The American Missionary — Volume 34, No. 1, January, 1880Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 34, No. 1, January, 1880
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Two years ago, we made a bold venture at Le Moyne Normal School.
Health talks had become popular, and the teachers were convinced of
the wisdom of taking further steps in that direction, when, most
opportunely, there came to Memphis a lady physician, well advanced in
years, of evident culture, and provided with an excellent life-size
model of the human frame. She was invited to lecture to our female
pupils and their mothers, and did so very acceptably. Her gray hair
commanded respect, although the girls were at first a little suspicious
of the manikin. Satisfied with the effect upon the students and of
the lady’s good judgment, her services were secured for a course of
lectures, to which the friends of the girls were invited. It was
a happy idea, as was quickly proven. I cannot tell how many times
teachers were thanked for the privileges thus afforded, or how many
mothers exclaimed, “If I had only known these things sooner, I should
have saved myself and my children worlds of sickness and trouble and
disgrace!”
Ever since that experiment I have longed to see a similar opportunity
offered to all the colored women. If a discreet, motherly woman, who
understood anatomy, hygiene and medicine, could be furnished with a
model of the body and sent through the large cities and villages,
giving free lectures upon health, care of their own persons, proper
food, training of children, and responsibility to God for the chastity
of their sons and daughters, the Freedwomen would receive incalculable
benefit. The teachers cannot always reach out and control the mothers;
the missionary meets but a part of the women in a single city; but
an itinerating lady physician could influence thousands of the very
class most in need of the instruction she could give. I wish the
heart of some woman, qualified for the undertaking, would be stirred
to consecrate herself to this work. I think the officers of the
Association would indorse such a movement. Certainly, pastors and
teachers in the field would heartily welcome her to their churches and
homes, to which she would be a valuable auxiliary, while exerting a
more positive and direct influence upon the women than is possible from
any one of the already established methods of work.
Dean Howson says: “How can you convert a country unless you convert
the families? How can you convert the families unless you convert the
mothers?”
It was once my privilege to minister to an honored friend who was
gently falling asleep in Jesus. Happening to draw up a window-shade an
hour before the eyes closed upon the scenes of mortal life, I received
from the beloved lips this last commendation and counsel: “That’s
right; give us more light.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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