The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-12
THE DEBT WE OWE WOMEN.
The Theme of 81 Sermon by Rev. John
Nnn Schaick.

THE Debt of America to Women was
| The theme of the Rev. John Van Schaick' S
sermon at the Church CT Our Father yes
terday morning Mr.. Van Schaick took
for his text the words of Matthew xXv:1O:
''She hath wrought a good work" He
said in part:
In the building of our great Republic
women have played an important part.
Just as in Palestine of the Old World de-
vout women rallied around the Master, so
in this country Of the New World, with
equal devotion. they have stood for the
principles which he represented. These
principles have been worked into the fab
ric of mighty Republic. 1t is to Isabella
of CASTLE that we owe our first word of
praise-to the Spanish Queen who made
possible the memorable voyage of Column
bus. We like to talk about the difficulties
which Columbus overcame and the notable
discoveries which were his contribution
to the civilization of the world, but we
forget very often that those voyages would
never have been made had not Isabella
braved the scorn of the doctors and met
the opposition of Kings Justice demands
who worked in the open we place the
name of the woman who worked in secret,
but whose efforts made his possible.
We next find an English Queen encour-
aging the exploration and settlement OF
the country. Elizabeth, through Raleigh,
did work which if not permanent in it
self, paved the way for the permanent
settlement OF the New World. jamestown,
Elizabethtown, and Plymouth are names
which speak today of the work OF the
woman they commemorate.
The story OF the first years of James
town is especially a tale of horror. There
moves through it the romantic figure of
John Smith and by his side the dusky In
dian Princess PoCahontas. Her tender
heart and strong influence saved for the
colony its head its brains. and its great
leader. The next few years jamestown wac
probably the worst place in which 10 live
that this continent ever saw. Under Gov
ernor Thomas Dale order was established
out OF anarchy. but it was the order of
death His punishnents for slight Of
fences were fearful. The colony was com
posed of a male population. The old char
ter itself pays a high tribute TO woman
when it says: \ plantation can never
flourish till the families be planted and the
respect of wives and children fix the peo-
pie on the soyle.'
Then followed the arrlFdi ol hlHstS
maidens. who were at once sold as wives
to the planters. They were certified as
young, handsome, and well recommended
But. young or old handsome or homely,
they were not drug on the market. For
nearly twenty years the colony was fur
nished with wives in this way. / have not
turned to this page of early colonial his
tory for any idle purpose. | want you to
realize that America began her history
with the coming of women, that prosperity
began to smile upon the colonists when
wives and mothers presided in the cabin.
Discomfort fed and no one thought of &C.
ng back to England. and soon a genera
tion grew up which knew no ether skies
or hills than those IN which they were
born
In conclusion. Mr.. Van Schaick said;
When we look at the old pots and kettles
and the sweet, old-fashioned samples of
Iora Standish. or walk among those groves
on the hillsides, we must not forget that it
was not man and not woman~whO laid the
foundation of the first New England vii
lage. but man and woman hand in hand
side by side. each doing the task God had
given, each contributing a fragment for
the corner stone of the Republic