The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-08

the smallpox.
The value of the woman physician
to humanity is especially great in
heather countries, where they go as
missionaries. Owing to the rigid Sc
clusion which the of some ma
tons live, they can have no medical
attendance because the laws of their
country forbid n man outside of
their families to look upon their faces.
When a woman fell i'll under those
conditions there was little help for
her until the appearance of the woman
medical missionaries, whose minis
trations are said to have been more
potent in breaking down the barriers
of, heathendom than any other one in
%fluence. By her entrance into the
harem or zenana, the woman physi-
clan has been able to give the gospel
message to the mothers of the ma
/ ton who never could have received it
otherwise. The past quarter Of a CEN
fury has given hundreds Of women
physicians to missionary work.
The path of the woman preacher
is not yet smooth. Many churches
refuse to receive her. but each year
opens new pulpits to her services.
There are at least so schools and col
leges in the United States from which
women are able to secure theological
degrees. Last year, 457cWomen were
engaged in theological studies, and 81
received degrees for the completion of
their courses. There are few large
cities in which one or more women
preachers are not in charge of their
own churches, although so far the
greatest number of women in this
profession are acting as assistants to
men pastors.
One of the leading Women preachers
in the world is DR.. Anna Howard
Shaw, the president of the National
American Woman Suffrage %associa-
ton. She secured her theological de-
gree from the Boston university in
1875 and her degree as doctor of
medicine from the same institution a
few years later. A Methodist by con-
viction, DR.. Shaw was denied ordina-
ton in the New England Methodist
Episcopal conference on account of
her sex, although she passed the high
est examination of any candidate ap-
plying for admission that year. The
case was appealed to the general con-
ference and the refusal sustained by
that body in Cincinnati in 1880. DIR.
Shaw then applied to the Methodist
Protestant church and was ordained
the following October, the first
woman ever ordained by that denomi-
nation. She has filled a number of
charges successfully but now is de-
voting herself entirely to work for
the enfranchisement of women, be-
lleVing that in this way She is teach
ing applied Christianity. She is an
eloquent and witty speaker of much
personal magnetism, as well as a gift
ed writer.
Among the stories told of her VIC
tory over masculine prejudices is one
regarding the parliament of religions
held at the Chicago Worlds fair. A
distinguished divine who had beer
impressed with the wisdom displayed
in a printed discussion signed "A. H.
Shaw during a verbal discussion, 4
arose and said: Il should like to
subject" will DIR. Shaw please come
to the front?" requested the chair
man. A modestly dressed little woman
advanced up the aisle. Il am DIR.
A. H. Shaw" she announced. The
dignified clergyman lost several min
utes of valuable time in discussing
whether it would be. proper for them
to permit a to address them,
but finally decided in her favor. DR..
ShaW's clever presentation of the
subject made the men who had most
strenuously opposed her come for
ward after the meeting and congratu-
late her upon the lucidity of her re-
marks, adding: The church has lost
a mighty champion, madam, because
you were born a woman "On the
contrary, sir" returned DR.. Shaw,
the church has a stronger champion
because l am a woman"
The woman lawyers of the country
owe quite as much to Mrs. Belva Ann
Lockwood of Washington, d. c., as do
the women physicians to DR.. Hannah
Longshore. Mrs. Lockwood received
her legal degree from the National
University Law school in 1873, and
after considerable opposition finally
was admitted to practice in the courts
of the District of Columbia. She APP
piled for permission to practice be-
fore the United States court of claims
in 1875 n was refused because
there is no English precedent for
admitting Women to this bar" She
drafted a bill permitting women to
practice before the supreme court of
the United States, which was passed
by congress after three years effort.
Mrs. Lockwood was admitted to the
bar of the supreme court in August,
1879, the first woman ever so privi-
legged. Now so women enjoy the same
right and each veal the number in
creaSes. Soon after her admission to
the bar of the supreme court, Mrs.
Lockwood was notified that the court
of claims also was open to her, and
she now is privileged to appear be-
fore every federal court in the coun-
try. Her efforts, as well as her abil-
ity and legal discretion, have been an
important factor in opening up the
legal calling to m
Next to Mrs. Lockwood, the women
lawyers w most to Mrs. Ellen Spen-
Ger Mussey, the founder and president
of the Washington College of Law,
which is the only institution in the
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