The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-03-11
ORIGINAL DORClS SOCIETY
March IA. '09-(Acts Q: 31.43).

He INSTRUMENT winch lmmOrtal1ZeQ
Moses, the great Hebrew lawgiver,
was rod which he had cut from a
thicket on the mountain side, but
that ordinary stick became in his
hands scepter, by which he broke
the power and humbled the pride Of
the mighty Egyptian empire. The
article by which the Israelite woman
is identified was a little oil in
cruise. but that modicum of oil b..
came a veritable oil well which
changed her poverty to affl2ence.
Gideon's army wrought its greatest
victory with lamp, pitcher and
a trumpet. The walls of Jericho fell
down in ruin when the besieging host
blew mighty Blast on a lot of crook.
ed rams horns. and shouted with
great shout. The memorable incident
in the life of Mary, sister Of Lazarus.
was the alabaster box of ointment OF
spikenard which she broke upon the
feet of Christ. The odor is in the air
today. The nameless widow In the
gospel stands forever as the EN-
bodiment of charity and devotion with
the Offering Of her two mites, which
make only farthing. We can hear
their jingle every time the contri5u.
ton box goes round.
Made Famous BY a Needle.
And here in this lesson, there Is a
woman, illustrious forever, because
of the implement in her fingers-a
common sewing needle. Every sew
;,,n, oi, ~
or female benevolent organization of
the church of whatever name. is the
direct result of the needle in the
hands of Dorcas, who lived in Joppa,
and who was a Christian disciple
Peter raised her from the dead, and
as far as the record goes she has not
departed this life since. We can hear
the rustic of her garments wherever
godly women are gathered together
to sew for the poor. And multitudes
of widows and orphans are comforta-
bly, clad and protected with the coats
and garments which Dorcas is still
making. She Uses a sewing machine
in these modern days, but | warrant
you her stitcheJ do not rip nor her
buttons fly off at the least provocation.
She recognizes that even unfortunate
widows have some pride in their .ap
pearance, and she does not humiliate
them by presenting old cast-off, out
Of date clothing that she would not
wear herself, but aims to keep some
where near the styles in vogue, that
her benefciaries may be fashionably
II not richly dressed. The Creator
who constructed the delicate fingers
of Dorcas to hold sewing needle, By
that very act pointed out her realm
of usefulness. The sewing machine is
the needle a thousand times multi
piled, and, the necessity for it's product
has thousand times increased. The
poor ye have always with you and
whensoever ye will ye may do them
good"
Sewing Circle Slanderers.
There Is a grea. deal of cheap and
senseless criticism of Dorcas socie-
ties and all Kindred organizations
aThey are charged with being schools
Of tittle-tattle. Their service is thought
to consist of one part needle work
and nine parts gossip. While they
mend rents in clothing with their
needles they are said to tear holes in
character with their tongues. Deeply
concerned for the welfare of distant
heathen ii is reported that they turn
their neighbors' wrong side out. Gross
libel on a worthy institution, A gos
sip and scandal-monger will be a
gossip and scandal-monger any.
where, and such unsanctified women
may sometimes poison a whole sew
ing society, but such instances are
rare and exceptional. In the major
ity Of cases .oye selects the materials
love threads the needles. love pays
the express on the goods.
Just as Jopp@ in the New Testa.
ment was conspicuous for Just ono
thing-that 1t was the home of Dor.
cas-, so many church and pastor
would never be heard OF, were 1t not
for the band of elect women in that
community who supports religious
worship there. No matter how de.
based town or country district may
be, some godly woman can always
be found there 20 keep the altar fires
burning. Ana many an otherwise
ehurchless settlement is saved from
the fate of Sodom and Gomorrha. on
account Of a handful of consecrated
women. They organize Sunday
school. They conduct prayer meet
ing. They clothe the neglected chill
dren. They pay the preacher for an
occasional sermon. They raise money
to pay for fuel ana lights, and cabinet
organ. and carpet and bell. If such
things were left for the men of such
communities, 1t would never be done
II Dorcas had a husband he was OF
so little account that his name Is
not even metioned in the New Testa.
ment story, and II she was a maidel
lady 1t Is apparent that she got along
very well without one. She was
mother and sister and daughter and