New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-04

record her vote pending any investigation The
nounccment was received with applause that was
quietly checked when Bishop Andrews promptly an
nounccd that the vote could not DO counted
DIR POTTS OPENS THE DEBATE
Then It became apparent that the women adhorcnts
had prepared their forces carefully Thor first
speaker Dr. j. H. Potts of Detroit, the Editor OF The
Michigan Christian Advocate secured recognition and
opcned the debate DR.. Potts is better known in tho
West than ia tho East. Ho obliged to retire from
the pulpit some years ago on account OF difficulty In
hearing lie became associate editor and subsequently
Editor of " The Michigan Advocate and his hearing
has lost entirely within few years, so that, as
one Of his delegation said, he would not hear IL cannon
werc fired at his side, except from feeling the dis
turbance His paper has supported the admission OF
womon delegates vigorously from the start, and DE
showed himself thoroughly familiar with tho question
But watt remarked another delegate, until Dr.
Buckley polishes off DIR. Potts"
"The beauty Of It is' returned the Michigan delegate
athat Dr. Potts will never hear that DR. Buckley has
polished him.
The next speaker among the score Of delegates who
shouted for the floor was also womans advocate lie
was President Brush OF the Dakota University which
was burned down few days ago. broad shouidered'
white haired man six feet high With Dr. Flood,
who came third In the line, the drift OF the sent
ment became apparent in the house. Dr. Buckley,
who was the fourth speaker, attempted to stem tho cur
rent and he succeeded in turning the laughter on his
opponents and piercing their arguments
frequently with his logic and facts,
but he was followed in turn by two more
supporters of the rights Of women delegates and WHOM
Dr. j. W. Hamilton at the close took the floor on tho
Same side he continually interrupted with applause.
When reference made to the efforts Of women In the
Church and to tho fact that the Womans Mission
Society alone collected moro money yearly than the
entire Methodist Church could do few years ago. the
speaker glanced at Of the boxes where Mrs ekd-
more president of the Woman's Foreign Mission, was
-l.tolrr cd tn an6
National officers OF woman's Homo and Foreign MIS-
slons.
CONSERVATISM OF THE LAY DELEGATES.
II is reported that In tho debate which will be con-
tinued as the regular business OF to-day an effort VIII
DO made to bring Dr. John p Newman on tho hoor on
question Of privilege. He was delegate 10 inc last
General Conference. where he took a prominent part
nm ouestlons relating TO the status of delegates He
IS known to advocate strongly the legality OF the adj
mission OF women rs delegates. Tho lay delegates are
thought be conservative on tho question uhah
the clergy and strong doubt was expressed last even
ing whether tho women could be admitted even IL
they have clear majority in the Conference Any
one can call for separate vote OF the lay and tho
clerical delegates, and unless there is majority OF
both they cannot be admitted Tho use OF this prvi-
lcge under the circumstances Is regarded as species
Of gag law which, one minister sad wouio scarccy
be rcsorted to II the majority was large George H.
Hazard lay delegate from St. Paul. SAID that whiie
the western lay delegates were largely IN laVor vi 0
women he thought that they would prefer 10 SEQ tho
Annual Conferences first act on the question
Mrs. Angie f. Newman, Of Nebraska, who was the
first woman elected the General Conference said THAI
there was no ground for the argument that ministers
might secure election Of their own wives as lay dele
gates and that It preposterous Inc minister's arc
not members OF the Electoral Conferences which elect
the delegates and which are exceedingly Jealous OF
their own privileges. Tho women delegates would
como to the Conference representatives OF moro than
half of the members Of the Methodist Church ana
in the interest of their own work In homo ana Foreign
missions.
The Rev. Charles II. Kelly Of tho Wesleyan Method
ist Conference, and the Rev. Wesley Guard, OF the
Irish Wesleyan Conference. were introduced as fater
nal delegates. Among other ministers present curing
the day the Rcv. DR.. ormston, OF inc Du.ch
Reformed Church, and the Rev. Dr. Tyler, OF inc
Christian Church. of Ncw-York. The woman question
occupied SO much of the attention that little was given
to other matters