Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-06
WOMAN QUESTION RESUMED
The Methodist Conference Still
Debating the Subject
1T IS A BITTER CONTEST
DR.. Rothweiler Declares That 1t Will Demon
aIize the Church if the Majority Re-
port Is Adopted.

Cleveland, May Sat the opening of
business of the Methodist conference to-
day contest between the lay and min
isterial delegates arose over the appoint
ment of a committee to consider the
rights of the lay deleg dozen mo-
tons and amendments were offered and
a number of sharp speeches were made.
1t was finally decided to appoint a COM
mittee consisting of one lay and one
ministerial delegate from each confer
ence district to consider the position of
the lay delegates. At 10 o'clock the de-
bate on the woman question was re-
sumed. Daniel Stevenson, president OF
Union college, Kentucky, spoke for the
admission of women. He said: THE
time has gone by when anybody shall be
excluded from church offices on account
of race, color or SEX"
The Rev. DIR. Nicely of Philadelphia,
who is leading the fight against the
women, said: This question is not one
that involves chivalry or popular de-
mand. There is not man in this house
who is under instructions. We are sim
ply jurors, and no church or conference
has the right to instruct us. Men and
women are one in Christ Jesus, but they
are not one in the general conference.
You cannot ordain women. 1t is a part
of the Methodist constitution that the
governing is with the men,
John f. Copies of Portland, Ore, said:
81 come from land where the grand
women of the Methodist church have
done so much for Methodism that every
time we think of 1t we take off our hats.
He told of the great work of the pioneer
women of the Pacific slope and the great
church they had built. Not one church
bell would ring today, he said, on the Pa
cific coast if 1t were not for the great sac
riflces Of the daughters of the Methodist
church.
Mr.. Copies was applauded and Bishop
Andrews vainly tried to stop 1t.
James Harlan, eX-United States sem
tor and member oS Lincolns cabinet,
of Iowa, said: ministers and laymen
constitute the membership of this body.
The whole question turns on the ques-
ton, Who are the laymen? The general
conference has decided that laymen are
all those who are not members of the
annual conferences Women are not
members of the annual conferences.
Now, by what right or what interpreted
ton of the law of the church do you in
tend to keep women out? The word lay
men means professional, and in the
Methodist church 1t means all except
those who are professional"
The Rev. DR.. Buckley of New York:
1.-THE only time the conference has ever
undertaken to do so violent an act as 1t
,
when it bisected the church. That act
has been condemned today by the lead
ing Methodists. If you admit these
women in the interest of peace it will be
the peace of despair. 1t will disgrace the
conference and stir up men to do as they
please. Pause, brethren, before you COM
nit this awful mistake"
Other warm speeches were made by
President Harris of the East Maine con-
ference, James +. Chaffee of Minneapo-
lis, j. r. Day of New York, Rev. DR.. EN-
cry Miller of Des Moines, Judge II. r.
Brill of Minnesota and others, for and
against the admission of women.
This evening DR.. Jacob Rothweiler of
the Central German conference said II
am looked upon as the representative of
the Germans. We as a people do not be-
lieve in sentiment, and we think 1t neith-
en- to the general conferences. 1t has
been charged that we Germans defeated
the women in the annual conferences.
If we have l am proud of it. We rejoice
in it, because we have saved the lay dele
gates. If we adopt the majority report
we will demoralize the church."
The Rev. DR.. Charles e. Stafford of
Iowa moved that vote be taken on the
question at 10 a. m. tomorrow.
Rev. II. l.. Graw of st. Louis wanted
more time.
Rev. DIR. Stafford's motion ordering the
previous question was laid on the table.
The conference adjourned until $3.50 to-
morrow morning, when the debate on the
uopoap uneSfion will ba rpsIlnpd