Wichita eagle., 1888-05-05
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE,

NEW YORK, May 4-Bishop c. ID. Foss,
of Minneapolis, presided at today's session
of the general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church. The order of the day,
continued from yesterday, was the debate
on the eligibility of women lay delegates
TO the conference. The debate was opened
by Rev. DIR. A. b. Leonard, OF the Cincin-
natl, conference. He was n strong advo-
cate of the admission of women.
Rev. j. K. Day, of the New York confer
ence, argued against the admission of
women: He was not opposed to women
doing the work that she was capable of
doing, but he did not think she ought to
intrude upon the general conference
General Samuel H. Hurst. of Ohio. the
first layman to gain the floor, defended the
right of women to admission He alluded
to the opponents of GIe women as 'old
fogies. Woman did not come here as a
strong minded person demanding ad-
mittance, but she came as the representa-
tive of the lay conference. The word Of
laymen was interpreted to mean all men
represented in the ministry That was the
law, and if women were laymen they were
entitled TO admission. Women, he con-
tinued, do more work i'll the church
than the men, the spirit of the age is
against the opponents of women, and the
law is against them. The general confer
rights of the slave and today the church
Will settle the rights of the women.
Prof. G. j. Little, of Syracuse On. "
university, followed Mr.. Hurst. He said
he was not in favor of the admission of
women at the present time because the
church at large had not expressed an opin-
ion on the subject. He wanted women to
sit there, but when they came be wanted
them 10 come conSttutionally and by the
consent of the whole church.
Rev. 4. b. Neatly, of Philadelphia, said
he was in favor of submitting the question
to the annual conferences. He offered the
following amendment to the report of the
committee:
But, since there is great interest in this
question, and since the church generally
should he consulted in regard 20 such an
important matter; therefore
Resolved, That we submit TO the annual
conferences the proposition TO amend the
second restrictive rule by adding The
words, and said delegates may be men or
wemeu, after the words, two lay delegates
for an annual conference so that it will
read, nor of more than two lay delegates
for an annual conference, and said dele
gates may he men or women.
The amendment WAS seconded by Mr.,
Paxson and will be voted on at the close
of the debate.
Leslie M Shaw, a lawyer from Des
Moines argued that women are eligible.
He argued that they should be seated at
the present general conference. and the
question of their eligibility be submitted
TO the annual conference afterwards.
Governor T. c. Launsburg, of Connect
cutj moved that a vote be taken on the
amendment Monday at 70 O'Clock. The
motion was ruled out of order.
DR.. Buckley, who had seconded il got
the floor There were objections on the
ground that he had already spoken to the
question.
He said he had not spoken on the amend
ment, and was permitted by the chair to
proceed. The numberless points of order
were raised with the object Of putting DR..
Buckley off. The effort was successful,
and before he could get opportunity TO
speak the hour Of adjournment for the
day arrived.