New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-06
VIEWS OF A WOMAN DELEGATE.
4 POINTED LETTER FROM MRS. ANGIE T. NEWMAN

OF NEBRASKA.
Mrs Anglo F. Newman, of Nebraska, who IS the first
OF the women delegates elected to tho Methodist Con-
ference has written the following letter to The Trib-
une, presenting the position CT tho women delegates
from their side OF tho case
In the great debate pending the admission OF
women to tho General Conference, several speakers
have had the tomerity to Interpret the wishes OF the
women without having conferred with the ladies' as
to their Individual opinion that Of tho constituency
they represent. This we declare Is UNCONSTITUTIONAL
To this date no woman elected to this General Con-
ference has used the columns OF the secular or religious
press to advocate her claims. The opponents OF tho
movement have crowded the advocates with arguments
for months past DR.. Buckley, in his speech, quotes
the letter of Mrs. c. A. Wright expressing the sen
ment Of tho women Of the Church on this question
Yet Dr. Buckley confe.ses In an editorial note In The
Advocate that, ION one occasion, In the presence
Of tho editor Of this paper Mrs. Wright gave her
views concerning the admission Of women to seats IN
the General Conference and he requested her to write
the letter which appears In " The Advocate.''
Did Dr. Buckley ever solicit letter for the columns
OF Tho Advocate from any woman OF any conference
which elected women TO this Confcrencef Has Dr.
Buckley ever exchanged a word with the ladies so
elected, az 10 their views II l am correctly IN
formed, the husband Of Mrs. Wright died ten years ago.
The subtance of her letter, as published In The Al
vocate, Is largely an expression OF tho views of her
deceased husband In which she cOncurs. When tho
justice OF cause must be sustained by appeal to dead
men, buried years before the action was had
on which judgment Is summoned, tho inference Is cieT
as to the motive In appeal Why not summon living
witnessed That public opinion may not be iormen
on false premises, statement OF existing iacts Is 10
manded at this crisis.
THE QUESTION ONE OF SEX ONLY.
"The question then. one of sex and sex only, and
all tho gush about wanting tho women In the Gen.
cral Conference legally Is simply dust thrown u
blind the eyes Of those who do not see ior theScNes'
The women duo legally. Tho SUBMISSION VI INC
question to the annual CONFERENCE.-The proposou III
tho amendment to the pending report-S INC poHos
OF defeat The annual conferences ha'o "ie"'S
voted the question OF lay delegation Ihcio IS
nothing to submit but tho question Is layhan oil
inclusive termP and the General Conference has
already declared.
Tho resubmission does not decide tho question. IL
must then como to the General Conference four years
hence. for their decision Just as It does now Inns
General Conference is Just as competeh' u ue0o 'o
question as the next will b. And THIS su'ui'''on
policy ia plan to keep tho women out ior 'no noA'
eight years. Meantime. two-thlrds OF tno msnp th
ship OF tho Church (tho women) arc cohduouhs the
various or9ani1ed henevolences of the Church, tho
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. inc "Un iI
Home Missionary Society etc sod sending their mis-
sionaries to every part OF tho world subject TO tho
limitations OF the General Conference h.Yo 5us.,
sentatiyes in the body which makes tho laws winch
govern their own organizations
DEAD MEN NOT GOOD JUDGES.
"An appeal to the Will intent OF tho fa'hers VINO
went to glory before these organizations wero formed
is Of slight value, unless We summon .hom from
Heaven and take their testimony ia the hshs OF cur
rent events The lsymen sitting In TINS General
Conference by virtue Of tho general FRANCHISE OF the
women Of the churches. The women arc mere ey tno
ballots of tho in tho lay conferences which they
represent for in instance so far as We nave record
have the number Of women In tho lay electoral confer
been sufficient TO control tho eioctlGn'. WIN
any one Insist the laymen arc included II not, by
what law human or divine can the women he declared
incligiblof Yours, for law and justice
ANGIE L. NEWMAN