Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-22

SUNDAY, MARCH ~,
| and Christian morals that her advice and
| assistance were requested by the Queen for
the training of the. Princess Charlotte-the
heir of the English throne.
ITO remove prejudices is the bounden
duty of every Christian" said this good old
maid. This remark might well be con-
sidered by those who sneer and jeer at the
women who accept tine teaching and ex-
amples of the great apostle to live single
lives, and who find their calling in works of
benevolence and philanthrophy. In Han
nah More's day the "blue stockings" were
derided and abused more than even "the
strong g-minded women" of to-day, but she
lived at the 'top of her intellectual life, "
and continued to teach the multitude the
beauties of practical piety and the principles
of Justice, charity, patience and forbear-
ance. The lnculcation of social virtue was
her most earnest desire. She had her share
of "cruel mockings." Misrepresentation
and calumnies which are always the tribute
OF envy to eminence.
Opposition From the Churchmen.
That Hannah More should find her most
determined opponents and strongest antag-
onists among the church people. who prayed
every Sunday to be delivered from envy and
hatred, and malice, and all ,unchartable-
ness, would seem strange did we not remem-
Der how bitterly Brother Buckley, of the
New York Adgocate, fought against the ad-
mission of Frances Willard rs delegate to
the General Conference of the Methodist
Church; how the Presbyterian brethren op-
posed Miss Smiley in her Bible readings,
how "dead sot" against the discussion of
"the woman question" is Brother Vincent,
of Chautauqua, how fully persuaded are
Brother Dix and other eminent men of the
pulpit that the women who feel "called"
upon to preach are entering upon the broad
road that leadeth to destruction and will
draw all men after them.
How slow are many men to learn liberal
ityl How rooted and grounded they are in
prejudice! How 10th to surrender super
stition! How like are some of our parsons
to Bishop Warburton, of whom Hannah
says in one of her books: "He was Goliath
in talents and learningP' He welded
massive CLUB and dealt most ponderous
blows, but he attacked with the same power
full weapons not only the enemies, but the
friends of Christianity who happened to diff
fer with him on some points.
What Was Taught in Her Schools.
The fact is that Hannah More was a little
bit of Methodist. Like Susaunah Wesley,
d
rich dowry of non-conf forming virtues" In
the Sunday Schools, which so reused the
wrath of the church authorities, were taught
the catechism, the spelling book, the prayer
book, the Bible and Watts Hymns. A very
innocent course of study it would seem from
The standpoint of to-day, but then from the
fight over it. it might be supposed that this
good woman was destroying the foundations
of church and State. However, the bishops
triumphed and the schools had to be given
up.
In her early days Hannah More wrote
some successful plays, one of which netted
her So, 500 for II nights. She became con-
vinced, however, from what she saw of the
atrical amusements that 'their effects were
dangerous to morals and hostile to Christian
virtue" and she decided to confne her
talents to such writings as would tend to
promote practical pietv, patriotism and intel
lectuaI cultivation. But while she no longer
exercised her gift for dramatic writing, she
always maintained her friendship with
David Garrick, the tragedian, and his wife.
Among her numerous friends we're Sir
Joshua Reynolds, DR.. johnson, Edmund
Burke, Wilberforce, Goldsmith, Mrs. Mon
tagu, and Mrs. Carter, the last of whom DIR.
johnson pronounced to be the best Greek
scholar in England.
Ihe Advance Oh q Century.
The parallel between the lives of Hannah
More of 100 years ago and our beloved red
headed spinster, Frances Willard, gives an
opportunity to measure the advance of a
century aud to gauge the power of prejudice.
Hannah More, with her great intellectual
gifts. her ability to impress the people, her
pursuance of practical piety and
benevolence, her untiring zeal in
all good works, was a potent
force in society that gave to her the
rank of a worlds benefactor. In these days
she would be set down as too austerely pious,
but the ''odor of sanctity" was none too
strong In her time. But with all her be-
nevolence, piety, and zeal, perhaps no good
woman of the eighteenth century was ever
more scandalously abused and viliied by
the brethren of the church, and those who
called themselves Christians.
Frances Willard with her Jealous devotion
to the good of mankind, with her gift of
eloquence, and power OF pen, with her
loyalty to religion and patriotism also finds
her most determined opponents in the
church, and among those who profess the
religion of love. But that the world does
move is shown by the weakness of
the opposition all along the line.
1.-THE powerful weapons" now are flung at
her because she is an old maid, because she
is ambitious for place, because she has a
taste for politics, because she wants to de-
grade herself by preaching, because she
wants to wear the breeches-all of which
Frances, with an organized force of 100000
women at her back, can easily afford to
stand, BESSIE BRAMBLE.