The Influence of the Bible on Woman.
By Dr. Isaac G. Bliss
THE following well illustrates what is occurring in all parts of the land in these days. Recently a very aged woman, who has long been sad and depressed over the loss of most of her children, was urged to learn to read, that she might be cheered in her loneliness by the words of the divine Comforter. Consolation she had not, and her sorrows grew upon her. At last a primer was obtained and placed in her hands, and she began her long toil. The way was weary and difficult, for her vision, even with the aid of her spectacles, was very dim. The effort was a benefit to the sad old woman, and so she persevered. After much hard work she reached that part of the primer where short texts of Scripture and prayer are found. These she read and re-read, and finally learned them by heart, and the comfort she needed came. Afterward a Testament in large print for the aged was purchased for her, and now her delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law doth she meditate day and night. A missionary lady in Northern Mesopotamia, in recounting some of her experiences on a recent tour in that region, gives most delightful testimony to the changes effected, and still going on among the women of that field as the result of the wide dissemination of the Bible. She speaks of finding many poor, hard-worked village mothers who had surmounted the greatest obstacles in learning to read, that they might with their own eyes read the words of Christ, their Saviour. Not only was she surprised to find so large a number of this class, but greatly encouraged by it. In one town, where a few years ago the people were ready to stone the first man who dared to declare himself a reader of the gospel, she visited a large number of houses. Although it was the busiest season of the year, the women left their work most gladly to hear the words of Christ, never allowing her to leave them without offering a prayer in their behalf. In the same town a mother, unwilling herself to be called a Protestant, speaking of her son, who recently died in the prime of manhood, gave as the highest tribute she could pay to his memory, that he so loved to read the Bible. A few years ago that mother, and many others in that town, would have preferred that their sons should be thieves, liars, and even murderers rather than be known as readers of the gospel. In one village, so great was the desire to hear the word of God, that young brides (contrary to all propriety in the customs of that region), recently brought from other villages, and who could read, were drafted into the service of teaching others, and even holding prayer-meetings with others. In another town, this missionary found a woman who had never attended school, had learned to read by herself, and, taught of the Spirit, she sat in that circle of women expounding unto them most acceptably the word of God. In another place she found twenty women learning to read. In another, a Bible-class, meeting every Sabbath with sixty women in attendance. One poor woman, whose work pressed her so constantly that she could get no time during the day to look at this best of books, every night put her Testament under her pillow, so that with the first beams of the morning light she could rise in her bed, and read enough to fill her meditations the whole day. Well does this missionary sister ask: "Would the desire to read any common book lead ignorant women to make such efforts?" This same loving and beloved Christian laborer gives expression to the great cheer which filled her heart at seeing such large numbers of women, once ignorant, debased, and most superstitious, now living sweet Christian lives, and eager to have their daughters educated in all that develops and crowns true womanhood. One large village is referred to, where the Protestant pastor, realizing that in order to elevate the people as a whole, special efforts must be made for the women, had succeeded in persuading nearly all to learn to read, and make the Scriptures their chief source of instruction. This town seems to be the banner town in this respect in all that region. A visit to it always stirs the feeling of joy and thanksgiving in the heart of the missionary. She speaks of one woman so filled with the words and spirit of the gospel that she herself counts it a privilege and a joy to sit at her feet, and learn of divine things. This woman is the mother of a large family, and one whose life has been one prolonged series of trials, whose burning severity has only made her graces shine with increased brightness. Never from her lips have words of complaint or murmuring been heard. Indeed, such has been her experience that the darker the night and the keener the sorrow the more cheerfully can she say, "The will of the Lord be done;" for that will is always best. Often in their visits from house to house the missionary laborers are accompanied by this sister, and it is a noble tribute they pay to her that whenever they hear her explanations of scriptures they are filled with admiration and delight, and ask: "Whence hath this woman this wisdom?" In the same field, another missionary lady responds to the question, "What has the Bible done for the women in your part of the great vineyard?" in these words, "Come with me to a little prayer-meeting, and listen for yourself. The room is well filled. A blind woman has crowded close to the missionary lady who is speaking, and, sitting at her feet with upturned face, is drinking in every word. Now and then a silent tear rolls from under the lids where the sightless eyes are hid, and falls as quietly on the bosom below. The missionary is sure that one heart at least is touched. She finishes the 'Old, old story,' and blind Marion says, 'Lady, these are sweet words. I think it is because they are Bible words. I love these words. I have a nephew who comes to the mission school, and he has learned to read the Bible, and daily he reads to me. I have learned four chapters. May I come and recite them to you some day?' She needed no prompting. This blind Marion is now bending every energy to learn to read the portions of the Bible in raised letters. She is spoken of as one of the brightest of Christians, and an excellent Sabbath-school teacher. She belongs to an Armenian family hostile to our work, the only Protestant in the large household. She is praying, and we are waiting to see the whole family turn to Christ. "Come to a village where only a few years since the women were the most degraded in our field. What mean the songs that meet our ears? Yonder the women and girls are going out to gather in the harvest. Listen, and you will hear them singing:—
'What is it shows our feet the way
To realms of everlasting day?
It is the precious Bible.'
"These bronzed peasant women have learned to read God's precious word, and it lightens their incessant toil. Go to the home of the richest man in one of the villages (on the great Harpoot Plain), and there you will see his strong wife, the giantess of the region, tossing from side to side on her couch. Fever has crimsoned her cheek, and almost maddened her brain. She gazes strangely on the missionary lady, glad to see her, but feeling that she is holy, and cannot pity a sinner like her. She asks her to pray, and at once is quiet. The missionary has taken with her from the city a sister, one of God's purified ones. Listen while she calmly leads this awakened sinner to the Lamb on Calvary, and you will say she has not only read and learned God's word, but has hidden it in her heart." Such are some of the incidents gathered from the different quarters of this great Bible field. The testimony from all the departments is one. Improvement, elevation, intelligent piety, consecration to, and hard work for, Jesus, are what the Bible is giving to the women of Turkey. It has blessed thousands. Out of the depths others still cry for deliverance. How earnest our faith, how burning our zeal should be to give to the tens of thousands that are still in darkness this glorious light which has come down from heaven!—Dr. Isaac G. Bliss, Constantinople, in Christian Statesman.