The Osceola times., 1888-04-28
WOMAN AS A REFORMER.
What Her Influence Has Done, is Dolns
and Can DO.


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 si-
lence. When Phdias painted the
heavenly Aphrodite he represented her
as standing on the back Of tortoise
slow and uneventful way 10 60
through the world. The Pagan ideals
of humanity were always Of the mascu-
line type. The Greeks worshiped
beauty. but it was of the man-like
kind. They represented tin 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 cele
brated the fame of a heroine, she was
represented as an Amazon panoplied
for war, riding upon fiery steed, 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. 1t must also be
admitted that in the Old Testament
there is large amount of homage to
masculine qualities. There is some
thing Of a kinship between David and
a Cesar between Samson and Her
cules, and the people sang praise to
God as ~ man of war; But the rea-
son is apparent The Old Testament
deals with the sterner features of the
law, with bloody rites and ceremonies,
with dark and troublous times. and
often with nations Of gross. brutal
manners Hence men Of valor, mighty
men of war, were at the frcnt.
But when the Gospel came, il began
with recognition of woman. Its
first salutation was to her--"Hail thou
that art highly favored" That this
salutation had an 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 a kingdom of spears
and javelins, bloody legions and brutal
Caesars. but "the kingdom and patience
| OF Jesus Christ" A new estimate Of
| qualities and a new order OF forces had
! come; meekness. gentleness, patience.
purity and love were now to be great
virtues and great forces in the worlds
redemption. The world also had n new
| type Of humanity. II is not sufficient
| to say that Jesus Christ was man.
He 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. He had a human mother and
He reflected the glory of her humanity
as well as the divine glory.
Therefore, in such kingdom and
with such type. and with the new
beatitudcs of the Sermon on the
Mount, woman had place and was to
WELD power. That the development
of this power has been a slow process,
is a painful fact. For no part of Pa
ganism has been SO hard to rout from
human opinion as the prejudices unfa-
vorablc to women. CGsarism is slow
to give mp all its provinces. Many
| mia IL ha, al haan
an observer as Frederick W. Robertson
tells US that Mariolatry came from an
attempt TO put the new ideal of human
ity introduced by Christianity into
more realistic form. Christianity en-
throned womanly virtues. Catholicism,
in endeavoring to realize the Gospel
conception. cnthroned the Virgin
Mother. Mr.. Lecky 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
1t is plain that the effort TO give woman
her rightful place in the kingdom has
been a somewhat blind one.
But now there is reason to believe that
she is at least passing into the gates of
the Kingdom. As missionary she is lay
ing firm hold upon the worlds redemp.
tion. Once she stayed at home to pray
or waited to be a WIFE now she pushes
boldly TO the front As reformer she
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 with
Just what has been so sadly needed in
the past. For all reform movements
tend toward tragical or peaceful So
luton. II there is too much Of n.an in
them they become rancorous, denun.
ciatory. violent aud end in tragedy.
For the abuses of the world touch mans
temper rather more than his sympa-
thies. He is more inclined to hate the
wrong-doer than TO love the one who is
wronged. Hence. he is disposed to be-
come fierce and destructive In
his methods. II he is in
Congress aad gets very much In
earnest. ho knocks another member
daBn ~ ~ xprls estsie b beasHsa