The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-04-19
WOMAN AS A REFORMER.

what Her Influence Has Done, 10 Doing
and Can DO.
The Pagan view of woman before
Christianity came is we'll known. One
Of the most distinguished of the Greek
historians said that woman's highest
merit was, not to be spoken about at
all, either for good or evil. She was
expected to live behind vail of sic
lcncc. When Phidias painted tho
heavenly Aphroditc he represented her
as standing on the back of a tortoise
slow and unevcntful way to 60
through the world. The Pagan ideals
Of humanity were always of the mascu-
line type. The Greeks worshipcd
beauty. but it was of the man-like
kind. They represented it in sculpture
more than in painting, because the
cold, hard marble was more in har-
mony with their ideas than the soft,
rich colors Of the canvas. If they cclc-
Lrated the fame of Il heroine. she was
represented as an Amazon panoplied
for war. riding upon fiery stccd. and
with strong arm hurting the DEATH
dealing spear into the dismayed ranks
of the enemy. In morals. the Stoics
claimed that their system was greatly
superior to all others because it was es-
sentially masculine. II must also be
admitted that in the Old Testament
there is large amount of homage to
masculine qualities. There is somc-
thing Of a kinship between David and
Caesar. between Il Samson and Her
cules, and the people sang praise to
God as ~ man of war" But the rca-
son is apparent. The Old Testament
deals with the sterner features of the
law. with bloody rites and ceremonies,
with dark and iroublous times and
often with nations of gross. brutal
manners Hence men of valor, mighty
men Of war. were ut the front.
But when the Gospel came. it began
with recognition of woman. Its
first salutation was to her-"Hail thou
that art highly favored" That this
salutation had IN immediate reference
TO the sacred motherhood is true, but
it had far wider significance in the
proclamation Of new era for woman.
1t meant Hail to woman" She was
no longer to be overlooked or under
estimated. The kingdom of Heaven
was At hand: not kingdom of spears
md jaselins. bloody legions and brutal
Caesars. but 1.-The kingdom and patience
~f fl,rsst - A -
qualities and new order of forces had
come; meekness. gentleness. patience,
purity and love We're now to be great
virtues and great forces in the world $
redemption. The world also had new
type Of humanity. 1t is not sufficient
TO say that Jesus Christ was man.
lie was the perfect humanity. incarna-
ting all that was most truthful, strong
est and greatest in man, and all that
was most gentle. pure and lovely in
woman. lie had human mother. and
II" reflected the glory of her humanity
aS well rs the divine glory.
Therefore, in such kingdom and
with such ! type, and with the new
uIsltAAi!Is VA tlI tpSIIIlol ou tuC
Mount. woman had q place and was to
WELD power That the development
of this power has been n slow process,
is a painful fact. For no part of Pa
ganism has been so hard TO rout from
human opinion as the prcjudiccs unfa-
vorablc to women. Cnsarism il slow
TO give up all its provinces. Many
| mistakes have also been made. So fine
an observer rs Frederick w. Robertson
tells lis that Mariolatry came from an
attempt to put the new ideal of human
ity introduced by Christianity into a
more realistic form. Christianity en-.
throncd womanly virtues. Catholicism.
in cndcayoring to realize the Gospel
conception. enthroncd the Virgin
Mother. Mr.. Lccky also takes the
same view Of the origin of Mariolatry,
and he believes, too, that the chivalry
of the Middle Ages came from the same
impulse. While it is seriously to be
doubted whether this is any thing
more than an ingenious explanation Of
what was only repetition OF the old
sin of .worshiping and serving the
creature more than the Creator" YET
it is plain that the effort to give woman
her rightful place in the kingdom hal
been somewhat blind one.
But now there is reason to believe tina
she is at least passing into the gates o
the kingdom. As missionary she is lay
ing firm hold upon the world redcmp
ton. Once she stayed ut home to pra,
or waited to be wife. now she pushes
boldly to the front. As rcformer sh'
is bringing to the delicate and Difficult
problems of life the quick perception
and full power of her womanly nature
To this field Of effort she comes witt
just what has been SO sadly needed il
the past. For all reform movement
tend toward Il tragical or a peaceful SO
luton. II there is too much of man il
them they become rancorous, denun
ciatory, violent and end in tragedy
| For the abuses of the world touch man
temper rather more than his symps
thies. He is more inclined to hate tn
wrong-doer than to love the one who
wronged. Hence, he is disposed to be
come fierce and destructive i
his methods. If he is i
Congress, and gets very much i
earnest. he knocks another membe
| down. At his worst estate he become
an anarchist, uses dynamite and get
himself hung. 1t is II part Of his ma
turc to think that the way to improv
matters is to make the pieces fly. Henc
the history of reformation has been e,
ceedingly tragical, forit has been large
" under mans management
But if human history
not 10 be continual series {
tragedies, in which men try to max
the world better by killing one al
other, there must be a change in tn
method of reform. This change, it
to be hoped. the advent of woman rs
reformer may effect. Her qualitit
and methods, her sympathy, tact an