The San Francisco call., 1896-05-11

1000 throats, and some, perhaps, whose
voices had not for years been raised in &C.
cents of praise joined heartily in the sing
ing.
A very brief invocation was then made
by the reverend lady, calling for the divine
assistance and presence in words replete
with deep religious fervor.
The Amen" being said, the festal notes
OF the ancient "Adeste Fideles'' resounded
through the hail, the music OF the old
Christmas hymn being set to an English
versiied translation of the Psalm, THE
Lord is my shepherd"
Mrs. Sarah b. Cooper led in prayer. In
the course of ner petition she returned
thanks for the success of the Woman S
Congress, of which the evenings service
was termination. She also entreated for
the movement itself the constant aid oi
divine guidance and help.
Mrs. A. M. Bruno next gave very artis-
tic rendering of the soprano solo II Will
Extol Thee, Lord" from Sir Michael
Costa's oratorio of Ell" with organ ac-
compartment by J. Hamilton Howe and
piano obligato by Mrs. Johnson-6atchel-
der. The young iady's singing was evil
IDENTIFY appreciated, though the congrega.
ton had the good taste not to applaud.
collec ton was taken up for the pur
pose of defraying the expenses attendant
upon the congress, during which Miss
Henia Roberts sang Holden's beautiful
contralto solo, Thou Art Near" Her
voice seemed peculiarly suited to the
hymn, watch she gave with rare express
sion, her deep, bell-like lower tones being
particularly noticeable for their purity
and resonance.
All present joined in the singing oi
america" after which Miss Shaw ad.
vanced to temporary pulpit, empowered
In white roses and st. Joseph lilies, and
announced her text:
Loose thyself from the bands OF thy
neck, oh captive daughter OF Zion," taken
from the second verse of the ffty-second
chapter OF Isaiah's prophecy.
During the past week." she said, 1--WE
have seen the aspirations OF discouraged
hearts; we have heard the cold, cutting
shafts OF science and the crushing dicta OF
certain schools of theology to the effect
that woman is to be suppressed. These
merciless, oppressive ideas we're until
lately considered the only right ones.
The great in church and State accepted
them as true beyond all necessity OF
proof.
But in these latter days we are seeing a
wonderful evolution in womanhood. The
captive daughter OF Zion is commencing to
turn with disgust, loathing and horror from
the chains which she is casting Off When
was in Utah lady asked me fit were not
possible that God had revealed polygamy
to David. to Solomon and to Joseph Smith.
No l answered, 'an angel from heaven
| could never make me believe that God had
ever revealed or encouraged polygamy or
any other form of slavery. 1t was, indeed.
suggested to David and Solomon. as also
to joseph Smith. but not by Goa. The
devil, the prince of darkness, the spirit OF
all evil, was the only one who revealed it
to any one.
Science has taken woman and dissected
her with about as much gentieness, deli
cacy and decency as would be employed
IN the dissection of clam. The result OF
their dissections has caused men of science
to formulate decision to the effect that
woman is very inferior being barely de-
serving OF place in the ranks of rational