The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-07
THE M. E. CONFERENCE
The Question Of Admitting Women Dele.
gates Still a Bone of Contention.
SHABBY TREATMENT OF A SOUTHERNER
Rev. DIR. Morris Most InhospitabIy Re
ccived-The Subject of Reunion
With the Church. South Comes Up
Additional Bishops To BE Elected
Next week-Epworth League.

Cleveland. o.. May 6.-In accordance
with the rule adopted Tuesday the Gen
| eral Conference of the Methodist Church
was called to order al $50 this morning
Bishop Warren presided. Devotional ex-
ercises We're conducted by Rev. DR.. S. o.
Benton, of Southern New England Pro
fessor George T.. Ackerman. of Alaba-
ma. presented resolution calling on the
Committee on Episcopacy to report by
Saturday as to the advisabiity of elect
ing more bishops. II was ordered that
no resolution affecting the law or disci-
pline of the church. which has not been
considered by committee, be intro
duced after May 18th
resolution giving women the right
10 De elected trustees of the Epworth
League, was offered by the Rev. DR..
Parker. OF India. Referred.
AN order was made fixing Monday.
May 18TH as day for the election of ad
ditional bishops and other officers
resolution was introduced providing
Tor committee of nine-three b!shops
'hree ministers three laymen-as a com
thlttee TO confer with similar commit
lee nom the church as 10 the consolida
'ion OF the two churches
Daniel Stevenson of Kentucl.v oefara,
substitute providing for a committee
OF htteen To take up the subject 3f re-
union with the church South. Both reso-
luSloh ana substitute were referred m tba
committee on the State of the Church
heI' Wflliam keely, of New York
introduced resolution apologizine fSr
Iht sna oby treatment accorded to the
iteN. Dr. MOTIFS, the fraternal delegate
from the Church. South. The Rev Or
Buckley, of New York, said tha, ,ha
treatment of DR.. Morris was the yyorst
case Oh inhospitality that had ever oc-
Cured In any of the sessions of the C,en
eral Conference >'e''-
After some delegates had suggested
tnat the matter was a very delicate ono
and that the less said the be;tar ~
resolution was passed
Ihe debate on the woman ouestio,
was again heated. but no decision wos
Ieached. Rev. DR.. Reed of New Yort
Easi: spoke against the admission Of
me iour women delegates, although he
sd!u ne favored the admission of women
pS constitutional means
The adoption of the majority ,anor,
would discredit this conference before
the United States" he said. "To scat
these women would be to wrong n great
porNon or the general conference and of
the Methodist Church There ts NO
hu'fy ABOUT the matter. Let us refuse 10
auiIi't 'hese iour delegates and refer the
WiloIe matter TO the annual conferences
Rev DIR. j. NJ King, of New York said,
the mere fact that the General Con-
ference has submitted this question IN
'he annual conference two times, is proof
conclusive that the, previous general
conferences have regarded this question
as Legislative one, and not Question
over which this body has exclusive
jurisdiction"
Rev. DR.. Mason, of Savannah. said.
For years voted for the women and
am heartily in favor of giving them the
right of church suffrage by const,tu-
tional means, but | do not think II wise
TO bring the women in by judicial in
terpretation of the constitution"
Rev. DR.. Bristol. of Chicago. in a bril-
liant speech. moved to recommit both
majority and, minority reports with in
structions TO bring in a report submitting
the question to the annual conferences
Rev. Dr. Buckley wanted the com.
mittee TO have enlarged powers, so that
they might report what they desired
Rev. DR.. Leonard amended the motion
by moving that the committee try and
come to an unanimous decision and
report tomorrow. He. said that both
sides had BEEN In consultation during