The herald., 1896-05-06
THE METHODIST BRETHREN
Still Discussing Woman's Right
to the Ballot
THE QUESTION UNDECIDED
Though the Speeches Have Been Long
and Eloquent
Debate Will Be Continued Today and No BusI-
ness Disposed of Till the Woman
Question Is Settled
Associated Press Special WirA.

~A'lSCSANeNN
CLEVELAND, o., May 5.-The fifth
days session of the Methodist confer
ence saw the great religious body still
unorganized for the transaction OF buAi-
ness. The debate on the eligibility Of
woman delegates occupied the entire day
and so far as the speakers are concerned
there is no evidence of a desire to bring
the discussion to a close. Some of the
laymen are anxious to terminate the con-
test, and it is said that motion will be
offered tomorrow to close the debate at
l o'clock. If that is done it 10 probable
that a vote will be reached tomorrow
or the first thing Thursday.
No sooner had Bishop Andrews called
the general Methodist Episcopal confer
ence to order this informing than c. w.
Bennett of Cincinnati presented resO-
luton providing for the appointment
of a special committee TO pass on all
communications from laymen. This COM
mittee was to consist of one minister
and one layman from each district. At
ter good deal o1debate, in which Rev,
DR.. Spier of Detroit, expressed regret
that any feeling existed between the
clergy and the laity, the resolution was
adopted.
The woman question was then pre-
sented by President Daniel Stevenson
OF Union collegs, KY, who criticized the
action of the bishops in deciding against
women in 1885,
Rev. G. Neeley led the fight against the
women. He held the question to be one
of law purely, He said it was true that
the Bible said men and women are one
in Christ, but not in the general confer
ence. He held that under the church
statutes women are different from men.
The question, he said, is a constitutional
one, and no one is to be admitted unless
specifically mentioned.
The delegates were thoroughly aroused
and feeling ran high. Judge Caples of
IJov. IL Duo law Of
New York, Rev. DR.. Harris of Maine,
Rev. Dr. James Chaffey of Minneapolis,
Rev. DR.. J. w. Hamilton, DR.. j. r. Day,
DR.. Emery Miller of Iowa, and several
other men prominent in the councils of
the church, spoke upon the question
When the hour for adjournment arrived
the conference discontinued debate TIL
tomorrow morning. No business will be
done until the woman question Is set
tied.
The lay delegates met at o'clock and
heard reports from their committee OF
thirteen appointed to consider the ques-
tion of extending the term of paStorate.
One report, signed by Gen. Risuling of
New Jersey, recommended that in ex-
ceptfonal cases ministers might be con-
tinued in their pastorates indefinitely. A
second opposed the change in the rule
regarding the time limit, stating as
reason that very often ministers re-
manned too long in churches, and an
amendment was offered by a delegate
providing for an extension of time by a
three-fourths vote of all adult members
of the church at regular quarterly con-
ferences and the recommendation Of a
majority of the presiding elders Of the
district. Both of the reports and amend
ments were tabled
A Delaware man asked for the adOp-
tion of a resolution requiring the confer
ence to shut off debate on the woman
question at noon Wednesday, giving as
his reason that the ministers were using
that merely as an opportunity to show
off their oratorical ability. The meeting
considered that this would be discour-
teous and refused to consider 1t.