The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-20
WOMAN ADDRESSES
THE CONFERENCE
Strong Plea Is Made for Rights
of the Laity
WOMEN ARE HOPEFUL
1t Is Believed That BY the Time the
Next QuadrenniaI Methodist Con-
ference Meets the Women
VIII Probably Win

Ashevlle, N c., May 19.-For the first
time in the history of the general con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal church,
south, a woman was allowed to address
the conference. By unanimous consent
Miss Belle Bennett, secretary of the
Woman's Home Mission society. was in
vited to address the delegates on the
subject which has been considered one
of the most vital questions before the
conference, the right of women to sit in
the councils of the church and for equal
rights with the laymen. For some time
it was difficult to judge which way the
conference would vote, but after many
report of the majority on the commit
tee on revisals which denied the women
the right asked for.
1t was thought that the next action of
the conference in placing ten women on
the great missionary board was a little
singular. The women expressed them
selves delighted with what has been &C.
complished for themselves at this con-
ference in creating a sentiment in their
favor They do not intend to let the
matter drop and will work harder during
the next four years than before for the
passage of the measure which they claim
means SO much for the women of the
sosth Never before In the history of
Southern Methodsm have the women re-
ceived so much attention as during the
present session of the conference.
lei
church was enacted this morning The
measure which passed recently allowing
them larger representation at annual con-
ferences was defeated today by the con-
stitutional question brought to the notice
of the conference that it required a two
thirds vote of the delegates and a three
fourths vote of the members of the an
nual conferences. The measure failed to
receive the required number of votes and
was, therefore, defeated, which leaves the
law as 1t now stands in the discipline of
the church.
Episcopal Plan Approved
Considerable interest was manifested on
the part of the delegates to the con-
ference in the plan for the episcopal
visitation as promulgated last night The
assignment of bishops and the dates set
for the annual conferences, met with
general approval. Bishop E. R. Hendrix
acted as presiding officer while the de-
votional exercises were led by the Rev.
w. H. Winton of the Missouri con-
ference
motion to reconsider the vote by
which Monday noon was set for the time
of an adjournment was lost. Greetings
were sent to the general assembly of
the Presbyterian church at Lewisburg,
w. Va. and Bishop j S. Key was pre-
scented with loving cup by the Texas
delegations.
The matter of increased representation
of laymen in annual conferences, which
was acted upon yesterday, was recon-
sidered today on the ground that the
measure could not be changed with q
two-thirds vote of this conference and
a three-fourths vote of annual confer
ences. The old law pertaining to lay
representation, therefore, still is In eff
feet
The order of the day having arrived for
the discussion of the woman's memorials
in which laiety rights were asked, they
Frank Richardson of .he Holston confer
ence opened the debate in which he stout
ly contended in favor of the women. Dr.
N. B. Henry of the St. Louis conference
spoke in favor of the women. The Rev.
J. M. Barcus of the northwest Texas con-
ference thought that the women should
be content with their present position
In the church.
Brilliant Address
DR.. H. M. Featherstun of Mississippi,
in a brilliant address, won the hearts
of the women interested in the memorial
Miss Belle Bennett, secretary of Nthe
Women's Home Mission society, was in2
vited to address the conference
Miss Bennett, in a strong and stirring
plea, declared that If the measure was
defeated 1t was because of sentiment and
because the church was burning incense
to ancenstral tablets. This is the first
time a woman has ever spoken on the
floor of a general conference of Meth
odist Episcopal church. south.
The Rev. George r. Stewart, the famous
evangelist, followed Miss Bennett and
declared forcibly against granting laiety
rights to women. w. B. Stubs, secre-
tary of the laymen's movement asked
what the evangelist would have done
in his fights against liquor without the as
ISSUANCE OF the women! Inc question
ELECTED applause, but DR.. G. c. Rankin
moved the previous question and the
report of the committee was lost
by a vote of "a to 1888. This defeats the
for won:-n's laiety rights.
The committee on missions nominated
the missionary board for the next quad
rennium, which Is to be composed of 10
preachers, 10 laymen and 10 women, all
the bishops to be ex-officio members of
the board.
Ordination of Bishops
The most impressive service of the
general conference was the ordination of
seven bishops In the Central Methodist
church this afternoon. Rev. DR.. Collins
Denny, John c. Kilgo, William B. Muir
rah. Walter R. Lambuth, R. G. Water
house. Edwin D. Mouzon and James H.
Mccoy, each accompanied by two of their
closest friends, entered the church in a
body preceded by the bishops of the
church. A death-like stiffness pervaded
the church as the procession entered
The opening hymn was announced by
Bishop A. w. Wilson, the collect was
read by Bishop E. E. Hoss prayer was
offered by the Rev c. H. Briggs, the
epistle was read by Bishop H. c. Nor
rison, the gospel by Bishop W. "A. Cand-
Ter. The hymn, How Rich the Bounty
King NJ Kfp0a announced bV