The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
A WOMAN OF ADVANCED THOUGHT.

One of the saddest things to contemplate is
a young woman who has advanced" so far
as to reject the Bible as Gods Word. and who
has fallen into sEeptical and agnostic ways.
Recently we met one OF the modern girls,
who think that ''the thing" to do nowadays
is to exalt 'free thought" and talk about
nineteenth century progress and effete Chris
tianity. She had not gotten on so Tar
as to deny the Divine Existence, but she
saw no need OF the Church, and said
she did not attend any. She was dis
posed to favor Universalism 80 far as the
future world was concerned. az she held that
all persons would be saved and observed that,
if she had any church preference she in
clined to the Unitarian but she had no faith
in divine revelation, and lived on the prin-
ciple of having good time In this world and
not worrying oneself about the hereafter.
We watched her from day to day, and
action. She seemed to protest, on
every occasion, against religion. She
appeared to say, by look and manner, though
too polite to express the thought In our pres
ence. '!You rehglonists are set of dupes and
fogies. and am far superior to you in width
and depth Of thinking" She, however, i'm
pressed US with lack of that tender and re-
Sponsive womanliness which comes OF Christ
ian faith and experience. that refinement Of
Jesus. and that sympathy for humankind
which belief in. and acceptance OF the Bible
develops. She was bold, Independent, out
spoken, selfish and hardened. We looked
upon her with sadness and pain as we con-
templated her future.
But, saddest of all, was the thought Of her
influence upon others. especially'upon those
who were near and dear to her. A devoted
husband was continually by her side, and
.l1~A Al . ,,,,l,% %,6o, orfh fr 90
she was graduate of one Of the celebrated
female seminaries Of the land and had way
of asserting herself which limited strongly that
it was best not to run counter to her wishes
and views. They had bright little boy, over
whom parental authority was manifest, as he
readily yielded to his mothers word. Should
he. be trained according to her ideas
for she had decided views of how children
should be trahed-he may grow up polished
gentleman and moral man. but he will be
free thinker and a world seeker. AS we
thought Of her case, our conviction doepened
that womanhood needs more and more the
simple trlstful faith of the Gospel, and that
home and society will be bereft Of a blessed,
soothing aud elerating power If advanced
thought" takes the place of Bible piety.-The
Presbyterian.
The prayer OF the family is to be-not forru
Or decent ceremony. but-real, humble. trust
iul service, in which guided by the Word and
Spirit OF God the family brings the details OF
actual life with becoming fervor before the
Divine and all ruling Father with gratitude.
submission. hope. confidence, and in which
the weak human souls take hold TO-
yether to infinite strength. He
donors them that honor Him. He dTells
with them who invite His presence.
That presence lightens the gloom Of life, and
orightens all its Joys His blessing gives that
safe prosperity with which no sorrow is
linked. as it is sure to be where He is ignored
In unblessed prosperity. o. men and breth-
rem whom God has placed at the head Of fam
lies, where He gives you homes be sure that
you set up altars .-[Rev. John Hall.