Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-04-19
wriisa Zoe ths o,feri psmoc.l
VOTING AT FRoovillg.

Great VA. the excitement In frogsill'
when " WAS announced from tile pulpit
10 the NJ. D.. church la that thriving
h,ckwoods town, that on Thur.day. OF
18th. IN. members IL .ald church, NAL,
and female. were Invited to psrtlcipst.
In discussion AZ public meeting held
for that purIo.s, upon the subject ~ al
mi,tlng women a. lay delegate. Ia th'
general conference; the question, fol
that society ~ least, Ia be settled for 1
time by the vote. ~ each member pre-.
snt.
- non. wondered ai the crosde,
church when that e,rn,ful evening ar,
ri,-i. for though every other pcr.or
present DECLARED a. most solemn fact "a
his nsighbor when once they were seat
r,i. that be- or IA. never thoughi of com
Ing. hut Mr.. fsirplay vas going Ia read
an essay. aud Il would 10 .o Interesting
to knoN " she could write a. we'll as sh'
could, speak In prayer meeting, wber'
u "a. w.ll known her earnest aud elo.
quent .xhortstions were listened Ia With
unqualified approval: or Mr.. >tspletou
Intended a. make q speech, ss he slNay'
dii on all possible ocCasiOns. Further
more. IL Va. generally understood thai
hc Noald take the negative .lic of ths
question, and b.ing man of property
~ we'll a. trustee, steward, aud genera
adviser In al church matters, hi. opln
lon. were estimated 10 bc ~ correspond
ing value, and we'll worthy ~ adoption
Nv all conscicntlou. persons not poe.
ssssiug thes. obSiou. advantages.
al. ii OIL AN.
wright Ia one sitting nesr, "Elmira has
be-u writing a piece snd want to heal
that T. for .hc !. real good AZ composing,
Elmlra L." and With the thought thai
Elmira was on the sure roid Ia honor
aud that the question had only To bc de-
clie,l Ia the affirmative to make hci
election q. the fr.t female delegate from
that section absolutely CERTAIN, the fond
mother turned Ia hear.
"Ne., thought IA just look in-my
.ou, samuel, d. think. women are get
ting to bc more capable than men, 60.
pcVially where there. any good to b.
done: and I dunno but's true. least.
wsN. Il seem. to be- th. case la thl. ere
church anyway" aud a II looking
about for cause, "my wife says, iim,'
Is cAdAgo,i," which impromptu specch,
owing to a sudden call tO order no,
notic,-l by ia. somewhat deaf church
brother. was distinctly heard aud aI-
pl,uded by the amused audience.
Reading aud prayer, coming fir.t on
the program, wss carefully and con-
scieutiou.ly attended To, after which the
object of the meeting was explained by
the pastor, Who Was expected Ia be- All
impartial li.,ener, though acting a. chair
man IL the ocvasion.
Mr.. fairplay then, In response Ia a
call from the chair. proceeded to read
the much talked of essay, expressing the
opinion that the Creator had alsays
chosen a. Instruments In the fulfillment
~ his most bcuih,cnt designs those beet
fitted for the work, irrespective of sex.
quoting from many of our beet aud
wise.t preachers aud writers, and forth
fying these opinions by citing many
Instances mentioned IN Scripture. where
the service. ot women, both In private
aud public affairs. religious or other
wi.e. w.r. followed by such successful
results ~ to leave no doubt of their ga
liabilities. aud the conscientious dis
charge of whatever their convictions Of
duty seemed to require of them.
These sentiments, as might he expect
e,i, brought consternation iothe opposite
party: for were not their opinions like
Wise proven 10 be- genuine bible doe
irine, with Paul, the greatest man ~ho
ever lived, for auihorityt But the con
cilisiory tone. of Mr.. Stapleton's reply
brought temporary relief. and they
looked eagerly To their chimpion for q
r.futatlon of such extrayagant aud uD'
warrantsble statements.
II will admit" said the gentlem,n, q.
he arose. "thst there Il some truth "
the statement. To which We have been
listening, aud . am the last Who will b.
found Ia de'rsct from womsn's worth oI
cap,blliiie. for Office; but are not the
iutie. of home sufficient for the slender
frame. sni delicate s.nsibillties of thoss
We term the gentle sexy Would We see
a wife, n sister or daughter mlngllng
with the coar.er elements Of societ ,
without y wish to shield them from such
cont tsminstion. and the ar,iuous liboI
Office generally involvesf II seems q
me both unwi.e aud cruel TO burden bel
weak -fouiuefs WIN ubott tusu t'o uu
tie. already lsid upon them" And con
sldering the subject quite exhausted b.
sat down, conscious of the many mods ol
approval from his followers at the hap
py calculation of the difficult problem "a
be solved; for who would dare 10 stand
up In opposition to his arguments, a
convincing aud 90 feellngiy expresseds
"Ibere are some points In the gentle
mans speech ! would like to notice,'
saId a voice from the osck seats, and .
Young man arose, quickly recoGnlsed u
amy son samuel" !" with permission grant
ed. "First, speaking OF home duties
there are many women we al Know
both I'm public, as well - In private life
Who have never married, aud who hav'
Ing no relatives dependent upon them
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