ANGLICAN CHURCH ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1330, 6 January 1912, Page 9

ANGLICAN CHURCH ELECTIONS

WOMAN'S StfI'TKAG'K DEBATED, At. the recent meeting of tho Representative Church Council tho Bishop of Oxford moved a resolution to Hie effect that tlio Committee of the House of Laymen on tho representation of the laity sliould regard tao - reference to it. as including 1 the franehiso of women in tho election of representatives of (lie laity in ruridecanal and diocesan conferences and in tho Houses of 'Laymen. The Bishop said that, in view of the fact that women did nine-tenths of the work of the Church, tho present situation with.regard to their votes upon matters so intimately and obviously concerning them was a scandal. l\lr. D. 0. Lathbury seconded the motion, whereupon Chancellor I'. V. Smith moved the previous question. Canon Henson said the question was ono of usage and expediency. It was a question upon which there should be a vorv largo and anxious discussion before £0 revolutionary a change as was proposed was made. He thought that if tliey were to throw tho franchise to women on equal terms with men it would give an immense and very undesirable aw.i of influence to the unmarried bishops. (Laughter.) Lord Halifax supjiorted the previous question. He said it would not increaso the influence and weight of that council 111 the country if it could be said that its lay members were largely indebted for thoir election to the bulk of .women's votes throughout the country. The Bishop of Winchester urged I hat tho question was one of such importamv that the matter should bi> given further consideration. Tlio Archbishop of Canterbury said (hat, as ho had listened to the debate, Ue could not but kvl that some, of the spankers erred on li.o side ol flippancy, and had not; had s'lliieiout regard lor the gravity of the' question. 'Tlw council haviiic consented to tli? withdrawal by Chancellor Smith of . his motion for tho previous question, the resolution was put, and on a show of hands was carried by a considerable majority.