A FEW WORDS TO YOUNG WOMEN.
By M. C. DuBois
WOMAN is of finer physical organization than man; and in the Scriptures husbands are admonished to give “honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.” Public opinion, however, demands more of her than of man in the way of purity of thought and act. Two standards of morality have been erected by society,—one for man, and a higher one for woman. But this is not God’s way. He knows no sex in a moral or ethical sense. He has but one standard of virtue, and demands as much of man as of woman. That which is sinful for woman is equally sinful for man. Woman was created to be a helpmeet for man, and as such, great is her responsibility and work; but too often her special duties are ignored or forgotten. In an article to young men in a recent SIGNS, I quoted the words of a young man, in which he accuses girls of being tempters to his sex. This is a sad accusation. And right here let me quote, in the same line, from a Christian mother of large experience:— Women are too often tempters. On one pretense or another they engage the attention of men, married or unmarried, and lead them on till they transgress the law of God, till their usefulness is ruined, and their souls are in jeopardy. Truly this is an awful work. One sign of the last days is licentiousness, which is on the increase in all classes of society. The standard of morality is far from being high enough among God’s professed people; and if this is true of them, what must the conditions be where there is no fear of God? It is a sad truth, an undeniable fact, that there are many bad girls and women. Some are so lost to all sense of virtue that they seek to lead young men from right ways. How this thought grieves every Christian heart. Some girls glory in their power over young men. They love to bring them to their feet as suitors, and then cast them off for new subjects. And they excuse themselves in this course by saying that men win the love of a pure, noble girl, ruin her, and then desert her. Yes, this is a sad truth, too; but, my dear girl, do not play at this dangerous game. You can not play it, and come out unscathed. Let it alone. God will reckon with all bad men, and they will receive at His hand a just recompense for their terrible sin. Do not descend to their level. Few girls realize their influence over young men, either for good or for evil. Many are careless and thoughtless; they love to flirt. They do not understand the heart of the unconverted man, and they do not know, nor do they stop to consider, the effect of their reckless conduct; and by their free and careless manners they become Satan’s instruments of temptation. Young ladies, be careful how you conduct yourselves in the presence of men. The eye has a language; see that it is not used to ensnare. Give no man occasion to say you are tempting him to wrong-doing. Do not lower the standard of true womanhood by cheap talk, slang expressions, and coarse joking. Oftentimes when upon the street or at public places, girls are loud and boisterous, thereby attracting notice and causing remarks to be made against their good name, when perhaps they had not a thought of evil in their heart. Often I tremble for girls, as I see how careless they are of their good name, how ready they are to make street acquaintances. This is not a safe course. Many girls have been ruined in this way. Be careful of your conduct on the street, at public gatherings, at home—everywhere. Shun the very appearance of evil in word and look as well as in act. There are some women who seem to forget their high and holy calling. They enter the political and sporting field, attending horse-races, and gambling upon the results with as much interest as men. They seem not to realize that they are lessening their womanly gentleness and God-given power for good. Women have done great good, and have taken rapid strides in the onward march of improvements in every good and noble work. I would not hold them back from any path, nor debar them from any field, which their Maker has designed for them. But I would seek to impress upon every woman and girl the great responsibility resting upon her, and ask her to throw her whole influence upon the side of purity and right. I am glad that there are many pure and noble girls and women taking this course. They are striving to lift up the standard of purity, and doing all they can to raise their fallen sisters from sin and degradation. Young lady, would you know how to do this most effectually?—Be what you would have others be—be modest at home and abroad. You need not be a prude by any means, but be a prudent, refined woman. It is not wrong to talk with men, and to mingle in their society; but do all you can to elevate. Make a young man feel that if he associates with you, he must come up, not down. Use your powers to influence him to be a truer, better man; to have higher, nobler views of life. Do not flirt. Treat men, young and old men, with respect, and teach them to respect you. Let your influence be cast for purity, not by thinking against the impure, not by talking against it, not by dwelling upon it, but by thinking, by talking, by acting only that which is pure, sweet, and womanly. Live as in God’s sight. Seek to lift up the fallen by ever pointing them to the pure, and noble, and true. By beholding, men become changed. My sisters, young and old, come up to your high calling in Christ Jesus. Let your words and acts tell for God and humanity. M. C. DuBois.