WOMAN SUFFRAGE AT THE CHURCH CONGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 184, 4 August 1913, Page 11

WOMAN SUFFRAGE AT THE CHURCH CONGRESS.

--jiOBD-CUaZQX AXU THE PRESIDENT AT LOGGERHEADS. (From oiir Lauy Correspoadent.) LO.S'DON, June -10. The preliminary suinnununnent of thp aoeDda for the n-ext rhurch UonjrTess, Tvrliidi i= to be lipid in Sr.ptPtnber. under jhe presidencj- - u< iiic Rhjop of Wiiiciester, ha£ evoked ,\ lengthy cnrroppotldeDce betrceen the [lirhop and !-ord ( ur2OD| 01 liedlcstmi. !n the wonls of tlie ''there arc deep thouffhu ptirting, and semou-s questiajie ho ing aiked. about wiat women's ideal. ?phen-. eduearion, usefuloesa are -and Qitisiiaiis to i-oiisider. i[iii*"tl.y and in Christ Lan light." It h.i-, therefore- been arranged th«t the question in its many bearinjrs shall be di.«cu?si?<l at tie next Chun-h Cnnprps?.

As a resident of tin , diocesr of Winchestw, and.as president of ihc National League for Opposing W'onnin Snffrajip. Lord Corzon urotr t<> ;ho Bishop, .i short time ago. at •'onu , leugth. protfjting emphatically ;.pii.inst tho iniJusion of the subject in the programme of the Congress. Hγ haras his opposition nn the fact vasut lo tbr of ■woman suffrajro now bping tht , most emMttcTed political isstio of thp time, it Trill be fooiid impos-siblr to exchrijo from such a debate a nn thr advisability of ext PTJfiinir thr franchi.-c to women, "and hr thinks it unrlr?irahlp to introdnee pnlitics into Clinrt-h maiters — for if on Woman .-uffr<i4TP. »hv should not tte Churrh proironncp upon. say. compulsory military ?prricc or any other of the controversial issues nf thp day? Further, he coutprtrl?. the vjrws of ;i small section of Churchman constituting -The Cbirrcli Leagnr for Woman Sutfrsgr" are likrij- to bo unduly rjpounded. and not only pxpoutKlrd hut idortti fied -with thr Church. On thc<o main gronnds Lord llttraon that the polilii'sl rntra.nc-hi=;rmrnt of women should excluded from thp prograuime.

To th:= th<> Bishop rrpliet- tliac cvpk if it wrrn desiral'le it is now impossible.

o«in? to a.rranjrrnirnt? and promise nacle. to irithrjraw t! f.ibitn-t o

womanhood and its iil r -n!r- from thr programme of thf Consrrcss. an.i that this nufetion if ~oti\othin:r wkirr than t!i<= political cniranchi-i'mont of women. It would dislocate ilie -ciipmp: and it t.quM be. not tinju?tly. regarded n* n piece of weak timidity. "The existence of a burning controversy may create some rii-k or difGmlty. hut it inrrea.-p----rather than diniiiii-hr- thr need of snu'h deeppr di=cu?sio:!." The Bishop refiit-c*. as" being ivronp iiinl contrary to iho Fpirii of the purpo?" of the Congress to invite nommops of any society or organisation to take part in il>r> C'onjTp-s ilisrussion. but assures l.nrd turzon Iha-t those «ho have "rather Hnti-.«ufTrap;e than pro-suffrn^'r , -ympatlvo-" will bp welconird tti ibr ilrh.i.tn.

To this rejily l.'trri ( isrznn minrtff'lli ?.erirs of min,.r point- of dntail, The question of womanhood will, howevpr, hr disru«rci .11 tlip Church 1 on gress in September.