The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-09-03

olg0ted, while the Gurneyites retaliated nv
nam tanning that they alone were the guar
oians OF the true Quaker faith, and the
oinerent representatives of other beliefs
were stanch In declaring that only theirs
were the teachings of pure religion and
undefied,
Inc little schooma'am whose orthodoxy
had never before been called in question,
was divided between grief and indignation.
hau our Tree country come to this? Her
righteous wrath nerved her 10 a far iercer
battle than she would otherwise have
made. and she determined to have that
nomination were such a thing possible.
Accordingly she Systematically and thor
oughly canvassed the whole country, max
ing speeches like an old campaigner and
winning friends wherever she went, until,
when the Fourth of july drew near, she
was invited to give the Grafton at the
grand annual gathering by which Ma
haSka County always celebrated IndePen-
dence day.
1t was a great and glorious occasion.
ALI Mahaska County was there to see the
procession, eat picnic luncheon and hear
the lady candidate speak. The other can
dldates were all present as well, but Miss
Smell was the drawing card of the day
Her Grafton was great success. The gray
boards and staid mothers in Israel who had
seen Friend SHELLS Edna grow up from
babyhood-the young men and women who
had played and studied and visited with
her since childhood, and the small fry.
who only knew her as miss Smell, prInei-
pal of the High School," were alike I'M
pressed ana delighted with her eloQuence
and address. She was received with en-
thuslasm, and became so popular that,
watching every voter in the county crowd
ing abound to "speak to Edny Smell" and
congratulate her on her successful GRAFTON,
the rival candidates decided something
must be done. Accordingly they put their
L. d. NL,.@ lrv1A
ton. a whisper of it began to get abroad,
and presently one Of the lady candidates.
managers came to her anxiously. Miss
SHELL" he said. there's d plot afoot to
call you up on the platform and question
you as to your religious beliefs. What
shall we do?"
The little teachers eyes flashed. LET
them call me-" she said. Il shall be ready
for them," and just then the cry arose:
The lady! The lady! Miss Smell!
Edna Smell! We want TO hear from Edna
SnelW
And up upon the platform in her simple
white dress. her hands claSped before her
and her fair face very determined, the
lady candidate marched and stood facing
the audience. waiting for what was TO
come next. The chairman was opposed to
women in politics. he had been deeply
cnagrined at having to introduce lady
speaker on that platform, and he was
Jubilant at the prospect OF her discomht-
ure.
Miss SHELL" he said, suavely, "our
friends here have requested me to ask you
question or two. They would like TO
know whether you believe the Bible TO be
the inspired word Of God. aud whether you
believe in the divinity of the Savior of the
world"
1t seems incredible that so enormous an
Injustice could ever have been publicly
done in any State in the Union, but this
was twenty years ago. we must remember,
and on an Iowa prairie. Besides. the can
dldaie had $500 at stake.
Standing there. looking off over that sea
OF heads. the young girl was thinking hard
and last. She saw one after another
familiar face upsurned TO hers. She could
SEE, oil to one side, the little Quaker meet
lug-house, where all her young life she
had gone Sunday after Sunday 10 wOr-
ship. She had been reared after the most
straight of her sect, Quaker, and then,
as now, the great ambition OF her life was
10 live for the good, the true, the right.
What could she say to these, her lifelong
friends and neighhors. that they did not
already know?
At lastshe began by reminding them that
they had no right to bring into question her
religious views; that The constitution for
bids putting candidate TO any such test,
and that none of the gentlemen on
either ticket had been so questioned
But" she said, 81 have no objection
to stating ny views. l believe that
through revelation of the Holy Spirit. and
that as part of all truth the Bible was
given US by inspiration. AS to your other
question, L have 10 wish to make political
capital out OF my love of God, or to make
any boast either as to my creed or my
character. Remember the admonition of
Christ himself, Not every one who saith
unto me, Lord LOrdl but be that doeth the
will Of my father shall be called disciple
Inc proper question TO ask is not whether
l have said Lord! LordY but whether /
have done his will. l have lived my whole
life among you, good people, and it has
been an open book, every mage of which
II ay be read by you all. You have read
to Door purpose indeed if after all these
years you can form no Judgment as TO what
the inspiration of my life has been"
The Questloner was silenced, and hush
fell upon the audience as she descended
the steps and rejoiDed her companions.
Again the people came flOcking around
the good Friends. all Jealous for the good
name of a member of the meeting" and
staDch adherents glad to see the diff
cult bit of road SO admirably bridged over.
At last one venerable Friend took her by
the hand and looked lovingly into her eyes.
Thee answered well, Edny," he said.
But" and his tone took an anxious ac-
cent, show is 1t with thee really? Is thee
sure thee's sound?"
Well" said the girl hesitalingly. per
haps / am not quite sound. l know |
don't believe in total depravity, cannot"
and she gazed firmly up at the ola Quaker,
who shook his head benevolently. well.
well. Edny," ne said, Il fear thee is not
quite sound on that, but never mind, l
think thee will believe in total depravity
before this campaign is over"
But the battle was won that day. AT
the Republican convention MISS Smell was
duly nominated and came up before the
people as candidate for the office. The
friends OF the opposition. however, at
tackled the nomination ON constitutional
grounds, claiming that a woman could not
hold the Office in Iowa. The Democrats
declared they would contest the election,
and for once Republican candidate suf-
ferred defeat in Mabaska County. Miss
Smell advising even her personal friends to
vote Tor the Democratic candidate rather
than involve the county in troublesome and
expensive litigation.
PIX