Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-07
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
A Resolution Was Passed ApOIogizing to Rev.
DR.. Morris and inviting Him to Re-
turn to Cleveland.

Cleveland, o., May Elm accordance
with the rule adopted Tuesday, the gem
eral conference of the Methodist church
was called to order at $50 o'clock. Bish-
op Warren presided. Devotional exer-
cises were conducted by the Rev. DR.. S.
o. Benton of Southern New England.
Professor George E. Alderman of Ala
bama presented a resolution asking the
COMMITTEE on episcopacy to report t4
Saturday as to the ACCESSIBILITY of elect
ing more bishops. 1t was ordered that
no resolution affecting the law of dici-
pine of the church which has not been
considered by committee be introduced
after May IT,. A resolution giving the
women the right to be elected trustees
of the Epworth league was offered by
the Rev. Dr. Parker of India. Referred.
An order was made fixing Monday, May
Is, as day for election of additional
bishops and other officers. A resolution
was introduced providing for a commit
tee of nine, consisting of three bishops,
three ministers and three laymen, as q
committee to confer with a similar COM
mittee from the church south to consider
federation of the two churches. Dan
lei Stevenson of Kentucky offered a sub
stitute providing for a committee of fif-
teen to take up the subject of reunion
with the church south. Both resolution
W
mittee on state of the church.
William V. Kelley of New York, east,
introduced a resolution apologiZing for
the shabby treatment to the Rev. DIR.
Norris, the fraternal delegate from the
church south. The Rev. DIR. Buckley of
New York said that the treatment of
DR.. Norris was the worst case of inhos-
pitality that had ever occurred in any
of the sessions of the general conference.
After some delegates had suggested
that the matter was very delicate one
and that the less said the better the res
olution was passed.
The debate on the woman question was
again heated, but no decision was reach
ed. DR.. Reed of New York, east spoke
against the admission of the four women
delegates, although he said he favored
the admission of delegates by consttu-
tional means. The adoption of the ma
jority report would discredit this con-
ference before the whole United States,
he said. ITO seat these women would
be to wrong great portion of the gem
eral conference and of the Methodist
church. There is no hurry about the
matter. Let us refuse to admit these
four delegates and refer the whole mat
ter to the annual conferences"
Rev DR.. j. M. King of New York said.
The mere fact that the general confer
ence has submitted this question to the
annual conference two times is proof
ferences have regarded this question as
legislative one and not a question over
which. this body has exclusive jurisdic-
ton"
The Rev. C. b. Mason of Savannah
said: For years l have voted for the
women and am heartily in favor of CIV
Ing her the right of church suffrage by
constitutional means, but do not think
1t wise to bring the women in by judicial
Interpretation of the constitution"
Rev. DR.. Frank Bristol of Chicago, in
brilliant speech, moved to recommit
both majority and minority reports, with
instructions to bring in a report submit
ting the question to the annual confer
ences.
Rev. DR.. Buckley wanted the commit
tee to have enlarged powers, so that they
might report what they desired
KEY. Dr. Leonard amended the motion
py moving that the committee try and
come to an unanimous decision and re-
port at 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning. He
SAID that both sides had been in CONSUL
tation during the day and that there was
a settlement in sight satisfa Glory to both
Sides
Several speeches were made in favor
of recommittal, and amid great excite
ment on the part of the delegates the
previous question was ordered The two
reports were recommtted by an almost
unanimous vote.
On motion the action of the conference
In relation to the treatment of the Rev
Dr. j. c. Morris. fraternal delegate from
the church south. was reconsidered and
the Rev. DR.. Gouchers resolution con-
corning the matter was passed.
A resolution was passed asking Rev
DR.. Morris to return to Cleveland that
he might be properly received by the con-
ference.
The most important matter of the
Methodist conference. irrespective of the
admission of women delegates, was acted
upon tonight when the fifty-nine negro
delegates met and decided that they
would insist on the elevation to bishop
ric of j. w. Even. D. d. Phi. D., pro-
fessor of theology at Grannon school at
Atlanta. The matter will be brought to
a crisis on May IS. when the election of
bishops. book agents and editors will take
place. 1t Is likely that there will be com
siderable dissension before the matter is
nnd ad