The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-09-27
FAMILY GOVERNMENT.
A Powerful Argument for Equal Rights
I'm the Home.

FAMILY GOVERNMENT.
A Powerful Argument for Equal Rights
I'm the Home.
From book entitled The Fam
ily," prepared by the joint author
ship of Rev. Charles F. and Mrs.
Thwing. we take the following: The
common objection urged against the
equal authority of the man and
woman in the marriage relation is
based upon the belief that in the
family there must be one supreme
and ultimate authority. A double
headship is a monstrosity. One only
can decide, and that one is more fit
tingly the man. TO this it may we'll
be answered that, however true it is
that the final decision of a mooted
question can rest only on one. it by no
means follows that the same one
should decide all questions. The CEN
trail idea of a true wedlock is the
idea of mutual self-surrender. Rights,
duties and privileges are reciprocal.
Neither the husband nor wife should
demand more than the other can give,
nor consent constantly to give without
receiving in return.
Two classes of questions arise in a
family-those that are personal to
either the husband or the wife, and
those that effect both equally. In af-
fairs which are common to both, ex-
pe"ience must decide to whom the de-
cision may be more safely committed.
Doubtless. in affairs regarding the re-
lation of the family to the outside
world. the peculiar training of the
man fits him TO be the safer guide
But in domestic concerns, such as the
selection and furnishing of the house,
the oversight of servants. the train
ing of the children, the house mother
is the natural leader.
Children naturally belong to both
parents. and both parents should have
by law an equal right to them
and their earnings. No more UNI
righteous law disgraces the statute
book than that which gives to the
father the sole ownership of children.
sole control of their earnings and sole
inheritance in their property. In
many of the United States, until with
in few years, father might by will
dispose of the person OF even an I'M
born child. This law has been
changed in several States; but the
power of binding out child, be it son
or daughter. still rests with the father
lone
In matters private and personal,
each must at the outset of married life
recognize the complete freedom of the
other. The only right to be main
tanned is the right of the one to yield
a personal desire for the sake of the
happiness of the other Neither
should expect to dictate as to what
friends the other may visit, what hab-
its he may indulge. what private ex-
penses he may incur.
This, it need hardly be said, is not
according to the present law. The
husband, as the head of the household,
has the right to dictate the policy OF
the family. The wife is expected to
conform to his habits, tastes, even to
his eccentricities, provided her health
be not seriously endangered by so do
ing The husband may even restrict
his wife's calling list, Or forbid her
from visiting her relations The
courts also sustain him in preventing
her from attending the church OF
which she is a member.
"A celebrated divine, who was re-
markable in the first period of his
ministry for loud and boisterous
mode of preaching, suddenly changed
his whole manner in the pulpit, anG
adopted mild and dispassionate
mode of delivery. One of his brethren
observed it, and inquired of him what
had induced him to make the change
He answered.: when [ was young
thought it was the thunder that killed
the people; but when | grew wiser |
discovered that it was the lightning;
so | determined to thunder less and
Eghten more in future"
h. l.L.c box h e.