Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-05
WOMEN DELEGATES.
Discussion Of Question Draws Cf0YaS
10 Methodist Conference.
COMMITTEE REPORT FAyoRAnLE.
Three Of the Four Women Seeking
Admission, However, Withdraw
IL VIII he Continued To-day.

NfiS4-N ' ~ VS. niAF HN N-~-NNN
ton Of discussion on the question of the
eligibility Of women to seats as delegates
to the Methodist Conference drew such
crowds this morning 10 the large armory'
where the conference sits, that standing
room was at premium.
The Committee on Eligibility. TO decide
upon their rights in the premises. sat
until a late hour Saturday night, and at
last voted % for the women to II against.
IL was then decided to submit majority
and minority reports TO the conference.
Bishop Merrill called the convention to
order, and, after prayer. the Rev. DR..
Muller OF Cleveland. attempted to read 4
series Of resolutions on the subject OF
war and arbitration. but was prevented
by the Chair. who ruled him out OF order.
The rules were suspended. and Or.
Muller was allowed to read his resolu-
ton on arbitration. The resolution de-
plored war. and asked the United States
10 help along the cause Of arbitration.
After some wrangling the resolution was
adopted.
Bishop Merrill announced that the or
der of the day was the report OF the COM
mittee on Eligibility. Secretary David S.
Monroe read communication from the
women delegates from the North Indiana
and Ohio conferences. 1t said that while
they firmly believed that women had the
right TO be admitted TO the conference
they respectfully withdrew their rights in
the interest Of harmony. They thanked
the champions Of their cause, but said
they could not consent to have a protract-
Il. II.
signed by three of the four women dele
gates, and was a stunning blow at the
champions OF the womens cause.
Lydia A. Trmble's name was not sign
ed 10 the document. however. and the
womens champions rallied. The secre-
tary read the majority report, which de-
clared that women had a constitutional
right TO membership in the conference.
Rev Dr. A. G.. Kynett, who Is leading
the fight for the women, made a brilliant
speech in favor Of the adoption OF the
report. II was a historical account OF
the question and was a masterfrl presen-
tation Of the women's side of the ques-
ton.
The Rev. Or. Neeley. OF Philadelphia,
read the minority report. 1t is said that
the minority had carefully inquired into
the question, and had found that the
women possessed no rights in the con-
ference whatever.
The Rev. Or. Neeley made a fervid
speech i'm favor OF the minority report.
His chief point was that women could
only be admitted by change in the
constitution. That could only be done.
he said, by three-quarters vote of the
members Of the annual conferences. and
the approval Of the General Conference.
Dr. Eeeley moved to substitute the mi
-. ha
lost.
The Rev. DR.. George p. Mains, OF
Brooklyn, said: This is one Of the
gravest times in the history OF Methodism.
The question OF woman to-day in the
world threatens very civilization. We
cannot afford 10 make this change except
in the most conservative manner"
He was satisfied that the great cause
of Methodlsm would not suffer II women
were admitted but the law Of the Church
positively denied them admission.
Mr. Sargent. Of Indiana, who followed
DR. Mains, held that II was n question of
constitutional law only, and could not be
passed upon by the General Conference.
II women were admitted II must be done
by vote OF the annual conferences, Civ
ing the necessary majority.
AN EFFECTIVE SPEECH.
Dr. James Henry IoilS, OF mlCuiBduf
took the floor for the women and made
the most effective speech Of the session.
He hit Or. Buckley a body-blOw when he
answered his own question as TO where
the opposition TO the women was found.
After telling the sections OF the country
where il was not found, he said: "Where,
then. H. this opposition 70 be found? Down
I'm a little village called New York, whore
H. 800 members Of the church have banded
themselves together to withhold their
rights from the women"
DR. Little. Of Northern New York. spoke
for the opposition. He thought IL was a
case. not for rhetorical effort. but for
candid reasoning. and proceeded TO eluci-
date his views as TO why women should
not sit I'm the conference.
At the special evening session. for the
reception Of fraterna delegates, Rev
John j. Lewis, of New Zealand. the rep
resentative OF the Australian Wesleyan
Conference, traced the growth OF Metho-
dism I'm that part Of the world, and claim
ed for his country position far ahead Of
the world In the matter OF harmonious
union He spoke enthusiastically Of the
benefits OF woman suffrage and local
option law.
Rev. Or. ]. c. Morris, Of Nashville,
was introduced as the fraternal represa m
tative Of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South. He discussed the growth and
work Of the Southern Church, and was
enthusiastically applauded.
The session then adjourned