Women's Franchise

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 84, 6 October 1893, Page 3

Women's Franchise

Bishop Julius has issued the following pastoral letter : — ' To the women of the Church of England in the diocese of Cbristchurch,— Grace and peace be with you. A most important change in your relation to the Stale has been brought about by the passing of the Act for extending the franchise to the women of this Colony, which sectns to call for a few words of counsel from your Bishop. What is your duty under these new conditions? It may be. that some of you, averse from interference in public matters or for other reasons, will refrain from claiming and exercising the power* which have been conferred upon you, and I hear that comparatively few women hare as yet enrolled. Now it is quite clear that unless the great majority of fensible, in« telligent, Christain women of the Colony qualify themselves to rote, the privilege of the franchise will be exercised only by a small and fanatical section of the community or will serve only to put a few more rotes at the disposal of tbc men. In either c»ie the true and proper influence of women will be lost to the State. The completeness of humanity is found not in the men alone, nor in the women alone, but in the two combined. Women are specially endowed. Their influence is moral and religious. In the intuitire sense of righteousness, and in obedience to duty, they arc superior to men. Hitherto ti is side of our nature has been most imperfectly represented. Now is the time for womanhood to express itself. It is quite vain to to ask whether women desire the franchise. You have it, and you must use it. The power is conferred upon you by God, not by man. In the interests of morality and pure religion I urge upon you to claim and exercise your right of voting, soberly, fearlessly and as in the sight of God. — I am, your faithful servant in Christ, C. Chkist-