BOYCOTTING THE LADIES

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 26, 2 February 1910, Page 4

BOYCOTTING THE LADIES

It reflects very little credit upon a certain section—the majority—of the Anglican General Synod, now in ses-" sion at Wellington, that such strenuous opposition should have been offered to the very reasonable proposal embodied in the motion of a lay member, Mr Scandrett, of Invercargill, that women who are communicants of the Church should have the right to vote and act on vestries, and the right to vote for members of the various Diocesan Synods. Apparently taking the hint from Parliament, Canon McMurray, of Auckland, at^ tempted to thwart and effectively block the discussion of this important matter by moving that "the Synod do now pass to the next business on the order-paper." This was equivalent to moving the closure, and that be it remarked, before the Synod had discussed the proposal at any length, and we are not surprised that one member should have been so far carried away by his indignation that !'? ?V 6,4 °, ut > "A nasty trick!" The trick, however, did not succeed, tor the closure motion was defeated and the original motion further discussed. No decision was, however arrived at by the time the dinner adjournment was reached. We are not certain whether the question can again be raised, not being familiar with the rules of procedure which govern the Synod's deliberations; but we must express hearty sympathy with Mr Scandrett's motionf Who take more—who, indeed, take half so much practical interest in Church matters asi do_the lady members of the Church? , Without the assistance of the ladies m the way of promoting: bazaars, garden fetes, and variout other entertainments dear to the heart or Anglican vicars and curates the ordinary revenue of whose parishes is generally so lamentably inadequate to meet legitimate calls upon them, Anglican Church work in many districts would speedily be at a; standstill In nine out of every ten Anglican churches the congregation is almost entirely composed of women and yet any proposal to give the ladies some reasonable and proper share m local church government is always met, when if comes before the Synod with bitter and, we are compelled to say, most discourteous and uncharitable opposition. We repeat that such opposition reflects the gravest discredit upon all concerned