The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-24
WOMAN'S PLACE AND WORK IN
THE CHURCH.
BY Miss Mary E. Horner.

The custom Of the Jewish women
IF contributing to the support of the
Rabbis, and ministering to their neces-
sity, has been handed down through
the ages. with our Christian religion.
When our Lord was here upon earth
we find among His disciples women
who followed Him on His Gali;ean
journeys and ministered to Him, show
ing that the customs Of the old Jewish
Church had been preserved as an In
t.Sral part of religion. TO the pres
ent day it has grown with the growth
OF the Christian Church., and the TWEEN
ueth century finds woman slice by side
with the Oyerseers and Custodians of
the Faith once for all delivered to
the saints
Miriam, the Prophecies. ranked
with Aaron and Moses as one of the
three deliverers of Israel. Her position
was unequalled in Jewish history en-
dued with dignity of bearing and maj
esty of speech; gifted alike in poetry
and song, We find her delivering her
prophecies, surrounded by her maid
ems. who So echo the refrain of her
song, as toimpress the nation with tn,
majesty of her personality and the
wisdom of her message.
The first glimpse giver. of Miriam
is beside the river, watching the in.
FAINT Moses in the bulrushes. How
mCch Moses owed to her IN his youth
full days. when his character was in
its most plastic period, and most last
ing Impressions were be ng made we
Are not told But we are induced to
believe that the figure of the c9lossa
lawgiver stands forth more prominent
because of the gentle nurture received
from the most devoted of mothers and
the self-sacrificing of that loving SIS
ter
al Il. ~,
mother of our Lord, the blessed VIZ
gin Mary, type and pattern of woman
hood-versed in Jewish history and
obedient to the requirements of her re-
ligiOn, we find her studying the Psalms
of David, when visited by the angel
Gabriel. Possessed of rare grace and
simplicity of manner, she meekly re,
ceived the message. Humility. pur ty,
and obedience adorn her life, and
through the maturing years of moth
erhood we see her accepting the daily
duties of life and bearing it's burdens
and griefs, until at last she stands the
Mater Dolorosa at the foot of the cross,
d sword piercing her side.
Other types of noble womanhood
are found among the women of the
Bible, notable among whom are the
two sisters whose characters are
brought into the closest juxtaposition
Martha's love was manifested i'm ser
vice, While Mary. chose the contempla-
tive life. That Mary was commended
for having chosen the better part bur
proves the homely duties discharge
by Martha were also necessary. Love
was the ruling passion in both wo-
men.
In the Magdala we find a comhilsl-
ton OF virtues. The oil of gladn"SS i
poured forth, and Righteousness OF
tears washes the feet of the Nj 'Stcr
Not only the regard of loving is hers,
but the unspeakable JOY of be n, The
first to behold the Risen Lord.
Love then is the lesson We earn
the Alpha and Omega. Love made
manifest in song. in service il CON
temptation. in self-giving.
Succeeding history gives us glimpses
of later day saints i'm S. Margaret ;
Agnes. :. Catherine, s. Cecilia, S. Mon
lea, and $. Elizabeth, each a shining
light of purity and fidelity i'm her gen.
Grafton. made more conspicuous by
the dark back ground given by the age
Of sin and ignorance IN which each
lived TO :. Elizabeth alone. ike s
Francis Assist. vas granted the hon
or Of receiving the Stigmata.