The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-04
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WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYANs BIBLE TALK *
Shunammite w oman ST aith
Great Example, Says Bryan
Power of Almighty Shown in Prophets
Miracle of Restoring Life to Mothers
Only Child. :
By WILLIAM JENNINGS

By WILLIAM JENNINGS
And 1t fell on q day, that
Elisha passed to Shunem. where
was a great woman; and she
constrained him to eat bread"
So begins the story of the Shu-
nammite woman whose kindness
and faith God rewarded through
his prophet according to the
faith that was in her.
"A great woman-where before
In historX do we md that word
applied to . woman. and where
outside of the Bible has woman
been honored as she is in Holy
Writ?
Besides this shunammite
woman, who exhibited a cluster
of the highest vtrtues-reyer-
ence, hospitality. implicit faith,
and profound gratitude - the
Bible has immortalized many
,r good women.
- oiA Testament tells of
Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, De-
borah. Ruth and Naomi. vashti
and Esther, and many others.
In the New Testament we
read Of a generous widow who
with two mites purchased more
enduring fame than any other
person has been able to buy
with unlimited means: of the
Tabitha, whose deeds of kind
ness called forth one OF the most
eloquent Of eulogies: OF Martha,
who expressed her trust in that
classic lament, Lord. IL thou
hadst been here my brother had
not died." and of the woman whose
alabaster box OF ointment has
spread its fragrance over 10 CEN
turtles. And above and beyond all
these, and all others. Mary.
chosen for the sacred task Of
mothering the Saviour.
In our own day and in every
land great women can be found
nowhere are they more hume rous
Or more beloved than In the United
States. In the church. in socisty,
in politics they have made their
power felt as they have demon
strated the possession OF those
virtues that disclose a likeness to
Him in whose image We are made.
The one woman to whom our
nation has thus far paid the high
est honor is Frances willard. who
was so conspicuous In all three
lines of work that her statue
graces the Hall OF Fame in
Washington.
While history, sacred and pro-
fame. has written high the names
Of few women. we must not for
get the unnumbered multitude
who. just as reverent, as hos
pitable, as full Of faith and as
generous in their expressions of
gratitude. have glorified woman
hood by embodying the best that
there is in humanity.
And it fell or a day. that
Elisha passed to Snunem, where
was a great woman: and she con-
strained him to eat bread. And
so 1t was. that as often as he
PASSED by. he turned in thither
10 eat bread"
The road from Gilgai to Mount
Carmel. which the prophet often
had occasion to take on Gods
business. led by this woman's
home. After Elisha had thus be-
come a frequent visitor at the
home, the woman said to her hus-
oand:
Behold now, perceive that
this is an holy man of God, which
passeth by us continually. Let US
make a little chamber. I pray thee,
on the wall: and let US set for
him there a bed. and a table, and
a stool. and a candlestick: and
it shall be. when he cometh to US.
that he shall turn in thither."
One of Woman Jewels.
1t was kind thought. just such
q thought as has inspired millions
Of women who have added to the
comfort Of Gods servants. Men
do think of these things, but the