The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-09-07
EXTRACT
From a Lecture before ''The Ladies'
Enterprises
BY MRS. s. D. Merritt, Pres't.
",Sheh hath done aeAat she could"

/ following extract OF the EfSt lecture ever
| delivered by lady in our locality, now
| nearly twenty years ago. I he same
| Ladies Society is still laboring, as it was
then, for the highest good of this COM
munity, and one Of the fruits of their ex
ertions, the new Presbyterian Church, is
row nearly completed and rearing its
beautiful proportions towards heaven, in
viting our people to come nearer to
God. and ''praise Him from whom all
blessings fow,'' in doing good to our
fellow mortals May God bless them all,
and ever continue His disappearing grace
en- the re<ered founder of that society,
Mrs. Herritt, who has again left US TO
visit other friends, and other places, the
witnesses and evidences of her untiring
efforts for the elevation of human aims
and human felicity.
Much has already been done by the
se!f-denyIng efforts of single handed NO.
man. Many souls now In glory owe their
conversion, by the blessing of God to
their exertions, and many more now on
their way to those blissful regions, bear
| their living testimony to the praise of
those lovers Of the cross True we NAV
| not have an alabaster box to break, and
IT cannot be ours to aunoint the head of
our Saviour against his burying, but then e
Is an extensive field of usefulness open
before Us, and it Is our privilege to so
cultivate our part of that field. as TO earn
| for ourselves the Savlours words Of COM
| dat off Etti
act OF kindness, we may provide ourselv-
es with an acceptable opportunity for I'M
parting to precious souls thas boon which
comes without money and without
price. If We would act for eternity.
much of the employment of life must
! consist in relieving the wants of the
Notwithstanding to the sick-com-
| forting the afflicted, and drying the
mourners tears. Our native sympa
| thles are cast in the proper mould for
this sacred work, and our habits of life
prepare US to enter scenes of domestic
| suffering With the best prospects of sue
| cess. In the house of poverty we may
| light up a blessed smile L. the cham
Der OF disease and by the pillow of death
the plous female may often be Mercy 5
Angel. In a word, SO much is to be done
our best effort is called fuf in the service
of Christ.
We have heard much said recently
about " ltonsan s Rights" [ greatly de-
precate the taste, or sense of that woman
who Is ambitious of more political or ar
bltrary rights then she enjoys or who
would seek for promotion, or publicity
out Of her proper sphere Such a state
of mind is too foreign from the meek and
lowly spirit of the gospel If woman were
to enter into, and cultivate a taste for
| the duties which belong to her nature,
she would have no time to look after
| more amaZonIan pretensi0ns Woman
has important rights and those will never
| be disputed by the stronger sex. She has
duties full enough to tax her most pow
erful energies, the neglect of which
would be hazardous in the extreme.
May her creator preserve her from over
stepping or overlooking these in order to
secure place in the ranks OF political
aspiranti. In the faithful discharge of
her duties, woman exertS a more power
ful influence over the nation than do
either statesman or politicians for
where would our men of state obtain
their material with which 10. build COVER
| mental structures, were It not for the
| nursery, the hreside, and the domestic
in our arms, must receive from Us their
first lessons Of virtue. their first i'm press
of true greatness. The mothers Of our
great and good men have ever found too
much to occupy their minds IN these
lofty duties, to originate the question
whether they might or might not wear
the titled mitre or sit in the Legislature
If they choose. This important discovery
h,s e,
sea of human society is In state of unfi
vorable agitation. Oh! tor the powerful
influence Of female consistency to calm
this pertur baton.
Ladies, it is our privilege not only to
labor singly and under circumstances
when our left hand may not know what
our right hand is doing but we may also
do much In social capacity. The little
industrial circle, formed for the benefit
or various objects of benevolence, is with
| IN our sphere of action Here we may
| toll day after day to create an offering
to lay upon the altar ofbenevolence We
may die and be forgotten, but the infu
ence OF this offering will go on to accum-
ulate, until the general accounts are
made, and then, and not till then, shall
we understand the value Of this our unit
ed effort
Who are to save the multitudes with
which we are surrounded, from falling
into that gulrh of superstition nd sin to
! which they are exposed, unless we do our
part The groups of nations which are
gathering into this western world are
| driving on the tumult Of life: tide of
| human passions. almost irresistible. Is
sureing FROM Lake Michigan to the Rocky
| Mountains. Commerce has almost be
/ IL III oil hn J
| from one emergency TO another, created
| by growing business, has left lille room
/ for the care of the Immortal soul. or
| thought for the welfare or salvation of
| the mass of unhallowed intellect with
which we are surrounded. Or, ifa sense
OF our prospective condition steals across
the mind, one oppressive wave of bust
ness after another urges on the man of
| business to the accomplishment Of his
aims; and who is not a man of business
| now Ladies, there Is no alternative.
/ We must Turn retormerS. We are sur
rounded with the elements with which
| to construct society and to erect the
church of Christ. Many of the precious
| stones. which might prove truly orna-
| mental. are here covered with rags, aud
| almost concealed from view by soiIed
faces and sunburnt hair, wrapped up in
| ignorance and adorned with rude man,
ners Female influence must seek out
and polish these neglected treasures and
fit them for place id the beautiful tenn
/ pie Of the Redeemer.
Let as awake to duty. and seek by our
timely and unwearied efforts. to be found
| among the number of those concerning
| whom 1T will eventually be said, She
| hath done 1cbat she could"
The eitS dredge has been engaged for
some time past, in deepening the river
above Sth street bridge. and filing up