Year: 1877

number them at tue polls, and as women
would not be unit on most questions,
there is no hope of any reform being
speedily precipitated by women alone.


As to the power of the priesthood, the
most philosophical way to ward off that
danger is TO emancipate woman's mind
from superstition and blind reverence
for authority, from the dogmas, tradi.
tions and mysteries of the popular faith,
by securing to her II thoroughly scientific
education, her right of individual con-
science and judgment in all things, her
personal independence.


The only reason why men in general
have not done this long ago is because
they were sufficiently clear sighted to see
that to cmancIpate womans mind from
the control Of the priesthood was to
emancipate her from mans authority al.
together. Thus saith the Lord in the
Scriptures Of all nations, is the weapon
man has most skilfully used, and still
uses with tremendous effect, TO keep
woman in subjection. Having so entire
ly perverted her religious conscience that
she believes her condition, whatever it
may he, ordained of heaven, and opposes
great reforms in science and philosophy
because some little text in the Bible
seems to forbid progress in these direc-
tious, is it just or wise for liberal thinkers
to propose to clip her wings still closer,
in order to limit her power for evil2
What ore men doing to lift the darkness
and superstition from the minds of wo.
men How common the remark among
the men Of liberal ideas Such are my
opinions, but never talk of these opin-
ions before my wife. She il happy in
her church, its forms and creeds, and |
do not wish to unsettle her faith. Re.
ligion is great thing for women it
makes them dOcilc and manageable ,
Yes, but unfortunately as docile and
manageable in the hands of the priest as
the husband and the children in turn
receive the impress of the mothers
thought and training Thus the false
theologies intended only for women are
ingrafted on the minds of sons as well as
daughters, who show their training in
the persecution of those who are battling
fer the rev faith : and thus injustice
goes around the circle, and they who per.
petrated the first act are In turn pun.
ished.


Woman's thoughts and interests have
been too much absorbed in the Church :;
and to change the current of her feelings
by rousing some interest in political
questions is strong argument in favor
of securing her right of suffrage. With
knowledge of political economy,
women would soon take far more inter.
est in those great questions that involve
80 many practical interests of humanity
than they now do in donation parties,
church decorations snd theological spec.
ulations.


While in their ignorance women may
be more dcvoutly religious, more super.
stitious than men, those trained to
thought have generally manifested more
interest in political questions, and have
more frequently spoken and written on
such themes than theology. This may
he attributed in measure to the fact
that the tendency OF woman's mind is
practical rather than speculative. Ques.
tions Of political economy liz within the
realm of positive knowledge; those of
theology belong to the world OF myster.
les and distractions.


Again, the number OF women ready for
liberal scientific ideas in politics, rclg.
ion and social life, is far greater than
men imagine. 1t is not surprising that
in so mar4ed a transition period from
the old to the new as that OF ,he nine.
tecnth century, women trained to think,
and write, and speak 'slIonld have dis
covered that they too bad some sLare in