The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-11
INFLUENCE Of WOMEN
IN THE CHURCH
MISSION SERMON DELIVERED BY
REV. G. H. GIBBS YEsTER-
DAY MORNING.

The Woman's Home Missions So
ciety of the Methodist Episcopal
church. South. closed its annual week
of prayers Sunday evening with good
interest. The pastor. Iev. G. II.
Gibbs, preached Sunday morning on
the Influence and Work of Woman"
The text was Esther. 4:16-"And so
will | go in unto the king. which /.
not according to the law
The following is a part of the ser
mon:
1 have been requested to discuss at
this time the work of the Woman's
Home Missions society. / greatly APP
preciate the privilege and honor of
SO pleasant task. Next to God.
woman has always been the mightiest
power on earth. either for good
evii, and especially for good. The
weeping infant. pressed to her bosom,
falls asleep at the sound of her gentle
voice, and smiles serenely, as it
dreams of angels RECALLING II with
heavenly beauties. Childhood, when,
distressed. leaps for joy at her APP
proach and flies to her outstretched
arms for refuge and defense. The
young man, trembling on the brink
of ruin. pauses for a moment. and
the soft whispers of woman's prayer
lead him back to reformation and to
God.
All ages, in every condition of life.
from the pauper to the king, yield
their willing homage to her resistIess
influence. She has nodded kingdoms.
revolutionized empires, civilized and
Chrf tia ufypH baafhap natiapr a,ri.l-
ing both earth and heaven by her
earnest and faithful labors. Through
all ages she has stood by mans side
in all good works in this needy world.
whether 1t was among the poor, the
sorrowing and the fallen of the home
land. or spreading the blessed gospel
in far distant countries. The sweet
tones of her gentle voice and the soft
touches of her ministering hands have
often proven a balm to the burdened
and wounded spirits of humanity.
Woman's Devotion.
In woman we see the deepest and
truest devotion. She is first in al
most every reformation. first in every
good work, and especially first in the
cause of Christianity. Today scarce
ly any reform. or philanthropic I'M
dertaking Is planned or carried out
without her cooperation. America has
her Frances Willard. her Clara Bar
ton. her Harriet Beecher Stowe and
England. her Florence Nighteneale.
her Lady Henry Summerset and Queen
Victoria. Even from the circles of
great wealth and fashions, many noble
woman like Helen Gould are stepping
forth~to devote their time and money
to philanthropy. Besides all these
world-famed ladies of thought and
action, there are thousands of lesser
lights, humble and faithful workers,
as deaconesses in the church, as
nurses in the hospitals. as teachers in
the schools and last. but highest of
all. as mothers in the home. who are
advancing the kingdom of Christ and
upholding truth, purity. temperance
and justice with every other form of
righteousness.
Women of the Bible
Woman holds very prominent
place in the Bible. Consider for ex-
ample, Miriam, Huldah. Deborah,
Ruth. Hanna. Lydia. Electa, Phebe.
Priseillis, Dorcas. Mary Magdalene,
Mary and Martha. Eunice and Lois,
the Shunemite woman, and Esther. the
author and subject of my text and
whom we hold up as an ideal homo
mission builder.
Queen Esther lived about 500 wears
before the Christian era Her parents
being dead. her uncle. Mordicfa. took
care of her and brought her up as
his own daughter. 10 father could
have been more faithful and success
full in such charge than was he.
Esther. though a jewish captive. by
her beauty and remarkable accom-
Hshments gained the admiration and
direction Of king. BY marriage with
King Ahasueyns she became queen of
Persia. BY her noble virtues and Won
derfnl genius, she secured the kings
permanent admiration. love and re-
spect. No one has ever left behind
them better record of faithfulness
and wisdom than Queen Esther There
were no problems of state 50 intricate
that she could not help to solve them.
In time she became the kings cons
fident. and shared with him In the
greatness of his kingdom. This fact
enabled her, in 4 time of great peril /
To save her nation from destruction !
Wicked Hannah, because Mardecia !
Esther's uncle. would not bow To him.
accused the jews falsely. and pur-
suaded the king to issue an edict. and
to fix a day to have the jewish race !
exterminated. When Queen Esther I
heard that her people We're doomed to !