The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-11-18
TIE METuODISYs VOTING
On a PIopositlon to Admit Women TO the
Grncrul Conference,

VA 80 ~ AkNltht " ~ khC
General Conference.
On Wednesday OF this week the MON.
bers Of the Fourth Street NJ. Z. Church,
male and female, who are over twenty.
one years Of nge, will vote on a PROPOSE.
ton to admit women to the general Con.
ference Of the NJ. L. church. The other
NJ. i. churches OF this city will vote on
the proposition at q later day. All the
churches Of that denomination have
been asked to vote in the month OF 0cto.
Der or November, 30 that only about two
weeks remain for the election to be held.
The terms OF tho regulations laid down
By the General Conference ut It's last
session require that the date OF tho cleo.
ton ehall be announced at public ser
vices in tho church a. least twice, the
first time at least thirty days before the
election.
At the last General Conference, II
may be remembered, five women duly
elected as delegates presented themselves
Tor admission. The debate which fol.
lowed was, 10 Rev. DR.. Cushing said to
an lSrELLiGENCER reporter yesterday in
a conversation on this subject, the most
earnest known in that body since the
famous debate on slavery, which led to
the secession OF the NJ. Z. Church South
back in the f%orties. 1. was finally de.
Cidsd 10 submit the proposal TO admit
women to a vote Of oil the churches oil
the denomination in thsworld.
Tho question arose or a dispute as to
the meaning ofthe language used in the
Methodist Episcopal Discipline, which
says that laymen may DO admitted as
delegates. The dispute was as to whether
this meant to imply that women were
eligible as delegates.
DR.. Gushing said Yesterday in response
to an inquiry that q majority Of the
churches Sad already cast their vote,
aud the result % far is q majority in
favor OF the admission Of women, but so
small a majority, in proportion to the
whole vote cast, that the result il yet in
doubt. The result IN the churches vet
to cast their vote may change tho major.
ity to one against admission.
The vote has been light in proportion
to the number OF those entitled TO vote.
It is estim ated that three.lithe OF the
membership Of the church is composed
OF women, and the result does not seem
to indicate much desire on their part to
participate in the deliberations OF the
congress OF the church. Miss Frances
willard, the famona W. O. 7. U. official,
has been, however, one OF the most ear.
nest and aggressive OF the champions OF
admission. OF the UNCONVENTIONAL pa.
pe.s OF the church, several Of the lead
ing Western papers have chamnioned
the cause OF admission, while DR..
Buckley, IN the New York Chris.
iian Adrocate, has been, perhaps,
tile most ~implacable foo of the
opposition. He argues that the Bible
gives the weight Of its authority against
women in the Conference, but those
who hold an opposite view lind lust as
much reason in the Scriptures ior their
way Of thinking.
The election in the Fourth street
church will be held both in the alter
noon and evening. This wac at Dr..
Cushing's suggestion, 80 rs to give those
too old and feehles to come out to the
prayer meeting at night au opportunity
to cast their votes. Printed ballots are
furnished. Two laymen have been
chosen to act US Judges or tellers OF the
election.
The result OF the vote will BIO awaited
with q good deal of interest by all the
M%ethodists of the world.
roo.