The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-21
THE CONFERENCE LAUGHS.
!hc Woman Question Brings to Light
a Kansas Humorist.

Bishop Vincont, the venerable found
or OF the Chautauqua Society, presided
at this mornings session of the Meth
odlst General Conference. The usua'
routine was followed during the morn
ing until the Rev. DR.. LOwthcr, OF
Southwest Kansas, created q great
deal Of laughter by introducing the
following resolution:
| Whereas, this conference has de.
cided to send to the annual conferences,
the question as to whether the word
laymen should be SO construed as tC
include women, and,
Whereas, it is believed by many
that on scriptural grounds women can.
not be admitted to the general confer.
ence therefore,
Resolved, That we also submit to
the annual conference the following
questions
Are women included in our articles
OF religion, which read: MAN is very
far gone from original righteousness.' y
While this question is bending be if
the order Of this general conference
that the women of the church obey the
apostolic injunction: LET your wo-
men keep silence in the churches"
That they do also refuse the knowl-
edge that comes from books, papers,
magazines, lectures, lyceums and
reading circles, and if they would
learn anything let them ask their hus-
bands.
Since on 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 vote whether
women arc included or excluded in the
language, g Every man in his own
ordcr," in Paul's chapter on tho resur-
rcction.
On motion Of DR.. A. j. Kynctt, the
resolutions wore referred to the COM
mittce on eligibility.
Several changes in the discipline,
recommended by the bishops wero re-
ported by the committee on revisals.
The first Two sections Of the report
were adopted. n warm fight occurred
over the adoption Of the third section
OF the report, relating to infant bap-
tism.
During the debate Mr.. Buckley said
that he was satisfied that there wore
in the Baptist church over half q mil
lion members who would now be in the
Methodist church if they were given
the ri ght to choose the way they we're
to be baptized.
He moved that u part of the disci-
pline be stricken out, so that adults
baptized in infancy might be allowed
to be baptized again in any way they
might elect.
Rev. ~. B. Leonard opposed tho mo.
ton He said that the motion would
discredit infant baptism, and that it
would be step backward for the great
Methodist church. He said q be.
llevc there Is no person SO fit to be
baptized as an infant"
Rev. S. w. Matthews, of Southern
California, said that he did not believe
in discrediting infant baptism, but he
did believe that adults who have beer
baptized in infancy, should be given
the same right to be baptized, that
unbaptized have.
Rev. DR.. J. e. C. Sawyer said that
he thought the Methodist church
wouid DC much bettered by striking
out the foot-note. He was sure that #
would help the growth OF the church
membership. William II. Daniels. of
Northwest Indiana, created sensation
by inquiring if the foot-note in ques-
tion was the one that some one had
surrep:itiously put in the discipline,
without any authority from tho gener-
al conference.
The section was recommitted, with
DR.. Buckley's amendment to the COM
mittec on revisals.
The committee on episcopacy did
not report in accordance with the in
structiOns it had received. DR.. Buck
Icy stated that the committee had as
yet been unable to agree upon the
number Of bishops it would recommend
to be created, but that it would be
ready to report to the conference tho
first thing tomorrow after the reading
Of the journal. The time for the com
mittee 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 Bow
man, Bishop II. S. Foster and Mission
ary Bishop William Taylor, of Afrina
on account Of their fcebleneSs and ina
bility to perform the arduous duties Of
their positions, by reason Of advanced
ago. This action will necessitatc the
election Of two regular bishops, and
one missionary bishop.
III ~ Nh1