s question believe
that the final admission of women to the University was due to a
resolve on the part of the people of the State to place upon the
board of regents, as the terms of old members expired, men well
known to be favorable. On the election of Professor Estabrook of
the State Normal School there was one more noble man "for us,"
who, with other new members, made a majority in favor of justice.
In the autumn of that year (1869) young women were admitted to
full privileges in Michigan University, and, like political
freedom in Wyoming, it has for years been confessed to have
yielded only beneficent results. As long ago, however, as the
first application was made (1858) women were permitted to attend
certain lectures. They could not join a class or read a book, but
it was the custom for them to go and listen to the beautiful and
highly instructive lectures by Professor Andrew D. White on
history, sculpture, and mediaeval architecture, and they highly
appreciated the privilege.

In March, 1869, President Havens said in the House of
Representatives at Lansing, "he believed the University should be
opened to those who desired to obtain the benefit of the branches
of education which they could not obtain elsewhere." The Rev.
Gilbert Haven wrote to the American Society's meeting held in
Detroit, in 1874: "I have been identified with your cause through
its evil report, and, I was going to add, good report, but that
part has not yet very largely set in. I also had the honor to
preside over the first ecclesiastical body that has, just now,
pronounced in your favor." This church assembly was the Methodist
State Association, which adopted the following in October, 1874,
without a negative vote, though several of the delegates refused
to vote:

WHEREAS, The legislature of Michigan, at its recent session,
has submitted to the electors of the State a proposition to
change the State constitution so as to admit the women of
Michigan to the elective franchise; therefore,

_Resolved_, That this convention recognizes the action of
the legislature as a step toward a higher and purer
administration of the government of our country, and we hope
the provision will be adopted.

But the above was not the s