Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-21
SUNDAY TOPICS.
REV. R. R. SwOPR DBOoURSIS ENTER
flISISGLY UPON YOUNG WOMEN.
The Qualities They Should Posssss-Whsrsln
Women Risss Above the Plans-1he
Models She Should Study.

There was a good attendance last
night at st. Matthews Episcopal
Church to hear the rector, Rev. Dr..
Swope, deliver the second of his series
OF sermons upon family attributes.
The su inject of a previous Sunday even
ing discourse was "YouDg Men," while
the one of last evening was upon "Our
Young Women"
DR.. Swope took his text from the 3lst
chapter OF Proverbs, 10th yerse:-"Who
can find virtuous woman? for her
price is far above rubies." DR.. Swope
went on to say that from the 10th verse
on to the end of the chapter you ind one
of the most admirable portrayals OF
true womanhood. The place thus as
signed to woman is the one she has
come to occupy. The time was when
woman was toiler, when woman was
a slave, but so rapidly has she advanced
in the sphere of civilization that to-
day she stands on an equality with
man. There is, as we all know, a dis
position to relegate her to second place,
but in spite of the prejudice, she has
overridden all obstacles and worked her
way to the front. She has on her side
Justice and truth, and these have proved
powerful levers. Woman is not inferior
to man; she has been steadily advancing
until to-day she holds an enviable place
in the world All the Illustrations In
history demonstrate the possibility OF
women to attain great ends. Now, you
mil not N history
marks exceptionable characters. This
may be so, but the prominence OF wo-
man, as in the case Of pre-eminence Of
man, marke the type. All these great
heroneS of history show what 1t is pos
sible for women to accomplish. For
women to become the highest type Of
their sex, it must inevitably depend
upon their character.
DR.. Swope then went on to relate
some OF the qualities and virtues young
women should possess, and drew from
each eloquent pictures Of what the re-
suits would be. The first quality al
luded to was that of beauty. While
not to speak OF it vainly, yet in our ex-
perience we find that this charm often
moves the world. Yet true womanhood
is not always found in symmetry
Of face. Where there is an omission OF
certain inward qualities, the face loses
It's charm. A beautiful face is not to be
compared with the beauty Of the soul,
and with the latter comes gentleness,
humility, meekness and kindness. One
cannot be truly beautiful unless that
beauty be based upon religion.
DIR. Swope then called attention to
the second quality, that OF self-sacrifice,
the spirit OF abnegation. He recalled
the many instances Ia which the virtue
was brought into play in the life of
woman, and the important part it as
sumed in the circles Of friends and rela-
tives.
The third virtue brought to the no.
tice CT the congregation was thrift.
He referred to the fact that woman's
home is woman's kingdom, and much
depended on her ability to control,
manage and direct the household af-
fairs, and to look after the filial as well
as spiritual wants. DIR. Swope dis
coursed at some length upon the desira-
bility of young ladies early in life &C
curing the ability Of taking care OF
themselves. Cultivate the head and
hands in something that will be useful
and profitable, and this way the young
women will be become happier help
mates to the men upon whom they bes-
tow their hearts and hands.
The fourth virtue outlined was that
of gentleness. This is something no
true woman should be without. 1t
casts about US halo not unlike that we
sometimes see in the distant horizon.
There is an untold power In gentlenesS
as exemplifed in many OF the great
herohes of history, and in the leading
spirits of to-day. Cultivate all these
qualities, make It your task in earlier
life. 1t is something you will find not
in your early school education. 1t is
not found in textbooks. The cultiva-
ton of these qualities you must &C
uuire yourself. DIR. Swope referred the
young ladies to the Virgin Mary as a
model, the embodiment OF womanly
virtues, and also TO the Lord Jesus
Christ as standard wherein strength,
gentleness and character were thor
oughly exemplified. The sermon was
instructive from the start, and was lis
tened to attentivelY.