The Washington herald., 1914-10-11
STRIFE MAY AID
WOMEN'S CAUSE
Britain Has Had Civil War at
at Home with Those
Demanding Votes.
CHURCHES PUT THEM OUT
Asquith Declined to See Delegation Of
Clergy and Hampshire Men Who
Pleaded fof Suffrage.
BY CLARA BEwIcK COLBY.
NO. XVII.

One early Sunday in August, 1913. the
solemn and sacred precincts OF St PauPs
Cathedral and Westminster Abbey rever-
berated TO a new chant that had in IL
more OF spirit and meaning than they
are accustomed to echo. This was the
beginning Of an Interruption TO the
services which has since become quite
common: the Interpolation Of a prayer
for the women prisoners.
At the point where the words had been
reached in the intonation Of the Com
mandments: Thou shalt do no murder"
score Of women arose and chanted:
.oh Lord. save Emmeiine Pankhurst
Her enemies torture heT. for they know her cause
save an, thoss Who are psrsseuted and suaer for
conscience aks-
Save then. Oh Lord, and hear Us when We call
The vergers took the women out as
soon as they recovered from their as
tonishment and one went so far as to
strike a woman on the mouth, but the
women went out quietly and the serv-
ices proceeded. was amused at the
horror with which this was regarded by
quite trreligious persons. II they did not
care enough for the church to attend
its services. II was at least a satisfac-
ton TO them to know that the time
honored institution existed, soft from all
innovations; and now this confidence
was forever destroyed.
Was Public Scandal.
That woman should break the enforced
silence Of the centuries in the most sa-
cred OF all sanctuaries was nothing less
than public scandal But I could not
feel that the clergy shared this honor.
They knew that prayer was from the
heart and perhaps they had a dim ap-
probation that here was a real need and
source OF help; and II was not for them
to condemn the cry Of the human to the
Divine. even II IL was not in the prayer
book
Then, perhaps. they felt condemned
for not having granted the suffragists'
requests for public prayers for Gods
guidance in the question of women's en-
franchisement. And perhaps they felt
the sting OF the rebuke of the suffragist
churchwomen's committee, which told
the bishops that in not voting for the
''cat and mouse" bill in the House OF
Lords they had thrown aside all decency
and religion. and had allied themselves
with corrupt politicians and white
slave" traders.
Churchwomen. the committee had said.
had the right to expect that the Lords
spiritual would be present in the Upper
House to denounce In the name Of
posal must rank England far below the
ignorant nations to whom she. with in
conceivable arrogance. sends mission
aries. That women should venture to
criticise the heads Of the ANGLICAN
Church shows the freedom they have
achieved
Would Not See cIerEymen.
This changed attitude OF women must
have set the clergy thinking for they
soon organized a deputation o. 100, led
by the bishops OF Lincoln and Kensing-
ton, to interview Mr.. Asquith that they
might place before him the adherence
ent political situation with regard to the
question OF woman suffrage"
Mr.. Asquith returned the usual answer.
that he would not see them. CWould not
this convince any one that Mr.. Asquith's
obstinacy was impregnableO The clergy
replied that they regarded his continued
refusal to meet bodies of representative
citizens as subversive of the rights OF
the people he had sworn to protect: and
they named the day on which they would
wait on the prime minister.
From the numbers Of clergymen that
gathered at the appointed time. ten were
allowed to pass through the Gordon Of
police and enter the sacred precincts OF
Downing street. OF these three were
graciously permitted TO enter the auto
Gratis house and present their memorial
to his secretary.
Under the constitutional government Of
England, and where the premier has su-
perseded the King in all that once
brought him into contact with his peo-
pie, Il IL as abominable for Mr.. As
quith to be 80 arrogant as II would be
for an American secretary to refuse to
receive q delegation.
Protest Against Procedure.
All who have followed the story Of the
struggle Of the women Of England have
seen the memorial which, after setting
out the matter at some length. said:
I'VE are convinced that the victims Of
this act, and the great majority OF those
who support these protests, are among
the most intelligent and spiritually
minded OF citizens Of this nation. and
that Il Is not they who are blarneworthy,
but rather the government itself. which.
by its refusal Of justice to women. Is
responsible for the present fmpasse
. In the name OF God. We protest
against this cruel and unprecedented
procedure Of the law. As citizens we re-
gard this act as the most illiberai and
unjust of our generation; as Christians
we deplore the substitution Of coarcion
for, the doing Of justice Finally, we