St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-01-31
The whole world is a pandemo-

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terial this is felt in every sphere of
life. Art has degenerated to a
crude exhibition Of vulgar nudity
literature is the playground of a
realism that shocks and saddens
every finer organized nature it has
undermined commercial honesty it
has robbed our homes of their
warmth and their cheerfulness, and
has swept from the soul Of man that
beautiful dew which is borrowed
from its heavenly home. Are you,
then, surprised to find that it has
entered into our congregational life,
dispeopleing our synagogues and
temples? [ am not! For every
instinct which is not material is
trampled under foot. And here,
friends, we understand what the
Scripture meant when it says, at
the very beginning Of mans career,
Il will make man a helpmate," to
stand by him when he, made of
earth returns even during his life to
earth, she will take his soul and
keep it pure and ideal until he finds
himself again at the altar Of his
God, led back by the gentle in
fuence of the custodian of his better
self.
Her finer organization, her nobler
instincts, her warmer affection, her
pure sphere of life, her deeper hope
and trust in the infinite, fit her par
excellence for the guardianship OF
our ideal religious interests.
Our men have left us and our
women remain the only visitors in
Gods temple, proving without a
doubt the truth Of my assertion.
To this must be added the fact that
nearly the whole education Of our
children in these days devolyes upon
the mothers.
The father hardly takes any in
terest in it; he leaves it to the
guardian angel of his home.
Beside this the life of man is at
all times under the influence of Wo-
man as mother and wife. Il this
be true why not permit woman to
try her influence as a leader in our
religious life; it is pretty well es-
tablished that whatever she under
takes she does with a zeal and en-
thusiasm unsurpassed by man.
From this standpoint / claim,
that if we permit her ruling hand
in our affairs, she will exercise an
influence over her husband and
children, which, under all circum-
stances, must tend to our good and
the glory Of our cause. When we
see but one way, woman perceives a
thousand to reach her end, and,
therefore, she should have repre-
sentation in our councils as matter
of absolute justice,
At the same time, we dare not
forget that the progress of woman
upon all fields of labor is beyond
the comprehension of many of us.
Woman has learned, or must learn,
to stand by her own resources she
cannot lean always upon the Shout
ders Of some one else, the realities
Of life impel her to battle with its
difficulties. Therefore, every con-
gregation must take into considera-
ton the problem whether or not
women can become legal members
Of a Jewish congregation. We
have the kindnsss Of accepting pew
rent Of widows, but we refuse them
the rights Of members. Is there a
sensible reason #hy women, single
or married, should not have the
privilege of joining us? Woman
would cheerfully give us, besides
her means, her work, her enthusi-
asm, her influence and her great
moral support.
Our women would soon learn to
appreciate the great trust imposed
on them; and with all the cunning
and sausion Of their sex would
bring back to us their sons and
their husbands and once more we
could maintain that all Isreal is but
one.
DR.. Leucht announced that we
will answer the question Of woman's
fitness and readiness to enter this
Gnla ne lnl,on, IN The discn1rsn Of naYf