New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-30

women to certain Offices by nero resolution but ap
parontly only In 1880 resolution was adopted so
AZ 10 mako the pronouns he,' q is' him. "hen
auplIed to class leaders, stewards and shndayschoo
superintendents. moan also she.' hers'' " her.
Tho resolution IS In the following words: The pro
nouus he, his and him. when used In tho discipline
With reference to stewards class leaders and Sunday
scboo, superintendcnts shall not be construed so as
TO exclude women from such Offices But In point
a, fact tho changes desired had been previously
ase in the letter OF the law itself. and In lesai
xav Paragraph So OF the Discipline. relative 10
,,s.s leaders, had been altered by the omission OF tho
word mon; Paragraph 90. in relation to Quarter
" Conferences, had been changed by omltung 'ho
,ro-d maIes before tho words superintendent OF
Sunday. schools and Paragraph lo1' rela''hs "
edwards had been changed by substituting the "ord
a r.rsonss for the word men" Tho resolution IN
,oI.tIon to "he,s HIS him." was added ana
o,ercd 10 be put in tie index Of the Discipline thA'
the occurrence OF these pronouns might not rVnuoi
tho statutory changes In regard 10 claSs
stewards and Sunday school supernfendehts VI Nv
effect 1t IS a very awkward piece OF "orA '' "
Intent Is obvious -. ,..,,+or,-
And this brings ETC TO the question. Can STATUTORY
law be reversed have wholly ne" n''a
,rafted upon It by more resolution am Oh op''Oa
r.. .oult .b,v II cannot Statutory law is enacted
18th certaln delays and formslIties ordinary feho
,utions can be passed upon the instit after thcJ arc
reportei by committees offered by individuals
old rule of all the General Conferences piescros ~
no resolution altering or resembling any ruio Vi D
c,pI,pe shall bo sdopted until II shall have oeen Ill
possession of the Conference at least one day. ms
rule was in force in 1872, when the NesDit fcs"i'
described above, was passed. see no evidence III
the journal that the Nesbt resolution contormeu 10
the requirement Of days delay If 1t was ia'ehoeo
IN make women eligible to membership In the Gen
eral Conference Il Is, in my opinion wholly nun az"
Void In thaHsense It alters the law OIL mo
Church very seriously; although, rs have areedy
s,id do not believe that such an application OF u
was at the time thought Of In any event, the max
ing Of new law by tho General Conference under inc
ruise of Interpreting old law by new resoiuon' Ia
an usurpaton and beyond It's legitimate powers.
FINALLY. do the women of the Church wish 10 come
into the General Conference under cover OF strained
interpretations, or through loopholes presumably
left in the statutory provisions of tho Discphnef
We cav of some provisions that they arc not manly
We NAV equally say that they are not womanly; for
I think that the point of honor is as clearly Kept
before the minds Of 1t Is before tho minds
OF men, II women are TO be admitted to the Cen
eral Conference let 1t be fairly proposed: let the
proposal pass through the processes required for con-
stitutional changes. While passing through these
Il can DO thoroughly discussed and the Church VIII
rest In the conclusion reached, whatever It may be.
what is done in haste must be done over again;
perhaps must be undone. For haste there Is no
reason, for the women Of the Church do not COM
plain that they are oppressed by the law as 1t now
stands GEORGE L. CROOKS.