Woman and Religion.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5332, 9 August 1895, Page 4

Woman and Religion.

There was a large attendance at Mr Hoare's lecture at the Art Gallery yesterday. The lecturer Eaid thatfhe did not intend to speak of any particular form of. religion, much leBB ot any section of any Church, but of the thing itself existing under God, more or less— generally leaa— expressed by every form. The best definition of religion he could find was that it was "the adjustment of our relations," taking " relations " tb mean those natural bonds which existed always and everywhere amongst men. On such adjustment man's welfare, material and spiritual, depended. Man's relation was threefold : Firstly, he was in relation to things ; secondly, to his fellows; thirdly, to an inscrutable power above and around him. These relations included everything with which he had to do, and not only were his relations thereto adjustable, but we were ever busy trying to adjust them. Hence, in speaking of true and false methods of adjustment the chief consideration was the development of the whole of man's nature— -just as in bodily exercise, that was the best exercise which helped to develop every limb. There was only one spiritual exercise for which bo much could be claimed, one method of adjustment which applied to the whole.-aad that was love, " The greatest of these is charity," were the words of a well-known old writer, who gave greater prominence to feeling than, to thinking. Whether woman liked it or no, up to the present Bhe was given credit for being better at feeling than at thinking. There was no shame in it. Man often played the hyprticrite Bimply to call forth her compassion, knowing that then he waa pretty sure of her love. Woman delighted in nursing. Men who wore cripples found no difficulty in getting wives, but crippled women seldom married. The lecturer went onto say that Christianity owes its ethics and doctrine more to Paul than Jesus, and Paul was emphatic in asaigning to women a position of sub* servience and - dependence. At a certain Council in the sixth century it had been seriously discussed whether women had a soul or not. Even to-day Christian clergy and laity refused her a place on church councils, or a veto in their vestries. Evidently there was a false adjustment here. Yet by a strange inconsistency — those who opposed Nature were always inconsistent—a large proportion of the adherents of the religion which held woman in utter contempt, gave to a woman a place at God's right hand. In a well-known picture, in Borne, of the Judgment Day, the Virgin Mary was pleading with her vengeful Son on behalf of the condemned. Woman, too, had the credit of being more religious than man, ao far as church forms, church works, and priestly influence' was concerned. The reason was twofold ; first, her ready sympathy created in her a longing for sympathy, and a difference of aex 'made that sympathy yet more pleasing and piquant; and, secondly, her sphere of usefulness had in the past been limited Ito her district or her parish. It might be added that woman was somewhat prone to superstition. If tradition said she was curious, Bhe was seldom sceptical, and with regard to matters of faith, generally content to receive them at second-hand, eet forth by dictum of favourite priest or minister. On tbe question of prayer, Mr Hoare aaid that many mothers prayed for their children, but a better prayer could be offered by making the child the expression of the best it 3 mother's soul had. In thia respect a woman's position was without equal. That children " Bhould rise up and call her blessed" was a better reward for any mother than high achievment in politics, or distinction in society In conclusion, the true adjustment of our relations counted in use, brotherhood and aßpiration. Churches upheld artificial sanctities and false adjustments. Life was a time for _ creating; values, not in backing dishonoured bills. How poor were so-called "works of charity " "compared with the promotion of justice and righteousness, whioh could only be attained by true adjustment of natural relations ! Paint and putty might make a good show in skilful bands, but could never make rotten wood sound. The duties and struggles of our daily life were the truest aanotities of the world, and the clearest revelations of the intentions of God. As woman's position was exalted and her opportunities increased, all honour to her if, in the deeper and truer sense, she remained " mote religious " than man.