or will not study to
show themselves workmsn, approved Of
God; rightly dividing the word oftruth !;
and who by this neglect become unac-
ceptable as Itinerants. This sitting
should extend to the effective ranks,
and to the supernun,eraries and super
annuates who SEEK that relation
because they are unacceptable an
itiBerants, or TO enter upon
some secular business, of more worldly
profit than the ministry, and advise
al such to locate; and 10 this end, he
recommends the appointment Of a CON-
mittee on church relations. He said Il
was no part Of our organization, hut
hoped 1t would be. There is no rule OF
discipline authorizing it, but neces-
sity seems to exist for il, and several
have adopted the measure
with apparent good effect, and he hop
cd all would do 80.
rpon this . motion was made to have
such a committees, when old father
Bronson, who sometimes dares to do
and say things from which others would
shrink, rose and said
Our bishops have decided that it Is
not lawful to license women to preach
or ordain them for the ministry br.
cause there Ia no specific rule Of disci-
pltne authorizing II. And district and
Annual Conferences have had their
whsels blocked, when attempting to do
50 for this reason. But now We are
called upon to adept measure for
which there is no law, because nrc.'s.
sity seems 10 demand 1t. Now. IL it is
unlawful to license or ordain women,
because there Is Ds law authorizing it
though there Ia none against tt
then It Is unlawful for us to adopt this
This brought down the
house, and preachers and visitors
slapped, stamped and laughed, and tn.
Bishop dropped his hsadl.
but there 10 a law, higher than
any written or printed one that of ne
,essity, which knows no higher law.
That law authorizes measures, some
lines, for which there is no other pre-
'ept. For so ye,rs | have been con
sinced OF the necessity, propriety and
'criptural authority for licensing, and
sven ordaining women for the ministry
mot TO the same amount as men, DOR
% the same high authorities bat in
he subordinate sphere in which nature
mas placed them, to save souls they
having the same gifts, grace and use,
'ulness required Of men, in our Disci-
pline. And we have here a parallel
,ase, under the law Of necessity. For
his reason shall favor the measure,
md insert, an annual conference has a
control over its own af-
airs, especially Of the qualifications Of
Is own members for usefulness in the
'bjects Of its organization, the pastor
lte. For these reasons | shall favor tn.
The measure was adopted. But
whether the Bishops will take the hint
md do likewise, is yet to be seen.
SILAs IloPgwELL