Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-05-14


425 to SO the Methodist General Con
ference decided to day that the four
women delegates might retain their
seats. This does not mean that tho
women have won complete victory.
The decision was reached simply as the
result OF compromise, and with the
understanding that it should not
prejudice the claims of women in tho
future or establish precedent for fu-
lture conferences to follow.
4 But by tho same vote by which the
fwomen were given seats the conference
also decided TO submit to tho annual
(conferences a proposed amendment to
1.-THE constitution providing that here
rjafter all General Conference delegates
#phail ba nvnr 25 years Of age, and that
3 they shall have been members of the
Methodist Church for at least five
years prior TO their election. 1t also
provides that no conference shall be
,debarred from at least one ministerial
and one lay delegate. This constitu-
itional amendment is to he submitted
to the annual conferences and must
receive three quarters vote to he
adopted
The amendment is construed to mean
that women as we'll as men will be
eligible as lay delegates, the word
"layman" not being used. The mem
bers of the committee on eligibility
who signed the compromise report were
evidently of the opinion that the ques-
tion could be settled by the General
Conference, as il was tho only one
which involved the proper interprota-
tion of the constitution. However, it
was deemed better to let the annual
conferences decide the matter. hence
the proposed change in the constitu
tion was submitted.
The delegates were evidently pleased
when the question was finally disposed
of. Rev. DR.. j. Nj. Buckley, editor Of
the New York Christian Advocate,
speaking of the contest in the commit
tee ON eligibility, said that the situa-
tion in the conference was critical.
- AT the close of seven hours debate, !"
d he declared $50 of the 81 members of
our committee werc as firmly convinced
That women we're eligible and IL of us
that they were ineligible as we we're
). before we began. We were all deter
mined men, but you might have seen a
Z love feast in progress at any time dur
5ing the session. We were all honest
men. There was only one coward
famong U.S. and we had only his word
Il for his cowardice. All but four OF our
4 minority party signed this compromise
report. We each yielded something. :"
Cleveland, o., May S.-The woman
question came up again in the Metho-
dist General Conference to-day when
Morris Sharp of Ohio presented a reso-
luton to excuse the women delegates
in that they have relinquished their
seats and that their expenses be paid
hS, bo 20 ,,ft thatr ,uif bsI, al
DR.. Neoly OF Philadelphia presented
substitute, in which the women were
invited to remain as honored guests of
the conference. their expenses to be
paid. DIR. Cranston rose and asked for
ruling by the chair as to the present
status of women in the conference.
Bishop Bishop Hurst decided it was
not point of order but was matter
of Interpretation for the body, and ruled
that DIR. Nicely had the floor.
DIR. Nicely resumed speaking, when
DIR. Frysinger of Pennsylvania appealed
from the decision of the chair aud DIR.
Cranston's point.
Bishop Hurst put tho question as
being ON the appeal of DIR. Cranston.
A motion to lay the entire matter on
the table was lost by a vote of 2l8
nays TO 1903 yeas. DIR. Kynett raised
the point of order that the question
had been improperly put. but Bishop
Hurst held that DR.. Nicely had the
floor and DIR. Kynett appealed.
Bishop Hurst declined 10 entertain
the appeal, and dozen men were on
the floor shouting or recognition.
Bishop Hurst declined to recognize any
one, but pounded with his gavel and
repeated: "Dr. Nicely has tho floor -
DIR. Leonard, \Dr. Chafee and others
loudly insisted on the appeal being
put Bishop Hurst pounded until he
broke his gavel.
DR.. Frysinger said if he would not
be given the right TO appeal, he would
resign. DR.. Nicely said he desired to
withdraw his paper. Bishop Hurst
Dr. Nicely held the floor. Finally
Bishop Hurst yielded, and said that
both papers were before the house and
he would entertain the appeal
Mr.. Sharp asked to withdraw his
resolution, but he was not permitted to
do SO.
In the midst of intense excitement,
the vote on the appeal was taken. The
ruling of Bishop Hurst was sustained
by a vote of 223 yeas and 20l nays. AT
soon as it was decided that tine papers
were before the house, DR.. Neely and
Mr.. Sharp both Withdrew their papers.
DIR. j. M. Kings Of New York pro
Honted resolution, which was adopted,
opposing sectarian appropriations fol
Indian education.
The Rev DR. Moore says the foul
women delegates have decided not tc
resume their seats in the conference,
though they are probably entitled tc
them.
Among the meetings Of the standing
committees this afternoon that Of The
COMMITTEES on episcopacy was probably
the most important. India protested
against the proposed retirement of Mis-
sionary Bishop Thoburn and th,
placing of regular bishop in his
stead. On the other hand China anc
japan asked for permanent resident
bishops with full episcopal authority
The Cleveland Methodists asked fol
the establishment of an episcopal resi-
dence in this city. The colored Meth
odists asked for bishop of their own
A resolution was introduced providing
that the senior group of bishops be per
mitted to so arrange their work as Il
be able to pass the remaining years O
their lives in ease and comfort. ThI
proposition is TO provide them witi
suitable salaries, in view of their SCR