New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-04
CALLING FOR THE ORDER OF THE DAY.
oIIING AN ATTEMPT TO SEAT THE WOMEN DELE
cArrs pENAING TIE DISCUSSION,

GATES PENDING THE DISCUSSION,
Bishop Andrews opened tho third days session OF
the Conference promptly at O'Clock Reference was
made in the opening prayer to the continued absence
Of Bishop Nindc and the hope expressed that he
might soon be with tho Conference. Al lts cloSo
Bishop Andrews announced that his colleague hao just
arrived and upon the platform, ana forthwith no
introduced the Bishop to the brethren. linen secN-
tary Monroe proceeded to call the roll OF previous
absentees and read Wednesdays journal, an excellent
chart of the tortuous channels Of the days debate
After important nations by Drs. Flood and Swim
des the latter being interrupted by DR.. Oueal, who
made the unsustalned point OF order that tho spccia
order of tho day. the consideration OF the woman ques
ton should be at proceeded with, Dr. Pende-
ton took the floor with motion to allow all contest
ants for seats in the General Conference to occupy
chairs on the floor Of the house while the question OF
their admission was pending. This was the opening
of the preliminary skrmishing on the great question
DR. Harrison said he wanted 1t understood that the
resolution was merely complimentary, not committing
the Conference to any action and the BISHOP reaSureo
him on that point Dr. Neely said he held TO the con-
stitutionaI principle that anybody properly returned
had a seat on the floor of the house until the body
said otherwise. (Applause) He though the STATUS
Of these contestants were the same as On o IN Con-
gress and elected Speaker before the vsiat VI '
Claim to membership in that body wa ahirmoo.
DESIRING COURTESY FOR THE WOMEN
DR. Creighton rose to put himself record as agree
Ing with DR. Nicely, and to favor the motion, remark
ing that he hoped the dscourtesy Of the previous DAY
would not be repeated when Of the woman contest
ants was forced sit in the gallery meanwhile Dr.
Pendleton had sent his written motion to the secre-
Jarvis desk where It found to refer only to tho
women delegates lie changed 1t, however, to include
all contestants and in this shape 1t agreed to- DR.
J. NJ Reid moved that the order Of the day be proceeded
with, and the former question was lett unsettled
while the house voted on this. The show OF hands
was so nearly even that Bishop Andrews directed that
the delegates stand and be counted.
Attention was called to the fact that Mrs. Mind,
one Of the live woman delegates was standing ana inc
Bishop said The secretary VIII not count d dnst vT et
yet decided The vote stood for taking up the
before tho battle Dr. Jackson, of Ohio, rose to ques-
ton of privilege and asked that Dr. Trmble, who has
been q delegate to every General Conference since
is44, be invited to seat on the platform Similar
Of Cincn natl, and all granted.
ELooUENCE OF DEAF MAN.
Tho report was now called for and read BY the
order Just taken, the floor was assigned 10 the Rev.
Dr. POTTS. Of Michigan. Dr. Potts Is utterly deaf and
found some difficulty in pitching his voice SO as to lie
heard in every part of the Opera House. Finally he
took his stand in the aisle Immediately In front OF the
orchestra and speaking with his back turned to the
stage and his 10 the audience he thus opened the
ball:
II was 70 be expected, Mr.. President that some men
vouId oppose the admission OF women 10 this body
constitutional grounds mean sir the constitution OF
ch e ,or that constitution is favorable enough Did
not believe IT, would be among the last to oppose .he
cSEsti1n on Of the Church applause We not
bound 10 this by any formal rules. but we are held by
moral obligations which are even stronger we are
protect s snd asaRsdi al s od I
history and handed down future sessions OF THIS
s sSSy h s. q ss he admsson q those
cur body would do violence TO our fundamenta Jaws
would ion the ranks OF those determined men mho
70 see in this document something "mch ones'
But found absolutely nothing IN m n
rul VIII a
otherwise Qualified and found absolutely noths IN G
sstrte based upon the rule which properly iheipoN
could exclude women. a., soue
Dr. Potts then went into the legal question III some
detail, quoting from the Discipline to support Ms posd
ton. He referred TO the Interpretation OF inc Syr
layman' Of the General Conference OF lS.4.
told,p he added that the Genera conference VI
1872 did not intend 10 include women. Then, SIR
/ say the neral Conference OF lotg was 1901 AZ
in talking Of all members OF the church IL meant
only one-thiri OF the members Of the Church zap
plausel then the Conference did NOT Know how TO use
plain English" DR.. Potts thus proceeded
Let us not 90 far that the world may say we
are going back find old clubs TO knock down these
representatives Of the purcst and best twothrds OF
the membership, who privileges possible and en-
toyable cloud applagse Male or female we arc all ono
In Christ Jesus What harm will the admission OF these
women dol What Will be gained by delayi Must VIC
say IN those ladies' You may wora for the Church and
labor carrying its resolutions but you cannot enter
this holy Methodist Sanhedrim"
NOTHING TO BE GAINED BY DELAY.
What will be gained by maintaining this atutudef
Nothing and may lose much You may say II Is not
q sentimental question, simply question " law II
we the law let constiue It by the spirit
Of the Gospel not BY the spirit Of ancient barbarisn