Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-08
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
The Woman Question Was Compromised by
Referring the Matter Back TO the
Annual Conference.

Cleveland, o., May 7.-Bshop Foss pre-
sided at the session today of the Metho-
dist general conference 1t was ordered
that a special committee of eleven be
appointed on the work of deaconesses.
The order of the day was then taken up.
DR.. A. J. Kynetl presented the report
of the committee on eligibility, which pro-
vided for a compromise of the woman
question.
The proposition was in substance to al
low the women delegates to keep their
seats on the understanding that 1t should
not establish a precedent and then to re-
submit to the annual conferences during
the next four years the same conStitu-
tional amendment or one similar to that
which lately barely failed of adoption by
the three-quarter vote. The report fur
Their provided that the action of this gen.
eral conference should be without any
prejudice to the rights of any women del
egates to any future general conference
under the constitution. as such general
conference may conStrue or interpret 1t.
Rev. DR.. Kynett moved the adoption of
the report and said:
1T is needless to say that there are
questions on which we could not agree.
While the debate was progressing many
from both sides were in free consulta-
ton. Brethren of both sides thought
that compromise should be made.
Neither party was asked to surrender
any of its convictions Neither has sur
rendered, and the brethren of the major
ity want it distinctly understood that
they have not surrendered their position,
that the law of 1872 includes women. Out
of Difference to the opinions of those who
differed with the majority they consented
to the referendum. The women are al
lowed to remain In their seats with the
understanding that their seats are chal-
lenged. The committee was panied to
hear that the women delegates had been
asked to retire from the conference"
Rev. DR.. Warren of New England pre-
sented q substitute for the report of the
committee on eligibility. 1t provided
that women duly qualified may be cho-
sen as lay delegates by an electoral con-
ference. the. male members of which,
without debate, by a majority report de-
clare that women are eligible, provided
that in no case more than half of the
delegation or reserve delegation shall be
women. The substitute further declared
that the conference deemed it unwise
under the circumstances to interfere in
any way with the status of the women
who have been elected in good faith by
their constituents.
The Rev. DR.. George p. Mains of New
York, east, said he firmly believed that
the compromise proposed was the most
happy solution of the veXed question.
He moved to lay the substitute of DR..
Warren On the table 1t was so ordered.
DR.. Wilson moved that so much of the
report as referred to the right of the
general conference to sit as a judicial
body be stricken out Laid ON the table.
The previous question was ordered.
Permission was given the Rev. DR.. Buck
ley to make the last speech on the COM
promise before the vote was taken.
The Rev. Isaac p. Teeter of Iowa OBJ
jected to vote now, ON the ground that
lnxr yf,f 10 oh. 4
but that the report must be laid over one
day. Ruled out of order.
The Rev. Dr. Buckley said: THE sit
u2 ton is critical Unless this matter is
compromised a long trail of bitter feeling
will be left behind. l know that the
women have majority of this body and
the church, but at the same time they
will never get my help to get in. 1 will
vote for this compromise. because 1t
leaves the question open for future set
Element by constitutional means. We
have not given the women the right to
come In; they are already in. The COM
promise simply refuses to put them out,
but leaves them In with a seat that Is
challenged
The full report was adopted by an al
most unanimous vote. The announce
ment of the vote was greeted with pro-
longed applause.
Just where the three ladies who with
drew StdHu is a question. Inc conference
has given them the right to sit in the con-
vention with the understanding that
their seats are challenged but it Is
agreed that they are not to be interfered
with. But 1t is claimed that the ladies',
by their voluntary withdrawal from the
conference, have relinquished all their
rights.
Bishop Andrews is of the decided opin-
ion that they are out Speaking of the
communication from the ladies, Bishop
Andrews said: 1T Is probable that no
action will be taken by the conference on
the communication. as the conference is
not body which has any control over
them. They occupied seats and relin-
pushed them, and the conference is pow
erless. 1t is not necessary to take action
on it as it is purely a personal matter
with them. and they had a right to do so.
In my judgment they are no more men,
bers of the conference now than any
III o1IfSdar