The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-01
WOMAN,S MISSION.

lowing essay was read by Mrs. n. y.
Williams, of HoneR Path, and resolu-
tiou was passed requesting the INTELLI-
aENcER to publish it.-EDIToR.
When Christ came into the world, He
set all things to right. Ignorance, su-
perstition and misrule God had allowed.
Man with the law from Sanai, and it's
precepts perverted to suit the csrnal
mind, held sway, as it seemed, till earth
groaned under its burden of darkness and
siD.
But at this time the "Star of Bethle-
hem" was seen-the Son of God came to
be light to the nations. Not one jot
nor one title. said He, should pass from
the law till all was fulfilled, but he
would write upon the heart, and bind
about the neck of men His law of love,
that He might be glori6ed. Instead Of
san eye for an eye and tooth for a
TOOTH" it was, "When you are smitten
on the one cheek, turn the other also"
Instead Of a command TO the strong to
destroy cities, subdue nations and slay
the heather with the sword the injunc.
tion was to feed the hungry, lift up the
fallen, soothe the troubled and tell to the
world the story of the love of God.
What is woman's part in this work 7
1t must be seen:
1. That woman, in her nature, has been
endowed with a fitness for the require
ments of this law of love. God has
made her tender of nature. We call it
unwomanly to be stern and Indifferent; {;
to turn deaf ear to the cries of the
needy; to pass carelessly by tbe suffer.
ing, or to care not for the expelling of
heather darkness. For woman thus to
be, is to queuch, yea to drive from her
soul that precious gift of God.
Then if there is such sdaptability,
which was plainly Gods purpose, what is
woman's mission? What her part in
this work of love3 1t il to do, to bear
and to die, if need be, for the glory of
God. There is no good work from which
woman is exempt; nothing that she may
not do in her woman's way, we'll pleas.
ing to God. If she does not literally
stand in the pulpit, she may be the se
cret influence there. For woman, if she
wisely exercise her gifts in the fear OF
God, may often be the power behind the
throne. Then there may be d sweeter
SAVIOR rising to heaven from the falling
of 8 tear, than the Offering of many sac.
ri6ces; the giving of many ti!hes. More
in the feeding of the hungry, in the Wis.,
itiDg of the orphan and the widow, than
in erecting costly edi6ces. The woman's
mite may be greater many thousands.
God despises not small things, and has
ordained that the weak things of the
world shall confound the strong.
What if woman's sphere is limited
That does not lessen her obligation to 60
busily on every day serving God. The
truth may be as eaectually taught at the
freside as upon the stage. As truly may
the way to Heaven be pointed out to the
dying eyes, as to be cried aloud in the
ear. The noble missionary Dias was led
to seek after God by seeing moving lips,
and the Heaven directed eyes of a sainted
woman as she knelt by his sick bed. The
rigid discipline and godly teaching of
the Wesleys gave much of the mighty
impetus to the lives now immortalized.
Many more might be mentioned if space
were given.
Then for second proof of woman's
call, God has ell along honored her
work. When He left Heaven to dwell
with men, He chose from among women
q mother. The reverend head chose to
be pillowed on woman's bosom and to
"draw his life from her heart" Hosts
of angels descended and sang hosanna at
His birth, but returned and left the care
Of the infant Saviour to woman. 1t was
woman whom he honered with the
amounting of His body to the burial. 1t
was she who ministered to Him of her
whose sympathies He chose
10 receive while be suffered on the cross
whom He would have Irst at the sep
ulcher, and to whom He would give the
first tidings of His resurrection. 1t was
Lydia whose heart He touched to open
her doors to the apostle, and who stood
with other women as the strength of the
Church at Philippi.
Then ne see that all through the ages
God has opened the door 10 foreign
lands for woman. There is work
among the heatben which man cannot
do, and which is left to woman. And
God has made her a willing subject.
Wherever there is call for men to the
field, there are women to volunteer to 60
with them. Adoniram Judson had his
Ann, and what was she to that great
missionary? God honored her with the
sustaining of the mission, for it was
through her devotion aud heroic courage
that the life of the noble missionary was
spared during that long period of i'm.
prisoument and suffering. Boardman,
as he toiled among the heathen with
failing body, had his Sarah by bis side,
who held up the mission after God had
taken him away. Motif, as he gave his
life, telling to the unclad Africans the
story of Christ, was given loving COM
panion, who fought the battle for many
long years.
So let us not think that our work is
small, or that our sphere is limited one.
Let US Look about us and I'll the de-
mands, and we shall receive a crown
with no fewer stars than the mighty,
mighty meu.
MRS R. J. WILLIAMS.