The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-05-09

4
have accepted Christ is because they
can be reached by women only. IL Is
common saying that men do not IN
derstand women. Evidences OF tnlS
have been presented in athe thousands
Of divorce cases and oft repeated ram
fly troubles which are commonly re-
ported in these days. II this be true
in civilized countries, where the grace
of God modifies the harshness OF nu-
man life, how much more must 1t pc
true among the heather, who have no
spiritual or moral standards such as
we have, and no divine power TO as
sist them In living righteous lives.
There are no women In foreign
lands who will open their hearts to
men. Being very shy and suspicious,
they are often reluctant to do this,
even to the missionary women VINO
visit them. In fact, such network
of suspicious fears has been woven
around the lives of women in nom
Christian lands that they shrink from
every foreigner who would pry into
the secrets OF their inner life.
It would be entirely improper for
man to visit the home OF any native
woman in any non-C Christian land, even
should she be member OF the church.
So rigid are the customs that often in
case of illness, the male doctor is not
permitted to see the female patient.
A missionary doctor in China was
once asked to visit Chinese home to
prescribe for a sick wife. When he
insisted on seeing the patient. the hus-
band demonstrated. However, when
he found that no relief could be given
without examination, such as the feel
ing Of the pulse, he FASTENED to her
room, tied twined string around her
wrist and passed the end out OF the
window to the doctor, telling him to-
take hold Of It and see II she had
fever. There are thousands of wom-
en- In Asia who would rather die than
let a man see their faces.
Over most Of the territory from ia
pan through Korea, China, Siam, Bur
NAH, India and on to Palestine and
Turkey, women are shut apart IN
places called the "woman's apart
ment." In poor Indian homes, this
secluded portion Of the house is made
by hanging a sari Of coarse piece OF
cloth across one part of the room, thus
forming retreat for the women when
men come to visit their husbands.
The women Of the Orient are guard
ed as though they were Enthusiastically
and as though they were unworthy OF
human privileges. or were in capable
of exercising proper management OF
the family affairs.
Under such conditions as these, it
can be easily seen to be Impossible
for the men of the mission stations to
preach the gospel to the quarter OF
billion women living In the Orient; 1T
must be done by women.
In the first place, the women OF
these none Christian lands need the
gospel for their own sake. The soul
Of Hindoo or Chinese woman is as
truly precious In the sight Of God as
that of any other woman, for he does
not look on the outward appearance;
whether the person be black or white.
or whether she be dressed in a calico
sari or sealskin cloak, whether she
eats rice with her fingers of ba-
mana leaf or dainty delicacies from
cut-glass ware.
Another reason why the women OF
the Orient must be reached Is be-
cause they support and maintain the
religious systems Of the countries in
which they live.
It must be readily seen that the
hundreds OF millions Of women in
Asia must perish without the gospel
| If the women of Christian lands do
not respond to the call of Christ and
carry his message into their homes.
The response which these women
give to the missionary lady who asks
for admission to their homes is q
guarantee for untold usefulness for
any Christian woman who can find It
In her heart to take them the words
Of life. In the non-C Christian lands
women are often so anxious to hear
the message concerning the new
way" that they will listen with in
tense eagerness for a longer period
than the missionary is able to speak
With such an open door OF blessing
offered to the women of America VINO
have come to know Christ can there
be any trade or profession which
would prevent one from entering the
door with the true message OF saliva