New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-02
DESKS. IA. 4. r kl!ssIR'

OF representation our pollty and determines the rao
connection with other parts OF the constitution OF
the General Conference quite clearly Identifies the Classes
to which representation Is secured Prior 10 the amend
Of Is6s72 the constituency Of the General Confer
comprised only the travelling preachers. and 1t was
understood that only travelling preachers could be oee
gates otherwise It is possible that somc popular local
preacher other worthy aymen would have been chosen
at some time during tho sixty years through which this
order Of things prevailed Travelling preachers were alone
eligible In the General Conference because At haa
time tho Annual Conferences only represented In It
and the members Of these Annual Conferences were tho
constituency OF the General Conference This would seem
that the delegates the General Conference should
who it's constituents, mem
bers Of the Annual Quarterly Conferences This msy
have Important bearing the eligibility Of any dole
gate chosen represent conference within which hs
docs not hold his conference or church membership
IMPORTANCE OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Prior to 1912 the annual conference had really no re
laon 10 general conference but in tho provisions
under which general conference was eseab
lishsd the annual conferences received new status
having hcncoforh representation in that body and concur
ront authority with II in making constitutional changes
Prior 10 1872 quarterly conferences had no relation 70
the general conference bat by the form Of lay delegation,
adopted 1s6s.72, they gvensa new status, having
henoeforth representation In that body II is safe 70
hold that tho membership OF the annual conference as 10
existed L. and the membership Of the quarterly con-
ference as existed ~ comprise all the classes en-
tied 70 representation and eligible as delegates, and has
changes these additions to them can only be safely
made In the constitutional way. that Is under the Re-
strictive Rule process
1t Is wel-known that women had no legal status mA
the quarterly conference in 1863 70 when by the plan OK
lay delegation it constituted the primary body Of the
system II any held the place OF casslcader steward
or Sunday school superintendent the holding OF the place
did not make them such once.be bearers In disciplinary
sense That such general view is obvious from
the action OF tho general conference in 1880 declaring mas
the pronouns he his and him shall not be construed 70
exclude women from these ofrces. Prior TO that time
aArrI0ta
them. Women not being members OF the quarterly
conferences in 1S6s72. 1t could not have been IN tho
intent OF general and annual conferences 10 MAKO
them eligible aymcn TO seats in the general conference
.The General Conference holds that In ell matters con-
ncced with the election OF 10y delegates the word lay.
mem must be understood TO include all the members OF the
Church who not members OF the Annual conferences
-Journsl 1872 D. Az In view OF the already s'sI
the force readily The plan OF lay peega'
ton confined all matters connected with the election OF
lsy delegates" tho quarterly conferences as the primary
bodies. Local preachers members OF the quarterly
conference OF them appearing as lay delegates In
1872 question OF their eligibility was raised ana
settled Up this tine Qs72 there had been no occa'
sion to whether they separated from tho
body Of the aity BY being licensed TO preach Though
preachers they msmbers OF annual conferences.
hence the above action all doubt as TO heif
rights and prerogyes members OF the quarterly confer
ence This did introduce new class Of per-
sons Into the quarterly conferencconly recognized the
membership OF the quarterly conference as IL existed when
| the form OF lay delegation was adopted, 1SoS-72
WOMEN HAVE NO LEGAL STANDING.
ThU ical conclusion from the.s facts and principles
Is that In all matters connected with the election OF lay
delegates" women legal stsnilng In either the
quarterly electoral conferences and not eligible 70
soats In the general conference Does not this prove
much not vitae the election in every quar-
tery and electoral conference in which women have par
cpaed voersf Even should this be the result thaS
would not change tho facts set aside the principles
attention Of the general conference has not been called
these matters heretofore the constitutional questions
involved have not been raised until now there has been
occasion 70 inquire as 10 the relation OF women 10 lay
delegation under plan of 1S6S72 and there is moth
ing In the discipline that snnuls an election because OF
mere rrcguay discovered subsequently thereto and too
late for correction by the electors
1t does not follow that the votes east by women IN
these vitated the elections They were not
legal voters but that fact was not known they were
honest In their purposes and those who received ana
counted their votes equally honest In this Under
what provision Of the discipline do such votes invadae
sn eectionf Again. the women present at quarterly
and electoral conferences were not legal members ana
voters laymen present and each conference 10
composed the legal members present The votes OF
these legal members in each did elect some one
1t may properly be assumed that the elected has
been returned and returned, IL otherwise
eligible msy be recognized and seated II challenged II
must be that the seated was not elected
by the ballots Of entitled TO vote There will be few
| II any challenges.
Uad women been disciplinary members OF the Quarter
" Conference in 1893, when the plan Of lay delegation
WAS agreed upon by the General Conference their eiig
blity 10 seats Electoral and General Conferences
would be beyond question. The real mater touched at
the time by Newmans question was the constituency
NJ ay delegates under the proposed plan, and the Quar-
terly Conference which women had no place, beng
constituted primary electoral body the general re-
! sponse OF mol" Nor to his question has force as
interpreting the thought and intent OF the General Con-
ference II the foregoing arguments be not conclusive
they raise so strong presumption against the eligibility
Of women delegates render it prudent and safe
to establish eligibility by the restricverue process
when sentiment aud welfare OF the Church demands
their presence the General Conference. No rule
resolution or Interpretation OF rule resolution, or
other legislative judicial act Of the General Conference
can the presence OF women in that body unless
their right to the place exists In tho constitution.