The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-08
WOMEN WIN.
WILL RETAIN THEIR SEATS AS
DELEGATES.
The Vexed Question of the Methodist
Conference Is Brought to an End,
at Least for Awhile.

CLEVELAND, May by a vote of
425 to 80 the Methodist general confer
ence today decided the four women del
egates might retain their seats. This
does not mean that the women have
won a complete victory. The decision
was the result Of a compromise and with
the understanding that it should not
prejudice the claims of women in the
future, or establish a precedent for
future conferences to follow. But by
the same vote by which the women
were given seats, the conference also
decided to submit to the annual con-
ferences the proposed amendment
to the constitution providing that here
after all general conference delegates
shall be over % years of age and that
they shall have been members of the
Methodist church for at least five years
prior to their election. 1t also provides
10 conference shall be debarred from
at least one ministerial and one lay
delegate. This constitutional amend
meut is to be submitted to the annual
conference and must receive a three
fol1rths vote to be adopted. The amend
raent is construed to mean that women
as well as men will be eligible as lay
delegates, the word 'layman" not being
used.
The delegates were evidently pleased
when the question was finally disposed
Of.
Bishop Foss presided at the Metho-
dist conference today.
DR.. w. N. Kynett, chairman of the
committee on eligibility, presented a
report. The committee agreed that
vote on the eligibility of women at this
convention is constitutional, and that
the general conference has power to
interpret the constitution. The com
mittee recommends a modification OF
the constitution, changing the qualifi-
cation of delegates to the general con-
ference by using the words lay dele
gates instead of laymen, thereby max
ing the admission of women legal; that
the proposed amendment be referred to
the annual conferences of the follow
ing wear and that a two-thirds vote of
the general conference and three
fo1Irths vote of the annual conference
be required to enact this recommended
ton into law.
The report says inasmuch as the
question has not been judicially passed
upon, those having seats can retain
them without prejudice.
Dr. Kynett said neither the majority
nor the minority surrendered. The
views are the same, but the report
was a concession by both parties.
Rev. ]. R. Graw of Trenton. n. j.,
after two days effort, succeeded in get
ting the floor He was a member of the
committee, but did not sign the report.
He said he was willing to accede every
thing in the report in the event of har-
mony with the one exception of the
clause admitting Ele women to this
body.
President Warren of Boston univer
sity was the next speaker, and present
ed a substitute for all before the house,
inviting the members of the annual
conferences to vote with their regular
sessions in the years 1S96-'97. Upon the
question, Dr. Warren spoke in favor
of his substitute and he was followed
by Judge L. Mains of Brooklyn, who
spoke in opposition to it and closed by
moving to lay it on the table. This
motion was carried by a large ma
jorfty.
After sharp debate of an hour the
report of the committee was adopted
and by a vote of 425 to SO the question
was referred back to the churches to
be voted on again.
After the transaction of other minor
business the conference adjourned.