The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-04
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
The Subject Discoursed Upon at the New
Jerusalem Temple by Rev. MIR. spier.

The Reverend MI. Spier of the New
J Jerusalem Temple, took for his text yester-
day morning, Isaiah L, Is. Come now, let
us reason together saith the Lord" The
idea that was pre-eminent throughout 1.-THE
discourse was the freedom of man. Man is
free TO accent or reject God. He is respon-
sihIe for the use he makes of his freedom.
God apueaIs to us as reasonirg and reason
able creatures. We cannot understand one
truth except in it's relation TO all other
truths. IL was the failure to recognize this
nrinciplc on the part of the Romish church
that led to tie Inquisition. But even To-
day men adopt TIE same course as the
Romish church did centuries ago, when
they attempt to justify the carrying out of
petty prosecutions. We are taught that
Heaven is the end of lite. This world is the
seminary Tor Heaven. A man must be free
to will, to think. TO act. Every man has his
own individuality; is different from all
other men, and the happiness of Heaven
depends upon the infinite variety 10 force
any person to walk in a given course is to
limit his freedom, and conseq uently MS
capacity to receive the Divine wisdom.
The great principle of human freedom IS
contained in the golden rule. DO unto TO
others as We would have others do to you."
This principle should be appliedsto woman
suffrage. Many things we think strange
or false in others are not so; they are the
individualisms of the person. The highest
good of all is the highest good OF each. The
blending of ilidividualism and OF socialism
makes the highest and most perfect form Of
government. Indiyidualities couldn't be
carried out unless all desired TO do right.
Children ore as much to be considered as
adults. The responsibility in regard to
children rests largely in the parents. The
freedom of man is found in the enforced
obedience of the child. The burning
question of the hour in Maine is municipal
suffrage for women. We cannot take one
doctrine ard say this is absolutely true
without modifying it with other truths
brought to hear upon it, The doctrines OF
the New Church define the status of men
and women more fully and clearly than
those of any other. The mans use is out
door, the woman's at home. These are their
orderly uses in general terms. But in these
times, it becomes necessary for women to
do many things that properly belong to
man. She must get her own living and
therefore she must do mans work. With
the doing it comes in public duty. Shall
she be excluded from some public duties
and compelled TODD others? Or shall + SHE
have the freedom o. works out her SOW Y
social salvation? She must be left in abso-
Lutte freedom, like man. to follow out the
callings OF. her heart that came from God.
Ifshe chooses ana feels called to public life,
why hasn't she the same light as man TO
adopt it'proriding shesdoesn't interfere
with the freedom Of others. The doctrine
of freed ON. that of the New GChurchs de-
mand ssthat she be given the freed ON of the
ballot and. hold office if she can get II. What
right has man to prevent her? Suppose all
the churches should pass laws that nobody
should dance or play cards. That's what
was done under the old blue laws. Would
not our freedom be taken away to that ex-
tent and with it our ability for develop
ment? This is an instance of an orderly
truth modified by other truths. 1t such
freedom is not permitted then the golden
rule is necessarily violated. And this same
rule applies to many laws at present on our.
statute books that ought not 10 pc there.
If you take away temptation from man tlien
you cannot have regeneration.