The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-26
By Rev. Anna H. shaw.

fCopyrieht. 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.) ) 4fThe Rev Anna shaw, M. D., has the twofold distinction of being regularly ordained minister of the gospel and a physician. The latter title was gaineo by study so that the gifted woman might widen her scope of usefulness in her charitable work among the poor. she was born in England. but her par ents removed to this country when she was four years of age. Her first sfudies were carried on by reading the rewspapers pasted on the walls of the log capin in which she lived in wiid part of Michigan. At IS years or age she became a teacher. In 1878 sne was graduated from the theological depart nnent of Boston university Her first pastorate was in the Methodist Church at Hingham, Mass. She afterward fill ed other pulpits. For some years she nas devoted ner time to featuring and preaching rather than to parish workl
 If the civilization of an age is meas ured by the degree of freedom accord ed to women this age is making vast progress toward that much desired goal of human development, The nineteenth { was pre-eminently woman's century. Tn it more changes were wrought for the amelioration of her condition than in the ten preceding centuries. .reat as have been these changes there still remains much to be accomplished be- fore women will be free to develop themselves or to exercise their highest powers along any line of human en- deavor This is particularly true of their position In the Christian min istry.
 A correct appreciation of the relation Of women to the service of religion Is exceedingly difficult. There has &C., cumulated about the subject vast amount of futile discussion. much of which is irrelevant, which has hidden It's real and vital significance. The only hope of clear understanding of the subject is to divorce our thought from the narrow view of our own time and study 1t from the vantage ground of the great religious movements of the past And while this will not give a definite answer to our problem for to- day 1t will give us a clearer vision and a more rational basis for our hope of tomorrow.
 There can be no question that in the development of ecclesiastical his- tory and in the propagation of reii- gious systems women have constituted one of the most effective agencies. In all ancient religions, as priestess, prophecies and sibyl. women partici-
 
 the temple And as the government of all pagan countries was chiefly the- ocratic, women, after they ceased to meet in councils with men. enjoyed great dignity by virtue of their office as delfverers of the inspired oracles.
 From the earliest history of the He- hrews women were teachers, proph- efesses and servants of the church. The recorded ministry of Miriam, the prophecies and joint leader with her brother of the hosts of Israel; of De- borah, who became the theocratic ruler and judge of her nation; of the little Hebrew maid whose evangeIistic fer vor led Naaman to bow before the true God; of Anna. the prophecies who de parted from the temple" will remain forever famous in the history of the Hebrew nation.
 If we turn to the story of the Found CT of Christianity we learn that the three sublime events of His life, which form the basis of all orthodox creeds. were first revealed to women and an- nounced by them to the world-the annunciation by the angel to Mary, the declaration of His Messianic mis- sion by Jesus to the Samaritan wo- man. through whose ministry many be- Iieved and followed Him, and the man. Hesitation of Himself to Mary Mazda 1ene after His resurrection and her commission from the highest authority to preach a risen Lord.
 His example paved the way for wo- mems activity in the apostolic church. Here they stand out pre-eminently as teachers. preachers, evangelists and missionaries. The range of their ac- tivities covers the whole field of re-