Condition in Some Parts of Europe and America

Dear Sister,—I now come to the consideration of the condition of woman in Europe.—In this portion of the world, she does not appear to have been as uniformly or as deeply debased, as in Eastern countries; yet we shall find little in her history which can yield us satisfaction, when we regard the high station she was designed to occupy as a moral and intellectual being.

Dear Sister, I now turn to the condition of women in Europe. Women in Europe do not appear to have been degraded as consistently or as deeply as in Eastern countries. Yet their history offers little to satisfy us when we consider the high position they were meant to occupy as moral and intellectual beings.

In Greece, if we may judge from what Eustathius says, ‘women should keep within doors, and there talk,’—we may conclude, that in general their occupations were chiefly domestic. Thucydides also declares, that ‘she was the best woman, of whom the least was said, either of good or of harm.’ The heathen philosophers doubtless wished to keep woman in her ‘appropriate sphere;’ and we find our clerical brethren of the present day re-echoing these pagan sentiments, and endeavoring to drive woman from the field of moral labor and intellectual culture, to occupy her talents in the pursuit of those employments which will enable her to regale the palate of her lord with the delicacies of the table, and in every possible way minister to his animal comfort and gratification. In my humble opinion, woman has long enough subserved the interests of man; and in the spirit of self-sacrifice, submitted almost without remonstrance to his oppression; and now that her attention is solicited to the subject of her rights, her privileges and her duties, I would entreat her to double her diligence in the performance of all her obligations as a wife, a mother, a sister, and a daughter. Let us remember that our claim to stand on perfect equality with our brethren, can only be substantiated by a scrupulous attention to our domestic duties, as well as by aiding in the great work of moral reformation—a work which is now calling for the energies and consecrated powers of every man and woman who desires to see the Redeemer’s kingdom established on earth. That man must indeed be narrow minded, and can have but a poor conception of the power of moral truth on the female heart, who supposes that a correct view of her own rights can make woman less solicitous to fill up every department of duty. If it should have this effect, it must be because she has not taken a comprehensive view of the whole subject.

In Greece, if we may judge from what Eustathius says, women’s work was generally done at home. He says, ‘women should stay indoors and talk there.’ Thucydides also declares that ‘the best woman was the one people said the least about, whether good or bad.’ The pagan philosophers surely wanted to keep woman in her ‘appropriate sphere.’ Today, we find our fellow clergymen echoing these pagan sentiments. They try to drive woman away from moral work and intellectual development. Instead, they want her to use her talents to prepare delicious food for her lord. They want her to attend to his physical comfort and pleasure in every possible way. In my humble opinion, woman has served man’s interests long enough. In a spirit of self-sacrifice, she has submitted to his oppression with hardly a protest. Now her attention is being drawn to her rights, privileges, and duties. I urge her to be twice as diligent in fulfilling all her obligations as a wife, a mother, a sister, and a daughter. Let us remember that we can prove our claim to perfect equality with our brethren only by carefully attending to our domestic duties. We must also help in the great work of moral reform. This work now calls for the energy and dedicated powers of every man and woman who wants to see the Redeemer’s kingdom established on earth. A man must be narrow-minded indeed to suppose that a true understanding of her rights could make woman less concerned about fulfilling every duty. He must also have a poor understanding of the power of moral truth on a woman’s heart. If understanding her rights should have this effect, it must be because she has not considered the whole subject fully.

In the history of Rome, we find a little spot of sunshine in the valley where woman has been destined to live, unable from her lowly situation to take an expansive view of that field of moral and mental improvement, which she should have been busy in cultivating.

In the history of Rome, we find a small patch of sunshine in the valley where women have been destined to live. Their low position has kept them from seeing the full field of moral and mental growth that they should have been cultivating.

In the then state of the world, we may conclude from this description, that woman enjoyed as much happiness as was consistent with that comparatively unimproved condition of our species; but now a new and vast sphere of usefulness is opened to her, and she is pressed by surrounding circumstances to come up to the help of the Lord against the giant sins which desolate our beloved country. Shall woman shrink from duty in this exigency, and retiring within her own domestic circle, delight herself in the abundance of her own selfish enjoyments? Shall she rejoice in her home, her husband, her children, and forget her brethren and sisters in bondage, who know not what it is to call a spot of earth their own, whose husbands and wives are torn from them by relentless tyrants, and whose children are snatched from their arms by their unfeeling task-masters, whenever interest, or convenience, tempts them to this sacrilegious act? Shall woman disregard the situation of thousands of her fellow creatures, who are the victims of intemperance and licentiousness, and retreating to the privacy of her own comfortable home, be satisfied that her whole duty is performed, when she can exhibit ‘her children well clad and smiling, and her table neatly spread with wholesome provisions?’ Shall she, because ‘her house is her home,’ refuse her aid and her sympathy to the down trodden slave, to the poor unhappy outcasts who are deprived of those blessings which she so highly prizes? Did God give her those blessings to steel her heart to the sufferings of her fellow creatures? Did he grant her the possession of husband and children, to dry up the fountains of feeling for those who know not the consolations of tenderness and reciprocal affection? Ah no! for every such blessing, God demands a grateful heart; and woman must be recreant to her duty, if she can quietly sit down in the enjoyments of her own domestic circle, and not exert herself to procure the same happiness for others.

Given the state of the world then, this description suggests that women enjoyed as much happiness as was possible. Our species was still comparatively undeveloped. But now a new and vast sphere of useful work has opened to women. The circumstances around them urge them to help the Lord fight the enormous sins that devastate our beloved country. Should a woman shrink from duty in this crisis? Should she withdraw into her own family circle and take pleasure in her many selfish enjoyments? Should she rejoice in her home, her husband, and her children, and forget her brothers and sisters in bondage? They do not know what it means to call a piece of land their own. Ruthless tyrants tear husbands and wives from one another. Heartless taskmasters snatch children from their parents’ arms whenever profit or convenience tempts them to commit this sacrilegious act. Should a woman ignore the plight of thousands of her fellow human beings who are victims of drunkenness and sexual immorality? Should she retreat to the privacy of her comfortable home and feel satisfied that she has done her whole duty? Is it enough to show that ‘her children are well dressed and smiling, and her table is neatly set with wholesome food’? Because ‘her house is her home,’ should she refuse to help or show sympathy for the oppressed slave? Should she refuse to help the poor, unhappy outcasts who are denied the blessings she values so highly? Did God give her those blessings to harden her heart against the suffering of others? Did he give her a husband and children to dry up her feelings for those who know nothing of the comfort of tenderness and mutual affection? Ah, no! For every such blessing, God asks for a grateful heart. A woman fails in her duty if she can quietly enjoy her own family life without working to secure the same happiness for others.

But it is said woman has a mighty weapon in secret prayer. She has, I acknowledge, in common with man; but the woman who prays in sincerity for the regeneration of this guilty world, will accompany her prayers by her labors. A friend of mine remarked—‘I was sitting in my chamber, weeping over the miseries of the slave, and putting up my petitions for his deliverance from bondage; when in the midst of my meditations, it occurred to me that my tears, unaided by effort, could never melt the chain of the slave. I must be up and doing.’ She is now an active abolitionist—her prayers and her works go hand in hand.

But it is said that women have a powerful weapon in private prayer. I acknowledge that women have this weapon in common with men. But a woman who sincerely prays for the moral renewal of this guilty world will also work toward it. A friend of mine said: ‘I was sitting in my room, weeping over the miseries of the slave. I was praying for his release from bondage. Then, as I sat there, I realized that my tears alone could never melt the slave’s chain. I had to get up and act.’ She is now an active abolitionist. Her prayers and her actions go hand in hand.

I am here reminded of what a slave once said to his master, a Methodist minister. The slaveholder inquired, ‘How did you like my sermon to-day?’ ‘Very good, master, but it did not preach me free.’

This reminds me of what a slave once said to his master, a Methodist minister. The slaveholder asked, ‘How did you like my sermon today?’ ‘Very good, master, but it did not preach me free.’

Oh, my sisters, suffer me to entreat you to assert your privileges, and to perform your duties as moral beings. Be not dismayed at the ridicule of man; it is a weapon worthy only of little minds, and is employed by those who feel that they cannot convince our judgment. Be not alarmed at contumely, or scorn; we must expect this. I pray that we may meet it with forbearance and love; and that nothing may drive us from the performance of our high and holy duties. Let us ‘cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of?’ and press forward in all the great moral enterprises of the age, leaning only on the arm of our Beloved.

Oh, my sisters, please assert your rights and perform your duties as moral beings. Do not be discouraged by men’s ridicule. It is a weapon worthy only of small minds. Those who use it feel they cannot convince us by reason. Do not be alarmed by insults or scorn. We must expect them. I pray that we may meet them with patience and love. I pray that nothing will turn us away from our high and holy duties. Let us ‘stop relying on man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for what is he worth?’ Let us press forward in all the great moral causes of our age, leaning only on the arm of our Beloved.

But I must return to the subject I commenced with, viz. the condition of woman in Europe.

But I must return to the subject I began with: the condition of women in Europe.

Speaking of the Morlachian women, M. Fortis says, ‘Being treated like beasts of burden, and expected to endure submissively every species of hardship, they naturally become very dirty and careless in their habits.’

Speaking of the Morlachian women, M. Fortis says, ‘They are treated like beasts of burden and expected to endure every kind of hardship without complaint. As a result, they naturally become very dirty and careless in their habits.’

The Cossack women afford a contrast to this disgusting picture. They are very cleanly and industrious, and in the absence of their husbands, supply their places by taking charge of all their usual occupations, in addition to their own. It is rare for a Cossack woman not to know some trade, such as dyeing cloth, tanning leather, &c.

The Cossack women offer a contrast to this disgusting picture. They are very clean and hardworking. When their husbands are away, they take over all their usual work in addition to their own. Almost every Cossack woman knows a trade, such as dyeing cloth or tanning leather.

The condition of Polish and Russian serfs in modern times is about the same. The Polish women have scarcely clothing enough for decency, and they are subjected to great hardships and privations. ‘In Russia, women have been seen paving the streets, and performing other similar drudgery. In Finland, they work like beasts of burden, and may be seen for hours in snow water, up to the middle, tugging at boats and sledges.’

The condition of Polish and Russian serfs in modern times is much the same. Polish women barely have enough clothing to cover themselves decently. They face great hardship and deprivation. ‘In Russia, women have been seen paving streets and doing other similar hard labor. In Finland, they work like beasts of burden. They may be seen for hours in water from melted snow, waist-deep, pulling boats and sledges.’

In Flanders and in France, women are engaged in performing laborious tasks; and even in England, it is not unusual to see them scraping up manure from the streets with their hands, and gathering it into baskets.

In Flanders and France, women do demanding physical work. Even in England, it is not unusual to see women scraping manure from the streets with their hands and collecting it in baskets.

In Greece, even now the women plough and carry heavy burdens, while the lordly master of the family may be seen walking before them without any incumbrance.¹

In Greece, women still plow and carry heavy loads. Meanwhile, the lordly master of the family can be seen walking ahead of them, carrying nothing.¹

Generally speaking, however, there is much more comparative equality of labor between the sexes in Europe than among the Orientals.

Generally speaking, however, labor is shared much more equally between the sexes in Europe than among the Orientals.

I shall close this letter with a brief survey of the condition of women among the Aborigines of America.

I will close this letter with a brief look at the condition of women among the Aborigines of America.

The following affecting anecdote may give some idea of the sufferings of these women:

The following moving story may give some idea of the suffering of these women:

In Greenland, the situation of woman is equally deplorable. The men hunt bears and catch seals; but when they have towed their booty to land, they would consider it a disgrace to help the women drag it home, or skin and dress it. They often stand and look idly on, while their wives are staggering beneath the load that almost bends them to the earth. The women are cooks, butchers, masons, curriers, shoemakers and tailors. They will manage a boat in the roughest seas, and will often push off from the shore in the midst of a storm, that would make the hardiest European sailor tremble.

In Greenland, the situation of women is equally deplorable. The men hunt bears and catch seals. But once they have towed their catch to shore, they would consider it a disgrace to help the women drag it home or skin and prepare it. They often stand idly watching while their wives stagger under loads that nearly bend them to the ground. The women are cooks, butchers, masons, leather workers, shoemakers, and tailors. They can handle a boat in the roughest seas. They often set out from shore in storms that would make the hardiest European sailor tremble.

The page of history teems with woman’s wrongs, and it is wet with woman’s tears.—For the sake of my degraded sex every where, and for the sake of my brethren, who suffer just in proportion as they place woman lower in the scale of creation than man, lower than her Creator placed her, I entreat my sisters to arise in all the majesty of moral power, in all the dignity of immortal beings, and plant themselves, side by side, on the platform of human rights, with man, to whom they were designed to be companions, equals and helpers in every good word and work.

History is filled with the wrongs done to women, and its pages are wet with women’s tears. For the sake of my degraded sex everywhere, I appeal to my sisters. I also appeal for the sake of our brothers, who suffer when they place women below men in creation. Their suffering increases in proportion as they place women lower than their Creator placed them. I urge my sisters to rise with all the majesty of moral power and all the dignity of immortal beings. I urge them to stand side by side with men on the platform of human rights. Women were meant to be men’s companions, equals, and helpers in every good word and work.

Thine in the bonds of womanhood

Yours in the bonds of womanhood