The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-14
THE METHODIST WOMEN.
REV. DIR LOUTHER'S RESOLUTION
eAUsEs MUCH AMUsENENT.
If MAN Is Very Far Gone From Original
Righteousness He Would submit the
Question of Woman's Status.

CLEVELAND. o., May 13.-Bishop Vim
cent the venerable founder Of the Chau-
tauqua Society. presided at this morn
ing's session OF the Methodist General
Conference. The usual routine business
followed during the morning until Rev
Or. Lowther. of Southwest Kansas, Great
ed great deal OF laughter by introduc-
ing the following resolution:
Whereas this conference has decided
to send TO annual conferences the ques-
ton as to whether tie word iaymen
should be 40 construed as 10 include "o-
men; and
whereas It is believed by many that
on scriDtural grounds women canno; be
adrlitter 70 the LSn-ra! Conference
therefore,
"Issolyed, That we also submit TO the
annual conferences the following Gues-
tions. Arc women included in our ar
tlcles OF religion. which read Man is
very far gone from original righteous
nessg While this question IL pending be
it the order Of this General Conference
that women Of the church obey the apos-
tolic Injunction. Let your women Keep
silence I'm churches that they DO also
refuse ksowiedgc that comes ifom books,
papers, magazines, lectures, lyceums, ana
reading circles, and II they would learn
anything. let them a-k their husbands at
home. Since 'on scriptural grounds some
OF our brethren have served notice That
they will raise this question on the DAY or
Judgment. let the annual conferences de-
eide by vote whether women are IN
cluded or excluded in the language
Every man In his own ORDER IN Paui
chapter on resurrection
on motion of DR.. S. J. Kynett. the
resolutions were referred to the Com
mittee on Eligibility.
Several changes i'm discipline, recon-
mended by the bishops. were reported by
the Committee on RevisalH. The first two
sections Of the report were adopted.
warm fight occurred over the adoption
OF the third section Of the report relat-
ing to infant baptism.
During the debate Or. Buckley said
that he was satisfied that there were in
baptist churches over half a million MEM
bers who would now be i'm the Methodist
Church If they were given the right to
choose the way they were 10 be bap-
tised. He moved that that part OF the
discipline be stricken out so that adults
baptised in infancy might be allowed 10
be baptised again in any way they might
elect.
Rev A. IT. Leonard opposed the motion.
He said that the motion would discredit
infant baptism, and that It would be a
step backward for the great Methodist
Church"
He said: Il believe there IS no person
so ht to be baptized as an infant
Rev. $. w. Matthews, of Southern Cali
fornla, said that he did not bel-cre i'm
discrediting infant baptism. but lie did
believe that adults who have been bap-
TIED in infancy should be given The
same right to be baptized that unbapt'zed
converts have.
Eyv Or j. f. g. Sawyer said that
he thought the Methodist Church would
be much bottered by striking out the foot
note. He was sure that IT would help
the growth Of the church membership.
William II. Daniels. of Northwest In
diana, created a sensation by iuquiring
If the foot note I'm question was the one
that some one had surreputiously put In
the discipline without any authority from
the General Conference
The section was recommitted with DIR.
Bucltleys amendment TO the Committee
on Revivals.
The Committee on Episcopacy did not
report i'm accordance with the instruc-
tions IL had resolved Dr. Buckley stated
that the committee had as yet been un-
able 10 agree upon the number of bishops
II would recommend to be- created. but
that II would be ready 10 report TO the
Conference the first thing tomorrow
after the reading Of the journal The
time for the committee TO report was
extended 10 that hour Though the com
mittee was unable TO report. this mucn
Is known OF the deliberations at the
meeting:
The members agreed 10 recommend the
retirement OF Bishop Thomas Bowman
bishop x. ). Foster ana Missionary
bishop william Taylor, OF Africa, on ac-
couilt oi thelr teebleness and inability 10
petlofha the afduous duties Of their posi-
uons by reason Of advanced acc nj.
action Will necessitate the election ~
TWO regular bishops and one missionary
bishop.