The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-03
WOMAN MANS EQUAL.

To THE EDITOR or THE NEW NORTHWEST:
Allow me to furnish a few thoughts
under the above caption.
"And your sons and your daughters shall
propheSy."-Acrs ii:l5.
History gives us a sad picture of hui
manity. How degraded and wretched
are nine-tenths of the human race to-
day. Empires and kingdoms rise and
fall. Jerusalem, once the great center
of wealth and learning, is now in COM
parative heathenism. The fact that
nation sways the universe to-day does
not prove that she may not sink into
ruin. As peoples and nations there is
no standing still; We are either ascend
ing or descending in the scale of civili-
Zation. Christianity contains the ele-
ment which, if cherished, will elevate
men and nations. Sin possesses that
which is blight to both men and ma
tiOns. The one serves to give woman
her proper sphere; the other, to degrade
her The Bible comes to her rescue, and
gives her her proper position in society.
Read these cheering words: "YOur sons
and daughters shall prophesy."
DIR. Clarke says as to the above: ''The
word prophecy is not to be understood
here as implying the knowledge and
discovery of future events, but signifies
to teach and proclaim the great truths
Of God, especially those which concern
redemption by Jesus Christ"
I These words refer
J First-To the Gospel dispensation of
the present time, period of great light,
with facilities for acquiring knowledge
OF the will of God far beyond that ol
any former time in the history of man.
kind. our Sunday schools all over the
civilized world enable the children Oi
the present day, in the early dawn OF
/ life, to see and understand their privi-
leges, as well as the danger to which
they are exposed.
/ Second-"This text alone, twice given
by inspiration, even if there were nc
other, would establish the right oI
women TO all the immunities and ordi-
nances of the Christian Church" Then
if Christ calls young men to the special
work of "prophesying," or preaching
the Gospel, may he not with the same
propriety demand the services of women?
Third-These words fix Enthusiastically
the fact that what he requires of the one
he expects of the other. Both are held
equally bound to answer to the calls OF
God; and, if never before, woman now
becomes mans equal, and the two are
expected to do what they can to evan
gelize the world as part of their duty
in life.
Then does il not naturally follow that
if women were the first to proclaim the
resurrection of Christ, they were JUS
tifiable in so doing? And if women
essay to preach the Gospel, and to lead
sinners to the cross, may they not dc
so? The reader, perhaps, is ready tc
inquire, I'm what sense is woman mans
equal? We answer, in every respect
And yet this may strike some with hor
ror. Let us look at this matter.
There are large men and small men
some are strong and some are weak
and just so with women. The style o
life has much to do with both men ant
women as to the development of th'
physical powers. For Instance, plant
grown in the shade are much more ten
der than those grown in the sunshine
Men and women subjected to equa
hardships will have equal powers of en-
durance. AS proof, we cite you to tn,
statement of Frederick Hecker, tn
noted German, who writes as follows o
the condition of women in Germany:
The condition Of women among the laborin
CLASSES in the country Is really revolving. Iwil
, not speak OF the cities, where women carr
mortar mp three or four stories and work 4
p other respects like beasts OF burden; but 1 Wi
only mention what hundreds OF Cierman-A Amel
leans have observed as well as myself Bu
the worst OF all was a man guiding a plov
10 which his WIPE and a COW were yoked [,
, gether."
) II such be true, whilst it siekens tn
heart' IL proves our theory.
On long journeys women of all classe.
In cold or hot climates, are fully equa
| to the opposite sex as to being able t
r stand fatigue. We therefore conclud
than woman is mans equal physically
; In point Of intellect, surely there nee
r be no controversy. Let us visit tn
schools and colleges, and we will fin
: that, whether in mathematics, natura
, science, composition, the languages, o
ANYTHING else, she is not found wanting
, As to oratory, whether in the mas
, meeting, on the subject Of temperanc,
! on the rostrum, or in the prayer circle
none are listened to with more interes