The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-05-28
M. P. GENERAL CONFERENCE.
Sixteenth Quadrennial Session Meets
in Westminster.
Tcoxrlxurp FROM FIRST rAar ]
TUESDAYS SESSION.

luudy ) WIS tue luOsl interesting StSSiuH VI |
the Methodist Protestant General Conference.
The absorbing question that secured full |
attendance of the delegates, besides a number |
of ministers from Baltimore and elsewhere, |
as well as as many of the citizens as could |
crowd into the church and gallery, was the |
admission of the women delegates. Upon |
the disposal of Mrs. ST. Johns case rests the |
standing of two other women in Kansas or
dained to the ministry.
Conference met at the usual hour. A ser
vice of song and prayer followed and regular
business was taken up. The committee on
communications reported in favor of the APP
pointment of representatives. to the interna
tional Peace Conference to be held at Chicago
in 1893. They also favored the adoption of
the proposed amendment to the Constitution
of the United States regarding sectarian intu-
enee in educational matters and the connec
ton of the church and State.
About fifteen visiting ministers from the
Maryland, New Jersey, and New York Con-
ferences, were introduced to the conference.
A committee was appointed to arrange
dates for holding annual conferences at such
times as TO make 1t convenient for the secre-
tary and officers of the various boards to visit
them.
A report on the relation Of the church to
young peoples societies was taken up, and
then the order of the day, the report of the
committee on credentials, regarding the adj
mission of the women delegates.
After the reading of the majority and minor
ity reports, A. II. Widney, of North Illinois,
| moved the adoption of the latter. This was
seconded by S. II. Flood, of Indiana. DIR.
j. 7. Murray, chairman of the committee on
certificates, spoke in opposition. DIR. Murray
said: "a grave issue is upon us, involving
grave responsibility. 1t may seriously dis
turb the church; it fills some minds with
apprehension. He who would treat it reck-
| essy, as to its consequences, cares more for
personal opinion than for the peace and pros
perity of the church. 1t should be treated
with perfect candor and charity. On this
subject we should have a conference, rather
than debate. l will take my stand upon the
law of the church, and | hope the brethren
will not suffer their minds to be diverted from
this, the crucial test. 1t is not question Of
galantry. 1t is not question of opposition
to women. Of all tyrants, he who would
| tyrannize over women is the meanest; of all
robbers, he who would rob women of any Of
their God-given rights is the most ruthless.
| If | would take these from them here or else
where, brand me with these burning epithets.
When they are made eligible to a seat in this
body by the constitution of the church they
will be hailed as legislative peers; but until
then | must oppose their recognition.
He then made constitutional argument to
show that laymen did not mean women, and
said that in the conference that arranged the
union between the Methodist Protestant and
Methodist churches, in legisating on the
question of eligibility of women to Office, that
il the inclusion of women was intended it was
never avowed; that the question of suffrage
and eligibility to Office being left to the annual
conferences had reference to the boundaries
of such conferences. The women, he said,
were here without authority, ard to admit
them to seats would be revolutionary.
The Rev. I. B. Appleget, of New Jersey,
| who made the minority report, said he was
not here to plead for the women delegates.
They had been sent by four annual confer
ences duly certified. These annual confer
ences were sovereign bodies and under the
constitution we're the sole judges ofwho should
represent them. Both reports he said recog-
nized the regularity of their certificates, and
he denied the power of the conference to 60
behind their certificates and deny them reten-
ton of their seats On the basis of the union
between the two bodies he argued that the
delegates were legal delegates.
Rev. E. j. Drinkhouse offered substitute,
proposing the seating of the delegates and
submitting the question ofeligbility of women
to the annual conferences.
Dr. l.. W. Bates argued that this cohter-
ence had right to go behind the certificates
of election the same as the House of Repre-
sentatives at Washington could.
DIR. John Scott, of Pittsburg, read from
the discipline to show that it meant men
when it referred to ministers, and cited pas
sage that spoke of ministers, their wives
and their children"
+ q. G. Westfall, of Pittsburg, spoke for the
adoption of the minority report. He called
upon the conference to pause and think, say
ing that the unseating Of these women wouit
do the church infinitely more harm than theiI
presence here would do.
E. NJ. Lockwood, of Virginia, spoke against
the substitute Of DIR. Drinkhouse, and DR.
Murray spoke against time until recess, tc
allow the chair opportunity to decide upon
the standing of the substitute in reference tC
the other report.
In the afternoon A. w. Robertson, of Pitts
burg, led off. He thought that the word ''ay
men, had always been interpreted in its
strictest sense. He commended that under
Article I. Section 3, of the constitution, the
General Conference had a right to annul any
rule or regulation of annual conferences thai
may be deemed unconstitutional.
DIR. 7. H. Lewis, president of Western
Maryland College, said: 81 deprecate the
introduction of ancient history referring tc
the frequent illusions to what was done al
| the uDIOu cOHNbHblOuO VI 1Oii J. AhS IuCStioh
is one of law. The intention of those who
make laws must be taken for what they say.
{ The general convention of 1884 says the ordi-
nation of women is invalid. Who says it is
valid? Why the Kansas Conference, with
l 900 people. There is a way to settle this
question, but not in the way the Kansas Con
ference has proceeded.
The Kansas Conference stands here in con-
tempt. Their act is one of revolution, one OF
anarchy. We have no law, no body, no coun-
oil to say how we should act. We are free
lances to do as we want. The man who votes
to let in Mrs. St. John votes to disintegrate
his church. | would vote for the women
admission willingly, but that they shall not
come in is law, and am loyal to law. 1t is
unconstitu tional. Is not the Kansas Confer
ences act reputation? Isn't it a lower court
setting aside the law of the higher? That the
Kansas Conference does so fills me with NOR
LITIGATION / only hope they were ignorant Of
that law They took the bit between their
teeth and said we'll show them what We can
do ! don't believe after getting from under
an arbitrary bishop to get under an arbitrary
General Conference"
DIR. Lewis said that if DIR. Drinkhouse' s
substitute was not passed he hoped one he
had would be. This was resolution THAT
the election of a woman as ministerial rep
resentative to this General Conference by the
Kansas Conference is in contempt of the high.
est Legislative body of the church and null and
void;' and another, "that the election of a
woman as lay representative to this General
Conference by the Indiana, Iowa and West
Virginia conferences, respectively, is without
their privileges and invalid
Joshua Miles, of Maryland, a lawyer, argued
that the ordination of men to preach was up
held by organic law, which is stronger than
statute law He adduced arguments to show
why women should not be allowed in the
church councils. He appealed to the confer
ence not to abiudeate the dictates of the
church.
DIR. Hendricks, of Kansas, said that if all
the ladies were to leave the church the pastors
salaries would come down considerably.
'Dr Lewis says you belong to conference
of 1000 and have no right to talk to ours CT
10000 The doctor was slightly of, as we
have y hO0 nersons He claimed that Kansas