The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-05-12
WOMEN NOT ADMITTED.
ACTION OF The GENERAL CONFERENCE.

The Matter Referred to the Annual Confer
ences-39 Majority for the Nicely Propo-
sition.
New YORK, May THE Conference
decided today that the women must
wait at least for four years before they
can take their seats as members OF the
General Conference. The expectation
that vote would be reached packed the
Opera House at an early hour, and it was
not until after o'clock that the session
adjourned
Bishop William X Ninde presided, and
Rev. j. nj. johnson. of Norway, con-
Quoted the devotional services. The sud
deaths yesterday of R,v. Dr. G. G
Clarke, of the Maine delegation, and Mr.
Leavitte B ties, of New England, were
announced and appropriate committees
appointed. On motion of Chairman c
B. Fisk the time for receiving the frater-
nal greetings of the British aud Irish
Wesleyan Conferences Was fixed for
Tuesday evening, May 15'
DR.. Paxton, of Philadelphia, moved
that the rules be suspended and that the
debate be continued upon the subject OF
the admission of women. Rev. Ii. III.
Moore, d. d., of the Erie Conference,
spoke in favor of their admission, and
was opposed to the substitute and the re-
port of the committee. He claimed that
they were already members. DR.. Ed
wards, of Troy, followed him, and
claimed that the law excluded the wo-
men and advanced the argument that the
Conference had no right To construe law
which it never had the right to make.
1nHna F. nj Sr In nnnnSR1 m
their admission. ciJiug the constitution
of the United States, and claiming that
they were ineligib ie to election to Con-
gress, and even to be President of the
United States.
The two great speeches of the closing
day of the six days discussion were
made by Rev. DR.. j. H. B.yliss. of Gin
cinnati, in favor, aud DR.. Jacob H. Todd,
of Wilmington, ia opposition.
Il presume said DIR. Todd, 1--WE are nearing
the end of this debate-a discussion which, ior
ability and the absence OF personalities. has SCI
dom been equaled. We have had law and gospel,
logic ami rhetoric, wit and humor. ", have seen
the flash OF the gladators' steel and have heard
the applause of the spectators. 1t has been Il
struggle OF giants, blows have been dealt and re-
ceived, and the combatants on both sides have
suffered more or less injury. The spectacle has
been magnificent, and We have been SO entranced
by it that we have hardly paused to ask what is
to come after. But when the debate is ended
something is to be done. Then these hundreds of
brethren who have had no part in the speaking
will have duty to perform more important than
debate. By their votes they are to decide this
question OF all absorbing interest. Let us then
pause Just here and returning to plain sober
thought inquire what has been established by the
debate thus far and how does the question. now
stand. 1t is agreed on all hands that the question
before us is not one of sentiment or galiantry or
chivalry, but purely of law. Whether the Church
ought or ought not admit women to its legislative
halls as delegates is not before us for considera-
ton or decision 1t is agreed that the one point
to be decided is does the law it now stands en-
title women to seats i'll the General Conference,
or does it grant that right exclusively to males:
The discussion thus far reveals the fact that the
pivot upon which that question turns is single
word. 1t is claimed by the one side that the word
laymen as used in the Discipline includes only
men. On the other hand it is contended that the
word is generic and embraces both sexes. The
Discipline says. paragraph 81: The lay delegates
shall consist of tlro iaymen for each annual Con
ference, except such conferences as have but one
ministerial delega ate. which conferences shall be
entitled to one lay delegate Now, upon the in
depreciation OF that word 'laymen,' the right of
women to a seat in this Conference depends. 1t
is contended on the one side that the General
Conference-of 1872 construed the word Tor us when
by resolution it declared that the General Con-
ference holds that in all matters connected with
the election of lay delegates the word layman
must be understood to include all the members OF
the Church who are not members of the annual
Conferences. AS women members OF the
Church and are not members of an annual Con
ference it is held that this Interpretation makes
them eligible as lay delegates to the General
Conference. Had this decision been made upon
any question involving sex there is no doubt that
it would have been conclusive, and would have
established equal rights to men and women,
delegates upon this floor. But it is conceded
fact that this decision was rendered In case in
which the question of sex did not enter aud was
not considered. The only case before the General
Conference OF 1872 which it sought to settle by
this decision. was Il case involving the status OF
ordained local preachers. There were a sort Of
nOndescript species OF humanity-a cross between
the clergy and laity-that was not easy to classify.
1t was settle their status in all matters connected
with lay delegations that the General Conference
declared that the word laymen should include all
members OF the Church who were not members OF
an annual Conference. That the decision which
they made is capable of much broader application
than they intended is clearly apparent. Strictly
construed, it makes Bishops as well as women
laymen. The question which next arises is what
construction must put upon tn t Interpretation
Of the word 'laymen.' made by the General Cor
ference Of 1872? Two principles of Interpretation
have been appealed to. The one is that in inter
preting law words and phrases must be un-
derstood to he used in their common acceptation
unless the connection in which they are found
uecessitates different sense. Now, acco riding to
this principle, the words all the members OF the
church would most assuredly include women,
and it would also include Bishops. The other
principle is that, in constituting legal decisions,
the deliverances of the Court must not be made
to cover issues not involved in the case on trial.
According to this principle as the status OF local
preachers was the only issue upon which the Gen
eral Conference sfls72 was called upon to decide,
that decision cannot be used. After all the law
and testimony are summed up left with
this fact confronting us-that wonan's title to II
seat in this body, under the law Of the Church as
it now is, is not proven. However much we may
desire her presence here and however much We
may think the Church ought to have admitted
her here upon terms OF equally with man, l think
her strongest advocates here will concede that her
right under the law, is by no means certain.
swell, then if she has not clear right to come
in she ought not to be admitted, and does not
desire to be admitted. 1t can do little harm TO
keep her out for four years while the matter is
submitted to the annual conferences. If excluded
at this session of the General Conference she can
renew the application every four years for all time
to come. But if hastily admitted at this time
she is beyond the reach of exclusion for all time
to come The report of the committee which de
clares that under the law as it is she is not en-
titled to a seat in this body is eminenty wise.
and after all the debate upon it we can hardly
fail to adopt it, 1t is the only safe, prudent
course"
DIR. T. b. Nicely, OF Philadelphia. desired to
speak to the substitute. because he lnisre-
ported on former occasion, and wished to be
accurately placed on record. He stated the ques-
ton not on the wisdom of having women in
the General Conference, but whether the law
intended they should be eligible to membership
in the General Conference. Those who say the
IA tbair l,,,ios