The San Francisco call., 1896-05-08

the men,
Then he continued with his subject
Our Foremothers," and spoke in part as
TO llows:
feel that in fulfilling your assignment to speak
OF our foremothers distinctively am invested
with the importance OF epoch MAKER, for I
doubt if in this public manner they have ever been
Differentiated from their grim partners. We have
of course, known that had foremothers, and
from OR knowledge of the permanency of human
nature have felt sure that their virtues were not
less than those thaG distinguished the fore fathers
think it was Beecher who Willingly said that he
felt great sympathy for the wives of the pilgrim
fathers, since they not only had 10 bear all the
privations and sufYerings that their husbands did,
but were also Obliged to bear them.
This must have been no small matter If we read
history Alright, for however much we may respect
the adamantine and heroic uprightness of our pro-
genItors, we know that unaoyed virute is often
trying article to live with, and there are some
historical incidents that throw powerful search
light on contemporaneous character as revealed
by manners and customs and confirm this conclu-
sion. Think Of the public opinion that would en-
act and enforce a law by which q man returning
from a sea voyage who kissed his wife on his own
doorsteps was put in the stocks Tor 'Iewd and un-
seemly conduct on the Sabbath" Here was
sailor, who, after his kind. had heart. Fortune
brought him home Sunday, but his straight
laced neighbors inflicted ignominious punish
ment for an act that ought to be uncomfortable.
One gains entrance into good society of the early
part of the seventeenth century when he is intro
duced to John Winthrop and his household. A
fine sample of Puritan gentleman, pious after the
manner of his time and class, his piety not
ture but vital part of a genuine man. Marriage
was not deferred in those days 10 the period Of
bald heads, when the attractions Of the club began
TO pail The future Governor was but Ia years
and months old when he led to the altar q bride
of 2l. would not be understood commencing
quite SO early launch on the matrimonial sea. or
even to hold up for emulation the bravery OF boy
VINO would dare 70 marry a woman we nave no
doubt oeterlorated IN some respects, but am glad
TO think that in this important relation the woman
OF to-day has attained sense OF the fitness OF
things that precludeS such matches
Their married life was happy, however, which
Is after AL the main Thing John INV wrote % OF her as
up and called her blessed.
OF his second wife, Thomasine who lived but a
year and day after her marriage, John Winthrop
wrote: "She was a woman wlSe modest, loving
and industrious therein; plain-hearted and free
from guile, and very humble-minded; never so
addicted 70 any outward things (in my iudgment)
but that she could bring her affections TO stoop TO
Gods will in them"
OF Margaret Winthrop, the third wife, we gain q
good knowledge and high opinion through her
letters and those Of others who knew her. The
sturdy Puritan found in her veritable helpmeet
and the love tn at each bore the other, quantity
expressed in their letters, made their conjugal re
fation ideal. Allowance must be made for form Of
expression, but happy is the man OF any age who
inspire such affection and respect as breathes
through her somewhat formal epistles, and per
haps happier still the woman who feels them as
the central joy of her life.
Margaret reveals her deep religious nature wher
she places the love OF God in her husband before
the loving of her. fear that both forefathers
and fOrencOt hers far surpassed in this stead
fast allegiance TO God, with its consequent self
surrender.
Lucy Hutchison, another Puritan woman, ex
presses high ideas OF this supreme love of God In
describing her own husbands love. she loVeC
than his life, with inexpressible tender
ness and kindness, had most oblging esteem o
her, yet considered honor, religion and duty abov
herr There is cant in this. It is the genun
outflow Of the religious nature. There is rar
mobility in these consecrated women. They wer
more than content thai honor, duty and religion
should be first. When one feels how deep ant
true was their piety can see thaI severity ant
narrowness were merely fashion of the hour ant
the result of prevailing methods OF thought. The,
were borne on the current and did not retard it.
Were there no special records of the doings o
our foremothers, had none of their letters com
down to US, might safely have concluded tha
their lives bore about the relation to those
forefathers that the wives of to-day do Z
their husbands. OF this we have also direct testi
mony. A traveller in America wrote in 1745 {
the London Magazine: 'The women are yer,
handsome in general, and most notable house
wives; every thing wears the marks Of cleanliness
and industry in their houses, and their behavio
70 their husbands and families is very edifying.
If this is not equally true in 1896 so much tn
worse for '96. The traveller goes on to say: 'Gfrl
under such good mothers generally have twice tn
sense and discretion OF the boys"
Women In the earlier days were less to the fore
Some of them were Slaves ana some of them wer
dolls, but not few were strong and masterfu
selves and also OF giving good advice and valuabl
clined tosgive too little credit to the busines
ability OF the women of the olden times and
picture all our foremothers simply domestic