Says Saint Paul: "Every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that." It is generally conceded that Saint Paul was not partial to women,—that he considered the gifts of men of superior importance to those of women,—for we find, throughout his letters, a distinct classification of the sexes, with the tendency of partiality towards his own.
During the centuries since his day, events have proven (and there are no proofs like facts) that woman also hath her proper gift; and I, for one, put in my humble protest against her long silence of tongue and pen, against our protracted season of ladylike religion, that bids us robe ourselves like Solomon, and decorously sit through the Sunday service, against a law which bids us accept unhesitatingly the cut-and-dried dogmas of our fathers, husbands, and brothers,—that bids us find what comfort we may in the law and the letter, as expounded from the majority of pulpits, that bids us stifle with dead faith our earnest craving for light and understanding. Let women also use their talents, so long napkin-hid,—be they one, two, or twenty.
It is not my purpose to sermonize on that cluster of hackneyed subjects, Woman's Mission, Woman's Sphere, Women's Age. I only want to say a few words regarding the effects and impressions of Christian Science on one woman. Several reasons have prevented my writing a line for the Journal since my little letter of testimony last May. The Martha-duties, which enter so largely into the lives of all of us, forced me temporarily to put aside my strong inclination for the Mary-work, caused me to remark more than once, with more levity than logic, that even Paul could not have worked so zealously for the Truth, had there been twin boys in the nursery, beside the innumerable social and household cares which are the outcome of our excessive civilization. One can carry Science even into the nursery. Even unruly babies can be taught that they are at perfect liberty to cut their teeth without pain, and grow up brave and manly men, without going through measles, mumps, and whooping-cough! So, mothers, possess your thoughts with a little patience, for the time will come when you will be emancipated, when you may sit at the Master's feet, learning the lesson that both lightens and brightens your petty every-day trials. I have found it so. You will find it so.
