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edges. Perceiving his mistake, he has
tened to rope off the higher paths and to
shut and lock the little inside gates
leading to the professions, and to put up
warning placards "Danger" "This
ground entirely pre-empted by menP
"Lions in this path!" 'No woman need
applyr politics! A corrupt and vile
institution we use for governing tho
country. Managed wholly by, and suit
ed only to, man." Pulpit! Women
strictly forbidden to enter this path.
(See ii. Cor, Is: S4-'Let your women
keep silence in the churches. }"
The writings of the fathers throw
much light on this text so long ecclesi-
astically used to prevent women from
speaking in public and especially from
speaking in pulpit Mans conscience
is exceedingly tender on this point. But
what funny conscience to be so tender
in one spot and SO tough elsewhere!
The text, 81 suffer not woman to
teach" glances off harmless while he
proceeds to call the womanly host from
their appropriate sphere to 60 forth, un-
vailed, as teachers in Sunday schools,
public day and evening schools, and mis-
sion schools far across the sea. Other
texts fall equally harmless: "Owe no
man any thing" "Sell all and give to
the poor" Give to every man that
asketh." "Of him that taketh away thy
goods, ask them not again.
1t is fortunate that scripture interpre-
tation is only for man, as woman guided
only by her own light might suppose
it just as wicked for a person to try to
reclaim his property, or to incur debtor
to refuse to give, or refuse to lend, or
permit any one to sue man at law, as
| for him not to stop a woman from speak
ing. She might even ask why an in
junction laid on the women of Judea
nearly two thousand years ago should
concern the women of America to-day.
There is one text, however, which seems
to confound even the wisdom of man
"Wives be subject unto your husbands
as unto the Lord" Plain and comprehen-
sive, it requires no explanations from
commentators and councils whose pro-
longed labors settle what's Bible. But
shall woman obey her husband to do
wrong? OF course not. How will she
know wrong from right? BY her con-
science. But the right to obey her con-
science gives her the right of decision,
and the right of decision makes the text
of no avail, and If one text can be set
aside, just as well can another. Were
this not an age of unreason one might
ask, since woman is an accountable be-
ing, why should she not interpret Scrip
ture for herself and be her own guide
and director? Why abide by mans de-
cisions? Because she always has thus
abided, would be the true answer. For
1t is assuredly true that the world thus
far has been mans. The whole world OF
humanity has been regulated by the
opinions Of that half of it in matters OF
duty, the inspiration of that half of it
in matters of religion, the justice (?) of
that half of it as embodied in laws, the
wisdom (?) of that half of it in the man
agement of criminals, paupers and the
insane.
Some time the world will be awakened
by the dawning light of the ages shin
ing in its face, and will see the why and
the wherefore of its chaotic condition,
and the reason thus revealed will be
this, namely-that the world has been
trying to get on with only one-half of
ITSELF the two parts are unlike and it
takes both to make the complete whole.
We read that man was created male and
female and to 'fhem" was given domin-
ion. Cooperation, then, is the divine
ordering, and what God hath joined let
no man put asunder. The scriptural
assertion that it is mot we'll for man TO
be alone" has been assumed to mean
that man, poor fellow, might be lone
some and need help, and therefore
woman was created for his service and
, to make things more pleasant for him.
/ BY a more sensible Interpretation, it
, would mean that to carry on its affairs
the world needs both parts of the "them''
: just spoken of. Each having its own
| special qualities, it is not well that
the masculine element or man part
: be left alone in-we will say in
J the planning and working of school sys-
. TENS, in the management of public in
, stitutions where both sexes are confined
: in conducting newspapers these going
: into famiiiest, In the management ol
criminals. in making the laws, in nchoioe
, of public officials, in caring for the poor
: and by all means man should not be left
, alone in the ministry. For as every hn
r man being stands in equal relation to
D the Divine Omnipresence we call God
t woman, equally with man, is likely t.
0 be made medium of divine inspiration
t and "Quench not the Spirit" is as bind
: ing text as any other. The pulpi
= everywhere is lamenting its own ineffi
J, cheney. Let it call in the reserves. lie
: it avail itself of that superiority IL
: moral perception, of the spiritual vision
: of the genius for planning, of the skill
in adaptation, of the intuition, the pa
g tience, sympathy, warm-heartedness
/ love, devotion, tenderness, energy, en-
: thusiasm, earnestness, persistency dc
o clared by man to belong to woman b
, nature With these, plus the specia
IS preparation and helpful conditions aC
, corded to man, the pulpit would gain
i her powerful ally, and some unuse
g and misused womanly activities woul
r, be turned to good account.
I ITEMS FOR WOMEN.
', MRS. Cross, niece of John Bright,
| rtnhtc