The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-03
She Relieves the ProvisionnIs Of All
Embarrassment by Sending I'm a
Letter of Withdrawal.
SECRETARY is ALSO CHOSEN
DIR. DAVID s. MONROE GETS THE
PLACE BY ACCLAMATION.
Admiral and Mrs. Dewey Decline nm
Invitation to Attend-sParson"
Goodwfn's observations.
specla, to the Indianapolis Journal

Special to the Indianapolis Jot rnal
CHICAGO, May 2.-Peace reigns In the
General Conference of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. which convened here to-day.
After a century of discussion. and some
times almost bitter dissension, lay dele
gates were given equal representation
without negative vote. The provisional
delegates, al in number, were also adj
mitted and the woman question tenn
porarily shelved by the withdrawal OF Mrs.
McMahan. who did not care 10 i'm
peril the chances OF the PROFESSIONALS by in
sisting on what she regards as her right.
DR.. Monroe was elected secretary Of the
conference by acclamation. Thus the first
day of the conference started off without
a hitch and the lay and clerical brothers
are tonight dwelling together ir unity.
1t must not be supposed. however. that
the Methodist millennium has arrived. for
there are questions to come hsfcre the con-
ference that will surely cause division.
even if they do not lead TO acrimonious
debate.
1 wish to caution Journal readers against
the opinions the regular press reporters
are sometimes induced TO interject jcto
their statements; they may be depended
upon to report what is done. but many of
them are so utterly ignorant OF the ma
chinery of Methodism that they get things
awfully mixed, and their utterances are
misleading. For instance. in the Journal Of
last Monday appeared what purported to
be an interview with DIR. Monroe. the level
headed and efficient secretary Of the two
last General Conferences, and by common
consent the secretary of this in which he
was made TO say that ii would require two
thirds of the members of the General Con-
ference as constituted under the present
rule to admit the provisional delegates. This
was so absurd that, meeting DIR. Monroe
yesterday, after the cordial greetings OF
old frield, 1 mildly suggested that II
would become my painful duty to rebuke
him for heresy.
''Heresy, in what?' he asked in surprise.
evidently suspecting that / referred 10 his
attitude on the higher criticisms question.
that is bound to obtrude itself into General
Conference business by hook or crook.
'It is ecclesiastical" 1 answered. mot
theological hersey, 1 am especially inter-
ested in. You are reported in the Journal
to have said that it will require two-thirds
the present General Conference to admit
the PROFESSIONALS"
'I never said IT, That Is the way with
professional interyiewers; they get things
mixed. 1 said it will take two-thirds of the
General Conference TO concur with the
annual conference I'm the change of the
rule. That changed. suppose a majority
of the General Conference, as already con-
stituted may admit them"
THE wOAGfN QUESTION.
Akin TO this war a Misrepresentation OF
the woman question In Sundays Journal.
The correspondent said the Discipline for
bids the admission of women 10 the Cen
eral Conference. There is not a word OF
truth in this 1t does not, never did. and
never will They have hitherto been kept
cut by strategy. not by law. There was.
Until this morning. prospect that the
woman racket would come up to-day for
another turn in the case of the woman
who was elected a provisional delegate. but
trouble was averted by her withdrawal, as
her insistence would have complicated the
question Of the seating OF the provisional
delegates, and. without sufficient compel
cation. would have precipitated discus
sion which is inevitable later on, and which
will be fought to finish when once be-
gun.
Correspondents have been correct I'm as
Stunning that there was no law for the cleo
ton OF the provisional delegates. but that
makes no difference. Law. so far as the
General Conference Is concerned. is merely
matter of convenience, a kind OF general
directions for proceedings. but at no point
obligatory in any case where the General
Conference really wishes 10 do what the
law proscribes. or not TO do what Sc pre-
scribes. II is absolutely supreme in every
thing. embodying In itself every legislative.
judicial and executive function. amenable
TO no other power on earth. There In
nothing like IL in America. the nearest re-
semblance to it being the Parliament OF
Great Britain. But that fails. FOR an un-
constitutional enactment OF Parliament
must receive the approval OF the reignins
sovereign before IL Is valid. but nothing OF
the kind is required In this case.
No CONSTITUTION.
The Methodist Episcopal Church has no
constitution that Is not repeaiable or sus-
pendable at the viii of the General Confer
enee without the interference or approval