The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-08

The woman question:" not the new
woman" however, is causing the Meth
odist church a great deal of worry and
confusion just at present. Some of the
more conservative leaders are OF the
opinion that the church is even in the
throes of revolution. But We do not
believe that will be the outcome. 1t will
be noticed that at all tine annual confer
ences which are now being held there is
great interest manifested as to the re-
suit of the vote on the amendments to
the constitution admitting women TO
seats in the general conference. This is
the head and l%awmaking body OF the
Methodist church. 1t meets every four
years. Women we're first elected to 1t IN
1888 when Frances f. Willard aad four
other women were elected delegates but
were moi admitted to seats. That gen.
eral conference decided to leave the
question to a vote of the ministers for
decisive action and TO IA vote of the laity
Of the church for an expression Of opin-
ion but without legal effect. The latter
voted in favor of admitting women by a
very large majority. The ministers
voted IN favor by a majority but not by
the required ~three-fourths. The ques-
ton vas not settled. 1t was the pre-
dominant Issue in the election OF dele.
gates to the general conference at Oma-
ha in 1892, but no women were elected.
This conference again decided to submit
the question to a vote Of the ministers
and laymen and submitted the amend.
ment to the constitution to BE voted on
as follows:
Amend the second restrictive rule
y x < so thaiit will read, 'nor of more
than two lay delegates for an annual
conference, and SAID delegates must be
male members" Those fuvoring the
admission OF women vo!e NO." these
opposed, "Yes."
This is what is called the Hamilton
amendment and the one upon which the
one hundred or more conferences are
" 'OSAhS DuI " LiiS ' t.Sc NlCtI-
odist the amendment is DIS ~bewlldering
as the Australian ballot law. Why he
should vote NO" for something he
favors is not easy for him to understand
But the solution is found in the assump-
ton OF the supporters OF the Hamilton
amendment that women are "laymen" ia
the same sense that men are and have
been entitled to membership in the gen
eral conference since 1872, when laymen
were first admitted. If they are to be
excluded it must be by carrying a con-
stitutlonal amendment To that effect by
constitutional majOritles, and il not car
ried they will be still entitled to sit in
the general conference. Hence the
Hamilton amendment to exclude women
Is submitted aud those who favor the
admission OF women must vote NO"
The HamlltOnlans insist that women are
already in the general conference by viz
tue Of being "laymen" and the anti
H~amlltOuians as ~strenuously insist that
women are not laymen in the sense of
being in the general conference and so
the battle RACES III all the annual con
ferences at the present tie.
Another amendment called the "Balti.
more-Colorado plan" Is being voted up
or at the same time. 1t reads: Nor OF
more than two lay delegates for an an
u conference, and said delegates may
be men or women" Those favoring ad-
mission Of womeu vote "Iea;" opposed.
NO"
Both proposed amendments are almost
certain to be defeated. The ministers
IN the western conferences are for the
most part favorable to the admission of
women and against the Hamilton amend
ment. Those belonging to the Eastern.
the German, and the Colored confer
ences are opposed to the admission of
women, all of them on scri ptual grounds.
accepting as applicable today Paul's in
junction To women to keep silent IN
the church.