Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-12
Dark Ages, is imperatiyely demanded BY the

Dark Ages. is imperatiyely demanded by the
pirit of the times.
Principal Donaldson, LII. D., set forth
year or two ago in the Contemporary Re-
uieU that be- too, "once believed that
woman owes her high position to Christiani-
ty and the influence of the Teutonic mind,
but that as a result of his investigations
into the subject, he plainly admits that he
is now not able to see that Christianity has
had any favorable effect upon the position
of women, but, on the contrary, that it has
''tended to lower their character and con-
tract the range of their activity"
When Christianity Was Born.
Sat the dawn of Christianity-as all
know who have studied Roman civilization
women had attained great free
dom, power and influence. Women
had been liberated from the enslaving fet-
tiers of the old legal forms, and they en-
joyed freedom OF intercourse in society;
they walked and drove in public with wells
that did not conceal their faces; they d1ned
in the company of men, they studied litera-
ture and philosophy; they took part in
political movements; they defended their
own law cases if they chose, and they helped
their husbands in the government of
provinces, and the writing of books" Not
bad, it may be said. for pagan civilization.
u
strong hold this condition of liberty was
changed, and women in the early ages of
the church were seen only in two capaci-
ties-that Of martyrs and deaconesses."
At first sober-minded, elderly widows
were made deaconesses, but in course
of time as the apostolic teachings in favor
of celibaey came into prominence, widows
got below par in the spiritual market, and
spinsters were quoted higher. Both, how
ever, were prohibited from preaching, or
exercising any spiritual function. Tertul-
lian, and those other sanity fathers, thought
1t would be horrible for woman to learn,
to teach, or TO baptize. The survival of
these ideas of the church on the score of
women taking part in the service is shown
in the converts to-day, where no matter how
sanity, how devoted, how well fitted some
of the Sisters may be, they cannot say mass
in place OF the priest, because ouly man
is pure enough for such sacred Office.
The Fault of Mother Eve.
Tertullian was strongly opposed to mar
riage, and with others of the foremost ex-
Founders of Christianity was especially
hard and bitter against women. He held her
responsible for all the evils in the world.
She impelled men to all sin and wickedness
Nor was Clement of Alexandria any less
severe in his attacks upon the sisters. So
dangerous were these terrible women that it
was necessary for men to shut them up-to
make them stay at home and force them into
silence and subjection, while the best thing
for men to do tor the benefit of their souls
and eternal welfare was to keep away from
them.
Tertullian insisted that when women went
to church they should huddle themselves up
in shawls and wells and never allow them
selves to be adorned with jewels or silks
nor should they give any attention
to arranging their hair becomingly,
for such work was truly abominable,
while to look into mirrors was characteristic
Of women who were lost to shame. The evil
dences which Talmage presents as symbols
of the freedom of women-bracelets and
necklaces-were then significant of the wick
edness for which they would merit eternal
fire in the future.
Restrictions Put ON the Sex.
What hard time the good sisters had in
the early centuries under church rule is
shown by the restrictions upon their liberty
of action, some Of which are urged upon
women now by ministers. who would fain
enforce them upon the women of the nine
teenth century. As laid down by the laws
of the church fathers among the early
Christians, women were necessary evils only
to be endured. Msrrisge was discouraged
as state Of inferiority, and eelibacy
exalted as virtue. As Principal
Donaldson, IL. D., puts it: "What the
early Christians did was to strike male
out Of the definition of man, and human be-
ing out of the definition of woman. Man
was q human being made for the highest
and noblest purposes; woman was a female
made to serve only one. Now, what some
men-not only in the General Conference of
the Methodist Church, but other religious
bodies as welfare fighting against, is that
''men and women are human beings both
gifted with conscience and reason, both re-
sponsible for their actions, both entitled to
the freedom essential to, this responsibility
and both capable Of the noblest thoughts
and deeds"
Bestowing bracelets and rings and neck
laces upon women-while denying them
equal freedom-gives very weak testimony
to the justice and nobility of men az COM
pared with their putting in practice the rule
Of 'sDo unto others as you would have them
do unto you."
Advice for Brother Talmage.
I may venture upon little piece of ad-
vice for Brother Talmage and that is to be
little more sure that what he presents so
glibly is really true. He weakens his power
when he asserts what cannot be sustained by
the testimony of facts. It is little wonder
tndg III LueSe udyS tue peOplc III Lne peWS
gaze at each other with little quiet grin
when the pulpit proclaims its own narrow
ness, bigotry and ignorance. 1t is in vain
to tell women to be keepers at home in these
days; it avails nothing to lay down for them
the law of silence, or to launch thunder
bolts at them," to fr1ghten or restrain them
from teaching and preaching, or engaging
in any good work for which their gifts ft
them.
The force Of the Church has been against
freedom for women for over 18 centuries, as
the testimony of history shows, and its
canons and teachings need nothing so much
as revision and repeating on this point The
General Conference may keep its doors
barred and bolted against the good Metho-
dist sisters, but its members will all yield
eventually. The great question for the
clergy of the present to consider is whether
they intend to be in the front, or tag along
in the rear of progress.
BESSIE BRAMBLR.