The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-23
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

woman question:" if there be any such thing distinct from the problems bound up both in men and women.
 Now, I'll just set down some things here and let those who will make any use they see fit, or draw from them their own conclusions. fox just at pres ent, for the purpose of this story, I am a reporter. though I do not hesitate to say I have a leaning to what goes by the name of "womans rights" which is mighty inclusive.
 am not now going into the political end of the muehmooted matter, which has the front page at present in spite of peace conferences strikes and post war rehabilitations,. I'll ask you to bear with me while I give a bit of Baptist history which may be Illuminating to some outside of the denomination, just as it was pleasing to one group within while disappointing to another.
 
 For years the question of permitting women to qualify as delegates was all ways sure to provoke acrimonious dis cussion. Just a quarter of a century ago, at Atlanta, when the Southern Baptist convention met, Drs. Broadus. Hawthorne and the other revered lead CTS were unalterably opposed to giving women the rights to seats in the body. and so positive was the stand taken that it was thought by many to be set tied for all time.
 But women, in spite of their patience, have a persistence which clings only the stronger to what to emere man seems a forlorn hope, and only last month, after a wait of 25 years, in the same city, at a meeting of the South ern Baptist convention, they were re- ceived with open arms and many nad seats as delegates with all the rights and privileges of the floor, though l did not see any of them use the op- portunity to take part in any of the discussions or debates.
 My personal experience of the ques- tion extends over a score of years can recall many a hot encounter be- tween those favoring and those oppos- ing it at the associations and how fre- ouently the discussions begun In the house would be carried on out under the trees at the noon recess, or after adjournment, and from there to De fought over around the firesides by the visiting preachers after supper and way into the night. As rule the older men were against it and the younger for it; but this did not always hold good.
 From the associations it crept into the state conventions and then invaded the great Southern Baptist convention itself. The world do move,' even when it comes to letting the sisters get look in for their money. l have l1ved long enough to have known the time when there was active opposition to Baptist women to organize themselves into an auxiliary body to the conven- ton.
 It seemed to be the male idea that they should be anowed'ste work and
  endeavor but that they were incapable to administer the money after they had accumulated it, and therefore should let it pass through the various boards made up of men. It was in the minds of some of the old fathers dreaded innovation and turning over of the Baptist ark to yield to their desire for separate society.
 Now. I do not mind confessing that in spite of all our boasted male claims of financial responsibility in collecting and appropriating moneys for mission ary work when the women by persist ence at last won grudgingly the right to clear through their own organiza- ] tions they put us to shame both in the amounts raised and the smaller cost of doing it. and in distribution.
 Talk about "the widows mite" being | overplayed. It always ought to be on 1 the front page" for in religious work l it is perennially the big story if we take into consideration the human ln- 1 lerest side of how all over the land 1 consecrated women out of their small | allowances or by their sacrifices or ] weary toll pile. up contributions which i in the aggregate surprise men who pride themselves on their ability to do things even for the Lords treasury in
 q big way.
 | haven't the totals of the years S work done by southern Baptist women, | but if reads like continuation to the Acts of the Apostles and is the best answer to those who never miss a chance to throw off on the feminist movement. even when it comes under the guidance of religious endeavor. It
 will tell of hundreds of thousands of
 dollars raised of more thousands of good deeds done in the name of and 1 for the sake of the Master.
 Perhaps some will call me craven, but long years ago I made up my mind 1 not to get in the way of good women when they set out to come into their own. but resolved that so far as 1t lay l within my power I would aid and abet I them in every possible way, and for l one heartily rejoice with them in al last being allolwed to have full repre-
 sentation in our Baptist gatherings. 1 A .rrs 70. "a @