‘AND YE SHALL ENOW THE TRUTH, AND THE
VOL. XLIX.
CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY,
EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR WOMEN
(A paper read at the Twelfth Annual Presbyterian Workers’ Con
ference, held at Johnson C. Smith University, Jan. 25-28.)
By Mrs. T. R. Lewis,
Scotia Women’s College, Concord, N. C.
One does not realize the
largeness of a subject until he
begins to study it and give it
serious thought. Abraham
Lincoln is credited with having
said, “I am never easy when
handling a thought until I have
bounded it North, and bounded
it South, and bounded it East,
and bounded it West.”
It is not possible for me to
do this with the subject assigned
me and especially in the allotted
time. It is only when one be
gins to read and think that he
realizes the changed attitude to
ward the education of women
during the existence of our Re
public, and even the many
changes that have come during
the intervening years since some
of us were girls ourselves.
It scarcely seems possible
that there was a time in the
history of our country when ed
ucation for women, higher ed
ucation especially, was looked
upon as a luxury, not as a ne
cessity.
The following is from a Chil
dren’s Catechism of Health,
which as the author says, “sets
colonial girls in their proper
places.” Query: “Ought female
children to receive the same ed
ucation as boys and have the
same scope for play?” Answer:
“In their earlier years there
should be nQ difference. But
there are'shades of discretion
and regards to propriety which
judicious and prudent guardians
and teachers can discern and
can adjust and apply.”^
following is an extract
from a letter of Abigail Adams
v\to her husband written in 1778:
' *>But in this country you need
, \ \ \\ be told how much female
k Ration is neglected nor how
fLTvonable it has been to ridi
cule female learning: though I
acknowledge it to be my happi
ness to be connected with a per
son of a more generous mind
and liberal sentiments.”
Later Mrs. Adams writes of
her own education: “I was never
sent to any school. Female edu
cation in the best families went
no further than writing and
arithmetic; in some few and
rare instances, music and draw
ing.” Reforms along this line be
gan somewhat earlier in the
United States than in England
and the town schools in New
England were opened shortly
after the Revolutionary War.
Then i’ollowed in turn the finish
ing school for women, the acad
emy and female seminary. The
earliest of the more advanced
schools for women, Troy Fe
male Seminary, was opened in
Troy, New York, in 1821, by
Emma Williard. Later the name
was changed to The Emma Wil
lard School and it is still operat
ed under that name. The best
schools in the early days were
private and many of them more
or less under Church control.
Oberlin College, founded in
1883, has the distinction of be
ing the first institution of full
\ collegiate rank to admit women
as candidates for degrees.
However, the course offered
them was much abridged and
limited. Vassar College, char
tered in 1861, and opened in
1865, at the close of the Civil
War, was a pioneer in the col
legiate education of women. She
has from the very first main
tained a high standard of schol
arship in faculty and students
and has been well equipped and
endowed.
The State Universities of
Utah and Idaho were the first
to open their doors to women.
Now, every State University,
with’ the possible exception of
Virginia, admits them to all the
privileges accorded men.
A report of the Commissioner
of . Education for 1918 shows
that 46 per cent of all those re
ceiving first and graduate de
grees were women. The in
crease in women students in
their own colleges in a twenty
year period (1890 to 1910) was
384.4 per cent while in co-edu
cational institutions it was 488
per cent. The increase in male
students during the same pe
riod was 214.2 per cent. How
has all this come about? How
account for the changed attitude
toward the education of women ?
In the earlier years of our re
public, industries centered whol
ly in the home. From the home
grown wool and flax, carded,
spun and woven in the home,
clothing was provided for the
family and the home was large
ly self-sufficient.
With the substitution of ma
chinery and factory system for
hand work the home gradually
ceased to be a work shop and
women were released for work
in other fields outside the home,
and today we find more than
8,000,000 women engaged in
the gainful occupations. A re
cent periodical spoke of 567 oc
cupations and women engaged
in all but 35 of them. These
range from domestic service and
manufacturing to clerical work
and professional^sgr.viftgr*
. PuriF.g'tiie'World War WP;
en were necessarily called upon
to fill positions and to do work
which they had never done be
fore. Since then the number in
gainful occupations, both skilled
and unskilled, has steadily in
creased. -
The latest statistics I have
seen estimate that 41.1 per cent
of all those engaged in profes
sional service are women. This,
of course, includes more than
one half million women engaged
in teaching, a profession in
which they largely predom
ihate and which for many years
was the only one entered by
them. Some one has spoken of
them as an “army of women sur
rounded by men.”
College women are proving
their worth not only as teach
ers, secretaries, librarians and
social workers, but also as de
signers, draftsmen, chemists,
assayers and as skilled biologists
in government laboratories.
Women have not often entered
the realm of science but you are
perhaps familiar with the
achievements of Eleanor Olm
stead in entomology and of Mme.
Curie in physics and chemistry.
There has been no general move
ment of women toward the so
called higher professions of law,
medicine and theology, yet they
have the much coveted privilege
of pleading before the Supreme
Court of the United States. Wo
men physicians practice in near
ly all large cities and have been
successful in the conduct of
hospitals and even medical
schools and on mission fields.
A young college woman hold
ing an important post in Paris
during the World War when
asked what her message to her
American sisters would be, if
she could send them but one,
promptly replied, Tell them
there is no limit to what they
can do, but they must be ready
when the time comes.”
Some one has said we are
nearing the millenium for wo
manhood. Whether that be true
or ever comes depends on woman
herself. Schools are recognizing
the to?nd in this direction and
are Raping their courses to
meet it. Perhaps the lines were
never more closely drawn than
today between those who are the
advocates of the liberal arts as
given in the colleges and those
who would combine some kind
of vocational and professional
training with the mental culture
in the four years’ course. The
former is certainly valuable be
cause of its intellectual disci
pline, the power to reason and 1
think which is developed, thus i
laying a good, broad, deep foun- •
dation on which to build the su
perstructure of later profession
al work. >
The general policy of the lat- '
ter is more favorable to the the- :
ory that general culture may ;
be attained through vocational ■
training combined with culture !
and offers a number of different
courses organized on a four
year undergraduate basis and
leading to the bachelor’s degree
in science and art.
The four year domestic sci
ence course as given in the best
schools is an example of the
latter. It not only familiarizes
the student with every phase
of culinary science and art but
is a general college course in so
far as mathematics, history, lit
erature and the sciences are
concerned and also includes
some cultural subjects.
The same is true regarding
courses in economics, sociology,
education and many others.
Wellesley and Smith each offer
twenty post-graduate courses in
economics and sociology. The
University of Minnesota offers
twenty-eight; that of Michigan
in these subjects also forty
courses, any one of which may
be compassed in the four year
period.
The older, more conservative
colleges of the East still hold
to the former, while the West
ern colleges for women and
practically all the State Univer
sities pursue a policy which is
more favorable to the latter. If
a young woman has a taste or
jj^jiination, or shows an aptitude
for line of endeavor> she
should haVe^aching training
which will develop;1’ - «
may elect the broade?r . ,
course, while others, tnrci5„,
forfcd'bf cfrcuMsfancesT wIH~T)e
compelled to choose the latter.
The value of higher education
and thorough training is no
longer questioned from a com
mercial standpoint and certain
ly it cannot be from that of in
creased ability to serve our fel
lowmen.
So much for the history of
the subject and some of the the
ories concerning it. The growing
demand and the opportunity for
women’s work in many differ
ent occupations and professions
is unquestioned. Is there any
reason why she should not em
brace the opportunity or re
spond to the demand?
The criticism has been made
that higher education for wo
men unfits them for home mak
ing but the criticism does not
seem to be well founded. Sure
ly we would not advocate such
an education for any young
woman as would cause her to be
less interested in the building
of a home should the opportu
nity come to her.
Not every woman, however,
finds the ideal mate and we
must not forget that in this
matter custom decrees that wo
man must play a passive and
sometimes a waiting role. Some
of the finest characters I have
known have been women who
would have graced any home,
but, not having one, were giv
ing themselves unstintedly to
the service of others and were
an inspiration to many with
whom they came in contact.
In the future, as in the past,
doubtless more women will en
ter the teaching profession
than any other and there is none
which opens wider opportuni
ties for molding the men and
women of tomorrow and pre
paring them for their life
worn.
Dr. Henry Van Dyke, who
has been himself a teacher,
speaks of teaching as “The
worst paid and best rewarded
of all professions,” and chal
lenges no one to enter it unless
he loves it. “The reward comes,”
he says, “in the many candles
which the teacher lights and
which in th*e later years will
shine back to cheer him.”
“Knowledge,” he further says,
“may be gained from books, but
the lovi 4»f knowledge is trans
mitted bnly by personal con
tact.” rhe field is a broad one,
ranging from that of a kinder
garten to that of the teacher
and highly special
In the State of
the standard of
n for teachers is be
year by year. The
of high schools is in
"rapidly and this cre
for more college
teachers. Here, too,
perhaps 90 per . cent of all the
girls re *iving a higher train
ing el< ct teaching as their
work.
In ^manufacturing centers
and larger cities there is more
opportunity for work along soci
ological alines and many young
women jare responding. Some
times young women of means
enter this work solely for the
good thejr may do. No matter
what field any one may enter
the financial should not be the
only or cjlief consideration. The
real reward lies in the idealism,
the joy, jthe strength of the
work donfe, and in a mind and
heart conscious of having done
their bc&t. She who enters a
calling merely to make a place
for herself with no thought of
those about her lives a narrow
life and misses much which can
be gained only by association
with others in work for the
common; good.
I would not be true to my
convictions nor to the traditions
of the School I represent if I
did not advocate a full, well
rounded leducation,- not only of
the heJSpii hand, but of the
‘'nea* I vtn*snnuig’ iraoiia
of truthfulness and honesty, the
doing of right because it is right
and conforms to the will of God,
the formation of a Christian
character above reproach in
every way is fundamental in any
scheme of education in the true
sense.
So many writers on this sub
ject overlook entirely the moral
and religious training of the girl
and comparatively few schools
exalt the Bible or give the Bible
the place in the curriculum it
once held. These writers, when
they do speak of the moral and
religious values, fail to tell us
on what these are based. The
ignorance concerning the Bible
shown by young men and wo
men is pitiful, to say the least,
and it is not creditable to the
training in the home or Sunday
school.
In a test given to the pupils
of 200 high schools in a certain
State only 9 per cent could name
the Old Testament prophets; 31
per cent gave the number of
books that make up the Bible,
and 33 per cent named the four
Gospels.
No education is complete tnat
does not develop a personality
wider of vision, larger in grasp,
fuller of resource, and at the
same time inspire a determina
tion to give all one can in ser
vice to the world. Neither is
there any worthy vocation a
woman may enter in which she
may not in one way or another
serve her generation. The re
ward will come in the joy and
satisfaction of having done one’s
best. May I quote at the end
as at the beginning another say
ing of Lincoln: “As I have gone
through life I have plucked a
thorn wherever I could and
planted a rose wherever I
thought a rose would grow.” If
young women will do this they
will make their education in the
words of another:
“A door
By which we reach new fields
Of service for our God and fel
lowmen,
A door by which we can
Explore
Wide spheres of usefulness
Our world to bless,
And reap the sheaves God’s
word of witness yields.”
THE CHURCH AND TEMPER
ANCE
By Rev. J. Barton Harper
Temperance, as it makes its
way through the world, must !
ever be fostered, maintained and i
exalted by the Christian Church. ;
It is, therefore, one of the great ]
texts in the Church’s preaching
program. Men here and there 1
have not to any large degree to
tally abstained from alcoholic ,
drugs and narcotic evils. Eveity j
year these forces wreak their
vengeance on the physical and
spiritual constitution of the hu
man family. So deep seated are
these evil tendencies, the unborn
child hereditarily is affected
and more or less becomes an es
cutheon on society. Thousands
of men and women die every
year both directly and indirect
ly ; and too often even in
nocent persons are made vic
tims under the appalling mael
strom of this terrible agency of
hell.
It is conceded and well seen,
however, that men can and will
only be made temperate and or
derly through the policy and or
der found in Jesus Christ. It
is difficult to force and compel
man, made in the image of God,
with set moral basis to do any
thing, let it be good or evil, that
he wishes. When compulsion is
brought about there is an op
posing attitude and aptitude set
up in the executive recesses of
the human mind which invaria
bly bring on greater consequen
ces. It is this phase that is as
tounding the Church today in
the more or less increased in
temperance that is seen openly
in the world; and too often se
cluded in the higher places of
r.eetitude and decency. But the
Church must overcome and de
stroy these ioiw-,.. <>_..._■■ z.
do it with mild, sane and yet
strong means.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
must be applied to the individ
ual, not to his head, but to his
heart, that intemperance and all
of the deadly forces of sin may
be so eradicated that they can
not give trouble. The home
must be presided over by a sane
and Christian husband who will
teach his wife to love and honor
him as a husband that the chil
dren may of a certainty get the
proper Christian forces to ever
keep their lives free and safe
from the dangers of vice and
sin.
We feel, therefore, that the
Church must properly inform
the people of the evils of intem
perance as to the results both
to body and spirit and the
great blessings of temperance
in all things, making it forceful
that total abstinence from alco
holics and narcotics will amply
reward him who so directs and
governs himself. The Church
must leave the individual to his
own mind and its powers, not
forcing or driving, but as God
instructed Adai^ in the Garden
of Eden. Man is a free, moral
agent and this one great fact
must not be forgotten for fear
that worse results may follow
from compulsory means.
Preachers must save the
world through the preaching of
the Gospel of Christ. Law and
legislation will not save, but
God’s grace through Christ. Men
can be persuaded to not sin, but
cannot be made or forced to not
violate law and decency.
Preachers will have to let the
world know that they them
selves believe and are a part of
their preaching. They must
live the gospel and when up tell
ing the gospel they must put
force, energy, well, even fire be
hind the message, capturing first
the father and mother and hold
ing them fast forever after tak
ing hold of them. These forces
alone will save lives, and our
government millions of money,
and time and worry.
Some people can make us pos
itiely happy if they will leave
us alone and keep out of our
sight.
BLANDONIA CHURCH
NOTES, SANFORD.
. By Mrs. N. L. Crumpton
The Communion of the Lead’s
Supper was celebrated - in Btan
donia church, Sunday, March
20, 1927. Rev. McMillan
brought to us a very beautiful
and touching sermon taken
from Hebrews 11:27. His sub
ject was, “Seeing the Invisi
ble.” /;
With great spiritual eloquence
he exhorted us to look with an
eye of faith beyond the perish
ing things of this world and be
hold the matchless Lamb of
God who died that sinful man
might live. Our hearts, as it
were, were prepared for the re
ception of the Holy Communion
by his burning message. There
was great rejoicing as the pres
ence of the Holy Spirit was felt,
by all. /
The Sunday school was up to
its usual high standard and
both the attendance and offer
ing were unusually good. Ce
phas Bible class, taught by Dr.
C. N. McMillan, was in the lead
with an offering of $10.25, and
so retained the banner for its1
fifth consecutive Sunday. The
total offering in Sunday schoo]
was $29.78. The total collection
for the entire day was $68.50.
The annual reception for the
choir was held on Thursday
night, March 10, in the home of
Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Alston. A—.,
splendid program was present
ed consisting of papers, talks,
duets, and both instrumental
and vocal solos. We were very /
glad to have our pastor’s wife,, /
Mrs. S. J. McMillan, with us on
lierselT as being veiy gBw to be
present and gave very encourag
ing remarks. The program was
in charge of Dr. C. N. McMil
lan. At its conclusion, Mes
dames N. Crumpton and Lecy
Mclver served delicious refresh
ments consisting of pineapple
ice cream and cake, followed by
hot chocolate, topped with
marshmallows. This reception
has been made an annual affair
and is looked forward to with
pleasure by the members of the
choir.
The Woman’s Missionary So
ciety was very cordially enter
tained in the home of Mrs. Al
ice Richardson on Thursday,
March 17. This was a very in
teresting meeting and much bus
iness was transacted. The fol
lowing officers were re-elected
fpr the ensuing year: Mrs. N.
Crumpton, President; Mrs.
Electa Cox, Vice-President;
Mrs. B. G. McMillan, Secretary;
Mrs. Lecy Mclver, Assistant
Secretary; Mrs. Alice Richard
son, Secretary of Religious Edu
cation, and Mrs. J. E. McMillan,
Mrs. W. P. Roberts and Mrs.
Katherine Gilmore were elected
as leaders for the Beginners,
Primary and Junior Light Bear
ers respectively.
All of our benevolence quota
has been paid and we are expect
ing to go to the Presbyterial
with a round report. N. L.
Crumpton is the delegate.
After the business was fin
ished the hostees, assisted by
her little dauhter, Fannie,
served two courses of lovely re
freshments consisting of hot
tea or coffee and pimento sand
wiches and jello with whipped
cream and cake..
Sanford was given a rare
treat indeed on Monday night,
March 21st, when the Men’s
Club of Blandonia church pre
sented Prof. Richard B. Harri
son in recital, assisted by Mrs.
B. G. McMillan as special solo
ist. The program Was especially
good throughout and' was en
joyed by a large and apprecia
tive audience.
The Men’s club is to be com
mended for bringing such tal
ent to the city and for the great
work they are doing for the
church and community at large.