Evening star., 1896-03-28

arthur EoWardS, eQlt0r OF tho Northwest
ern Christian Advocate. Chicago, and DR..
Jesse Bowman Young of the Central Chris
tian Advocate, st. Louis. The editors of
the church papers generally favor the ad-
Bishops Eifcent and Merrill are opposed
70 women delegates. The hardest fighter
on this side lip DR.. J. M. Buckley, editor of
the Christian Advocate, New York, the
leading paper of the church. DR.. F. M.
Bristol Of Evanston, ILL.,, is also opposed.
The argument of the opposition is that 1t
is unscripfural, unconstitutional and mex
pedient to admit women to the law-making
council of the church. The question is af-
fecting all branches of the church. The
colored Methodists formerly opposed the
admission tof women, but have since gen.
orally manifested favor. The strongest OPP
position is from the German Methodists of
the United States, very important ele-
ment Of the church. A committee Of the
German Methodist preachers Of Cincin-
natl prepared remonstrance to the preach
pal Church. which was adopted and sent
out short time ago. The committee con-
sisted Of G. E. Hitler, c. Colder, F. L. Ma
gler, A. ]. Mast and H. Grentzenberg.
Among other things, they say in this ap-
peal:
"The mission of woman in the church
and In society is indeed great. We fully
appreciate the grandeur of her calling, and
would in no wise obstruct, but rather do
all in our power to promote her real ad-
vancement. But we contend that God has
given her sphere and manner of influence
peculiarly her own. and that 1t IS only as
She abides in this, her God-given realm.
that she wields her highest power and re-
tains the essential elements of true wo-
manhood"
Status of Women In the Church.
In view of the pre- sent agitation and the
fact that a large proportion of church
workers are women 1t will not be amiss to
describe a woman's exact official standing
in this church. By decision of the gen
eral conference Of 1880 the pronouns he,
his and him when used In the discipline
with reference to stewards, class leaders
and Sunday school superintendents were
construed so as to not exclude women
from such offices. The stewards work
is especially important because it consists
principally of raising money for the sup
port of the preacher. Class leaders are ap-
pointed by the preacher, stewards NOM
mated by the preacher and elected by the
superintendent elected by the Sunday
school board and confirmed by the quar-
terly conference. They all have vote in
the quarterly conference, which Is the
governing body of the local church. The
line is drawn at granting license to preach.
Women evanselists are frequently en-
ployed in the Methodist Church, and they
generally do good work, but the church
will not grant them license
In short they can do the work, but have
no voice in 'aking the laws. This Is the
leading Qu, Ion in this church at the
present moment How to settle 1t with
cut causing a split is the question that
will confront the general conference EeXt
May.
The gravity of the situation is fully un-
derstood only by those familiar with the
question. There Is great danger Of split.
Twice since the organization of the NJ. E.
Church there has been a secession Of
enough to form separate denominations
the NJ. F.. Church South, as result of the
slavery controversy, and the Methodist
Protestant Church, growing out of the. f.
forts of laymen to secure a voice in max
ing the laws of the church. Laymen were
admitted to the general conference in
1872. Now the women want to get in, and
large number of the men are willing to
help them. Admission of women will lead
eventually to license to preach and Iligi-
bility to the various high offices.
A woman in the bishops chair is the log
fcal sequence, and this seems to be too
much for some of the male lawmakers
to stand. The decision of this question
will have an important bearing on the
question of woman suffrage in civil gov
ernment because political reforms always
have their origin in the church
The woman question in the NJ. E. Church
is the most important ecclesiastical con-
troversy of the time, and the action of the
general conference will be watched with
keen interest by millions.
ALBERT SIDNEY GREGG.