The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-05-02

CLEVELAND, Ohio. May l.-The
gavel OF the venerable John Bowman
fell this morning at o'clock and the
great quadrennIal conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal church was under
way.
Central armory looked beautiful, In
deed. Its interior was ns brilliant sS
the hall Of political convention and,on
all sides there was an expectancy that
issues of importance were about to be
precIpltated in the convention.
Three thousand people were in the
hall when the meeting was called to
order. on the floor were white men and
black men, the delegate from cold Nor
way and Sweden and from tropical In
dia and Japan. Nearly every country
on the globe was represented.
Bishop Bowman announced that the
Bible which will be used in tlte services
Is the one which was used by John WeS-
ley In his study In England. This
historical treasure was presented the
conference some years ago.
Bishop Elmde read from this book the
10sd Psalm. Bishop Vincent read the
hymn. nfter which prayer was offered
by Bishop Foster. Bishop Foster pray
cd that personal ambition might be
stIfIed and that harmony should rule.
The Rev. William Burt, Of Rome, Italy
followed In n reading OF the scriptures,
after which Bishop Taylor, Of Africa
read the hymn. The Rev. DR.. UphAnl.
OF Drew Theological Seminary. offered
prayer, which closed the devotional SER
vices.
When the devotional exercises were
over n little furry occurred In the con-
ventIOn by reason Of the call on Secre-
tary Monroe to call the roll. II was
thought that this action would prec1pi-
tate the contest OF the seats Tor Wo-
men. When the name OF Lydia A.
TItnble was announced, a delegate was
Immediately on his feet and made a mo-
ton that this name be omitted until
committee determine whether her cleo
tlon was legal.
The FIrIt skIFmISh.
For n moment It looked az II the fight
had started. Bishop Bowman. however.
refused 10 entertain the motion as he
declared the convention was not organ
ICED. The tumultuous applause which
followed the ruling Of the chair indlca-
ted the strength OF the woman sunraBe
faction Of the delegation.
This was the frat sklrInlSh and as the
other names OF the women delegates
were called no exception was taken The
seCretary continued to call the roll. The
conference decided to MI the vacancies
from the reserves and to adopt the
rules OF the last conference.
A fight over the riEht OF laymen on
the floor OF the convention was precip-
ltated by Mr.. Daniels, OF India, who
took the conventions breath away by
presenting the following resolutions:
"Resolvcd, First. that we, members
OF the general conference OF 1895 do
hereby claim our right to choose the
committees on which we Will serve In
the same mnnner.as the ministerial DEL
eyatrs have made choice OF the COM
mItteesiun which they would serve. any
previous arrangement, notwithstand-
Ing it
rcuuest the presiding bishop to lay this
case before the general conference. with
the view OF securing therefrom the Of
fciul affirmation OF our right ~ above
rerited.
these resolutions be laid before the pre-
siding bishop at the opening OF the frst
days session OF the general conference"
Fight PrccIpItAtsd.
When the tumult following the pre-.
sentRtlon OF these resolutions subsided
Bishop bowman ruled them out OF order
still contendlng that The organization OF
the convention had not been perfected.
The actual fight for tho admission OF
women delegates was preCIpItRted when
MIR Planet. OF North Dakota, moved
that a committee on credentials be ap-
pointed. This brought DR., Buckley,the
old time enemy OF the women. TO the
front, who challenged the rights OF wO-
men to seats in the convention. A
scene Of widest confusion followed. In
which Bishop Bowman threw zip his
hands In despair, and exclaimed
"Arc We In Congress or are We In
Methodist Confcrence7 Good Lord.
brethren, can we not stop this hootlng
and hOwlirg? The Lord help us"
The question was finally disposed OF
by referring all Questions Of eligibility
to a special committee, consisting Of
twcnty-clght members This committee
is made up Of two delegates from each
conferences district aud was selected
this afternoon. The committee Will re-
port Monday and In the meantime the
women will be allowed TO seats In the
The convention adjourned at o'clock
to re.Convcne tomorrow morning.