The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-12-06
Published by request
WOMAN'S WORK.

An Essay, written for, and read at !
the Woman's Foreign Missionary Soci-
ETY., Bristol Auxiliary, by Mrs. G. 3. c.
Shumway.a
WOMAN's WORK. WHAT is IT? i
In former times, women were not
allowed to speak in the church. Paul
in his letters to the Corinthians, writes,
sLet your women keep silence in the
churches; for it is not permitted unto
them to speak, And If they will learn
any thing, let them ask their husbands
at home" Undoubtedly, Paul was q
very good man, who gave profitable ad-
vice, for he was one Of Christs apos-
ties yet Christ himself sent three wo-
men as messengers to the people toll
announce his resurrection. Some takeI
this as proof that women shall enjoy
rights equal to, and greater, if possible,
than man. Christ was aware that Wo-
mans truthfulness and earnestness inI
regard to sacred things would assure
her a hearing, therefore, think, it was
on account Of her influence among men
that He appeared first, after he was
risen, to woman, and commanded her
to go to the brethren and tell them Of
what she had seen and heard.
Never, until the present time, has
such a field of labor been spread before
woman. She may choose 8 profession
to match the skill or strength Of Sur
geon or Dentist; she may compete with
Divines and Architects, and she may
advance cause with as much impuni-
ty as reformers Of by gone days; but in
all this struggle for fame and renoWn,
may she not forget her mission for God
and humanity. Emerson says, '.Do
that which is. assigned you, and you can
not hope too much OF dare too much.
There is at this moment for you an ut
terance brave and grand as that Of the
colossal chisel of Phidias, OF troWel OF
the Egyptians, or the pen Of Moses. or
Dante. but different from all these,
Woman has work to do that belongs
to her, and her alone. MAN in his
strength may reform man" but It's Wo-
mans work to train the young that
when arrived at manhood they have no
need for reformation. Washington was
not reformed after he became man:
we read Of his truthfulness when a
mere boy; but we read also that his
mother was a good and pious woman,
who inculcated into her sons heart, the
principles that in manhood marked his
career through life. Francis Asbury,
the pioneer Bishop Of Methodism in
America, was not reformed after he
he arrived at the age Of maturity. We
read that, This mother possessed many
traits of character that were worthy Of
admiration. She was distinguished for
masculine intellect, strong common
sense, modesty, meekness, humility and
christian activity; also liberality. She
took great pains to train her son phys
ically, mentally, morally. She was the
ruling spirit-the presiding genius in
the family. She established female
prayer-meeting, and took Frankey
along to read the scripture lesson. That
was his theological seminary, from
whence he graduated with the highest
honors.' . Behold the fruit of the moth
er's influence which surrounded the
early life Of Bishop Francis Asbury.
A writer in the Ladies' Repository Of
1868 says, "a mothers manners mold
the child. We wonder not that there
are SO many ungainly men in Society
| they have all been trained by women
who knew not nor cared for the holy
nature Of their trust" Another writer
says, IF it we're not for our women there
would be danger of having our English
smothered in slang" O, mothersl has
it ever occurred to you that you are to
be held responsible for thestate of the
future generation? Upon you it de-
ponds whether the men who rule this
l +
vast nation shall be great and honora-
bic or otherwise. Your influence. is
the stepping stone to posterity. What
is your example, in this little world Of
yours, this little sphere called home?
Home! how sweet the soundl Some