The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-04-03
Toledo. Iowa,
Thursday. April 3, 1873.
lecture BY Rev. w. 8. Mess
v0ers.


byterian Church was crowded to Its
utmost capacity, to hear the lecture
previously annonuccd) Of Rev. w.
5. Messmer, which had been prcpar
cd expressly for The ladies OF his
congregatio:, and which pcrtained to
the question of an enlarged sphere
tor woman. Below we present the
lecture in full, believing that we will
receive the thanks therefor Of The
many who admire both the style aud
the genius OF the speaker. AT
ter few preparatory remarks, in
which he stated that he had nothing
sensational to offer, the speaker said:
The peculiar glory Of the Aneri.
can pulpit, as conceded 20 US by IN.
telligent English writers, is the per
feet freedom of its thought and
speech. This is wise and just, he
o,use perfect freedom is the very
best guarantee against abuse OF priv
ilcge. The American pulpit stands
At the head OF our responsible educa
tional agencies, tor the instruction OF
the adult mind OF this nation. To il,
therefore, SHOULD be accorded the
broadest freedom OF expressed opin
ion upon all the important practical
questions OF the day, particularly up
ON those moral aud social problems
IN the ISOLATION OF which Is 80 deeply
involved the welfare OF the family.
the growth OF the Church, and the
development OF the nation. Among
these social p oble,ns having adecid-
ed bearing upon the moral issues Of
the time, We recognize that, which in
popular language is now called the
Woman Question. OF this question,
in some OF Its relations, at least, we
propose to speak, with the freedom,
which OF right, belongs to our
Office and to our day. Whatever
views, liberal or prejudiced may b.
held cos.eerning this question, howey
er adverse the opinions maintained as
10 woman's true sphere, or her just
tights. This much is certain. The
problem OF her rights aud Of her
mission - been squsrely prop. 9 d to
the thoughtful minds OF this genera
ton, aud we cannot ignore it if we
would. This 10 not the age in which
startling propositions can be thrust
aside by dogmatic refusaIs TO enter
tain them, nor perpIexing problems
sHccred out Of demonstration BY
cowardly UNIV illingness to honestly
consider them. No intelligent stu
dent of Old or New Testament his
tory, but must ackno Wedge that the
Hebrew and Christian churches were
alike largely indebted to the women
OF those times for the glory of the
one, and the success OF the other.
Are we to gexpect less from the wo
men Of today? l have no STAKES to
set, 10 lines to draw, by which to
bound the sphere Of woman. Those
bounds Almighty God has already
set in the capacities, and instincts OF
her being. have no declaration TO
make of her just rigtts-the all wise
God has established these in consti
iuting her no nanhood-the perfec,
complement, tho co-equal helpmeei
of manhood. Ii woman was depos-
I'd from this equality, by the degre-
dalton in the fall must not the re-
demption and elevation OF the race
restore to her the prineval equality
and privileges? Is not this result be.
ing slowly yet surely wrought out
through the hot tears and earnest
prayers, the burning words and the
loving labors of tried host OF t, ur
men and women OF our time, and in
Our land And does not the index
finger OF progress point TO the hour
on the dial not yet fully come, but
just within the shadow in which the
ancient wrong shall be made right
And if that very hour IS at your
threshold, women Of Toledo, are you
prepared to answer the larger de
,nands Of that new life, which your
opening responsibilities will bring
you. This is the question which l
ask you to help me consider this eve
ming. / know | cannot properly
present il, because, frst, I have no,
cxhaustively considered the subjec,
from eli it's possible points because
seeosd, the subject is teo many sided
tor mo to view it from all it's pre-
sentiments; because, third I cannot
possibly obtain panoramic view Of
il, not being woman. Nevertheless,
! have Thought upon this subject I'M
iii / have stood 10 very awe of its
magnitude, in conscious fear Of my
inability to comprehend the length
aud breadth, and depth and height.
| have considered the relation OF wo.
man to tise world, and particularly
| his problem OF her enlarged useful
ness. until have seen it interpene.
irating all our life, and silently work
ing in its very foun 1ation; l
nave seen it radiating from The subtle
centre Of her home influence, TO the
very circumference OF life, touching
lhe outposts OF truth, and skirting
he very horizon OF thought And
ben ! have grown sad for very shame
II womanhood, TO think how very
ew, cvet smcng women, study clear
y TO understand her true relations to
he world-her true mission in The
World; and / have been astounded
hat so many women among the 81
ocatcs II greater liberty for woman
ave apparently no clear conceptions
what that liberty il. or how it is
, be secured 81 what woman's
issIon Is, or how it H. 10 be insugur