The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-01-05
r. fIIIS.)

II leaders in the modern WoInenS.l
movement knew their Bibles better
we should hear ottener of the first
feminist iii history, Deborah the pro-
phetesS and emancipation. II Is true
that Miriam, the sister OF Moses, broke
forth into song upon n triumphant
occasion, but the next eminent woman
who figures in the Bible story, Deho-
rah, really led and inspired her peo-
pie over a course OF years, during the
troubled period Of the judges. The
master stroke that won them liberty
vas OF her devising and execution, and
ii was she who composed the wonder
full pean Of rejoicing which celebrated
the event.
The husband might rs well be call
ed Mr.. Deborah, for Lappldoth Is
merely mentioned as being the nus
band OF the prohetess. Was it a nara
role thai he had to play in beng
merely the helpmeet OF q pubnc wo-
man? Perhaps our w times "iii
evolve a code for the man placed III
his now common position.
Deborah was greater than her u
band. The work to which she was
called was one which could not pe
done through him: for not even the
wisest wife can impart force OF char
acter. vision and the qualities OF lead
ership to q man. SO Deborah dared
in a period when usage preScrlDe,
seQueStration and q secondary place
Tor her sex, to translate into actor
her great ideals for her people.
The Women Who Lead.
Britain had her Boadicea. Franc
her Joan OF Arc, Germany her Queel
Louise, America her Lucretia Mott
Susan T.. Anthony and Francis Will
II .x,-, tho biah x.yn W of hist or
we see shining occasional women who
when mems hearts failed or thei
eyes were dimmed, rose TO the role o
leaders and delivererS. IN the GTea
emergencies of Americas piOnee
days, and of the War Between tn
States, women by the hundreds prov
ed themselves heritors of the highes
traditions of womanly heroism.
What is the most characterize
quality of womanhOod, If ii is not IL
sight, vision, idealism and a hig
loyalty? Who feels a nations wrong
SO keenly as its women? Who al
flaming pioneers of all social reform
but women? Why are they foreino
in the missionary and temperance ei
terprise?
Soul-sensitiveness explains il. fh;
quality made Deborah q seer and
propagandist. She had greatness al
tinenesS of spirit. Justice and patri
tism were really master passions wi
her. Every wrong lone to her .
pressed countrymen by the proud 81
cruel Canaanites entered her heart
~ sword. Her loyalty to Jehovah, al
her zeal for him. made her great.
Il dark day when the ordained eccl
siastical leaders proved futile, she
her people back to God.
cn R,.horah n1,ya,1 from, tho IonJ
lssachar south to that Of Benjam
where she would be free to coun
and confer. This suggests a VIC
about the geography OF the story: q
present world events are newly teaC
ing people the importance of gt
graphy. The scene of the battle !
back Of Mt. Carmel. that long "mo,
tain Of a thousand valleys by I
sea-, where The modern city of Hal
With its German colony, it's harbor a
its terminus OF the Damascus K;
way is now situated. The scene
the defeat of Sisera is about the sa
as that of the slaughter Of the prie
OF Baal. after Eliiah's dramatic C.
test on Mt. Carmel. TO the eastwa
almost III a line with the Lake
Gahlee, rose symmetrical Mt. Tai
which figures in the story as the res
or Barak's army. Issachar, Debors
home lay directly south, but she W
still further southwark, almost
Jerusalem, to a spot between Bet
II RaHlah to establish herself a
prophecies to whom the people CO
resort for counsel and ~inspiratio,
Then, under the palm tree by
loot or her tent, Deborah sat and
ceived her people. The picture is {
gestiye. a proud woman, of fl,
chiselled features, with the reser
de1neanor OF a greatly ride 6
she sat day by day and received
putations in every-increasinc nu1rt
as her reputation grew. Family 81
and village quarrel were adiudic
ny her' The stream of victims
~anaanitis oppression brought :
Woes TO her. The perpleyed herd
communities, driven desperate nv
Justice piled upon injustice. CONF
VIII 'his patriotic, widevisioned
man. Into all The. Hebrew n,
were carried her words of na+r;"