The 19th Amendment of the United States Constitution reads very simply: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. This amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919 and ratified on this day in 1920 – by one vote.
“By March of 1920, just one more state was needed to ratify the 19th Amendment in order for it to become law. The Tennessee General Assembly took up the question in August, and suffragists and anti-suffragists bore down on Nashville. The State Senate voted convincingly to ratify, but the House failed to do so twice, by two votes of 48 to 48. State Rep. Harry T. Burn, a 24-year-old from McMinn County, was one of the “nay” votes. Reportedly, he had intended to vote for ratification but had been persuaded not to by telegrams from his constituents and members of his party.
“Just as a third vote was set to begin, Burn received a letter from his mother, Febb Ensminger Burn, that read, in part, “Hurrah and vote for Suffrage and don’t keep them in doubt … I’ve been watching to see how you stood but have not seen anything yet … Don’t forget to be a good boy.”
“On the third vote, Burn changed his mind. Thanks to his single vote, the House approved the amendment, Tennessee ratified it, and the Constitution was changed to guarantee women the right to vote.”1
Momma got to him!
As I read a variety of historical accounts detailing the formation of our nation, things like this bother me. The women were good enough to have the man’s babies, clean his home, wash his clothes, plant his garden, can his food, and put his meals on the table. But she wasn’t good enough to be considered an equal citizen of a nation SHE helped to found and to have a vote? You have to wonder if the women had been treated with Godly respect how things might be different today.
God’s order for the home is quite clear and it spill over into the leadership of the church. 1 Peter 3:1-7 says, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own
husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; (2) While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. (3) Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; (4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (5) For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: (6) Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (7) Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
There’s a lot of good instruction in here for both the women AND the men. One devotional cannot possibly touch all the things that are taught wrong about this passage, and I only want to touch on one point: honor.
Gentlemen, we are to honor our wives. It is a gift that we give them. Thayer’s Greek Dictionary says that this word means: “a valuing by which the price is fixed; honor which belongs or is shown to one; of the honor which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds; deference, reverence.” The root word means simply to pay a price. You want to be married? You want to be with that lady “till death do us part?” Here’s what it’s going to cost you. Honor. Valuation. You are to treat her as the most valuable thing you have in your life second only to God and your salvation.
I wonder if the women of history would have been treated that way instead of as property or chattel if things might be different today. Ephesians 5:25-28 gives some good reminders for this Lord’s Day. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/19th-amendment-ratified-tennessee-thanks-to-one-vote
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