The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-03-30
CHRIsTIANITY AND WOMAN.

AHo ChOWh VI ZIG
House Is goodness.
r
CHRISTIANITY AND WOMAN.
In an article on "Christianity. and
Woman" Rev. w. g. Schoppe says
hat the religion of the Master has
appealed in a special way to the life
woman. and In turn has been adorn-
ID by her distinctive qualities. In
he opening chapters Of Genesis We
re told that God created man In His
vn image. male and female Great
q He them" But in human history
here has been one glory of the man
nd another glory of the woman. Be-
ore Jesus changed the moral ideal
he virtues considered most divine
Fere those of neutrality-suspicious.
ourage, strength, magnanimfty. But
he Master proclaimed the divine ma
lure OF qualities which. till then, had
eemed feminine--humility. gentle
Jess. obedience. affection, purity. He
revealed the complete individuality.
he divine ideal. The thought of his
isciples must have undergone a
hock, then an enlargement. as cour-
|ge and tenderness blended In Him
hto perfect unity. For He revealed
he unity of the manly and womanly
Dement'S in a higher ideal. the Chris
Van type. This change of ideal has
Inspired all true reform--has been the
nfolding power of womanhood. The
ender relations between Jesus and
lis mother begin, the most beautiful
hapter of Christian history. Ger
hin women which had been healed Of
vii spirits and infirmities. and many
theirs, followed Him" and minister
ID unto Him Of their substance"
then in the apostolic story we find
lydia, whose heart the Lord open
d." the first to receive the Gospel on
he continent of Europe; Dorcas, with
err busy needle; Priscilla, who had
he honor Of a church in her house.
Ind devout women were the potent
influence in the early church; they
haped the lives of its Best and great
BIT men. In the power exerted by
facrina on Basil, Arethusa on Chrys-
stom, Norma on Gregory, Paula on
t. Jerome, and Monica on st. Angus
inc, IL seen the fruit of the new In
cription which Christianity gave to
pc women who received it. When
ibanius. the Pagan teacher of Basil
nd Chrysostom. saw the mothers and
sters of his pupils. he exclaimed.
Whae women these Christians havei"
the darker ages which followed,
he Countess Matilda, friend of Hill
ebrand. and the intrepid Beatrice
ere like stars of promise shining In
ae night. Great currents in modern
fe have not lacked the same spirit
al infusion. Susanna Wesley shaped
be lives of her sons and was the
bother of Methodism; while the hu-
zane movement that has characterize
the past century has for its lead
hg spirit much loved woman,
lara Barton. The influence of such
romen has done much to restore the
pmpleteness Of character lost by
ne-sided theology. 1t Is fact. sig
ifcant for the past. prophetic for the
ntures that Dante measured the pro-
ress of his ascent in Paradise by OBJ
CRYING the increasing light that
layed on the face of Beatrices and SO
re- count the worlds true progress.
OF by wealth, nor inventions, nor
eeming citles-but by the ever-in-
Teasing grace and power with which
ruth adorns and gives effectiveness
b womanhood."
HE BIRTHDAYS AND
TRADITIONS OF MARCH. -
. It has come to be a custom among
komen to deride March as the hopeless
ogden of the months one whose rough
hoods and wild caresses tumble their
air tan the milky Wilderness of their
omplexions, nip the flowers in their
Eardens. scatter snowfiakes on their
affodils, tulips and hyacinths and play
he mischief generally. And yet. with
II her clustering winds, ragged sun
hine. hurrying and scurrying. March is
month of prophecy, and no sooner is
he foot outside of the door than the
atmosphere from the fierceness of win
or is at once felt. March may turn
Snce and again a bitter face toward
he walker abroad, but mingled with
he bitterness will be a softness, and
occasional clear twilights will close
Sicture days that embody a forecast of
Easter flowers and of robins preening
|h emselves in the sunshine,
In the country, women who live on
arms are busy with their poultry, with
5setting hens" or taking care of early
roods of downy chicks, or seeing that
he lambs are properly sheltered. and
Ehen a rare day arrives watching the
pading up of garden beds and espe-
tally the preparation of the asparagus
ed. The smoke curls lazily upward,
nd the pungent odor is as satisfying
o the senses and as much a part of
he March atmosphere as the smell of
he freshly turned earth. the velvety
Ereen of the pussy willows and the
blue Of violets found in sheltered
places, with last years leaves heaped
lbove them.
March may be a boisterous hoyden,
tut she is something more In America.
)he 10 not famous alone as "fnaugura-
Hon. month. but through her associa-
lion with great American historic
vents and birthdays. Women listen
|ng can still hear across the bridge of
ears the notes of the bell Of old st.
ohn's Church, in Richmond, calling to-
kether the Virginia Burgesses on a
.Iarch day in 1775, when Patrick Henry
Electrified the minds of his colleagues,
esitating and reluctant to enter upon
1 contest with the mother country. by
. is brilliant argument and eloquence.
Probably such a speech might never
ave been made, however. had not
king Ferdinand, Of CASTLE and Aragon,
{ ad a March birthday more than 800
ears previous, and married Isabella,
Who aided Columbus in his discovery
Il America. Four subsequent and i'm
ortant American birthdays falling in
farch are those of James Madison, An
rev Jackson, John Tyler and Grover
Eleveland-fourth, seventh, tenth and
2we7ty-fourth Presidents of the Uni |
pa States.
woman born in March Is said to be |
ambitious and destined to rule her
husband. Perhaps that is a reason why |
comparatively few weddings take place |
Turing the first month of spring. Old |
fashioned March lore is not altogether |
Is plentiful as might be expected but
b respect of weather one Is Informed |
hat a dry March Is the forerunner of |