The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-21
ALLEN STREET M. E. CHURCH.
ELEMENTS OF woMAN's PowKR-sERMoN By

REV. GEORGE ". WOODRUFF.
Rev. George W. Woodruff, recently transferred to
the charge Of tho Alien Street Methodist Episcopal
Church, OF this city, from o charge at Fall River,
Mass, last night preached to q large congregation
upon the elements of woman's power In the world.
The reverend gentleman prefaced his discourse by
reading four distinct passages OF Scripture to
text Then he entered into somewhat extended de-
fence Of his preaching upon TOPIC that TO many he
thought, would be outside Of the Gospel
ricuum. He declared IN the course Of these remarks
that the true preaching OF the Gospel has to do with
everything thai concerns humanity. Gods Word set
tied womans place in society by speaking of her
stone in the worlds fabric and 1t plain TO
every observer AZ pro<ent day that good true
woman was at the bottom OF all goodness and
strength In society. Whatever might be SAID Of the
intellect the business Of the world tho heart OF tho
world was controlled by woman. In illustration Of
this the preacher referred to tho family the Church,
society In general and the character OF nations The
women OF sparta and OF ancient Rome were cited ~
evidence Of this The early tribes Of Central Europe,
tho preacher SAID found their highest inspiration
men, the private virtue and integrity and energy
OF the German to-day mad their source In those old
Teutonic mothers the world over, and history
through the dcsntes oil the were IN the hands Of
woman. '.There is not" said Mr.. Woodruff, "a
woman listening 70 me but Is sweeping her hngers
over chords which Will v.brate through all eternity"
ADVICE TO NAIDRNs
Woman's strength, the preacher contended, did not
exist any personal beauty or glitter OF adornmont
No woman, he said, should depend upon marriage 10
increase her TO do good That an honorable
estate, diviney instituted made precious BY the MEN,
0 mothers, and sancfcd by honored wives; but
Of the best and purest women that ever walked
earth lived outside Of the marriage CIRCLE. IL
lacked courage to be single, and has accepted An
unworthy ofor 10 escape The SCOTS OF the care.
less ana the nings Of the vulgar. "Aaidens."
ure. II Is inhniteiy better Tor you and
for society than to have yourselves allied TO I'M
worthy men, II, in your conscences, single lie
seems preferable for you or ii circumstances DO not
suitable marriage, be true yourselves cost
what .. may Indeed, the statistics OF the human
family prove beyond question that in almost every
country there more women than mon, and IL there
not In this fact divine ntmatIon that spiritual
mothers and sisters needed by the race 7" Human
lite, Mr.. Woodruff went TO say, was iull Of harsh
and criticism, and II WAS the mission OF woman
to soothe. There were uumberless opportunities Tor
q good and brave woman 10 do good. though sne
never stood AZ the marriage altar. According 70 Mr..
Woodruff the great element OF womans strength Is
pietythc SORT OF piety that is penetrated with kind
ness, quietness and earnestnesa The kindness OF a
religious woman should be pre-eminentiy displayed
toward the weak aud erring OF her own sex.
woMAS's WRONGS
To DO judged too nsrshy for false step was one Of
tho great wrongs which woman has TO suffer. II So
cety committed one wrong greater than a others u
was In shctering men and crushing women for the
samc offence. Nc Woodruff declared that he did not
appear ms the apologist oil sin IN anybody, but no
wished to protest against the undue and Unfair harsh
ness shown TO woman IN her faults.
CONSCIOUSNESS OF ONE FALSE sTEr.
lone false STOP" said ssand instantly society
erects wall Of brass against shat woman's return.
II may not have been q crime; II may have been only
imprudence, and an imprudence in early
life; but, alas, how bitterly is the erring one
pursued Years OF righteous living with thousands Of
,o 70 1l so socey 70 DO
comm ittcd by the unhappy and suspected woman.
But allow that 10 was a crime; may, more, that she
apology society In hunting that fallen to the
gravef woman may have her heart all torn with
repentance but II she have the least upon her
history, with what holy horror the whole will
draw back IRON herl How many = fallen has
cried .Oh, only l could get back once to hume and
purity would swear eternal fidelity to virtue Soci-
ety. hears her cry her with laugh OF
tempt before the OF that sarcastic laugh has
died upon her ear she dashes down into the maoi-
stron ioreveri'
ST. STEPHENS Il. G. CHURCH.