Phoenix weekly herald., 1896-05-07
METHODISTS MEET.
The Woman Question Discussed
 at Cleveland.
A MAJORITY REPORT
FayOrs the Admission of Women to Seats in the Con-
 ference.

patton of disposition of the women
 question called out large attendance
 st the general Methodist Episcopal Con-
 ference this morning. Bishop Merrill of Chicago presided. Dr. Mueller Of Cleveland preseoted a resolution favor
 ing arbitration for all English speaking
 countries, which was adopted and 6 copy
 ordered printed.
 The exciting feature today was when
 pr. Monroe presented to the Confer
 snoe B written statement from four
 woren delegates, part of which is as l follows: "While we regard ourselves as symen in the full senee of the term and
 hold that lay electoral conferences are en ntitled under amendment 186872 to ,hoose their delegates subjscb only to the restrIctops therein specified, we are
 unwilling to seem to insist upon our
 al rights which are in dispute. It
 seems 60 us that were the Conference
 relieved from the tension which our
 presence occasions it might speedily ds |
 vise plan of admission upon which 1 the great majority of mem beIs could |
 gree. The statement was presented | 0y Jane F. Bashford, s. PGrkef and Ada | Q. Butcher. No sooner had the com
 municRtion of the women delegates been offered than Dr. Kynett, chairman 1f the committee on eligibility. sabmit- led majority report. Briefly an- aounced the committee had decided that women were entitled to seats in the convention. Several delegates arose to
 iefend the report but there was uni versal demand for minority report. It vas lengthy article read by Dr Nicely if Philadelphia. It was found to chsl-
 enge shs eligibility of women.
 That the election of woman by law to she electoral conferences is illegal, and to seat the claimants would tend to des
 roy all respect for the constitution of
 he church ana for the decisions and interpretations of the general confer 9Dce.
 After an extended debate on the two reports further discussion wgs post poned until this sftsrpoon.
 CLEVELAND, Ohio. May 5.-No sooner ! Methodist E Episcopal conference to or- C deE this morning than 0. W. Bennett, of t ircinneti, presented 6 resolution pro- s gidiog for the appointment of special t ,om mittee to pass on all communion lions from laymen. The committse was 5o consist Of one minister and ore lay- nan from each district. Alter gooa lesl of debate, in which Rev. Dr. Spier # Detroit, expressed regret that any ceiling existed between the clergy ard n atty; the resolution was adopted The women question was then prosecuted y President Daniel Stevenson, of Union Il College, Kentucky, who criticized the Iction of the bishops iu deciding against he women in 1888. Rev. G. Medley ed the fight against the women. He leld the question to be one ot law ,urely. He said it WAS true the Bible ~ aid uen and women are one i0 Christ, ,uJ not in general conference. He held bat in the church statutes women is iffereut than men. The question, he 4 aid, is constitutional one, and DO one 5 to be admitted unless specifically aeuti0ned. ID The delegates were thoroughly T reused and feeling ren high. Judge r Iaples, Senator Halan, Dr.- Buckley of st lew York, Ray Dr. Harris of Maine al .sv Dr James Caffsy of Minneapolis, b' .ev pr J W Hamilton. Dr J D sy, Dr c; lnsry Miller of Iowa. and several other = lan prominent in the couocils of the | T, burcb, spoke upon the question. When | p 1e hour for adj 'urnment arrived, the ii 1nfererce discontinued the debate h, ntil tomorrow morning. No business u III be done until the question s settled. W