The Grit-advocate., 1900-05-25
A MENACE TO SOCIETY
PREACHER ACCUSES WOMAN
OF THIS CHARGE.
And Addaees Argumsnts to Show That
She Il Undermining the Foundations
Of the Accepted Civilization Of
To-day.

auU al OuStdCle 10 ADVANCEMENT 10
the startling argument advanced by
Rev. Henry Frank, pastor Of the In
pendent church of New York city.
In a startling sermon recently deliv-
cred he further said:
whether woman is a menace to
civilization or civilization menace
to her, all depends upon the definition
Of civilization II by that term we
mean the existing standards Of morals,
religion and social status, then l in
sist that she is the most potent factor
that menaces its integrity. If the pres
ent civilization, which exemplifies the
current standards of thought, Is di-
vine and essential to human happiness,
then woman is its paramount foe-its
incarnate Nemesis. This civilization
is built upon existing standards OF
morals: first, on authoritative relig-
ion; second, on those of current NOR
ais; and third, those of the economic
status. Each Of these established
standards, woman is slowly, persist
emily, but unconsciously undermining.
AIouASioAdl Aistoly uaS tou6AS S-N
woman must be subject in knowledge
and spiritual advancement of the
whim and authority Of man.
III this be so what greater menace
to Christianity (Which is one Of three
proofs of current civilization) can be
discovered than the rapid intellectual
advancement and social freedom of the
nmodern woman? The new woman
Dspurns the creed Of tradition and in
sists that the silent sphinx will solve
the riddle of life despite priests,
churches, Bibles and canticles. Here,
then, is woman menace to existing
civilization.
Then as to current morals. II the
existing moral standards are essential
to civilization, then again, woman
growing intelligence is seriously
threatening it. Tradition has estab-
lished dual standard Of morals; one
for each sex, each different from the
other. Because Of the double sexual
standard of morals woman has pe-
come her own greatest enemy. She
shudders at the blotch Of sin upon her
own sisters bosom and runs from her
crying: 'Unclean, unclean.' But her
brother who sins, who comes to her
with the villainy of dishonor upon his
heart, she welcomes. admfres, adores.
"Why is this? Where is the JUS
tice? Where is womans vaunted gen
tleness and charity? This is an age
of philanthropy and generosity, and
yet how pitiably little woman does for
her fallen sister. The most terrible
problem which confronts humanity to-
day is the succor of the outcast, and
yet woman takes practically no part
in any step in this direction.
1.-THE proud, hypocritical Pharisee
contemptuously passing on the other
side of the roadway lest he be con-
taminated by association with his low
ly and suffering brother was a model
of humility. Christian charity and
virtue, compared to the typical social
leader Of today, who proudly receives
in her palatial dwelling male moral
Iepers, men Of the most notoriously
vile antecedents, whose very name Is
a synonym for all that is foul and yet
the same ladies lift up their dainty
white hands with startled horror at
the suggestion that Mary Magdalen Is
their sister in God and has claim on
their help and pity.
But woman is beginning to see that
she need no longer be terrorized by
-