The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-05
WHITE FLAG OF THE WOMEN.
THREE OF THE LAY DELEGATES
GIVE Up THE FIGHT.

GIVE Up THE FIGHT.
One Proves PIucLy and Fails to
Withdraw Her Claim TO "A seat in
The Conference.-The Fight Over
Her Admission Therefore Higgins
soon After the Opening OF the Ses-
siOn-The Discussion Not Ended
Yet.
Cleveland. o.. May 4.-Expectation Of
discussion upon the question OF the el.gi-
bility Of women to seats as delegates 70
the Methodist conference drew such
crowds this morning to the large armory
where. the conference sits, that standing
room wa at a premium.
The committee on eligibility to decide
upon their rights in the premises sat un-
til late hour Saturday night, and az last
voted % for the women TO II against. II
was then decided to submit majority and
minority reports to the conference.
Bishop Merrill called the convention to
order After prayer the Rev. DIR. Muller Of
Cleveland attempted to read a series Of
resolutions on the subject of war and ar
bitration. but was prevented by the chair
who ruled him out Of order.
The rules were suspended and DR.. Null
Ter was allowed to read his resolution on
arbitration. The resolution deplored war
and asked the United States to help along
the cause of arbitration. After some
wrangling the resolution was adopted.
Bishop Merrill announced that the or
der Of the day was the report of the com-
mittee on eligibility, Secretary David S.
Monroe read a Communication from the
women delegates from the North Indiana
and Ohio conferences. 1t said that while
they firmly believed that women had the
right to be admitted to the conference
they respectfully withdrew their rights in
the interests of harmony. They thanked
the champions of their cause, but said
they could not consent to have a pro-
tracted struggle over their rights. II was
signed by three OF the four women dele
gates, and was a stunning blow at the
champions of the womens cause.
Lydia A Trimble's name was not signed
to the document and the wOmen's cham
ptons rallied. The secretary read them
"a majority report, which declared that
women had a constitutional right to mem-
bership in the conference.
Rev. Dr. A. q. kynett who is leading
the fight for the women, made a brill
liant speech in favor of the adoption OF
the report. 1t was a historical account
of the question. and was masterful pre-
sentauon of the women's side of the
question.
Inc Kew Ut. Nicely OF Inll0uElDNlh l. ItaU
the minority report. 1t said that the mi
nOrity had carefully inquired into the
question, and had found that the women
possessed 10 rights in the conference
The Rev. DIR. Nicely made a fervid speech
in favor Of the minority report. His chief
point was that women could only be
admitted by change in the constitution.
That could only be done, he said, by a
three-quarters vote of the members of the
annual conferences and the approval or
the general conference,
DR. Neely moved to substitute the mi
nority report for the majority report. This
was lost.
The Rev. DR.. George p. Mains Of Brook
lyn said: This Is one Of the gravest
times in the history of Methodism. The
question of women to-day In the world
threatens the very ciVllization. we can-
not AFFORD to make this change except
in the most conservative manner" He
was satisfied that the great cause of
Methodism would not suffer If women
were admitted, but the law of the church
positively denied them admission.
Mr.. Sargent of Indiana, who followed
DR.. Mains, held that it was a question Of
constitutional law only and could not be
passed upon by the general conference. II
women We're admitted It must be done by
a vote of the annual conferences, giving
the necessary majority.
DR.. James Henry Potts Of Michigan took
the floor for the women and made the
most effective speech of the session. He
hit DIR. Buckley body blow when he an
swered his own question as to where the
opposition to the women was found Az
ter telling the different sections of the
country where IL was not found, ne said
where, then Is this opposition to be
found? Down in a little village called
New York, where 1900 members Of the
church have banded themselves together
to withhold their rights from the wo-
men,"
DR.. Little Of Northern, N. Y, spoke for
the opposition. He thought II q case not
for rhetorical effort, but for candid reas-
oning, and proceeded to elucidate his
views as to why women should not sit In
the conference.
DR.. w. A. Kneighton Of California held
that the conference had a right to pass
upon the eligibility of women.
DR.. Forbes Of Minnesota and Dr. Gray
Of Pennsylvania were the last to address
the conference upon the subject they
speaking for the minority report.
DIR. Stephenson Of Kentucky, will open
the debate on the question tomorrow
morning
At the special evening session for the
reception of the fraternal delegates, Rev
John ]. Lewis Of New Zealand, the repre-
sentative of the Australian Wesleyan con-
ference, traced the growth Of MethOdism
in that part Of the world and claimed for
his country position far ahead Of the
world In the matter Of harmonious union.
IL spoke enthusiastically of the benefits
Of woman suffrage and the local option
laws
Rev. DR.. ]. c. Morris of Nashville. was
introduced as the fraternal representa-
tive Of the Methodist Episcopal church
south. He discussed the growth and work
Of the southern church, and was enthusi-
astlcally applauded.
The session then adjourned.