The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-30
MADAME GUYON.
Noble Philosopher Of the Age OF
''LOuis the Great"

fore the Teachers Association.
Mr.. Ebert Hubbard, of Boston, who
on Thursday lectured SO delightfully."- on
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, again
yesterday pleased a large audience at the
High School hall with his lecture on
Madame Guyon, great woman of anoth-
er century who has yet retained hold
upon this. The lecturer began on the
day when at the age of IL, Jeanne Marie
Bouvier's father told her that, he had ar
ranged for her marriage and that her fu-
ture husband was soon to arrive
Jaques Guyon came with his horses and
his servants, while Jeanne Mariespeeped
ont the diamond panes of the window and
was sorely disappointed when she saw
him. Jaques was growing old and worst
of all was growing old unwillingly.4 When
he conversed he spoke principally to her
father. They were married by a bishop
assisted by two priests and three curates,
in the great stone church. All that the
art of religious ceremony could do was
made to make the wedding beautiful and
grand Then they got into great coach
and were hurried away at gallop. Like
Lots wife the bride turned back and
hoped she would belturnedsto pillar of
salt. But she was not. daughter
Then she leaned back into the cornerzof
the carriage and wept. All this was
three hundred. years. ago.
Rarer even than the man of genius in
tbie world ic the oentlernan Where can
you find five such gentlemen as was Sir
Philip Sidney? One of the greatest of
gentlemen was Fenelon, the noble and
gentle protestant. 1t against the in
iquitous DEGREES of Louis XIV against
the Huguenots 1t was in prison that
Fenelon first, met Madame Guyon. Fene-
lon was 81 she was 40. Twelve years be-
fore this she had been left widow, and
went forth to study and teach.
The burden of her philosophy was quiet
ism, the absolute submission of the hu-
man soul to the will of God. Give up
all, lay aside striving, all reaching out,
all unrest, cease penance and lie low in
the Lords land. Make life one continual
prayer for holiness, Wilderness and har-
mony.
1t is the same philosophy that is fav
ored today by hundreds of noble men and
women. 1t is the same as the advanced
thought of today, which is but the best
of the older PHILOSOPHERS.
The guardian of an ancient and dogam-
tic religion disapproved of her. She had
great popularity as she went about from
place to place. Women's clubs were or
ganized to-. study / her theories. Pulpits
Numbered against her.
Some of the priests said; Goodness
me, this woman may teach primitive
Christianity, but if this is so what is to
become of us?''
Strong people are not so much adver
tised by their having friend as by their
rabid enemies.
Things move in a circle. Put ''Susan
Anthony" "new woman" "tranceden-
talism" or some Of the other names of re.
formers or reforms in the place of the
names of Madame Tuyon and her creed
and you have it all over again.
Charges were made against her and
Fenelon was made one of a committee of
three to examine into her case. He read
all her books. concluded that there was
no harm in them, told Madame Main
tenon SO, and she told the King. So
Madame Guyon was released. AS for
Fenelon he adopted some of the thoughts
of her creed, he preached them and he
gave her credit.
Beware Fenelon, archbishop of Cam
bray. Enemies are on your track for
having dare to champion the woman s
cause.
Twelve years later when Madame Gu
yon was again arrested, another was ar
chbishop of Cam bray. Fenelon, no longer
the great archbishop, the companion of
kings and the tutor of princes, had been
degraded and sent to rural parish. In
that parish he heard Of the death of
Madame Guyon, and preached memo
rial service Thousands came to hear
him speak of the woman for WHOSE cause
he had been ruined.
The lecturer gave most delightful &C.
count of his visit to the old church of
Montargis where Madame Guyon was
baptized and where Fenelon preached
he was entertained by Father Francis
the local priest. who was like himself an
admirer of Madame Guyon and Fenelon,
and cherished original portraits of them
and an original edition of Madame
Guyon's works.
Mr.. Hubbard will return here next
Tuesday and lecture on Victor Hugo, at
490 p. IN. Later he will lecture OH John
Ruskin and perhaps on William Fl.
Neward.