The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-21

But why. then, did be say this to the
Corinthians :? Because the occasion
required it. The historical records 60
to show that at Athens and at the
%neighboring city Coriuth, morals were
of the lowest order, especially among
the women. 1t came to pass, says Dr..
Author, that the Greek word called
'.to Corinthapize" meant to play the
wanton the very name of the city was
the synonym of lewdness and immor-
atty. There vas scarcely a city in the
world where women were so low 10
morals. Among them the order of
things had been reversed. The wife
was imprisoned at home, aud kept as a
slave, not as the companion and social
equal Of her husband. In the society
of what we call the demi-moodes the
man, married, or unmarried, passed bis
time and spent his evenings, and no
law, social or civil, prohibited him.
She vas the educated woman, and no
other m was. She was allowed to
appear in public. 10 the Agora, in
private homes at feasts and dinings, and
every woman who thus went out into
the world was classed along with her.
Paul had been to Corinth, and was
we'll acquainted with all this, aud there.
upon thought it necessary to advise the
sisters in the church there to behave IN
the most quiet aud seemly manner, in
order that no evil might attach to their
conduct.
DR.. Charles Anthem. in his Greek
and Roman Antiquities, says in sub
stance. The word hetaira originally
signi6ed a friend or companion. but
at Athens aud other towns of Greece.
it came to be used as the synonym Of
porae, courtesan. The young men,
previous to marriage, spent much Of
their time 10 the company Of the
hetairai without its being thought
blamable in any sense whatever. Even
husbands did the same without drawing
upon themselves the censure of public
opinion, so long as they did not entire
ly neglect their legitimate wives.
A wife was but little regarded, and
marriage was looked upon only as
the means Of producing citizens for the
State. The education of women was
entirely neglected; they we're re.
garded as inferior beings, less endowed
by nature, aud incapable of taking
auy part in public affairs and Of
sympatbizing with their husbands.
Intellectually they we're not fit to be
agreeable companions to their hus-
bands, who consequently sought else.
where what they did not 6od at home.
A N had no right to proceed
against her husband. The State tole-
rated the Aetairai. They we're gene
rally not mere castways, but acted as
cithara aud d~ute-players and as
dancers, and we're frequently employed
to add to the spiender of family
sacrifices and to %enliven and heighten
the pleasure of feasts and dinings.
They we're the most accomplished
NJ in Greece, and paid much
attention to the cultivation of their
minds. 1t was because of their intel
lectual superiority that men preferred
their company and conversation. The
towr most notorious 10 Greece for the
number of its hetairai, as we'll as for
their beauty and refined manners, vas
Corintb.
W. gather from the above that the
wife was required to remain at home,
the hetaira, who was cultivated, and
educated, went abroad in the world of
society and was allowed to appear in all
public places. Paul knew all this. aud
10 order to aid the Christian women in
maintaining a good name and place. be
advised them to be perfectly orderly in
the churches, and not to do anything
which would lead n to suppose that
they belonged to the order named
above. 1t was then perfectly natural
that be should have advised them to
keep quiet, aud if y insists that the
passage under discussion teaches that
they must not make public addresses.
theo tbat<too was perfectly natural for
a city like Corinth !; but because such a
law prevailed there, it does not follow
that it was necessary elsewhere. W.
have a similar case 10 the teachings of
u Lord. He said that since be had
washed the disciples feet. the disciples
should wash each others feet.
This statement was made without
conditions, and yet the churches
observe no such practice. But
the reason is obvious. In those
days, when men wore sandals, the feet
were easily soiled by dirt aud dust, and
toiwash them or have them washed by
the host was just as much an act of
courtesy as it is Now for one to take
your hat when you enter his house.
Chanoed circumstance have abrOpated