The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-11
WOMEN AS DELEGATES.
Female Members OF the Church Op
posed to Their Admission.


Female members OF the Church OPP
posed to Their Admission.
From, Tho Ne,v yor, ,,sro,a
49,. ~. isa:1.,
Ai"ons 'iio iauies VINO haVc 'aheh ieau-
ing part IN the work OF the Methodist church
is Mrs. Caroline X. Wright, whose husband
was during his lifetime United States minis
tor g. +ho co,r. 90 p~,ss;a ood cleo c,o,,or,or
asr,,1 NJ 49,. :. a. -. .
oi ihuiana. MIS- "rgnt Is tne PresluSht Oh
the New York branch of the Woman's For
egn Missionary society, and therefore we'll
calculated to giye broad and intellipent views
! ~, a. dros,;o,, 90 ,,o,,,o, doIooo,os
'" VIZ - "oen +,
u am decidedly opposed to the proposed
z movement" said Mrs Wright because IL
< Is contrary TO the teachings of ST. Paul who
Y disnnc,l,, tails ne thot womon rpst romoir
"a ,,..9
ehcn' oii quesuohS vi ohuIoh Poniy' anu
look TO their husbands for instruction; that
men must make the church laws, and
women cannot he nermitted 10 take mart in
the councils. You see by this that 10 give
4 women voice in the general conference Ia
against the apostolic constitution
But women have and do take an active
I. part In church work. remarked the reporter.
"Granted." replied Mrs. Wright with a
smile "And thew will continue TO do so.
In certain lines, with profit 10 themselves
and the progress of the church For my
own part ! firmly believe that the line
should be clearly drawn and defined.
Women, as delegates in the conference
would find themselves entirely out OF their
proper sphere, and /, for one. feel that the
men should have one sphere in the church
where they can act independently. Ii Is
their province TO make or change our
church laws, for il is their duty TO enforce
them.
Methodist women DESTROYS Of helping the
spread OF tho gospel and the increase OF their
church as a part of the machinery for ex-
tending the Christian religion, can find in
their own proper sphere enough TO do in
their own way, and the men can do the
same in their own way, each sex respecting
and trusting the other TO exert an influence
for good, which God alone can measure.
believe that few of our women will or do
favor the effort TO bring female delegates
into the conference. | am very sure
those who now demand admission
will secure il. OF that my conviction
ascertain. Our women have ample oppor-
tunity and scope for work In the Methodist
Episcopal church without irving 10 force
Themselves into the conference. The matter
will be settled very soon, however and then
this agitation will cease. am reminded of
The fact that INV husband. who was the first
president Of the Laymens Union, apprcci-
ated most fully the successful work accom-
plishod by women In the PRAYER meeting in
revival work. class meetings and he often
said that no other church gave women such
opportunity for work as did the Methodist
Tpisropal
at Z a curious fact that In 1858. when The
pronosition wn. made to include law dele
r,tes In The general eonference II was finally
lon 10 lie eongreeations 10 settle. The
women were then Allowed 10 vote and n
was hv tbcir VOTES that the law delega,cs ,vcrc
sdmitted Now women ssok Sdmission
witbnnt seeking the voice or assent nj their
sistcrhood. Al am evidence of the work that
can bo sueoessfnlIy accommodated / need
only refer 10 the Woman's Forcicn Mis.ion
snciety. When converts IN Jndia became
native teachers 81 The gosnel there wcrc no
wives for tbem. because females arc moi edn.
Gated i'm india and Tho o,Iy literature nor.
mittej In tbe zcnanas WINS ~ an indcicnt
rI,s1rtcr Our society mas furnished moro
ti,su On wives from native missionaries from,