Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-07
THE METHoDIsTs, NORTH.
Woman Question Rccommittcd-In-
hospitality to southern Delegate.

/ CLEVELAND. O., May Elm acord-
ance with the rule adopted Tuesday, the
| General Conference Of the Methodist
Church was called 10 order az 500 o'clock
this morning. Bishop Warren presided
Devotional exercises were conducted by
the Rev. Dr. 5. O. Benton, Of Southern
New England
Professor George +. Ackerman, Of Ala
bama, presented a resolution, asking the
Committee on Episcopacy 10 report by
Saturday as to the adysability Of elect
iug more bishops.
10 was ordered that no resolution affect
ing the law or discipline Of the Church,
which has not been considered by q COM
mittee, be introduced after May 10th.
resolution giving women the right to
| be elected trustees of the Epworth League
was offered by Rev Dr. Parker. of In
diana, and referred
An order was made fixing Monday, May
18th. as a day for the election Of addi-
uonal bishops and other officers.
a resolution was introduced providing
for a committee Of nine. consisting OF
three bishops, three ministers, and three
laymen. as a committee to confer with
q similar committee from the Church,
South, TO consider federation Of the two
churches Daniel Stevenson of Ken
tucky, offered a substitute providing for
committee of fifteen 10 take up the
subject of reunion with the Church.
South. Both resolution and substitute
were referred 10 the Committee on State
of the Church
William V. Keeley, Of New York. East,
introduced a resolution. apologizing for
the shabby treatment accorded to the
Rev. Dr. Morris. the fraternal delegate
from the Church South. The Rev. Dr.
Buckley. Of New York, said that the
treatment Of DR.. Morris was the worst
case Of inhospitality that had ever oc-
CURED I'm any Of the sessions Of the Gene
raj Conference.
After some delegates had suggested that
the matter was q very delicate one,
and that the less said the better, the
resolution was passed.
THE WOMAN QUESTION.
The debate on the woman question was
again heated. but no decision 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, ne said. ITO seat these women
would be 10 wrong a great portion of the
General 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 mat
ter TO the annual conferences"
Rev. DR. j. NJ King. Of New York.
said "The mere fact that the General
Conference has submitted this question
10 the annual conference two times is
proof conclusive that the previous gene
raj conferences have regarded this ques-
tion as legislative one. and not a ques-
ton over which this body has exclusive
iurisdictlon."
The Rev. C. p. Mason. Of Savannah.
said: 'For years ] voted for the women.
and am heartily I'm favor Of giving her
the right Of Church suffrage by consti-
tutional means. but / do not think 30
wise TO bring the women in by judicial
Interpretation of the constitution"
Rev DR. Frank Bristol Of Chicago I'm
brilliant speech. moved 10 recommit
both majority and minority reports. with
instructions TO bring I'm a report submit
ting the question TO the annual con-
ferences.
Rev. Dr. Buckley wanted the COM
mittee 10 be given enlarged powers, so
that they might report what they de-
sired.
Rev Dr Leonard amended the motion
by moving that the committee try and
come to a unanimous decision and report
at 10 A. VI. tomorrow. He said that
both sides had been I'm consultation du-
ring the day and that there was set
tlement in sight satisfactory to both
sides.
Several speeches were made in favor Of
recommittal. and amid great excitement
on the part Of the delegates the previous
question was ordered. The two reports
were recommitted by an almost unani-
nous vote.
THE MORRIS CASE
on motion, the action Of the conference
I'm relation 10 the treatment of the Rev.
DR.. J. c. Morris, fraternal delegate from
the Church, South, was reconsidered, and
the Rev. DR.. Goucher's resolution con-
corning the matter was passed.
a resolution was passed asking Rev.
Dr. Morris TO return to Cleveland. that
ne might be properly received by the con-
ference.