Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-05-07

Cleveland, o., May |. The gavel Of
the venerable Bishop Bowman fell this
morning at o O'Clock and the great
gnadrennial conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church was under way.
Central ArmoTy looked beautiful in
deed. Its interior was as brilliant as
the hall OF political convention and
on all sides there was an expectancy
that Issues OF Importance were about
TO be precipitated in the convention.
Three thousand people were in the hall
when the meeting was called to order.
On the floor were white men and black
men, the delegates from Cold Norway
and Sweden and from tropical India
and Japan. Nearly every country on
the globe was represented.
Bishop Bowman announced that the
Bible which will be used in the SER
vices is the one which was used by
John Wesley in his study in England.
This historical treasure was presented
to the conference some years ago.
Bishop Ninde read from this book
the 103d Psalm
Bishop Vincent read the opening
hymn, after which prayer was offered
by Bishop Foster The Rev. William
Burt OF Rome, Italy, followed in read.
ing of the scriptures, after which
Bishop Taylor of Africa, read the second
hymn. The Rev. DIR. Upham of Drew
Theological Seminary. offered prayer,
which cldsod the devotional services.
Cleveland, o.. May l.--When the
devotional exercises OF the General Con
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church were over little furry was
occasioned by reason OF the call on
Secretary Monroe to call the roll. 1t
was thought that this action would
precipitate the contest OF the seating
of women. When the name of Lydia
A. Timble was announced a delegate
was Immediately on his feet and made
motion that this name be omitted un-
til a committee determine whether her
election was legal.
Bishop Bowman refused TO entertain
the motion, declaring that the CON
vention was not yet organized. The
tumultuous applause which followed
the ruling OF the chair indicated the
strength of the woman suffrage faction
OF the delegations. AS the other names
OF the women delegates were called no
exception was taken, and the secretary
finished calling the roll. The confer
ence decided 10 fill the vacancies from
the reserves and to adopt the rules of
the last conference
Mr.. Daniels of India caused much
surprise by presenting the following
resolutions:
Resolved, First-That we, members
of the General Conference of 1896, do
hereby claim our rights to choose the
committees on which We will serve in
the same manner as the ministerial
delegates have made choice of the COM
mittees on which they would serve any
previous arrangement notwithstanding.
"Second-That we hereby request the
presiding bishop to lay this case before
the General Conference, with the view
of securing therefrom the official
affirmation of our rights, as above re.
cited.
Third That copy of these resolu
tion1 be laid before the presiding bishop
at the opening of the first days session
of the General Conference.
Bishop Bowman ruled the resolutions
out of order because the convention
had not been organized.
The actual contest for the admission
OF women delegates was precipitated
when Mr.. Planet of North Dakota
moved that a committee on credentials
be appointed.
DIR. j. M. Buckley Of New York,
the old-time opponent of women, chal-
lenged the right Of women to seats in
the convention.
A scene OF confusion followed, in
which Bishop Bowman threw up his
hands and exclaimed: "Are we in Con
gress or are we in Methodist Confer
ence? Good Lord, brethren, can we
not stop this hooting and bowling. The
Lord help us. -
The question was finally disposed OF
by referring all questions of eligibility
TO special committee consisting of 2S
members, This committee is made up
of two de- sgates from each conference
district. 'Che committee will report
Monday and, in the meantime, the
women will be allowed to seats in the
conference.
In the afternoon district conferences
were held and members OF the com
mittee Of 81 were appointed. OF the
II district conferences seven declared
Internationally for seating the women
delegates and two others gave one uele-
gate each to the same cause. This
makes vote of II to IL in the com
mittee in favor of seating the WOMEN.
The Rev. DR.. John Lanahan of Balti-
more, author Of the book 1.-THE Frauds
of the Methodist Book Concern" is
here and may ask the conference for
personal vindicatlon. lie claims thai
% years ago he discovered extensive
fraudulent transactions in the Book
Concern and brought about a correction
of the evils; that strong effort was
made by men high in authority in the
church to keep the affair secret and
TINT bepaIIga he would nnt cnnaant n
this he was prosecuted and even ex.
PEELED from the church, though finally
reinstated.
The General Conference is the
supreme legislative body of the Method.
ist Episcopal denomination. About
125 annual conferences have cent dele
communicates, and an affiliated body
of not far from 1000, 600 in all. Oi
the conferences represented, II belong
to foreign nations India, China, Italy
Japan, Liberia, Mexico, Germany
Norway, Sweden, South America anc
Switzerland being among the landi
sending delegates
Cleveland. May 2.-It was Bishol
Fosters turn to preside to-day over thl
Methodist Episcopal General Confer
ence.
DIR. Neely moved tho appointment
of committee OF Is on constitution, Il
to be by districts and three at large
This is one of tho greatest question
which will come before the conference
and it caused decided furry. Amend
ments were offered. A great deal @
confusion prevailed until DIR. Tete
shut off debate by moving the previou
question, and the motion was carriefl