The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-17
Pine Street Lecture Course.

The lecture delivered last evening in the Pine
Street course, by Rev. DR.. Tefft, of Brewer,
was entitled 'Womans Place in Society,"" and
was aimed against the theory involved in the
modern crusade in behalf of woman suffrage
The lecture was delivered in the lecturers
usual ardent style, aud was closely listened to
throughout
After brief introduction, which explained
the groundwork of this so-called reform
the lecturer first called attention to the way iI
which society was originally constructed,
showing that it was based on the instincts of
human nature, and not on human artifce OF
art, as to be capable Of being altered at every
mans whim. Society, he thought, was as
much growth of nature as tree, or any
other natural product; and he showed how all
the social instincts cooperate in creating it,
till the family is produced. When the mode
in which this initial unit of society, the fam.
lily, comes into being had been rather exhaust
lively, though briefly, set forth, the next step
was to explain how that larger but still natural
production called ''state'' comes into exist
ence by the process in which number of
neighboring families, each acting through its
natural representative, the head of the family,
who is the man, organize themselves into
body polite; and in this division of the subject
it was clearly shown that the family, and not
the individual, is the initial unit in the construc-
ton of the state.
Having thus laid down this foundation, the
lecturer next proceeded to show, that, in every
form of government known to the world, the
man and not the woman, is, has been and ever
will be the representative of the family, and he
maintained this position by four different lines
of argument.
1. From the authority of Revelations, the
Scriptures every where making man ..the head
OF the womaD," precisely as Christ is s'the head
of His own church," and the Bible distinctly
declareS-that the man is the responsible 'ruler
OF his own house," and consequently the d.
vinely appointed representative Of that house
in the construction and administration of the
state.
2. The same designation of man as the ruler
and manager of all things connected with the
family, and particularly of such matters as per-
tain to the world outside, including all affairs
connected with state government is clearly
made in mans physical character as compared
with that of woman; for while she is bound to
her home and children, man is kept by his
without detriment to his offspring, freedom
not given to the mother during her whole mar
ried life.
3. A still stronger argument, if possible, is
derived from the mental character of man, in
which we find strength, courage, and inven-
ton as the leading traits, while in woman we
discover less of each; and hence to man be-
longs the management of all those affairs con-
nected with the organization, administration
and defence OF state or nation, while woman's
place is thus clearly given her as looking to her
natural leader for guidance and support.
4, The fact that in every age and nation man
has held this leading position, without one ex-
ception, was the fourth and final argument to
show that that is his natural and true position;
and it was made very clear that woman can
never successfully aspire to outwit nature in
taking this place from man, or even sharing it
with him, as it is not the place assigned her by
the irreyocable laws of her own nature.
Woman's woes, therefore, were not to be
healed by giving her the ballot. The ballot
could not alter the laws of physical and intel
lectual creation. But there is a remedy for all
her sorrows; and that edy lies in christian
ity.. Make every husband and father true
christian-fll him with love to God and man
and he will love, honor, and bless his wife and
family; and this will be the end of all of wom-
ans woes, so far as man is concerned, when
she will not ask for nor need the ballot
Christianity has done all for woman that ever
has been accomplished for her happiness and
elevation; and christianity, not the ballot, is
her only hope for the years and ages yet to
come.