Blue-grass blade., 1895-08-04
PRES. John AUG. WILLIAMS
AGAIN Reviews Miss Collins.
To Miss MAY l.. Collins


Of June and, would note some errors
you have unintentionally made in quot
ing my second letter, and then answer
briefly the question you ask me in your
last.
I. You quote me as saying: "If II
could be proved that the writers of the
Gospels and Epistles were ignorant and
illiterate men, it would only confirm
more conclusively the Divinity Of
Christ"
did not use that language, nor do
hold to that opinion.
q. You sav that Paul admits that he
was robber, a liar and fool.
He makes literally no such confession;
and, for the sake of your own argument
I think you should not have made such
a statement. The churches to whom he
wrote could not, he we'll knew, have tor
tured his rhetorical expressions into SO
absurd self accusation.
4. You say that his estimate OF woman
as shown through his epistles is brutal,
and places him so low in your opinion,
that you can think of him only with
contempt and abhorance.
Now for the sake of making a rather
pretty issue with you, I will say that
Pauls' estimate of women, as shown
places him so high in my opinion, that
I can think of him only with admiration
and gratitude. Surely we do not inter-
pret the scriptures by the same rule
d. You think that the religion of Jes-
us is not based on eternal truth, but on
miracles"
| may hereafter notice the position
that in6dels have taken with respect to
miracles. But | must first ask you to
define a miracle, as you understand the
term. Until then, can only repeat my
statement, that the religion of Jesus is
based on eternal truth, and not on mira
cles.
And while YOU are defining terms,
please explain your meaning of the prin-
cipal one used in our correspondence,
and which have tried in vain to discov-
er from your letters: What is Christiani-
ty? If you mean anything different
from the religion which Jesus taught
and exemplified in his life and charact-
er, as have constantly defined it to be,
do not care to waste time in its discus
sion or defence.
s You also say that you are fully per-
suaded that Christ was not the "Son of
Cod Here again you fail to define
your terms. Christians interpret that
stance: Dr. Chalmers, DR.. Briggs, James
Freemen Clark, Joseph Cook, DIR. Hodge,
etc.
7. You further say, your "Bible begins
with the degradation and curse of wo.
man."
Mine begins with her noble, but be-
guiled aspirations, her sublime mission
and her exalted destiny. The issue
thus stated, will also perhaps please you
7. You quote me as saying in the ad-
dress l took the liberty to send you, tina,
young women should not become toe
enthusiastic in the work Of woman's ad.
vancement, and in their conduct toward
it, "they should be governed by the
Word"
On reading that address carefully you
will see that gave no such advice.
said to them what would like to repeat
here:
81 must warn you, young ladies'
against the extravagancies and absurdi-
ties that attend this and all other enthu-
siastic reforms. Your safety and useful
ness will depend on bringing every ques-
ton, and every step of your progress, to
the test of good sense and well ground
ed Christian principle Follow the
guidance of your institutions enlighten-
path between indifference on the one
hand and fanaticism on the other"
7. Lastly, as you ask me to give you
my opinion, either in private letter, OF
in the columns of the Blade, "as to just
how far the advancement and equality oi
woman should extend"
I. AS to her advancement, believe il
should be continued as far as she her.
self, aided by man, angels and God
working in and with and for her through
time and eternity, can extend it.
2. AS to her equality with man. how
ever, I can not say that believe in the
doctrine as understand you to present
it. She is constitutionally his superior in
all that ennobles her as spiritual, NOR
al and rational being. She can not, un-
der equal circumstances, be reduced tC
equality with him. Whether in her deg
radiation she sings by the rude couch o.
Marco Polo, or filings herself beneath
the uplifted club OF Powhatan; whether
in her exaltation, as she sits as Ester
"wisest OF women" on the throne o.
Persia; or whether in her highest and
hottest sphere, she reigns as Monica
mother of Augustine, or Emmilia, moth
er Of Basil, the Great, or Norma, mother
of Gregory, or Arthusa, mother oi
NuIySOSlOm, VI dS tuOuSduuS Vi OluCl
holy mothers, and oracular wives, and
sweet, unselfish daughters have reigned
IN the past, and shall continue to reign
until the world through her agency
shall be regenerated.
). But if you mean by equality the
same amount of muscular strength, ami
NAL force, passionate power, or logical
shrewdness, then l am opposed to any
attempt on her part to become mans
rival in the toilsome enterprises of the
material world. man." says the wise
Paul "is the savior of the body" Dis
tinctively, he is the hero of the thorny
field and sweaty brow.
Yet, think / would leave woman
free, as citizen, to delve, to build, to
make war, to plead law, to mount plat
form, or stump, to sing bass or to throw
the boomerang-al just as she pleases,
without the offensive retrictions of law
She would never long abuse her liberty
or degrade the dignity of her high voca
ton, If only she is taught to understand
and appreciate it. l would leave her
to determine for herself how she may
best use her gifts and privileges-trust-
ing always to her good sense, correct
taste and enlightened intuitions. / am
not afraid of her whether she reigns or
serves. Paul, the noblest champion of
Woman's rights, thus sums up the
whole question in his fine, epigramma-