New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-19
WOMEN IN THE CONFERENCE
CHURCHES VOTING ON THE
QUESTION OF THEIR ADMISSION.

rur.s FAR THE WOMEN HAVE SECURED MORE
THAN THE REQUIRED THREE-FouRTHs
M,JoRIrY-THE REV. DR.. BALDWIN
EXPLAINS THE SITUATION
The subject Of the admission OF women as dele
oates 10 the General Conference OF the Me'nodn1
Eniscopal Church is exciting great aeai Oh in-
,sre.t IN church circles. and many opinions pro
and con are expressed. most OF WHICH, II ID sa'o'
show the lack Of full understanding OF 'ne van'
Gus phases OF the subject The question Is now
he,pe voted upon at the fall conferences OF me
Church and r. 10 be voted upon by the conferences
10 be held next spring prior to the meeting VI '"s
General Conference in March. 1890
The Rev. DIT. s. L. Baldwin has issued sa"
men, Of the subject In which he also explains how
lovmen became eligible delegates TO the Gen.
eral Conference DIR. Baldwin Is now the recording
secretary of the missionary society OF the Me'hoas.
En,scopal Church For twenty-five years ne acted
either as superln tendent OF the foocho" mission
mr. az missionary TO China. lie Is memDer Oh 'ne
Newark Conference. and was delegate to the
General Conference in 1880. He mas hisea pasorsss
in Newark and Boston. Dr. BALDWIN SAD
pr,or 70 1872 there were no lay delegates in tn.
General Conference The General Conference OF
1859 provided for asceraning the W,shss OF me
male members or the Church In lsbl by we
taken in the churches throughout the country me
result was adverse lay deegat on but DISCUSSION
ence of 1858 provided for another vote-not restrc
ed before 10 male MEMBER but yo neSans =.
Ia e 'a r}esrctve rules Of the thur;a reauires
Voting in the Annual Conference. and ;wo-tn,sa.
vote the General Conference The layu .,ian
and + lale-having voted IN favor OF lay deessuon
the members OF the Annual Conferences gave ths
requisite three-fourhs vote, when was e0 rnar
Conference OF 1872 and lay delegates who had been
PROFESSIONALLY elected were admitted 70 ,nat .eay
Conferences" Which meet at the same times and
PAGES as the Annual Conferences prs,sdns zach 81,
composed OF one laymsn' from each church. eeciei
by the Quarterly Conference From IN, very ms
women AT as delegates In these Lag tonierencss
In Sso end 1884 several women were ELECTED ressry.
delegates TO- the Genera! conference ns mint,
ed with the Official journals Of the General ConisI'
ences of those years Women had mus oee r .em.
had been on the list OF reserve delegates 70 ,ne
General Conferences for cs eht PrSr g
had full power notice and condemn any lrrss s
arty in the Lay Conferences and was rs ssran % ~
members Of the Lay Conferences But In al tnes s
sixteen years there was no ocs s delegate:
TO the Law Conferences or as reserve delegates 70
the General Conference ,o v.v.
York 1--WE women appeared elected as full delesaes
10 that BODY memorable discussion a,O s 10 ~
which some OF the most eminent ministers ana Jay
mnn Of the Church participated 1t extended owe!
several days and was noted for the srsa, ie e.
anners dignity and courtesy OF the debate. Those
Who contended for the admission Of the women
hal AZ the General Conference OF 1872 had expressly
decided that "in all matters connected WIN -. -
a. the he "1ra OF the a'' church who
not members OF Annual Conferences, these "om.aa
ought once 10 De nenon of the General Con-
ferences of 1855 and 1872 to make women eisSei
nave aoted was made in reference to local preach
ers, and not intended 10 apply TO women =, III.
General Conference, by majority 50 small h: hat;
change OF one vote would have changed the reso,.
and the StTia that the ny not s
II was item voted to ask the aiy OF the Shurc ~
b e vote eect 9a Of the General
and to ask the ministry to vote on change OF 20,
restrictive S e rus r Sy The n vote was taken II
churches in $780, and resulted in very afse e,ss
ences Voted in the fall OF 1891 and the spring Of
ss2 and also gave LARGE M Esac iSe
The General Conference OF 1882 referred % n. iu
connected with the eligibility OF women 10 the ~ r.
dietary Committee which reported against them n,o IL
was as a substitute for their report. ana iqT Non
RR Dssn at"a was adopted That amendment
ceeded the Assumption that women are tses are
egislated out It provided for submitting to me
conferences. as an amendment to the re !" This
was intended ten to put on the opponents the burden
OF securing a three-fourths majority In me Inter
ence There was addendum TO II TO tne sa.r
that II this amendment did not SECURE me nessrssi
vote the Restrictive Rule should be 80 consis s.r
and women. This movement was ienouneeS ss,s
many trickery sind various lnpleas. IN cause
of much confusion The amendme d, NJ vet those
TO be In the interest OF womans eigoih'y ~ ,n., ia
who want her to be eligible must vote against Wv
Meanwhile the Baltimore Conference, secons ~
by the Colorado Conference proposea inc vssrs
amendment. which was voted upon iou :. men
or women" There has been general agree me- bs.
yo;s sSusrsy on this ndM ppsbs being willing
put II clearly in the rule. and those who oehev .v 70
are not eligible saying that this is the only VI"
The voting IN the fall conferences shows M M
Oriy thus far e H b, wi srs so% gains
! the spring conferences over the vote OF lou, he
ago the necessary vote would De secuser h.rds vote
General Conference OF IN" oy '"o-'"'"'
One woman has elected 70 the next g Sf pres
d saa the F ohio Wesleyan Un
lady whose modesty and genteness are Ss "Bsi...
with culture and intellectual ability IL, me ne seated
without any COMPLAINT OF il!egality from mo-
believe her ineligible the rule now sanoca General
Conference viii face the question rs she p. senses
under The rule as s s have NS one sonsdersbls
iority who so believe and will so vote , vr', he
that the spring conferences ansnt % yS,sa amend
mani and let the admission OF women. when ~
10 come be done In way 'hat VIII sa''''
Th second Restrictive Rule reads: The 0sns, s
Conference shall not allow OF more thsn om srbsfs
ra representative Tor every sss number than
one Tor every forty-nve OF more than TWO ,ca
delegates for an Annual Conference; Inc ns" mus,
ss men only The Baltimore Colorado amem nun 81
would add: And said delegates may 'e
women"