The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-17
THE GIRL IN BOOMERS
A STATESVILLE PASTOR TAKES
STRONG GROUND AGAINST
THE NEW WOMAN.
AN INSTITUTION OF THE DEVIL.

MI
Rev. j. H. Pressly Based His Sermon
on the Shunamite Woman w HON he
Held up as an Example to the Sisters
of This Day.-W oman Preachers and
Politicians Arraigned---He Would
not Speak TO a Woman In BIoomers
any More Than to yellow Dog.
The trouble over the boomer not only
increases but thickens. Such costume
is anything but pretty and the half mas
culine bicycle rider is not only being
made the butt of much fun by the sensa
tional press but the sensational preacher
as we'll is beginning to find texts to JUS
tify him in taking strong ground against
this fin de steele product. Though the
bloomer has not yet appeared IN North
Carolina, save in one or two OF our more
advanced places, Rev. j. 81. Presley, of
Statesville, has felt impressed to warn
his people against this modern abomina-
ton and snare. This he did last Sunday
in strong and lurid language. The
Statesville Landmark thus reports him:
In his sermon at the Associate Re-
formed Church, Sunday night, Rev. j.
FL. Pressly, the pastor, took strong
ground against the new woman" The
sermon was based on she story Of
the Shunamite woman who took
in and ministered unto the good
prophet Elisha, and had room made
for him in her house, and the subject
was Gods idea of great woman.
This woman is called in the Scrip
lures great woman, and the preacher
said that so far as he knew she was
the only woman in the Bible to whom
the word great was applied. In the first
part of his discourse Mr.. Pressly portrayed
the excellence of this Shunamite woman
and held her up as an example to the
sisters of this day. While on this branch
of the subject he was quite complimentary
to the ladies, saying they were better re-
ligious workers, more earnest, faithful
and self-sacrifcing in the cause OF re-
ligion than men. He could NOT, he said,
imagine any man contributing bis last
cent to anything as did the poor widow
when she gave her two mites IN the
temple.
Coming back, then, to the Shunamite
woman, he said he could not imagine her
going to the polls to vote he could not
imagine her taking part in political con
vent1ons or caucuses and bandying black
guard epithets with men from political
platforms. This idea of women in
politics was, he said, an institution of the
devil which has crept into the 10Th cen
fury. Women preachers next received
his attention and he quoted the Scrip
ture against them and said every one OF
them was violating the law of God. To
hear or see mention Of Rev. Mrs. So and
So or Mrs. DR.. So and So was the next
thing to ipecac with him. AS to women
lawyers or doctors he said he could stand
it if they could, but women preachers
and politicians were severely arraigned,
as were those women who want to ex
purgate the Bible because they think
some portions of it are vulgar and indie
cent He thought these last were toe
awfully pure.
But the new woman--the woman III
boomers and stride of bicycle-was
scored worst Ne would not, he said,
speak to one of these women m mems
clothes any more than he would to yel
low dog He said this with emphasi;
and said that he desired to go on record
abous it, On this question his hearers
were referred to Deut., 22:5, which reads
as follows:
"The woman shall not wear that which
pertaineth unto a man, neither shall 8
man put on woman's garment: for al
that do so arc an abominatIon unto the
Lord thy God"
Ninety-nine out Of every 100 women
who come whizzing by you in knicker
bockers and boomers are violating The
law of God. He would speak to any
woman than would speak to him, M
matter how poorly clad she might be Oh
what her station in life, but he woult
not speak to woman in mems clothes
Mr. Pressly is ready and interesting
talker and his large congregation gav'
him the closest attention to the end. /
Is probable that large majority of then
agree with his views.