Article May 26, 1917 Issue

The New Woman

HON. ELEANORA MONEY COUTTS

In the twelfth chapter of Revelation we read about "a woman clothed with the sun," a passage which was recalled by the present writer as she was reading in the section of "Pulpit and Press" by Mrs. Eddy devoted to "Clippings from Newspapers." On page 81 of this book there is a short article, reprinted from The New Century, Boston, which is truly a literary gem, its beautiful and inspiring thoughts being put into extremely well chosen and picturesque language.

The writer of the article, which is entitled "One Point of View—The New Woman," has, perhaps deliberately, challenged comparison with one of the best known and most poetical pieces of prose in English literature, namely, Ruskin's essay on Queen's Gardens, in "Sesame and Lilies," for the subject matter and the sentiments are the same, the gracious purpose of both being to point out the great, the transcendent power for good immanent in true womanhood. The New Century writer is however in no sense a plagiarist; his writing has force and originality, and writing a quarter of a century later he was able to see the partial fulfilment and prophesy the complete achievement of that which Ruskin's sensitive nature foretold, namely, woman's realization of her own inalienable heritage of freedom.

It is legitimate to infer that the writer of the magazine article drew his inspiration from the life and character of the Founder and Leader of the Christian Science cause, Mrs. Eddy, because, although no name is mentioned, the article appeared at the time of the completion and dedication, in 1895, of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. Indeed many of the newspaper articles included in this section of "Pulpit and Press" bear sincere testimony to the esteem and interest which Mrs. Eddy's heroic life and work had inspired even in those who had not enrolled themselves as followers of her religion.

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