Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-02
WOMEN WIN THE VICTORY.
Final Session of the Methodist
General Conference.

Final Session of the Methodist |
General Conference.
Tho Briggs Case at Portland Bids Fair to
Stretch Out Unfortunately -Notes of
Other Rel sious Gatherings.
OMAHA, NEB., May 25.--1he General
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church has decided against the proposed
consolidation of the Baltimore and Vir-
ginia Annual Conferences. Those con-
ferences will remain as they have been
heretofore.
The report on the Columbian Exposition
matter demanding Sunday closing was
presented to-day soon after the session
opened. The report was accepted. A
second part recommended the appointment
of commission to make a church exhibit.
This excited some discussion, but was
finally adopted.
The committee on lay representation re-
ported in favor of equal lay and clerical
representation in the General Conference
one lay and one ministerial delegate for
each 40 ministers in the annual confer
ences. A spirited debate enstled.
DR.. Nicely called for a vote by orders
upon the committees report. The result
was Laymen for, 143 laymen against, IL;
ministers for, 1877; ministers against, los.
The chair announced that the report had
been adopted.
Some Of the delegates held that it re-
quired two-thirds majority of both orders
TO carry q vote when there was u division.
The question was referred TO the judiciary
| committee.
Fraternal greetings were received from
the Presbyterian General Assembly in ses-
sion at Portland. The secretary made a
| mistake in reading the telegram, and
| opened the Bible to a passage which he
supposed was referred to in the telegram.
1t read thus; "Ye parents, provoke not
| your children to wrath"
A general laugh followed, and the secre-
tary readjusted his spectacles and read a
different passage pointed out by the telc-
gram.
OMAHA, NEB.. May 2G.-This was the
last day of the general conference, and the
first business was to throw into the waste
basket vast number of minor reports.
| The committee on the state of the
church reported in favor of the appoint
ment of a commission consisting of three
bishops, three ministers and three laymen
to consider the ACCESSIBILITY of the organic
union of all the Methodist churches in the
United States. The report was adopted.
The committee on missions then brought
in report on the attitude of the church
with relation to polygamy. 1t declared
that the church should under no circum-
stances admit anyone who had not entirely
abandoned the practice of polygamy.
Adopted.
At last the woman question got into the
conference. The Judiciary committee re-
ported that the word '.laymen" in the dis
cipline did not mean both sexes, but that
1t had reference to men only. The COM
mittee did not mean to take the ground
that the women should not be admitted,
but simply that the meaning of the word
"laymen," as 1t was placed in the dsci-
pline years ago, did not include women.
DIR. Hamilton offered substitute, pro-
| viding that the annual conference should
vote upon the proposition to make the
word 'laymen" mean men and men only,
and in case the proposition was not carried
by two-thirds vote, then the word clay
men" should therefore mean both men
and women. This was great hit. 1t was
received with hearty applause.
DIR. Field of Philadelphia, held that the
admission of women would drive the
young men and boys out Of the church.
He pleaded for the young men, he said, by
| urging the conference aud all the women
of the church not to insist upon admitting
women. DIR. Hamilton's amendment was
then adopted by vote of 243 to ia amid
great applause.
The amendment provides that the word
"laymen" as applied to lay delegates must
mean male delegates, and in case this in
depreciation of the word is not sustained
ence and three-fourths vote of the next
general conference, when the word clay
men" shall mean both women and men
and will of course admit the women as lay
delegates.
A resolution was submitted TO ask the
annual conference to reduce the ratio of
representation from one delegate for each
45 ministers to one for every 30 ministers
i'll the annual conferences. 1t was adopted
by vote of 167 to l23, and the conference
with devotional exercises adjourned sine die
PREsByTERIANs.
PORTLAND ORE, May 25.-In the Gene
raj Assembly to-day, the report on foreign
missions was presented by DR.. Allison of
Philadelphia. The years work was re-
viewed. and appropriate resolutions were
introduced looking toward furtherance of
boards efforts. The principal facts are as
follows; The board of foreign missions
last year asked for S1,000,000 and made its
appropriation on the basis of 81 900 900.
The receipts amounted to over $3.50 900.
The board maintains 2l0 ordained Ameri-
can missionaries, l65 ordained and 255
licensed active workers, sustaining 1884
churches, with 80, 497 COMMITMENTS. Adj
ditions TO the mission churches have
aggregated 3430. Lay workers number
l,404. Schools are also supported. con-
tanning 1900 pupils, with l67 candidates
for the ministry. The contributions from
| utbfNC iidNc w icdilN
$4,000. The missions of the board are
located in Is different countries.
The assembly Endorsed proposed six
tenth amendment to the constitution of
the United States. as follows;
Neither Congress nor any state shall
pass any law respecting any establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof, or use its property and credit; OF
any money raised by taxation, or author
ize either to be used for the purpose oil
founding, maintaining or aiding by APP
! preparation, payment for services, expenses
J or otherwise, any church, religious denomi
, nation, religious society, or any institution
society or undertaking, which is wholly oil
in part under sectarian or ecclesiastical
. CONTROL
, DR.. Gillespie, secretary of the board oil
foreign missions, addressed the assembly
referring to his recent visitation triT
around the world. The committees re
commentators were adopted calling fol
: one million and one hundred thousant
dollars for this particular branch of tn,
church's work next year.
/ Special attention was called to the fac
that the cost of administration of thi
, board amounts to less than per cent
= Resolutions disappearing of the recen
{ Chinese legislation by the government
were referred to q committee for consider
alton and report.
PORTLAND, ORE, May GA whole da,
and night has been consumed by the Brigg
: case and the end is not in sight An ap
peal of the prosecution committee ha
| been entertained and the assembly has Sc