New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-17
NO NEW BISHOP WANTED.
ACTION OF THE METHODIST GENERAL CON
FERENCE.
TWO NEW EPISCOPAL RESIDENCES CREATED-A
PRELIMINARY SKIRMISH on THE
WOMAN QUESTION.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO The TRIBUNE. !

WOMAN QUtSl1ON
TBY TELEGRAPH THE TkrBCSE.l
omaha, May 1G.-The Methodist General Confer
snce as was anticipated, decided this morning to
elect no bishops, and not to change the resi-
dences OF any OF those now holding Office. Two new
residences WERE however created, at Detroit and In
the state Of Washington.
First blood drawn also In q preliminary skr-
mish the "woman question:" which resulted
in decided setback for the aggressive DR.. Buckley.
who has vehemently opposed the admission OF women
delegates. The present official roll. by accident or
design, bears the names OF Mrs. Amanda strong ana
Mrs. Lucy NJ. Sullivan, reserve delegates rom uie
Columbia River Conference. The great debate III
the last Conference arose the bishops assertion
Of their right to exclude the names OF five women
applicants from the roll. The present Sthauon'
therefore, gives the womens friends technical ad-
vantage II the sickness disability OF the Column
ba River delegates should give either Mrs strong UT
Mrs. Sullivan chance to claim her seat. lively CON
test would at enSue. But even WITHOUT 'nS
contingency. the woman men" are "spomhg tut "
Grhtr and are likely to force set
Element any moment MAY Wright Sewell
and Rachel Foster Avery, president and secretary
of the womans National Council of the United
States representing siNtytwo National societies OF
women sent TO the Conference In care OF Bishop
fitzgerald an ingenious letter cOngrntulating 1t on
the majority vote OF ministers and laity In favor
Of the equal participation Of women In the councils OK
Tho Church.. OF which women form tw0-thlrds OF the
membership When the secretary read the letter. Dr.
Buckley at once prickcd up his ears and presently
advanced confidently TO the rostrum, ready Tor
long speech DR.. II. b. Ridgway, OF Evanston III"
meantime explained that he had presented the ie'er
on behalf Of Bishop Fitzgerald, and asked for Its
acceptance and the appointment OF committee OF
three TO consider It, with Bishop Fitzgerald as chair
Mr. President, began DR.. Buckley, mounting the
rostrum, with his arms squared
Il rise 60 a point OF order" said Dr. c. r Eaton'
of Massachusetts, This subject is already before the
Committee on Lay Representation, and under reSoin
ton offered by must be referred without oepate'
Bishop Hurst, who presided, sustained Dr. Eaton,
and DR.. Buckley retired crestfalen amid lrohca'
applause. lie had hardly sat down, however, before
he popped up again.
Resolution offered by Dr. Kynett' the secretary
announced "Whereas. number OF women were
chosen by Quarterly Conference as lay delegates 10
the Law electoral conferences, and the lay electoral
conferences constituted have elected lay delegates
TO this General Conference and
"Whereas, The Of two women appear upon
the rolls of this Conference as reserve lay aeesa'es'
therefore
Resolved, That the Committee on Ju-
dietary be and is hereby Instructed to In
quire and report at an early day, not
later than May 90 whether the terms lay delegates
.laymen' and member Of the church in full connec-
ton as used in Paragraphs So to g. inclusive. OF the
Discipline, express or imply distinction OF SEX"
The signers OF this resolution were A. j. kynett.
D. II. Moore, William SwindellS, j. c. McGee, IT, r.
Fleming and Lewis Curtis.
"This ought to meet with no opposition" said Dr.
Kynett. at is simply question of law. AT pres
emf there is uniformity. In many OF the lay
electoral conferences have been chosen and
have served. In other instances presiding elders have
decided that they were ineligible. So we want the
law expounded."
This Conference stoutly protested Dr. buckley
competent to discuss the question on Its merits
The only result of referring 1t would be majority
and a minority report and that would, therefore be a
waste of time. 1t is to be acted on In the Con-
ference before adjourn"
IT seems TO some Of u.s." said DR.. Moore signf-
canty very strange thing that question like this
shouh provoke any debate whatever. Why this singu-
lar reluctance to have the highest judicial committee
~ this body pass on the legal features OF this question
inst as it passes on the legal features OF any other
question submitted to it, II a minority report was
brought in doubtless should bring it, ana sand nero
70 day to say will do such thing. II there Is any
thing unfair in the advocates OF the admiesio" Vi
women asking for judicial opinion on the law as 1t
stands point 1t out II there Is nothing UNFAIR IN Ie
name of Justice let this reference be made"
The resolution referred to the Judiciafy Cohi
mittee as desired, and DR.. Buckley again LOOK MS
seat amid ron,cal applause.
Tie Episcopacy Committee presented i've reports
The first that 1t inexpedient and unadvsabie 10
Toylor and Thoburn as full bishops, was promptly
adopted so was No. 2. declaring that tho preSeh'
bishops, although some OF them are so iaf au|"hoeu
ia years as TO render 1t hardly probable that they VIII
he able TO do full work during the ensuing quau'
rernlum, are all still effective.
Concerning 30 3. reporting that after careful
consideration OF the whole subject the committee
thought IT mot necessary at this time to elect any
more. bishops" ;. p. Wilson, Of oregon, protested
against hasty action and wanted the report maze
special order for tomorrow Dr. J. Il. Maxhein, oi
Omaha said that the report had been thoroughly aired
I'm committee and IL also presently adopted.
Report No. A. declining 10 make recommendation as to
a cooed bishop, was adopted without protest from
any of the colorcd delegates, after Dr. Buckley had
reminded the Conference how the Church took care
OF its colorcd members and how Of the Ncwfork
Mcthodists had boycottcd one. or two hotels which
In the last report this recommendation: That
th.r be added Detroit the State OF Washington Eu-
rope and China or Japan that from these the Dsh9ps
that any bishop who shall reside in Europe, China
japan. or other foreign country shall pe ,nls,
referring to the foreign bishops had been stricken out
Two residences arc created with no bishops 20 n III,
the Northwest Coast and offers an opportunity 70 inc
met bishops TO vaeate an BISHOP.
although II is not likely TO do So ,...,u,,..o,
A resolution was sent to the Judiciary COMMITTEES
cn.ive as '" were approved as Constitutional by the
adoption Of the Go,cher amendment last Thursday, be
printed N the discipline hereafter, substantially III
form recommended by the report OF the cohsuui,,
uonal commission This resolution, II adopted, woud
practically nulfy the recent achievement OF the Jay
\ bare minority OF the active delegates are an xons
10 get home as soon as possible and desire 10 hurry
the adjournment. Ii decided this morning 10
suspend the call Of conferences for memorials amer
May Is. proposition to adjourn the Conference
fnslly on May 20 was tabled. 4 CONT vote was.
however. found necessary and 1913 voted for the ad-
iOuInmcnt, with only 2ll opposed.
Drs. G. C. McCabe J. o. Peck and A. Il. Leonard.
missionary secretaries report receipts Of the missionary
scieiv follows 1879 80 - G,- 20 81 1oo3'o1,
GO, 593 l78 60; ls5791 s4,5l7 $50 90.