New-York tribune., 1920-05-16
Improving the Condi.
tions of. Women the
Chief End

Finley J. Shepard, formerly Mass
Helen Gould, announced from the
floor her resignation as member of
the national board of the orgoniza-
ton. This step aoas taken, Mrs.
Shspard said, because she did not
ooree avith the social and political
orogram adopted By the convention
and also aoith the amendment per-
mitting active voting membership in
student associations on q simple dec
laration OF faith instead of afliotiom
yith Protestant church. Outlining
her views, Mrs. Shepard said:
"As a humble member of the Y.
". C. A. for many gears, mast
ovn to a real grief over some, at
. least, of the sentiments expressed
cnd the measures adopted by the
contention.
q haze olnooys believed in the
depth rather than the breadth of
the tenets Of its construction, and l
contend that the associations great
est gifts and accomplishments lie IN
the intensifcotiom of the religious
and inner life Of the nations youmg
Won,sn.
~ dare sag, If give7a an oppo,tu-
nity to mature their thoughts on this
matter, that almost every delegate
pould agree qOith this declaration
that as an association aUe are dlloaU-
ing q ,Uedge to separate 1t from the
highest purpose of its constitution,
and that aUedge may reasonably be
expected to bring about its aer,doimg.
"Holding the conUictioms that
do, I must in loyalty to my LORD
and Sauiour, and IN justice to myself
and friends, request the immediate
acceptance of my resignation, aohich
no1U tender as member of the
board of the Y. ". C. A."
Mrs. David Fl. Morris, formerly
Miss Alice Vanderbilt, and Mrs
Thomas Glodding resigned at the
same time.
Not in spirit Of controversy, but
merely that the public might acnder-
stand fully the program to aohich
Mrs. Shepcrd's objections hnue giUe1
'cide publicity, Mrs. Paist, aoho pre-
sided at the meeting at achich Mrs
Shepard resigned, has ao7-itten the
fc'loicing article at the request OF
The Tribune.
By Mrs. Theresa Wilbur Paist
National President of the Young
Womens Christion Associations
wv THATEVER our times may
AA lack, there is no shortage
W in the discussion Of its
problems nor in theorie:
Tor their solution. Through all thi;
discussion earnest, thoughtful people
are concerned to know what pro.
gram Of action Is being pursued by
those organizations which should
help to strengthen our Christian
civilization and stabilize our ma.
uonal life. The Young Women's
Christian Association Is such an or
ganlzation and the Importance of It's
program led 2,164 delegates to spend
an entire week at the April conven-
ton in Cleveland.
The personnel of this convention
was Significantly 1926 were duly ac-
credited voting delegates, all mem
oers of Protestant evangelical
churches, and all, except forty-seven
VINO had an eX-officio vote because of
connection with the national board
were members Of local Young Wom-
ems Christian Associations.
Delayed by the War
because Of war conditions the con.
'eh1lon was two years late, five
years having passed since the last
conception In Los Angeles. The very
war conditions which had caused
'nls delay have brought heavy re.
'pohsioilitles upon the organization
ana forced an unprecedented expan-
S'oh IN It's work. During these years
.ne national beard and the War
work Council created by it have car.
.ieo the responsibility for the ma.
oonal program.
ie rested with the Cleveland con,
,ei''lon to review their work and tx
N''ermlne whether the larger pro
gram should be continued and what
policy should govern it. A long anc
eSactlng study had been made by the
"a'lonal board and by various com
MISSIONS before bringing recon-
''e''oatlons to the convention, and g
large committee appointed from the
sohvention made a careful scrutiny
VI each recommendation before
sD',nging it up for discussion, yet the
.'uiV'dual :, delegates felt so gravely
'"ei. responsibility that there was
spirited discussion from, tho flaw ~