The sun., 1897-10-24
METHODIST WOMEN STRIKE
TO BOYCOTT CHURCH WORK UNTIL
CONFERENCE YIELDS.

Mrs. Caroline Woodward, Leader OF the Move
nent, says Nebraska Women VIII BripE TO
Time tho Bishops who Turned n Denf Ear
TO Them-rhe Boycott to Be Extended.
LINCOLN, Neb., Oct 20.-One OF the queerest
boycotts In history is maturing in Nebraska. 1t
is to be participated in exclusively by women
and tho purpose Is religious emancipation. 1t
is developing as n result of the determination OF
tho Nebraska women members OF the Methodist
Church to have some voice In the administra-
tion OF their denomination commensurate with
labor performed by them in the organization.
Tho plan was proposed by Mrs. Caroline NJ.
Woodward Of Lincoln, woman of great mental
vigor and religious zeal She is associated with
tho National Woman's Christian Temperance
Union and has long been identified with tho
Methodist Church In Nebraska. She has strug.
gled for ten years to secure recognition Of the
rights of the women of the church, but without
success. At tho last General Conference of the
church Mrs. Woodward made strong plea for
women. explaining in detail the work they por-
formed in tho church and the fact that two
thirds Of the members OF the Methodist Church
we're women. After briefly considering the sub
ject the bishops told Mrs. Woodward that she
and other advocates of equal rights were vast
ing their energies, since the conference was
opposed to them and tho constitution Of the
Church would prohibit the plan, even though the
conference favored 1t.
| But Mrs. Woodward was not discouraged.
| She declared with considerable vigor that the
| constitution was man.madc and could be re-
viscd by man with special regard for the nd.
| vnncement of the Church and civilization. Then
| she came back to Nebraska and put herself in
| communication with other women who wanted
| to help rule the Church. They decided to boy.
| colt the Church. Later IL is intended to have
| the strike extended to other states and thus
| force tho next General Conference to take steps
| to grant the wishes OF the women. In discuss
irE the subject. Mrs, Woodward said:
81 took up this boycott subject, and have just
| issued kind of general proclamation TO my
| sisters in the State, advising them TO cease nc-
| two cooperation in the church work Of their
communities until the officials OF the donomina-
| ton come to their senses. We purpose to con-
| tinue this strike until the rights of the female
| members to participate in the administration Of
| the organization conceded by change in
| the constitution and book of discipline or the
| removal OF any other obstacle in the pathway OF
| the conference to our end. Certainly, IL even
onethird of tho women Of the Church alb ide
| by the rules of the boycott instituted it would
shake the fabric OF the Church to is very tounda-
| ton. 1t is not our purpose to disrupt the
| Church. but merely to show the confer
| cncc our material strength. Why, the women
| constitute the great body Of the members W no
| do the real work. Take any community; what
would the local Church amount to il the women
! remained at home rs the men dol Certainly the
Church could not rem in open.
| Il have written hundreds OF letters and the
| movement is already beginning to have its
| effect. Many localities are reporting a big de-
crease in the at attendance Of women, and am as.
| sured that the condition will become SO alarm.
| Ing that he ministers who are against us will
| soon see the necessity of conccding our rights.
Then IL will be carried TO other states. In fact,
| / am in correspondence with many leading
| women OF other States now. and II will be but a
| short time before extend the strike to the
| adjoining States. All the organized plan that
| In necessary is to see that the women let the
| church work alone awhile
| Il estimate that three months will be sufii-
| cient to show the General Conference the power
| OF the women of the Methodist Church. There
| Is no other religious denomination in existence
where the mem mbcrship of the women prcdom-
mates so largely as in the Methodist Church,
and there is no denomination in which the lati.
tudc permitted women in the administration Of
| the Fundamental church government Is SO small
| rs in our Church. As matter of right, this
ought not to be. The Church should not be
| slower in adopting reforms than civil orEanizH.
tions. Every day the ncccssi y for reforms in the
| established custom governing women is being
| recognized by the different States. Certainly
we contribute as much to the succe Of our
Church as to that of our Commonwealth.
| Il expect to SEQ this movement extended to
other Churches until IL creates n radical reform
in the religious organization of the United
States. 1t is spreading rapidly in Nebraska
Many ministers are with US in the fight. The
hovcott will remain until the officials of the
Church grant our rights. We do not care
whether il is called strike boycott or what
not. The truth is. that 1t is movement for re-
liKious emancipation, probably not so great in a
sense as the one inaugnrated by Martin Luther
! but equally AS just and as certain to win.'