The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-01
THE woMAN's BIBLE.

THE WoMANs BIBLE.
-
II anything had been needed to con-
vince incredulous man Of woman's ineffa-
BE superiority the woman's Bible is call
culated to do so. II the forthcoming
sections are equal to the present issue Of
the Pentateuch, which is now before us
in all the richness of its eruditlon and
diciion and the caimness of its logic,
the complete work will be wonder and a
Joy. AS an expression of naive femi-
ninIty alone. 1t is iscalculated to figure as
unique addition to literature. But as
an argument II is colossal vindlcation
The alleged tyrant has long ago given
up protesting In a voice weakened by
iteration and drowned by the strident
shrieks OF the oppressed, that he ac-
knowledged her superiority. He has
grown used to being branded as tearer
down OF female rights and has learned
to balance himself with uneasy compla-
cence upon the totterIng throne to
which his victims have raised him, while
they reveled in their wrongs. But the
time has come for him to make a SUI
preme effort to be heard and to insist on
granting to woman the last stronghold
Of HIS prerogative-the right to be su-
premely, surprisingly funny.
The Woman's Bible is compiled of all
passages OF Scripture which contain any
reference whatever to the female, gen.
eral or Individual. and includes, as in
vldious distinctions most references to
men, followed by the natural and logical
query. why not women?" To each of
these passages is appended learned COM
ment from the pens OF the distinguished
women who have been appointed TO the
holy task Among the members Of the
committee are a few Hebrew and Greek
scholars whose services have doubtless
been Invaluable. but for the most part
the commentaries seem TO be based main
" on the personal views OF the writer,
which OF course furnish more unassail-
ohtp totitN"AiVii ehui any OticE coHcclNd-
Bile one They begin their higher criti-
cism" with bold demand for recognition
In the Trinity II is doctrine which
has been 80 yariously explained" that
the feminine version Of its significance is
at least entitled to hearing. They also
announce at the start that their reason
has reprdiated the divine authority OF
the Bible; yet, as most men and women
are too unintelligent to have arrived at
this stage. they consider II worth while
TO show the falsity and injustice Of its
attitude 10 women The first Of the two
writer's In Genesis seems to bc tho only
Biblical author who deserves commenda-
ti0n at their hands--he represents man
and woman as simultaneous creation
and says nothing about the dominion"
OF man. Any later concessions to the
woman. as In the fourth commandment,
for example, are hailed with sarcastic
surprise, deadly and crushing in the ex-
treme. As for the rib story, It is scorn-
fully vet graveiy dismissed as petty
surgical operation"
TO give anything like an exhaustive re-
view Of this important. not to say mo-
mentous, work, would require time and
space beyond the limits Of any mere
newspaper. Yet there are passages in 1t
which cry out for quotations. as. for ex-
ample, the following, apropos OF the i'm
mediate descendants OF Adam: Inter
marriage with the descendants Of Cain
have corrupted the progeny perplexed
the Creator and preclpitated the food
We are told that. IN the matter Of the
temptation, the conduct Of I'VE was,
from the beginning 10 the end, so superior
to that Of ADAM" And again: 1T
takes six verses TO describe the fair Of
woman; the fan OF man Is contemptu-
ously dismissed in line and a half,'
Could anything be more conclusive OF the
pre-emlnence given to woman In the
Bible, even were It not just the contrary
that the dear ladies are endeavorlng to
proyeg Again. apropos OF the taking OF
the women's jewels for the making Of the
golden cali, we are reminded that st was
Just 50 IN the American Revolution in
ING the lrst dcllcacy the men threw
overheard In Boston harbor was the tea
woman'a fayorile beverage. The tobacco
and whisky, though heavily taxed. they
clune % with the tenaclty Of the devil
fish So they did the horfid things