Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-06
fHE WOMAN QUESTION
DEBATE THEREON RESUMED BY
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
Great Work Done by the Women
of the Church on the Pacihc
SIope-A Number OF warm
Speeches.
Speeches.

CLEVELAND. o., May Sat the open
ing Of business Of the Methodist con-
ference to-day a contest between the
lay and ministerial delegates arose over
the appointment Of a committee to con
slider the rights Of the lay delegates. a
dozen motions and amendments were
offered. and a number Of sharp speeches
were made. Ii was finally decided 10
appoint a committee, consisting Of one
Law and one ministerial delegate from
each conference district, TO consider the
posltion Of the lay delegates.
At 10 o'clock the debate on the woman
question was resumed. Daniel Stevens,
president Of Union College, KENTUCKY
smoke for the admission Of the women.
lie said: 1.-THE time has gone by when
ANYBODY should be excluded from chuTch
Offices on account Of race, color, OF
sex"
The Rev. Or. Neeley. OF Philadelphia
who is leading the fight against the Wo-
nsn. said: This question IS not one
that involves chivalry or popular demand.
There is not a man in this house who Is
under instructions. We are simply
Jurors. and no church or conference mas
the right to instruct us. Men and wo-
men are one in Christ Jesus, but they
are not in the General Conference. 1ou
can't ordain women. II Is part OF the
Methodist constitution that the govern
ing power is with the men,
John T. Copies, OF Portland, ORE sald.
81 came from a land where the grand
women of the Methodist Church nave
done so much for Methodism that every
time we men think of II we take of our
hats" ,-
He told OF the great work Of the pioneer
women of the Pacific slope, and the
great church they had built NOT one
church-bell would ring to-day he salu'
con the Pacific coast, II II were not lor
the great sacrifices of the daughters OF
the Methodist Church
Mr. Copies was applauded, and Bishop
Andrews vainly tried to stop the APP
plause. ..-,,r,,.,
WHO ARE LAYMEN?
James Harlan, Of Iowa, eX-United states
Senator. and member Of LincOln's CaDl-
net. said: ministers and laymen consul
tute the membership Of this body. The
whole questions turns on the question
.Who are the laymenY The General Con-
ference has decided that laymen are all
those who are not members OF the annual
conferences. Women are not members
OF the annual conferences. Now, by what
right or what Interpretation or the Ia"
Of the Church do you intend 10 Keep
women out? The word 'laymen means
non-professional, and in the Methodist
Church IL means all members except those
who are professional. 81
The rev. DR.. Buckley Of New York,
sala: "The only time the conference has
ever undertaken 10 do 50 violent an act
as Il now proposes TO do was before the
war. when IL bisected the Church. That
oct has been condemned to-day by the
leading Methodists. If you admit these
women I'm the interests Of peace, II Will
be the peace of despair. 1t viii disgrace
the conference. and stir up men 10 90 as
they please. Pause, brethren, before you
commit this awful mistake
other warm speeches were made by
President Harris. OF the East Maine Con-
ference: James +. Chaffee, OF Minneapo-
lie. / r. Day. OF New York; Rev. Or.
Emery Miller. OF Des Moines; Judge II.
y Brill. OF Minnesota, and others for ana
AGAINST the admission Of women.
The Rev. DR.. Jacob Rothweiler, OF the
Central German Conference, said: Il am
looked upon as the representative OF the
Germans. We, as a people, do not be
Ueve in sentiment and we think II neither
right nor constitutional 10 admit women
10 the general conferences IL has been
charged that we Germans defeated the
women In the annual CvHlt4 thSN'' - W
have. 1 am proud Of 1t; ! rejoice In II;
because we have saved the lay delegates.
~ we adopt the majority report you will
demoralze the Church
The Rev. Dr. Charles i. Stafford. OF
Iowa. moved that vote be taken on the
question at 10 A. VI. tomorrow.
Rev. II. l.. Graw, of 81. Louis, wanted
more time.
REV. DIR. stafford's notion. ordering the
nrevious question, was laid on the table.
The conference adjourned until $50 A.
NJ tomorrow, when the debate on the
woman question will be resumed.