The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-02-14
THE OBSERVATORY.

We were talking about the ant;ce
OF the suffragettes of England and
he gave me the following story. he
having been Minister in Connecticut
at the time, he said:
ut was in the 70s when woman suf-
frage first began to be seriously talk
ed about. All the ministers of Hart.
ford and vicinity had a custom of
gathering at central place in that
city each Monday morning; each Of
them in turn told about his services
of the previous day, or those he at.
tended, for it was for ex-pastors as
we'll as those in service. Then for an
hour they discussed some topic
chosen at the previous meeting. some
one being appointed to open the sub
simplest; there being Moderator and
clerk; each serving for years at a
time. At that time refer to an
honored ex-pastor, Rev DR.. Jonathan
Brace. was the presiding officer; he
was dignity itself, but with a sly
humor and fund Of anecdote, grave
and gay. that was inexhaustable; and
with all had high pitched voice, that
would be very thin when he raised
It above the ordinary tone. Female
Suffrage" was the theme for certain
day. and was most earnestly discus
sed, and when the hour was up only
little over half of those present had
spoken, and the conclusion was de-
ferred to the next week; when that
came the remainder of those desiring
to take a turn at the subject concluded
some time before the closing hour,
and the moderator was called on for
his views: mo" he had nothing in
particular to say: but being urged to
40 80, ne, beaming most benignly
on his associates through his gold
bowed spectacles, said: "As the dis
cussion has progressed. I have been
interested to note that while few have
advocated female suffrage almost all
have expressed the opinion that it was
probably coming. Well, If that is so,
all have got to say is, in the langu-
age OF Paurs company when they
were driven up and down in Adria,
I'VE let her drive" (See Acts 27:27,
l5) When the solemn Doctor had
said this, first there was 4 smile,
then laugh, and then an explosion;
it was just like him, but wholly un-
expected; the merriment rose and fell
in waves, and at slight lull Dr..
Brace lifted up his high and almost
squeaky voice and said: "Neverthe-
less, | think l had rather drive my
self" And then the learned, grave
and serious ministers broke loose
How could they help it?
1t was during this discussion that
the distinguished DR.. Horace Bush
nell fired his hot shot against the old
style English which made the word
female more proper when speaking
OF the other sex than the designation
woman. When it came his turn to
speak, he simply said: an all con-
science brethren, isn't woman SUI.
frage enough. why include all
One thing reminded my friend Of
another, and he had more to say about
Dr. Brace; It seems he was neighbor
pastor OF DR.. Lyman Beecher, when
the latter was the minister of Lithch.
held, Conn.,, and he frequently ex-
changed pulpits with him for Sum-
day. Dr.. Brace said DR.. Beecher
never selected his hymns before hand,
and opened the hymn book at random.
and announced the hymn that first
fell under his eye; and Dr.. Brace as
serted it for a fact, that the hymn
book in the pulpit having been used
tor so long time, would open itself
in about the mirrle; it was what was
called the Connecticut Selection, and
the section to which the book most
readily opened was that under the
caption of "Man. His Character and
Wants" DR.. Brace said that he once
talked with one Of the Litchfeld dea.
cons about this queer practice Of Dr..
Beecher, when that official told him
that he believed that 20 often as once
each month his pastor would give out
the hymn under that section,
Sin has a thousand treacherous arts
=. 10 practice on the mind"
And them" said the deacon, "he
would preach as though de believed
it with all his soul"
ms respected friend Of mine says
mat It anyone thinks the Puritan
ministers of a former day were only
solemn, he 10 much mistaken; they
were Just as serious 40 the clergyman
OF today, and no more 90, Is class;
ana they were just a. able and no
more 80; and just - full Of hur,or %
educated Yankees could be In the'f
circumstances. Was not the Wise
man right when he said: "Say not
tnou. What 10 the eause that the for
mer days were better than thesef For
!nou do;t not inquire wisely concern
Who will be the Secretary Of State
n sne next National Administration