ONLY MY MOTHER | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 20, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 20.

ONLY MY MOTHER.

A HEATHEN woman said that the Bible must have been written by a woman, for it says so many kind things of women, while their sacred books say nothing of the kind. The degradation of womanhood throughout the East is well known, and is as marked as is their exaltation where the light of the gospel shines. Especially among Mohammedans is this contempt for womanhood noticeable. A Mohammedan apologizes with an expression of contempt when speaking of his wife.

The Mohammedan's scorn of women is the logical outcome of his religion, which refuses to recognize their claim as human beings deserving of respect. As they are of use to man, they are worth food and shelter, but they are not in the least entitled to standing ground at his side. The Countess Cowper, in "A Month in Palestine," gives an instance, far more telling than any sermon, of this dreadful state of things: "I was told by a Christian in Cairo that he was once walking with a well-to-do Mohammedan, with whom he was intimate, and who had often discussed with him the different positions of women in their respective sects. As they passed an old veiled figure in the street, who shrank on one side out of their way, the follower of the prophet delivered a passing kick at her.

"There," said the Christian, "that is what I complain of. You kick a woman as we would not kick even a dog."

"That," said the Mohammedan, with a look of astonishment—"why, that is only my mother!"

And yet infidels will say smooth words of the Mohammedans, who despise womanhood, and of the heathen, who murder their parents and children, and blaspheme Moses, who said, "Honor thy father and thy mother," and speak with contempt of Jesus, who said, "Suffer little children to come unto me."—Sel.