The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-09
TO RESTRICT CLERGY
Methodist Lay Delegates Want
Democratic Changes.
INCREASE OF THE BISHOPS.
The Woman Question Settled 1br This
0eanion-An Antf-Cstholic Rooo-
luton Adopted.

Cleveland. May e-The Methodist gen.
eral conference has now been well started
in the consideration Of tho mass of :mpor-
tant business * has before t. The excite
ment over the woman delegate question
having been passed. the general current
OF interes; on other matters Is becoming
more apparent. The lay delegates are
showing their purpose to curtal, II pos
sibie. the powers vested In the ministers.
and make the conduct OF affairs more
democratic. That issue was raised today
In one form In committee. and will doubt
less be the cause OF more than one hot
debate on the floor Of the conference.
Today's session was begun with the con-
sderation OF the proposition to increase
Me,hodists want a bishop of their own,
and 80 does China 1t Is proposed. also,
10 tighten the labors OF the four older
bishops, who were appointed In 1871
Bishop Hurst presided over the confer
ence this morning. Morris Sharp.
OF Ohio, presented resolution
TO excuse the women delegates
and providing that their EXPENSES be paid
10 the date OF their withdrawal. The reso-
luton also called In their male reserves.
DR.. Nicely. OF Philadelphia, presented a
substitute. In which the women were invit-
ed 10 remain as honored guests OF the
conference. and their expenses ordered
paid. DIR. Srans;on asked for q ruling as
70 the present status of women In the con-
ference. Bishop Hurst decided that this
was matter Of Interpretation for the
body. and ruled that DIR. Nelly had the
noor- just after DR.. Nicely began speak
Ing. DR.. Fryssinger. OF Pennsylvania, ap-
pealed from the decision OF the chair on
Dr. Cranston's point. Bishop Hurst put
The question as an appeal by Or. Cranston.
MA sra
lay the entire matter on the table was
lost by vote OF 2is to los. Bishop Hurst
held that DIR. Nicely had the floor Dr.
kynett appealed. Bishop Hurs, decided to
entertain the appeal, and a dozen men
were on the floor shouting for recognition
Bishop Hurst pounded until he broke his
gavei. DR.. Fryssinger said IL not given
the right to appeal he would resign. Dr.
Nicely said he desired TO withdraw his pa
per. Bishop Hurst would not permit this
and the din continued. Finally. forced by
the conference. Bishop Hurst said he ruled
that both papers werc before the house
and that he would entertain the appeal
Dr. Sharp asked to withdraw his resoiu-
ton. but was not permitted TO do so. In
the midst OF intense excitement vote on
the appeal was taken. The ruling OF B!sh-
op Hurst was sustained by a vote OF 223
to "a. Dr. Nicely and Mr.. Sharp both with
drew their papers. and the most violent
struggle of the first week OF the confer
ence was over.
J. VI. King. OF New York. presented a
resolution directed against the use Of Fed
eral money by the Roman Catholic church
and the reading was frequently interrupt
ed with applause. 1t was unanimously
adopted without discussion. The rsssolu-
ton states that this general conference
representing the Methods; Episcopal
church. reiterates It's conviction that the
cure for seciarian ecclesiastical axsres-
sion is 70 be found IN the adoption OF the
proposed slxfeenth amendment TO fhs
United States constitution. drafted ard
promulgated by the National League for
the Protection OF American Institutions
4 IL is directed that the record OF this action
be promptly forwarded TO the secretary
OF the United States house OF representa-
lives and the secretary Of the Interior at
Washington CITY. The general conference
directed that the Signatures os ats presi-
den; and secretary be attached TO tie
resolution