The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-10
The Late Mrs. StantOn's Bihlc.

To The EDITOR or THE SUN--S,- The
recent death of the feminine Inger~oll "
and great woinan reformer. Elizabeth Cadv
stanton, gives rise to many discussions Of a
thoooGictl character Mr.. stanton, dying
AZ the advanced age Of 81 has been a promi-
nent figure IN the history Of our country for
perhaps seventy years Beautiful and ari--
tocratic a. Young woman, she was Yet re-
uowncd for her marvellous powers a. writer
and speaker, and "a an intrepid advocate of
all that sh" believed Just ani right
Her position in regard to the Church was
one of unusual daring. both for a woman
and for the period in which religious thought
was cnveloped in mist of superstition and
dogma Many who worked with Mrs.
stanton in reform measures feared 10 jeop-
ordile the success of needed reforms by
speaking In any except orthodox theolo gical
terms but not 20 this uutauutod woman.
She saw that false thoologN' was NJ tn" very
root of many ila grant abuses and never
hcsitated to express herself against doc
trnc that presuppo,ed d'~pot GOD and
that the mighty Charles kingsley, himself
a clergyman Of m" church or EnslnnI, u,
nrmed that "thi- viii never hN n good world
for women until tho lt-t remnant OF tn" canon
law j. swept from III" face OF IN" earth ~
She saw that the ICY NnEtr~ al th' canon
law held women of ire" America IN death
In isa,. Mrs stanton. realizing how small
a part women played IN the history 81 ~"
ancient peoples recorded hv mon IN the Blb"
made an exhaustive study of IN" feminine
element OF n" ScrptGrc,, and aided by
twenty Of tho finest scholars among American
women and five from Other countries, COM
pil"d "Woran's Bible. The term i ,ome-
what unloading, e. the hook zoe nnt IN any
vav present oririnHl religion, matter. but
simply present "A compilation OF all IN" stories
OF and references 10 women, IN compact form,
with comments bv women scholars. aN to
tran-lntiouS and Interpretations Many of
The women who assisted Mr. stanton inclined
toward orthodoxy. but N" liberal element
, rtin.iS'tinn oi Ills hook produced an
unlcard-ot cluuor nt-l OPS, Ugh church.
mon. low ohurcUmou and ministers OF every
imp,rtiucnCc 20 t.' Almighty, 10 comment
upon the position of li"hirw women Not
tie icMeSt OF as~tiltUts W"r" women then
selves. VITO Lad been for ages subordiuatcd
b. cEurch matters I'cv protested against
being cleared Of -" clare tIht tl'N We're
tl" orign.tl >iru'r- md 49," ours" OF the
human race, rho modest little book Is now
in lis ~ ird edition al ten t'ousdid and -
considered Of much Numc to many who have
not tie time to ~.Irrl Tic loudcrOuS tome
Tor r>porin references 10 women, yet ar"
Cd 70 max IN gonG,' ,,H1I r o. y, ,nn"'
planned TO edit an ,rpUrQ1trd Bible, realizing
riHt TIC majority oi mod,rn men and women
aud thinking NAT t. v"i" nd''d uniorturnt"
to lo-' tic many .'i-lt" =. $50 "s, ~" gems
81 literature. o." uo,ry,f1' % piln,'iv. coLie.
tli tres" md form r""i, compact volume,
tic -iy, oi q iuodrrl novel which busy people
would read with delight Perhaps also for
the slkc Of students who wished to know
the moro crude and Immoral port Ions OF tie
Hihlc, there WIS to be- a second volume, COM
posrd OF the loss beautiful and vital parts
Tie first would have been valuable for chill
dror Tho second not to be nut into thci hands.
This gigantic l1hor in higher criticism and
compilation was planned by Mrs. stanton AT
i, when practically blind. but no doubt, had
sic lived two years. snc would have COM
plsted II.
Mrs stanton lived 70 soc n mighty revolu-
ton Of Theological thought, What WAS eN-
ccssivoly radica IN her early lie isthe general
opinion to-day, She was, however. even
more liberal thnn most people ~ this ad-
vanCed ago. Like T.ruysou, she said; There
lives more faith In honest dlubt, believe mo.
than In half the croeds." She gave her life
and l1bors to humanity, accepting no st
formula OF religion, not certain, but hopeful
OF immortality. ard rested her desires and
hopes upon that which Whittier has 30 happily
designated the Eternal Goodness.
WINSlfRED uAkPER COOLEY.
GRAND RAPIDS. Mich.