The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-11-10

Bcechor. mo1 whom the church has thou
sand times denounced lnhdels and heretlcs.
Let II never be forgotten that the entire
church South fought FOR slavery to the bitter
end; let Il never be forgotten that the entire
church North indorsed II until public senti-
ment became so strong as 20 compel her TO
take stand AGAINST T. When slavery was
powerful and popular the church upheld Il,
unpopular she left il 70 is fate. Fifty years
ago there was not church in the North would
day the church delights TO tell how we abol-
The woman's rights movement is in its in
fancy as yet particularly the question OF her
political rights. The church has been persist
cnt in her opposition TO this reform. Its sup
kationsiistle rnks ri" The p Grst sta Statesmen OF
modern times TO advocate equal political
rights for women were the French 1nfdels
led In this movement, Mary wastonecraft,
Frances Wright, Ernestinc l.. Rose, Elizabeth
Cady stanton. Susan II. Anthony, Amy Post,
and others, are women who have held no ale
glance TO the church.
Throughout the bible woman Is regarded as
asoulees slave. This sacred names OF wife and
mother are but idle words. Marriage is dis
couraged and motherhood esteemed sin.
both Christ aud Moses authorize 9 husband 70
divorce his wife, but give wife no redress
against brutal and licentious husband. Moses
legaliled the sale OF daughters. Christ spurncd
mothers love aud shared that OF a Magdacn.
Paufs treatment of woman was most con
.empSih9le, Let your women learn 10 silence
with all subsection. u suffer not woman 10
teach" AS the church is subject unto Christ.
so let the wives be TO their own husbands In ev-
erythng. Aud II they will learn anything, let
them ask their husbands at home, for Il Is
shame for woman to speak In the church."
Accepting the teachings of Moses Christ and
Paul as authoritative, the church degraded
woman. For centuries she was regarded as a
vile, unholy thing. In the sixth century,
church council passed decree forbidding
woman TO receive the eucharist with ungloNcd
hands, because her naked hand would con
timlnate the sacred symbol. A plous monk
having occasion 20 carry his mother across
stream, covered his hands that no might not be
polluted by her touch. And when she died, 10
is said, he held aloOf from her bedside, lest he
when the pressure ofn dying mother 8 hand and
dying mothers kiss was deemed pollutionl
IL l. only by keeping woman In bondage that
slave her support Ia chiefly drawn. She Is sent
forth into the world as bcggsr or agambler,
and with her ili-gotton gains the church's bru-
tai, aud sensual priests are fed and clothed.
Let some libcrty-loving woman utter a cry OF
anguish for her sex's fate, and her cry 10
drowned beneath a flood OF Christian taunts
and jeets. Let your women keep silence, for
| IL IL not permitted unto them to speak" Aye,
but they do sometimes speak. Look down from
day. They speak, and a thousand sisters scat
tered over the world are beginning to speak
and they will one day voice funeral homiy
above the grave OF your dead mistress, the
| church
The temperance reform has become SUN
| GENTLY popular to secure to a certain extent
| the cooperation Of the church. Two important
elements in this reform to-day are women and
the Protestant clergy, There IL a reason why
| woman should be 40 thoroughly enlisted In this
| cause. None has so keonly felt the evils OF in-
temperance as the wife and mother. There IL
/ reason, TOO, why the clergy should be inter
! ested In this reform. Upon woman the roten-
| ton OF their power depends. Now priestcratt
lisa game and by aiding woman Ia this work
she holds so dear at heart, they play winning
card.
But these priests cannot be Christian with
| out being irrational. They advocate temper
ance, not for humanitys sake, but for Christ's
sake, and with that beautiful consistency 50
characteristic OF them, preach prohibition from
| Bible platform. My clerical friend, the Bible
instructs you TO spend your money for wine
auor how ean your mSEe tRG g fG The
| heart Of man." Then why don't you let him
have III Let him drink and forget his power
! " and remember his misery no more" Yes
! but they did not expect him to do this will
| water. They shall drink in the courts OF my
holiness" Ho ye that thirst. come buy win,
be some consolation TO poor drunkard q
know that saloons SGT free lunches In THU
world; II must be a greater consolation TO hin
to think OF free whisky IN the next.
Ifthe Bible teach temperance and total absti
hence, as the clergy now contend, why has 1
taken the church so long to ind IL outl WheI
but few generations ago every clergyman whI
could afford IL kept his sideboard well hlle,
with the choicest liquors, whom minieteria
conferences expended more for brandy thar
for fuel, light and stationery all combined
they read their Bibles us carefully and inter
prsted them Ms honestly, doubt not, us thei
brethren do to-day.
Here Is transcript from the church record
OF the South society, of Hartford, Conn. A
the ordination Of a pastor In 1884, the follow
ing items are from the bill OF expenses in
| Cured. The bill was presented by the Landlord
at whose house the clerical party was enter
tanned. / have taken II from the Rev. W. II
Daniels history OF THE temperance Reform,
where IL Is given upon the authority OF thu
Rev. DIR. J. u. Dunn and the Rev. DR.. Lyman
Beccher;