The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-23
A FEMALE EVANGELIST.
A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN REGu-
LARLY ORDAINED.

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phesy.
Among the noteworthy women who
will visit America on the occasion OF
the annual meeting of the National
womans Christian Temperance Union
Rev. Anna II. Shaw, Of Washington,
j.. G. Miss Shaw is a Methodist preach
or Of remarkable eloquence, and is one
Il the few women who have been regu-
larly ordained in evangelical denomi-
nations. She is descended from a
family Of Uoitarians. Her parents
came TO this country when sne was
child. While still a young girl she be-
came convert TO Methodism, and was
strongly impelled 10 preach. She de-
iermined to study Tor the ministry. she
graduated at Albion College, where her
unusual gifts were so obvious
that the professor OF rhetoric and
bellies lettres told her regretfully
that If she had only been a man he
could have made her the first orator IN
America She took the regular course
at the theological school of Boston Uni
versity, graduating with credit in 1878.
As the Methodist Episcopal Church
does not ordain women, Miss Shaw was
ordained in the Methodist Protestant
Church. After this she was pastor Tor
Seven years Of a church at East
Dennis. Mass, a county parish on Cape
Cod, where she was much beloved.
Soon after she went there a pastorless
Congregational church asked her TO
supply their pulpit until they secured a
minister. She did so, and they were 50
much pleased with her that they
did not attempt to find any other pas
tor. For SIX years she did double
duty, preaching at her own church
in the morning, then driving six miles
TO the Congregational church and
preaching there in the afternoon. Mean
while Miss Shaw's interest in reform
work was growing, and she finally re-
signed the pastorate to devote herself
to a different field of usefulness. AS a
worker in the w. c. I. u. and kindred
movements she has attained national
fame. When che revisits East Dennis,
sons of her old Pensioners occasionally
reproach her for doing any thing else
except preaching the Gospel, but Miss
Shaw tells them that in advocating
temperance and social purity she is
preaching applied Christianity" all
the while. She also continues her
evangelical work, preaching almost
every Sunday to immense congrega-
tons.
During her extensive travels East
and West Miss Shaw has encountered
some trying adventures, but her cour-
age is as remarkable as her eloquence.
On one occasion she was TO preach In a
village among the lumber camps OF
Michigan. place which was reached
by stage ride of about twenty miles.
She was the only passenger, and the
stags-driver became insulting in his at
tentions. Miss SHAW bore it as long as
il was safe to do so. Then she drew a
pistol, which che fortunately had with
her, and said. You foul-mouthed
ruffian. if you say another word / will
shoot you dead ~ The man saw that
she meant it, and relapsed into silence.
For fifteen miles. until the end Of the
journey Miss Shaw rode holding the
loaded pistol in her hand, ready to
use it If necessary. The next day
was Sunday, aud she was sur
prised at the size of the congregation
that assembled to hear her. She found
afterwards that the stage driver had
been unable to keep the story of his
discontinue to himself. The news had
spread. and the lumbermen and loggers
had poured in from all directions to see
and hear the little woman who de
Tended herself so pluckily.
Miss Shaw is now about forty five
years of age. She is small woman.
with iron-gray hair, remarkably bril-
liant and piercing eyes, a rich voice.
aud great deal OF personal magnetism.
She has done much work in Canada
New England, and the West, but is
nowhere greater favorite than in
Maryland. Last winter. at the request
of the State Women's Christian Tenn
perance Union, she gave an address be-
fore the Maryland Legislature in be-
half of pending temperance bill. She
has several times visited Mary land by
invitation Of the temperance people OF
the State, always with growing accept
ance, and is soon to return there again.
Atlanta Journal.