The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-02
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.
Details of the Opening Session-Com.
mfttee FavOrs Women.


CLEVELAND, May 1.-The gavel of the
venerable Bishop Bowman fell this morning
at o'clock and the great quadrennial con-
ference OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
was under way. Central Armory looked
beautiful, indeed. Its interior was as bril-
liant as the hall of a political convention.
and on all sides there was an expectancy
that issues of Importance were about to be
precpitated in the convention. Three thou
sand people were in the hall when the meet
ing was called to order. On the floor were
white men and black men, the delegate from
cold Norway and Sweden, and from tropical
India and Japan. Nearly every country on
the globe was represented. Bishop Bowman
announced that the Bible which will be used
In the services is the one which was used by
John Wesley in his study in England. This
historical treasure was presented to the con-
ference some years ago.
Bishop Ninde read from this book the one
hundred-and-third psalm. Bishop Vincent
read the hymn. after which prayer was of
fered by Bishop Foster. Bishop Foster
prayed that personal ambition might be
stiied and that harmony would rule. The
Rev. William Burt of Rome, Italy, followed
in a reading Of the Scriptures, after which
Bishop Taylor, of Africa, read the hymn.
The Rev. DR.. Upnam. of Drew Theological
Seminary, offered prayer, which closed the
devotional services.
When the devotional exercises were over a
little furry occurred in the convention by
reason of the demand on Secretary Monroe
to call the roll. 1t was thought that the ac-
ton would precipitate the contest of the
seats for women. When the name of Lydia
A. Timble was announced delegate was i'm
mediately on his feet and nade a motion
that this name be omitted until committee
determine whether her election was legal.
For moment IL looked as IL the fight mad
started. Bishop Bowman however, refused
to entertain the motion. as he declared the
convention was not organized. The tumult-
uous applause which followed the ruling OF
the Chair indicated the strength OF the
woman suffrage faction of the delegation.
This was the first skirmish. and as the other
names OF the women delegates were called
no exception was taken. The secretary con-
tinued to call the roll
from the reserves and TO adopt the rules OF
the last conference. A fight over the rights
of laymen of the convention was precipitated
by Mr.. Daniels, of India, who took the con-
vention's breath away by presenting the ici-
lowing resolutions:
eral Conference of 1896. do hereby claim our
right to choose the committees on when we
viii serve in the same manner as the minis
committees on which they would serve, any
previous arrangement notwithstanding-
Resolved That we hereby request tne
presiding bishop TO lay this case before the
General Conference with the view OF secur-
ing therefrom the official affirmation of our
rights as above recited.
3Resolved That copy of these resolu-
tions be laid before the presiding bishop at
the opening of the first days session OF the
When the tumuft following the presenta-
ton of these resolutions subsidized Bishop
BOWMAN ruled them out OF order; stu stu com com
vention had not been perfected.
The actual fight for the admission, of wom-
en- delegates was precipitated when Mr..
Planel, of North Dakota, moved that a com
mittee on credentials be appointed. rms
brought Dr. Buckley, the old-time enemy nxoI OF
vention. Ses rsn's scene % Of ,desf Confusion fol
lowed, in which Bishop Bowman threw up
his hands in despair and exclaimed:
Are. we in Congress, or are we IN
Methodist conferences? Good Lord. bretn-
ing? The Lord help us..
The question was finally disposed of by
special committee consisting of twenty
eight members. This committee Is made up
of two delegates from each conference dis
comittee will report Monday, and In the
meantime the women Will be allowed
adjourned at / O'Clock to ireconvene to-mor-
row morning.
In the afternoon district conferences were
he'd and members of the committee OF thir-
ty-one were appointed. or the fourteen
district conferences seven declared uncondi,
tionally for seating the women delegates ana ana
same cause This makes vote of IL to IL
in the committee in favor of seating the
women The committee e. chosen Rnssnn Is nr ioI0Wy
Harris. of Maine State College; Rev: j. NJ
Buckley, of New York; DR.. D. H; Carroli;
Evanston. III. Hon. s. NJ. Coon. of Oswego
| n. Y: Rev r b. Neely; Thomas II. Muir
ray. Of Clearfield, Pa: Rev.; Dr. A: B.
Of Delaware, o.: Rev. ]. S. Hill, of Tennes-
see; l.. J. Price. OF. Atlanta; Ga; Prof
Samuel Dickey of Albion, Mich; ReI. Dr.
6. 6. KInett Ki fO1ii Of Phiiadsiph!a: l. NJ shaw Of
Dennison, Ia; Rev J: F. Ghanee; OF Min.
Rev W wam Of coo
rado: l.. M. Jones. of Nebraska: Rev. J..
w. Stewart, of Kansas; T.. j. Langston.
%sw St A5sn bS ISS Esy PT r. sa1sr OF Ea
| Crosse, Wis: Dr. G. Townsend, OF Texas
Rev. DR.. w. o. Emory. of Little. Rock: Ark
and red Judge & John F. capes, of Portland, Ore.
| A reception was given the General Con-
| ference in Central Armory this. evening: The
SON on behalf of the city, by Horace Benton
| on behalf of the committee on arrangements;
Fey Ghars CHI cbnTenes o of p
and by Rev. DR.. Levi Bilbert on behalf
| of the Cleveland Methodists. Responses
lng Mere Of aaIP Trenton. n j.. and Bishop Charles
| H Fowler, of Minneapolis
| Rev. DIR. John Lanahan, OF Baltimore.
| author of the book. THE Fraud OF the
| Methodist Book Concern" Is here and may
| ask the conference for personal vindication.
| He claims that twenty-five years ago he
| discovered extensive fraudulent transactions
| in the book concern and brought about a
| correction of the evils; that a strong effort
| was made by men high in authority in the
| church to keep the affair secret. and that
| because he would not consent to tins ne was
! prosecuted and even expelled from the
| church, though finally reinstated.
Bishop williams COnsecrated.
DETROIT, May Rev. G. Mott William!
| was consecrated bishop of the new diocese o.
Marquette in Grace Church, this city, to-day
Seven bishops, including two Canadian pre-
| lates, and nearly fifty rectors from Michigan
| and adjoining doiceses were present and CON
| tributed to one of the most imposing eccle
| siastical ceremonies ever seen In Michigan
| The preacher of the day was the Right Rev
| VIM E. McClaren, of Chicago. The conse
| orator was the Right Rev. Daniel Tuttle, OF
| Indiana assisted by the Right Rev. c. I
| Quntard of Tennessee, and Right Rev
| Francis K. Brooke, OF Oklahoma, and the
| bishop of Michigan.
Preacher Beaten to Death.
PERRY, o. T., May L-At Mckinney, a
| small town sixteen miles north of here, the
Rev. George r. Mckinney, who owned most
of the town and was cowboy and preacher
| from Texas. also postmaster and justice of
| the peace, was beaten to death last night
| hv Sidney Roberts. William Hook and Will