Our question is how to help her most toward the end we wish.
Realizing that the foundation of a strong moral nature must be laid first of all, as the basis of true womanhood, shall we concentrate our work upon giving her religious instruction, and seek to bind her by bonds of Christian duty? Let me not seem for a moment to question the power of God’s grace to illuminate the heart and change the will; but until she better understands the force of Bible truth and has a nature more sensitive to receive it than is the case with many who come to us, religion, as she comprehends it, will do her no good. So divorced is it from morality, so satisfied as to the future, and so reckless as to the present are many who suppose they possess it, that I dare not present this last great motive of Christian principle until I see the moral sense working under direct and pointed Bible teaching, so that the Christian life may be grasped in its true meaning. Even then it will not do simply to see her converted and then to send her out to battle with evil, any more than Christian could have met Apollyon without the armor that was added to him after he had entered the wicket gate. The conscience, now in shattered ruins, must be built up that it may again perform its office in distinguishing right from wrong. A sense of her own worth—a genuine self-respect which recognizes degradation and flees from it; that will not even listen to evil, must arise as she comes gradually to know the duty and dignity to which God created her. But if we bring our girls to the point where they are inclined to choose honor and uprightness, we must make this choice possible by putting into their hands the means of supporting themselves; we must train them to habits of industry and to right ideas of labor.
The practical question is, “How shall we produce the results we seek?” Whatever of experience and knowledge I have of any one of our girls bids me answer, “Do with her just what you would do for some young girl in the North whom you wanted to save from the most corrupting influences. Take her early away from the home that oftentimes is no protection to her, and as there are no proper homes open to her, transplant her to as good a Christian home as our schools will afford; furnish her work to do when she has not money to meet the expense, and supplement this work by aid in money when necessary. Make her life in these homes as simple and true and elevating as genuine Christian culture will make it; throw around her the refinements of taste, that her own tastes may be improved; give her reading-rooms with wisely-chosen reading matter, music to refine and inspire; treat her with the courtesy and deference which she must learn to consider her due; give her training under suitable instructors in the industrial arts; and keep her through it all to a strict adherence to duty and a close and accurate course of study. Patiently and perseveringly hold her to this life until there begins to dawn upon her a vision of the noble and beautiful womanhood to which she may attain, and then help her to strive after it, through years of discouragement on the part of teacher and pupil, until a strong and true Christian character is built up to withstand the temptations and resist the tendencies that beset her.”
If you are tempted to say this is asking too much for our girls, that we ought to be content with less, at less expenditure of time and money, remember that the girls for whom I speak are the best among their people—the few who will ever have a chance to attain to higher things. Look just behind them and see the throngs, who, in ignorance and woe and sin, are turning their eyes toward you. Listen to them mutely pleading, “Do not set your standard too low, lest we who can only get a small part of our sister’s share of help, should be left to perish in our degradation.”
The objection is sometimes made that such training unfits our girls for their homes and surroundings. This is too often true. I used to think any education which placed them out of sympathy with their own lowly homes was false and wrong, but more extended knowledge of some of these homes leads me to the belief that in the struggle which must go on to save these people, the Scripture shall again be fulfilled—the mother shall be divided against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Much misunderstanding and suffering must result, perhaps to both sides, from this clash of the old and the new. In heathen countries, we find it unwise to change the customs which are foreign, unless some principle is involved; in our work, the differences that arise are wholly matters of knowledge or principle. The English civilization exists throughout our country, and what our girl finds as she goes to her home, that is contrary to her improved ideas of home, is the result of ignorance, or indolence, or sin. These, in a quiet, modest way, she must change. God grant her grace to be patient, true and firm through it all.
INDUSTRIAL WORK AT MEMPHIS.
BY MISS ELLA HAMILTON.
Two years ago, through the kindness of friends in the North, two rooms were fitted up in our building, at Memphis, for use in the industrial work among the girls. Will you visit these rooms with me this morning and see what is being done there? As we enter, we find ourselves in the midst of a dozen girls between the ages of 12 and 16, whose eyes and fingers are busy with their work, while their tongues are making sweet music as they sing some simple Sabbath-school hymn. Let us walk about among them, and see what it is that so engrosses their attention. Here, at our side, is a bright-eyed, pretty girl, who is patiently working on the long over-and-over seam, which, it may be, was quite as great a bug-bear to some of us in our childhood days as it is to this little one. Near her is another, busy with a child’s apron, destined, perhaps, for her own little sister. Another still is darning a stocking, while here, at the long table, stands a girl who is taking her first lessons in cutting. There is very little rest for the pleasant-faced teacher during this hour. She must straighten the gathered seams, show the awkward fingers how to take the tiny stitches, give the word of advice or encouragement where it is needed, and see that each one of these active girls is busy upon the task assigned her, and doing that task just as it ought to be done. This work has its place in the course and upon the programme of the school, just as any other school work. The class receives instruction forty minutes each day, for at least one school term. They are taught how to do plain cutting and sewing, and usually become quite expert with the needle. The materials for work have been obtained for the most part from the boxes sent our lady missionary. I had word, however, just before I left home, that these supplies were exhausted, and that they were very much in need of calicoes, needles and threads. Perhaps there are those who can help them in this need.