The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-19

young women to the universities is still
further from realization. Worship has
allowed women to attend as students the
lectures of the Berlin universities This
permission still bears the character of an
exception, but it is good beginning,
and as greater use of this permission is
made every year, the exception will prob
ably soon become the rule.
There is no doubt that progress is
made on the whole line. The question
here is altogether more one for the edu-
Gated classes. Among the laboring
classes almost every man marries: the
wife who keeps bis household in order is
indispensable to him. The number of
unmarried women is. therefore. much
smaller in those classes, and they too
find sufficient occupation in agriculture.
in factories. as maids, etc.
Especiallyin agriculture there is more
a want of helping hands than the con.
trary. The only complaint is that the
wages for woman services are much
smaller; but there are, of course, two
sides to that question. If more women
found independent occupation, it is very
probable that more men would remain
out OF work, and that, therefore, a small.
er number of men would be able to
marry. Men ought to get sufficient
wages to support not only themselves,
but wife and children, while women
workers generally have only themselves
to take care of.
The Protestant deaconesses' institu
tion in Germany have paved the way for
an Independent position and suitable
work for many unmarried women. The
black dress with the white caps gives her
safe entry into all houses, and we can.
not but regret that the number of wo-
men is not larger who seek this useful
occupation. But it has also given
a general impulse to the work OF wo.
men in all branches of home mission
work.
This brings US to the third point. the
position OF women in religious work,
Women as pastors and preachers are
recognized in America as an order al.
ready existing. In Germany we are
onlyin the beginning. but this beginning
Is made. The speaking of women in
public was formerly rendered quite i'm
possible. At first it was allowed in
smaller circles of women. Now a wo-
man, Mrs. Guauck, who is one of the
representatives of the rights of women,
was requested to give an address at the
Evangelical Social Congress at Erfurt
last year, and she met with universal
applause. We begin to hear now that
women may make public addresses with
out losing that true delicacy which we
should not care to miss.
The importance of the whole question
has become prominent through the
Women's Congress held in Berlin in
September. The town hall was granted
for the meetings, and the attendance
was very good. All sides of women's
work were thoroughly discussed by
women themselves. The fact that Mrs.
Lima Morgenstern, known from her
work in the Peoples Kitchens, but who
is perhaps less recognized in her own
country than abroad, presided, and was
the soul Of the congress, kept back many
women who are otherwise in front of the
movement; but all the more the success
OF the congress shows that number of
women are thoroughly convinced that a
greater sphere of activity for their sex
is absolutely necessary. We only regret
that many illusions were made in this
gathering of the golden future evident
ly meaning the victory of social democ.
racy. That would be the greatest
danger for the noble movement to i'm
prove the position of women, if it lost
itself in that Utopian and atheistic
party. We rather wish it steady and
safe progress at the head of Christian
people.
BERLIN, Germany.