The Detroit times., 1913-01-09
I'm SSTH YEAR
SHE breaches
OPTIMISM
Rev. DIR. Blackwell, First Or
dained Woman Preacher,
Has Message
SHE HAS WRITTEN A
BOOK ON IMMORTALITY
Finds in Her Work a Roseate
Hue for All Man

the Wonderful human sympathy and
deep religious convictions that mark
ed the progress of long life OF pub
lie usefulness. DR.. Antomette. Stone
Blackwell. although approaching hel
Ieighty-eighth birthday. last week com
lpleted a book on Immortality" which
she hopes will instill a spirit OF OF
timism and belief in the young PEG
pie OF today.
Being the first ordained Woman
minister of the country, and a mem
Der OF the band OF pioneer workers
for suffrage, the abolition OF slavery
and other reforms, DR.. Blackwell has
drawn on fund OF ripe experience
IN the careful preparation OF her book.
which she says she hopes will per
form a duty after she Is no longer
able TO preach and lecture.
DR.. Blackwell, who does not look
her age within many years, and who
says she feels as young as she did at
forty, has lectured several times dur
ing the present winter and delivered
q few sermons in the Unitarian church
at Elizabeth, y. j.. OF which she was
| pastor for many years.
The Gospel Of Happiness
! Feeling that have had such a
happy and interesting life, | love to
preach the gospel OF happiness ana
usefulness" said she Yesterday ia
speaking OF her forthcoming book. at
the beautiful, oid-tashioned Colonial
home OF her daughter, Mrs S. T.
Jones, in Elizabeth.
The unrest today is not only 10 be
found among women" said DR.. Black
we'll. There is just as much OF il
among the men OF the country. The
trouble lies in the fact that while we
are progressing along the right line,
we haven't progressed far enough.
Fifty years from now, when men and
women better understand each other,
and when both better understand the
duties and responsibilities of life. and
what makes for true happiness, we
shall have more contented people and
far more happiness than We have to-
day.
| II trust" she continued, that my
book will put hope and faith into the
hearts of many pessimists and skep.
| tics and idle women, who, lacking a
genuine interest in life, are alwaN,
miserable Hope and faith alone put
ones life on a substantial foundation
My proof of the immortality of the
soul rests in my conviction that, as
God is immortal, and as we are Great
ed by Him. we must inherit, Ills
nature, which is immortal.
Far From Decrylng Marriage.
The old-time woman was just "a
dscontented as are many women OF
today with their larger freedom. but
they knew it was of no use to cry Out
against their condition. There was
nothing else for them TO do but t.
marry for home and do the work ex
pected OF them.
Now, don't decry marriage" cor
lrected DR.. Blackwell, who was one OF
the first women TO advocate woman's
economic independence in the coun
try. but is the mother OF seven chill
ldren and the grandmother OF 10; Il
with all women, heartily endorse mar
lriage. All this talk about suffraglsts
and college women scornings mar
riage is stuff and nonsense.
There are not five women in the
world today who would not marry i
they met the right man, but men are
not marrying for home as they once
did They are SO we'll taken care o.
today in apartment hotels that i
jmakes them selfish.
There are many men who do no
marry because they feel they cannot
afford IT, When men and women un
derstand each other better they vii
make marriage more or a partnership
Women will bring to their marriage
as they do now in many parts oil
Europe, a dowry OF their own, earned
by their own work, perhaps.
Foresees Decrease of Divorce.
Being more financially indepen'
dent, and both working together. In
stead OF one leaning on the other
they will come to a better understand
ing. and much strife that ends I'D
divorce will be precluded.
Women have proved that work
doesn't hurt them. | was married at
80. | had done 10 years Of public
work lecturing and preaching, before
| was married I reared my family
and have always worked hard. taking
only short and few vacations, and
am all the better for having worked.
1T is a woman's duty 10 bear chill
dren. When won en- begin TO realize
that mere selfish pleasure, indulgence
in expensive and foolish clothes and
social affairs do not bring satisfaction
nor happiness. then they will realize
that children are an enormous salts
faction
Women are far better of than
they were 80 years ago. and they arc
improving all the time They are rap
idly finding themselves. and the things
they want TO do They are discrim-
mating between the genuine and the