The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-28
The WOMAN QUESTION
And How 1. Was Settled by tho
Methodist Protestant Church.
WOMEN, ELIGIBLE TO ANY OFFICE
In tho Church Under the Decision or
tho General Conference Mt West.
Minister; Maryland, Inst Tuesday.
a complete Victory for tho Friends
OF the Lady Delegates and Ministers.


devoted its three sessions OF Tuesday to
the question Of tho admission Of women.
Tho enthusiasm Of tho delegates has
stirred tho c~itizen1 Of the city until tho
question is debated on tho streets and
in every family circle. There was no
attempt to prevent any ono from speak
ing, hence nc vote was reached until II
o'clock this morning. Four ladies
camo up to tho general conference prop.
erly certified from their respective an.
nual conference. According to tho IN.
atructions to the secretary, Es found in
the discipline Of tho church, he had
enrolled them upon tho roll OF members
by which the conference was organized,
and being members properly certified
they have voted upon every question.
The committee, however. on certificates,
brought in a report TO unscat them on
constitutional grounds. This was nc.
c%ompanied by a minority report claim.
ing thRt they wore legally elected and
returned. All substitutes wcre voted
down except the substitute Of tho mi.
nority report for that Of tho majority,
which was adopted by a vote Of "a for
10 40 against.
This vote shows tho strength Of Mrs.
St. John, the ministerial representative
from Kansas, only, and not OF the
women lay delegates from Iowa, Indiana
and West Virginia. These last named,
upon 4 vote relating 10 their admission
alone, would have been admitted by 4
minority OF three to n | quote iron
\ few OF the speeches us found in the
daily reports:
REV. DIR. NuRRAY's OPPOSITION.
Rev. DR.. L. W. Bates, Of Baltimore,
opened the discussion in the morning
with a few remarks, asking that all
sides be given a fair show in the de-
bate, after which Rev. DR.. j. T. Murray,
chairman OF the committee on certiti-
Gates, the principal opponent OF the nd.
mission of women, made Il long speech.
DR.. Murray said: "a grave issue is
upon us. involving a grave response
bility. 1t may seriously disturb the
church it fills some minds with appre-
hension. He who would treat it reck-
lessly, as to its consequences, cares more
for personal opinion than for the peace
and prosperity Of the church. 1t should
DO treated with perfect candor and
charity. would divest myself OF all
prejudice. On this subject We should
have q conference, rather than a de-
bate. | will take my stand upon the
law OF the church, and 1 hope the
brethren will not suffer their minds to
be diverted from this, the crucial test.
It is not a question OF gallantry. 1t is
not a question of opposition to women.
OF all tyrants, he who would tyrannize
over women is the meanest; OF all rob-
beers, he who would rob women OF any
Of their God-given rights is the most
ruthless. II would take these from
them here or elsewhere, brand me with
these burning epithets. When they are
made eligible to q scat in this body by
the constitution of the church they will
DO hailed as legislative peers; but until
then | must oppose their recognition.
AS l said, this is q question of law.
There has been much Of Scripture in
depreciation. Everything Of this kind
only leads away from the crucial test
law, viz: "The general conference shall
consist OF m equal number OF ministers
and laymen. The ratio OF representa-
ton fromn each annual conference dis
trlct shall be one minister and one law
man for each two thousand persons in
full membership" 1t is contended
that article II confers upon annual con-
terences the prerogative OF determin-
ing. The matter OF suffrage and eligi-
bility to office shall be left 10 the an
nual conferences respectively. Giving
these equal power, VI would have a ne.
CATION and no laws at all. But they re-
late to different sphcres-ono to con-
stltuent elements or component parts
OF the general conference; the other to
what annual conference may do with
reference to that which affects itself.
Section 10; nnder the head Of annual
Conference" in the Discipline OF the
Church, says no person shall be elected
to orders except to be a man. If the
matter OF making women eligible to
seats in the general conference was con-
templatei in the compromise basis OF
union contained in articles s and u BY
any party or parties, it WIS never
avowed; and, had it been proposed, it
would have been fatal to the union if
insisted upon,
Els PLEA o THE woMES.
Rev. Thomas B. Applegct. president
OF the New Jersey annual conference
and champion of the women's cause,
spoke as follows: II am not inclined
to take tho floor in defense of the
minority report, when SO little has
been developed in tine attack, but, as
tho leader, | will state at once the
grounds upon which we stand. l au,
glad that DR.. Murray virtually ad.
mitted that according to the argument
Of 1871, the rights of women wore as.
aured in Kansas, if nowhere else. But
am not hero to make n personal do |
Tense. The committee has, in both re-
ports, agreed that so far as tho eIec.
tions, returns and credentials we're rcg.
ular and valid. But, without contest.
dispute or protest, the majority Of the
committee propose to unseat the men,
bers elect, because of what? First, bo-
cause 4 woman cannot be u lavmau.
and, second, is because q woman can.
not boa minister. Appeal is made to
certain uses OF these words in the con-
stitution to prove that these persons
wero not qualified, were not eligible to
these offices. For fifteen years tho con-
ference has had the right to determine
tho eligibility Of its representatives,
and | hold that we are nil, and VIC are
equally, entitled to the seats wo hold.
Il you take away the right, it is another
thing. but you cannot deprive any one
OF what they rightfully have"
THE WOMAN IN HER owS DEFENSE.
Tno, Nfr,. e. Ioln 1 Ii--n