,,the ,,woman',s ,,bible4 ,,part ,i4 ,comments on ,genesis1 ,exodus1 ,leviticus1 ,numbers and ,deuteronomy4 ,in every soul there is bound up some truth and some error1 and each gives to the world of thought what no other one possesses4--,cousin4 #ahih4 ,by ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton ,,revising ,,committee4 ,we took sweet counsel together4--,ps4 ,iv41 #ad4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 ,lillie ,devereux ,blake1 ,rev4 ,phebe ,a4 ,hanaford1 ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage1 ,clara ,bewick ,colby1 ,rev4 ,olympia ,brown1 ,rev4 ,augusta ,chapin1 ,frances ,ellen ,burr1 ,ursula ,n4 ,gestefeld1 ,clara ,b4 ,neyman1 ,mary ,seymour ,howell1 ,helen ,h4 ,gardener1 ,josephine ,k4 ,henry1 ,charlotte ,beebe3 ,wilbour1 ,mrs4 ,robert ,g4 ,ingersoll1 ,lucinda ,b4 ,chandler1 ,sarah ,a4 ,underwood1 ,catharine ,f4 ,stebbins1 ,ellen ,battelle ,dietrick1,,fn#a ,louisa ,southworth4 ,,fn#a ,deceased4 ,,foreign ,,members4 ,baroness ,alexandra ,gripenberg1 ,finland1 ,ursula ,m4 ,bright1 ,england1 ,irma ,von ,troll-,borostyant1 ,austria1 ,priscilla ,bright ,mclaren1 ,scotland1 ,isabelle ,bogelot1 ,france ,,comments ,,on ,,genesis1 ,,exodus1 ,,leviticus1 ,,numbers ,,and ,,deuteronomy1 ,by ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 ,lillie ,devereux ,blake1 ,rev4 ,phebe ,hanaford1 ,clara ,bewick ,colby1 ,ellen ,battelle ,dietrick1 ,ursula ,n4 ,gestefeld1 ,mrs4 ,louisa ,southworth1 ,frances ,ellen ,burr4 ,,preface4 ,so many letters are daily received asking questions about the ,woman's ,bible1--as to the extent of the revision1 and the standpoint from which it will be conducted--that it seems best1 though every detail is not as yet matured1 to state the plan1 as concisely as possible1 upon which those who have been in consultation during the summer1 propose to do the work4 ,i4 ,the object is to revise only those texts and chapters directly referring to women1 and those also in which women are made prominent by exclusion4 ,as all such passages combined form but one-tenth of the ,scriptures1 the undertaking will not be so laborious as1 at the first thought1 one would imagine4 ,these texts1 with the commentaries1 can easily be compressed into a duodecimo volume of about four hundred pages4 ,,ii4 ,the commentaries will be of a threefold character1 the writers in the different branches being selected according to their special aptitude for the work3 #a4 ,two or three ,greek and ,hebrew scholars will devote themselves to the translation and the meaning of particular words and texts in the original4 #b4 ,others will devote themselves to ,biblical history1 old manuscripts1 to the new version1 and to the latest theories as to the occult meaning of certain texts and parables4 #c4 ,for the commentaries on the plain ,english version a committee of some thirty members has been formed4 ,these are women of earnestness and liberal ideas1 quick to see the real purport of the ,bible as regards their sex4 ,among them the various books of the ,old and ,new ,testament will be distributed for comment4 ,,iii4 ,there will be two or more editors to bring the work of the various committees into one consistent whole4 ,,iv4 ,the completed work will be submitted to an advisory committee assembled at some central point1 as ,london1 ,new ,york1 or ,chicago1 to sit in final judgment on ,the ,woman's ,bible4 ,as to the manner of doing the practical work3 ,those who have been engaged this summer have adopted the following plan1 which may be suggestive to new members of the committee4 ,each person purchased two ,bibles1 ran through them from ,genesis to ,revelations1 marking all the texts that concerned women4 ,the passages were cut out1 and pasted in a blank book1 and the commentaries then written underneath4 ,those not having time to read all the books can confine their labors to the particular ones they propose to review4 ,it is thought best to publish the different parts as soon as prepared so that the ,committee may have all in print in a compact form before the final revision4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,august #ast1 #ahie4 ,,introduction4 ,from the inauguration of the movement for woman's emancipation the ,bible has been used to hold her in the divinely ordained sphere1 prescribed in the ,old and ,new ,testaments4 ,the canon and civil law2 church and state2 priests and legislators2 all political parties and religious denominations have alike taught that woman was made after man1 of man1 and for man1 an inferior being1 subject to man4 ,creeds1 codes1 ,scriptures and statutes1 are all based on this idea4 ,the fashions1 forms1 ceremonies and customs of society1 church ordinances and discipline all grow out of this idea4 ,of the old ,english common law1 responsible for woman's civil and political status1 ,lord ,brougham said1 it is a disgrace to the civilization and ,christianity of the ,nineteenth ,century4 ,of the canon law1 which is responsible for woman's status in the church1 ,charles ,kingsley said1 this will never be a good world for women until the last remnant of the canon law is swept from the face of the earth4 ,the ,bible teaches that woman brought sin and death into the world1 that she precipitated the fall of the race1 that she was arraigned before the judgment seat of ,heaven1 tried1 condemned and sentenced4 ,marriage for her was to be a condition of bondage1 maternity a period of suffering and anguish1 and in silence and subjection1 she was to play the role of a dependent on man's bounty for all her material wants1 and for all the information she might desire on the vital questions of the hour1 she was commanded to ask her husband at home4 ,here is the ,bible position of woman briefly summed up4 ,those who have the divine insight to translate1 transpose and transfigure this mournful object of pity into an exalted1 dignified personage1 worthy our worship as the mother of the race1 are to be congratulated as having a share of the occult mystic power of the eastern ,mahatmas4 ,the plain ,english to the ordinary mind admits of no such liberal interpretation4 ,the unvarnished texts speak for themselves4 ,the canon law1 church ordinances and ,scriptures1 are homogeneous1 and all reflect the same spirit and sentiments4 ,these familiar texts are quoted by clergymen in their pulpits1 by statesmen in the halls of legislation1 by lawyers in the courts1 and are echoed by the press of all civilized nations1 and accepted by woman herself as ,the ,word of ,god4 ,so perverted is the religious element in her nature1 that with faith and works she is the chief support of the church and clergy2 the very powers that make her emancipation impossible4 ,when1 in the early part of the ,nineteenth ,century1 women began to protest against their civil and political degradation1 they were referred to the ,bible for an answer4 ,when they protested against their unequal position in the church1 they were referred to the ,bible for an answer4 ,this led to a general and critical study of the ,scriptures4 ,some1 having made a fetish of these books and believing them to be the veritable ,word of ,god1 with liberal translations1 interpretations1 allegories and symbols1 glossed over the most objectionable features of the various books and clung to them as divinely inspired4 ,others1 seeing the family resemblance between the ,mosaic code1 the canon law1 and the old ,english common law1 came to the conclusion that all alike emanated from the same source2 wholly human in their origin and inspired by the natural love of domination in the historians4 ,others1 bewildered with their doubts and fears1 came to no conclusion4 ,while their clergymen told them on the one hand1 that they owed all the blessings and freedom they enjoyed to the ,bible1 on the other1 they said it clearly marked out their circumscribed sphere of action3 that the demands for political and civil rights were irreligious1 dangerous to the stability of the home1 the state and the church4 ,clerical appeals were circulated from time to time1 conjuring members of their churches to take no part in the anti-slavery or woman suffrage movements1 as they were infidel in their tendencies1 undermining the very foundations of society4 ,no wonder the majority of women stood still1 and with bowed heads1 accepted the situation4 ,listening to the varied opinions of women1 ,i have long thought it would be interesting and profitable to get them clearly stated in book form4 ,to this end six years ago ,i proposed to a committee of women to issue a ,woman's ,bible1 that we might have women's commentaries on women's position in the ,old and ,new ,testaments4 ,it was agreed on by several leading women in ,england and ,america and the work was begun1 but from various causes it has been delayed1 until now the idea is received with renewed enthusiasm1 and a large committee has been formed1 and we hope to complete the work within a year4 ,those who have undertaken the labor are desirous to have some ,hebrew and ,greek scholars1 versed in ,biblical criticism1 to gild our pages with their learning4 ,several distinguished women have been urged to do so1 but they are afraid that their high reputation and scholarly attainments might be compromised by taking part in an enterprise that for a time may prove very unpopular4 ,hence we may not be able to get help from that class4 ,others fear that they might compromise their evangelical faith by affiliating with those of more liberal views1 who do not regard the ,bible as the ,word of ,god1 but like any other book1 to be judged by its merits4 ,if the ,bible teaches the equality of ,woman1 why does the church refuse to ordain women to preach the gospel1 to fill the offices of deacons and elders1 and to administer the ,sacraments1 or to admit them as delegates to the ,synods1 ,general ,assemblies and ,conferences of the different denominations8 ,they have never yet invited a woman to join one of their ,revising ,committees1 nor tried to mitigate the sentence pronounced on her by changing one count in the indictment served on her in ,paradise4 ,the large number of letters received1 highly appreciative of the undertaking1 is very encouraging to those who have inaugurated the movement1 and indicate a growing self-respect and self-assertion in the women of this generation4 ,but we have the usual array of objectors to meet and answer4 ,one correspondent conjures us to suspend the work1 as it is ridiculous for women to attempt the revision of the ,scriptures4 ,i wonder if any man wrote to the late revising committee of ,divines to stop their work on the ground that it was ridiculous for men to revise the ,bible4 ,why is it more ridiculous for women to protest against her present status in the ,old and ,new ,testament1 in the ordinances and discipline of the church1 than in the statutes and constitution of the state8 ,why is it more ridiculous to arraign ecclesiastics for their false teaching and acts of injustice to women1 than members of ,congress and the ,house of ,commons8 ,why is it more audacious to review ,moses than ,blackstone1 the ,jewish code of laws1 than the ,english system of jurisprudence8 ,women have compelled their legislators in every state in this ,union to so modify their statutes for women that the old common law is now almost a dead letter4 ,why not compel ,bishops and ,revising ,committees to modify their creeds and dogmas8 ,forty years ago it seemed as ridiculous to timid1 time-serving and retrograde folk for women to demand an expurgated edition of the laws1 as it now does to demand an expurgated edition of the ,liturgies and the ,scriptures4 ,come1 come1 my conservative friend1 wipe the dew off your spectacles1 and see that the world is moving4 ,whatever your views may be as to the importance of the proposed work1 your political and social degradation are but an outgrowth of your status in the ,bible4 ,when you express your aversion1 based on a blind feeling of reverence in which reason has no control1 to the revision of the ,scriptures1 you do but echo ,cowper1 who1 when asked to read ,paine's ,rights of ,man1 exclaimed ,no man shall convince me that ,i am improperly governed while ,i feel the contrary4 ,others say it is not politic to rouse religious opposition4 ,this much-lauded policy is but another word for cowardice4 ,how can woman's position be changed from that of a subordinate to an equal1 without opposition1 without the broadest discussion of all the questions involved in her present degradation8 ,for so far-reaching and momentous a reform as her complete independence1 an entire revolution in all existing institutions is inevitable4 ,let us remember that all reforms are interdependent1 and that whatever is done to establish one principle on a solid basis1 strengthens all4 ,reformers who are always compromising1 have not yet grasped the idea that truth is the only safe ground to stand upon4 ,the object of an individual life is not to carry one fragmentary measure in human progress1 but to utter the highest truth clearly seen in all directions1 and thus to round out and perfect a well balanced character4 ,was not the sum of influence exerted by ,john ,stuart ,mill on political1 religious and social questions far greater than that of any statesman or reformer who has sedulously limited his sympathies and activities to carrying one specific measure8 ,we have many women abundantly endowed with capabilities to understand and revise what men have thus far written4 ,but they are all suffering from inherited ideas of their inferiority2 they do not perceive it1 yet such is the true explanation of their solicitude1 lest they should seem to be too self- asserting4 ,again there are some who write us that our work is a useless expenditure of force over a book that has lost its hold on the human mind4 ,most intelligent women1 they say1 regard it simply as the history of a rude people in a barbarous age1 and have no more reverence for the ,scriptures than any other work4 ,so long as tens of thousands of ,bibles are printed every year1 and circulated over the whole habitable globe1 and the masses in all ,english-speaking nations revere it as the word of ,god1 it is vain to belittle its influence4 ,the sentimental feelings we all have for those things we were educated to believe sacred1 do not readily yield to pure reason4 ,i distinctly remember the shudder that passed over me on seeing a mother take our family ,bible to make a high seat for her child at table4 ,it seemed such a desecration4 ,i was tempted to protest against its use for such a purpose1 and this1 too1 long after my reason had repudiated its divine authority4 ,to women still believing in the plenary inspiration of the ,scriptures1 we say give us by all means your exegesis in the light of the higher criticism learned men are now making1 and illumine the ,woman's ,bible1 with your inspiration4 ,bible historians claim special inspiration for the ,old and ,new ,testaments containing most contradictory records of the same events1 of miracles opposed to all known laws1 of customs that degrade the female sex of all human and animal life1 stated in most questionable language that could not be read in a promiscuous assembly1 and call all this ,the ,word of ,god4 ,the only points in which ,i differ from all ecclesiastical teaching is that ,i do not believe that any man ever saw or talked with ,god1 ,i do not believe that ,god inspired the ,mosaic code1 or told the historians what they say he did about woman1 for all the religions on the face of the earth degrade her1 and so long as woman accepts the position that they assign her1 her emancipation is impossible4 ,whatever the ,bible may be made to do in ,hebrew or ,greek1 in plain ,english it does not exalt and dignify woman4 ,my standpoint for criticism is the revised edition of #ahhh4 #a will so far honor the revising committee of wise men who have given us the best exegesis they can according to their ability1 although ,disraeli said the last one before he died1 contained #aej1jjj blunders in the ,hebrew1 and #g1jjj in the ,greek4 ,but the verbal criticism in regard to woman's position amounts to little4 ,the spirit is the same in all periods and languages1 hostile to her as an equal4 ,there are some general principles in the holy books of all religions that teach love1 charity1 liberty1 justice and equality for all the human family1 there are many grand and beautiful passages1 the golden rule has been echoed and re-echoed around the world4 ,there are lofty examples of good and true men and women1 all worthy our acceptance and imitation whose lustre cannot be dimmed by the false sentiments and vicious characters bound up in the same volume4 ,the ,bible cannot be accepted or rejected as a whole1 its teachings are varied and its lessons differ widely from each other4 ,in criticising the peccadilloes of ,sarah1 ,rebecca and ,rachel1 we would not shadow the virtues of ,deborah1 ,huldah and ,vashti4 ,in criticising the ,mosaic code1 we would not question the wisdom of the golden rule and the fifth ,commandment4 ,again the church claims special consecration for its cathedrals and priesthood1 parts of these aristocratic churches are too holy for women to enter1 boys were early introduced into the choirs for this reason1 woman singing in an obscure corner closely veiled4 ,a few of the more democratic denominations accord women some privileges1 but invidious discriminations of sex are found in all religious organizations1 and the most bitter outspoken enemies of woman are found among clergymen and bishops of the ,protestant religion4,,fn#b ,,fn#b ,see the address of ,bishop ,doane1 ,june #gth1 #ahie1 in the closing exercises of ,st4 ,agnes ,school1 ,albany4 ,the canon law1 the ,scriptures1 the creeds and codes and church discipline of the leading religions bear the impress of fallible man1 and not of our ideal great first cause1 the ,spirit of all ,good1 that set the universe of matter and mind in motion1 and by immutable law holds the land1 the sea1 the planets1 revolving round the great centre of light and heat1 each in its own elliptic1 with millions of stars in harmony all singing together1 the glory of creation forever and ever4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,genesis4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,genesis i3 #bf1 #bg1 #bh4 #bf ,and ,god said1 ,let us make man in our image after our likeness3 and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea1 and over the fowl of the air1 and over the cattle1 and over all the earth1 and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth #bg ,so ,god created man in his own image1 in the image of ,god created he him3 male and female image1 created he them4 #bh ,and ,god blessed them1 and ,god said unto them1 ,be fruitful1 and multiply1 and replenish the earth1 and subdue it2 and have dominion over the fish of the sea1 and over the fowl of the air1 and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth4 ,here is the sacred historian's first account of the advent of woman2 a simultaneous creation of both sexes1 in the image of ,god4 ,it is evident from the language that there was consultation in the ,godhead1 and that the masculine and feminine elements were equally represented4 ,scott in his commentaries says1 this consultation of the ,gods is the origin of the doctrine of the trinity4 ,but instead of three male personages1 as generally represented1 a ,heavenly ,father1 ,mother1 and ,son would seem more rational4 ,the first step in the elevation of woman to her true position1 as an equal factor in human progress1 is the cultivation of the religious sentiment in regard to her dignity and equality1 the recognition by the rising generation of an ideal ,heavenly ,mother1 to whom their prayers should be addressed1 as well as to a ,father4 ,if language has any meaning1 we have in these texts a plain declaration of the existence of the feminine element in the ,godhead1 equal in power and glory with the masculine4 ,the ,heavenly ,mother and ,father6 ,god created man in his own image1 male and female4 ,thus ,scripture1 as well as science and philosophy1 declares the eternity and equality of sex--the philosophical fact1 without which there could have been no perpetuation of creation1 no growth or development in the animal1 vegetable1 or mineral kingdoms1 no awakening nor progressing in the world of thought4 ,the masculine and feminine elements1 exactly equal and balancing each other1 are as essential to the maintenance of the equilibrium of the universe as positive and negative electricity1 the centripetal and centrifugal forces1 the laws of attraction which bind together all we know of this planet whereon we dwell and of the system in which we revolve4 ,in the great work of creation the crowning glory was realized1 when man and woman were evolved on the sixth day1 the masculine and feminine forces in the image of ,god1 that must have existed eternally1 in all forms of matter and mind4 ,all the persons in the ,godhead are represented in the ,elohim the divine plurality taking counsel in regard to this last and highest form of life4 ,who were the members of this high council1 and were they a duality or a trinity8 ,verse #bg declares the image of ,god male and female4 ,how then is it possible to make woman an afterthought8 ,we find in verses #e-af the pronoun he used4 ,should it not in harmony with verse #bf be they1 a dual pronoun8 ,we may attribute this to the same cause as the use of his in verse #aa instead of it4 ,the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind instead of after its kind4 ,the paucity of a language may give rise to many misunderstandings4 ,the above texts plainly show the simultaneous creation of man and woman1 and their equal importance in the development of the race4 ,all those theories based on the assumption that man was prior in the creation1 have no foundation in ,scripture4 ,as to woman's subjection1 on which both the canon and the civil law delight to dwell1 it is important to note that equal dominion is given to woman over every living thing1 but not one word is said giving man dominion over woman4 ,here is the first title deed to this green earth giving alike to the sons and daughters of ,god4 ,no lesson of woman's subjection can be fairly drawn from the first chapter of the ,old ,testament4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the most important thing for a woman to note1 in reading ,genesis1 is that that portion which is now divided into the first three chapters 7there was no such division until about five centuries ago71 contains two entirely separate1 and very contradictory1 stories of creation1 written by two different1 but equally anonymous1 authors4 ,no ,christian theologian of to-day1 with any pretensions to scholarship1 claims that ,genesis was written by ,moses4 ,as was long ago pointed out1 the ,bible itself declares that all the books the ,jews originally possessed were burned in the destruction of ,jerusalem1 about #ehh ,b4 ,c41 at the time the people were taken to ,babylonia as slaves too the ,assyrians1 7see ,,ii ,esdras1 ch4 xiv1 ,v4 #ba1 ,apocrypha74 ,not until about #bdg ,b4 ,c4 7some theologians say #bbf and others2 #afi ,b4 ,c47 is there any record of a collection of literature in the re-built ,jerusalem1 and1 then1 the anonymous writer of ,,ii ,maccabees briefly mentions that some ,nehemiah gathered together the acts of the kings and the prophets and those of ,david when founding a library for use in ,jerusalem4 ,but the earliest mention anywhere in the ,bible of a book that might have corresponded to ,genesis is made by an apocryphal writer1 who says that ,ezra wrote all that hath been done in the world since the beginning1 after the ,jews returned from ,babylon1 under his leadership1 about #dej ,b4 ,c4 7see ,,ii ,esdras1 ch4 xiv1 v4 #bb1 of the ,apocrypha74 ,when it is remembered that the ,jewish books were written on rolls of leather1 without much attention to vowel points and with no division into verses or chapters1 by uncritical copyists1 who altered passages greatly1 and did not always even pretend to understand what they were copying1 then the reader of ,genesis begins to put herself in position to understand how it can be contradictory4 ,great as were the liberties which the ,jews took with ,genesis1 those of the ,english translators1 however1 greatly surpassed them4 ,the first chapter of ,genesis1 for instance1 in ,hebrew1 tells us1 in verses one and two1 ,as to origin1 created the gods 7,elohim7 these skies 7or air or clouds7 and this earth4 4 4 ,and a wind moved upon the face of the waters4 ,here we have the opening of a polytheistic fable of creation1 but1 so strongly convinced were the ,english translators that the ancient ,hebrews must have been originally monotheistic that they rendered the above1 as follows3 ,in the beginning ,god created the heaven and the earth4 4 4 4 ,and the spirit of ,god 767 moved upon the face of the waters4 ,it is now generally conceded that some one 7nobody pretends to know who7 at some time 7nobody pretends to know exactly when71 copied two creation myths on the same leather roll1 one immediately following the other4 ,about one hundred years ago1 it was discovered by ,dr4 ,astruc1 of ,france1 that from ,genesis ch4 i1 v4 #a to ,genesis ch4 ii1 v4 #d1 is given one complete account of creation1 by an author who always used the term the gods 7,elohim71 in speaking of the fashioning of the universe1 mentioning it altogether thirty-four times1 while1 in ,genesis ch4 ii1 v4 #d1 to the end of chapter iii1 we have a totally different narrative1 by an author of unmistakably different style1 who uses the term ,iahveh of the gods twenty times1 but ,elohim only three times4 ,the first author1 evidently1 attributes creation to a council of gods1 acting in concert1 and seems never to have heard of ,iahveh4 ,the second attributes creation to ,iahveh1 a tribal god of ancient ,israel1 but represents ,iahveh as one of two or more gods1 conferring with them 7in ,genesis ch4 xiii1 ,v4 #bb7 as to the danger of man's acquiring immortality4 ,modern theologians have1 for convenience sake1 entitled these two fables1 respectively1 the ,elohistic and the ,iahoistic stories4 ,they differ1 not only in the point ,i have mentioned above1 but in the order of the creative acts2 in regard to the mutual attitude of man and woman1 and in regard to human freedom from prohibitions imposed by deity4 ,in order to exhibit their striking contradictions1 ,i will place them in parallel columns3 ,,elohistic4 --- ,,iahoistic4 ,order of ,creation3 --- ,order of ,creation3 ,first--,water4 --- ,first--,land4 ,second--,land4 --- ,second--,water4 ,third--,vegetation4 --- ,third--,male ,man1 only4 ,fourth--,animals4 --- ,fourth--,vegetation4 ,fifth--,mankind2 male and female4 --- ,fifth--,animals4 --- ,sixth--,woman4 ,in this story male and female man are created simultaneously1 both alike1 in the image of the gods1 after animals have been called into existence4 --- ,in this story male man is sculptured out of clay1 before any animals are created1 and before female man has been constructed4 ,here1 joint dominion over the earth is given to woman and man1 without limit or prohibition4 --- ,here1 woman is punished with subjection to man for breaking a prohibitory law4 ,everything1 without exception1 is pronounced very good4 --- ,there is a tree of evil1 whose fruit1 is said by ,iahveh to cause sudden death1 but which does not do so1 as ,adam lived #icj years after eating it4 ,man and woman are told that every plant bearing seed upon the face of the earth and every tree4 4 4 ,to you it shall be for meat4 ,they are thus given perfect freedom4 --- ,man is told there is one tree of which he must not eat1 for in the day thou eatest thereof1 thou shalt surely die4 ,man and woman are given special dominion over all the animals-every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth4 --- ,an animal1 a creeping thing1 is given dominion over man and woman1 and proves himself more truthful than ,iahveh ,elohim4 7,compare ,genesis chapter ii1 verse #ag1 with chapter iii1 verses #d and #bb47 ,now as it is manifest that both of these stories cannot be true2 intelligent women1 who feel bound to give the preference to either1 may decide according to their own judgment of which is more worthy of an intelligent woman's acceptance4 ,paul's rule is a good one in this dilemma1 ,prove all things3 hold fast to that which is good4 ,my own opinion is that the second story was manipulated by some ,jew1 in an endeavor to give heavenly authority for requiring a woman to obey the man she married4 ,in a work which ,i am now completing1 ,i give some facts concerning ancient ,israelitish history1 which will be of peculiar interest to those who wish to understand the origin of woman's subjection4 ,e4 ,b4 ,d4 ,many orientalists and students of theology have maintained that the consultation of the ,gods here described is proof that the ,hebrews were in early days polytheists--,scott's supposition that this is the origin of the ,trinity has no foundation in fact1 as the beginning of that conception is to be found in the earliest of all known religious nature worship4 ,the acknowledgment of the dual principal1 masculine and feminine1 is much more probably the explanation of the expressions here used4 ,in the detailed description of creation we find a gradually ascending series4 ,creeping things1 great sea monsters1 7chap4 ,i1 ,v4 #ba1 literal translation74 ,every bird of wing1 cattle and living things of the earth1 the fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens1 then man1 and last and crowning glory of the whole1 woman4 ,it cannot be maintained that woman was inferior to man even if1 as asserted in chapter ii1 she was created after him without at once admitting that man is inferior to the creeping things1 because created after them4 ,l4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,genesis ii1 #ba-be4 #ba ,and the ,lord ,god caused a deep sleep to fall upon ,adam1 and he slept2 and be took one of his ribs1 and closed up the flesh thereof4 #bb ,and the rib which the ,lord ,god had taken from man1 made he a woman1 and brought her unto the man4 #bc ,and ,adam said1 ,this is now bone of my bone1 and flesh of my flesh3 she shall be called ,woman1 because she was taken out of man4 #bd ,therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother1 and shall cleave unto his wife2 and they shall be one flesh4 #be4 ,and they were both naked1 the man and his wife1 and were not ashamed4 ,as the account of the creation in the first chapter is in harmony with science1 common sense1 and the experience of mankind in natural laws1 the inquiry naturally arises1 why should there be two contradictory accounts in the same book1 of the same event8 ,it is fair to infer that the second version1 which is found in some form in the different religions of all nations1 is a mere allegory1 symbolizing some mysterious conception of a highly imaginative editor4 ,the first account dignifies woman as an important factor in the creation1 equal in power and glory with man4 ,the second makes her a mere afterthought4 ,the world in good running order without her4 ,the only reason for her advent being the solitude of man4 ,there is something sublime in bringing order out of chaos2 light out of darkness2 giving each planet its place in the solar system2 oceans and lands their limits2 wholly inconsistent with a petty surgical operation1 to find material for the mother of the race4 ,it is on this allegory that all the enemies of women rest their battering rams1 to prove her inferiority4 ,accepting the view that man was prior in the creation1 some ,scriptural writers say that as the woman was of the man1 therefore1 her position should be one of subjection4 ,grant it1 then as the historical fact is reversed in our day1 and the man is now of the woman1 shall his place be one of subjection8 ,the equal position declared in the first account must prove more satisfactory to both sexes2 created alike in the image of ,god--,the ,heavenly ,mother and ,father4 ,thus1 the ,old ,testament1 in the beginning1 proclaims the simultaneous creation of man and woman1 the eternity and equality of sex2 and the ,new ,testament echoes back through the centuries the individual sovereignty of woman growing out of this natural fact4 ,paul1 in speaking of equality as the very soul and essence of ,christianity1 said1 ,there is neither ,jew nor ,greek1 there is neither bond nor free1 there is neither male nor female2 for ye are all one in ,christ ,jesus4 ,with this recognition of the feminine element in the ,godhead in the ,old ,testament1 and this declaration of the equality of the sexes in the ,new1 we may well wonder at the contemptible status woman occupies in the ,christian ,church of to-day4 ,all the commentators and publicists writing on woman's position1 go through an immense amount of fine-spun metaphysical speculations1 to prove her subordination in harmony with the ,creator's original design4 ,it is evident that some wily writer1 seeing the perfect equality of man and woman in the first chapter1 felt it important for the dignity and dominion of man to effect woman's subordination in some way4 ,to do this a spirit of evil must be introduced1 which at once proved itself stronger than the spirit of good1 and man's supremacy was based on the downfall of all that had just been pronounced very good4 ,this spirit of evil evidently existed before the supposed fall of man1 hence woman was not the origin of sin as so often asserted4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,in v4 #bc ,adam proclaims the eternal oneness of the happy pair1 ,this is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh2 no hint of her subordination4 ,how could men1 admitting these words to be divine revelation1 ever have preached the subjection of woman6 ,next comes the naming of the mother of the race4 ,she shall be called ,woman1 in the ancient form of the word ,womb-man4 ,she was man and more than man because of her maternity4 ,the assertion of the supremacy of the woman in the marriage relation is contained in v4 #bd3 ,therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and cleave unto his wife4 ,nothing is said of the headship of man1 but he is commanded to make her the head of the household1 the home1 a rule followed for centuries under the ,matriarchate4 ,l4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,genesis iii3 #a-bd4 #a ,now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the ,lord ,god had made4 ,and he said unto the woman1 ,yea1 hath ,god said1 ,ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden8 #b ,and the woman said unto the serpent1 ,we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden3 #c ,but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden1 ,god hath said ,ye shall not eat of it1 neither shall ye touch it1 lest ye die4 #d ,and the serpent said unto the woman1 ,ye shall not surely die3 #e ,for ,god doth know that in the day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened1 and ye shall be as gods1 knowing good and evil4 #f ,and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food1 and that it was pleasant to the eyes1 and a tree to be desired to make one wise1 she took of the fruit thereof1 and did eat and gave also unto her husband with her2 and he did eat4 #g ,and the eyes of them both were opened1 and they knew that they were naked2 and they sewed fig leaves together1 and made themselves aprons4 #h ,and they heard the voice of the ,lord ,god walking in the garden in the cool of the day2 and ,adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the ,lord ,god amongst the trees in the garden4 #i ,and the ,lord ,god called unto ,adam1 and said unto him1 ,where art thou8 #aj ,and he said1 ,i heard thy voice in the garden1 and ,i was afraid1 because ,i was naked2 and ,i hid myself4 #aa ,and he said1 ,who told thee that thou wast naked8 ,hast thou eaten of the tree1 whereof ,i commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat8 #ab ,and the man said1 ,the woman whom thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me of the tree1 and ,i did eat4 #ac ,and the ,lord ,god said unto the woman1 ,what is this that thou hast done8 ,and the woman said1 ,the serpent beguiled me1 and ,i did eat4 #ad ,and the ,lord ,god said unto the serpent1 ,because thou hast done this1 thou art cursed above all cattle1 and above every beast of the field2 upon thy belly shalt thou go1 and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life3 #ae ,and ,i will put enmity between thee and the woman1 and between thy seed and her seed2 it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel4 #af ,unto the woman he said1 ,i will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception2 in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children3 and thy desire shall be to thy husband1 and he shall rule over thee4 #ag ,and unto ,adam he said1 ,because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife1 and hast eaten of the tree1 of which ,i commanded thee1 saying1 ,thou shalt not eat of it2 cursed is the ground for thy sake2 in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life2 #ah ,thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee2 and thou shalt eat the herb of the field2 #ai4 ,in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground2 for out of it wast thou taken2 for dust thou art1 and unto dust shalt thou return4 #bj4 ,and ,adam called his wife's name ,eve3 because she was the mother of all living4 #ba ,unto ,adam also and to his wife did the ,lord ,god make coats of skins and clothed them4 #bb ,and the ,lord ,god said1 ,behold the man is become as one of us1 to know good and evil2 and now1 let he put forth his hand1 and take also of the tree of life1 and eat1 and live for ever2 #bc ,therefore the ,lord ,god sent him forth from the garden of ,eden1 to till the ground from whence he was taken4 #bd ,so he drove out the man3 and he placed at the east of the garden of ,eden cherubim1 and a flaming sword which turned every way1 to keep the way of the tree of life4 ,adam ,clarke1 in his commentaries1 asks the question1 is this an allegory8 ,he finds it beset with so many difficulties as an historical fact1 that he inclines at first to regard it as a fable1 a mere symbol1 of some hidden truth4 ,his mind seems more troubled about the serpent than any other personage in the drama4 ,as snakes cannot walk upright1 and have never been known to speak1 he thinks this beguiling creature must have been an ourang-outang1 or some species of ape4 ,however1 after expressing all his doubts1 he rests in the assumption that it must be taken literally1 and that with higher knowledge of the possibilities of all living things1 many seeming improbabilities will be fully realized4 ,a learned professor in ,yale ,college1,,fn#c before a large class of students1 expressed serious doubts as to the forbidden fruit being an apple1 as none grew in that latitude4 ,he said it must have been a quince4 ,if the serpent and the apple are to be withdrawn thus recklessly from the tableaux1 it is feared that with advancing civilization the whole drama may fall into discredit4 ,scientists tells us that the missing link between the ape and man1 has recently been discovered41 so that we can now trace back an unbroken line of ancestors to the dawn of creation4 ,,fn#c ,daniel ,cady ,eaton1 ,professor of ,botany4 ,as out of this allegory grows the doctrines of original sin1 the fall of man1 and woman the author of all our woes1 and the curses on the serpent1 the woman1 and the man2 the ,darwinian theory of the gradual growth of the race from a lower to a higher type of animal life1 is more hopeful and encouraging4 ,however1 as our chief interest is in woman's part in the drama1 we are equally pleased with her attitude1 whether as a myth in an allegory1 or as the heroine of an historical occurrence4 ,in this prolonged interview1 the unprejudiced reader must be impressed with the courage1 the dignity1 and the lofty ambition of the woman4 ,the tempter evidently had a profound knowledge of human nature1 and saw at a glance the high character of the person he met by chance in his walks in the garden4 ,he did not try to tempt her from the path of duty by brilliant jewels1 rich dresses1 worldly luxuries or pleasures1 but with the promise of knowledge1 with the wisdom of the ,gods4 ,like ,socrates or ,plato1 his powers of conversation and asking puzzling questions1 were no doubt marvellous1 and he roused in the woman that intense thirst for knowledge1 that the simple pleasures of picking flowers and talking with ,adam did not satisfy4 ,compared with ,adam she appears to great advantage through the entire drama4 ,the curse pronounced on woman is inserted in an unfriendly spirit to justify her degradation and subjection to man4 ,with obedience to the laws of health1 diet1 dress1 and exercise1 the period of maternity should be one of added vigor in both body and mind1 a perfectly natural operation should not be attended with suffering4 ,by the observance of physical and psychical laws the supposed curse can be easily transformed into a blessing4 ,some churchmen speak of maternity as a disability1 and then chant the ,magnificat in all their cathedrals round the globe4 ,through all life's shifting scenes1 the mother of the race has been the greatest factor in civilization4 ,we hear the opinion often expressed1 that woman always has1 and always will be in subjection4 ,neither assertion is true4 ,she enjoyed unlimited individual freedom for many centuries1 and the events of the present day all point to her speedy emancipation4 ,scientists now give #he1jjj years for the growth of the race4 ,they assign #fj1jjj to savagism1 #bj1jjj to barbarism1 and #e1jjj to civilization4 ,recent historians tell us that for centuries woman reigned supreme4 ,that period was called the ,matriarchate4 ,then man seized the reins of government1 and we are now under the ,patriarchate4 ,but we see on all sides new forces gathering1 and woman is already abreast with man in art1 science1 literature1 and government4 ,the next dynasty1 in which both will reign as equals1 will be the ,amphiarchate1 which is close at hand4 ,psychologists tell us of a sixth sense now in process of development1 by which we can read each other's mind and communicate without speech4 ,the ,tempter might have had that sense1 as he evidently read the minds of both the creature and the ,creator1 if we are to take this account as literally true1 as ,adam ,clarke advises4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,note the significant fact that we always hear of the fall of man1 not the fall of woman1 showing that the consensus of human thought has been more unerring than masculine interpretation4 ,reading this narrative carefully1 it is amazing that any set of men ever claimed that the dogma of the inferiority of woman is here set forth4 ,the conduct of ,eve from the beginning to the end is so superior to that of ,adam4 ,the command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of ,knowledge was given to the man alone before woman was formed4 ,genesis ii1 #ag4 ,therefore the injunction was not brought to ,eve with the impressive solemnity of a ,divine ,voice1 but whispered to her by her husband and equal4 ,it was a serpent supernaturally endowed1 a seraphim as ,scott and other commentators have claimed1 who talked with ,eve1 and whose words might reasonably seem superior to the second-hand story of her companion nor does the woman yield at once4 ,she quotes the command not to eat of the fruit to which the serpent replies ,dying ye shall not die1 v4 #d1 literal translation4 ,in other words telling her that if the mortal body does perish1 the immortal part shall live forever1 and offering as the reward of her act the attainment of ,knowledge4 ,then the woman fearless of death if she can gain wisdom takes of the fruit2 and all this time ,adam standing beside her interposes no word of objection4 ,her husband with her are the words of v4 #f4 ,had he been the representative of the divinely appointed head in married life1 he assuredly would have taken upon himself the burden of the discussion with the serpent1 but no1 he is silent in this crisis of their fate4 ,having had the command from ,god himself he interposes no word of warning or remonstrance1 but takes the fruit from the hand of his wife without a protest4 ,it takes six verses to describe the fall of woman1 the fall of man is contemptuously dismissed in a line and a half4 ,the subsequent conduct of ,adam was to the last degree dastardly4 ,when the awful time of reckoning comes1 and the ,jehovah ,god appears to demand why his command has been disobeyed1 ,adam endeavors to shield himself behind the gentle being he has declared to be so dear4 ,the woman thou gavest to be with me1 she gave me and ,i did eat1 he whines-- trying to shield himself at his wife's expense6 ,again we are amazed that upon such a story men have built up a theory of their superiority6 ,then follows what has been called the curse4 ,is it not rather a prediction8 ,first is the future fate of the serpent described1 the enmity of the whole human race--it shall lie in wait for thee as to the head 7v4 #ae1 literal translation74 ,next the subjection of the woman is foretold1 thy husband shall rule over thee1 v4 #af4 ,lastly the long struggle of man with the forces of nature is portrayed4 ,in the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat food until thy turning back to the earth 7v4 #ai1 literal translation74 ,with the evolution of humanity an ever increasing number of men have ceased to toil for their bread with their hands1 and with the introduction of improved machinery1 and the uplifting of the race there will come a time when there shall be no severities of labor1 and when women shall be freed from all oppressions4 ,and ,adam called his wife's name ,life for she was the mother of all living 7,v4 #bj1 literal translation74 ,it is a pity that all versions of the ,bible do not give this word instead of the ,hebrew ,eve4 ,she was ,life1 the eternal mother1 the first representative of the more valuable and important half of the human race4 ,l4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,genesis iv3 #a-ab1 #ai1 #ba4 #a4 ,and ,adam knew ,eve his wife2 and she conceived1 and bare ,cain1 and said1 ,i have gotten a man from the ,lord4 #b ,and she again bare his brother ,abel4 ,and ,abel was a keeper of sheep1 but ,cain was a tiller of the ground4 #c ,and in process of time it came to pass1 that ,cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the ,lord4 #d ,and ,abel1 he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof4 ,and the ,lord had respect unto ,abel and to his offering4 #e ,but unto ,cain and to his offering he had not respect4 ,and ,cain was very wroth1 and his countenance fell4 #f ,and the lord said unto ,cain1 ,why art thou wroth8 and why is thy countenance fallen8 #g ,if thou doest well1 shalt thou not be accepted3 and if thou doest not well1 sin lieth at the door3 and unto thee shall be his desire1 and thou shalt rule over him4 #h ,and ,cain talked with ,abet his brother3 and it came to pass1 when they were in the field1 that ,cain rose up against ,abel his brother1 and slew him4 #i4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,cain1 where is ,abel thy brother8 ,and he said ,am ,i my brother's keeper8 #aj4 ,and he said1 ,what hast thou done8 the voice of thy brothers blood crieth unto me from the ground4 #aa4 ,and now art thou cursed from the earth which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand4 #ab ,when thou tillest the ground1 it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength2 a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth4 #ai4 ,and ,lamech took unto him two wives3 the name of the one was ,adah1 and the name of the other ,zillah4 #bc ,and ,lamech said unto his wives1 ,adah and ,zillah1 hear my voice1 ye wives of ,lamech1 hearken unto my speech4 ,one would naturally suppose that ,cain's offering of fruit indicated a more refined and spiritual idea of the fitness of things than ,abel's of animal food4 ,why ,cain's offering was rejected as unworthy does not appear4 ,there is something pathetic in ,eve's joy and faith at the advent of her first-born3 ,lo ,i have a man child from the ,lord4 ,she evidently thought that ,cain was to be to her a great blessing4 ,some expositors say that ,eve thought that ,cain was the promised seed that was to bruise the serpent's head2 but ,adam ,clarke1 in estimating woman's reasoning powers1 says1 it was too metaphysical an idea for that period4 ,but as that is just what the ,lord said to ,eve1 she must have had the capacity to understand it4 ,but all speculations as to what ,eve thought in that eventful hour are vain4 ,clarke asserts that ,cain and ,abel were twins4 ,eve must have been too much occupied with her vacillating joys and sorrows to have indulged in any connected train of thought4 ,her grief in the fratricidal tragedy that followed can be more easily understood4 ,the dreary environments of the mother1 and the hopeless prophesies of her future struggling life1 banished to a dreary1 desolate region1 beyond the love and care of her ,creator1 is revenged on her children4 ,if ,adam and ,eve merited the severe punishment inflicted on them1 they should have had some advice from the ,heavenly ,mother and ,father as to the sin of propagating such an unworthy stock4 ,no good avails in increasing and multiplying evil propensities and deformities that produce only crime and misery from generation to generation4 ,during the ante-natal period the mother should be held sacred1 and surrounded with all the sweetest influences that ,heaven and earth can give1 loving companionship1 beautiful scenery1 music and flowers1 and all the pleasures that art in its highest form can produce4 ,as the women at this period seem to be myths1 no one takes the trouble to tell from whence they came4 ,it is sufficient that their husbands know1 and it is not necessary that the casual reader should4 ,the question is often asked1 whom did ,cain marry8 ,some expositors say that ,adam and ,eve had other sons and daughters living in different parts of the planet1 and that they married each other4 ,there seems to have been no scarcity of women1 for ,lamech1 ,cain's great grandson1 took unto himself two wives4 ,thus early in the history of the race polygamic relations were recognized4 ,the phraseology announcing the marriage of ,lamech is very significant4 ,in the case of ,adam and ,eve the ceremony was more imposing and dignified4 ,it was declared an equal relation4 ,but with the announcement of ,lamech's1 he simply took two wives1 ,adah and ,zillah4 ,whether the women were willingly captured will ever remain an open question4 ,the manner in which he is accustomed to issue his orders does not indicate a tender relation between the parties4 ,hear my voice3 ye wives of ,lamech1 and hearken unto my speech6 ,as the wives made no reply1 it shows that they had already learned that discreet silence is the only security for domestic happiness4 ,naamah the sister of ,tubal ,cain was supposed to be the wife of ,noah4 ,her name in ,hebrew signifies the beautiful or the gracious4 ,jewish doctors say her name is recorded here because she was an upright1 chaste woman1 but others affirm the contrary because the whole world wandered after her4 ,but the fact that ,naamah's beauty attracted the multitude1 does not prove that she either courted or accepted their attentions4 ,the manner in which the writer of these chapters presents the women so in conflict with ,chapters i and v1 which immediately precede and follow1 inclines the unprejudiced mind to relegate the ii1 iii and iv chapters to the realm of fancy as no part of the real history of creation's dawn4 ,the curse pronounced on ,cain is similar to that inflicted on ,adam1 both were to till the ground1 which was to bring forth weeds abundantly4 ,hale's statistics of weeds show their rapid and widespread power of propagation4 ,a progeny1 he says1 more than sufficient in a few years to stock every planet of the solar system4 ,in the face of such discouraging facts1 ,hale coolly remarks4 ,such provisions has the just ,god made to fulfil the curse which he promised on man4 ,it seems far more rational to believe that the curses on both woman and man were but figments of the human brain1 and that by the observance of natural laws1 both labor and maternity may prove great blessings4 ,with all the modern appliances of steam and electricity1 and the new inventions in machinery1 the cultivation of the soil is fast coming to be a recreation and amusement4 ,the farmer now sits at ease on his plough1 while his steed turns up the furrows at his will4 ,with machinery the sons of ,adam now sow and reap their harvests1 keep the wheels of their great manufactories in motion1 and with daily increasing speed carry on the commerce of the world4 ,the time is at hand when the heavy burdens of the laborer will all be shifted on the shoulders of these tireless machines4 ,and when the woman1 too1 learns and obeys the laws of life1 these supposed curses will be but idle dreams of the past4 ,the curse falls lightly even now on women who live in natural conditions1 and with anaesthetics is essentially mitigated in all cases4 ,when these remedial agents were first discovered1 some women refused to avail themselves of their blessings1 and some orthodox physicians refused to administer them1 lest they should interfere with the wise provisions of ,providence in making maternity a curse4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,myths ,,of ,,creation4 ,nothing would be more interesting in connection with the ,woman's ,bible than a comparative study of the accounts of the creation held by people of different races and faiths4 ,our ,norse ancestors1 whose myths were of a very exalted nature1 recorded in their ,bible1 the ,edda1 that one day the sons of ,bor 7a frost giant71 ,odin1 ,hoener1 and ,loder1 found two trees on the sea beach1 and from them created the first human pair1 man and woman4 ,odin gave them life and spirit1 ,hoener endowed them with reason and motion1 and ,loder gave them the senses and physical characteristics4 ,the man they called ,ask1 and the woman ,embla4 ,prof4 ,anderson finds in the brothers the threefold ,trinity of the ,bible4 ,it is easy to fancy that there is some philological connection between the names of the first pair in the ,bible and in the ,edda4 ,perhaps the formation of the first pair out of trees had a deep connection with the tree of life1 ,ygdrasil1 which extended1 according to ,norse mythology throughout the universe1 furnishing bodies for mankind from its branches4 ,it had three great roots1 one extending to the nebulous world1 and this was constantly gnawed by the serpent ,nidhug4 ,there was nothing in the ,norse mythology that taught the degradation of woman1 and the lay of ,sigdrifa1 in the ,edda1 is one of the noblest conceptions of the character of woman in all literature4 ,north ,american ,indian mythology has the human race born of the earth1 but the writer cannot learn that women held an inferior place4 ,among the ,quiches the mothers and fathers of old slept in the waters1 covered with green1 under a limpid twilight1 from which the earth and they were called out by a mighty wind4 ,the ,algonkins believed the human family were the children of ,michabo1 the spirit of the dawn1 and their supreme deity4 ,in their language the words earth1 mother and father were from the same root4 ,many tribes claim descent from a raven1 symbolizing the clouds2 others from a dog1 which is the symbol of the water goddess4 ,dr4 and ,madame ,le ,plongeon relate that in their discoveries among the buried remains of the ,mayas in ,yucatan1 everything marks a very high state of civilization4 ,in one of the exhumed temples they found pictures on the walls1 which seem to be a combination of the stories of the ,garden of ,eden and ,cain and ,abel4 ,the ,serpent was always the royal emblem1 because the shape of ,yucatan is that of a serpent ready to spring4 ,it was the custom among the ,mayas for the oldest son of the king to be a priest1 and the second son to marry the oldest daughter4 ,the pictures represent that the oldest son in this particular case was dissatisfied with this arrangement1 and wanted to marry the sister himself4 ,to tempt her he sends a basket of apples by a messenger4 ,he stands watching the way in which the present is received1 and the serpent in the picture 7indicating the royal family71 makes it curiously suggestive of the temptation of ,eve4 ,the sister1 however1 rejects the present1 and this so enrages the elder brother that he kills the younger1 who accordingly is deified by the ,mayas4 ,the image of ,chacmohl was discovered by the ,le ,plongeons1 and is now in the possession of the ,mexican ,government4 ,perhaps these brothers were twins1 as the commentator says ,cain and ,abel were1 and that gave rise to the jealousy4 ,nothing can surpass in grandeur the account in the first chapter of ,genesis of the creation of the race1 and it satisfies the highest aspirations and the deepest longings of the human soul4 ,no matter of what material formed1 or through how many ages the formative period ran1 or is to run1 the image of ,god is the birthright of man1 male and female4 ,whatever the second chapter may mean1 it cannot set aside the first4 ,it probably has a deep spiritual significance which mankind will appreciate when cavilling about the letter ceases4 ,to the writer's mind its meaning is best expressed in the words of ,goethe3--- ,the eternal womanly leads us on4 ,c4 ,b4 ,c4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,genesis v3 #a1 #b4 #a4 ,this is the book of the generations of ,adam4 ,in the day that ,god created man1 in the likeness of ,god made he him4 #b ,male and female created he them2 and blessed them1 and called their name ,adam1 in the day when they were created4 ,here we have the first account of the dual creation verified4 ,man and woman a simultaneous creation1 alike in the image of ,god4 ,the dual relation1 both in the ,godhead and humanity1 is here again declared1 though contradicted in the intervening chapters4 ,in this and the following chapters we have a prolix statement of the births1 deaths1 and ages in the male line4 ,they all take wives1 beget sons1 but nothing is said of the origin or destiny of the wives and daughters2 they are incidentally mentioned merely as necessary factors in the propagation of the male line4 ,the men of this period seem to have lived to a ripe old age1 but nothing is said of the age of the women2 it is probable as child- bearing was their chief ambition1 that men had a succession of wives1 all gathered to their fathers in the prime of life4 ,although ,eve and her daughters devoted their energies to this occupation1 yet the entire credit for the growth of the race is given to ,adam and his male descendants4 ,in all this chapter the begetting of the oldest son is made prominent1 his name only is given1 and the begetting of more sons and daughters is cursorily mentioned4 ,here is the first suggestion of the law of primogeniture responsible for so many of the evils that perplexed our ,saxon fathers4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,genesis vi3 #a-h1 #ad-bb4 #a ,and it came to pass1 when men began to multiply on the face of the earth1 and daughters were born unto them1 #b ,that the sons of ,god saw the daughters of men that they were fair1 and they took them wives of all which they chose4 #c ,and the ,lord said1 ,my spirit shall not always strive with man1 for that he also is flesh3 yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years4 #d ,there were giants in the earth in those days2 and also after that1 when the sons of ,god came in unto the daughters of men1 and they bare children to them1 the same became mighty men which were as of old1 men of renown4 #e ,and ,god saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth1 and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually4 #f ,and it repented the ,lord that he had made them man on the earth1 and it grieved him at his heart4 #g ,and the ,lord said1 ,i will destroy man whom ,i have created from the face of the earth2 both man and beast1 and the creeping thing1 and the fowls of the air2 for it repenteth me that ,i have made them4 #h ,but ,noah found grace in the eyes of the ,lord4 #ac ,and ,god said unto ,noah1 #ad ,make thee an ark of gopher wood2 rooms shalt thou make in the ark1 and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch4 #ae ,and this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of2 ,the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits1 the breadth of it fifty cubits and the height of it thirty cubits4 #af ,a window shalt thou make to the ark1 and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above2 and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof2 with lower1 second1 and third stories shalt thou make it4 #ag ,and1 behold1 ,i1 even ,i1 do bring a flood of waters upon the earth1 to destroy all flesh1 wherein is the breath of life1 from under heaven1 and everything that is in the earth shall die4 #ah ,but with thee will ,i establish my covenant2 and thou shalt come into the ark1 thou1 and thy sons1 and thy wife1 and thy sons' wives with thee4 #ai ,and of every living thing of all flesh1 two of every sort shalt thou bring in to the ark1 to keep them alive with thee2 they shall be male and female4 #bj ,of fowls after their kind1 and of cattle after their kind1 of every creeping thing of the earth1 after his kind2 two of every sort shall come unto thee1 to keep them alive4 #ba ,and take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten1 and thou shalt gather it to thee2 and it shall be for food for thee1 and for them4 #bb ,thus did ,noah2 according to all that ,god commanded him1 so did he4 ,the ,jews evidently believed the males the superior sex4 ,men are called the sons of ,god1 women the daughters of men4 ,from the text it would seem that the influence of the wives was not elevating and inspiring1 and that the sin and misery resulting from their marriages1 all attributed to the women4 ',this condition of things so discouraged the ,creator that he determined to blot out both man and beast1 the fowls of the air and the creeping things on the earth4 ,how very human this sounds4 ,it shows what a low ideal the ,jews had of the great first cause1 from which the moral and material world of thought and action were evolved4 ,it was in mature life1 when chastened by the experiences and trials of her early day1 that ,seth was born to ,eve4 ,it was among the descendants of ,seth that purer morals and religion were cultivated4 ,intermarriage with the descendants of ,cain had corrupted the progeny1 perplexed the ,creator1 and precipitated the flood4 ,the female of each species of animal was preserved2 males and females all walked into the ark two by two1 and out again in equal and loving companionship4 ,it has been a question with critics whether the ark was large enough for all it was supposed to contain4 ,commentators seem to agree as to its capacity to accommodate men1 women1 children1 animals1 and the food necessary for their preservation4 ,adam ,clarke tells us that ,noah and his family and the birds occupied the third1 story1 so they had the benefit of the one window it contained4 ,the paucity of light and air in this ancient vessel shows that woman had no part in its architecture1 or a series of port holes would have been deemed indispensable4 ,commentators relegate all difficulties to the direct intervention of ,providence4 ,the ark1 made by unseen hands1 like a palace of india rubber1 was capable of expanding indefinitely2 the spirit of all good1 caused the lion and lamb to lie down peaceably together4 ,to attribute all the myths1 allegories1 and parables to the interposition of ,providence1 ever working outside of his own inexorable laws1 is to confuse and set at defiance human reason1 and prevent all stimulus to investigation4 ,in several following chapters we have the history of ,abram and ,sarah1 their wanderings from the land of their nativity to ,canaan1 their blunders on the journey1 their grief at having no children1 except one son by ,hagar1 his concubine1 who was afterwards driven from their door1 into the wilderness4 ,however1 ,sarah in her old age was blessed with a son of her own1 which event gave them great joy and satisfaction4 ,as ,sarah did not possess any of the heroic virtues1 worthy our imitation1 we need not linger either to praise or blame her characteristics4 ,neither she nor ,abraham deemed it important to speak the truth when any form of tergiversation might serve them4 ,in fact the wives of the patriarchs1 all untruthful1 and one a kleptomaniac1 but illustrate the law1 that the cardinal virtues are seldom found in oppressed classes4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,a careful study of the ,bible would alter the views of many as to what it teaches about the position of women4 ,the trouble is too often instead of searching the ,bible to see what is right1 we form our belief1 and then search for ,bible texts to sustain us1 and are satisfied with isolated texts without regard to context1 and ask no questions as to the circumstances that may have existed then but do not now4 ,we forget that portions of the ,bible are only histories of events given as a chain of evidence to sustain the fact that the real revelations of the ,godhead1 be it in any form1 are true4 ,second1 that our translators were not inspired1 and that we have strong presumptive proof that prejudice of education was in some instances stronger than the grammatical context1 in translating these contested points4 ,for instance1 the word translated obey between husband and wife1 is in but one instance in the ,new ,testament the word used between master and servant1 parent and child1 but is the word that in other places is translated defer4 ,the one instance states ,sarah obeyed ,abram4 ,read that history and you will find that in both instances in which she obeyed1 ,god had to interfere with a miracle to save them from the result of that obedience1 and both ,abram and ,sarah were reproved4 ,while twice1 once by direct command of ,god1 ,abram obeyed ,sarah4 ,you cannot find a direct command of ,god or ,christ for the wife to obey the husband4 ,it was ,eve's curse that her desire should be to her husband1 and he should rule over her4 ,have you not seen her clinging to a drunken or brutal husband1 and read in letters of fire upon her forehead her curse8 ,but ,god did not say the curse was good1 nor bid ,adam enforce it4 ,nor did he say1 all men shall rule over thee4 ,for ,adam1 not ,eve1 the earth was to bring forth the thorn and the thistle1 and he was to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow4 ,yet ,i never heard a sermon on the sin of uprooting weeds1 or letting ,eve1 as she does1 help him to bear his burden4 ,it is when she tries to lighten her load that the world is afraid of sacrilege and the overthrow of nature4 ,c4 ,b4 ,c4 ,in the story of the sons of ,god1 and the daughters of men--we find a myth like those of ,greek1 ,roman and ,scandinavian fable1 demi-gods love mortal maidens and their offspring are giants4 ,then follows the traditional account of some great cataclysm of the last glacial epoch4 ,according to the latest geological students1 ,wright1 ,mc,gee and others2 the records of ,niagara1 the falls of ,st4 ,anthony and other glacial chasms1 indicate that the great ice caps receded for the last time about seven thousand years ago2 the latest archeological discoveries carry our historical knowledge of mankind back nearly four thousand years ,b4 ,c41 so that some record of the mighty floods which must have followed the breaking of great glacial dams might well survive in the stories of the nations4 ,abram who came from ,ur of the ,chaldees brought with him the ,chaldean story of the flood4 ,at that time ,ur1 now a town fifty miles inland1 was a great seaport of the ,persian gulf4 ,their story of the flood is that of a maritime people2 in it the ark is a well built ship1 ,hasisadra1 the ,chaldean ,noah takes on board not only his own family1 but his neighbors and friends2 a pilot is employed to guide the course1 and proper provision is made for the voyage4 ,a raven and a dove are sent out as in the biblical account1 and a fortunate landing effected4 ,l4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,genesis xxi4 #a ,and the lord visited ,sarah as he had said4 #b4 ,for ,sarah bare ,abraham a son in his old age4 #c ,and ,abraham called the name of his son whom ,sarah bare to him1 ,isaac4 #e ,and ,abraham was a hundred years old1 when his son ,isaac was born unto him4 #f ,and ,sarah said1 ,god hath made me to laugh1 so that all that hear will laugh with me4 #i ,and ,sarah saw the son of ,hagar the ,egyptian1 which she had home unto ,abraham1 mocking4 #aj ,wherefore she said unto ,abraham1 ,cast out this bondwoman and her son2 for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son1 even with ,isaac4 #aa ,and the thing was very grievous in ,abraham's sight4 #ab ,and ,god said unto ,abraham1 ,let it not be grievous in thy sight2 in all that ,sarah hath said unto thee1 hearken unto her voice2 for in ,isaac shall thy seed be called4 #ac ,and also of the son of the bondwoman will ,i make a nation1 because he is thy seed4 #ad ,and ,abraham rose up early in the morning1 and took bread1 and a bottle of water1 and gave it unto ,hagar1 putting it on her shoulder1 and the child1 and sent her away2 and she departed1 and wandered in the wilderness of ,beer-sheba4 #ae ,and the water was spent in the bottle1 and she cast the child under one of the shrubs4 #ag ,and she went1 and sat her down over against him a good way off3 for she said1 let me not see the death of the child4 ,and she lifted up her voice1 and wept4 #ag ,and ,god heard the voice of the lad2 and the angel of ,god called to ,hagar out of heaven1 and said unto her1 ,what aileth thee1 ,hagar8 fear not1 for ,god hath heard the voice of the lad where he is4 #ah ,arise1 lift up the lad1 and bold him in thine hand3 for ,i will make him a great nation4 #ai ,and ,god opened her eyes1 and she saw a well of water3 and she went1 and filled the bottle with water1 and gave the lad drink4 #bj ,and ,god was with the lad2 and he grew1 and dwelt in the wilderness1 and became an archer4 #ba ,and he dwelt in the wilderness of ,paran3 and his mother took him a wife out of the land of ,egypt4 ,the great event of ,isaac's birth having taken place1 ,sarah is represented through several chapters as laughing1 even in the presence of angels1 not only in the anticipation of motherhood1 but in its realization4 ,she evidently forgot that maternity was intended as a curse on all ,eve's daughters1 for the sin of the first woman1 and all merry-making on such occasions was unpardonable4 ,some philosophers consider the most exalted of all forms of love to be that of a mother for her children4 ,but this divine awakening of a new affection does not seem to have softened ,sarah's heart towards her unfortunate slave ,hagar4 ,and so far from ,sarah's desire being to her husband1 and ,abraham dominating her1 he seemed to be under her control1 as the ,lord told him to hearken to her voice1 and to obey her command4 ,in so doing he drives ,hagar out of his house4 ,in this scene ,abraham does not appear in a very attractive light1 rising early in the morning1 and sending his child and its mother forth into the wilderness1 with a breakfast of bread and water1 to care for themselves4 ,why did he not provide them with a servant1 an ass laden with provisions1 and a tent to shelter them from the elements1 or better still1 some abiding1 resting place4 ,common humanity demanded this much attention to his own son and the woman who bore him4 ,but the worst feature in this drama is that it seems to have been done with ,jehovah's approval4 ,does any one seriously believe that the great spirit of all good talked with these ,jews1 and really said the extraordinary things they report8 ,it was1 however1 a very cunning way for the ,patriarchs to enforce their own authority1 to do whatever they desired1 and say the ,lord commanded them to do and say thus and so4 ,many pulpits even in our day enforce their lessons of subjection for woman with the same authority1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 ,thou shalt1 and ,thou shall not4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,genesis xxiii4 #a ,and ,sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years old4 #b ,and ,sarah died in ,kirjath-arba2 the same is ,hebron in the land of ,canaan3 and ,abraham came to mourn for ,sarah1 and to weep for her4 #c ,and ,abraham stood up from before his dead1 and spake unto the sons of ,heth1 saying1 #d ,i am a stranger and a sojourner with you3 give me a possession of a burying place with you1 that ,i may bury my dead out of my sight4 #e ,and the children of ,heth answered ,abraham1 saying unto him4 #f ,hear us1 my lord3 thou art a mighty prince among us3 in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead2 none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre4 #g ,and ,abraham stood up1 and bowed himself to the people of the land4 #h ,and he communed with them1 saying1 ,if it be your mind that ,i should bury my dead out of my sight1 hear me1 and entreat ,ephron the son of ,zohar4 #i ,that he may give me the cave of ,machpelah1 which he hath1 which is in the end of his field2 for as much money as it is worth4 #ad ,and ,ephron answered ,abraham1 saying unto him4 #ae ,my lord1 hearken unto me3 the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver2 what is that betwixt me and thee8 bury therefore thy dead4 #af ,and ,abraham hearkened unto ,ephron2 and ,abraham weighed to ,ephron the silver1 which he had named in the audience of the sons of ,heth1 four hundred shekels of silver1 current money with the merchant4 #ai ,and after this1 ,abraham buried ,sarah his wife in the cave of the field of ,machpelah before ,mamre4 #bj ,and the field1 and the cave that is therein1 were made sure unto ,abraham for a burying place by the sons of ,heth4 ,it is seldom that the age and death of any woman1 are recorded by the sacred historian1 but ,sarah seems to have been specially honored1 not only in the mention of her demise and ripe years1 but in the tender manifestations of grief by ,abraham1 and his painstaking selection of her burial place4 ,that ,abraham paid for all this in silver1 current money with the merchant1 might suggest to the financiers of our day that our commercial relations might be adjusted with the same coin1 especially as we have plenty of it4 ,if our bimetallists in the halls of legislation were conversant with sacred history1 they might get fresh inspiration from the views of the ,patriarchs on good money4 ,some critics tell us that there was no coined money at that time2 the ,israelites had no written language1 no commerce with neighboring tribes1 and that they could neither read nor write4 ,whilst we drop a tear at the tomb of ,sarah1 we cannot recommend her as an example to the young women of our day1 as she lacked several of the cardinal virtues4 ,she was undignified1 untruthful1 and unkind to ,hagar4 ,but our moral standard differs from that of the period in which she lived1 as our ideas of right and wrong are not innate1 but depend on education4 ,sarah probably lived up to the light that was in her4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the cruelty and injustice of ,abraham and ,sarah1 as commented on by ,mrs4 ,stanton1 doubtless stand out much more prominently in this condensed account than their proper proportions to the motives which actuated the figures in the drama4 ,if we take any part of the story we must take it all1 and remember that it had been promised to ,abraham that of ,ishmael a great nation should be born4 ,whether this was an actual revelation from ,god1 or a prophetic vision that ,abraham had1 or is interpolated by the historian to correspond with the actual facts that transpired1 in either case the firm belief that no harm could come to ,ishmael1 must be taken into account when estimating the motives which led ,abraham and ,sarah1 for doubtless ,abraham told ,sarah of his vision1 to send ,hagar and her son off into the wilderness2 just as much as the firm belief that the promise of ,god with regard to his seed would be fulfilled made ,abraham1 a little afterward1 prepare to offer up his son ,isaac4 ,abraham loved and honored his wife very greatly1 probably admiring equally her beauty and strength of character4 ,abraham was ten years older than ,sarah and we read that he was seventy-five years old when he started from ,haran for the land of ,canaan4 ,some time after this driven1 by famine1 he went down into ,egypt1 and here when she must have been at least seventy years of age the ,egyptians saw that she was very fair1 and the princes of ,pharaoh so praised her beauty to their royal master that he sent and took her for his wife4 ,the same thing happened when she was ninety years old1 when she was seized by ,abimelech1 king of ,gerar4 ,in both cases they told1 not a lie1 but a half truth1 for ,sarah was ,abraham's half sister1 it being then the custom for children of the same father by different mothers to marry4 ,abraham's deceit was brought about by cowardice1 while ,sarah connived at the fraud for love of her husband1 being besought to do so to save his life4 ,perhaps1 too1 she might have been amenable to the gracious tribute to her beauty that ,abraham gave in making the request4 ,sarah's strength of character is shown all through her history4 ,wherever she is mentioned the reader is made to feet that she is an important part of the narrative1 and not merely a connecting link between two generations4 ,in this story she carries her point1 and ,abraham follows her instructions implicitly1 nay1 is even commanded by ,god to do so4 ,notwithstanding that ,abraham mourned ,sarah so sincerely1 within three years after she died1 and when at the ripe age of a hundred and forty years1 he married again and the six children he begat by ,keturah he took quite as a matter of course1 although half a century before1 when told that a son should be born to him1 he laughed incredulously4 ,abraham had his failings1 some of which are shared by the moderns1 yet doubtless he was a moral giant compared with other men of the land from which he came and of the nations around him4 ,as such he was chosen as the founder of a race whose history should promulgate the idea of the one true ,god4 ,certainly the descendants from this remarkable trio have retained their own peculiar characteristics and have ever been worshippers at the shrine of ,jehovah4 ,a singular fact may be mentioned here that ,mrs4 ,souvielle in her book ,the ,sequel to the ,parliament of ,religions1 has shown that from ,midian1 one of the sons of ,keturah1 came ,jethro or ,zoroaster4 ,western thinkers are so matter-of-fact in their speech and thought that it might not have occurred to them that the true value of this story of ,sarah and ,hagar1 like that of all else1 not only in our own ,bible but in the scriptures of other faiths1 lies in the esoteric meaning1 had it not been for ,paul1 that prince of occult philosophers1 who distinctly says1 according to the old version1 that it is an allegory2 according to the revised1 that it contains an allegory3 for these women are two covenants1 one bearing1 children unto bondage1 the other unto freedom4 ,it is our privilege1 ,paul goes on to teach1 to be children of the free woman1 but although we are this by birthright1 yet there has to be a personal appreciation of that fact1 and an effort to maintain our liberty4 ,the mystical significance of this allegory has never been elucidated in reference to the position of woman1 but it may well be considered as establishing her claim1 not only for personal freedom1 but for the integrity of the home4 ,acting according to the customs of the day1 ,sarah connived at her own degradation4 ,later1 when her womanly dignity was developed by reason of her motherhood1 she saw what should be her true position in her home1 and she made her rightful demand for unrivalled supremacy in that home and in her husband's affections4 ,she was blessed of ,god in taking that attitude1 and was held up to the elect descendants of ,abraham nearly #affj years later by the ,apostle ,peter as an example to be imitated4 ,and these later women are to be ,sarah's daughters1 we are told1 if like her1 they are not afraid with any amazement1 or as the new version hath it1 if they are not put in fear by any terror4 ,even as mere history the life and character of ,sarah certainly do not intimate that it was the ,divine plan that woman was to be a subordinate1 either in person or in her home4 ,taken esoterically1 as all ancient ,oriental writings must be to get their full significance1 it is an inspiration to woman to-day to stand for her liberty4 ,the bondwoman must be cast out4 ,all that makes for industrial bondage1 for sex slavery and humiliation1 for the dwarfing of individuality1 and for the thralldom of the soul1 must be cast out from our home1 from society1 and from our lives4 ,the woman who does not claim her birthright of freedom will remain in the wilderness with the children that she has borne in degradation1 heart starvation1 and anguish of spirit1 only to find that they are ,ishmaels1 with their hand against every man4 ,they will be the subjects of ,divine care and protection until their destiny is worked out4 ,but she who is to be the mother of kings must herself be free1 and have surroundings conducive to maintaining her own purity and dignity4 ,after long ages of freedom shall have eradicated from woman's mind and heart the thought habits of the slave1 then will she be a true daughter of ,sarah1 the ,princess4 ,c4 ,b4 ,c4 ,abraham has been held up as one of the model men of sacred history4 ,one credit he doubtless deserves1 he was a monotheist1 in the midst of the degraded and cruel forms of religion then prevalent in all the oriental world2 this man and his wife saw enough of the light to worship a ,god of ,spirit4 ,yet we find his conduct to the last degree reprehensible4 ,while in ,egypt in order to gain wealth he voluntarily surrenders his wife to ,pharaoh4 ,sarah having been trained in subjection to her husband had no choice but to obey his will4 ,when she left the king1 ,abraham complacently took her back without objection1 which was no more than he should do seeing that her sacrifice had brought him wealth and honor4 ,like many a modern millionaire he was not a self-made but a wife-made man4 ,when ,pharaoh sent him away with his dangerously beautiful wife he is described as1 being rich in cattle1 in silver and in gold1 but it is a little curious that the man who thus gained wealth as the price of his wife's dishonor should have been held up as a model of all the patriarchal virtues4 ,l4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,genesis xxiv4 #cg ,and my master made me swear1 saying1 ,thou shall not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the ,canaanites in whose land ,i dwell4 #ch ,but thou shalt go unto my fathers house1 and to my kindred1 and take a wife unto my son4 #ci ,and ,i said unto my master1 ,peradventure the woman will not follow me4 #dj ,and he said unto me1 ,the ,lord1 before whom ,i walk1 will send his angel with thee1 and prosper thy way2 and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred1 and of my father's house3 #db ,and ,i came this day unto the well1 and said1 ,o ,lord ,god of my master ,abraham1 if now thou do prosper my way which ,i go3 #dc ,behold1 ,i stand by the well of water2 and it shall come to pass1 that when the virgin cometh to draw water1 and ,i say to her1 ,give me1 ,i pray thee1 a little water of thy pitcher to drink3 #dd ,and she say to me1 ,both drink thou1 and ,i will also draw for the camels3 let the same be the woman whom the ,lord hath appointed out for my master's son4 #de ,and before ,i had done speaking in mine heart behold ,rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder2 and she went down unto the well1 and drew water3 and ,i said unto her2 ,let me drink1 ,i pray thee4 #df ,and she made haste1 and let down her pitcher from her shoulder1 and said1 ,drink1 and ,i will give thy camels drink also3 so ,i drank1 and she made the camels drink also4 #dg ,and ,i asked her1 and said1 ,whose daughter art thou8 ,and she said1 ,the daughter of ,bethuel ,nabor's son1 whom ,malcah bare unto him3 and ,i put the earring upon her face1 and the bracelets upon her hands4 #di ,and now1 if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master1 tell me3 and if not1 tell me2 that ,i may turn to the right hand1 or to the left4 #ej ,then ,laban and ,bethuel answered and said4 ,the thing proceedeth from the ,lord3 we cannot speak unto thee bad or good4 #ea ,behold1 ,rebekah is before thee2 take her1 and go1 and let her be thy master's son's wife1 as the ,lord hath spoken4 #ec ,and the servant brought forth jewels of silver1 and jewels of gold1 and raiment1 and gave them to ,rebekah2 he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things4 #ef ,and he said unto them1 ,hinder me not1 seeing the ,lord hath prospered my way2 send me away that ,i may go to my master4 #eg ,and they said1 we will call the damsel and inquire at her mouth4 #eh ,and they called ,rebekah1 and said unto her1 ,wilt thou go with this man8 ,and she said1 ,i will go4 #ei ,and they sent away ,rebekah their sister and her nurse and ,abraham's servant1 and his men4 #fa ,and ,rebekah arose1 and her damsels1 and they rode upon the camels1 and followed the man3 and the servant took ,rebekah and went his way4 #fc ,and ,isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide3 and he lifted up his eyes1 and saw1 and behold1 the camels were coming4 #fd ,and ,rebekah lifted up her eyes1 and when she saw ,isaac she lighted off the camel4 #fe ,for she had said unto the servant1 ,what man is that walketh in the field to meet us8 ,and the servant had said1 ,it is my master3 therefore she took a vail1 and covered herself4 #ff ,and the servant told ,isaac all things that be had done4 #fg ,and ,isaac brought her into his mother ,sarah's tent1 and took ,rebekah1 and she became his wife2 and he loved her3 and ,isaac was comforted after his mother's death4 ,here is the first account we have of a ,jewish courtship4 ,the ,women seem quite as resigned to the custom of being taken as the men to take4 ,outside parties could no doubt in most cases make more judicious selections of partners1 than young folks themselves under the glamour of their ideals4 ,altogether the marriage of ,isaac1 though rather prosaic1 has a touch of the romantic4 ,it has furnished the subject for some charming pictures1 that decorate the galleries in the old world and the new4 ,rebekah at the well1 has been immortalized both on canvas and in marble4 ,women as milk-maids and drawers of water1 with pails and pitchers on their heads1 are always artistic1 and far more attractive to men than those with votes in their hands at the polling booths1 or as queens1 ruling over the destinies of nations4 ,in fact1 as soon as man left ,paradise1 he began by degrees to roll off of his own shoulders all he could of his curse1 and place it on woman4 ,why did not ,laban and ,bethuel draw the water for the household and the cattle4 ,scott says that ,eliezer had attendants with him who might have saved ,rebekah the labor of drawing water for ten camels1 but he would not interfere1 as he wished to see whether she possessed the virtues of industry1 affability and cheerfulness in being serviceable and hospitable4 ,it was certainly a good test of her patience and humility to draw water for an hour1 with a dozen men looking on at their case1 and none offering help4 ,the ,rebekahs of #ahie would have promptly summoned the spectators to share their labors1 even at the risk of sacrificing a desirable matrimonial alliance4 ,the virtue of self-sacrifice has its wise limitations4 ,though it is most commendable to serve our fellow- beings1 yet woman's first duty is to herself1 to develop all her own powers and possibilities1 that she may better guide and serve the next generation4 ,it is refreshing to find in the fifty-eighth verse that ,rebekah was really supposed to have some personal interest and rights in the betrothal4 ,the meeting of ,isaac and ,rebekah in the field at eventide is charming4 ,that sweet restful hour after the sun had gone down1 at the end of a long journey from a far-off country4 ,rebekah must have been in just the mood to appreciate a strong right arm on which to rest1 a loving heart to trust1 on the threshold of her conjugal life4 ,to see her future lord for the first time1 must have been very embarrassing to ,rebekah4 ,she no doubt concealed her blushes behind her veil1 which ,isaac probably raised at the first opportunity1 to behold the charms of the bride whom the ,lord had chosen for him4 ,as ,isaac was forty years old at this time1 he probably made a most judicious and affectionate husband4 ,the #fgth verse would be more appropriate to the occasion if the words took ,rebekah had been omitted1 leaving the text to read thus3 ,and ,isaac brought her into his mother's tent1 and she became his wife1 and he loved her4 ,this verse is remarkable as the first announcement of love on the part of a husband at first sight4 ,we may indulge the hope that he confessed his love to ,rebekah1 and thus placed their conjugal relations on a more spiritual plane than was usual in those days4 ,the ,revising ,committees by the infusion of a little sentiment into these ancient manuscripts1 might have improved the moral tone of our ancestors' domestic relations1 without falsifying the important facts of history4 ,many ancient writings in both sacred and profane history might be translated into more choice language1 to the advantage of the rising generation4 ,what we glean in regard to ,rebekah's character in the following chapter shows1 she1 too1 is lacking in a nice sense of honor4 ,with our ideal of the great first cause1 a ,god of justice1 wisdom and truth1 the ,jewish ,lord1 guiding and directing that people in all their devious ways1 and sanctioning their petty immoralities seems strangely out of place2 a very contradictory character1 unworthy our love and admiration4 ,the ancient ,jewish ideal of ,jehovah was not an exalted one4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,this romantic pastoral is most instructive as to the high position which women really held among the people whose religious history is the foundation of our own1 and still further substantiates our claim that the ,bible does not teach woman's subordination4 ,the fact that ,rebekah was drawing water for family use does not indicate lack of dignity in her position1 any more than the household tasks performed by ,sarah4 ,the wives and daughters of patriarchal families had their maid-servants just as the men of the family had their man-servants1 and their position indicates only a division of responsibility4 ,at this period1 although queens and princesses were cooks and waiters1 kings and princes did not hesitate to reap their own fields and slay their own cattle4 ,we are told that ,abraham rushed out to his herd and caught a calf to make a meal for the strangers1 and that while he asked ,sarah to make the cakes1 he turned over the calf to a man servant to prepare for the table4 ,thus the labor of securing the food fell upon the male sex1 while the labor of preparing it was divided between both4 ,the one supreme virtue among the patriarchs was hospitality1 and no matter how many servants a person had it must be the royal service of his own hands that he performed for a guest4 ,in harmony with this spirit ,rebekah volunteered to water the thirsty camels of the tired and way-worn travellers4 ,it is not at all likely that1 as ,mr4 ,scott suggests1 ,eliezer waited simply to test ,rebekah's amiability4 ,the test which he had asked for was sufficiently answered by her offering the service in the first place1 and doubtless it would have been a churlish and ungracious2 breach of courtesy to have refused the proffered kindness4 ,that the ,jewish women were treated with greater politeness than the daughters of neighboring peoples we may learn from the incident narrated of the daughters of ,jethro who1 even though their father was high priest of the country were driven away by the shepherds from the wells where they came to water their flocks4 ,of all outdoor occupations that of watering thirsty animals is1 perhaps1 the most fascinating1 and if the work was harder for ,rebekah than for our country maidens who water their animals from the trough well filled by the windmill she had the strength and the will for it1 else she would have entrusted the task to some of the damsels of whom we read as her especial servants and who1 as such1 accompanied her to the land of ,canaan4 ,the whole narrative shows ,rebekah's personal freedom and dignity4 ,she was alone at some distance from her family4 ,she was not afraid of the strangers1 but greeted them with the self-possession of a queen4 ,the decision whether she should go or stay1 was left wholly with herself1 and her nurse and servants accompanied her4 ,with grace and modesty she relieved the embarrassment of the situation by getting down from the altitude of the camel when ,isaac came to meet her1 and by enshrouding herself in a veil she very tactfully gave him an opportunity to do his courting in his own proper person1 if he should be pleased to do so after hearing the servant's report4 ,it has been the judgment of masculine commentators that the veil was a sign of woman's subject condition1 but even this may be disputed now that women are looking into history for themselves4 ,the fashion of veiling a prospective bride was common to many nations1 but to none where there were brutal ceremonies4 ,the custom was sometimes carried to the extent1 as in some parts of ,turkey1 of keeping the woman wholly covered for eight days previous to marriage1 sometimes1 as among the ,russians1 by not only veiling the bride1 but putting a curtain between her and the groom at the bridal feast4 ,in all cases the veil seems to have been worn to protect a woman from premature or unwelcome intrusion1 and not to indicate her humiliated position4 ,the veil is rather a reflection upon the habits and thoughts of men than a badge of inferiority for women4 ,how serenely beautiful and chaste appear the marriage customs of the ,bible as compared with some that are wholly of man's invention4 ,the ,kamchatkan had to find his future wife alone and then fight with her and her female friends until every particle of clothing had been stripped from her and then the ceremony was complete4 ,this may be called the other extreme from the veil4 ,something akin to this appears among our own kith and kin1 so to speak1 in modern times4 ,many instances of marriage en chemise are on record in ,england of quite recent dates1 the notion being that if a man married a woman in this garment only he was not liable for any debts which she might previously have contracted4 ,at ,whitehaven1 ,england1 #agff1 a woman stripped herself to her chemise in the church and in that condition stood at the altar and was married4 ,there is nothing so degrading to the wife in all ,oriental customs as our modern common law ruling that the husband owns the wife's clothing4 ,this has been so held times innumerable1 and in ,connecticut quite recently a husband did not like the gowns his wife bought so he burned them4 ,he was arrested for destruction of property1 but his claim was sustained that they were his own so he could not be punished4 ,as long as woman's condition1 outside of the ,bible1 has been as described by ,macaulay when he said3 ,if there be a word of truth in history1 women have been always1 and still are over the greater part of the globe1 humble companions1 play things1 captives1 menials1 and beasts of burden1 it is a comfort to reflect that among the ,hebrews1 whose records are relied on by the enemies of woman's freedom to teach her subjection1 we find women holding the dignified position in the family that was held by ,sarah and ,rebekah4 ,c4 ,b4 ,c4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,genesis xxv4 #a ,then again ,abraham took a wife1 and her name was ,keturah4 #b ,and she bare him ,zimran and ,jokshan1 and ,medan1 and ,midian1 and ,ishbak1 and ,shuah4 #e ,and ,abraham gave all that he had unto ,isaac4 #f ,but unto the sons of the concubines1 which ,abraham had1 ,abraham gave gifts1 and sent them away from ,isaac his son1 while he yet lived1 unto the east country4 #g ,and these are the days of the years of ,abraham's life which be lived1 a hundred and three score and fifteen years4 #h ,then ,abraham gave up the ghost4 #i ,and his sons ,isaac and ,ishmael buried him in the grave of ,machpelah4 #aj ,the field which ,abraham purchased of the sons of ,heth2 there was ,abraham buried1 and ,sarah his wife4 #ba ,and ,isaac entreated the ,lord for his wife1 and ,rebekah his wife conceived4 #bd ,and when her days to be delivered were fulfilled she bore twins4 ,i #bg ,and the boys grew3 and ,esau was a cunning hunter1 a man of the field2 and ,jacob was a plain man1 dwelling in tents4 #bh ,and ,isaac loved ,esau1 because he did eat of his venison2 but ,rebekah loved ,jacob4 #bi ,and ,jacob sod pottage3 and ,esau came from the field1 and he was faint4 #cj ,and ,esau said to ,jacob1 ,feed me1 ,i pray thee1 with that same red pottage1 for ,i am faint2 therefore was his name called ,edom4 #ca ,and ,jacob said1 ,sell me this day thy birthright4 #cb ,and ,esau said1 ,behold1 ,i am at the point to die2 and what profit shall this birthright do to me8 #cc ,and ,jacob said1 ,swear to me this day2 and he sware unto him2 and he sold his birthright unto ,jacob4 #cd ,then ,jacob gave ,esau bread and pottage of lentiles2 and he did eat and drink1 and rose up1 and went his way4 ,thus ,esau despised his birthright4 ,in these verses we have the account of ,abraham's second marriage1 and the birth of several sons4 ,it does not seem clear from the text whether ,keturah was a legal wife1 or one of the ,patriarch's numerous concubines4 ,clarke inclines to the latter idea1 on account of ,abraham's age1 and then he gave all that be had to ,isaac1 and left ,keturah's sons to share with those of other concubines1 to whom he gave gifts and sent them away from his son ,isaac to an eastern country4 ,abraham evidently thought that the descendants of ,isaac might be superior in moral probity to those of his other sons1 hence he desired to keep ,isaac as exclusive as possible4 ,but ,jacob and ,esau did not fulfill the ,patriarch's expectations4 ,esau in selling his birthright for a mess of pottage1 and ,jacob taking advantage of his brother in a weak moment1 and overreaching him in a bargain1 alike illustrate the hereditary qualities of their ancestors4 ,genesis xxvi4 #f ,and ,isaac dwelt in ,gerar4 #g ,and the men of the place asked him of his wife2 and he said1 ,she is my sister2 for he feared to say1 ,she is my wife2 lest1 said he1 the men of the place should kill me for ,rebekah2 because she was fair to look upon4 #i ,and ,abimelech called ,isaac1 and said ,behold1 or a surety she is thy wife2 and how saidst thou1 ,she is my sister8 ,and ,isaac said unto him1 ,because ,i said1 ,lest ,i die for her4 #aa ,and ,abimelech charged all his people1 saying1 ,he that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death4 #cd ,and ,esau was forty years old when he took to wife ,judith the daughter of ,beeri the ,hittite1 and ,bashemath the daughter of ,elon the ,hittite2 #ce ,which were a grief of mind unto ,isaac and to ,rebekah4 ,the account of the private family affairs of ,isaac and ,rebekah2 their partiality to different sons2 ,jacob1 aided and abetted by his mother1 robbing his elder brother of both his birthright and his father's blessing2 the parents on one of their eventful journeys representing themselves as brother and sister1 instead of husband and wife1 for fear that some potentate might kill ,isaac1 in order to possess his beautiful wife2 all these petty deceptions handed down from generation to generation1 show that the law of heredity asserted itself even at that early day4 ,abraham through fear denied that ,sarah was his wife1 and ,isaac does the same thing4 ,the grief of ,isaac and ,rebekah over ,esau1 was not that he took two wives1 but that they were ,hittites4 ,chapter xxvii gives the details of the manner that ,jacob and his mother betrayed ,isaac into giving the blessing to ,jacob intended for ,esau4 ,one must read the whole story in order to appreciate the blind confidence ,isaac placed in ,rebekah's integrity2 the pathos of his situation2 the bitter disappointment of ,esau2 ,jacob's temptation1 and the supreme wickedness of ,rebekah in deceiving ,isaac1 defrauding ,esau1 and undermining the moral sense of the son she loved4 ,having entirely undermined his moral sense1 ,rebekah fears the influence of ,jacob's marriage with a daughter of the ,hittites1 and she sends him to her own people1 to find a wife in the household of her uncle ,laban4 ,this is indeed a sad record of the cruel deception that ,jacob and his mother palmed off on ,isaac and ,esau4 ,both verbal and practical lying were necessary to defraud the elder son1 and ,rebekah was equal to the occasion4 ,neither she nor ,jacob faltered in the hour of peril4 ,altogether it is a pitiful tale of greed and deception4 ,alas6 where can a child look for lessons in truth1 honor1 and generosity1 when the mother they naturally trust1 sets at defiance every principle of justice and mercy to secure some worldly advantage4 ,rebekah in her beautiful girlhood at the well drawing water for man and beast1 so full of compassion1 does not exemplify the virtues we looked for1 in her mature womanhood4 ,the conjugal and maternal relations so far from expanding her most tender sentiments1 making the heart from love to1 one grow bountiful to all1 seem rather to have narrowed hers into the extreme of individual selfishness4 ,in obedience to his mother's commands1 ,jacob starts on his journey to find a fitting wife4 ,if ,sarah and ,rebekah are the types of womanhood the ,patriarchs admired1 ,jacob need not have gone far to find their equal4 ,in woman's struggle for freedom during the last half century1 men have been continually pointing her to the women of the ,bible for examples worthy imitation1 but we fail to see the merits of their character1 their position1 the laws and sentiments concerning them4 ,the only significance of dwelling on these women and this period of woman's history1 is to show the absurd ity of pointing the women of the nineteenth century to these as examples of virtue4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,keturah is spoken of as a concubine in ,i ,chronicles i1 #cb4 ,as such she held a recognized legal position which implied no disgrace in those days of polygamy1 only the children of these secondary wives were not equal in inheritance4 ,for this reason the sons of ,keturah had to be satisfied with gifts while ,isaac received the patrimony4 ,notice the charge of ,abimelech to his people showing the high sense of honor in this ,philistine4 ,he seems also in the #ajth verse to have realized the terrible guilt that it would have been if one of them had taken ,rebekah1 not knowing she was ,isaac's wife4 ,with all ,rebekah's faults she seems to have had things her own way and therefore she did not set any marked example of wifely submission for women of to-day to follow4 ,her great error was deceiving her husband to carry her point and this is always the result where woman is deprived in any degree of personal freedom unless she has attained high moral development4 ,c4 ,b4 ,c4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,genesis xxix4 #a ,then ,jacob went on his journey1 and came into the land of the people of the east4 #c ,and he looked1 and behold a well in the field1 and lo1 there were three flocks of sheep lying by it2 for out of that well they watered the flocks2 and a great stone was upon the well's mouth4 #c ,and thither were all the flocks gathered1 and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth1 and watered the sheep1 and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place4 #d ,and ,jacob said unto them1 ,my brethren1 whence be ye8 ,and they said1 ,of ,haran are we4 #e ,and he said unto them1 ,know ye ,laban the son of ,nahor8 ,and they said1 we know him4 #f ,and he said unto them1 ,is he well8 ,and they said1 ,he is well3 and behold ,rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep4 #i ,and while he yet spake with them1 ,rachel came with her father's sheep3 for she kept them4 #aj ,and it came to pass1 when ,jacob saw ,rachel the daughter of ,laban his mother's brother1 and the sheep of ,laban1 his mother's brother1 and ,jacob went near1 and rolled the stone from the well's mouth1 and watered the flock of ,laban his mother's brother4 #aa ,and ,jacob kissed ,rachel1 and lifted up his voice and wept4 #ab ,and ,jacob told ,rachel that he was her father's brother1 and that he was ,rebekah's son3 and she ran and told her father3 #ac ,and it came to pass1 when ,laban heard the tidings of ,jacob his sister's son1 that he ran to meet him1 and embraced him1 and kissed him1 and brought him to his house4 ,and he told ,laban all these things4 #ad ,and ,laban said to him1 ,surely thou art my bone and my flesh4 ,and he abode with him the space of a month4 #ae ,and ,laban said unto ,jacob1 ,because thou art my brother1 shouldst thou therefore serve me for nought8 tell me1 what shall thy wages be8 #ah ,and ,jacob loved ,rachel3 and said1 ,i will serve thee seven years for ,rachel thy younger daughter4 #ai ,and ,laban said1 ,it is better that ,i give her to thee1 than that ,i should give her to another man1 abide with me4 #bj ,and ,jacob served seven years for ,rachel1 and they seemed unto him but a few days1 for the love he had to her4 #ba ,if ,and ,jacob said unto ,laban1 ,give me my wife1 for my days are fulfilled4 ,jacob's journey to the land of ,canaan in search of a wife1 and the details of his courtship1 have a passing interest with the ordinary reader1 interested in his happiness and success4 ,the classic ground for the cultivation of the tender emotions in these early days1 seems to have been near a well1 where the daughters of those who were rich in flocks and herds found opportunities to exhibit their fine points in drawing water for men and cattle4 ,from the records of these interesting events1 the girls seemed ready to accept the slightest advances from passing strangers1 and to give their hands and hearts as readily as they gave a drink of water to the thirsty4 ,marriage was as simple a contract as the purchase of a lamb1 the lamb and the woman having about an equal voice in the purchase1 though the lamb was not quite as ready to leave his accustomed grazing ground4 ,jacob loved ,rachel at first sight1 and agreed to serve ,laban seven years1 but when the time expired ,laban did not keep his agreement1 but insisted on ,jacob taking the other sister1 and serving seven years more for ,rachel4 ,jacob submitted1 but by the knowledge of a physiological law of which ,laban was ignorant1 he revenged himself1 and obtained all the strongest and best of the flocks and herds4 ,thus in their business relations as well as in family matters1 the ,patriarchs seem to have played as sharp games in overreaching each other as the sons of our ,pilgrim ,fathers do to-day4 ,in getting all they could out of ,laban1 ,jacob and ,rachel seem to have been of one mind4 ,a critical study of the ,pentateuch is just now agitating the learned classes in ,germany4 ,bonn is an ancient stronghold of theological learning1 and two of the professors of its famous university have recently exhibited a courage in ,biblical criticism and interpretation which has further extended the celebrity of the school1 if it has not added to its repute for orthodoxy4 ,in a course of lectures held during the university holidays1 addressed to and largely attended by pastors1 they declared the ,old ,testament history to be a series of legends1 and ,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob mythical persons4 ,israel1 they declared1 was an idolatrous people1 ,jehovah being nothing more than a ,god of the ,jewish ,nation4 ,this radical outbreak of criticism and interpretation has aroused considerable attention throughout ,germany1 and a declaration against it and other teachings of the kind has been signed by some hundreds of pastors and some thousands of laymen1 but so far it has produced no effect whatever on the professors of ,bonn1 and there is no prospect of its doing so4 ,it is fortunate for the faith thus assailed that the critical and rhetorical style of the ordinary ,german professor is too heavy for export or general circulation4 ,so that the theories of ,messrs4 ,graef and ,meinhold are not likely to do the faith of the ,fatherland any particular harm4 ,that country has always been divided into two classes1 one of which believes nothing and the other everything1 the latter numerically preponderant1 but the former exceeding in erudition and dialectic--a condition of things quite certain to continue and on which a few essays more or less in destructive criticism can produce little effect4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,mrs4 ,stanton's statements concerning the undeveloped religious sentiment of the early ,hebrews cannot be criticized from the orthodox standpoint as in this account1 where the ,god of ,abraham is represented as taking an active personal interest in the affairs of the chosen people1 they did not trust wholly to ,him1 but kept images of the gods of the neighboring tribes in their houses1 ,laban feeling sorry enough over their loss to go seven days' journey to recover them while his daughter felt she could not leave her father's house without taking the images with her as a protection4 ,the faults of ,laban1 of ,jacob and of most of his sons are brought out without any reserve by the historian who follows the custom of early writers in stating things exactly as they were4 ,there was no secrecy and little delicacy in connection with sexual matters4 ,it may1 however1 be noticed that while this people had the same crude notions about these things that were common to other nations1 yet every infraction of the ,divine law of monogamy1 symbolized in the account of the creation of woman in the second chapter of ,genesis1 brings its own punishment whether in or out of the marriage relation4 ,when one or another people sinned against a ,jewish woman the men of the family were the avengers1 as when the sons of ,jacob slew a whole city to avenge an outrage committed against their sister4 ,polygamy and concubinage wove a thread of disaster and complications throughout the whole lives of families and its dire effects are directly traceable in the feuds and degeneration of their descendants4 ,the chief lesson taught by history is danger of violating1 physically1 mentally1 or spiritually the personal integrity of woman4 ,customs of the country and the cupidity of ,laban1 forced polygamy on ,jacob1 and all the shadows in his life1 and he had no end of trouble in after years1 are due to this4 ,perhaps nothing but telling their stories in this brutally frank way would make the lesson so plain4 ,if we search this narrative ever so closely it gives us no hint of ,divinely intended subordination of woman4 ,jacob had to buy his wives with service which indicates that a high value was placed upon them4 ,now-a-days in high life men demand instead of give4 ,the degradation of woman involved in being sold to a husband1 to put it in the most humiliating way1 is not comparable to the degradation of having to buy a husband4 ,euripides made ,medea say3 ,we women are the most unfortunate of all creatures since we have to buy our masters at so dear a price1 and the degradation of ,grecian women is repeated--all flower-garlanded and disguised by show--in the marriage sentiments of our own civilization4 ,jacob was dominated by his wives as ,abraham and ,isaac had been and there is no hint of their subjection4 ,rachel's refusal to move when the gods were being searched for1 showed that her will was supreme1 nobody tried to force her to rise against her own desire4 ,the love which ,jacob bore for ,rachel has been through all time the symbol of constancy4 ,seven years he served for her1 and so great was his love1 so pure his delight in her presence that the time seemed but as a day4 ,had this simple1 absorbing affection not been interfered with by ,laban1 how different would have been the tranquil life of ,jacob and ,rachel1 developing undisturbed by the inevitable jealousies and vexations connected with the double marriage4 ,still this love was the solace of ,jacob's troubled life and remained unabated until ,rachel died and then found expression in tenderness for ,benjamin4 the son of my right hand4 ,it was no accident1 but has a great significance1 that this most ardent and faithful of ,jewish lovers should have deeper spiritual experiences than any of his predecessors4 ,c4 ,b4 ,c4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,genesis xxix1 xxxi4 #ah ,and ,jacob loved ,rachel2 and said ,i will serve thee seven years for ,rachel thy younger daughter4 #ai ,and ,laban said1 ,it is better that ,i give her to thee1 than that ,i should give her to another man2 abide with me4 #bj ,and ,jacob served seven years for ,rachel2 and they seemed unto him but a few days1 for the love he had to her4 #ba ,and ,jacob said unto ,laban1 ,give me my wife1 for my days are fulfilled4 #bb ,and ,laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast4 #bc ,and it came to pass in the evening that be took ,leah his daughter1 and brought her to him4 #bf ,and ,laban said1 ,it must not be so done in our country1 to give the younger before the firstborn4 #bg ,we will give thee ,rachel also thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years4 #bh ,and ,jacob did so1 and he gave him ,rachel his daughter to wife also4 #bi ,and it came to pass1 when ,rachel had borne ,joseph1 that ,jacob said unto ,laban1 ,send me away1 that ,i may go unto my mine own place1 and to my country4 #bf ,give me my wives and my children1 for whom ,i have served thee1 and let me go2 for thou knowest my service which ,i have done thee4 #ag ,then ,jacob rose up1 and set his sons and his wives upon camels2 #ah ,and he carried away all his cattle1 and all his goods which he had gotten1 the cattle of his getting1 which he had gotten in ,padan-aram1 for to go to ,isaac his father in the land of ,canaan4 #ai ,and ,laban went to shear his sheep2 and ,rachel had stolen the images that were her father's #bj ,and ,jacob stole away unawares to ,laban the ,syrian1 in that he told him not that he fled2 #bb ,and it was told ,laban on the third day1 that ,jacob was fled4 #bc ,and he took his brethren with him1 and pursued after him seven days' journey2 and they overtook him in the mount ,gilead4 ,while ,laban played his petty deceptions on ,jacob1 the latter proved himself in fraud and overreaching fully his match4 ,in being compelled to labor fourteen years for ,rachel instead of seven1 as agreed upon1 he amply revenged himself in getting possession of all ,laban's best cattle1 availing himself of a physiological law in breeding of which ,laban was profoundly ignorant4 ,the parting of ,jacob and ,laban was not amicable1 although they did not come to an open rupture4 ,rachel's character for theft and deception is still further illustrated4 ,having stolen her father's images and hidden them under the camel's saddles and furniture1 and sat thereon1 when her father came to search for the images1 which he valued highly1 she said she was too ill to rise1 so she calmly kept her seat1 while the tent was searched and nothing found1 thus by act as well as word1 deceiving her father4 ,jacob and his wives alike seemed to think ,laban fair game for fraud and deception4 ,as ,laban knew his images were gone1 he was left to suspect that ,jacob knew where they were1 so little regard had ,rachel for the reputation of her husband4 ,in making a ,god after their own image1 who approved of whatever they did1 the ,jews did not differ much from ourselves2 the men of our day talk too as if they reflected the opinions of ,jehovah on the vital questions of the hour4 ,in our late civil war both armies carried the ,bible in their knapsacks1 and both alike prayed to the same ,god for victory1 as if he could be in favor of slavery and against it at the same time4 ,like the women1 too1 who are working and praying for woman suffrage1 both in the state legislature and in their closets1 and others against it1 to the same ,god and legislative assembly4 ,one must accept the conclusion that their acquaintance with the ,lord was quite as limited as our own in this century1 and that they were governed by their own desires and judgment1 whether for good or evil1 just as we are2 their plans by day and their dreams by night having no deeper significance than our own4 ,some writers say that the constant interposition of ,god in their behalf was because they needed his special care and attention4 ,but the irregularity and ignorance of their lives show clearly that their guiding hand was of human origin4 ,if the ,jewish account is true1 then the ,god of the ,hebrews falls far short of the ,christian ideal of a good1 true manhood1 and the ,christian ideal as set forth in the ,new ,testament falls short of our ideal of the ,heavenly ,father to-day4 ,we have no fault to find with the ,bible as a mere history of an ignorant1 undeveloped people1 but when special inspiration is claimed for the historian1 we must judge of its merits by the moral standard of to-day1 and the refinement of the writer by the questionable language in which he clothes his descriptions4 ,we have often wondered that the revising committees that have gone over these documents so often1 should have adhered so closely to such gross translations4 ,surely a fact related to us in coarse language1 is not less a fact when repeated in choice1 words4 ,we need an expurgated edition of most of the books called holy before they are fit to place in the hands of the rising generation4 ,some members of the ,revising ,committee write me that the tone of some of my comments should be more reverent in criticising the ,word of ,god4 ,does any one at this stage of civilization think the ,bible was written by the finger of ,god1 that the ,old and ,new ,testaments emanated from the highest divine thought in the universe8 ,do they think that all the men who wrote the different books were specially inspired1 and that all the various revising committees that have translated1 interpolated1 rejected some books and accepted others1 who have dug round the roots of the ,greek and ,hebrew to find out the true meaning1 have one and all been watched and guided in their literary labors by the great spirit of the universe1 who by immutable law holds the solar system in place1 every planet steadily moving in its own elliptic1 worlds upon worlds revolving in order and harmony8 ,these great object-lessons in nature and the efforts of the soul to fathom the incomprehensible1 are more inspiring than any written page4 ,to this ,word of ,god ,i bow with reverence1 and ,i can find no language too exalted to express my love1 my faith1 my admiration4 ,to criticise the peccadilloes of ,sarah1 ,rebekah and ,rachel does not shadow the virtues of ,deborah1 ,huldah and ,vashti2 to condemn the laws and customs of the ,jews as recorded in the book of ,genesis1 does not destroy the force of the golden rule and the ten commandments4 ,parts of the ,bible are so true1 so grand1 so beautiful1 that it is a pity it should have been bound in the same volume with sentiments and descriptions so gross and immoral4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,genesis xxxv4 #h ,but ,deborah ,rebekah's nurse died1 and she was buried beneath ,beth-el under an oak2 and the name of it was called ,allonbachuth4 #i ,and ,god appeared unto ,jacob again1 when he came out of ,padan-aram1 and blessed him4 #aj ,and ,god said unto him1 ,thy name is ,jacob3 ,thy name shall not be called any more ,jacob1 but ,israel shall be thy name3 and he called his name ,israel4 #af ,and they journeyed from ,beth-el2 and there was but a little way to come to ,ephrath3 and ,rachel travailed1 and she had hard labor4 #ag ,the midwife said unto her1 ,fear not2 thou1 shalt have this son also4 #ah ,and it came to pass as her soul was in departing 7for she died71 that she called his name ,ben-oni2 but his father called him ,benjamin4 #ai ,and ,rachel died1 and was buried in the way to ,ephrath1 which is ,beth-lehem4 #bj ,and ,jacob set a pillar upon her grave3 that is the pillar of ,rachel's grave unto this day4 ,why ,deborah1 ,rebekah's nurse1 should be interjected here does not appear4 ,however1 if all ,isaac's and ,jacob's children had been intrusted to her care through the perils of infancy1 it was fitting that the younger generation with their father should pause in their journey and drop a tear to her memory1 and cultivate a tender sentiment for the old oak tree at ,bethel4 ,there is no manifestation of gratitude more beautiful in family life than kindness and respect to servants for long years of faithful service1 especially for those who have watched the children night and day1 tender in sickness1 and patient with all their mischief in health4 ,in dealing with children one needs to exercise all the cardinal virtues1 more tact1 diplomacy1 more honor and honesty than even an ambassador to the ,court of ,st4 ,james4 ,children readily see whom they can trust1 on whose word they can rely4 ,in ,rachel's hour of peril the midwife whispers sweet words of consolation4 ,she tells her to fear not1 that she will have a son1 and he will be born alive4 ,whether she died herself is of small importance so that the boy lived4 ,scott points a moral on the death of ,rachel4 ,he thinks she was unduly anxious to have sons1 and so the ,lord granted her prayers to her own destruction4 ,if she had accepted with pious resignation whatever weal or woe naturally fell to her lot1 she might have lived to a good old age1 and been buried by ,jacob's side at last1 and not left alone in ,bethlehem4 ,people who obstinately seek what they deem their highest good1 ofttimes perish in the attainment of their ambition4 7,thus ,scott philosophizes47 ,jacob was evidently a man of but little sentiment4 ,the dying wife gasps a name for her son1 but the father pays no heed to her request1 and chooses one to suit himself4 ,though we must admit that ,benjamin is more dignified than ,ben-oni2 the former more suited to a public officer1 the latter to a household pet4 ,and now ,rachel is gone1 and her race with ,leah for children is ended4 ,the latter with her maids is the victor1 for she can reckon eight sons1 while ,rachel with her2 can muster only four4 ,one may smile at this ambition of the women for children1 but a man's wealth was estimated at that time by the number of his children and cattle2 women who had no children were objects of pity and dislike among the ,jewish tribes4 ,the ,jews of to-day have much of the same feeling4 ,they believe in the home sphere for all women1 that wifehood and motherhood are the most exalted offices4 ,if they are really so considered1 why does every ,jew on each returning ,holy ,day say in reading the service1 ,i thank thee1 oh ,lord6 that ,i was not born a woman68 ,and if ,gentiles are of the same opinion1 why do they consider the education of boys more important than that of girls8 ,surely those who are to fill the most responsible offices should have the most thorough and liberal education4 ,the home sphere has so many attractions that most women prefer it to all others4 ,a strong right arm on which to lean1 a safe harbor where adverse winds never blow1 nor rough seas roll1 makes a most inviting picture4 ,but alas6 even good husbands sometime die1 and the family drifts out on the great ocean of life1 without chart or compass1 or the least knowledge of the science of navigation4 ,in such emergencies the woman trained to self-protection1 self-independence1 and self-support holds the vantage ground against all theories on the home sphere4 ,the first mention we have of an aristocratic class of ,kings and ,dukes1 is in the line of ,cain's descendants4 ,genesis xxxvi4 #ah ,and these are the sons of ,aholibamah1 ,esau's wife3 duke ,jeush1 duke ,jaalam1 duke ,korah3 these were the dukes that came of ,aholibamah the daughter of ,anah ,esau's wife4 ,the name ,aholibamah has a suggestion of high descent1 but the historian tells us nothing of the virtues or idiosyncrasies of character1 such a high-sounding name suggests1 but simply that she was the daughter of ,anah1 and the wife of ,esau1 and that she was blessed with children1 all interesting facts1 which might have been intensified with a knowledge of some of her characteristics1 what she thought1 said and did1 her theories of life in general4 ,one longs all through ,genesis to know what the women thought of a strictly masculine dynasty4 ,some writers claim that these gross records of primitive races1 have a deep spiritual meaning1 that they are symbolical of the struggles of an individual soul from animalism to the highest1 purest development of all the ,godlike in man4 ,some on the ,revising ,committee take this view1 and will give us from time to time more exalted interpretations than the account in plain ,english conveys to the ordinary mind4 ,in my exegesis thus far1 not being versed in scriptural metaphors and symbols1 ,i have attempted no scientific interpretation of the simple narration1 merely commenting on the supposed facts as stated4 ,as the ,bible is placed in the hands of children and uneducated men and women to point them the way of salvation1 the letter should have no doubtful meaning4 ,what should we think of guide posts on our highways1 if we needed a symbolical interpreter at every point to tell us which way to go8 the significance of the letters8 and the point of compass indicated by the digital finger8 ,learned men have revised the ,scriptures times without number1 and ,i do not propose to go back of the latest ,revision4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,genesis xxxix4 #a ,and ,joseph was brought down to ,egypt2 and ,potiphar an officer of ,pharaoh1 captain of the guard1 an ,egyptian1 bought him of the ,ishmaelites1 which bad brought him down thither4 #b ,and the ,lord was with ,joseph1 and he was a prosperous man2 and he was in the house of his master1 the ,egyptian4 #d ,and ,joseph found grace in his sight1 and he served him3 and he made him overseer over his house and all that he had he put into his hand4 #g ,and it came to pass after these things1 that his master's wife cast her eyes upon ,joseph2 and she solicited him4 #h ,but he refused1 and said unto his master's wife1 ,behold1 my master wotteth not what is with me in the house1 and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand4 #i ,how then can ,i do this great wickedness and sin against ,god8 #aj ,and it came to pass1 as she spake to ,joseph day by day1 that he hearkened not unto her1 and she caught him by his garment1 and he left his garment in her hand and fled4 #ac ,and it came to pass1 when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and was fled forth1 #ad ,that she called unto the men of her house1 and spake unto them1 saying1 ,see1 he hath brought in a ,hebrew unto us to mock us2 he came in unto me1 and ,i cried with a loud voice3 #ae ,and it came to pass1 when he heard that ,i lifted up my voice and cried1 that he left his garment with me1 and fled4 #af ,and she laid up his garment by her1 until his lord came home4 #ag ,and she spake unto him according to these words1 saying1 ,the ,hebrew servant which thou hast brought unto us1 came in unto me to mock me3 #ah ,and it came to pass1 as ,i lifted up my voice and cried1 that he left his garment with me1 and fled out4 #ai ,and it came to pass1 when his master heard the words of his wife1 that his wrath was kindled4 #bj ,and ,joseph's master took him2 and put him into the prison1 a place where the king's prisoners were bound3 and he was there in the prison4 #baa ,but the ,lord was with ,joseph1 and shewed him mercy1 and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison4 #bb ,and the keeper of the prison committed to ,joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison2 and whatever they did there1 he was the doer of it4 ,potiphar's wife surpasses all the women yet mentioned in perfidy and dishonor4 ,joseph's virtues1 his dignity1 his honor1 go far to redeem the reputation of his ancestors1 and the customs of his times4 ,it would have been generous1 at least1 if the editor of these pages could have given us one woman the counterpart of ,joseph1 a noble1 high-minded1 virtuous type4 ,thus far those of all the different nationalities have been of an ordinary low type4 ,historians usually dwell on the virtues of the people1 the heroism of their deeds1 the wisdom of their words1 but the sacred fabulist dwells on the most questionable behavior of the ,jewish race1 and much in character and language that we can neither print nor answer4 ,indeed the ,pentateuch is a long painful record of war1 corruption1 rapine1 and lust4 ,why ,christians who wished to convert the heathen to our religion should send them these books1 passes all understanding4 ,it is most demoralizing reading for children and the unthinking masses1 giving all alike the lowest possible idea of womanhood1 having no hope nor ambition beyond conjugal unions with men they scarcely knew1 for whom they could not have had the slighest sic sentiment of friendship1 to say nothing of affection4 ,there is no mention of women except when the advent of sons is announced4 ,when the ,children of ,israel go down into ,egypt we are told that the wives of ,jacob's sons were taken too1 but we hear nothing of ,jacob's wives or concubines1 until the death and burial of ,leah is incidentally mentioned4 ,throughout the book of ,genesis the leading men declare from time to that the ,lord comes to them and promises great fruitfulness4 ,a strange promise in that it could only be fulfilled in questionable relations4 ,to begin with ,abraham1 and go through to ,joseph1 leaving out all conjugal irregularities1 we find ,abraham and ,sarah had ,isaac1 ,isaac and ,rebekah had ,jacob and ,esau4 ,jacob and ,rachel 7for she alone was his true wife71 had ,joseph and ,benjamin4 ,joseph and ,asenath had ,manassah and ,ephraim4 ,thus giving the ,patriarchs just seven legitimate descendants in the first generation4 ,if it had not been for polygamy and concubinage1 the great harvest so recklessly promised would have been meagre indeed4 ,genesis xli4 #de ,and ,pharaoh called ,joseph's name ,zaphnathpaaneah2 and he gave him to wife ,asenath the daughter of ,potar-pherah priest of ,on4 ,and ,joseph went out over all the land of ,egypt4 #df ,and ,joseph was thirty years old when he stood before ,pharaoh king of ,egypt4 #ej ,and unto ,joseph were born two sons1 before the years of the famine came3 which ,asenath the daughter of ,poti-pherah priest of ,on bare unto him4 #ea ,and ,joseph called the name of the first-born ,manassah3 ,for ,god1 said he1 hath made me forget all my toil1 and all my father's house4 #eb ,and the name of the second called he ,ephraim3 ,for ,god hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction4 ,this is all we ever hear of ,asenath1 that she was a good woman1 probably worthy of ,joseph1 it is fair to infer1 for had she been otherwise her evil deeds would have been recorded4 ,a few passing remarks where ever we find the mention of woman is about all we can vouchsafe4 ,the writer probably took the same view of the virtuous woman as the great ,roman ,general who said the highest praise for ,caesar's wife is that she should never be mentioned at all4 ,the texts on ,lot's daughters and ,tamar we omit altogether1 as unworthy a place in the ,woman's ,bible4 ,in the remaining chapters of ,genesis1 the brethren of ,joseph take leave of each other2 the fathers bless their sons and grandsons1 and also take leave of each other1 some to go to remote parts of the country1 some to die at a ripe old age4 ,as nothing is said of their wives and daughters1 the historian probably knew nothing of their occupations nor environments4 ,joseph was a hundred and ten years old when he died4 ,they embalmed him according to the custom in ,egypt1 and put him in a coffin1 and buried him in the land of his fathers1 where his brethren had promised to take his bones after death to rest with his kindred at last4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the literal translation of the first verse of chapter xxxix of ,genesis is as follows3 ,and ,joseph was brought down to ,egypt1 and ,potiphar1 ,pharaoh's eunuch1 chief of the cooks1 an ,egyptian bought him of the ,ishmaelites who brought him down4 ,these facts which are given in ,julia ,smith's translation of the ,bible throw a new light on the story of ,joseph and the woman who was ,potiphar's wife only in name4 ,l4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,exodus4 ,,chapter #a4 ,exodus i4 #a ,now these are the names of the children of ,israel1 which came into ,egypt3 every man and his household came with ,jacob4 #b ,reuben1 ,simeon1 ,levi1 and ,judah1 #c ,issachar1 ,zebulun1 and ,benjamin1 #d ,dan1 and ,naphtali1 ,gad and ,asher4 #e ,and all the souls that came out of the loins of ,jacob were seventy souls3 for ,joseph was in ,egypt already4 #ae ,and the king of ,egypt spake to the ,hebrew midwives1 of which the name of the one was ,shiphrah and the name of the other ,puah4 #af ,and he said1 ,when ye do the office of a midwife to the ,hebrew women1 and they bare a son1 then ye shall kill him2 but if it be a daughter1 then she shall live4 #ag ,but the midwives feared ,god1 and did not as the king of ,egypt commanded them1 but saved the men children alive4 #ah ,and the king of ,egypt called for the midwives1 and said unto them1 ,why have ye done this thing and have saved the men children alive8 #ai ,and the midwives said unto ,pharaoh1 ,because the ,hebrew women are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them3 #bj ,therefore ,god dealt well with the midwives3 and the people multiplied1 and waxed very mighty4 #ba ,and it came to pass1 because the midwives feared ,god1 that he made them houses4 #bb ,and ,pharaoh charged all his people1 saying1 ,every son that is born ye shall cast into the river1 and every daughter ye shall save alive4 ,the ,book of ,exodus or the ,departure1 so called because of the escape of the children of ,israel from the land of ,egypt1 and their wanderings in the wilderness for forty years1 are herein recalled4 ,the unparalleled multiplication of the children of ,israel renewed ,pharaoh's anxiety especially as the ,israelites were very large and strong as compared with the ,egyptians1 and their numbers were computed to double every fourteen years4 ,hence their multitude and power grew more formidable day by day in the eyes of the ,egyptians1 though they feared their presence1 yet as their labors added greatly to the wealth of the nation1 they were unwilling to let them go4 ,pharaoh hoped by making their daily tasks much harder and killing all the male children at birth1 they1 would be so crippled and dispirited that there would be no danger of rebellion against his government4 ,for a list of the seventy souls1 turn to ,genesis1 chapter xlvi1 where ,dinah1 ,jacob's daughter1 and ,sarah1 ,asher's daughter1 are mentioned among the seventy souls4 ,it is certainly curious that there should have been only two daughters to sixty-eight sons4 ,but perhaps the seventy souls refer only to sons1 and the daughters are merely persons1 not souls4 ,it is not an uncommon idea with many nations that women have no souls4 ,a missionary to ,china tells of a native who asked him why he preached the ,gospel to women4 ,to save their souls1 to be sure4 ,why1 said he1 women have no souls4 ,yes they have1 said the missionary4 ,when the thought dawned on the ,chinaman that it might be true1 he was greatly amused1 and said1 ,well1 ,i'll run home and tell my wife she has a soul1 and we will sit down and laugh together4 ,we find at many points that the ,bible does not reckon women as souls4 ,it may be that because there is no future for them is the reason why they punish them here more severely than they do men for the same crimes4 ,here it is plainly asserted that all the souls that came out of the loins of ,jacob were seventy in number4 ,the meaning conveyed may be that the man supplies the spirit and intellect of the race1 and woman the body only4 ,some late writers take this ground4 ,if so1 the phraseology would have been more in harmony with the idea1 if the seventy souls had emanated1 ,minerva-like1 from the brain of father ,jacob1 rather than from his loins4 ,the children of ,israel multiplied so rapidly that ,pharaoh became alarmed1 lest the nation should become mightier than the ,egyptians1 so he ordered all the males at birth to be slain4 ,to this end he had a private interview with the midwives1 two women1 ,shiphrah and ,puah1 and laid his commands upon them4 ,but they did not obey his orders1 and excused themselves on the ground that the ,jewish women seldom needed their services4 ,here we have another example of women who feared ,god1 and yet used deception to accomplish what they deemed right4 ,the ,hebrew ,god seemed to be well pleased with the deception1 and gave them each a house for their fidelity in saving the lives of his chosen children4 ,such is the plain ,english of the story4 ,origen ascribes a deep spiritual meaning to these passages1 as more recent writers and speakers do1 making the whole ,bible a collection of symbols and allegories1 but none of them are complimentary to our unfortunate sex4 ,adam ,clarke says if we begin by taking some parts of the ,scriptures figuratively we shall soon figure it all away4 ,though the midwives in their comfortable homes enjoyed the approbation of ,god1 ,pharaoh was not to be thwarted by their petty excuses1 so he ordered his own people to cast into the river every ,jewish boy that was born4 ,we are so accustomed to the assumption that men alone form a nation1 that we forget to resent such texts as these4 ,surely daughters in freedom could perpetuate family and national pride and honor1 and if allowed to wed the men of their choice1 their children would vindicate their ancestral dignity4 ,the greatest block to advancing civilization all along the line has been the degradation of woman4 ,having no independent existence1 no name1 holding no place of honor or trust1 being mere subjects in the family1 the birth of a son is naturally considered more important than a daughter1 as the one inherits because of sex all the rights and privileges denied the other4 ,shiphrah and ,puah1 ,aben ,ezra tells us1 were probably at the head of their profession1 and instructed others in the science of obstetrics4 ,at this time there were five hundred midwives among the ,hebrews4 ,this branch of the profession was1 among the ,egyptians1 also in the hands of the women4 ,statistics show that the ratio of deaths among mothers and children at birth was far less than when under male supervision exclusively4 ,moses spent the first forty years of his life in ,egypt1 the next forty with ,jethro his father in law1 and the next forty wandering in the wilderness4 ,one writer said the ,lord must have buried ,moses1 and no one ever knew where4 ,there is no record of the burial place of ,moses4 ,as his life had been surrounded with mysteries1 perhaps to verify his providential guidance in that long journey in the wilderness1 he chose to surround his death also with mystery1 and arranged with members of the priesthood to keep his last resting place a profound secret4 ,he was well versed in all the law and mythology of the ,egyptians1 and intended the people should no doubt think that ,jehovah had taken the great leader to himself4 ,for the purpose of controlling his followers in that long journey through the wilderness1 he referred all his commands and actions to ,jehovah4 ,moses declared that he met him face to face on ,mount ,sinai1 veiled in a cloud of fire1 received minute instructions how to feed and conduct the people1 as well as to minister to their moral and spiritual necessities4 ,in order to enforce his teachings1 he said the ten commandments were written on tablets of stone by ,jehovah himself1 and given into his hands to convey to the people1 with many ordinances and religious observances1 to be sacredly kept4 ,in this way the ,jewish religion and the ,mosaic code were established4 ,as these people had no written language at that time1 and could neither read nor write1 they were fitting subjects for all manner of delusions and superstitions4 ,the question naturally suggests itself to any rational mind1 why should the customs and opinions of this ignorant people1 who lived centuries ago1 have any influence in the religious thought of this generation8 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,exodus ii4 #a ,and there went a man of the house of ,levi and took to wife a daughter of ,levi4 #b ,and the woman bare a son3 and when she saw that he was a goodly child1 she hid him three months4 #c ,and when she could not longer hide him she took for him an ark of bulrushes1 and daubed it with slime and with pitch1 and put the child therein2 and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink4 #d ,and his sister stood afar off1 to wit what would be done to him4 #e ,and the daughter of ,pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river2 and her maidens walked along by the river's side3 and when she saw the ark among the flags1 she sent her maid to fetch it4 #f ,and when she had opened it1 she saw the child3 and1 behold1 the babe wept4 ,and she had compassion on him1 and said1 ,this is one of the ,hebrews' children4 #g ,then said his sister to ,pharaoh's daughter1 ,shall ,i go and call to thee a nurse of the ,hebrew women1 that she may nurse the child for thee8 #h ,and ,pharaoh's daughter said to her1 ,go4 ,and the maid went and called the child's mother4 #i ,and ,pharaoh's daughter said unto her1 ,take this child away1 and nurse it for me1 and ,i will give thee thy wages4 ,and the woman took the child1 and nursed it4 #aj ,and the child grew1 and she brought him unto ,pharaoh's daughter1 and he became her son4 ,and she called his name ,moses3 and she said1 ,because ,i drew him out of the water4 #ae ,but ,moses fled from the face of ,pharaoh1 and dwelt in the land of ,midian3 and he sat down by a well4 #af ,now the priest of ,midian had seven daughters3 and they came and drew water1 and filled the troughs to water their father's flock4 #ag ,and the shepherds came and drove them away3 but ,moses stood up and helped them1 and watered their flock4 #ah ,and when they came to ,reuel their father1 he said1 ,how is it that ye are come so soon to day8 #ai ,and they said1 ,an ,egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds1 and also drew water enough for us1 and watered the flock4 #bj ,and he said unto his daughters1 ,and where is he8 why is it that ye have left the man8 call him1 that he may eat bread4 #ba ,and ,moses was content to dwell with the man3 and he gave ,moses ,zipporah his daughter4 #bb ,and she bare him a son1 and he called his name ,gershon3 for he said1 ,i have been a stranger in a strange land4 ,the account of the birth of ,moses1 his mother's anxiety in protecting him from the wrath of ,pharaoh1 and the goodness of the king's daughter1 make altogether an interesting story1 and is almost the first touch of sentiment with which the historian has refreshed us2 a pleasant change from the continued accounts of corruption1 violence1 lust1 war and petty falsehood1 that have thus far marked the history of this people4 ,the only value of these records to us is to show the character of the ,jewish nation1 and make it easy for us to reject their ideas as to the true status of woman1 and their pretension of being guided by the hand of ,god1 in all their devious wanderings4 ,surely such teachings as these1 should have no influence in regulating the lives of women in the nineteenth century4 ,moses' conduct towards the seven daughters of the priest at the well1 shows that there were some sparks of chivalry here and there in a few representative souls1 notwithstanding the contempt for the sex in general4 ,these ,hebrew wooings and weddings were curiously similar1 alike marked for the beauty and simplicity of the daughters of the land1 the wells1 the flocks1 the handsome strangers1 the strong1 active young men who will prove so helpful in cultivating the lands4 ,the father-in-law usually gets the young husband completely under his thumb1 and we hear nothing of the dreaded mother-in-law of the nineteenth century4 ,if we go through this chapter carefully we will find mention of about a dozen women1 but with the exception of one given to ,moses1 all are nameless4 ,then as now names for women and slaves are of no importance2 they have no individual life1 and why should their personality require a life-long name8 ,to-day the woman is ,mrs4 ,richard ,roe1 to-morrow ,mrs4 ,john ,doe1 and again ,mrs4 ,james ,smith according as she changes masters1 and she has so little self-respect that she does not see the insult of the custom4 ,we have had in this generation one married woman in ,england1 and one in ,america1 who had one name from birth to death1 and though married they kept it4 ,think of the inconvenience of vanishing as it were from your friends and1 correspondents three times in one's natural life4 ,in helping the children of ,israel to escape from the land of ,egypt the ,lord said to ,moses3 ,exodus iii4 #ai ,and ,i am sure that the king of ,egypt will not let you go1 no1 not by a mighty hand4 #bj ,and ,i will stretch out my hand1 and smite ,egypt with all my wonders which ,i will do in the midst thereof3 and after that he will let you go4 #ba ,and ,i will give this people favour in the sight of the ,egyptians3 and it shall come to pass1 that1 when ye go1 ye shall not go empty3 #bb ,but every woman shall borrow of her neighhour1 and of her that sojourneth in her house1 jewels of silver1 and jewels of gold1 and raiment3 and ye shall put them upon your sons1 and upon your daughters2 and ye shall spoil the ,egyptians4 ,the role assigned the women1 in helping the children of ,israel to escape in safety from bondage1 is by no means complimentary to their heroism or honesty4 ,to help bear the expenses of the journey1 they were instructed to steal all the jewels of silver and gold1 and all the rich raiment of the ,egyptian ladies4 ,the ,lord and ,moses no doubt went on the principle that the ,israelites had richly earned all in the years of their bondage4 ,this is the position that some of our good abolitionists took1 when ,africans were escaping from ,american bondage1 that the slaves had the right to seize horses1 boats1 anything to help them to ,canada1 to find safety in the shadow of the ,british lion4 ,some of our pro-slavery clergymen1 who no doubt often read the third chapter of ,exodus to their congregations1 forgot the advice of ,moses1 in condemning the abolitionists2 as the ,americans had stolen the ,african's body and soul1 and kept them in hopeless bondage for generations--they had richly earned whatever they needed to help them to the land of freedom4 ,stretch the principle of natural rights a little further1 and ask the question1 why should women1 denied all their political rights1 obey laws to which they have never given their consent1 either by proxy or in person8 ,our fathers in an inspired moment said1 ,no just government can be formed without the consent of the governed4 ,women have had no voice in the canon law1 the catechisms1 the church creeds and discipline1 and why should they obey the behests of a strictly masculine religion1 that places the sex at a disadvantage in all life's emergencies8 ,our civil and criminal codes reflect at many points the spirit of the ,mosaic4 ,in the criminal code we find no feminine pronouns1 as ,he1 ,his1 ,him1 we are arrested1 tried and hung1 but singularly enough1 we are denied the highest privileges of citizens1 because the pronouns ,she1 ,hers and ,her1 are not found in the constitutions4 ,it is a pertinent question1 if women can pay the penalties of their crimes as ,he1 why may they not enjoy the privileges of citizens as ,he8 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,exodus iv4 #ah ,and ,moses went and returned to ,jethro his father in law1 and said unto him1 let me go1 ,i pray thee1 and return unto my brethren which are in ,egypt1 and see whether they be yet alive4 ,and ,jethro said to ,moses1 ,go in peace4 #ai ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses in ,midian1 ,go1 return into ,egypt3 for all the men are dead which sought thy life4 #bj ,and ,moses took his wife and his sons1 and set them upon an ass1 and he returned to the land of ,egypt3 and ,moses took the rod of ,god in his hand4 #ba ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 when thou goest to return into ,egypt1 see that thou do all those wonders before ,pharaoh1 which ,i have put in thine hand3 but ,i will harden his heart1 that he shall not let the people go4 #bb ,and thou shalt say unto ,pharaoh1 ,thus saith the ,lord1 ,israel is my son1 even my firstborn3 #bc ,and ,i say unto thee1 let my son go1 that he may serve me3 and if thou refuse to let him go1 behold1 ,i will slay thy son1 even thy firstborn3 #bd ,and it came to pass by the way in the inn1 that the ,lord met him1 and sought to kill him4 #be ,then ,zipporah took a sharp stone1 and circumcised her son4 #bf ,so he let him go4 ,when ,moses married ,zipporah he represented himself as a stranger who desired nothing better than to adopt ,jethro's mode of life1 ,but now that he desired to see his own people1 his wife has no choice but to accompany him4 ,so ,moses took his wife and his sons and set them on an ass1 and he returned to the land of ,egypt4 ,the reason the ,lord met them and sought to kill the son1 was readily devined by ,zipporah2 her son had not been circumcised2 so with woman's quick intuition and natural courage to save the life of her husband1 she skillfully performed the necessary operation1 and the travellers went on their way rejoicing4 ,the word circumcision seems to have a very elastic meaning uncircumcised lips is used to describe that want of power to speak fluently1 from which ,moses suffered and which he so often deplored4 ,as in every chapter of ,jewish history this rite is dwelt upon it is worthy of remark that its prominence as a religious observance means a disparagement of all female life1 unfit for offerings1 and unfit to1 take part in religious services1 incapable of consecration4 ,the circumcision of the heart even1 which women might achieve1 does not render them fit to take an active part in any of the holy services of the ,lord4 ,they were permitted to violate the moral code of laws to secure liberty for their people1 but they could not officiate in any of the sacraments1 nor eat of the consecrated bread at meals4 ,although the ,mosaic code and customs so plainly degrade the female sex1 and their position in the church to-day grows out of these ancient customs1 yet many people insist that our religion dignifies women4 ,but so long as the ,pentateuch is read and accepted as the ,word of ,god1 an undefined influence is felt by each generation that1 destroys a proper respect for all womankind4 ,it is the contempt that the canon and civil law alike express for women that has multiplied their hardships and intensified man's1 desire to hold them in subjection4 ,the sentiment that statesmen and bishops proclaim in their high places are responsible for the actions of the lower classes on the highways4 ,we scarce take up a paper that does not herald some outrage committed on a matron on her way to church1 or the little girl gathering wild flowers on her way to school2 yet you cannot go so low down in the scale of being as to find men who will enter our churches to desecrate the altars or toss about the emblems of the sacrament2 because they have been educated with some respect for churches1 altars and sacraments4 ,but where are any lessons of respect taught for the mothers of the human family8 ,and yet as the great factor in the building of the race are they not more sacred than churches1 altars1 sacraments or the priesthood8 ,do our sons in their law schools1 who read the old common law of ,england and its commentators1 rise from their studies with higher respect for women8 ,do our sons in their theological seminaries rise from their studies of the ,mosaic laws and ,paul's epistles with higher respect for their mothers8 ,alas6 in both cases they may have learned their first lessons of disrespect and contempt4 ,they who would protect their innocent daughters from the outrages so common to-day1 must lay anew the foundation stones of law and gospel in justice and equality1 in a profound respect of the sexes for each other4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,exodus xii4 #ab ,for ,i will pass through the land of ,egypt this night1 and will smite all the firstborn in tile land of ,egypt1 both man and beast3 and against all the gods of ,egypt ,i will execute judgment3 ,i am the ,lord4 #ah ,and the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are3 and when ,i see that blood1 ,i will pass over you1 and the plague not be upon you to destroy you1 when ,i smite the land of ,egypt4 #dc ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses and ,aaron1 ,this is the ordinance of the passover3 ,there shall no stranger eat thereof3 #dd ,but every man's servant that is bought for money1 when thou hast circumcised him1 then shall he eat thereof4 #de ,a foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof4 #df ,in one house shall it be eaten2 thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house2 neither shall ye break a bone thereof4 #dg ,all the congregation of ,israel shall keep it4 #dh ,and when a stranger shall sojourn with thee1 and will keep the passover to the ,lord1 let all his males be circumcised1 and then let him come near and keep it2 and he shall be as one that is born in the land3 for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof4 ,in commemoration of this promise of the ,lord's to pass over their homes in executing vengeance on the ,egyptians1 and of the prolonged battles between ,jehovah and ,moses on the one side1 and ,pharaoh and his ,cabinet on the other1 the ,jews held an annual feast to which all circumcised males were summoned4 ,the point of interest to us is whether women were disqualified1 not being circumcised1 or whether as members of the congregation they could slip in under the provision in the #dgth verse1 and enjoy the unleavened bread and nice roast lamb with the men of their household4 ,it seems from the above texts that this blessed feast of deliverance from bondage must have been confined to males1 that they only1 could express1 their joy and gratitude4 ,but women were permitted to perform a subordinate part in the grand hegira1 beside carrying their respective infants they manifested their patriotism by stealing all the jewels of gold and silver1 all the rich silks and velvets from their ,egyptian neighbors1 all they could carry1 according to the commands of ,moses4 ,and why should these women take any part in the passover2 their condition remained about the same under all dynasties in all lands4 ,they were regarded merely as necessary factors in race building4 ,as ,jewish wives or ,egyptian concubines1 there was no essential difference in their social status4 ,as ,satan1 represented by a male snake1 seemed to be women's counsellor from the beginning1 making her skillful in cunning and tergiversation1 it is fair to suppose that they were destined to commune with the spirit of evil for ever and ever1 that is if women have souls and are immortal1 which is thought to be doubtful by many nations4 ,there is no trace thus far that the ,jews believed in a future state1 good or bad4 ,no promise of immortality is held out to men even4 ,so far the promise to them is a purely material triumph1 their seed shall not fill the earth4 ,the firstborn of males both man and beast are claimed by the ,lord as his own4 ,from the general sentiment expressed in the various texts1 it is evident that ,satan claims the women as his own4 ,the ,hebrew ,god had very little to say in regard to them4 ,if the passover1 the lamb and the unleavened bread1 were necessary to make the males acceptable in religious services1 the females could find no favor in the eyes of either ,god or man4 ,in most of the sacrifices female animals are not accepted1 nor a male1 born after a female by the same parent4 ,males are the race1 females only the creatures that carry it on4 ,this arrangement must be providential1 as it saves men from many disabilities4 ,men never fail to dwell on maternity as a disqualification for the possession of many civil and political rights4 ,suggest the idea of women having a voice in making laws and administering the ,government in the halls of legislation1 in ,congress1 or the ,british ,parliament1 and men will declaim at once on the disabilities of maternity in a sneering contemptuous way1 as if the office of motherhood was undignified and did not comport with the highest public offices in church and state4 ,it is vain that we point them to ,queen ,victoria1 who has carefully reared a large family1 while considering and signing all state papers4 ,she has been a pattern wife and mother1 kept a clean court1 and used her influence as far as her position would admit1 to keep peace with all nations4 ,why should representative ,american women be incapable of discharging similar public and private duties at the same time in an equally commendable manner8 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,exodus xviii4 #a ,when ,jethro1 the priest of ,midian1 ,moses' father in law1 heard of all that ,god had done for ,moses1 and for ,israel his people1 and that the ,lord had brought ,israel out of ,egypt2 #b ,then ,jethro1 ,moses' father in law1 took ,zipporah1 ,moses' wife1 after he had sent her back4 #c ,and her two sons2 of which the name of one was ,gershom2 for he said1 ,i have been an alien in a strange land3 #d ,and the name of the other was ,eliezer3 for the ,god of my father1 said he1 was mine help1 and delivered me from the sword of ,pharaoh2 #e ,and ,jethro1 ,moses father in law1 came with his sons and his wife unto ,moses into the wilderness1 where he encamped at the mount of ,god3 #f ,and he said unto ,moses1 ,i thy father in law ,jethro am come unto thee1 and thy wife1 and her two sons with her4 #g ,and ,moses went out to meet his father in law1 and did obeisance1 and kissed him1 and they asked each other of their welfare2 and they came into the tent4 #h ,and ,moses told his father in law all that the ,lord had done unto the ,pharaoh and to the ,egyptians for ,israel's sake1 and all the travail that had come upon them by the way1 and how the ,lord delivered them4 ,after a long separation the record of the meeting between ,moses and his wife ,zipporah ,i12 very unsatisfactory to the casual reader4 ,there is some sentiment in the meeting of ,jethro and ,moses1 they embraced and kissed each other4 ,how tender and beautiful the seeming relation to a father in law1 more fortunate than the mother in law in our time4 ,zipporah like all the women of her time was hustled about1 sent forward and back by husbands and fathers1 generally transported with their sons and belongings on some long-suffering jackass4 ,nothing is said of the daughters1 but the sons1 their names and their significance seem of vital importance4 ,we must smile or heave a sigh at all this injustice1 but different phases of the same guiding principle blocks woman's way to-day to perfect liberty4 ,see the struggle they have made to gain admittance to the schools and colleges1 the trades and professions1 their civil and political rights4 ,the darkest page in history is the persecutions of woman4 ,we take note of these discriminations of sex1 and reiterate them again and again to call the attention of women to the real source of their multiplied disabilities4 ,as long as our religion teaches woman's subjection and man's right of domination1 we shall have chaos in the world of morals4 ,women are never referred to as persons1 merely as property1 and to see why1 you must read the ,bible until you also see how many other opportunities for the exercise of sex were given to men1 and why the single one of marriage to one husband was allowed to women4 ,in all the directions given ,moses1 for the regulation of the social and civil life of the children of ,israel1 and in the commandments on ,mount ,sinai1 it is rarely that females are mentioned4 ,the regulations are chiefly for males1 the offerings are male1 the transgressions referred to are male4 ,when the ,lord was about to give the ten commandments to the children of ,israel he gave the most minute directions as to the preparatory duties of the people4 ,it is evident from the text that males only were to witness ,moses' ascent to ,mount ,sinai and the coming of the ,lord in a cloud of fire4 ,exodus xix4 #ab ,and thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about1 saying1 ,take heed to yourselves1 that ye go not up in to the mount1 or touch the border of it3 whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death44 #ac ,there shall not a hand touch it1 but he shall surely be stoned1 or shot through2 whether it be beast or man1 it shall not live3 when the trumpet soundeth long1 they shall come up to the mount4 #ad ,and ,moses went down from the mount unto the people1 and sanctified the people2 and they washed their clothes4 #af ,and he said unto the people1 ,be ready against the third day3 come not at your wives4 ,the children of ,israel were to sanctify themselves for this great event4 ,besides a thorough cleaning of their persons and clothes1 they were to have no affiliations or conversations with women for the space of three days4 ,the ,hebrew laws regulating the relations of men and women are never complimentary to the latter4 ,this feeling was in due time cultivated in the persecutions women endured under witchcraft and celibacy1 when all women were supposed to be in collusion with the spirit of evil1 and every man was warned that the less he had to do with the daughters of men the more perfect might be his communion with the ,creator4 ,lecky in his ,history of ,rationalism shows what women endured when these ideas were prevalent1 and their sufferings were not mitigated until rationalism took the place of religion1 and reason trumphed sic over superstition4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,exodus xv4 #bj ,and ,miriam the prophetess1 the sister of ,aaron1 took a timbrel in her hand2 and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances4 #ba ,and ,miriam answered them1 ,sing ye to the ,lord1 for he hath triumphed gloriously2 the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea4 ,after many previous disappointments from ,pharaoh1 the children of ,israel were permitted to start from ,egypt and cross the ,red ,sea1 while ,pharaoh and his host in pursuit1 were overwhelmed in the waters4 ,then ,moses and the children of ,israel expressed their gratitude to the ,lord in a song1 comprising nineteen verses1 while ,miriam and the women expressed theirs in the above two4 ,has this proportion any significance as to the comparative happiness of the men and the women1 or is it a poor attempt by the male historian to make out that though the women took part in the general rejoicing1 they were mutinous or sulky4 ,we know that ,miriam was not altogether satisfied with the management of ,moses at many points of the expedition1 and later on expressed her dissatisfaction4 ,if their gratitude is to be measured by the length of their expression1 the women were only one-tenth as grateful as the men4 ,it must always be a wonder to us1 that in view of their degradation1 they ever felt like singing or dancing1 for what desirable change was there in their lives--the same hard work or bondage they suffered in ,egypt4 ,there1 they were all slaves together1 but now the men1 in their respective families were exalted above their heads4 ,clarke gives the song in metre with a chorus1 and says the women1 led by ,miriam1 answered in a chorus by themselves which greatly heightened the effect4 ,exodus xvi4 #bc ,and he said unto them1 ,this is that which the ,lord hath said1 ,to morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the ,lord3 bake that which ye will bake to-day1 and seethe that ye will seethe2 and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning4 #bi ,see1 for that the ,lord hath given you the sabbath1 therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days2 abide ye every man in his place1 let no man go out of his place on the seventh day4 #cj ,so the people rested on the seventh day4 ,in these texts we note that the work of men was done on the sixth day1 but the women must work as usual on the seventh4 ,we see the same thing to-day1 woman's work is never done4 ,what irony to say to them rest on the seventh day4 ,the ,puritan fathers would not let the children romp or play1 nor give their wives a drive on ,sunday1 but they enjoyed a better dinner on the ,sabbath than any other day2 yet the xxxi chapter and #aeth verse contains the following warning3 #ae ,six days may work be done2 but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest1 holy to the ,lord3 whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day1 he shall surely be put to death4 ,as the women continued to work and yet seemed to live in the flesh1 it may refer to the death of their civil rights1 their individuality1 as nonentities without souls or personal responsibility4 ,a critical reading of the ten commandments will show that they are chiefly for men4 ,after purifying themselves by put ting aside their wives and soiled clothes1 they assembled at the foot of ,mount ,sinai4 ,we have no hint of the presence of a woman4 ,one commandment speaks of visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children4 ,there is an element of justice in this1 for to talk of children getting iniquities from their mothers1 in a history of males1 of fathers and sons1 would be as ridiculous as getting them from the clothes they wore4 ,six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work4 ,with the majority of women this is impossible4 ,men of all classes can make the ,sabbath a day of rest1 at least a change of employment1 but for women the same monotonous duties must be performed4 ,in the homes of the rich and poor alike1 most women cook1 clean1 and take care of children from morning till night4 ,men must have good dinners ,sundays above all other days1 as then they have plenty of time in which to eat4 ,if the first born male child lifts up his voice at the midnight hour1 the female attendant takes heed to his discontent2 if in the early morning at the cock crowing1 or the eventide1 she is there4 ,they who watch and guard the infancy of men are like faithful sentinels1 always on duty4 ,the fifth commandment will take the reader by surprise4 ,it is rather remarkable that the young ,hebrews should have been told to honor their mothers1 when the whole drift of the teaching thus far has been to throw contempt on the whole sex4 ,in what way could they show their mothers honor8 ,all the laws and customs forbid it4 ,why should they make any such manifestations8 ,scientists claim that the father gives the life1 the spirit1 the soul1 all there is of most value in existence4 ,why honor the mother1 for giving the mere covering of flesh4 ,it was not her idea1 but the father's1 to start their existence4 ,he thought of them1 he conceived them4 ,you might as well pay the price of a sack of wheat to the field1 instead of the farmer who sowed it1 as to honor the mother for giving life4 ,according to the ,jewish code1 the father is the great factor in family life1 the mother of minor consideration4 ,in the midst of such teachings and examples of the subjection and degradation of all womankind1 a mere command to honor the mother has no significance4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,exodus xxxii4 #a ,and when the people saw that ,moses delayed to come down out of the mount1 the people gathered themselves together unto ,aaron1 and said unto him1 ,up1 make us gods1 which shall go before us2 for as for this ,moses1 the man that brought us up out of land of ,egypt1 we wot not what is become of him4 #b ,and ,aaron said unto them1 ,break off the golden earrings1 which are in the ears of your wives1 of your sons1 and of your daughters1 and bring them unto me4 ,and all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears1 and brought them unto ,aaron4 ,and he received them at their hand1 and fashioned it with a graving tool1 after he had made it a molten calf3 and they said1 ,these be thy gods1 ,o ,israel1 which brought thee up out of the land of ,egypt4 #e ,and when ,aaron saw it1 he built an altar before it2 and ,aaron made proclamation1 and said1 ,to-morrow is a feast to the ,lord4 #f ,and they rose up early on the morrow1 and offered burnt offerings1 and brought peace offerings1 and the people sat down to eat and to drink1 and rose up to play4 #g ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 ,go1 get thee down2 for thy people1 which thou broughtest out of the land of ,egypt1 have corrupted themselves4 ,so tired were the children of ,israel waiting at the foot of ,mount ,sinai for the return of ,moses1 that ,aaron to pacify them made a golden calf which they worshipped4 ,to procure the gold he took the jewelry of the women young and old1 men never understanding how precious it is to them1 and the great self-sacrifice required to part with it4 ,but as the men generally give it to them during courtship1 and as wedding presents1 they feel that they have a vested right therein for emergencies4 ,it was just so in the ,american ,revolution1 in #aggf1 the first delicacy the men threw overboard in ,boston harbor was the tea1 woman's favorite beverage4 ,the tobacco and whiskey1 though heavily taxed1 they clung to with the tenacity of the devil-fish4 ,rather than throw their luxuries overboard they would no doubt have succumbed to ,king ,george's pretensions4 ,men think that self-sacrifice is the most charming of all the cardinal virtues for women1 and in order to keep it in healthy working order1 they make opportunities for its illustration as often as possible4 ,i would fain teach women that self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice4 ,the pillar of cloud for day and light for night1 that went before the children of ,israel in the wilderness1 was indeed a marvel4 ,it was an aqueous cloud that kept them well watered by day1 and shadowed from the heat of the sun2 by night it showed its light side to the ,israelites1 and its dark side to whatever enemy might pursue them4 ,it is supposed that about #c1bjj1jjj started on this march with #afe1jjj children4 ,they carried all their provisions1 cooking utensils1 flocks1 herds and all the gold1 silver1 precious stones and rich raiment that they borrowed 7stole7 of the ,egyptians1 besides the bones of the twelve sons of ,jacob4 ,it is said the ,israelites spent forty years wandering in the wilderness1 kept there because of their wickedness1 though they might have accomplished the journey in a few weeks4 ,they disobeyed the commandments given them by ,moses1 and worshipped a golden calf1 so they journeyed through deep waters1 woe and tribulation4 ,fire was always a significant emblem of ,deity1 not only among the ,hebrews but many other ancient nations1 hence men have adopted it as a male emblem4 ,they talk of ,moses seeing ,god2 but ,moses says3 ye saw no manner of similitude on the day the ,lord spoke unto me on ,mount ,horeb out of the cloud of fire4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,exodus xxxiv4 #ab ,take heed to thyself1 lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest1 lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee2 #ac ,but ye shall destroy their altars1 break their images1 and cut down their groves3 #ad ,for thou shalt worship no other god3 for the ,lord1 who is a jealous ,god4 #ae ,lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land1 and they go after their gods1 and do sacrifice unto their gods1 and one call thee1 and thou eat of his sacrifice2 #af ,and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons1 and their daughters go after their gods1 and make thy sons go after their gods4 #bc ,thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the ,lord ,god1 the ,god of ,israel4 #bd ,for ,i will cast out the nations before thee1 and enlarge thy borders2 neither shall any man desire thy land1 when thou shalt go up to appear before the ,lord thy ,god thrice in the year4 #be ,thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven2 neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning4 #bf ,the first of the first fruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the ,lord thy ,god4 ,thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk4 ,the ,jews did not seem to have an abiding faith in the attractions of their own religion4 ,they evidently lived in constant fear lest their sons and daughters should worship the strange gods of other nations4 ,they seem also to have had most exaggerated fears as to the influence alien women might exert over their sons4 ,three times in the year all the men were to appear before the ,lord4 ,why the women were not commanded to appear has been a point of much questioning4 ,probably the women1 then as now1 were more conscientious in their religious duties1 and not so susceptible to the attractions of alien men and their strange gods4 ,if the ,lord had talked more freely with the ,jewish women and impressed some of his wise commands on their hearts1 they would have had a more refined and religious influence on the men of ,israel4 ,but all their knowledge of the divine commands was second hand and through an acknowledged corrupt medium4 ,thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk4 ,after all the learning critics have bestowed on this passage1 the simple meaning1 says ,adam ,clarke1 seems to be this3 ,thou shalt do nothing that may have a tendency to blunt thy moral feelings1 or teach thee hardness of heart4 ,even human nature shudders at the thought of taking the mother's milk to seethe the flesh of her own dead lamb4 ,with all their cruelty towards alien tribes and all their sacrifices of lambs and kids1 there is an occasional touch of tenderness for animal life among the ,hebrews that is quite praiseworthy4 ,exodus xxxvi4 #bb ,and they came1 both men and women1 as many1 as were willing hearted1 and brought bracelets1 and earrings1 and rings1 and tablets1 all jewels of gold2 and every man offered an offering of gold unto the ,lord4 #bc ,and every man1 with whom was found blue1 and purple1 and scarlet1 and fine linen1 and goats hair1 and red skins of rams1 and badgers' skins1 brought them4 #be ,and all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands1 and brought that which they had spun1 both of blue1 and of purple1 and of scarlet1 and of fine linen4 #bf ,and all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair4 ,women were always considered sufficiently clean to beg1 work and give generously for the building and decoration of churches1 and the support of the priesthood4 ,they might always serve as inferiors1 but never receive as equals4 ,great preparations were made for building the ,tabernacle1 and all the willing hearted were invited to bring all their ornaments and all manner of rich embroideries1 and brilliant fancy work of scarlet1 blue and purple4 ,as usual in our own day the ,jewish women were allowed to give generously1 work untiringly and beg eloquently to build altars and ,tabernacles to the ,lord1 to embroider slippers and make flowing robes for the priesthood1 but they could not enter the holy of holies or take any active part1 in the services4 ,some women in our times think these unhappy ,jewesses would have been much wiser hearted if they had kept their jewelry and beautiful embroideries to decorate themselves and their homes1 where they were at least satellites of the dinner pot and the cradle1 and ,godesses sic at their own altars4 ,seeing they had no right inside the sacred ,temple1 but stood looking-glass in hand at the door1 it would have indicated more self-respect to have washed their hands of all that pertained to male ceremonies1 altars and temples4 ,but the women were wild with enthusiasm1 just as they are to-day with fairs and donation parties1 to build churches1 and they brought such loads of bric-a-brac that at last ,moses compelled them to stop1 as the supply exceeded all reasonable demand4 ,but for the building of the ,tabernacle the women brought all they deemed most precious1 even the most necessary and convenient articles of their toilets4 ,exodus xxxviii4 #h ,and he made the laver of brass1 and the foot of it of brass1 of the looking glasses of the women assembling at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation4 ,the men readily accepted the sacrifice of all their jewelry1 rich laces1 velvets and silks1 their looking glasses of solid precious metal4 ,these being made of metal could be used for building purposes4 ,the women carried these with them wherever they went1 and always stood with them in hand at the door of the ,tabernacle1 as they were the doorkeepers standing outside to watch and guard the door from those not permitted to enter4 ,an objective view of the manner these women were imposed upon1 wheedled and deceived with male pretensions and the pat use of the phrase thus saith the ,lord1 must make every one who reads indignant at the masculine assumption1 even at this late day4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,at every stage of his existence ,moses was indebted to some woman for safety and success4 ,miriam1 by her sagacity1 saved his life4 ,pharaoh's daughter reared and educated him and made the way possible for the high offices he was called to fill2 and ,zipporah1 his wife1 a woman of strong character and decided opinions1 often gave him good advice4 ,evidently from the text she criticised his conduct and management as a leader1 and doubted his supernatural mission1 for she refused to go out of ,egypt with him1 preferring to remain with her sons under her father's roof--,jethro1 a priest of ,midian4 ,after the destruction of ,pharaoh's host1 when the expedition1 led by ,moses seemed to be an assured success1 she followed with her father to join the leader of the wandering ,israelites4 7,chapter xviii1 #b47 ,in the ordinances which follow the ten commandments1 exact judgment and cruel punishment are ordained alike for man and woman2 life for life1 eye for eye1 tooth for tooth1 hand for hand and foot for foot 7,chapter xxi1 #bc74 ,in pronouncing punishments1 woman's individuality and responsibility are always fully recognized1 alike in the canon and civil laws1 which reflect the spirit of the ,mosaic code4 ,exodus xxii4 #ba ,thou shalt neither vex a stranger1 nor oppress him3 for ye were strangers in the land of ,egypt4 #bb ,ye shall not afflict any widow1 or fatherless child4 #bc ,if thou afflict them in any wise1 and they cry at all unto me1 ,i will surely hear their cry2 #bd ,and my wrath shall wax hot1 and ,i will kill you with the sword1 and your wives shall be widows1 and your children fatherless3 ,this special threat against those who oppress the widow and the fatherless1 has a touch of tenderness and mercy1 but if the vengeance is to make more widows and fatherless1 the sum of human misery is increased rather than diminished4 ,as to the stranger1 after his country has been made desolate1 his cities burned1 his property1 cattle1 lands and merchandise all confiscated1 kind words and alms would be but a small measure of justice under any circumstances4 ,in closing the book of ,exodus1 the reader must wonder that the faith and patience of the people1 in that long sorrowful march through the wilderness1 held out as long as it did4 ,whether fact or fiction1 it is one of the most melancholy records in human history4 ,whether as a mere work of the imagination1 or the real experience of an afflicted people1 our finer sentiments of pity and sympathy find relief only in doubts of its truth4 ,l4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,leviticus4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,leviticus iv1 vi4 #bb ,when a ruler hath sinned and somewhat through ignorance1 against any of the commandments of the ,lord his ,god concerning things which should not be done1 and is guilty4 #bc ,or if his sin1 wherein he hath sinned1 come to his knowledge2 he shall bring his offering1 a kid of the goats1 a male without blemish3 #bg ,and if any one of the common people sin through ignorance1 while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the ,lord concerning things which ought not to be done1 and be guilty3 #bh ,then he shall bring his offering1 a kid of the goats1 a female without blemish1 for his sin4 #bd ,and this is the law of the meat offering3 the sons of ,aaron shall offer it before the ,lord1 before the altar4 #ae ,and he shall take of it his handful1 of the flour of the meat offering1 and of the oil thereof1 and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering1 and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour1 even the memorial of it1 unto the ,lord4 #ah ,all the males among the children of ,aaron shall eat of it4 ,it shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the ,lord made by fire3 every one that toucheth them shall be holy4 ,there seems to have been some distinction of sex even in the offerings of male and female animals4 ,for rulers1 priests and people of distinction male animals were required1 but for the common people a female lamb or goat would do4 ,there is a difference of opinion among writers as to the reason of this custom1 some say because all female animals were considered unclean1 others that the females were too valuable for wholesale slaughter4 ,farmers use the male fowls for the table because the hens are too valuable producing eggs and chickens4 ,the fact has some significance1 though ,adam ,clarke throws no light on it1 he says--the whole sacrificial system in this book refers to the coming sacrifice of ,christ2 without this spiritual reference1 the general reader can feel no spiritual interest in this book ,for burnt offerings males were required1 but for peace offerings and minor sins the female would answer4 ,as the idea of sacrifice to unknown gods1 was the custom with all nations and religions1 why should the ,jewish have more significance than that of any other people4 ,for swearing1 an offence to ears polite1 rather than eternal justice1 a female creature or turtle dove might be offered4 ,the meat so delicately cooked by the priests1 with wood and coals in the altar1 in clean linen1 no woman was permitted to taste1 only the males among the children of ,aaron4 ,seeing that the holy men were the cooks1 it seems like a work of supererogation to direct them to clean themselves and their cooking utensils4 ,perhaps the daughters of ,israel were utilized for that work4 ,it is clearly shown that child-bearing among the ,jews was not considered a sacred office and that offerings to the ,lord were necessary for their purification1 and that double the time was necessary after the birth of a daughter4 ,in several of the following chapters the sins of men and women are treated on equal grounds1 hence they need no special comments4 ,in reading many of these chapters we wonder that an expurgated edition of these books was not issued long ago4 ,we trust the volume we propose to issue may suggest to the next ,revising ,committee of gentlemen the propriety of omitting many texts that are gross and obscene1 especially if the ,bible is to be read in our public schools4 ,leviticus x4 #ab ,and ,moses spake unto ,aaron1 and unto ,eleazar and unto ,ithamar1 his sons that were left1 ,take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the ,lord made by fire1 and eat it without leaven beside the altar3 for it is most holy4 #ac ,and ye shall eat it in the holy place1 because it is thy due1 and thy sons' due1 of the sacrifices of the ,lord made by fire3 for so ,i am commanded4 #ad ,and the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place2 thou1 and thy sons1 and thy daughters with thee3 for they be thy due1 and thy sons' due1 which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of ,israel4 ,why the daughters cannot eat with the sons in the thirteenth verse and may in the fourteenth we cannot conjecture4 ,we notice1 however1 that where the sons eat alone is called a holy place1 where the daughters eat with them it is called simply a clean place4 ,we are thankful1 however1 that in the distribution of meats the women come in occasionally for a substantial meal in a clean place4 ,all the directions given in the eighteenth chapter are for men and women alike1 for all nations and all periods of human development4 ,the social habits and sanitary conditions prescribed are equally good for our times as when given by ,moses to the children of ,israel4 ,the virtue of cleanliness so sedulously taught cannot be too highly commended4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,leviticus xix4 #c ,if ye shall fear every man his mother1 and his father1 and keep my sabbaths3 ,i am the ,lord your ,god4 #bj ,if ,and whosoever cohabits with a bondmaid1 betrothed to a husband1 and not at all redeemed1 nor freedom given her2 she shall be scourged3 they shall not be put to death1 because she was not free4 #ba ,and he shall bring his trespass offering unto the ,lord1 unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation1 even a ram for a trespass offering4 #bb ,and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the ,lord for his sin which he hath done3 and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him4 ,by what possible chance the mother is mentioned first here1 it is difficult to conjecture1 but we do see the cruel injustice of the comparative severity of the punishment for man and woman for the same offence4 ,the woman is scourged1 the man presents the priest with a ram and is forgiven4 ,leviticus xx4 #i ,if ,for every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death3 he hath cursed his father or his mother2 his blood shall be upon him4 #ba ,and if a man shall take his brother's wife1 it is an unclean thing3 he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness2 they shall be childless4 #bg ,a man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit1 or that is a wizard1 shall surely be put to death3 they shall stone them with stones2 their blood shall be upon them4 ,clarke remarks that all language that tends to lessen respect for father or mother1 is included in this judgment4 ,in this chapter we have still further directions for race and family purity4 ,i suppose in the #bast verse we have that stumbling-block in the ,british ,parliament whenever the deceased wife's sister's bill comes up for passage4 ,here1 too1 those who in times past have persecuted witches1 will find justification for their cruelties4 ,the actors in one of the blackest pages in human history1 claim ,scripture authority for their infernal deeds4 ,far into the eighteenth century in ,england1 the clergy dragged innocent women into the courts as witches1 and learned judges pronounced on them the sentence of torture and death4 ,the chapter on witchcraft in ,lecky's ,history of ,rationalism1 contains the most heartrending facts in human history4 ,it is unsafe to put unquestioned confidence in all the vagaries of mortal man4 ,while women were tortured1 drowned and burned by the thousands1 scarce one wizard to a hundred was ever condemned4 ,the marked distinction in the treatment of the sexes1 all through the ,jewish dispensation1 is curious and depressing1 especially as we see the trail of the serpent all through history1 wherever their form of religion has made its impress4 ,in the old common law of our ,saxon fathers1 the ,jewish code is essentially reproduced4 ,this same distinction of sex appears in our own day4 ,one code of morals for men1 another for women4 ,all the opportunities and advantages of life for education1 self-support and self-development freely accorded boys1 have1 in a small measure1 been reluctantly conceded to women after long and persevering struggles4 ,leviticus xxii4 #ab ,if the priest's daughter also be married unto a stranger1 she may not eat of an offering of the holy things4 #ac ,but if the priest's daughter be a widow1 or divorced1 and have no child1 and is returned unto her father's house1 as in her youth1 she shall eat of her father's meat3 but there shall no stranger eat thereof4 ,these restrictions on the priests' daughters would never be tolerated by the priests' sons should they marry strangers4 ,the individuality of a woman1 the little she ever possessed1 is obliterated by marriage4 ,leviticus xxiv4 #aj ,and the son of an ,israelitish woman1 whose father was an ,egyptian1 went out among the children of ,israel3 and this son of the ,israelitish woman and a man of ,israel strove together in the camp2 #aa ,and the ,israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the ,,lord1 and cursed4 ,and they brought him unto ,moses3 7and his mother's name was ,shelomith1 the daughter of ,dibri1 of the tribe of ,dan37 ,the interesting fact here is that a woman is dignified by a name1 the only one so mentioned in the book of ,leviticus4 ,this is probably due to the fact that the son's character was so disreputable that he would reflect no lustre on his father's family1 and so on his maternal ancestors rested his disgrace4 ,if there had been anything good to tell of him1 reference would no doubt have been made to his male progenitors4 ,leviticus xxvi4 #bf ,and when ,i have broken the staff of your bread1 ten women shall bake your bread in one oven1 and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight3 and ye shall eat1 and not be satisfied4 #bi ,and ye shall eat the flesh of your sons1 and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat4 ,there could be no greater punishment in ordinary life than for ten women to bake in one oven4 ,as every woman would necessarily look at her pies and cakes two or three times1 that would involve a frequent looking in1 which might make the contents heavy as lead4 ,a current of cold air rushing in too often1 would wreck the most perfect compound4 ,but perhaps heavy bread was intended as part of the punishment of the people for their sins4 ,some commentators say that the labors of the ten women are symbolical of the poverty of the family4 ,when people are in fortunate circumstances1 the women are supposed1 like the lilies of the valley1 to neither toil nor spin1 but when the adverse winds blow they suddenly find themselves compelled to use their own brains and hands or perish4 ,the #bith verse at last gives us one touch of absolute equality1 the right to be eaten4 ,this ,josephus tells us really did occur in the sieges of ,samaria by ,benhadad1 of ,jerusalem by the ,chaldeans1 and also in the last siege of ,jerusalem by the ,romans4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,amid the long list of directions for sacrifices and injunctions against forbidden actions1 chapter xii gives the law of purification1 not only degrading motherhood by the observance of certain ceremonies and exclusion from the sanctuary1 but by discriminating against sex1 honoring the birth of a son above that of a daughter4 ,according to the ,levitical law1 the ewe lambs were not used for sacrifice as offerings to the ,lord1 because they were unclean4 ,this was an idea put forth by the priests and ,levites4 ,but there was a better and more rational reason4 ,to sacrifice the ewes was to speedily deplete the flocks1 but beyond a certain number needed as sires for the coming generation1 the males could be put to no better use than to feed the priests1 the refuse of the animal1 the skin1 feet1 etc41 constituted the sacrifice to the ,lord4 ,bishop ,colenso1 in his remarkable work on the ,pentateuch1 gives the enormous number of lambs annually sacrificed by the ,hebrews4 ,a certain portion of the flocks were assigned to the priests1 who were continually provided with the best mutton4 ,l4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,numbers ,,chapter ,i4 ,numbers i4 ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses in tire wilderness of ,sinai1 saying1 #b ,take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of ,israel1 after their families1 by the house of their fathers1 with the number of their names1 every male by their polls3 #c ,these are those which were numbered of the children of ,israel by the house of their fathers3 all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty4 ,in this chapter ,moses is commanded to number the people and the princes of the tribe1 males only1 and by the houses of their fathers4 ,as the object was to see how many effective men there were able to go to war1 the priests1 the women1 the feeble old men and children were not counted4 ,women have frequently been classified with priests in some privileges and disabilities4 ,at one time in the ,united ,states the clergy were not allowed to vote nor hold office4 ,like women1 they were considered too good to mingle in political circles4 ,for them to have individual opinions on the vital questions of the hour might introduce dissensions alike into the church and the home4 ,this census of able bodied men still runs on through chapter ii1 and all these potential soldiers are called children of their fathers4 ,although at this period woman's chief duty and happiness was bearing children1 no mention is made of the mothers of this mighty host1 though some woman had gone to the gates of death to give each soldier life2 provided him with rations long before he could forage for himself1 and first taught his little feet to march to tune and time4 ,but1 perhaps1 if we could refer to the old ,jewish census tables we might find that the able bodied males of these tribes1 favorites of ,heaven1 had all sprung1 ,minerva-like1 from the brains of their fathers1 and that only the priests1 the feeble old men and the children had mothers to care for them1 in the absence of the princes and soldiers4 ,however1 in some valuable calculations of ,schencher we learn that there was some thought of the mothers of the tribes by ,german commentators4 ,we find in his census such references as the following3 ,the children of ,jacob by ,leah4 ,the children of ,jacob by ,zilpah4 ,the children of ,jacob by ,rachel4 ,the children of ,jacob by ,bilhah4 ,but even this generous mention of the mothers of the tribe of ,jacob does not satisfy the exacting members of the ,revising ,committee4 ,we feel that the facts should have been stated thus3 ,the children of ,leah1 ,zilpah1 ,rachel and ,bilhah by ,jacob1 making ,jacob the incident instead of the four women4 ,men may consider this a small matter on which to make a point1 but in restoring woman's equality everywhere we must insist on her recognition in all these minor particulars1 and especially in the ,bible1 to which people go for their authority on the civil and social status of all womankind4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,numbers v4 #a ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying1 #b ,command the children of ,israel4 that they put out of the camp every leper1 and every one that hath an issue1 and whosoever is defiled by the dead3 #c ,both male and female that they defile not their camps4 #d ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying1 #ab ,if any man's wife go aside1 and commit a trespass against him4 #ad ,and the spirit of jealousy come upon him1 and she be defiled3 or if she be not defiled3 #ae ,then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest1 and he shall bring her offering for her1 the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal2 he shall pour no oil upon it1 nor put frankincense thereon2 for it is an offering of jealousy4 #ag ,and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel2 and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take1 and put it into the water3 #ah ,and the priest shall set the woman before the ,lord and uncover the woman's head1 and put the offering of memorial in her hands1 which is the jealousy offering1 and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse3 #ai ,and the priest shall charge her by an oath1 and say unto the woman1 if thou hast not gone aside be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse3 #bj ,but if thou hast gone aside1 and if thou be defiled4 #ba ,then1 the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing1 and the priest shall say unto the woman1 ,the ,lord make thee a curse and an oath among they people4 #bd ,and he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse4 #be ,then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand1 and shall wave the offering before the ,,lord1 and offer it upon the altar3 #bf ,and the priest shall take an handful of the offering1 even the memorial thereof1 and burn it upon the altar1 and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water4 #bg ,and when he hath made her to drink the water1 then it shall come to pass1 that1 if she be defiled1 and have done trespass against her husband1 that if she be defiled1 and have done trespass against her husband1 that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her1 and become bitter4 #bh ,and if the woman be not defiled1 but be clean2 then she shall be free4 ,at the first blush it seems very cruel for the ,jewish ,god to order the diseased and unfortunate to be thrown out of the camp and left in the wilderness4 ,but commentators suggest that they must have had a sanatorium near by where the helpless could be protected4 ,though improbable1 still the suggestion will be a relief to sensitive souls4 ,this ordinance of ,moses probably suggested the first idea of a hospital4 ,the above account of the unfortunate wife was called trial by ordeal1 of which ,clarke gives a minute description in his commentaries4 ,it was common at one time among many nations1 the women in all cases being the chief sufferers as in the modern trials for witchcraft4 ,if the witch was guilty when thrown into the water she went to the bottom1 if innocent she floated on the surface and was left to sink1 so in either case her fate was the same4 ,as men make and execute the laws1 prescribe and administer the punishment1 trials by a jury or ordeal for women though seemingly fair1 are never based on principles of equity4 ,the one remarkable fact in all these social transgressions in the early periods as well as in our modern civilization is that the penalties whether moral or material all fall on woman4 ,verily the darkest page in human history is the slavery of women6 ,the offering by the priest to secure her freedom was of the cheapest character4 ,oil and frankincense signifying grace and acceptableness were not permitted to be used in her case4 ,the woman's head is uncovered as a token of her shame1 the dust from the floor signifies contempt and condemnation1 compelling the woman to drink water mixed with dirt and gall is in the same malicious spirit4 ,there is no instance recorded of one of these trials by ordeal ever actually taking place1 as divorce was so easy that a man could put away his wife at pleasure1 so he need not go to the expense of even a tenth part of an ephah of barley1 on a wife of doubtful faithfulness4 ,moreover the woman upon whom it was proposed to try all these pranks might be innocent1 and the jealous husband make himself ridiculous in the eyes of the people4 ,but the publication of these ordinances no doubt had a restraining influence on the young and heedless daughters of ,israel1 and they serve as landmarks in man's system of jurisprudence1 to show us how far back he has been consistent in his unjust legislation for woman4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,numbers xii4 ,and ,miriam and ,aaron spake against ,moses because of the ,ethiopian woman whom he had married4 #b ,and they said1 ,hath the ,lord indeed spoken only by ,moses8 hath he not spoken also by us8 ,and the ,lord heard it4 #c 7,now the man ,moses was very meek1 above all the men which were upon the face of the earth47 #e ,and the ,lord came down in the pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle and called ,aaron and ,miriam1 and they both came forth4 #f ,and ,he ,said1 ,hear now my words3 ,if there be a prophet among you1 ,i1 the ,lord1 will make myself known unto him in a vision1 and will speak unto him in a dream4 #h ,with him will ,i speak mouth to mouth1 even apparently1 and not in dark speeches2 and the similitude of the ,lord shall he behold3 wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my ,servant ,moses8 #i ,and the anger of the ,lord was kindled against them3 and he departed4 #aj ,and the cloud departed from off the tabernacle2 and1 behold1 ,miriam became leprous1 white as snow2 and ,aaron looked upon ,miriam1 and behold1 she was leprous4 #aa ,and ,aaron said unto ,muses4 ,alas1 my lord1 ,i beseech thee1 lay not the sin upon us1 wherein we have done foolishly1 and wherein we have sinned4 #ac ,and ,moses cried unto the ,lord1 saving ,heal her now1 ,o ,god1 ,i beseech thee4 #ae ,and ,miriam was shut out from the camp seven days3 and the people journeyed not till ,miriam was brought in again4 ,here we have the first mention of ,moses's second marriage1 but the name of the woman is not given1 though she is the assigned cause of the sedition4 ,both ,aaron and ,miriam had received a portion of the prophetic genius that distinguished ,moses1 and they naturally thought that they should have some share in the government1 at least to make a few suggestions1 when they thought ,moses made a blunder4 ,miriam was older than ,moses1 and had at this time the experience of #abj years4 ,when ,moses was an infant on the ,river ,nile1 ,miriam was intrusted by his parents to watch the fate of the infant in the bulrushes and the daughter of ,pharaoh in her daily walks by1 the river side4 ,it was her diplomacy that secured the child's own mother for his nurse in the household of the ,king of ,egypt4 ,it is rather remarkable1 if ,moses was as meek as he is represented in the third verse1 that he should have penned that strong assertion of his own innate modesty4 ,there are evidences at this and several other points that ,moses was not the sole editor of the ,pentateuch1 if it can be shown that he wrote any part of it4 ,speaking of the punishment of ,miriam1 ,clarke4 in his commentaries says it is probable that ,miriam was chief in this mutiny2 hence she was punished while ,aaron was spared4 ,a mere excuse for man's injustice2 had he been a woman he would have shared the same fate4 ,the real reason was that ,aaron was a priest4 ,had he been smitten with leprosy1 his sacred office would have suffered and the priesthood fallen into disrepute4 ,as women are supposed to have no character or sacred office1 it is always safe to punish them to the full extent of the law4 ,so ,miriam was not only afflicted with leprosy1 but also shut out of the camp for seven days4 ,one would think that potential motherhood should make women as a class as sacred as the priesthood4 ,in common parlance we have much fine-spun theorizing on the exalted office of the mother1 her immense influence in moulding the character of her sons2 the hand that rocks the cradle moves the world1 etc41 but in creeds and codes1 in constitutions and ,scriptures1 in prose and verse1 we do not see these lofty paeans recorded or verified in living facts4 ,as a class1 women were treated among the ,jews as an inferior order of beings1 just as they are to-day in all civilized nations4 ,and now1 as then1 men claim to be guided by the will of ,god4 ,in this narrative we see thus early woman's desire to take some part in government1 though denied all share in its honor and dignity4 ,miriam1 no doubt1 saw the humiliating distinctions of sex in the ,mosaic code and customs1 and longed for the power to make the needed amendments4 ,in criticising the discrepancies in ,moses's character and government1 ,miriam showed a keen insight into the common principles of equity and individual conduct1 and great self-respect and self- assertion in expressing her opinions--qualities most lacking in ordinary women4 ,evidently the same blood that made ,moses and ,aaron what they were1 as leaders of men1 flowed also in the veins1 of ,miriam4 ,as daughters are said to be more like their fathers and sons like their mothers1 ,moses probably inherited his meekness and distrust of himself from his mother1 and ,miriam her self-reliance and heroism from her father4 ,knowing these laws of heredity1 ,moses should have averted the punishment of ,miriam instead of allowing the full force of ,god's wrath to fall upon her alone4 ,if ,miriam had helped to plan the journey to ,canaan1 it would no doubt have been accomplished in forty days instead of forty years4 ,with her counsel in the cabinet1 the people might have enjoyed peace and prosperity1 cultivating the arts and sciences1 instead of making war on other tribes1 and burning offerings to their gods4 ,miriam was called a prophetess1 as the ,lord had1 on some occasions1 it is said1 spoken through her1 giving messages to the women4 ,after their triumphal escape from ,egypt1 ,miriam led the women in their songs of victory4 ,with timbrels and dances1 they chanted1 that grand chorus that has been echoed and re-echoed for centuries in all our cathedrals round the globe4 ,catholic writers represent ,miriam as a type of the ,virgin ,mary1 being legislatrix over the ,israelitish women1 especially endowed with the spirit of prophecy4 ,numbers xx4 ,then came the children of ,israel1 even the whole congregation1 into the desert of ,zin in the first month3 and the people abode ,in ,kadesh2 and ,miriam died there1 and was buried there4 ,eusebius says her tomb was to be seen at ,kadesh1 near the city of ,petra1 in his time1 and that she and her brothers all died in the same year1 it is hoped to reappear as equals in the resurrection4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,numbers vi4 #a ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 #b ,speak unto the children of ,israel1 and say1 ,when either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a ,nazarite1 unto the ,lord4 #e ,all the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head2 until the days be fulfilled1 in the which he separateth himself unto the ,lord1 he shall be holy1 and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow4 ,the ,nazarites1 both men and women1 allowed their hair to grow long1 as the hair of the ,nazarine was a token of subjection1 the man to ,god1 the woman to man4 ,st4 ,paul no doubt alluded to this custom when he said the woman ought to have power upon her head1 that is1 wear her hair and veil and bonnet in church as a proof of her subjection to man1 as he is to the ,lord4 ,the discipline of the church to-day requires a woman to cover her head before entering a cathedral for worship4 ,the fashion for men to sit with their heads bare in our churches1 while women must wear bonnets1 is based on this ancient custom of the ,nazarine4 ,but as fashion is gradually reducing the bonnet to an infinitesimal fraction it will probably in the near future be dispensed with altogether4 ,a lady in ,england made the experiment of going to the established church without her bonnet1 but it created such an agitation in the congregation that the ,bishop wrote her a letter on the impropriety and requested her to come with her head covered4 ,she refused4 ,he then called and labored with her as to the sinfulness of the proceedings1 and at parting commanded her either to cover her bead or stay away from church altogether4 ,she choose the latter4 ,i saw and beard that letter read at a luncheon in ,london1 where several ladies were present4 ,it was received with peals of laughter4 ,the lady is the wife of a colonel in the ,british army4 ,numbers xxv4 #f ,and1 behold1 one of the children of ,israel came and brought unto his brethren a ,midianitish woman in the sight of ,moses and all the congregation of the children of ,israel4 #g ,and when ,phinehas1 the son of ,eleazar1 the son of ,aaron the priest1 saw it1 he rose and took a javelin in his hand2 #h ,and he went after the man of ,israel into the tent1 and thrust both of them through1 the man of ,israel1 and the woman4 #ad ,now the name of the ,israelite that was slain1 even that was slain with the ,midianitish woman1 was ,zimri1 the son of ,salu1 a prince of a chief house among the ,simeonites4 #ae ,and the name of the ,midianitish woman that was slain was ,cozbi1 the daughter of ,zur3 he was head over a people1 and of a chief house in ,midian4 ,some commentators say the tie between ,zimri and ,cozbi was a matrimonial alliance1 understood in good faith by the ,midianitish woman4 ,he was a prince and she was a princess4 ,but the ,jewish law forbade a man going outside of his tribe for a wife4 ,it was deemed idolatry4 ,but why kill the woman4 ,she had not violated the laws of her tribe and was no doubt ignorant of ,jewish law4 ,other commentators say that ,zimri was notorious at the licentious feasts of ,baal-poer and that the ,midianitish women tempted the sons of ,israel to idolatry4 ,hence the justice of killing both ,zimri and ,cozbi in one blow4 ,it is remarkable that the influence of woman is so readily and universally recognized in leading the strongest men into sin1 but so uniformly ignored as a stimulus to purity and perfection4 ,unless the good predominates over the evil in the mothers of the race1 there is no hope of our ultimate perfection4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the origin of the command that women should cover their heads is found in an old ,jewish or ,hebrew legend which appears in literature for the first time in ,genesis vi4 ,there we are told the ,sons of ,god1 that is1 the angels1 took to wives the daughters of men1 and begat the giants and heroes1 who were instrumental in bringing about the flood4 ,the ,rabbins held that the way in which the angels got possession of women was by laying hold of their hair2 they accordingly warned women to cover their heads in public1 so that the angels might not get possession of them4 ,it was believed that the strength of people lay in their hair1 as the story of ,samson illustrates4 ,paul merely repeats this warning which he must often have heard at the feet of ,gamaliel1 who was at that time ,prince or ,president of the ,sanhedrim1 telling women to have a power 7that is1 protection7 on their heads because of the angels3 ,i ,corinthians1 chapter xi1 verse #aj4 ,for this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels4 ,thus the command has its origin in an absurd old myth4 ,this legend will be found fully treated in a ,german pamphlet--,die paulinische ,angelologie und ,daemonologie4 ,otto ,everling1 ,gottingen1 #ahhh4 ,if the command to keep silence in the churches has no higher origin than that to keep covered in public1 should so much weight be given it1 or should it be so often quoted as having ,divine sanction8 ,the injunctions of ,st4 ,paul have had such a decided influence in fixing the legal status of women that it is worth our while to consider their source4 ,in dealing with this question we must never forget that the majority of the writings of the ,new ,testament were not really written or published by those whose names they bear4 ,ancient writers considered it quite permissible for a man to put out letters under the name of another1 and thus to bring his own ideas before the world under the protection of an honored sponsor4 ,it is not usually claimed that ,st4 ,paul was the originator of the great religious movement called ,christianity1 but there is a strong belief that he was divinely inspired4 ,his inward persuasions1 and especially his visions appeared as a gift or endowment which had the force of inspiration2 therefore1 his mandates concerning women have a strong hold upon the popular mind1 and when opponents to the equality of the sexes are put to bay they glibly quote his injunctions4 ,we congratulate ourselves that we may shift some of these biblical arguments that have such a sinister effect from their firm foundation4 ,he who claims to give a message must satisfy us that he has himself received such message4 ,l4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,numbers xxvii4 #a ,then came the daughters of ,zelophehad1 the son of ,hepher1 the son of ,gilead1 the son of ,machir1 the son of ,manasseh1 of the families of ,manasseh1 the son of ,joseph2 and these are the names of his daughters3 ,mahiah1 ,noah1 and ,hogiah1 and ,milcah1 and ,tirzah4 #b ,and they stood before ,moses1 and before ,eleazar the priest1 and before the princes and all the congregation1 by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation1 saying1 #c ,our father died in the wilderness1 and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together again at the ,lord in the company of ,korah4 #d ,why should the name of our father be done away from among his family1 because he hath no son8 ,give us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father4 #e ,and ,moses brought their cause before the ,lord4 #f ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying1 #g ,the daughters of ,zelophehad speak right thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren2 and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them4 #h ,and thou shalt speak unto the children of ,israel1 saving1 ,if a man die1 and have no son1 then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter4 #i ,and if he have no daughter1 then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren4 #aj ,and if he have no brethren1 then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren4 #aa ,and if his father have no brethren1 then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family1 and he shall possess it2 and it shall be unto the children of ,israel a statute of judgment1 as the ,lord commanded ,moses4 ,the respect paid to the daughters of ,zelophehad at that early day is worthy the imitation of the rulers in our own times4 ,these daughters were no doubt fine-looking1 well-developed women1 gifted with the power of eloquence1 able to impress their personality and arguments on that immense assemblage of the people4 ,they were allowed to plead their own case in person before the lawgivers1 the priests1 and the princes1 the rulers in ,state and ,church1 and all the congregation1 at the very door of the tabernacle4 ,they presented their case with such force and clearness that all saw the justice of their claims4 ,moses was so deeply impressed that he at once retired to his closet to listen to the still small voice of conscience and commune with his ,maker4 ,in response1 the ,lord said to him3 ,the daughters of ,zelophehad speak right1 if a man die and leave no son1 then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughters4 ,it would have been commendable if the members of the late ,constitutional ,convention in ,new ,york had1 like ,moses1 asked the guidance of the ,lord in deciding the rights of the daughters of the ,van ,rensselaers1 the ,stuyvesants1 the ,livingstons1 and the ,knickerbockers4 ,their final action revealed the painful fact that they never thought to take the case to the highest court in the moral universe4 ,the daughters of ,zelophehad were fortunate in being all of one mind2 none there to plead the fatigue1 the publicity1 the responsibility of paying taxes and investing property1 of keeping a bank account1 and having some knowledge of mathematics4 ,the daughters of ,zelophehad were happy to accept all the necessary burdens1 imposed by the laws of inheritance1 while the daughters of the ,knickerbockers trembled at the thought of assuming the duties involved in self-government4 ,as soon as ,moses laid the case before the ,lord1 ,he not only allowed the justice of the claim1 but gave a statute of judgment1 by which the ,jewish magistrates should determine all such cases in the division of property in the land of ,canaan in all after ages4 ,when the rights of property were secured to married women in the ,state of ,new ,york in #ahdh1 a certain class were opposed to the measure1 and would cross the street to avoid speaking to the sisters who had prayed and petitioned for its success4 ,they did not object1 however1 in due time to use the property thus secured1 and the same type of women will as readily avail them selves of all the advantages of political equality when the right of suffrage is secured4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the account given in this chapter of the directions as to the division or inheritance of property in the case of ,zelophehad1 and his daughters shows them to be just1 because the daughters are to be treated as well as the sons would be2 but the law thereafter given1 apparently suggested by this querying of ,zelophehad's daughters in reference to their father's possessions is obviously unjust1 in that it gives no freedom to the owner of property as to the disposition of the same after his death1 i4 e4 leaves him without power to will it to any one1 and leaves unmentioned the female relatives as heirs at law4 ,only brethren and kinsman are the words used1 and it is very plain that only males were heirs1 except where a man had no son1 but had one or more daughters4 ,the exception proves the rule4 ,p4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,numbers xviii4 #aa ,and this is thine2 the heave offering of their gift1 with all the wave offerings of the children of ,israel3 ,i have given them unto thee1 and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee1 by a statute for ever3 every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it4 #ai ,all the heave offerings of the holy things1 which the children of ,israel offer unto the ,,lord1 have ,i given thee1 and thy sons and thy daughters with thee1 by a statute for ever3 it is a covenant of salt for ever before the ,,lord unto thee and to ,i thy seed with thee4 ,the house of ,aaron was now thoroughly confirmed in the priesthood1 and the ,lord gives minute directions as to the provisions to be made for the priests4 ,the people then1 as now1 were made to feel that whatever was given to them was given to the ,lord1 and that the ,lord loveth a cheerful giver4 ,that their minds might be at peace and always in a devout frame1 in communion with ,god1 they must not be perplexed with worldly cares and anxieties about bread and raiment for themselves and families4 ,whatever privations they suffered themselves1 they must see that their priests were kept above all human wants and temptations4 ,the ,mosaic code is responsible for the religious customs of our own day and generation4 ,church property all over this broad land is exempt from taxation1 while the smallest house and lot of every poor widow is taxed at its full value4 ,our ,levites have their homes free1 and good salaries from funds principally contributed by women1 for preaching denunciatory sermons on women and their sphere4 ,they travel for half fare1 the lawyer pleads their cases for nothing1 the physician medicates their families for nothing1 and generally in the world of work they are served at half price4 ,while the common people must be careful not to traduce their neighbors lest they be sued for libel1 the ,levite in surplice and gown from his pulpit 7aptly called the coward's castle7 may smirch the fairest characters and defame the noblest lives with impunity4 ,this whole chapter is interesting reading as the source of priestly power1 that has done more to block woman's way to freedom than all other earthly influences combined4 ,but the chief point in this chapter centers in the above verses1 as the daughters of the ,levites are here to enjoy an equal privilege with the sons4 ,scott tells us that covenants were generally ratified at an amiable feast1 in which salt was always freely used1 hence it became an emblem of friendship4 ,perhaps it was the purifying1 refining influence of this element that secured these friendly relations between the sons and daughters of the priesthood on one occasion at least4 ,from the present bitter1 turbulent tone of our ,levites1 ,i fear the salt we both manufacture and import must all have lost its savor4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,numbers xxii4 #ba ,and ,balsam rose up in the morning1 and saddled his ass1 and went with the princes of ,moab4 #bb ,and ,god's anger was kindled because he went3 and the angel of the ,lord stood in the way for an adversary against him4 ,now he was riding upon his ass1 and his two servants were with him4 #bc ,and the ass saw the angel of the ,lord standing in the way1 and his sword drawn in his hand3 and the ass turned aside out of the way1 and went into the field3 and ,balaam smote the ass1 to turn her into the way4 #bd ,but the angel of the ,lord stood in a path of the vineyards1 a wall being on this side1 and a wall on that side4 #be ,and when the ass saw the angel of the ,lord1 she thrust herself unto the wall1 and crushed ,balaam's foot against the wall3 and he smote her again4 #bf ,and the angel of the ,lord went further1 and stood in a narrow place1 where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left4 #bg ,and when the ass saw the angel of the ,lord1 she fell down under ,balaam3 and ,balaam's anger was kindled1 and he smote the ass with a staff4 #bh ,and the ,lord opened the mouth of the ass1 and she said unto ,balaam1 ,what have ,i done unto thee1 that thou hast smitten me these three times8 #bi ,and ,balaam said unto the ass1 ,because thou hast mocked me2 ,i would there were a sword in mine hand1 for now would ,i kill thee4 #cj ,and the ass said unto ,balaam1 ,am not ,i thine ass1 upon which thou hast ridden ever since ,i was thine unto this day8 was ,i ever wont to do so unto thee8 ,and he said1 ,nay4 #ca ,then the ,lord opened the eyes of ,balaam1 and he saw the angel of the ,lord standing in the way1 and his sword drawn in his hand3 and he bowed down his bead1 and fell flat on his face4 #cb ,and the angel of the ,lord said unto him1 ,wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times8 ,behold1 ,i went out to withstand thee1 because thy way is perverse before me3 #cc ,and the ass saw me1 and turned from me these three times3 unless she had turned from me1 surely now also ,i had slain thee1 and saved her alive4 #cd ,and ,balaam1 said unto the angel of the ,lord1 ,i have sinned2 for ,i knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me3 now therefore1 if it displease thee1 ,i will get me back again4 ,the chief point of interest in this parable of ,balaam and his ass1 is that the latter belonged to the female sex4 ,this animal has been one of the most remarkable characters in literature4 ,her virtues have been quoted in the stately cathedral1 in the courts of justice1 in the editorial sanctum1 in both tragedy and comedy on the stage1 to point a moral and adorn a tale4 ,some of the fairest of ,eve's daughters bear her baptismal name1 and she has been immortalized in poetry and prose4 ,wordsworth sends her with his ,peter ,bell to enjoy the first flowers of early spring4 ,to express her love of the beautiful upon the pivot of her skull she turned round her long left ear while stolid ,peter makes no sign-- ,a primrose by a river's brim ,a yellow primrose was to him1 ,and it was nothing more4 ,the courage and persistence of the ass has made her as famous in war as in literature4 ,she is a marked feature everywhere in military stations1 alike in the camp and the field1 and her bray always in the minor key1 gives a touch of pathos to the music of the band6 ,the ass accompanied ,deborah and ,barak when they went to fight their great battle1 she has gone with pioneers in all their weary wanderings1 and has taken an active part in the commerce of the world1 bearing the heaviest burdens though poorly fed and sheltered4 ,at one time this animal voted at three successive elections in the state of ,new ,york4 ,the property qualification being #bej1 just the price of a jackass1 ,ben ,franklin facetiously asked if a man must own a jackass in order to vote1 who does the voting1 the man or the jackass8 ,it so happened once that the same animal passed into the hands of three different owners1 constituting all the earthly possessions of each at that time and thus by proxy she was represented at the polls4 ,yet with this world-wide fame1 this is the first time the sacred historian has so richly endowed and highly complimented any living thing of the supposed inferior sex4 ,far wiser than the master who rode her1 with a far keener spiritual insight than he possessed1 and so intensely earnest and impressible1 that to meet the necessities of the occasion1 she suddenly exercised the gift of speech4 ,while ,balaam was angry1 violent1 stubborn and unreasonable1 the ass calmly manifested all the cardinal virtues4 ,obedient to the light that was in her1 she was patient under abuse1 and tried in her mute way to save the life of her tormentor from the sword of the angel4 ,but when all ordinary warnings of danger proved unavailable1 she burst into speech and opened the eyes of her stolid master4 ,scott1 who considers this parable a literal fact1 says in his commentaries1 ,the faculty of speech in man is the gift of ,god and we cannot comprehend how we ourselves articulate4 ,we need not therefore be surprised that the ,lord made use of the mouth of the ass to rebuke the madness of ,his prophet1 and to shame him by the reproof and example of a brute4 ,satan spoke to ,eve by a subtle male serpent1 but the ,lord chose to speak to ,balaam by a she ass1 for ,he does not use enticing words of man's wisdom1 but works by instruments and means that men despise4 ,seeing that the ,lord has endowed the daughters of men also with the gift of speech1 and they may have messages from ,him to deliver to the sons of ,god1 it would be wise for the prophets of our day to admit them into their ,conferences1 ,synods and ,general ,assemblies1 and give them opportunities for speech4 ,the appeal of the meek1 long suffering ass1 to her master1 to remember her faithfulness and companionship from his youth up1 is quite pathetic and reminds one of woman's appeals and petitions to her law-givers for the last half century4 ,in the same language she might say to her oppressors1 to fathers1 husbands1 brothers and sons1 have we not served you with faithfulness2 companions from your youth up2 watched you through all your infant years2 and carried you triumphantly through every danger8 ,when at the midnight hour or the cock crowing1 your first born lifted up his voice and wept1 lo6 we were there1 with water for his parched lips2 a cool place for his aching head2 or patiently for hours to pace with him the chamber floor4 ,in youth and manhood what have we not done to add to your comfort and happiness2 ever rejoicing in your triumphs and sympathizing in your defeats8 ,this waiting and watching for half a century to recover our civil and political rights and yet no redress1 makes the struggle seem like a painful dream in which one strives to fly from some impending danger and yet stands still4 ,balaam1 unlike our masters1 confessed that he had sinned1 but it is evident from his conduct that he felt no special contrition for disobedience to the commands of his ,creator1 nor for his cruelty to the creature4 ,so merely to save his life he sulkily retraced his steps with a determination still to consider ,barak's propositions4 ,whether he took the same ass on the next journey does not appear4 ,it must have been peculiarly humiliating to that proud man1 who boasted of his eyes being open and seeing the vision of the ,almighty1 to be reproved and silenced by the mouth of a brute4 ,as the ,lord appeared first to the ass and spake by her1 he had but little reason to boast that his eyes were opened by the ,lord4 ,the keen spiritual insight and the ready power of speech with which the female sex has been specially endowed1 are often referred to with ridicule and reproach by stolid1 envious observers of the less impressible sex4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,numbers xx4 #a ,and ,moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of ,israel1 saying1 ,this is the thing which the ,lord hath commanded4 #b ,if a man vow a vow unto the ,lord1 or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond2 he shall not break his word1 he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth4 #c ,if a woman also vow a vow unto the ,lord1 and bind herself by a bond1 being in her father's house in her youth2 #d ,and her father hear her vow1 and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul1 and her father shall hold his peace at her2 then all her vows shall stand1 and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand4 #e ,but if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth1 not any of her vows1 or of her bonds wherewith she had bound her soul1 shall stand2 and the ,lord shall forgive her1 because her father disallowed her4 #f ,and if she had at all a husband1 when she vowed1 or uttered aught out of her lips1 wherewith she bound her soul2 #g ,and her husband heard it1 and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it2 then her vows shall stand1 and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand4 #h ,but if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it1 then he shall make her vow which she vowed1 and that which she uttered with her lips1 wherewith she bound her soul1 of none effect2 and the ,lord shall forgive her4 #i ,but every vow of a widow1 and of her that is divorced1 wherewith they have bound their souls1 shall stand against her4 #ac ,every vow1 and every binding oath to afflict the soul1 her husband may establish it1 or her husband may make it void4 #ad ,but if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day2 then he establisheth all her vows1 or all her bonds1 which are upon her he confirmeth them1 because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them4 #ae ,but if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them2 then he shall bear her iniquity4 #af ,these are the statutes1 which the ,lord commanded ,moses1 between a man and his wife1 between the father and his daughter1 being yet in her youth in her father's house4 ,a vow is a religious promise made to ,god1 and yet in the face of such a definition is placed the authority of husband and father between the woman and her ,god4 ,god seems thus far to have dealt directly with women when they sinned1 but in making a religious vow1 or dedication of themselves to some high purpose1 their fathers and husbands must be consulted4 ,a man's vow stands2 a woman's is always conditional4 ,neither wisdom nor age can make her secure in any privileges1 though always personally responsible for crime4 ,if she have sufficient intelligence to decide between good and evil1 and pay the penalty for violated law1 why not make her responsible for her words and deeds when obedient to moral law4 ,to hold woman in such an attitude is to rob her words and actions of all moral character4 ,we see from this chapter that ,jewish women1 as well as those of other nations1 were held in a condition of perpetual tutelage or minority under the authority of the father until married and then under the husband1 hence vows if in their presence if disallowed were as nothing4 ,that ,jewish men appreciate the degradation of woman's position is seen in a part of their service in which each man says on every ,sabbath day1 ,i thank ,thee1 oh ,lord1 that ,i was not born a woman6 and the woman meekly responds1 ,i thank ,thee1 oh ,lord1 that ,i am what ,i am1 according to ,thy holy1 will4 ,the injunction in the above texts in regard to the interference of fathers is given only once1 while the husband's authority is mentioned three times4 ,if the woman was betrothed1 even the future husband had the right to disallow her vows4 ,it is supposed by1 some expositors that by a parity of reason minor sons should have been under the same restrictions as daughters1 but if it were intended1 it is extraordinary that daughters alone should have been mentioned4 ,scott1 in extenuating the custom1 says3 ,males were certainly allowed more liberty than females2 the vows of the latter might be adjudged more prejudicial to families2 or the sons being more immediately under the father's tuition might be thought less liable to be inveigled into rash engagements of any kind4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,woman is here taught that she is irresponsible4 ,the father or the husband is all4 ,they are wisdom1 power1 responsibility4 ,but woman is a nonentity1 if still in her father's house1 or if she has a husband4 ,i object to this teaching4 ,it is unjust to man that he should have the added responsibility of his daughter's or wife's word1 and it is cruel to woman because the irresponsibility is enslaving in its influence4 ,it is contrary to true ,gospel teaching1 for only1 in freedom to do right can a soul dwell in that love which is the fulfilling of the law4 ,the whole import of this chapter is that a woman's word is worthless1 unless she is a widow or divorced4 ,while an unmarried daughter1 her father is her surety2 when married1 the husband allows or disallows what she promises1 and the promise is kept or broken according to his will4 ,the whole ,mosaic law in this respect seems based upon the idea that a woman is an irresponsible being2 and that it is supposed each daughter will marry at some time1 and thus be continually under the control of some male--the father or the husband4 ,unjust1 arbitrary and debasing are such ideas1 and the laws based upon them4 ,could the ,infinite ,father and ,mother have give them to ,moses8 ,i think not4 ,p4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,numbers xxxi4 #i ,and the children of ,israel took all the women of ,midian captives1 and their little ones1 and took the spoil of all their cattle1 and all their flocks1 and all their goods4 #aj ,and they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt1 and all their goodly castles with fire4 #ab ,and they brought the captives1 and the prey1 and the spoil1 unto ,moses and ,eleazar the priest1 and unto the congregation of the children of ,israel1 unto the camp at the plains of ,moab1 which are by ,jordan near ,jericho4 #ad ,and ,moses was wroth with the officers of the host1 with the captains over thousands1 and captains over hundreds1 which came from the battle4 #ae ,and ,moses said unto them1 have ye saved all the women alive8 #af ,behold1 these caused the children of ,israel4 through the counsel of ,balaam1 to commit trespass against the ,lord in the matter of ,peor4 and there was a plague among the congregation of the ,lord4 #ag ,now therefore kill every male among the little ones1 and kill every woman that hath known man4 #ah ,but all the women children1 that have not known a man keep alive for yourselves4 #be ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying4 #bf ,take the sum of the prey that was taken1 both of man and of beast1 thou1 and ,eleazar the priest1 and the chief fathers of the congregation3 #cb ,and ,moses and ,eleazar the priest did as the ,lord commanded ,moses4 #cb ,and the1 booty1 being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught1 was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep1 #cc ,and threescore and twelve thousand beeves4 #cd ,and threescore and one thousand asses4 #ce ,and thirty and two thousand persons in of women that had not known man4 ,it appears from the enumeration here of the booty1 that the ,israelites took in this war against the ,midianites seventy-two thousand beeves1 six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep1 sixty-one thousand asses and thirty-two thousand women virgins1 beside the women and children killed1 7as they said7 by ,god's order4 ,the thirty-two thousand women and women children were given to the soldiers and the priests4 ,why should the social purity societies in ,england and ,america who believe in the divine origin of all ,scripture object to the use of women children by their statesmen and soldiers when the custom was permitted to the chosen people of ,israel8 ,true1 the welfare of the priests1 lawgivers and soldiers was carefully guarded in selecting for them the purest of the daughters of the ,midianites4 ,surely such records are enough to make the most obstinate believer doubt the divine origin of ,jewish history and the claim of that people to have been under the special guidance of ,jehovah4 ,their claim to have had conversations with ,god daily and to have acted under ,his commands in all their tergiversations of word and action is simply blasphemous4 ,we must discredit their pretensions1 or else the wisdom of ,jehovah himself4 ,talking with ,god1 at that period was a mere form of speech1 as tempted of the devil was once in the records of our courts4 ,criminals said tempted of the devil1 ,i did commit the crime4 ,this chapter places ,moses and ,eleazar the priest1 in a most unenviable light according to the moral standard of any period of human history4 ,verily the revelations in the ,pall ,hall ,gazette a few years ago1 pale before this wholesale desecration of women and children4 ,bishop ,colenso in his exhaustive work on the ,pentateuch shows that most of the records therein claiming to be historical facts are merely parables and figments of the imagination of different writers1 composed at different periods1 full of contradictions1 interpolations and discrepancies4 ,he shows geologically and geographically that a flood over the whole face of the earth was a myth4 ,he asks how was it possible to save two of every animal1 bird and creeping thing on both continents and get them safely into the ark and back again to their respective localities4 ,how could they make their way from ,south ,america up north through the frigid zone and cross over the polar ices to the eastern continent and carry with them the necessary food to which they had been accustomed1 they would all have perished with the cold before reaching the ,arctic circle4 ,while the animals from the northern latitudes would all perish with heat before reaching the equator4 ,what a long weary journey the animals1 birds and fowls would have taken from ,japan and ,china to ,mount ,ararat4 ,the parable as an historical fact is hedged with impossibilities and so is the whole journey of forty years from ,egypt to ,canaan2 but if we make up our minds to believe in miracles then it is plain sailing from ,genesis to the end of ,deuteronomy1 ,both ,ezra and ,jeremiah are said to have written the last book of the ,pentateuch1 and some1 question whether ,moses was the author of either4 ,bishop ,colenso also questions the arithmetical calculations of the historians in regard to the conquest of the ,midianites1 as described in the book of ,numbers4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,but how thankful we must be that we are no longer obligated to believe1 as a matter of fact1 of vital consequence to our eternal hope1 each separate statement contained in the ,pentateuch1 such for instance1 as the story related in ,numbers xxxi6--where we are told that a force of twelve thousand ,israelites slew all the males of the ,midianites1 took captive all the females and children1 seized all their cattle and flocks1 7seventy-two thousand oxen1 sixty one thousand asses1 six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep17 and all their goods1 and burnt all their cities1 and all their goodly castles1 without the loss of a single man1--and then1 by command of ,moses1 butchered in cold blood all the women1 except the women-children and virgins1 to be given to the priests and soldiers4 ,they amounted to thirty-two thousand1 mostly1 we suppose1 under the age of sixteen4 ,we may fairly reckon that there were as many more under the age of forty1 and half as many more above forty1 making altogether eighty thousand females1 of whom1 according to the story1 ,moses ordered forty-eight thousand to be killed1 besides 7say7 twenty thousand young boys4 ,the tragedy of ,cawnpore1 where three hundred were butchered1 would sink into nothing1 compared with such a massacre1 if1 indeed1 we were required to believe it4 ,the obvious intention of ,moses1 as shown in these directions1 was to keep the ,jewish race from amalgamation4 ,but the great lawgiver seems to have ignored the fact1 or been ignorant of it1 that transmission of race qualities is even greater through the female line than through the male1 and if they kept the women children for themselves they were making sure the fact that in days to come there would be ,jewish descendants who might be ,jews in name1 but1 through the law of heredity1 aliens in spirit4 ,the freedom of the natural law will make itself evident1 for so-called natural law is divine4 ,p4 ,a4 ,h4 ,zipporah the wife of ,moses was a ,midianite1 ,jethro her father was a priest of some sagacity and consideration4 ,when he met ,moses in the desert he gave him valuable advice about the government of his people1 which the great lawgiver obeyed4 ,the sons of ,zipporah and ,moses1 ,gershon and ,eliezer1 were therefore of ,midianite blood1 yet ,moses sent an army of twelve thousand armed for war2 a thousand of each tribe1 with orders to slay every man4 ,if the venerable ,jethro was still alive he must have been murdered by his grandsons and their comrades4 ,this is a most extraordinary story4 ,if after the men1 women and male children were all killed1 thirty thousand maidens and young girls still remained1 the ,midianites must have been too large a tribe to have been wholly destroyed by twelve thousand ,israelites1 unless the ,jewish ,god fought the battle4 ,l4 ,d4 ,b4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,numbers xxxii4 #a ,and the chief fathers of the families or the children of ,gilead drew near1 and spake before ,moses1 and before the princes1 the chief fathers of the children of ,israel3 #b ,and they said1 ,the ,lord commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of ,israel3 and my lord was commanded by the ,lord to give the inheritance of ,zelophehad our brother unto his daughters4 #c ,and if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of ,israel1 then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers1 and shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received2 so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance4 #d ,and when the jubilee of the children of ,israel shall be1 then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received3 #e ,and ,moses commanded the children of ,israel according to the word of the ,lord1 saying1 ,the tribe of the sons of ,joseph hath said well4 #f 444444the ,lord doth command concerning the daughters of ,zelophehad1 saying1 ,let them marry to whom they think best2 only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry4 #g ,so shall not the inheritance of the children of ,israel remove from tribe to tribe3 for every one of the children of ,israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers4 #h ,and every daughter1 that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of ,israel1 shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father1 that the children of ,israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers4 #aj ,even is the ,lord commanded ,moses1 so did the daughters of ,zelophehad3 #aa 444444 and were turned unto their father's brothers' sons4 ,in a former chapter there was a sense of justice shown towards the daughters of ,zelophehad1 but here a new complication arises4 ,the uncles of these girls had their eyes on the property and perhaps feared that their sons had not found favor in the eyes of their cousins1 as they might have seen and admired some fine looking young men from other tribes4 ,so the crafty old uncles moved in time to get a statute passed that would compel daughters to marry in the tribe of their fathers and got a direct command from the ,lord to that effect1 then the young women1 compelled to limit their predilections1 married their cousins1 setting the laws of heredity quite aside2 property in all ages being considered of more importance than persons4 ,thus1 after making some show of justice in giving the daughters of ,zelophehad the inheritance of their fathers1 the ,israelites began to consider the loss to their tribe1 if peradventure the five sisters should marry into other tribes and all this property be transferred to their enemies4 ,they seemed to consider these noble women destitute of the virtue of patriotism1 of family pride1 of all the tender sentiments of friendship1 kindred and home1 and so with their usual masculine arrogance they passed laws to compel the daughters of ,zelophehad to do what they probably would have done had there been no law to that effect4 ,these daughters were known by the euphonious names of ,mahlah1 ,tirzah1 ,hoglah1 ,milcah and ,noah1 and they all married their father's brothers' sons4 ,cousins on the mother's side would probably have been forbidden4 ,if ,moses1 as the mouthpiece of ,god1 aimed to do exact justice1 why did he not pass an ordinance giving property in all cases equally to sons and daughters4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s44 ,moses gave what appears to be1 in the light of this ,christian era1 a just judgment when he decided that the daughters of ,zelophehad should inherit their father's property1 but he gave as the law of inheritance the direction that if a man die1 and have no son1 then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter2 thus1 as ,i think1 unjustly discriminating between women who have brothers and women who have none1 and he goes on further to deal unjustly with women when he directs that the daughters of ,zelophehad marry so that the inheritance justly awarded them should not go out of the family of the tribe of their fathers4 ,let them marry to whom they think best1 and those words seemingly recognize their righteous freedom4 ,but immediately he limits that phrase and informs the five women they must only marry in their father's tribe1 and were limited also to their father's family4 ,the result was that each married her own cousin4 ,if this was contrary to physiological law1 as some distinguished physiologists affirm1 then they were compelled by the arbitrary law of ,moses to break the law of ,god4 ,p4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,deuteronomy4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,deuteronomy i4 #c ,and it came to pass in the fortieth year1 in the eleventh month1 on the first day of the month1 that ,moses spake unto the children of ,israel1 according unto all that the ,lord had given him in commandment unto them2 #f ,the ,lord our ,god spake unto us in ,horeb1 saying1 ,ye have dwelt long enough in this mount3 #g ,turn you1 and take your journey1 and go to the mount of the ,amorites1 and unto all the places nigh thereunto1 in the plain1 in the hills1 and in the vale1 and in the south1 and by sea side1 to the land of the ,canaanites1 and unto ,lebanon1 unto the great river1 the river ,euphrates4 #h ,behold1 ,i have set the before you3 go in and possess the land which the ,lord sware unto your fathers1 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 to give unto them and to their seed after them4 #aj ,the ,lord your ,god hath multiplied you1 and1 behold1 ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude4 ,this book contains an account of what passed in the wilderness the last month of the fortieth year1 which is supposed to be written by ,ezra1 as the history is continued several days after the death of ,moses4 ,moses' farewell address to the children of ,israel is full of wisdom1 with a touch of pathos4 ,this had been a melancholy year with the ,hebrews in the death of ,miriam1 ,aaron and ,moses4 ,the manner in which this people were kept wandering up and down on the very verge of the land of ,canaan because they were rebellious does seem like child's play4 ,no wonder they were discouraged and murmured4 ,it is difficult from the record to see that these people were any better fitted to enter the promised land at the end of forty years than when they first left ,egypt4 ,but the promise that they should be as numerous as the stars in the heavens1 according to ,adam ,clarke1 had been fulfilled4 ,he tells us that only three thousand stars can be seen by the naked eye1 which the children of ,israel numbered at this time six hundred thousand fighting men1 beside all the women and children4 ,astronomers1 ,however1 now estimate that there are over seventy-five million stars within the range of their telescopes4 ,if census takers had prophetic telescopes1 they could no doubt see the promises to the ,hebrews fully realized in that one line of their ambition4 ,deuteronomy ii4 #cd ,and we took all his cities at that time1 and utterly destroyed the men1 and the women1 and the little ones1 of every city1 we left none to remain4 ,though the women were ignored in all the civil affairs and religious observances of the ,jews1 yet in making war on other tribes they thought them too dangerous to be allowed to live1 and so they killed all the women and children4 ,the women might much better have helped to do the fighting1 as it is far easier to die in the excitement of the battlefield than to be murdered in cold blood4 ,in making war on neighboring tribes1 the ,jewish military code permitted them to take all the pure1 virgins and child women for booty to be given to the priests and soldiers1 thus debauching the men of ,israel and destroying all feelings of honor and chivalry for women4 ,this utter contempt for all the decencies of life1 and all the natural personal rights of women as set forth in these pages1 should destroy in the minds of women at least1 all authority to superhuman origin and stamp the ,pentateuch at least as emanating from the most obscene minds of a barbarous age4 ,deuteronomy v1 vi4 #af ,honour thy father and thy mother1 as the ,lord thy ,god hath commanded thee2 that thy days may be prolonged1 and that it may go well with thee1 in the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee4 #ag ,thou shalt not kill4 #ah ,neither shalt thou commit adultery4 #ai ,neither shalt thou steal4 #bj ,neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour4 #ba ,neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife1 neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house1 his field1 or his manservant1 or his maidservant1 his ox1 or his ass1 or any thing that is thy neighbour's4 #b ,that thou mightest fear the ,lord thy ,god1 to keep all his statutes and his commandments1 which ,i command thee1 thou1 and thy son1 and thy son's son1 all the days of thy life2 and that thy days may be prolonged4 ,the best commentary on these texts is that no ,revising ,committee of ,ecclesiastics has found it necessary to make any suggestions as to whom the commandments are addressed4 ,suppose we reverse the language and see how one-sided it would seem addressed only to women4 ,suppose this were the statement4 ,here is a great lawgiver and he says3 ,thou art to keep all ,god's commandments1 thou and thy daughters and thy daughter's daughters1 and these are the commandments3 ',thou shalt honor thy mother and thy father4' ',thou shalt not steal nor lie4' ',thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's husband1 nor her field1 nor her ox1 nor anything that is thy neighbor's4' ,would such commandments occasion no remark among ,biblical scholars8 ,in our criminal code to-day the pronouns she1 her and hers are not found1 yet we are tried in the courts1 imprisoned and hung as he1 him or his1 though denied the privileges of citizenship1 because the masculine pronouns apply only to disabilities4 ,what a hustling there would be among prisoners and genders if laws and constitutions1 ,scriptures and commandments1 played this fast and loose game with the men of any nation4 ,deuteronomy iv4 #e ,behold1 ,i have taught you statutes and judgments1 even as the ,lord my ,god commanded me1 that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it4 #f ,keep therefore and do them2 for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations1 which shall hear all these statutes1 and say1 ,surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people4 #g ,for what nation is there so great1 who hath ,god so nigh unto them1 as the ,lord our ,god is in all things that we call upon him for8 #h ,and what nation is there so great1 that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law1 which ,i set before you this day8 ,adam ,clarke in his comments on chapter iv1 says1 there was no form of worship at this time on the face of the earth that was not wicked and obscene1 puerile and foolish and ridiculous1 except that established by ,god himself among the ,israelites1 and every part of this taken in its connection and reference may be truly called a wise and reasonable service4 ,almost all the nations of the earth manifested in time their respect for the ,jewish religion by copying different parts of the ,mosaic code as to civil and moral customs4 ,as thoughtful1 intelligent women1 we question all this3 ,first4--,we see no evidence that a just and wise being wrote either the canon or civil laws that have been gradually compiled by ecclesiastics and lawgivers4 ,second4--,we cannot accept any code or creed that uniformly defrauds woman of all her natural rights4 ,for the last half century we have publicly and persistently appealed from these laws1 which ,clarke says all nations have copied1 to the common sense of a more humane and progressive age4 ,to-day women are asking to be delivered from all the curses and blessings alike of the ,jewish ,god and the ordinances he established4 ,in this book we have the ten commandments repeated4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,deuteronomy vii4 #a ,when the ,lord thy ,god shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it and hath cast out many nations before thee4 #b ,thou shalt smite them1 and utterly destroy them2 thou shalt make no covenant with them1 nor shew mercy unto them3 #c ,neither shalt thou make marriages with them2 thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son1 nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son4 #d ,for they will turn away thy son from following me4 #e ,but thus shall ye deal with them2 ye shall destroy their altars1 and break down their images1 and cut down their groves1 and burn their graven images with fire4 #f ,for thou art a holy people4 #g ,the ,lord did not set his love upon you1 not choose you1 because ye were more in number than any people2 for ye were the fewest of all people3 #h ,but because the ,lord loved you1 and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers1 hath the ,lord brought you out with a mighty hand1 and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen1 from the hand of ,pharaoh king of ,egypt4 ,with the seven nations that ,god cast out1 the children of ,israel were commanded to make no covenants1 nor matrimonial alliances lest they should fall into idolatry4 ,as men are more given to wandering in strange countries than women these injunctions are intended specially for them4 ,adam ,clarke says1 the heart being naturally inclined to evil1 the idolatrous wife would more readily draw aside the believing husband1 than the believing husband the idolatrous wife4 ,that being the case1 could not the believing wife with her subtle influence have brought over the idolatrous husband8 ,why should she not have the power to convert to one religion as well as another1 especially as there was no choice between them4 ,there could not have been anything worse than the ,jewish religion illustrated in their daily walk and conversation1 as described in their books1 and if the human heart naturally inclined to evil1 as many converts might have been made to the faith of ,moses as to any other4 ,with this consideration it is plain that if the ,jews had offered women any superior privileges1 above any other tribe1 they could have readily converted the women to their way of thinking4 ,the ,jewish ,god seems as vacillating and tempest-tossed between loving and hating his subjects as the most undisciplined son of ,adam4 ,the supreme ideal of these people was pitiful to the last degree and the appeals to them were all on the lowest plane of human ambition4 ,the chief promise to the well-doer was that his descendants should be as numerous as the sands of the sea4 ,in chapter ix when rebellion at ,horeb is described1 ,aaron only is refered to1 and in chapter x when his death is mentioned1 nothing is said of ,miriam4 ,in the whole recapitulation she is forgotten1 though altogether the grandest character of the three1 though cast out of the camp and stricken with leprosy1 in vengeance1 she harbors no resentment1 but comforts and cheers the women with songs and dances1 all through their dreary march of forty years4 ,deuteronomy x4 #ah ,he doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow1 and loveth the stranger1 in giving him food and raiment4 #ai ,love ye therefore the stranger3 for ye were strangers in the land of ,egypt4 ,the sacred fabulist has failed to give us any choice examples in which the ,jews executed just judgments for widows or fatherless girls2 on the contrary in all their dealings with women of all ranks1 classes and ages they were merciless and unjust4 ,as to the stranger1 their chief occupation was war and wholesale slaughter1 not only of the men on the battlefield1 but of innocent women and children1 destroying their cities and making their lands desolate4 ,a humane person reading these books for the first time without any glamour of divine inspiration1 would shudder at their cruelty and blush at their obscenity4 ,those who can make these foul facts illustrate beautiful symbols must have genius of a high order4 ,deuteronomy xii4 #ah ,but thou must eat them before the ,lord thy ,god in the place which the ,lord thy ,god shall choose1 thou1 and thy son1 and thy daughter1 and thy manservant1 and thy maidservant1 and the ,levite that is within thy gates3 and thou shalt rejoice before the ,lord thy ,god in all that them puttest thine hands unto4 #ai ,take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the ,levite as long as thou livest upon the earth4 ,if women have been faithful to any class of the human family it has been to the ,levite4 ,the chief occupation of their lives next to bearing children has been to sustain the priesthood and the churches4 ,with continual begging1 fairs and donation parties1 they have helped to plant religious temples on every hill-top and valley1 and in the streets of all our cities1 so that the doleful church bell is forever ringing in our ears4 ,the ,levites have not been an unqualified blessing1 ever fanning the flames of religious persecution they have been the chief actors in subjugating mankind4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,deuteronomy xiii4 #f ,if thy brother1 the son of thy mother1 or thy son1 or thy daughter1 or the wife of thy bosom1 or thy friend1 which is as thine own soul1 entice thee secretly1 saying1 ,let us go and serve other gods1 which thou hast not known1 thou1 nor thy fathers2 #g ,namely1 of the gods of the people which are round about you1 nigh unto thee1 or far off from thee1 from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth2 #h ,thou shalt not consent unto him1 nor hearken unto him2 neither shall thine eye pity him1 neither shalt thou spare1 neither shalt thou conceal him3 #i ,but thou shalt surely kill him3 thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death1 and afterwards the hand of all the people4 ,here is the foundation of all the terrible persecutions for a change of faith so lamentable among the ,jews and so intensified among the ,christians4 ,and this idea still holds1 that faith in the crude speculations of unbalanced minds as to the nature of the great first cause and his commands as to the conduct of life1 should be the same in the beginning1 now and forever4 ,all other institutions may change1 opinions on all other subjects may be modified and improved1 but the old theologies are a finality that have reached the ultimatum of spiritual thought4 ,we imagine our religion with its dogmas and absurdities must remain like the rock of ages1 forever4 ,deuteronomy xv4 #f ,and thou shalt rejoice before the ,lord thy ,god1 thou1 and thy son1 and thy daughter1 and thy manservant1 and thy maidservant1 and the ,levite that is within thy gates1 and the stranger1 and the fatherless1 and the widow1 that are among you1 in the place which the ,lord thy ,god hath chosen to place his name there4 #ad ,and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast1 thou1 and thy son1 and thy daughter1 and thy manservant1 and thy maidservant1 and the ,levite1 the stranger1 and the fatherless1 and the widow1 that are within thy gates4 #ae ,seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the ,lord thy ,god in the place which the ,lord shall choose4 #af ,three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the ,lord thy ,god in the place which he shall choose2 in the feast of unleavened bread1 and in the feast of weeks1 and in the feast of tabernacles4 ,in the general festivities women of all ranks were invited to take part1 but three times a year ,moses had something special to say to the men2 then women were not allowed to be present4 ,we have no instance thus far in the ,jewish economy of any direct communication from ,god to woman4 ,the general opinion seemed to be that man was an all-sufficient object of worship for them1 an idea not confined to that period4 ,milton makes his ,eve with sweet humility say to ,adam1 ,god thy law1 thou mine4 ,this is the fundamental principle on which the canon and civil laws are based1 as well as the ,english classics4 ,it is only in the galleries of art that we see the foreshadowing of the good time coming4 ,there the divine artist represents the virtues1 the graces1 the sciences1 the seasons1 day with its glorious dawn1 and night with its holy mysteries1 all radiant and beautiful in the form of woman4 ,the poet1 the artist1 the novelist of our own day1 are more hopeful prophets for the mother of the race than those who have spoken in the ,scriptures4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,deuteronomy xvii4 #a ,thou shalt not sacrifice unto the ,lord thy ,god any bullock or sheep1 wherein is blemish1 or any evil favouredness3 for that is an abomination unto the ,lord thy ,god4 #b ,if there be found among you1 man or woman that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the ,lord thy ,god1 in transgressing his covenant3 #c ,and hath gone and served other gods1 and worshipped them1 either the sun1 or the moon1 or any of the host of heaven1 which ,i have not commanded2 #d ,and it be told thee1 and thou hast heard of it1 and inquired diligently1 and1 behold1 it be true1 and the thing certain1 that such abomination is wrought in ,israel3 #e ,then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman unto thy gates and shalt stone them with stones1 till they die4 ,this is certainly a very effective way of strengthening religious faith4 ,most people would assent to any religious dogma1 however absurd1 rather than be stoned to death4 ,as all their healthy tender lambs and calves were eaten by the priests and rulers1 no wonder they were so particular to get the best4 ,to delude the people it was necessary to give a religious complexion to the sacrifices and to make ,god command the people to bring their choicest fruits and grains and meats4 ,it was very easy for these accomplished prestidigitators to substitute the offal for sacrifices on their altars1 and keep the dainty fruits and meats for themselves1 luxuries for their own tables4 ,the people have always been deluded with the idea that what they gave to the church and the priesthood was given unto the ,lord1 as if the ,maker of the universe needed anything at our hands4 ,how incongruous the idea of an ,infinite being who made all the planets and the inhabitants thereof commanding his creatures to kill and burn animals for offerings to him4 ,it is truly pitiful to see the deceptions that have been played upon the people in all ages and countries by the priests in the name of religion4 ,they are omnipresent1 ever playing on human credulity1 at birth and death1 in affliction and at the marriage feast1 in the saddest and happiest moments of our lives they are near to administer consolation in our sorrows1 and to add blessings to our joys4 ,no other class of teachers have such prestige and power1 especially over woman4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,deuteronomy xviii4 #i ,when thou art come into the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee1 thou shalt not learn the abominations of those nations4 #aj ,there shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire1 or that useth divination1 or an observer of times1 or an enchanter1 or a witch1 #aa ,or a charmer1 or a consulter with familiar spirits1 or a wizard1 or a necromancer1 #ab ,for all that do these things are an abomination unto the ,lord4 ,one would think that ,moses with his rod taking the children of ,israel through the ,red ,sea1 bringing water out of a rock and manna from heaven1 going up into a mountain and there surrounding himself with a cloud of smoke1 sending out all manner of pyrotechnics1 thunder and lightning1 and deluding the people into the idea that there he met and talked with ,jehovah1 should have been more merciful in his judgments of all witches1 necromancers and soothsayers4 ,one would think witches1 charmers and necromancers possessing the same power and manifesting many of the same wonders that he did1 should not have been so severely punished for their delusions4 ,moses had taught them to believe in miracles4 ,when the human mind is led to believe things outside the realm of known law1 it is prepared to accept all manner of absurdities4 ,and yet the same people that ridicule ,spiritualism1 ,theosophy and ,psychology1 believe in the ten plagues of ,egypt and the passage of the children of ,israel through the ,red ,sea4 ,if they did go through1 it was when the tide was low at that point1 which ,moses understood and ,pharaoh did not4 ,perhaps the difficulty is to be gotten over in much the same way as that employed by the negro preacher who1 when his statement1 that the children of ,israel crossed the ,red ,sea on the ice1 was questioned on the ground that geography showed that the climate there was too warm for the formation of ice1 replied3 ,why1 this happened before there was any geography6 ,the ,jews1 as well as the surrounding nations1 were dominated by all manner of supernatural ideas4 ,all these uncanny tricks and delusions being forbidden shows that they were extensively practised by the chosen people1 as well as by other nations4 ,deuteronomy xx1 xxi4 #ad ,but the women1 and the little ones1 and the cattle1 and all that is in the city1 even all the spoil thereof1 shalt thou take unto thyself2 and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies1 which the ,lord thy ,god hath given thee4 #ae ,when thou goest forth to war against thine enemies1 and the ,lord thy ,god hath delivered them into thine hands1 and thou hast taken them captive1 #aa ,and seest among the captives a beautiful woman1 and hast a desire unto her1 that thou wouldest have her to thy wife2 #ab ,then thou shalt bring her home to thine house2 and she shall shave her head1 and pare her nails2 #ac ,and she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her1 and shall remain in thine house1 and bewail her father and her mother a full month3 and after that she shall be thy wife4 #ad ,and it shall be1 if thou have no delight in her1 then thou shalt let her go whither she will3 but thou shalt not sell her at all for money1 thou shalt not make merchandise of her1 because thou hast humbled her4 #ae ,if a man have two wives1 one beloved1 and another hated1 and they have borne him children1 both the beloved and the hated2 and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated3 #af ,then it shall be1 when he maketh his son to inherit that which he hath1 that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated1 which is indeed the firstborn3 #ag ,but he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn1 by giving him a double portion of all that he hath3 for he is the beginning of his strength2 the right of the firstborn is his4 ,all this is done if the woman will renounce her religion and accept the new faith4 ,the shaving of the head was a rite in accepting the new faith1 the paring of the nails a token of submission4 ,in all these transactions the woman had no fixed rights whatever4 ,in that word humbled is included the whole of our false morality in regard to the equal relations of the sexes4 ,why in this responsible act of creation1 on which depends life and immortality1 woman is said to be humbled1 when she is the prime factor in the relation1 is a question difficult to answer1 except in her general degradation1 carried off without her consent as spoils of war1 subject to the fancy of any man1 to be taken or cast off at his pleasure1 no matter what is done with her4 ,her sons must be carefully guarded and the rights of the first-born fully recognized4 ,the man is of more value than the mother in the scale of being whatever her graces and virtues may be4 ,if these ,jewish ideas were obsolete they might not be worth our attention1 but our creeds and codes are still tinged with the ,mosaic laws and customs4 ,the ,english law of primogeniture has its foundation in the above text4 ,the position of the wife under the old common law has the same origin4 ,when ,bishop ,colenso went as a missionary to ,zululand1 the horror with which the most devout and intelligent of the natives questioned the truth of the ,pentateuch confirmed his own doubts of the records4 ,translating with the help of a ,zulu scholar he was deeply impressed with his revulsion of feeling at the following passage3 ,if a man smite his servant1 or his maid1 with a rod1 and he die under his hand1 he shall be surely punished4 ,notwithstanding1 if he continue a day or two1 he shall not be punished3 for he is his money4 ,exodus xxi3 #bj1 #b #a4 ,i shall never forget1 says the ,bishop1 the revulsion of feeling1 with which a very intelligent ,christian native1 with whose help ,i was translating these last words into the ,zulu tongue1 first heard them as words said to be uttered by the same great and gracious ,being1 whom ,i was teaching him to trust in and adore4 ,his whole soul revolted against the notion1 that the ,great and ,blessed ,god1 the ,merciful ,father of all mankind1 would speak of a servant or maid as mere 'money1' and allow a horrible crime to go unpunished1 because the victim of the brutal usage had survived a few hours6 ,though they had no ,pentateuch nor knowledge of our religion1 their respect for the mother of the race and their recognition of the feminine element in the ,godhead1 as shown in the following beautiful prayer1 might teach our ,bishops1 ,priests and ,levites a lesson they have all yet to learn4 ,,evening ,,prayer4 ,o ,god1 ,thou hast let me pass the day in peace3 let me pass the night in peace1 ,o ,lord1 who hast no ,lord6 ,there is no strength but in ,thee3 ,thou alone hast no obligation4 ,under ,thy hand ,i pass the day6 under ,thy hand ,i pass the night6 ,thou art my ,mother1 ,thou my ,father6 ,placing the mother first shows they were taught by ,nature that she was the prime factor in their existence4 ,in the whole ,bible and the ,christian religion man is made the alpha and omega everywhere in the state1 the church and the home4 ,and we see the result in the general contempt for the sex expressed freely in our literature1 in the halls of legislation1 in church convocations and by leading ,bishops wherever they have opportunities for speech and whenever they are welcomed in the popular magazines of the day4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,deuteronomy xxiv4 #a ,when a man hath taken a wife1 and married her1 and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes1 then let him write her a bill of divorcement1 and give it in her hand1 and send her out of his house4 #b ,and when she is departed out of his house1 she may go and be another man's wife4 #c ,and if the latter husband hate her1 and write her a bill of divorcement1 and giveth it in her hand and sendeth her out of his house3 or if the latter husband die1 which took her to be his wife2 #d ,her former husband1 which sent her away1 may not take her again to be his wife1 after that she is defiled2 for that is abomination before the ,lord3 and thou shalt not cause the land to sin which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee for an inheritance4 #e ,when a man hath taken a new wife1 he shall not go out to war1 neither shalt he be charged with any business3 but he shall be free at home one year1 and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken4 ,all the privileges accorded man alone1 are based on the principle that women have no causes for divorce4 ,if they had equal rights in law and public sentiment1 a large number of cruel1 whiskey drinking and profane husbands1 would be sued for divorce before wives endured one year of such gross companionship4 ,there is a good suggestion in the text1 that when a man takes a new wife he shall stay at home at least one year to cheer and comfort her4 ,if they propose to have children1 the responsible duties of parents should be equally shared as far as possible4 ,in a busy commercial life1 fathers have but little time to guard their children against the temptations of life1 or to prepare them for its struggles1 and the mother educated to believe that she has no rights or duties in public affairs1 can give no lessons on political morality from her standpoint4 ,hence the home is in a condition of half orphanage for the want of fathers1 and the ,state suffers for need of wise mothers4 ,it was customary among the ,jews to dedicate a new house1 a vineyard just planted1 or a betrothed wife to the ,lord with prayer and thanksgiving1 before going forth to public duties4 ,this idea is enforced in several different chapters1 impressing on men with families that there are periods in their lives when their sphere is home their primal duty to look after the wife1 the house and the vineyard4 ,deuteronomy xxv4 #e ,if brethren dwell together1 and one of them die1 and have no child1 the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger3 her husband's brother shall take her to wire4 #f ,and it shall be1 that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead1 that his name be not put out of ,israel4 #g ,and if the man like not to take his brother's wife1 then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders1 and say1 my husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in ,israel1 he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother4 #h ,then the elders of his city shall call him1 and speak unto him3 and if she stand to it1 and say1 ,i like not to take her3 #i ,then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders1 and loose his shoe from off his foot4 ,i would recommend these texts to the consideration of the ,bishops in the ,english ,house of ,lords4 ,if a man may marry a deceased brother's wife1 why not a deceased wife's sister8 ,english statesmanship has struggled with this problem for generations1 and the same old platitudes against the deceased wife's sister's bill are made to do duty annually in ,parliament4 ,deuteronomy xxviii4 #ef ,the tender and delicate woman among you1 which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon ground for delicateness and tenderness1 her eye shall be evil toward her husband of her bosom1 and toward her son1 and toward her daughter1 and toward her children which she shall bear2 for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness1 wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates4 #fd ,blessed shall be the fruit of thy body1 and the fruit of thy ground1 and the fruit of thy cattle1 the increase of thy kine1 and the flocks of thy sheep4 #fh ,and the ,lord shall bring thee into ,egypt again with ships1 by the way whereof ,i spake unto thee1 thou shalt see it no more again3 and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen1 and no man shall buy you4 ,this is addressed to men as most of the injunctions are1 as to their treatment of woman in general4 ,in enumerating the good things that would come to ,israel if the commandments were obeyed1 nothing is promised to women1 but when the curses are distributed1 woman comes in for her share4 ,similar treatment is accorded the daughters of ,eve in modern days4 ,she is given equal privileges with man1 in being imprisoned and hung1 but unlike him she has no voice in the laws1 the judge1 the jury1 nor the manner of exit to the unknown land4 ,she is denied the right of trial by her own peers2 the laws are made by men1 the courts are filled with men2 the judge1 the advocates1 the jurors1 all men6 ,moses follows the usual ancient idea that in the creation of human life1 man is the important factor4 ,the child is his fruit1 he is the soul4 ,the spirit the vital spark4 ,the woman merely the earth that warms and nourishes the seed1 the earthly environment4 ,this unscientific idea still holds among people ignorant of physiology and psychology4 ,this notion chimes in with the popular view of woman's secondary place in the world1 and so is accepted as law and gospel4 ,the word beget applied only to men in ,scripture is additional enforcement of the idea that the creative act belongs to him alone4 ,this is flattering to male egoism and is readily accepted4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,in the early chapters of this book ,moses' praises of ,hebrew valor in marching into a land already occupied and utterly destroying men1 women and children1 seems much like the rejoicing of those who believe in exterminating the aboriginees in ,america4 ,evidently ,moses believed in the survival of the fittest and that his own people were the fittest4 ,he teaches the necessity of exclusiveness1 that the hereditary traits of the people may not be lost by intermarriage4 ,though the ,israelites1 like the ,puritans1 had notable foremothers as well as forefathers1 yet it was not the custom to mention them4 ,perhaps the word fathers meant both1 as the word man in ,scripture often includes woman4 ,in the preface by ,lord ,bishop ,ely1 to what is popularly known as the ,speaker's ,bible1 the remark is made that whilst the ,word of ,god is one1 and does not change1 it must touch at new points the changing phases of physical1 philological and historical knowledge1 and so the comments that suit one generation are felt by another to be obsolete4 ,so1 also1 it is that with the higher education of women1 their wider opportunities and the increasing sense of justice1 many interpretations of the ,bible are felt to be obsolete1 hence the same reason exists for the ,woman's ,commentary1 which is already popularly known as the ,woman's ,bible4 ,deuteronomy is a name derived from the ,greek and signifies that this is the second or duplicate law1 because this1 the last book of the ,pentateuch1 consists partly in a restatement of the law1 as already given in other books4 ,deuteronomy contains also1 besides special commands and advice not previously written1 an account of the death of ,moses4 ,johnson's ,universal ,cyclopedia states that the authority of this book has been traditionally assigned to ,moses1 but1 of course1 the part relating to his death is not supposed to be written by himself1 and indeed the last four chapters may have been added by another hand4 ,de,wette declares that ,moses could not have been the author4 ,he not only points to the closing chapters as containing proof1 but he refers to the anachronisms in earlier chapters1 and insists that the general manner in which the ,mosaic history is treated belongs to a period after the time of ,moses4 ,and ,rev4 ,john ,white ,chadwick in his ,bible of ,to-day declares that ,prophetism created ,deuteronomy4 ,he speaks of ,malachi1 the last of the ,prophets1 as the first to mention the ,mosaic law1 and says that in the eighth century before ,christ there was no ,mosaic law in any modern sense4 ,the ,pentateuch in anything like its present form was still far in the future4 ,deuteronomy more than a hundred years ahead4 ,leviticus and ,numbers nearly three hundred4 99 99 99 ,the book of ,deuteronomy was much more of a manufacture than any previous portion of the ,pentateuch4 99 99 99 ,not ,sinai and ,wilderness1 but ,babylon and ,jerusalem1 witnessed the promulgation of the ,levitical law4 ,its priest was ,ezra and not ,aaron2 but who was its ,moses the most patient study is not likely ever to reveal4 ,the roar of ,babylon does not give up its dead4 ,it would seem as if the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,george ,lansing ,taylor shared some of these ideas when1 in his poem at the centennial of ,columbia ,college1 he said3 ,great ,ezra1 ,artaxerxes' courtly scholar-- ,doctor1 ere old ,bologna gave that collar1 ,a ready scribe in all the laws of heaven1 ,from ,babylon ascends1 to ,zion given1 ,armed with imperial power and proclamation1 ,to rear ,god's house and educate a nation4 ,as editor for ,god1 the first in story1 ,he crowns the editorial chair with glory4 ,inspired to push ,jehovah's mighty plan on ,he lays its corner-stone1 the ,bible canon4 ,his ,bible college1 ,bible publication1 ,convert the city1 crown the ,restoration1 ,and fix the beacon date for ,history's pages ,the chronologic milestone of the ages4 ,this chapter of ,deuteronomy in the solemnity and explicitness of its blessing and cursings must produce a deep impression on those who are desirous of pursuing a course which would promote personal and national prosperity4 ,reading chapter xix and remembering the history of the ,jews from ,moses to this day ,i reverently acknowledge the sure word of prophecy therein recorded4 ,chapter xxx also has high literary merit4 ,its euphony is in accordance with its solemn but encouraging warnings and promises4 ,it touches the connection divinely ordained and eternally existing between life and goodness1 death and sin1 emphasizing the apostolic injunction1 cease to do evil1 learn to do well4 ,this chapter1 giving the last directions of ,moses and intimations of his departure from earth1 is one of deep interest4 ,how the ,lord communicated to him that his end approached does not appear1 but deeply impressed with the belief1 he naturally called together ,joshua and the ,levites and gave his final charge4 ,whether fact or fiction this farewell is deeply interesting4 ,the closing chapters1 containing the song of blessing1 comes to all lovers of religious poetry as the swan song of ,moses4 ,though doubting its authorship1 one may enjoy its beauty and grandeur4 ,chapter xxxiv narrates the death of ,moses3 ,by ,nebo's lonely mountain1 ,on this side ,jordan's wave4 ,it tells briefly the mourning of the children of ,israel over their great leader's departure and affirms the appointment of ,joshua1 the son of ,nun1 as his successor1 and fitly closes the valuable collection of writings called the ,pentateuch4 ,since ,i have proposeed the elimination of some of the coarser portions of ,deuteronomy1 ,i wish to add the testimony of ,stevens in his ,scripture ,speculations1 as to the general morality of this ancient code4 ,barbarous as they were in many things1 childish in more1 their laws are as much in advance of them as of their contemporaries1--were even singular for humanity in that age1 and not always equaled in ours4 ,we forget that there were contemporary nations which justified stealing1 authorised infanticide1 legalized the murder of aged parents1 associated lust with worship4 ,none of these blots can be traced on the ,jewish escutcheon4 ,by preventing imprisonment for debt1 ,moses anticipated the latest discovery of modern philanthropy4 99 99 99 ,even the mercy of ,christianity was foreshadowed in his provision for the poor1 who were never to cease out of the land2 the prospered were to lend without interest1 and never to harden their heart against a brother4 ,the hovel of the poor was a sanctuary1 and many a minute safeguard like the return of the debtor's garment at nightfall1 to save him from suffering during the chilliness of the night1 has waited to be brought to light by our more perfect knowledge of ,jewish customs4 ,but that the ,scriptures1 rightly interpreted1 do not teach the equality of the sexes1 ,i must be permitted to doubt4 ,we who love the ,old and ,new ,testaments take ,truth for authority1 and not authority for truth1 as did our sainted ,lucretia ,mott1 whose earnest appeals for liberty were often jewelled1 as were ,daniel ,webster's most eloquent speeches1 with some texts from the old ,hebrew ,bible4 ,p4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,pentateuch4 ,the primal requisite for the more accurate understanding of the ,bible is its translation from the past to the present tense4 ,it has been studied as history1 as the record of a remote past whose truth it has been well-nigh impossible to verify4 ,it should be studied as a record of the present1 the present experience of the individual and the race which is to ultimate in the perfect actualization of generic possibilities4 ,like the tables of stone the ,bible is written on both sides2 or it has a letter which is its exterior and an interior spirit or meaning4 ,the history which constitutes its letter illustrates those principles which constitute its meaning4 ,the formless must be put into form to be apprehended4 ,mistaking the form for that substance which has been brought to the level of human apprehension by its means1 is the error which constitutes the basis of dogmatic theology4 ,error in a premise compels error in conclusions4 ,it is no wonder that woman's true relation to man and just position in the social fabric has remained unknown4 ,a ,moses on ,pisgah's height is needed to-day to see and declare this promised land2 and he must be revelator1 first1 to women themselves1 for they especially need enlightenment upon the true nature of the ,bible4 ,so long as they mistake superstition for religious revelation1 they will be content with the position and opportunities assigned them by scholastic theology4 ,they will remember and keep their place as thus defined4 ,their religious nature is warped and twisted through generations of denominational conservatism2 which fact1 by the way1 is the greatest stumbling block in the path of equal suffrage to-day1 and one to which the leaders of that movement have seemed unaccountably blind4 ,thus woman's strongest foes have been of her own sex2 and because her sense of duty and religious sentiment have been operative according to a false ideal1 unintentionally women have been and will continue to be bigoted until they allow a higher ideal to penetrate their minds2 until they see with the eye of reason and logic1 as well as with the sentiment which has so long kept them the dependent class4 ,the ,bible from beginning to end teaches the equality of man and woman1 their relation as the two halves of the unit1 but also their distinctiveness in office4 ,one cannot take the place of the other because of the fundamental nature of each4 ,the work of each half in its own place is necessary to the perfect whole4 ,the man has more prominence than the woman in the ,bible because the masculine characters in their succession represent man as a whole-- generic man4 ,the exterior or male half is outermost1 the interior or female half is covered by the outer4 ,one is seen1 the other has to be discerned1 and can be discerned by following the harmonious relativity between the two halves of the unit4 ,there is a straight line of ascent from the ,adam to the ,christ1 within which is the straight line of ascent from the ,eve to the ,mary4 ,the book of ,genesis is the substance of the whole ,bible1 its meaning is the key to the meaning of the whole2 it is the skeleton around which the rest is builded4 ,if the remainder of the ,old ,testament were destroyed its substance could be reconstructed from ,genesis4 ,as the bony structure of the physical body is the framework which is filled in and rounded to symmetrical proportions by the muscular tissue1 so ,genesis is the framework which is symmetrically rounded and filled by the other books1 which supply the necessary detail involved in basic principles4 ,the first chapter of ,genesis is not the record of the creation of the world4 ,it is a symbolical description of the composite nature of man1 that being which is male and female in one4 ,the personal pronoun ,he belongs to his exterior nature2 and the characters which illustrate this nature and the order of its development are men4 ,the pronoun ,she belongs to the interior nature1 and all characters--fewer in number-- which illustrate it1 are women4 ,male and female created he them4 ,the second chapter describes the nature and origin of the visible world1 the nature and origin of the soul1 their relation to each other and to this dual being4 ,with the third chapter begins the symbolical illustration of the soul's existence--of its continuity of existence which is unbroken till its highest possibilities are actualized1 till all the inherent capabilities of the dual being are fully manifested4 ,the leading characters of ,genesis--,adam1 ,enos1 ,noah1 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob and ,joseph--seven in number1 represent the seven chief stages of the soul's existence which follow each other like the notes in the musical scale4 ,it is our own experience that is there portrayed1 both present and prospective4 ,what we as individuals1 and nations are now going through in our efforts for betterment1 is told in the story of ,genesis4 ,more than this1 the clue to assured betterment is found there also4 ,this experience is on two lines which are always distinct but never separate--the male and the female4 ,these are indissolubly bound together from the beginning1 the same principles1 necessitating the same moral standards and spiritual ideals1 and governing both4 ,the largest measure of our individual and national perplexities and sufferings has come from the ignorant straining apart of that which ,god hath joined together and which we can not successfully and permanently put asunder4 ,the remaining four books of the ,pentateuch1 supply the detail beginning between the ,adam and ,noah of ,genesis1 rounding out that part of the skeleton4 ,the ,exodus from ,egypt under the leadership of ,moses1 represents the soul's growth out of purely sense-consciousness by the help of spiritual perception4 ,moses is the personification of this faculty inherent in and operative from the eternal ego1 the dual being1 which is the ,lord of the ,bible4 ,the ,old ,testament presents the outer or masculine nature of this ,lord as the ,jehovah4 ,the ,new ,testament presents the inner or feminine nature as the ,virgin4 ,the children of ,israel according to their tribes1 represent the ranging characteristics or parts which make up the soul of self- consciousness4 ,they are the chosen people because when the soul sees with its spiritual insight as well as with its sensuous outsight1 it can1 if it will1 choose between the two as guides4 ,their experiences in the wilderness are what we are passing through to-day2 for there is now a people who have made this choice and are following the higher leader in their work for the human race1 which is the only satisfactory way of working for themselves4 ,but this leader--spiritual perception--cannot put the soul in possession of its promised land--a higher state of existence or quality of self-consciousness4 ,it sees the higher and leads in its direction2 but understanding of fundamental1 therefore unvarying and always applicable1 principles is necessary for that realization which ,is the attainment of the higher1 or its possession4 ,moses' death before crossing ,jordan illustrates this limitation1 which is also the limitation of earnest reformers to-day4 ,they can see for us and point out that which awaits them2 but they can never take those others into the land4 ,they must travel on their own feet4 ,joshua1 as the leader after ,moses1 is the personification of this understanding4 ,he is ,moses' sepulchre1 for ,moses is buried in him4 ,spiritual insight develops understanding which is its continuity4 ,hence the continuation of experiences under ,joshua the ,saviour through whom the soul takes possession of its higher state4 ,in the wilderness of transition from the old to the new1 mistakes occur which mar their consequences4 ,in this illustration of the ,pentateuch1 ,miriam speaks against ,moses1 is stricken with leprosy and set without the camp1 and the people cannot journey till all is brought in again4 ,woman's intellectual development after ages of repression1 has resulted with many of the sex1 in an agnosticism which1 at first liberal1 has grown to be a dogmatic materialism4 ,she speaks against spiritual insight and its revelations4 ,in forsaking her dogmas and creeds she has forsaken religion4 ,she is to be brought in again-- brought to see that religion is of the soul and is individual2 while dogma and doctrine are from the sensuous out-side alone4 ,the one tends to true freedom1 the other generates bondage4 ,broadly1 women of to-day are of two classes2 those who are still held by the conservatism of creeds1 and those who have gone to the other extreme through the exhilaration of intellectual activity4 ,both classes must meet upon a common ground1 recognition of fundamental principles and effort to apply them--before the ,new ,testament can become the practical ethical standard4 ,an outline of a subject so vast and profound as the nature and meaning of the ,pentateuch1 must necessarily be more or less unsatisfactory4 ,it cannot be detached from the rest of the ,bible which is a complete organic body4 ,its meaning is consecutive and harmonious with first premises1 from beginning to end4 ,the obvious inconsistencies and absurdities involve only its letter1 which may or may not be true as history without affecting the truth of the book itself which lies in its meaning4 ,the projectors of ,the ,woman's ,bible must not avoid the whirlpool of a masculine ,bible only1 to split upon the rock of a feminine ,bible alone4 ,this would be an attempt to separate what is intensely joined together and defeat the end desired4 ,the book is the soul's guide in the fulfilling of its destiny--that destiny which is involved in its origin2 and the soul1 in sleep1 is sexless4 ,its faculties and powers are differentiated are masculine and feminine4 ,if the question is asked--,what is your authority for this view of the ,bible8 the answer is ,i have none but the internal evidence of the book itself4 ,when joined it is self-evident truth1 requiring no external authority to give it support4 ,u4 ,n4 ,g4 ,,appendix4 ,as the ,revising ,committee refer to a woman's translation of the ,bible as their ultimate authority1 for the ,greek1 ,latin and ,hebrew text1 a brief notice of this distinguished scholar is important3 ,julia ,smith's translation of the ,bible stands out unique among all translations4 ,it is the only one ever made by a woman1 and the only one1 it appears1 ever made by man or woman without help4 ,wyclif1 the morning star of the ,reformation1 made a translation from the ,vulgate1 assisted by ,nicholas of ,hereford4 ,he was not sufficiently familiar with ,hebrew and ,greek to translate from those tongues4 ,coverdale's translation was not done alone4 ,in his dedication to the king he says he has humbly followed his interpreters and that under correction4 ,tyndale1 in his translation1 had the assistance of ,frye1 of ,william ,roye1 and also of ,miles ,coverdale4 ,julia ,smith translated the whole ,bible absolutely alone1 without consultation with any one4 ,and this not once1 but five times--twice from the ,hebrew1 twice from the ,greek and once from the ,latin4 ,literalness was one end she kept constantly in view1 though this does not work so well with the ,hebrew tenses4 ,but she did not mind that4 ,frequently her wording is an improvement1 or brings one closer to the original than the common translation4 ,thus in ,i4 ,corinthians viii1 #a1 of the ,king ,james translation1 we have3 ,knowledge puffeth up1 but charity edifieth4 ,julia ,smith version3 ,knowledge puffs up and love builds the house4 ,she uses love in place of charity every time4 ,and her translation was made nearly forty years before the revised version of our day1 which also does the same4 ,tyndale1 in his translation nearly three hundred and seventy-five years ago1 made the same translation of this word2 but ,julia ,smith did not know that and never saw his translation4 ,this word charity was one of the words that ,sir ,thomas ,more1 ,lord ,chancellor of ,england1 charged ,tyndale with mistranslating4 ,the other two words were priest and church1 ,tyndale calling priests seniors1 and church1 congregation4 ,both ,julia ,smith and the revised version call them priests and church4 ,and he gives the word1 ,life for ,eve ,and ,adam will call his wife's name ,life1 for she was the mother of all living4 ,one more illustration3 ,now when ,jesus was born in ,bethlehem of ,judea in the days of ,herod the king1 behold there came wise men from the east to ,jerusalem4 ,king ,james translation4 ,now when ,jesus was born1 etc41 behold there came wise men from the sunrisings to ,jerusalem4 ,julia ,smith version4 ,she claims to have made a perfectly literal translation1 and according to the verdict of competent authorities1 ,hebrew scholars who have examined her ,bible1 she has done so4 ,her work has had the endorsement of various learned men4 ,a ,hebrew professor of ,harvard ,college 7,prof4 ,young7 called on her soon after her ,bible was issued and examined it4 ,he was much astonished that she had translated o correctly without consulting some learned man4 ,he expressed surprise that she should have put the tenses as she did4 ,she said to him3 ,you acknowledge that ,i have translated according to the ,hebrew idiom8 ,he replied3 ,o yes1 you have translated literally4 ,that was just what she aimed at1 to get an exact literal translation1 without regard to smoothness4 ,she received many letters from scholars1 all speaking of the exact1 or literal translation4 ,some people have criticised this feature1 which is the great merit of the book4 ,julia ,smith was led to make the translation at the time of the ,miller excitement in #ahdc1 when the world was to come to a sudden termination2 when the saints were preparing their robes for ascension into the empyrean1 and wicked unbelievers 7the vast majority7 were to descend as far the other way4 ,she and her family were much interested in ,miller's predictions1 and she was anxious to see for herself if1 in the original ,hebrew text of the ,bible there was any warrant for ,miller's predictions4 ,so she set to work and studied ,hebrew1 having previously translated the ,new ,testament1 and also the ,septuagint from the ,greek4 ,so absorbed did she become in her work that the dinner bell was unheeded1 and she would undoubtedly have many times gone to bed both dinnerless and supperless had not the family called her off from her work4 ,once a4 week she met with the family and a friend and neighbor1 ,miss ,emily ,moseley1 to read over and discuss what she had translated during the week4 ,this practice was kept up for several years4 ,when she came to publish the work1 7the manuscripts of which had lain in the garret some twenty-five or thirty years7 the cashier of the ,hartford bank1 where the sisters had kept their money1 told her she was very foolish to throw away her money printing this ,bible2 that she would never sell a copy4 ,she told him it didn't matter whether she did or not2 that she was not doing it to make money2 that she found more satisfaction in spending her money in this way than in spending it all on dress4 ,thanks to our more enlightened age1 this translation did not meet with the opposition the early translators had to contend with4 ,the scholars of those days thought learning should be confined to a select few2 it was1 in their view1 dangerous to put the ,bible into a language the common people could understand1 especially women4 ,here is what one ,henry de ,knyghton1 a learned monk of that day1 said3 ,this ,master ,john ,wiclif hath translated the gospel out of ,latin into ,english1 which ,christ had intrusted with the clergy and doctors of the ,church that they might minister it to the laity and weaker sort1 according to the state of the times and the wants of men4 ,but now the gospel is made vulgar and more open to the laity1 and even to women who can read1 than it used to be to the most learned of the clergy and those of the best understanding4 ,to say nothing of reading the ,bible1 what would this learned man have thought of a woman translating it1 and five times at that6 ,it would seem as if the bare suggestion must have stirred his dry bones with indignation4 ,king ,james appointed fifty-four men of learning to translate the ,bible4 ,seven of them died and forty-seven carried the work on4 ,compare this corps of workers with one little woman performing the ,herculean task with without one suggestion or word of advice from mortal man6 ,this ,bible is ten by seven inches1 and is printed in large1 clear type4 ,there are two styles of binding1 cloth and sheepskin4 ,the cloth binding was #b4ej at the time it was issued and while ,julia ,smith lived1 and the other was #c4jj1 but as they are getting scarcer the price may have gone up4 ,they will be a rarity in the next century and will be much sought after by bibliomaniacs1 to say nothing of scholars who will want it for its real value4 ,julia ,smith had the plates of her ,bible preserved1 but where they are now is more than ,i know4 ,it was published by the ,american ,publishing ,company1 of ,hartford1 in #ahgf4 ,julia ,evelina ,smith1 of ,glastonbury1 ,conn41 was one of five sisters of a somewhat notable family1 the father and mother both having strong traits of character and marked individuality4 ,the mother1 ,hannah ,hickok1 was a fine linguist and mathematician4 ,she once made an almanac for her own convenience1 almanacs being rather scarce in those days4 ,she could tell the time of night whenever she happened to awake by the position of the stars4 ,she was an omnivorous reader and a great student1 and in those days before the invention of stoves1 her father1 in order to allow her the requisite retirement to gratify her studious tastes1 built her a small glass room4 ,in the days of the ,abby and ,julia ,smith excitement1 when they refused to pay their taxes1 some writer was so wicked as to say that ,julia ,smith's grandfather shut her mother up in a glass cage4 ,seated in this glass enclosure1 placed in a south room1 with the sun's rays beating down upon her1 as upon a plant in a conservatory1 she could pursue her studies to her heart's content4 ,she was an only child and adored by her father2 and so much did she think of him that in his last illness1 when she was away at school1 she rode four hundred miles on horseback in order to see him before he died4 ,julia ,smith's father1 the ,rev4 ,zephaniah ,h4 ,smith1 a graduate of ,yale1 was settled in ,newtown1 ,conn41 near ,south ,britain1 where he married ,hannah ,hickok4 ,he preached but four years1 resigning his position on the ground that the gospel should be free2 that it was wrong to preach for money--ideas promulgated by the ,sandemanians of those days1 the followers of ,robert ,sandeman1 a ,scotchman1 who organized the sect in ,england and in this country1 it having originated with his father-in- law1 ,john ,glas1 the sect being called either ,glassites or ,sandemanians1 the former being given the preference in ,scotland and ,england4 ,the ideas of these people were followed out by the ,smith family1 and at ,abby and ,julia ,smith's funeral1 as at the funerals of those who had gone before them1 there was no officiating minister and no services4 ,simply a chapter of the ,bible was read1 and one or two who wished1 made remarks4 ,on a fly-leaf of the ,bible ,julia ,smith read every day was written the request that she should be buried by her sisters in ,glastonbury1 and with no name on the tombstone but that of her own maiden name4 ,this request was followed out4 ,the names of the ,smith sisters are so unique1 and inasmuch as they have never been known to be printed correctly1 it may not be out of place to give them here1 preceding them by those of their parents1 making a short family record for future reference3 ,zephaniah ,h4 ,smith1 born ,august #ai1 #ageh4 ,died ,february #a1 #ahcf4 ,hannah ,hickok1 born ,august #g1 #agfg4 ,died ,december #bg1 #ahej ,they were married ,may #ca1 #agef4 ,,daughters ,,of ,,the ,,above ,hancy ,zephina1 born ,march #af1 #aghg4 ,died ,june #cj1 #ahga4 ,cyrinthia ,sacretia1 born ,may #ah1 #aghh4 ,died ,august #ai1 #ahfd4 ,laurilla ,aleroyla1 born ,november #bf1 #aghi4 ,died ,march #ai1 #aheg4 ,julia ,evelina1 born ,may #bg1 #agib4 ,died ,march #f1 #ahhf4 ,abby ,hadassah1 born ,june #a1 #agig4 ,died ,july #bc1 #ahgh4 ,julia was educated at ,mrs4 ,emma ,willard's far-famed seminary at ,troy1 ,new ,york4 ,abby1 the youngest of the family1 was the one who added to their fame1 when1 in ,november1 #ahgc1 at a town meeting in ,glastonbury1 she delivered a speech against taxation without representation4 ,she had just attended the first ,woman's ,congress in ,new ,york1 and on her way back said she was going to make a speech on taxation2 that she should apply to the authorites sic to speak in town hall on town meeting day4 ,she and ,julia owned considerable property in ,glastonbury and their taxes were being increased while those of their neighbors 7men7 were not4 ,she applied to the authorities1 but they would not let her speak in the hall1 so she spoke from a wagon outside to a crowd of people4 ,this speech was printed in a ,hartford paper 7the ,courant7 and was copied all over the country1 and the cry3 ,abby ,smith and her cows was caught up everywhere4 ,abby ,smith's quaint1 simple speeches attracted attention1 and the sale of the cows at the sign-post aroused sympathy1 and from that time on their fame grew apace4 ,the hitherto light mail- bags of ,glastonbury came loaded with mail matter from all quarters for the ,smith sisters4 ,and this continued for some years1 or till the death of ,abby in #ahgh1 which was followed by the marriage of ,julia the following spring1 and the discontinuance of the sale of the cows at the public sign-post4 ,she married ,mr4 ,amos ,a4 ,parker1 both being eighty- seven years of age4 ,julia ,smith sold the old family mansion in ,glastonbury and bought a house at ,parkville1 ,hartford4 ,she died there in #ahhf and her husband died in #ahic1 nearly one hundred and two years of age4 ,f4 ,e4 ,b4 ,advertisements from original1 ,vol4 #a ,,eighty ,,years ,,and ,,more ,,being ,,the ,,reminiscences ,,of ,,elizabeth ,,cady ,,stanton4 7#ahae-ahig47 ,this new work by our distinguished countrywoman is a #abmo of #dge pp41 complete in one volume1 cloth bound1 with eleven portraits4 ,price #b4jj4 ,i ,dedicate ,this ,volume ,to ,susan ,b4 ,anthony1 ,my ,steadfast ,friend ,for ,half ,a ,century4 ,,contents4 ,chapter4 ,i4 ,childhood4 ,,ii4 ,school ,days4 ,,iii4 ,girlhood4 ,,iv4 ,life at ,peterboro4 ,v4 ,our ,wedding journey4 ,,vi4 ,homeward ,bound4 ,,vii4 ,motherhood4 ,,viii4 ,boston and ,chelsea4 ,,ix4 ,the ,first ,woman's ,rights ,convention4 ,x4 ,susan ,b4 ,anthony4 ,,xi4 ,susan ,b4 ,anthony 7,continued74 ,,xii4 ,my ,first ,speech ,before a ,legislature4 ,,xiii4 ,reforms and ,mobs4 ,,xiv4 ,views on ,marriage and ,divorce4 ,,xv4 ,women as ,patriots4 ,,xvi4 ,pioneer ,life in ,kansas--,our ,newspaper1 ,the ,revolution4 ,,xvii4 ,lyceums and ,lecturers4 ,,xviii4 ,westward ,ho6 ,,xix4 ,the ,spirit ,of '#gf4 ,,xx4 ,writing ,the ,history of ,woman ,suffrage4 ,,xxi4 ,in the ,south of ,france4 ,,xxii4 ,reforms and ,reformers in ,great ,britain4 ,,xxiii4 ,woman and ,theology4 ,,xxiv4 ,england and ,france ,revisited4 ,,xxv4 ,the ,international ,council of ,women4 ,,xxvi4 ,my ,last ,visit to ,england4 ,,xxvii4 ,sixtieth ,anniversary of the ,class of #ahcb--,the ,woman's ,bible4 ,,xxviii4 ,my ,eightieth ,birthday4 ,,preface ,the interest my family and friends have always manifested in the narration of my early and varied experiences1 and their earnest desire to have them in permanent form for the amusement of another generation1 moved me to publish this volume4 ,i am fully aware that its contents have no especial artistic merit1 being composed partly of extracts from my diary1 a few hasty sketches of my travels and people ,i have met1 and of my opinions on many social questions4 ,the story of my private life as the wife of an earnest reformer1 as an enthusiastic housekeeper1 proud of my skill in every department of domestic economy1 and as the mother of seven children41 may amuse and benefit the reader4 ,the incidents of my public career as a leader in the most momentous reform yet launched upon the world--the emancipation of woman--will be found in ,the ,history of ,woman ,suffrage4 ,new ,york ,city1 ,september1 #ahig ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton4 ,mrs4 ,stanton in this book1 in her inimitable way1 relates anecdotes of1 and experiences with1 a number of the leading women1 statesmen1 authors1 and reformers of the last sixty years4 ,the following are a few names selected at random from the ,,index ,,of ,,names4 ,beecher1 ,rev4 ,henry ,ward4 ,bradlaugh1 ,hon4 ,charles1 ,m4 ,p4 ,bright1 ,hon4 ,jacob ,m4 ,p4 ,bright1 ,hon4 ,john1 ,m4 ,p4 ,browning1 ,robert4 ,bryant1 ,william ,cullen4 ,curtis1 ,george ,william4 ,cobbe1 ,frances ,power4 ,clarkson1 ,thomas4 ,charming1 ,rev4 ,william ,ellery4 ,carlisle1 ,lord and ,lady4 ,byron1 ,lady4 ,cushman1 ,charlotte4 ,dana1 ,charles ,a4 ,douglass1 ,frederick4 ,emerson1 ,ralph ,waldo4 ,fry1 ,elizabeth4 ,fuller1 ,margaret4 ,garrison1 ,william ,lloyd4 ,george1 ,henry4 ,grant1 ,general ,ulysses ,s ,greeley1 ,horace4 ,grevy1 ,president ,jules4 ,holmes1 ,oliver ,wendell4 ,hyacinthe1 ,pere4 ,ingersoll1 ,robert ,g4 ,kingsley1 ,canon ,charles4 ,krapotkine1 ,prince4 ,lowell1 ,james ,russell4 ,martineau1 ,harriet4 ,mill1 ,john ,stuart4 ,mott1 ,lucretia4 ,o',connell1 ,daniel4 ,owen1 ,robert ,dale4 ,parker1 ,rev4 ,theodore4 ,parnell1 ,hon4 ,charles ,stuart1 ,m4 ,p4 ,phillips1 ,wendell4 ,seward1 ,governor ,william ,h4 ,shelley1 ,percy ,bysshe4 ,smith1 ,hon4 ,gerrit4 ,stanton1 ,hon4 ,henry ,b4 ,stepniak4 ,stone1 ,lucy4 ,stowe1 ,harriet ,beecher4 ,sumner1 ,hon4 ,charles4 ,whittier1 ,john ,g4 ,willard1 ,emma4 ,willard1 ,frances ,e4 ,see ,press ,comments on following pages4 ,this book will be sent1 mail prepaid1 on receipt of price1 by ,european ,publishing ,company1 ,w ,broad ,street1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,,press ,,comments4 ,it is a very readable book4--,albany ,times-,union4 ,the ,reminiscences are delightful4--,the ,louisville ,dispatch4 ,the tale is as interesting as any romance or drama4--,n4 ,y4 ,mail and ,express4 ,a bright1 entertaining tale1 and one which contains much valuable information4--,n4 ,y4 ,herald4 ,we know of no other autobiography which will command more profound interest4--,the ,rocky ,mountain ,news4 ,it is the life story of a genuine ,american woman and will excite wide interest4--,the ,minneapolis ,tribune4 ,a breezy narrative of a long and active life1 told with spirit and humor4--,the ,woman's ,journal4 ,every sentence in this book would serve as a text for a chapter were merited amplification practicable4--,ithaca ,journal4 ,the book is illustrated with a number of excellent portraits of the author1 and is full of interest4--,new ,london ,day4 ,a well written account of a long and busy life4 ,a highly interesting biography and a delightful book1 which is well worth reading4--,n4 ,y4 ,evening ,world4 ,a human document of no small interest and value4 ,a straightforward and piquant story of a noteworthy personality4--,the ,chicago ,tribune4 ,a combination of several kinds of charm4 ,it is frankly personal4 ,it is impossible not to wish there had been very much more of each chapter4 --,n4 ,y4 ,evening ,sun4 ,it is unexpectedly amusing1 as well as instructive1 some of the author's experiences being narrated in a most realistic and delightful manner4--,washington ,post4 ,two chapters of this interesting autobiography are devoted to ,miss ,susan ,b4 ,anthony1 the friend and fellow-laborer in the field of ,woman's ,rights with ,mrs4 ,stanton4--,jeannette ,l4 ,gilder in ,n4 ,y4 ,sunday ,journal4 ,it is a book well worth reading and shows what one woman may do with a purpose and a will back of it4 ,the personal part of the ,reminiscences are of much interest1 and force admiration for the tactful1 courageous and able woman4--,pittsburg ,post4 ,it is one of the most important books of the year1 ,particularly to the women of this country4 ,it is absorbingly interesting4 ,the trouble that the reader encounters is that he finds it hard work to lay the book down4--,boston ,daily ,advertiser4 ,the story of the life of this great ,american woman will be read with much interest in many homes4 ,it is a book of much artistic merit and her ,reminiscences cannot be other than interesting4 ,the book throughout is delightfully entertaining--,troy ,times4 ,a most charming and interesting picture of a wife1 mother and a friend4 ,every one who has seen or heard of this leader of the woman question of the century will rejoice that such a book has been given to the world4--,boston ,investigator4 ,it is not principally the record of her public career as a leader in the movement for the emancipation of woman1 but rather the story of her private life which is set forth in this volume4 ,especially interesting are those reminiscences that deal with the author's early days4--,n4 ,y4 ,sun4 ,this book abounds in interesting experiences4 ,the style is simple and amusing1 showing the writer possessed of a keen sense of humor and the fitness of things1 as well as justice4 ,it is particularly interesting to women whether they sympathize with the views of the writer or otherwise4--,rochester ,democrat and ,chronicle4 ,this is a thoroughly enjoyable book and never lacking in interest4 ,it will be an inspiration for ,american girls to read its chapters4 ,she gives graphic pictures4 ,the volume contains several fine portraits4 ,the book is racy and pleasing1 whether the reader agrees with the author in all things or not4--,chicago ,inter-,ocean4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton's recollections1 covering eighty years1 easily come first in the array of new noteworthy books1 because of the surprise they will afford the public1 having been almost unheralded2 because of the impressive and protracted public career of the author2 because of her inflexible devotion to and sincerity in a cause long unpopular1 and because1 moreover1 ,mrs4 ,stanton is an ,american4 ,this is a most interesting volume4--,n4 ,y4 ,times4 ,eighty ,years and ,more4 ,being the ,reminiscences of ,,elizabeth ,,cady ,,stanton4 ,complete ,in one volume4 #abmo1 #dge pp4 ,cloth1 eleven portraits4 ,price #b4jj4 ,,press ,,comments--7,continued74 ,the story of ,mrs4 ,stanton's life is one which interests many thousands in this country1 and which will also be read with interest in other lands1 for her reputation as a reformer and writer is international2 her strong personal characteristics give to this autobiographical work a charm of its own4 ,it contains some of the most entertaining reminiscences that have been given to the public4 ,it is a book which is sure to be widely read4--,worcester ,spy4 ,the personal element is the fascinating part of the book which holds one's attention and keeps him reading to the end4 ,it is a bright1 breezy1 and radical turn-the-world-upside-down book4 ,we do not like its religious tone4 ,we do not like the author's occult theosophy4 ,we do not like her sociology1 with its good word for the windmill logic of the speculative ,bellamy4 ,we do not like her views of marriage and divorce4 ,but when all is said1 and with all these wide differences lying between us to qualify our enjoyment of this book1 we have enjoyed it much4 ,mrs4 ,stanton is a first-rate raconteuse and fills her pages with amusing recitals and brilliant encounters--,n4 ,y4 ,independent4 ,,to ,,woman ,,suffrage ,,clubs3 ,we will supply ,clubs with single copies of this book at #b per copy1 postage prepaid4 ,we will forward five 7#e7 copies of this book to any address1 express charges prepaid1 on the receipt of six dollars 7#f4jj74 ,we ,wish ,an ,agent ,in ,every ,woman ,suffrage ,club4 ,correspondence with those who desire to become ,agents solicited4 ,,speeches1 ,,letters ,,and ,,miscellaneous ,,writings ,,of ,,elizabeth ,,cady ,,stanton4 #abmo1 #ejj pp41 cloth1 five portraits4 ,price #b4jj4 ,this work will be similar in style and binding to ,eighty ,years and ,more1 will contain valuable editorial notes by ,theodore ,stanton1 ,a4 ,m41 and will be published in ,january1 #ahii4 ,new ,york ,european ,publishing ,company ,and ,paris ,,the ,,woman',s ,,bible4 ,,complete ,,in ,,two ,,parts4 ,,revising ,,committee4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton4 ,rev4 ,phebe ,a4 ,hanaford4 ,clara ,bewick ,colby4 ,rev4 ,augusta ,chapin4 ,mary ,seymour ,howell4 ,josephine ,k4 ,henry4 ,mrs4 ,robert ,g4 ,ingersoll4 ,sarah ,a4 ,underwood4 ,catharine ,f4 ,stebbins4 ,ellen ,battelle ,dietrick4 ,ursula ,n4 ,gestefeld4 ,lillie ,devereux ,blake4 ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage4 ,rev4 ,olympia ,brown4 ,frances ,ellen ,burr4 ,clara ,b4 ,neyman4 ,helen ,h4 ,gardener4 ,charlotte ,beebe ,wilbour4 ,lucinda ,b4 ,chandler4 ,louisa ,southworth4 ,baroness ,alexandra ,gripenberg1 ,finland4 ,ursula ,m4 ,bright1 ,england4 ,irma von ,troll-,borostyani1 ,austria4 ,priscilla ,bright ,mc,laren1 ,scotland4 ,isabelle ,bogelot1 ,france4 ,,part ,i4 ,a #abmo1 #afj pp4 paper4 ,third ,american and ,second ,english ,edition4 ,twentieth ,thousand4 ,price #ej ,cents4 ,it contains ,comments on ,genesis1 ,exodus1 ,leviticus1 ,numbers1 and ,deuteronomy1 by ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 ,lillie ,devereux ,blake1 ,rev4 ,phebe ,a4 ,hanaford1 ,clara ,bewick ,colby1 ,ellen ,battelle ,dietrick1 ,ursula ,n4 ,gestefeld1 ,louisa ,southworth1 ,frances ,ellen ,burr4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,a #abmo1 #bag pp4 paper4 ,first ,american ,edition1 ,ten ,thousand4 ,price #ej ,cents4 ,it contains ,comments on ,the ,old and ,new ,testaments from ,joshua to ,revelation1 by ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 ,louisa ,southworth1 ,lucinda ,b4 ,chandler1 ,anonymous1 ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage1 ,rev4 ,phebe ,a4 ,hanaford1 ,clara ,b4 ,neyman1 ,frances ,ellen ,burr1 ,ellen ,battelle ,dietrick1 and ,letters and ,comments in an ,appendix1 by ,rev4 ,antoinette ,brown ,blackwell1 ,mary ,a4 ,livermore1 ,frances ,e4 ,willard1 ,mrs4 ,robert ,g4 ,ingersoll1 ,irma von ,troll- ,borostyani1 ,mrs4 ,jacob ,bright1 ,rev4 ,phebe ,a4 ,hanaford1 ,anonymous1 ,susan ,b4 ,anthony1 ,edna ,d4 ,cheney1 ,sarah ,a4 ,underwood1 ,dr4 ,elizabeth ,blackwell1 ,josephine ,k4 ,henry1 ,ursula ,n4 ,gestefeld1 ,catharine ,f4 ,stebbins1 ,alice ,stone ,blackwell1 ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage1 ,e4 ,t4 ,m41 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 and others1 and the resolution passed by the ,national-,american ,woman ,suffrage ,association1 repudiating ,the ,woman's ,bible1 together with the discussion thereon4 ,see ,press ,comments on ,the ,woman's ,bible on next page4 ,,press ,,comments ,,on ,,the ,,woman',s ,,bible ,the comments are right up to date4--,cincinnati ,tribune4 ,the most humorous book of the year4--,the ,hartford ,seminary ,record4 ,of all possible books this is perhaps the most extraordinary possible4 --,the ,week1 ,toronto1 ,canada4 ,a very clever analysis of passages relating to the sex4--,public ,opinion1 ,n4 ,y4 ,city4 ,the new ,woman's ,bible is one of the remarkable productions of the century4--,denver ,news4 ,a unique edition of the ,scripture4 ,an extraordinary presentment of ,holy ,writ6--,denver ,times4 ,the work is unique4 ,its aim is to help the cause of woman in her battle for equality4--,beacon1 ,akron1 ,ohio4 ,robert ,g4 ,ingersoll is the only person on earth capable of a work equal to ,mrs4 ,stanton's sensation1 ,the ,woman's ,bible4--,chicago ,times- ,herald4 ,the attack of the new woman on the ,king ,james ,bible will be observed with interest where it does not alarm4 ,but let ,the ,woman's ,bible and the truth prevail4 ,it may be that ,lot himself was turned into a pillar of salt4--,chicago ,post4 ,it has come at last1 as it was bound to come--the emancipated woman's ,bible4 ,the wonder is it has been delayed so long4 ,this is not a blasphemous book4--,the ,egyptian ,gazette1 ,alexandria1 ,egypt4 ,the new woman has broken out in a fresh direction and published ,the ,woman's ,bible4 ,in it the conduct of ,adam1 the father of the race1 is described as to the last degree dastardly4--,westminster ,budget1 ,london1 ,eng4 ,one of the most striking protests devised by woman for the purpose of showing her rejection of the conditions under which our mothers lived4 ,it is evidently the mission of ,the ,woman's ,bible to exalt and dignify woman4--,the ,morning1 ,london1 ,eng4 ,we have read some of the passages of the commentary prepared for the ,woman's ,bible by that very accomplished ,american woman and ,biblical student1 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton4 ,they are a great deal more satisfactory than many of the comments upon the same texts that we have read in other and more pretentious ,commentaries4 ,mrs4 ,stanton's interpretative remarks are shrewd and sensible--,editorial ,n4 ,y4 ,sun4 ,of man-made commentaries on the ,bible we have had sufficient to stock a library and yet they have left room for this commentary by women4 ,these revisers have proved the need of an intelligent examination of the ,scriptures from the woman's point of view4 ,the lady commentators are not wanting in a sense of humor--the quality in which biblical critics of the male sex are usually unhappily deficient4 ,there is much that is very funny and very interesting in this new commentary upon the ,bible4--,the ,daily ,chronicle1 ,london1 ,eng4 ,the ,standard says1 ,the ,sisterhood of ,advanced ,women has taken a bold step towards emancipation4 ,it has long groaned under certain implications of servitude contained in a few passages of ,scripture1 and has1 therefore1 determined to abolish these disabilities by publishing ',the ,woman's ,bible4' ,it is not only the type that is new4 ,new readings of old passages are given1 and the volume contains suggestions to show that the verses about women's inferiority really mean the opposite of the ordinary acceptation4 ,in it ,eve is rather praised than otherwise for having eaten the apple4 ,it is pointed out that ,satan did not tempt her with an array of silks and satins1 and gold watches1 or even a cycling costume--the things which some people think most seductive to her descendants--but with the offer of knowledge2 a man being of such a lethargic and groveling nature that a similar lofty ambition never entered his mind4 ,besides1 if the fruit was not to be eaten1 ,eve should have been informed of the fact at first hand1 and not through an agent4--,pall ,mall ,gazette1 ,london1 ,eng4 ,the above books will be sent1 mail prepaid1 on receipt of price1 by ,european ,publishing ,company1 #fh ,broad ,street1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,,the ,,woman',s ,,bible ,,part ,,ii ,,comments ,,on ,,the ,,old ,,and ,,new ,,testaments ,,from ,,joshua ,,to ,,revelation ,,oh6 ,rather give me commentators plain1 ,who with no deep researches vex the brain2 ,who from the dark and doubtful love to run4 ,and hold their glimmering tapers to the sun4 --,the ,parish ,register4 #ahih4 ,the ,bible in its teachings degrades ,woman from ,genesis to ,revelations4 ,,revising ,,committee4 ,we took sweet counsel together4-,ps4 ,iv41 #ad4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 ,rev4 ,phebe ,a4 ,hanaford1 ,clara ,bewick ,colby1 ,rev4 ,augusta ,chapin1 ,ursula ,n4 ,gestefeld1 ,mary ,seymour ,howell1 ,josephine ,k4 ,henry1 ,mrs4 ,robert ,g4 ,ingersoll1 ,sarah ,a4 ,underwood1 ,ellen ,battelle ,dietrick1,,fn#d ,lillie ,devereux ,blake1 ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage1 ,rev4 ,olympia ,brown1 ,frances ,ellen ,burr1 ,clara ,b4 ,neyman1 ,helen ,h4 ,gardener1 ,charlotte ,beebe ,wilbour1 ,lucinda ,b4 ,chandler1 ,catharine ,f4 ,stebbins1 ,louisa ,southworth4 ,,fn#d ,deceased4 ,,foreign ,,members4 ,baroness ,alexandra ,gripenberg1 ,finland1 ,ursula ,m4 ,bright1 ,england1 ,irma ,von ,troll-,borostyani1 ,austria1 ,priscilla ,bright ,mclaren1 ,scotland1 ,isabelle ,bogelot1 ,france4 ,,comments ,,on ,,the ,,old ,,and ,,new ,,testaments ,,from ,,joshua ,,to ,,revelation1 ,,by ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 ,ellen ,battelle ,dietrick1 ,louisa ,southworth1 ,lucinda ,b4 ,chandler1 ,anonymous1 ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage1 ,frances ,ellen ,burr1 ,rev4 ,phebe ,a4 ,hanaford1 ,clara ,b4 ,neyman4 ,,appendix4 ,,letters ,,and ,,comments ,,by ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 ,josephine ,k4 ,henry1 ,frances ,e4 ,willard1 ,eva ,a4 ,ingersoll1 ,mary ,a4 ,livermore1 ,irma von ,troll-,borostyani1 ,mrs4 ,jacob ,bright1 ,rev4 ,antoinette ,brown ,blackwell1 ,anonymous1 ,rev4 ,phebe ,a4 ,hanaford1 ,ednah ,d4 ,cheney1 ,sarah ,a4 ,underwood1 ,dr4 ,elizabeth ,blackwell1 ,alice ,stone ,blackwell1 ,ursula ,n4 ,gestefeld1 ,e4 ,m41 ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage1 ,sarah ,m4 ,perkins1 and ,catharine ,f4 ,stebbins4 ,resolution ,of ,national-,american ,woman ,suffrage ,association repudiating ,the ,woman's ,bible1 and ,speech of ,susan ,b4 ,anthony4 ,dedicated ,to ,the ,memory ,of ,ellen ,battelle ,dietrick1 ,in ,whose ,death ,we ,lost ,the ,ablest ,member ,of ,our ,revising ,committee4 ,,preface ,,to ,,part ,,ii4 ,the criticisms on ,the ,woman's ,bible are as varied as they are unreasonable4 ,both friend and foe object to the title4 ,when ,john ,stuart ,mill wrote his ,subjection of ,woman there was a great outcry against that title4 ,he said that proved it to be a good one4 ,the critics said3 ,it will suggest to women that they are in subjection and make them rebellious4 ,that1 said he1 is just the effect ,i wish to produce4 ,rider ,haggard's ,she was denounced so universally that every one read it to see who ,she was4 ,thus the title in both cases called attention to the book4 ,the critics say that our title should have been ,commentaries on the ,bible4 ,that would have been misleading1 as the book simply contains short comments on the passages referring to woman4 ,some say that it should have been ,the ,women of the ,bible2 but several books with that title have already been published4 ,the ,rev4 ,t4 ,de,witt ,talmage says3 ,you might as well have a ',shoemakers' ,bible'2 the ,scriptures apply to women as we'll as to men4 ,as the ,bible treats women as of a different class1 inferior to man or in subjection to him1 which is not the case with shoemakers1 ,mr4 ,talmage's criticism has no significance4 ,there's nothing so becomes a man1 ,as modest stillness and humility4 ,another clergyman says3 ,it is the work of women1 and the devil4 ,this is a grave mistake4 ,his ,satanic ,majesty was not invited to join the ,revising ,committee1 which consists of women alone4 ,moreover1 he has been so busy of late years attending ,synods1 ,general ,assemblies and ,conferences1 to prevent the recognition of women delegates1 that he has had no time to study the languages and higher criticism4 ,other critics say that our comments do not display a profound knowledge of ,biblical history or of the ,greek and ,hebrew languages4 ,as the position of woman in all religions is the same1 it does not need a knowledge of either ,greek1 ,hebrew or the works of scholars to show that the ,bible degrades the ,mothers of the ,race4 ,furthermore1 ,the ,woman's ,bible is intended for readers who do not care for1 and would not be convinced by1 a learned1 technical work of so-called higher criticism4 ,the ,old ,testament makes woman a mere after-thought in creation2 the author of evil2 cursed in her maternity2 a subject in marriage2 and all female life1 animal and human1 unclean4 ,the ,church in all ages has taught these doctrines and acted on them1 claiming divine authority therefor4 ,as ,christ is the head of the ,church1 so is man the head of woman4 ,this idea of woman's subordination is reiterated times without number1 from ,genesis to ,revelations2 and this is the basis of all church action4 ,parts ,i4 and ,,ii4 of ,the ,woman's ,bible state these dogmas in plain ,english1 as agreeing fully with ,bible teaching and church action4 ,and yet women meet in convention and denounce ,the ,woman's ,bible1 while clinging to the ,church and their ,scriptures4 ,the only difference between us is1 we say that these degrading ideas of woman emanated from the brain of man1 while the ,church says that they came from ,god4 ,now1 to my mind1 the ,revising ,committee of ,the ,woman's ,bible1 in denying divine inspiration for such demoralizing ideas1 shows a more worshipful reverence for the great ,spirit of ,all ,good than does the ,church4 ,we have made a fetich of the ,bible long enough4 ,the time has come to read it as we do all other books1 accepting the good and rejecting the evil it teaches4 ,there lives more faith in honest doubt1 ,believe me1 than in half the creeds4 ,hon4 ,andrew ,d4 ,white1 formerly ,president of ,cornell ,university1 shows us in his great work1 ,a ,history of the ,warfare of ,science with ,theology1 that the ,bible1 with its fables1 allegories and endless contradictions1 has been the great block in the way of civilization4 ,all through the centuries scholars and scientists have been imprisoned1 tortured and burned alive for some discovery which seemed to conflict with a petty text of ,scripture4 ,surely the immutable laws of the universe can teach more impressive and exalted lessons than the holy books of all the religions on earth4 ,,elizabeth ,,cady ,,stanton4 ,january1 #ahih4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,joshua4 ,joshua ii4 #a ,and ,joshua the son of ,nun sent out of ,shittim two men to spy secretly1 saying1 ,go view the land1 even ,jericho4 ,and they went1 and came into a harlot's house1 named ,rahab1 and lodged there4 #b ,and it was told the king of ,jericho1 saying1 ,behold1 there came men in hither to-night of the children of ,israel to search out the country4 #c ,and the king of ,jericho sent unto ,rahab1 saying1 ,bring forth the men that are come to thee which are entered into thine house3 for they be come to search out all the country4 #d ,and the woman took the two men1 and hid them and said thus1 ,there came men unto me1 but ,i wist not whence they were4 #e ,and it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate when it was dark1 that the men went out2 whither the men went ,i wot not2 pursue after them quickly2 for ye shall overtake them4 ,this book gives an account of the final entrance of the children of ,israel into the ,promised ,land4 ,joshua was the successor of ,moses1 and performed the same miracle in parting the waters of the ,jordan that ,moses did to enable his people to pass through the ,red ,sea4 ,he was seven years fighting his way into the land of ,canaan1 where he spent the closing years of his life in peace4 ,there is mention of two women only in this book1 though a casual reference is again made to the daughters of ,zelophehad1 as described in a former chapter4 ,in saving the spies from their pursuers1 ,rahab made them promise that when ,jericho fell into the hands of ,joshua1 they would save her and her kinsmen4 ,from the text1 it seems that ,rahab fully understood the spirit of her time1 and with keen insight and religious fervor1 marked characteristics of women1 she readily entered into the plans of the great general of ,israel4 ,rahab was supposed to have been a great sinner1 her life in many respects questionable2 but seeing that victory was with the ,israelites1 she cast her lot with them4 ,from the text and what we know of humanity in general1 it is difficult to decide ,rahab's real motive1 whether to serve the ,lord by helping ,joshua to take the land of ,canaan1 or to save her own life and that of her kinsmen4 ,it is interesting to see mat in all national emergencies1 leading men are quite willing to avail themselves of the craft and cunning of women1 qualities uniformly condemned when used for their own advantage4 ,there is no more significance1 as one of our critics says1 in commentating on the myths of the ,bible than on ,aesop's fables4 ,the difference1 however1 is this3 that in the latter case we admit that they were written by a man2 while in the former1 they are claimed to have been inspired by ,god4 ,though at variance with all natural laws1 it is claimed that our eternal salvation depends on believing in the plenary inspiration of the myths of the ,scriptures2 as the higher criticisms1 written by learned scholars and scientists1 are not familiar to women1 our comments in plain ,english may rid them of some of their superstitions4 ,though the injustice to woman is the blackest page in sacred history1 the distinguished ,biblical writers take no note of it whatever4 ,even ,hon4 ,andrew ,d4 ,white1 though he devotes several pages of his work to the statue of ,lot's wife in salt1 vouchsafes no criticism on the position of ,lot's wife in the flesh1 nor of ,lot's outrageous treatment of his daughters4 ,the wonder is that women themselves should either believe that such unholy proceedings were inspired by ,god1 or make a fetich of the very book which is responsible for their civil and social degradation4 ,joshua x4 #aa ,and it came to pass1 as they fled from before ,israel1 and were in the going down to ,beth-horon1 that the ,lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto ,azekah1 and they died3 they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of ,israel slew with the sword4 #ab ,then spake ,joshua to the ,lord in the day when the ,lord delivered up the ,amorites before the children of ,israel1 and he said in the sight of ,israel1 ,sun1 stand thou still upon ,gibeon2 and thou1 ,moon1 in the valley of ,ajalon4 #ac ,and the ,sun stood still1 and the ,moon stayed1 until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies4 ,is not this written in the book of ,jasher8 ,so the ,sun stood still in the midst of heaven1 and hasted not to go down about a whole day4 #ad ,and there was no day like that before it or after it1 that the ,lord hearkened unto the voice of a man2 for the ,lord fought for ,israel4 ,according to the sacred fabulist1 ,joshua surpassed ,moses in the wonders which he performed4 ,in taking the city of ,jericho1 as recorded in ,chapter viii41 he did not use the ordinary enginery of war1 but told his soldiers to blow a simultaneous blast upon their trumpets1 while all the people with united shouts should produce such a violent concussion of the air as to bring down the walls of the city4 ,he not only subsidized the atmosphere to overpower his enemies1 but he commanded the sun and the moon to stand still to lengthen the day and to lighten the night until this victory was complete4 ,it seems that the ,lord was so well pleased with ,joshua's refined military tactics that he suspended the laws of the vast solar system to vindicate the superior prowess of one small tribe on the small planet called the earth4 ,the ,lord also resorted to more material and forcible means1 sending down tremendous hailstones from heaven1 and thus with one fell blow destroyed more of his enemies than the children of ,israel did with the sword4 ,there are no events recorded in secular history that strain the faith of the reader to such a degree as the feats of ,joshua4 ,moses1 with his manna and pillar of light in the wilderness and his dazzling pyrotechnics on ,mount ,sinai1 fades into insignificance before these marvellous manifestations by ,joshua1 with the ,canaanites1 ,jericho1 and the sun and moon under his feet4 ,though teaching the people that all these fables are facts1 still the ,church condemns prestidigitators1 soothsayers1 fortune tellers1 ,spiritualists1 witches1 and the assumptions of ,christian ,scientists4 ,joshua xv4 #af ,and ,catch said1 ,he that smiteth ,kirjathesepher and taketh it1 to him will ,i give ,achsah my daughter to wife4 #ag ,and ,othniel1 the son of ,kenez1 the brother of ,caleb1 took it2 and he gave him ,achsah his daughter to wife4 #ah ,and it came to pass1 as she came unto him1 that she moved him to ask of her father a field3 and she lighted off her ass2 and ,caleb said unto her1 ,what wouldest thou8 #ai ,who answered1 ,give me a blessing2 for thou hast given me a south land2 give me also springs of water4 ,and he gave her the upper springs1 and the nether springs4 ,in giving ,achsah her inheritance it is evident that the judges of ,israel had not forgotten the judgment of the ,lord in the case of ,zelophehad's daughters4 ,he said to ,moses1 ,when a father dies leaving no sons1 the inheritance shall go to the daughters4 ,let this henceforth be an ordinance in ,israel4 ,very good as far as it goes2 but in case there were sons1 justice demanded that daughters should have an equal share in the inheritance4 ,as the ,lord has put it into the hearts of the women of this ,republic to demand equal rights in everything and everywhere1 and as ,he is said to be immutable and unchangeable1 it is fair to infer that ,moses did not fully comprehend the message1 and in proclaiming it to the great assembly he gave his own interpretation1 just as our judges do in this year of the ,lord #ahih4 ,achsah's example is worthy the imitation of the women of this ,republic4 ,she did not humbly accept what was given her1 but bravely asked for more4 ,we should give to our rulers1 our sires and sons no rest until all our rights--social1 civil and political--are fully accorded4 ,how are men to know what we want unless we tell them8 ,they have no idea that our wants1 material and spiritual1 are the same as theirs2 that we love justice1 liberty and equality as well as they do2 that we believe in the principles of self-government1 in individual rights1 individual conscience and judgment1 the fundamental ideas of the ,protestant religion and republican government4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,judges4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,judges i4 #ai ,and the ,lord was with ,judah2 and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain3 but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley1 because they had chariots of iron4 ,judges ii4 #f ,and when ,joshua had let the people go1 the children of ,israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land4 #g ,and the people served the ,lord all the days of ,joshua1 and all the days of the elders that outlived ,joshua1 who had seen all the great works of the ,lord1 that he did for ,israel4 #h ,and ,joshua the son of ,nun1 the servant of the ,lord1 died1 being a hundred and ten years old4 ,this book1 supposed to have been written by ,samuel the ,prophet1 covers a period of #cjj years4 ,during all of this time the children of ,israel are in constant friction with the ,lord and neighboring tribes1 never loyal to either4 ,when at peace with the ,lord1 they are fighting with their neighbors2 when at peace with them1 worshiping their gods and giving them their daughters in marriage1 then the ,lord is angry1 and vents ,his wrath on them4 ,thus1 they are continually between two fires2 now repenting in sackcloth and ashes1 and now1 with the help of the ,lord1 blessed with victories4 ,life with them was a brief period of success and defeat4 ,it seems that the ,lord1 according to their ideas1 had ,his limitations1 and could not fight tribes who had iron chariots4 ,what could iron chariots be in the way of that ,great ,force which creates cyclones1 hurricanes and earthquakes1 or the pyrotechnics of a thunderstorm4 ,how little these people knew of the ,great ,intelligence behind the laws of the universe1 with whom they pretended to talk in the ,hebrew language1 and from whom they claimed to have received directions as to their treatment of women8 ,in the opening of this book ,joshua still governs ,israel4 ,after his death1 the ,lord raised up a succession of judges1 remarkable for their uprightness and wisdom2 but they found it impossible to keep the chosen people in the straight and narrow path4 ,the children of ,israel did not learn wisdom by experience4 ,they tired of a rigid code of morals1 of a mystical system of theology1 and of the women of their own tribe4 ,there was a fascination in the manners and the appearance of a new type of womanhood which they could not resist4 ,there should have been some allowance for these human proclivities4 ,if the ,jews of our day had followed this tendency of their ancestors and intermarried with other nations1 there would have been by this time no peculiar people to persecute4 ,the most important feature of this book is the number of remarkable women herein described2 six in number1 ,achsah1 ,deborah1 ,jael1 ,jephthah's daughter1 ,delilah1 and two whose names are not mentioned-- she who slew ,abimelech1 and the concubine of a ,levite1 whose fate was terrible and repulsive4 ,there are many instances in the ,old ,testament where women have been thrown to the mob1 like a bone to dogs1 to pacify their passions2 and women suffer to-day from these lessons of contempt1 taught in a book so revered by the people4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the writer of the ,book of judges is unknown4 ,professor ,moore1 of ,andover ,theological ,seminary1 supposes that the author used as a basis for his work an older collection of tales wherein the heroes of ,israel and the varying fortunes of the people were related1 and which1 like all good tales1 pointed a moral4 ,in all ,jewish literature is to be found the same moral--namely1 that the prime cause of all of the evils which befell the ,jewish people was unfaithfulness to ,jehovah4 ,adherence to the written law brings ,god's favor1 while disobedience is followed by ,god's wrath and punishment4 ,it is not obedience to the inner truth of the individual soul that is made the spring of action1 but obedience to an external authority1 to a book1 to a prophet1 to a judge or to a king4 ,in judges1 to woman in various ways is given an exalted position2 she is not the abject slave or unclean vessel1 the drudge1 the servile sinner1 the nonentity1 as depicted in other parts of the ,bible4 ,woman has at no time of the world's history maintained the high position which she commands to-day in the hearts of the best and most enlightened2 but there were stages when her independence was an assured fact4 ,with ,christianity came the notion of man's dual nature2 the physical was looked upon as sinful2 this earth was merely preparatory for a life beyond4 ,woman1 as the mother of the race1 was not honored and revered as such1 the monastic idea being considered more ,god-like1 she was made the instrument of sin4 ,to be born into this life was not a blessing so long as ascetism ruled supreme4 ,the ,bible has been of service in some respects2 but the time has come for us to point out the evil of many of its teachings4 ,it now behooves us to throw the light of a new civilization upon the women who figure in the ,book of judges4 ,we begin with ,achsah1 a woman of good sense4 ,married to a hero1 she must needs look out for material subsistence4 ,her husband being a warrior1 had probably no property of his own1 so that upon her devolved the necessity of providing the means of livelihood4 ,great men1 heroic warriors1 generally lack the practical virtues1 so that it seems befitting in her to ask of her father the blessing of a fruitful piece of land2 her husband would have been satisfied with the south land4 ,she knew that she required the upper and the nether springs to fertilize it1 so that it might yield a successful harvest4 ,c4 ,b4 ,n4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,judges iv4 #d ,and ,deborah1 a prophetess1 the wife of ,lapidoth1 judged ,israel at that time4 #e ,and she dwelt under the palm tree of ,deborah1 between ,ramah and ,beth- el in ,mount ,ephraim2 and the children of ,israel came up to her for judgment4 #f ,and she sent and called ,barak1 the son of ,abinoam1 out of ,kedesh- naphtali1 and said unto him1 ,hath not the ,lord ,god of ,israel commanded1 saying1 ,go and draw toward ,mount ,tabor1 and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of ,naphtali and of the children of ,zebulun8 #g ,and ,i will draw unto thee1 to the river ,kishon1 ,sisera the captain of ,jabin's army1 with his chariots and his multitude2 and ,i will deliver him into thine hand4 #h ,and ,barak said unto her1 ,if thou wilt go with me1 then ,i will go2 but if thou wilt not go with me1 then ,i will not go4 #i ,and she said1 ,i will surely go with thee2 notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor2 for the ,lord shall sell ,sisera into the hand of a woman4 ,and ,deborah arose1 and went with ,barak to ,kedesh4 #aj ,and ,barak called ,zebulon and ,naphtali to ,kedesh2 and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet2 and ,deborah went up with him4 ,some commentators say that ,deborah was not married to a man by the name of ,lapidoth1 that such a terminology is not customary to the name of a person1 but of a place4 ,they think that the text should read1 ,deborah of ,lapidoth4 ,indeed1 ,deborah seems to have had too much independence of character1 wisdom and self-reliance to have ever filled the role of the ,jewish idea of a wife4 ,deborah signifies bee2 and by her industry1 sagacity1 usefulness and kindness to her friends and dependents she fully answers to her name4 ,lapidoth signifies lamps4 ,the ,rabbis say that ,deborah was employed to make wicks for the lamps in the ,tabernacle2 and having stooped to that humble office for ,god's service1 she was afterward exalted as a prophetess1 to special illumination and communion with ,god --the first woman thus honored in ,scripture4 ,deborah was a woman of great ability4 ,she was consulted by the children of ,israel in all matters of government1 of religion and of war4 ,her judgment seat was under a palm tree1 known ever after as ,deborah's ,palm4 ,though she was one of the great judges of ,israel for forty years1 her name is not in the list1 as it should have been1 with ,gideon1 ,barak1 ,samson and ,jephthah4 ,men have always been slow to confer on women the honors2 which they deserve4 ,deborah did not judge as a princess by any civil authority conferred upon her1 but as a prophetess1 as the mouthpiece of ,god1 redressing grievances and correcting abuses4 ,the children of ,israel appealed to her1 not so much to settle controversies between man and man as to learn what was amiss in their service to ,god2 yet she did take an active part in the councils of war and spurred the generals to their duty4 ,the text shows ,barak hesitating and lukewarm in the last eventful battle with ,sisera and his host4 ,he flatly refused to go unless ,deborah would go with him4 ,she was the divinely chosen leader2 to her came the command1 ,go to ,mount ,tabor and meet ,sisera and his host4 ,not considering herself fit too lead an army1 she chose ,barak1 who had already distinguished himself4 ,he1 feeling the need of her wisdom and inspiration1 insisted that she accompany him2 so1 mounted on pure white jackasses1 they started for the field of battle4 ,the color of the jackass indicated the class to which the rider belonged4 ,distinguished personages were always mounted on pure white and ordinary mortals on gray or mottled animals4 ,as they journeyed along side by side1 with wonderful insight ,deborah saw what was passing in ,barak's mind2 he was already pluming himself on his victory over ,sisera4 ,so she told him that the victory would not be his1 that the ,lord would deliver ,sisera into the hands of a woman4 ,it added an extra pang to a man's death to be slain by the hand of a woman4 ,fortunately1 poor ,sisera was spared the knowledge of his humiliation4 ,what a picture of painful contrasts his death presents--a loving mother watching and praying at her window for the return of her only son1 while at the same time ,jael performs her deadly deed and blasts that mother's hopes forever6 ,what a melancholy dirge to her must have been that song of triumph1 chanted by the army of ,deborah and ,barak1 and for years after1 by generation after generation4 ,we never hear sermons pointing women to the heroic virtues of ,deborah as worthy of their imitation4 ,nothing is said in the pulpit to rouse their from the apathy of ages1 to inspire them to do and dare great things1 to intellectual and spiritual achievements1 in real communion with the ,great ,spirit of the ,universe4 ,oh1 no6 ,the lessons doled out to women1 from the canon law1 the ,bible1 the prayer-books and the catechisms1 are meekness and self-abnegation2 ever with covered heads 7a badge of servitude7 to do some humble service for man2 that they are unfit to sit as a delegate in a ,methodist conference1 to be ordained to preach the ,gospel1 or to fill the office of elder1 of deacon or of trustee1 or to enter the ,holy of ,holies in cathedrals4 ,deborah was a poetess as well as a prophetess1 a judge as well as a general4 ,she composed the famous historical poem of that period on the eventful final battle with ,sisera and his hosts2 and she ordered the soldiers to sing the triumphant song as they marched through the the sic land1 that all the people might catch the strains and that generations might proclaim the victory4 ,judges iv4 #ah ,and ,jael went out to meet ,sisera1 and said unto him1 ,turn in1 my ,lord1 turn in to me3 fear not4 ,and when he had turned in unto her into the tent1 she covered him with a mantle4 #ai ,and he said unto her1 ,give me1 ,i pray thee1 a little water to drink3 for ,i am thirsty4 ,and she opened a bottle of milk1 and gave him to drink1 and covered him4 #bj ,again he said unto her1 ,stand in the door of the tent1 and it shall be1 when any man doth come and inquire of thee1 and say1 ,is there any man here8 that thou shalt say1 ,no4 #ba ,then ,jael1 ,heber's wife1 took a nail of the tent1 and took a hammer in her hand and went softly unto him1 and smote the nail into his temples1 and fastened it into the ground2 for he was fast asleep and weary4 ,so he died4 #bb ,and behold1 as ,barak pursued ,sisera1 ,jael came out to meet him1 and said unto him1 ,come1 and ,i will show thee the man whom thou seekest4 ,and when he came into her tent1 behold1 ,sisera lay dead1 and the nail was in his temples4 ,the deception and the cruelty practised on ,sisera by ,jael under the guise of hospitality is revolting under our code of morality4 ,to decoy the luckless general fleeing before his enemy into her tent1 pledging him safety1 and with seeming tenderness ministering to his wants1 with such words of sympathy and consolation lulling him to sleep1 and then in cold blood driving a nail through his temples1 seems more like the work of a fiend than of a woman4 ,the song of ,deborah and ,barak1 in their triumph over ,sisera1 has been sung in cathedrals and oratorios and celebrated in all time for its beauty and pathos4 ,the great generals did not forget in the hour of victory to place the crown of honor on the brow of ,jael for what they considered a great deed of heroism4 ,jael imagined herself in the line of her duty and specially called by the ,lord to do this service for his people4 ,nations make their ideal gods like unto themselves4 ,at this period ,he was the ,god of battles4 ,though ,he had made all the tribes1 we hope1 to the best of ,his ability2 yet ,he hated all1 the sacred fabulist tells us1 but the tribe of ,israel1 and even they were objects of ,his vengeance half the time4 ,instead of ,midianites and ,philistines1 in our day we have saints and sinners1 orthodox and heterodox1 persecuting each other1 although you cannot distinguish them in the ordinary walks of life4 ,they are governed by the same principles in the exchanges and the marts of trade4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,judges v4 ,then sang ,deborah and ,barak1 the son of ,abinoam1 on that day1 saying1 #b ,praise ye the ,lord for the avenging of ,israel1 when the people willingly offered themselves4 #c ,hear1 ,o ye kings2 give ear1 ,o ye princes2 ,i1 even ,i will sing unto the ,lord2 ,i will sing praise to the ,lord ,god of ,israel4 #d ,lord1 when thou wentest out of ,seir1 when thou marchedst out of the field of ,edom1 the earth trembled1 and the heavens dropped1 the clouds also dropped water4 #e ,the mountains melted from before the ,lord even that ,sinai from before the ,lord ,god of ,israel4 #f ,in the days of ,shamgar the son of ,anath1 in the days of ,jael1 the highways were unoccupied and the travellers walked through byways4 #g ,the inhabitants of the villages ceased1 they ceased in ,israel1 until that ,i1 ,deborah1 arose1 that ,i arose a mother in ,israel4 ,the woman who most attracts our attention in the ,book of judges is ,deborah1 priestess1 prophetess1 poetess and judge4 ,what woman is there in modern or in ancient history who equals in loftiness of position1 in public esteem and honorable distinction this gifted and heroic ,jewish creation8 ,the writer who compiled the story of her gifts and deeds must have had women before him who inspired him with such a wonderful personality4 ,how could ,christianity teach and preach that women should be silent in the church when already among the ,jews equal honor was shown to women8 ,the truth is that ,christianity has in many instances circumscribed woman's sphere of action1 and has been guilty of great injustice toward the whole sex4 ,deborah was1 perhaps1 only one of many women who held such high and honorable positions4 ,unlike any modern ruler1 ,deborah dispensed justice directly1 proclaimed war1 led her men to victory1 and glorified the deeds of her army in immortal song4 ,this is the most glorious tribute to woman's genius and power4 ,if ,deborah1 way back in ancient ,judaism1 was considered wise enough to advise her people in time of need and distress1 why is it that at the end of the nineteenth century1 woman has to contend for equal rights and fight to regain every inch of ground she has lost since then8 ,it is now an assured fact that not only among the ,hebrews1 but also among the ,greeks and the ,germans1 women formerly maintained greater freedom and power4 ,the struggle of to-day among the advanced of our sex is to regain and to reaffirm what has been lost since the establishment of ,christianity4 ,every religion1 says a modern thinker1 has curtailed the rights of woman1 has subjected her to man's ruling2 in emphasizing the life beyond1 the earthly existence became a secondary consideration4 ,we are learning the great harm which comes from this one-sided view of life2 and by arousing woman to the dignity of her position we shall again have women like ,deborah1 honored openly and publicly for political wisdom1 to whom men will come in time of need4 ,genius knows no sex2 and woman must again usurp her ,divine prerogative as a leader in thought1 song and action4 ,the religion of the future will honor and revere motherhood1 wifehood and maidenhood4 ,asceticism1 an erroneous philosophy1 church doctrines based not upon reason or the facts of life1 issued out of crude imaginings2 phantasms obstructed the truth1 held in check the wheel of progress4 ,let our church women turn their gaze to such characters as ,deborah1 and claim the same recognition in their different congregations4 ,the antagonism which the ,christian church has built up between the male and the female must entirely vanish4 ,together they will slay the enemies--ignorance1 superstition and cruelty4 ,united in every enterprise1 they will win2 like ,deborah and ,barak1 they will clear the highways and restore peace and prosperity to their people4 ,like ,deborah1 woman will forever be the inspired leader1 if she will have the courage to assert and maintain her power4 ,her aspirations must keep pace with the demands of our civilization4 ,new times teach new duties4 ,god never discriminates2 it is man who has made the laws and compelled woman to obey him4 ,the ,old ,testament and the ,new are books written by men2 the coming ,bible will be the result of the efforts of both1 and contain the wisdom of both sexes1 their combined spiritual experience4 ,together they will unfold the mysteries of life1 and heaven will be here on earth when love and justice reign supreme4 ,c4 ,b4 ,n4 ,judges viii4 #cj ,and ,gideon had three score and ten sons3 for he had many wives4 #ca ,and his concubine that was in ,shechem1 she also bare him a son1 whose name he called ,abimelech4 ,judges ix4 #eb ,and ,abimelech came unto the tower1 and fought against it1 and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire4 #ec ,and a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon ,abimelech's head1 and all to break his skull4 #ed ,then he called hastily unto the young man1 his armour-bearer1 and said unto him1 ,draw thy sword1 and slay me1 that men say not of me1 ,a woman slew him4 ,and his young man thrust him through1 and he died4 ,abimelech destroyed the city of ,thebez1 drove all the people into a tower and then tried to set it on fire1 as he had done in many places before in his war on other tribes2 but here he lost his life1 and at the hand of a woman1 which was considered the greatest disgrace which could befall a man4 ,commentators say that as ,sisera and ,abimelech were exceptionally proud and lofty1 they were thus degraded in their death4 ,sisera was spared the knowledge of his fate by being taken off when asleep2 but ,abimelech saw the stone coming and knew that it was from the hand of a woman1 an added pang to his death agony4 ,he had no thoughts of his wicked life nor his eternal welfare1 but with his dying breath implored his armor-bearer to thrust him through with his sword1 that it might not be said that he was slain by the hand of a woman4 ,abimelech had three score and ten brethren4 ,it is said that his mother roused his ambition to be one of the judges of ,israel4 ,to attain this he killed all his brethren but one1 who escaped4 ,he enjoyed his ill-gotten honors but a short space of time4 ,we find many such stories in the ,hebrew mythology which have no foundation in fact4 ,judges xi4 #cj ,and ,jephthah vowed a vow unto the ,lord1 and said1 ,if thou shalt without fail deliver the children of ,ammon into mine hands1 #ca ,then it shall be that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me1 when ,i return in peace from the children of ,ammon1 shall surely be the ,lord's1 and ,i will offer it up for a burnt offering4 #cc ,and he smote them from ,aroer1 even till thou come to ,minnith1 even twenty cities1 and unto the plain of the vineyards1 with a very great slaughter4 ,thus the children of ,ammon were subdued before the children of ,israel4 #cd ,and ,jephthah came to ,mizpeh unto his house1 and1 behold1 his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances2 and she was his only child2 beside her he had neither son nor daughter4 #ce ,and it came to pass1 when he saw her1 that he rent his clothes1 and said1 ,alas1 my daughter6 thou has brought me very low1 and thou art one of them that trouble me3 for ,i have opened my mouth unto the ,lord1 and ,i cannot go back4 #cf ,and she said unto him1 ,my father1 if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the ,lord1 do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth2 forasmuch as the ,lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies1 even of the children of ,ammon4 #cg ,and she said unto her father1 ,let this thing be done for me3 let me alone two months1 that ,i may go up and down upon the mountains1 and bewail my virginity1 ,i and my fellows4 ,a woman's vow1 as we have already seen1 could be disallowed at the pleasure of any male relative2 but a man's was considered sacred even though it involved the violation of the sixth commandment1 the violation of the individual rights of another human being4 ,these loving fathers in the ,old ,testament1 like ,jephthah and ,abraham1 thought to make themselves specially pleasing to the ,lord by sacrificing their children to ,him as burnt offerings4 ,if the ethics of their moral code had permitted suicide1 they might with some show of justice have offered themselves1 if they thought that the first-born kid would not do2 but what right had they to offer up their sons and daughters in return for supposed favors from the ,lord8 ,the submission of ,isaac and ,jephthah's daughter to this violation of their most sacred rights is truly pathetic4 ,but1 like all oppressed classes1 they were ignorant of the fact that they had any natural1 inalienable rights4 ,we have such a type of womanhood even in our day4 ,if any man had asked ,jephthah's daughter if she would not like to have the ,jewish law on vows so amended that she might disallow her father's vow1 and thus secure to herself the right of life1 she would no doubt have said1 ,no2 ,i have all the rights ,i want1 just as a class of ,new ,york women said in #ahie1 when it was proposed to amend the constitution of the ,state in their favor4 ,the only favor which ,jephthah's daughter asks1 is that she may have two months of solitude on the mountain tops to bewail the fact that she will die childless4 ,motherhood among the ,jewish women was considered the highest honor and glory ever vouchsafed to mortals4 ,so she was permitted for a brief period to enjoy her freedom1 accompanied by young ,jewish maidens who had hoped to dance at her wedding4 ,commentators differ as to the probable fate of ,jephthah's daughter4 ,some think that she was merely sequestered in some religious retreat1 others that the ,lord spoke to ,jephthah as ,he did to ,abraham forbidding the sacrifice4 ,we might attribute this helpless condition of woman to the benighted state of those times if we did not see the trail of the serpent through our civil laws and church discipline4 ,this ,jewish maiden is known in history only as ,jephthah's daughter-- she belongs to the no-name series4 ,the father owns her absolutely1 having her life even at his disposal4 ,we often hear people laud the beautiful submission and the self-sacrifice of this nameless maiden4 ,to me it is pitiful and painful4 ,i would that this page of history were gilded with a dignified whole-souled rebellion4 ,i would have had daughter receive the father's confession with a stern rebuke1 saying3 ,i will not consent to such a sacrifice4 ,your vow must be disallowed4 ,you may sacrifice your own life as you please1 but you have no right over mine4 ,i am on the threshold of life1 the joys of youth and of middle age are all before me4 ,you are in the sunset2 you have had your blessings and your triumphs2 but mine are yet to come4 ,life is to me full of hope and of happiness4 ,better that you die than ,i1 if the ,god whom you worship is pleased with the sacrifice of human life4 ,i consider that ,god has made me the arbiter of my own fate and all my possibilities4 ,my first duty is to develop all the powers given to me and to make the most of myself and my own life4 ,self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice4 ,i demand the immediate abolition of the ,jewish law on vows4 ,not with my consent can you fulfill yours4 ,this would have been a position worthy of a brave woman4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the ideal womanhood portrayed by ancient writers has had by far too much sway4 ,the prevailing type which permeates all literature is that of inferiority and subjection4 ,in early times ,oriental poets often likened woman to some clear1 flawless jewel1 and made them serve simply as ornaments1 while1 on the other hand1 they were made subordinate by the legislation of barbarous minds2 and men1 because of their selfish passion1 have inflicted woe after woe upon them4 ,ancient literature is wholly against the equality of the sexes or the rights of women1 and subordinates them in every relation of life4 ,the writings of the ,bible1 especially the ,old ,testament1 are no exception to this rule4 ,the reference1 ,the sons of ,god and daughters of men1 while it admits of many interpolations1 legendary or mythical as it may be1 portrays the real animus of the ,scriptures4 ,to what extent the sentiment of the ,hebrews favored sons rather than daughters1 and the injustice of this distinction is fully exemplified by the stories of ,abraham and ,isaac1 and of ,jephthah and his daughter4 ,abraham was commanded by his ,god to sacrifice his son ,isaac1 after the manner of the ,canaanites1 who often slew their children and burnt them upon their altars in honor of their deities4 ,but when all was made ready for the sacrifice an angel of ,jehovah appeared1 the hand of ,abraham was stayed1 and a ram was made a substitute for the son of promise4 ,the conditions were quite different in the case of ,jephthah and his daughter4 ,the ,israelites had been brought very low in their contest with the ,ammonites1 and they chose the famous warrior1 ,jephthah1 to lead them against their foe1 who with warlike zeal summoned the hosts to battle4 ,the risk was enormous1 the enemy powerful1 and the general1 burning for victory1 intent on securing the assistance of the ,deity1 made a solemn and fatal vow4 ,in the first case it was a direct command of ,god1 but means were found to revoke this explicit command with regard to a son2 in the second case it was only a hasty and unwise promise of a general going to war1 and the prevailing sentiment of the age felt it unnecessary to evade its fulfillment--the victim was only a girl4 ,the unhappy father must sacrifice his daughter6 ,what a masculine coloring is given to the rest of the narrative3 ,a maiden who did not mourn her death1 but wandered up and down the mountain mourning her virginity4 ,so much glamor has been thrown by poetry and by song1 over the sacrifice of this ,jewish maiden1 that the popular mind has become too benumbed to perceive its great injustice4 ,the ,iphigenias have been many and are still too numerous to awaken compassion4 ,we must destroy the root of this false and pernicious teaching1 and plant in its place a just and righteous doctrine4 ,what women have to win for the race is a theory of conduct which shall be more equitable4 ,the unalterable subserviency of woman in her natural condition can never be overcome and social development progress so long as there is a lack of distributive justice to every living soul without discrimination of sex4 ,l4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,judges xiii4 ,and there was a certain man of ,zorah1 of the family of the ,danites1 whose name was ,manoah2 and his wife was barren4 #c ,and the angel of the ,lord appeared unto the woman1 and said unto her1 ,behold now1 thou art barren2 but thou shalt conceive1 and bear a son4 #d ,now therefore beware1 ,i pray thee1 and drink not wine nor strong drink1 and eat not any unclean thing3 #e ,for1 lo1 thou shalt bear a son2 and no razor shall come on his head3 for the child shall be a ,nazarite unto ,god2 and he shall begin to deliver ,israel out of the hands of the ,philistines4 #f ,then the woman came and told her husband1 saying1 ,a man of ,god came unto me1 and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of ,god1 very terrible3 but ,i asked him not whence he was1 neither told he me his name3 #g ,but he said unto me1 ,behold1 thou shalt bear a son2 and now drink no wine nor strong drink1 neither eat any unclean thing3 for the child shall be a ,nazarite to ,god to the day of his death4 #h ,then ,manoah entreated the ,lord1 and said1 ,o try ,lord1 let the man of ,god which thou didst send come again unto us1 and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born4 #i ,and ,god hearkened to the voice of ,manoah3 and the angel of ,god came again unto the woman as she sat in the field3 but ,manoah her husband was not with her4 #aj ,and the woman made haste1 and ran1 and shewed her husband1 and said unto him1 ,behold1 the man hath appeared unto me1 that came unto me the other day4 #aa ,and ,manoah arose1 and went after his wife1 and came to the man1 and said unto him1 ,art thou the man that spakest unto the woman8 ,and he said1 ,i am4 #ab ,and ,manoah said1 ,now let thy words come to pass4 ,how shall we order the child1 and how shall we do unto him8 #ac ,and the angel of the ,lord said unto ,manoah1 ,of all that ,i said unto the woman let her beware4 ,we come now to a very interesting incident1 giving proof of the remarkable knowledge which the writers had of some intrinsic laws and the power of transmission which1 even to-day1 are known and adhered to only by a very small minority of wise1 thoughtful mothers4 ,however1 the wife of ,manoah1 the future mother of ,samson1 is visited by an angel1 giving her instructions as to her way of living during pregnancy4 ,it appears that the writer was acquainted with some pre-natal influences and their effect upon the unborn4 ,we are just now beginning to investigate the important problem of child culture4 ,many good thoughts have been given on this subject by earnest thinkers4 ,a knowledge of these important laws of life will do away with the most harassing evils and sins which human flesh is heir to4 ,intelligent1 free mothers will be enabled to forecast not only the physical1 but also the psychical1 traits of their offspring4 ,how and why this once recognized knowledge was lost we know not4 ,we may1 however1 rightly infer that so long as woman was not the arbiter of her own destiny she had no power to make use of this knowledge4 ,only the thoughful1 sic independent wife can administer the laws and the rules necessary for her own wellbeing and that of her offspring4 ,freedom is the first prerequisite to a noble life4 ,observe how simple and trustful the relation is between this husband and wife4 ,manoah is thoughtful and ready to unite with his wife in all that the angel had commanded4 ,there is no trace of disunion or of disobedience to the higher law which his wife had been instructed to follow4 ,to her the law was revealed1 and he sustained her in its observance4 ,mark1 however1 one difference from our interpretation of to-day1 and how the omission of it worked out the destruction of the child4 ,all the injunctions received were of a physical nature2 strength of body and faith in ,god were to be the attributes through which ,samson was to serve his people4 ,the absence of moral traits is very evident in ,samson2 and this is the reason why he fell an easy prey to the wiles of designing women4 ,it was not moral1 but physical heroism which distinguished ,samson from his combatants4 ,vengeance1 cruelty1 deceit1 cunning devices were practised not only by the ,philistines1 but likewise by the ,nazarite4 ,the angel who appeared to ,manoah's wife was probably her own inner sense1 and the appearance is to be understood rather as a figure of speech than as an actual occurrence1 although there may have been1 as there are to-day1 people who were so credulous as to believe that such things actually occurred4 ,the angel who whispers into our ears is knowledge1 foresight1 high motive1 ideality1 unselfish love4 ,a conscious attitude towards the ideal still unattained1 a lofty standard of virtue for the coming offspring1 an intelligent1 pure fatherhood1 and a wise1 loving motherhood must take the place of a mysterious1 instinctive trust--the blind faith of the past4 ,c4 ,b4 ,n4 ,one would suppose that this woman1 so honored of ,god1 worthy to converse with angels on the most delicate of her domestic relations1 might have had a name to designate her personality instead of being mentioned merely--as the wife of ,manoah or the mother of ,samson4 ,i suppose that it is from these ,biblical examples that the wives of this ,republic are known as ,mrs4 ,john ,doe or ,mrs4 ,richard ,roe1 to whatever ,roe or ,doe she may belong4 ,if she chance to marry two or three times1 the woman's identity is wholly lost4 ,to make this custom more ludicrous1 women sometimes keep the names of two husbands1 clinging only to the maiden name1 as ,dolly ,doe ,roe1 ignoring her family name1 the father from whom she may have derived all of her talent4 ,samson's wife had no name1 nor had the second woman on whom he bestowed his attentions2 to the third one is vouchsafed the name of ,delilah1 but no family name is mentioned4 ,all three represented one type of character and betrayed the consecrated ,nazarite1 the canonized judge of ,israel4 ,it would be a great blessing to the race1 if parents would take heed to the important lesson taught in the above texts4 ,the nine months of ante-natal life is the period when the mother can make the deepest impression in forming future character1 when she has absolute power for weal or for woe over the immortal being4 ,locke1 the philosopher1 said1 ,every child is born into the world with a mind like a piece of blank paper1 and we may write thereon whatever we will2 but ,descartes said1 ,nay1 nay2 the child is born with all its possibilities4 ,you can develop all you find there1 but you cannot add genius or power4 ,nascitur1 non fit1 although our learned blacksmith1 ,elihu ,burritt1 always reversed this motto4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,no body of ecclesiastics has taught the message of the angel of the ,lord to ,manoah's wife as a message of direction from the ,lord to save the race from the disastrous results of strong drink and impure food4 ,and although the degree of enlightenment attained shows that science and the instructions of the angel to ,manoah's wife agree1 this knowledge does not protect the unborn child from the effects of the use by the mothers of to-day of wine1 strong drink and unclean food4 ,could the light which reveals to the mother what would be a saving power to her child1 be followed carefully by both herself and the father during ante-natal life1 the race would more rapidly be brought to the full stature of its destined perfection4 ,not only is physical endowment available to the child through the wholesome sustenance of the mother1 but the qualities of the higher nature may also be transmitted1 and moral grandeur be an inheritance equally with grand physical powers4 ,the theological teaching that has made human nature depraved and cut off from the divine source of all perfection1 has hindered the development of the higher faculties of understanding4 ,it has led to a misapprehension of the creative power of parenthood4 ,from the idea that the creation of humanity was finished in the beginning1 and that man fell from his high estate as the image of ,god1 has resulted a demoralized race4 ,the instruction of the angel to ,samson's mother1 was in accord with the dominant spirit that wrought the victories of ,israel over enemies1 and the reign of physical force that characterized the people of that age4 ,the woman1 having had no experience of motherhood1 had not been subject to the deep soul-stirring that belongs to the mystery of life in a developed womanhood4 ,nor did that experience evidently transmit to ,samson a high degree of moral strength4 ,he was but a well developed physical organism1 which the spirit of life could act through without limitation4 ,he consorted with the harlot1 but it was the woman whom he loved who succeeded in wringing from him the secret of his strength1 and thus the possibility of delivering him to his enemies4 ,in the relation of women to this man of might there is illustrated the dominant characteristics of the purely animal man4 ,the father of ,samson's first wife gave her to another man after ,samson had gone in anger to his father's house1 and when he returned and proposed to resume his conjugal relations1 this father proposed that he should take the younger sister1 who was fairer than she4 ,it is a significant suggestion of the quality of the relation that ,samson's first wife 7who had also no name of her own7 and ,delilah1 whom he loved1 were both more loyal to their own people1 and had more regard for them1 than for the man to whom they had been given4 ,l4 ,b4 ,c4 ,judges xiv4 #a ,and ,samson went down to ,timnath1 and saw a woman in ,timnath of the daughters of the ,philistines4 #b ,and he came up1 and told his father and his mother1 and said1 ,i have seen a woman in ,timnath of the daughters of the ,philistines3 now therefore get her for me to wife4 #c ,then his father and his mother said unto him1 ,is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren1 or among all my people1 that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised ,philistines8 ,and ,samson said unto his father1 ,get her for me2 for she pleaseth me well4 ,so the father and the mother1 much against their wishes1 went down to ,timnath and secured for ,samson the desired wife4 ,he conformed to the custom of the ,philistines2 and on the occasion of the nuptial solemnities he made a great feast1 and invited thirty young men to join in the festivities1 which lasted seven days4 ,these feasts were enlivened with interesting discussions1 stories and riddles4 ,samson propounded one1 with promises of valuable gifts to those who guessed the riddle3 ,out of the eater came forth meat1 out of the strong came forth sweetness4 ,it seems that on one occasion1 being attacked by a lion1 ,samson1 without any weapon of defense1 tore the lion to pieces4 ,passing the vineyard some time after1 he went in to see if the lion still rested there2 and lo6 the skeleton was a hive of bees4 ,he partook freely of the honey and carried some to his parents4 ,being proof against the lion's paws1 he had no fear of the bees4 ,day after day passed1 and the young men could not guess the riddle4 ,so they persuaded the wife to coax him for the answer1 with promises of silver if she succeeded1 and threatenings of wrath if she failed4 ,so1 with constant weeping and doubts of his love1 she at last worried the answer out of him1 with promises of secrecy4 ,as soon as ,samson saw that he was betrayed he sent his wife back to her father's house1 who gave her at once to one of the leaders at the festivities4 ,as ,samson loved the woman1 he forgave her1 and sought to bring her back to his own home4 ,the father informed him that he had already given her to another1 and that he might have the younger daughter1 if he chose1 who had far more grace and beauty4 ,the commentators say that it was very generous in ,samson to make this concession1 as he was the party offended4 ,but ,samson was himself a riddle and a paradox of a man4 ,he saw something in her face which pleased him well4 ,he that in the choice of a wife is guided by his eye1 and governed by his fancy1 must afterwards blame himself if he find a ,philistine in his arms4 ,it is a great calamity that even able men are so easily influenced by weak and wicked women to do what they know is dangerous2 and yet they feel it a disparagement to follow the advice of a good wife in what is virtuous and praiseworthy4 ,samson was most unfortunate in all his associations with women4 ,it is a pity that the angel who impressed on his parents the importance of considering everything that pertained to the physical development of the child1 had not made some suggestions to them as to the formation of his moral character4 ,even his physical prowess was not used by him for any great purpose4 ,to kill a lion1 to walk off with the gates of the city1 to catch three hundred foxes and to tie them together by their tails two by two1 with firebrands to burn the cornfields and the vineyards--all this seems more like the frolics of a boy1 than the military tactics of a great general or the statesmanship of a judge in ,israel4 ,samson does not seem to have learned wisdom from experience in his dealings with women4 ,he foolishly trusted another woman1 whose face pleased him1 with the secret of his great strength1 which she1 too1 worried out of him with tears and doubts of his affection4 ,for the betrayal of his secret the ,philistines paid her eleven hundred pieces of silver4 ,in the last act of this complicated tragedy1 it is said that ,samson at his death killed more people than in all his life before4 ,after ,delilah betrayed him into the hands of the ,philistines1 they put out his eyes1 and left him to grind in the prison house4 ,as was their custom1 they brought him out to make sport for the people assembled in a spacious building4 ,as his hair had begun to grow1 he braced himself against the door posts1 overturned the building1 and killed all of its occupants1 and himself1 gladly ending his own sad life4 ,the name ,delilah is fitly used to describe those who with flattery bring destruction on those whom they pretend to love4 ,many a strong man has been slain by this type of designing woman4 ,commentators do not agree as to whether ,delilah was an ,israelite or a ,philistine1 probably the latter1 as ,samson seemed to be more pleased with the women of that tribe than with those of his own4 ,one hesitates to decide which is most surprising--,samson's weakness or ,delilah's wickedness4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the writer of the ,book of ,judges would fail in his endeavor to present a complete picture of his time1 did he omit the important characteristic of a woman and her influence upon man therein portrayed4 ,in ,delilah1 the treacherous1 the sinister1 the sensuous side of woman is depicted4 ,like ,vivian1 in the ,idyls of ,king ,arthur1 ,delilah uses-- nay1 abuses--the power which she had gained over ,samson by virtue of her beauty and her personal attractions4 ,she uses these personal gifts for a sinister purpose4 ,they serve her as a snare to beguile the man whose lust she had aroused4 ,what a lesson this story teaches to men as well as to women6 ,let man overcome the lust of his eyes and prostitution will die a natural death4 ,let woman beware that her influence is of the purest and highest2 let her spiritual nature be so attractive that man will be drawn toward it4 ,forever the eternal womanly draweth man onward and upward4 ,soul unity will become the rule when the same chastity and purity are demanded of the sexes alike4 ,woman's chastity is never secure as long as there are two standards of morality4 ,c4 ,b4 ,n4 ,colonial days is the felicitous term given by ,rev4 ,dr4 ,lyman ,abbott to the period of nearly three centuries following the campaign against the inhabitants of ,canaan1 when the ,israelites took possession of their land4 ,the ,book of1 ,judges is a record of those colonial days2 and they are described also in the first part of the book which bears the name of the prophet ,samuel4 ,during those ,hebrew colonial days1 as ,dr4 ,abbott states1 there was no true ,capital--indeed1 no true ,nation4 ,there were a variety of separate provinces1 having almost as little common life as had the ,american colonies before the formation of the ,constitution of the ,united ,states4 ,in war these colonies united2 in peace they separated from each other again4 ,but in one thing they were united4 ,they clung to the teachings of their great law-giver1 ,moses1 and emphasized a belief in one righteous ,god4 ,whether expressed by priestly ritual or in prophetic declaration1 the truth was clearly revealed that the ,jews were a people who worshiped one ,god1 and that they accorded to ,him the attribute of righteousness4 ,he was a sovereign1 but a just one4 ,and to this belief they clung tenaciously1 believing themselves justified in conquering the nations about them1 because their ,god was the only ruler4 ,the ,book of ,judges contains the record of many harrowing events2 but what besides savagery can be expected of a warring people whose ,deity is invoked as the ,god of battles1 and who believed themselves ,divinely commissioned to drive other tribes from off the face of the earth6 ,the book is as sensational as are our newspapers2 and if each chapter and verse were illustrated as are the papers of what is termed the ,new journalism1 they would present an appearance of striking and painful similarity4 ,the fate of ,adoni-besek1 an example of retributive justice2 the treacherous act of the left-handed ,ehud1 causing the death of the fat ,king ,eglon of ,moab2 the inhospitable cruelty--or cruel inhospitality-- of ,jael1 the wife of ,heber1 whose hammer and nail are welded fast in historical narration with the brow of the sleeping guest1 ,sisera1 the captain of ,jabin's army2 the famous exploits of ,gideon who1 if he was a superior strategist and warrior1 gave little evidence1 by his seventy sons1 of his morality according to ,christian standards2 the death of ,abimelech1 which was half suicidal lest it should be said that a woman's hand had slain him2 these1 and more also of the same sort1 leave the impression on the mind that those colonial days of the ,hebrew nation were far from days of peace or of high morality2 and the record of them is certainly as unfit for the minds of children and of youth as are the illustrated and graphic accounts of many unholy acts which are to found in our daily newspapers4 ,general ,weyler1 in his ,cuban warfare1 has1 in many respects1 a prototype in ,general ,gideon1 and also in ,general ,jephthah1 a mighty man of valor and the son of a harlot1 as the author of the ,book of ,judges declares him to have been4 ,we deprecate the savage butchery of the one--what ought we to say of the renown of the others8 ,war is everywhere terrible1 and deeds of violence and of blood are sad reminders of the imperfections of mankind4 ,the men of those colonial days were far from being patterns of excellence2 and the women matched the men1 in most instances4 ,deborah1 as a mother in ,israel1 won deserved renown1 so that her song of victory is even now rehearsed1 but it is a query that can have but one answer1 whether her anthem of triumph is not a musical rehearsal of treacherous and warlike deeds1 unworthy of a woman's praise8 ,in the ,book of judges ,delilah appears1 and if the mother of her strong lover1 ,samson1 was not a perfect woman1 in the modern sense1 she has helped to make some readers feel that the law of heredity is a revealer of secrets1 and that the story of the angel of the ,lord may be received with due caution4 ,the name ,delilah has become a synonym for a woman tempting to sin1 and the moral weakness and physical strength of ,samson show the power of heredity4 ,but whether the stories should be in the hands of our youth1 without sufficient explanation and wise commentaries1 is a question which coming days will solve to the extent of a wise elimination4 ,solemn lessons1 and those of moral import1 are given in the ,book of ,judges2 yet1 as a whole1 the book does not leave one with an exalted opinion of either the men or the women of those days4 ,but it certainly gives no evidence that in shrewdness1 in a wise adaptation of means to ends1 in a persistent effort after desired objects1 in a successful accomplishment of plans and purposes1 the women were the inferiors of the men in that age4 ,they appear to have been their equals1 and occasionally their superiors4 ,p4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,ruth4 ,ruth i4 #a ,now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled1 that there was a famine in the land4 ,and a certain man of ,bethlehem--,judah went to sojourn in the country of ,moab1 he1 and his wife1 and his two sons4 #b ,and the name of the man was ,elimelech1 and the name of his wife ,naomi1 and the name of his two sons ,mahlon and ,chilion4 ,and they came into the country of ,moab1 and continued there4 #c ,and ,elimelech1 ,naomi's husband1 died2 and she was left1 and her two sons4 #d ,and they took them wives of the women of ,moab2 the name of the one was ,orpah1 and the name of the other ,ruth3 and they dwelt there about ten years4 #e ,and ,mahlon and ,chilion died also both of them2 and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband4 #f ,then she arose with her daughters in law1 that she might return from the country of ,moab2 for she had heard in the country of ,moab how that the ,lord had visited his people in giving them bread4 #g ,wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was1 and her two daughters in law with her4 #h ,and ,naomi said unto her daughters in law1 ,go1 return each to her mother's house2 ,the ,lord deal kindly with you1 as ye have dealt with the dead1 and with me4 #aj ,and they said unto her1 ,surely we will return with thee unto thy people4 #ad ,and they lifted up their voice1 and wept3 and ,orpah kissed her mother in law2 but ,ruth clave to her4 #ae ,and he said1 ,behold1 thy sister in law is gone back unto her people1 and unto her gods3 return thou after thy sister in law4 #af ,and ,ruth said1 ,entreat me not to leave thee3 for whither thou goest1 ,i will go2 and where thou lodgest1 ,i will lodge3 thy people shall be my people1 and thy ,god my ,god3 #ai ,so they two went until they came to ,beth-lehem4 ,and it came to pass1 when they were come to ,beth-lehem1 that all the city was moved about them1 and they said1 ,is this ,naomi8 #bj ,and she said unto them1 ,call me not ,naomi1 call me ,mara3 for the ,almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me4 #ba ,i went out full1 and the ,lord hath brought me home again empty3 why then call ye me ,naomi1 seeing the ,lord hath testified against me1 and the ,almighty hath afflicted me4 #bb ,so ,naomi returned1 and ,ruth the ,moabitess1 her daughter in law1 with her4 ,commentators differ as to the exact period when this book was written and as to the judge who ruled ,israel at that time4 ,it must have been1 however1 in the beginning of the days when the judges ruled1 as ,boaz1 who married ,ruth1 was the son of ,rahab1 who protected the spies in ,joshua's reign4 ,some say that it was in the reign of ,deborah4 ,tradition says that the ,messiah was descended from two ,gentile maidens1 ,rahab and ,ruth1 and that ,ruth was the daughter of ,eglon1 ,king of ,moab2 but this is denied1 as ,boaz1 whom ,ruth married1 judged ,israel two hundred years after ,eglon's death4 ,however widely the authorities differ as to ,ruth's genealogical tree1 they all agree that she was a remarkably sincere1 refined1 discreet maiden1 a loving daughter and an honored wife4 ,elimelech1 the husband of ,naomi1 is severely criticised by ,biblical writers for leaving his people and his country when in distress and seeking his fortune among the heathen ,moabites1 thus leading his sons into the temptation of taking strange wives4 ,they say that the speedy deaths of the father and the sons were a proof of ,god's disapprobation4 ,naomi manifested such remarkable goodness and wisdom as a widow1 that one wonders that she did not use her influence to keep her husband in his native land to share the trials of his neighbors4 ,the tender friendship between ,ruth and ,naomi1 so unusual with a mother- in-law1 has been celebrated in poetry1 in prose and in art the world round4 ,the scene between ,naomi and her daughters in parting was most affectionate4 ,as soon as ,naomi decided to return to her own country1 her daughters assisted her in making the necessary preparations4 ,ruth secretly made her own1 having decided to go with ,naomi to the land of ,judea4 ,when the appointed day arrived1 mounted on three gray jackasses1 they departed4 ,a few miles out ,naomi proposed to rest by the roadside and to say farewell1 and1 after thanking them for all the love and kindness they had shown her1 advised them to go no farther1 but return to their home in that land of plenty4 ,she told them frankly that she had no home luxuries to offer1 life with her would for them be poverty and privation in a strange land1 and she was not willing that they should sacrifice all the pleasures of their young lives for her4 ,sad and lonely with the loss of their husbands1 parting with ,naomi seemed to intensify their grief4 ,united in a common sorrow1 the three women stood gazing in silence into each other's faces1 until ,naomi1 with her usual self-control and common sense1 again pointed out to them all the hardships involved in the change which they proposed4 ,her words made a deep impression on ,orpah4 ,she hesitated1 and at last decided to abide by ,naomi's advice2 but not so with ,ruth4 ,naomi had a peculiar magnetic attraction for her1 a charm stronger than kindred1 country or ease4 ,her expressions of steadfast friendship in making her decision were so tender and sincere that they have become household words4 ,she said3 ,entreat me not to leave thee2 for whither thou goest ,i will go1 and where thou lodgest ,i will lodge2 thy people shall be my people1 and thy ,god my ,god2 where thou diest will ,i die1 and there will ,i be buried4 ,the ,lord do so to me1 and more also1 if aught but death part thee and me4 7,these words are on a bronze tablet on the stone over the grave of ,robert ,louis ,stevenson at ,samoa47 ,having bade farewell to ,orpah1 they journeyed together and made a home for themselves in ,bethlehem4 ,naomi owned a small house1 lot and spring of water on the outskirts of the town4 ,after a few days of rest1 ,ruth said to ,naomi1 ,i must not sit here with folded hands1 nor spend my time in visiting neighbors1 nor in search of amusement1 but ,i must go forth to work1 to provide food and clothes1 and leave thee to rest4 ,as it was the season for the wheat and barley harvests1 ,ruth heard that laborers were needed in the fields4 ,it was evident that ,ruth believed in the dignity of labor and of self-support4 ,she thought1 no doubt1 that every one with a sound mind in a sound body and two hands should earn her own livelihood4 ,she threw her whole soul into her work and proved a blessing to her mother4 ,so ,naomi consented that she might go and glean in the fields with other maidens engaged in that work4 ,when ,naomi was settled in ,bethlehem she remembered that she had a rich kinsman1 ,boaz1 whose name means strength1 a man of great wealth as well as wisdom4 ,ruth was employed in the field of ,boaz2 and in due time he took note of the fair maiden from ,moab4 ,in harvest time he needed many extra hands1 and he came often among the reapers to see how the work went forward4 ,he heard such good accounts of ,ruth's industry1 dignity and discretion that he ordered his men to make her work as easy as possible1 to leave plenty for her to glean and to carry home in the evening4 ,this she often sold on the way1 and bought something which ,naomi needed4 ,naomi and ,ruth enjoyed their evenings together4 ,naomi did not spend the day in idleness either4 ,she had her spinning-wheel and loom to make their garments2 she worked also in her garden1 raising vegetables1 herbs and chickens2 and they talked over their day's labor as they enjoyed their simple supper of herb tea1 bread and watercresses4 ,their menu was oft times more tempting1 thanks to ,ruth's generous purchases on her way home4 ,being busy1 practical women1 their talk during the evening was chiefly on ways and means2 they seldom rose to the higher themes of pedagogics and psychology1 subjects so familiar in the clubs of ,american women4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,ruth ii4 #a ,and ,naomi had a kinsman of her husband's1 a mighty man of wealth1 of the family of ,elimelech2 and his name was ,boaz4 #b ,and ,ruth the ,moabitess said unto ,naomi1 ,let me now go to the field1 and glean cars of corn after him in whose sight ,i shall find grace4 ,and she said unto her1 ,go1 my daughter4 #d ,and1 behold1 ,boaz came from ,bethlehem 4 4 4 #g ,and she said1 ,i pray you1 let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves3 so she came4 #h ,then said ,boaz unto ,ruth1 ,hearest thou not1 my daughter8 ,go not to glean in another field1 neither go from hence1 but abide here fast by my maidens3 4 4 4 4 ,it hath fully been shewed me1 all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband2 and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother4 #ai ,and her mother-in-law said unto her1 ,where hast thou gleaned to-day8 and where wroughtest thou8 blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee 4 4 4 4 ,and ,ruth said1 the man's name is ,boaz 4 4 4 4 ,and ,naomi said unto her1 ,the man is near of kin unto us1 one of our next kinsmen4 ,it was a custom among the ,israelites1 in order to preserve their own line1 that the nearest kinsman should marry the young widow on whom their hopes depended4 ,so when ,naomi remembered that ,boaz was her kinsman1 and that as age made marriage with her undesirable1 ,ruth would be the proper person to fill her place4 ,with great tact on their part ,naomi's wishes were accomplished4 ,boaz was the son of ,salmon and ,rahab1 and according to the ,chaldee was not only a mighty man in wealth but also in wisdom1 a most rare and excellent conjunction4 ,boaz was of the family of ,elimelech1 of which ,ruth1 by marriage1 was a part also4 ,moreover1 as she had adopted the country of ,naomi and was a proselyte to her faith1 her marriage with ,boaz was in accordance with ,jewish custom4 ,naomi was told by the spirit of prophecy1 says the ,chaldee1 that from her line should descend six of the most righteous men of the age1 namely1 ,david1 ,daniel1 his three compeers and the ,king ,messiah4 ,commentators say that ,boaz was probably himself one of the elders1 or the aldermen1 of the city1 and that he went up to the gates as one having authority1 and not as a common person4 ,they say that ,ruth was neither rich nor beautiful1 but a poor stranger1 whose hard work in the fields had withered her lilies and roses4 ,but ,boaz had heard her virtue and dignity extolled by all who knew her4 ,the ,chaldee says1 house and riches are the inheritance from fathers2 but a prudent wife is more valuable than rubies and is a special gift from heaven4 ,boaz prized ,ruth for her virtues1 for her great moral qualities of head and heart4 ,he did not say like ,samson1 when his parents objected to his choice1 her face pleaseth me4 ,in narrating the story of ,ruth and ,naomi to children they invariably ask questions of interest1 to which the sacred fabulist gives no answer4 ,they always ask if ,ruth and ,naomi had no pets when living alone1 before ,obed made his appearance4 ,if the modern historian may be allowed to wander occasionally outside of the received text1 it may be said undoubtedly that they had pets1 as there is nothing said of cats and dogs and parrots1 but frequent mention of doves1 kids and lambs1 we may infer that in these gentle innocents they found their pets4 ,no doubt ,providence softened their solitude by providing them with something on which to expend their mother love4 ,ruth iv4 #a ,then went ,boaz up to the gate1 and sat him down there2 and1 behold1 the kinsman of whom ,boaz spoke came by2 unto whom he said1 ,he1 such a one6 turn aside1 sit down here4 ,and he turned aside1 and sat down4 #b ,and he took ten men of the elders of the city1 and said1 ,sit ye down here4 #c ,and he said unto the kinsman1 ,naomi1 that is come again out of the country of ,moab1 selleth a parcel of land1 which was our brother ,elimelech's3 #d ,and ,i thought to advertise thee1 saying1 ,buy it before the inhabitants1 and before the elders of my people4 ,if thou wilt redeem it1 redeem it2 but if thou wilt not redeem it1 then tell me1 that ,i may know2 for there is none to redeem it beside thee2 and ,i am after thee4 ,and he said1 ,i will redeem it4 #e ,then said ,boaz1 ,what day thou buyest the field of the hand of ,naomi1 thou must buy it also of ,ruth the wife of the dead1 to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance4 #f ,and the kinsman said1 ,i cannot redeem it for myself1 lest ,i mar mine own inheritance2 redeem thou my right to thyself2 for ,i cannot4 ,boaz was one of the district judges1 and he held his court in the town hall over the gates of ,bethlehem4 ,the kinsman who was summoned to appear there and to settle the case readily agreed to the proposal of ,boaz to fill his place1 as he was already married4 ,he was willing to take the land2 but as the widow and the land went together1 according to the ,jewish law of inheritance1 ,boaz was in a position to fill the legal requirements2 and as he loved ,ruth1 he was happy to do so4 ,ruth was summoned to appear before the grave and reverend seigniors2 the civil pledges were made and the legal documents duly signed4 ,the reporter is silent as to the religious observances and the marriage festivities4 ,they were not as vigilant and as satisfying as are the skilled reporters of our day1 who have the imagination to weave a connected story and to give to us all the hidden facts which we desire to know4 ,our reporters would have told us how1 when and where ,ruth was married1 what kind of a house ,boaz had1 how ,ruth was dressed1 etc41 etc41 whereas we are left in doubt on all of these points4 ,the historian does vouchsafe to give to us further information on the general feeling of the people4 ,they all joined in the prayer of the elders that the ,lord would make the woman that is come into thine house like ,rachel and like ,leah1 which two did build the house of ,israel2 they prayed for ,boaz that he might be more famous and powerful2 they prayed for the wife that she might be a blessing in the house1 and the husband in the public business of the town2 that all of their children might be faithful in the church1 and their descendants be as numerous as the sands of the sea4 ,in due time one prayer was answered1 and ,ruth bore a son4 ,naomi loved the child and shared in its care4 ,but ,ruth said3 ,the1 love of ,naomi is more to me than that of seven sons could be4 ,naomi was a part of ,ruth's household to the day of her death and shared all of her luxuries and her happiness4 ,the child's name was ,obed1 the father of ,jesse1 the father of ,david4 ,the name ,obed signifies one who serves4 ,the motto of the ,prince of ,wales is 7ich dien7 ,i serve4 ,it is to be hoped that ,obed was more profoundly interested in the problems of industrial economics than the ,prince seems to be1 and that he spent a more useful and practical life4 ,if the ,bethlehem newspapers had been as enterprising as our journals they would have given us some pictorial representations of ,obed on ,naomi's lap1 or at the baptismal font1 or in the arms of ,boaz1 who1 like ,napoleon1 stood contemplating in silence his firstborn4 ,some fastidious readers object to the general tenor of ,ruth's courtship4 ,but as her manners conformed to the customs of the times1 and as she followed ,naomi's instructions implicitly1 it is fair to assume that ,ruth's conduct was irreproachable4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,books ,,of ,,samuel4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,samuel i4 #a ,now there was a certain man of ,ramathaim-zophim1 of mount ,ephraim1 and his name was ,elkanah4 #b ,and he had two wives2 the name of the one was ,hannah1 and the name of the other ,peninnah2 and ,peninnah had children1 but ,hannah had no children4 #c ,and this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the ,lord of hosts in ,shiloh4 #d ,and when the time was that ,elkanah offered1 he gave to ,peninnah his wife1 and to all her sons and her daughters1 portions3 #e ,but unto ,hannah he gave a worthy portion2 for he loved ,hannah2 but ,peninnah mocked her4 #g ,and as he did so year by year1 when she went up to the house of the ,lord2 so she provoked her1 therefore she wept1 and did not eat4 #h ,then said ,elkanah her husband to her1 ,hannah1 why weepest thou8 and why eatest thou not8 and why is thy heart grieved8 am not ,i better to thee than ten sons8 ,now ,eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the ,lord4 #aj ,and she was in bitterness of soul1 and prayed unto the ,lord1 and wept sore4 #aa ,and she vowed a vow1 and said1 ,o ,lord of hosts1 if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid1 and wilt give unto me a man child1 then ,i will give him unto the ,lord all the days of his life4 #ag ,then ,eli answered and said1 ,go in peace2 and the ,god of ,israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him4 ,and she bare a son1 and called his name ,samuel1 saying1 ,because ,i have asked him of the ,lord4 #bf ,and she said1 ,o my lord1 as thy soul liveth1 ,i am the woman that stood by thee here1 praying unto the ,lord4 #bg ,for this child ,i prayed2 and the ,lord hath given me my petition which ,i asked of him4 #bh ,therefore also ,i have lent him to the ,lord1 as long as he liveth4 ,these books contain the history of the last two of the judges of ,israel4 ,eli and ,samuel were not as the rest1 men of war1 but priests4 ,it is uncertain who wrote these books4 ,some say that ,samuel wrote the history of his times1 and that ,nathan the ,prophet continued it4 ,elkanah1 though a godly man1 had sore family trials1 the result of having married two wives1 just as ,abraham and ,jacob did before him4 ,it is probable that ,elkanah married ,hannah from pure love2 but she had no children1 and as at that time every man had great pride in building up a family1 he married ,peninnah1 who bare him children1 but in other respects was a constant vexation4 ,peninnah was haughty and insolent because she had children1 while ,hannah was melancholy and discontented because she had none1 hence ,elkanah had no pleasure in his daily life with either4 ,he had a difficult part to act4 ,hoping much from the consolations of religion1 he took his wives and children annually up to the temple of the ,lord in ,shiloh to worship4 ,being of a devout spiritual nature1 he thought that worshiping at the same altar must produce greater harmony between his wives4 ,but ,penninah sic became more peevish and provoking1 and ,hannah more silent and sorrowful1 weeping most of the time4 ,elkanah's love and patience with ,hannah was beautiful to behold4 ,he paid her every possible attention and gave her valuable gifts4 ,appreciating his own feelings1 he said to her one day in an exuberant burst of devotion1 ,am ,i not more to thee than ten sons8 ,he made peace offerings to the ,lord1 gave ,hannah the choice bits at the table1 but all his delicate attentions made ,hannah more melancholy and ,peninnah more rebellious4 ,he and ,hannah continued to1 pray earnestly to the ,lord to remove her reproach1 and their prayers were at last answered4 ,eli was presiding at the temple one day when he noticed ,hannah in a remote corner wrestling in prayer with the ,lord4 ,though her manner was intense1 and her lips moved1 he heard no sound1 and inferred that she was intoxicated4 ,hannah1 hearing of his suspicion1 said1 that naught but the debauchery of his own sons could have made such a suspicion possible4 ,but ,eli made atonement for his rash1 unfriendly censure by a kind of fatherly benediction4 ,with all these adverse winds in this visit to ,shiloh1 ,elkanah must have felt as if his family had been possessed by the spirit of evil4 ,when the sons of ,god come to present themselves before the ,lord1 ,satan will be seen to come also4 ,peninnah behaved worse during these religious festivities because she saw more of ,elkanah's devotion to ,hannah4 ,hannah became more sad because she was losing faith in prayer4 ,hope deferred maketh the heart sick4 ,an endless discord in the harmony of the family joys was a puzzling problem for the sweet tempered ,elkanah4 ,but the ever-turning wheel of fortune brought peace and prosperity to his domestic altar at last4 ,hannah bore a son and named him ,samuel1 which signifies heard of the ,lord1 or given by the ,lord4 ,hannah was very modest in her petition2 she said1 ,o ,lord1 give me a son1 while ,rachel said1 give me children4 ,the one sorrow which overtopped all others with these ,bible women was in regard to children4 ,if they had none1 they made everybody miserable4 ,if they had children1 they fanned the jealousies of one for the other4 ,see how ,rebekah deceived ,isaac and defrauded ,esau of his birthright4 ,the men1 instead of appealing to the common sense of the women1 join in constant prayer for the ,lord to do what was sometimes impossible4 ,hannah in due time took ,samuel up to the temple at ,shiloh4 ,in presenting ,samuel to ,eli the priest she reminded him that she was the woman on whom he passed the severe comment2 but now she came to present the child the ,lord had given to her4 ,she offered three bullocks1 one for each year of his life1 one for a burnt offering1 one for a sin offering and one for a peace offering4 ,so ,hannah dedicated him wholly to the ,lord and left him in ,shiloh to be educated with the sons of the priests4 ,although ,samuel was ,hannah's only child and dearly loved1 she did not hesitate to keep her vow unto the ,lord4 ,i4 ,samuel ii4 #aa ,and ,elkanah went to ,ramah to his house4 ,and the child did minister unto the ,lord before ,eli the priest4 #ah ,but ,samuel ministered before the ,lord1 being a child1 girded with a linen ephod4 #ai ,moreover his mother made him a little coat1 and brought it to him from year to year1 when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice4 #bj ,and ,eli blessed ,elkanah and his wife4 ,and they went unto their own home4 #ba ,and ,hannah bare three sons and two daughters4 ,and the child ,samuel grew before the ,lord4 ,the historians and commentators dwell on the fact that ,hannah made her son a little coat1 and brought one annually4 ,it is more probable that she brought to him a complete suit of clothes once in three months1 especially trousers1 if those destined to service in the temple were allowed to join in any sports4 ,even devotional genuflections are severe on that garment1 which must have often needed ,hannah's care4 ,her virtue and wisdom as a mother were in due time rewarded by five other children1 three sons and two daughters4 ,and ,samuel judged ,israel all the days of his life4 ,saul was made king at the request of the people4 ,the ark of the ,lord fell into the hands of the ,philistines4 ,this event1 with the death of ,eli and his sons1 had most tragic results1 viz41 in the killing of thirty thousand people and the death of the wife of ,phinehas1 who was said to have been a woman of gracious spirit1 though the wife of a wicked husband4 ,her grief for the death of her husband and father-in-law proved her strong natural affection1 but her much greater concern for the loss of the ark of the ,lord was an evidence of her devout affection to ,god4 ,her dying words1 the glory has departed from ,israel1 show that her last thought was of her religion4 ,she named her son ,ichabod1 whose premature birth was the result of many calamities1 both public and private1 crowning all with the great battle with the ,philistines4 ,samuel was the last judge of ,israel4 ,as the people clamored for a king1 ,saul was chosen to rule over them4 ,the women joined in the festivities of the occasion with music and dancing4 #a ,samuel xviii4 #f ,and it came to pass when ,david was returned from the slaughter of the ,philistines that the women came out of all the cities of ,israel1 singing and dancing1 to meet ,king ,saul1 with tabrets and instruments of music4 #g ,and the women answered one another a--1 they played1 and said1 ,saul hath slain his thousands1 and ,david his ten thousands4 #h ,and ,saul was very wroth1 and the saying displeased him2 and he said1 ,they have ascribed unto ,david ten thousands1 and to me they have ascribed but thousands2 and what can he have more than the kingdom8 ,it was the custom among women to celebrate the triumphs of their warriors after a great battle in spectacular performances4 ,decked with wreaths1 they danced down the public streets1 singing the songs of victory in praise of their great leaders4 ,they were specially enthusiastic over ,david1 the chorus1 ,saul hath killed his thousands1 but ,david his ten thousands1 chanted with pride by beautiful maidens and wise matrons1 stirred the very soul of ,saul to deadly jealousy1 and he determined to suppress ,david in some way or to kill him outright4 ,it is not probable that any of these battle hymns1 so much admired1 emanated from the brain of woman2 the blood and thunder style shows clearly that they were all written by the pen of a warrior1 long after the women of their respective tribes were at rest in ,abraham's bosom4 ,david was a general favorite2 even the ,philistines admired his courage and modesty4 ,the killing of ,goliath impressed the people generally that ,david was the chosen of the ,lord to succeed ,saul as ,king of ,israel4 ,but on the heels of his triumphs ,david's troubles soon began4 ,saul was absorbed in plotting and in planning how to circumvent ,david1 and looked with jealousy on the warm friendship maturing between him and his son ,jonathan4 #ag ,and ,saul said to ,david1 ,behold my elder daughter ,merab2 her will ,i give thee to wife3 only be thou valiant for me1 and fight the ,lord's battles4 ,for ,saul said1 ,let not mine hand be upon him1 but let the hand of the ,philistines be upon him4 #ah ,and ,david said unto ,saul1 ,who am ,i8 and what is my life1 or my father's family in ,israel1 that ,i should be son-in-law to the king8 #ai ,but it came to pass at the time when ,merab1 ,saul's daughter1 should have been given to ,david1 that she was given unto ,adriel1 the ,meholathite1 to wife4 #bj ,and ,michal1 ,saul's daughter1 loved ,david3 and they told ,saul1 and the thing pleased him4 #ba ,and ,saul said1 ,i will give him her1 that she may be a snare to him1 and that the hand of the ,philistines may be against him4 ,wherefore ,saul said to ,david1 ,thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain4 #bb ,and ,saul commanded his servants1 saying1 ,commune with ,david secretly1 and say1 ,behold the king hath delight in thee1 and all his servants love thee3 now therefore be the king's son-in-law4 #bd ,and ,saul's servants spake those words in the ears of ,david4 ,and ,david said1 ,seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law1 seeing that ,i am a poor man1 and lightly esteemed8 #bh ,and ,saul saw and knew that the ,lord was with ,david1 and that ,michal1 ,saul's daughter1 loved him4 ,saul thought if he could get ,david to marry his daughter he would make her a snare to entrap him4 ,he promised ,david his daughter1 and then married her to another to provoke him to some act of violence1 that he might have an excuse for whatever he chose to do4 ,but when ,saul offered to give him ,michal1 ,david modestly replied that he belonged to a humble shepherd family and was not worthy to be the son-in-law of a king4 ,in due time ,david did marry ,michal1 who loved him and proved a blessing rather than a snare4 ,on one occasion when ,saul had made secret plans to capture ,david1 ,michal with her diplomacy saved him4 ,saul surrounded his house with guards and ordered them to kill ,david the moment he appeared in the morning4 ,michal1 seeing their preparations1 knew their significance1 and at night1 when all was still1 she let ,david down through a window and told him to flee4 ,in the morning1 as ,david did not appear1 they searched the house4 ,michal told them that ,david was ill and in bed4 ,she had covered the head of a wooden image with goat's hair and tucked the supposed ,david up snug and warm4 ,the guards would not wake a sick man in order to kill him1 and they reported what they saw to ,saul1 but he ordered them to return and to bring ,david1 sick or well4 ,when ,saul found that he had escaped1 he was very wroth and upbraided ,michal for her disrespect to him4 ,though she had saved the man she loved1 yet she marred her noble deed by saying that ,david would have killed her if he suspected she had connived with her father to kill him4 ,but alas6 the poor woman was between two fires--the husband whom she loved on one side1 and the father whom she feared on the other4 ,most of the women in the ,bible seem to have been in a quandary the chief part of the time4 ,saul made a special war on the soothsayers and the fortunetellers1 because they were divining evil things of him4 ,but losing faith in himself and embittered by many troubles1 be went to the witch of ,endor to take counsel with ,samuel1 hoping to find more comfort with the dead than with the living4 ,the witch recognized him and asked him why he came to her1 having so cruelly persecuted her craft4 ,however1 she summoned ,samuel at his request1 who told him that on the morrow1 in the coming battle with the ,philistines1 he and his sons would be slain by the enemy4 ,when the witch saw ,saul's grief and consternation she begged him to eat1 placing some tempting viands before him1 which he did1 and then hastened to depart while it was yet dark1 that he might not be seen coming from such a house4 ,commentators say it was not ,samuel who appeared1 but ,satan in the guise of the prophet1 as he especially enjoys all psychical mysteries4 ,josephus extols the witch for her courtesy1 and ,saul for his courage in going forth to the battle on the next day to meet his doom4 ,the poet says that the heart from love to one grows bountiful to all4 ,this seems to have been the case with ,david as he adds wife to wife1 ,michal1 ,ahinoam the ,jezreelitess1 and ,abigail the ,carmelitess4 ,his meeting with ,abigail in the hills of ,carmel was quite romantic4 ,she made an indelible impression on his heart1 and as soon as her husband was gathered to his fathers ,david at once proposed and was accepted4 ,though the women who attracted ,david were beautiful to look upon1 yet they had great qualities of head and heart1 and he seemed equally devoted to all of them4 ,when carried off captives in war he made haste to recapture them4 ,michal's steadfastness seems questionable at one or two points of her career1 but the historian does not let us into the secret recesses of her feelings4 ,david's time and thoughts seem to have been equally divided between the study of government and social ethics1 and he does not appear very wise in either4 ,his honor shines brighter in his psalms than in his ordinary1 everyday life4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,samuel xxv4 #b ,and there was a man in ,maon1 whose possessions were in ,carmel2 and the man was very great1 and he had three thousand sheep1 and a thousand goats3 and he was shearing his sheep in ,carmel4 #c ,now the name of the man was ,nabal1 and the name of his wife ,abigail2 and she was a woman of good understanding1 and of a beautiful countenance3 but the man was churlish and evil in his doings4 #d ,and ,david heard in the wilderness that ,nabal did shear his sheep4 #e ,and ,david sent out ten young men1 and ,david said unto the young men1 ,get you up to ,carmel1 and go to ,nabal1 and greet him in my name3 #f ,and thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity1 ,peace be both to thee1 and peace be to thine house1 and peace be unto all that thou hast4 #h 4 4 4 ,give1 ,i pray thee1 whatsover cometh to thine hand unto thy servants4 #aj ,and ,nabal said1 ,who is ,david8 and--who is the son of ,jesse8 #aa ,shall ,i then take my bread1 and my water1 and my flesh that ,i have killed for my shearers1 and give unto men1 whom ,i know not whence they be8 #ab ,so ,david's young men came and told him all these sayings4 #ac ,and ,david said unto his men1 ,gird ye on every man his sword2 and ,david also girded on his sword3 and there went up after ,david about four hundred men2 and two hundred abode by the stuff4 #ad ,but one of the young men told ,abigail1 ,nabal's wife1 saying1 ,behold1 ,david sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master2 and he railed on them4 #ah ,then ,abigail made haste1 and took two hundred loaves1 and two bottles of wine1 and five sheep ready dressed1 and five measures of parched corn1 and a hundred clusters of raisins1 and two hundred cases of figs1 and laid them on asses4 #bc ,and when ,abigail saw ,david1 she hasted1 and lighted off the ass1 and fell before ,david on her face1 and bowed herself to the ground4 #be ,let not my lord1 ,i pray thee1 regard this man of ,belial1 even ,nabal3 for as his name is1 so is he2 ,nabal is his name1 and folly is with him3 but ,i thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord1 whom thou didst send4 #cb ,and ,david said to ,abigail1 ,blessed be the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 which sent thee this day to meet me3 #ce ,so ,david received of her hand that which she had brought him1 and said unto her1 ,go up in peace to thine house2 #ch ,and it came to pass about ten days after1 that the ,lord smote ,nabal1 that he died4 #ci 4 4 4 ,and ,david sent and communed with ,abigail1 to take her to him to wife4 #da ,and ,abigail hasted1 and arose1 and rode upon an ass1 with five damsels of hers that went after her2 and she went after the messengers of ,david1 and became his wife4 ,the chief business of the women in the reigns of ,kings ,saul and ,david seems to have been to rescue men from the craft and the greed of each other4 ,the whole interest in this story of ,nabal centres in the tact of ,abigail in saving their lives and possessions from threatened destruction1 owing to the folly and the ignorance of her husband4 ,his name1 ,nabal1 signifying folly1 describes his character4 ,it is a wonder that his parents should have given to him such a name1 and a greater wonder that ,abigail should have married him4 ,he inherited ,caleb's estate2 but he was far from inheriting his virtues4 ,his wealth was great2 but he was a selfish1 snarling cynic4 ,abigail's name signifies the joy of her father2 but he could not have promised himself much joy in her1 caring more for the wealth than for the wisdom of her husband4 ,many a child is thus thrown away--married to worldly wealth and to nothing else which is desirable4 ,wisdom is good with an inheritance2 but an inheritance without wisdom is good for nothing4 ,many an ,abigail is tied to a ,nabal2 but even if they have her understanding they will find it hard enough to fill such a relation4 ,david and his men were returning from ,samuel's funeral through the wilderness of ,paran and were in sore need of provisions1 and knowing that ,nabal had immense wealth1 and1 moreover1 that it was the season for sheep shearing1 ,david thought that he would be happy to place the king under obligations to him1 and was surprised to find him so disloyal4 ,abigail1 however1 appreciated the situation1 and by her courtesy and her generosity made amends for the rudeness of her husband4 ,she did not stop to parley with him1 but hastened to meet the king with the needed provisions4 ,she wasted no words of excuse for ,nabal1 but spoke of him with marked contempt4 ,her conduct would have shocked the ,apostle who laid such stress on the motto1 ,wives1 obey your husbands4 ,what little reason we have to value the wealth of this world1 says the historian1 when such a churl as ,nabal abounds in plenty1 while such a saint as ,david suffers want4 ,david sent to him most gracious messages2 but he replied in his usual gruff manner1 ,who is ,david1 that ,i should share with him my riches8 ,what care ,i for the son of ,jesse8 ,the servant did not return to ,nabal with ,david's outburst of wrath nor his resolution of vengeance2 but he told all to ,abigail1 who made haste to avert the threatened danger4 ,she did what she saw was to be done1 quickly4 ,wisdom in such a case was better than weapons of war4 ,nabal begrudged the king and his retinue water2 but ,abigail gave them two casks of wine and all sorts of provisions in abundance4 ,she met ,david on the march big with resentment1 meditating the destruction of ,nabal4 ,but ,abigail by her humility completely disarmed the king4 ,with great respect and complaisance she urges him to lay all of the blame on her2 and to attribute ,nabal's faults to his want of wit1 born simple1 not spiteful4 ,abigail puts herself in the attitude of a humble petitioner4 ,david received all that ,abigail brought him with many thanks4 ,it is evident from the text that she gave to him many of the delicacies from her larder4 ,ten days after this ,nabal died4 ,david immediately sent messengers to ,abigail asking her to be his wife4 ,she readily accepted1 as ,david had made a deep impression on her heart4 ,so1 with her five damsels1 all mounted on white jackasses1 she accompanied the messengers to the king and became his wife4 ,the ,hebrew mythology does not gild the season of courtship and marriage with much sentiment or romance4 ,the transfer of a camel or a donkey from one owner to another1 no doubt1 was often marked with more consideration than that of a daughter4 ,one loves a faithful animal long in our possession and manifests more grief in parting than did these ,hebrew fathers in giving away their daughters1 or than the daughters did in leaving their family1 their home or their country4 ,we have no beautiful pictures of lovers sitting in shady groves1 exchanging their tributes of love and of friendship1 their hopes and fears of the future2 no temples of knowledge where philosophers and learned matrons discussed great questions of human destiny1 such as ,greek mythology gives to us2 ,socrates and ,plato1 learning wisdom at the feet of the ,diametias of their times1 give to us a glimpse of a more exalted type of womanhood than any which the sacred fabulists have vouchsafed thus far4 #b ,samuel iii4 #b ,and unto ,david were sons born 'n ,hebron3 and his firstborn was ,amnon1 of ,ahinoam the ,jezreelitess3 #c ,and his second1 ,chileab1 of ,abigail the wife of ,nabal the ,carmelite2 and the third1 ,absalom the son of ,maacah the daughter of ,talmai king of ,geshur3 #d ,and the fourth1 ,adonijah the son of ,haggith2 and the fifth1 ,shephatiah the son of ,abital2 #e ,and the sixth1 ,ithream1 by ,eglah ,david's wife4 ,these were born to ,david in ,hebron4 ,the last is called ,david's wife1 his only rightful wife1 ,michal4 ,it was a fault in ,david1 say the commentators1 thus to multiply wives contrary to ,jewish law4 ,it was a bad example to his successors4 ,men who make the laws should not be the first to disobey them4 ,none of his sons was famous1 but three were infamous1 due in part to their father's nature and example4 #ad ,and ,david danced before the ,lord with all his might2 and ,david was girded with a linen ephod4 #ae ,so ,david and all the house of ,israel brought up the ark of the ,lord with shouting1 and with the sound of the trumpet4 #af ,and as the ark of the ,lord came into the city of ,david1 ,michal ,saul's daughter looked through a window1 and saw king ,david leaping and dancing before the ,lord2 and she despised him in her heart4 #bj ,then ,david returned to bless his household4 ,and ,michal the daughter of ,saul came out to meet ,david1 and said1 ,how glorious was the king of ,israel to-day1 who uncovered himself in the eyes of his servants1 as one of the vain fellows4 #ba ,and ,david said unto ,michal1 ,it was before the ,lord1 which chose me before thy father4 ,michal1 like ,abigail1 does not seem to have been overburdened with conjugal respect4 ,she was so impatient to let the king know how he appeared in her sight that she could not wait at home1 but went out to meet him4 ,she even questions the wisdom of such a parade over the ark1 and tells the king that it would have been better to leave it where it had been hidden for years4 ,neither ,michal nor ,abigail seem to have made idols of their husbands2 they did not even consult them as to what they should think1 say or do4 ,they furnish a good example to wives to use their own judgment and to keep their own secrets1 not make the family altar a constant confessional4 #b ,samuel xi4 #b ,and it came to pass in an eveningtide1 that ,david arose from off his bed1 and walked upon the roof of the king's house1 and saw a woman washing herself2 and the woman was very beautiful to look upon4 #c ,and ,david sent and inquired after her4 ,and one said1 ,is not this ,bath-she-ba1 the wife of ,uriah the ,hittite8 #d ,and ,david sent messengers1 and took her2 and she came in unto him4 #f ,and ,david sent to ,joab1 saying1 ,send me ,uriah the ,hittite4 ,and ,joab sent ,uriah to ,david4 #g ,and when ,uriah was come unto him1 ,david demanded of him how ,joab did1 and how the people did1 and how the war prospered4 #i ,and ,uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord1 and went not down to his house4 #ad ,and it came to pass in the morning1 that ,david wrote a letter to ,joab1 and sent it by the hand of ,uriah4 #ae ,and he wrote in the letter saying1 ,set ye ,uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle1 and retire ye from him1 that he may be smitten1 and die4 #af ,and it came to pass1 when ,joab observed the city1 that he assigned ,uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were4 #bf ,and the men of the city went out1 and fought with ,joab3 and there fell some of the people of the servants of ,david2 and ,uriah the ,hittite died also4 #af ,and when the wife of ,uriah heard that her husband was dead1 she mourned for her husband4 #bg ,and when the mourning was past1 ,david sent and fetched her to his house1 and she became his wife1 and bare him a son4 ,but the thing that ,david had done displeased the ,lord4 ,this book contains but little in regard to women4 ,what is worthy of mention in the story of ,bath-sheba is finished in the following book4 ,david's first vision of her is such a reflection on his honor that1 from respect to the man after the ,lord's own heart1 we pass it in silence4 ,david's social ethics were not quite up to the standard even of his own times4 ,it is said that he was a master of his pen as well as of his sword4 ,his poem on the death of ,saul and ,jonathan has been much praised by literary critics4 ,but1 alas6 ,david was not able to hold the ,divine heights which he occasionally attained4 ,as in the case of ,bath-sheba1 he remained where he could see her2 instead of going with his army to ,jerusalem to attend to his duties as ,king of ,israel and general of the army1 he delegated them to others4 ,had he been at his post he would have been out of the way of temptation4 ,he used to pray three times a day1 not only at morning and evening1 but at noon also4 ,it is to be feared than on this day he forgot his devotions and thought only of ,bath-sheba4 ,uriah1 the husband of ,bath-sheba1 was one of ,david's soldiers1 a man of strict honor and virtue4 ,to get rid of him for a season1 ,david sent him with a message to one of the officers at ,jerusalem1 telling him that in the next battle to place ,uriah in the front rank that he might distinguish himself4 ,uriah was a poor man and tenderly loved his wife4 ,he little knew the fatal contents of the letter which he carried4 ,when ,joab received the letter1 he took it for granted that he was guilty of some crime and that the king wished him to be punished4 ,so ,joab obeyed the king and ,uriah was killed4 ,in due time all this was known1 and filled the people with astonishment and greatly displeased the ,lord4 ,it is to be hoped that he did not commune with ,god during this period of humiliation or pen any psalms of praise for ,his goodness and mercy4 ,he married ,bath-sheba1 and she bore him a son and called his name ,solomon4 ,but this did not atone for his sin4 ,his heart was sad1 his soul1 says a commentator1 was like a tree in winter which has life in the root only4 #b ,samuel xii4 ,and the ,lord sent ,nathan unto ,david4 ,and he came unto him1 and said unto him3 ,there were two men in one city2 the one rich1 and the other poor4 #b ,the rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds2 #c ,but the poor man had nothing1 save one little ewe lamb1 which he had bought and nourished3 and it grew up together with him1 and with his children3 it did eat of his own meat1 and drank of his own cup1 and lay in his bosom1 and was unto him as a daughter4 #d ,and there came a traveller unto the rich man1 and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd1 to dress for the wayfaring man1 but took the poor man's lamb and dressed it4 #e ,and ,david's anger was greatly kindled against the man2 and he said to ,nathan1 ,as the ,lord liveth1 the man that hath done this thing shall surely die3 #f ,and he shall restore the lamb fourfold1 because he did this thing4 #g ,and ,nathan said to ,david1 ,thou art the man4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 ,i anointed thee king over ,israel1 and ,i delivered thee out of the hand of ,saul2 #i ,wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the ,lord1 to do evil in his sight8 ,thou hast killed ,uriah the ,hittite with the sword1 and hast taken his wife to be thy wife1 and hast slain him with the sword of the children of ,ammon4 #aj ,now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house2 because thou hast despised me1 and hast taken the wife of ,uriah the ,hittite to be thy wife4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,nathan the ,prophet1 ,david's faithful friend1 ,go thou and instruct and counsel him4 ,nathan judiciously gives his advice in the form of a parable1 on which ,david gives his judgment as to the sin of the chief actor and denounces him in unmeasured terms1 and says that he should be punished with death--he shall surely die4 ,david did not suspect the bearing of the fable until ,nathan applied it1 and1 to ,david's surprise and consternation1 said1 ,thou art the man4 ,uriah the ,hittite had but one little ewe lamb1 one wife whom he loved as his own soul1 while ,king ,david had many2 yet he robbed ,uriah of all that he had and made him carry his own message of death to ,joab1 the general of the army1 who gave to him the most dangerous place in the battle1 and1 as the king desired1 he was killed4 ,when the king first recalled ,uriah from the field1 ,uriah went not to his own house1 as he suspected foul play1 having heard that ,bath-sheba often appeared at court4 ,both the king and ,bath-sheba urged him to go to his own house2 but he went not4 ,bath-sheba had been to him all that was pure and beautiful in woman1 and he could not endure even the suspicion of guilt in her4 ,he understood the king's plans1 and probably welcomed death1 as without ,bath-sheba's love1 life had no joy for him4 ,but to be transferred from the cottage of a poor soldier to the palace of a king was a sufficient compensation for the loss of the love of a true and faithful man4 ,this was one of the most cruel deeds of ,david's life1 marked with so many acts of weakness and of crime4 ,he was ruled entirely by his passions4 ,reason had no sway over him4 ,fortunately1 the development of self-respect and independence in woman1 and a higher idea of individual conscience and judgment in religion and in government1 have supplied the needed restraint for man4 ,men will be wise and virtuous just in proportion as women are self-reliant and able to meet them on the highest planes of thought and of action4 ,no magnet is so powerful as that which draws men and women to each other4 ,hence they rise or fall together4 ,this is one lesson which the ,bible illustrates over and over--the degradation of woman degrades man also4 ,her face pleaseth me1 said ,samson1 who1 although he could conquer lions1 was like putty in the hands of women4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,books ,,of ,,kings4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,kings i4 #aa ,wherefore ,nathan spake unto ,bath-sheba the mother of ,solomon1 saying1 ,hast thou not heard that ,adonijah the son of ,haggith doth reign4 ,go 4 4 4 unto ,king ,david1 and say unto him1 ,didst thou not swear unto thine handmaid1 saying1 ,assuredly ,solomon thy son shall reign after me1 and he shall sit upon my throne8 ,why then doth ,adonijah reign8 #ae ,and ,bath-sheba went in unto the king4 4 4 4 ,and the king said1 ,what wouldst thou8 #ag ,and she said unto him1 ,thou swarest unto thine handmaid1 saying1 ,assuredly ,solomon thy son shall reign after me1 and he shall sit upon my throne4 #ah ,and now1 behold1 ,adonijah reigneth4 #bb ,and lo1 while she yet talked with the king1 ,nathan the prophet also came in4 #ba ,and ,nathan said1 ,my lord1 ,o king1 hast thou said1 ,adonijah shall reign after me1 and he shall sit upon my throne8 #bh ,then ,king ,david answered and said1 ,call me ,bath-sheba4 ,and she came and stood before the king4 #bi ,and the king sware1 and said1 ,as the ,lord liveth1 that bath redeemed my soul out of all distress1 #cj ,even as ,i sware unto thee by the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 saying1 ,assuredly ,solomon thy son shall reign after me1 and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead2 even so will ,i certainly do this day4 #ca ,then ,bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth1 and did reverence to the king1 and said1 ,let my lord1 ,king ,david1 live for ever4 #cb ,and ,king ,david said1 ,call me ,zadok the priest1 and ,nathan the prophet1 and ,benaiah the son of ,jehoiada4 ,and they came4 #cc ,the king also said unto them1 ,take with you the servants of your lord1 and cause ,solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule1 and bring him down to ,gihon3 #cd ,and let ,zadok the priest and ,nathan the prophet anoint him there king over ,israel3 and blow ye with the trumpet1 and say1 ,god save ,king ,solomon4 ,these books give an account of ,david's death1 of his successor ,solomon1 of the division of his kingdom between the kings of ,judah and of ,israel1 with an abstract of the history down to the captivity4 ,neither the king nor ,bath-sheba knew that ,adonijah was making preparations to be crowned king the moment when he heard of ,david's death4 ,he made a great feast1 inviting all the king's sons except ,solomon4 ,he began his feast by a show of devotion1 sacrificing sheep and oxen4 ,but ,nathan the ,prophet warns the king and ,bath-sheba4 ,in his anxiety he appeals to ,bath-sheba as the one who has the greatest concern about ,solomon1 and can most easily get an audience with the king4 ,he suggests that ,solomon is not only in danger of losing his crown1 but both he and she of losing their lives4 ,accordingly1 ,bath-sheba1 without being announced1 enters the presence of the king4 ,she takes no notice of the presence of ,abishag1 but makes known the object of her visit at once4 ,she reminds the king of his vow to her that ,solomon1 her son1 should be his successor to his throne4 ,nathan the ,prophet is announced in the audience chamber and tells the king of the preparations that ,adonijah is making to usurp the crown and throne1 and appeals to him to keep his vow to ,bath-sheba4 ,he reminds him that the eyes of all ,israel are upon him1 and that ,david's word should be an oracle of honor unto them4 ,he urged the king to immediate action and to put an end to all ,adonijah's pretensions at once1 which the king did2 and ,solomon was anointed by the chief priests and proclaimed king4 ,adonijah had organized a party1 recognizing him as king1 as if ,david were already dead2 but when a messenger brought the news that ,solomon had been anointed king1 in the midst of the feast their jollities were turned to mourning4 ,nathan's visits to the king were always welcome1 especially when he was sick and when something lay heavy on his heart4 ,he came to the king1 not as a petitioner1 but as an ambassador from ,god1 not merely to right the wrongs of individuals1 but to maintain the honor of the nation4 ,as ,david grew older he suffered great depression of spirits1 hence his physicians advised that he be surrounded with young company1 who might cheer and comfort him with their own happiness and pleasure in life4 ,he was specially cheered by the society of ,abishag1 the ,shunammite1 a maiden of great beauty and of many attractions in manner and conversation1 and who created a most genial atmosphere in the palace of the king4 ,bath-sheba's ambition for her son was so all absorbing that she cared but little for the attentions of the king4 ,david reigned forty years1 seven in ,hebron and thirty-three in ,jerusalem4 #a ,kings ii4 ,now the days of ,david drew nigh that he should die2 and he charged ,solomon his son1 saying1 #b ,i go the way of all the earth3 be thou strong therefore1 and show thyself a man4 ,it is a great pity that ,david's advice could not have been fortified by the honor and the uprightness of his own life4 ,example is stronger than precept4 #a ,kings iii4 #af ,then came there two women unto the king1 and stood before him4 #ag ,and the one woman said1 ,o my lord4 ,i and this woman dwell in one house3 and ,i was delivered of a child4 #ai ,and it came to pass the third day after1 this woman was delivered also3 #ai ,and her child died in the night2 because she overlaid it4 #bj ,and she arose at midnight1 and took my son from beside me1 while thine handmaid slept1 and laid it in her bosom1 and laid her dead child in my bosom4 #ba ,and when ,i rose in the morning it was dead2 but when ,i had considered it1 behold1 it was not my son4 #bb ,and the other woman said1 ,nay2 but the living is my son1 and the dead is thy son4 ,and this said1 ,no2 but the dead is thy son1 and the living is my son4 ,thus they spake before the king4 #bd ,and the king said1 ,bring me a sword4 ,and they brought a sword before the king4 #be ,and he said1 ,divide the living child in two1 and give half to the one1 and half to the other4 #bf ,then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king1 and she said1 ,o my lord1 give her the living child1 and in no wise slay it4 ,but the other said1 ,let it be neither mine nor thine1 but divide it4 #bg ,then the king answered and said1 ,give her the living child1 and in no wise slay it3 she is the mother thereof4 #bh ,and all ,israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged2 and they feared the king for they saw that the wisdom of ,god was in him to do judgment4 ,this case was opened in court1 not by lawyers1 but by the parties themselves1 though both plaintiff and defendant were women4 ,commentators thing that it had already been tried in the lower courts1 and the judges not being able to arrive at a satisfactory decision1 preferred to submit the case to ,solomon the ,king4 ,it was an occasion of great interest2 the halls of justice were crowded1 all waiting with great expectation to hear what the king would say4 ,when he said1 bring me my sword1 the sages wondered if he intended to kill the parties1 as the shortest way to end the case2 but his proposition to kill only the living child and give half to each1 showed such an intuitive knowledge of human nature that all were impressed with his wisdom1 recognizing at once what the natural feelings of the mother would be4 ,solomon won great reputation by this judgment4 ,the people feared his piercing eye ever after1 knowing that he would see the real truth through all disguises and complications4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,in ,bath-sheba's interview with ,david one feature impresses me unfavorably1 that she stood before the king instead of being seated during the conference4 ,in the older apostolic churches the elder women and widows were provided with seats--only the young women stood2 but in the instance which we are considering the faithful wife of many years1 the mother of wise ,solomon1 stood before her husband4 ,then ,david1 with the fear of death before his eyes and the warning words of the prophet ringing in his ears1 remembered his oath to ,bath-sheba4 ,bath-sheba1 the wife of whom no moral wrong is spoken1 except her obedience to ,david in the affairs of her first husband1 bowed with her face to the earth and did reverence to the king4 ,this was entirely wrong3 ,david should have arisen from his bed and done reverence to this woman1 his wife1 bowing his face to the earth4 ,yet we find this ,bible teaching the subservience of woman to man1 of the wife to the husband1 of the queen to the king1 ruling the world to-day4 ,during the recent magnificent coronation ceremonies of the ,czar1 his wife1 granddaughter of ,victoria1 ,queen of ,england and ,empress of ,india1 who changed her religion in order to become ,czarina1 knelt before her husband while he momentarily placed the crown upon her brow4 ,a kneeling wife at this era of civilization is proof that the degradation of woman continues from the time of ,bath-sheba to that of ,alexandria4 ,in #a ,kings ii4 #ac-be1 we have a record of ,solomon's treatment of that mother to whom he was indebted not only for his throne1 but also for life itself4 ,adonijah1 who had lost the kingdom1 requested ,bath-sheba's influence with ,solomon that the fair young ,abishag should be given to him for a wife4 ,having lost his father's kingdom1 he thought to console himself with the maiden4 #ai ,so ,bath-sheba therefore went unto ,king ,solomon to speak unto him for ,adonijah4 ,and the king rose up to meet her1 and bowed himself unto her1 and sat down on his throne and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother2 and she sat on his right hand4 ,all very well thus far2 and the king1 in his reception of his mother1 showed to her the reverence and the respect which was due to her4 ,thus emboldened1 ,bath-sheba said3 #bj ,i desire one small petition of thee2 say me not nay4 ,and the king said unto her1 ,ask on1 my mother2 for ,i will not say thee nay4 #ba ,and she said1 ,let ,abishag the ,shunammite be given to ,adonijah1 thy brother1 to wife4 ,but did ,king ,solomon1 who owed both throne and life to his mother1 keep his word that he had just pledged to her1 ,ask on1 my mother2 for ,i will not say thee nay8 ,no indeed1 for was she not a woman1 a being to whom it was customary to make promises for the apparent purpose of breaking them2 for the king1 immediately forgetting his promise of one moment previously1 cried out3 #bb ,and why dost thou ask ,abishag the ,shunammite for ,adonijah8 ask for him the kingdom also3 for he is mine elder brother4 #bc ,then ,king ,solomon sware by the ,lord1 saying1 ,god do so to me1 and more also1 if ,adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life4 #bd ,now therefore1 as the ,lord liveth1 who hath established me1 and set me on the throne of ,david my father1 and who hath made me an house1 as he promised1 ,adonijah shall be put to death this day4 ,solomon was anxious to give credit to the ,lord instead of his mother for having set him on the throne1 and also to credit him with having kept his promise1 while at the very same moment he was breaking his own promise to his mother4 ,and this promise-breaking to women1 taught in the ,bible1 has been incorporated into the laws of both ,england and the ,united ,states--a true union of ,church and ,state where woman is concerned4 ,it is only a few years since that a suit was brought in ,england by a wife against a husband in order to compel the keeping of his ante- nuptial promise that the children of the marriage should be brought up in the mother's religious faith4 ,having married the woman1 this husband and father found it convenient to break his word1 ordering her to instruct the children in his own faith1 and the highest court in ,england1 that of ,appeals1 through the vice-chancellor1 decided against her upon the ground that a wife has no rights in law against a husband4 ,while a man's word broken at the gaming table renders him infamous1 subjecting him to dishonor through life1 a husband's pledged word to his wife in this nineteenth century of the ,christian era is of no more worth than was the pledged word of ,king ,solomon to ,bath-sheba in the tenth century before the ,christian era4 ,the ,albany ,law journal1 commenting upon the ,agar-,ellis case1 declared the ,english decision to be in harmony with the general law in regard to religious education--the child is to be educated in the religion of its father4 ,but in the case of ,bath-sheba1 ,solomon's surprising acrobatic feat is the more remarkable from the reception which he at first gave to his mother4 ,not only did ,solomon say her nay1 but poor ,adonijah lost not only wife1 but life also1 because of her intercession4 ,this chapter closes with an account of ,solomon's judgment between two mothers1 each of whom claimed a living child as her own and the dead child as that of her rival4 ,this judgment has often been referred to as showing the wisdom of ,solomon4 ,he understood a mother's boundless love1 that the true mother would infinitely prefer that her rival should retain her infant than that the child should be divided between them4 ,however1 this tale1 like many another ,biblical story1 is found imbedded in the folk-lore-myths of other peoples and religions4 ,prof4 ,white's ,warfare of ,science and ,theology quotes ,fansboll as finding it in ,buddhist ,birth ,stories4 ,the able ,biblical critic1 ,henry ,macdonald1 regards the ,israelitish kings as wholly legendary1 and ,solomon as unreal as ,mug ,nuadat or ,partholan2 but let its history be real or unreal1 the ,bible accurately represents the condition of women under the ,jewish patriarchal and the ,christian monogamous religions4 ,m4 ,j4 ,g4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,kings x4 #a ,and when the ,queen of ,sheba heard of the fame of ,solomon concerning the name of the ,lord1 she came to prove him with hard questions4 #b ,and she came to ,jerusalem with a very great train1 with camels that bare spices1 and very much gold1 and precious stones3 and when she was come to ,solomon1 she communed with him of all that was in her heart4 #c ,and ,solomon told her all her questions4 #d ,and when the ,queen of ,sheba had seen all ,solomon's wisdom1 and the house that he had built1 #e ,and the meat of his table1 and the sitting of his servants1 and the attendance of his ministers1 and their apparel1 and his cup-bearers1 and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the ,lord2 there was no more spirit in her4 #f ,and she said to the king1 ,it was a true report that ,i heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom4 #g ,howbeit ,i believed not the words1 until ,i came1 and mine eyes had seen it2 and1 behold1 the half was not told me2 thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which ,i heard4 #i ,blessed be the ,lord thy ,god1 which delighteth in thee1 to set thee on the throne of ,israel4 #aj ,and she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold1 and of spices very great store1 and precious stones3 4 4 4 #ac ,and ,king ,solomon gave unto the ,queen of ,sheba all her desire1 whatsoever she asked4 ,so she turned and went to her own country4 ,in the height of ,solomon's piety and prosperity the ,queen of ,sheba came to visit him4 ,she had heard of his great wealth and wisdom and desired to see if all was true4 ,she was called the ,queen of the ,south1 supposed to be in ,africa4 ,the ,christians in ,ethiopia say to this day that she came from their country1 and that ,candace1 spoken of in ,acts viii41 #bg1 was her successor4 ,she was queen regent1 sovereign of her country4 ,many a kingdom would have been deprived of its greatest blessing if the ,salic law had been admitted into its constitution4 ,it was a great journey for the queen1 with her retinue1 to undertake4 ,the reports of the magnificence of ,solomon's surroundings1 the temple of the ,lord and the palace for the daughter of ,pharaoh1 roused her curiosity to see his wealth4 ,the reports of his wisdom inspired her with the hope that she might obtain new ideas on the science of government and help her to establish a more perfect system in her kingdom4 ,she had heard of his piety1 too1 his religion and the ,god whom he worshiped1 and his maxims of policy in morals and public life4 ,she is mentioned again in the ,new ,testament ill ,matthew xii41 #db4 ,she brought many valuable presents of gold1 jewels1 spices and precious stones to defray all the expenses of her retinue at ,solomon's court1 to show him that her country was worthy of honor and of respect4 ,the queen was greatly surprised with all that she saw1 the reality surpassed her wildest imagination4 ,solomon's reception was most cordial and respectful1 and he conversed with her as he would with a friendly king coming to visit from afar4 ,this is the first account which we have in the ,bible of a prolonged rational conversation with a woman on questions of public policy4 ,he answered all her questions1 though the commentators volunteer the opinion that some may have been frivolous and captious4 ,as the text suggests no such idea1 we have a right to assume that her conduct and conversation were pre-eminently judicious4 ,solomon did not suggest to the queen that she was out of her sphere1 that home duties1 children and the philosophy of domestic life were the proper subjects for her consideration2 but he talked with her as one sovereign should with another4 ,she was deeply impressed by the elegance of his surroundings1 the artistic effect of his table1 and the gold1 silver and glass1 the skill of his servants1 the perfect order which reigned throughout the palace1 but more than all with his piety and wisdom1 and his reverence when he went up to the temple to worship ,god or to make the customary offering4 ,she wondered at such greatness and goodness combined in one man4 ,her visit was one succession of surprises2 and she rejoiced to find that the truth of all that she had heard exceeded her expectations4 ,she is spo ken of in ,psalms lxxii41 #ae1 as a pattern for ,solomon4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 #a ,kings xi4 #a ,but ,king ,solomon loved many strange women1 together with the daughter of ,pharaoh1 women of the ,moabites1 ,ammonites1 ,edomites1 ,zidonians and ,hittites3 #b ,of the nations concerning which the ,lord said unto the children of ,israel1 ,ye shall not go in to them1 neither shall they come in unto you3 for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods3 ,solomon clave unto these in love4 #c ,and he had seven hundred wives1 princesses1 and three hundred concubines3 #d ,it came to pass1 when ,solomon was old1 that his wives turned away his heart after other gods3 and his heart was not perfect with the ,lord his ,god4 ,this is a sad story of ,solomon's defection and degeneracy4 ,as the ,queen of ,sheba did not have seven hundred husbands1 she had time for travel and the observation of the great world outside of her domain4 ,it is impossible to estimate the ennui a thousand women must have suffered crowded together1 with only one old gentleman to contemplate2 but he probably solaced their many hours with some of his choice songs1 so appreciative of the charms of beautiful women4 ,it is probable that his little volume of poems was in the hand of every woman1 and that ,solomon gave them occasional recitations on the imaginative and emotional nature of women4 ,we have reason to believe that with his wisdom he gave as much variety to their lives as possible1 and with fine oratory1 graceful manners and gorgeous apparel made himself as attractive as the situation permitted4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,there have been a great number of different views held in regard to the ,queen of ,sheba1 both in reference to the signification of the name ,sheba1 and also in relation to the country from which this famous personage made a visit to ,solomon4 ,abyssinia1 ,ethiopia1 ,persia and ,arabia have each laid claim to this wise woman4 ,menelik1 the present king of the former country1 who so effectually defeated ,italy in his recent war with that country1 possesses the same name as1 and claims descent from1 the fabled son of this wise woman and of the wise king ,solomon1 one of whose numerous wives1 it is traditionally said1 she became4 ,ethiopia1 the seat of a very ancient and great civilization1 and whose capital was called ,saba2 ,persia1 where the worship of the sun and of fire originated2 and ,arabia1 the country of gold1 of frankincense and of myrrh1 also claim her4 ,it is to the latter country that this queen belonged4 ,whether we look upon the ,bible as a historical work1 a mythological work1 or1 as many now do regard it1 as ,a ,book of the ,adepts1 written by ,initiates1 for ,initiates1 a record of ancient mysteries hidden to all but initiates1 the ,queen of ,sheba is a most interesting character4 ,the words ,sab1 ,saba1 ,sheba1 all have an astronomical or astrological meaning1 signifying the ,host of ,heaven1 ,the ,planetary ,system4 ,saba1 or ,sheba1 was especially the home of astronomical wisdom2 and all words of this character mean wise in regard to the stars4 ,the wisdom of ,saba and of the ,sabeans was planetary wisdom1 the ,sabean language meaning astronomy1 or astrology1 the latter being the esoteric portion of the science4 ,at the time of the mysteries1 astrology was a sacred or secret science1 the words sacred and secret meaning the same thing4 ,among the oldest mysteries1 when all learning was confined to initiates1 were those of ,sabasia1 whose periodic festivals of a sacred character were so extremely ancient that their origin is now lost4 ,solomon1 also1 whether looked upon as a historical or a mythical character1 is philologically shown to have been connected with the planetary system1 ,sol-,om-,on signifying the sun4 ,it is singular to note how closely the sun1 the moon and the stars are connected with ancient religions1 even that of the ,jewish4 ,in the ,old ,testament the new moon and the ,sab-bath are almost invariably mentioned together4 ,the full moon also possessed a religious signification to the ,jews1 the agricultural feasts taking place at the full moon1 which were called ,sab-baths4 ,even in the ,old ,testament we find that ,sab has an astronomical or astrological meaning1 connected with the planetary system4 ,the ,sabeans were an occult body1 especially devoted to a study of the heavens2 at their head1 the wisest among them1 the chief astronomer and astrologer of the nation1 the wisest person in a nation of wisdom1 was that ,queen of ,sheba1 who visited that other planetary dignitary1 ,solomon1 to prove him with hard astronomical and astrological questions4 ,there is historic proof that the city of ,saba was the royal seat of the kings of ,arabia1 which country1 ,diodorus says1 was never conquered4 ,among ancient peoples it bore the names of ,araby the ,happy1 ,araby the ,blest4 ,it was a country of gold and spices whose perfume was wafted far over the sea4 ,all cups and utensils were of the precious metals2 all beds1 chairs and stools having feet of silver2 the temples were magnificently adorned2 and the porticoes of even the private houses were of gold inlaid with ivory and precious stones4 ,among the presents carried by the ,queen of ,sheba to ,sol-,om-,on were the famous balsam trees of her country4 ,the first attempt at plant acclimatizing of which the world has record was made with this tree by the magnificent ,pharaoh1 ,queen ,hatasu1 of the brilliant eighteenth ,egyptian dynasty4 ,a thousand years before she of ,sheba1 ,queen ,hatasu1 upon her return from a naval expedition to the ,red ,sea1 carried home with her twelve of these trees in baskets of earth1 which lived and became one of the three species of sacred trees of ,egypt4 ,arabia was the seat of ,eastern wisdom1 from which it also radiated to the ,british ,isles of ,europe at the time of the ,celtic ,druids1 with whom ,sabs was the day when these lords of ,sabaoth rested from study and gave instructions to the people4 ,as previously among the ,jews1 this day of instruction became known as one of rest from physical labor1 ,sab-bath and rest becoming synonymous4 ,seven being a sacred number among initiates1 every seventh day was devoted to instruction4 ,when a knowledge of the mysteries became lost1 the words ,sab-bath1 rest and seven began to have a very wrong meaning in the minds of people2 and much injury has been done to the world through this perversion4 ,but later than ,druidical times1 ,arabian wisdom made the southwestern portion of the ,european continent brilliant with learning1 during the long period of the ,christian dark ages1 a time when1 like the ,bourbons of later date1 ,christians learned nothing1 a time when no heresy arose because no thought was allowed1 when there was no progress because there was no doubt4 ,from these countrymen of the ,queen of ,sheba1 the ,spanish ,arabs1 ,columbus first learned of a world beyond the ,pillars of ,hercules4 ,architecture rose to its height in the beautiful ,alhambra1 with its exquisite interlaced tracery in geometric design2 medicine had its profound schools at various points2 poetry numbered women among its most famous composers2 the ballad originated there2 and the modern literature of ,europe was born from a woman's pen upon the hearth of the despised ,ishmaelite1 whose ancestral mother was known as ,hagar1 and whose most brilliant descendant was the ,queen of ,sheba4 ,nowhere upon the earth has there existed a race of improvisatores equal to the daughters of that despised bondwoman1 the countrywoman of the ,queen of ,sheba4 ,as storytellers the world has not their equal4 ,scherezade is a name upon the lips of ,jews1 of ,gentiles1 of ,mohammedans and of ,christians4 ,a woman's ,thousand and ,one ,nights is famous as a combination of wit1 wisdom and occultism wherever the language of civilization is spoken4 ,with increasing knowledge we learn somewhat of the mysteries of the inner1 higher life contained in those tales of genii1 of rings and of lamps of wondrous and curious power4 ,the race descended from ,hagar1 of which the ,queen of ,sheba is the most brilliant reminder1 has given to the world the most of its profound literature1 elegant poetry1 art1 science and occultism4 ,arabia is the mother of mathematics2 from this country was borrowed our one 7#a7 and our cipher 7#j71 from which all other notation is evolved4 ,astronomy and astrology being among the oldest sciences1 the moon early became known as the ,measurer1 her varied motions1 her influence upon the tides1 her connection with the generative functions1 all giving her a high place in the secret sciences4 ,while in a planetary sense the ,queen of ,sheba has in a manner been identified with the moon1 as ,sabs1 she was also connected with the sun1 the same as ,solomon and the serpent4 ,when ,moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness it was specifically a part of sun worship4 ,the golden calf of ,aaron was more closely connected with moon worship1 although the serpentine path of both these bodies in the heavens identified each with the serpent4 ,the occult knowledge which the ,jews possessed in regard to those planets was borrowed by them from ,egypt1 where for many ages the sun and the moon had been studied in connection with their movements in the zodiac4 ,in that country these serpentine movements were symbolized by the uroeus1 or asp1 worn upon the crown above the head of every ,pharaoh4 ,so closely was the ,jewish religion connected with worship of the planetary bodies that ,moses is said to have disappeared upon ,mount ,nebo1 a word which shows the mountain to have been sacred to the moon2 while ,elijah ascending in a chariot of fire is a record of sun worship4 ,when the famous woman astronomer and astrologer1 ,queen of ,sheba1 visited the symbolic ,king ,solomon1 it was for the purpose of proving him with hard planetary questions and thus learning the depth of his astronomical and his astrological knowledge1 which1 thanks to the planetary worship of the ,jews1 she found equal to her own4 ,we are further told that ,solomon1 not content with a princess from the royal house of ,pharaoh as wife1 married seven hundred wives1 all princesses1 besides taking to himself three hundred concubines4 ,it is upon teachings of the ,old ,testament1 and especially from this statement in regard to ,solomon1 that the ,mormons of ,utah largely base their polygamous doctrines1 the revelations of ,joseph ,smith being upon the ,solomon line4 ,yet the ,mormons have advanced in their treatment of women from the time of ,solomon4 ,while the revelations of ,joseph ,smith commended plural marriages1 the system and the name of concubinage was entirely omitted1 each woman thus taken being endowed with the name of wife4 ,the polygamy of ,new ,york1 of ,chicago1 of ,london1 of ,paris1 of ,vienna and of other parts of the ,christian world1 like that of ,solomon's three hundred1 is a system of concubinage in which the woman possesses no legal rights1 the mistress neither being recognized as wife1 nor her children as legitimate2 whereas ,mormon polygamy grants ,mormon respect to the second1 the third1 and to all subsequent wives4 ,the senility of old men is well illustrated in the case of ,solomon1 despite ,biblical reference to his great wisdom1 as we learn that when he became old he was led away by strange women1 worshiping strange gods to whom he erected temples and offered sacrifices4 ,to those who believe in the doctrine of re-incarnation1 and who look upon the ,bible as an occult work written in symbolic language1 ,solomon's reputed wives and concubines are regarded as symbolic of his incarnations1 the wives representing good incarnations and the concubines evil ones4 ,m4 ,j4 ,g4 #a ,kings xvii4 #h ,and the word of the ,lord came unto him1 saying1 #i ,arise1 get thee to ,zarephath1 and dwell there3 behold1 ,i have commanded a widow there to sustain thee4 #aj ,so he arose and went to ,zarephath4 ,and when he came to the gate of the city1 behold1 the widow was there gathering sticks3 and he called to her1 and said1 ,fetch me1 ,i pray thee1 a little water and a morsel of bread4 #ab ,and she said1 ,i have not a cake1 but a handful of meal in a barrel1 and a little oil in a cruse2 and ,i am gathering sticks1 that ,i may dress it for me and my son1 that we may eat it1 and die4 #ac ,and ,elijah said unto her1 ,fear not2 go and do as thou hast said3 but make me thereof a little cake first1 and after make for thee and for thy son4 #ad ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 ,the barrel of meal shall not waste1 neither shall the cruse of oil fail1 until the day that the ,lord sendeth rain upon the earth4 #ae ,and she went and did according to the saying of ,elijah3 and she1 and he1 and her house1 did eat many days4 #af ,and the barrel of meal wasted not1 neither did the cruse of oil fail4 #ag ,and it came to pass after these things1 that the son of the woman fell sick2 and there was no breath left in him4 #ah ,and she said unto ,elijah1 ,what have ,i to do with thee1 ,o thou man of ,god8 art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance1 and to slay my son8 #ai ,and he said unto her1 ,give me thy son4 ,and he carried him up and laid him upon his own bed4 #bj ,and he cried unto the ,lord and said1 ,o ,lord my ,god1 hast thou also brought evil upon the widow by slaying her son8 #ba ,and be stretched himself upon the child three times1 and cried unto the ,lord1 and said1 ,o ,lord my ,god1 ,i pray thee1 let this child's soul come into him again4 #bb ,and the ,lord heard the voice of ,elijah2 and the soul of the child came into him again1 and he revived4 #bc ,and ,elijah took the child and delivered him unto his mother1 and said1 ,see1 thy son liveth4 #bd ,and the woman said1 ,now ,i know that thou art a man of ,god4 ,the history of ,elijah the prophet begins somewhat abruptly1 without any mention of father1 of family or of country4 ,he seems1 as it were1 suddenly to drop from the clouds4 ,he does not come with glad tidings of joy to the people2 but with prophecies of a prolonged famine1 in which there shall be neither rain nor dew to moisten the earth1 until ,king ,ahab and his people repent of their sins4 ,elijah himself was fed by ravens in a miraculous manner1 and later by a poor widow who had only just enough in her larder to furnish one meal for herself and her son4 ,here are a series of complications enough to stagger the faith of the strongest believer in the supernatural4 ,but the poor widow meets him at the gates of the city as directed by the ,lord1 improvises bread and water1 takes him to her home and for two years treats him with all the kindness and the attention which she would naturally give to one of her own kinsmen4 ,oh6 woman1 great is thy faith1 exclaimed the prophet4 ,women are so easily deluded that most of the miracles of the ,bible are performed for their benefit2 and1 as in the case of the witch of ,endor1 she occasionally performs some herself4 ,the widow believed that ,elijah was a man of ,god1 and that she could do whatever he ordered2 that she could get water1 though there had been a drought for a long time2 that although she had only a handful of meal and a little cruse of oil1 yet they would increase day by day4 ,never did corn or olives in the growing1 says ,bishop ,hall1 increase as did that of the widow in the using4 ,during the two years in which she entertained the prophet1 she enjoyed peace and prosperity2 but when she supposed that her son was dead1 her faith wavered2 and she deplored her kindness to the prophet1 and reproved him for bringing sorrow upon her household4 ,however1 as the prophet was able to restore him to life1 her faith was restored also4 ,this is the first record which we have of the restoration of the dead to life in the ,bible2 and it is the first also of any one ascending into heaven in a chariot of fire with horses of fire4 ,probably ,elijah knew how to construct a balloon4 ,much of the ascending and the descending of seers1 of angels and of prophets which astonished the ignorant was accomplished in balloons--a lost art for many centuries4 ,no doubt that the poor widow1 when she saw ,elijah ascend1 thought that he went straight to heaven1 though in all probability he landed at twilight in some retired corn field or olive grove1 at some distance from the point where his ascent took place4 ,the question is often asked where the ravens got the cooked meat and bread for the prophet4 ,knowing their impelling instinct to steal1 the ,creator felt safe in trusting his prophet to their care1 and they proved themselves worthy his confidence4 ,their rookeries were near the cave where ,elijah was sequestered4 ,having keen olfactories1 they smelt the cooking of dainty viands from afar4 ,guided by this sense1 they perched on a fence near by where they could watch the movements of the cook1 and when her back was turned they flew in and seized the little birds and soft shell crabs and carried them to ,elijah1 halting by the way only long enough to satisfy their own imperative hunger4 ,jezebel was ,elijah's greatest enemy2 yet the ,lord bade him hide in her country by the brook ,cherith1 that he might have plenty of water4 ,the ,lord hid him so that the people should not besiege him to shorten the drought4 ,so he was entirely alone with the ravens1 and had all his time for prayer and contemplation4 ,when removed from the care of the ravens1 the ,lord did not send him to the rich and the prosperous1 but to a poor widow1 who1 believing him a man of ,god1 ministered to his necessities4 ,she did not suggest that he was a stranger to her and that water cost money1 but hastened to do whatever he ordered4 ,she had her recompense in the restoration of her son to life4 ,in the prophet's struggle with ,god for this blessing to the widow1 the man appears to greater advantage than does the ,master4 ,it appears from the reports in our metropolitan journals that a railroad is now about to be built from ,tor to the summit of ,mount ,sinai4 ,the mountain is only accessible on one side4 ,a depot1 it is said1 will be erected near the spot where a stone cross was placed by the ,russian ,empress ,helena1 and where1 according to tradition1 ,moses stood when receiving the commandments4 ,the railroad will also pass the cave in which the prophet ,elijah remained in hiding while fleeing from the priest of ,baal4 #a ,kings xxi4 ,and it came to pass after these things1 that ,naboth the ,jezreelite had a vineyard1 hard by the palace of ,ahab king of ,samaria4 #b ,and ,ahab spake unto ,naboth1 saying1 ,give me thy vineyard1 because it is near unto my house3 and ,i will give thee the worth of it4 #c ,and ,naboth said to ,ahab1 ,the ,lord forbid that ,i should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee4 #d ,and ,ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which ,naboth had spoken to him4 ,and he laid him down upon his bed1 and turned away his face1 and would eat no bread4 #e ,but ,jezebel his wife came to him1 and said unto him1 ,why is thy spirit so sad8 #f ,and he said unto her1 ,because ,i spake unto ,naboth1 and said unto him1 ,give me thy vineyard for money2 and he answered1 ,i will not4 #g ,and ,jezebel his wife said unto him1 ,dost thou now govern the kingdom of ,israel8 arise1 and let thine heart be merry3 ,i will give thee the vineyard of ,naboth4 #h ,so she wrote letters in ,ahab's name1 and sealed them with his seal1 and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city4 #i ,and she wrote in the letters1 saying1 ,proclaim a fast1 and set ,naboth on high among the people3 #aj ,and set two men1 sons of ,belial1 before him1 to bear witness against him1 saying1 ,thou didst blaspheme ,god and the king4 ,and then carry him out1 and stone him1 that he may die4 #aa ,and the men of his city did as ,jezebel had sent unto them4 #ab ,they proclaimed a fast1 and set ,naboth on high among the people4 #ac ,and there came in two men and sat before him3 and the men witnessed against him1 saying1 ,naboth did blaspheme ,god and the king4 ,then they carried him forth and stoned him with stones1 that he died4 #ad ,then they sent to ,jezebel1 saying1 ,naboth is dead4 #ae ,and it came to pass1 when ,jezebel beard that ,naboth was dead1 she said to ,ahab1 ,arise1 take possession of the vineyard4 ,jezebel1 the daughter of the king of the ,zidonians and the wife of ,ahab1 is generally referred to as the most wicked and cruel woman on record2 and her name is the synonym of all that is evil4 ,she came honestly by these characteristics1 if it is true that evil communications corrupt good manners1 as her husband ,ahab was the most wicked of all the kings of ,israel4 ,and yet he does not seem to have been a man of much fortitude2 for in a slight disappointment in the purchase of land he comes home in a hopeless mood1 throws himself on his bed and turns his face to the wall4 ,according to the text1 ,jezebel was equal to the occasion4 ,she not only infused new life into ,ahab1 but got possession of the desired land1 though in a most infamous manner4 ,the false prophetess spoken of in ,rev4 ii41 #bj1 is called ,jezebel4 ,she was a devout adherent and worshiper of ,baal and influenced ,ahab to follow strange gods4 ,he reigned twenty-two years without one worthy action to gild his memory4 ,jezebel's death1 like her life1 was a tragedy of evil4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,all we know about ,jezebel is told us by a rival religionist1 who hated her as the ,pope of ,rome hated ,martin ,luther1 or as an ,american ,a4 ,p4 ,a4 now hates a ,roman ,catholic4 ,nevertheless1 even the ,jewish historian1 evidently biassed against ,jezebel by his theological prejudices as he is1 does not give any facts whatever which warrant the assertion that ,jezebel was any more satanic than the ancient ,israelitish gentleman1 to whom her theological views were opposed4 ,of course we1 at this stage of scientific thought1 know that ,jezebel's religion was not an admirable one4 ,strangely enough1 for a religion1 it actually made her intolerant6 ,but to ,jezebel it was a truth1 for which she battled as bravely as ,elijah did for what he imagined to be eternal verity4 ,the facts1 admitted even by the historian who hated her1 prove that1 notwithstanding her unfortunate and childish conception of theology1 ,jezebel was a brave1 fearless1 generous woman1 so wholly devoted to her own husband that even wrong seemed justifiable to her1 if she could thereby make him happy4 7,in that respect she seems to have entirely fulfilled the ,southern ,methodist's ideal of the pattern wife absorbed in her husband47 ,four hundred of the preachers of her own faith were fed at her table 7what a pity we have not their opinion of their benefactor674 ,elijah was the preacher of a new and rival religion1 which ,jezebel1 naturally1 regarded with that same abhorrence which the established always feel for the innovating4 ,to her1 ,elijahism doubtless appeared as did ,christianity to the ,jews1 ,lutheranism to the ,pope1 or ,john ,wesleyism to the ,church of ,england2 but in the days of the ,israelites the world had not developed that sweet patience with heresy which animates the ,andover theologians of our time1 and ,jezebel had as little forbearance with ,elijah as had ,torquemada with the ,jews or ,elizabeth with the ,puritans4 ,yet1 to do ,jezebel justice1 we must ask ourselves1 how did the assumedly good ,elijah proceed in order to persuade her of the superiority of his truth8 ,it is painful to have to relate that that much overestimated man of ,god invited four hundred and fifty of ,jezebel's preachers to an open air exhibition of miracles1 but1 not satisfied with gaining a victory over them in this display1 he pursued his defeated rivals in religion1 shouting1 ,let not one of them escape6 and thus roused the thoughtless mob of lookers-on to slaughter the whole four hundred and fifty in cold blood6 ,jezebel had signalized her advent as queen by slaying ,israelitish preachers in order to put her own preachers in office4 ,elijah promptly retaliated at his earliest opportunity4 ,it seems to me that it would puzzle a disinterested person to decide which of those savage deeds was more satanic than the other1 and to imagine why ,jezebel is now dragged forth to shake her gory locks as a frightful example to the ,american women who ask for recognized right to self-government4 ,i submit1 that if ,jezebel is a disgrace to womankind1 our dear brethren at any rate have not much cause to be proud of ,elijah1 so1 possibly1 we might strike a truce over the character of these two long-buried worthies4 ,it may be well1 though1 to note here that the now most offensive epithet which the ,english translators attached to ,jezebel's name1 originally signified nothing more than that she was consecrated to the worship of a religion1 rival to that which ancient ,israel assumed to be the only true one4 ,e4 ,b4 ,d4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #b ,kings iv4 #a ,now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto ,elisha1 saying1 ,thy servant my husband is dead2 and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the ,lord3 and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen4 #b ,and ,elisha said unto her1 ,what shall ,i do for thee8 tell me1 what hast thou in the house8 ,and she said1 ,thine handmaid hath not anything save a pot of oil4 #c ,then he said1 ,go1 borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors1 #d ,and when thou art come in1 thou shalt shut the door and shalt pour out into all those vessels1 and thou shalt set aside that which is full4 #e ,so she shut the door and poured out4 #f ,and it came to pass1 when the vessels were full1 that she said unto her son1 ,bring me yet a vessel4 ,and he said unto her1 ,there is not a vessel more4 ,and the oil stayed4 #g ,then she came and told the man of ,god4 ,and he said1 ,go1 sell the oil1 and pay thy debt1 and live thou and thy children of the rest4 ,the first ,book of ,kings had an illustrious beginning in the glories of the kingdom of ,israel when it was entirely under ,king ,david and in the beginning of the reign of ,solomon2 but the second book has a melancholy outlook in the desolation and division of the kingdom of ,israel and of ,judea4 ,then ,elijah and ,elisha1 their prophets1 instructed the princes and the people in all that would come to pass1 the captivity of the ten tribes1 the destruction of ,jerusalem1 and the good reigns of ,josiah and of ,hezekiah4 ,this book contains the mention of four women1 but only in a perfunctory manner1 more to exhibit the accomplishments of the prophet ,elisha than his beneficiaries4 ,he raises the dead1 surpasses our ,standard ,oil ,company in the production of that valuable article of commerce1 cures one man of leprosy and cruelly fastens the disease on his servant for being guilty of a pardonable prevarication4 ,only one of the women mentioned has a name4 ,one is the widow of a prophet1 whom ,elisha helps to pay off all her debts2 for another he intercedes with the ,lord to give her a son2 another1 is the little captive maid of the tribe of ,israel2 and the last a wicked queen1 ,athaliah1 who sought to kill the heir apparent4 ,she rivalled ,jezebel in her evil propensities and suffered the same tragic death4 ,as the historian proceeds from book to book less is said of the mothers of the various tribes1 unless some deed of darkness is called for1 that the men would fain avoid1 then some ,jezebel is resurrected for that purpose4 ,they are seldom required to rise to a higher moral altitude than the men of the tribe1 and are sometimes permitted to fall below it4 #b ,kings iv4 #h ,and it fell on a day1 that ,elisha passed to ,shunem1 where was a great woman2 and she constrained him to eat bread4 #i ,and she said unto her husband1 ,behold now1 ,i perceive that this is a holy man of ,god4 #aj ,let us make a little chamber on the wall4 #aa ,and it fell on a day that1 he came thither2 and he turned into the chamber1 and lay there4 #ab ,and he said to ,gehazi his servant1 ,call this ,shunammite4 ,and she came and stood before him4 ,and he said1 ,thou shalt embrace a son4 ,and she said1 ,nay1 thou man of ,god1 do not lie unto thine handmaid4 #ag ,and the woman bare a son4 #ah ,and when the child was grown1 he went out to his father to the reapers4 #ai ,and said1 ,my head1 my head6 ,and he said to a lad1 ,carry him to his mother4 #bj ,and when he had brought him to his mother1 he sat on her knees till noon1 and then died4 #ba ,and she went up1 and laid him on the bed of the man of ,god1 and shut the door upon him1 and went out4 #bd ,and she saddled an ass1 and said to her servant1 ,drive2 slack not thy riding1 except ,i bid thee4 #be ,so she went unto the man of ,god to ,mount ,carmel4 #cb ,and when ,elisha was come into the house1 behold the child was dead4 #cc ,he went in and shut the door and prayed unto the ,lord4 #cd ,and lay upon the child1 and put his mouth upon his mouth1 and his eyes upon his eyes1 and his hands upon his bands2 and he stretched himself upon the child2 and the flesh of the child waxed warm4 #ce ,then he walked to and fro2 and went up1 and stretched upon him2 and the child sneezed seven times1 and opened his eyes1 #cf ,and he called ,gehazi1 and said1 ,call this ,shunammite4 ,so he called her4 ,and when she was come in unto him1 he said1 ,take up thy son4 #cg ,then she fell at his feet1 and bowed herself to the ground1 and took up her son4 ,elisha seems to have had the same power of working miracles which ,elijah possessed4 ,in his travels about the country he often passed the city of ,shunem1 where he heard of a great woman who was very hospitable and had a rich husband4 ,she had often noticed the prophet passing by2 and knowing that he was a godly man1 and that he could be better entertained at her house than elsewhere1 she proposed to her husband to invite him there4 ,so they arranged an apartment for him in a quiet part of the house that he might have opportunities for worship and contemplation4 ,after spending much time under her roof1 he naturally desired to make some recompense4 ,so he asked her if there was anything that he could do for her at court1 any favor which she desired of the king4 ,but she said no1 as she had all the blessings which she desired1 except1 as they had great wealth and no children to inherit it1 she would like a son4 ,she had probably heard of all that the ,lord had done in that line for ,sarah and ,rebecca and the wives of ,manoah and ,elkanah2 so she was not much surprised when the prophet suggested such a contingency2 and she bare a son4 ,in due time1 when the son was grown1 he was taken suddenly ill and died4 ,the mother supposed that1 as by a miracle he was brought into life1 the prophet might raise him from the dead4 ,accordingly1 she harnessed her mule and hastened to the prophet1 who promptly returned with her and restored him to life4 ,she was a very discreet and judicious woman and her husband had always entrusted everything to her management4 ,she was devout and conscientious and greatly enjoyed the godly conversation of the prophet4 ,she was known in the city as a great and good woman4 ,though we find here and there among the women of the ,bible some exceptionally evil minded1 yet the wise and virtuous predominate1 and1 fortunately for the race1 this is the case in the ,american ,republic to-day4 #b ,kings v4 #a ,now ,naaman1 captain of the hosts of the king of ,syria1 was a great man with his master1 and honorable1 because by him the ,lord had given deliverance unto ,syria3 he was also a mighty man of valor1 but he was a leper4 #b ,and the ,syrians had brought away captive out of the land of ,israel a little maid1 and she waited on ,naaman's wife4 #c ,and she said unto her mistress1 ,would my lord were with the prophet that is in ,samaria6 for he would recover him of his leprosy4 #d ,and one went in and told his lord1 saying1 ,thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of ,israel4 ,naaman1 a ,syrian general and prime minister1 was a great man in a great place4 ,he was happy1 too1 in that he had been serviceable to his country and honored by his prince4 ,but alas6 he was a leper4 ,it was generally supposed that this was an affliction for evil doing1 but ,naaman was an exceptionally perfect man4 ,a little maid from ,israel had been carried captive into ,syria and fortunately was taken into the family of the great general1 as an attendant on his wife4 ,while making the wife's toilet they no doubt chatted quite freely of what was going on in the outside world4 ,so the little maid1 sympathizing with her master in his affliction1 told the wife there was a prophet in ,israel who could cure him of his leprosy4 ,her earnestness roused him and his wife to make the experiment4 ,but after loading his white mules with many valuable gifts1 and taking a great retinue of soldiers to dazzle the prophet with ,syrian magnificence1 the prophet did not deign to meet him1 but sent word to him to bathe in the river ,jordan4 ,even a letter from the king did not ensure a personal interview4 ,so the general1 with all his pomp1 went off in great wrath4 ,are not1 said he1 the rivers of ,damascus1 ,abana and ,pharpar1 greater than the ,jordan8 ,cannot all the skill in ,syria accomplish as much as the prophet in ,israel8 ,however1 the little maid urged him to try the river ,jordan1 as he was near that point1 so he did and was healed4 #b ,kings viii4 ,then spake ,elisha unto the woman1 whose son he had restored to life1 saying1 sojourn wheresoever thou canst for a famine shall come upon the land seven years4 #b ,and the woman arose1 and did after the saying of the man of ,god3 #c ,and it came to pass at the seven years' end1 that the woman returned out of the land of the ,philistines3 and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and land4 #d ,and the king talked with ,gehazi saying1 ,tell me1 ,i pray thee1 all the great things that ,elisha bath done4 #e ,and it came to pass1 as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life1 that1 behold1 the woman cried to the king for her house and land4 ,and ,gehazi said1 ,my lord1 ,o king1 this is the woman1 and this is her son1 whom ,elisha restored to life4 #f ,and when the king asked the woman1 she told him4 ,so the king appointed unto her a certain officer1 saying1 ,restore all that was hers1 and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land1 even until now4 ,in due time her husband died2 and there was a famine2 and she went for a season to the land of the ,philistines2 and when she returned she could not recover her possessions4 ,then ,elisha befriended her and appealed to the king2 and she was reinstated in her own home4 ,elisha was very democratic4 ,he had his servant sleep in his own chamber and consulted him in regard to many important matters4 ,gehazi never forgot his place but once1 when he ran after the great ,syrian general to ask for the valuable presents which the prophet had declined4 ,both ,elijah and ,elisha preferred to do their missionary work among the common people1 finding them more teachable and superstitious4 ,especially is this true of woman at all periods4 ,in great revival seasons in our own day1 one will always see a dozen women on the anxious seat to one man1 and the same at the communion table4 #b ,kings xi4 ,and when ,athaliah the mother of ,ahaziah saw that her son was dead1 she arose and destroyed all the seed royal4 #b ,but ,jehosheba1 sister of ,ahaziah1 took ,joash the son of ,ahaziah1 and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain2 and they hid him and his nurse4 #c ,and he was with her hid in the house of the ,lord six years4 ,and ,athaliah did reign over the land4 #ab ,and ,jehoiada1 the priest brought forth the king's son1 and put the crown upon him2 and they made him king1 and anointed him2 and they clapped their hands1 and said1 ,god save the king4 #ac ,and when ,athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people1 she came into the temple of the ,lord4 #ad ,and hen she looked1 behold1 the king stood by a pillar2 and she rent her clothes and cried1 ,treason1 treason4 #bj ,and they slew ,athaliah with the sword beside the king's house4 #ba ,seven years old was ,jehoash when he began to reign4 ,never was royal blood more profusely shed1 and never a meaner ambition than to destroy a reigning family in order to be the last occupant on the throne4 ,the daughter of a king1 the wife of a king1 and the mother of a king1 should have had some mercy on her family descendants4 ,personal ambition can never compensate for the loss of the love and companionship of kindred4 ,such characters as ,athaliah are abnormal1 their lives not worth recording4 #b ,kings xxii4 #aa ,and it came to pass1 when the king had heard the words of the book of the law1 that he rent his clothes4 #ab ,and the king commanded ,hilkiah the priest1 #ac ,go ye1 inquire of the ,lord for me1 and for the people1 and for all ,judah1 concerning the words of this book that is found3 for great is the wrath of the ,lord that is kindled against us1 because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book1 to do according unto all that which is written concerning us4 #ad ,so ,hilkiah the priest1 and the wise men went unto ,huldah the prophetess1 the wife of ,shallum keeper of the wardrobe2 7now she dwelt in ,jerusalem in the college72 and they communed with her4 #ae ,and she said unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 ,tell the man that sent you to me4 #af ,thus saith the ,lord1 ,behold1 ,i will bring evil upon this place1 and upon the inhabitants thereof1 even all the words of the book which the king of ,judah hath read3 #ag ,because they have forsaken me1 and have burned incense unto other gods4 #ah ,but to the king of ,judah which sent you to inquire of the ,lord1 thus shall ye say to him1 #ai ,because thine heart was tender1 and thou hast humbled thyself before the ,lord1 when thou heardest what ,i spake against this place1 #bj ,behold therefore1 ,i will gather thee unto thy fathers1 and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace2 and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which ,i will bring upon this place4 ,and they brought the king word again4 ,the greatest character among the women thus far mentioned is ,huldah the prophetess1 residing in the college in ,jerusalem4 ,she was a statesman as well as a prophetess1 understanding the true policy of government and the ,jewish system of jurisprudence1 able not only to advise the common people of their duties to ,jehovah and their country1 but to teach kings the sound basis for a kingdom4 ,her wisdom and insight were well known to ,josiah the king2 and when the wise men came to him with the ,book of the ,law1 to learn what was written therein1 ,josiah ordered them to take it to ,huldah1 as neither the wise men nor ,josiah himself could interpret its contents4 ,it is fair to suppose that there was not a man at court who could read the book2 hence the honor devolved upon ,huldah4 ,even ,shallum her husband was not consulted1 as he occupied the humble office of keeper of the robes4 ,while ,huldah was pondering great questions of ,state and ,ecclesiastical ,law1 her husband was probably arranging the royal buttons and buckles of the household4 ,this is the first mention of a woman in a college4 ,she was doubtless a professor of jurisprudence1 or of the languages4 ,she evidently had other gifts besides that of prophecy4 ,we should not have had such a struggle in our day to open the college doors had the clergy read of the dignity accorded to ,huldah4 ,people who talk the most of what the ,bible teaches often know the least about its contents4 ,some years ago1 when we were trying to establish a woman's college1 we asked a rich widow1 worth millions1 to contribute4 ,she said that she would ask her pastor what she ought to do about it4 ,he referred her to the ,bible1 saying that this book makes no mention of colleges for women4 ,to her great surprise1 ,i referred her to #b ,kings xxii4 ,both she and her pastor felt rather ashamed that they did not know what their ,bible did teach4 ,the widow gave #cj1jjj soon after to a ,theological ,seminary1 being more interested in the education of boys and in the promulgation of church dogmas1 creeds and superstitions1 than in the education of the ,mothers of the ,race in the natural sciences4 ,now1 women had performed great deeds in ,bible times4 ,miriam had helped to lead ,israel out of ,egypt4 ,deborah judged them1 and led the army against the enemy1 and ,huldah instructed them in their duties to the nation4 ,although ,jeremiah and ,zephaniah were prophets at this time1 yet the king chose ,huldah as the oracle4 ,she was one of the ladies of the court1 and resided in the second rank of buildings from the royal palace4 ,marriage1 in her case1 does not appear to have been any obstacle in the way of individual freedom and dignity4 ,she had evidently outgrown the curse of subjection pronounced in the ,garden of ,eden1 as had many other of the ,jewish women4 ,there is a great discrepancy between the character and the conduct of many of the women1 and the designs of ,god as set forth in the ,scriptures and enforced by the discipline of the ,church to-day4 ,imagine the moral hardihood of the reverend gentlemen who should dare to reject such women as ,deborah1 ,huldah and ,vashti as delegates to a ,methodist conference1 and claim the approval of ,god for such an indignity4 ,in the four following books1 from ,kings to ,esther1 there is no mention of women4 ,during that long1 eventful period the men must have sprung1 ,minerva-like1 from the brains of their fathers1 fully armed and equipped for the battle of life4 ,having no infancy1 there was no need of mothers4 ,as two remarkable women flourished at the close of one period and at the dawn of the other1 we shall make no record of the masculine dynasty which intervened1 satisfied that ,huldah and ,vashti added new glory to their day and generation--one by her learning and the other by her disobedience2 for ,resistance to tyrants is obedience to ,god4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,esther4 ,esther i4 #b ,in those days when ,king ,ahasuerus sat upon the throne in the palace at ,shushan1 #c ,in the third year of his reign1 he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants2 the power of ,persia and ,media1 the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him3 #d ,when he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days4 #e ,and when these days were expired1 the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in ,shushan the palace1 both unto great and small1 seven days1 in the court of the garden2 #f ,where were white1 green and blue hangings1 fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble3 the beds were of gold and silver1 upon a pavement of red1 and blue1 and white1 and black marble4 #g ,and they gave them drink in vessels of gold1 and royal wine in abundance4 #i ,also ,vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house4 #aj ,on the seventh day1 when the heart of the king was merry with wine1 he commanded3 #aa ,to bring ,vashti the queen with the crown royal1 to shew the people and the princes her beauty3 for she was fair to look on4 #ab ,but the queen ,vashti refused to come3 therefore was the king very wroth4 #ac ,then the king said to the wise men1 #ae ,what shall we do unto the queen ,vashti according to the law8 #af ,and ,memucan answered1 ,vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only1 but also to all the people that are in the provinces of the king4 #ag ,for this deed shall come abroad unto all women1 so that they shall despise their husbands4 ,the king ,ahasuerus commanded ,vashti the queen to be brought in before him1 but she came not4 #ah ,likewise shall the ladies of ,persia and ,media say this day unto all the king's princes1 which have beard of the deed of the queen4 #ai ,if it please the king1 let there go a royal command from him1 and let it be written among the laws of the ,persians and the ,medes1 ,that ,vashti come no more before king ,ahasuerus2 and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she4 #bj ,and when the king's decree shall be published throughout his empire1 all the wives shall give to their husband's honor1 both to great and small4 #ba ,and the saying pleased the king and the princes2 and the king did accordingly to the word of ,memucan3 #bb ,for he sent letters into all the provinces1 that every man should bear rule in his own house4 ,the kingdom of ,ahasuerus extended from ,india to ,ethiopia1 consisting of one hundred and twenty-seven provinces1 an overgrown kingdom which in time sunk by its own weight4 ,the king was fond of display and invited subjects from all his provinces to come by turns to behold his magnificent palaces and sumptuous entertainments4 ,he gave two great feasts in the beginning of his reign1 one to the nobles and the princes1 and one to the people1 which lasted over a hundred days4 ,the king had the feast for the men spread in the court under the trees4 ,vashti entertained her guests in the great hall of the palace4 ,it was not the custom among the ,persians for the sexes to eat promiscuously together1 especially when the king and the princes were partaking freely of wine4 ,this feast ended in heaviness1 not as ,balshazzar's with a handwriting on the wall1 nor like that of ,job's children with a wind from the wilderness1 but by the folly of the king1 with an unhappy falling out between the queen and himself1 which ended the feast abruptly and sent the guests away silent and ashamed4 ,he sent seven different messages to ,vashti to put on her royal crown1 which greatly enhanced her beauty1 and come to show his guests the majesty of his queen4 ,but to all the chamberlains alike she said1 ,go tell the king ,i will not come2 dignity and modesty alike forbid4 ,this vanity of a drunken man illustrates the truth of an old proverb1 ,when the wine is in1 the wit is out4 ,josephus says that all the court heard his command2 hence1 while he was showing the glory of his court1 he also showed that he had a wife who would do as she pleased4 ,besides seven chamberlains he had seven learned counsellors whom he consulted on all the affairs of ,state4 ,the day after the feast1 when all were sober once more1 they held a cabinet council to discuss a proper punishment for the rebellious queen4 ,memucan1 ,secretary of ,state1 advised that she be divorced for her disobedience and ordered to come no more before the king1 for unless she was severely punished1 he said1 all the women of ,medea and of ,persia would despise the commands of their husbands4 ,we have some grand types of women presented for our admiration in the ,bible4 ,deborah for her courage and military prowess2 ,huldah for her learning1 prophetic insight and statesmanship1 seated in the college in ,jerusalem1 where ,josiah the king sent his cabinet ministers to consult her as to the policy of his government2 ,esther1 who ruled as well as reigned1 and ,vashti1 who scorned the ,apostle's command1 ,wives1 obey your husbands4 ,she refused the king's orders to grace with her presence his revelling court4 ,tennyson pays this tribute to her virtue and dignity3 ,oh1 ,vashti6 noble ,vashti6 ,summoned forth1 she kept her state1 ,and left the drunken king to brawl ,in ,shushan underneath his palms4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the feast1 with the preliminary exhibition of the king's magnificent palace and treasures1 was not a social occasion in which the king and the queen participated under the same roof4 ,the equal dignity of woman and of queen as companion of the king was not recognized4 ,the men feasted together purely as a physical enjoyment4 ,if there was any intellectual feature of the occasion it is not recorded4 ,on the seventh day1 when appetite was satiated and the heart of the king was merry with wine1 as a further means of gratifying sensual tastes and exhibiting his power1 the king bethought him of the beauty of the queen4 ,the command to the chamberlains was to bring ,vashti4 ,it was such an order as he might have sent to the jester1 or to any other person whose sole duty was to do the king's bidding1 and whose presence might add to the entertainment of his assemblage of men4 ,it was not an invitation which anywise recognized the queen's condescension in honoring the company by her presence4 ,but ,vashti refused to come at the king's command6 ,an unprecedented act of both wife and queen4 ,probably ,vashti had had previous knowledge of the condition of the king when his heart was merry with wine and when the physical man was under the effects of seven day's conviviality4 ,she had a higher idea of womanly dignity than placing herself on exhibition as one of the king's possessions1 which it pleased him to present to his assembled princes4 ,vashti is conspicuous as the first woman recorded whose self-respect and courage enabled her to act contrary to the will of her husband4 ,she was the first woman who dared4 ,this was the more marked because her husband was also king4 ,so far as the record proves1 woman had been obedient to the commands of the husband and the father1 or1 if seeking to avoid them1 had sought indirect methods and diplomacy4 ,it was the first exhibition of the individual sovereignty of woman on record4 ,excepting ,deborah as judge1 no example had been given of a woman who formed her own judgment and acted upon it4 ,there had been no exhibition of a self-respecting womanhood which might stand for a higher type of social life than was customary among men4 ,vashti was the prototype of the higher unfoldment of woman beyond her time4 ,she stands for the point in human development when womanliness asserts itself and begins to revolt and to throw off the yoke of sensualism and of tyranny4 ,her revolt was not an overt act1 or a criticism of the proceedings of the king4 ,it was merely exercising her own judgment as to her own proceeding4 ,she did not choose to be brought before the assembly of men as an exhibit4 ,the growth of self-respect and of individual sovereignty in woman has been slow4 ,the sequence of ,vashti's refusal to obey the king suggests at least one of the reasons why the law has been made1 as it has down to the present day1 by men alone4 ,woman has not been consulted1 as she is not consulted to-day about any law1 even such as bears especially upon herself1 but was and is expected to obey it4 ,the idea of maintaining the respect of women and of wives by worthiness and by nobility of character and of manner1 had not been born in the man of that day4 ,the husband was to be held an authority4 ,his superiority was his power to command obedience4 ,and when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire1 all the wives shall give to their husbands honour1 both great and small4 ,king ,ahasuerus was but a forerunner of the more modern lawmaker1 who seeks the same end of male rulership1 by making the wife and all property the possession of the husband4 ,that every living soul has an inherent right to control its life and activities1 and that woman equally with man should enjoy this opportunity1 had not dawned upon the consciousness of the men of the times of ,ahasuerus4 ,vashti stands out a sublime representative of self-centred womanhood4 ,rising to the heights of self-consciousness and of self-respect1 she takes her soul into her own keeping1 and though her position both as wife and as queen are jeopardized1 she is true to the ,divine aspirations of her nature4 ,l4 ,b4 ,c4 ,esther ii4 ,after these things1 when the wrath of king ,ahasuerus was appeased1 he remembered ,vashti1 and what she had done1 and what was decreed against her4 #b ,then said his servants1 ,let there be fair young virgins sought for the king3 #c ,and let him appoint officers in all the provinces that they may gather together the fair young virgins unto ,shushan the palace1 #d ,and let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of ,vashti4 ,and the thing pleased the king2 and he did so4 #e ,now in ,shushan the palace there was a certain ,jew1 whose name was ,mordecai4 #g ,and he brought up ,hadassah1 that is1 ,esther1 his uncle's daughter2 for she had neither father nor mother1 and the maid was fair and beautiful2 whom ,moredcai sic1 when her father and mother were dead1 took for his own daughter4 #h ,so it came to pass1 when the king's commandment was heard1 and when many maidens were gathered together1 that ,esther was brought also unto the king's house4 #aa ,and ,mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house1 to know how ,esther did1 and what should become of her4 #ag ,and the king loved ,esther above all the women1 and she obtained grace and favour in his sight2 so that be set the royal crown upon her head1 and made her queen instead of ,vashti4 #ah ,then the king made a great feast1 even ,esther's feast2 and he made a release to the provinces1 and gave gifts1 according to the state of the king4 ,esther was a ,jewess1 one of the children of the captivity1 an orphan whom ,mordecai adopted as his own child4 ,she was beautiful1 symmetrical in form1 fair in face1 and of rare intelligence4 ,her wisdom and virtue were her greatest gifts4 ,it is an advantage to a diamond even to be well set4 ,mordecai was her cousin-german and her guardian4 ,it was said that he intended to marry her2 but when he saw what her prospects in life were1 and what she might do as a favorite of the king for his own promotion and the safety of his people1 he held his individual affection in abeyance for the benefit of his race and the safety of the king2 for he soon saw the dishonest1 intriguing character of ,haman1 whom he despised in his heart and to whom he would not bow in passing1 nor make any show of respect4 ,as he was a keeper of the door and sat at the king's gate1 he had many opportunities to show his disrespect4 ,he discovered a plot against the king's life which he revealed to ,esther1 that1 in due time1 secured him promotion to the head of the king's cabinet4 ,but in the meantime ,haman had the ear of the king2 and to revenge the indignities of ,mordecai1 he decided to slay all the ,jews throughout all the provinces of the kingdom1 and procured an edict to that effect from the king1 and stamped with the king's signet ring the letters that he sent by post into all the provinces4 ,the day was set for this terrible slaughter2 and the ,jews were fasting in sack-cloth and ashes4 ,the king loved ,esther above all the women and had made her his queen4 ,she was not known at court as a ,jewess1 but was supposed to be of ,persian extraction4 ,mordecai had told her to say nothing on that subject4 ,ahasuerus placed the royal crown upon her head1 and solemnized her coronation with a great feast1 which ,esther graced with her presence1 at the request of the king4 ,she profited by the example of ,vashti1 and saw the good policy of at least making a show of obedience in all things4 ,mordecai walked up and down past her door many times a day2 and through a faithful messenger kept her informed of all that transpired1 so she was aware of the plot ,haman had laid against her people4 ,so she made a banquet for the king and ,haman1 and told the king the effect of his royal edict and letters sent by post in all the provinces stamped with his ring4 ,she told him of ,mordecai's faithfulness in saving his life2 that she and ,mordecai were ,jews1 and that it was their people who were to be slain1 young and old1 women and children1 without mercy2 that their possessions were to be confiscated to raise the money which ,haman promised to put into the royal treasury1 and that ,haman had already built a gallows thirty feet high on which ,mordecai was to be hanged4 ,haman trembled in the presence of the king1 who ordered him to be hanged on the gallows which he had prepared for ,mordecai2 and the latter was installed as the favorite of the king4 ,the family and the followers of ,haman were slain by the thousands1 and the ,jews were filled with gladness4 ,the day appointed for their destruction was one of thanksgiving4 ,they appointed a certain day in the last month of the year1 just before the ,passover1 to be kept ever after as the feast of ,purim1 one of thanksgiving for their deliverance from the vengeance of ,haman4 ,purim is a ,persian word4 ,it is not a holy day feast1 but of human appointment4 ,it is celebrated at the present time1 and in the service the whole story is told4 ,it is to be regretted that this feast often ends in gluttony4 ,one commentator says that the ,talmud states that in the feast of ,purim a man may drink until he knows not the difference between cursed be ,haman and blessed be ,mordecai4 ,if the ,talmud means that he may drink the wine of good fellowship until all feelings of vengeance1 hatred and malice are banished from the human soul1 the sentiment is not so objectionable as at the first blush it appears4 ,there is one thing in the ,jewish service worse than this1 and that is for each man to stand up in the synagogue every ,sabbath morning and say3 ,i thank thee1 ,o ,lord1 that ,i was not born a woman1 as if that were the depth of human degradation4 ,it is to be feared that the thanksgiving feast of the ,purim has degenerated in many localities into the same kind of a gathering as the ,irish wake4 ,in the history of ,esther1 those who believe in special ,providence will see that in her coming to the throne multitudes of her people were saved from a cruel death1 hence the disobedience of ,vashti was providential4 ,a faith that all things are working together for good1 that good only is positive1 evil negative1 is most cheerful and sustaining to the believer4 ,i have always regretted that the historian allowed ,vashti to drop out of sight so suddenly4 ,perhaps she was doomed to some menial service1 or to entire sequestration in her own apartments4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the record fails to state whether or not the king's judgment was modified in regard to ,vashti's refusal to appear on exhibition when his wrath abated4 ,but the decree had gone forth1 and could not be altered2 and ,vashti banished1 no further record of her fate appears4 ,the king's ministers at once set about providing a successor to ,vashti4 ,the king in those days had the advantage of the search for fair young virgins1 in that he could command the entire collection within his dominions4 ,the only consideration was whether or not the maiden pleased him4 ,there is no hint that the maiden was expected to signify her acceptance or rejection of the king's choice4 ,she was no more to be consulted than if she had been an animal4 ,her position as queen was but an added distinction of her lord and master4 ,esther1 the orphaned and adopted daughter of ,mordecai the ,jew1 was the favored maiden4 ,she was fair and beautiful4 ,the truth of the historic record of the men of those days is indisputable4 ,down to the present the average man sums up his estimate of woman by her looks4 ,is she fair to look upon is the criterion4 ,esther was destined to play an important part in the salvation of her people from the destructive purposes of ,haman1 who had been set above all the princes who were with him4 ,this young woman1 who had been crowned by her royal master because she pleased him1 was called upon by the peril of her people1 whom ,haman was seeking to destroy1 to place her own life in jeopardy1 by venturing to obtain audience with the king1 without having been summoned into his presence4 ,when ,esther received from ,mordecai the assurance1 ,think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the ,jews1 he asked1 ,who knoweth1 whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this8 then this young woman rose to the extremity of the situation4 ,she exercised a high degree of wisdom and courage1 and bade them return ,mordecai this answer3 ,go gather together all the ,jews that are present in ,shushan1 and fast ye for me1 and neither eat nor drink three days1 night or day2 ,i also and my maidens will fast likewise2 and so will ,i go in unto the king1 which is not according to the law2 and if ,i perish1 ,i perish4--,vs4 #ae1 #af4 ,she prepared herself thus by fasting to receive and to exercise the power of spirit4 ,her high purpose was only equalled by her unfaltering courage and entire self-abnegation4 ,vashti had exercised heroic courage in asserting womanly dignity and the inherent human right never recognized by kingship1 to choose whether to please and to obey the king4 ,esther1 so as to save her people from destruction1 risked her life4 ,this ,king ,ahasuerus1 who1 according to the record1 was only a man of selfish purposes1 delighting in power and given to the enjoyment of his passions1 was the legal lord and master of two women1 each distinguished by a nobility of character well worthy of the distinction of queen4 ,their royalty was of a higher order than that of sceptres and of crowns4 ,while we rejoice in the higher manhood which the centuries have evolved1 we are in this hour reminded of the dominating disposition of ,king ,ahasuerus and the habits of those times4 ,a distinguished man and a scholar in this closing nineteenth century claims that the family is necessarily a despotism1 and that man is the ruler of the household4 ,women as queenly1 as noble and as self-sacrificing as was ,esther1 as self-respecting and as brave as was ,vashti1 are hampered in their creative office by the unjust statutes of men2 but ,god is marching on2 and it is the seed of woman which is to bruise the head of the serpent4 ,it is not man's boasted superiority of intellect through which the eternally working ,divine power will perfect the race1 but the receptiveness and the love of woman4 ,l4 ,b4 ,c4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,job4 ,job i4 ,there was a man in the land of ,uz1 whose name was ,job2 and that man was perfect and upright1 and one that feared ,god4 #b ,and there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters4 #c ,his substance also was seven thousand sheep1 and three thousand camels1 and five hundred yoke of oxen1 and five hundred she asses1 and a very great household2 so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east4 #d ,and his sons feasted in their houses2 and sent and called for their three sisters to eat with them4 #f ,now there was a day when the sons of ,god came to present themselves before the ,lord1 and ,satan came also4 #g ,and the ,lord said unto ,satan1 ,whence comest thou8 ,satan answered1 ,from going to and fro in the earth4 #h ,and the ,lord said unto ,satan1 ,hast thou considered my servant ,job1 that there is none like him in the earth1 a perfect and an upright man4 #i ,then ,satan answered1 ,doth ,job fear ,god for nought8 #aj ,hast not thou made a hedge about him1 and about his house1 and about all that he hath on every side8 thou hast blessed the work of his hands4 #aa ,but put forth thine hand now1 and touch all that he hath1 and he will curse thee to thy face4 #ab ,and the ,lord said unto ,satan1 all that he hath is in thy power3 only upon himself put not forth thine hand4 ,so ,satan went forth from the presence of the ,lord4 #ad ,and there came a messenger unto ,job1 and said1 ,the oxen were ploughing1 and the asses feeding beside them3 #ae ,and the ,sabeans fell upon them1 and took them away2 yea1 they have stain the servants4 #af ,there came another1 and said1 fire is fallen from heaven1 and hath burned up the sheep4 #ag ,there came also another1 and said1 ,the ,chaldeans fell upon the camels1 and have carried them away4 #ah ,there came also another1 and said1 ,thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking4 #ai ,and1 behold there came a great wind and smote the four corners of the house1 and it fell upon1 the young men1 and they are dead4 #bj ,then ,job arose1 and rent his mantle1 and shaved his head1 and fell down upon the ground1 and worshiped4 ,job ii4 #i ,then said his wife unto him1 ,dost thou still retain thine integrity8 curse ,god and die4 #aj ,but he said unto her1 ,thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh4 ,what8 shall we receive good at the hand of ,god1 and shall we not receive evil8 ,job xlii4 #aa ,then came there unto him his brethren1 and his sisters1 and they that had been of his acquaintance before1 and did eat bread with him in his house3 and they comforted him over all the evil that the ,lord had brought upon him3 every man also gave him a piece of money1 and every one an earring of gold4 #ab ,so the ,lord blessed the latter end of ,job more than his beginning2 for he had fourteen thousand sheep1 and six thousand camels1 and a thousand yoke of oxen1 and a thousand she asses4 #ac ,he had also seven sons and three daughters4 #ae ,and in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of ,job2 and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren4 #af ,after this lived ,job a hundred and forty years4 #ag ,so ,job died1 being old and full of days4 ,the ,book of ,job opens with an imaginary discussion between the ,lord and ,satan as to the true character of ,job4 ,satan hates him because he is good1 and envies him because he is a favorite of the ,lord1 who expresses unbounded faith in his steadfastness to religious principles4 ,satan replies that ,job is all right in prosperity1 when surrounded with every comfort2 but stripped of his blessings1 his faith in a superintending ,providence would vanish like dew before the rising sun4 ,the ,lord said1 ,you may test ,job4 ,i give you permission to do your worst and to see if he will not remain as true in adversity as he is in prosperity4 ,the ,book of ,job is an epic poem1 an allegory1 to show the grand elements in human nature1 enabling mortals to rise superior to all trials and temptations1 to the humiliations of the spirit1 and to prolonged suffering in the flesh4 ,though illustrated in the personality of a man1 yet the principle applies equally to the wisdom and the virtue of woman4 ,the elements of ,job's goodness and greatness must have existed in his mother4 ,but little is said of women in this book2 and that little is by no means complimentary4 ,job's wife's name was ,dinah2 some commentators say that she was the daughter of ,jacob4 ,satan uses her as the last and most subtle influence for the downfall of his victim4 ,between the two forces of good and of evil1 the triumph of the spiritual nature over the temptations of the flesh1 the god-like in the human1 was thoroughly proven4 ,job is represented as a great man4 ,he has wealth1 inflexible integrity and a charming family life1 seven sons and three daughters1 immense herds of oxen1 sheep1 asses1 camels1 and servants without number4 ,the spirit of evil1 to test his faithfulness1 strips him of all his possessions4 ,in one day ,job's houses were destroyed1 his lands made desolate1 his cattle stolen and his children carried off in a whirlwind4 ,job was stunned by these calamities4 ,he put on sackcloth1 shaved his head1 as was the custom1 and calmly accepted the situation2 and his faith in the goodness of ,god remained4 ,then the spirit of evil1 to test him still further1 afflicted him with a terrible disease1 loathsome to endure and pitiful to behold4 ,his three friends1 ,eliphaz1 ,bildad and ,zophar1 mocked him in his misery4 ,his last affliction was the disgust of his wife4 ,she ridiculed his faith in ,god1 and scoffed at his piety1 as ,michal did at ,david4 ,she was spared to be his last tempter when all his comforts were taken away4 ,she bantered him for his constancy1 ,dost thou still maintain thy confidence in the ,god who has punished thee8 ,why dost thou be so obstinate in thy religion1 which serves no good to thee8 ,why truckle to a ,god who1 so far from rewarding thy services with marks of his favor1 seems to take pleasure in making thee miserable and scourges thee without any provocation8 ,is this a ,god to be still loved and served8 ',curse ,god and die4' ,she urges him to commit suicide4 ,better to die at once than to endure his life of lingering misery4 ,deserted by wife1 by friends1 and1 seemingly by ,god1 too1 ,job's faith wavered not4 ,the spirit of evil had done its worst4 ,man had proven his ,divine origin1 himself the incarnation of the great ,spirit of ,good2 and now that ,job had proved himself superior to all human calamities1 he is restored to health2 and all his earthly possessions are returned fourfold4 ,nothing more is said of his first wife1 but his ten children are restored4 ,the names of his three daughters are significant1 though not euphonious3 ,jemima1 the day1 because of ,job's prosperity2 ,kezia1 a spice1 because he was healed1 and ,karen-,happuch1 plenty restored4 ,god adorned them with great beauty1 no women being so fair as were the daughters of ,job4 ,in the ,old ,testament we often find women praised for their beauty2 but in the ,new ,testament we find no notice of physical charms1 not even in the ,virgin ,mary herself4 ,job gave to his daughters an equal inheritance with his sons4 ,it is pleasant to see that the brothers paid them marked attention1 and always invited them to their dinners1 and that his ten children were reproduced just as his flocks and his herds had been4 ,much more sympathy has been expressed by women for the wife1 than for ,job4 ,poor woman1 she had scraped lint1 nursed him and waited on him to the point of nervous exhaustion--no wonder that she was resigned to see him pass to ,abraham's bosom4 ,job lived one hundred and forty years4 ,some conjecture that he was seventy years old when his calamities came upon him1 so that his age was doubled with his other blessings4 ,whether ,dinah lived to cheer ,job's declining years1 or whether she was lured by ,satan to his kingdom1 does not appear2 but he is supposed to have had a second wife1 by the name of ,sitis--the probable mother of the second brood4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,books ,,of ,,psalms1 ,,proverbs1 ,,ecclesiastes ,,and ,,the ,,song ,,of ,,solomon4 ,,psalms4 ,psalms xlv4 #i ,kings' daughters were among thy honourable women3 upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of ,ophir4 #aj ,hearken1 ,o daughter1 and consider1 and incline thine ear2 forget also thine own people1 and thy father's house2 #aa ,so shall the ,king greatly desire thy beauty3 for he is thy ,lord2 and worship thou him4 #ab ,and the daughter of ,tyre shall be there with a gift3 even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour4 #ac ,the ,king's daughter is all glorious within3 her clothing is of wrought gold4 #ad ,she shall be brought unto the ,king in raiment of needlework3 the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee4 #ae ,with gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought3 they shall enter into the ,king's palace4 ,this book is supposed to have been written by ,david1 the son of ,jesse1 called the sweet psalmist of ,israel4 ,he had a taste for the arts1 a real genius for poetry and song4 ,many of the poems are beautiful in sentiment and celebrated as specimens of literature1 as are some passages in ,job2 but the general tone is pessimistic4 ,david's old age was full of repinings over the follies of his youth and of his middle age4 ,the declining years of a well-spent life should be the most peaceful and happy4 ,then the lessons of experience are understood1 and one knows how to bear its joys and sorrows with equal philosophy4 ,yet ,david in the twilight of his days seemed to dwell in the shadows of despair1 in sackcloth and ashes1 repenting for his own sins and bemoaning the evil tendency of men in general4 ,there is a passing mention of the existence of women as imaginary beings in the ,psalms1 the ,proverbs1 and ,the ,song of ,solomon1 but not illustrated by any grand personalities or individual characters4 ,psalms ii4 ,to the chief ,musician1 ,a ,psalm of ,david1 when ,nathan the prophet came unto him1 after he had gone in to ,bath-sheba4 #a ,have mercy upon me1 ,o ,god1 according to thy loving-kindness3 according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions4 #b ,wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity1 and cleanse me from my sin4 #c ,for ,i acknowledge my transgressions3 and my sin is ever before me4 ,david's treatment of ,uriah was the darkest passage in his life2 and to those who love justice it is a satisfaction to know that his conscience troubled him for this act to the end of his days4 ,we are not told whether ,bath-sheba ever dropped a tear over the sad fate of ,uriah1 or suffered any upbraidings of conscience4 ,,proverbs ix41 #ac ,a foolish woman is clamorous3 she is simple1 and knoweth nothing4 xi41 #af ,a gracious woman retaineth honour3 and strong men retain riches4 xiv4 ,every wise woman buildeth her house3 but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands4 xvii41 #be ,a foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her that bare him4 xix41 #ad ,house and riches are the inheritance of fathers3 and a prudent wife is from the ,lord4 xxi41 #i ,it is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop1 than with a brawling woman in a wide house4 xxi41 #ai ,it is better to dwell in the wilderness1 than with a contentious and an angry woman4 xxvii41 #ae ,a continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike4 xxx41 #ba ,for three things the earth is disquieted1 and for four which it cannot bear3 #bb ,for a servant when he reigneth2 and a fool when he is filled with meat2 #bc ,for an odious woman when she is married2 and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress4 xxxi41 #aj ,who can find a virtuous woman8 for her price is far above rubies4 #aa ,the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her4 #ab ,she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life4 #ac ,she seeketh wool1 and flax1 and worketh willingly with her hands4 #af ,she considereth a field1 and buyeth it3 with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard4 #bj ,she stretcheth out her hand to the poor4 #ba ,she is not afraid of the snow2 for all her household are clothed with scarlet4 #bb ,she maketh herself coverings of tapestry2 her clothing is silk and purple4 #bc ,her husband is known in the gates1 when he sitteth among the elders of the land4 #bd ,she maketh fine linen1 and selleth it4 #bf ,she openeth her mouth with wisdom2 and in her tongue is the law of kindness4 #bh ,her children arise up1 and call her blessed2 her husband also1 and he praiseth her4 #bi ,many daughters have done virtuously1 but thou excellest them all4 #cj ,favour is deceitful1 and beauty is vain2 but a woman that feareth the ,lord1 shall be praised4 ,with these pen pictures of the foolish1 contentious wife contrasted with the more gracious woman1 surely every reader of common sense will try to follow the example of the latter4 ,a complaining woman is worse than a leaky house1 because with paint and putty you can stop the dropping2 but how can one find the source of constant complaints8 ,heretofore ,biblical writers have given to us battles1 laws1 histories1 songs2 now we have in ,solomon's writings a new style in short1 epigrammatic sentences4 ,the proverb was the most ancient way of teaching among the ,greeks4 ,the seven wise men of ,greece each had his own motto on which he made himself famous4 ,these were engraved on stone in public places4 ,thus the gist of an argument or a long discussion may be thrown into a proverb1 in which the whole point will be easily seen and remembered4 ,solomon's idea of a wise woman1 a good mother1 a prudent wife1 a saving housekeeper and a successful merchant1 will be found in the foregoing texts1 which every woman who reads should have printed1 framed and hung up at her family altar4 ,as ,solomon had a thousand women in his household1 he had great opportunity for the study of the characteristics of the sex1 though one would naturally suppose that wise women1 even in his day1 preferred a larger sphere of action than within his palace walls4 ,solomon's opinion of the sex in general is plainly expressed in the foregoing texts4 ,solomon is supposed to have written his ,song when he was young1 ,proverbs in middle life1 and ,ecclesiastes when he was old4 ,he gave admirable rules for wisdom and virtue to all classes1 to men1 to women and to children1 but failed to practise the lessons which he taught4 ,,ecclesiastes4 ,this book1 written in ,solomon's old age1 is by no means comforting or inspiring4 ,everything in life seems to have been disappointing to him4 ,wealth1 position1 learning1 all earthly possessions and acquirements he declares alike to be vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit4 ,to one whose life has been useful to others and sweet to himself1 it is quite impossible to accept these pessimistic pictures of human destiny4 ,eccles4 ii4 ,i said in mine heart1 ,i will prove thee with mirth2 therefore enjoy pleasure3 and1 behold1 this also is vanity4 #d ,i made me great works2 ,i builded me houses2 ,i planted me vineyards3 #e ,i made me gardens and orchards4 #g ,i had great possessions above all that were in ,jerusalem before me3 #h ,i gathered me also silver and gold and particular treasures3 ,i gat me men singers and women singers1 and musical instruments4 #aj ,and whatsover mine eyes desired ,i kept not from them1 ,i withheld not my heart from any joy4 #ac ,then ,i saw that wisdom excelleth folly1 as far as light excelleth darkness4 #ad ,the wise man's eyes are in his head2 but the fool walketh in darkness3 and ,i myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all4 ,this constant depreciation of human dignity and power is very demoralizing in its influence on character4 ,when we consider the struggles of the race from savagism to civilization1 all the wonderful achievements1 discoveries and inventions of man1 we must feel more like bowing down to him as an incarnation of his ,creator than deploring his follies like a poor worm of the dust4 ,the ,episcopal service is most demoralizing in this view4 ,whole congregations of educated men and women1 day after day1 year after year1 confessing themselves miserable sinners1 with no evident improvement from generation to generation4 ,and this confession is made in a perfunctory manner1 as if no disgrace attended that mental condition1 and without hope or promise of a change from that unworthy attitude4 ,eccles4 vii4 #bf ,and ,i find more bitter than death the woman1 whose heart is snares and nets1 and her hands as bands3 whoso pleaseth ,god shall escape from her2 but the sinner shall be taken by her4 #bh ,one wise man among a thousand have ,i found2 but a woman among all those have ,i not found4 #bi ,lo1 this only have ,i found1 that ,god hath made man upright2 but they have sought out many inventions4 ,solomon must have had a sad experience in his relations with women4 ,such an opinion is a grave reflection on his own mother1 who was so devoted to his success in the world4 ,but for her ambition he would never have been crowned ,king of ,israel4 ,the commentators vouchsafe the opinion that there are more good women than men4 ,it is very kind in some of the commentators to give us a word of praise now and then2 but from the general tone of the learned fabulists1 one would think that the ,jezebels and the ,jaels predominated4 ,in fact1 ,solomon says that he has not found one wise woman in a thousand4 ,,the ,,song ,,of ,,solomon4 ,the name of ,god does not appear in this ,song1 neither is the latter ever mentioned in the ,new ,testament4 ,this book has no special religious significance1 being merely a love poem1 an epithalamium1 sung on nuptial occasions in praise of the bride and the groom4 ,the proper place for this book is before either ,proverbs or ,ecclesiastes1 as it was written in ,solomon's youth1 and is a more pardonable outburst for his early days than for his declining years4 ,the ,jewish doctors advised their young people not to read this book until they were thirty years old1 when they were supposed to be more susceptible to spiritual beauties and virtues than to the mere attractions of face and of form4 ,the ,church1 as an excuse for retaining this book as a part of ,holy ,scriptures1 interprets the ,song as expressive of ,christ's love for the ,church2 but that is rather far-fetched1 and unworthy the character of the ideal ,jesus4 ,the most rational view to take of the ,song is1 it was that of a luxurious king to the women of his seraglio4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,books ,,of ,,isaiah ,,and ,,daniel1 ,,micah ,,and ,,malachi4 ,,isaiah4 ,the closing books1 of the ,old ,testament make but little mention of women as illustrating individual characteristics4 ,the ideal woman is used more as a standard of comparison for good and for evil1 the good woman representing the elements of success in building up the family1 the tribe1 the nation1 as a devout worshiper of the ,god of ,israel2 the wicked woman1 the elements of destruction in the downfall of great cities and nations4 ,as woman is chosen to represent the extremes of human conditions she has no special reason to complain4 ,the ,prophets sum up the graces of the daughters of men in the following texts3 ,isaiah iii4 #af ,moreover the ,lord saith1 ,because the daughters of ,zion are haughty1 and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes1 walking and mincing as they go1 and making a tinkling with their feet3 #ai ,in that day the ,lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet1 and their cauls1 and their round tires like the moon1 #ai ,the chains1 and the bracelets1 and the mufflers1 #bj ,the bonnets1 and the ornaments of the legs1 and the headbands1 and the tablets1 and the earrings1 #ba ,the rings1 and nose jewels1 #bb ,the changeable suits of apparel1 and the mantles1 and the wimples1 and the crisping pins1 #bc ,the glasses1 and the fine linen1 and the hoods1 and the vails4 ,before the sacred canon of the ,old ,testament was written there were ,prophets who took the place of ,bibles to the ,church4 ,it is said that ,god himself spake to the children of ,israel from the top of ,mount ,sinai1 but that it was so terrible they entreated the ,lord ever after to speak to them through men4 ,so ever after he did communicate with them through ,prophets and ,angels4 ,isaiah was of the royal family2 he was nephew to ,king ,uzziah4 ,the ,prophet in the above texts reproves and warns the daughters of ,zion and tells them of their faults4 ,he does not like their style of walking1 which from the description must have been much like the mincing gait of some women to-day4 ,the ,prophet expressly vouches ,god's authority for what he said concerning their manners and elaborate ornamentation1 lest they should be offended with his criticisms4 ,if the ,prophets could visit our stores and see all the fashions there are to tempt the daughters of to-day1 they would declaim against our frivolities on the very doorsteps1 and in view of the ,easter bonnets1 at the entrance to our churches4 ,the badges which our young women wear as members of societies1 pinned in rows on broad ribbons1 the earrings1 the bangles1 the big sleeves1 the bonnets trimmed with osprey feathers1 answer to the crisping pins1 the wimples1 the nose jewels1 the tablets1 the chains1 the bracelets1 the mufflers1 the veils1 the glasses and the girdles of the daughters of ,zion4 ,if the ,prophets1 instead of the ,french milliners and dressmakers1 could supervise the toilets of our women1 they would dress in far better taste4 ,,daniel4 ,the name of this ,prophet in ,hebrew was ,dail1,,fn#e which signifies the judgment of ,god4 ,his ,chaldean name was ,bethshazzai4 ,he was of the tribe of ,judah of the royal family4 ,josephus calls him one of the greatest of the ,prophets4 ,,fn#e ,redactor's note4 ,text was illegible4 ,daniel v4 ,belshazzar the king made a great feast and commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father ,nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in ,jerusalem2 that the king and his princes1 his wives and his concubines1 might drink therein4 #c ,then they brought the golden vessels1 4 4 4 and praised the gods of gold1 and of silver1 of brass1 of iron1 of wood1 and of stone4 #e ,in the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand1 and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall3 and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote4 #f ,then the king's countenance was changed1 and his thoughts troubled him1 so that his knees smote one against another4 #g ,the king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers1 the ,chaldeans1 and the soothsayers4 ,and the king spoke1 and said to the wise men of ,babylon1 ,whosoever shall read this writing1 and shew me the interpretation thereof1 shall be clothed with scarlet1 and have a chain of gold about his neck1 and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom4 #h ,then came in all the king's wise men3 but they could not read the writing1 nor make known the interpretation thereof4 #aj ,now the queen came into the banquet house1 and said1 ,o king1 live forever3 let not thy thoughts trouble thee4 #aa ,there is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods2 and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom1 like the wisdom of the gods1 was found in him2 whom ,nebuchadnezzar thy father made master of the magicians1 astrologers1 ,chaldeans and soothsayers2 4 4 4 now let ,daniel be called1 and he will shew the interpretation4 #ac ,then was ,daniel brought in2 and he said1 ,i will read the writing unto the king4 #be ,and this is the writing that was written1 ,mene1 ,mene1 ,tekel1 ,upharsin4 #bf ,this ,is ,the ,interpretation ,of ,the ,thing3 ,mene2 ,god ,hath ,numbered ,thy ,kingdom1 ,and ,finished ,it4 #bg ,tekel2 ,thou ,are ,weighed ,in ,the ,balance1 ,and ,art ,found ,wanting4 #bh ,peres2 ,thy kingdom is divided1 and given to the ,medes and ,persians4 #bi ,then commanded ,belshazzar1 and they clothed ,daniel with scarlet1 and put a chain of gold about his neck1 and made a proclamation concerning him1 that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom4 #bj ,in that night was ,belshazzar the king of the ,chaldeans slain4 ,historians say that ,cyrus was at this time besieging the city and knew of this feast1 and took this opportunity to make his attack and to slay the king4 ,in the midst of the consternation at the feast the queen entered to advise ,belshazzar4 ,it is supposed that this queen was the widow of the evil ,merodach1 and was that famous ,nitocris whom ,herodotus mentions as a woman of extraordinary prudence and wisdom4 ,she was not present at the feast1 as were the king's wives and concubines4 ,it was not agreeable to her age and gravity to dissipate at night2 but tidings of the consternation in the banquet hall were brought to her1 so that she came and entreated him not to be discouraged by the incapacity of the wise men to solve the riddle2 for there was a man in his kingdom who had more than once helped his father in emergencies and would no doubt advise him4 ,she could not read the writing herself2 but she said1 let the ,prophet ,daniel be called4 ,the account she gives of the respect ,nebuchadnezzar had for him1 for his insight into the deepest mysteries1 and of his goodness and wisdom1 moved the king to summon ,daniel into his presence4 ,daniel was now near ninety years of age1 and for a long time had not been in court circles2 but the queen dowager remembered him in the court of the king's father4 ,she reminded her son of the high esteem in which he was held by his father4 ,the interpretation which ,daniel gave of these mystic characters was far from easing the king of his fears4 ,daniel being in years1 and ,belshazzar still young1 he took greater liberty in dealing plainly with him than he had with his father4 ,he read the warning as written on the wall3 ,thou hast been weighed in the balance and found wanting1 and thy kingdom is divided and rent from thee4 ,although the exposition of the handwriting was most discouraging1 yet the king kept his promise1 and put on ,daniel the scarlet gown and the gold chain4 ,,micah4 ,micah ii4 #i ,the women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses2 from their children have ye taken away my glory forever4 ,micah vii4 #f ,for the son dishonoureth the father1 the daughter riseth up against her mother1 the daughter in law against her mother in law4 ,here the ,israelites are rebuked for their cruel treatment of their own people1 robbing widows and selling children into slavery4 ,family life as well as public affairs seems to have become unsettled4 ,the contempt and the violation of the laws of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption4 ,,malachi4 ,malachi ii4 #aa ,judah hath profaned the holiness of the ,lord which he loved1 and hath married the daughter of a strange god4 #ad ,yet ye say1 ,wherefore8 ,because the ,lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth1 against whom thou hast dealt treacherously3 yet is she thy companion1 and the wife of thy covenant4 #ae ,that he might seek a godly seed4 ,therefore take heed to your spirit1 and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth4 ,these ,israelites were always violating the national law which forbade them to marry strange women4 ,the corruption of the nation began1 say the historians1 with the intermarriage of the sons of ,god with the daughters of men1 meaning1 ,i suppose1 those of the tribes who had a different religion1 ,he that marries a heathen woman is as if he made himself son-in-law to an idol4 ,they put away the wives of their own nation1 and1 as was the fashion at one time1 married those of other nations4 ,this spoiled the lives of the daughters of ,israel4 ,they were uncertain as to their social relations1 family1 right to their children1 and support in their old age1 as a paper of divorce could be given to them at any time4 ,the denunciations of the ,prophets had no great weight in matters where strong feeling and sound judgment conflicted4 ,charming women1 of the ,hittites and of the ,midianites1 with their novel dress1 manners and conversation1 attracted the men of ,israel4 ,they could not resist the temptation4 ,when the strongest man and the wisest one are alike led captive1 there is no significance in calling woman--the weaker sex4 ,though few women appear in the closing tragedies of the ,old ,testament1 yet the idiosyncrasies of the sex are constantly used to point a moral or to condemn a sin4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,the ,,kabbalah4 ,the ,bible is an occult book1 and a remarkable one4 ,about all creeds and faiths this side of ,pagandom go to it for their authority4 ,read in the light of occult teachings1 it becomes something more than the old battle ground of controversy for warring religions4 ,occultism alone furnishes the key to this ancient treasury of wisdom4 ,but to turn now to another point1 it may be well to call the attention of the readers of ,the ,woman's ,bible to a few quotations from ,mac,gregor ,mathers' ,kabbalah ,unveiled1 which has been pronounced by competent authorities the work of a master hand4 ,this work is a translation of ,knorr ,von ,rosenroth's ,kabbalah ,denudata4 ,the ,kabbalah--the ,hebrew esoteric doctrines--is a system of teachings with which only the very learned attempt to wrestle4 ,it is claimed to have been handed down by oral tradition from angelic sources1 through ,adam1 ,noah1 ,abraham1 ,moses1 the ,seventy ,elders1 to ,david and to ,solomon4 ,no attempt was made to commit this sacred knowledge to writing1 till1 in the early centuries of the ,christian era 7authorities differ widely as to the date7 the pupils of ,rabbi ,simeon ben ,joachi put his teachings into writing2 and this in later ages became known as the ,zohar1 or ,book of ,splendor4 ,around the name of this ,rabbi ,simeon ben ,joachi1 as one scholarly writer puts it1 cluster the mystery and the poetry of the religion of the ,kabbalah as a gift of the ,deity to mankind4 ,the ,zohar1 which is only a part of the ,kabbalah1 is the great store-house of the esoteric teaching of the ancient ,hebrews4 ,returning to the quotations referred to above1 ,mac,gregor ,mathers in his preface says3 ,i wish particularly to direct the reader's attention to the stress laid by the ,kabbalah on the feminine aspects of the ,deity1 and to the shameful way in which any allusion to these has been suppressed in the ordinary translations of the ,bible1 also to the ,kabbalistical equality of male and female4 ,referring to the ,sephiroth 7the ten ,kabbalistical attributes of ,god71 ,mr4 ,mathers says3 ,among these ,sephiroth1 jointly and severally1 we find the development of the persons and the attributes of ,god4 ,of these1 some are male and some are female4 ,now1 for some reason or other1 best known to themselves1 the translators of the ,bible have carefully crowded out of existence and smothered up every reference to the fact that the ,deity is both masculine and feminine4 ,they have translated a feminine plural by a masculine singular in the case of the word ,elohim4 ,they have1 however1 left an inadvertent admission of their knowledge that it was plural in ,genesis iv41 #bf3 ',and ,elohim said3 ,let ,,us make man4' ,again 7v41 #bg71 how could ,adam be made in the image of the ,elohim1 male and female1 unless the ,elohim were male and female also8 ,the word ,elohim is a plural formed from the feminine singular ,,alh1 ,eloh1 by adding ,,im to the word4 ,but inasmuch as ,,im is usually the termination of the masculine plural1 and is here added to a feminine noun1 it gives to the word ,elohim the sense of a female potency united to a masculine idea1 and thereby capable of producing an offspring4 ,now we hear much of the ,father and the ,son1 but we hear nothing of the ,mother in the ordinary religions of the day4 ,but in the ,kabbalah we find that the ,ancient of ,days conforms himself simultaneously into the ,father and the ,mother1 and thus begets the ,son4 ,now this ,mother is ,elohim4 ,the writer then goes on to show that the ,holy ,spirit1 usually represented as masculine1 is in fact feminine4 ,the first ,sephira contained the other nine1 and produced them in succession4 ,the second is ,chokmah 7,wisdom71 and is the active and evident ,father to whom the ,mother is united4 ,the third is a feminine passive potency called ,binah 7,understanding71 and is co-equal with ,chokmah4 ,chokmah is powerless till the number three forms the triangle4 ,thus this ,sephira completes and makes evident the supernal ,trinity4 ,it is also called ,,ama1 ,mother1 the great productive ,mother1 who is eternally conjoined with the ,father for the maintenance of the universe in order4 ,therefore is she the most evident form in whom we can know the ,father1 and therefore is she worthy of all honor4 ,she is the supernal ,mother1 co-equal with ,chokmah1 and the great feminine form of ,god1 the ,elohim1 in whose image man and woman were created1 according to the teaching of the ,kabbalah1 equal before ,god4 ,woman is equal with man1 not inferior to him1 as it has been the persistent endeavor of so-called ,christians to make her4 ,aima is the woman described in the ,apocalypse 7ch4 #ab74 ,this third ,sephira is also sometimes called the ,great ,sea4 ,to her are attributed the ,divine names1 ,alaim1 ,elohim1 and ,iahveh ,alhim2 and the angelic order1 ,arhlim1 the ,thrones4 ,she is the supernal ,mother as distinguished from ,malkuth1 the inferior ,mother1 ,bride and ,queen4 4 4 4 ,in each of the three trinities or triads of the ,sephiroth is a dual of opposite sexes1 and a uniting intelligence which is the result4 ,in this1 the masculine and feminine potencies are regarded as the two scales of the balance1 and the uniting ,sephira as the beam which joins them4 ,in chapter viii4 we read3 ,chokmah is the ,father1 and ,binah is the ,mother1 and therein are ,chokmah 7,wisdom7 and ,binah 7,understanding71 counterbalanced together in most perfect equality of ,male and ,female4 ,and therefore are all things established in the equality of ,male and ,female2 if it were not so1 how could they subsist8 4 4 4 ,in their conformations are ,they found to be the perfections of all things-- ,father and ,mother1 ,son and ,daughter4 ,these things have not been revealed save unto the ,holy ,superiors who have entered therein and departed therefrom1 and have known the paths of the ,most ,holy ,god1 so that they have not erred in them1 either on the right hand or on the left4 ,in a note in regard to ,chokmah and ,binah the author says3 ,chokmah is the second and ,binah is the third of the ,sephiroth4 ,this section is a sufficient condemnation of all those who wish to make out that woman is inferior to man4 ,the ,kabbalah also speaks of the separation of the sexes as the cause of evil1 or as the author puts it in a note3 ,where there is unbalanced force1 there is the origin of evil4 ,further on it is written3 ,and therefore is ,aima 7the ,mother7 known to be the consummation of all things2 and ,she is signified to be the beginning and the end4 4 4 4 ,and hence that which is not both ,male and ,female together is called half a body4 ,now1 no blessing can rest upon a mutilated and defective being1 but only upon a perfect place and upon a perfect being1 and not at all in an incomplete being4 ,and a semi-complete being cannot live forever1 neither can it receive blessing forever4 ,the following is the author's comment upon the above3 ,this section is another all-sufficient proof of the teachings maintained throughout the ,kabbalah1 namely1 that man and woman are from the creation co-equal and co-existent1 perfectly equal1 one with the other4 ,this fact the translators of the ,bible have been at great pains to conceal by carefully suppressing every reference to the feminine portion of the ,deity1 and by constantly translating feminine nouns by masculine4 ,and this is the work of so-called religious men6 ,a learned ,jewish ,rabbi1 with whom the writer is acquainted1 says3 ,those who write on the ,bible must be very careful when they come to speak of the position of woman to make a clear distinction between the ,old and the ,new ,testaments4 ,in the ,old ,testament1 except in the second chapter of ,genesis1 woman occupies a true and a dignified position in society and in the family4 ,for example1 take the position of ,sarah1 of the ,prophetess ,miriam1 the sister of ,moses1 and ,deborah the ,prophetess4 ,they all exemplify the true position of woman in the ,old ,testament4 ,while ,paul1 the ,apostle of the ,gentiles1 and the chief writer in the ,new ,testament1 condemned woman to silence in the ,church and to strict obedience to her husband1 making her thereby inferior to the man1 the ,old ,testament gave free scope to the development of the ,holy ,spirit in woman4 ,to intensify this teaching upon the position of woman1 we find even the voice of the ,deity telling ,abraham3 ',whatever ,sarah tells thee1 thou shalt hearken unto her voice1' showing that woman in her own home was the guiding power4 ,in regard to another point this ,rabbi says3 ,the learned ,jewish ,rabbis of modern times do not take the rib story literally4 ,and this may be said of many of the olden times4 ,the ,kabbalah and its learned expositors may be said to be the throbbing heart of the ,jewish religion1 as was graphically said of the mystic teachings of another occult fraternity4 ,and in view of the ,kabbalah's antiquity1 and the fact that it is the fountain head of the body of the ,old ,testament teachings1 these quotations as to the real ,kabbalistic teachings in regard to woman1 or to the feminine aspects of the ,deity1 are of first-class importance in such a book as ,the ,woman's ,bible4 ,in ,kabbalistic teachings there is one ,trinity which comprises all the ,sephiroth1 and it consists of the crown1 the king and the queen4 4 4 4 ,it is the ,trinity which created the world1 or1 in ,kabbalistic language1 the universe was born from the union of the crowned king and queen4 ,the rib story is veiled in the mystic language of symbolism4 ,according to occult teachings1 there was a time before man was differentiated into sexes--that is1 when he was androgynous4 ,then the time came1 millions of years ago1 when the differentiation into sexes took place4 ,and to this the rib story refers4 ,there has been much ignorance and confusion in regard to the real nature of woman1 indicating that she is possessed of a mystic nature and a power which will gradually be developed and better understood as the world becomes more enlightened4 ,woman has been branded as the author of evil in the world2 and at the same time she has been exalted to the position of mother of the ,saviour of the world4 ,these two positions are as conflicting as the general ideas which have prevailed in regard to woman--the great enigma of the world4 ,theological odium has laid its hand heavily upon her4 ,this odium1 as a ,rev4 ,d4 ,d4 once said to the writer1 is a thing with more horns1 more thorns1 more quills and more snarls than almost any other sort of thing you have ever heard of4 ,it has kindled as many fires of martyrdom2 it has slipnoosed as many ropes for the necks of well-meaning men2 it has built as many racks for the dislocation of human bones2 it has forged as many thumbscrews2 it has built as many dungeons2 it has ostracised as many scholars and philosophers2 it has set itself against light and pushed as hard to make the earth revolve the other way on its axis1 as any other force of mischief of whatever name or kind4 ,and that is the fearful thing with which woman has had to contend4 ,when she is free from it we may be assured that the dawn of a new day is not far off4 ,and among the indications pointing that way is the fact that the ,bible itself has been under treatment for some time4 ,what is known as the ,higher ,criticism has done much to clear away the clouds of superstition which have enveloped it4 ,one of the latest works on this line is ,the ,polychrome ,bible--the word meaning the different colors in which the texts1 the notes1 the dates1 the translations1 etc41 are printed for the sake of simplifying matters4 ,prof4 ,paul ,haupt1 of ,johns ,hopkins ,university1 is at the head of this great work1 ably assisted by a large corps of the best ,biblical scholars in the world4 ,it is not to be a revision of the accepted version1 but a new translation in modern ,english4 ,the translation is not to be literal except in the highest sense of the word1 viz41 to render the sense of the original as faithfully as possible4 ,there are to be explanatory notes1 historical and archaelogical illustrations of the text1 paraphrases of difficult passages1 etc4 ,in short1 everything possible is to be done to simplify and to make plain this ancient book4 ,the contributors have instructions not to hesitate to state what they consider to be the truth1 but with as little offence to the general reader as possible4 ,this work has been pronounced the greatest literary undertaking of the century--a work which will prepare the way for the coming generation to give an entirely new consideration to the religious problem4 ,it was begun in #ahij1 and will probably not be completed before #aijj4 ,another important work1 small in actual size but big with significance1 has just been issued in ,england under the title of ,the ,bible and the ,child4 ,it is not1 as its name might imply1 a book for children1 but it is for the purpose of showing the right way of presenting the ,bible to the young in the light of the ,higher ,criticism4 ,its eight contributors are headed by ,canon ,f4 ,w4 ,farrar1 of ,england1 and includes a number of noted ,english divines4 ,an ,english writer outside of the orthodox pale says3 ,it is one of the most extraordinary books published in the ,english language4 ,it is small2 but it is just the turning-scale to the side of common sense in matters religious4 ,the ,church has at last taken a step in the right direction4 ,we cannot expect it to set off at a gallop2 but it is fairly ambling along on its comfortable palfrey4 ,the advance is all along the line2 and we need not fear any retrograde movement to the past4 ,canon ,farrar says that the manner in which the ,higher ,criticism has progressed is exactly analogous to the way in which the truths of astronomy and of geology have triumphed over universal opposition4 ,they were once anathematized as ',infidel2' they are now accepted as axiomatic4 ,when an official of the ,church of ,england of the high standing of ,canon ,farrar comes out so boldly in the interest of free thought and free criticism on lines hitherto held to be too sacred for human reason to cross1 it is one of the signs of the times1 and a most hopeful one of the future4 ,and now that we are coming to understand the ,bible better than to worship it as an idol1 it will gradually be lifted from the shadows and the superstitions of an age when1 as a fetich1 it was exalted above reason1 and placed where a spiritually enlightened people can see it in its true light-a book in which many a bright jewel has been buried under some rubbish1 perhaps1 as well as under many symbolisms and mystic language--a book which is not above the application of reason and of common sense4 ,and with these new lights on the ,bible1 it is gratifying to know at the same time that the stately ,hebrew ,kabbalah1 hoary with antiquity1 and the fountain source of the ,old ,testament1 places woman on a perfect equality in the ,godhead4 ,for better authority than that one can hardly ask4 ,we are nearing the close of a remarkable century1 the last half of which1 and especially the last quarter1 has been crowded with discoveries1 some of them startling in their approximation to the inner1 or occult world--a world in which woman has potent sway4 ,the close of this century has long been pointed to by scholars1 by writers and by ,prophets1 within the ,church and out of it1 as the close of the old dispensation and the opening of the new one4 ,and in view of the rapid steps which we are taking in these latter years1 we can almost feel the breath of the new cycle fan our cheeks as we watch the deepening hues of the breaking dawn4 ,f4 ,e4 ,b4 ,,the ,,new ,,testament4 ,great is ,truth1 and mighty above all things4--#a ,esdras1 iv41 #da4 ,does the ,new ,testament bring promises of new dignity and of larger liberties for woman8 ,when thinking women make any criticisms on their degraded position in the ,bible1 ,christians point to her exaltation in the ,new ,testament1 as if1 under their religion1 woman really does occupy a higher position than under the ,jewish dispensation4 ,while there are grand types of women presented under both religions1 there is no difference in the general estimate of the sex4 ,in fact1 her inferior position is more clearly and emphatically set forth by the ,apostles than by the ,prophets and the ,patriarchs4 ,there are no such specific directions for woman's subordination in the ,pentateuch as in the ,epistles4 ,we are told that the whole sex was highly honored in ,mary being the mother of ,jesus4 ,surely a wise and virtuous son is more indebted to his mother than she is to him1 and is honored only by reflecting her superior characteristics4 ,why the founders of the ,christian religion did not improvise an earthly ,father as well as an earthly ,mother does not clearly appear4 ,the questionable position of ,joseph is unsatisfactory4 ,as ,mary belonged to the ,jewish aristocracy1 she should have had a husband of the same rank4 ,if a ,heavenly ,father was necessary1 why not a ,heavenly ,mother8 ,if an earthly ,mother was admirable1 why not not sic an earthly ,father8 ,the ,jewish idea that ,jesus was born according to natural law is more rational than is the ,christian record of the immaculate conception by the ,holy ,ghost1 the third person of the ,trinity4 ,these ,biblical mysteries and inconsistencies are a great strain on the credulity of the ordinary mind4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,jesus was the great leading ,radical of his age4 ,everything that he was and said and did alienated and angered the ,conservatives1 those that represented and stood for the established order of what they believed to be the fixed and final revelation of ,god4 ,is it any wonder that they procured his death8 ,they had no power to put him to death themselves1 and so they stirred the suspicions of the ,roman authorities4 ,we owe the conquest of ,christianity to two things4 ,first1 to ,paul4 ,christianity never would have been anything but a little ,jewish sect if it had not been for ,paul4 ,and the other thing is--what8 ,the conquest over death4 ,it was the abounding belief of the disciples that ,jesus was alive1 their leader still1 though in the invisible1 which made them laugh in the face of death1 which made them fearless in the presence of the lions in the arena1 which made them seek for the honor and glory of martyrdom1 and which gave them such conquest over all fear1 all sorrow1 all toil1 as can come only to those who believe that this life is merely a training school1 that death is nothing but a doorway and that it leads out into the eternal glories and grandeurs beyond4 ,i think that the doctrine of the ,virgin birth as something higher1 sweeter1 nobler than ordinary motherhood1 is a slue on all the natural motherhood of the world4 ,i believe that millions of children have been as immaculately conceived1 as purely born1 as was the ,nazarene4 ,why not8 ,out of this doctrine1 and that which is akin to it1 have sprung all the monasteries and the nunneries of the world1 which have disgraced and distorted and demoralized manhood and womanhood for a thousand years4 ,i place beside the false1 monkish1 unnatural claim of the ,immaculate ,conception my mother1 who was as holy in her motherhood as was ,mary herself4 ,another suggestion4 ,this thought of ,jesus as the second person of an inconceivable trinity1 a being neither of heaven nor earth1 but between the two2 a being having two natures and one will2 a being who was ignorant as a man1 and who suffered as a man1 while he knew everything as ,god and could not suffer as ,god--this conception is part of a scheme of the universe which represents humanity as ruined and lost and hopeless1 ,god as unjust1 and man as looking only to a fearful judgment in the ages that are to be4 ,i believe that thousands of people have lived since the time of ,jesus as good1 as tender1 as loving1 as true1 as faithful1 as he4 ,there is no more mystery in the one case than in the other1 for it is all mystery4 ,old ,father ,taylor1 the famous ,methodist ,bethel preacher in ,boston1 was a ,perfectionist1 and when he was asked if he thought anybody had since lived who was as good as ,jesus1 he said3 ,yes2 millions of them4 ,this is ,methodist authority4 ,what made ,jesus the power he was of his time8 ,in the first place1 there was an inexplicable charm about his personality which drew all the common people to him1 as iron filings are drawn by a magnet4 ,he loved the people1 who instinctively felt it1 and loved him4 ,then there was his intellectual power of speech4 ,most of the sayings of ,jesus are not original in the sense that nobody else ever uttered any similar truths before4 ,confucius1 six thousand years before ,jesus1 gave utterance to the ,golden ,rule4 ,and then there was the pity1 the sympathy1 the tenderness of the man4 ,and then he had trust in ,god-- trust in the simple ,fatherhood of ,god1 that never could be shaken4 ,jesus taught us1 as no one else has ever done it1 the humanness of ,god and the divineness of man1 so that1 standing there eighteen hundred years ago1 he has naturally and infallibly attracted the eyes1 the thought1 the love1 the reverence of the world4 ,when it is dark in the morning1 and before the sun rises1 there are high peaks that catch the far-off rays and begin to glow1 while the rest of the world still lies in shadow4 ,so there are mountainous men1 not supernatural1 but as natural as the mountains and the sun-- mountainous men who catch the light before our common eyes on the plains and in the valleys can see it1 who see and proclaim from their lofty heights far-off visions of truth and beauty that we as yet cannot discern4 ,,anon4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,matthew4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,matthew i4 #af ,and ,jacob begat ,joseph the husband of ,mary1 of whom was born ,jesus1 who is called ,christ4 #ag ,so all the generations from ,abraham to ,david are fourteen generations2 and from ,david until the carrying away into ,babylon are fourteen generations2 and from the carrying away into ,babylon unto ,christ are fourteen generations4 ,saint ,matthew is supposed to be distinguished from the other ,apostles by the frequency of his references to the ,old ,testament4 ,he records more particulars of ,jesus than the others do1 far more of his birth1 his sayings and his miracles4 ,there has been much difference of opinion among writers of both sacred and profane history as to the paternity of ,jesus1 and whether he was a real or an ideal character4 ,if1 as the ,scriptures claim1 he descended from heaven1 begotten by the ,holy ,ghost1 the incarnation of ,god himself1 then there was nothing remarkable in his career1 nor miraculous in the seeming wonders which he performed1 being the soul and the centre of all the forces of the universe of matter and of mind4 ,if he was an ideal character1 like the gifted hero of some novel or tragedy1 his great deeds and his wise sayings the result of the imagination of some skilful artist1 then we may admire the sketch as a beautiful picture4 ,but if ,jesus was a man who was born1 lived and died as do other men1 a worthy example for imitation1 he is deserving of our love and reverence1 and by showing us the possibilities of human nature he is a constant inspiration1 our hope and salvation2 for the path1 however rough1 in which one man has walked1 others may follow4 ,as a ,god with infinite power he could have been no example to us2 but with human limitations we may emulate his virtues and walk in his footsteps4 ,some writers think that his mother was a wise1 great and beautiful ,jewish maiden1 and his father a learned rabbi1 who devoted much time and thought to his son's education4 ,at a period when learning was confined to the few1 it was a matter of surprise that as a mere boy he could read and write1 and discuss the vital questions of the hour with doctors in the sacred temples4 ,his great physical beauty1 the wisdom of his replies to the puzzling questions of the ,pharisees and the ,sadducces1 his sympathy with the poor and the needy1 his ambition for all that is best in human development1 and his indifference to worldly aggrandizement1 altogether made him a marked man in his day and generation4 ,for these reasons he was hated1 reviled1 persecuted1 like the long line of martyrs who followed his teachings4 ,he commands far more love and reverence as a true man with only human possibilities1 than as a ,god1 superior to all human frailties and temptations4 ,what were years of persecution1 the solitude on the mountain1 the agonies on the cross1 with the power of a ,god to sustain him8 ,but unaided and alone to triumph over all human weakness1 trials and temptation1 was victory not only for ,jesus but for every human being made in his image4 ,matthew ii4 #a ,now when ,jesus was born in ,bethlehem of ,judea in the days of ,herod the king1 behold1 there came wise men from the east to ,jerusalem1 #b ,saying1 ,where is he that is born ,king of the ,jews8 for we have seen his star in the cast1 and are come to worship him4 #c ,when ,herod the king had heard these things1 he was troubled1 and all ,jerusalem with him4 #d ,and when he had gathered all the chief priests together1 he demanded of them where ,christ should be born4 #e ,and they said unto him1 ,in ,bethlehem of ,judea3 #h ,and he sent them to ,bethlehem1 and said1 ,go and search diligently for the young child2 and when ye have found him1 bring me word4 #i ,and they departed2 and lo1 the star1 which they saw in the east1 went before them1 till it came and stood over where the young child was4 #aa ,and when they were come into the house1 they saw the young child with ,mary his mother1 and fell down1 and worshiped him3 and when they had opened their treasures1 they presented unto him gifts2 gold1 and frankincense1 and myrrh4 #ab ,and being warned of ,god in a dream that they should not return to ,herod1 they departed into their own country another way4 #ac ,and the angel of the ,lord appeareth to ,joseph in a dream1 saying1 ,arise1 and take the young child and his mother1 and flee into ,egypt2 for ,herod will seek to destroy him4 #ad ,and he arose1 and departed into ,egypt2 #ai ,but when ,herod was dead1 behold1 an angel of the ,lord appeareth in a dream to ,joseph #bj ,saying1 ,arise1 and take the young child and his mother1 and go into the land of ,israel4 ,these sages were supposed to be men of great learning belonging to a sect called ,magians1 who came from ,arabia4 ,there was a general feeling that the king of the ,jews was yet to be born1 and that they were soon to see the long expected and promised ,messiah4 ,herod was greatly troubled by the tidings that a child had been born under remarkable circumstances4 ,the star spoken of was supposed to be a luminous meteor the wise men had seen in their own country before they set out on their journey for ,bethlehem1 and which now guided them to the house where the young child was4 ,notwithstanding the common surroundings1 the wise men recognizing something more than human in the child1 fell down and worshiped him and presented unto him the most precious gifts which their country yielded4 ,some have supposed that the frankincense and the myrrh were intended as an acknowledgment of his deity1 as the gold was of his royalty4 ,to defeat the subtle malice of ,herod1 who was determined to take the child's life1 ,joseph was warned in a dream to flee into ,egypt with the child and his mother4 ,the wise men did not return to ,herod as commanded1 but went at once to their own country4 ,matthew ix4 #ah ,behold1 there came a certain ruler1 saying1 ,my daughter is even now dead2 but come and lay thy hand upon her1 and she shall live4 #ai ,and ,jesus arose and followed him4 #b ,and behold1 a woman1 which was diseased twelve years1 came behind him1 and touched the hem of his garment3 #ba ,for she said within herself1 ,if ,i may but touch his garment1 ,i shall be whole4 #bb ,but ,jesus turned him about1 and when he saw her1 he said1 ,daughter1 be of good comfort3 thy faith hath made thee whole4 ,and the woman was made whole from that hour4 #bc ,and when ,jesus came into the ruler's house1 99 99 99 #bd ,he said1 ,give place3 for the maid is not dead1 but sleepeth4 ,and they laughed him to scorn1 #be ,but when the people were put forth1 he went in1 and took her by the hand1 and the maid arose4 ,matthew xiv4 #c ,for ,herod had laid hold on ,john1 and put him in prison for ,herodias' sake1 his brother ,philip's wife4 #d ,for ,john said unto him1 ,it is not lawful for thee to have her4 #e ,and when he would have put him to death1 he feared the multitude1 because they counted him as a prophet4 #f ,but when ,herod's birthday was kept1 the daughter of ,herodias danced before them1 and pleased ,herod4 #g ,whereupon he promised to give her whatsoever she would ask4 #h ,and she being before instructed of her met1 ,give me here ,john ,baptist's head in a charger4 #i ,and the king was sorry3 nevertheless for the oath's sake he commanded it to be given her1 #aj ,and he sent1 and beheaded ,john in the prison4 #aa ,and his head was brought in a charger1 and given to the damsel3 and she brought it to her mother4 #ab ,and his disciples came1 and took up the body1 and buried it1 and went and told ,jesus4 ,josephus says that ,herodias was niece both to her former husband1 ,philip1 and to ,herod1 with whom she at this time lived4 ,herod had divorced his own wife in order to take her2 and her husband ,philip was still living1 as well as the daughter ,salome1 whom he had by her4 ,no connection could be more contrary to the law of ,god than this4 ,john1 therefore1 being a prophet and no courtier1 plainly reproved ,herod1 and declared that it was not lawful for him to retain ,herodias4 ,this greatly offended ,herod and ,herodias1 and they cast ,john into prison1 ,herodias waited her opportunity to wreak her malice on him1 counting ,john's reproof an insult to her character as well as an interference with her ambition4 ,at length when ,herod celebrated his birthday1 entertaining his nobles with great magnificence1 the daughter of ,herodias danced before them all1 with such exquisite grace as to delight the company1 whereupon ,herod promised her whatever she desired1 though equal in value to half his kingdom4 ,salome consulted her mother1 who urged her to demand the head of ,john the ,baptist4 ,by the influence of ,herodias1 ,herod1 contrary to his own conscience1 was induced to put ,john to death1 for he feared him as a righteous man4 ,it must have been a great trial to the daughter1 who might have asked so many beautiful gifts and rare indulgences1 to yield all to her wicked mother's revenge4 ,but these deeds were speedily avenged4 ,it is said that ,salome had her head cut off by the ice breaking as she passed over it4 ,herod was shortly after engaged in a disastrous war on account of ,herodias1 and was expelled from his territories2 and both died in exile1 hated by everybody and hating one another4 ,l4 ,c4 ,s4 ,in regard to the charge against ,herodias1 which is current among theological scandal-mongers1 there is not a moderately intelligent jury of ,christendom 7if composed half of men and half of women7 which1 after examining all the available evidence1 would not render a verdict in her favor of ,not ,guilty4 ,the statement that ,she paid the price of her own daughter's debasement and disgrace for the head of ,john the ,baptist1 is an assertion born wholly of the ecclesiastical1 distorted imagination4 ,not even a hint1 much less an iota of proof1 to warrant such an assertion1 is found anywhere in history--sacred or profane4 ,while some anonymous writer of the early ,christian centuries did put in circulation the charge that ,john the ,baptist was put to death at the instigation of ,herodias 7without implicating her daughter's character1 however71 ,josephus1 on the contrary1 explicitly declares that his death was wholly a political matter1 with which the names of ,herodias and her daughter are not even connected by rumor4 ,says ,josephus3 ,when others came in crowds about him 7,john the ,baptist71 for they were greatly moved by hearing his words1 ,herod1 who feared lest the great influence ,john had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion 7for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise71 thought it best1 by putting him to death1 to prevent any mischief he might cause4 4 4 4 ,accordingly he was sent a prisoner1 out of ,herod's suspicious temper1 to ,macherus1 the castle ,i before mentioned1 and was there put to death4 ,now1 the jury must remember that ,josephus was born in ,jerusalem about #ch ,a4 ,d41 that he was an educated man and in a position to know the facts in this case1 owing both to his prominent position among the ,jews and to his study of contemporaneous history4 ,but that1 on the other hand1 the anonymous writers who bring ,herodias' name into the transaction1 are not traceable further back than the fourth century of our era1 and that even they do not bring any charge against her character as a mother4 ,e4 ,b4 ,d4 ,matthew xv4 #ba ,then ,jesus departed into the coasts of ,tyre and ,sidon4 #bb ,and1 behold1 a woman of ,canaan cried unto him1 saying1 ,have mercy on me1 ,o ,lord1 thou son of ,david2 my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil4 #bc ,but he answered her not a word4 ,and his disciples besought him to send her away4 #bd ,but he answered and said1 ,i am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of 4,israel4 #be ,then came she and worshiped him1 saying1 ,lord1 help me4 #bf ,but he said1 ,it is not meet to take the children's food1 and to cast it to dogs4 #bg ,and she said1 ,truth1 ,lord3 yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table4 #bc ,then ,jesus answered and said unto her1 ,o woman1 great is thy faith3 be it unto thee even as thou wilt4 ,and her daughter was made whole from that very hour4 ,peter had a house in ,capernaum2 and his wife's mother lived with them2 and ,jesus lodged with them when in that city4 ,it is hoped that his presence brought out the best traits of the mother-in-law1 so as to make her agreeable to ,peter4 ,as soon as ,jesus rebuked the fever1 she was able without delay to rise and to wait on ,jesus and his disciples4 ,these displays of the power of ,christ in performing miracles1 according to the text1 are varied1 in almost every conceivable way of beneficence2 but he wrought no miracles of vengeance1 even the destruction of the swine was doubtless intended in mercy and conducive to much good--so say the commentators4 ,he not only healed the sick and cast out devils1 but he made the blind to see and the dumb to speak4 ,the woman of ,canaan proved herself quite equal in argument with ,jesus2 and though by her persistency she tired the patience of the disciples1 she made her points with ,jesus with remarkable clearness4 ,his patience with women was a sore trial to the disciples1 who were always disposed to nip their appeals in the bud4 ,it was very ungracious in ,jesus to speak of the ,jews as dogs1 saying1 ,it is not meet to take the children's food1 and to cast it to dogs4 ,her reply1 ,yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the master's table1 was bright and appropriate4 ,jesus appreciated her tact and her perseverance1 and granted her request2 and her daughter1 the text says1 was healed4 ,we might doubt the truth of all these miracles did ,we not see so many wonderful things in our own day which we would have pronounced impossible years ago4 ,the fact of human power developing in so many remarkable ways proves that ,jesus's gift of performing miracles is attainable by those who1 like him1 live pure lives1 and whose blood flows in the higher arches of the brain4 ,if one man1 at any period of the world's history1 performed miracles1 others equally gifted may do the same4 ,matthew xx4 #bj ,then came to him the mother of ,zebedee's children with her sons1 worshiping him1 and desiring a certain thing of him4 #ba ,and he said unto her1 ,what wilt thou8 ,she saith unto him1 ,grant that these my two sons may sit1 the one on thy right hand1 and the other on the left1 in thy kingdom4 ,zebedee1 the father of ,james and of ,john1 was dead2 and he was not so constant a follower of ,christ as his wife2 so she is mentioned as the mother of ,zebedee's children1 which saying has passed into a conundrum1 ,who was the mother of ,zebedee's children8 ,scott in his commentaries gives her name as ,salome4 ,whatever her name1 she had great ambition for her sons1 and asked that they might have the chief places of honor and authority in his kingdom4 ,her son ,james was the first of the ,apostles who suffered martyrdom4 ,john survived all the rest and is not supposed to have died a violent death4 ,a mother's ambition to lift her sons over her own head in education and position1 planning extraordinary responsibilities for ordinary men1 has proved a misfortune in many cases4 ,many a young man who would be a success as a carpenter would be a failure as the governor of a ,state4 ,mothers are quite apt to overestimate the genius of their children and push them into niches which they cannot fill4 ,matthew xxii4 #bc ,the same day came to him the ,sadducees1 which say that there is no resurrection and asked him1 #bd ,saying1 ,master1 ,moses said1 ,if a man die1 having no children1 his brother shall marry his wife1 and raise up seed unto his brother4 #be ,now there were with us seven brethren3 and the first1 when he had married a wife1 deceased1 and1 having no issue1 left his wife unto his brother3 #bf ,likewise the second also1 and the third1 unto the seventh4 #bg ,and last of all the woman died also4 #bh ,therefore in the resurrection1 whose wife shall she be of the seven8 for they all had her4 #bi ,jesus answered and said unto them1 ,ye do err1 not knowing the ,scriptures1 nor the power of ,god4 #cj ,for in the resurrection they neither marry1 nor are given in marriage1 but are as the angels of ,god in heaven4 ,jesus reminded the ,sadducees that marriage was intended only for the present world1 to replenish the earth and to repair the ravages which death continually makes among its inhabitants2 but as in the future state there was to be no death1 so no marriage4 ,there the body even would be made spiritual2 and all the employments and the pleasures pure and angelic4 ,the marriage relation seems to have been a tangled problem in all ages4 ,scientists tell us that both the masculine and feminine elements were united in one person in the beginning1 and will probably be reunited again for eternity4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,matthew xxv4 #a ,then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins1 which took their lamps1 and went forth to meet the bridegroom4 #b ,and five of them were wise1 and five were foolish4 #c ,they that were foolish took their lamps1 and took no oil with them3 #d ,but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps4 #e ,while the bridegroom tarried1 they all slumbered and slept4 #f ,and at midnight there was a cry made1 ,behold1 the bridegroom cometh2 go ye out to meet him4 #g ,then all those virgins arose1 and trimmed their lamps4 #h ,and the foolish said unto the wise1 ,give us of your oil2 for our lamps are gone out4 #i ,but the wise answered1 saying1 ,not so1 lest there be not enough for us and you3 but go ye rather to them that sell1 and buy for yourselves4 #aj ,and while they went to buy1 the bridegroom came2 and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage3 and the door was shut4 #aa ,afterward came also the other virgins1 saying1 ,lord1 ,lord1 open to us4 #ab ,but he answered and said1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,i know you not4 ,in this chapter we have the duty of self-development impressively and repeatedly urged in the form of parables1 addressed alike to man and to woman4 ,the sin of neglecting and of burying one's talents1 capacities and powers1 and the penalties which such a course involve1 are here strikingly portrayed4 ,this parable is found among the ,jewish records substantially the same as in our own ,scriptures4 ,their weddings were generally celebrated at night2 yet they usually began at the rising of the evening star2 but in this case there was a more than ordinary delay4 ,adam ,clarke in his commentaries explains this parable as referring chiefly to spiritual gifts and the religious life4 ,he makes the ,lord of ,hosts the bridegroom1 the judgment day the wedding feast1 the foolish virgins the sinners whose hearts were cold and dead1 devoid of all spiritual graces1 and unfit to enter the kingdom of heaven1 ,the wise virgins were the saints who were ready for translation1 or for the bridal procession4 ,they followed to the wedding feast2 and when the chosen had entered the door was shut4 ,this strikes us as a strained interpretation of a very simple parable1 which1 considered in connection with the other parables1 seems to apply much more closely to this life than to that which is to come1 to the intellectual and the moral nature1 and to the whole round of human duties4 ,it fairly describes the two classes which help to make up society in general4 ,the one who1 like the foolish virgins1 have never learned the first important duty of cultivating their own individual powers1 using the talents given to them1 and keeping their own lamps trimmed and burning4 ,the idea of being a helpmeet to somebody else has been so sedulously drilled into most women that an individual life1 aim1 purpose and ambition are never taken into consideration4 ,they oftimes do so much in other directions that they neglect the most vital duties to themselves4 ,we may find in this simple parable a lesson for the cultivation of courage and of self-reliance4 ,these virgins are summoned to the discharge of an important duty at midnight1 alone1 in darkness1 and in solitude4 ,no chivalrous gentleman is there to run for oil and to trim their lamps4 ,they must depend on themselves1 unsupported1 and pay the penalty of their own improvidence and unwisdom4 ,perhaps in that bridal procession might have been seen fathers1 brothers1 friends1 for whose service and amusement the foolish virgins had wasted many precious hours1 when they should have been trimming their own lamps and keeping oil in their vessels4 ,and now1 with music1 banners1 lanterns1 torches1 guns and rockets fired at intervals1 come the bride and the groom1 with their attendants and friends numbering thousands1 brilliant in jewels1 gold and silver1 magnificently mounted on richly caparisoned horses--for nothing can be more brilliant than were those nuptial solemnities of ,eastern nations4 ,as this spectacle1 grand beyond description1 sweeps by1 imagine the foolish virgins pushed aside1 in the shadow of some tall edifice1 with dark1 empty lamps in their hands1 unnoticed and unknown4 ,and while the castle walls resound with music and merriment1 and the lights from every window stream out far into the darkness1 no kind friends gather round them to sympathize in their humiliation1 nor to cheer their loneliness4 ,it matters little that women may be ignorant1 dependent1 unprepared for trial and for temptation4 ,alone they must meet the terrible emergencies of life1 to be sustained and protected amid danger and death by their own courage1 skill and self-reliance1 or perish4 ,woman's devotion to the comfort1 the education1 the success of men in general1 and to their plans and projects1 is in a great measure due to her self-abnegation and self-sacrifice having been so long and so sweetly lauded by poets1 philosophers and priests as the acme of human goodness and glory4 ,now1 to my mind1 there is nothing commendable in the action of young women who go about begging funds to educate young men for the ministry1 while they and the majority of their sex are too poor to educate themselves1 and if able1 are still denied admittance into some of the leading institutions of learning throughout our land4 ,it is not commendable for women to get up fairs and donation parties for churches in which the gifted of their sex may neither pray1 preach1 share in the offices and honors1 nor have a voice in the business affairs1 creeds and discipline1 and from whose altars come forth ,biblical interpretations in favor of woman's subjection4 ,it is not commendable for the women of this ,republic to expend much enthusiasm on political parties as now organized1 nor in national celebrations1 for they have as yet no lot or part in the great experiment of self-government4 ,in their ignorance1 women sacrifice themselves to educate the men of their households1 and to make of themselves ladders by which their husbands1 brothers and sons climb up into the kingdom of knowledge1 while they themselves are shut out from all intellectual companionship1 even with those they love best2 such are indeed like the foolish virgins4 ,they have not kept their own lamps trimmed and burning2 they have no oil in their vessels1 no resources in themselves2 they bring no light to their households nor to the circle in which they move2 and when the bridegroom cometh1 when the philosopher1 the scientist1 the saint1 the scholar1 the great and the learned1 all come together to celebrate the marriage feast of science and religion1 the foolish virgins1 though present1 are practically shut out2 for what know they of the grand themes which inspire each tongue and kindle every thought8 ,even the brothers and the sons whom they have educated1 now rise to heights which they cannot reach1 span distances which they cannot comprehend4 ,the solitude of ignorance1 oh1 who can measure its misery6 ,the wise virgins are they who keep their lamps trimmed1 who burn oil in their vessels for their own use1 who have improved every advantage for their education1 secured a healthy1 happy1 complete development1 and entered all the profitable avenues of labor1 for self-support1 so that when the opportunities and the responsibilities of life come1 they may be fitted fully to enjoy the one and ably to discharge the other4 ,these are the women who to-day are close upon the heels of man in the whole realm of thought1 in art1 in science1 in literature and in government4 ,with telescopic vision they explore the starry firmament1 and bring back the history of the planetary world4 ,with chart and compass they pilot ships across the mighty deep1 and with skilful fingers send electric messages around the world4 ,in galleries of art1 the grandeur of nature and the greatness of humanity are immortalized by them on canvas1 and by their inspired touch1 dull blocks of marble are transformed into angels of light4 ,in music they speak again the language of ,mendelssohn1 of ,beethoven1 of ,chopin1 of ,schumann1 and are worthy interpreters of their great souls4 ,the poetry and the novels of the century are theirs2 they1 too1 have touched the keynote of reform in religion1 in politics and in social life4 ,they fill the editors' and the professors' chairs1 plead at the bar of justice1 walk the wards of the hospital1 and speak from the pulpit and the platform4 ,such is the widespread preparation for the marriage feast of science and religion2 such is the type of womanhood which the bridegroom of an enlightened public sentiment welcomes to-day2 and such is the triumph of the wise virgins over the folly1 the ignorance and the degradation of the past as in grand procession they enter the temple of knowledge1 and the door is no longer shut4 ,matthew xxvi4 #f ,now when ,jesus was in ,bethany1 in the house of ,simon the leper1 #g ,there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment1 and poured it on his head4 #h ,but4 when his disciples saw it1 they said1 ,to what purpose is this waste8 #i ,for this ointment might have been sold for much1 and given to the poor4 #aj ,when ,jesus understood it1 he said unto them1 ,why trouble ye the woman8 #aa ,for ye have the poor always with you2 but me ye have not always4 #ab ,for in that she hath poured this ointment on my body1 she did it for my burial4 #ac ,verily1 ,i say unto you1 wheresoever this gospel shall be preached1 there shall also this be told for a memorial of her4 ,matthew xxvii4 #ai ,when ,pilate was set down on the judgment seat1 his wife sent unto him1 saying1 ,have thou nothing to do with that just man3 for ,i have suffered many things this day in a dream1 because of him4 #bd ,when ,pilate saw that he could prevail nothing1 but that rather a tumult was made1 he took water1 and washed his hands before the multitude1 saying1 ,i am innocent of the blood of this just person3 see ye to it4 #be ,then answered all the people1 and said1 ,his blood be on us1 and on our children4 #ee ,and many women were there beholding afar off1 which followed ,jesus from ,galilee1 ministering unto him2 #ef ,among which was ,mary ,magdalene1 and ,mary1 the mother of ,james and ,joses1 and the mother of ,zebedee's children4 #fa ,and there was ,mary ,magdalene1 and the other ,mary1 sitting over against the sepulchre4 ,it is a common opinion among ,christians that the persecutions of the ,jews in all periods and latitudes is a punishment on them for their crucifixion of ,jesus1 and that this defiant acceptance of the responsibility is being justly fulfilled4 ,matthew xxviii4 #a ,in the end of the ,sabbath1 as it began to dawn came ,mary ,magdalene and the other ,mary to see the sepulchre4 #b ,and1 behold1 there was a great earthquake3 for the angel of the ,lord descended from heaven1 and came and rolled back the stone from the door1 and sat upon it4 #c ,his countenance was like lightning1 and his raiment white as snow3 #d ,and for fear of him the keepers did shake1 and became as dead men4 #e ,and the angel answered and said unto the women1 ,fear not ye2 for ,i know that ye seek ,jesus1 which was crucified4 #g ,go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead2 and behold1 he goeth before you into ,galilee2 there shall ye see him4 #h ,and they departed quickly from the sepulchre with great joy4 #i ,and as they went to tell his disciples1 behold1 ,jesus met them1 saying1 ,all hail4 ,and they came and held him by the feet1 and worshiped him4 #aj ,then said ,jesus unto them1 ,be not afraid3 tell my brethren that they go into ,galilee1 and there shall they see me4 ,among the witnesses of the crucifixion1 this melancholy and untimely scene1 there were some women who had followed ,jesus from ,galilee and had waited on him1 supplying his wants from their substance4 ,affection and anxious concern induced them to be present1 and probably they stand afar off1 fearing the outrages of the multitude4 ,words cannot express the mixed emotions of true gratitude1 reverence1 sorrow and compassion which must have agitated their souls on this occasion4 ,we find from ,john1 who was also present1 that ,mary the mother of ,jesus was a spectator of this distressing scene4 ,when ,jesus was brought before ,pilate1 he was greatly troubled as to what judgment he should give1 and his hesitation was increased by a warning from his wife1 to have no part in the death of that righteous man2 for she had terrifying dreams respecting him1 which made her conclude that his death would be avenged by some unseen power4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mark4 ,mark iii4 #ca ,there came then his brethren and his mother1 and1 standing without1 sent unto him1 #cb ,and the multitude sat about him1 and said unto him1 ,behold1 thy mother and thy brethren seek for thee4 #cc ,and he answered them1 saying1 ,who is my mother1 or my brethren8 #cd ,and he looked round about and said4 ,behold my mother and my brethren6 #ce ,for whosoever shall do the will of ,god1 the same is my brother1 and my sister and mother4 ,many of the same texts found in the ,book of ,matthew are repeated by the other ,evangelists4 ,it appears from the text that the earnestness of ,jesus in teaching the people1 made some of his friends1 who did not believe in his mission1 anxious4 ,even his mother feared to have him teach doctrines in opposition to the public sentiment of his day4 ,his words of seeming disrespect to her1 simply meant to imply that he had an important work to do1 that his duties to humanity were more to him than the ties of natural affection4 ,many of the ancient writers criticise ,mary severely1 for trying to exercise control over ,jesus1 assuming rightful authority over him4 ,theophylact taxes her with vainglory2 ,tertullian accuses her of ambition2 ,st4 ,chrysostom of impiety and of disbelief2 ,whitby says1 it is plain that this is a protest against the idolatrous worship of ,mary4 ,she was generally admitted to be a woman of good character and worthy of all praise2 but whatever she was1 it ill becomes those who believe that she was the mother of ,god to criticise her as they would an ordinary mortal4 ,mark x4 #b ,and the ,pharisees came to him1 and asked him1 ,is it lawful for a man to put away his wife8 tempting him4 #c ,and he answered and said unto them1 ,what did ,moses command you8 #d ,and they said1 ,moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement1 and to put her away4 #e ,and ,jesus answered and said unto them1 ,for the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept4 #f ,but from the beginning of the creation ,god made them male and female4 #g ,for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother1 and cleave to his wife2 #h ,and they twain shall be one flesh3 #i what therefore ,god hath joined together1 let not man put asunder4 ,the question of marriage was a constant theme for discussion in the days of ,moses and of ,jesus1 as in our own times4 ,the ,pharisees are still asking questions1 not that they care for an answer on the highest plane of morality1 but to entrap some one as opposed to the authorities of their times4 ,life with ,jesus was too short and his mission too stern to parley with pettifoggers2 so he gives to them a clear cut1 unmistakable definition as to what marriage is3 ,whoever puts away his wife1 save for the cause of unchastity1 which violates the marriage covenant1 commits adultery4 ,hence1 under the ,christian dispensation we must judge husband and wife by the same code of morals4 ,if this rule of the perfect equality of the sexes were observed in all social relations the marriage problem might be easily solved4 ,but with one code of morals for man and another for woman1 we are involved in all manner of complications4 ,in ,england1 for example1 a woman may marry her husband's brother2 but a man may not marry his wife's sister4 ,they have had a deceased wife's sister's bill before ,parliament for generations4 ,ever and anon they take it up1 look at it with their opera glasses1 air their grandfather's old platitudes over it1 give a sickly smile at some well-worn witticism1 or drop a tear at a pathetic whine from some bishop1 then lay the bill reverently back in its sacred pigeon-hole for a period of rest4 ,the discussion in the ,united ,states is now in the form of a homogeneous divorce law in all the ,states of the ,union1 but this is not in woman's interest4 ,what ,canada was to the ,southern slaves under the old regime1 a ,state with liberal divorce laws is to fugitive wives4 ,if a dozen learned judges should get together1 as is proposed1 to revise the divorce laws1 they would make them more stringent in liberal ,states instead of more lax in conservative ,states4 ,when such a commission is decided upon1 one-half of the members should be women1 as they have an equal interest in the marriage and divorce laws2 and common justice demands that they should have an equal voice in their reconstruction4 ,i do not think a homogeneous law desirable2 though ,i should like to see ,new ,york and ,south ,carolina liberalized1 ,i should not like to see ,south ,dakota and ,indiana more conservative4 ,mark xii4 #da ,and ,jesus sat over against the treasury1 and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury2 and many that were rich cast in much4 #db ,and there came a certain poor widow1 and she thew in two mites1 which make a farthing4 #dc ,and he called unto him his disciples1 and saith unto them1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 ,that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury3 #dd ,for all they did cast in of their abundance2 but she of her want did cast in all that she had1 even all her living4 ,the widow's gift no doubt might have represented more generosity than all beside1 for the large donations of the rich were only a part of their superfluities1 and bore a small proportion to the abundance which they still had1 but she gave in reality of her necessities4 ,the small contribution was of no special use in the treasury of the ,church1 but as an act of self-sacrifice it was of more real value in estimating character4 ,jesus with his intuition saw the motives of the giver1 as well as the act4 ,this woman1 belonging to an impoverished class1 was trained to self- abnegation2 but when women learn the higher duty of self-development1 they will not so readily expend all their forces in serving others4 ,paul says that a husband who does not provide for his own household is worse than an infidel4 ,so a woman1 who spends all her time in churches1 with priests1 in charities1 neglects to cultivate her own natural gifts1 to make the most of herself as an individual in the scale of being1 a responsible soul whose place no other can fill1 is worse than an infidel4 ,self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice1 should be woman's motto henceforward4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,luke4 ,luke i4 #e ,there was in the days of ,herod1 the king of ,judea1 a certain priest named ,zacharias1 and his wife was of the daughters of ,aaron1 and her name was ,elizabeth4 #f ,and they were both righteous before ,god1 walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the ,lord blameless4 #g ,and they had no child2 and they both were now well stricken in years4 #h ,and it came to pass1 that1 while he executed the priest's office before ,god--his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the ,lord4 #aa ,and there appeared unto him an angel standing on the right side of the altar of incense4 #ab ,and when ,zacharias saw him1 he was troubled1 and fear fell upon him4 #ac ,but the angel said unto him1 ,fear not1 ,zacharias3 for thy prayer is heard2 and thy wife ,elisabeth shall bear thee a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,john4 #ad ,and thou shalt have joy and gladness2 and many shall rejoice at his birth4 #ae ,for he shall be great in the sight of the ,lord1 and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink2 and he shall be filled with the ,holy ,ghost4 ,luke was the companion of the ,apostle ,paul in all of his labors during many years4 ,he also wrote the ,acts of the ,apostles4 ,he was a ,syrian1 and became acquainted with the ,christians at ,antioch4 ,he is called by ,paul the beloved physician4 ,luke opens his book with the parentage and the birth of ,john4 ,his father1 ,zacharias1 was a priest1 and his mother1 ,elizabeth1 was also descended from ,aaron4 ,they were exemplary persons4 ,they habitually walked in all upright course of obedience to all the commandments4 ,they had no children1 but in answer to their prayers a son was at last given to them1 whose name was ,john1 which signifies grace1 or favor of the ,lord4 ,while ,zacharias ministered at the altar1 an angel appeared to him to tell him of the advent of his son4 ,the vision was so startling that ,zacharias was struck dumb for a season4 ,the same angel appeared soon after to ,mary1 the mother of ,jesus1 with glad tidings of her motherhood4 ,she and ,elizabeth met often during that joyful period1 and talked over the promised blessings4 ,john was born about six months before ,jesus1 and is sometimes called his forerunner4 ,elizabeth and ,mary were cousins on the mother's side4 ,soon after the angel appeared to ,mary she went in haste to the home of ,zacharias1 and saluted ,elizabeth1 who said1 ,blessed art thou among women2 and how comes this honor to me1 that the mother of my ,lord should cross my threshold8 ,mary replied1 ,my soul doth magnify the ,lord that he hath thus honored his handmaiden4 ,henceforth all generations shall call me blessed4 ,when ,elizabeth's son was born1 the neighbors1 cousins and aunts all assembled and at once volunteered their opinions as to the boy's name1 and all insisted that he should be named ,zacharias1 after his father4 ,but ,elizabeth said1 ,no2 his name is ,john1 as the angel said4 ,as none of the family had ever been called by that name1 they appealed by signs to the father 7who was still dumb72 but he promptly wrote on the table1 ,his name is ,john4 ,luke ii4 #cf ,and there was one ,anna1 a prophetess4 #cg ,and she was a widow of about four-score and four years1 which departed not from the temple1 but served ,god with fastings and prayers night and day4 ,anna having lost her husband in the prime of her life1 remained a widow to her death4 ,she resided near the temple that she might attend all its sacred ordinances4 ,having no other engagements to occupy her attention1 she spent her whole time in the service of ,god1 and joined frequent fastings with her constant prayers for herself and her people4 ,she was employed day and night in those religious exercises1 so says the text2 but ,scott allows the poor widow1 now over eighty years of age1 some hours for rest at night 7more merciful than the ,evangelist74 ,she came into the temple just as ,simon held the child in his arms1 and she also returned thanks to ,god for the coming of the promised ,saviour1 and that her eyes had beheld him4 #da ,now his parents went to ,jerusalem every year at the feast of the ,passover4 #db ,and when he was twelve years old1 they went up to ,jerusalem after the custom of the feast4 #dc ,and when they had fulfilled the days1 as they returned1 the child ,jesus tarried behind in ,jerusalem3 and ,joseph and his mother knew not of it4 #dd ,but they1 supposing him to have been in the company1 went a day's journey3 and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance4 #de ,and when they found him not1 they turned back again to ,jerusalem1 seeking him4 #df ,and it came to pass1 that after three days they found him in the temple1 sitting in the midst of the doctors1 both hearing them1 and asking them questions4 #dg ,and all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers4 #di ,and when they saw him1 his mother said unto him1 ,son1 why hast thou thus dealt with us8 ,behold1 thy father and ,i have sought thee sorrowing4 #di ,and he said unto them1 ,how is it that ye sought me8 wist ye not that ,i must be about my ,father's business8 #ej ,and they understood not the saying which he spake unto them4 #ea ,and he went with them to ,nazareth1 and was subject unto them3 but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart4 ,these texts contain all that is said of the childhood and the youth of ,jesus1 though we should have expected fuller information on so extraordinary a subject4 ,joseph and ,mary went up to the feast of the passover every year1 and it was the custom to take children of that age with them4 ,they journeyed in a great company for mutual security1 and thus in starting they overlooked the boy1 supposing that he was with the other children4 ,but when the families separated for the night they could not find him1 so they journeyed back to ,jerusalem and found him in a court of the temple1 listening to1 and asking questions of the doctors1 who were surprised at his intelligence4 ,it is often said that he was disputing with the doctors1 which the commentators say gives a wrong impression2 he was modestly asking questions4 ,neither ,mary nor ,joseph remembered nor fully understood what the angel had told them concerning the mission of their child2 neither did they comprehend the answer of ,jesus4 ,however1 he went back with them to ,nazareth1 and was subject to them in all things1 working at the carpenter's trade until he entered on his mission4 ,it was a great mistake that some angel had not made clear to ,mary the important character and mission of her son1 that she might not have been a seeming hindrance on so many occasions1 and made it necessary for ,jesus to rebuke her so often1 and thus subject herself to criticism for his seeming disrespect4 ,luke xiii4 #aa ,and1 behold1 there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years1 and was bowed together1 and could in no wise lift up herself4 #ab ,and when ,jesus saw her1 he called her to him1 and said unto her1 ,woman1 thou art loosed from thine infirmity4 #ac ,and he laid his hands on her3 and immediately she was made straight1 and glorified ,god4 #ad ,and the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation1 because that ,jesus had healed on the ,sabbath day1 and said unto the people1 ,there are six days in which men ought to work3 in them therefore come and be healed1 but not on the ,sabbath day1 #ae ,the ,lord then answered him1 and said1 ,thou hypocrite1 doth not each one of you on the ,sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall1 and lead him away to watering8 #af ,and ought not this woman1 being a daughter of ,abraham1 whom ,satan hath bound1 lo1 these eighteen years1 he loosed from this bond on the ,sabbath day8 #ag ,and when he had said these things1 all his adversaries were ashamed3 and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him4 ,jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the ,sabbath day1 and saw the distress of this woman who attended worship2 he called her to him1 and1 by the laying on of his hands and by prayer1 immediately restored her2 and being made straight1 she glorified ,god before all for this unexpected deliverance4 ,the ruler of the synagogue1 who hated the doctrines of ,jesus and envied the honor1 tried to veil his enmity with pretence of singular piety1 telling the people that they should come for healing other days and not on the holy rest of the ,sabbath1 as if the woman had come there on purpose for a cure1 or as if a word and a touch attended with so beneficent an effect could break the ,sabbath4 ,jesus' rebuke of the malice and hypocrisy of the man was fully justified4 ,the ,sabbath-day-,pharisees are not all dead yet4 ,while more rational people are striving to open libraries1 art galleries and concert halls on ,sundays1 a class of religious bigots are endeavoring to close up on that day1 all places of entertainment for the people4 ,the large class of citizens shut up in factories1 in mercantile establishments1 in offices1 and in shops all the week1 should have the liberty to enjoy themselves in all rational amusements on ,sunday4 ,all healthy sports in the open air1 music in parks1 popular lectures in all the school buildings1 should be encouraged and protected by law for their benefit4 ,luke xviii4 #b ,there was in a city a judge1 which feared not ,god1 neither regarded man3 #c ,and there was a widow in that ,city2 and she came unto him1 saying1 ,avenge me of mine adversary4 #d ,and he would not for a while3 but afterward he said within himself1 ,though ,i fear not ,god1 neither regard man2 #e ,yet because this widow troubleth me4 ,i will avenge her1 lest by her continual coming she weary me4 #f ,and the ,lord said1 ,hear what the unjust judge saith4 #g ,and shall not ,god avenge his own elect1 which cry day and night unto him1 though he bear long with them8 ,the lesson taught in this parable is perseverance4 ,everything can be accomplished by continued effort4 ,saints hope to acquire all spiritual graces through prayers2 philanthropists to carry out their reform measures through constant discussion2 politicians their public measures by continued party combat and repeated acts of legislation4 ,through forty years of conflict we abolished slavery4 ,through fifty years of conflict we have partially emancipated woman from the bondage of the old common law of ,england1 and crowned her with the rights of full citizenship in four ,states in the ,american ,republic4 ,the condition of the woman in this parable1 bowed to the earth with all her disabilities1 well represents the degraded condition of the sex under every form of government and of religion the world over2 but1 unlike her1 women still1 in many latitudes1 make their appeals in vain at cathedral altars and in the halls of legislation4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the sentiment concerning the equality of male and female1 which ,paul avowed to the ,galatians1 is perfectly in accord with what ,luke reports of ,jesus' own custom4 ,it will be remembered that the chief adherents of ,paul accepted only this report 7and this only partly7 as worthy of credit2 and therein we find the statement that many female ministers had accompanied ,jesus and the male ministers1 as they wandered 7in ,salvation ,army fashion7 throughout every city and village preaching4 ,it is true that we now find a qualifying passage in reference to the female ministers1 namely which ministered unto him of their substance 7,luke1 ch4 #h1 v4 #c74 ,but this is1 plainly1 one of those numerous marginal comments1 made at late date 7when all the original manuscripts had disappeared71 by men who had1 doubtless1 lost knowledge of women's original equality in the ministry2 for ,ignatius of ,antioch1 one of the earliest ,christian writers1 expressly affirms that the deacons were not ministers of meats and drinks1 but ministers of the ,church of ,god4 ,although this is well known1 our modern theologians seem to have been unable to avoid jumping to the conclusion that1 whenever women are mentioned in the ministry1 it must be only as ministers of their substance1 either as a kind of commissaries1 or1 at most1 as kindergarten officials4 ,it is manifestly true that the early ,church was immensely indebted to the benefactions of rich widows and virgin heiresses for the means of sustaining life in its fellowship4 ,thecla1 ,paula1 ,eustochium1 ,marcella1 ,melanie1 ,susanna1 are but a few of the women of wealth who gave both themselves and their large fortunes to the establishment of the ethics of ,jesus4 ,yet ,paula's greatest work 7from men's standpoint of great works7 is rarely mentioned in ,christendom1 and it is significant of the degradation which women suffered at the hands of the ,church that the time came when ,churchmen could not believe that she had performed it1 even with ,jerome's acknowledgment confronting them1 and consequently erased the word sister accompanying the name ,paula1 substituting therefor the word brother6 ,paula founded and endowed monasteries1 won to the ,christian cause allegiance from one of the noblest families of ,greece and ,rome1 and originated within the monasteries the occupation of copying manuscripts1 to which civilization is indebted for the preservation of much precious literature2 but her most important service to the ,church was her co-labor with ,jerome in the great task of translating the ,jewish scriptures from the original ,hebrew into ,latin4 ,it was ,paula who suggested and inspired the undertaking1 furnishing the expensive works of reference1 without which it would have been impossible1 and being herself a woman of fine intellect1 highly trained1 and an excellent ,hebrew scholar1 revised and corrected ,jerome's work2 then1 finally1 assisted by her brilliant daughter1 ,eustochium1 performed the enormous task of copying it accurately for circulation4 ,it was the least that ,jerome could do to dedicate the completed work to those able coadjutors1 and it is an amazing thing to find ,churchmen still eulogizing ,jerome as author of the ,vulgate1 without the slightest reference to the fact that1 but for ,paula's help1 the ,vulgate would not have come into existence4 ,but until men and women return to more natural relations1 until women cast off their false subserviency1 thereby helping men to get rid of their unnatural arrogance1 nothing different from the injustice ,christendom has shown ,paula can be looked for4 ,e4 ,b4 ,d4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,john4 ,john ii4 ,and the third day there was a marriage in ,cana of ,galilee2 and the mother of ,jesus was there3 #b ,and both ,jesus was called1 and his disciples1 to the marriage4 #c ,and when they wanted wine1 the mother of ,jesus saith unto him1 ,they have no wine4 #d ,jesus saith unto her1 ,woman1 what have ,i to do with thee8 mine hour is not yet come4 #e ,his mother saith unto the servants1 ,whatsoever he saith unto you1 do it4 #g ,jesus saith unto them1 ,fill the waterpots with water4 ,and they filled them up to the brim4 #h ,and he saith unto them1 ,draw out now and bear unto the governor of the feast4 ,and they bare it4 #i ,when the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine1 he called the bridegroom4 #aj ,and saith unto him1 ,every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine2 and when men have well drunk1 then that which is worse3 but thou hast kept the good wine until now4 ,john was distinguished among the ,apostles for his many virtues1 and was specially honored as the bosom friend of ,jesus4 ,he is supposed to have lived in the neighborhood of ,judea until the time approached for the predicted destruction of ,jerusalem2 then he went to ,asia and resided some years in ,ephesus1 was banished to the ,island of ,patmos by the ,emperor ,domitian1 and returned to ,asia after the death of that ,emperor4 ,he lived to be a hundred years of age1 and died a natural death1 being the only ,apostle who escaped martyrdom4 ,john alone records the resurrection of ,lazarus1 and many things not mentioned in the other ,gospels4 ,probably ,mary was related to one of the parties to the marriage1 for she appears to have given directions as one of the family4 ,as ,joseph is not mentioned either on this occasion or afterwards1 we may suppose that he died before ,jesus entered into his public ministry4 ,there was no disrespect intended in the word woman with which ,jesus addressed his mother1 as the greatest princesses were accosted even by their servants in the same manner among the ancients4 ,jesus merely intended to suggest that no one could command when he should perform miracles1 as they would in any ordinary event subject to human discretion4 ,the ,jews always kept a great number of water-pots filled with water in their houses for the ceremonial washing prescribed by law4 ,commentators differ as to how much these pots contained1 but it is estimated that the six contained a hogshead4 ,the ruler of the feast was generally a ,levite or a priest2 and he expressed his surprise that they should have kept the best wine until the last4 ,john iv4 #e4 ,then cometh he to a city of ,samaria1 which is called ,sychar4 #f ,now ,jacob's well was there4 ,jesus therefore1 being wearied with his journey1 sat thus on the well3 and it was about the sixth hour4 #g ,there cometh a woman of ,samaria to draw water3 ,jesus saith unto her1 ,give me to drink4 #i 7,for his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat47 #i ,then saith the woman of ,samaria unto him1 ,how is it that thou1 being a ,jew1 askest drink of me1 which am a woman of ,samaria8 for the ,jews have no dealings with the ,samaritans4 #aj ,jesus answered and said unto her1 ,if thou knewest the gift of ,god1 and who it is that saith to thee1 ,give me to drink2 thou wouldest have asked of him1 and he would have given thee living water4 #bg ,and upon this came his disciples1 and marvelled that he talked with the woman1 yet no man said1 ,what seekest thou8 or1 ,why talkest thou with her8 ,as the ,samaritans were not generally disposed to receive the ,jews into their houses1 ,jesus did not try to enter1 but sat down by ,jacob's well1 and sent his disciples into the town to buy some necessary provisions4 ,the prejudices against each other were so inveterate that they never asked for a favor1 hence the woman was surprised when ,jesus spoke to her4 ,they might buy of each other1 but never borrow nor receive a favor or gift1 nor manifest friendship in any way4 ,but ,christ1 despising all such prejudices that had no foundation either in equity or in the law of ,god1 asked drink of the ,samaritan woman4 ,he did not notice the woman's narrow prejudices1 but directed her attention to matters of greater importance4 ,he told her though she should refuse him the small favor for which he asked because he was a ,jew1 yet he was ready to confer far greater benefits on her1 though a ,samaritan4 ,the living water to which ,jesus referred1 the woman did not understand4 #af ,jesus saith unto her1 ,go1 call thy husband1 and come hither4 #ag ,the woman answered and said1 ,i have no husband4 ,jesus said unto her1 ,thou hast well said1 ,i have no husband3 #ah ,for thou hast had five husbands3 and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband3 in that saidst thou truly4 #ai ,the woman saith unto him1 ,sir1 ,i perceive that thou art a prophet4 #bh ,the woman then left her waterpot1 and went her way into the city1 and saith to the men4 #bi ,come1 see a man1 which told me all things that ever ,i did3 is not this the ,christ8 #ci ,and many of the ,samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman1 which testified1 ,he told me all that ever ,i did4 #dj ,so when the ,samaritans were come unto him1 they besought him that he would tarry with them3 and he abode there two days4 #da ,and many more believed because of his own word4 ,the woman could not understand ,jesus' words because she had no conviction of sin nor desire for a purer1 better life2 and as soon as possible she changed the subject of the conversation from her private life to the subjects of controversy between the ,jews and the ,samaritans4 ,john viii4 #b ,and early in the morning he came again into the temple1 and all the people came unto him3 and he sat down1 and taught them4 #c ,and the ,scribes and ,pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery2 and when they had set her in the midst1 #d ,they say unto him1 ,master1 this woman was taken in adultery1 #e ,now ,moses in the law commanded us1 that such should be stoned3 but what sayest thou8 #f ,this they said1 tempting him1 that they might have to accuse him4 ,but ,jesus stooped down1 and with his finger wrote on the ground1 as though he heard them not4 #g ,so when they continued asking him1 he lifted up himself1 and said unto them1 ,he that is without sin among you1 let him first cast a stone at her4 #h ,and again he stooped down1 and wrote on the ground4 #i ,and they which heard it1 being convicted by their own conscience1 went out one by one1 beginning at the eldest1 even unto the last3 and ,jesus was left alone1 and the woman standing in the midst4 #aj ,he said unto her1 ,woman1 where are those thine accusers8 hath no man condemned thee8 #aa ,she said1 ,no man1 ,lord4 ,and ,jesus said unto her1 ,neither do ,i condemn thee3 go1 and sin no more4 ,the ,scribes and the ,pharisees concocted a plan to draw ,jesus into a snare4 ,they concluded from many of his doctrines that he deemed himself authorized to alter or to abrogate the commands of ,moses2 therefore they desired his opinion as to the fitting punishment for an adulteress4 ,if he had ordered them to execute her1 they would doubtless have accused him to the ,romans of assuming a judicial authority1 independent of their government2 had he directed them to set her at liberty1 they would have represented him to the people as an enemy to the law1 and a patron of the most infamous characters2 and had he referred them to the ,roman authority1 they would have accused him to the multitude as a betrayer of their liberties4 ,john ix4 ,and as ,jesus passed by1 he saw a man which was blind from his birth4 #b ,and his disciples asked him1 saying1 ,master1 who did sin1 this man1 or his parents1 that he was born blind8 #c ,jesus answered1 ,neither hath this man sinned1 nor his parents3 but that the works of ,god should be made manifest in him4 ,a prevalent idea of the ,jews was that1 in accord with the ten commandments1 the sins of the parents were visited upon the children4 ,this is recognized as absolute law to-day2 but it by no means follows that all afflictions are the result of sin4 ,the blindness may have resulted from a combination of circumstances beyond the control of the parents4 ,the statement does not disprove the law of transmission1 but simply shows that defects are not always the result of sin4 ,john xi4 ,now a certain man was sick1 named ,lazarus1 of ,bethany1 the town of ,mary and her sister ,martha4 #c ,therefore his sisters sent unto him1 saying1 ,lord1 behold1 he whom thou lovest is sick4 #e ,now ,jesus loved ,martha1 and her sister1 and ,lazarus4 #f ,when he had heard therefore that he was sick1 he abode two days still in the same place where he was4 #ag ,when ,jesus came1 he found that he bad lain in the grave four days already4 #bj ,martha1 as soon as she heard that ,jesus was coming1 went and met him3 but ,mary sat still in the house4 #ba ,then said ,martha unto ,jesus1 ,lord1 if then hadst been here1 my brother had not died4 #bb ,but ,i know1 that even now1 whatsoever thou wilt ask of ,god1 ,god will give it thee4 #bc ,jesus saith unto her1 ,thy brother shall rise again4 #bd ,martha saith unto him1 #a know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day4 #be ,jesus said unto her1 ,i am the resurrection and the life3 #bh ,and she went her way1 and called ,mary her sister1 saying1 ,the ,master is come1 and calleth for thee4 #bi ,as soon as she heard that1 she arose quickly1 and came unto him4 #cb ,when ,mary was come where ,jesus was1 and saw him1 she fell down at his feet1 saying unto him1 ,lord1 if thou hadst been here1 my brother had not died4 #ce ,jesus wept4 #cf ,then said the ,jews1 ,behold how he loved him6 #da ,then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid4 #dc ,and ,jesus cried with a loud voice1 ,lazarus1 come forth4 #dd ,and he that was dead came forth4 ,it appears that ,jesus was a frequent visitor at the home of ,mary1 ,martha and ,lazarus1 and felt a strong friendship for them4 ,they lived in ,bethany1 two miles from ,jerusalem4 ,many ,jews came out from the city to express their sympathy4 ,martha did not fully understand ,jesus2 she considered him as a prophet who wrought miracles by faith and prayer in the same manner as the ancient prophets4 ,the grief of ,mary1 the tears of the ,jews1 and his own warm friendship for the sisters1 affected ,jesus himself to tears and groans4 ,in appealing to ,divine power1 ,jesus wished to show the unbelieving ,jews that his miracles were performed by influence from above and not by the spirit of evil1 to which source they attributed his wonderful works4 ,many who were said to witness this miracle did not believe4 ,after this ,jesus again rested at the home of ,mary1 where she washed his feet and wiped them with the hair of her head1 and then anointed him with costly spices from an alabaster box4 ,he then went up to ,jerusalem to attend the passover4 ,john xx4 ,the first day of the week cometh ,mary ,magdalene early1 when it was yet dark1 unto the sepulchre1 and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre4 #b ,then she runneth1 and cometh to ,simon ,peter1 and to the other disciple1 whom ,jesus loved1 and saith unto them1 ,they have taken away the ,lord out of the sepulchre1 and we know not where they have laid him4 #c ,peter therefore went forth1 and that other disciple1 and came to the sepulchre4 #d ,so they ran both together3 and the other disciple did outrun ,peter1 and came first to the sepulchre4 #e ,and he stooping down and looking in1 saw the linen clothes lying2 yet went he not in4 #f ,then cometh ,simon ,peter following him1 and went into the sepulchre1 and seeth the linen clothes lie4 #g ,and the napkin1 that was about his head1 not lying with the linen clothes1 but wrapped together in a place by itself4 #h ,then went in also that other disciple1 which came first to the sepulchre1 and he saw1 and believed4 #i ,for as yet they knew not the ,scripture1 that he must rise again from the dead4 #aj ,then the disciples went away again unto their own home4 #aa ,but ,mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping3 and as she wept1 she stooped down1 and looked into the sepulchre4 #ab ,and seeth two angels in white sitting1 the one at the head1 and the other at the feet1 where the body of ,jesus had lain4 #ac ,and they say unto her1 ,woman1 ,why weepest thou8 ,she saith unto them1 ,because they have taken away my ,lord1 and ,i know not where they have laid him4 #ad ,and when she had thus said1 she turned herself back1 and saw ,jesus standing1 and knew not that it was ,jesus4 #ae ,jesus saith unto her1 ,woman1 why weepest thou8 whom seekest thou8 ,she1 supposing him to be the gardener1 saith unto him1 ,sir1 if thou hast borne him hence1 tell me where thou hast laid him1 and ,i will take him away4 #af ,jesus saith unto her1 ,mary4 ,she turned herself1 and saith unto him1 ,rabboni1 which is to say1 ,master4 #ag ,jesus saith unto her1 ,touch me not2 for ,i am not yet ascended to my ,father3 but go to my brethren1 and say unto them1 ,i ascend unto my ,father1 and your ,father1 and to my ,god1 and your ,god4 #ah ,mary ,magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the ,lord1 and that he had spoken these things unto her4 ,mary appears to have arrived at the sepulchre before any of the other women1 and conversed with ,jesus4 ,though the disciples1 in visiting the tomb1 saw nothing but cast-off clothes1 yet ,mary sees and talks with angels and with ,jesus4 ,as usual1 the woman is always most ready to believe miracles and fables1 however extravagant and though beyond all human comprehension4 ,several women purposed to be at the tomb at sunrise to embalm the body4 ,the men who visited the tomb saw no visions2 but all the women saw ,jesus and the angels1 though the men1 who went to the tomb twice1 saw nothing4 ,mary arrived at the tomb before light1 and waited for the other women2 but seeing some one approaching1 she supposed he was the person employed by ,joseph to take care of the garden1 so asked him what had been done to him4 ,though speaking to a supposed stranger1 she did not mention any name4 ,jesus then called her by name2 and his voice and his address made him known to her4 ,filled with joy and with amazement1 she called him ,rabboni1 which signifies1 teacher4 ,jesus said unto her1 ,touch me not4 ,this finishes the consideration of the four ,gospels--the direct recorded words of ,jesus upon the question of purity2 and all further references should harmonize1 in spirit1 with his teachings1 and should be so interpreted1 without regard to contrary assertions by learned but unwise commentators4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,is it not astonishing that so little is in the ,new ,testament concerning the mother of ,christ8 ,my own opinion is that she was an excellent woman1 and the wife of ,joseph1 and that ,joseph was the actual father of ,christ4 ,i think there can be no reasonable doubt that such was the opinion of the authors of the original ,gospels4 ,upon any other hypothesis it is impossible to account for their having given the genealogy of ,joseph to prove that ,christ was of the blood of ,david4 ,the idea that he was the ,son of ,god1 or in any way miraculously produced1 was an afterthought1 and is hardly entitled now to serious consideration4 ,the ,gospels were written so long after the death of ,christ that very little was known of him1 and substantially nothing of his parents4 ,how is it that not one word is said about the death of ,mary1 not one word about the death of ,joseph8 ,how did it happen that ,christ did not visit his mother after his resurrection8 ,the first time he speaks to his mother is when he was twelve years old4 ,his mother having told him that she and his father had been seeking him1 he replied3 ,how is it that ye sought me8 ,wist ye not that ,i must be about my father's business8 ,the second time was at the marriage feast in ,cana1 when he said to her3 ,woman1 what have ,i to do with thee8 ,and the third time was at the cross1 when ,jesus1 seeing his mother standing by the disciple whom he loved1 said to her3 ',woman1 behold thy son2' and to the disciple3 ',behold thy mother4' ,and this is all4 ,the best thing about the ,catholic ,church is the deification of ,mary2 and yet this is denounced by ,protestantism as idolatry4 ,there is something in the human heart that prompts man to tell his faults more freely to the mother than to the father4 ,the cruelty of ,jehovah is softened by the mercy of ,mary4 ,is it not strange that none of the disciples of ,christ said any thing about their parents--that we know absolutely nothing of them8 ,is there any evidence that they showed any particular respect even for the mother of ,christ8 ,mary ,magdalene is1 in many respects1 the tenderest and most loving character in the ,new ,testament sic4 ,according to the account1 her love for ,christ knew no abatement1 no change--true even in the hopeless shadow of the cross4 ,neither did it die with his death4 ,she waited at the sepulchre2 she hastened in the early morning to his tomb2 and yet the only comfort ,christ gave to this true and loving soul lies in these strangely cold and heartless words3 ,touch me not4 ,,anon4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,acts4 ,acts v4 ,but a certain man named ,ananias1 with ,sapphira his wife1 sold a possession4 #b ,and kept back a part of the price1 and brought a certain part1 and laid it at the apostles' feet4 #c ,but ,peter said1 ,ananias1 why hath ,satan filled thine heart to lie to the ,holy ,ghost1 and to keep back part of the price of the land8 #d ,while it remained1 was it not thine own8 and after it was sold1 was it not in thine own power8 why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart8 ,thou hast not lied unto men1 but unto ,god4 #e ,and ,ananias bearing the words fell down1 and gave up the ghost3 and great fear came on all them that heard these things4 #f ,and the young men arose and carried him out1 and buried him4 #g ,and it was about the space of three hours after1 when his wife not knowing what was done1 came in1 #h ,and ,peter answered her1 ,tell me whether ye sold the land for so much8 ,and she said1 ,yea1 for so much4 #i ,then ,peter said unto her1 ,how is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the ,spirit of the ,lord8 ,behold1 the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door1 and shall carry thee out4 #aj ,then she fell down straightway at his feet1 and yielded up the ghost4 ,this book is supposed to have been written by ,luke about thirty years after the death of ,jesus1 as all appendix to the ,evangelists4 ,it contains brief mention of a few women of varied characters and fortunes4 ,we have the usual number afflicted with religious mysteries1 with the gift of prophecy1 and some possessed of the devil1 who promptly comes forth at the commands of ,jesus and of his ,apostles4 ,the case of ,ananias and ,sapphira was very peculiar4 ,this example was made1 not of avowed enemies1 but avowed friends4 ,many expositors say that ,ananias had made a vow to give his estate for the support of the ,christian cause1 and that sacrilege was the crime for which he was punished4 ,he had1 from corrupt motives1 attempted to impose upon the ,apostles in pretending to give all that he had to the church1 while withholding a good share for himself4 ,he had evidently instructed his wife to substantiate his assertions4 ,obedience of one responsible being to another may ofttimes prove dangerous1 even if the command comes from a husband4 ,acts ix4 #cf ,now there was at ,joppa a certain disciple named ,tabitha1 which by interpretation is called ,dorcas3 this woman was full of good works and alms-deeds4 #cg ,and it came to pass in those days1 that she was sick and died4 #ch ,and as ,lydda was night to ,joppa1 and the disciples had heard that ,peter was there1 they sent unto him two men1 desiring him to come to them4 #ci ,then ,peter arose and went with them1 and they brought him into the upper chamber1 and all the widows stood weeping1 and shewing the garments which ,dorcas made4 #dj ,but ,peter put them all forth1 and kneeled down1 and prayed2 and turning him to the body said1 ,tabitha1 rise4 ,and she opened her eyes3 and when she saw ,peter1 she sat up4 #da ,and when he had called the saints and widows1 he presented her alive4 ,tabitha was called by this name among the ,jews2 but she was known to the ,greeks as ,dorcas4 ,she was considered an ornament to her ,christian profession2 for she so abounded in good works and alms-deeds that her whole life was devoted to the wants and the needs of the poor4 ,she not only gave away her substance1 but she employed her time and her skill in laboring constantly for the poor and the unfortunate4 ,her death was looked upon as a public calamity4 ,this is the first instance of any ,apostle performing a miracle of this kind4 ,there was no witness to this miracle4 ,what men teach in their high places1 such women as ,dorcas illustrate in their lives4 ,acts xii4 #ab ,and he came into the house of ,mary the mother of ,john1 whose surname was ,mark1 where many were gathered together praying4 #ac ,and as ,peter knocked at the gate1 a damsel came to hearken1 named ,rhoda4 #ad ,and when she knew ,peter's voice1 she opened not the gate for gladness1 but ran in1 and told how ,peter stood before the gate4 #ae ,and they said unto her1 ,thou art mad4 ,but she constantly affirmed that it was even so4 ,then they said1 ,it is an angel4 #af ,but ,peter continued knocking3 and when they had opened the door1 and saw him1 they were astonished4 #ag ,but he declared unto them how the ,lord had brought him out of the prison4 ,and he said1 ,go shew these things unto ,james1 and to the brethren4 ,herod the king1 at this time1 killed ,james1 the brother of ,john1 and cast ,peter into prison1 and intended to destroy the other ,apostles as soon as he could entrap them4 ,peter1 it is said1 escaped from prison by the miraculous interposition of an angel1 who led him to the gate of one ,mary1 the sister of ,barnabas1 where ,christians often assembled for religious worship4 ,although they often prayed for ,peter's deliverance2 they could not believe ,rhoda when she said that ,peter stood knocking at the gate4 ,acts xvi4 #ad ,and a certain woman named ,lydia1 a seller of purple1 of the city of ,thyatira1 which worshiped ,god1 heard us2 whose heart the ,lord opened unto the things which were spoken of ,paul4 #ae ,and when she was baptized1 and her household1 she besought us1 saying1 ,if ye have judged me to be faithful to the ,lord1 come into my house1 and abide there4 #af ,and it came to pass1 as we went to prayer1 a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us1 which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying3 #ag ,the same followed ,paul and us1 and cried1 saying1 ,these men are the servants of the most high ,god4 #ah ,and this did she many days4 ,but ,paul said to the spirit1 ,i command thee in the name of ,jesus ,christ to come out of her4 ,and he came out the same hour4 #ai ,and when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone1 they caught ,paul and ,silas1 #bj ,and brought them to the magistrates1 saying1 these men1 being ,jews1 do exceedingly trouble our city4 #bb ,and the multitude rose up against them2 and the magistrates rent off their clothes1 and commanded to beat them4 #bc ,and when they had laid many stripes upon them1 they cast them into prison1 charging the jailer to keep them safely4 ,lydia1 a native ,thyatiran1 who at this time resided at ,philippi1 was a merchant who trafficked in purple clothes1 which were held in great estimation4 ,she was a ,gentile1 but was proselyted to the ,jewish religion1 believed in the teachings of ,paul and was baptized with her household4 ,she was a person in affluent circumstances2 and being of a generous disposition1 was very hospitable4 ,as the ,apostles were poorly accommodated elsewhere1 she entertained them in her own house4 ,the ,apostles and their friends on their way to the oratory1 where they went to worship1 were met by a female slave who was possessed with a spirit of divination and uttered ambiguous predictions4 ,she had acquired great reputation as an oracle or fortune-teller and for making wonderful discoveries4 ,by this practice she brought her masters considerable gain and was very valuable to them4 ,when ,paul cast out the evil spirit and restored the maiden to her normal condition of body and mind1 her master was full of wrath1 as she was no longer of any value to him2 and he accused ,paul before the magistrates4 ,the people were all stirred with indignation2 so they stripped ,paul and ,silas1 scourged them severely2 and1 without trial1 the magistrates threw them into prison4 ,acts xviii4 ,after these things ,paul departed from ,athens1 and came to ,corinth2 #b ,and found a certain ,jew named ,aquila1 born in ,pontus1 lately come from ,italy1 with his wife ,priscilla1 7because that ,claudius had commanded all ,jews to depart from ,rome17 #c ,and because he was of the same craft1 he abode with them1 and wrought3 7for by their occupation they were tentmakers74 #ah ,and ,paul after this tarried there yet a good while1 and then took his leave of the brethren1 and sailed thence into ,syria1 and with him ,priscilla and ,aquila2 #bd ,and a certain ,jew named ,apollos1 born at ,alexandria1 an eloquent man1 and mighty in the ,scriptures1 came to ,ephesus4 #be ,this man was instructed in the way of the ,lord2 and being fervent in the spirit1 he spake and taught diligently the things of the ,lord1 knowing only the baptism of ,john4 #bf ,and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue3 whom when ,aquila and ,priscilla had heard1 they took him and expounded the way of ,god more perfectly4 ,it was an excellent custom of those days for educated people to be also instructed in some mechanical trade4 ,this served them as an amusement in prosperity1 and was a certain resource in case other prospects failed4 ,thus ,paul was now prepared to support himself in an emergency4 ,he was frequently compelled to work with his hands to provide for his own necessities4 ,apollos was a native of ,alexandria1 in ,egypt1 a ready and graceful speaker1 with a thorough knowledge of the ,scriptures4 ,coming to ,ephesus1 he boldly preached in the synagogue in the presence of ,aquila and of ,priscilla2 and they seeing his ability1 zeal and piety1 said nothing to his disadvantage1 though they perceived that his views of the ,christian doctrines were very imperfect4 ,so they sought his acquaintance and instructed him more fully in the gospel of ,jesus4 ,he1 with great humility1 received their instructions1 for he had never been much among ,christians2 and no one knew when or by whom he was baptized4 ,acts xxi4 #h ,and the next day we that were of ,paul's company departed1 and came unto ,cesarea1 and we entered into the house of ,philip the evangelist1 which was one of the seven2 and abode with him4 #i ,and the same man had four daughters1 virgins1 which did prophesy4 ,philip1 one of the seven deacons in ,cesarea1 was also an ,evangelist1 and had the peculiar honor of having four daughters1 all endowed with the gift of prophecy2 and perhaps they gave intimations to ,paul of his approaching trials4 ,with ,philip's four daughters1 all endowed with the spirit of prophecy1 and ,priscilla as a teacher of great principles to the orators of her time1 and one of ,paul's chosen travelling companions1 women are quite highly honored in the ,book of ,acts1 if we except the tragedy of the unfortunate wife who obeyed her husband4 ,acts xxiv4 #bd ,and after certain days1 when ,felix came with his wife ,drusilla1 which was a ,jewess1 he sent for ,paul1 and heard him concerning the faith in ,christ4 #be ,and as he reasoned of righteousness1 temperance1 and judgment to come1 ,felix trembled1 and answered1 ,go thy way for this time2 when ,i have a convenient season1 ,i will call for thee4 ,drusilla was a daughter of that ,herod who beheaded ,james1 the brother of ,john1 and sister to ,king ,agrippa4 ,she was married to the king of the ,emerines1 ,azizas2 but she left her husband and went to live with ,felix4 ,he and ,drusilla were curious to hear more authentic accounts of ,jesus and his doctrines4 ,they do not seem to have been much impressed with the purity of his teachings4 ,their curiosity did not arise from a love of the truth1 nor from a desire for a higher1 better life1 but was a mere curiosity1 for which it is probable that ,felix was responsible1 as ,drusilla doubtless asked her husband at home all she desired to know4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,edwin ,hatch expresses the latest decision of historical theology concerning ,paul1 in frankly confessing3 ,his life at ,rome and all the rest of his history are enveloped in mists from which no single gleam of certain light emerges4 4 4 4 ,the place and occasion of his death are not less uncertain than are the facts of his later life4 4 4 ,the chronology of the rest of his life is as uncertain as the date of his death4 ,we have no means of knowing when he was born1 or how long he lived1 or at what date the several events of his life took place4 ,exactly the same may be said of ,peter4 ,the strongest probability is that ,paul and ,peter were two obscure men who lived in the latter part of the first1 or beginning of the second century1 neither of whom could have seen the first century ,jesus4 ,it can easily be shown that the ,christian ,church admitted women into her regularly ordained ministry during the first two hundred years of ,christianity4 ,whether ,bishop ,doane is ignorant of this fact1 or whether he is merely presuming upon women's ignorance thereof1 it is impossible to say4 ,but one thing is clear1 and that is1 that the time has arrived when all women should be informed of the true status of their sex in the ministry of the primitive ,church4 ,the first important truth for them to learn concerning the question is that there is a missing link of some five hundred years between the close of that body of literature known to us as the ,old ,testament and the compilation of that collection of letters1 narratives1 etc41 now presented to us as the ,new ,testament4 ,girls of ,christian families are commonly inoculated in their ignorant1 and therefore helplessly credulous youth1 with unquestioning belief that the ,new ,testament was written in the first century of our era1 by disciples who were contemporary with ,jesus1 and that ,peter and ,paul were first century ,christians1 the former of whom had personally known and followed ,jesus1 while the latter was a convert from ,judaism after ,jesus' death1 never having seen the teacher himself4 ,yet he is1 indeed1 a very ignorant ecclesiastic1 who to-day is not perfectly well aware that the above belief is pure theory1 resting on nothing more stable than vague conjecture1 irresponsible tradition1 and slowly evolving fable4 ,among scholarly ,christian theologians no questions are now more unsettled than are the queries3 ,who wrote the ,gospels8 ,in which of the first three centuries did they assume their present shape8 ,and at what time did ,peter and ,paul live and quarrel with each other concerning ,christian polity8 ,as for the passages now found in the ,new ,testament epistles of ,paul1 concerning women's non-equality with men and duty of subjection1 there is no room to doubt that they are bare-faced forgeries1 interpolated by unscrupulous bishops1 during the early period in which a combined and determined effort was made to reduce women to silent submission1 not only in the ,church1 but also in the home and in the ,state4 ,a most laudably intended attempt to excuse ,paul for the inexcusable passages attributed to his authorship has been made by a clergyman1 who1 accepting them as genuine ,pauline utterances1 endeavors to show that they were meant to apply1 only to ,greek female converts1 natives of ,corinth1 and that the command to cover the head and to keep silent in public was warranted1 both because veiling the head and face was a ,grecian custom1 and because the women of ,corinth were of notoriously bad character4 ,in support of this theory our modern apologist quotes the testimony of numerous writers of antiquity who denounced ,corinthian profligacy4 ,but1 setting aside the fact that the men of ,corinth must always have been1 at least1 as bad as the women1 and that a sorry case would be made out for ,paul1 if it were on the score of morals that he ordered ,greek women to subject themselves to such men1 there are yet two serious impediments in the way of this theory4 ,in the first place1 that wealthy and luxurious ,corinth to which the writers quoted refer1 was no longer in existence in ,paul's time2 #adf ,b4 ,c4 it was conquered by the ,romans1 who killed the men1 carried the women and children into slavery1 and levelled the dwellings to the ground4 ,for a whole century the site of the once famous city remained a desolate waste1 but about #df ,b4 ,c4 it was colonized by some ,roman immigrants1 and a ,romanized city1 with ,roman customs1 it was when ,paul knew it4 ,now1 not only did the ,roman women go unveiled1 mingling freely in all public places with men 7a fact which ,paul1 as citizen of a ,roman province must have known71 but ,paul specially commends the ,greek woman1 ,phebe1 whom he endorses as minister of the ,church in the ,greek city1 ,cenchrea 7a seaport within a few miles of ,corinth71 and in ,acts1 chapter #ag1 we are explicitly told that the ,greek converts made by ,paul1 in ,greece1 were chief women1 honorable women4 ,this is sufficient refutation of the argument of the clergyman who strives to clear the character of ,paul at the expense of the character of the women of ,corinth4 ,e4 ,b4 ,d4 ,,epistle ,,to ,,the ,,romans4 ,romans xvi4 ,i commend unto you ,phebe our sister1 which is a servant of the church which is at ,cenchrea3 #b ,that ye receive her in the ,lord1 as becometh saints1 and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you2 for she hath been a succourer of many1 and of myself also4 #c ,greet ,priscilla and ,aquila1 my helpers in ,christ ,jesus3 #d ,who have for my life laid down their own necks3 unto whom not only ,i give thanks1 but also all the churches of the ,gentiles4 #f ,greet ,mary1 who bestowed much labor on us4 #ab ,salute ,tryphena and ,tryphosa1 who labour in the ,lord4 ,salute the beloved ,persis1 which laboured much in the ,lord4 #ac ,salute ,rufus1 chosen in the ,lord1 and his mother1 and mine4 #ae ,salute ,philologus1 and ,julia1 ,nereus and his sister1 and ,olympas1 and all the saints which are with them4 ,cenchrea was the seaport of ,corinth1 where a separate church was founded4 ,phebe was a deaconess1 and was probably employed in visiting the sick and in teaching the women in the doctrines of the ,church4 ,she appears to have been a woman in good circumstances1 and probably had more than ordinary intelligence and education4 ,even ,paul acknowledged himself under great obligations to her4 ,aquila and ,priscilla had risked their lives in protecting the ,apostles at ,corinth and ,ephesus4 ,so ,paul sent his affectionate salutations and good wishes to all the women who had helped to build up the churches and spread the ,gospel of ,christianity4 ,in good works men have always found a reserved force in the women of their generation4 ,paul seems to have been specially mindful of all who had received and hospitably entertained him4 ,the men of our times have been equally thankful to women for serving them1 for hospitable entertainment1 generous donations to the priest hood1 lifting church debts1 etc41 and are equally ready to remand them to their divinely appointed sphere1 whenever women claim an equal voice in church creeds and discipline4 ,then the ,marys1 the ,phebes1 and the ,priscillas are ordered to keep silence and to discuss all questions with their husbands at home1 taking it for granted that all men are logical and wise4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,martin ,luther had good cause to declare3 ,there is something in the office of a bishop which is dreadfully demoralizing4 ,even good men change their natures at consecration2 ,satan enters into them1 as he entered into ,judas1 as soon as they have taken the sop4 ,but to return to the primitive ,church1 a famous ,apostle of that simple era was ,priscilla1 a ,jewess1 who was one of the theological instructors of ,apollos 7the fellow-minister1 or fellow-servant1 to whom ,paul refers in his first letter to the ,corinthians74 ,there is strong reason to believe that the ,apostle ,priscilla1 in co-operation with her husband1 the ,apostle ,aquila1 performed the important task of founding the ,church of ,rome3 for ,paul1 writing to the ,christians1 admits that he himself has not yet visited that city2 there is no proof whatever that ,peter ever went to ,rome at all 7but1 on the contrary1 much proof that he wished to confine ,christianity to ,jewish converts72 and yet ,paul1 hailing ,priscilla by the current term which specially active ,apostles and bishops used in addressing other specially active workers in the ,apostolate1 ,helper in ,christ ,jesus1 eulogizes her as one known1 gratefully1 by all the churches of the ,gentiles1 and recognizes a ,church of ,rome as established in ,priscilla's own house 7see ,paul's letter to the ,romans1 chapter #af74 ,it is highly probable that that was the tiny acorn from which has grown the present great oak--the ,roman ,catholic ,church1--which would profit much by more remembrance and imitation of the modest and undogmatic women who helped to give it being and who nursed it through its infancy4 ,the inability of modern men to comprehend the position of women in the primitive ,church1 is strikingly shown in ,chalmers' commentary on the fact that ,paul used exactly the same title in addressing ,priscilla that he uses in greeting ,urbane1 ,although conceding that ,priscilla had shared the work of an ,apostle in teaching ,apollos the way of ,god more perfectly1 and1 although he knows nothing whatever of ,urbane's work1 yet ,chalmers unhesitatingly concludes that ,urbane's help to ,paul must have been in things spiritual1 but that ,priscilla's must have been in regard to things temporal only3 and1 as ,aquila and ,priscilla were an inseparable couple1 poor ,aquila1 too1 is relegated to ,priscilla's assumedly inferior position6 ,there is not1 however1 the slightest reason for such a conclusion by ,chalmers4 ,it is manifestly due to the modern prejudice which renders the ,paul-worshipping male ,protestants incapable of comprehending that ,our ,great ,apostle1 ,paul1 was as not a great ,apostle at all1 in those days1 but a simple1 self-sent tent-maker with a vigorous spirit1 who gladly shared the ,apostolic dignity with all the good women he could rally to his assistance4 ,chalmers conjectures that if ,priscilla really did help ,paul1 it must have been as a teacher of women and children1 even while the fact stares him in the face that she was a recognized teacher of the man whom ,paul specially and emphatically pronounces his own equal4 7,compare ,acts1 chap4 #ah1 ,v4 #bf1 with #ast ,cor41 chap4 #c47 ,to one who uses unbiassed common sense in regard to the ,new ,testament records1 there can be no question of women's activity and prominence in the early ministry4 ,paul not only virtually pronounces ,priscilla a fellow-,apostle and fellow-bishop 7,romans1 chap4 #af1 verses #c-e71 but specially commends ,phebe1 a ,greek woman1 as a minister 7diakonos71 which1 as we have seen1 may be legitimately interpreted either presbyter1 bishop1 or ,apostle4 ,that it was well understood1 throughout the whole ,church1 that women had shared the labors of the ,apostles1 is evidenced by ,chrysostom's specific eulogy thereupon4 ,phebe was the bishop of the ,church in ,cenchrea1 and that she was both a powerful and useful overseer in the episcopate1 ,paul testifies in affirming that she had not only been a helper to him1 but to many others also4 7,romans1 chap4 #af1 verses #a-b47 ,addressing that first ,church of ,rome 7which was in the house of ,priscilla and ,aquila before ,paul1 or ,peter1 or the barely-mentioned ,linus1 are heard of in ,rome71 ,paul indicates the equality of male and female ,apostles by mentioning in one and the same category ,priscilla and ,aquila1 ,andronicus and ,junia1 ,mary1 who bestowed much labor among you1 ,amphis1 ,urbane1 ,tryphena and ,tryphosa1 ,persis1 ,julia1 ,rufus and ,hermas4 ,e4 ,b4 ,d4 ,,epistles ,,to ,,the ,,corinthians4 #a ,corinthians vii4 #b ,let every man have his own wife1 and let every woman have her own husband4 #c ,let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence3 and likewise also the wife unto the husband4 #aj ,and unto the married ,i command1 yet not ,i1 but the ,lord1 ,let not the wife depart from her husband3 #aa ,but if she depart1 let her remain unmarried1 or be reconciled to her husband1 and let not the husband put away his wife4 #ab ,but to the rest speak ,i1 not the ,lord3 ,if any brother hath a wife that believeth not3 and she be pleased to dwell with him1 let him not put her away4 #ac ,and the woman which hath a husband that believeth not1 and if he be pleased to dwell with her1 let her not leave him4 #ad ,for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife1 and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband3 else were your children unclean3 but now are they holy4 #af ,for what knowest thou1 ,o wife1 whether thou shalt save thy husband8 or how knowest thou1 ,o man1 whether thou shalt save thy wife8 ,the people appear to have been specially anxious to know what ,the ,christian idea was in regard to the question of marriage4 ,the ,pythagoreans taught that marriage is unfavorable to high intellectual development4 ,on the other hand1 the ,pharisees taught that it is sinful for a man to live unmarried beyond his twentieth year4 ',the ,apostles allowed that in many cases it might be wise for a man to live unmarried1 as he could be more useful to others1 provided that he were able to live with that entire chastity which the single life required4 ,the ,apostle says that ,christians should not marry unbelievers1 but if either should change his or her opinions after1 he would not advise separation1 as they might sanctify each other4 ,scott thinks that the children are no more holy with one unbelieving parent1 than when both are unbelieving2 and he has not much faith in their sanctifying each other1 except in a real change of faith4 ,a union with an unbeliever would occasion grief and trouble1 yet that ought patiently to be endured1 for ,god might make use of the unbelieving wife or husband as an instrument in converting the other by affectionate and conscientious behavior2 as this might not be the case1 there is no reason to oppose the dissolution of the marriage4 ,there are no restrictions in the ,scriptures on divorced persons marrying again1 though many improvised by human laws are spoken of as in the ,bible4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,in this chapter ,paul laments that all men are not bachelors like himself2 and in the second verse of that chapter he gives the only reason for which he was willing that men and women should marry4 ,he advised all the unmarried and all widows to remain as he was4 ,paul sums up the whole matter1 however1 by telling those who have wives or husbands to stay with them--as necessary evils only to be tolerated2 but sincerely regrets that anybody was ever married1 and finally says that1 they that have wives should be as though they had none2 because1 in his opinion1 he that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the ,lord1 how he may please the ,lord2 but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world1 how he please his wife4 ,there is this difference1 also1 he tells us1 between a wife and a virgin4 ,the unmarried woman careth for the things of the ,lord1 that she may be holy both in body and spirit2 but she that is married careth for the things of the world1 how she may please her husband4 ,of course1 it is contended that these things have tended to the elevation of woman4 ,the idea that it is better to love the ,lord than to love your wife or husband is infinitely absurd4 ,nobody ever did love the ,lord--nobody can--until he becomes acquainted with him4 ,saint ,paul also tells us that man is the image and glory of ,god2 but woman is the glory of man4 ,and1 for the purpose of sustaining this position1 he says3 ,for the man is not of the woman1 but the woman of the man2 neither was the man created for the woman1 but the woman for the man4 ,of course we can all see that man could have gotten along well enough without woman4 ,and yet this is called inspired6 and this ,apostle ,paul is supposed to have known more than all the people now upon the earth4 ,no wonder ,paul at last was constrained to say3 ,we are fools for ,christ's sake4 ,,anon4 #a ,corinthians xi4 #c ,but ,i would have you know1 that the head of every man is ,christ2 and the head of the woman is the man2 and the head of ,christ is ,god4 #d ,every man praying or prophesying1 having his head covered1 dishonoureth his head4 #e ,but every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head4 #g ,for a man indeed ought not to cover his head1 forasmuch as he is the image and glory of ,god3 but the woman is the glory of the man4 #h ,for the man is not of the woman2 but the woman of the man4 #i ,neither was the man created for the woman2 but the woman for the man4 #aj ,for this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels4 #aa ,nevertheless neither is the man without the woman1 neither the woman without the man1 in the ,lord4 #ac judge in yourselves3 is it comely that a woman pray unto ,god uncovered8 #ad ,doth not even nature itself teach you1 that1 if a man have long hair1 it is a shame unto him8 #ae ,but if a woman have long hair1 it is a glory to her2 for her hair is given her for a covering4 ,according to the custom of those days a veil on the head was a token of respect to superiors2 hence for a woman to lay aside her veil was to affect authority over the man4 ,the shaving of the head was a disgraceful punishment inflicted on women of bad repute2 it not only deprived them of a great beauty1 but also of the badge of virtue and honor4 ,though these directions appear to be very frivolous1 even for those times1 they are much more so for our stage of civilization4 ,yet the same customs prevail in our day and are enforced by the ,church1 as of vital consequence2 their non-observance so irreligious that it would exclude a woman from the church4 ,it is not a mere social fashion that allows men to sit in church with their heads uncovered and women with theirs covered1 but a requirement of canon law of vital significance1 showing the superiority1 the authority1 the headship of man1 and the humility and the subservience of woman4 ,the aristocracy in social life requires the same badge of respect of all female servants4 ,in ,europe they uniformly wear caps1 and in many families in ,america1 though under protest after learning its significance4 ,it is certainly high time that educated women in a ,republic should rebel against a custom based on the supposition of their heaven- ordained subjection4 ,jesus is always represented as having long1 curling hair1 and so is the ,trinity4 ,imagine a painting of these ,gods all with clipped hair4 ,flowing robes and beautiful hair add greatly to the beauty and dignity of their pictures4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the injunctions of ,st4 ,paul have had such a decided influence in fixing the legal status of women1 that it is worth our while to consider their source4 ,in dealing with this question we must never forget that the majority of the writings of the ,new ,testament were not really written or published by those whose names they bear4 ,ancient writers considered it quite permissible for a man to put out letters under the name of another1 and thus to bring his own ideas before the world under the protection of an honored sponsor4 ,it is not usually claimed that ,st4 ,paul was the originator of the great religious movement called ,christianity2 but there is a strong belief that he was ,divinely inspired4 ,his inward persuasions1 and especially his visions1 appeared as a gift or endowment which had the force of inspiration2 therefore1 his mandates concerning women have a strong hold upon the popular mind2 and when opponents to the equality of the sexes are put to bay1 they glibly quote his injunctions4 ,we congratulate ourselves that we may shift some of these ,biblical1 arguments that have such a sinister effect from their firm foundation4 ,he who claims to give a message must satisfy us that he has himself received such a message4 ,the origin of the command that women should cover their heads is found in an old ,jewish or ,hebrew legend which appears in literature for the first time in ,genesis vi4 ,there we are told that the sons of ,god1 that is1 the angels1 took to wives the daughters of men1 and begat the giants and the heroes who were instrumental in bringing about the flood4 ,the ,rabbins held that the way in which the angels got possession of women was by laying hold of their hair2 they accordingly warned women to cover their heads in public so that the angels might not get possession of them4 ,paul merely repeats this warning1 which he must often have heard at the feet of ,gamaliel1 who was at that time prince or president of the ,sanhedrim1 telling women to have a power 7that is1 protection7 on their heads because of the angels3 ,for this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels4 ,thus the command had its origin in an absurd old myth4 ,this legend will be found fully treated in a ,german pamphlet1 ,die ,paulinische ,angelologie und ,daemonologie4 ,otto ,everling1 ,gottingen1 #ahhc4 ,if the command to keep silence in the churches has no higher origin than that to keep covered in public1 should so much weight be given it1 or should it be so often quoted as having ,divine sanction8 ,l4 ,s4 #a ,corinthians xiv4 #cd ,let your women keep silence in the churches3 for it is not permitted unto them to speak2 but they are commanded to be under obedience1 as also saith the law4 #ce ,and if they will learn anything1 let them ask their husbands at home3 for it is a shame for woman to speak in the church4 ,the church at ,corinth was peculiarly given to diversion and to disputation2 and women were apt to join in and to ask many troublesome questions2 hence they were advised to consult their husbands at home4 ,the ,apostle took it for granted that all men were wise enough to give to women the necessary information on all subjects4 ,others1 again1 advise wives never to discuss knotty points with their husbands2 for if they should chance to differ from each other1 that fact might give rise to much domestic infelicity4 ,there is such a wide difference of opinion on this point among wise men1 that perhaps it would be as safe to leave women to be guided by their own unassisted common sense4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,epistles ,,to ,,the ,,ephesians ,,and ,,phillippians4 ,ephesians v4 #bb ,wives1 submit yourselves unto your own husbands1 as unto the ,lord4 #bc ,for the husband is the head of the wife1 even as ,christ is the head of the church4 #bd ,therefore as the church is subject unto ,christ1 so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing4 #be ,husbands1 love your wives1 even as ,christ also loved the church1 and gave himself for it2 #bh ,so ought men to love their wives as their own bodies4 ,he that loveth his wife loveth himself4 #ca ,for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother1 and shall be joined unto his wife1 and they two shall be one flesh4 #cc ,nevertheless1 let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself3 and the wife see that she reverence her husband4 ,if every man were as pure and as self-sacrificing as ,jesus is said to have been in his relations to the ,church1 respect1 honor and obedience from the wife might be more easily rendered4 ,let every man love his wife 7not wives7 points to monogamic marriage4 ,it is quite natural for women to love and to honor good men1 and to return a full measure of love on husbands who bestow much kindness and attention on them2 but it is not easy to love those who treat us spitefully in any relation1 except as mothers2 their love triumphs over all shortcomings and disappointments4 ,occasionally conjugal love combines that of the mother4 ,then the kindness and the forbearance of a wife may surpass all understanding4 ,phillippians iv4 #b ,i beseech ,euodias1 and beseech ,syntyche1 that they be of the same mind in the ,lord4 #c ,and ,i entreat thee also1 true yokefellow1 help those women which laboured with me in the ,gospel1 with ,clement also1 and with other my fellow-laborers1 whose names are in the book of life4 ,there were women of note at ,phillippi who disagreed and caused divisions in the ,church4 ,the ,apostle therefore entreated them to make mutual concessions for the welfare of the ,church4 ,the yokefellow referred to was supposed by some to have been the husband of one of the women1 while others think that he was some eminent minister4 ,but such mention by the ,apostle must have been highly appreciated by any man or woman for whom it was intended4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,epistles ,,to ,,timothy4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,timothy ii4 #i ,in like manner1 also1 that women adorn themselves in modest apparel1 with shamefacedness and sobriety3 not with braided hair1 or gold1 or pearls1 or costly array3 #aj ,but 7which becometh women professing godliness7 with good works4 #aa ,let the woman learn in silence with all subjection4 #ab ,but ,i suffer not a woman to teach1 nor to usurp authority over the man1 but to be in silence4 #ac ,for ,adam was first formed1 then ,eve4 #ad ,and ,adam was not deceived1 but the woman being deceived was in the transgression4 ,the ,apostle ,paul1 though older than ,timothy1 had travelled much with him1 and was at one time imprisoned with him in ,rome4 ,paul had converted ,timothy to the faith and watched over him as a father4 ,he often speaks of him as my son1 and was peculiarly beloved by him4 ,when ,paul was driven from ,ephesus he wrote this epistle to ,timothy for his direction4 ,it is perhaps not fair to judge ,paul by the strict letter of the word4 ,we are not well informed of the habits of women in his time in regard to personal adornment4 ,what ,paul means by modest apparel 7supposing the translation to be correct71 we may not precisely understand4 ,paul speaks especially of braided hair4 ,in his time ,paul evidently considered as of account the extreme susceptibility of his sex to the effect of the garb and adornment of women4 ,the ,apostles all appeared to be much exercised by the ornaments and the braided hair of the women4 ,while they insisted that women should wear long hair1 they objected to having it braided lest the beautiful coils should be too attractive to men4 ,but women had other reasons for braiding their hair beside attracting men4 ,a compact braid was much more comfortable than individual hairs free to be blown about with every breeze4 ,it appears very trifling for men1 commissioned to do so great a work on earth1 to give so much thought to the toilets of women4 ,ordering the men to have their heads shaved and hair cropped1 while the women were to have their locks hanging around their shoulders1 looks as if they feared that the sexes were not distinguishable and that they must finish ,nature's work4 ,woman's braids and ornaments had a deeper significance than the ,apostles seem to have understood4 ,her necessities compelled her to look to man for sup port and protection1 hence her efforts to make herself attractive are not prompted by feminine vanity1 but the economic conditions of civilization4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,the injunction that women should adorn themselves through good works was sensible4 ,the ,apostle did not imply that this adornment was not already possessed by women4 ,neither did he testify that the generations of men1 of ,prophets and of ,apostles had been objects of the good works and all the ministrations of self-abnegation1 which are required only of the mothers of men4 ,comparatively few women1 who have fulfilled the special function which man assigns to them as their chief duty in life1 lack the adornment of good works4 ,in addition to these good works of motherhood in the family1 woman has ministered to the necessities and the comfort of the sick1 the feeble and the poor1 through the centuries4 ,could ,paul have looked down to the nineteenth century with clairvoyant vision and beheld the good works of a ,lucretia ,mott1 a ,florence ,nightingale1 a ,dorothea ,dix and ,clara ,barton1 not to mention a host of faithful mothers1 he might1 perhaps1 have been less anxious about the apparel and the manners of his converts4 ,could he have foreseen a ,margaret ,fuller1 a ,maria ,mitchell1 or an ,emma ,willard1 possibly he might have suspected that sex does not determine the capacity of the individual4 ,or1 could he have had a vision of the public school system of this ,republic1 and witnessed the fact that a large proportion of the teachers are women1 it is possible that he might have hesitated to utter so tyrannical an edict3 ,but ,i permit not a woman to teach4 ,had the ,apostle enjoined upon women to do good works without envy or jealousy1 it would have had the weight and the wisdom of a ,divine command4 ,but that1 from the earliest record of human events1 woman should have been condemned and punished for trying to get knowledge1 and forbidden to impart what she has learned1 is the most unaccountable peculiarity of masculine wisdom4 ,after cherishing and nursing helpless4 infancy1 the most necessary qualification of motherhood is that of teaching4 ,if it is contrary to the perfect operation of human development that woman should teach1 the infinite and all wise directing power of the universe has blundered4 ,it cannot be admitted that ,paul was inspired by infinite wisdom in this utterance4 ,this was evidently the unilluminated utterance of ,paul1 the man1 biassed by prejudice4 ,but1 it may be claimed that this edict referred especially to teaching in religious assemblies4 ,it is strikingly inconsistent that ,paul1 who had proclaimed the broadest definition of human souls1 ,there is neither ,jew nor ,greek1 bond nor free1 male or female1 but ye are one in ,christ ,jesus1 as the ,christian idea1 should have commanded the subjection of woman1 and silence as essential to her proper sphere in the ,church4 ,it is not a decade since a manifesto was issued by a religious convention bewailing the fact that woman is not only seeking to control her property1 but claiming the right of the wife to control her person6 ,this seems to be as great an offence to ecclesiasticism in this hour and this land of boasted freedom1 as it was to ,paul in ,judea nineteen centuries ago4 ,but the new man1 as well as the new woman1 is here4 ,he is inspired by the ,divine truth that woman is to contribute to the redemption of the race by free and enlightened motherhood4 ,he is proving his fitness to be her companion by achieving the greatest of all victories--victory over himself4 ,the new humanity is to be born of this higher manhood and emancipated womanhood4 ,then it will be possible for motherhood to continue in sanctification4 ,the doctrine of woman the origin of sin1 and her subjection in consequence1 planted in the early ,christian ,church by ,paul1 has been a poisonous stream in ,church and in ,state4 ,it has debased marriage and made both canon and civil law a monstrous oppression to woman4 ,m4 ,renan sums up concisely a mighty truth in the following words3 ,the writings of ,paul have been a danger and a hidden rock--the causes of the principal defects of ,christian theology4 ,his teachings about woman are no longer a hidden rock1 however1 for1 in the light of science1 it is disclosed to all truth seeking ,minds4 ,how much satisfaction it would have been to the mothers adown the centuries1 had there been a testimony by ,mary and ,elizabeth recording their experiences of motherhood4 ,not a statement by them1 nor one about them1 except what man wrote4 ,under church law1 woman's property1 time and services were all at the husband's disposal4 ,woman was not rescued from slavery by the ,reformation4 ,luther's ninety-five theses1 nailed upon the church door in ,wittenberg1 did not assert woman's natural or religious equality with man4 ,it was a maxim of his that no gown worse becomes a woman1 than that she should be wise4 ,a curious old black letter volume1 published in ,london in #afcb1 declares that the reason why women have no control in parliament1 why they make no laws1 consent to none1 abrogate none1 is their original sin4 ,the trial of ,mrs4 ,anne ,hutchinson1 in the seventeenth century1 was chiefly for the sin of having taught men4 ,to-day1 in free ,america1 a wife cannot collect damages for injury to her person by a municipality4 ,legally her husband owns her person2 and he alone can collect damages if the wife is injured by any defect or mishap for which the administration of the municipality is responsible4 ,this was tested in the ,court of ,appeals in ,new ,york in #ahij4 ,the judges decided that the time and the services of the wife belong to the husband1 and if she has received wages from him it was a gift4 ,thus the spirit and the intent of the church law to make the wife a servant of the husband1 subject to and controlled by him1 and engrafted in common law1 is a part of statute law operative in these ,united ,states to-day4 ,blackstone admits the outgrowth of common law from canon law1 in saying3 ,whoever wishes to gain insight into that great institution1 common law1 can do so most efficiently by studying canon law in regard to married women4 ,jesus is not recorded as having uttered any similar claim that woman should be subject to man1 or that in teaching she would be a usurper4 ,the dominion of woman over man or of man over woman makes no part of the sayings of the ,nazarene4 ,he spoke to the individual soul1 not recognizing sex as a quality of spiritual life1 or as determining the sphere of action of either man or woman4 ,stevens1 in his ,pauline ,theology1 says3 ,paul has been read as if he had written in the nineteenth century1 or1 more commonly1 as if he had written in the fifth or seventeenth1 as if his writings had no peculiarities arising from his own time1 education and mental constitution4 ,down these nineteen centuries in a portion of the ,christian ,church the contempt for woman which ,paul projected into ,christianity has been perpetuated4 ,the ,protestant ,evangelical ,church still refuses to place her on an equality with man4 ,although ,paul said3 ,neither is the man without the woman nor the woman without the man in the ,lord1 he taught also that the male alone is in the image of ,god4 ,for a man ought not to have his head veiled forasmuch as he is the image of ,god2 but the woman is the glory of man4 ,thus he carried the spirit of the ,talmud1 aggravated and re-enforced1 into ,christianity1 represented by the following appointed daily prayer for pious ,jews3 ,blessed art thou1 ,o ,lord1 that thou hast not made me a ,gentile1 an idiot nor a woman4 ,paul exhibits fairness in giving reasons for his peremptory mandate4 ,for ,adam was first formed1 then ,eve1 he says4 ,this appears to be a weak statement for the higher position of man4 ,if male man is first in station and authority1 is superior because of priority of formation1 what is his relation to whales and every living creature that moveth which the waters bring forth1 and every winged fowl after his kind1 which were formed before him8 ,and again1 ,adam was not beguiled1 but1 the woman being beguiled1 hath fallen into transgression4 ,there was then already existing the beguiling agency4 ,the transgression of ,eve was in listening to this existing source of error1 which1 in the allegory1 is styled the most subtle beast of the field which the ,lord ,god hath made4 ,woman did not bring this subtle agency into activity4 ,she was not therefore the author of sin1 as has been charged4 ,she was tempted by her desire for the knowledge which would enable her to distinguish between good and evil4 ,according to this story1 woman led the race out of the ignorance of innocence into the truth4 ,calvin1 the commentator1 says3 ,adam did not fall into error1 but was overcome by the allurements of his wife4 ,it is singular that the man1 who was first formed1 and therefore superior1 and to whom only ,god has committed the office of teaching1 not only was not susceptible to the temptation to acquire knowledge1 but should have been the weak creature who was overcome by the allurements of his wife4 ,but the story of the fall and all cognate myths and parables are far older and more universal than the ordinary reader of the ,bible supposes them to be4 ,the ,bible itself in its ,hebrew form is a comparatively recent compilation and adaptation of mysteries1 the chief scenes of which were sculptured on temple walls and written or painted on papyri1 ages before the time of ,moses4 ,history tells us1 moreover1 that the ,book of ,genesis1 as it now stands1 is the work not even of ,moses1 but of ,ezra or ,esdras1 who lived at the time of the captivity1 between five hundred and six hundred years before our era1 and that he recovered it and other writings by the process of intuitional memory4 ,my heart1 he says1 uttered understanding1 and wisdom grew in my breast2 for the spirit strengthened my memory4 ,with regard to the particular myth of the fall1 the walls of ancient ,thebes1 ,elphantine1 ,edfou and ,karnak bear evidence that long before ,moses taught1 and certainly ages before ,esdras wrote1 its acts and symbols were embodied in the religious ceremonials of the people1 of whom1 according to ,manetho1 ,moses was himself a priest4 ,and the whole history of the fall of man is1 says ,sharpe1 in a work on ,egypt1 of ,egyptian origin4 ,the temptation of the woman by the serpent1 the man by the woman1 the sacred tree of knowledge1 the cherubs guarding with flaming swords the door of the garden1 the warfare declared between the woman and the serpent1 may all be seen upon the ,egyptian sculptured monuments4 ,this symbology signifies a deeper meaning than a material garden1 a material apple1 a tree and a snake4 ,it is the relation of the soul or feminine part of man1 his living mother1 to the physical and external man of sense4 ,the temptation of woman brought the soul into the limitations of matter1 of the physical4 ,the soul derives its life from spirit1 the eternal substance1 ,god4 ,knowledge1 through intellect alone1 is of the limitation of flesh and sense4 ,intuition1 the feminine part of reason1 is the higher light4 ,if the soul1 the feminine part of man1 is turned toward ,god1 humanity is saved from the dissipations and the perversions of sensuality4 ,humanity is not alone dual in the two forms1 male and female1 but every soul is dual4 ,the more perfect the balance in the individual of masculine and feminine1 the more perfect the man or the woman4 ,the masculine represents force1 the feminine love4 ,force without love can but work evil until it is spent4 ,paul evidently was not learned in ,egyptian lore4 ,he did not recognize the esoteric meaning of the parable of the fall4 ,to him it was a literal fact1 apparently1 and ,eve was to be to all womankind the transmitter of a curse in maternity4 ,we know that down to the very recent date of the introduction of anesthetics the idea prevailed that travail pains are the result of1 and punishment for1 the transgression of ,mother ,eve4 ,it was claimed that it was wrong to attempt to remove the curse from woman1 by mitigating her suffering in that hour of peril and of agony4 ,whatever ,paul may mean1 it is a fact that the women of our aboriginal tribes1 whose living was natural and healthful1 who were not enervated by civilized customs1 were not subject to the sufferings of civilized women4 ,and it has been proven by the civilized woman that a strict observance of hygienic conditions of dress1 of diet1 and the mode of life1 reduces the pangs of parturition4 ,painless child-bearing is a physiological problem2 and the curse has never borne upon the woman whose life had been in strict accord with the laws of life4 ,science has come to the rescue of humanity1 in the recognition of the truth1 that the advancement as well as the conservation of the race is through the female4 ,the great ,apostle left no evidence that he apprehended this fact4 ,his audacity was sublime2 but it was the audacity of ignorance4 ,no more stupendous demonstration of the power of thought can be imagined1 than is illustrated in the customs of the ,church for centuries1 when in the general canons were found that ,no woman may approach the altar1 ,a woman may not baptize without extreme necessity1 ,woman may not receive the eucharist under a black veil4 ,under canon #ha she was forbidden to write in her own name to lay ,christians1 but only in the name of her husband2 and women were not to receive letters of friendship from any one addressed to themselves4 ,canon law1 framed by the priesthood1 compiled as early as the ninth century1 has come down in effect to the nineteenth1 making woman subordinate in civil law4 ,under canon law1 wives were deprived of the control of both person and property4 ,canon law created marriage a sacrament to be performed at the church door1 in order to make it a source of revenue to the ,church4 ,marriage1 however1 was reckoned too sinful to be allowed for many years to take place within the sacred building consecrated to ,god1 and deemed too holy to permit the entrance of a woman within its sacred walls at certain periods of her life4 ,l4 ,b4 ,c4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,timothy iii4 #b ,a bishop then must be blameless1 the husband of one wife1 vigilant1 sober1 of good behavior1 given to hospitality1 apt to teach2 #c ,not given to wine1 no striker1 not greedy of filthy lucre2 but patient1 not a brawler1 not covetous2 #d ,one that ruleth well in his own house1 having his children in subjection with all gravity3 #e 7,for if a man know not how to rule his own house1 how shall he take care of the church of ,god87 #h ,likewise must the deacons be grave1 not double-tongued1 not given to much wine1 not greedy of filthy lucre4 #aa ,even so must their wives be grave1 not slanderers1 sober1 faithful in all things4 #ab ,let the deacons be the husbands of one wife1 ruling their children and their own houses well4 ,in this chapter the advice of the ,apostle in regard to the overseer or bishop is unexceptionable4 ,the first injunction that relates to woman is1 that the bishop must be the husband of one wife4 ,under the present ideas of ,christendom1 the inference naturally is that the bishop was enjoined to be the husband of but one wife4 ,if1 as appears probable1 this was an injunction in favor of monogamy1 it was a true and progressive idea established with the foundation of the ,christian ,church4 ,deacons also are instructed to be the husbands of one wife4 ,women in like manner must be grave1 not slanderers1 temperate1 faithful in all things4 ,it is not clear whether this is spoken for the direction of women in general in the ,church1 or for the wives of deacons4 ,the advice1 however1 is equally good for either class4 ,the word sober in the old version is rendered temperate in the new one4 ,whether women in those days were liable to take too much wine does not appear4 ,but nowhere in the ,old or the ,new ,testaments is there an account of drunkenness by women4 ,the directions for the conduct of the bishop are explicit4 ,he is to be gentle1 not contentious1 which sets aside much that distinguishes the masculine nature4 ,in fact1 with the exception of the qualification apt to teach1 before forbidden1 the entire list of the necessary qualities of a bishop is that of womanly characteristics4 ,temperate1 sober-minded 7i4 e41 not given to trifling speech71 orderly1 given to hospitality1 no brawler1 no striker 7this supposedly refers to pugilistic tendencies71 but gentle1 not contentious4 ,every qualification is essentially womanly4 #a ,timothy v4 #c ,honour widows that are widows indeed4 #d ,but if any widow have children or nephews1 let them learn first to shew piety at home1 and to requite their parents3 for that is good and acceptable before ,god4 #e ,now she that is a widow indeed1 and desolate1 trusteth in ,god1 #f ,but she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth4 #h ,but if any provide not for his own1 and specially for those of his own house1 he hath denied the faith1 and is worse than an ,infidel4 #i ,let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years1 having been the wife of one man4 #aj ,well reported of for her good works2 if she have brought up children1 if she have lodged strangers1 if she have washed the saints' feet1 if she have relieved the afflicted1 if she have diligently followed every good work4 #aa ,but the younger widows refuse3 for when they have begun to wax wanton against ,christ1 they will marry2 #ab ,having damnation1 because they have cast off their first faith4 #ac ,and withal they learn to be idle1 wandering about from house to house2 and not only idle1 but tattlers also1 and busybodies1 speaking things which they ought not4 #ad ,i will therefore that the ,younger women marry1 bear children1 guide the house1 give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully4 #ae ,for some are already turned aside after ,satan1 #af ,if any man or woman that believeth have widows1 let them relieve them1 and let not the church be charged2 that it may relieve them that are widows indeed4 ,no one can be desolate who has a purpose and a sphere of action1 with ability to work4 ,paul's widow1 who was a widow indeed1 continueth in supplication and prayers night and day4 ,what an existence6 ,desolate indeed4 ,exercising but one faculty of the soul--that of supplication6 ,women of this period cannot be too thankful1 that the numerous opportunities for educational and philanthropic work are open to them in addition to the opportunities to win subsistence in the various avocations of life4 ,the widow who was to be enrolled1 to be provided for by the ,church1 must be three score years old1 having been the wife of one man4 ,whether this is a repudiation of second marriages1 or refers to polyandry1 is not apparent4 ,this obligation of the early ,church to provide for women who had fulfilled the duties of motherhood1 ministered to the afflicted1 washed the saints' feet1 and diligently followed every good work1 is a recognition of a right principle1 and which should be made a part of social organization4 ,but he directs that younger women be refused4 ,paul thought that women could not be loyal followers of ,christ and desire to marry4 ,therefore he desires them all to marry1 to bear children and to rule the family4 ,another inconsistency of ,paul4 ,having stated as expressly the teaching of the spirit that the doctrine forbidding to marry was of devils1 he here again claims that when the younger widows desire to1 marry they have waxed wanton against ,christ4 ,there is even by ,paul one place in which woman is to be the head4 ,if she may not teach1 she may provide for the physical comfort of her husband and family4 ,the ,apostle accuses women of learning to be idle1 going about from house to house1 of being tattlers and busybodies--these young widows1 or unmarried women4 ,what a spectacle the thousands of bread-winning young and unmarried women of to-day1 would be to ,paul if he could come here6 ,and these young women have no time to go from house to house1 or even to fulfill social obligations4 ,and the students in our colleges and universities1 ,paul would not find them tattlers or busybodies4 ,what could the unmarried women of ,paul's time do8 ,they had no absorbing mental pursuit or physical occupation4 ,perhaps they could not read2 and there was little for them to study4 ,lacking mental furnishing to noble ends1 they must of necessity deal with trivial matters4 ,what could a woman do who had no home to care for1 no business to attend to1 perhaps nothing to read 7if she could read71 no social organizations in which she had a place and part except the religious assemblies in which she was to be in quietness1 in silence8 ,they were not worthy of condemnation if they were going from house to house and tattling4 ,the unmarried woman will not lack opportunity for the dignity of self-support and the ministrations of philanthropy in the new dispensation4 ,womanhood and its high possibilities of mind and of heart are worthy attainments1 even though not crowned with self- elected motherhood4 ,whether married or unmarried1 the highest duty of every living soul1 woman or man1 is to seek truth and righteousness2 and the liberty which is of the spirit of truth does not admit of the bondage of husband and wife1 the one to the other4 ,freedom to seek soul development is paramount to all other demands4 #a ,timothy i4 #b ,too ,timothy1 my dearly beloved son3 grace1 mercy1 and peace1 from ,god the ,father and ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 #e ,when ,i call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee1 which dwelt first in thy grand-mother ,lois1 and thy mother ,eunice2 and ,i am persuaded that in thee also4 ,timothy1 whom ,paul calls his true child in faith1 and whom he placed as overseer1 or bishop of the first church at ,ephesus1 as all commentators agree1 was the child of mixed parentage1 his father being a ,greek and his mother a ,jewess4 ,it is supposed that his father died in ,timothy's childhood1 as no mention is made of him4 ,timothy1 then1 was educated religiously by the teaching and the example of his mother and his grandmother4 ,paul expresses with fervent emotion his remembrance of his beloved child1 and of the unfeigned faith which is in him1 and1 which dwelt first in thy grandmother ,lois and thy mother ,eunice4 ,after having instructed ,timothy to exercise all the gentle virtues which are feminine and womanly1 the ,apostle in this acknowledgment that he was the child of a devout mother and grandmother1 discloses a fact which places in no favorable light his strenuous opposition to woman's equality in the ,church4 ,this mother and grandmother under whose teaching ,timothy had become qualified to receive the important office of bishop1 and whose faithfulness so endeared him to the ,apostle1 were required to keep silence in the ,church equally with all other women whose evidence of faith were not so conclusive4 ,there was no distinction4 ,the ban was placed upon woman solely on the ground of sex4 ,the ,church has only in this nineteenth century partially amended this record1 by establishing the order of deaconesses for women who devote themselves to good works and to religious teaching4 ,while in the liberal denominations the pulpit is accessible to woman1 it is only in very recent years that in any evangelistic denomination it has been permissible for woman to teach4 ,the priesthood are as unwilling to-day as was ,paul in the first century1 that women shall be placed on an equality in offices of distinction4 ,perhaps this disposition comes of a dim1 not fully evolved consciousness that1 when the present evolution of woman is complete1 a new world will result2 for woman is destined to rule the world4 ,she is the centre and the fountain of its life1 which the new man has recently announced from his pulpit4 ,there is no prerogative more tenaciously held by the common man than that of rulership4 ,there is no greater opposition to woman's equality in the ,state than there is in the ,church1 and this notwithstanding the fact that the ,church and the pulpit are largely sustained by women4 ,the ,church is spiritually and actually a womanly institution1 and this is recognized by the unvarying expression1 ,mother ,church4 ,yet man monopolizes all offices of distinction and of leadership1 and receives the salaries for material support4 ,as the inevitable result1 spiritual life has become so languid as to be ineffectual1 and an effort is being persistently pushed by a portion of the ,evangelical ,church1 a portion1 too1 which most strenuously keeps its women silent1 to fortify the ,church by the power of civil government4 ,there is no suggestion in the teaching of ,jesus1 as recorded1 of compelling individuals1 authorities1 or powers1 to acknowledge ,god4 ,the religion of ,jesus is a voluntary acceptance of truth4 ,god is a spirit1 and they who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth4 ,there can be no compulsory life of the spirit1 quickened by the source of life1 light and love4 ,the masculine idea of compelling a formal acknowledgment of ,god by the ,state is entirely unchristian4 ,until the feminine is recognized in the ,divine ,being1 and justice is established in the ,church by the complete equality of woman with man1 the ,church cannot be thoroughly ,christian4 ,honor thy father and thy mother is the commandment4 ,the human race cannot be brought to its highest state until motherhood is equally honored with fatherhood in human institutions4 ,l4 ,b4 ,c4 ,,epistles ,,of ,,peter ,,and ,,john4 #a ,peter iii4 #a ,likewise1 ye wives1 be in subjection to your own husbands2 that1 if any obey not the word1 they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives2 #c ,whose adorning1 let it not be that out1 ward adorning of plaiting the hair1 and of wearing of gold1 or of putting on of apparel2 #g ,likewise1 ye husbands1 dwell with them according to knowledge1 giving honour unto the wife1 as unto the weaker vessel4 ,woman's influence is most clearly set forth by all the ,apostles in meek submission to their husbands and to all the ,church ordinances and discipline4 ,a reverent silence1 a respectful observance of rules and authorities was their power4 ,they could not aid in spreading the gospel and in converting their husbands to the true faith by teaching1 by personal attraction1 by braided hair or ornaments4 ,the normal beauty of a sanctified heart would be manifested by a meek and quiet spirit1 valuable in the sight of ,god as well as their husbands1 and do far more to fix their affections and to secure their esteem than the studied decoration of fashionable apparel4 ,woman's love of satins1 of velvets1 of laces1 and of jewels1 has its corresponding expression in man's love of wealth1 of position1 and his ambition for personal and family aggrandizement4 ,there is much talk of the poor and the needy1 especially during political campaigns4 ,in the autumn of #ahif1 when the workingman's interests formed the warp and woof of every speech1 three thousand children stood in the streets of ,new ,york ,city1 for whom there was no room in the schoolhouses and no play-grounds2 and yet thousands of dollars were spent in buying votes4 ,large1 well-ventilated homes for those who do the work of the world1 plenty of schoolhouses and play- grounds for the children of the poor1 would be much more beneficial to the race than expensive monuments to dead men1 and large appropriations from the public treasury for holidays and convivial occasions to honor men in high places4 ,the ,apostles having given such specific directions as to the toilets of women1 their hair1 ornaments1 manners and position1 in the ,church1 the ,state and the home1 one is curious to know what kind of honor is intended for this complete subordination4 ,man is her head1 her teacher1 her guardian and her ,saviour4 ,what ,christ is to him1 that is he to the weaker vessel4 ,it is fair to infer that what he has done in the past he will continue to do in the future4 ,unless she rebels outright1 he will make her a slave1 a subject1 the mere reflection of another human will4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 #b ,john i4 #a ,the elder unto the elect lady and her children1 #e ,and now ,i beseech thee1 lady1 not as though ,i wrote a new commandment unto thee1 but that which we had from the beginning1 that we love one another4 #f ,and this is love1 that we walk after his commandments4 #ab ,having many things to write unto you1 ,i would not write with paper and ink2 but ,i trust to come unto you1 and speak face to face1 that our joy may be full4 ,some critics conjecture that the ,church at ,jerusalem is meant by the elect lady1 and the one at ,ephesus by her elect sister4 ,others suppose that an eminent and honorable ,christian woman was intended by the elect lady1 and that some other ,christian woman1 well known in the ,church1 was intended by her elect sister4 ,the aged ,apostle wrote this short letter to this lady1 who was a person of rank1 hence he did not scruple to give to her the title of honor4 ,he assured her children of his deep interest in their welfare4 ,the word lady was always used in addressing1 or speaking of one who was an acknowledged superior4 ,in their travels about the country the ,apostles especially enjoyed the hospitality of families of rank4 ,though democratic in their principles1 they were susceptible to the attractions of wealth and of culture4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,revelation4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,revelation i4 ,the ,revelation of ,jesus ,christ1 which ,god gave unto him1 to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass2 and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant ,john3 #b ,who bare record of the word of ,god1 and of the testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 and of all things that he saw4 #c ,blessed is he that readeth1 and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein3 for the time is at hand4 #d ,john to the seven churches which are in ,asia3 ,grace be unto you1 and peace1 from him which is1 and which was1 and which is to come2 and from the seven ,spirits which are before his throne4 ,john ,morley once said to the priests--,we shall not attack you1 we shall explain you4 ,the ,book of ,revelation1 properly ,re-,veilings1 cannot even be approximately explained without some knowledge of astrology4 ,it is a purely esoteric work1 largely referring to woman1 her intuition1 her spiritual powers1 and all she represents4 ,even the name of its putative author1 ,john1 is identical in meaning with dove1 the emblem of the ,holy ,ghost1 the female principle of the ,divinity4 ,this book came down from old ,egyptian mystery times1 and was one of the profoundly sacred and profoundly secret books of the great temple of ,luxor1 the words sacred and secret possessing the same meaning during the mysteries4 ,all knowledge was anciently concealed in the mysteries2 letters1 numbers1 astrology 7until the sixteenth century identical with astronomy71 alchemy1 the parent of chemistry1 these1 and all other sciences were hidden from the common people4 ,even to all initiates the most important part of the mysteries was not revealed4 ,it is not then strange that such a profoundly mystic book as ,re-,veilings should be so little understood by the ,christian ,church as to have been many times rejected from the sacred canon4 ,it did not appear in the ,syriac ,testament as late as #aefb4 ,neither did ,luther1 the great reformer of the sixteenth century1 nor his coworker1 ,erasmus1 respect it1 ,luther declaring that for his part he would as soon it had not been written2 ,calvin1 also1 had small regard for it4 ,the first collection of the ,new ,testament canon1 decided upon by the ,council of ,laodicea 7,a4 ,d4 #cfd71 omitted the entire book from its list of sacred works2 ,jerome said that some ,greek churches would not receive it4 ,the celebrated ,vatican codex in the papal library1 the oldest uncial or ,biblical manuscript in existence1 does not contain ,revelation4 ,the canon of the ,new ,testament was fixed as it now is by ,pope ,innocent ,i41 ,a4 ,d4 #dje1 with the ,book of ,revelation still in dispute4 ,its mystic character has been vaguely surmised by the later ,church1 which1 while claiming to be the exponent of spiritual things1 has yet taught the grossest materialism1 and from no part of the ,bible more fully than from ,revelation4 ,it asserts a literal coming of ,christ in the literal clouds of heaven1 riding a literal horse1 while ,gabriel 7angel of the moon71 with a literal trumpet sounds the blast of earth's destruction4 ,a literal devil is to be bound for a thousand years1 during which time the saints are to dwell on earth1 every man to have a farm1 as ,i once heard a devout ,methodist declare4 ,but there will not be land enough for that1 objected a brother4 ,o1 well1 the earth is now two-thirds water1 and that will be dried up1 was the reply4 ,to such straits have ,christians been driven in their efforts to comprehend this book4 ,but during the centuries a few students have not failed to apprehend its character2 the ,abbe ,constant 7,eliphas ,levi71 declaring it to be one of the masterpieces of occult science4 ,while for even a partial comprehension of ,re-,veilings1 some knowledge of astrology is required1 it is no less true that the whole ,bible from ,genesis to ,revelation demands a knowledge of astrology1 of letters1 and of numbers1 with their interchangeable values as they were understood by those who wrote it1 a book written by initiates for initiates4 ,sir ,william ,drummond proved that all names of places in the holy land of the ,hebrews were astronomical4 ,not only were ,hebrew feasts and seasons based upon that science1 but many ,christian ones1 as ,easter and ,christmas are due to the same cause4 ,the festival of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist takes place at the time of the sun's lowest southern declination1 ,december #bb4 ,in like manner the festival of ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist occurs at midsummer day1 when the sun reaches its highest northern declination4 ,all those church periods are purely astronomical or astrological in character4 ,the ,alpha and ,omega of ,revelation contain profound evolutionary truths1 significative of spirit and of matter1 or ,god unmanifested and manifested4 ,the famous seven churches of ,asia1 to whom this book was largely addressed1 were all astrological and based upon the seven planets of the ancients4 ,of these seven churches that of ,ephesus stood first4 ,on the shores of ,aegean ,sea1 it was famous for its magnificent temple to the moon-goddess ,artemis1 or ,diana4 ,this temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world1 nations vieing with each other in their gifts to add to its splendor4 ,the moon being the emblem or angel of ,ephesus1 the cry of the multitude when ,paul spake there1 ,great is ,diana of the ,ephesians6 was an astrological recognition of the power of the moon over human affairs4 ,it is to be noted that none of the seven churches of ,asia received the writings of ,paul4 ,in the astrology of ,chaldea1 as in that of ,asia ,minor1 the moon was first among the planets4 ,it must be remembered that the numbers seven and twelve1 so frequently mentioned in ,re-,veilings1 are of great occult significance in relation to the earth4 ,the angel of the church of ,smyrna1 to whom the second letter was addressed1 was the sun1 the only sun dying and rising each day2 that of ,pergamos1 the beneficent ,jupiter1 who became the supreme god of the ,greek world4 ,the angel of ,thyatira1 the lovely and loving ,venus1 by some deemed the most occult of the planets1 sustained her old-time character for lasciviousness in her connection with that church4 ,the fiery1 warlike ,mars1 angel of the church of ,sardis1 called the ,great ,king1 and ,saturn1 the angel of the church of ,philadelphia1 are astrologically known as malefic planets4 ,saturn identified with ,satan1 matter and time1 is for occult reasons looked upon as the great malefic4 ,the angel of the church of ,laodicea1 ,mercury or ,hermes1 the ambiguous planet1 is1 next to ,venus1 the most occult of all the planets2 it is1 masculine or feminine1 the patron of learning or of thieves1 as it is aspected4 ,most profound secrets connected with the spiritual interests of the race during the middle portion of the fifth round are hidden in the letter to the angel of the church of ,laodicea4 ,m4 ,j4 ,g4 ,this book is styled the ,apocalypse or ,revelation1 and is supposed to have been written by ,john1 called the ,divine1 on the ,island of ,patmos1 in the ,aegean ,sea1 whither he was banished4 ,professor ,goldwin ,smith1 in a recent work entitled ,guesses at the ,riddle of ,existence1 thinks that we have but little reliable information as to the writers of either the ,old or the ,new ,testaments4 ,in this case the style is so different from that of ,john1 that the same ,apostle could not have written both books4 ,whoever wrote ,the ,revelation was evidently the victim of a terrible and extravagant imagination and of visions which make the blood curdle4 ,revelation ii4 #ah ,and unto the angel of the church in ,thyatira write3 #ai ,i know thy works1 and charity1 and service1 and faith1 and thy patience4 #bj ,notwithstanding ,i have a few things against thee1 because thou sufferest that woman ,jezebel1 which calleth herself a prophet1 to teach and to seduce my servants4 #ba ,and ,i gave her space to repent2 and she repented not4 #bb ,behold1 ,i will cast her into great tribulation4 #bc ,and ,i will kill her children and all the churches shall know that ,i am he which searcheth the hearts2 and ,i will give unto every one of you according to your works4 ,the town of ,thyatira lay to the southeast of ,pergamos4 ,the epistle to the church was sent by ,john1 with some commendations2 but it was said that there was a worm at the root of its prosperity1 which would destroy the whole unless it were removed4 ,it is not agreed whether the expression ,jezebel1 is to be understood literally or figuratively4 ,from the reading of some manuscripts it has been thought1 that the wife of the presiding minister was intended1 that she had obtained great influence in the affairs of the church and made a bad use of it2 that she pretended to have prophetic gifts1 and under that sanction propagated abominable principles4 ,the figurative meaning1 however1 seems more suited to the style and the manner of this book2 and in this sense it denotes a company of persons1 of the spirit and character of ,jezebel1 within the church under one principal deceiver4 ,jezebel1 a ,zidonian and a zealous idolater1 being married to the ,king of ,israel 7,ahab7 contrary to the ,divine law1 used all her influence to draw the ,israelites from the worship of ,jehovah into idolatry4 ,satan and woman are the chief characters in all the frightful visions2 and the sacred period of maternity is made to illustrate some of the most terrible upheavals in national life1 as between the old dragon and the mother of the race4 ,whatever this book was intended to illustrate1 its pictures are painfully vivid4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,revelation xii4 ,and there appeared a great wonder in heaven2 a woman clothed with the sun1 and the moon under her feet1 and upon her head a crown of twelve stars3 #b ,and she being with child travailed in birth4 #c ,and there appeared another wonder in heaven2 and behold a great red dragon1 having seven heads and ten horns1 and seven crowns upon his heads4 #d ,and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven1 and the dragon stood before the woman to devour her child as soon as it was born4 #e ,and she brought forth a man child1 that was caught up unto ,god4 #f ,and the woman fled into the wilderness1 where she hath a place prepared of ,god4 #ac ,and when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth1 he was wroth with the woman1 and went to make war with the remnant of her seed4 ,the constellation ,draco1 the ,great ,serpent1 was at one time ruler of the night1 being formerly at the very centre of the heavens and so large that it was called the ,great ,dragon4 ,its body spread over seven signs of the ,zodiac1 which were called its seven heads4 ,so great a space did it occupy1 that1 in mystic language1 it drew a third part of the stars from heaven and cast them to the earth4 ,thuban1 in its tail1 was formerly the pole-star1 or judge of the earth6 ,it approached much nearer the true pole than ,cynosura1 the present pole-star1 which is one and a half degrees distant and will never approach nearer than twelve minutes1 while ,thuban was only ten minutes distant4 ,at an early day serpents were much respected2 they were thought to have more pneuma or spirit than any other living thing and were termed fiery4 ,for this cause high initiates were called naga1 or serpents of wisdom2 and a living serpent was always carried in the celebration of the mysteries4 ,during the brilliant eighteenth and nineteenth ,egyptian dynasties1 ,draco was a great god2 but when this constellation lost its place in the heavens1 and ,thuban ceased to be the guiding sidereal ,divinity1 it shared the fate of all the fallen gods4 ,the gods of our fathers are our devils1 says an ,arabic proverb4 ,when ,re-,veilings was written1 ,draco had become a fallen angel representing evil spirituality4 ,by precessional motion the foot of ,hercules rests upon its head1 and we find it depicted as of the most material color1 red4 ,colors and jewels are parts of astrology2 and ancient cities1 as ,ectabana1 were built and colored after the planets4 ,the ,new ,jerusalem of ,re-,veilings is purely an astrological city1 not to be understood without a knowledge of mystic numbers1 letters1 jewels and colors4 ,so1 also1 the four and twenty elders of ,re-,veilings are twenty-four stars of the ,chaldean ,zodiac1 counsellors or judges1 which rose and set with it4 ,astrology was brought into great prominence by the visit of the magi1 the zodiacal constellation ,virgo1 the woman with a child1 ruling ,palestine1 in which country ,bethlehem is situated4 ,the great astronomer and astrologer1 ,ptolemy1 judged the character of countries from the signs ruling them1 as to this day is done by astrologers4 ,the woman attacked by the great red dragon1 ,cassiopea1 was known as ,nim-,makh1 the ,mighty ,lady4 ,for many centuries1 at intervals of about three hundred years1 a brilliant star suddenly appeared in this constellation1 remaining visible a few months1 then as suddenly disappearing4 ,in mystic phraseology this star was a child4 ,it was seen ,a4 ,d4 #ide1 ,a4 ,d4 #abfd1 and was noted by ,tycho ,brahe and other astronomers in #aefb1 when it suddenly became so brilliant that it could be seen at midday1 gradually assuming the appearance of a great conflagration1 then as gradually fading away4 ,since thus caught up to the throne of ,god1 this star-child has not again appeared1 although watched for by astronomers during the past few years4 ,the ,greeks1 who borrowed so much from the ,egyptians1 created from this book the story of ,andromeda and the monster sent by ,neptune to destroy her1 while ,madame ,blavatsky says that ,st4 ,john's dragon is ,neptune1 a symbol of ,atlantaen magi4 ,the crown of twelve stars upon the head of the apocalyptic woman are the twelve constellations of the ,zodiac4 ,clothed with the sun1 woman here represents the ,divinity of the feminine1 its spirituality as opposed to the materiality of the masculine2 for in ,egypt the sun1 as giver of life1 was regarded as feminine1 while the moon1 shining by reflected light1 was looked upon as masculine4 ,with her feet upon the moon1 woman1 corresponding to and representing the soul1 portrays the ultimate triumph of spiritual things over material things--over the body1 which man1 or the male principle1 corresponds to and represents4 ,there was war in heaven4 ,the wonderful progress and freedom of woman1 as woman1 within the last half century1 despite the false interpretation of the ,bible by the ,church and by masculine power1 is the result of this great battle2 and all attempts to destroy her will be futile4 ,her day and hour have arrived2 the dragon of physical power over her1 the supremacy of material things in the world1 as depicted by the male principle1 are yielding to the spiritual1 represented by woman4 ,the eagle1 true bird of the sun and emblem of our own great country1 gives his wings to her aid2 and the whole earth comes to help her against her destroyer4 ,and thus must ,re-,veilings be left with much truth untouched1 yet with the hope that what has been written will somewhat help to a comprehension of this greatly misunderstood yet profoundly sacred and secret book1 whose true reading is of such vast importance to the human race4 ,m4 ,j4 ,g4 ,here is a little well intended respect for woman as representing the ,church4 ,in this vision she appears clothed with the sun1 and the moon under her feet1 which denotes her superiority1 says the commentator1 to her reflected feebler light of the ,mosaic dispensation4 ,the crown of twelve stars on her head represents her honorable maintenance of the doctrines of the ,church4 just as the woman was watched by the dragon1 and her children devoured1 so was the ,church watched and persecuted by the emissaries of the ,papal hierachy sic4 ,the seven heads of the dragon represent the seven hills on which ,rome is built2 the ten horns1 ten kingdoms into which the ,western empire was divided4 ,the tail of the dragon drawing a third part of the stars represent the power of the ,romans1 who had conquered one-third part of the earth4 ,revelation xvii4 #c ,so he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness2 and ,i saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast1 full of names of blasphemy1 having saves heads and ten horns4 #d ,and the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color1 and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls1 having a golden cup in bar hand4 #e ,and upon her forehead was a name written1 ,mystery1 ,babylon the ,great4 #ah ,and the woman which thou sawest is that great city1 which reigneth over the kings of the earth4 ,the woman draped in scarlet1 seated on a beast1 was the emblem of the ,church of ,rome4 ,the beast represents the temporal power by which it has been supported4 ,these colors have always distinguished the popes and the cardinals1 as well as the ,roman emperors and senators4 ,the horses and the mules were covered with scarlet cloth to answer the description1 and the woman was decked in the brightest colors1 in gold and jewels4 ,no one can describe the pomp1 splendor and magnificence of the ,church of ,rome4 ,the cup in the woman's hand contained potions to intoxicate her victims4 ,it was the custom at that time for public women to have their names on their foreheads1 and as they represented the abominations of social life1 they were often named after cities4 ,the writers of the ,bible are prone to make woman the standard for all kinds of abominations2 and even motherhood1 which should be held most sacred1 is used to illustrate the most revolting crimes4 ,what picture can be more horrible than the mother1 in her hour of mortal agony1 watched by the dragon with his seven heads and ten horns6 ,why so many different revising committees of bishops and clergymen should have retained this book as holy and inspiring to the ordinary reader1 is a mystery4 ,it does not seem possible that the ,divine ,john could have painted these dark pictures of the struggles of humanity with the ,spirit of ,evil4 ,verily1 we need an expurgated edition of the ,old and the ,new ,testaments before they are fit to be placed in the hands of our youth to be read in the public schools and in theological seminaries1 especially if we wish to inspire our children with proper love and respect for the ,mothers of the ,race4 ,e4 ,c4 ,s4 ,,appendix4 ,ignorance is the mother of devotion4--,jeremy ,taylor4 ,the following letters and comments are in answer to the questions3 #a4 ,have the teachings of the ,bible advanced or retarded the emancipation of women8 #b4 ,have they dignified or degraded the ,mothers of the ,race8 ,dear ,mrs4 ,stanton3--,i believe1 as you said in your birthday address1 that women ought to demand that the ,canon law1 the ,mosaic code1 the ,scriptures1 prayer-books and liturgies be purged of all invidious distinctions of sex1 of all false teaching as to woman's origin1 character and destiny4 ,i believe that the ,bible needs explanation and comment on many statements therein which tend to degrade woman4 ,christ taught the equality of the sexes1 and ,paul said3 ,there is neither male nor female2 ye are all one in ,christ ,jesus4 ,hence ,i welcome ,the ,woman's ,bible as a needed commentary in regard to woman's position4 ,phebe ,a4 ,hanaford4 ,if the suggestions and teachings of the various books of our ,bible1 concerning women1 are compared with the times in which severally they probably were written1 in general they are certainly in advance of most contemporary opinion4 ,the hurtful blunder of later eras has been the setting up of early1 cruder standards touching the relations of men and of women1 as moulding influences and guides to broader civilizations4 ,they cannot be authoritative4 ,i believe that the ,bible's ,golden ,rule has been the real substratum of all religions1 when fairly applied from their own point of view4 ,but the broader and more discriminating applications of the rule theoretically both to men and to women in every relation of life have made1 and necessarily must have made1 most of the earlier practical regulations and teachings1 beneficent perhaps in their day1 pernicious in ours when regarded as still authoritative4 ,interpreted by its fundamental principles1 in the light of its time--not in the fast increasing light of ours1 which1 as ,i understand it1 is your searchlight and that of your collaborators--,i have very little quarrel with the ,bible4 ,but neither have ,i much quarrel with ,buddhism1 with ,paganism in general1 or with any serious religious cult1 tested in the same way4 ,turn on the light and so change the point of view4 ,but criticism of ancient creeds1 literatures or morals1 to be entirely fair and just4 must be comparative criticism4 ,to be broadly comparative it must virtually include contemporary and intermediate as well as existing creeds1 literatures or morals4 ,very sincerely yours1 ,antoinette ,brown ,blackwell4 ,like the shield which was gold on one side and silver on the other1 the ,bible has two sides or aspects4 ,as travellers approaching the shield from opposite directions quarrelled over its nature because each saw only that side which he had approached1 people have differed in their view of the ,bible and its influence upon mankind because only one aspect has been visible to them4 ,acceptance of the ,bible literally tends to retard the development of both man and woman1 and consequently the establishment of their highest and best relation to each other1 a relation upon which depends their usefulness to the community4 ,both the law of ,moses and the teachings of ,paul1 thus considered1 belittle woman more than they exalt her4 ,while words of praise and promises of future place and power are not altogether lacking1 this is the impression left upon the mind of the reader who is not able to pass around to the other side and gain another view4 ,exoterically considered1 the ,bible offers less of the ethical and the spiritual than of the physical possibilities of woman as the complement to man2 but esoterically considered1 it is found to exact the spiritual possibilities above the rest--above even the like possibilities of the man4 ,the ,bible has been1 and will continue to be1 a stumbling-block in the way of development of inherent resources1 consequently of the truest civilization1 in proportion to the strength of its exoteric aspect with the people4 ,it will cease to be a stumbling block and become a powerful impetus in the desired direction instead1 when its inner meaning becomes revelator1 companion and friend4 ,in the literal rendering of the ,bible1 woman appears first and above all as man's subordinate2 but this inner meaning shows her first and above all as the individual equal with him1 and afterward his complement1 or what she is able to be for him4 ,portrayed as the mother of the ,saviour of the world1 one woman is exalted above all women when only physical motherhood is seen2 and the consequence has been that one woman has been worshiped and the sex has been crucified4 ,this one woman has been lifted above her place2 and all women have fallen correspondingly below it4 ,not till the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world shall pierce with its rays the darkness of the sensuous nature1 will woman's spiritual motherhood for the race1 be discerned as the way of its redemption from that darkness and its consequences4 ,as that light is uncovered in individual souls the inner meaning of the ,bible will appear1 woman's nature as the individual and her true relativity to man be seen4 ,then the mistakes which have been ignorantly made will be rectified1 because both sides of the shield will be seen4 ,men and women will clasp hands as comrades with a common destiny2 religion and science will each reveal their destiny and prove that truth which the ,bible even exoterically declares that the woman is the glory of the man4 ,ursula ,n4 ,gestefeld4 ,it is requested that ,i shall answer two questions3 #a4 ,has the ,bible advanced or retarded woman's emancipation8 #b4 ,has it elevated or degraded the ,mothers of the ,race8 ,if by emancipation is meant the social1 legal and political position of women1 and if by the ,bible the authorized version of the ,old ,testament1 it would be difficult to prove that the opponents of that emancipation have not derived their narrow views from many passages in the ,bible4 ,this1 however1 applies only to the exoteric interpretation1 the weak points of which have been so mercilessly exposed in ,part ,i4 of ,the ,woman's ,bible4 ,the ,divine wisdom whose occult truths form the basis of ,judaism1 of ,christianity and of all other religions1 has nothing to do with the subjection of sex3 and to be fair we must confess that there are many texts in the exoteric version which proclaim the equality of woman1 notably the first chapter of ,genesis4 ,i believe that ,h4 ,p4 ,blavatsky was right when she said of the ,bible3 ,it is a grand volume1 a masterpiece composed of clever1 ingenious fables1 containing great verities2 but it reveals the latter only to those who1 like the ,initiates1 have a key to its inner meaning2 a tale sublime in its morality and didactics truly--still a tale and an allegory2 a repertory of invented personages in its older ,jewish portions1 and of dark sayings and parables in its later additions1 and thus quite misleading to any one ignorant of its esotericism4 ,this being the case1 the discussion which ,the ,woman's ,bible raises is to my judgment somewhat futile4 ,it is said that from ,genesis to ,revelation the ,bible degrades woman4 ,does it not1 as it stands1 equally in many passages degrade the conception of the ,supreme ,being8 ,many noble and ,divine truths have been utterly degraded by the coarse fallacies of men4 ,all this is so sure to be made clear in the near future that ,i am doubtful of the wisdom of laying too much stress on passages whose meaning is entirely misunderstood by the vast majority of ,christians4 ,slowly we see a light breaking4 ,when the dawn comes we shall have a revision of the ,bible on very different lines from any yet attempted4 ,in the meantime may we not ask1 ,is there any curse or crime which has not appealed to the ,bible for support8 ,polygamy1 capital punishment1 slavery and war have all done so4 ,why not the subjection of women8 ,let us hold fast that which is good in the ,bible and the rest will modify itself in the future1 as it has done in the past1 to the needs of humanity and the advance of knowledge4 ,london1 ,england4 ,ursula ,bright4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton3--,dear ,madam3 ,i have received your letter and the specimen of ,the ,woman's ,bible which you have sent me4 ,i have not had time to examine it minutely2 but ,i have been aware of your purpose from the beginning4 ,i am afraid that ,i cannot say anything which you will wish to print2 for ,i look upon the ,bible very differently from what you do4 ,i have no superstitious reverence for it1 but hold it in high regard as a valuable collection of very old literature well representing the thought and the life of a great1 earnest people at different periods of their career4 ,as such1 it is full of precious lessons of wisdom and of sweet and beautiful poetry4 ,i certainly could not endorse ,mr4 ,white's statement2 for ,i have very recently in public lectures spoken of the great value of this collection as one of the best educators of the common people in ,christendom generally1 and especially in ,scotland and the ,united ,states4 ,i should say the same1 so far as my knowledge extends1 of the ,koran and other so-called sacred books4 ,that the superstitious worship of the ,bible as a direct revelation from ,god1 and the practice of using what is merely the history of human life as authority for human action now1 or as prophecy1 has produced or strengthened great evils in the world ,i readily admit1 and ,i welcome all the thorough and searching criticism which can be applied to the ,bible1 but nothing is gained by exaggeration4 ,there are noble examples of woman in the ,old ,testament of the heroic type1 as in the ,new ,testament of the tender and loving one4 ,the whole subject of the relations of the sexes is a deep and difficult one2 and the ages have been struggling with it4 ,that woman is handicapped by peculiarities of physical structure seems evident2 and according to the character of the age these are more or less unfavorable4 ,civilization in many instances has emphasized and increased them to her great disadvantage2 but it is only by making her limitations her powers that the balance can be restored1 and in an age of more intellectual and spiritual superiority this will come to pass4 ,i read this in the development of woman's life in education1 in industry and in self-support4 ,i have tried to express my views frankly1 although ,i cannot fully illustrate them in a brief letter1 which is all ,i have time for at present4 ,your own active mind will follow out whatever there is of value in my thought4 ,yours very respectfully1 ,jamaica ,plain1 ,mass4 ,ednah ,d4 ,cheney4 ,the ,bible--both the books of the ,old ,testament and of the ,new1 express the views in regard to woman which prevailed when those books were written4 ,the conception in regard to woman was that she was naturally man's inferior1 that her position should be one of subordination1 that she should have no will of her own1 except as it was in accord with that of her father1 husband1 or master4 ,the enlightened portions of the world have gradually been outgrowing these ideas4 ,this progress has constantly been opposed by the influence of ,bible teachings on the subject4 ,the influence of the ,bible against the elevation of woman1 like its influence in favor of slavery1 has been great because of the infallibility and the ,divine authority with which the teachings of the ,bible have been invested4 ,if the ,bible had1 like other books1 been judged by its actual merits1 in the light of reason and common sense1 its teachings about woman would have had no authoritative weight2 but when millions have for centuries been brought up to believe that the ,bible is an inspired and infallible revelation from ,god1 its influence has been mischievous in a thousand ways4 ,a collection of books which teaches1 as from ,god1 that man was made first for the glory of ,god1 and woman for man simply2 that woman was first to sin1 and therefore should be in submission to man2 that motherhood implies moral impurity and requires a sin offering 7twice as much in the case of a female as a male child71 must have continued to keep woman in a degraded condition just in proportion as such ideas have been believed to be true and inspired by ,god4 ,the advancement of woman throughout ,christendom has been going on only where these doctrines have been outgrown or modified through the influence of science1 of skepticism1 and of liberal thought generally4 ,that the ,bible does teach that woman's position should be one of subordination and submission to man1 and that through her first came sin into the world1 is indisputable2 and ,i do not see how such teachings1 believed to be direct from ,god1 can be accepted without retarding woman's progress4 ,mr4 ,lecky and others have shown historically that these ,oriental conceptions have distinctly degraded woman wherever they have prevailed4 ,what we should naturally expect to have resulted from these conceptions is shown by experience actually to have been the result of such teachings1 enforced by the authority of ,moses and of ,st4 ,paul4 ,the idea of woman's equality with man in all natural rights and opportunities finds no support in the ,bible4 ,the doctrine that there is neither male nor female1 neither bond nor free1 in ,christ ,jesus1 had no practical application to social conditions4 ,it left the slave in chains1 and the woman in fetters4 ,where the old theological dogmas respecting woman are the least impaired1 woman's condition is the least hopeful4 ,where the authority of reason is in the ascendant1 or where it is superseding the authority of book revelations1 of creeds and of churches1 woman's position is the most advanced1 her rights are the most completely recognized1 her opportunities for progress the most fully allowed1 and her character the most fully developed4 ,sarah ,a4 ,underwood4 ,a solution1 in accordance with the fundamental laws of ethics1 of the woman question1 which is a part of the great social question1 can be arrived at only by a transformation of the social order of things1 made in conformity with the principle of equal liberty and equal justice to each and every one4 ,as a necessary proposition to let this principle be universally recognized1 we must designate the philosophical view of the world1 based upon scientific ,materialism1 which former1 penetrated by the conviction that the natural doctrine of evolution also retains its validity with regard to the mental1 vital principles of humanity1 believes in the social1 political and ethical evolution of human society1 from which progressive evolution the equal claim to all social relations of the female and the male halves of humanity are inseparable4 ,as the firmest enemy of modern ethics based upon scientific knowledge of natural laws1 there stands the ,christian religion1 the outspring of the ,jewish one1 which former1 resting upon the principle of the necessary subordination of woman to man1 in consequence thereof energetically combats the attempts for equal rights to both sexes1 and1 as far as lies in its power1 ever will and must combat the same4 ,to the influence of the ,christian ,church upon social conditions we must in the first instance ascribe that1 notwithstanding all advances of culture1 the mental development of the female sex has been systematically kept back through all these tens of centuries4 ,and not only for the reason that the ,christian religion considers woman as a creature inferior to man1 owing to the legendary eating of the apple by ,eve 7,satan1 says ,st4 ,augustine1 considered the man to be less credulous and approachable71 but also--and possibly foremost of all-- for the reason that the ,christian ,church knows very well that in woman1 intellectually undeveloped1 and therefore easy to be led1 and ready to lend a willing ear to priestly promptings1 it possesses its most powerful ally1 and knows that it would lose that powerful support as soon as women1 by a thorough mental training1 by an elevating education adapted to their condition of mind and of fortune1 would be taken away from clerical influences4 ,as a contrast to the lying statement1 which falsifies the historical facts1 that the ,christian religion has raised the condition of woman1 the ,christian ,church offers to woman nothing but serfdom4 ,and it is the first duty of those women who combat for right and liberty to unite in the fight against religious obscurity1 against the powers of darkness and the suppression resting on the ,church1 that revolution of the mind for which the most elevated thinkers of all time have suffered and fought1 and to whose deeds alone we owe all advances in the mental freeing of humanity and all accomplishments of the awakening consciousness of justice4 ,vienna1 ,austria4 ,irma ,von ,troll-,borostyani4 ,my ,dear ,mrs4 ,stanton3--,i thank you very much for the book which ,i have received and shall consider with interest4 ,i respond at once and heartily to the inquiry with which you have honored me4 ,i consider the ,bible the most wonderful record of the evolution of spiritual life which our race possesses4 ,the sympathetic justice displayed by the ,christ when he said1 ,let him that is without sin cast the first stone1 will be the inspiration of the future for man and for woman alike4 ,with cordial remembrance of the past and hope for the future1 ,i am ,sincerely yours1 ,hastings1 ,london1 ,england4 ,elizabeth ,blackwell4 ,since it is accepted that the status of woman is the gauge of civilization1 this is the burning question which now presents itself to ,christendom4 ,if the ,bible had elevated woman to her present status1 it would seem that the fact could be demonstrated beyond question2 yet to-day the whole ,christian world is on the defensive1 trying to prove the validity of this claim4 ,despite the opposition of ,bible teaching1 woman has secured the right to education1 to speak and to print her thoughts2 therefore her answer to these questions will decide the fate of ,christian civilization4 ,in ,genesis the ,bible strikes the key-note of woman's inferiority and subjection2 and the note rings true through every accepted and rejected book which has ever constituted the ,bible4 ,in the face of this fact1 the supreme effort of the ,christian ,church has been to inculcate the idea that ,christianity alone has elevated woman1 and that all other religions have degraded and enslaved her4 ,it has feared nothing so much as to face the truth4 ,women have but to read the ,bible and the history of ,christianity in conjunction with the sacred books and the histories of other religions to discover the falsity of this claim1 and that the ,bible cannot stand the light of truth4 ,the ,bible estimate of woman is summed up in the words of the president of a leading theological seminary when he exclaimed to his students1 ,my ,bible commands the subjection of women forever4 ,in an address to the graduating class of a woman's college in ,england1 ,mr4 ,gladstone1 in awarding the diplomas1 said3 ,young women1 you who belong to the favored half of the human race1 enormous changes have taken place in your positions as members of society4 ,it is almost terrible to look back upon the state of women sixty years ago1 upon the manner in which they were viewed by the law1 and the scanty provision made for their welfare1 and the gross injustice1 the flagrant injustice1 the shameful injustice1 to which in certain particulars they were subjected4 ,great changes are taking place1 and greater are impending4 ,for centuries ,england has been the light of the ,christian world2 yet what an indictment is this against ,christian ,england by the greatest living defender of the ,bible and the ,christian religion4 ,this one statement of ,mr4 ,gladstone at once refutes the claim that the ,bible has elevated woman1 and confirms the idea of the president of the theological seminary4 ,add to these declarations the true condition of women to-day1 and the testimony that the ,bible bears against itself1 and the falsity of the claim that it has elevated woman is at once established4 ,if ,mr4 ,gladstone acknowledges the gross1 flagrant and shameful injustice to woman sixty years ago in ,christian ,england1 what can be said of woman's condition six hundred1 or sixteen hundred years ago1 when the ,bible held the greatest sway over the human mind and ,christianity was at the zenith of its power1 when it was denied that woman has a soul1 when she was bought and sold as the cattle of the field1 robbed of her name1 her children1 her property1 and elevated 787 on the gibbet of infamy1 and on the high altar of lust by the decree of the ,christian priesthood8 ,if it can be proven that during the last thousand years the ,christian clergy1 with the ,bible in their hands1 have pointed out or attempted to remove one single cruelty or wrong which women have suffered1 now is the opportune time to furnish such proof4 ,now1 to-day1 when woman herself is rising in her mental majesty1 and when her wrongs are being righted1 ,christianity is dead in the strongest brains and the most heroic hearts of ,europe and of ,america2 and now1 when the myth and the miracle of ,bible teaching have lost their hold on the minds of people1 this is the very age when the position of woman is more exalted than it has ever been since ,chrisianity sic began4 ,if even the claim that the ,bible has elevated woman to her present status were true1 when the light is turned on to the social1 domestic and religious life of the ,christian world1 this achievement reflects no credit on ,bible teaching4 ,after nineteen hundred years no woman's thought has ever been incorporated into the ecclesiastical or civil code of any ,christian land4 ,monogamic marriage is the strongest institution of the ,christian system2 yet all the men of the ,old ,testament were polygamists2 and ,christ and ,paul1 the central figures of the ,new ,testament1 were celibates and condemned marriage by both precept and example4 ,in ,christian lands monogamy is strictly demanded of women2 but bigamy1 trigamy1 and polygamy are in reality practised by men as one of the methods of elevating women1 ,largely1 the majority of men have one legal wife2 but assisted by a small per cent4 of youths and of bachelors1 ,christendom maintains an army of several millions of courtesans4 ,thousands of wretched women are yearly driven to graves in the potter's field1 while manhood is degraded by deception1 by drunkenness and by disease2 and the blood of the innocents cries out against a system which thus elevates woman4 ,the ,bible says that a tree is known by its fruit2 yet this tree is carefully pruned1 watered1 and tended as the ,tree of life whose fruit1 in the words of ,archdeacon ,farrar1 alone elevates woman1 and shrouds as with a halo of sacred innocence the tender years of the child4 ,the ,bible records that ,god created woman by a method different from that employed in bringing into life any other creature1 then cursed her for seeking knowledge2 yet ,god declares in the ,bible3 ,my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge4 ,because thou hast rejected knowledge ,i will reject thee4 ,add to your faith virtue1 and to virtue knowledge1 and knowledge is the savior of the human race4 ,ever since ,eve was cursed for seeking knowledge1 the priest with the ,bible in his hands has pronounced her the most unnatural1 untrustworthy and dangerous creation of ,god4 ,she has been given away as a sheep at the marriage altar1 classed with the ox and the ass1 cursed in maternity1 required to receive purification at the hands of the priest for the crime of child-bearing1 her body enslaved1 and robbed of her name and of her property4 ,the ownership of the wife established and perpetuated through ,bible teaching is responsible for the domestic pandemonium and the carnival of wife murder which reigns throughout ,christendom4 ,in the ,united ,states alone1 in the eighteen hundred and ninety-seventh year of the ,christian era1 #c1dhb wives1 many with unborn children in their bodies1 have been murdered in cold blood by their husbands2 yet the ,christian clergy from their pulpits reprove women for not bearing more children in the face of the fact that millions of the children who have been born by ,christian women are homeless tramps1 degraded drunkards1 victims of disease1 inmates of insane asylums or prisons1 condemned to the scaffold1 or bond slaves to priests or to plutocrats who revel in wealth at the expense of women whom it is claimed that the ,bible has emancipated and elevated4 ,behold1 ,i was shapen in iniquity1 and in sin did my mother conceive me4 ,this declaration of the ,bible puts the brand of infamy upon every woman who ever bore a child2 and this1 it is claimed1 elevates the ,mothers of the ,race4 ,the wife who places her destiny in the keeping of the father of her children bestows upon him the wealth of her affection1 who is to bear the blood and the name of her husband to conquests yet undreamed of1 and to generations yet unborn1 is by ,divine decree made a fountain of iniquity4 ,would not men and women rather pluck their tongues out by the roots than brand with infamy the mothers who went down into the valley and the shadow of death to give birth to them8 ,place the ,bible ,trinity of ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost beside the ,homeric trinity1 ,father1 ,mother and ,child1 and prove that the ,bible has elevated woman4 ,the ,homeric conception of woman towers like the ,norway pine above the noxious growth of the ,mosaic ideal4 ,compare the men and the women of the ,bible with the stately figures culled from the temple of ,pagan antiquity4 ,zipporah denouncing ,moses as a bloody husband1 ,abraham sending ,hagar and his child into the desert and pocketing twice over the gains from his wife's prostitution2 ,lot and his daughters2 ,judah and his daughter-in-law1 ,onan2 ,yamar1 the ,levite1 and his concubine2 ,david and ,bath-sheba2 ,solomon in the sewer of sensualism2 ,rahab1 ,aholibah1 ,mary of ,bethlehem1 and ,mary ,magdala4 ,place these by the side of the man and the woman1 ,hector and ,andromache1 of the ,iliad1 who called upon the immortal gods to bless their child of love2 the virgin ,isis with her son ,horus2 the ,vedic virgin ,indrance1 the mother of the savior-god1 ,indra2 ,devaki and her ,divine child1 ,chrishna2 ,hipparchia1 ,pandora1 ,protogenia1 ,cornelia1 ,plotina1 and a host of the noble and virtuous of ,pagan history4 ,prove by comparing these with the position of woman in ,christendom that woman owes all that she is to the ,bible4 ,compare ,ruth of the ,bible with the magnificent ,pagan1 ,penelope1 who refused the hands of kings1 was as true to her love as the star is to the pole1 who1 after years of waiting1 clasped the old wanderer in rags to her heart1 her husband1 her long-lost ,ulysses2 yet this ,pagan woman lived ten centuries before the laws of ,moses and of ,christ were promulgated4 ,while there are millions of ,penelopes in ,christendom1 there are other millions of women1 after centuries of ,bible teaching1 who lie outside the pale of motherhood1 and even outside of the pale of swine-hood4 ,under ,bible teaching the scarlet woman is anathema1 marantha1 while the scarlet man holds high place in the ,sanctuary and the ,state4 ,the by-paths of ecclesiastical history are fetid with the records of crimes against women2 and the half has never been told4 ,and what of the history which ,christianity is making to-day8 ,answer1 ye victims of domestic warfare who crowd the divorce courts of ,bible lands4 ,answer1 ye wretched offspring of involuntary motherhood4 ,answer1 ye five hundred thousand outcast women of ,christian ,america1 who should have been five hundred thousand blessings1 bearing humanity in your unvitiated blood down the streams of time4 ,answer1 ye mental dwarfs and moral monstrosities1 and tell what the ,holy ,bible has done for you4 ,while these answers echo through the stately cathedrals of ,bible lands1 if the priest1 with the ,holy ,bible in his hands1 can show just cause why woman should not look to reason and to science rather than to ,scripture for deliverance1 let him speak now1 or forever after hold his peace4 ,when ,reason reigns and ,science lights the way1 a countless host of women will move in majesty down the coming centuries4 ,a voice will cry1 ,who are these8 and the answer will ring out3 ,these are the mothers of the coming race1 who have locked the door of the ,temple of ,faith and thrown the key away2 'these are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the' fountain of knowledge4 ,josephine ,k4 ,henry4 ,my ,dear ,mrs4 ,stanton3--,to say that the ,bible for two thousand years has been the greatest block in the way of civilization is1 misleading4 ,until the ,protestant reformation1 the ,bible was hidden from the common people by the hierarchs of the ,roman ,catholic ,church2 and it is only about three centuries that it has been read in the vernacular4 ,i cannot agree with you that the ,bible degrades women from ,genesis to ,revelation4 ,the ,bible1 which is a collection of ancient literature1 historic1 prophetic1 poetic and epistolary1 is valuable as showing the status of woman at the time when the books were written4 ,and the advice1 or the commands1 to women given by ,paul in the ,epistles1 against which there has been so much railing1 when studied in the light of the higher criticism1 with the aid of cotemporary sic history and ,greek scholarship1 show ,paul to have been in advance of the religious teachers of his time4 ,all these commands that have offended us in the past appear in his ,epistles to the churches in cities of ,greece1 where marriage was bitter slavery to women4 ,paul was aiming to uplift marriage to the level of the great ,christian idea1 as he uttered it1 in ,gal4 iii41 #bh3 ,there is neither ,jew nor ,greek1 there is neither bond nor free1 there is neither male nor female2 for ye are all one in ,christ ,jesus4 ,christianity is simply the universal fatherhood of ,god1 and the universal brotherhood of man4 ,and ,paul was declaring this in the utterance which ,i have quoted4 ,all the unjust distinctions of race and of caste1 all the oppressions of slavery and the degradations of woman were effaced by the two cardinal doctrines of pristine ,christianity2 and ,paul seems to have lived up to his teaching4 ,i cannot say that ,christianity has been the foe of woman4 ,the study of the evolution of woman does not show this4 ,my later studies have changed many of my earlier crude notions concerning the development of woman4 ,she has developed slowly1 and so has man2 and the history of the past shows that every activity of man which has advanced him has been shared by her4 ,there is so wide a belief among orthodox people1 nowadays1 in what ,professor ,briggs calls the errancy of the ,bible1 that ,i doubt if you will be attacked1 no matter how startling may be your heresies in ,part ,,ii4 ,nobody cares much about heresy in these days2 and my desire to withhold my name from your work1 as an endorser1 comes from my utter ignorance of it1 and from my belief that ,i should disagree with you1 judging from your letter before me4 ,yours very truly1 ,m4 ,a4 ,livermore4 ,my ,dear ,mrs4 ,stanton3--,you have sent to me the following questions3 ,have the teachings of the ,bible advanced or retarded the emancipation of women8 ,have they dignified or degraded the ,mothers of the ,race8 ,in reply ,i would say1 that as a matter of fact1 the nations which treat women with the most consideration are all ,christian nations2 the countries in which women have open to them all the opportunities for education which men possess are ,christian countries2 coeducation originated in ,christian colleges2 the professions and the trades are closed to us in all except ,christian lands2 and woman's ballot is unknown except where the ,gospel of ,christ has mellowed the hearts of men until they became willing to do women justice4 ,wherever we find an institution for the care and the comfort of the defective or the dependent classes1 that institution was founded by men and women who were ,christians by heredity and by training4 ,no such woman as ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 with her heart aflame against all forms of injustice and of cruelty1 with her intellect illumed and her tongue quickened into eloquence1 has ever been produced in a country where the ,bible was not incorporated into the thoughts and the affections of the people and had not been so during many generations4 ,i think that men have read their own selfish theories into the ,book1 that theologians have not in the past sufficiently recognized the progressive quality of its revelation1 nor adequately discriminated between its records as history and its principles of ethics and of religion1 nor have they until recently perceived that it is not in any sense a scientific treatise2 but ,i believe that the ,bible comes to us from ,god1 and that it is a sufficient rule of faith and of practice4 ,i believe that it is no accident which has placed this ,book at the parting of the ways between a good life and a bad one1 and enshrined it at the centre of the holiest scenes which the heart can know1 placing it in the pastor's hand at the wedding and at the grave1 on the father's knee at family prayer1 in the trembling fingers of the sick1 and at the pillow of the dying1 making it the hope of the penitent and the power of ,god unto salvation of those who sin4 ,to me the ,bible is the dear and sacred home book which makes a hallowed motherhood possible because it raises woman up1 and with her lifts toward heaven the world4 ,this is the faith taught to me by those whom ,i have most revered and cherished2 it has produced the finest characters which ,i have ever known2 by it ,i propose to live2 and holding to the truth which it brings to us1 ,i expect to pass from this world to one even more full of beauty and of hope4 ,believe me1 honored co-worker for the enfranchisement of women1 ,yours with sisterly regard1 ,frances ,e4 ,willard4 ,among the letters in reply to the interrogatories propounded are two1 noticeable because they are in such a striking contrast to that of ,mrs4 ,josephine ,k4 ,henry1 which immediately precedes them4 ,their first marked characteristic is their total lack of facts which are sufficient to sustain the conclusions therein stated4 ,conceding for the purpose of this discussion the truth of ,mrs4 ,livermore's assertions contained in the first paragraph of her letter1 she fails absolutely to show that the ,holy ,scriptures have been of any benefit1 or have rendered any aid1 to woman in her efforts to obtain her rights in either the social1 the business1 or the political world2 and unless she is able to present stronger or more cogent reasons to justify that conclusion than any which are therein specified1 ,i shall be compelled to adhere to my present conviction1 which is1 that this book always has been1 and is at present1 one of the greatest obstacles in the way of the emancipation and the advancement of the sex4 ,in regard to the letter of the distinguished ,president of the ,woman's ,christian ,temperance ,union1 her position is entirely indefensible and completely lacking in logical conclusions4 ,her leading proposition is in substance that to the extent that the ,christian religion has prevailed there has been a corresponding improvement in the condition of women2 and the conclusion which she draws from that premise is that this religion has been the cause of this advancement4 ,before ,i admit the truth of this conclusion ,i must first inquire whether or not the premise upon which it is based is true2 and judging from the fact that the condition of women is most degraded in those countries where ,church and ,state are in closest affiliation1 as in ,spain1 in ,italy1 in ,russia and in ,ireland1 and most advanced in nations where the power of ecclesiasticism is markedly on the wane1 the inference is obvious that the ,bible and the religion based upon it have retarded rather than promoted the progress of woman4 ,but1 granting that her premise is true1 her conclusion by no means follows from it4 ,she desires her reader to infer that the existence of ,christianity in certain countries is responsible for the high degree of civilization which there obtains1 and that the improved condition of women in those countries is owing entirely to the influence of that religion therein4 ,this is what the logicians would call a non sequitur1 which means a conclusion which does not follow from the premises stated4 ,it is now a well-settled principle recognized by all writers upon the science of logic1 that the co-existence of two facts does not necessarily imply that one is the cause of the other2 and1 as is often the case1 they may have no relation to each other1 and each may exist independently of the other4 ,many illustrations of this fallacy might be presented were it necessary to do so2 but ,i will refer to only one of them4 ,i have heard it asserted that more murders and other crimes are committed in ,christian countries than in any others4 ,whether this be true or false1 ,i am not prepared to state2 but if it were proven to be a fact1 could one justly contend that the influence of the ,bible is in favor of the commission of crime8 ,indeed1 there would be more reason for so thinking than there is for the opinion which she holds1 as numerous passages may be found in that volume which clearly justify both crime and vice4 ,the truth of the matter is1 as ,mrs4 ,stanton1 ,mrs4 ,henry1 and other contributors to ,the ,woman's ,bible have clearly proven1 that whatever progress woman has made in any department of effort she has accomplished independently of1 and in opposition to1 the so-called inspired and infallible ,word of ,god1 and that this book has been of more injury to her than has any other which has ever been written in the history of the world4 ,e4 ,m4 ,have the teachings of the ,bible advanced or retarded the emancipation of women8 ,have they dignified or degraded the ,mothers of the ,race8 ,there are always two sides to every question4 ,it sometimes happens that the ,christian1 the historian1 the clergyman1 and the devotee1 in their enthusiasm1 are long on assertion and short on proof4 ,turning the light on the past and present1 the writer of this comment asserts as a matter of fact that the nations which treat women with the most consideration are all civilized nations4 ,if the condition of woman is highest in ,christian civilization1 the question arises1 ,is it ,christianity or civilization which has accorded to women the most consideration8 ,christianity means belief in the tenets laid down in a book called the ,bible1 claimed to be the ,word of ,god4 ,civilization means the state of being refined in manners from the grossness of savage life1 and improved in arts and in learning4 ,if civilization is due entirely to the teachings of the ,bible1 then1 as claimed1 woman owes to ,christianity all the consideration which she receives4 ,we claim that woman's advancement is due to civilization1 and that the ,bible has been a bar to her progress4 ,it is true that woman receives most consideration in ,christian nations2 but this is due to the mental evolution of humanity1 stimulated by climate and by soil1 and the intercommunication of ideas through modern invention4 ,all the ,christian nations are in the north temperate zone1 whose climate1 and soil are better adapted to the development of the race than any other portions of the earth4 ,christianity took its rise in thirty degrees north latitude4 ,mohammedanism took its rise in the torrid zone2 and as it made its way north it advanced in education1 in art1 in science1 and in invention1 until the civilization of ,moslem ,spain far surpassed that of ,christian ,europe1 and as it retreated before the ,christian sword from the fertile valleys of ,spain into the and plains of ,arabia it retrograded1 after giving to the world some of the greatest scientific truths and inventions4 ,the women of the ,united ,states receive more consideration and are being emancipated more rapidly than are the women of ,europe2 yet1 in ,europe1 ,christianity holds iron sway1 while in ,america the people are free to accept or to reject its teachings2 and in the ,united ,states1 out of a population of seventy millions1 but twenty-two millions have accepted it2 and a large percentage of these are children1 who have not arrived at the years of discretion1 and foreigners from ,christian ,europe4 ,the consideration extended to woman does not depend upon the teachings of the ,bible1 but upon the mental and material advancement of the men of a nation4 ,now if it can be proven that ,bible teaching has inspired men to explore and to subdue new lands1 to give to the world inventions1 to build ships1 railroads and telegraphs1 to open mines1 to construct foundries and factories1 and to amass knowledge and wealth1 then the ,bible has been woman's best friend2 for she receives most consideration where men have liberty of thought and of action1 have prospered materially1 builded homes1 and have bank accounts4 ,the women in the slums of ,christian ,london and ,new ,york receive no more consideration than the women in the slums of ,hong ,kong or ,bombay4 ,if the nations which give the most consideration to women do so because of their ,christianity1 then it logically follows that the more intensely ,christian a class or an individual may be1 the greater consideration will be shown to their women4 ,the most intensely ,christian people in ,christendom are negroes2 yet it is an incontrovertible fact that negro women receive less consideration1 and are more wronged and abused1 than any class on the earth4 ,the women of the middle and upper classes in ,bible lands receive consideration just in proportion to the amount of intelligence and worldly goods possessed by their male relatives1 while the pauper classes are abused1 subjected1 and degraded in proportion to the ignorance and the poverty of the men of their class4 ,the ,church is the channel through which ,bible influence flows4 ,has the ,church ever issued an edict that woman must be equal with man before the canon or the civil law1 that her thoughts should be incorporated in creed or code1 that she should own her own body and property in marriage1 or have a legal claim to her children born in wedlock1 which ,christianity claims is a sacrament and one of the holy mysteries8 ,has the ,church ever demanded that woman be educated beyond the ,bible 7and that interpreted for her7 and the cook book1 or given a chance in all the callings of life to earn an honest living8 ,is not the ,church to-day a masculine hierarchy1 with a female constituency1 which holds woman in ,bible lands in silence and in subjection8 ,no institution in modern civilization is so tyrannical and so unjust to woman as is the ,christian ,church4 ,it demands everything from her and gives her nothing in return4 ,the history of the ,church does not contain a single suggestion for the equality of woman with man4 ,yet it is claimed that women owe their advancement to the ,bible4 ,it would be quite as true to say that they owe their improved condition to the almanac or to the vernal equinox4 ,under ,bible influence woman has been burned as a witch1 sold in the shambles1 reduced to a drudge and a pauper1 and silenced and subjected before her ecclesiastical and marital law-givers4 ,she was first in the transgression1 therefore keep her in subjection4 ,these words of ,paul have filled our whole civilization with a deadly virus1 yet how strange is it that the average ,christian woman holds the name of ,paul above all others1 and is oblivious to the fact that he has brought deeper shame1 subjection1 servitude and sorrow to woman than has any other human being in history4 ,the nations under ,bible influence are the only drunken nations on the earth4 ,the ,w4 ,c4 ,t4 ,u4 will certainly not claim that drunkenness elevates woman2 indeed1 its great work for our sex is a splendid protest against this idea4 ,throughout ,christendom millions of wretched women wait in suspense and in terror for the return of drunken husbands1 while in heathendom a drunkard's wife cannot be found unless a heathen husband is being ,christianized by ,christian whiskey4 ,the ,chinese women have their feet compressed1 but1 unlike ,christian women1 they do not need their feet to give broom drills or skirt dances for the benefit of their church4 ,the child-wives of ,india need to be rescued and protected1 but no more than many adult wives in ,bible lands need protection from drunken and brutal husbands4 ,the heathen wife seeks death on her husband's funeral pyre1 but the ,christian wife is often sent to death by a bullet in her brain1 or a knife in her heart4 ,it is said that woman's ballot is unknown except where the ,gospel of ,christ has mellowed the hearts of men until they became willing to do women justice4 justice through the ballot has been accorded only to the women of ,wyoming1 ,colorado1 ,idaho1 ,utah1 and far away ,new ,zealand4 ,in these ,states the people are honest1 industrious and law-abiding2 but the influence of the ,gospel of ,christ1 according to religious statistics1 is so small it would take a search-warrant to find it1 while ,utah is full of ,mormons and ,new ,zealand is a convict dumping ground for ,christian nations4 ,is this the extent of justice to women after the influence of the ,gospel of ,christ has mellowed the hearts of men for nineteen hundred years8 ,the fact is that woman has been elevated in spite of ,bible influence4 ,every effort that woman has made to secure education has been challenged by popes1 bishops1 priests1 moderators1 conferences and college presidents1 yet against all these protests she has battered down the doors of ,christian colleges and is now studying the ,bible of ,science in conjunction with the ,bible of the ,christian religion4 ,with increasing knowledge woman is founding her faith on reason and demonstrated truth1 instead of taking it second-hand from priest1 parson or presbyter4 ,remove from ,bible lands the busy brains and hands which have guided the plow and the locomotive1 driven the machinery of the mine1 the foundry1 the factory1 the home1 the mental and the physical labor which have brought material prosperity1 broadened the mind1 subdued the brutal instincts1 and humanized the race--remove all these and leave but the ,bible and its influence1 and where1 let me1 ask1 would woman be to-day8 ,where1 indeed1 would man be8 ,a crouching and cowering slave to the ,bible doctrine of the ,divine right of kings1 living as the brutes of the field1 as he did when ,bible ,christianity was at the zenith of its power4 ,wherever in ,christian lands man has been a slave1 woman has been the slave of a slave4 ,imagine the condition of woman if to-day should be removed from ,christian civilization the school1 the steam engine1 the smokestack and the printing press1 and leave but the ,scriptures1 the steeple and the parson4 ,would ,elizabeth ,cady ,stantons1 ,mary ,a4 ,livermores and ,frances ,e4 ,willards be the products of this strictly ,christian civilization8 ,christianity has instilled into woman the canting falsehood that the women of all other religions are degraded and immoral4 ,through tyranny and falsehood alone is ,christianity able to hold woman in subjection4 ,to tell her the truth would rend the temple of faith in twain and strike terror to the heart of the priest at the altar4 ,nothing but the truth will set woman free4 ,she should know that ,christian ,england captures the ,hindoo girl to act as a harlot to the ,british soldier1 and that a ,christian chaplain is commanded to see that she performs her duty4 ,she should know that in ,christian ,austria the maiden must partake of the ,holy ,eucharist before she will be granted a license as a prostitute4 ,she should know that ,christian ,europe and ,america trade upon the bodies1 the hearts and the hopes of millions of wretched women1 victims of ignorance and of poverty1 and that the centres1 of ,christian civilization are seething cauldrons of immorality1 dissipation and disease1 which spread ruin and despair in the shadow of the loftiest cathedrals and palatial ,christian temples4 ,these things are too shocking for pure ,christian women to know1 so they expend their prayers and pelf on the poor heathen who have never heard that ,adam ate an apple1 or that the whale swallowed ,jonah4 ,christianity feeds and fattens on the sentiment and the credulity of women4 ,it slanders the women of ,india1 of ,china and of ,japan that it may rob the woman of ,europe and of ,america4 ,dr4 ,simmons1 of the ,national ,hospital at ,yokohama1 who has lived in the ,orient for thirty- five years1 says3 ,the family in ,japan is the cornerstone of the nation4 ,the father and the mother are regarded with reverence4 ,politeness and self-restraint are instilled into children1 and an uncivil word is rarely heard4 ,the ,japanese are truthful and honest4 ,the wife has equal influence with the husband2 while divorce is rarely heard of in ,oriental lands2 and laws are more stringent protecting the chastity of women4 ,o that women could learn the truth6 ,the laws of the ,orient are against trafficking in young girls1 but ,christian ,england1 which has an iron hand on the throat of ,india and a sword thrust into her heart1 carries on a lively trade in native and foreign women1 to be the prey of the ,christian soldier1 who makes way for the ,christian missionary4 ,here1 in ,christian ,america1 marriageable young women are trotted off to church1 the theatre or the ball1 and practically set up for sale in the market of holy matrimony2 and the ,christian minister1 for a consideration1 seals the ,divine mystery4 ,the ,church would indignantly deny that it is a marriage mart1 but denial does not throttle the truth4 ,truth makes her way slowly but surely1 because the eternities are hers4 ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton1 the greatest liberator of our time1 has1 with magnificent courage1 pressed into humanity's ,thermopylae1 and turned the light on the superstitions which have visited cruelties and wrongs on woman1 and this1 too1 under a system which claims to extend great consideration to the ,mothers of the ,race4 ,o women of ,christendom6 will ye not seek the truth8 ,leave the priestly mendicants who demand your devotion and your dollars1 leave to their religion the heathen women on the banks of the ,yangtse-,kiang and the ,ganges1 and turn your eyes to millions of your enslaved1 toiling1 struggling sisters in ,christendom whom it is claimed the ,bible has elevated2 and remember that these are the victims upon whom the glad feet of the ,gospel have been trampling for two thousand years4 ,versailles1 ,ky4 ,josephine ,k4 ,henry4 ,the ,christian theory of the sacredness of the ,bible has been at the cost of the world's civilization4 ,whether we regard the work as custodian of the profoundest secrets of the ancient mysteries1 a spiritual book trebly veiled1 or as the physical and religious history of the world in its most material forms1 its interpretation by the ,church1 by the ,state1 and by society has ever been prejudicial to the best interests of humanity4 ,science1 art1 inventions1 reforms of existing wrongs1 all1 all have been opposed upon its authority4 ,that even the most enlightened nations are not yet out of barbarism is due to the teachings of the ,bible4 ,from ,thou shalt not make any graven image1 or any likeness of anything in heaven above1 the earth beneath1 or the waters under the earth1 down to ,a woman shall not speak in church1 but shall ask her husband at home1 the tendency of the ,bible has been to crush out aspiration1 to deaden human faculties1 and to humiliate mankind4 ,from ,adam's plaint1 ,the woman gave me and ,i did eat1 down to ,christ's ,woman1 what have ,i to do with thee8 the tendency of the ,bible has been degradation of the divinest half of humanity--woman4 ,even the ,christian ,church itself is not based upon ,christ as a savior1 but upon its own teachings that woman brought sin into the world1 a theory in direct contradiction1 not alone to the mysteries1 but to spiritual truth4 ,but our present quest is not what the mystic or the spiritual character of the ,bible may be2 we are investigating its influence upon woman under ,judaism and ,christianity1 and pronounce it evil4 ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage4 ,there is nothing tending to show that the women spoken of in the ,bible were superior to the ones we know4 ,there are to-day millions of women making coats for their sons2 hundreds of thousands of women1 true1 not simply to innocent people falsely accused1 but to criminals4 ,many a loving heart is as true to the gallows as ,mary was to the cross4 ,there are hundreds of thousands of women accepting poverty and want and dishonor for the love they bear unworthy men2 hundreds and thousands-- hundreds and thousands--working day and night1 with strained eyes and tired hands1 for husbands and children--clothed in rags1 housed in huts and hovels1 hoping day after day for the ,angel of ,death4 ,there are thousands of women in ,christian ,england working in iron1 laboring in the fields and toiling in the mines4 ,there are hundreds and thousands in ,europe1 everywhere1 doing the work of men--deformed by toil1 and who would become simply wild and ferocious beasts1 except for the love they bear for home and child4 ,we need not go back four thousand years for heroines4 ,the world is filled with them to-day4 ,they do not belong to any nation1 nor any religion1 nor exclusively to any race4 ,wherever woman is found1 they are found4 ,there are no women portrayed in the ,bible who equal thousands and thousands of known to-day4 ,the women of the ,bible fall almost infinitely below1 not simply those in real life1 but the creations of the imagination found in the world of fiction4 ,they will not compare with the women born of ,shakespeare's brain4 ,you will find none like ,isabella1 in whose spotless life1 love and reason blended into perfect truth2 nor ,juliet1 within whose heart1 passion and purity met like white and red within the bosom of a rose2 nor ,cordelia1 who chose to suffer loss rather than show her wealth of love with those who gilded dross with golden words in hope of gain2 nor ,miranda1 who told her love as freely as a flower gives its blossom to the kisses of the sun2 nor ,imogene1 who asked1 ,what is it to be false8 nor ,hermione1 who bore with perfect faith and hope the cross of shame1 and who at last forgave with all her heart2 nor ,desdemona1 her innocence so perfect and her love so pure that she was incapable of suspecting that another could suspect1 and sought with dying words to hide her lover's crime4 ,if we wish to find what the ,bible thinks of woman1 all that is necessary to do is to read it4 ,we shall find that everywhere she is spoken of simply as property--as belonging absolutely to the man4 ,we shall find that1 whenever a man got tired of his wife1 all he had to do was to give her a writing of divorcement1 and that then the mother of his children became a houseless and homeless wanderer4 ,we shall find that men were allowed to have as many wives as they could get1 either by courtship1 purchase1 or conquest4 ,the ,jewish people in the olden time were1 in many respects1 like their barbarian neighbors4 ,anon4 ,the ,bible1 viewed by men as the infallible ,word of ,god1 and translated and explained for ages by men only1 tends to the subjection and degradation of woman4 ,historical facts to prove this are abundant4 ,in the dark days of witchcraft--through centuries--alleged witches were arrested1 tried in ecclesiastical courts1 tortured and hung or burned at the stake by men under priestly direction1 and the great majority of the victims were women4 ,eve's alleged transgression1 and the ,bible edict in the days of the reputed ,witch of ,endor1 ,thou shalt not suffer a witch to live1 being the warrant and ,divine authority for this awful slaughter of women4 ,in the days of chattel-slavery in our country1 the slave-laws1 framed by men only1 degraded woman by making her the defenseless victim of her slave-master's passions1 and then inflicting a cruel stab1 reaching the heart of motherhood1 by laws which made her children follow the condition of the mother1 as slaves2 never that of the father1 as free women or men4 ,the clergy became slaveholders and defenders of slavery without loss of priestly position or influence1 and quoted ,cursed be ,canaan as their justification4 ,the ,lord gave the ,word1 great was the company of those that published it4--,old version of the ,bible1 #fhth ,psalm4 ,the ,lord giveth the ,word1 and great is the multitude of women who publish it4--,revised version of the ,bible1 #fhth ,psalm4 ,here is a reform not against ,nature1 nor the facts of history1 but is true to the ,mother of the ,race1 to her knowledge of the ,word1 to her desire to promulgate it1 to her actual participation in declaring and proclaiming it4 ,and true to a present and continuous inspiration and influx of the ,spirit1 it is giveth1 and not gave1 in the past4 ,and this one recognition of woman as preacher and ,apostle forbids the assertion that woman is degraded from ,genesis to ,revelation4 ,the light of a more generous religious thought1 a growth out of the old beliefs1 impelled the learned ,committee on ,revision to speak the truth in regard to the religious character and work of women1 and they have exalted her where before she was degraded4 ,this revision is also prophetic of this era1 for never were women doing so excellently the world's work1 or1 like ,tryphena and ,tryphosa1 prophesying the light still to come4 ,catharine ,a4 ,f4 ,stebbins4 ,the general principles of righteousness and justice laid down in the ,bible have elevated the race in general1 the mothers included1 and have aided in securing reforms for women1 as well as for other classes4 ,but the specific texts of ,saint ,paul enjoining subjection upon women have undoubtedly been a hindrance4 ,alice ,stone ,blackwell4 #a4 ,in my opinion the teachings of the ,bible have advanced woman's emancipation4 ,look at the freedom of the ,jewish women of the ,old ,testament--of ,miriam1 ,deborah1 ,abigail1 ,ruth and ,esther4 ,in comparison1 where were the ,gentile women who knew not ,god8 #b4 ,the teachings of the ,bible1 particularly the ,new ,testament1 have dignified the ,mothers of the ,race4 ,christ was very severe to the men who were sinners1 he called them ,scribes and ,pharisees and hypocrites1 and pronounced1 ,woe be unto you4 ,he even whipped the money changers out of the temple4 ,but no rebuke to woman ever fell from his lips save the gentle one to ,martha1 that she cared too much for her home and her nice housekeeping4 ,christ's mission meant the elevation of womanhood4 ,compare ,christian countries with the heathen countries1 and see how ,christianity elevates and heathenism degrades womanhood4 ,i have studied the questions in the ,indian ,territory in our own ,united ,states4 ,under the influence of the ,christian missionaries the ,indian woman is an important factor in ,church and ,state4 ,where the ,gospel of ,christ is not preached the women are slaves to the men4 ,in their long tramps they do not even walk beside their husbands1 but follow behind like dogs4 ,i am aware that small ministers still preach foolishness1 defining woman's sphere1 but the real ,biblical ,christianity elevates womanhood4 ,sarah ,m4 ,perkins4 ,my ,dear ,mrs4 ,stanton3--,i regard the ,bible as ,i do the other so-called sacred books of the world4 ,they were all produced in savage times1 and1 of course1 contain many things that shock our sense of justice4 ,in the days of darkness women were regarded and treated as slaves4 ,they were allowed no voice in public affairs4 ,neither man nor woman were civilized1 and the gods were like their worshipers4 ,it gives me pleasure to know that women are beginning to think and are becoming dissatisfied with the religion of barbarians4 ,i congratulate you on what you have already accomplished and for the work you are now doing4 ,sincerely yours1 ,eva ,a4 ,ingersoll4 ,in reading some of these letters and comments ,i have been deeply impressed with the difficulty of substituting reason for superstition in minds once perverted by a false faith4 ,women have been taught by their religious guardians that the ,bible1 unlike all other books1 was written under the special inspiration of the ,great ,ruling ,intelligence of the ,universe4 ,not conversant with works on science and higher criticism1 which point out its fabulous pretensions1 they cling to it with an unreasoning tenacity1 like a savage to his fetich4 ,though it is full of contradictions1 absurdities and impossibilities1 and bears the strongest evidence in every line of its human origin1 and in moral sentiment is below many of the best books of our own day1 they blindly worship it as the ,word of ,god4 ,when you point out what in plain ,english it tells us ,god did say to his people in regard to woman1 and there is no escape from its degrading teaching as to her position1 then they shelter themselves under false translations1 interpretations and symbolic meanings4 ,it does not occur to them that men learned in the languages have revised the book many times1 but made no change in woman's position4 ,though familiar with the designs of ,god1 trained in ,biblical research and higher criticism1 interpreters of signs and symbols and ,egyptian hieroglyphics1 learned astronomers and astrologers1 yet they cannot twist out of the ,old or ,new ,testaments a message of justice1 liberty or equality from ,god to the women of the nineteenth century6 ,the real difficulty in woman's case is that the whole foundation of the ,christian religion rests on her temptation and man's fall1 hence the necessity of a ,redeemer and a plan of salvation4 ,as the chief cause of this dire calamity1 woman's degradation and subordination were made a necessity4 ,if1 however1 we accept the ,darwinian theory1 that the race has been a gradual growth from the lower to a higher form of life1 and that the story of the fall is a myth1 we can exonerate the snake1 emancipate the woman1 and reconstruct a more rational religion for the nineteenth century1 and thus escape all the perplexities of the ,jewish mythology as of no more importance than those of the ,greek1 ,persian and ,egyptian4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton4 ,,the ,,woman',s ,,bible ,,repudiated4 ,at the twenty-eighth annual convention of the ,national-,american ,woman ,suffrage ,association1 held in ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 in ,january1 #ahif1 the following1 was reported by the ,committee on ,resolutions3 ,that this ,association is non-sectarian1 being composed of persons of all shades of religious opinion1 and that it has no official connection with the so-called ',woman's ,bible1' or any theological publication4 ,charlotte ,perkins ,stetson moved to amend by striking out everything after the word opinion4 ,anna ,r4 ,simmons moved1 as an amendment to the amendment1 to omit the words the so-called ,woman's ,bible1 or4 ,this was followed by a long and animated discussion1 in which the following persons participated3 ,frances ,a4 ,williamson1 ,helen ,morris ,lewis1 ,annie ,l4 ,diggs1 ,carrie ,chapman ,catt1 ,rachel ,foster ,avery1 ,henry ,b4 ,blackwell1 ,laura ,m4 ,johns1 ,elizabeth ,u4 ,yates1 ,katie ,r4 ,addison1 ,alice ,stone ,blackwell and ,rev4 ,anna ,howard ,shaw1 speaking for the resolution2 and ,charlotte ,perkins ,stetson1 ,mary ,bentley ,thomas1 ,j4 ,b4 ,merwin1 ,clara ,b4 ,colby1 ,harriette ,a4 ,keyser1 ,lavina ,a4 ,hatch1 ,lillie ,devereux ,blake1 ,caroline ,hallowell ,miller1 ,victoria ,conkling ,whitney1 ,althea ,b4 ,stryker1 and ,cornelia ,h4 ,cary speaking against it4 ,the ,president1 ,susan ,b4 ,anthony1 left the chair and spoke with much earnestness against the adoption of the resolution as follows3 ,the one distinct feature of our ,association has been the right of individual opinion for every member4 ,we have been beset at every step with the cry that somebody was injuring the cause by the expression of some sentiments that differed with those held by the majority of mankind4 ,the religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of ,god4 ,i distrust those people who know so well what ,god wants them to do to their fellows1 because it always coincides with their own desires4 ,all the way along the history of our movement there has been this same contest on account of religious theories4 ,forty years ago one of our noblest men said to me3 ',you would better never hold another convention than let ,ernestine ,l4 ,rose stand on your platform1' because that talented and eloquent ,polish woman1 who ever stood for justice and freedom1 did not believe in the plenary inspiration of the ,bible4 ,did we banish ,mrs4 ,rose8 ,no1 indeed6 ,every new generation of converts threshes over the same old straw4 ,twenty-five years ago a prominent woman1 who stood on our platform for the first time1 wanted us to pass a resolution that we were not free lovers2 and ,i was not more shocked than ,i am to-day at this attempt4 ,the question is whether you will sit in judgment on one who has questioned the ,divine inspiration of certain passages in the ,bible derogatory to women4 ,if she had written approvingly of these passages1 you would not have brought in this resolution because you thought the cause might be injured among the liberals in religion4 ,in other words1 if she had written your views1 you would not have considered a resolution necessary4 ,to pass this one is to set back the hands on the dial of reform4 ,it is the reviving of the old time censorship1 which ,i hoped we had outgrown4 ,what you should do is to say to outsiders that a ,christian has neither more nor less rights in our ,association than an atheist4 ,when our platform becomes too narrow for people of all creeds and of no creeds1 ,i myself shall not stand upon it4 ,many things have been said and done by our orthodox friends that ,i have felt to be extremely harmful to our cause2 but ,i should no more consent to a resolution denouncing them than ,i shall consent to this4 ,who is to draw the line8 ,who can tell now whether ,mrs4 ,stanton's commentaries may not prove a great help to woman's emancipation from old superstitions that have barred her way8 ,lucretia ,mott at first thought ,mrs4 ,stanton had injured the cause of all woman's other rights by insisting upon the demand for suffrage1 but she had sense enough not to bring in a resolution against it4 ,in #ahfj1 when ,mrs4 ,stanton made a speech before the ,new ,york ,legislature in favor of a bill making drunkenness a cause for divorce1 there was a general cry among the friends that she had killed the woman's cause4 ,i shall be pained beyond expression if the delegates here are so narrow and illiberal as to adopt this resolution4 ,you would better not begin resolving against individual action or you will find no limit4 ,this year it is ,mrs4 ,stanton2 next year it may be me or one of yourselves who will be the victim4 ,are you going to cater to the whims and prejudices of people who have no intelligent knowledge of what they condemn8 ,if we do not inspire in woman a broad and catholic spirit1 they will fail1 when enfranchised1 to constitute that power for better government which we have always claimed for them4 ,you would better educate ten women into the practice of liberal principles than to organize ten thousand on a platform of intolerance and bigotry4 ,i pray you1 vote for religious liberty1 without censorship or inquisition4 ,this resolution1 adopted1 will be a vote of censure upon a woman who is without a peer in intellectual and statesmanlike ability2 one who has stood for half a century the acknowledged leader of progressive thought and demand in regard to all matters pertaining to the absolute freedom of women4 ,the ,resolution was then adopted by a vote of #ec to #da4 ,the ,truth shall make you free4--,john viii41 #cb- ,,the ,,end4 ,advertisements from original1 ,vol4 #b ,of all ,magazines the most ,american in interest4 ,the ,national ,magazine4 ,a ,,monthly ,,illustrated ,,magazine ,,of ,,the ,,best ,,reading ,,for ,,the ,,home4 ,,bright1 ,,timely ,,and ,,original4 ,,for ,,sale ,,by ,,all ,,newsdealers ,,and ,,in ,,the ,,trains4 ,,price #aj ,,cents4 ,it is only #a4jj per annum1 and is equal to some that charge thrice that price4--,,new ,,era1 ,pa4 ,it is the aim of ,,the ,,national to differentiate itself from other monthlies by devoting its pages ,,first1 to subjects that are of distinctly ,american nature and of current ,american interest1 and second1 to whatever foreign topics are deserving of occasional attention4 ,each number contains five or six profusely illustrated articles1 several of the most readable short stories published1 and the regular club women and literary departments4 ,,the ,,national began in ,november1 #ahif1 the publication of what is proving itself to be ,,the ,,most ,,remarkable ,,magazine ,,serial ,,of ,,the ,,year1 entitled3 ,,christ ,,and ,,his ,,time4 ,,by ,,dallas ,,lore ,,sharp4 ,,an ,,intensely ,,interesting ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,world',s ,,greatest ,,personality4 ,written for the ,average ,magazine ,reader4 ,,to ,,be ,,illustrated ,,from ,,the ,,famous ,,paintings ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ,,this serial1 which began ,in ,november1 of #ahif1 will be completed ,in the ,march1 #ahif1 ,issue4 ,persons wishing the entire serial can secure ,it by sending #a4jj to publishers4 ,each number as it appears keeps notably abreast of the best that is in ,american life1 making the magazine one of the most readable of the ten cent publications4 ,,club ,,women ,,and ,,their ,,work4 ,,the ,,national publishes monthly an intensely interesting department under the above title4 ,short articles appear on live subjects by prominent club women throughout the country4 ,mrs4 ,ellen ,m4 ,henrotin has articles in the ,october and ,january issues4 ,in ,november1 ,alice ,ives ,breed is a contributor4 ,the work of the different clubs receives full attention4 ,,national ,,question ,,class4 ,this is a new department just established4 ,fifteen questions in art1 literature and current topics are given each month1 and ,,four ,,prizes are awarded for the four best sets of answers4 ,every subscriber to ,,the ,,national becomes a member of this class by merely writing for a certificate of entry4 ,the search for the answers to these fifteen questions monthly is not only a pleasure but an education4 ,mothers should have their children try these contests4 ,your newsdealer will sell you ,,the ,,national or take your subscription4 ,the ,w4 ,w4 ,potter ,co41 ,arthur ,w4 ,tarbell1 ,editor4 #ia ,bedford ,street1 ,boston1 ,mass4 ,,joe4 ,m4 ,,chapple1 ,publisher4 ,a ,,monthly ,,magazine ,subscription #b4ej a ,year4 #be ,cents a ,copy4 ,,the ,,arena ,edited by ,john ,clark ,ridpath1 ,,ll4,d4 ,to preserve for the people one unmuzzled organ of ,public ,opinion in which ,truth is the criterion and the ,betterment of ,conditions the end and aim1--such is the purpose of ,the ,arena4 --,the ,editor4 ,specimen ,copy ,free ,the ,arena ,company ,copley ,square ,boston ,for sale by all booksellers4 ,sent postpaid on receipt of price4 ,,the ,,nestor ,,of ,,the ,,magazines ,according to ,homer1 ,nestor1 the old warrior and the wise counselor of the ,greeks1 had ruled over three generations of men1 and was wise as the immortal gods4 ,,the ,,north ,,american ,,review has been in the van of ,american thought for more than three-quarters of a century1 ranking always with the best and most influential periodicals in the world4 ,it is the mouthpiece of the men who know most about the great topics on which ,americans require to be informed from month to month1 its contributors being the leaders of thought and action in every field4 ,those who would take counsel of the highest knowledge on the 4affairs of the time1 and learn what is to be said regarding them by the recognized authorities on both sides1 must therefore read ,the ,north ,american ,review1 the ,nestor of the magazines4 ,the ,north ,american ,review constantly offers to the public a programme of writers and essays that excite the reader and gratify the intellectual appetite4 ,in this respect there is no other magazine that approaches it4--,new ,york ,sun4 ,the ,north ,american ,review is ahead of any magazine this country has ever seen in the importance of the topics it discusses and the eminence of its contributors4--,albany ,argus4 ,no other magazine in the world so fully and fairly presents the opinions of the leading writers and thinkers on all questions of public interest as ,the ,north ,american ,review4--,boston ,journal4 ,this magazine has for more than eighty years1 within its own well- defined lines1 stood at the head of monthly publications4--,chicago ,record4 ,presents the best current thought on the topics it treats of4 ,it appeals to a field above mere popularity1 and it stands there pre-eminent4--,wheeling ,intelligencer4 ,cannot be ignored by the reader who keeps along with current discussion4--,indianapolis ,journal4 #ej ,cents a ,number1 #e4jj a ,year4 ,the ,north ,american ,review1 #bia ,fifth ,avenue1 ,new ,york4 ,,the ,,woman',s ,,tribune ,,one ,,dollar ,a ,,year ,published ,fortnightly at #acbe ,tenth ,street1 ,n1 ,w41 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 7,founded in #ahhc at ,beatrice1 ,neb47 ,the ,woman's ,tribune is one of the two ,national ,woman ,suffrage papers in the ,united ,states1 and being published at the ,national ,capital1 has many points of advantage4 ,it reports all important features of ,national and ,state work of ,woman ,suffrage ,associations2 gives a summary of whatever relates to the advancement of women and general progress2 has choice poetry1 book reviews1 a corner for ,zintka ,lanuni and her friends1 and much that is of interest to all members of the family4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton writes for the ,tribune4 ,valuable books offered as premiums4 ,send ten cents for five sample copies4 ,clara ,bewick ,colby1 ,editor and ,publisher4 ,mrs4 ,clara ,bewick ,colby is prepared to lecture for ,woman's ,clubs and ,literary ,societies on ,reform1 ,literary and ,historical ,topics4 ,send for circulars to #acbe ,tenth ,st41 ,n4 ,w41 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ------------------------ ,,woman1 ,,church ,,and ,,state4 ,by ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage4 ,this is ,mrs4 ,gage's latest and crowning work4 ,it is the book to show how the ,church has enslaved women1 and kept and keeps her in an inferior position4 ,every woman ought to read it4 ,every liberal man and woman will want it4 ,cloth1 #b4jj2 ,half ,leather1 #c4jj4 7,complete in ,one ,vol47 ,address ,matilda ,joslyn ,gage1 #abj ,fleurnoy ,st41 ,chicago1 ,ill4 ,,free ,,thought ,,magazine ,h4 ,l4 ,green 4 4 4 ,editor and ,publisher4 ,price3-- #a4jj a ,year2 #ae ,cents a ,single ,copy4 ,editorial ,contributors3 ,judge ,c4 ,b4 ,waite1 ,thaddeus ,b4 ,wakeman1 ,b4 ,f4 ,underwood1 ,helen ,h4 ,gardener1 ,george ,jacob ,holyoake ,testimonials3 ,col4 ,robert ,g4 ,ingersoll3 ,every ,liberal in this country ought to take the ,free ,thought ,magazine1 and ,i hope they will4 ,elizabeth ,cady ,stanton3 ,i like the ,free ,thought ,magazine because it breathes the spirit of liberty4 ,it deserves the support of all ,liberal thinkers4 ,hon4 ,geo4 ,w4 ,julian3 ,it fills a place and meets a want which is not supplied by any other publication1 and it deserves the support and encouragement of all true ,liberals4 ,helen ,h4 ,gardener3 ,i have always liked and admired the ,free ,thought ,magazine4 ,i am glad to hear it is to be enlarged though ,i am sure that all of us were satisfied with it before4 ,hon4 ,d4 ,k4 ,tenney3 ,it stands decidedly in the front rank of publications designed to clear the religious atmosphere of the delusions1 superstitions and dogmas which for so many centuries have misled and cursed the world4 ,it deserves the sympathy and support of all who favor the highest thought on gravest subjects4 ,b4 ,f4 ,underwood3 ,the ,free ,thought ,magazine1 which has steadily improved from the first1 is now a publication that reflects great credit upon its editor and corps of contributors4 ,it contains many strong and fine articles4 ,free ,thinkers everywhere ought to sustain it handsomely by taking it1 and by making an effort to induce others to subscribe4 ,t4 ,b4 ,wakeman1 ,esq43 ,i do hereby solemnly certify that1 in my humble but honest belief1 the improved ,free ,thought ,magazine is the greatest and best ,free ,thought and ,liberal ,organ of all real or would-be emancipated souls in the ,united ,states1 and that its regular perusal is the most healthy and effective means of grace possible for such souls to enjoy1 and to impart to others to secure their salvation in this world4 ,address ,free ,thought ,magazine1 #bah ,e4 ,indiana ,st41 ,chicago1 ,ill4 ------------------------ ,william ,us ,hewitt ,book1 ,magazine ,and ,newspaper ,printer #bd-bf ,vandewater ,street1 ,near ,frankfort ,street4 ,new ,york ,city ,,the ,,pacific ,,empire ,a ,weekly ,publication ,conducted ,by ,women ,for ,women4 ,it is devoted to the interests of women and the development of art and literature in the ,pacific ,northwest4 ,it contains serial and short stories depicting true characters and original types of the ,wild ,west2 ,household ,work1 ,what to ,wear1 ,literary ,comment1 and ,woman's ,work filling its pages4 ,it is the one woman's journal of the ,pacific ,coast4 ,subscription ,price1 #a4jj per ,year in ,advance4 ,l4 ,m4 ,miller1 ,c4 ,c4 ,coggswell1 ,editors4 ,address ,tire ,pacific ,expire ,portland1 ,ore4 ------------------------ ,barr-,dinwiddie ,printing and ,bookbinding ,company ,greenville1 ,jersey ,city1 ,n4 ,j4 ,fine ,bindings a ,specialty4 ,,the ,,boston ,,investigator ,lemuel ,k4 ,washburn1 ,editor4 ,ralph ,washburn ,chainey1 ,associate ,editor4 ,the ,oldest and ,most ,progressive ,reform ,journal in the ,united ,states4 ,the ,investigator is devoted to ,universal ,mental ,liberty4 ,for more than sixty years this paper has maintained the battle for ,liberty against a world of opposition4 ,it has borne the brunt of the battle4 ,thus it may well be called the tried and true friend of human rights4 ,it has had for its grand aim the elevation of man through the truth and moral education4 ,in short1 the ,investigator is the people's paper4 ,col4 ,r4 ,g4 ,ingersoll says of it3 ,it is the best of all the ,liberal papers4 ,published every ,saturday1 at #c4jj per year1 by the ,boston ,investigator ,publishing ,co41 at the ,paine ,memorial ,building1 #i ,appleton ,street1 ,boston1 ,mass4 ,specimen ,copies ,free4 ,address ,the ,boston ,investigator ,co4 ,paine ,memorial ,building1 ,appleton ,st41 ,boston1 ,mass4 ------------------------ ,,subscribe ,,for ,,the ,,wisconsin ,,citizen ,a monthly paper published by the ,wisconsin ,equal ,suffrage ,association at ,brodhead1 ,wisconsin ,helen ,h4 ,charlton ,editor ,price ,twenty-five ,cents per ,year