n that equality is not synonymous with identity, as seems to
be the impression among the many; a misconception which we regret to
say is shared by the judge on the bench with the workingman on the
construction gang, and the idiotic observation that "if women expect
to vote they must expect to stand up in the street-car," is not, alas!
confined to the lout, but is quite often voiced by the professional
man.

The same silly idea prevails with regard to race-equality. It is
judged by a similarity to our own in matters of dress; or choice of
foods; by inconsequential differences, rather than by an estimate of
what a given race may contribute to the variety of human knowledge;
and yet it is evident that nature aims at variety; at a multiplicity
of ideas and customs and creations.

Differentiation is the primal attempt.

Woman's claim to equality should be based upon the fact that first of
all she is different from, rather than identical with, men.

The woman who dons male attire and eschews all so-called "feminine
frivolity" in her efforts to prove herself man's equal, is confessing
that in her natural environment she does not consider herself his
equal, and is masquerading as man, in the vain hope that she may
deceive herself and others into thinking she is.

An individual is important to Society in proportion to his
originality; in proportion as he contributes some new idea; some
hitherto unfamiliar view.

Returning to the point of what constitutes true religion, namely, a
consciousness of our unity with all life, we find that although
religious ethics have included this ideal, it has not been emphasized
in the ratio of its importance. The result is that where unity should
have been established, segregation has been the rule, and it is
without any desire to reflect discredit upon the ideal of the Church
that we point to the fact that woman's emancipation, and her
co-operation in all departments of life, as a hope, if not a
consummated reality, has but now made its initial bow to the world.

That this initial bow comes side by side with, if not actually in the
wake of, disruption of the old theologic dogmas; dissatisfaction with
religious systems; and a determined disregard for what has been
presented as religion; cannot be denied. The fact is that religious
creeds never save anyone; never really elevate nations. At best they
have been but a "consolation prize" or a narcotic. Love of freedom is
the great liberator.