VII
A UNIQUE COMMITTEE
“These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”—Luke 11:42.
A happy world in quiet action lay. Its humble tasks, its homely joys, filled each succeeding day. Sunrise and sunset, the morning lark, the evening thrush marked time, while men and women ceased their plowing for the planting, the weeding for the reaping. The hidden root, the plant, the vine and every fruit-filled tree was yielding up its increase, and strains of gratitude borne on the August breezes, hinted the oncoming harvest. So lay the world in active peace, when a flash, a peal, a thunderous roll announced the foe. Hell's stores were opened, and an anguished world convulsed.
The first faint, piteous moan touched the pitying heart, and help went out to relieve it; but the moan gave way to one great human, globe-encircling cry, and, Deo gratias, a world of love went out to meet it. Through men this quick response took arms. What could it do through women? Much. It could say to the enlisting men: “The womanhood of the world is with you; it will provide you warmth and comfort; it will bring you cheer, encouragement, and even joy.” To the widow and the fatherless it could say: “The great mother-heart of the universe embraces you; lean on it; for it will feed you, clothe you, comfort you.”
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