The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-23
PROGRESS OF WOMAN.
DR.. Bright's Commencement
Sermon at Ravenna Park.
SEVERAL VISITING DIvINEs
John Fishes Lay Ser on on the Mystcrv
Of Evil-New Altar Of Sacred
Heart Church.

The Rev. s. Alonzo Bright preached an
eloquent sermon yesterday morning at
Ravenna Park to the graduates of the Sc
attic Female college. His text was taken
from the twenty-sixth chapter of st. Mat
thew, verse ID:
Verify I say unto you, wheresoeve- this yos
pei shall! be preached in the whole world, there
shall also this that this woman hath done be
told for memorial of her.
The discourse was designed to show the
difference between the condition.
ambition, power and achievement
of woman under paganism and
her standing and influence i'm
the world under Christianity. The
speaker first alluded to the feelings that
must animate the young women before
him; the joy of tasks well accomplished.
mingled, however, with the bitterness of
parting with college associates. Then fol-
lowed little wholesome advice. He illus
trated his theory by the illustration of a
ship that lay loading in the bay, I'M
harmed by wind, storms, rain or waves.
because anchored to the seas hard bottom.
So, he argued, it was necessary that each
ones life should be anchored to sterling
Christian principle, which would save
o.,
The minister then delved into ancient
history, and briefly sketched the lives of
some of the most notorious women of
pagan times. He told of Aspasia, Lais,
Aerippina, Lucilla and Cleopatra. From
the history OF these women Mr. Bright
deduced the theory that the women
sought after under paganism, while at
tractive in physical beauty and even bril-
l,an in n3a
beautiful animals, without either moral
culture or principle, who retained their
influence over men by pandering to weak
ness and passion, and who aided in lower
ing rather than eevating the moral stand
ards of the age in which they lived. These
immoral women of high influence were
sought after by the great men, while the
modest wives and daughters were confined
to the most monotonous domestic duties,
were household slaves and were con-
strained to lead dull and wearisome lives.
This led men to think women unsafe,
lacking in sincerity, and they would give
no heed TO her voice save in those matters
wherein she contributed TO his pleasures.
Then the preacher spoke of the soul of
woman as the thing that lifted her up and
made her in some respects the superior of
man. christianity, ne SAID, freed the soul
OF woman from the slavery to which
paganism had doomed it. Under the
spirit of the faith of Christ she became
lowered with added charms, and he
proved this by citing the names of many
brave, intellectual, true Christian women
who have left their impress upon the ages
as they passed through history since the
dayso Jesus. The preacher then sketchcd
the field of woman's opportunity today
and showed that there was no field in
which she could not enter and make her
power and influence felt. and that she has
responded with keen intelligence and lofty
appreciation to every project for her sub
siantial betterment. He concluded with
the common sense statement that it was
impossible for woman to reach higher al
fitudes in attainment or compass grander
triumphs than those which come through
the channels of motherhood and home.