Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-06
THE METHODISTS.
The C Inference Discusses the Question
OF she Admission of yemen as
Lay Delegates.
Il Was Foolish to.say Tbst IL WON go wsr
admitted Msn Would Be Eek
clud -d-A Vote.

Nav YORK, Msy The interest in the
Methodist Episcopal general conference
increases daily. To-day there WAS q
larger audience present than on any pre-
vious day. Bishop j. F. Hurst presided,
snd the religious services were conducted
by Rev.J S. Wilson of South Carolina.
Rev. DID. M. Buckley claimed the
floor. He said he only wanted to set
himself right in regard to certain remarks
he had made IN regard to the eligibility of
women as delegates. He claimed that IS
the house had adjourned yesterday with
out fixing any special orter the rules
would have to be suspended before the
debate could be continued
The rules were again suspended and
Mr.. Clinton B Fisk took the floor to sd-
vocaie the admission of women. As
women were made class-leaders, preach
ers and members of the quarterly con-
ferences they were entitled to seats in
the conference. Their cause WAS holy
one.
General Fisk commended that there was
nothing in the law of the church which
says lay delegate shall not be woman
L. would be revolutionary TO turn women
outside of the general conference snd III
church could not afford 10 exclude theIYs
IL was foolish to say that III
women are elected men will be
excluded. No lawyer would
deny the right OF women to seats in the
convention. for the law of the church
entitled them to admission "Are we so
cowsrdlY," asked G neral Fisk, "thst we
would refuse to admit women FOR fear
che would fill the place of men?"
R3v. a j. Killet OF Iowa, secretary OF
the Cnurcn Elk .ension Society, favored
the admission of women and said that
Baptists and COngregationalists admitted
them to their conference.
Rv. "a. D. Moore of Colorado said
that women should not be admitted. Ia
closing DR.. Moore offered the substitute
previously submitted. II WAS in effect
that IS the eligibility of women
as lay delegates had been challenged "a
unconstitu gionRl, il was of the utmost
Importance that 40 dOuot should exist in
regard to the admission Of women with
out giving Interpretation to the rule Of
the church and discsim ,ng all intention
OF estsblis ing precedent by the action
now proposed by The resolution. The
substitute further provides that during
the month Of October, 1890, s general
convention shall be held i each church
snd thst sill members be called
UPON either to vote for or
against the admission Of women
SIS isy delegates. The election shsl be
held under the direc ion of the preacher
and if it is determined OF this vote TO ad-
nit women the rule shall be amended so
Sc to read "meu or Wome1." Should e
ms ] 1rity Of the church be in favor OF the
8 admission of women 81 lsy delegates then
the general conference in 1892 can COM
slete the change. The SUBSTITUTE bears
signatures of D avid NJ lore, j ohu Frey and
G neral Swindel.
R-v. G. Pendleton moved the previous
question. Toe motion WAS seconded and
it looked as if the question would be
settled then, and considerable excitement
existed while the vote was being tske1S
When ne announcement was made il was
discovered that the motion was lost.
The voIe stood 1872 against 179. (
R4v. W N. McEiroy was in favor of
women. -
Rev D. Gray, president OF the OIcktn-
son Female Seminary Of Willismsport,
Pa was opposed to women being present
willie the vote was being taken on ques-
ton.
- After some desultory discussion an ad-
1arnment was had until Monday.