Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-14
TIL E METH UDISTS.
The Word Laymen as applied to Women
10 Be Defined.
RESOLUTION SENT TO COMMITTEE.
Its Introduction Creates n Great
Deal of Laughter-Wnrm Discus
sion over the Question of Infant
baptism.
baptism.

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 was fol-
lowed during the morning, until Rev. DR..
Lowther OF Southwest Kansas. created
great deal Of laughter by introducing
the following resolution:
Whereas. this conference has decided
10 send to the annual conferences the
question as TO whether the word lay
men should be so construed as to in
clude women; and
Whereas, it is believed by many that,
on Scrptural grounds, women cannot be
admitted to the General Conference:
therefore,
Resolved, That we also submit to the
annual conference the following ques-
tions: Are women included in our ar
ticles Of religion which read-"Man is
very far gone from original righteous
ness? While this question is pending,
be It the order OF this General Confer
ence that women Of the Church obey
the Apostolic injunction. Let you wo-
men keep silence I'm churches that they
do also refuse knowledge that comes
from books papers, magazines, lee
lures. lyceums, and reading circles; and.
if they would learn anything, let them
ask their husbands at home.
Since, ION Scriptural grounds" some
Of our brethren have served notice that
they will raise this question on the day
Of Judgment, let the annual conferences
decide by a vote whether women are in
IL eNs..H
Every man in his own order" In Pauls
chapter on resurrection.
on motion Of DR. S. j. Kynett the reso-
lutions were referred to the Committee
on Eligibility.
Several charges i'm the Discipline, re-
commended by the bishops were re-
ported by the Committee or Revisal.
The first two sections OF the report were
adopted. A warm fight occurred over
the adoption of the third section OF the
report. relating 20 infant baptism
During the debate Or. Buckley said
that he was satisfied that there were I'm
the Baptist Church over half a million
members who would now be i'm the
Methodist Church If they were given the
right to chose the way they were to be
baptized. He moved that part of the
Discipline be stricken out, 50 that adults
baptsed in infancy might be allowed 10
be baptized again I'm any way they might
elect.
Rev a. n. Leonard opposed the mo-
ton. He said that "the motion would
discredit infant baptism, and that IL would
be step backward for the great Metho-
dist Church. / believe there IS no per-
son so fit 10 be baptized as an infant"
Rev. s. W. Matthews. Of Southern Cali
fornia. said that he did not believe in
discredlting infant baptism, but he did
believe that adults who have been hap
tiled IN infancy should be given the same
right to be baptized that unbaptized con-
verts have.
Rev. Dr. J. +. G.. Sawyer said that he
thought the Methodist Church would De-
much bettered by striking out the foot
note. lie was sure that it would help the
growth Of the Church membership.
William II. Daniels. Of Northwest In
diana, created a sensation by inquirng
If the foot-note In question was the one
that some one had surreptitiously put In
the Discipline, without any authority from
the General Conference
The section was recOmmitted. with Or.
Buckley's amendment. to the Committee
on Revivals.
The Committee on Episcopacy did not
report In accordance with the instructions
it had resolved. Dr. Buckley stated that
the committee had as yet been unable 10
agree upon the number Of bishops II
would recommend TO be created, but that
II would be ready 10 report TO the CON
ference the first thing tomorrow after
the reading Of the journal. The time for
the committee TO report was extended to
that hour Though the committee was
unable to report, this much is known
Of the deliberations at the meeting:
The members agreed TO recommend the
retirement of Bishop Thomas Bowman
Bishop r. s. Foster. and Missionary
Bishop William Taylor, Of Africa. on ac-
count Of their feebleness and inability 10
perform the arduous duties of their posi-
lions by reason of advanced age. This
action will necessitate the election Of two
regular bishops and one missionary
lighCo.