tform. One thing I know, we have had barbarians here, whether
we invited them or not; and I like to have barbarians here; I
know of no place where they are so likely to be civilized. I have
never yet been in a meeting managed by men when there was such
conflict of feelings, where there was not also ten times as much
confusion. And I think this meeting a powerful proof of the
superiority of our principles over those who oppose us.

Tell me if Christianity has not ever held the reins in this
country; and what has it done for woman? I am talking now of the
popular idea of Christianity. What has Christianity done for
woman for two hundred years past? Why, to-day, in this Christian
nation, there are a million and a half of women bought and sold
like cattle; a million and a half of women who can not say who
are the fathers of their children! I ask, are we to depend on a
Christianity like that to restore woman her rights? I am speaking
of your idea of Christianity--of Dr. Nevin's idea of
Christianity--I shall come to the true Christianity by and by.

One of two things is certain. The Church and Government deny to
woman her rights. There is not a denomination in this country
which places woman on an equality with man. Not one. Can you deny
it?

Mrs. MOTT: Except the Progressive Friends.

Mr. FOSTER: They are not a denomination, they have broken from
all bands and taken the name of the Friends of Progress. I say
there is not a religious society, having an organized body of
ministers, which admits woman's equality in the Gospel. Now, tell
me, in God's name, what we are to hope from the Church, when she
leaves a million and a half of women liable to be brought upon
the auction-block to-day? If the Bible is against woman's
equality, what are you to do with it? One of two things: either
you must sit down and fold up your hands, or you must discard the
divine authority of the Bible. Must you not? You must acknowledge
the correctness of your position, or deny the authority of the
Bible. If you admit the construction put upon the Bible by friend
Barker, to be a false one, or Miss Brown's construction to be the
true one, what then? Why, then, the priesthood of the country are
blind leaders of the blind. We have got forty thousand of them,
Dr. Nevin in