trials of life； the mother； patiently； painfully； and prayerfully
cultivating every higher faculty of her children for worthy action
through time and eternity？ Which of these positions has the most of
true elevation connected with it？
And then； again； let as look at the present position of American
women in society。 In its best aspects social life may be said to be
the natural outgrowth of the Christian home。 It is something far
better than the world； than Vanity Fair； than the Court of Mammon；
where all selfish passions meet and parade in deceptive
masquerade。 It is the selfish element in human nature which
pervades what we call the world； self…indulgence； enjoyment； the
lust of the flesh； the lust of the eye； the pride of life； receive； in that
arena； their full development。 Society； on the contrary； in its highest
meaning； becomes the practical development of the second great
commandment； loving and serving our neighbor。 In every Christian
country there are many individuals； especially among women； to
whom social life practically bears that meaning。 Public worship itself
is a social act； the highest of all； blending in one the spirit of the
two great commandmentsthe love of God and the love of man。 And
whatever of social action or social enjoyment is not inconsistent with
those two great commandments becomes the Christian's heritage；
makes a part； more or less important； of his education； enters into
the great stream of the better civilization。 And it is here that we
reach what may be called the more public duties of woman。 From all
duties entirely public she is now； or she may be if she choose；
relieved by man。 These more public duties of hers are still but the
outgrowth of her home life； and more or less closely interwoven with
it。 They are very important； never to be neglected with impunity。 The
really unsocial woman is in great danger of becoming also un…
christian。 Every friend crossing the threshold brings social life into
the home。 The genial smile； the kindly greeting； the cheering word；
all these and a thousand other gracious impulses； are； of course； but
the first instinctive movements of the social feeling。 And from these
we move onward over a vast field of action； to the very farthest
point reached by the higher charities of Christianity。 There can be no
doubt that the charm； the grace； and the happy cheerfulness of
society are chiefly due to women； and it is also true that the whole
unwritten common…law of society is； in a great measure； under their
control。 The world is constantly encroaching here； enervating and
corrupting social life。 To oppose wisely； skillfully； and effectually
these treacherous encroachments； these alluring temptations； is one
of the most difficult tasks possible。 To contribute her full share
toward purifying and brightening the social atmosphere about her； in
accordance with the spirit of true Christian civilization； such is one
great and essential part of woman's work in life。 It is a work more
especially her own。 Man； without his helpmeet； can do but little here。
His faculties are absorbed by other tasks； not more important； but
more engrossing and essentially different。 The finer tact； the more
graceful manner； the quicker wit； the more tender conscience； are all
needed here。 Every woman in the country has her own share of this
work to do。 Each individual woman is responsible for the right use of
all her own social influences； whether for good or for evil。
To keep up the standard of female purity becomes emphatically one
of the most stringent duties of every Christian woman。 For her own
sake； for the sake of all she loves； for the sake of her country； for
the service of Christ and His Church； she is bound to uphold this
standard at a high pointa point entirely above suspicion。 This task
is of importance incalculable。 But； owing to the frivolity of some
women； and the very loose ideas of many men； it is no easy task。
Undoubtedly； the very great majority of women are born modest at
heart。 Their nature is by many degrees less coarse than that of man。
And their conscience is more tender。 But there is one temptation to
which they too often yield。 With them the great dangers are vanity
and the thirst for admiration； which often become a sort of diseased
excitementwhat drinking or gambling is to men。 Here is the weak
point。 Yielding chiefly to this temptation； scores of women are falling
every day。 Vanity leads them to wear the extravagant； the flashy；
the immodest； the unhealthy dress； to dance the immodest dance； to
adopt the alluring manner； to carry flirting to extremes。 Vanity leads
them； in short； to forget true self…respect； to enjoy the very doubtful
compliment of a miserably cheap admiration。 They become impatient
of the least appearance of neglect or indifference； they become
eager in pursuit of attention； while men always attribute that pursuit
to motives of the coarsest kind。 It is generally vanity alone which
leads a married woman to receive the first disgraceful flattery of
dissolute men。 Probably nine out of ten of those American women
who have trifled with honor and reputation； whose names are spoken
with the sneer of contempt； have been led on； step by step； in the
path of sin by vanity as the chief motive。 Where one woman falls
from low and coarse passions； a hundred fall from sheer levity and
the love of admiration。
To counteract this fatal influence young women must be taught to
respect themselves； to be on their guard against vanity and its
enticements； to cherish personal modesty in every way。 The married
woman who is quietly working by example or by precept among the
young girls nearest to her； seeking to cherish and foster among them
this vital principle of pure personal modesty in dress； in language； in
reading； in tone of voice； in countenance； in mannerthe natural
outward expression of true modesty of heartis doing far more for
her country than if she were to mount the rostrum to…morrow and
make a political speech eloquent as any of Webster's。
Sensible women may always have a good measure of political
influence of the right sort； if they choose。 And it is in one sense a
duty on their part to claim this influence； and to exert it； but always
in the true womanly way。 The influence of good sense； of a sound
judgment； of good feeling may always he theirs。 Let us see that we
preserve this influence； and that we use it wisely。 But let us cherish
our happy immunities as women by keeping aloof from all public
personal action in the political field。 There is much higher work for us
to do。 Our time； our thoughts； our efforts may be given to labors far
more important than any mere temporary electing； or law…making；
passed today； annulled to…morrow； in obedience to the fickle spirit of
party politics。
THAT WORK IS TO PROMOTE BY ALL WORTHY MEANS THE MORAL
CIVILIZATION OF THE COUNTRY。
Toward this work legislation； the mere enacting of laws； can do but
little。 We have all heard of the shrewd mind who considered the
songs of a people as more important than their laws。 The moral
condition of a nation is subject to many different influencesof
these the statute book is but one； and that not the most important。
No mere skeleton of political constitution can； of itself； produce
moral health and strength。 It is the living heart within which does
the work。 And over that heart women have very great influence。 The
home is the cradle of the nation。 A sound home education is the
most important of all moral influences。 In the very powerful
influences which affection gives them over the home； by teaching
childhood； by guiding youth； over the men of their family； women
have noble means for working good； not only to their own
households； not only to the social circle about them； but to the
nation at large。 All these influences they can bring into action far
more effectually by adhering closely to that position which is not
only natural to them； but also plainly allotted to them by the
revealed Word of God。 In no position of their own devising can they
do that work half so well。
Political and social corruption are clearly the great evils to be
dreaded for our country。 We have already gone far enough in the
path of universal manhood suffrage to feel convinced that no mere
enlargement of the suffrage has power to save us from those evils。
During half a century we have been moving nearer and nearer to a
suffrage all but universal； and we have； during the same period；
been growing more corrupt。 The undisguised frauds at elections； the
open accusations of bribery in legislative assemblies； the
accusations of corruption connected with still higher officesof these
we read daily in the public prints。 And these accusations are not
disproved。 They are generally believed。 It is clear； therefore； that
something more effectual than universal manhood suffrage is needed
to stem the torrent。 And it is simply ridiculous to suppose that
womanhood suffrage can effect the same task。 Who can believe that
where men； in their own natural field； have partially failed to
preserve a healthful political atmosphere； an honest political
practice； that women； so much less experienced； p