The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-25


taken BY the BurgundIans. who mastered It's
Inhabitants without sparing Infants at the
breast or priests who sought refuge In tho
sanctity OF the altar.
In Burgundy the ancient manners OF the
people we're long maintained In their prlmi'
tive simplicity. Wives were purchased. AMI
they night be- divorced in cases Of adultery.
witchcraft or the administering OF poison yot
a bondsman who had cut OH q free woman's
hair forfeited his lie. The Burgundions. at
their entrance into Gaul. received Instructions
during seven days in the Christian faith aud
! on the eighth caused themselves to be baptized,
a "railroading" Of converts rapid enough 10
daze a modern missionary. Tho Sale law
| excluding women from the succession. among
the Franks, seems TO have become necessary
from the analogy which the exercise o. the su'
preme power seemed to bear to the inheritance
OF a private estate, a male administrator being
required In the council and the field. The as
semblies OF the people,. q practice fostered by
! the Bishops and made use OF by them to secure
enactments favorable to the propagation OF
the Christian faith. caused the supreme pas
tor-the Pope-to be considered as n sort OF
father or protector. and In return he consid'
cred II his duty TO give stability to such con-
! v~entlons. From such meetings the capltuiarirs
proceeded. mostly regulations concerning
morals. and we find In the oldest eplstle OF
the most gracious and blessed King Childe-
bert" that the worship OF images. drunken
ness. and dancing women" were prohibited.
and the power OF the Bishops continued to
grow.
Women played an important role In the
propagation OF the Moslsm faith and the
chapter entitled Woman" in the Koran Is
worthy OF ~perusal. In their wars OF conquest
the Arabs were far more considerate and
! merciiul than were their Christian contem-
p~oraries. The Caliph Kaled decreed that
''old men, women and children and ecclesias-
| tics. excepting the shorn o~fYspring OF the devi.
monks should be spared by the sword To
those Christians who submitted to the tribute.
| liberation and protection were promised. We
find a woman. Damia. Queen OF the Berbers.
opposing the westward march OF the conquer.
ing Arabs. and later q woman. Florinda "a
name even TO this day only bestowed on dogs
by the Spaniardsl, the cause OF their entry
into Spain. through her father Count JuIlans
connivance with Oppas. Archbishop OF Seville.
in inviting them to invade their fatherland.
That women were properly cared for by the
State in these troublous times IA very evil
dent. In I.ombardy no woman was permitted
TO live without the safeguard o' some protec-
tor. or OF the court, The distinction between
free persons and bond slaves was 20 great that
an irregular marriage was punished with
death-wo have somewhat similar laws against
miscegenation in some Of the Southern states
to-day. The constitution OF the Franks PRO.
vided that bonGsmen could leave their mas
ter in four cases: when he had attempted
their lives. robbed them. beaten Thorn or de-
bauchsd their daughters. The JUS primo
noctts. to which Mr.. Cakes refers, can scarcely
be laid at the doors OF the clerirs. II was a
right pertaining to the feudal ord. or land
owner, although. necessarily. countenanced ty
the priest. Apparently the practice was sup
pressed In England with the ahrogation OF he
feudal imposts and the law Of the curfow In the
twelfth century,
That women enjoyed the benefits OF liberty
and education at Constantinople IL proved by
the writ ngs OF Anna Commend. crcd llOOA
The preaching otthe first Crusade confirmed a
growing power OF the priests over women,
But a few years before. Gregory VII, In a con-
troversy concerning spiritual perfection, took
occasl on 10 forbid marriage 10 the clergy. and
likewise set aside the invrstiture OF spiritual
benefces from temporal hands. At the same
time he exalted ths importance OF that author
ity which a Christian teacher receives
for the exercise OF his function from
those who are best acIuaintel with his duties.
Gregory's best friend during his quarrel with
HenryIV. was woman. Matilda OF Este, and
the attachment caused many rumor 10 be
spread, Perhaps there was no deep political
design behind the Crusadrs. hut by removing
the great land owners and their followers from
their various countries. the power NJ the priest
N--I l.s 800. 1.l .A.r, q rA4,a ,hA
women who remained behind.
One nee not go 80 far back "a the h'th cen-
tury for an example OF the conduct Of a Pope
toward women. Ohio Of Germany was invited
by John MI. e. become the protector OF the
Church A. D. HGlD AZ Rome.and repented Of his
haste soon after. After vainly trying to excite
a wnr against Germany. the Pope had to seek
safety In fiight. Tho people bound them.
selves to the Emperor by an oath never to re-
coive any Pope without the knowledge and con.
sent OF hin self and his successors in the Ger
man Empire. After three DAYS the Emperor
summoned the Bishops and Lords. and heard
the accusations against John. that he had
! sold bishoprics. performed the Inauguration Of
a priest in a stable. mutilated a Bishop. Mp.
peared with cuirass. helm and sword. drunk to
! the health Of the devil. invoked Venus.
and lain with the concuhine OF his father
ON these weighty charges the Emperor con-
nrmel the deposition o! John and the election
OF a successor who was nnmei Leo VIII.
The women who felt an attachment 10 the
dignity and freedom Of Rom persuaded the
mobiles to drive out Leo, hut Otho marched a
second time against the city. and an injured
husband free him from his troublesome rival.
John" tM0ller.l
From the foregoing we can form an ilea OF
the power exercised over women by the
Church-the women were used "a a lever 10
turn the tables and through them the men
were influenced. and such It has been until the
present day. A, f.. C~ULLtNGwoRTH.
MARCH %.
Why tho Roman Catholic Church Com
mands Respect and Faith.