WOMAN'S POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITY by Mrs. Susan Birdsall Roberts

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 6, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 36.

WOMAN'S POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITY.

By Mrs. Susan Birdsall Roberts

NOT many years ago, at a Freethinkers' convention, a woman gave us a peep into her darkened understanding by saying "that the coming woman would not attend church; that the Gospel had done nothing for women;" etc., etc. What amazing and wilful ignorance in this the nineteenth century!

Time would forbid, were it necessary to give anything like an enumeration of the benefits resulting to woman from the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We need not be reminded even of the untold blessings that come through that influence to woman. "Did you not say it was a little girl?" enquired a native of an American who expostulated with regard to leaving a little girl by the wayside to die. To the Gospel, then, it seems, we owe even the right to live!

A poor unwelcome despised little thing is a little daughter in heathen lands, and from her cradle to her grave suffers ignominy, neglect and abuse, married in childhood to some wretch worthy only of her detestation, she drags out her miserable years, which often end their sorrowing length upon the funeral pile of the tyrant known by the endearing name of husband. We will not dwell upon the sad revolting picture, but turn our eyes upon the homes of our beloved Christian land; view the contrast, and try to prize our blessings, flowing in one unbroken stream to us, through the influence of this blessed Gospel.

"Can'st count the drops in any shower? Then name the blessings of an hour."

If, then, such is the exalted position of woman, what obligations is she not under to make the most of her position, in order to render some returns to the world, and to the church in an especial manner? To the world because of our kinship and its (the world's) needs; and to the church for all the blessings to which we have alluded.

"I love Thy church, O Lord; Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thy hand."

If, then, we love the church, dear sisters, let us live for her, and when aspersions are cast upon her by a godless world, let us be careful that they find no sympathy with us. Let us be quick to defend her. Let us so live that no bold defamer shall dare in our presence to raise a voice against her.

Let us so live as to honor her. Live so that none can point to us as a stumbling-stone, or rock of offence. And to our young sisters we would say: Don't ask, Can I do this or that objectionable thing, pursue this or that doubtful course? don't try how far you can go from the church into worldliness without censure. But be ever trying to see what an ornament you can become to it, what a polished stone, what a pillar of strength and beauty; and believe me, you will get to your own soul a meet compensation. Do we ever reflect how easily the requirements of the Gospel may be met? We are not required to do great things; things beyond our reach, not to be brilliant, showy, learned, wealthy or wise.

A Christian home, where the wife and mother always reigns as a respected and loving queen, and where the little girl is even more tenderly cherished than the little boy.

"The lowly and the meek He'll bless With largest measure of His grace."

Still at the call of duty we may not shrink from the wider and more extended fields of labor, but with zeal and courage, go forward, striving for the honor of the Master and the winning of souls, to accomplish great things for Him, like the three Mrs. Judsons, and all the saintly and self-sacrificing females who have followed in their steps.

Well do we remember when, in the village of Geneva, N. Y., Miss Elizabeth Blackwell astonished the world by starting out alone, unsustained (amid the sneers of the male students, who were determined to turn her from her purpose), to win for herself a profession, to make of herself a self-reliant woman, in order to become a blessing to the world. And since that time, behold, how wide the opening! A few said then, as now, Blessings upon the noble girl and her praiseworthy effort. This step seemed more strongly than ever before to suggest to woman her great possibilities. And nobly has she stepped into the arena, grappled with difficulties, and with almost superhuman power, overcome them, and to-day stands in the front ranks of progress and reform, while some have lain themselves down after the last heat in the battle, leaving us a name to be honored, and a memory of virtues it should be our highest ambition to emulate.

How grandly this particular step has opened the way for the Gospel in heathen lands! Into the "harems" and "zenanas" the medicine woman may come, and there she will drop the seed that though no larger than a grain of sand will vegetate and become a tree of life, with wide-spreading branches, "the leaves of which shall be for the healing of the nations." Mrs. SUSAN BIRDSALL ROBERTS.