New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-11
WOMEN IN METHODISM.
DISCUSSION OF THEIR ADMISSION AS
DELEGATES BROUGHT UP IN
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
fBY TELEGRAPH To THE rRIBuxE.l

sion over the woman question at the Methodist
General Conference this morning by Offering
amendment TO substitute the words LAY mem
bersr' for 'laymen" wherever it appeared in the
constitution of the Church.
He said: we have reached a time when we
must deal with the problems OF the twentieth
century. We must face them like men. Every
member of the Church should be made equally
eligible TO membership in this Conference. IL
this law is passed as it stands women will be
barred from voice in our deliberations except
by constitutional amendment The women have
stood by patiently and abded by every
favorable ruling made by this body. The
hood Of Methodism justly demands recognition.
1t is not question of woman's rights; it is a
question OF the Church's right its men,
bers TO the best possible advantage"
Delegate w. II. Shire, Of the Detroit Confer
ence. regretted that the woman question had
been drawn into the discussion of the revision
question" He advised that the questions be
separated. DR.. c. ]. Little, Of the Rock River
Conference insisted that the meaning of the
word ''laymen" be clearly defined. IF you fail
to make this Interpretation the constitution
viii be defeated this floor" said the speaker.
Every reference in favor of the admission Of
women was greeted enthusiastically. DR.. Robert
Forbes. Of the Southern Minnesota Conference
said he in favor Of admitting women when
il could be done in legal, orderly way. He
wanted the constitution adopted in its present
form. and have the question taken up
later.
OPPOSITION ON sCRIPTURAL GROUNDS.
DR.. J. NJ Buckley, of New-York traced the
history Of the movement to secure the admission
OF women TO the councils of the Church. He
vigorously opposed the amendment He said:
II opposed the admission of women on
Scriptural grounds and on eXpediency do not
want 10 wrestling with men on this
floor to be recognized by the chair, and Guilt
waiting basso profundO voices. Methodism plus
women will he better than any other system.
II women are 10 come in it be legally and
in due FORM
Delegate J. II. Potts, Of Michigan, said the
claim of the women for recognition was founded
On righteousness. The movement he said could
not be stopped by quotations from history. He
asked for the passage of the amendment. Dele
gate T. y. Boyle, of Pittsburg thought that all
ambiguous terms should be eliminated from the
constitution. He spoke in favor of the women
and urged their admission
Delegate J. B. Graw. of New-Jersey said:
There is no Scripture which will allow the ordi-
nation of women their leadership in the
Church. If you let them in the General Confer
they won't stop until they get into the
Bishops chair. The Scripture says a deacon
must be the husband of wife That surely
excludes them Suppose you admit a woman to
an annual conference and she marries a Meth
odist preacher. When the Bishop makes his ap-
pointments he can't send them both to the same
appointment so he sends the husband to one
place and the woman another. He has put
asunder whom God Joined together. 1t can't be
done"
The Chair informed him that the allotted time
was up. Cries of Go on" We're heard from all
parts of the hall. but the speaker retired.
A motion was made and carried proposing that
the settlement of the question be made the order
OF the day for Tomorrow immedia tey after the
Teadlng OF the Journal. Up in the sloping seats
of the house, meanwhile, sat many women who
oheered The speaking. and, perhaps satirically,
capped enthusiastically when the opponents OF
the women made their hardest arguments.
MISSIONARY BISHOPS REPORTS.
After intermission the reports of missionary
bishops were in order and the rest of the ses-
sion was consumed in the reading of the quad
rennial reports of Bishops Thoburn and Hartzeu
of Asia and Africa respectively. Bishop Thoburn
in his report said in part:
propose that the salaries of missionary bish-
ops in Southern Asia be reduced. beginning with
my own. If it is done il will become possible to
maintain two missionary bishops at no greater
cost than one general superintendent. The peo-
pie Of India want the bishops and think that
spite OF many drawbacks, 1 report that the
progress Of the Church in India has been
couraging. Our missionary community now
numbers l1Loo0 souls, and our membership
reaches 5000; our schools of all grades
tain 5000 pupils
While cherish A persuasion that my work in
Southern Asia is by means finished. yet in
one sense / cannot reDress the feeling that this
report is my ofclal Valedctory, at least of work
alone. No medical adviser will permit me to re-
turn alone. and hence the feeling that | have
reached the end, not Of my working days, but of
isolated ana exceptional administration.
Despite the four years of famine and pes
thence. Bishop Thoburn noted an increase in
the results Of his work over those of the last
quadrennium- Concerning the Churchs in
vasion in the Philippines he said:
Our most noted advance has been TO the new
American possessions in the Far East. My stay
in Manila was brief, but / secured theatre and
began preaching. and before leaving Manila |
made arrangements for permanent religious ser
vices / also took steps to open place both for
Religious meetings and public resort for SOL
diers. few hours before leaving Manila ] had
the pleasure Of Ordaining the first Protestant
Filipino preacher ever admitted TO the Christian
ministry. and / have arranged TO have him ad-
mitted to the Southwest Kansas Conference.
elected To deacon's orders under missionary
rules. and transferred the Malaysia Mission
Conference.
Bishop Hartze. after few words of thanks
giving for the aid he had received in the term
and Of praise for the work Of Bishop Taylor
said
The work of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in Africa four years ago in two parts. One
part was Liberia, on the west coast, and con-
sisted Of missionaries and stations in the Liberia
Annual Conference, among English speaking
citizens Of the republic. The second and greater
part known under the title of Bishop Will
lam Taylors self-supporting mission.
The report then set forth the manner in which
these missions transferred the Church,
and took up a departmental discussion of the
work in each division of the African district.
Richard Yates. the Republican nominee for
Governor of Illinois, will his seat in
he "A delegate