The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1955-02-17
"Our
Growing Edge"
MRS. MARTHA GLOTFELTY

a WomanS PIace IS m he Home
All Of us at sometime in our lives
have heard men say with something
like contempt in their voices. "A
woman's place is in the home 9"
Strangely enough, | agree. but with
reservations.
Sometimes women themselves
have said that. which in some cases
suspect was only an albi to cover
mp their own la2iness or unwilling
ness to put forth any effort outside
their own four walls.
A woman is essentially a home
maker, a task for which she is
peculiarly fitted. Homemaking is
her first and primary task. and a
very important one it is. She is the
one who turns a house into livable
home. Probably more than anyone
else, she sets the tone of family
living Her task as homemaker
should be that in a broad. full
sense. In the Interpretation of that
statement, is where my disagree
ment starts with some of the ideas
men have held in the past, and
some even now.
A woman is also an individual,
and has a very definite part to play
in various extensions of the home.
My Bible tells me that the Chris
tian church is the dwelling place of
Gods spirit on earth, and of His
dwelling among men. AS a Chris
tian woman it is my work to help
to make my church effective, beau
tiful and a bearer of the Gospel of
Truth to all men everywhere.
Therefore, my church is part of my
home, for it is part of my life
The public schools began, first
of all as an extension of the home.
where the doors of wisdom are I'M
locked and the flood of knowledge
comes in to make our children eff
fective, educated men and women.
The things taught there will have
tremendous influence on my chill
dren's lives. and | should be alert
and interested in what they are be-
ing taught The school is a part of
my home, for ii affects the lives
of children everywhere.
The kind of community in which
live determines to a large extent
what kind OF home | am able to
have, and | also have a part to play
in making that community, and in
a larger sense my County, my State
and my Nation. There are in
justices that need looking into
there are forward looking programs
that need workers, and | should not
try to escape my responsibility.
There is always the need for the
helping hand for those less fortu-
nate than ourselves. These areas
are also my home for without them
l could not even have a home.
Since I was a teen-aged girl.
have been active and interested in
Missionary work of the church in
lands other than my own. l have
learned and studied of other people
in other lands, who have different
colored skins than my own, who
speak a different language than my
own. with different customs, yet
they have the same love of freedom
| have: they have the same search
ing to know the truth, with human
needs just like my own This vast
education in human love has done
something to my thinking. 1t has
caused my heart to go out to those
people in sympathy and understand
ing. This is my world, too, for these
are my fellow men,
Yes, woman's place is in the
home, but the four walls in which
she lives is not its boundary line.
Women can help to make the world
a better place in which to live if
they are not too lazy or too stupid
to do so.
My nome is the world, and if l
have a gift l should share it with
others. The gifts we share with
others comes back into our own.
That is law of life itself.