The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-18
METHOD|STS DENY
RIGHTS FOR WOMEN
BY TWO MAJORITY
Brilliant Half Hour Speech by
DR.. w. A. Christian Turns
Tide After Favorable Vote
Had Been Taken.
Cannog Substitute Leaving it to
Referendum Vote of All,
Women Included Adopted
After Lengthy Debate
Delegates Elected.

Especial TO The Richmond Virginian)
DANyILLE, VA, Nov. 1.-THE ad-
yocates of the proposition to extend
lay rights to women in the churches OF
the Virginia Conference of the Method
list Episcopal Church, South, - vote
OF III TO l13 lost their night tonight
in the most exciting contest chafac-
terizing the session OF the conference
1t WAS ii 80 when the voting was
reached and quite a number OF MEM
bers had left the hall and not a IL"
had left the city.
AT the morning session the propo-
sition to give laity rights 10 women
prevailed by as majority, but mo-
ton to reconsider prevailed, DR. James
Cannon, Jr, offered substitute pro-
posing referendum vote on the propo-
sition by the clergy and the Church
mem bershjp and the debate began
afresh ard practically absorbed the
whole of the days session,
Reatpn ny Lnymen.
II Is a curious fact that the prop0-
gition Was beaten by the vote OF the
laity which was . t. : against adop-
ton whereas the clergy had voted
105 to fe2 in favor Of II. CA a stand
ing vote the memorial was declared
adopted by Bshop Denny. bat a roll
call was demanded and ordered with
the result above stated.
The reversal of sentiment IS large
IL attributed to the mastery rad i'm
FASHIONED speech OF Or, W. AshburN
Christian. of Richmond chairman or
the committee on memorials. who
closed the discussion IN "A speech OF
thirty five minutes II WAS an eX-
hausts1e aud brilliant araument from
his standpoint Or Christian had
been preceded b. Dr. Cannon, who, as
patron Of the amendment claimed the
right 20 be- heard II was the Chris
tian appeal however. which carried
the day and turned the tide which
earlier. was strongly against the exr
cluslon Of women from lay rights
The Cannon Substitute.
The Cannon substitute. which was
adopted, was as follows
.Whereas.- Al appeal has been made
to the eersa conference of our
Church ~ cnat Ze the practice and the
law Of the Church $50 as 70 make won-
en- eligible L. all tho Offices In the
Church. and. whereas. II Is not possible
To make the change without at the
same time imposing responsibilities
which MAY not be desired by many
women, who think that tho present re
spons. bilitles az women 10 lie great
as God intended them To ke- and.
whereas there is not sufficient in
formation as 10 t8e Wt&HeS on A3f
considerable number Of our women on
this question, and, whereas the cen
sequences are too far-rsachi"G for a
decision 10 be made ny a com parattVcly
small number of the membership OF
the Church, ana without the vote of
the women, the very persons who are
vitaily concerned, he II
"Resolved That the Virginia con-
ference hereby memorah.es the Gen
d. p ~
membership Of the Church 10 be
taken on this question, providing that
the vote OF the preachers and the lay
men be taken separately. and that
the vote of the men or the women be
tabulated separately 50 that the views
Of the entire membership Of the
Church may he clearly Indicated
Reys. Il. II Bennett. 6. II Lam beth
r. II. Rawlings and NJ. S Colonna
were elected clerical reserve dele
gates to the General conference after
Elk or seven ballots.
Temperance Report
DR.. Cannon presented the report oi
the committee on temperance. 1t Is
an optimistic review of the prohibition
movement in Virginia, and the work
Of the Anfi-Saloon league, The re-
port commends the action of the
Anti Saloon League Of America, in re-
cent session al Columbus. O., in de-
claring for a national prohibition
movement; praises congress for pass
ing the Webb Kenyon bill regulating
interstate liquor shipment, and re
toices that In the recent Virginia cleo
ton sentiment was shown to be II
favor of the passage by the mex
general assembly of the enabling act
IT condemns sale of intoxicants al
agricultural fairs and asks for amend
ment of the Ryrd-Mann law 10 forhte
much licenses: pledges support to tht
Anti Saloon league in States and ma
tional plans.
Messrs. Cannon and McAllistei
spoke in advocacy of the report
which was adopted without dissent
The Morning Session.
Two new memorials of unusual In
terest were referred to the commit
tee on memorials-one signed by
James Cannon, r, II. Bennett, w. J
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