The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-05-09

a. m. Friday. Bishop bowman called
TO order the general conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal church in the Gen.
trail armory. The session will last TOT
one month. After brief devotional ex-
ercises the roll was called and the dele
gates were seated. There are accredited
10 the conference four women Delegates
Cleveland. o., May 4.-The meeting OF
the Methodist general conference sat
urday was devoted for the most part 10
the hearing Of the pastoral letter OF the
bishops. This was read by Bishop War
rem. OF Colorado. who prepared II HIM
self, and IL was regarded by the con-
ference as an exceedingly able paper.
The features which received the most
interested attention were the sugges-
ton that In exceptional instances the
time limit placed on the pastorates or
Methodist. ministers should be raised;
that 81 was time Christian nations took
prompt action 10 suppress the outrages
In Armenia; that the annual confer
ences might properly omit requiring
educational examinations in the cases
of college graduates; the recommendn-
| ton that the church recognize Epworth
leagues TO the exclusion Of other young
| peoples societies, and the outline OF
what was proper and Christian IN the
attitude toward one another of capi-
talists and worl<ingmcn, and OF work
men toward each other.
The address favors arbitration in la
Dor and In international disputes, and
urges profit sharing. in considering the
relations of labor and capital. When
Bishop Warren said that no man should
prevent another from working when,
where and for whom he would, he pro-
yoked the applause of the day. The
bishops declare for national divorce
law; are opposed to removing the ban
Of the church from dancing. card play
ing and theater going; favor total pro-
hibition, and want the United Stntes 10
refuse government licenses in prohibit
tion states.
The address shows that the church
has membership Of 2, 796,656, gain OK
$4,000 in four years. The Sunday
schools last year numbered 30,352, n
gain In four years of 276. and the teach
ers and pupils numbered 2.o9s,S5o, a
gain of 2S0, 700. The conversions In
the Sunday schools in four years were
53.436. The church has added Sill ,000,-
600 worth of property TO the Sii3,0oo.-
600 owned in 1892. The gain in pastoral
support has been 100000, partly be-
cause of 1,40o more pastors. The mis-.
sionary funds show substantial gains
The church has 81 deaconess' homes
hospitals and orphanages, Of whics 10
are In foreign lands. There are 574
deaconesses. of which 90 are In foreign
work. One hundred are trained nurses
The organization has $641 $50 worth OF
property. which has been mostly given
during the last four years. During the
last four years tine deaconesses have
made 202, Ale calls. held 1000 religious
meetings and helped to care for 62s
people, either In hospitals or at their
own homes. The Epworth League has
I, $1,000 chapels. with i.350.000 members
| Cleveland. o.. May 5. BishoI
, Merrill, of Chicago, on Monda,
called the conference to order ant
the morning devotional exercises wer'
/ led by Rev. DIR. Jesse l.. Hurlbutt, sec
rotary of the Sunday School union. Th'
rules were suspended and DR.. Males
was allowed to read his resolution OF
, arbitration. The resolution deplores
! war aud asked the United States TO hell
. along the cause of arbitration. Ate
some wrangling the resolution wa
/, adopted.
a Bishop Morrill, announced, that tn
= order OF the day was the report OF I'll
n committee of eligibility. Secretar.
D Davis s. Monroe read n communication
: from the women delegates from I'll
n North Indiana and Ohio conferences.
i said that while they firmly believes
! that women had the right TO be admit
! red to the conference. they respectful
: ly withdrew their rights In the inter
Z ests OF harmony. They thanked tn
: champions OF their cause, but said the
n could not consent TO have protracte
struggle over their rights. IL WA
! signed by three of the four women dele
i gates, and was n stunning blow at tn
a champions OF the women's cause.
n lydia A. Trimble's name was no
l. signed TO the document and the won
r ems champions rallied. The secretar
r read the majority report which az
= clared that women had constitutions
right to membership IN the conference
Rev. DIR. Medley. OF Philadelphia. rea
the minority report. IL said that th
!. minority had carefully inquired int
the question and had found that Oh
n women possessed no rights In the col
= ference whatever.
i Rev. DIR. Medley made feryid speec
!, In favor OF the minority report. III
II chief point was that women could onl
> be admitted by change In the constits
e ton. "Thnt could only be DONE" b
h said. "by threc-quartcr vote OF n
e members OF the annual conferences an