There are many special advantages to be derived from the introduction of a few superior women into the police-force. I think that the services of a lady like the late Miss Merryweather, for instance, would be invaluable, both for the actual service such a woman would render in the management of female offenders, and also for the higher tone that such appointments would infuse into the police force itself. It is only the appointment of a few superior women that I should recommend, and these must be solely responsible to the highest head of the organization. The introduction of ordinary women corresponding to the common policeman, or in any way subordinate to lower officials, would be out of the question and extremely mischievous. But to secure the insight and influence of superior and proved women in dealing with female offenders, by placing them in positions of authority and responsibility, would be a great step made towards the solution of some of the most difficult problems of society. The problems which grow out of the relations of the sexes have hitherto proved insoluble, the despair of legislation. With the most conscientious endeavour to act wisely, even our ablest statesmen do not know how to deal with them. It is impossible that men alone can solve these sexual problems, because there are two human elements to be considered in such questions, which need the mutual enlightenment which can only result from the intelligent comparison of those two elements. The necessary contribution of wise practical suggestion which is needed from the intelligence of women, can only come through the enlarging experience gained by upright women. The reform now suggested is one of the steps by which this necessary experience may be reached--viz., the placing of some superior women in very responsible positions in the police organization--positions where their actual practical acquaintance with great social difficulties may enlighten as well as stimulate their intelligent devotion in the search for remedies.[13] Let me, in conclusion, heartily bid God-speed to the noble efforts of your rescue societies, and to all those engaged in reinstating our fallen womanhood. I hail with deep satisfaction the meeting of this Conference. It is a brave and sincere action on the part of Christian women to meet together and hold serious counsel upon the wisest methods of overcoming the deep practical heathenism of our society--the heathenism of tolerating and protecting mercenary promiscuous sexual intercourse. FOOTNOTES: [12] The power of being able to offer fair remunerative occupation is becoming more and more evidently a necessary condition of rescue work. The pitiful response, ‘It is my bread,’ is now often addressed to those many noble-hearted young men who, instead of yielding to, remonstrate with, the street-walkers.