New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-08
THE WOMEN MUST WAIT.
SEATS IN THE COYFsRENUE DENIED
A HOT CONTEST AND CLOSE VOTE
DIR. NEELY's AMENDMENT CARRIEs-THE DELE
GATES PUT ON REcoRD-HAs THE
END BEEN REACREDf


The General Conference of the Methodist Epis.
copal Church yesterday came to a vote on the
question Of the admission of the women to men,
bership In the high parliament and supreme court
Of the Church. The decision was rendered after
FOUR days OF continuous discussion, and though il
will probably stand the final action Of this Con.
ference, its consequences will be felt all through
the present meeting and will agitate the Church
during the four years to come. The decision was
against the women. Those who were elected as
delegates are decided to be ineligible under the
constitution Of the Church as 1t now exists, their
seats given to the reserve delegates elected
with them, and it Is ordered that an amendment
be submitted to the annual conferences looking to
the comforting upon women Of the privileges now
denied to them. The vote was close one; the
majority in total Of 435 votes being only thirty
nine. The decisive question being on the adop-
tion of the report of the committee as amended
the motion of DR.. Neely, of Philadelphia, I59
ministers and seventy-eight laymen voted ave.
and 122 ministers and seventy-six laymcn no."
This was the official announcement made from the
platform, though The TRIBUNE's count care.
fully made and verified, showed 1873 ministers
voting in the negative, which reduces the majority
to thirty-eight. The result confirms the surmisd
made by THE TRIBUNE after test vote on last
divided in opinion as to the eligibility Of womer
under the organic law Of the Church as it stands
What the near future may bring forth it is not
possible to say, but there is scarcely doubt that
the contest though ended for the time being will
be felt indirectly in several Of the elections which
will take place in the Conference before adjourn
ment. There was remarkable exhibition Of
fairness and good nature throughout the debate.
What little parliamentary fencing was indulged
In had seldom any other purpose than a moro
rapid promotion Of the discussion. But Methodist
ministers and laymen, even though wearing high
representative hcnors are only human after all
and when they feel intensely on a matter involv-
ing not only questions of propriety, wisdom and
right, but also of sentiment, they are not likely
wholly to disabuse their minds of the estimates of
men formed from their speeches and votes. IN
never vote for any man who voted aye on that
proposition" was the emphatic utterance Of o
delegate as he left the Opera House yesterday,
and doubtless there others of his mind. The
propositions to take the vote by orders" and by
word came from the advocates of the womens
cause, and though few Of the men who are spoken
Of popularity in connection with the epscopacy
and other high offices Of the Church took part in
the debate, they are all on record. For them, in
any view Of the case, unless the Methodist General
Conference is body of saints. the amendment
of DR.. Neely was happy solution Of trouble
some problem. The official utterance of the Gen.
eral Conference on the subject stands IN these
words:
Tho special committee of seventeen to which was
referred tho question Of the eligibility Of women
lay delegates IN the General Conference respectfully
submit the following report:
whereas, After serious consideration and free
discussion for several hours they convinced that
when the second restrictive rule ordered by tho
constitutional process the Church contemplated the
admission OF only lay representatives, and that
1t has never been consulted expressed fits desire
upon the admission of women to the General Con-
ference and they compelled to report for adoption
tho following:
Resolved First-That under the constitution and
laws Of tho Church as they now are, women are not
eligible as lay delegates in the General Conference.
secondTha the protest, referred to this COMMITTEES,
against the sitting Of Amanda c. Rippey, from the
Kansas Conference; Mary c. Mind from the Mime
sofa Conference; Angie F. Newman, from the Nebraska
Conference; Lizzie d. Van Kirk, from the Pittsburg
Conference, and Frances L. willard, from the Rock
River Conference, is sustained by Discipline and
therefore they cannot legally be admitted TO seats.
Thrd-That the secretary Of the General Conference
shall notify tho delegates from those confer.
ences that the seats horeln referred to vacant
since there is great interest in the question and
since the Church generally should be consulted In 70
gard to such important matter, therefore,
Resolved, That We submit to the Annual Confer
ences the proposition to amend the second restrictive
rule by adding the words and said delegates may be
men women" after the words two lay delegates for
an Annual Conference so that 1t will read "nor Of
than two lay delegates for Annual Conference
and said delegates may be men or women