The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-26
wy 4 \ '(H'1'II.J|'1'I!i1
a Specimen OF tho Work Compiling Under
tho Direction of Mrs. Stanton.

tho Direction OF Mrs. Stanton.
Here is specimen chapter from the
sWomnn's Bible" which is being COM
piled by revising committee of lead
3ng women Of most civilized nations.
They propose 70 comment simply on all
texts in the Old and New 1'estaments
that refer to women. Mas sEfizabgth
Cady Stanton Of 26l West Sixty first
street is chairman Of tho committee,
and information concerning the work
may bs obtained from her. The speci-
men chapter is Numbers xvii, Ill,
and, with Mrs. Stanton's colnments is
hs follows:
l. Then came the daughters OF zelophehad,
Che son of Hephcr, tho son OF Gilead, the son
OF Aachir. the son OF Manasseh. OF the families
OF ManHseeh, the son OF Joseph, and theao
iho names Of his daughters Mahlah. Nonh
and uogiah and Micah and Tirzah.
!. And thoy stood beforo Mosas and before
Lieazar; the priest, and before the princes and
all the congregation, by the door OF the taber
nacie. of the congregation, saying:
.. Our father died in tho Wilderness and nc
vas not In the'conpany OF them that gathered
themselves together against tho Lord in the
company of Eerah.
4. Why should the name OF our father be
Gone away from among his family because ho
bath no soilf Give unto US therefore n posses
sion among the brethrGu OF our fcther.
5. And Moses brought their cause before tho
Lord
9. 8 And theLord spaio unto Moses, saying:
2. Tho daughter5 OF I.lophchad speak right:
ehou shalt surely give them n possession Of an
Inheritance among their fathers brethren,
end thou shalt cause the inheritance of their
Sathor to pass unto them.
y. And thou shalt speak unto tho children Of
Israel, saying, II mnn die and havo no son,
sben ya shall cause his inheritance to pass unto
Lis daughter
o. And il he have no daughter then ye shall
give his inheritance unto his brethren.
10. And il lie have no brethrep. thou ye shall
give his inheritance uato his fathers brethren.
IL. And if his father have no brethren, then
Sc shall give his inheritance unto his liinsman
That lib NEXT TO him of his family, ind ho shall
possess II. ind IL shall De unto tho children OF
Israel statute OF Judgment. as tho Lord
manGed bfoses.
Tho respect paid to the daughters OF
Eelophchad at that early day is worthy
the imitation OF the rulers in our own
times. These daughters were no doubt
fine looking, we'll developed women,
gifted with the power OF eloqucnce able
10 impress their personality and argu-
fnents on that immense assemblage of
the people They were allowed to plead
their own case in person before the law
Givers, the priests and the princes, the
rulers i'll state and church. and all tho
congregation, ut the very door Of tho tab
srnaclo. They presented their case with
ouch force and clearuess that all saw the
Justice of their claims. Moses was 20
deeply impressed that he Mt once retired
10 his closet to listen to tho still small
voice Of conscience and commune with
dis maker. In response the Lord said to
aim, THE daughters of Zelophehad
speak right, if man die and leave no
con, then We shall cause his inheritance
10 pass unto his daughters. " 1t would
1ave been commendable if the members
Of the late constitutional convention in
New York had, like Moses, asked the
guidance Of the Lord i'll deciding the
rights of tho daughters of the Van Rens-
selaers, the Stuyvosants, the Livingstons
and the Knickcrbockcrs.
Their final action revealed the painful
fact that they never thought to take the
case to the highest court i'll the moral
Universe The daughters of Zelophehad
were fortunate in being all of one mind,
none there to plead the fatigue, the pub
sicity, the responsibility Of paying taxes
and investing property. Of keeping u
Bank account and having some knowl-
edge of mathematics. The daughters of
Eelophehad We're happy to accept all the
necessary burdens inspired by tho laws
Of inheritance, while the daughters of
the knickcrbockers trembled at the
Thought of assuming the duties involved
In self government
As soon as Moses laid the case before
Che Lord he not only allowed tho justice
OF the claim, but gave "a statute of
Judgment" by which the Jewish nagis-
Grates should determine ull such cases in
Che division Of property in the land Of
Canaan in all after ages.
When the rights of Eoperty were Sc
cured to married women in the state OF
New York in 1913, certain class were
opposed to the measure, and would cross
ahe street to avoid speaking to the sis
ters who had prayed and petitioned fol
its success. They did not object, how
ever, in due time to use the property
Srps secured. and the san,a tSrne If ysnrn