The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-09
A woMAN's BIBLE.


lection has been made, and not without
reason, that the method of expression
common in England in the time of James
l., and prior 10 that time. was what would
now be regarded as coarse" 1t may be
squeamlshness, but there are many gentle
women and some men who would shrink
from reading ell OF the Bible aloud TO
their growing sons and daughters. There
are those. however. who pride themselves
upon their robustness OF character who
can see no objection to passages which.
IL they were told were written by Paine,
voltaire or Fielding. they would shudder
at and snatch the book from their daugh-
tiers hands. This. however, is not due 10
any defect in the Bible itself. but TO the
altered conditions. We may be no better
than our first parents. but We do not con-
slider it necessary to follow their example
In the matter OF attire.
Il Is ridiculous TO say that The grand
fundamental principles OF Holy Writ
would suffer by translation into the re-
hnements OF nineteenth century language
any more than they suffered in the many
TRANSACTIONS from the ancient Hebrew
into the imperfect Indian tongues. or even
into the various languages OF more CIV
ilized races. 1t is no less ridiculous TO
say that the Anglo-Saxon vocabulary Is
more restricted and less capable OF nice
distinctions than that OF the time OF
Wyekliffe, or that the laws would iese
any of their force by the substitution OF
words well understood for those obsolete
or tabooe1.
But the ladies referred to have. n
seems. an entirely different purpose. Mrs.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who leads the
movemenC. frankly explains that In her
work for the Advancement of women
her worst foe has been the misconception
OF the Bible as regards woman, that the
acceptance of the present version has
taken away the self-respect OF woman
and made her The slave OF man, and that
women must therefore get together and
revise the Bible Sd far as their position
Is defined by {.
1t seems rather illogical that because
''misconception' has arisen on the part OF
readers that the Bible is TO be revised. IL
would seem better TO correct the 'eon-
ceptlon." To those who believe that the
Sacred Scriptures are the word of God. IL
would seem TO be sacrilege TO tamper with
them for the avowed purpose of serving a
special cause. To those who do not hold
them in so high esteem, what does it mat
ter that the views of writers expressed
hundreds OF years ago differ from those
OF the Society for the Emancipation Of
Woman from the Thraldom of Centuries?
The old Bible viii remain to contradict the
new one and it will be fortified by the re-
spect always accorded the genuine as dis
tinguished from the spurious.
If the object were only TO expunge pas
sages proved beyond doubt to be of apocry-
phal origin. to place more correct interpre-
tation upon words whose point is lost by
ffleir later perversion. it would be COM
mendable. But 10 twist passages to sus-
tain a modern theory cannot be defended
upon any logical principle.
II would be more TO the purpose and
strictly in accordance with truth TO ex-
plain that many OF the admoniuons ad-
dressed to both sexes were framed upon
conditions then existing. Polygamy among
some nations and concubinage among
others-two very different relations--were
recognized institutions. and the prophets
dealt with them. But throughout nearly
all except the earliest times. monogamy
was praised as the better condition. and
the virtues OF women were always extofied.
Very clear distinction was always made
between chaste and an unchaste woman.
the ono commended and the other con-
demned. \ woman OF good understand
ing" is contrasted with "a brawling 'wo-
man" A foolish woman is rebuked. but.
saith the prophet, "a gracious woman re-
taiueth honor" 1t is true that the in
junction is laid down that the woman
/ shall not wear that which pertainsth 20
! man." but Il is as explicitly declared.
neither shall man put on woman's gar
+ meuts"
/ In the Ep'stle. 81. Paul entoins obed.-
/ euce on the part Of sAs wife 70 the nus
band. but that was condition OF the
/ times. and dlsoheilence was considered
/ an evasion OF duty. Besides. s.. Paul
was not married man and h- had never
/ undertaken 20 put mat precept into prac-
( tice.
[ Some % the young ladies' who are asso-
( clated IN the work will DO very much
+ more toward improving the condition OF
+ woman X they carry their views into
( matrrnony and convert the men TO their
/ way - thinking. Il VIII he more Erica
F clous than twisting passages Of $ grand
/ oh hook-the book OF books-which has
! 50 wisely ssid: Let every woman have
/ her own husband"