Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-03
WOMEN DELEGATES.
The Burning Question at General Con-
ference, Methodist Church, North.
SUBSTANTIAL VICTORY CLAIMED.
Indications Are That Ladies' Side
VIII Come Out With Flying CoIors.
Amuscments-Liquo Traffic-Cnpi-
tai and Labor.

CLEVELAND, O., May 2.-The four wo-
men who have been elected as delegates
TO the General Conference of the Metho-
dist Church, and their supporters, claim
to have gained a substantial victory, and
the indications now are that when the
question is fought on the floor Of the
conference on Monday the women will
come out with flying colors. The four
teen district conferences have held meet
ings and selected committeeman, repre-
senting their respective districts on the
committee, which will report on the
eligibility Of women to the conference.
The result was a complete victory for
the women, the combination standing IL
TO II in favor Of the unconditional ad-
mission OF women.
Rev. DR.. j. II. Buckley, Of New York
city, the leader of the opposition to the
admission OF women, was selected from
the Second District, and he Will lead
the opposition on the floor of the CON
ference. From the Eighth District the
clerical representative is DIR. A. G.. KY
nett, of Philadelphia, one OF the leaders
make a majority and a minority report
on Monday, and then the most exciting
session Of the conference will be held.
Almost all other questions have been
lost sight of and the business Of the
conference will be unimportant until the
woman question is settled.
Bishop Foster, OF Boston, called the
General Conference to order this morning.
The Rev. DR.. Parker, Of India, led the
devotional exercises. He showed his
preference for the cause OF women by
praying that God might bless the men
and women who take part in the General
Conference. Bishop Foster said that the
order of the body must be preserved and,
TO that end he called upon the delegates
20 assist him in maintaining order.
1t was carried that the Epworth League
Committee consists Of one delegate from
each annual conference, and that the
members of this committee be chosen in
the same way as the standing com
mittees are chosen. The judiciary Com
mittee will be chosen by the bishops.
The conference argued for a long time
over the appointment OF a Committee OF
Constitution. A motion. as amended by
Or. c. III. Payne OF the Cincinnati CON
ference, was adopted, providing for the
appointment OF a committee OF thirty
one on constitution. two members TO be
selected from each general conference dis
trict and three az large.
EPISCOPAL ADDRESS.
Bishop Henry w. Warren, of Denver
read the Episcopal address. IL contained
many recommendations. The address
congratulated the Church upon its adj
vancement, but said that there was
much work TO be done. The growth OF
the Church during the past four years
has been $4,000 souls. and the Methodist
Church is now the greatest In numbers
in the world, save the Baptist and Catho-
lie Churches. Including probationers,
there are now in the Church 278,655
persons. The Sunday schools have gained
IN the four years past 2so,s5s. The Wo-
mans Foreign Society and the Woman's
Home Missionary Society are very pros
porous The Bishop did not recommend
any material change in the time limit,
or I'm the mode Of making appointments,
but suggested that wisdom might pro
vide some method by which. under suit
able safeguards, the pastoral term might
be extended to meet very rare cases OF
emergency.
This was a direct blow TO those who
are laboring TO extend the pastoral term,
and II was greeted with wild cheers by
the delegates.
on the amusement question. the adj
dress said that the Church was opposed
to all pleasures that are dIssipatins
rather than recreativp. Churches have
persisted by indulgence in what seemed to
be at first innocent delights"
The report says that the Church IS OPP
posed 10 intoxicalts, and urges the United
States Government to so adjust its laws
as not 10 seem 10 legalze the liquor
traffic in States where there Is prohibi-
ton.
The subjects Of arbitration, capital, and
labor were treated IN a skillful manner
Downtown churches were commended
and the report said Methodists should be
slow 20 abandon them. II was recon-
mended that conferences recognize Metho-
dist schools by accepting diplomas from
them The report closed by saying that
from all the world came signs OF en-
couragement and that the Church was
surely marching on TO ultimate victory.
The conference accepted the report.
COMMITTEE AGAINST BUCKLEY.
The Committee on the Eligibility OF
Women held protracted and heated dis
cussion tonight, lasting until II O'clock.
DIR. Buckley, of New York, Is will be
remembered, had challenged the right OF
women 10 hold seats. and the committee
decided by vote OF 20 to II not to sus-
tain DIR. Buckley's challenge, and 10 ad-
nit the women under compromise condi-
lions by which women who had been
elected 10 sit as delegates Will be allowed
10 vote and take part in the proceedings
without admitting the constitutionaiity
of the action, which question is 10 be
referred again to the conference.
The lay delegates also had a session
tonight to discuss the propriety and all
visibility Of asking equal representation
with ministerial delegates at the confer
ences This was carried by vote Of
81 to Is, and the fight VIII be carried to
the convention hall, probably. on Mon