The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-01
BATTLE is ON
For the Sitting Of Women in
Methodist Conference.
First Skirmish is Fought Just
as Soon
AS PRAYING is ENDED
Mrs. Lydia A. KimbaIl's Name
is Presented.
Friends of Women Suffrage
Have Reason to Cheer.

morning at O'Clock, and the great /
quadrenniaI conference of the AIethO- /
dist Episcopal church was under way /
Central Armory looked beautiful in |
deed. It's interior was brilliant
Three thousand people were in the /
hall when the meeting was called to or /
der
Delegates from Norway and Sweden |
and tropical India and Japan We're /
there. Every country on the GLOBE was /
represented Bishop Newell annOunc- !
ed that the Bible. which viii be used in !
the services, is the one which was used /
by John Wesley in his study in Eng /
land. This historical treasure was pre- /
sented, to the conference some years /
ago.
Bishop Ninde read from this book
Bishop Vincent read the hymn, after
which prayer was offered by Bishop
Foster.
Bishop Foster prayed that personal
ambition might be stified and that har-
mOny should rule. The Rev William
Burt of Rome. Italy. followed in a
reading of the scriptures after which
Bishop Taylor Of Africa read hymn
Rev Dr. Upham of Drew Theological
seminary offered prayer which closed
the devotional exercises.
A caucus of the ministerial delegates
favorable to the seating of women in
the conference was held last night
Plans were discussed and it was prac
tically decided that the question would
be brought to an issue by challenging
the right Of the women to seats when
the first roll call is taken.
Then a committee viii be appointed
to examine their credentials. This
committee viii submit majority and mi
nority reports Then an amendment to
the constitution will be proposed to be
submitted to the annual conference /
Meanwhile the women vii have sat in
! the conference undisturbed and a prec-
/ edent been established.
A fight viii also be made upon the re-
I quirement which compels both an edu-
I cationa1 and dOctrinal examination by
| annual conferences of all ministers en-
/ tering them The effort Will be made
! to make diploma from any competent
/ Methodist institution of learning a suf-
4 6cient guarantee Of learning
Bishop Fowler is interested in
| strong movement to establish perma-
nent Episcopal residences in foreign
! countries.
A full hedged bishop is to be appoint
! ed for the City of Mexico to have charge
| of the Spanish Methodists in Central
Bishop Fowler would allow the pres
! ent missionary bishops of Africa and
! India to serve until they die or are re-
! tired, and then appoint in their places
/ bishops with full Episcopal authority.
When the devotional exercises were
over. little furry occurred in the con
| ventiOn by reason of the call on Secre-
I tary Monroe to call the roll. It was
| thought this action would precipftate
/ the question of the seating of women
! When the name of Lydia A Tinlble
1 was announced delegate was immedf-
I ately on his feet with a motion that
1 this name be omitted until a committee
determine whether the election was
legal For a moment it looked as if
/ the fight had started Bishop Bowman,
/ however. refused to entertain the mo
ton, as he declared the convention was
not organized.
The tumultuous applause which fol-
lowed the ruling of the chair indicated
the strength of the woman suffrage
/ faction Of the delegation.
ofe17 nd
| the other names of the women dele
| gates were called no exception was
taken. The secretary continued to
! call the roll The conference decided
to fiji the vacancies from the reserves
and to adopt the rules of the last con
ference.
A fight over the rights of laymen on
the floor of the convention was precipi-
tated by Mr. Daniels of Indiana. who
took the conventions breath away by
presenting the following resolutions:
Resolved, First That we, members
of the general conference Of 1896, do
hereby claim every right to choose the
committees on which we will serve in
the same manner as the ministerial del
! egateS have made choice of the cOrns
fittees on which they would serve any
previous arrangement nOtwithstand-
ing.
Resolved, Second, That we hereby re-
quest the presiding bishop to lay this
case before the general conference with
the view of securing therefrOm the Of
fetal affirmation of our rights as above
recited-
Resolved, Third, That a copy of these
resolutions he laid before the presiding
bishop at the opening of the first days
session of the general conference.
The actual fight for the admission of
women delegates was precipitated
when Mr.. Planet Of North Dakota
/ moved that a committee on credentials
be appointed. This brought DR.. Buck
ley,the old time enemy of the women to
the front. who challenged the rights of
women to seats in the convention A
scene of widest confusion followed in
which Bishop Bowman threw up his
hands in despair and exclaimed. Are
we in congress, or are we in a Method
ist conference Good Lord, brethren,
can we not stop this hooting and howl
ing. The Lord help US.
The question was finally disposed Of
by referring all questions of eligibility
to a special committee consisting Of
tvventy-eight members. This commit
tee is made UP of two delegates from
each conference district and is being
selected this afternoon
The committee viii report Monday
and in the meantime the women will
be allowed seats in the convention
The convention adjourned at O'Clock
to reconvene tomorrow morning.