The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-07-22
REV. ANNA SHAW INTERVIEWED.
President of National Women's Suf-
frage Association Talks in London.

Rev. Anna Shaw has been one of
the pioneer women in the United
States in opening a theological
career to her sex. She is an English
woman by birth, but the United
States is the country of her adop-
ton. Just before her departure for
Amsterdam, where she was one of
the principal speakers at the Inter
national Women's Suffrage Alliance.
Miss Shaw discussed with the re-
porter for an English journal GER
tain phases of the woman movement
in America.
Taking all the denominations to-
gether' she said, there are now
about 5000 women ministers in the
United States. We find their ser
vices accepted most freely in the
Unitarian body and among the
Disciples. Women students of
theology almost always take the
course prescribed by the Church to
which they belong. Personally I be-
long to the Protestant Methodists.
| followed a three years divinity
course at Boston University and
graduated B. D. in 1878. was thus
amongst the first women ministers
in the States.
Susan B. Anthony had way of
looking round and calling to the
cause of women's suffrage women
that she thought would be useful.
| was one of them. For years was
vice-president under her presidency
of the National Women's Suffrage
Association of the United States,
and after her death | became presi-
dent in 1904, and still occupy that
post. Our experience is that much
of our temperance, social and re-
ligious work counts for nothing
without the ballot. We are simply
cancelled at the polling-booths.
Perhaps on this side you can scarcely
realize the deplorable condition of
American politics. Our political
machinery is controlled. clutched by
two overwhelming forces. liquor and
the trusts; we seem powerless in
their grip
I thought great wave of Prohi-
bition had just passed over the
the States, suggested, and that
thirty-three millions of people of
your territory, had demanded prohi-
bition.'
1t is true DIR. Shaw replied. But
the movement is far less due to gen
uine reforming zeal than to the
form assumed by a desperate effort
to free ourselves from the liquor or
ganization.
We could, | think, work out our
salvation if we had only the descend
ants Of the old Puritans to deal with.
| What overwhelm US are the ship
loads of emigrants that are daily de-
posted on our shore; they are the
least desirable elements. They are
the material which the Liquor Asso-
citation moulds at will.
And you hope that Women's Suf-
frage will improve matters?'
American women are very solid
for temperance in all their organiza-
tons; they are prepared to make
sacrifices. In any case, our men
cannot boast that they are govern
ing successfully without u.s. Men
and women together build the home,
the church, the school. For what
reason should they not build the
state together? My country's prob
lens are very grave; the united wis
dom of men and women is needed to
solve them. It seems to many of US
the only way out
DO you ever preach now, DR..
Shawl
Yes; very often. preach and
lecture about $50 times in the year.
One meets delightful people and
makes many friends. But to travel
constantly means no intimate, life
long friends, no retirement, no home;
all this does not constitute my ideal
of right living. | would not have
chosen it. | am now sixty years of
age, and am glad to say that at last
| have got home: only few
months ago entered into possession.
i have hJ1ilt n1aaSant house at