Dr. Arvine, from whom (through Dr. Burr) it is admitted that Mr. Smyth got it, gives a period of time five times longer than does Mr. Smyth. Dr. Johnston (from whom, undoubtedly, Dr. Arvine got it) reports but one unnatural death (if, indeed, a person "convulsed with spasms" can be considered to have died an "unnatural" death), instead of thirty-six (as reported by Dr. Arvine), so that, if we multiply five by thirtysix, we have one hundred and eighty showing that there was not more than a one hundred and eightieth part of truth in the story (a homoeopathic dilution).

A newspaper, published at Newburgh in the early part of this century, called the Recorder of the Times, contains a notice of the organization of the "Society of Druids," on Sept. 22d, 1803. Dr. Johnston says that the one person convulsed with spasms, died July 2d, 1799, four years before the Society was organized. Besides which is the significant fact that Dr. Johnston does not appear to have been at Newburgh, or, at all events, it is certain that he did not begin to preach there till 1806-seven years subsequent to the time he, himself, states as that when the person was "convulsed with spasms."

Such is the "truth of history!" as presented from the pulpit. The whole story is unquestionably and simply for effect, viz: that of gaining adherents to the gospel of miracle, superstition and fear. As further proof of this, I have a letter from a member of the church at Newburgh, where Rev. Mr. Smyth preached the sermon alluded to, which says: “Mr. Smyth has received letters from all points of the compass, and seemed rather pleased that the story had been given a fresh start, and hoped much good results from it. We have a special impression in the church, and a number are joining on profession of faith,-thirty-five, I think, from the Sundayschool in one day, alone. I think Mr. Smyth's little story is

some of the cause."

There are any quantity of just such stories-fables, falsehoods-in Arvine's Cyclopedia of Anecdote; and any one who would enjoy Gulliver or Munchausen, would fairly revel in Arvine. Æsops Fables are "sublime truth" in comparison.

IN

WOMAN IN CHRISTIAN AND HEATHEN

COUNTRIES.

'N turning over the leaves of Colonel Ingersoll's Prose Poems on my library table, I found, opposite to his article on Woman, a paper on which was written, "In what lands are women looked up to, and considered men's equals-Heathen or Christian?" The handwriting was that of a young lady, who had recently been on a visit at my house, and my answer to her question was as follows:

First, let me say of the author of the Prose Poems, that it is, in my judgment, no extravagance to say that no man ever lived who had a higher appreciation of the character of woman, or who has uttered more generous sentiments, more eulogistic words, or more beautiful thoughts, or who has interested himself more, or done more in defense of every right of woman, than has this big-brained, big-hearted and justiceloving man, whom the Christian church has traduced, slandered, maligned, and against whom she has fulminated the most terrible of her anathemas, because he dared to think differently from what the Church taught, and because he dared to give expression to his honest thoughts.

To ascertain the cause, or the reason, of the treatment of women in Christian lands, we go back to the inspiring cause, the authority therefor, viz: the Christian text-book called the Holy Bible. Now, what does that teach? At the outset, I am embarrassed by the fact that, in the allusions in this book to the subject of your inquiry (regarding woman), my own sense of delicacy and fear to bring the blush of shame to your cheeks, prevents me from directing your attention to particular

passages in the Bible; but I can say in general terms, it teaches that the husband shall be the ruler, and the wife the subject (Gen. iii: 16); that a father may sell his daughter; that he may sacrifice her to a mob; that he may murder her; that maternity is a crime; that divorce is the privilege of the husband only; that polygamy and the slavery of women is justifiable; that a man not only, may, but shall, "surely kill" his wife or daughter, if either endeavor to persuade him to "serve other gods;" and many other outrages in addition, which a respect for your sense of modesty forbids my even alluding to.

Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton says: "In binding up the Jewish records with the New Testament, under the title of 'Holy Scriptures,' Christianity indorses the Jewish idea of womanhood."

On the subject of polygamy, Luther said: "I confess for my part, that, if a man wishes to marry two or more wives, I cannot forbid him; nor is his conduct repugnant to Holy Scripture." And Mrs. Stanton says: "Many Protestant divines wrote in favor of polygamy."

And what do we find in the New Testament? Does it teach that women should be looked up to, and considered men's equals? Far from it. "In that book also," says Helen H. Gardener, "the words sister, mother, daughter, wife, are only names for degradation and dishonor." (I may here acknowledge my indebtedness to that gifted woman-Helen H. Gardener-and to that remarkable work of hers, Men, Women, and Gods, for much of the information I am able to furnish on the subject of this communication.)

A few specimens only are necessary to show that the subjection of woman, and her inferiority to man, is inculcated in the New, as well as the Old,-Testament :

"Man is

"As the

"Wives submit yourselves to your husbands.” the glory of God—but woman is the glory of man." Church is subject unto Christ, so let wives be to their husbands, in everything."

"They (women) are commanded to be under obedience."

"Let woman learn in silence, with all subjection." "Ye wives be in subjection to your husbands." "If they (women)

will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home.”

Is it any wonder that women have been treated in the disgraceful manner that they have been in Christian countries, when authority is found for it in the book which is the Christian's idea of all that is right?

In contrast with Paul's instruction to women to ask their husbands if they want to know anything, Dr. Livingstone says that, "among the intelligent tribes of the Upper Gambia, respect for women is universally accorded. Many tribes are governed by a female chief. If you demand anything of a man, the demand is acceded to or rejected, in accordance with the decision of the wife, who is always consulted." So that there, if a man wants to learn anything, he asks his wife.

་་

In Miss Amelia B. Edwards' lecture in this city, March 22, 1890, on the Women of Ancient Egypt (many centuries before the Christian era), she says that from the earliest time of which we can catch a glimpse, the women of Egypt enjoyed a freedom and independence of which modern nations are only beginning to dream."

Mrs. Stanton says: "Through theological superstitions woman finds her most grievous bondage. The greatest barrier in the way of her elevation, is the perversion of the religious element of her nature. 'Thus saith the Lord,' has ever been a talisman by which tyrants have held the masses in subjection ; and woman, in her unbounded faith, has ever been the surest victim. All scriptural lessons teaching the slavery of woman, are echoed and re-echoed in every pulpit."

Principal J. Donaldson, LL. D., of the great Scotch University of St. Andrews, in a recent number of the Contemporary Review, says: "It is a prevalent opinion that woman owes her present high position to Christianity. I used to believe in this opinion. But in the first three centuries I have not been able to see that Christianity had any favorable effect on the position of women, but, on the contrary, that it tended to lower their character, and contract the range of their activity."

The "fathers" of the Christian Church, drawing their inspiration, doubtless, from the writings of the Old and New Testaments, have given their opinion of woman, which, I submit, is not quite as flattering to her as the opinion of some who do not believe in the fathers.

Mrs. Mary A. Livermore says: "The early Church fathers denounced women as noxious animals, necessary evils and domestic perils."

Lecky says: "Fierce invectives against the sex form a conspicuous and grotesque portion of the writings of the fathers."

Mrs. Stanton says that holy books and the priesthood teach that "woman is the author of sin, who (in collusion with the devil) effected the fall of man."

"Gamble says that “in the fourth century holy men gravely argued the question, ought women to be called human beings?'"'

But let the Christian fathers speak for themselves. Tertulian, in the following flattering manner, addresses woman: "You are the devil's gateway; the unsealer of the forbidden tree; the first deserter from the divine law. You are she who persuaded him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed God's image-man."

Clement, of Alexandria, says: "It brings shame, to reflect of what nature woman is.

Gregory Thaumaturgus says: "One man among a thousand may be pure; a woman, never.

"Woman is the organ of the devil.”—St. Bernard.

"Her voice is the hissing of the serpent."-St. Anthony. Woman is the instrument which the devil uses to ge possession of our souls."-St. Cyprian.

Woman is a scorpion."-St. Bonaventura.

"The gate of the devil, the road of iniquity."-St. Jerome. "Woman is a daughter of falsehood, a sentinel of hell; the enemy of peace."-St. John Damascene.

"Of all wild beasts, the most dangerous is woman."—St. John Chrysostom.