The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-09
A Woman's War Song.

A Woman's War Song.
The International Sunday School Les
son for January 10 Is Deborah and
Barak Deliver Israel."-Judges 4:4:23:
5:1-22.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
II leaders in the modern women's
movement knew their Bibles better we
should hear oftener of the first fem
mist in history, Deborah the prophecies
and emancipation. 1t is true that Mi
RAM, the sister Of Moses, broke forth
into song upon one triumphant occasion,
but the next eminent woman who ng-
ures in the Bible story. Deborah. really
led and inspired her people over
course Of years, during the troubled
period Of the judges. The master stroke
that won them liberty was Of her de-
vising and execution, and it was she
who composed the wonderful paen OF
rejoicing which celebrated the event.
The husband might as well be called
Mr.. Deborah, for Lappindoth is mere
ly mentioned as being the husband of
the prophecies. Was 1t a hard role that
he had to play in being merely the
helpmeet of q public woman? Perhaps
our own times will evolve q code for
the man placed in this now common
position.
Deborah was greater than her hus-
band. The work to which she was
called was one which could not be done
through him; for not even the wisest
wife can impart force OF character,
vision. and the qualities Of leadership
to a man. SO Deborah dared, in Pc
riod when usage prescribed sequestra-
ton and a secondary place for her sex,
to translate into action her great ideals
for her people.
The Women Who Lead.
Britain had her Boadicea, France
her Joan Of Arc, Germany her Queen
Louise, America her Lucretia Mott,
Susan b. Anthony and Frances Willard.
All down the highway Of history we see
shining occasional women who. when
mems hearts failed or their eyes were
dimmed, rose to the role Of leaders and
deliverers. In the great emergencies
of Americas pioneer days, and Of the
war between the states, women by the
hundreds proved themselves heritors of
the highest traditions of womanly
heroism.
What is the most characteristic quail
ity of womanhood, If it is not insight.
vision, idealism and a high loyalty?
Who feels a nations wrongs SO keenly
as its women? Who are the flaming
pioneers of all social reforms but wom
en-? Why are they foremost in the mis-
sionary and temperance enterprise?
Soul-sensitiveness explains it. That
quality made Deborah q seer and
propaganda. She had greatness and
fineness of spirit. Justice and patriot
ism were really master passions with
her. Every wrong done to her OPP
pressed countrymen by the proud and
cruel Canaanites entered her heart as
a sword. Her loyalty to Jehovah, and
her zeal for Him, made her great. In
a dark day when the ordained ecclesi-
astical leaders proved futile, she led
her people back to God.
CO, nAh + fS0 - 1-~~ -
1ssachar south to that of Benjamin,
where she would be free to counsel
and confer This suggests a word
about the geography of the story; and
present world events are newly teach
ing people the Importance Of geog-
raphy. The scene of the battle lies
back of Mt. Carmel. that long "moun-
tain of thousand valleys" by the
sea. where the modern city of Haifa
with its German colony, it's harbor
and it's terminus of the Damascus
railway is now situated. The scene
of the defeat of Sisera is about the
same as that of the slaughter of the
priests Of Baal after Elijah's dramatic
contest on Mt. Carmel. To the east
ward almost in a line with the Lake
of Galilee, rose symmetrical Mt Ia
Dor. which figures in the story as the
resort of Barak's army. Issachar,
Deborahs home. lay directly south,
but she went still further southwark,
almost to Jerusalem. to a spot be-
tween Bethel and Ramah to establish
herself as prophecies to whom the
people could resort for counsel and in
spiration.
There. under the palm tree bv the
door Of her tent. Deborah sat and re-
ceived her people. The picture is sue-
Festive. A proud woman. OF finely
chiselled features. with the reserved
demeanor of a greatly burdened soul.
she sat day by day and received depu-
tations in ever-increasing numbers. as
her reputation grew. Family strife
and village quarrel were adjudicated
by her. The stream of victims of
Canaanitish oppression brought their
woes to her. The perplexed heads Of
communities. driven desperate bv in
Justice piled uDon injustice. conferred
with this patriotic wide-visioned NO.
man. INTO all the Hebrew nation
were carried her words of patriotism
AMI religion. She lighted anew the
fires OF LOYALTY to the dream Of Abra :
ham and TO the covenant-keeping Je-
rovah. BY lifting aloft the common
ideals she created once more some.
thing akin to a true national senti-
ment.
When the Hour Struck.
Long Deborah had been firing some
hearts and restraining others. Pa
triots must have patience. Slowly but
inevitably the time ripened to tn,