Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-04-16
Misetllaneous. 3
Woman's Rights.

Elihu begins with these impressive
words, Remember Lots wife"-so be
1t and let her stand in her place Tor n
while. lie then goes on to say "All
Scripture Is given by inspiration oil God
and Is profitable tor doctrine, Tor reproot,
for correction, fo, instruction in right
cousncss," and because it is, we should
take it as our guide in this life. Further
more, that after Adam was created, G. cd
said, 1T is not good that man should be
alone, | will make a help-meet tor him :"
and makes the logical conclusion that
as Adam was alone it is evident that he
was made first.
Now we do not wish or intend To con-
tfovert these premises. but we cannot
allow that his deductions are correct,
we hold that he has given forced CON
struction Of the Scriptures. has rather
wrcsted them TO his own destruction-
and hope 10 prove it.
We would like to ask him the simple
question, what he understands bv heID-
meet! Taken in what we consider its
proper signitica lion. we should say that
1t was one, who, being capable OF help
ing was, therefore, in all respects equal.
Adam, being alone can hardly be said
as having any special bearing upon the
case, unless we take it in hand and say.
Ellis prentice ham he tried on man.
And then he made the lasses, OH
We have never heard any woman express
any desire to "usurp authority over the
man and we feel safe in saying that
they do not wish to do so, whether
married or single. All that is asked is
equal rights, and herein We think we
had Gods sanction, when he gave ont
these words. 81 will make help meet
for him." 1t is not a necessary comse.
quence that women should neglect their
duties after these rights are secured to
them. On the contrary, we hold that
their minds will expand with these new
responsibilities and consequently that
they will be more eff icient and make
home more attractive TO man in his sew
eral relations to them, and it is then
that man will find that he is Lord and
Master in their affections-the only su-
premacy worth having, a. many q man
has said iu the palmy days Of courtship.
We will allow that Abraham's family
is "a pattern family" for did not Abra-
ham prove that he was help. meet to
Sarah, by going himself, while she was
baking bread "tO fetch q young calf,
tender and good" and dressing IL; and
placing "buttcr and the calf which he
had dressed before his guests and stand
ing by them while they did eat." and as
the crOwning item, giving Sarah his
wife chance to rest in the tent? for he
knew - well rs "the heavenly messen-
gers" that wOman's whole time should
not be consumed by household works.
When Elihu brings toward Abraham's
domestic cooperation TO substantiate
his side Of the question, zoe consider that
he unwittingly admits the untenableness
Of his spOsitiOn, for does he not prove by it
that this helP-meet business was BY no
means one-sided thing and that God
meant that Abraham should share the
privilege with "Sarah his wife?' The
revealing 10 Abraham the coming de-
structi0n of SodOm because it is "a cOn-
sistent family" is irrelevant to the point
under consideration and therefore need
less to discuss.
To remember Lots wiie.-One semti-
mcnt is 10 obey instructions given
BY proper authority. Women do not
object to obey proper authority as they
understand It, and, for guidance in
Scripture we should take its spirit. which
incnlcates justice to all. MeItiOm is
made in Scripture of women who have
shared the authority with men. Women
10 not feel that the laws protect hem
in every sphere Of life and therefore de-
sire to have the Constitution altered
SO that grievance may be done away
with and just laws prevail. ....
Does every vote that msn throws ben
eft the nation7 Let facts speak for
themselves. Elihu asks M awain "a