The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-16
Minister Says Women
Are Unable to Give
One Single Reason.
POLITICS HURTS
HER INFLUENCE
Mr. Hatcher, in Ably Prepared
Sermon, Vigorously Opposes
Sufragist Movement, De-
claring That Woman Goes
Out of Her Sphere
When She Joins.

DECLARING that woman can advance
no sound reason as TO why she mus,
enter POLITICS. Rev. S. c. Hatcher. in
an ably prepared sermon delivered
nciore large congregation at Broad
street Methodist Church iali nirh,.
set forth clearly and dispassionatc]y
tie other side Of the equal suffrage
argument which so many speakers
have been brought Into Virginia in
recent months 10 eSpouni.
~ make bold TO state" said Mr.
Hatcher that woman damages her
Influence and dc,racts from her p.r
sonali'y when she enters politics
GAZING attention To that feeling OF
rfoprictT that would be offended ny
me promiscuo's iningl!ng of women
i'it men ~ the conduct o: public ar
iairs. y SIN moro striking passage In
the sermon, however, was the assertion
thht woman harms tho cause she no
iitically cspouses, adding that while NJ
realized how strong tha, statement
VAS. all fair minded people who stuuv
1t without fcclin. o. prejudice or mas
SION VIII be brought to admit It's cor
rcctncsa.
Quits Iirr Throne
NJ. Hatcher went on 10 say mar
when woman enter. the political arena
sslc quits her throne OF power and plscc
oi greatest usefulness. lie quoted au.
thorities vino had Expressed the onInlou
ti"t colorado had derived no substan-
ti"l benefits from that law which gave
TIE women the right TO vote
Indeed, the sermon. which was th.
NrSt direct uttcrnnce NJ u minister in
Richmond sine" suffrage speakers had
pictured such excellent advantages OF
the cause was profoundly ln,prcs kivc
although J, Is expected 10 bring fort,,I
many snceGhcs and letters from wnr.lci,
who arc working for the now move
incni Mr., Hatcher Was emphatic in
stating thu, he mad tito utmost rcspec.
for the members Or the EaUil Suffra i.
League OF Virginia. ''orr Virginia wo-
.lcis OF the highest type OF refincmen,
aud culture"
MOI. Suitable Text
Mr., Iiatcher'S text was from Titus
IL 80; Teach the young women 10 be
sober, 10 love their hus bands. TO love
their children. To be discreet. chastc
Keepers nj home good. obedlcnt Ia
their own husbands, that tho word OF
God DC not hlasphcnied."
He said:
In this passage OF Scripture Paul
IS instructins Titus IN sound doctrine
telling him 10 speak to the elderly
women and charge them to teach the
young women to be sober, TO love their
husbands. TO love their children, 10 be
discreet chastc. keepers at home. good.
obedient to their own husbands. that
the word OF God be not blasphcmed.
aly friends. am sure OF ono thing
namely, that you will unanimously vote
this Is a good text. Ii gives us n pic
tnro OF woman in her proper sphere
namely, the home welding the largcs,
ana most oueenly influence over
tlUEe that hcr l.,
cable 10 1911 as II was TO the year Is
We live in an age OF change and prog
ress but the fundamentals remain The
same in all ages. and one Of these is
that Cod made men and women with
mental us well as physical differences
and these differences. both mnntal and
physical. peculiarly adapt them to fill
certain p0h,ions in life. The family IS
possible by the union OF these two dir
ferent manifestations OF a common hui
man nature III the home, the woman eX-
hioiting refined tact. sympathy persc-
verance and intuition in all the delicate
and moral relations sustained in the
home necessary 10 make it an ideal
spot, tho man exhibiting cliivalry.. cour-
tcay. sclf-control and q will inSncSs for
active endcavor In hardship and denial,
that he may protect. provide for and
honor that homo.
Glory of Womnnhood.
believe the Bible; believe that
Sod made man and woman. and that
He made them equal. that lie mad.
them to have dominion. that their
CAPABILITIES arc not i'll tho same but dir.
ferent characteristics, and that thar
spheres of dominion differ. but DO not
conflict. The glory of womaniiooi Is
e womanly woman. the glory OF man
hood is d manly man.
l want to say further that stan1
for all tho rights of womanhood. l
would protect her good namo from
every foul reproach ] would open TO
her every door Jthat makes for her
larger life.
allow myself, by a sentimental desire TO
please. to be persuaded TO assent to
what ! ccnscient'ously believe to ke
harmful to her aud to society, and this
feel would be the result were enc
allowed to actively participate in poll
tics.
Let mo say just here that In lis
cussinS this theme shall endeavor to
treat the subject fairly. admitting That
there is another side. and that some OF
the brainiest statesmen tina tho world
has ever produced hold with the sui
{ fraglSts and make no mean arguments
for them; that the suffragIsts of this
country are not a body of idle women
seeking cheap notoriety and political
puSltiOIls, Dut tney arc sOIuk OF the
purest, most intelligent and most un-
selfish Of our women. They have given
careful study to tho vexing problems
of our day and have found existing
wrongs. and Ia the interests of child
hood aid wonanhood they seek thu
ballot. thinking that at the polls they
can correct tho injustices that now
exist. That particular band OF SUI
fragiats who compose the Equal sni
frago League of Virginia are our Nir-
NJ. Gontinucd on Second FaEeA