The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-04
WOMEN AS LAY DELEGATES
First Days Discussion of the Question in
the NJ. E. General Conference.
Rev. J. M. Buckley Strongly and Earnestly
Opposes the Proposed Innovation-The
Women Refused Seats Pending Debate.

NEW YORK. May 3-Bishop E. G. Andrews
ist Conference. Rev. G. S. Dearborn read from
the Scriptures, and Chaplain McCabs led the
singing. The order Of the day was the discus
sion of the report OF the committee upon the
eligibility of women a. lay delegates to the con-
ference. The COMMITTEES yesterday reported
against their admission. Rev. DR.. Psndleton,
of Kansas was the first to gain the floor. he
moved that the women whose seats are con-
tested be given seats on the floor during the de-
bate. To this Rev. Dr.. Nicely. of Philadelphia.
objected.
Rev. c. F. Creighton. Of Nebraska. spoke in
favor OF the motion.
After considerable discussion the motion was
lost When the vote was being taken Mrs.
Mary G. Ninde. of Minnesota. president of the
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, stood MP
to vote. Objection was made, and her vote was
not counted
Rev DR.. j. H. Potts, editor of the Michigan
Advocate. who is deaf, was given permission to
open the debate. He advocated the admission
of the women as delegates. He wanted to plead
for right over might. There WAS no decision as
to whether .lay delegates" meant men only.
More than two-thirds of the members OF the
church are women. Without women one-half
of the churches would cease to exist Women
cannot be left out without harm TO the church.
The speaker was loudly applauded. not only
by the ladies and others in the auditorium, but
by the delegates as we'll.
Rev. WIN. Brush, of Dakota, made long and
earnest plea in favor of the admission OF women.
Rev. DR.. Theo. F. Flood. editor of The CHATEAU
guam, was the third to speak in favor of ad-
hitting women. He argued that as women are
IL &c. A.x1
tice in the Supreme Court Of the United States.
the conference had right to admit them.
Rev. DIR. j. A. Buckley, editor or the Chris
tian Advocate, who IS one OF the strongest OPP
ponents OF the admission Of women. was the
next speaker. He said the question does not
turn upon the rights OF women, but upon q
principle. 81 have" said he, received an annoy
nous letter which warned me to beware how
vote, and is signed "A Lover of Your Souls of
Women / am unable TO decide whether this is
man or woman. The three speakers who pre-
ceded remind me of three chapters Of
work of fiction. / have q claim
to some knowledge OF Methodist history.
and I don't know OF anything that
tells as that the women should be admitted.
DR.. Buckley referred to the Episcopalans. the
Baptists and Presbyterians, who did not admit
women into their conferences, and claimed that
there was not a denomination in the world that
would admit women. He did not consider that
womanswas in her place in such an assemblage
There is nothing in the constitution of the church
that gives them the right TO q seat Dr. Buckley
read a 4. letter from Senator George +.
Edmunds in which he described the mode
of procedure in the Senate when q seat is
his opponents power of good and sentimental
ty. and claimed that every time q woman was
put in . legislative body man WAS put out, to
no advantage Of that body He closed with an
impassonsd plea for the support Of the commit
tees report
Rev. j. A. B. Wilson. of Wilmington, Del,
an advocate of the admission of women, read
long essay in support of their rights. He said
if women were allowed the right to preach, and
be officers of the church, they were entitled to
seats in the body.
Rev. @. W. Hughey, of St Louis said he rose
to refute some Of the arguments of DR.. Buckley
which he considered absurd. and he desired to
| champion the rights of women. he appealed to
sheemen to rise up In their manhood and in
their chivalry to support the rights of women.
He cited many cases Of church law. and as
serted that they showed that women were not
excluded by it as lay delegates
Rev. DR.. A. Wheeler, of Erie, took o decided
staud against their admission.
REV. DR. Luke c. Qusal, Of central New York.
said that II women are to come IN they must do
50 by the consent Of the General Conference.
Rev. DrJ. b. Hamilton, of Boston, who was one
| of the committee who refused to sign the COM
mittee's report against the admission of women,
| said the world prejudiced against new
| things. Those who opposed the admission OF
women did so from prejudice He had received
| letter warning him against appearing on the
| floor as a Gataline advocate. He appeared fol-
| the right The women had right to vote ia
| the church, and therefore entitled to seats
| in the conference. There is nothing in the
| spirit Of the church that autagonized the rights
| of women.
| A recess was then taken, aud further discus
sion of the subject went over till tomorrow.
| The Afternoon session was held in the Wash
| ington-equare NJ. E. Church. The whole after
noon was spent in the appointment Of the stand
/ ing conmittees and their organization. The
| committees were organized as follows.
|; On Episcopacy-Chairman. w. II. Olin of Wyom
| ing: secretary Arthur Edwards of Detroit.
/ Observation-Disclosures, j. NJ. Buckley, OF New
/ York; secretary. l. w. Joyce, of Cincinnati.
B6undaries-The bishops preside In succession
| secretary, @. ]. Clark.
| Observation-Disclosures, W. d. Whitlock. of North
Ohio; secretary. @. @. Wilbur of central New York.
| Temporal Economy-Charman, w. II. Craig, oil
| St Louis secretary, N. G.. Miller. of Pittsburg.
State of the Church--Chairman, }. o. Peck, Of
eastern New York; secretary, A. p. E. Albert. Of
| Louisiana
Book Concern-Chairman Gen. c. b. Fisk, OF New
Jersey; secretary, A. w. Mckinney of central Ala
| bama.
Missions-chairman, J. NJ Thoburn, of India sec
| rotary, A. b. Leonard, of Cincinnati.
Educaton--Chairmen @. II. Payne, Of Cincinnati
| secretary st. John Fry, of st. Louis.
| Church Extension Chairman, j. b. Graw, of New
| Jersey; secretary, j. U. jackson, of Ohio.
| Sunday. school and Tracts--Chairman, j. W. Men
denhan, of north Ohio secretary, Robert Forbes, O.
| Minnesota
| Freedman's Aid--Chairman, J. NJ. King, of New
York. secretary, Z. W. s. Hammond, of Lexington.
An adjournment was then taken until to-
| mn