The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-02
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Influence of Christianity on Female
Character.

CQaTacCeI
The state of society in every Christian
country is far preferable to the degrada-
ton and immortality that is to be met
with in every part of the heather world.
The accounts given to us by travellers OF
the dishonesty, cruelty and licentiousness
of the people, where men live in igno-
rance of the true God, would be incredi-
BILE, if we had not the stincontroyert-
iblo evidence of their being strictly cor
rect. But the influence of the Gospel in
elevating the character of women, and
rendering them gentle, pure, kind, virtu-
GUS and amiable can be denied by no
one. In all heather lands woman is
only the slave of her husband, and is
treated by him and her own children,
with contempt and cruelty, especially in
her old age. By her ignorance and stu
pidity, and the low and vicious habits in
which she INDUCES, she too often merits
the treatment which she receives. How
different is the case in the land where
our lot has been cast.
Here we find the female character
adorned with all the virtues and graces
that can render it an object of admira-
ton. Our men frequently become wild,
dissipated, quarrelsome, and ungoverna
BILE, and excite our disgust by 9heir sen.
suality, and utter disregard of all moral
restraint. But our women remain pure
and uncontaminated by the example of
those, who style themselves the "lords
of creation" Pnblic sentiment has even
thrown around them a wall of restraint,
beyond which they cannot pass without
losing all self-respect, and subjecting
themselves to the severest censure. For
a female among US to be virtuous, intel
ligent, kind and obliging in her disposi
ton, and exemplary in all her conduct,
is the rule; for her to be otherwise is the
exception. In all the relations of life
she exerts a most salutary influence, and
to her we are indebted for most of the
good qualities which adorn the rough
nature of the sterner sex. What bright
examples of moral excellence, of kind.
ness, of unwearied benevolence and sin
cere piety may be found among the fe-
males in every Christian community !
If no such examples can be found out of
the pale of Christendom, to what can we
ascribe the high position that women oc-
cupy in society among us, but to the in
auence of the Gospel?
The remark is often made, that women
were first al the cross, and last at the
sepulchre. At very early period in
the history of the Christian religion,
women began to act very conspicuous
part, and in every stage of its progress,
they have been called upon to participate
in the tolls and suferings, through which
the humble followers of the Saviour had
to pass. As a recompense for their un-
wearied labors of love, they have re-
ceived themselves, in the elevation Of
their own desires and in the sancti6cation
of their hearts, the full benefit of the high
and ennobling doctrines which it was the
mission of the disciples of Christ to
spread through the world. A Christian
woman, pure, high-minded, dignifed, pa
tient in suffering, kind to the poor, watch
ing with sleepless vigilance by the bed
side of the sick, is beyond controversy,
one of the most striking proofs which we
can bring forward of the excellence Of
the religion that we profess. In the
days of persecution, the frmness of her
faith, and her devotion to the cause Of
truth, was often exhibited even at the
stake. The fires that we're kindled
around her could not make her give up
her hope of a blessed immortality.
But what shall we say of the excel
lent traits, that adorn the character OF
many of our mothers in Israel? They
are often remarkable for virtues that cast
in the shade all the accomplishments for
which so many of their sex have been
celebrated. All that is lovely, all that
is pure, all is holy seems to combine to
render them the objects of esteem and
veneration.
But while we So freely give them the
homage of our love, and the unqualified
admiration of our hearts, as they pass
along SO quietly through the ever-chang.
ing scenes of this mortal life, and meet
death at last with so much composure
and resignation, let us ever remember
that we owe all their moral excellence,
all their sublime virtue, to the influence
of the Christian religion. What would
they have been without it? We shud.
der at the thought Of attempting to an.
swer this question. We will not do so,
but content ourselves with saying, that il
they had not been themselves nurtured
in the faith of the Gospel,-if they had
not from their infancy known the Scrip.
lures, they would not have possessed one
of the amiable qualities for which we SC
hiohlv esteem them. Let this considera,