The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-04-19


Why, that a woman should speal
from platform of pulpit. These same
objectors-most of them-are found a.
theatre and the opera, and many O
hem, of the ball room, the waltz, and
he various round dances. Who
would 20 to any of them if women
were not allowed to be the principa
participants And, when was a wo
man more out of place than on tht
stage-as a gazing stock" for the
vicious and licentious? Yet never s
word do we hear adverse to her place
in the histrionics. Indeed, if womer
would abandon the stage, opera ant
ball room, these institutions woulc
speedily 60 into decay, and be num-
bered among the things that were.
The matter of intellectual ability
and the power of physical endurance
enter largely into this question, and is
q ground of objection ON the part Of
many. But no student of history
sacred or profane, can doubt woman's
mental competency. In past ages as
in the present, she ruled and does rule
successfully with wisdom and mod.
Grafton. No student of nature, who is
at all familiar with the logic of facts,
will for O moment doubt her powers OF
physical endurance. In many in.
stances where men fail she succeeds
and in as many more, where men fear
and tremble, woman's courage and for
tiude are fully adequate to the demads
of the occasion.
As the years roll on the existing pre-
judices are bound to give way, and wo-
man will be recognized to be what she
really is-a power for good, and in no
sphere more efficiently good than i'll
proclaining the glad tidings of saliva
ton to the erring sons Of men. AL
ready is she taking rank with the best
teachers of the schools and colleges.
Most of the great reformatories of the
world owe their existence and success
to the tact, talent, and indomitable en-
ergy of women.
Since the days of Jonadab till now
there have been temperance organiza-
tions,-but when did they accomplish
much until women took hold of them ?
Now the temperance question is pour
ing its benign influences all around
the world and woman went and
held the light-organized Temperance
associations in about all the systematls-
cd governments of the earth.
The success of missions to foreign
lands is due to the work, the teaching,
the preaching of women. Who can
deny it? Not only so, but there was
great apathy in the work Of support
ing missions till the women were call
ed into the Woman's Missionary Soci-
eties.
In the temple service of song of old,
women participated and if her voice
were hushed in the song worship OF
the times now passing we would have
dry, dull, hard times in the churches.
It is q fact not to be ignored that
woman is a grand success in whatever
she undertakes, be it good or evil. She
governs we'll in the State ; she teaches
well, she sings beautifully, and in the
humber attitude of prayer she has no
superior-no, verify.
It is also worthy TO be remembered
that, of the many Prophetesses named
in the Bible, there was but a single
false one. That is to say, she is not
proved to answer when not called, or
to run when not sent.
The magnetism of her sex is another
important factor in the make of the
qualifications of a successful winner
of souls, and the all-wise Maker of all
things is not likely to over look this
fact when dispensing His calls and
graces for the sacerdntal office.
1t was woman who led man out OF
Paradise, and none bat woman can so
effectuaiy lead him back. AS the
learned and prudent Gamaliel said to
the Jews, so let US say to the men OF to-
day: "And now l say unto you, Re
frain from these men, [women] and
let them alone: for if this counsel or
this work be of men, [women] it Will
come to naught: but if it be of God,
We cannot overthrow it; lest happy we
be found even to fight against God"
(Acts, V; So, SO.