The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-13

The March meeting OF the Rhode Island
Catholic Woman's club was held in the
hall OF La Sale academy on Broadway
last evening with the usual large and
representative audience.
Fully 900 members were present besides
a number OF guests. These included RI.
Pev. Bishop Harkins Rev. Frank Craig.
tho moderation Of the club. Rev. Cornelius
clifford and others. Chara cterized as
members night the meeting was one OF
the most interesting i'm the history of
the club three papers of distinctly high
literary character being presented by
members of the club. The general subject
of the meeting was Types of Woman
hood" and this was divided into three
parts. first "The Pagan Type" by Miss
Minnie Teehan; second. The Jewish
Tyne" by Miss Francesca Manchester.
and third. The Christian Type" by Miss
Reynolds.
The meeting was called 10 order shortly
after o'clock by Miss Clara Craig. the
president Of the club. and I'm welcoming
the members. the good bishop and other
members of tho clergy. she said: 1T has
been inspiring and wholly elevating to lis
ten TO a series Of lectures such as we
have heard this year. They have enabled
us-tu appropriate tho very -best-that
could be offered. Tonight, however. our
attitude will not he entirely receptive.
We shall be sclf-active according TO the
law OF growth This organization Of Cath
Ollie women is y mere external from
which. we Individually and collectively
must make the stepping stone TO our own
development.
Culture is independent OF sex. our
faith teaches us that every woman Is a
daughter OF Almighty God. As every man
is his son. To both He has given like ca
pacity for mental and moral advancement
and from both He will exact an account
OF talents IL will be the aim Of our eX-
ercises. this evening 10 show that the
Catholic faith first uplifted TO the eyes OF
the world the ideal woman-that Christ
ianity while Il has secured her intellect
ual development has done so at no sac
rifice of the virtues which are waman's
glory" After this graceful Introduction,
the president introduced Miss Tcehan,
who presented The Pagan Type"
In beginning Miss Teehan pictured tho
Pagan woman ~ typihcd i'm Greece. sur
rounded as she was by everything beau
tIful I'm nature and art. surrounded also
by a most fitting environment in which
10 build tho feminine character and all
the qualities of the refined womanhood.
set the light OF the gospel was not yet
shed upon the Greek woman of old and
we find that I'm the beautiful city ~
Athens refinement often degenerates into
luxury and IN Sparta patriotism into
cruelty Nowhere could he found that
perfect poise ~ power which ever adorned
the old time Jewish or the present Chris
tian woman.
"The greatest influence I'm the life of
man and more particularly that OF woms n
Is religion and In order 20 understand
the development of the Greek type Of
womanhood one must know tho divine
rites ractlscd among these people.
"They were Pagans and worshipped
many gods Essentially ideallsts their
vivid conceptions and religious emotions
tended to make nature coincide with their
desires They had eager intellects and
earnest hearts that were thirsting for
soiace and Illumination and 30 ardent
were they IN their desires that they Of
fered prayer and sacrifice 10 their endless
divinitieE"
Continuing Miss Teehan gave = most
interesting description ~ Helen ~ Troy
and her place IN Greek literature. and
other Pagan women.