Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-09-19
MICHIGAN WOMAN
Returns to Champion the Cause of
Michigan Women.

| Michigan Women.
All recognize the eminence of Rev.
Anna Shaw among the prominent wom-
en- of the world.
1t is because of her devotion to her
old home state that Miss Shaw agreed
to return long enough to take an active
part in the campaign favoring the
constitutional amendment to give Mich
igan women the right of suffrage.
which is to be voted on at the general
election in November.
The cause of equal suffrage in Michi-
gan is specially favored in having this
noted woman for q champion, and in
order that all who may be so fortunate
as to hear or read what she has to
say may also have n more intimate
acquaintance with her an extract is
given below from what she has writ
ten about her early life in Michigan:
1--WE went to northern Michigan when
l was only twelve years old. The
country was very wild and very un-
settled. neighbors so far apart that we
seldom saw each other. There were
very little good schooling opportuni-
ties, but | made the most of every
chance that was given me and was
considered by the authorities-save the
mark-fit to teach school when | was
fifteen. and so my career of self sup
porting woman began ut that age and
/ have kept it up ever since. / taught
FIVE years in district schools. all the
time making every possible prepare
ton for college, but before starting for
college | had become interested in the
work of the ministry and was licensed
as a local preacher. Then | began my
college work, and after attending the
college at Albion. Mich. for two years
l went to Massachusetts and entered
the Boston university. where / after
ward took degree in both medicine
and theosophy.
II have always considered my life
in Michigan to be among those of the
best preparation for my work. Those
early hard times were admirable train
ing times for endurance in life.
"Of course at the time that we were
living that life in the woods it seemed
to be very dull and very stupid to us.
and yet now | realize that it was lay
ing the foundation of health and
strength which has enabled me to car
ry on more than thirty-fve years of
hard work and still keep young spirit
and growing interest in all lines of
progress. Then the freedom of that
life made the freedom of thought pos
sible. 1t made it possible for me to
break away from established customs
for women and to be among the very
first women to start out in the study
of the ministry. The first year that |
preached / spoke under the supervi
sion Of our presiding elder, and at the
spring conference of 1872 I was IL
censed as a local preacher at the an
nual conference of that district at Big
Rapids, where my parents then lived.
There was a great deal of opposition
to my preaching, a great deal to my
doing public work. 1t was not so easy
in those days as it is now. and yet my
parents were no more conservative
than other people. They shared the
general attitude of men and women
against public life for women. but
through the influence of the precep-
tress Of our high school. where I pre-
pared myself for college, | was en-
couraged to take the stand which !
did in regard to the ministry. en-
tered heartily into the temperance cru
SADIE and worked with the temperance
women. and so very early in life be-,
gan to have an active interest In pub
lie affairs which has grown with the
growing years.
This is not at all interesting, but the
interesting part of a pioneer life is it's
daily conditions. which one needs to be
a philosopher to understand. and. while !,
the experience Is not one which think
would advise anybody to undertake !
and should be sorry for anybody who
did undertake 1t, yet | shall never re-
greet 1t. think it has helped me to live !
a very vigorous and active life and to
do some kinds of hard work which !
could not otherwise have done"