The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-08

must receive a three-fourths vote to be
ADOPTED. The amendment Is construed 70
mean that women. as well as men, VIII oe
eligible as lay delegates, the word 'iayman
not being used Inc members of the COM
mittee on eligibility who signed the compro-
mise report were evidently OF the opinion
tnat the question could be settled Dy the Cen
eral Conference, as II was only one wnicn
involved the proper Interpretation OF the
constitution However. 1t was deemeG bet
ter to let the annual conferences decide the
matter, hence the proposed change IN the
constitution was submitted.
The delegates were evidently pleased when
the question MAS finally disposed of. Rev.
DR.. J. NJ. Buckley, editor of the New York
Christian Advocate, speaking Of the contest
in the committee on eligibility, said that the
situation in the conference was critical "At
NE close of seven hours debate" he de-
clared, twenty Of the thirty-one members
that women were eligible and eleven of US
that they were ineligible, as we were before
We began. We were all determined men, but
you might have seen love feast In prayers
at any time during the session. We were
all honest men. There was only one coward
among US, and he had only his work for MS
cowardice. All but four of our minority par
~ signed this compromise report. We each
To-day's session of the conference was
presided over by Bishop HaSs and the devo-
tional services were led by the Rev. W. -.
BrodOeck, of Charlestown, Mass. AS soon
as some routine business had been disposed
DR.. W. j. Kynett, chairman of the commit
tee on eligibility, was recognized and pre-
scented the report of the committee, which
had been referred to them by the confer
ence at yesterdays session. The committee
Is agreed that the eligibility of women to
vote in this convention is a constitutional
one and that the General Conference has
the power TO interpret the constitution. The
committee recommends the modification OF
Of a delegate to the General Conference by
using the words LAY delegate instead of
"layman." thereby making the admission of
mittee says, that this proposed amendment
be referred TO the annual conferences of
the Following year and that two-thirdS
vote or the General Conference and three
fourths vote of the annual conferences be
required to enact this recommendation into
law" The report says that inasmuch as the
question has not been judicially passed on
those having seats the floor can retain
them without prejudice.
AS soon as the report was completed DR..
kynett said that neither party gave in on
the principle held by them and neither ma
jority nor minority surrendered. The views
are the same, but II was a concession by
both parties. DR.. Kynett said there was a
rumor that great pressure had been brought
TO bear on the women to retire. The COM
mittee believed no pressure should be
brought to bear on them which would con-
ffict with their duty to their constituents.
Dr. Kynett closed by moving the adoption Of
Rev J. b. Graw, of Trenton, N J., after
two days effort, succeeded in getting the
floor. He was member of the committee.
but did not sign the report. He said he
was willing to concede everything in the re-
port in the interest of peace and harmony
with the one exception of the clause adj
hitting women to this body. He could not
consent TO that clause without stultifying
himself. He denied that in any way so far
'.laymen" mean women" He said the
only way to admit them is by constitutional
amendment
President w. F. Warren, of Boston Uni
versity, was the next speaker, and presented
the following as a substitute for all before
the house:
sentiment of large majority of the minis
ters and laity on this question, and also
in view of the known scrupples of con-
science entertained by devoted and
teemed minority touching the scripturalness
Of the equal eligibility and authority of men
apd @ En- ns be on o Se
annual conferences TO vote at their regular
sessions in the year 1S96-T on this question"
to admit adm ' women. The last resolution is as
follows
Resolved. That in view of the actions
and omissions of action on the
part of the previous conferences rela-
tive to the eligibility Of women.
and in view Of the grave dissensions which
their admission by a judicial vote Of this
conference would precipitate.. We decide, it
premature and unwise to decide at this
time the judicial question involved as i, to
four women elected in good faith by their
electoral conferees."
DR.. Warren spoke in favor Of his substi-
tute and he was followed by Judge l..
Mains, of Brooklyn. who spoke in opposition
TO it and closed by moving to lay It on
large majority.
The report Of the committee then came
UP on the previous question DR.. Kynett rose
and asked that as the report was In the
nature of a concession and compromise, his
friend. DIR. Buckley, make the concluding
speech. A second time the report was read
n
suspended in order that DR.. Buckley might
close the debate. After a sharp deba-e of
adopted, and by asvote of AS to SO, the
question was referred back to the churches
TO be voted on again. After the transaction
of minor business the conference adjourned.
Several important matters were considered
by the standing committees this afternoon.
At the meeting of the conference committee
On church extension, missions and Freed
mems Aid Society, Rev DIR. Kynett moved
that the constitutions be changed TO what
they were prior to 1888, thus re-establish-
ing the old order of independent conventions.
This was agreed TO and a plan Of procedure
will be drawn up by committees OF three
representing each of the organizations in
volved. The church extension committee
men appointed subcommittee Of three on
Insurance of church properly. 1t will con-
slider the proposition or forming a company
within the church 70 insure its own prop
erty on the assessment plan.
chnycb WAS taEen nv the cnmmiftee on mis-
sions A communication was received from
the North and South conferences of Germany
asking the General Conference to indicate
whether union OF the Wesleyan Methodist
Church OF South Germany and Austria and
the Methodist Episcopal Church in Germany
can be arrived at. the Methodist Episcopal
Church to receive the Wesleyan ministers
and membership. The latter is a branch of
the Wesleyan Church of England and is
located in Austria and South Germany.
Austria is a very difficult field for the opera
ton of evangelical churches. being strongly
Roman Catholic. These WESLEYAN churches
own 100000 worth of property and have
twenty-nine ministers and 1900 members
The Methodists in Germany feel that the
existence of two church organizations prac-
tical.y the same In that part of Europe is
not necessary and is even detrimental and
the Wesleyans like the Discipline of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and are willing
TO pace themselves under 1t. Bishop Fitz-
gerald, WHO recently visited the churches in
Germany, stated to the committee that the
proposed union should be authorized at once
II will take $4,000 per year to maintain these