The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-23
WOMAN IN FREEDOM.

LECTURE BIZ PROFESSOR FELIX ADLER--THE
FRIEND OF MAN, THE FOE OF REFORM.
Professor FcxaAdlor's lecture before the Society for
Ethical Culture, AT Standard Hail. Broadway, above
Forty-second street, yesterday morning, was tho
.'Education OF Woman in Freedom" The hall was
filed. and many OF tho early male passed tho
waiting moments in reading the morning papers
These put away when tho Professor made hts APP
pcarance and earnest attention given him throughout
The thoughtful person. said Professor Adler, who has
the happiness Of the human at heart, cannot
deny that women exercise o influence both for
good and evil Whatever charms the heart appeals
TO tho sympathies belongs TO them They arc tue
guardians OF morality They also the most formi
dable opponents OF progress, and from time 10 time
have been the greatest aios of prestcra and spirit
ual despotism. They have proved stumbling block
In tho way Of reform Their subtle power, they know
well how TO husbands brothers and friends,
has placed thcm in the front ranks as enemies OF al
in the great Of the day. Thcqucstion
OF momentous significance, therefore is, Can make
these foes our ricndsY To measure tho chances OF
success the Professor deemed necessary TO refer
He touched upon the condition OF abJoct slavery in
which women we're centuries ago, but AS civilization
advanced the marriage bond became nrmer and
created degree ol sympathy that brought forth good
fruit
WOMEN AND CHRISTIANITY.
Tho influence OF Christianity upon woman has been
twofoid and in opposite directions. On the one hand
gave her position second only to the armament.
They were great allies Of Christianity and
are bright among the list Of martyrs Il cannot be de.
med, however, that the Church in the early days
looked with contempt upon the marriage bonds. The
celbacy OF the clergy established and the shock
Ing irregularities that followed It's institution need not
be referred TO, though the deerorating influence
mad upohthc dignity OF women was terrible. The age
OF cnivalrv made amends for much Of that evil, and
the time came when women were revcrenccd as the
queens oil the In all these stages OF progress
one point conspicuous the eye that IS the
able belefin woman's lnieriority 70 man.
WOMAN AND LABOR.
The many disabilities woUen labor under have made
her Ia part assume the hostile attitude she has shown
to reform. Remove these and you Will remove the
stumbling block they havo erected to all liberal IDEAS.
woman's empire Is hcr feelings They are her
weapons. To make Roadway with the sex you must
counterbalanco the feelings by education. She must
be no longer inferior, but equal with man. Equality
does not mean similarity but give her the chance to
tunity 10 develop his II is said that her physical
weakness stands the way OF this. The lecturer was
that such was the case She Is not expected
to take part IN the moro trying branches OF manual
labor though II is Illuminating admission that to-day
sho has moro than her share OF hard work The idea
education Is also ialacous. What woman
Is no one knows, not even herself II
Is il Just that the higher branches of livelihood are
MED herr Is not cruel2 In those institutions with
which the lecturer was familiar where the higher
walks or education were open TO the female SEX the
progress very encouraging. There is no danger
that woman will encroach upon tho domain OF mans
labor. Should she undertake. what she Is not adapted
10 perform failure will be the result The nttcst VIII
survive The demand OF higher culture Is necessary
Tor the vile and mother The usual education OF the
girl Is false She trained become the agreeable
companion and not the partner. When school lle is
over the majority OF cases, she steps into world OF
pleasure and hattery. Is surprising that their bar
rem minds then receive much that is hurtul? Is IL
surprising that much OF thor conversation is made
OF shreds torn IRON other reputationsY Is II sur
prsing that thcy often cast themselves down before
vulgar idolsy
REFORM EDUCATION.
To make woman capable .! fulfilling all the func-
lions oil full partner OF man, and not only an agree
hble companion, educational reform is hrSt needed.
Woman should understand the nge in which she lives
and tho questions which agate II. Her knowledge OF
history and Of her own language not IRON dry text
books but from the living words OF the day, should be
enlarged. She should be able to an intellectual
Judgment upon the political questions OF the day which
now agitate the great majority OF men. She should
know something OF political science. " behooves her
10 become acquainted with the human body. MUCH
sickness and death may be avertcd by a little
knowledge Of this kind.
This wdo scope OF instruction will not detract from
the sweetness which gives to woman her charm. Her
will be and she Will In the futuro
be less liable be deceived by fictitious appeals 10 ner
feelings Tho great problem OF our time is 10 cut adrt
from authority and to depend more on sclireancc
Now man Is placed upon his own responsibility, and TO
him belongs the problem of working out his own con-
diion AS the OF women have been the great
mpedimont the progress OF religion, so they have
friends OF reform. Great things may be expected in
modern society OF which We have only dim concep-
tion. womens views will DO sought They will be-
power, yet still possess all the sweet and lovely
qualities which have ever been SO charming. The
Professor sat down amid applause