, 1880-08-22

groW up; written in a spirit OF mild patron-
age which is itself perfect picture Of the
anaaae nr3n;i,a this?ingy which has supplanted
If Elizabeth Atherton had been a Pagan
She would have been a priestess, pillar in
"a. dne temple of tue gods, welding wide III
worship. with the duty she represented;
lad she been a Catholic she would have been
: Lady Abbess, holding a power and conf
lnanding Difference scarcely second to
those Of Bishop; but, being Protestant,
fMl, ministerial labor, performed under every
disadvantage, won the 1nagnanimous to1ertl-
tion Of pulpit and pew, the wages OF a sec
ond-class cook and the title of negro
Oh gentlemen with the big D. IS after your
names, and the large K. before them. where
is your blush? Which of you have shown
better evidence OF divine call to preach the
Gospel? TO- nave You forgotten That ch1ist, on
gil nations, baptizing them in my name; but
first tarry at Jerusalem until yc be endued
with power from on high!'' and afterwards
ee!ldned women as well rs men with that
divine power, .pledging himself to be with
worId?'' How came it that ye blind guides
failed to see that til lis woman was early called
to the work of saving sinners, that she had q
religious vocation? True, Your predecessors
fae nGaed eRn1e4 Gnf Of ag Snmsa Of
weakness, and true, this Church had adj
judged all places Of honor or emolument
to those WHO by physical strength could
take and hold them, yet, even then, it does
think of making of Elizabeth Atherton was
to give her matrimonial blessing and send
her to join the ranks Ut New England cooks
who were killing Illinois pioneers with cake!
Even the cake business could not keep her
from preaching in the only way the Church
would permit, and when the reaper Death
| had clearetl ont her family circle and left her
| alone in the world, she became professional
sicl-nurse, that she might, have all oppor-
| tunity to preach while administering panada.
| The Church must have been overburdened
| with laborers, and sinners pretty much all
converted. when it could find no better work
| for Mrs. Aiken than making toast and tea and
sitting up nights with cross babies The
proved that If there was any one thing Of
which she knew nothing, it was the care Of
the sick; but only in this care could she find
opportunity to lead sinners to Christ; and so
1 she made 4 business Of it.
| The preli1ninaries necessary to draw her
into the military hospitals still further prove
her Jack OF vocation as a nurse; but once in,
her business as chaplain was un1nistakabie-
With her large human sympathics, the care
Of bodies must perforce occupy much OF her
thought; but souls, souls, souls, was what
Elizabeth Aiken wanted. Oh, that she might
save souls! To alleviate physical pain did
greatly rejoice her heart; b1t what was this
t. rese4ng SOULS from the danger
In consideration Of her double work, and
| double amount Of work, as Chaplain and
nurse, the Christianity which controls this
Government in such matters allowed her S12
salary. Private charity, in her three years
Of service, gave her "a summer outtlt, q
black dress, and watch and chainl" Pri-
vate charity also gave her home during the
illness brought on by hospital work, and
nearly got situation to fold newspapers,
when religious editor sent her to the wife
Of a preacher, who kindly got her situation
as teacher in tho Errlng Woman's Refuge.
A congregation which gives its pastor $1,000
tian Association and the Refuge Society, and
BY making triangle and laying their heads
together, gave her a salary Of SEQ in three
months. She seems to have been prudent,
and was not tempted into any large expendl-
ture BY that additional S14; bit the salary
was more than the societies could stand,
and she was discharged for want OF
funds. When almost ready to despair
bread while doing it, she was called as city
missionary for a large. wealthy congresa.
ton which, Judged by all precedent, is most
liberal aid faithful in giving her steady EN-
ploy1nent and hearty appreciation; but what
caste established in PauPs directions te
the slave women of Corinth, who, like IN.
ruly boys, disturbed public worship in the
| Apostolic age?
peculiar religious tenets,-cannot imagine
! q God who would be pleased to have al
india-rubbcr suit put under water with
man in it; but they are the views Of larTt
body of Christians who have made the worc
| better for their having lived in it. and bow
before the unrnist:lkable evidence OF :
religious vocation in Mrs. Aiken. and cal
her Reverend because she has won the titlt
by her works. JANE GREY SW1ssHELM.