The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-01-18
For the Bedford Gazette.
THE ENFAUENCE OF WOMAN.

sHail, woman, hail last formed in Eden's bowers
Midst humming streams and fragrant breathing
flowers
Thou art midlight and gloom, through good and ILL.,
Creators glory, mans chief blessing still
Thou calm'st our thoughts, as halcyons calm the
sea, ...
Sooth' st in distress, when servile minens fee
And 0, without thy sun-bright smiles below,
Life were night and earth a waste of wo''
Mr.. EDITORIALS the tendencies of
the times seem to threaten the domes-
tic circle with the loss of the presence
and talismanjc influence Of woman, its
present "brightest ornament and glo-
ry," by transferring her to the public
positions of political life, to aid the
politicians of the dayin their intrigues
of ambition and corruption, but man
ifestly to the detriment of woman's
true sphere, purityand power in social
life, | offer for insertion in your staunch
and excellent paper, the following just
and appropriate sentiments of DR..
Spring, as found in his admirable
work, entitled "Obligations of the
World to the Bible" They will, doubt
less, prove highly acceptable to the
readers Of the GAZETTE, as they are in
themselves, full of refreshing truth in
these dark and degenerate days:
SIN speaking of the social institu-
tiOns," says DR.. Spring, "We may not
forget how much the Bible has done for
qC0mdo.-The Bible has an appropriate
place for woman, place for which she
is fitted, and in which she shines. 1t
elevateS her, but assigns her her proper
sphere. It does indeed exclude her from
the corruption of thee and the de-
bates Of the forum. 1t does not invite
her to the professors chair, nor conduct
her to thebar, nor make her welcome to
the pulpit, nor admither to the place of
magistry. 1t bids her beware how she
overleaps the delicacy of her sex, and
listens to the doctrines of effeminate
debates, or becomes the dupe ofmodern
reformers and fashionable journalists.
1t asks not to hear her gentle voice in
the popular assembly, and even "Suf-
fers her not to spedk IN the Church OF
GOd." 1t claims not for her the ri9ht
of Suffrage, nor any immunity by which
she may "usurp authority over the
man." Andyet it gives her her throne;
for she is the queen of the domestic cir
Gle. 1t is the bosom Of her family. 1t
is the heart of her husband and chill
dren. 1t is the supremacy in all that
interesting domain, where love, and
tenderness, and refinement of thought
and feeling preside. 1t is the privilege
ofmaking her husband happy and hon.
Ored, and her sons and her daughters
the ornaments of human society. 1t il
the sphere of piety, prudence, dill
gence in the domestic station, and a no.
~ and devOut life. 1t is the
sphere that was occupied by Hannah
the mother of Samuel; by Elizabeth
the mother Of John; and by Mary, the
mother Of Jesus. 1t is ''the ornament
of "a meek and quiet spirit, which, in
the sight of God, is Of great price" II
is the respect and esteem of mankind
1t is that silent, unobserved, unobtru-
sive influence by which she accom-
pliSheS more for her race than many
whose names occupy broad space on
UnG page VI HlSlOIy. 4hOIS GIdiil uil1o
too, does the Bible do for woman. Ii
opens to her the stores of knowledge.
proScribes herno intellectual advance
ment. 1t commits to her intelligent
culture the minds of the rising genera
ton. 1t tells her that her peculiar prov
ince is to embellish and adorn. 1t Op-
ems before her the lovliest spheres OF
active benevolence, so that, while in
the scriptural sense, she is to be keep
er at home," she is yet to go forth as
an angel of mercy, in ministrations tc
the poor, the afflicted, the widow, the
orphan, the sick and the dying. The
Bible does more for woman than foI
the stronger sex, because it gives hel
more piety than it gives to pious men
more ardency and devotion in herrelig,
iOus affections; more numerous, as well
as more illustriOus examples of CONVEX
ting grace; a greater reward, and q
brighter crown. Nor can sheeverkpoW
what she owes to the Bible, until she is
presented by her great Lord and hus-
band, faultless before the throne"