The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-08
M METHODIST CONFERENCE
Continued from First Page
MORNING SESSION.


East conference in getting down to the
business of the day. There was con-
siderable work to be done and many
important items to be dispensed with
if the conference completed the work
mapped out in time for the bishop to
be present at the opening of the main
conference.
There was considerable of the belliger-
ent spirit manifested, What aroused
the ire of the members the most was
a division of sentiment on the question
of memorializing the general confer
ence to admit women delegates
Four years ago when this question
of woman suffrage came up in the leg
islative body Of Methodism the general
conference-it was voted to refer the
matter to the annual conferences. Since
that decision most of the conferences
have voted in opposition to the propo-
sition.
Rev. DR.. Pullman in his debate on
the matter said:
Il did not supposed that there would
be any protracted debate on this sub
ject, 1t is not fair, in my Judgment,
to intimate that there was anything
illegal in the plan of the last general
conference. Certain women were sent
up by the lay conference to the gen
eral conference and the judiciary COM
mittee was asked to say whether 1t was
legal. They ruled it was not legal. /
want to repudiate the statement that
the general conference did not rule
fairly when their action was taken by
a vote of 241 against 100.
THE general conference was rep
resentative and honorable body of men
and one should receive their findings
in the proper spirit.
When DR.. Pullman sat down, a dozen
4 members rose at the same instant, all
demanding recognition. The situation
was greeted with laughter and repeat
ed applause.
Mr.. Bishop-You are all out of order.
(Renewed laughter)
Rev DR.. Chadwick was at last recog-
nized and he asked for some enlighten-
ment on the question
Mr.. Bishop explained bow the matter
could be heard by the general confer
ence. He said that one method was to
have the recommendations adopted by
the conferences and then sent to the
general conference. He said this plan
had not been recommended by the gen
eral conference, but had just been sub
fnitted to that body
DR.. Johnson moved that the confer
| ence decline to vote.
The bishop said he had been in a
number of conferences where the mat
ter had come up, but none had voted
on the subject. (Applause.)
IF you resolve you will not vote on
! this plan as constitutional change,
| any individual member can vote as he
sees best"
Rev. Dr. Reed moved that the whole
matter be Indefinitely postponed, but it
was not seconded.
Rev DR.. Rice of Middletown offered
resolution providing that the confer
ence disapprove of the scheme as a con-
| stitutional amendment.
Rev. Dr. Taylor said the conference
could not impugn the motives of the
Hamilton amendment.
There We're many cries for Vote"
DR.. Pullman said the general confer
ence had full power to make a recon-
mendation and it was perfectly in or
der.
II make an appeal. The bishop has
ruled that it was competent for this
conference not to vote on the ques-
tion."
The bishop replied that he had made
no such ruling. {Laughter)
Several points of order Were made
that the doctor could not address the
chair further.
Rev Dr. Buckley wanted decision
on his point of order.
The bishop ruled that so far as he
could see there was nothing to appeal
from.
A member explained that the recon-
mendation had not come here approved
by a two-thirds vote and accordingly
was not in order.
The members were getting tired of
the debate, and one member remarked
in an undertone: Bishop, If you will
give me my appointment | will go
home
The bishop stated that if DIR. Pull
man wanted to have his appeal heard
he would have to bring it before all the
conferences which had taken action on
the matter
DR.. Putnam insist as a Methodist
minister that I have a right to have
nv appeal brought before this confer
ence.
member stated that he had intro
duced the first Methodist minister in
the city of New York in the person of
q woman.
DR.. Pullman said he would appeal to
the general conference from the ruling
of the bishop.
The motion of DR.. johnson, that the
conference decline to vote on the sub
iect was decided by rising vote and
was carried, 1856 to 81
Dr. Buckley moved that all who
wished to vote could be recorded.
The main question was then ordered
on the proposition that the delegates to
the general conference may be men or
women. The proposed amendment was
lost by vote of Sc to 140. The result
was greeted with applause. Six years
ago sixty-five voted for the PROPOSE
ton.
The amendment to change the rep
resentation in the general conference
to one in every sixty-five delegates in
stead of forty-five was adopted by a
vote of 156 to 49,
William Platts of Woodsburg, L. l.,
at his own request, was granted SUI
perannuated relation. He has been
preaching in the conference since 1861
William Brown was voted a super