El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-24
cC~HE woman question" ines

u
ably is one Of tOday's living
4 issues. Every thoughtful per-
son is bound to face it squarely, and
n look into it deeply. Whatever is
merely superficial or Incidental
should be eliminated. Thus the suf-
frage issue is not the woman cues
ton" Even the so-caled feminist
movement" which skaters the old
conventions and finds other sphere
Tor woman than that Of wife, mother.
and home-maker, is not sufficiently
inclusive.
tinctive abilities, and distinctive mis-
sion Of women must enter into any
study Of ''the woman question This
may appropriately be done in connec-
ton with the present Sunday school
lesson. For here we find the atten-
tion Of millions of persons the world
around simultaneously concentrated
upon the New Testament stories that
are sufficiently general to open up
the whole woman question.
As we walk with Mary OF Magda-
Ia and Joanna, and susanna, VINO
followed Jesus and ministered to him
Of their substance; and as we sit IN
the shadow of the hOspltable BeJhle-
hem home. where the tired Teacher so
loved to resort, we may consider what
light the Bible sheds upon this per-
Frank Word About Women.
Whatever the future may hoId
whether woman is to rule by ballot or
bv battle axe, or by ministry and IN
spiration, there are certain truths
which may frankly be stated about
woman place in the past
Always her first field has been the
home and the children She has been
potent in affecting the most intimate
and basic human conceptions. Hers
has been the shaping influence upon
life at its springs She has made
"home" q sweet word. The picture or
the Bethany home where Jesus de-
lighted to visit is Iluminative.
Always women have been more
religious than men; AT All times ana
under all creeds they have been the
defenders Of the faith and the at
tendants Of the altar fires OF splrlI-
uality This continues during today
both IN the Christian church and IN
pagan lands. IF man in an incur
able religious animal then the fe-
male OF the species IS more rellglous
than the male No symptom on the
DAVIS horizon is more alarming than
the modern increase in the number of
women who give religion no place in
their scheme of things, and who I'M
dertake to get along without It's re-
straints and It's consultations
Always woman has been an IDEAL
1ist That the claims of Jesus should
be so swiftly and deeply understood
by " omen Is significant It IS a rare
church indeed that is not attended by
more women than men, This also IS
true of concerts, lectures, art, exhibit
lions, and the higher classes OF drama
and all literary and ethical occasions
The idealism Of woman is apparent on
The Real Emancipation.
Here we come to a profound histor-
zeal fact Jesus Christ has been the
real emanciDatOr Of wOmanhoOd. In
his discipleship she mas gone TO new
ness of honor, to newness of service,
and newness Of character. through
all the centuries, since one little group /
of women were last at the cross and
first at the grave" women have been
the best friends of Jesus, even as he !
has been the best friend Of woman /
A new sense Of sisterly solidarity (
has developed in Christianity. We !
might call this a noble sex conscious 4
ness. The passion of Christian woman :
for the welfare Of the women OF the /
world is not often discussed IN the 1
newspapers. but it is the brOadstand !
and most beautiful phase Of the whole !
woman question"
yVOman's Ideal Man.
In return for what he has done for
her, woman has Iavished upon Christ
the intensity and fulneSs OF an IN
measured devotion. He has filled her
vision of an ideal man. His strength f,
and tenderness, his mastery and His
ministry. have satisfied woman's loft +
lest aspirations. The mothers who !
have raised their sons by the Christ !
standard. and have fired the hearts OF /
those sons with the Christ-passion, :
have been the greatest servants Of the 4
race. Is there anything that would 1
better serve these new times than /
more of this spirit in the days wom- /
anhOOd2
The company Of women who fol- /
lowed Jesus, as we are told in this /
lesson, were the forerunners Of an in /
Vulnerable host 1t would exalt the I
thinking, the living, or the characters /
OF a multitude Of US who are taking J
loosely about 1.-THE woman question 4
If we were to get a clear vision Of the /
type of WomanhOOd who in home and }
church and Christian women's organ /
izations are mOdestIy seeking to help /
the world in the name Of the Lord |
Jesus.
HOmeIessness Of Leader.
Interjected into shis lesson story, as .
II to accentuate the human needs of /
Jesus on the comfort that was brought /
him by the sympathetic women, are I
the three instances Of the men who /
wanted to follow him. To the first
the Master replied: 1.-The foxes have :
holes, the birds Of the heavens have
nests; but the Son Of man hath not
where to lay his head" The second
wanted first to bury his father, and
the third to bid farewell to his fam
lily; but Jesus pointed out that all else
must wait when the kingdom business /
is concerned. The urgency of the