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SISTER SILENA MOORE HOLMAN (1850–1915)
Untitled Response to T. P. Holman
Author Unknown—Photocopy of the end of the
article appears to be missing
(GOSPEL ADVOCATE, 17 November 1892)
It is rather difficult to discuss with one who relies on personal
knowledge of private and secret facts to upset well authenticated
public statistics. Well authenticated and public data, published by
leading New England statisticians, are my authority for the statements
concerning the indisposition to bear children and the decrease of the
puritan race. The reports of all the churches of and of the United States
census show that the proportion of church members to the population in the
South is much larger than in the North, five or six times greater. We
have published these heretofore. Our sister thinks her town of
Fayetteville furnishes as small proportion as the North. I do not know
personally. But I have heard it has a fair proportion of strong minded
women, who run conventions, make public speeches, teach churches how to
worship. She persists, too, it has of women who do not wish to bear
children, and men who do not wish to sustain them. She represents a bad
state of morals and religion in Fayetteville. I think she must shade the
picture too deeply. But, in this case, her private knowledge furnishes an
example in the South of just what I said existed greatly in the North; and
I said, too, that, as the same influences spread South, the same results
follow. Her women friends do not refuse to bear children because they
wish to enter public life, but because they love fashionable life. When
an evil is once started it will be used for any end it will serve.
I take it, she means that only a few women in the North have
attained notoriety in leading in churches. The masses of the churches
North are now managed by women. They frequently use the pastor through
whom to work. The same condition is rapidly working its way South. The
only reason I object to it is, it is unscriptural, and I am sure will soon
work the same irreligious condition among the men here that so greatly
exists there.
(e-text: JoAnne Toews)
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