Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-05
THE MErHODISTS.
women as Lay Dsiex ates Discussed at tn
General conference

women as Lay Dsieg a1es Discussed at til 9
Gsnsret conference.
New YORK, Msy 4.-Blsho3 C. D. Foss
of M nnespolis presided over to-day's
session Of the general conference Of the
Methodist Eoiscupsl church.
Raw. 81. j. Liebnert of the Central
German conference opened with PRAYER.
The order OF the day continued from
yesterday was a debate on the report of
the committee on the eligibility of women
as lay delegates to the inference. There
was large audience present. The de-
hate was opened by Rev. DR.. A. B
Leonard Of the Cincinnati conference. An
effort was made to pass s resolution
osiag the debate at IL O'CLOCK, but II
failed. DR.. Leonard began by say
log he. had received number of
anonymous letters warning MIN not
to speak In favor Of admitting women
He Was a stro & advocate Of the admis-
sion OF women. Rep ying TO DR.. Buck
ley's speech he cited the laws Of the
church and argued that they favored the
woman's side Of the case. He said that
certain instructions in the address of the
Bishops ere surprising. Women have
been regarded as laymen from the be.
ginning. They are allowed to vote In the
conferences for delegates and il they are
entitled to vote they are entitled to q
seat. 1t WAS understood in 1879 when
it was agreed to admit lay delegates to
the general conference that the door was
open for the admission Of women. Dr.
Leonard claimed that DR.. Qleal had
made certain statements ABOUT the law of
rne church which proved the stand he
f hau
DR.. -QussI srose and said that DR..
Leonard had misrepresented.
Dr.. Leonard closed by saying that II
women were not to be recognized they
should not be allowed to vote for the
election Of lay delegates.
Rev. John MIley. president Of the Drew
Theological Seminary, OF the New York
conference, spoke against the admission
of women. He said il the laws Of the
churcn were properly interpreted they
would prove that women are
not eligible and then besides no one
wanted them In she general conference.
II the question OF the admission Of
women were submitted to a vote Of the
women in the church, niue out of ten
would ote against the admission OF
women delegates.
Rev. DR.. Rsy of the New York confer
ence argued against the admission of
women. When the law was passed for
the admission of lay delegates, he said,
il was never intended that women should
be delegates to the general conferercs.
II was proposed to-day to make
one of the most stupendous pieces Of
Legislation that has been known
to caristendom. He was not opposed to
women doing the work that she is csp-
able OF doing, but he did not think that
she could intrude upon the general con-
ference. The question had never been
submitted TO general vote Of the
church. Before the question was settled
1t should be submitted to vote. Nothing
should be done incautiously. We don't
know what place women want to occupy.
II women are admitted Just SO many men
will be displaced. The force Of the lay
delegates would be weakened. Woman
has mt the necessary experience. II she
is admitted she should come in as an ad-
ded force sid not as weakening force.