Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

men!"sionaries,"The True WisdomAddress of the President of Women's Synodical 1954 of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North AmericaMrs. A. J. McFarlandSterling, KansasOver the entrance to a Woman's Club in Bombay, India, are the words: "THE WORLD WASMADE FOR WOMEN TOO." Yes, thank God ! Hisgospel, through the missionary zeal, has made aplace for women. As a result, there are today 1,763members of the Women's Synodical of the ReformedPresbyterian Church of North America.Now, to transactsome big worldlybusiness, this wouldnot be considered alarge body, yet theimportant questionis, "What are we1,763 women doing?"This, the 15thmeeting of the Women's SynodicalMissionary Society,finds us gatheredhere in this beautiful modern new science hall of GrinnellCollege, just thirtyfiveyears from thetime of that firstNational Conventionof our women, inBelle Center, Ohio,back in 1919.Little did I dreamMrs. A. J. McFarlandthat I should ever1954 Synodical Presidentbe an officer of thisorganization when back in my high school dayswe entertained Mrs. Myrtle Dodds in our homefor more than a week while she and my motherlaid plans for the first Synodical.Mrs. W. O. Ferguson who led in our openingprayer and Mrs. J. M. Coleman are the onlycharterofficers present. All others except Mrs. J. S. Tibbyhave passed on to glory, save our charter president,Mrs. Myrtle M. Dodds who at the age of 87, sweetand patient, but very feeble, entered our "CovenanterHome for the Aged" just three weeks ago. We hadasked her to be our honor guest at this Synodicalbut weakness prevents. Nevertheless she sends greetings to this organization and to the women she lovedand served so long.Now that we, the Synodical, are launching onour 36th year, I pondered many days to ascertain into what channel we might best direct our thoughtsthis opening day. Different president's addressesthat I have scanned this spring, spent the entiretime relating travels and presbyterials visited, but Ifind school teachers can not travel and teach at thesame time, so today I shall not present a travelog.Our Convention theme is "Christ's Charge OurChallenge."I can't help thinking that if Christ werehere today, He might express His charge to us, for100tvitnessing, in the same words as our high schoolcommencement speaker this spring :Throughout the ages women have ever had a sharein the kingdom work. Joanna and Susanna and manyothers ministered unto Christ of their substance;Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus ; Martha with hercook-book ; Dorcas with her needle ; Priscilla with herteacher's training; Tryphena and Tryphosa laboringin the Lord; and Phoebe, the minister; are prototypes the great exemplars of this 1954 Women'sSynodical.The apostle Paul assures us that women wereclosely associated with the leaders from the very beginning, when he writes, "Apostles continued withwomen."one accord with theever, byWomen's Missionary Organizations have, howsome men in the past been looked uponrather skeptically. At a certain meeting in one presbytery, a minister arose saying, "Mr. Moderator, Imove that a member of session be appointed to meetwith these women Wherever they come together, forthere is no telling what they will pray for if leftto themselves." Another more liberal brother said:"Mr. Moderator, I think we should not spurn thehelp of these pious females." So the pious femaleswent on their way. Some warned their brethrenSuffragettes,"against "Ecclesiasticalwhile othersorated on the subject, "Whither Are We Drifting?"When Paul was writing to the Philippians hesaid, "HELP THOSE WOMEN." If he were writingtoday he, perchance, might be saying, "Help thoseBut after all it is woman's place in life bothin the home, and in the church to be a help-meet, aplace Christian womanhood accepts willingly andjoyfully.The opening of Missionary work in our churchin 1856, called forth two devoted young men, RobertJames Dodds and Joseph Beattie, who with theiryoung brides, with hearts aflame with love andenthusiasm for Christ and His lost sheep in Syria,set sail and arrived in Damascus, December 13, 1856,98 years ago. This pioneering of missionary workfanned into a glowing flame the smouldering desiresof Covenanter women to serve their Master as Missionaries. Today, 98 years later, missionaries inSyria, China, Japan, Cyprus (as well as in America),young-have been and are women of themwomen.manyOur own established financial goal,"Womenof the Covenanter Church Supporting Women Mishas been reached each succeeding yearsince 1939; the last accountpassing through myhands June 18 totaling $14,225.00; paying the salaries of ten teachers, and pensions for two. But afinancial goal is not enough, even if we are God'sTHE COVENANTER WITNESS