The herald., 1895-05-17
That Is, Episcopal Women at
Parish Elections
WAS so DECREED YESTERDAY
The Third Days Session Was a Lively
One, and Suffrage Won
A Number of Other Questions Were Settled,
and In the Afternoon All Business
Was Finished

was that of amending the canon on at
tendance of lay delegates at convocation.
The amendment was presented by Ecv.
DIR. Dotten, and after discussion it was
adopted. Next came the reading OF some
proposed amendments to articles l57 and
16i. in canon l, title 8. and articles 166
and 169, canon 2. title 3, submitted by
the convocation of San Francisco. The
first section OF the first resolution was dis
cussed with considerable animation and
occupied much time. until finally Mr.. Van
Bokkelen made q motion that the resolu-
tion be laid on the table until the next
convention, which was seconded and car
ried.
After little more discussion all the
resolutions above specified were tabled, and
the bishop read his formal consent to the
division OF the diocese. which was formal
ly accepted and by general consent incor-
porated in the minutes of the preceding
day. Rev. Mr.. Spalding here rose and
asked that the deputies, lay and clerical.
to the general convention be called to-
gcther after the morning session to take
action concerning forwarding the resolu-
tions of division to that convention.
The chair made the humane suggestion
that such call be after lunch instead of
after the meeting, which seemed to meet
the unqualified approval of the deputies,
and it was so ordered.
Rev. r. G. Toute next read a resolution
regarding retreats and their connection
with various parishes. to which Mr..
Grove Immediately proposed an amend
ment and explained at some length the
intention. present position and history
of retreats. Mr.. Tayler of st. Johns and
Mr. Gray of ST. Paul's both spoke to the
amendment with disfayor. Mr.. Grove
Withdrew his amendment and the resolu-
ton passed.
Then came the important question of
the day-the most important one of the
convention. next to that of division
whether suffrage be given to women in
Rev. r. .Toute read canon 4, title l, sec
tion 140 which was Immediately amended
by Rev. Mr.. Wilson of st. Andrews
church. Oakland to read as follows: Re-
sol, ed. That the election for vestrymen
and tr lstees shall be by ballot. and any
person of lawful age and attendant upon
the services OF the parish. who for the
previous sixty days shall have been regis
tered a com mmunicant; and any person OF
like age who shall have been member OF
the congl egation for like period and
has regula rly contributed to the support
of the PARISH. the minimum amount of
subscription to be prescribed by each par
ish for itself. shall be entitled to vote.
By the above amendment the only
change effected from the original was the
SUBSTITUTION OF Inc WOru person III Uue
amendment for that of ''male" in the
original. Pomona Immediately came to
the front in the shape of Rev. John D.
II. Browne, who moved for an amend
- ment to Mr.. Wilson s amendment. to wit;
THAT this convention has no direct evil
dence that the women of the church de-
sire the change, and therefore refers the
question to the various parochial MISS
ion organizations of women, with the re-
quest that they express their judgment as
to the advisability of the change, and
pending this action the whole matter be
referred to the next annual convention.
After Mr.. John Wigmore had promptly
given Mr.. Browne his moral support by
secondng the motion, the latter went on
to explain his belief that the women of
the Episcopal church occupy prominent
position, and are too conservative to wish
to join in what is a radical movement that
is rife in society generally. Mr. Browne
felt sure church women would not want
to join in such movement; that the
new woman is not to be found in the
church which takes its religion as it has
been handed down from the past ages.
Mr.. Browne thought the women should
be heard in the matter, that it would be
an impertinence on the part of the men
of the convention to force them into such
an unfortunate position. By the provi-
dence of God. said Mr.. Browne, priests
office is not woman's office; her po-
sistion is strong as it IS. and it would
reduce her power and weaken her in
fuence If it were otherwise. Not one
woman has asked for it-let the women
come with petitions; let them discuss the
question under the, guidance of their
priests suggested Mr.. Browne, and if
they decide they will have higher posi-
tions as voters, let them have them in
Gods name, but let us not force the posi-
ton on them.
To which eloquent appeal Mr. Adams
.I.l kl.,% Il I
such fearful results to the church in the
event OF suffrage to women as Mr..
Browne anticipated; that it was practi-
cal question after all. and the devoted
women OF the church would not in his
belief try to usurp the priesthood; it is
elections. that they are always to be de-
pended upon and that it would not be in
Producing politics to have the word
"male" stricken out of the canon.
Here Mr.. Wilson rose and spoke to his
own amendment. and remarked tha6 he
nence to allow the women to vote. and
that if they did it would not bring about
the dire results that the woefui brothers.
imagination predicted. Mr.. Wilson said
that he thought in some parishes it
would be desirable, in others undesirable.
option anyway that the parishes should
decide for themselves. That the question
under discussion had no connection with
women's rights; that in the smaller
parishes women are allowed to do most of
the work; they do the larger share of it,
personal work, and the giving of money;
and yet they cant even say who shall
manage that parish and moreover. said
Mr.. Wilson. in conclusion, where it has
been tried it has not been overstepped.
A number of other arguments were
given pro and con, some of which en-
larged upon points already made: % thers
bringing up minor points bearing more
or less on the main subject.
Finally, when the assurance had been
made number of times that the women
didn't want suffrage. because they hadn't
asked for it, Mr. Rithie proposed that the
courtesy of the floor be extended to some
of the women present that they might
express an opinion.
Bishop Nichols rose promptly and cor
daily extended from the chair an invita-
tion to any lady present to speak.
Mrs. LAWYER. the state secretary of the
woman's auxiliary, was called for, and
in few words asked that the question be
not referred back to the parishes, and said
that If the women we're asked to vote she
felt very sure that when it was right they
would do so under the direction and by
the voice of the church. Mrs. Andrews OF
Christ church. Mrs. f. W. Adams of Eas
Los Angeles and one other lady all ex-
pressed concisely their willingness to
vote if called upon, and brought up one or
two points in favor that had not been be-