The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-02
Viewed the Conference Situation and
"Sixed 1t Up, for the Journal In
His Characteristic Way.
EVE IN THE CLERGY's GARDEN
AND THERE MAY BE TROUBLE IN
CASTING HER OUT.
The Woman Question Again-Indiana
Candidates for Offices Within
Gift of the Conference.
sc;a, % the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
CHICAGO, May This has been Dewey
day here, and the town has been consider
ably stirred For particulars. see press re-
ports. / have been more interested in the
preliminaries relating to the General Con-
ference which will open in the Auditorium
Tomorrow morning. One hundred and six
teen conferences will be represented by
men coming from every State and Terri
tory of the United States, from Mexico and
South America and from Europe, Asia and
Africa and Japan. Some of the foreign rep
resentatiyes have been here or hereabouts
for several weeks, allowing themselves
time for missing connections in travel and
for travelling through the country. So far
as Is known at headquarters. no conference
will be unrepresented. This will make
body Of about 700 delegates, too large, by
half, it is conceded, for convenience, but
1t could not we'll be helped. The PROPOSE
ton to reduce the ratio was sent around
to the conferences by the General Confer
ence of 1896, but ii was coupled with the
proposition to make the laymen equal the
ministers, and both failed, each helping to
defeat the other, though the unpopularity
the equal representation with the preach
cipal cause of the defeat. When. later on.
the equal representation question was sub
mitted as separate proposition. under the
boost the lay convention at indianapolis
gave il, X carried by vote of about seven
to one. The ratio proposition will be again
submitted so as to reduce this body to not
over 400.
OF course, after the greetings of old
Do fa fol al
what is to be done and what not There
has been a constant crowd at the Audi
torium all day, going and coming, dimin-
ished, at times, by the Dewey dongs in the
streets. Here, in groups, the topics were
freely discussed. The principal topics be-
ing the Offices to be filled and the men to
| fill them, and the admission of the lay dele
gates, who have been elected Professionally,
| that is who are to be seated provided the
proposed amendment to equalize the min
isterial and lay representation receives the
| required two-thirds vote of the General
| Conference as now constituted.
WOMAN IN THE CASE.
| 1t must be conceded that a new phase of
| this question has been taken on within a
week or two, which has given it the front
| rank for the time being. Indeed. the Of
| fcer question and everything else is held
| in allegiance until this is settled. Every
thing seemed TO promise an early and easy
| solution of the question until somebody
discovered, about a month ago. that there
| was woman in it-that is, in that list of
| provisional delegates. This at once gave
| a protest for voting against the admission
| of the PROFESSIONALS, a thing a great many
wanted to do anyhow, for 1t developes that
/ as rule the man who is opposed to either.
is opposed to both, and there you are. Ad-
| NIT woman! The camels nose in the
| Arabs tent is nothing to one woman in the
| General Conference, and she stealing in,
as 1t were, under the guise of a provisional
| delegate! Now, this is the burning ques-
| tion; drop in upon knot of delegates any
| where and you will find this the uppermost
| topic of discussion. And why not? While
| the amendment of the rule requires two
| thirds OF the General Conference, this is to
| be settled by a majority of one. To add
| fuel to this already burning question, DR..
| Buckley, in last weeks Christian Advocate
| practically says that 1t will do to
allow the woman-in-the- -General-C Confer
| ence question to be settled by such a
| stratagem. 1t is not difficult, therefore, to
| see that the little remnant of ants intend
| to make the most of this complication, and
| they are working II for all that is in 1t, and
/ there is a great deal in IL to those who
really believe the woman question Is a
| question affected by the constitutions
very palpable error, by the way, but it ex-
| lists in some minds. Where unto this will
! lead 1t is impossible now to forecast Some
| thing Of its Importance may be inferred
| from the fact that leading laymen of Chi
cago, several weeks ago, sent special re-
! quests TO many representative lay dele
| gates. in different States to meet this after
| noon. in what politicians would call a eau
| Gus. I'm one of the private parlors of the
| Auditorium. TO prepare business for a
meeting OF the lay delegates tonight. AS
| this caucus was purely select meeting
though your correspondent had a special
| invitation to attend, but not as teller of
secrets-it would be improper at this time
| TO disclose the proceedings. 1t is enough
| for the present. to say that this woman is
| going to cause trouble, unless. like the
/ prudent man, who. foreseeing the evil.
| hideth himself. she voluntarily withdraws
| Several women did that four years ago
rather than precipitate contest. Women
are sometimes prudent as well as men.
| If this one contends for her rights, then
| look out
| INDIANA CANDIDATES.
| The candidate question, whenever the
| provisional delegate question can be sus-
pended long enough. will bob up occasion
| ally. The phases OF this that will most
interest the readers of the Journal are,
| first. the candidacy of Rev. Wilbur F..
| Sheridan. a former member OF the Indiana
Conference. and whilom pastor Of Black
ford-street Church. indianapolis. but cow
pastor Of the Pontiac Church. Michigan.