New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-27
WOMEN HIT BACK
P4RKHURST SCORED.
His Sermon "Beneath Con-
tempt" Say Sufragists.

DR.. Charles II. Parkhurst's Thanksgiving
Day sermon was the main topic OF con-
versation in suffrage circles Yesterday. but
did not appear 10 have caused any dismay.
On the contrary. the consensus of opinion
appeared 10 be that # the pastor of the
Madison Square Presbyterian Church wished
to injure the cause of votes for women he
had gone about 1t in the wrong way and
accomplished exactly the opposite end.
Mrs. John W. Finch, chairman of the
press cOmTittee of the Equal Franchise
Society. said that DIR. Parkhurst was fight
ing hgment OF his own imagination and
that only absolute ignorance could ac-
count for his utterances
our society,"" said Mrs Finch. Stands
for this movement because OF it's spiritual
uplift. and every clergyman ought to be In
sympathy with IT, IL Is as wOmanly as
anything could possibly ne and the mem
hers of the Equal Fran,h Society are
unable 10 see why 1t should be the Oc-
easicn Of any sort of luminosity between
the sexes. only absolute ignorance can ac-
count for any ones imputing such motives
as Dr. Parkhurst does 10 those who are
working for woman suffrage. and it ought
to be beneath a clergyman To do it."
Mrs. Finch added that she was sure her
views on this subject were also those Of
Mrs. Clarence Mackay, president of the
society.
Mrs. Henry Willard characterized Dr.
Parkhursts remarks as beneath con-
tempt and Mrs. O. II. T. Belmont said. at
her Office. No 505 Fifth avenue:
Il am working to the best Of my ability
for woman suffrage. more especially as Il
concerns the wage earning woman, and l
nave no time 10 give 20 n man whose re-
marks seem TO Indicate either that he IS In
his dotage or IS making another OF his bids
for notoriety"
The Rev Anna Howard Shaw president
Of the National Woman Suffrage Associa-
ton, thought that DR.. Parkhurst. II he was
correctly reported. 'rmistook the purpose OF
Thanksgiving Day, and by SO doing had
given the suffragists added cause for thank
;ulncss."
Because" she continued. the more DIT.
ParkhuTst talks and the more he insults
women with such wholesale denunciation
and Misrepresentation the more he will
help the cause OF woman suffrage. To call
people names when they do not agree with
you Is 10 give the impression that you
have no better arguments"
Abiding 20 Dr. Parkhurst's references TO
divorce. she said.
Because divorced people believe in
woman suffrage Is no argument against Il.
for most divorced people nave suffered and
suffering may have opened their eyes 10
what they otherwise would not have seen.
And since an divorces are granted by male
Judges. I'm accordance with man made laws.
u IS hardly fair 90 blame women for them.
II IS worth remembering. too. that ~ cler-
rymen were little more careful about
whom they married there might be less
ground for divorce"
Miss Helen Murphy. Of the National Pro
Eressiye Woman Suffrage Union american
suffragettesl. thought n very diScoura gilC
that even a Christian minister couldn't
think of women apart from their sex"
what has sex got 20 do with it2' she
asked, when seen az the suffra E.tte head
quarters. 40 - East 23d street. We are
going into This u-ht as human creatures. 90
Mrs. sofia Ioohinger didn't know how o.
account for Hr. Parkhurst. lie doesn't APP
PEAR To- her 90 be rational
Fl could show YOU articles by Dr. Park
hurst" she said. I'm which he expresses
tho principles. not merely Of surragist.
aut ~ a radical sunragette. and now he
comes out and attacks the suffragists.
can't account for Il. But I agree with him
BOO saying that the movement IL one grand
feminine sob II is a sob-and people don't
sob for nothing"
Any way" put in Miss Murphy. "A
feminine sob IS better than masculine
bray"