New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22
UOU1N And CHRISTIANITY.

PRINCIPAL Donaldson, of st. Andrews has an ar
ticle in the current number of the Contemporary
Review which is calculated to provoke discussion
and to surprise many, and not least perhaps, lch
students as are familiar with the history of the
period of which the learned writer treats. Dr.
Donaldson's paper is on the position Of women
in the first three centuries of the Christian era,
and the conclusion reached by him is that, con-
trary to the general belief, they were really worse
off under early Christianity than in the Pagan
Empire. Now, the surprising fact about this Is
that Principal Donaldson should suppose the evil
dence he adduces 10 be in any manner novel or in
the natdre vi a revelation and it is not less sim
gular that he should have been led to a judgment
upon the evidence which seems TO ignore some OF
the most important considerations, and which
consequently is less than just to Christianity. As
records the evidence upon which the Principal
POUNDS his opinion, il IS enough TO say that every
circumstance mentioned by him, and every citation
lie gives from the patristic writings. has been
accessible TO the world for more than twenty years
in the pages of Mlman, LeclSy and Lea. But it
must be added that if the Principal had carefully
read the arguments Of those authors he could
scarcely have become convinced that early Chris
tanity had no favorable effect on the position of
women, but, on the contrary, that it tended to
lower their COuuul tllt Adupc VI
activity
IT, may be admitted at once that
the growth of asceticism reacted against
women in many ways. Whether, as Mr.
Lea holds, these views and practices were
borrowed from Buddhism is practically of little
importance That they owed something TO Juda-
ism appears incontestable. That they cast over
patristic theology q strong animus and that they
resulted in the expression Of doctrines ind!s-
tinguish1ble in essentials from that of Schopen-
bauer. is equally certain. Thus ST. Augustine
piously hoped that by universal abstenton from
marriage the human might be brought to an
cnd-a wish identical with that " denial of the
viii 10 live which the modern German philoso.
nher regarded as the way OF salvation
Asceticism, in urging celibacy upon the early
Christians 10 doubt produced many and gross
extravagances, and the ultimate effects of this
crusade against marriage were distinctly demoral-
ling The ascetic influence upon the canon law,
TOO was preudcial, and TO it is due the low legal
status of women, not only up TO and during the
feudal period, but as regards Europe, to within "a
very recent date. All this, however, though done
in the name Of Christianity, could easily be shown
70 result from iniidelity 10 the original teachings
of the Church. On the other hand, Christianity
brought 10 woman certain advantages, the i'm
ncrtance of which il would be difficult to
estimate and foremost among these advantages
were the elevation, publication and cOnsoida-
ton Of the marriage relation.
Under the Pagan Empire this institution had
hcen going from bad TO worse for many years
Divorce was obtainabe on the most frivolous pre-
texts and the recognition Of concubinage as Il
legitimate relation tended still mere 10 relax
the connubial bond Christianity changed all that
sci its face sternly against divorce, frowned upon
second marriages, and by making marriage sacra-
ment threw around il a sacredness which has been
Of incaculable importance in preserving it against
the corruptons OF licentiOus ages. BE il admitted
that Christianity was less liberal TO women than
the Pagan Empire The latter had been moving
steadily toward the removal of all woman's legal
disabilities and the former remposed and aug
mented them. But the liberties Of the Empire
were after all more licenses to defy convention
and lead corrupt lives than means TO real en-
reimbursement; and Christianity. by opening a
field for the special cultivation of the womanly
virtues, and by asserting for them divine au-
thority. created q revolution which UNNECESSARILY