The San Francisco call., 1896-05-09
BEHIND THE
THRONE.

forth to do battle, win she not be able from her
point OF vantage outside the field TO observe how
the action progresses, and by her wise counsel TO
help win the victory?
SO far have spoken only of women behind the
she can do as power for evil. Suppose take
the historical and literary example Of the wife Of
Andrea del Sarto. Here we have the case of a
woman VINO, through the charm of her personal at
fractions, really held the fate husband in her
hands-he a man of the highest natural abilities,
put lacking In moral str myth.
Yet such was his love for her that had she been
able to inspire him with high and noble ambition
TO excel in his art had It been her aim to develop
TO the full all his powers and faculties he might,
as browning puts il, have given Raphael himself
enough 10 40 to excel him As it is we find him
caring Tor nothing but to make little money with
which 10 buy her lace rufie help her to enter
tain her friend ambition and character alike
gone al the high hopes of his youth dashed 10 the
ground and his splendid abilities wasted.
must close these remarks by emphasizing and
relterating what have already hinted Rt-that II
woman shall be able adequately to meet the needs
or the times and the demands which her new
as pest she can process of self-deyelopment; her
intellectual range shonld be widened, her SYM
pathles deepened and strengthened, her moral and
spiritual nature so fully developed and so largely
in the ascendant that they only dominate her
own life, but also leave their lasting impress upon
the lives OF every one with whom she comes in
contact. And blessed is the people when such q
woman holds the power behind the throne.
Mr.. Bennett offered some remarks upon
the paper. He looked to socialism to
make woman greater power behind the
throne.
The last paper of the morning was by
Mrs. Ada Van Pelt, the popular and re-
spected lady president of the Woman 8
Press Association and wee president of
the congress. Her theme was The
Mothers of Great Men," In one portion
OF her brilliant essay Mrs. Van Pelt said:
The astute and speculative Greek recognized the
mothers influence in developing character, and in
affecting social and national life. for OF their
OLD proverbs Is: mighty is the influence Of moth
erhood."
In the study OF lives of great men we find that
the mothers influence was the potent factor which
nodded the character of these intellectual giants
who became world movers
Great men have had superior mothers. This
statement is verified by the fact that almost every
as statesman or sage, philosopher or poet, warrior
or reformer, have had mothers of marked ability.
According 20 the law of heredity, parents live in
the lives OF their children. Especially is this
not only the peculiartles of her physical but of
Intellectual and moral nature.
In all ages God has honored good mothers. He
could have sent an angel 10 Bethlehem, bearing in
Its arms The intact Savior but for all time mother
hood was to be consecrated.
Elizabeth was In her declining years when her
life was blessed by son. She represented the old
era about 10 pass away. new era was now about
10 be ushered in, for the time had come wien the
Son OF God was to appear yelled In human flesh
so virgin, type OF the new dispensatiop was
chosen 10 be the medium through which the sd
vent was 10 be made While feeling that she was
not worthy OF such honor. yet Mary accepted the
position OF becoming the mother Of the Messiah
with a heroism as gentle as il was great, and she
has shown US now divine il is TO love, how divine
Nomanly.
From out the darkness of heathendom there
arises one surrounded by a halo of glory and
Monica, the devout Christian mother, is she
fairest and noblest of her time. Her Increasing
prayer was for the salvation of her gifted som
Augustine. The world owes much TO the faithful