The New York herald., 1878-02-25
MASONIC TEMPLE.

| THE AMERICAN LADY-SERMON By Mr.. o. B..
| FRorHINGHAM.
| The subject OF Mr. o. 3. Frothingham's morning
discourse In the Masonic Temple was ''The American
Lady" He proposed 10 say something about that
browning grace OF all humanity--the ladies-snd he
had chosen his subject because the American lady s
the most exquisite ornament OF our lives la the
external of American lfe there Is that
tinction 10 be met with which is in European
countries With there seems to be the surface
a monotony and sameness with everything This
comes from the universally Of our insti-
tutons, In virtue Of which we all confess the
responsibilities and are held by the same laws.
In democratic society It Is assumed that ell men and
women made Of the same stun, and that nial
difference the only thing which distnguishes indi
viduals Bu< the difference between tho perfect gen.
tleman and tho boor between such man as Theodore
Roosevelt and the man In the Tombs, or in Ludlow
Street jail. can never be described by the English
language: Il is the difference between Ralph Waldo
Emerson and q Quimbo Apo Every day OF our lives
made conscious that all men are not alike.
men and gentlemen; females. women and ladies.
In certain English town the women dress like men,
and riding through the streets there one fails to DIS
t,nguish the women II ON the men, In habits there
are women whose lowness and coarseness are bad
the worst OF men. They are women IN sex only, but
in all other things they can scarcely be regarded
women. Women, again, are more humane In them
have ntelligence, sympathy, tenderness, COM
passion for suffering and sorrow.
''rHE LADIES, GOD BLESS rHxA."
Where shall We lind the lady and how employ lam
guage 10 do her Justices The lovely attributes OF her
own distinguish her To say that she pretty or
handsome would be commonplace She is regular OF
feature and possesses beautiful intelligence which per-
vades the harmony OF her nature With wonderful
tact and sympathy, which are ever found together
directs all her own affairs without rown she
camors cries; her very presence comm ncates an
influence which touches even the centre OF motives
ana guides in the right CareAecomes blessed, labors
light and burdens not wearisome when sne bestows
her loving smile; and by her side lie glides in
endless harmony 10 It's close In our tho word
''ady" means woman lifted up she is distinguished
hV poru a n nnno md cfvln
Ing little significance for US; but the external
conditions may be counterteIted even IN America.
Wealth, ostentaton and love OF display marx many
who by hanging paraphernaa about their persons
ape the styLe oil the lady Walk the streets OF
to see paupers assume the refinement they never ex
perienced or deserved. Another definition OF the
word ''iady" Is "breadgiver:" and very charming
pictures often OF ladies In the oiden times
presiding over their households or visiting their
tenants ana carrying the beauty OF thor presence
down into the lowy dwellings OF the SICK aud
wrotched. The American LADY can only cheer by
her aud sootns by the beauty Of hcr gentle
thought.
UNPIrTED yoR PoLlncs.
In our society, where we must help each other,
each one should orng his si. be- !. wealth. tender,
good, and the demand is made tnat woman shall be
allowed TO work. There Is nothing to prevent her
from dong what she can, whether this be to paint,
play music nurse, cure the sick, plead preach
the Gospel II she has the ability why. In Gods name,
where thcre Is the human power to do the
human obigalion to work should accompany u.
But Wn1le there IL n0Ole. sbStNetC WOrl1
thcre Is also COARSE ugly side 10 II. Whoever Is
Obliged work Tor bread encounters temptation;
therefore the coarser work which must be done
should be handed over to machinery and the beasts
Are We, then, willing 10 plunge woman into tho thing
We would ourselves escape froms When the lady is
immersed IN work should be her study to preserve
the sweet, delicate OF her nature free from
tamination; to goriy, lit them up and transngure
them into nobler sphere. Alas that any OF them
SHOULD desire to 60 into the political arena and
fight with beasts. (Sensation) Yet, as she 10 tax
payer and property holder she is entitled to have
voico In tho government we all obey; and II she
chooses t-weil, there Is nothing Ia the genius Of
American Institutions to prevent her from partici-
patng in the dgnt Why should she choose the p0.
llical struggle when soc how difficult 1t or the
ry in III Can We suppose that In The heat OF party
strife woman will feel nothing? tnat all tho forces
playing like batteries upon the gcnteness OF her ma
lure Will leave her untouched, or that her pres
Innate them and mako them puref VINO
would caro- 10 see the rrupton oil tens OF thousands
oil women, without sympathy or feeling, into the po-
Itical ned, whore chcauery and deceit struggle Ior
supremacy Would we have them stop into an arena
OF steel 10 combat alone 2
WHAT place would the lady have there2 Mono. She
would desire to keep out and TO exercise her most po
tent influence III leading rulers into the ways OF kind
and truth. The soft, gentle, refined persuasions
OF ladies can do much. The speaker pleaded tor the
softer nner elements OF our natureart poetry, cul
ture.
In past times religion did much for the ladies; but
now Christ belongs TO mythology, and the beautiful
virgin OF mercy holds her place no longer. But there
Is s The overarchng heavens, and thore are around
and women whose hands II Is a privilege TO
kiss. and the eyes OF Beatrice drew Dante toward
that heaven, retchen sanctincd her VOWS In holy
aspiration to the higher sphere where her child had
gone, too, Will eternal womnnhood ever lure
10 high and good things.