The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-05-02


ence to order they ruled that as womer
had not been elected before, and as theil
constitutional rights to seats in the
body was questionable, the secretary
| should not call their names, and ne dc
not. But Immediately upon organization
the question of their eligibility was taken
up and after memorable debate OF five
| or six days it was decided not to recog-
| niZe those who had been elected but to
| proceed in a constitutional way to take
| the opinion of the church on the subject.
| Four years ago, at Omaha, the women
were conspicuous by their absence. MOI
| a solitary sister had been elected.
| IT, however, they were not at the Omaha
conference in person, they had plenty OF
friends to represent them, and the practi-
cal outcome was that much discussed
measure 1.-The Hamilton amendment
This provided in effecr that unless the
ministers declared by majority OF three
fourths that lay delegates must be men,
the term "laymen2 should be held to in
Glide women also. This, whatever its in
tent was practically a reversal of the
usual constitutional process, and 1t has
been contemptuously characterized by
even the warm friends Of WOmens admls-
sion as an attempt to get her in by a back
door: in other words, by cut that is OF
questionable regularity. Many who voted
for this measure at Omaha disclaimed Il
afterwards, and large numbers of minis
LorS nave pOSltlVeiy refused 10 vote ellncT
for or against it.
If the Hamilton amendment is cOnSti
tutional, the women lack now only two
thirds majority Of the conference about to
convene to make them eligible to seats IN
that body, for of course that amendment
in SO far as it has been voted upon, has
failed to carry--enormously so; and hence,
AS "laymen" doesn't mean men only, it
means men and women. But upon thi
there will be desperate fight. the pros
pect being that while the general confer
ence will be favorable to women, it will
not uphold this Hamilton amendment.
Still. however, the question recurs,
what will be done with the four women
already elected. 1t will be impossible for
the bishops to interfere. as they did eight !
years ago, for the last conference voted |
that the roll should be made up of those |
certificates of election. This |
makes it certain that these women will at !
east have the pleasure of answering to
their names There is talk. to be sure, of !
an Injunction from the courts but this |
would be resorted to by the conservatives
only in the event of extreme measures on
he part of the radicals. 1t has been the
boast of the latter that when woman
Is once in by the action of Secretary Mum
roe in calling her name they will take
precious good care she shall stay in. But
it is by no means certain they will have
votes enough for this, and a reasonable
forecast makes it seem probable that after
'oll call the question of her eligibility will
De referred to a committee, and that this
new woman" of Methodism will have to
Wait for her full general conference crown
ng until 1900.
To very many of the delegates this wo-
nan question is far less interesting than
he great question, who will be elected to
he various offices. A Methodist general
conference is unique among ecclesiastical
'onclaves from the fact that, exclusive
# the bishops it may elect it has within
is gift twenty-five influential positions.
III of them paying good salaries, and most
It them being commonly regarded as
topping stones to something higher. OF
he thirteen. editors, it is probable that all
viii be reelected, though some of them
will by means have a walk-Over FOR
When man has been twenty years or SO
II an editorial chair he is sure to have
nemies If he has grit; and besides. it is
o very easy TO edit paper that natur-
lly there is desire to have so soft snap
'assed around among the boys.
Still another thing which complexities the
ditorial situation is that some who are
ditors would not object to be bishops. !
his creates a quaSi-opening, and it | ,
ometimes happens that when the editor
eturns from his chase after the Episco-
al butterfly he finds his seat pre-empted
" another. But this doesn't apply at all
the case OF Dr. j. M. Buckley Of the New
,ork Advocate, who proba bly, could be
bishop If he would for those who are in .
innate with him are saying with an air of
that he wouldn't be bishop {
hough he could. In very truth the grace .
f resignation is spreading in this church
l presiding elder in New Hampshire be-
ates his brethren for voting for him as
eiegate to general conference With a
God chance of going, he declines. Less
han four years ago DR.. w. NJ Brodbeck I
eclined to become general secretary of
he EpMorth league. preferring the ma star=