Omaha daily bee., 1892-05-27
CLOSE OF THE CONFERENCE
Methodist Delegates Finish the Work Of
the Session and Adjourn.
WOMEN WITH THEIR FIGHT FOR PLACE
Question of Their Admission to he Sub
mitted TO the vote of the Annual
Conferences-work of the
Closing Session.

lHS HtutVhl COuIer5uCs Vi luo N1SbubdASh
Episcopal church which has been in session
in Omaha since the % day of May closed its
deliberations yesterday and the delegates are
mostly on the way home.
This has been conservative aud as
whole harmonious conference. At no
time has there been awakened anything that
might be termed extreme bitterness, even In
the elections The conference seemed TO be
impressed with the idea that there were only
q few things that really needed changing
very badly. There were very lew rash anu
radical mem Ders In the BODY.
pTbe following are some Of the most i'm
portant matters discussed and disposed of
during the session: The first decisive step
taken wns the decision of the laymen to DC
mnnd separate seating from the ministers IN
the conference hall This was new ue-
parture and marks an era III the lay repre-
Bentation of the church. Then the confer
ence DECIDED that the constitution OF tne
general conference and the church did not
need reconstruction, although commission
which had been appointed four years before
was eager To have its report adopted. Next
came decision that no more bishops were
needed III present, and none were elected
I.uter on the conference decided that the
time limit on the ltinerancy should not pe
taken off, Notwithstanding the urgent de-
mgnd on the part OF great number OF tie
ministers that the limit be removed One OF
the most important decisions OF the confer
ence was that the church shall receive no
more money from the general government
for the support OF its Indian mission Schools
md another vitnl matter was the recommen-
nation to the annual conferences that the
lavman be given equal representation in the
general conferences Of the future.
Important resolutions passed by the con-
ference were those which demanded the
closing of the gates of the Worlds fair on
Sunday; denouncing outrages on the ne
Rroes In the south; appointing COMMISSION
TO consider the advisapllity OF organic union
of all the Methodist churches of the United
States; opposing certain textures In the
Chinese exclusion bill recently passed by
congress; making the Epworth league a con-
nectionRi society of the church, and sub
mItting the question OF the meaning OF the
word laymen to q vote of the annual confer
Bnces.
Puts the Burden the Opposition.
The strewdest ann most skillfully man
aged piece of legislation OF the entlre confer
ence was that passed at the last session re
lating 10 the woman question. THOSE VINO
have opposed the admission OF women as
delegates TO the general conference have in
varlahly fallen back the statement that
the word laymen did not mean women and
therefore women could have no right under
the constitution To sents III the general con-
ference. Taking unique and cunning ad-
vantage of this argument the friends OF the
submitted TO the annual conferences that
will unnou btediy give the opposition consid-
brable unnasiness. The substitute adopted
In place OF the committee report submits to
the annual conferences this question: "Does
The word laymen, as applied TO lay delegates,
mean male delegates only2'' 1fthis is affirmed
by two-thirds of all the annual conferences
and two-thirds of the general conference
Rt the next session, then the women will not
be entitled 10 seats in the general confer
ence. But the proposition also provides that
If this construction OF the word laymen is not
confirmed by the above vote OF The confer
ences then the word shall mean both men
and women. This simply throws the load OF
proof upon those who oppose the admission
of women. They w have to work with
great energy TO carry che proposition.
The advocates of the admission of women
seemed TO be scarcely u match for the opposi-
tion up to the last session, but In the closing
hours of the conference they won victory
that more than overDalanced Rll their appnr-
ent defeats during the entire session. IL is
fair 10 say that large share OF the credit
for this signal victory should be ascribed &c
DR. j. w. Hamilton of Boston, who intro
duced the cunning ubstitute and ACTUALLY y
managed it 30 smoothly that some OF the op-
position advocated IL before they discovered
Its dou ole edged nature.
Book Concern Affairs.
.sBlessed be the tie that binds" was the
morning HYMN sung at the opening Of the
last day of the conference,
Bishop Fitzgerald was In the chair. Somt
of the delegates had already taken their de-
parture, Tor there were several vacant seats
IN the hall
DR. Hunt of the New York book concern
was then given the floor TO state severa
points in the lava governing the book con
cern that needed 10 be disentancled. Thi
report of the book committee adopted In,
previous day had run against some previous
rules in the discipline that needed TO b'
adjusted harmoniously. The principal poin
that DR.. Hunt wanted cleared up was thu
change made in pnying the missionary
bishops. DIR. Hunt Is treasurer of the mis-
EionRry society and as the conference ha(
voted 10 take the salary Of the missionar,
bishops out Of the missionary fund instead o
the episcopal fund DR. Hunt wanted to havs
some instructions us TO how and whom Rnt
how much he should remit TO the missionary
bishops.
The committee on book concern was in
structed TO fix the salary OF the missionar-
bishops ana instruct DIR. Hunt AS TO how th
funds should be remitted.
Bishop Taylor has been and Is very muci
sverse 10 taking his salary out OF the mis-
siouary fund. He holds that athis will Grip
=. pie the work in Africa IL Will Indicate tina
the missionary society Is obliged 10 supper
the missionary bishops rather than th
church He says that this plan will ham
string the self supporting missions OF Africa
The committee on the state OF the churcl
reported in favor Of the appointment OF
commission consisting Of thres bishops, thre
ministers and three laymen TO consider Tn
ndvisabllity OF the organic union OF all tn
Methodist churches In the Unite3 States
The report was adopted.
Western Publications. of the Church.
The book committee recommended tina
Bishop Henry w. Warren, ex-CIoverno
Evans ana others be appointed us a commls
sion TO publish the Rocky Mountain AdvG
cate as u semi-ofiicial organ, put not 10 b
financially connected with the church in IN
way.
DIR. Buckley hit the report broadside she
py asking whether or not the pu bi'sners prI
posed 10 pay In n share OF the profits 10 III
fund for superannuuted ministers Tn
chairman OF the committee answered nj
Or Buckley thought that this was yer
loose way of doing business. II was the el
aorsement of private newspapers simply
give them boost and with no prospect
getting any benefit out OF them for II
benevolent funds.
The report was adopted. Then came
similar report with respect 10 tue Nebrhsl
Chrislian Advocate. the committee recon
mended that Bishop Newman, Rev. j. "
Shaak ann others DC authorized 10 ppblls
the NehraskI Christian Advocate.
DIR, Buckley thought that the Omaha pap'
had just AS good clam for recognition /
the Denver paper, but he opposed the who
scheme
Dr, Maxheld OF Omaha charged that son
OF the high officials in the conference VII
had been elected by the unanimous vote