The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-13
W..

In a final chapter Mrs. Stanton reviews heg
public life, Its victories and its defeats. she
recalls the fact that. when a few American
women convoked tho first convention to dis.
cuss their disabilities, they were assured by
conservative friends that they had made a
great mistake. and would be laughed 40
from Maine to Texas and beyond the sea.
God, 1t was said. had set the bounds Of
woman's sphere. and she should be satisfied
with her position. Their prophecy" writes
Mrs. Stanton, "was moro than realized; We
were unsparingly ridiculcd by the Dress and
pulpit both in England and America. But
now many conventions are held each year In
both countries TO discuss the same ideas: social
customs have changed; laws have been nlodi.
fed; municipal suffrage has been granted 20
women in England and some of her colonies;
school suffrage has been granted TO women in
half of our States. municipal suffrage in X "a.
sas. and full suffrage In four States of the
Union. Thus the principle secuted In ISL. WAS
accepted in England in 1870, and since thea,
year by year. it has slowly progressed in Am r.
ls36. and Idaho cnfranchised hor women!
That first convention. considered a grave mis-.
step in PROGRESS Mrs. .v stanton 20 goes as on H to re.
cord her next mistake" when, as President II
ISOLATION. she demanded the passage of n stat.
ute allowing wives an absolute divorce for Ito
bfutaiity ana inlemperance of their husbynt5.
She addressed the Legislature OF New York
n few years later. when n bill TO that effect va.
pending, and; also; large audiences in several Of
nounced, To-day. on the other hand. f~ugiliyce
from such ties can secure freedom in mnny Of
the states. and enlightened public sentiment
s%mstains mothers in refusing 10 hand down %
onsprlng an appetite franght with so many evil
urged her coadjutors to make. by speechcs. Ell.
tiers. and resolutions. the same demands Of 40
Church that they had already. made OF ne
StnTt4A lhnV nhlnltRi an III 'Thnt Il M FpN-.
olqtionary; an attack on the Church would
inlure tho sutfrHgo movement" For her own
handing that women be ordained TO preach he
Gospel. and to I'LL tho offices OF elder, dcl:
these suggestions were accepted. Some chur.lcs
rdain women as pastors over congregations
OF their own; Others elected women deaconcs-rs.
ana a few churches allowed women to ~ ~
delegates in their conferences. Finally, in -,
Mrs. stanton tried to organize u committee Q
examine the status OF women OF the Bible, I'D
TO consider tho claim that the Hebrew writings
are the outcome OF divine inspiration. II ~
thought, very presumptuous for women moo
learned In languages and ecclesiastical hi-tur5 20
undertake. such "A TASK, AS she merely ]prOpOsnb.
however. to comment on what was said OF $40.
men in plain English. and found that the r,".
want texts composed only one-tcnth of the o'i
ana Sew Iestaments. II did not seem ounr
Nulhor, n hlIlcnlL or dangerous undcrtnklN-.
Nevertheless. when Part j. OF the "WOIulus
Bible Was published, il met with general Dis,
approval from the press and The pulpit. a'l
even on. the, part OF women themselvc-. vino
censured II by resolutions in suffrage ana ,rn'
i'"''N, " iOls Mrs Stanton ntIS't .'
iieves that, like her other mistakes this, tuU,
IN due time, will be looked upon as IA stcl!r
progress"
such experiences have given the author ~
thesc recoiiecttons confidence in her own JUG
incnl, ana have taught her TO bear with patience
me opposition OF cOGdjutors. ut requires. 'to
writes. mo courage now 10 demand tho right -
suffrage. temperance legislation. liberal dtynr'o
laws, or That women shall MI Church oil T5
these battles have been fought and won 'nt
coded; But it still requires courage to Gur-l,un
me divine Inspiration of the Hebrew writings
as 70 tho, position Of women. Why should 10
myths, fables. and allegories of the Hebrews 10
hela more sacred than those of the Assyrans
ana Egyptians. from whose literature most OF
them were derived Seeing that the religious
snperStItlons concerning women perpetuate/
Lhelr bondage more than all other adverse in
nuences, l feel impelIed TO rciterate my de1D
inandS Tor Justice, liberty, and equality In ~
Church ~ well a. In the State"