The sun., 1895-05-26
TIE WOMAN,S BIBLE.
Mrs. stanton's Letter to Miss willard and
Lady Henry Somerset.

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| Mrs. Stanton's Letter to Miss willard and
Lady Henry Somerset.
This letter was sent by Elizabeth Cady
Stanton to Lady Henry Somerset and Miss
Frances Willard IN regard to the "Wo-
mans Bible" Many of the evangelical women,
Mrs. Stanton saws are withdrawing from the
committee on the ground that her comments
nre not sufficiently reverent. Miss Willard
wrote to Mrs. Stanton on April 27. saying that rs
she and Lady II. Somerset would be out Of the
country for the greater part Of next wear. the
committee had better not include them. Miss
Willard wrote in reference to tho Z" Bible:"
mo exegcsis will ever be accepted by the
women Of the churches which Is not endorsed
by their leading women. They feel that the
Bible as the word Of God must be handled by
those who regard 1t as such In order to
evolve such result as they are willing to look
upon with any degree of confidence OF course
they W ould look upon the exegesis OF men with
moro confidence than that of any woman-no
matter who they were-because the clergy have
SO long been regarded by them the special
channel of communication so far as the sacred
women Of the churches do not hold this latter
view; they believe in the right of private judg-
ment, no matter whether the ono who does the
judging is q man or q woman. This is my own
opinion, and believe is becoming moro and
moro the opinion of both the men and women OF
the churches"
Mrs. Stanton's answer to Miss Willard is as
follows:
20 WEST SIXTY-FIRsT STREET.
NEW YORK, May u.
DEAR LADY SOMERSET AND Miss FRANCES
WILLARD: Your letter withdrawing from the
Revising Committee just received. hope you
will reconsider and give the "Woman's Bible"
the influence Of your names and Of the highest
truth your mature thought on the Scriptures
has revealed. 1t has ali along been my idea to
have all phases Of thought represented in this
work-Protestant, Catholic, Jew, Gentle. evan
gelcal. and liberal-fairly giving the views of
the educated women of the nineteenth century
rs to the significance and authority OF the
teachings OF the Bible with reference to
tho position of woman. To this end in
mittee and comment on some one book OF
their own choice, each over her own name,
other. To do this it was necessary for each one
to publish chapter by chapter. to read and criti-
ss oh sh sao The e
cisionn tby vote. as to what should and what
should not be accepted. we should all know
points were open for discussion. With this
knowledge and preparation the debates would
OF the General Assembly more Harmonious and
much shorter. Being familiar with the faith of
ence of opinion would come into the assembly
Hence the good policy OF knowing something OF
to- se of o m he
fact that they do differ from me is the reason
desire their 9pni9ns' explanaations and inter-
mean by the Bible Being the e. @ Word Of God"
DO they mean that the last revised edition of
Revelation, the highest moral, spiritual su-
prsmHs shouGht in The re-. %nyerse2 M That would bs
auODt the reverend LANGUAGE
the highest truths Of religion, science, phiioso-
h and Ss sd Of to ns
mind: But il they mean, the God OF
the Hebrews as represented in the penta;
to their private lives, their treatment Of each
other and neighborng tribes, and the wholesale
arc in appropriate language, condemnatory and
disparaging us they should be. Neither the Ian:
eommand ND the reverence ef Of Tan any honest mind.
You surely cannot consider that record OF an
cism because bound in the same volume with
much that il true and beautiful. To condemn
the peccadilloes of Sarah. Rebecca and Rachael
does not shadow the virtues of Deborah, Hull
dah, and Nashti
II, repudinte the general tone of the Penta-
teuch. its laws and customs for women, and the
female Of all animal life unit even for burnt
offering, does not lessen he force of the golden
rule and the ten commandments.
1t does not develop the reasoning powers of
women nor u pure religious faith to yield a
blind reverence To a book or Bishop when half
version of the religious element In womans
nature is to-day the greatest block to advancing
civilization. II is the fear of the blind religious
fanaticism of women that Is the potent in
tlucnce against their enfranc hisement Those
who appreciate and would maintain the secular
nature OF our Government fear woman's power
against it. They fear women would restore the
Puritanical Sabbath and close the libraries
picture ucrics, concert halls, and museums that
common sense people have been 90 long labOring
To open to the masses Consider the efforts OF
some women to close the great Exposition f'9o
on sunday and thus deprive the multitude of all
the eievutng influences of that magnificent
spectacle, sacrificing tho good Of the many to
the b!gotry of the few.
We need more common sense. science and
philosophy in training the mind of women and
less religious fanaticism. l cannot tell you all
that ! hope and believe as to the influence of
the Wonans liible II my ideal could be fully
realized. Our liberal women will be quite will
ing 10 have their commentaries lound up with
yours. IT your cOadju arc sure that they
yea. anxious. for an enlightenment. to antdoie
our errors with their more exalted inspirations
As each one 10 invited to write over her own |
name she is in no way responsible for the opin- |
with other sciences, and consensus of the COM |
pelent among women on creeds and scriptures |
will be one step in the right direction.
Ia every soul there Is bound up some truth |
and some error, and each one brings TO the world |
of Thought what no other one pOssesses." Let |
us accept then the truth eac brings. and throw |
he error like chair before the winds Would 1t |
not he a greater blessing 10 women at large, "A |
stronger proof OF your faith in your own religious
opinions, for you to comment on what have |
written and show wherein l am in error. and
truth than to withdraw This book may be- |
read for general ions 10 come, ana your word |
VIII stand, as well as mine, to help or hinder |
the development of n grand womnnhood. Sin |
cerely yours, ELIZABETh CAUY STANTON.
EInts and rheIr