The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-09
The Woman Question Again brought
drawn After n TumuItuous Scene.
OTHER TROUBLES COMING
LAY DELEGATES ABOUT READY TO
MAKE THEMSELVES HEARD.
They VIII Endcavor 10 CurtaiI the
troduce other Reforms.
Special to the Indlanapolls Journal.

CLEVELAND, o., May 6-There was an
other furry in the General NJ. L. Conference
this morning over the woman question. The
good sisters who were not unseated yester-
day out and out, but kindly permitted TO
remain under challenge" took occasion to
notify the conference that unless they can
sit as untainted as the brethren, they de-
cline to sit at all. This brought the confer
ence to its feet as Ii were. The delegates did
not exactly like TO be put in the position
Of voting the women under ban, hence they
squirmed and apoiogized the best they could
and DR.. Neely moved that we invite the
women to sit as the honored guests of the
conference. The majority was so determined
not to recognize the right of the women to
sit as guests any more than any other
women, wishing them - remain as dele
gates, that quite protracted and confound-
ing discussion followed, during which the
chairman> Bishop Hurst. became noisy In
the extreme, resulting in the withdrawal OF
all propositions. then letting the women do
the rare thing OF declining TO sit as dele
gates.
Some features Of the action OF the confer
ence on the woman question Thursday we're
not fully explained I'm the regular press re-
port A more generous proposition was never
made TO falling foe--mark, do not say a
fallen foe. for they had not YET touched bot
tom, but they were so i'm sight OF IL as TO
easily see what was coming-as that made
by the conquering majority TO their discom-
fitted opponents. When the fate Of the Ques-
ton was evident DR.. Kynett, DR.. Moore, Dr.
Leonard and others proposed what. out or
respect TO the feelings of the minority they
called a compromise. merely to let them
down easy. The so-calied compromise mere
IL
their needless opposition and say enough
they, the majority. would accept the situa-
ton and go on their way rejoicing. This
was so generous that IL was promptly ac-
cepted by the minority OF the General Con-
ference. and the General Conference recon-
mitted the majority and the minority report
for the purpose OF completing the arrange
ment. The report comedies every conten-
a1nn T0h 2, tne o asorTs Ss nTs 70 ne re-
| and leaving future General Conferences TO
| determine any case that may arise on its
merits. unprejudiced by this action = just
more, nothing less. Was not this generous
proposition? 1t let the vanquisned. minority
cept a few who had declared their Intention
| to die in the last ditch. and so they died.
| DR.. Buckley, who had been leader OF the
| ment proposed by the committee on eligibili-
| ty and recommended as a compromise.
MORE THAN TwO-THIRDS-
That branch Of the report which proposed
| to refer the question Of eligibility to the
annual conferences was also the contention
| of the majority, so 1t is clear that the orig
| inal majority report of the committee was
| accepted by large majority OF the General
| Conference. An interesting feature OF the
| case was that DR.. Buckley made the final
speech in favor of this so-called comnro-
| mise report and that part OF the report which
proposed to let the women stay In was adopt
| ed so nearly unanimously that less than
| twenty hands were raised against IT, On
| motion TO refer the change OF the constiu-
ton the vote stood AS for TO IS against Ia
total vote Of 52s, which. it viii be seen. is
more than the needed two-thirds.
| That matter being disposed OF for the time
| being, many OF the younger members OF tho
General ConisTencs nres5hed easier easier ana lei.
| but those who knew what was ia store for
| them said: 'One woe Is past, but greater
woes are fast coming on" One OF these woes
! has already come in sight. The action OF
the committee on boundaries being final.
the fight will be made there, and the shir-
mishing yesterday indicates an interesting
time there. There seems TO be general de-
sire the part of laymen everywhere 10
have cities all IN one conference: ror n
two conferences: Delaware o., Is in three
conferences; New York is in two confer
| ences. and like embarrassments exist In sew
| erai other cities The laymen are generally
opposed 10 this, and that branch alone or
| the general question will cause no little dis
4
| conferences want to be divided, some por-
tions OF some conferences want TO be traos-
ferred TO other conferences. while some con-
ferences want some territory that does not
want TO be transferred. For instance. tne
Northeast Indiana wants Logansport, whlse
| Logansport wants TO remain In the North
! Conference. And there are several just such
| cases. The movement OF the Northwest IN
| diana may be more far-reaching than the
! TO propose that all of Marion county be IN
| cuded In the Indiana Conference. Coupled
| with this. IL may be moved that all OF Put
| nam county and possibly all Of Clay and VI
! go and Hendricks go 70 the Northwest: But
| this has not yet taken shape. When the at
semP' seme frIction: so that mater is TO be dis
cussed in the committee on boundaries
| KEYHoLEs NOT STOPPED.
| The committee on the constitution meets
| with double-barred doors, intending that its
! deliberations shall not leak out premature
ly. yet, through keyholes and otherwise. II
| has leaked out that there are sharp lines
| dividing the members into distinct classes.
| with all or nearly all the laymen and several
OF the ministers on one side and the Neeley
| type OF ministers on the other side. These
| are opposed to any change that will I'm the
least degree lessen their hold upon the gov
| ernment OF the church. or course, with
| the doors closed. outsiders cannot know just
| the state Of affairs within. but enough Is
known TO say that something radical Is In
The motion Of Dr. King this morning 10 de-
| cline any appropriation from the govern
| ment for denominationai schools went
through with a whirl. The significance OF
this is 10 cut of the large appropriation
| to Indian schools made by Congress and
| used wholly by the Catholic Church.
| The reports OF two mission bishops. Taylor
and T'hoburn revealed. especially as 10 Bish-
Oh Taylor and his work in Africa. a cordi-
| ton OF affairs the conference was hardly
| PREPARED for. Ton much Il involved I'm this
| report 10 do II justice In this dispatch: hence
| shall devote to-morrow's dispatches
| TO a chapter of Methodist history not
| The kind most relishei by Methodists
| The report contained many Incidents that
| were full OF interest. and created no little
| enthusiasm on the part OF the conference,
| Indicating that when the mission shah fall
| into line with mission WORK gei,erally great
results may be expected. the LACK OF which
| Is now one OF the causes OF s0licitude I'm the
| episcopal committee xho are considering the
| mission work as affected by the episcopacy.
| The report by Bishop Th0burn Was quite
| another paper, coming from quite another
| man and about quite another field. and re-
| ceived quite another attention, especially by
those who knew the antecedents OF the tao
bishops and the true condition OF the two
fields of mission work Bishop Thoourn Is
| a veteran missionary OF thirty-seye1 years
In the missionary field he represents. It is
| no secret that there is in Bishop Tayior's
return to Africa the basis OF much OF the un-
] rest regarding missionary bishops. But hou