The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-29
BY
MARY LOWE
DICKINSON,
Honorary President
National
Council of Women.

trained. thinking powers-women VINO
study. investigate, reason, accept. reject
and both from solid grounds-bu by far
the larger number are satisfied with the
logic of experience. and they are possibly
too ready to begin with faith in somebody's
else experience while cropping toward their
own. Not every woman will admit that she
has eaten and has not been filled; we know
ii. when she does not think it worth while
TO gather up the fragments. Not every
woman will admit that something may be
wrong with her own spiritual power of as
similation. but every woman will listen
when another tells her of a new light that
has scattered her shadows, a new strength
that has overcome her weakness. a new
love that has answered her longing-even
though this means a new system of the
Ology, a new theory of salvation. or a new
conception of God.
WOMAN'S ASPIRATIONS.
This natural dual desire in woman first to
give herself. her love. her allegiance, her
service. and the second, to find something
great enough and good enough TO claim all
she has to bestow, accounts, not for all.
but for much of her reckless following
after teachers of what seem to her new
truths. She accepts on faith the experience,
mental and bodily, of others. For her there
is no argument like, Whereas 1 was blind,
now l see." To this faith, unmindful that
it is on the wrong basis. according to
Scripture, she adds virtue-that is she prac-
tees obediently what she has been taught;
lest her soul be lighted by the torch of as
ISOLATION; is drawn by the cord Of a COM
mon sympathy. She strives to add to her
virtue, knowledge, but sees no reason to
wait for it before adopting new ideas or
shaping her life by new ideals. That both
ideas and ideals often have foundation of
facts is not detected in the enthusiasm
that sweeps the soul into a new world. And
so it is that from the ranks of Gods no.
blest women, not all, but many of the con-
verts to new movements, are won. TIC en-
thusiasm absurdities have a fascination,
and the more impossible things look to the
calm eye of reason, the more enticing are
they to the glowing eye of a fanaticism
that mistakes itself for the uplifted eye of
faith. To such enthusiasm scientific method
is as distasteful as it is incomprehensible.
1t gathers a few data that, bulwarked by a
hundred others, would have a genuine
value. 1t observes a few phenomena that,
supported by a hundred more, might prove
the operation of some undiscovered spiritu-
al law. OF themselves data and phenomena
are proofs of nothing, are merely hints and
suggestions of possible truths, straws which
indicate the way of the wind. Yet on such
foundation as this, whole systems are
reared that claim not only to regenerate
and revivify mankind, but to reveal and
interpret the innermost thoughts of God.
But while deprecating this method, or lack
of method, let US not be supposed to think
that ii pertains to women alone. There are
temperamental characteristics common to
both men and women. We only claim that
the ranks of new religionists of every sort
are largely filled by those who are asking
in all seriousness for the fish and the
bread, but whose eagerness makes them
swallow things as sinuous and deceitful as
serpents, and as barren of nutriment as
stones.
Speaking of this question, some one
claims for women a more profoundly re-
ligious nature than belongs to the other
sex. We fail to find evidence of this: but.
on the other hand. abundant proof that the
religious instinct or impulse in men. once
having found its rest and center in God.
stays by Him, and accepts what it gets i'm
the way of nurture through the estab-
lished channels Of his church. A good old
Christian, perplexed by the higher criti-
cism, said. I'll keep my old Bible; just as
it is, it is good enough for me- And Chris
tan men generally find the religious min
istrations to which they are accustomed
: good enough for them They have settled
the religious business once for all. They
know they can rely upon the Divine full
mlment of the promises of God. They go
on, perhaps with ecstacy, but at least with
Christian principle. Their lives are full of
vital transactions and achievements. They
have little time and no use for fads of any
sort, and for religious fads no time nor use
at all. Just as religion is served out through
established channels it is good enough
for them. No vague longing, no hunger OF
heart, no watching like souls awake in the
early twilight for the coming of a fuller
day.
Is 1t the best way? Who knows? There's
something lost and something gained. We
do not judge. We only know that because
women cannot always find the ''old things
good enough for Them they plunge quite
too often into something infinitely worse.
New York city.