The Portland daily press., 1896-05-07
WONEN DISPOSED OF.
dethOdist Conference RecOmmits
Both Reports
WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REFER TO
THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE,

Some Warm Speeches Made On the Subjec
Yesterday-vote Was Almost Unani-
NOUS On Recomittal-Attempt to
| Force Matter Not Successful.
Cleveland, Ohio, May 6-The general
conference of the Methodist church was
| called to order at $50 this morning.
Bishop Warren presided. A resolution
was offered asking the committee on
| Eplscopacy to report by Saturday, as to
the adYlsability Of eleoting more bishops.
1t was ordered that no resolution affect
ing the law or discipline of the church,
which has not been considered by COM
mittes, be introduced after May 9th, A
resolution giving women the right to be
elected trustees of the Epworth LIE ague
was offered an referred. An order was
made fixing Monday, May 16, as day
Tor election of additional bishops and
other officers
resolution was introduced providing
for a committee of nine, consisting Of
three bishops, three ministers and three
laymen as committee to confer with
similar committee from the church
south, to consider the federation of the
two churches.
Daniel Stevenson of Kentucky offered
su bstltute providing for committee of
fifteen to take up tbe subject of reunion
with the church south. Both resolution
ana substitute were referred.
A resolution was offered apologizing
for the shabby treatment accorded to the
Rev. DIR. Morris, the fraternal delegate
from the church south. After some de-
BATE the resolution was passed.
HsDehata was resumed on the woman
ny o+,1 Il
was reached. Rev. DR.. Reed of New
York, east, spoke against the admission
of the four women delegates, although he
said he favored the admission of women
by constitutional means. The adoption
of the majority report would discredIt
this conference before the whole United
States.
He said: "To seat these women would
be to wrong a great por tion of the gen
eral conference and of the Methodist
church. There is no hurry about the
matter; let US refuse to admit these four
delegates and refer the whole matter to
the annual conference"
Rev. DR.. j. NJ. King of New York,
said: "The mere fact that the conference
has submitted this question to the annual
conferences two times is proof conclusive
that the previous general conferences
have regarded this question as a legislative
one and not a question over which this
body has exclusive Jurisdiction"
Eey. G. B. Mason of Savannah, said:
For years I have voted for woman and
] am heartily in favor Of giving her the
right of church suffrage by constitutional
means. / do not think it wise to bring
woman in by judicial Interpretation of
the constitution"
Rev. Frank Bristol of Chicago, in a
brilliant speech, voted to recommit both
majority and minority reports with in
structions to bring in report submitting
the question to the annual conference.
Rev. DR.. Buckley wanted the committee
to be granted enlarged power so it might
report what it desired.
Rev. Dr. Leonard amended the motion
by moving that tie committee try and
come to unanimous decision and report
at 10 g. m. tomorrow. He said that 10th
sides had been in consultation during the
day and there was a settlement ID sight,
to both sides. Several
speeches were made in favor of recon-
INITIAL Amid great excitement on the
part of the delegates the previous ques-
rion was ordered.
Two reports were reCommitted by al
most unanimous vote. On motion tho
action of the conference in relation to the
treatment of Rev. DR.. j. c. Morris,
delegate from the church south.
was re-considered and O resolution passed
asking Rev. DR.. Morris to return to
Cleveland that he might be properly re-
eived by the conference.