It is shown that the calculation of the critical loads of a plane framework is superfluous if the bending moments in the bars due to external moments and to lateral loads are determined by the Hardy Cross moment distribution method as extended by James. Convergence of this method is a proof of the stability of the framework. In Section 1 methods of determining stresses and critical loads in frameworks are discussed. Section 2 deals with the distortion patterns of beam columns on several supports below and above the critical loads. In Section 3 the method of proof of the convergence is outlined, and regular and particular cases are discussed with the aid of numerical examples. The final proof is given in Section 4.