Page:Women of distinction.djvu/206

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
152
WOMEN OF DISTINCTION.

church privileges made the work more precious and secured to them greater hopes for future success. In raising funds with which to build churches no difficulties deterred them from their efforts and no dangers affrighted them from their purpose. Through heat and cold and storms and fatigue and hardships they gathered a little here and there, while the}' made what they could with their own hands, which many times was only the widow's mite; but when these small sums were put together they were sufficient to raise a monument in the name of God to dedicate to His worship. Like Lydia of old they had long prayed for the time to come when they would be thought worthy to take an active part in the Master's cause; this was God's opportunity and well did they serve it. It is a significant fact that whenever there is especial work to do in any good cause God raises up and endows persons with peculiar abilities adapted especially for each department. Thus it was with Methodism; her notable women were not only filled with the Holy Ghost, but were possessed with the energy and zeal of the Apostolic ages, and their love for God and His cause made them as strong as giants. There were honorable women, not a few, who deserve to be remembered by the Church; they are dead, but their works yet speak. There were Mrs. Barret, of Columbus, Ohio; Mrs. Reyno; Mrs. Woodson, of Chillicothe; Mrs. Leach, of Jackson, and Mrs. Broady, of Cincinnati; also Mrs. Baltimore, of Missouri; Mrs. Elsworth, of Illinois, and many others who helped to build up the strongholds of African Methodism, whose names are recorded on high,