Evening journal., 1914-11-16
Attitude of the Church
Toward Equal Suffrage Cause

To the Editor Of THE EVENING
JOURNAL.
Sir-Some leaders In the suffrage
movement deplore what appears TO
them as indifference on the part OF
he church TO equal suffrage. 1t MAJ
be we'll TO note some of the reasons
why there has not. and may not be,
large response in the appeal to
Christian women for field service in
the movement.
Mature and Changes of the Suf-
frage Movement.
In the beginning. and par
icularly with the w. c. T. t.,
The ballot for women was advoca-
led as a speedy measure for temper
ance reform, and for this reason won
an extensive patronage from the
church. The modification of the orr
ginal plan. and the incorporation Of
political and secularizing objects In
the platform naturally tended to dis
solve the tacit relation of the church
10 the movement
Some Reasons Why the Church
is Timid.
Suppose there we're 10000
members Of the W. c. T. O., 60 per
cent favoring suffrage but divided po-
ltically; and suppose of the 17,000,-
600 women. those favoring suffrage
we're identified with the political par
ties, races, classes and social Gus
toms, for and against temperance
legislation. would the temperance re-
form receive a decisive vote? The
church evidently found that it would
not. The suffrage movement is secu-
lar and political while the mission
of the church is spiritual Trans
forming the pulpit into a political ros-
trum would involve the church in
endless difficulties.
Good men are needed in power. Par
ty leaders claim to stand for this, but
often unable, for political reasons, to
support such men. Political life is a
hazardous thing. Too often, through
political ambition. good men have fall
len and a cloud overshadOwed tlC
church. Nor is it certain that even
good women, possessing the best OF
motives, may not be ensnared by poll
tical ways and measures, rendering
them as helpless for wise and con.
servative legislation as the men whose
places they propose to fill. Where
the ballot has been obtained temper.
ance reform has not been so signif'
cantly successful as to impose upon
the church an irresistible obligation
The church has not been wholly re-
creant of her trust, though it might
be supposed from some opinions i'm
piled or expressed. When Christ Je
sus, the Prince of Peace, whom sC
many ignore, came and dwelt among
men. the average age Of man had de
creased over eight hundred years, ant
woman could be bought at public
auction by the highest bidder FOL
S75G. Had 1t not been for His com
ing the average age of man toda,
would be less than nine years, anC
woman could be bought for mucl
less than a dollar. Where evangeli
cal faith and righteousness sway th'
hearts of men longevity is increasinl
and a woman cannot BE offered a
public auction at any price. Thi
mighty revolution has not beel
wrought by political institutions, an
the benefactors SHOULD become NOR
devout students Of the great princi
pies of the Christian religion. Chris
tian ministers justly deplore impos
ing upon women the political. muni
cipal and legislative duties that ma
turally belong to the Christian man
hood of the church and nation.
nay make men braver and better 70
women to assume the obligations o
men, but as yet the proof is feeble
It cheapens the gospel minister an
humiliates a Christian gentleman 4
be placed under the necessity Of ask
ing or requiring the women to do hi
work. Let the pulpit ring, not wit
political sophistries, or huma
, philosophers, but with the Cos
pei unctionized by the Spiri
of God, which alone will grip tn
hearts and consciences Of men, as hu
man ordinances or law never can. an
Christian women will soon free them
selves from all turbulent politics
life
B.-The Primary Object of the Churc
The Christian Church is
religious institution commissioned