American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-11-17


nc following extract is from c masonic address
delivered al Plymouth, Mass by MIR. Carter late
editor OF the United States Literary Gazette.
" In tho heather world and Under the Jewish dis
pensaon she woman was the slave OF man,
Christianity constituted her his companions But as
our religion gradually lost It's power in the dark
ages she sunk down again TO her deep moral degra.
datlon She was the first to fall in the garden Of
Eden and, perhaps It was Judgment upon her,
when The whole human character was now low, she
sunk the lowest, and the last TO rise again 10 her
original consequence in The scale OF being. The
age OF chivary, indeed, exalted her to be an object
OF alteration. But 1t was a proiane alteration not
founded upon the respect due TO being of immor.
tai hopes and destnles as we'll as man. This high
character has been conceded her at later period
as she has slowly attained the rank ordained for her
by heaven. Although his change in The relation of
women to man and to society is both an evidence
and consequence OF an improvement in the human
condition, YET now her character is cause operating
20 produce still greater imp ovement. And if
there be any one cause to which we may look with
more confidence than TO others. for Fastening the
approach OF a more perfect state OF society, that
cause is the elevated character of woman as dis
played IN the full deyelopement of all her moral and
intellectual powers. The conjugal confession OF Eve
TO dam,
God is thy law, thou mine to know no more
Is woman's iaPpiest knowledge and her praise,
has grown to be obsolete. The influence Of the
female character is felt and acknowledged in all
me relations OF lite. speak not Of those dis
tingoshed women, who instr ct their age through
he public press. Nor of those hose devon: strains
We take upon our lips when we worship. But of
much larger class OF those whose influence is felt
in the relations Of neighbour, friend, daughter,
wife, mother. Who waits at the couch Of the sick
In al spnAa. b,n; a..
10 perform the last acts of kindness when death
ONES? Where shall VIC look for those examples OF
ttlendshp that most sdorn our nature; those abid
ng friendships, which trust even when BETRAYED and
survive all changes of fortune: Where shall we
hnd the brightest Illustrations OF 6lia pietys Have
you ever seen daughter, herself, perhaps, timid
and helpless, watching The decline Of an aged pa
rent, and holding out nth heroic fortiiude to anci
pate his wishes, to administer 10 his wants, and to
,uslsin his oe'ng steps TO the very borders Of the
grave.
Bot in no relation does woman exercise so deep
an influence, both Immediately and prospect, ely as
In that Of mother. To her i. committed the i'm
ortal treasure Of the infant mind. Upon her de
wolves The Of the first stages of that of
discipline, which is to form OF being perhaps the
most ffail and helpless in the world, the fesress
leI ct animated creation, and the devout adhrer OF
its great Creator Her smiles call into exercise the
cherishes and expsrds the earliest germs of our in
ellects. She breattes over US her deepes, deyo
tons. She lifts little hands and teaches our
ulc tongues to lisp in prayer. She watches over
US, like guardian angel, and protects MS through
all our hepless years, when we know not OF her
cares and her anxieiies account. She fol
lows Us into the world of men, and lives in US and
blesses when she lives not otherwise upon the
earth What constitutes the centre Of every home
Whittier do our thoughts turn. when our feet are
weary with wandering, and hearts sick with
dsappointmentss Whee shall the truant and for
eetfu husband 60 for sympathy unaloyed and with
out design, but to the bosom of her. who is ever
ready and waiting TO share in his adversely or his
prosperity. And il there be tribunal where the
sins and the lolIies Of frnward child may hope for
pardon and forgiveness this side heaven, that tr
bunal is the heart of fond ard devoted mother
Finally, her influence is fell deeply in religioo If
christianity should be compelled to Zee from the
mansions Of the great. the academies of philoso
phe,s the halls of legislators the thtong of busy
men, we should find her last and purest retreat with
woman at the fire side; her last altar would be The
female heart; her last audience would be the chill.
dren gathered round the knees OF the mother: her
last sacrifice the secret prayer escaping IN silence
from her lips. and heard, perhaps, only at the
throne of Gods
Mr.. Buckmnster.
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