ted by sin, limited by social custom, limited by false
theories, limited by bigotry and by creeds, listening to the
tramp of the weary millions as they passed on through the
centuries, patiently toiling and waiting, humbly bearing the pain
and weariness which fell to her lot.

Century after century came forth from the divine life only to
pass into the great eternity--and still she toiled and still she
waited. At last, in the mute agony of despair, she lifted her
eyes above the earth to heaven and away from the jarring strifes
which surrounded her, and that which dawned upon her gaze was so
full of wonder that her soul burst its prison-house of bondage as
she beheld the vision of true womanhood. She knew then it was not
the purpose of the Divine that she should crouch beneath the
bonds of custom and ignorance. She learned that she was created
not from the side of man, but rather by the side of man. The
world had suffered because she had not kept her
divinely-appointed place. Then she remembered the words of
prophecy, that salvation was to come to the race not through the
man, but through the descendant of the woman. Recognizing her
mission at last, she cried out: "Speak now, Lord, for thy servant
heareth thee." And the answer came: "The Lord giveth the Word,
and the women that publish the tidings are a great host."

[Illustration: THE REV. ANNA HOWARD SHAW.

Vice-President-at-Large of National-American Woman Suffrage
Association.]

To-day the vision is a reality. From every land the voice of
woman is heard proclaiming the word which is given her, and the
wondering world, which for a moment stopped its busy wheel of
life that it might smite and jeer her, has learned at last that
wherever the intuitions of the human mind are called into special
exercise, wherever the art of persuasive eloquence is demanded,
wherever heroic conduct is based upon duty rather than impulse,
wherever her efforts in opening the sacred doors for the benefit
of truth can avail--in one and all these respects woman greatly
excels man. Now the wisest and best people everywhere feel that
if woman enters upon her tasks wielding her own effective armor,
if her inspirations are pure and holy, the Spirit Omnipotent,
whose influence has held sway in all movements and ref