WOMEN & THE CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1575, 19 October 1912, Page 11

WOMEN & THE CHURCH.

THEIR NON-RECOGNITION. | [Bt Imogen.] A rather interesting revelation of the athtudo which still exists in the minds of somo men -regarding women was shown at one of the sittings of tho General Synod in Cb.ristchurch last week. A motion was brought forward by Mr. Rowe that women should bo allowed to vote nt parish meetings, and it was rejected by tho clergy. Somo of tho reasons brought forward against tho motion were that a vicar, with a majority of women's votes'behind him, could carry a financial proposal in tho faco of tho men's opinions. It was also said that women did not want the vote. Another reason was that, if tho proposal wero carried, women would become dominant in the vestry, and in almost every other matter, and men would becomo less and loss active in tho Church. "Woman," said one speaker, "is to como down and compete with men on equal terms, _ but, when you go to a woman's meeting, you will miss less tho high ideals and pure thoughts that take you out of the ruck of business. You will, in fact, find them engaged in paroohial wranglings, eugenics, and social reforms and you will find yourself in a worse atmosphere than you left." And Yet She Finds lhß Money, Notwithstanding the "high ideals and pure thoughts" that are supposed to be the atmosphero surrounding woman, it is upon her that tho burden falls of collecting ■ and gathering in money for paying off church debts, for procuring organs, erecting Sunday schools, and even for paying, or helping to pay, tho sti\ pentl of ill-paid clergymen in country districts. If it is so desirable that tho powers of government should bo kept in ' the hands of men then a sense of fair play should prevent them from accepting j such ungrudging services from the hands of women. It is she who frrapples with the hundred and one worrying fatiguing details in connection with the financial assistance of church work. Feeding and clothing the poor, helping the distressed and fallen, holding out the glad hand to the friendless ami unknown aro other important branches of the work that women do for tho church. And. in return, it denies her what she Tegards as simple justice! ' It has been said that the Church moves slowly, and hardly answers the 'needs of the times. Well,: taking all the foregoing as an example, one is inclined to think so too. Another speaker said that the movement would not stop at votes at parish meetings. The women who were agitating for tho vote were just those who would agitate for further rights. One cannot see that that would be such a dreadful thing. Women at least have

souls just as much as men. And the past few years have proved that .they navo powers of mind equal in every degree to those possessed by men, and in matters affecting religion, of all things, there should at least be 110 inequality of the sexes. Wo know that there have been female martyrs in tho past, and that there havo been just as. many women saints as men saints. The Eonian Catholic Church owes much of its power over both men and women to the reverence that is paid to the Virgin Jlarj;, and it was to tho Immaculate Conception that Christendom owes its redemption. In spite of tho tromendons, overwhelming debt that the Church owes to woman, it clings to the old, old custom, derived from the Pagans of keeping all Church government out of tho hands of women. Their point of view does not do churchmen credit.

The Indifference of Men. In regard to tho reason brought forward that women would, if the motion wero carried in their favour, become the dominant power in Church matters, that is a matter entirely in the hands of the men themselves. If they aro so indifferent that they will not take their share in matters, they will only havo themselves to thank or blame. That phase of the question hns nothing, to .do with tho equity of the proposal. .■ As an evidence of tho growing feeling in England against the fact that women havo next to no power in the governing bodies of the Church, the Bishop of London, last November, brought forward a resolution at a representative Church Council embodying the principle that votes in Church matters should lie given to women. It was carried by a sufficient majority, and included among its seconders no less an authority than the Archbishop of Canterbury. Tho resolution thus passed by the council, composed of tho clergy and laity of the two provinces of Canterbury and York, was to tho effect that it is desirable that the committee of the-Houses of Laymen on the representation of the laity should regard the representation to it as inoluding the question of the franchise of women in the election of the representatives of tho laity in ruridecanal and diocesan (conferences, and consequently In the nouses of Laymen. The wording of the resolution is somewhat weak and vague, but the purpose is plain—to give equal votes to" women with men in Church government, and whether subsequently adopted or not by the higher powers, it is at any rat© ono of the most striking pronouncements on the woman question yet made, and typifies the enormous change which has taken place in public opinion regarding tho right of tho sex to take part in any work of tho religious world which they are capable and desirous of performing. It remains for Now Zealand, the enlightened, tho progressive, to mercilessly quench the gleams of light that are, or irero, beginning to lighton our darkness. SUPERFLUOUS HAIR. Superflous hair destroyed by "R U3ma " (reg.). A guarantee given.with each case undertaken. S&0 tosuTnonials and letters Mrs. Hull en (over Economic), Lambton Quay. 'Phone .1017. (Testimonial.) Christchurch, March 3rd, lsn. Dear Mrs. Hullen,—l am writing this note to see if you will send on the remedy for removing superfluous hair. I think you will romembor treating me once just before Christmas, and you said you would make up a special lot for mo if I could not come to Wellington. I consider it a splendid remedy. Please forward early. Original copy of above can be seen nt piy address. • 8*