The Press., 1897-02-04
w. C. T. U.
Woman Suffrage and the Christian Churc

Woman Suffrage and the Chr1stfan SnuFch. Enigma of statistics have been solved by Rev. Ada c. Bowles, of Gloucester, Mass, and is food for thought at revival season or any time. Suffrage for women has been urged upon every ground of right and of ex- pediency for the last fifty years. Never has a great question commanded more able advocates. Their names are among the foremost in the land, and are, of them selves, the witness of the importance of the reform and the surety for its complete final triumph. Much has already been gained. Many states have given school suffrage; 8 few states, full suffrage. The results where given have been such as en- courage It's extension to the whole country.
 In spite of these facts, the church is strangely indifferent to the question, al though 1t is one so closely connected with it's own needs. What more than the up- lifting of three-fourths of it's units to citizenship and political equality with
 
 portance as a social regenerator What more than this would win to its fellow ship the men now so widely apart from it? If three-fourths of7any organization are deprived of the authorative expression of their opinions by the same law which de- prives idiots, lunatics, paupers and crim- inals of such expression such an organi- zation cannot expect to win aud hold the confidence and respect of men. Is 1t then any marvel that,men have so largely failed to- identify themselves closely with the church? The secretary of the national committee of the Y M. c. A. not long since sent abroad the printed statement that but five per cent of the young men throughout the country are church mem- | bers, only fifteen per cent attend church with any regularity, while seventy five per cent never attend church.
 If the women now so largely constitut- ing therchurch be given full citizenship, they will lift the church to higher place | in the affairs of men. The minister, preaching no longer. to a class whose opinions are not counted at the ballot-boz is likewise a sharer in the charge, and not, as now, undervalued. The morality and religion of women will not be looked upon as a band-box possession, but as weapons of warfare upon wrong doing through better government,-a govern. ment whose duty MT. Gladstone thus defines 'Itis the duty of government to make it as hard as possible for man tc go wrong, and as easy as possible for a man to go right
 Shall not the ministers and other lead CTS of the church rouse themselves to the need of the hour, and save the churct from the danger of all too apparent tc those who love it Or will they continue the battle of the higher criticism and tht contention over creedal changes, while churches .dwindle and the forces of evi multiply?
 The church that sets form of creed
 Above the claim of human right Is traitor to the higher need,
 And Heaven will avenge the slight"
 Mr. Ruskin says, Wherever one han. meets another helpfully, that is the hol. mother church which ever is or eve shall be-"
 Take feller 'at's sick and laid up on thu
 shelf.
 All shaky and ga'nted and pore Jest all so knocked out he can't handle his
 self
 With stiff upper lip any more; Shet him up all alone in the gloom of 1
 room
 As dark as tomb, and as grim, And then take and send him some rose
 in bloom,
 And you can have fun out O him! You've ketched fore now-when his live
 was sound
 And his appetite notched like saw A-mockin' you, mayby, fer romancin
 With 8 pig posy-bunch in yer paw; But you ketch him, say, when his healtl is away
 And he's flat on his back in distress, And then you kin trot out your littl bokay
 And not be insulted, guess! You see, its like this, what his weaknesse
 Them flowers makes him think of tn | days Of his innocent youth, and that mothe o'his,
 And the roses that she us't to raise: So here, all alone with the roses yo
 send
 Bein' sick and all trembly and faint, My eyes is-my eyes is-my eyes is-ol,
 friend
 Is a-leakin'-Im blamed eff they ain't