The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-02-06
The international Sunday School
Lesson for Feb. ~, 10 Jesus and
the Woman Of samsrls."-John
4:t.29.



Because the principal highways
Of the great cities, and the places
OF pubic entertainment. are now
adays crowded with over-dressed,
over-rouged, over-sophisticated 40
men. who have apparently part
ed company with the -womanly
ideals Of their srandmothers. II 10
easy and natural 10 say that the
women OF our time are careless OF
the great verities which have en-
nobled womanhood from the dayv
OF Mary. Such q Judgment II un-
fair. because II fails 70 take into
account the greater number OF
housekeeping. modest, cultivated.
sweet and sincere girls and women
whose existence II not Haunted be-
fore the eyes Of the idlers on the
highways q life.
30 there Is pertinency and profit
In the present study OF q woman OF
the long ago who was free. careless,
cynical. immodest, and ready for any
wayside acquaintance. This WON
an At Jacobs well embodied our
modern ideas Of the advanced"
and "worldly-wise" woman. except
that she had neither wealth nor
education. She was OF the sort who
profess to soon at the modeety OF
their sisters. For herself. she was
ready TO strike up an acquaintance
ship with any man that happened
along: and she was too shallow TO
understand the significance OF the
fact that none OF these friendships
were continuing. She knew many
men, but among them all there was
no one who respected her utterly
and loved her devotedly. being will
ing TO leave all else and cleave only
unto her. Obviously. II is more OF
tribute TO a woman's worth 10 be
loved by one true man than 20 be
popular" with a crowd OF men.
Pert, tantali.fng. ingenious In ex-
cuse. quick in repartee, this woman
OF Sychar saw things only In their
superficial aspects. II is hard for
the right sort OF young man to be.
lieve in the existence OF such WON
en- who are not genuine. not good.
not reverent, not constant and not
truly loving. As one sees the
throngs OF bly, gowned
women. In restaurants and hotels
and places OF entertainment and on
the streets. and knows them for
light-minded spenders and MASTERS.
mere moths huttering around the
dangerous candle of pleasure. one
finds IL dlfficult TO visualize them as
the makers OF happy. restful homes.
as the inspirers OF men. and az the
mothers OF patriots, heroes and
saints.
This is phase OF the modern
woman question" from which one
shrinks: II is more satisfactory 90
contemplate that larger number OF
women. who. while splendidly true
TO the type OF Christian womanhood,
are expressing themselves in old
and new ways. for the present time.
thru home and church and club and
social relationships. After all. IA
our story OF the Samaritan woman
makes clear. the old. old thirst for
iife's realities Is ever-preseut; II is
merely unrecogrized or hidden by
the foolish.
When the Right Man Appears.
One sure mark OF the best friend
Ia that he helps US 10 be our best
self Jesus prominently had this
quality. He discovered the soul
OF this misguided Sychar woman.
His directness and candor and sin
cere spirituality pierced the shell OF
her superficial worldliness. He met
her on one level. and LEFT her on a
higher. Casual acquaintances--a
thirsty man ty a well. and q woman
with a drinkipe vessel, eager for
firtation-become friends on the
high plane Of concern about God and
rhe human soul. Do we wonder how