MRS. FRANCES SWINEY.

White Ribbon, Volume 12, Issue 136, 15 September 1906, Page 1

MRS. FRANCES SWINEY.

“ If I risH. I help to lift all about mo; and if I fall I <lrng others down. Humanity is one.”— Henry ITood. It is doubtful whether greater good can be conferred by one human being upon another than by awakening to a sense of responsibility. Keep a man — or a race —in a position of slavery ; feed, clothe, and house as a well-cared-for animal or as a dependent child ; let him feel that Nature intended him to serve but as an unthinking beast of burden, without share in the higher, truer life of humanity, and that man will advance but little in intelligence, nor will he perceptibly aid the world's progress. Hut give even a child to feel that in him is power to be and do, and child and home and society will each gain. To the work of making woman cognisant of her own capacity has Mrs. Frances Swiney largely dev ted, for many years, the powers of her able brain. The latest thought and findings of eminent scientists of the day on the woman cpiestion have by her been collated and made understandable to the average lay mind. Her book. “ T 1 ie Awakening of Women ; or Woman’s Part in Evolution,’’ which was reviewed in this paper nearly three years ago, has been pronounced “ the book of the age on the woman movement.” The portrait and a few par-

ticulars concerning the history of the gifted author will therefore be warmly welcomed by many. Mrs Rosa Frances Emily Swiney was born Is*!7, in Poonah, India; her father be t 'yior.Tuim Biggs, of

the Bth foot, afterwards serving in the 4th Royal Dragoon Guards. He was a direct deseendent of the sister of Sir Isaac Newton, whilst among Mrs Higgs’ ancestors was the celebrated Bishop Hurd. Mrs Swiney’s uncle, Reginald Higgs, was a well known New Zealand colonist in the time of the Maori war, and is mentioned in the late Mr Alfred

Saunders “ History of New Zealand,” as rendering gallant service in con junction with the friendly Maoris. In early life, Mrs Swiney developed a taste for painting, studying under James Danbv, the son of the famous R.A., and taking Ist and 2nd prizes at exhibitions in Simla and Madras. Her intention was to take up art as a profession, but her marriage with Major (now Colonel) John Swiney in 1871, and residence in India, prevented further study. On her return to England in 1877, Mrs Swiney began to take an active part in public and political work, and also literan’ pursuits, writing for various magazines, and publishing a series of pamphlets in support of the Unionist cause, during the Home Rule controversy. For many years she was intimately associated with the Primrose League, but severed her connection with that society, “when it became a mere political tool of the Conservative Party, and in many vital particulars deviated from the basic principles of its originators.’ In 1890, Mrs Swiney, in conjunction with several other ladies, founded the Cheltenham Women’s Suffrage Society, of which, from that date, she has been President. Since then, as lecturer, writer and organiser, Mrs Swinev lias furthered, bv all means • * in her power, the political enfranchin a meet of women. Her monthly cor. • * * bution, “ Women among the Nations, ’

to tlie Anglo-Russian Review , has a worldwide circulation, and her trenchant, suggestive articles in the Westminster Review, hast and West , The Race Rudder, and other publications have brought her views on the supreme position of woman before a large circle of readers. The book mentioned above, “ The Awakening of Women, lias been translated into both Dutch and French. Mrs Swiney lias been engaged for some years on another comprehensive work, entitled “ The Philosophy of Sex.' It is intended to publish this in four parts —“ The Analysis of Sex," “ Difference of Sex," “ Natural Law of Sex, “Spiritualisation of Sex. “It is a labour of love for the womanhood of the world, and will testify to the truth of woman’s rightful position in the sublime scheme of human development, and will demonstrate the unity and oneness of cause and effect in manifestation as at present disclosed to the understanding, reason and logic of mankind. An important article, written by Mrs Swiney, on “ Woman and Natural Law, was, in March last, published in Occasi >tiai Papers (edited by a group of Oxford men). In addition to carrying on her literary work, Mrs Swinev, though far from robust in health, is lecturer at the Higher Thought Centre, Cheniston Gardens, London, and at the South Place Kthical Institute, Finsbury. A series of lectures delivered lately to women was on the recent researches in biology, embryology and pathology in relation to woman. Though keenly interested in politics, Mrs Swiney now belongs to no political party, her experience being that both parties are “equally dishonest and unfaithful when in office to the best interests of the country." A few sentences, culled here and tin re from Mrs Swiney’s writings, will serve to make manifest the spirit in which her labours are undertaken and carried on : “ Surely if we want to make tin* race better, it would be well first to know how it has been brought into existence in the past, and why there is race degeneracy and racial pathology.” “It is only as women realise the true nobility of their pre-ordained mission, md live worthy of themselves and their high destiny, that the chains will fall Mf their hands and they will stand free bihe sight of God and man. Mr.

“Momati, to play her true part in the cosmic scheme, must know the basic facts of her existence ; she must realise that there is only one divinely-inspired Law, the Law regulating, controlling and dirigating all the manifold activities of the universe, nowhere contradictory, uncertain or variable. ... No soul can advance on the road of true progress unless this knowledge becomes the invincible weapon, the Sword of Truth, by which old fallacies, pernicious customs and worn-out creeds can be overthrown and demolished. . . The old is passing away. All things are becoming new. ‘ I overturn, overturn, overturn, saitli the Lord.’ ”