New-York tribune., 1919-10-19

full duties Of citizenship have
been imposed upon women.
'Nor is the church altogether
tagging behind. The represen-
tative council Of the Church Of
England, in adopting a plan for
the fuller and freer self-expres-
sion of the church, has voted by
an overwhelming majority to
secure the full help of women
by giving them the franchise.
and the same action has been
taken by similar bodies In the
church in Wales and in the
Episcopal Church of Scotland.
In several Of our own dioceses
women are eligible and have sat
as delegates in diocesan coun-
ellis, and where the compromise
Of house Of churchwomen has
been adopted the women have
shown, by their energetic, In
telligent and practical interest,
not only that they are fully COM
petent, but that the church 10
incomplete without their help.
To take two examples outside
the Anglican communion, tho
general conference of the
Methodist Church of Canada
has given to women all the
franchises and eligibilities which
it gives to men, and the general
assembly of the United Free
Church of Scotland has greatly
enlarged the place Of women in
the councils of that church.
MANY plans will be pre-
sented to this convention look
ing to splendid efforts to make
it still greater power in the
nation and the world for the
establishment Of the kingdom.
Filled with great visions Of
what the church may be and
do for the Masters cause, the
convention will adopt those
plans, and the women of the
church will be expected 20 do
at least half the work involved
in carrying them into effect.
Surely the convention would
have gladly availed itself of the
advice Of those women in shap-
ing those plans and to hava
had q share in the discussion
would have been a great inspi-
ration to the women and tho
means Of greatly increasing
their sense Of responsibility.
Strong men have too often re-
mained aloof from the activ-
tiles of the church because they
alleged that the church had no
such vision and energy as they
found in secular activities.
This convention especially will
see great visions and will plan
work which will demand and
satisfy the desire Of the strong
man to put forth all his
strength. An increasing num-
ber Of earnest, intelligent, ed
ucated women are finding scope
for their powers In work for
the betterment Of the world
outside Of distinctly church
work. The church must glva
them as full responsibilities as
it gives to men to keep them
from being satisfied with less
than the highest opportunity
for the use of their talents.
The amendment we urge will
set them free to devote them
selves more efficiently to chat
betterment, because the church.
to which has been intrusted
the only enduring motive and
means for that betterment,
will be able to avail itself Of
their experience and devotion.
their special knowledge of the
women and children who need
the message and the help Of
the church, their readiness to
give all that they are, all that
they have, for Christ and for
His church.
$50 the church needs the rep
resentation Of women in its
legislative councils and execu-
tive boards, not to displace
men, but to supplement their
work, to set them an example
of devotion and sacrifice, 20
give them new hope and cour-
age and confidence that witt
Gods help, the problems Of the
world can be solved.
"In 1889 the American
church took the great step for
ward of admitting laymen to
its legislative and executive
functions that it might be
truly democratic and equipped
with all its powers. We pray