Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-14
METHOD|STS CHEER
AS LA|TY RIGHTS ARE
GRANTED To WOMEN
Fletcher Brockman, Y. M, C, A,
Head, Addresses Conference
on War Work-Prohibition
and Other Resolutions Carried

BY an overwhelming viva voce vote
the southern Methodist general con-
ference Monday extended to the women
of the church the same laity privileges
exercised by men. 1t refused, however,
to grant the women the special privilege
of having special representation on the
board of missions, holding the posi-
ton that possessing laity rights, the
women should be content
I4ast-minute opposition to block the
vote, led by Judge John S. Gambler, of
Atlanta, lost through the ruling of the
presiding officer, Bishop &. D. Mouzon,
of Dallas. Texas, who refused to sus-
tain a point of order, based on a tech
nicality, on the ground that the point
should have been taken previous to de-
bate.
Lively scenes prevailed when Judge
Gambler advanced his point, and when
he also attempted to secure a vote by
orders, that is, a separate vote by min
listers and laymen.
Passage rs Cheered
The passage of the committee report
granting laity rights to women was the
the galleries, occupied largely by wom-
en-, and also from many of the dele
gates
Most of the debate of the morning
centered ON the efforts to secure fol
the women special representation or
the board of missions. The conference
however, sustained the committee il
it's opinion that women should not be
extended '7aity rights plus" so char
acterized by both sides, but should, in
reality, be placed on the same footine
as men.
Opponents to the, movement to give
women Iaity rights contend that tn;
measure can be vetoed by the college
of bishops on the ground that it is un
constitutional unless submitted to eact
annual conference. This point, however
is in dispute.
In addition to the laity rights ques
ton the conference heard an address
by Fletcher S. Brockman, acting gen
eral secretary of the war work coun
Gil of the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION in the United States.
The committee on temperance and so
cial service presented a report asking
the conference to request the United
States government to ask France and
Great Britain to refuse to sell intoxi-
cants to American soldiers.
The conference also was presented q
resolution asking that the government
be requested to place the Methodist de-
nomination on the same footing as Cath
olics in religious activities in army
camps.
MISS Bennett Leads
The movement to secure laity rights
for women was led by the Woman's
Missionary council, headed by Miss
Belle Bennett, of Nashville, Tenn. The
committee on revisals recommended
that such privileges be extended, but
| that women have no special representa-
| ton on the board of missions.
Women sought a continuance of the
present plan of having the board of
missions managers consist of ten min
listers, ten laymen and ten women. The
committee recommended a change to
| ten ministers and twenty "laymens"
thus declining to draw a sex line.
Efforts by DR.. A c. Miller, of Little
Rock, to have the entire question re-
committed were lost Debate on the
onstitutionality of the question was
| precipitated, DIR. Rembert G. Smith, of
Marietta. contending that the matter
should be submitted to each annual
conference. 1. S. Patterson. of Tampa,
Fla, contended that the women were
| being given Just what they asked for
! and that the matter should be settled
Immediately. The proposal to RECON-
| NIT was lost and DR.. H. d. Knicker-
| booker, of Houston, Texas, offered an
| amendment to the committee report
which provided that no change in the
| present personnel of the mission board
| be made.
DR.. Knickerbocker took the position
! that the women should have everything
| nf al ri oh MI,
J. P. Hilburn, of Sanford, Fla. op-
posed granting '1aity rights and then
| special privileges
Debate was suddenly checked by F.
| p. Culver, of Waco. Texas. who was
sustained on a call for the previous
! question and DR.. Knickerbocker's
| amendment was lost.
DR.. Linn's Argument
| DR.. James Kilgore, or Dallas, Tex
/ called for the main question and Dr.
Paul H. Linn was recognized to present
| the argument of the committee.
Dr. Linn, wo stated that he was not
| at all convinced that womans superior
ity in church work entitled her to laity
rights; who pointed out that the Y NJ
| c. A. is run very we'll without wom-
en- and who expressed the belief that
women are not Overwhelmingly de-
handing laity rights. stated that the
! committee had provided for a board OF
| missions without sex distinctions, and
| that his argument was in favor of this
| recommendation.
He asserted that, with women and
| men both classed as "laymen," the men
| or women best fitted could be chosen
and pleaded for a disregard of sex.
The conference was within ten min
! utes of the hour for adjournment when
/ Dr. Linn concluded.
Judge John S. Gambler, minority
/ leader in the committee, rose to a point
/ of order, contending that the majority
| report had disregarded the rule that
reports from committees (and minor
| ity reports) recommending concurrence