Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-23

that of a Russian peasant who, as punish
ment for his wife's misdoings, harnessed he
in a cart with horse, and then in compan,
with a friend, drove this team IL miles, by
no means sparing the whip. When he re
turned, he shaved his wife's head, tarreC
and feathered her, and turned her out o
doors. She appealed to the parish priest fol
protection and consolation, but he sent hel
back to her lord and master, prescribing al
the same time another whipping for not con
forming to her marriage VOWS in silence
faithfulness and submission.
The women of Russia have much to fea,
from the injustice of the laws. and the sys-
tenn of slavery to which marriage has been
reduced under the rule OF despotlsm, and the
sanction of the Church. When Alexander
freed the serfs, no change was made in the
condition of women, so it is little wonder
they think that God has forgotten them.
| Despotism in the State supports despotism in
the family, and certainly, as Russia is por.
trayed to-day, there is urgent need of mis-
sionary work and agitation in that country,
which, while it has the Bible and the
Church, is yet in most barbarous social
condition.
ONE OF THE EXPLANATIONS.
An eminent churchman claims that the
degradation of women was due to paganism
that under the rule of the heather the
devil held full sway, and that words could
not depict the horrors to which women were
| subjected under his terrific rule.
Among the heather. as this learned doctor
relates, the ide was held that man was the
absolute superior of women-"that she was
to be used as servant, and was considered
a necessary evil in order to continue the hu-
man race. She was despised and rejected by
men; her thoughts, her ideas, her lame, her
very life were held in contempt. Man was
her absolute lord and brutal despot. With
| but few exceptions women were considered
serfs, and we're kept under ban-the VIC.
tins of wrong and injustice"
"But," says the learned writer, "thrOug gh
patience, meekness under oppression, long
suffering of misery, self-sacrifce for tyrants,
she was at last rewarded by the elevation oil
her sex through the Christian faith. In
Christian lands only is she free; elsewhere
she is still degraded and enslaved precisely
as she was in the old days of pagan bondage.
In Christian lands woman has all of honor
and exaltation and glory that she can legiti-
mately have, and more than she knows what
to do with"
THE EXAMPLE IN THE EAST.
We should like to have the "beloved
brothers" opinion of the condition of
women in Russia-a Christian country-a
country where Church and State go hand;in
hand in absolute despotism. The Greek
Church Substantially the same articles
of belief as the Church of England, and
differs from that OF Rome only in denying
the supremacy of the Pope, in prohibiting
the celibacy OF the clergy aud in authoriz-
ing the study of the scriptures and the SER
vice in the Russian language
This learned doctor, in ascribing the
higher condition of women to Christianity,
rather than to the forces of civilization, for
gets the history of the ancient Egyptian
and Roman civilizations before the begin
ming of Christianity. According to Wilkin-
son, the women OF ancient Egypt were be-
yond those of to-day as to freedom. Col
leges in that country existed for the instruc-
tion of women as physicians !, 200 years be-
fore Christ Women performed the most
holy Offices of religion-and directed the civ
ilization of the country in the most brilliant
period of its history. The old manuscripts
OF Gains, discovered early in this century,
show that under the old Roman law ''the
situation Of the Roman woman, whether
married or single, became one of great per-
sonal and property independence, but Chris
tianity tended somewhat from the very first
to narrow this remarkable liberty"
Much more might be quoted upon this
point which would serve to show that the
learned doctors should be very chary of
dogmatic assertions unless very sure of their
props and premises.
THE CENTURY's DISGRACE.
In view Of the condition of affairs in Rus
sia, both as to men and women, it is verv
clear that the Church has not been a suffi-
ciently civilizing power to prevent that
country from being disgrace to the nine
teenth century. The atrocious cruelties and
blood-curdling horrors that are part of its
history to-day as a punishment Tor freedom
of opinion aud speech should rouse to action
the civilized world. Not long ago, as an
example of what Russia was doing in the
education of women, the medical academy
for their instruction in the science of heal
ing was cited. But as an illustration of
imperial despotism, it may be related that
this academy was summarilv closed by CON-
mand of the Emperor, with the iurther order
that if the students went to Zurich, or other
schools open to women, they should not be
allowed to return to their native country.
The Christian Union asks the question:
''Is the Church a Failure ?" Without pre-
suming to answer the question, we call at
tention to Russia, where the Church, sup
ported by the power OF the State, has evil
IDENTIFY failed to inculcate the principles of
the Gospel either among the nobility or the
peasantry to such degree as to redeem that
country-which is said to constitute one
seventh Of the world-irom barbarism.
But while we are pointing to this blotch
on the bright escutcheon of the country's
civilization can we fnd no tarnished spots
nearer home? Is the Church in Russia the
only one to be condemned? In the recent
trial of DR.. Mansell, the quarrels of the
leaders, their disposition to "sling mud"
and indulge in small gossip, and their
capacity for prejudice, show how little real
weight sometimes attaches to the command,
'Love your enemies"
And this is in the nineteenth century and
in free America. BESSIE BRAMBLE.