The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
A GREAT WOMAN OF THE OLDES
TIME AND THE THINGS SHE DID.
A Sermon by the Rev. James Henry
ian Church, Washington, Pa


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Anything improbable in that? Why not
great woman, as well as a great man? Is
not woman human? Does she not have
the same attributes, characteristics. powers
and qualities that make man great? Did
not God breathe into her the same breath
of life? 1t Is true that man may be SUI
perior to her at some points, but there
not other points az which she Is far SUI
perior to him? And are not the points at
which man is generally superior to woman
also points at which he is inferior 10 the
bear and OK? Where is his boasting. then-
Heathenism puts n wide and cruel diff
ference between man and woman. but the
gospel says there is no difference. Man ana
woman are not competitive and antagonis-
tic, bat are complimentary and harmoni-
Gus. And not only are both needed. but
there is room for both to be great: not
great at the same points always. but each
in his own and her own proper way. The
question. Which is the greater? need not
arise, and in a well-regulated household
never will arise, but let both covet earn
estly the best gifts"
In this chapter is sketched a character
whom the Hebrew chronicler pronounced
"a great woman" and study of the mar
rative shows that he was not mistaken.
Let US look at the outline.
i. The first conspicuous fact is that the
great woman was in her home. The whole
story Is a home scene. There she lived and
did her work. There. also. she was con-
tent for when the prophet. in return for
her hospitality. suggested speaking favora-
bly, of her at court, she answered with
beautiful humility, IT dwell among mine
Ct
some to-day. that she was In a narrow
contracted place and needed some wider
sphere. The home was great enough for
her.
So to-day il is. and is ever bound TO be.
womans natural sphere and greatest work.
The home must be kept, or the race goes
back to barbarism. No other work in the
world is more necessary and noble. far
reaching and blessed. The woman who
looks upon the home with any spirit
OF discomfort and scorn, as though IL
were small place. does not know
greatness when she sees it. The great
est woman never can crowd this sphere
1t will afford plenty OF room for the ex-
ercise and display OF all the genius and
grace she has. And the woman, however
humble may be her home, that has some
conception of the grandeur of her work, and
is content in 1t, has upon her one mark OF a
great woman.
2. Now, what is the first thing we find
this great woman doing in the home? Maxi
ing bread! And IL was good bread she
made, for the prophet. having got a taste
of il, liked IL, and came back for more
Of it. LAS often as he passed by he turned
in thither to eat bread" Very good bread
that must have been.
Anything great i'm this? Every man will
say there is. Good food more than any
other one thing is the material corner
stone of human life 1t very largely de-
termines the questions of proper nutrition,
of health, of home comfort and happiness.
and of social order. Good bread is almost
the first point I'm a good home. Good bread
makes rosy-cheeked children and a husband
proud of his wife. Bad bread may break
up home. This Is not exaggeration but
plain truth. A woman does not know what
evil she is working when she feeds her fam
lily on innutritious, poorly cooked and poor
ly served food. There is room for the exer-
else of genius in the kitchen. Cooking is
not mental work; it is fine art. The
woman that can make a good loaf OF bread
deserves to be crowned.
Young women, here is your chance TO
become accomplished. Nothing is being
said against the arts of music and paint
ing and all the embroideries of education.
but put the culinary art first 1t can be
made real accomplishment and will prove
one of your greatest attractions. For all the
| world knows that a woman that can make
| good breadis in one respect a great woman.
3. Passing by the fine grace Of hospital
| ity which she exercised. We see next that
| there was something lacking in this wom-
| ans home, for the most perfect human life
| is at some point incomplete and unsatisfied.
| There was no baby boy or girl in her house
| to call out the strength and richness OF her
| affections and satisfy the maternal yearn-
| ings Of her heart. And what a lack was
| that? Think how glum and serious the
world would be IL there were no babies IA
1t. How empty and almost desolate is that
home that has not been blessed with a lit
| tie human blossom fresh from the hand OF
God. But the baby comes and changes all
that" 1t being present. the cup of life
| Immediately begins TO sparkle and effer-
1 vesce. How interesting is it's growth. what
| fun ii creates, how IT rides over ali our
| artificialties and destroys all starch and
stateliness and humanizes all within the
home: and how. also. IL sobers life with
responsibility and makes IL thoughtful and
| earnest.
The prophet saw the lack i'm this good
| woman's home, and i'm answer 10 his wom-
| ans home, and in answer to his prayer a
| baby boy was laid in her bosom and her
| cup OF joy was full. Now this great wom-
| an has a task that will tax all her great
ness. We may be sure that she put all the
wisdom of her mind and care OF her hand
/ and wealth OF her affections into the train
ing of this child. Midday and midnight she
| watched over him. cared for him, prayed
for him, led him into right thoughts and
habits, and inspired him with noble pur-
poses.
For those 10 whom IL Is given, this is
| woman's greatest work. Compared with
the power of mothers hand In molding
human life. the power of any other hand is
small. Most men are made by their moth
ers. When God is about To make great
| man. il has been said. he first makes a
| great woman. This Is law OK hercdity
and countless biographies prove IL. ~AIl
that l am or hope TO be-. said Abraham
Lincoln II owe 10 my angel mother" The
| American painter. West. when "A little boy
was once left by his mother 10 rock his
baby brother while she was gone. lie
rocked the cradle until the baby fell asleep
Finding a pencil and "A piece OF paper he
sat down by the sleeping child and began to
draw its picture. AS he was finishing IL, his
mother returned and. looking over his
l . ba a..