Sermons to Young Women

Sermons to Young Women

"Sermons to Young Women" (1766), often called "Fordyce's Sermons", is a two-volume compendium of sermons compiled by Dr. James Fordyce, a Scottish clergyman, which were originally delivered by himself and others. Dr. Fordyce was considered an excellent orator, and his collection of sermons found a ready audience among English clergy and laity alike. It quickly became a staple of many Church and personal libraries.

To the modern Western ear, the sermons, which seem to encourage female subjugation to male preferences and emphasize a feminine manner of speech, action, and appearance over substantive development of ideas, seem hopelessly outdated and chauvinistic. That they were so considered even within fifty or so years after their publication is evidenced by their mention in Jane Austen's seminal novel "Pride and Prejudice" (1813), wherein Mr. Collins, a buffoonish clergyman, selects "Fordyce's Sermons" as an appropriate title for reading aloud to his young female cousins.

Dr. Fordyce married at the age of 51, about eleven years after publishing his famous collection of sermons.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • YOUNG ISRAEL, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF — YOUNG ISRAEL, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF, an umbrella organization for 146 Orthodox congregations with approximately 25,000 member families in North America. Its sister organization, Yisrael Hatzair – the Young Israel Movement in Israel – has more than… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Brigham Young — For other uses, see Brigham Young (disambiguation). Brigham Young Brigham Young c. 1870 …   Wikipedia

  • Islam and women — The active historical contribution of women to Chinese Islam has developed differently in various regions. As early as the seventeenth century, nüxue (women’s religious schools) were created by Muslims in central China; the southwest province of… …   Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture

  • James Fordyce — Nacimiento 1720 Aberdeen,  Escoc …   Wikipedia Español

  • James Fordyce — James Fordyce, DD (b. 1720 in Aberdeen, Scotland, d. 1 October 1796 in Bath, England), was an Eighteenth century clergyman. He is best known for his collection of sermons published in 1766 as Sermons for Young Women , popularly known as Fordyce s …   Wikipedia

  • Fordyce [2] — Fordyce (spr. Fordeis ), 1) David, geb. 1711, wurde Professor der Philosophie in Aberdeen u. verlor sein Leben bei einem Schiffbruch an der holländischen Küste; er schr.: Elements of moral philosophy, Lond. 1754 (deutsch Lpz. 1757); Die Kunst zu… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • 1760 — Year 1760 (MDCCLX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Saturday of the 11 day slower Julian calendar).Events of 1760January June * January 9 Battle of… …   Wikipedia

  • Neal, James, Fordyce and Down — was a London banking house which collapsed in June 1772, precipitating a major banking crisis which included the collapse of almost every private bank in Scotland, and a liquidity crisis in the two major banking centres of the world, London and… …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity — /kris chee an i tee/, n., pl. Christianities. 1. the Christian religion, including the Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches. 2. Christian beliefs or practices; Christian quality or character: Christianity mixed with pagan elements; …   Universalium

  • NEW YORK CITY — NEW YORK CITY, foremost city of the Western Hemisphere and largest urban Jewish community in history; pop. 7,771,730 (1970), est. Jewish pop. 1,836,000 (1968); metropolitan area 11,448,480 (1970), metropolitan area Jewish (1968), 2,381,000… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”