The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-05
THE WOMAN QUESTION
Causes a Lively Debate in the
M. E. General Conference.
SPEECHES FOR AND AGAINST.
Threatening Letters Received by One
of the Delegates An Interest,"
ing Discussion = Yesterdays
Conference Proceedings.

NEw YoRE, May -BishopC @. D. Foss,
of Minneapolis, presided at to-day's ses-
sion of the General Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. H. j. Liebhart, Of the Central
German Conference, opened with pray
er. There was a largeaudience present.
The order Of the day, continued from
yesterday, was the debate on the report
of the Committee on Eligibility of
Women Lay Delegates to the Confer
ence. The debate was opened by Rev.
DR.. A. B. Leonard, of the Cincinnati
Conference. An effort was made to
pass a resolution closing the debate at l2
o'clock, but it failed.
Rev. DIR. Leonard began by saying that
he had received number ofanonymous
letters warning him not to speak in IA
vor OF admitting women. He was a
strong advocate OF the admission OF wo-
men. Replying to DR.. Buckley's speech,
he cited the laws OF the church and ar
gued that they favored the women's side
OF the case. He said that certain insin-
uations IN the address OF the bishop
were surprising. Women have been re-
garded laymen from the beginning.
They are allowed to vote in the lay con-
ference for delegates, and if they are en-
titled to vote they are entitled to seats.
II was understood that in 1872, when it
was agreed to admit lay delegates to the
General Conference, that the door was
opened for the admission Of women.
GROWS LIVELY.
DR.. Leonard claimed that DR.. Queal
had made certain statements about the
law of the church which proved that the
stand he (the Speaker had taken was
correct.
DR.. Queal arose and said that DR..
Leonard had misrepresented him.
DIR. Leonard closed by saying that If
women were not to be recognized they
should not be allowed to vote for the
election OF lay delegates.
Rev. John Miller, President OF the
Drew Theological Seminary, OF the New
York Conference, spoke against the ad-
mission OF women. He said If the laws
OF the church were properly interpreted
they would prove that women are not
eligible to and then, besides, no one
wanted them in the General Conference.
II the question OF the admission of
women were submitted to vote OF the
women in the church nine out Of ten
would vote against the admission OF
women delegates. The declaration OF
the Conference OF 1872, the speaker said,
was no part oil the legislation, and to at
tempt to establish upon this the right OF
women to admission was simple alb
surdity. The speaker quoted from a let
ter OF DR.. Crooks, who understood the
question thoroughly, in which it was
declared that there was no intention to
make women eligible.
REV. DAY OPPOSES WOMEN.
Rev. ]. R. Day, from the New York
Conference. argued against the admis-
sion of the women. When the law was
passed for the admission of lay delegates,
he said it was never intended that
women should be delegates to the Gem
eral Conference. 1t was proposed to-
day to make one OF the most stupen-
dous pieces OF legislation that has been
known to Christondom. He was not
opposed to women doing the work that
she is capable Of doing, but he did not
think that she should intrude upon the
General Conference. The question had
never been submitted to general vote
OF the church. Before the question was
settled it should be submitted to a vote.
Nothing should be done incautiously.
We do not know what place we want
women to occupy. II women are admit
ted Just so many men will be displaced.
The force of the lay delegation would
be weakened. Woman has not the
necessary experience. II she is admit
ted she should come in as an added
force and not us n weakening force.
General S. II. Hurst, OF Ohio, was the
next speaker. He manfully champion
ed the rights OF women.
Professor G. ]. Little, OF the Syracuse
University, member of the Philadel-
phia Conference, said he did not want
any women to assist him in debates.
Some people, he said, wanted to see the
miracle OF the Garden OF Eden worked
over again and have woman step out OF
our sides while we slept. Much laugh
ter, which was promptly suppressed.
The Professor concluded by saying: "If
the constitutional law OF the church is
observed, women cannot have voice
in the conference"
A CONFUSION OF TOSGuEs.