Pastoral Letter by Bishop Julius.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4763, 2 October 1893, Page 1

Pastoral Letter by Bishop Julius.

The Bishop of Christchurch, Dr Julius, has forwarded to the clergy of the various C j„ _ a copy ot a P^oral letter addressed to the church women of the diocese, together with the request that it should ba read in the church_3 of the parishes or parochial districts at the Sunday services. The circular is as ci? WS: "~" Tothe women °f the Church of England in the diocese of Christchurch, —Grace and peace be with you. A most important change in your relation to the State has been brought about by the passing of the Act for extending the franchise to the women of this Colony, which seems to call for a few words of counsel from your Bishop. What is your duty under theße new conditions? It maybe that some of you, averse from interference in public matters.or for other reasons, will refrain from claiming and exercising the powers which have been conferred upon you, and I hear that comparatively few women have as yet enrolled. * Now it iB quite clear tbat unless the great majority of sensible intelligent, Christian women of the Colony qualify themselves to vote, the privilege of the female franchise will be exercised only by a Bmall and fanatical Bection of the community, or will serve only to put a few more votes at the dipoßftl of the men. In either case the true and proper influence of women will be lost to the State. The completeness of humanity is found not in the men alone, nor in the women alone, but in the two combined. Women are specially endowed. Their influence is moral .and > religious. In the intuitive sense of righteousness, and in obedience to duty, they are superior to men. Hitherto this side of our nature has been most imperfectly represented. Now is the time for womanhood to express itself. It is quite vain to ask whether women desire the franchise. Ton have it, and you must useit. The power is conferred upon you by God, not by man. In the interests of morality and pure religion, I urge upon yon to claim aud exercise your right of voting, soberly, fearlessly, and as in the sight of God.— l am, your faithful servant in Chrißt, C. Cbristchubch." The letter was accordingly read at all the churches, and at several women's suffrage was made a topic of discourse by the preachers. The Eev H. C. M. Watson, at St John's, last evening, based his sermon on the Bishop's pastoral, and maintaining that woman's cause waa man's, said that the extension of the franchise practically gave the vote to the family. He augured good results from the innovation because, in the words of Tennyson, with man and woman each fulfilled the defects in each other. Whilst men gave etroDg consideration to some questions, women gave greater consideration to others.