Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-02
INFLUENCE AND SPHERE OF
WOMAN.

ell by James Taylor, was delivered
by President George q. Cannon, at
quarterly conference VI the Relief
Society Of Weber stake, held at Ogden,
December 18th. 1891:
Being called upon to speak, | re-
npond. trusting that my remarks may
he adapted 10 the conditions aud cir
cumslanoea Of all OF us who are pres
ont, that we may be edited. do not
think that any Elder In this Church
would ever care to rice TO speak merely
for the sake Of speaking. That ~ my
feeling. II I cannot say something
that will be profitable TO those who
listen, VA we'll as to myself, ] am not
satisfied. often think that IN attend
Ing meetings aud conferences where
the Spirit Of God il poured out, rs II
usually Is, anu l am one OF 'he
sneakers, derive more benefit myself
from what soy than think any other
person does. At least, take 10 heart
ali that am led 10 say to others.
Theis Ia n very important and In
fuential gathering. All who are Ac-
quainted with the operations In society
fully recognize the Influence Of woman
in human affair. Her iriluence u far
more potential In all the affairs OF life
than she has the credit generally Of
exercising. There II no tnsn--that n
"A properly constituted man-that IL
brought within wOman's influence
that docs not feel H. iinptCssiOn TO
a greater or less extent. Ana
though woman does not take part
~ a rule, In public affairs, nevertho-
less, where she chooses 10 exert her IN
ilucnce it IL strong In moulding
opinions and views Asd Ia stimulating
action among men. There are some
men more susceptible than Others 10
these influences; but | know Of none
who IL entirely free from womnn's In.
fiucnce-that u, who disrvgards II anu
lives above or below II, whichever
term you may choose TO employ. have
known many Of my acquaintance In
the past-- unconsciously 10 them
Hulves, perhaps reflect In their
remarks the Views Of their
own families of their wives anu,
perhaps, their daughters; and II IL FREE
quontly the case that men viii receive
ircpo-spssions and prejudlces and their
actions be Influenced very much by
their wives aud other female members
Of their families. 1 have seen II In
councils, have seen II Ia private
and / have seen II In every direc.
ton almost where men love their
wivcs, and especially where their
wives are shTewd women. 10 " sur
pricing sometimes 10 see the influence
wives have upon their hu-bnnd-'
opluions and Views concerning
public affairs and concerning
individuals. Therefore, II h Of the
utmost Importance that women-l use
that word, Tor ike 30 call my mother
woman, therefore trust you Will not
think | nm speaking In AN improper
manner when | SHy woman
sheuld ne properly trained aud made
intelligent, then they eau exercise a
wonderful iuilIcucn IN society. II
should be "a healthtul influence, ani 10
he such they should he themselves
brought In contact With, or have FUR
nished them, opportunities Of obtaining
knowledge hud understanding and
comprehension, 30 that they will be-
lifted above petty prejudice. This Is
o. great Importance, because. rs ] say,
women have wonderful Influence over
the minds % others with whom they
come IN contact.
You often find II the case that boys
reflect The vlowa Of their moihers;
anu husbands also. 20 n great extent,
reflect the views " their wives. Lot a
woman hs Ireludiced against or he
prepos rfsod In favor II some measure
OF a man outside Of her family, anu Ia
great majority OF vases that prejudice
or prepU.sttaiOn will effect all tho
male members Of the household. Her
husband and children will feel the In
fluenue, aud hOsever strong they are,
aud independent in ,hulr modes OF
thought aud action, they will feel the
effect ~ It, Politicians are aware Of
this, and therefore shrcwd men try to
get the wOmen--tht wives Oi scualOrs
aud members OF tho House OF Repre-.
,entatlye,--to viuw things In what
they would call tho right light.
They know how potent WON ans In.
fluenco isin shaping mems thoughts
aud actions.
AnditisGo I'm the Church. There
" no man In the Church, from the
President down, who II not Influenced,
more or tss, I'm this way. Therefore, II
II of lho utmost importance, | think.
that you, my sisters, should have the
lest aud brightest u opportunities to
obtain Intelligence aud knowledge and
to grasp those questions that are
brought before men aud women for
their thought and action. | would
like to tee every woman M fully In.
formed upon all questions that come
before uins u people as It il pOsslbl, fOr
them tote, because think tho effect
~ this would he very good and the In.
fiuenctitlt.
Then Is peculiarly about women
that think IN remarkable. Their in
tuitiouiceeds, rs rule, that OF a man.
They br better Judges Of character
than ni,n are. A man arrives at his
conclui bus usually by slower process
than vpnon do. He In more npt Ia
reason, and work out his conclusions
hyrcasD than women are. But the
first iotfession OF women concerning
an individual IL generally, though not
alwayS orrect. They are wonderfully
quick b receiving impressions ana Ia
uivInlsttm, because, as n sex, they
do nottaceal their thoughts and feel
Tugs. tld | think men would save
themselWs trouble sometimes N they
wOuldlgrn to their wives In these
respect II ought TO be said, however,
that ldh the hrst impression moves
away Nmen are subject to other In
fiuenct
| sna In this way because our
dauglIta mothers aud wives should
have h,hllest opportunities OF gain
ing krpIedgo; mud am thankful foT
the orE,Zstion OF these societies, be-
cause lhink they broaden wOmAn's
spherat action and bring her In con
tact witlil the affairs Of life TO a
gfeaterTent than she could possibly
he wen mo To cOntlue herself wholly