The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-20

thing TO him. but when he takes up q magazine
while. 1t may be said that women also have
access to these same periodicals. True. but
unfortunately a large number look fol. their
gospel IN Their own publications, While the
various departments IN these fashions. fancy
work, culinary. nursery all are Of Importance,
still 4 does seem that on the. editorial page they
would have something which would give them
"A wider outlook Even ii IL be limited to matters
concerning their own sex, this might be con-
sldered IN some other relation to the world be-
sides the domestic.
Possibly some injustice was done in this
department last week TO Mrs. VI. +. Mcmahon,
The SOLITARY woman delegate 10 the Methodist
Episcopal General Conference, now In session
At Chicago, Her letter Of withdrawal is a digni-
fled document in which sh" says:
have not Swcryed one iota from the views have
In your honorable body.
believe Ne General Conference is the supreme
wEsiG it, power 10 so interpret the Constitution Of The
nave been. settled lNclHe years ago. when Frances
willard, Of blessed memory. and other cleo, women Of
the Church presented themselves for admission. |
have no doubt ~ my own eligibility.
| believe that the Church will never attain It's high
est plane OF usefulness until there Is equal representa-
lion. clerical and lay. IN It's great law making body.
lnelual representation is IN American:
Therefore, waving none OF the principles Involved
ing every possible hindrance to the immediate seat.
ing otthe>e Provisional delegates so far as tha, hin.
drancc may be Occasoued By the question u my ad
mission, ! shall not present my credentials FOR admits.
sion To his conference.
When elected a provisional delegate by my own lay
confetenrr a responsibility came with It that could
not be lightly treated. That responsibility Is now
The question Of woman's eligibility is no, a ques-
ton Of personal preference, but one OF solemn duty 10
the church militant
II Mrs. Mcmahon had what n vulgar POLITICAL
parlanCr l. called a deal" with the Conference.
| prov ding that the question of admitting women
should be- considered as soon as thslay delegates
were comfortably seated, all will ba forgiven,
| md rs tiIN ul. almost fba first IN aptpa mn "a
| looks as If She had,
The conference holds that the term -laymen"
means men only and not women. This Is a
qulpble unworthy a primary meeting OF ward
h'el'rs. The dictionary defines Il laynan as
one o! The people IN distinction from the clergy;
one Of the laity... .Laity IS defined, the, people
as distinguished from the clergy. There IS
no such word as "laywoman, and not a shadow
Of authority Tor refusing to include women in
the general term "layman."
There has been already one debate on this
question in the present conference, in which.
the, press reports tell us. nearly all the speakers
favor of admitting wom'n The opposition,
however. "dey lay low" and they succeeded
IN having the matter referred TO a committee
of fifteen. who will report at a later day, Il they
arr, permitted To do So, ana then the OLD hsht
will BE- resumed.
And what l. this question which has been the
subject OF bitter controversy in every confer
enCe for twelve years. Simply that an OCCH-
sional woman shall slt as delegate in a body
that decides matters of interest 10 a church
which was founded by a woman and Of which
women form two-thirds of the membership.
| We are told that every continent. the Islands
of the Pacific and every zone. from the "Gua-
torial parts OF Africa and Asla 10 the ArcuG
regions, sent delegates and all were received
but the one LITTLE, woman from the. state Of HI
nols. II is not advisable TO mix in family lights.
and IL the Methodist sisters are satisfied with
this insult 10 their sex. the women outside should
make an effort not TO lose any sleep
The episcopal address. an official expression
OF the high executive board OF the church.,
signed by thirteen Bishops, contains some in
terestinS points The Church has a message
concerning trusts, labor unions, lockouts and
strikes, capital and labor, tariffs and taxation,
currency and the colonies, but = Is not one OF
diCtation and observes no class"
Its attitude regarding women delegates
shows that it observes no class" Although
II has a message concerning every public issue
from trusts 10 taxation, 1t has none for that
half Of the people who are deprived OF avolCe
in every one OF these vital questions But this
address says: The church must sound. The
call for a strenuous and militant political right
e%ousness TO meet the colossal evils that threaten
the nation"
When it sounds this call. who will answer
Its vast membership OF women. absolutely
without pow er TO meet these colossal evils with
n strenuous and militant political righteous
ness" If N" Church desires 20 meet them
with PRAYER il can gel any required amount o!
assistance from women but II II desires 10
fight the devil with fire" and meet these evils
where they are intrenched. viz: Al the ballot
box. then IL has Al very weak and useless con-
tngent behind it.
A Chlnanan Of Rochester, y. Y. was SEN
fenced last week 10 States prison for assaulting
young girls. He was terribly distressed at
the prospect oflostns his queue and his counsel
made an active effort to. have the rule modified
which requires the conviCt's hair to be- cropped.
They were successful, and SuTerintendent OF
request Is q fair one and that we should not IN
any case add unnecessary hardship to men sem
fenced TO prison which would be looked upon by
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