Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-27
Christ's Call to the Young
Women of To-Day
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKINS.
Text: st. Luke X. 3S-I2.

successful womcn's colleges, and I
"'S much impressed. as l have often
uceh tciure with the character and
,"rce OF the graduates. There is to
ne FOUND among the young women of
our lay something which has been
almost unknown in past centuries.
namely. n mingling of sincerity and
"arnes'ness with high ideals and
hvps;ri s;irit. which promises much
Tor Tho future. Whatever opinions we
may hold regarding many questions
"nich are before us to-day concerning
wolnanh God. We must clearly remember
ms trd thank God for il. too. that
me on ignorance which tended to
Mfer woman in the background and TO
mold her simply as secondary In the
great life of the world has been broken
ho"n, ami work in the future Is much
brighter and clearer because OF the
removal of that ignorance. The rev
ef-nce and rc"pcct which arc instinc-
Nv" and which have been created by
God for worDanhood have not ucen
lcssered But rather Increased through
the splendid energy which women lave
been showing for the last two or thee
Heca les and by the devotion and self
denial with which they have given
themselves To all kinds OF advance
movements for the benefit Of humanity.
SrLENDID WOMEN FITTED
FOR NOBLE CALIISGS
There is aomeihing very hopeful and
lnsriring in these spring days when,
from our high schools and our normal
schools and our colleges, splendid young
women arc coming out fitted for n noble
calling and ready to bear their share of
IN" worlds responsibility TO God. We
note, first OF all. the cheerfulness which
Is part Of womans endowment and
which the world needs. Our young
women take life Just as seriously as
men do and perhaps even more seri-
y. he IN mt lny
INTO gloom or despondency. There is
n hopefulness in their way OF working
and an elasticity in their energy which
not only inspire, but assure one of
oetter world now on it's way. ] think
mat young women should recognize
mat Cod calls them TO n large and
splendid service In the cause OF hu-
mainly partly because they have this
endowment OF cheer. II Is Ike the
singing Of the birds or the fragrance
OF the flowers as one journeys along
With heav: responsibility pressing
MIN Thank God FOR the cheeriness
which In home or business house. in
church or in social life, makes one
reaHze that God is near and that good
ness has power
DIFFICULTIES SURROUND
LIVES OF MANY WOMEN
think that Christ calls 10 our Young
women to-day especially to have SYM
pathy with those of their own sex who
g.
terhood Is holy thing and should bind
women together regardless Of any
ear'hly circumstances which NAV tend
20 separate them. We all know now
many diihculties surround the lives Of
many or our sisters. particularly those
who have not had many advantages NJ
education or Of home life The true
ana big woman viii always not only
,aRe an interest In the problems OF
her less highly favored sister. but will
v q ~
sympathy real by knowledge Of con-
ditonS We may we'll thank God that
SO many women are interested in set
tlemeht work and in all kinds ~ ad
vance movements for the betterment OF
communities. One can hardly corcaiya
OF anything moro beautiful thon ~.
giving Of her very best on the part or
noble woman TO those whose lIv.s
are cramped and whose troubles are
made heavy because OF an unfortuna,a
environment. Every true woman must
reel that those weaker than herself
nave high claim upon her. and IN,
mat claim constitutes her own hirhe,t
crowning
SHOULD HAVE NoBLEsT
OF MORAL IDEAS
noblest moral ideals She is endowed
BY God with riches Of purity and praoa
AND reverence, and this endown,en,
makes the world. all unconsc,ousIv
perhaps, LOOK to her and patheticaliy
cing TO her as II she could hold no.
biiity too easily lost On the Other
hand. there must be great care Lest
these ideals be lowered MANY Of o,,r
books to-day seem 10 suggest as words
arc put into the mouths OF the heroInes
Weakening concerning the old and
d!vine!y given codes OF moral living
And sometimes one hears in converse
ton among young women sucees-
tions which, IL honestly followed, would
bring untold dissension. Let us pray
that the womanhood OF to-day may
hold high and invincible the law OF
righteousness In every particular not
only as regards dealings between man
and man or woman and woman, but as
regards character and a belief in good
ness.
am sure God calls young women to
be worthily and nobly. but simply, re-
lg!ous. Some one remarked to me the
other day that we had very few, il any,
women theologjans: I answered that
thanked God for 1t. because woman be-
lieves without needing or seeking for
any great intellectual foundation for
belief.
WORSHIP GOD WITH
MINDS AS WELL AS HEARTS
That does not mean that Christian
ity is without reason or that we are
not to worship God with our minds
as we'll es our hearts. But IL does
mean that the instructive faith OF hu-
manitv, which leads us to believe God
because We are His children, depends
for It's upholding upon primitive and
divinely given loyalty which shall
prove itself. and is ever proving itself
superior to mere intellectual reasoning
The heart cries out IT have felt," says
Tennyson. We have no right to minim-
iZe the feeling in religion; nor have
we any right to imply that woman
IS only bundle CT emotions But
we have right to recognize that the
ancner for all of faith must be, as i.
has been all through the ages. per-
sonal knowledge OF and loyalty to
Jesus Christ. and that this ancho- as
held pre-eminently by womanhood
Thank God for the women in cur
churches and women missionaries and
our women teachers in Sunday school
and day school! They are helping by
their intellect and their Judgment and
their character. but they help above all