New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-03
|Willi1nantic' 'Y''
Loses Vote Over
Catholic Issue
Penalized for Admitting to
Management Those Out
side Evangelical Churches
Cited in the Constitution
Lifted Sect Inhibitions
Form of Religion Now No
Bar to Admission to
Its Active Directorate


BY abandoning the constitutional
limitation of voting membership in The
Young Mems Christian Association to
members of evangelical churches the
Willimantic Y. NJ C. A. will relinquish
Its own right to vote at the next gen
cral convention in 1923, officials of the
international body said yesterday. Del
cgates from the Willimantic assoca-
ton may attend the convention and be
admitted to the floor, but unless they
can satisfy the credentials committee
that they have observed the evangeli-
cal clause they may cast no ballots.
The Willmantic association, as re-
ported yesterday by vote of the
board of directors eliminated from it's
constitution and bylaws all inhibitions
preventing Catholics and Unitarians
from participation in its management
he reason stated was that there are a
great many Catholics among the mem
oershlp in Willimantic. and financial
drive in which Catholics were expected
10 participate was about to begin
Two Churches Omitted
The evangelical clause referred to
was incorporated in the constitution of
.he national body in 1869, and was re-
ferred to yesterday as the "organizing
principle" of the association. 1t pro-
vldes at present that membership shall
be limited to the thirty-one churches
recognized by the Federated Council of
churches as evangelical Neither the
Cathollc nor Unitarian church is in
this list
Local associations which, take ac
ZION contrary to that of the general
orotherhood, it was said yesterday,
automatically put themselves out of
touch with the otherhood; and, while
they may continue to be associated
with the general body, they lose the
privileges of full membership. Under
me present rules and principles mem
oers OF the Roman Catholic Church
may become associate members of the
Y. M. c. A., but the right to hold office
Is now, as it always has been. re-
strictcd to evangelical denominations.
which organized it.
y. n. calhoun, associate general sec
rotary for home work of the interna
tlonal Y. M. c. A. committee, said that
no denomination is named in the reso-
luton IN which the principle was first
formulated, which simply refers to
Evangelical churches"
Could Not Vote
"lf the Willmantic association drops
this clause MIR. Calhoun said they
would have to satisfy the credential
committee on the subject if they wish
to have vote in the convention. They
could attend the convention and par
tclpate as corresponding members, but
not as voting members. In fact, they
would nave to show in accepting an in
vltatlon to the general convention that
they are on an evangelical basis.
The evangelical clause is the or
ganlzing principle of the international
Y M. c. A. The clause in the constitu
ton which sets for the evangelical
basis of organization goes back to 1869
and the national convention limited
the voting power to such MEMBERS"
There have always been, it was said,
few associations, chiefly in New Eng
land, which have not held to the evan
gellcal principle, and some of them at
tend the national conventions without
voting on the business matters that
come before them. Usually they re-
turn to the original principle of organ
lzatlon in the end, it was said.
An eli oTt is maze TO nave represented
on the boards of directors and other
official bodies Of the Y. Nj. C. A., it was
explained, representatives from such
of the churches enrolled with the Fed
eral Council Of Churches as may be
found in the different cities. SO far as
the dormitories, gymnasium, social
rooms and other activities of the asso-
citation are concerned. Catholics are
free to participate on the same basis
as any others.