Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-30
WOMAN'S RELATION TO FAlTFE AND
SkEf'ETClSM.
Rev. DIR. PattOn's Discourse on this
Theme las: sunday Morning.

So much publicity has been drawn to a dis
course on the relations Of woman to faith and
skepticism, delivered last Sunday in the Congre-
gatonal church by President Patton, of Howard
University, and such an erroneous impression
OF the sermon has gone out that the STAR has
obtained an abstract Of Dr. Patton's remarks.
which presents them i'm an accurate manner
The text was from st. Johns gospel 1925:
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his
mother and his mothers sister. Mary. the wife
of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene" This repre-
sented, the speaker said. the true relation of
woman to Christ. She needed for her own sake,
and the world needed, that she should remain
true to that position. Women were one-halt
of the race and motherhood related her to the
whole race
For some reason female skeptic struck one
with more horror than a a male skeptic owing
largely. no doubt, to our appreciation OF wo-
mans religious nature and to the large debt she
owed to the gospel for her position. That the
CHRISTIAN religion had made radical improve
ment in woman's place I'm life he proved by
citations from historical authors hostile to
Christianity, quoting from Lecky, Maine aud
Renan. In view Of this service he thought that
there was touch of ingratitude when woman
was disloya to Christ.
History, however, mentioned q number of
female skeptics and the speaker then entered
on chronological notice of such Opposers OF the
patia. who was martyred for her devotion TO
heather philosophy. Passing to later times he
alluded to the skeptical society of France before
the revolution which welcomed Hume with such
enthusiasm, and then proceeded to show the I'M
natural excuses engendered by these senti-
mentS permeating all classes of the people Fl
nally he mentioned the more prominent skeptics
of modern women in England and America. and
in this connection alluded to the part woman
had taken in the spread OF "spiritualism" in
which deusion Victoria Woodruff became prom
inent.
Now, in explanation of the fact that skep-
tcism did obtain hold on certain female minds
the speaker offered as suggestions first that
contact with literary circles where it was the
fashion to doubt was responsible in many cases
for this attitude of unbelief. Again, increased
education often tended. in woman as in man.
to beget an idea that independence in thought
required the shaking off of the trammes of
religious dOgmas and Of the commonly accepted
standards of society. Skepticism moreover.
was often due to a since rerevolt against abuses
| that took the name and place of true religion
But these skepticGl women. said the speaker
in conclusion, were the exceptions to their sex.
And however dark days in faith might come
woman would be found in the future. as in the
past, standing. like Mary at the cross
At the conclusion of the discourse good
natured colloquy ensued between Dr. Patton
and Miss Anthony and Mrs. Stanton who have
beep acquaintance of long standing the tone
of which has been very incorrectly reported
No allusiOn was made in the discourse to female
suffrage.