The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-17
MArRIMoSrAL OBEDIENCE.
ws-sn's osuestious % Obey Hsr Husband
Before the Churches aaa Other Critics.

ws-an's Obligations 90 Obey Hsr Husbaud
Before the Churehes asa Other Critics.
To THE EDITOR or TIE suN-Sir: The New
Woman" has been agitsting this most important
question Of matrimonial obedience in the col
umns OF an English paper, with special refer
ence TO the word "obey" as Il occurs in the
marriage service in the Book Of Common Prayer.
both in the Anglican Church and in that Of the
Episcopal Church OF this country. Why should
= woman say "obey" when she has not the
slightest intention Of obeying7 That is the
question. It Is . vow and oath which ninety
nine women out Of hundred who have the good
fortune to find husband have not the slightest
intention Of keeping. The curious feature in
the discussion Ia the fact that the word "obey"
Is peculiar to the Anglican order Of the solempi-
zation Of matrimony, and does not occur In the
marriage service Of the Roman Catholic Church.
The promise OF the woman in the Anglican
Church and in the Protestant Episcopal Church
of America runs thus:
I'm, take thee N. to be my welded husband, to have
and to hold from this day forward, for better for
worse for richer for poorer in sickness and In health
to love- cherish and obey, TIL death do part, &C
cording to Gods holy ordinance and thereto give
thee my troth.
The form In the sacrament of matrimony as II
stands in the prayer book OF the Church OF
Rome Is as follows:
In, take thee, n, for my welded husband, to have
and to hold from this day forward. for better for
for richer for poorer in sickness and in health
TIL death do us part n Holy Church will II permit;
and thereto plight thee my troth
It is therefore evident that the word "obey."
which Ia such an offence to the New Woman"
Ia not some remnant of medieval barbarism. but
was introduced into the Protestant Church in
an enlightened age when Henry WILL, Oh matrl-
II seems pity that the New Woman" has
raised this controversy. because there IL surely
no sane man in the world who would i insist upon
II Ia true that the Apostle Paul. in the good old
times, did advise Titus, the Bishop Of Crete. TO
exhort the young women to he keepers AT
home. good, obedient to their own husbands"
and that st. Peter. who was himself married
Subsection f % nI to your husBands And i Is pToba
bile that at the Reformation, when people began
duced to the service OF the Protestant Book of
Common Prayer MS being hat Scriptural
The nineteenth century. with it's women's po-
itical leagues and divorce courts. has, however,
got a little beyond the antiquated views Of st;
among us who would dare to support the views
Of even an inspired Apostle when the question
OF the freedom and the authorityof woman II
beautiful essay known ns"of Queen. Gardens"
Thus he talks OF the power of the wife:
Deep.rootcd in the nncrmost life OF the heart Of
man and OF the heart of woman IL love Of power
God set II there and God keeps II there. vainly
falsely you rebuke the desire Of power For heavens
sake and for mans sake desire It all you But
what powerI That 10 all the question. Power tn de-
stroy the lions limb and the dragons BREATH Not
Power to heal 10 redeem, to guide and to guard Power
OF the sceptre and shield the power OF the royal hand
that heals In touching that binds the fend and looses
the captive, the throne that il founded the rock Of
Justice and descended from only by steps OF mercy
VIII you not covet such power this. and he
housewives, but queens Rex ct Regina, Roi ct Refine
right doers They differ but from the lady and the
lord In that their power ia supreme the mind
the person; that they only feed and clothe
but direct and teach. And whether consciously or
not, you must be In many heart enthroned. There
is putting by that crown. Queens you must always
be. Queens to your lovers, queens to husbands
and your sons queens OF higher mystery TO the world
beyond which bows itself, and must ever bow before
the myrtle crown and the stainless sceptre Of woman
hoodl But alas, you too often idle and careless
queens Rrasplng majesty in the least things while
you abdlcate II in the greatest.
We can give. expression to the desire of the
New Woman" not to obey and can quote
Ruskin. who is always sublime hut 1t is impos-
sible to settle this question of wifely obedience
Is Re 81 he Gr to
obey" when the bridegroom. q son OF the
soil. who took practical view of life, said:
"Oh, never mind, sir. I'll make her say 1t
AZ matters now stand. in this old dispensation
carries the baby, the position OF the husband
would seem to be pretty well expressed in an old
Years family gatherings by the merry, kindly,
rubcund old uncle OF the family 10 the uproa ri
Gus delight in the end-of all but the ladies'
who after dinner, never would admit the
| premacy of man:
Old Adam was laid In a slum-burr,
And rib taken out Of his sIda.
And when he awukc from his sium-burr
He beheld his most beautiful bride.
She was not taken out Of his heads
TO rule aud triumph liver him;
Nor was she taken out OF his foOt-surT.
BY him To be trampel onG
But she was taken ont ~ his sdesurr,
His fellow and equal To be,
Hut when they're united In One-rsurr
The man Is the top OF the tree,
Another New Woman" writes: Surely the
words according to Gods holy ordinance.
| mean according to all that conscience permits
| and dictates. The whole tenor of -. paul's
| teaching must go to prove that h- would never
have wished further obedience than this, and
yet this Is what man Is so slow to Concede ~.
| Paul rather echoes and chimes in with the dom
| inant thought Of all high-mind-d men of to-day.
| OF which Prof. Ruskin. in his Sesame and
Lilies is the pioneer, that woman il To be-
| erenced as one OF themselves; that, hand in
hand with man. she Is called Ia forward the
progression OF the race"
Here the controversy ends q. \.
To Partly Elections In California.
MI d., L,f