The record-union., 1896-05-08
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
COMPROMISE ON THE QUESTION
lOF LADY DELEGATES.
Allowed to Sit at the Meeting, With
the Understanding That Their
Seats Are Challenged.

CLEVELAND, May 7.-Bishop Foss
presided at to-day's session of the
Methodist General Conference 1t was
ordered that special committee OF
eleven be appointed ON the work OF
| ueaconnesses. The order of the day was
| then taken up.
DR.. A. ]. Kinnett presented the report
OF the Committee on Eligibility, which
provided for compromise of the
woman question. The proposition was
IN substance to allow the women dele
gates to keep their seats, on the under
standing that it should not establish a
precedent, and then to resubmit to the
| annual conference during the next four
years the same constitutional amend
ment, or one similar to that which
lately barely failed of adoption by the
three-quarters vote
The report further provided that the
actlon or this General Conference
should be without any prejudice to the
rights of any women delegates to any
future General Conference under the
constitution as such General Confer
ence may construe or interpret it.
Kew DR.. Kinnett moved the adoption
OF the report and said: TT is needless
to say that there are questions on which
we could not agree. While the deba te
was progressing many from both
sides were in free consultation.
Brethren of both sides thought that a
compromise should be made. Neither
party was asked to surrender any of its
convictions. Neither has surrendered
ana the brethren of the majority want
1t distinctly understood that they have
not surrendered their position. that the
law OF 1877 includes women In defer
ence to those who differ with the ma ior-
1ty, we reSOrted to the referendum. The
women are allowed to remain in their
seats, with the understanding that their
seats are challenged. The committee
was panied to hear that the women DEL
egates had been asked to retire from
the conference
Rev. Warren of New England pre-
sented a substitute for the report of the
committee. 1t provided that women
duly qualified may be chosen as lay
delegates by an electoral conference.
the male members OF which, without
debate, by majority report declare
that women are eligible, provided that
in no case more than one-half of the
delegation shall be women. The sub
stitute further declared that the confer
ence deemed it unwise under the cir
cumstances to interfere in any way
with the status of the women who have
been elected in good faith by their con-
stituents.'
The previous question was ordered.
Rev DR.. Buckley said The situation
is critical. Unless this matter is COM
promised, a long trail of bitter feeling
will be left behind. 1 know that the
women have a majority of this body
and the church, but at the same time
they will never get my help to get in.
! will vote for this compromise, because
it leaves the question open for future
settlement by constitutional means. We
have not given the women the right to
come in; they are already in. The COM
promise simply refuses to put them out,
but leaves them in with a seat that is
challenged
The full report was adopted by an al
most unanimous vote. The announce
longed applause.
Just where the ladies who withdrew
stand is question. The conference has
ference. with the understanding that
their seats are challenged, but it is
agreed that they are not to, be inter-
fered with. But it is claimed that the
ladies by their voluntary withdrawal
from the conference have relinquished
all their rights.
Bishop Andrews is of the decided
opinion that they are out.
versary Of the Missionary Board.