after such a conversation, Antoinette Brown was ordained. For four years before this time, refused a license, she had lectured and preached without Although Miss Brown, now Rev. Antoinette B. Blackwell, has not been the active pastor of a church for some time, she opened the way for other women to enter the work of the ministry as preachers and pastors.

one.

During the fifty years following this first ordination of a woman minister many other women have successfully worked in the churches as regularly installed preachers. Yet in spite of this fact, the majority of the people still seem astonished that a woman may rightfully claim the title of Reverend. Even when it is understood that a woman is a minister, intelligent people wonder as to what her duties in regard to the church may be. Sometimes they are frank enough to voice their doubts, as one eastern woman who asked me in a hesitating, subdued tone, "Do you do your own preaching in your church?" A contributor even to the Woman's Journal of Boston shows either ignorance of, or a too slight regard for, the noble service which women as ministers have rendered various churches during the past fifty yearspioneer women ministers who have labored and suffered for the cause of religion and of women.

At the time of my own ordination in September, 1901, I remember a Boston paper wrote that there were then thirty women as ministers of Unitarian churches in the United States, and I have heard, although I do not know upon how good authority the statement was made, that there were even more in the Universalist church than in the Unitarian. Nor are women ministers confined to these denominations alone. Such a list as statistics might furnish us of the number of women ministers in all sects and lands would surely disprove the assertion which Mr. Harry Thurston Peck made some time ago that women ministers were of such sporadic occurrence that it was not of any importance to the enlightened by what name they should be called, whether clergymen or clergywomen, etc.

Before entering Smith I had decided that my life work would be that of the ministry if I should prove physically able to take the courses of preparation open to women. Harvard Divinity College still closes its doors to us, though those of the Meadville Theological School are hospitably open. Having thus determined several years before to be a minister, I was surprised to find, senior year, to how many of the bright girls in college such an idea was unheard of, even absurd. I trust it is different now. They were not then as used to the idea as was one little western boy, of whom this story is told. Visiting in the east, he was taken to church one Sunday morning. When the minister stood up to begin the service the little fellow whispered to his mother in audible tones, "Mamma, what is that man doing up there?" It is a fact that there is a warmer reception extended to professional women in the west than in the east, and so we go west to work. When I began work in Perry, Iowa, there were five women ministers in the Unitarian churches of that state alone. There is still much opposition to them, especially in the more conservative churches of the east, but I firmly believe that a great deal of prejudice is due to the fact that the people are not used to the idea. Let them hear more about women ministers, understand better the work which they do, and a large part of the opposition will weaken and die away. Personally I should like to say that in spite of all that has been

written and said to the contrary, I have found the east in general, gracious and courteous to women as ministers;—not only new organizations, but the oldest and therefore supposedly most conservative one, extending voluntarily an invitation to preach in that pulpit from which a woman had never before conducted services.

I have often been asked if I would urge young women to enter the ministry. I always answer decidedly "No, I would not." Anxiously as I scan the papers and catalogues each June for the news that there are other women prepared and ready for active work in the ministry, still I would not urge them too strongly to begin the work, just because I do not believe either men or women should enter the ministry unless convinced from within, not urged from without, that it is their work. Let each one first know herself. It is a work with the spiritual and moral uplift of mankind as its aim, and no one can rightly enter upon such work unless she is drawn to it by the strength of her soul's life and longing and feels in her heart that it is her work in life. Then, too, the work in its practical aspect is not easy, and only the sure inner conviction that she is in her true place, to do her part in God's world, will help her in her work when the indifference of people seems impregnable and heart-weariness her only reward. Such moments will come to anyone, in whatever work she may be engaged. There are certain things to be done over and over; there is drudgery in every occupation when one must have a strong faith to keep the ardor and enthusiasm alive that were felt when on the heights. In such moments the young woman needs strength of will and purpose which she will not have if she enters upon her work through the persuasion of another. The need of earning a livelihood will keep many drudging in other lines of work, but no such motive has a right to be operative in the ministry. Depth and sincerity of purpose are needed.

In the ministry the monotonous routine that manifests itself in all work goes hand in hand with moments filled with highest inspiration and most sincere enthusiasm. I am perplexed why more young women are not entering the ministry. Its many-sided demands, its various departments must prove satisfactory to eager women longing for a field in which to work for the highest and best for mankind. First, through the medium of the sermon the minister may speak out to others her vision of truth, practical truth for every-day men and women. If she has a message for mankind, the pulpit gives her the needed opportunity to speak the word of God in her heart that will out. If she feels that she can help others best by personal contact, she finds her opportunity in the parish work, becoming a friend in the homes of her people. If she loves little children and knows she has a work to do with them, there is the Sunday School,-for she probably will add the duties of superintendent to those of minister, particularly if her church is in one of the smaller towns. Perhaps she has studied music and regrets the lack of time to continue,-the choir needs her every week, one evening at least, when she may drill them in the anthems and hymns for church service.

Study clubs will demand her attention, at least once a week, compelling her to keep up her reading along literary lines, while her domestic qualities will be in demand in the sewing circle. She must not be surprised if little dresses are left with her to make the buttonholes in after her reading and writing are ended for the night.

If she has any executive ability, she will need it in overseeing the financial affairs of the church and attending to its other business needs.

Nor can she afford to neglect developing her social side. In a small place the church should stand for much of the social life of its people and she must stand ready to accept any position that may be offered her, from that of toastmistress at a banquet to getting up a fair, from that of a leader of games at a children's party to that of the social caller upon their mothers.

So varied are the calls of the ministry upon her that a woman must feel that here she can stretch out and breathe and grow in every direction. There is no reason for becoming narrow and dwarfed in any way; in fact, there is the greatest necessity for tremendous exertion in trying to be broad enough, to be well rounded and developed enough to answer all demands.

The depths of the human heart are searched in times of sorrow and of joy, and no one will say that a woman minister is out of place when sympathy is needed in the home where death comes; nor can any one feel more deeply the responsibility of the words of the marriage service than she does when binding together the lives of a man and woman, who come to her for the authority of the state and the blessing of their religious home, their church, upon the new life they are about to begin together.

REV. ELIZABETH PADGHAM '98.

All alumnæ visiting the college are requested to register in a book kept for that purpose in the Registrar's Office. The list of visitors since the last issue is as follows:

In accordance with a vote of the trustees of the college at their last meeting, a new plan is to be adopted for the assignment of rooms in the college houses to the alumnæ at commencement time. Hereafter the assignment of places will be made through the registrar, and as follows: Rooms will be assigned to the alumnæ who apply to the registrar before June 1, in the order of their seniority, precedence being given to classes holding reunions. Rooms will be assigned to those applying after June 1, in the order of their application.

The annual luncheon of the Chicago Branch of the Association of Smith Alumnæ was held this year at the Hull House Coffee House, November 28. It was a great pleasure to have Miss Jordan there, bringing greetings from our Alma Mater. Addresses were made by Miss Jordan, and Miss Jane Addams of Hull House.

Contributions to this department are desired by the last of the month, in order to appear in the next month's issue, and should be sent to Josephine Sanderson, Hubbard House.

'81. Miss Laura Gill, the Dean of Barnard College, duly elected general secretary of the A. C. A.. was the guest of honor of the Washington Branch of the A. C. A. at a tea recently given at the home of Mrs. Hill, Smith '80.

82. Elizabeth McClellan has opened a studio at 33 State Street, Northampton, and is ready to take all orders for photographs. She has been appointed senior photographer.

'91. Ellen Burns Sherman has just brought out a volume of essays entitled, "Why Love Grows Cold”, published by Wessels Company.

Cornelia R. Trowbridge, after a year spent in travel and study in Europe, has returned to be Assistant Principal in Detroit Seminary, Detroit, Michigan.

92. Mary Nixon is in Florence, Italy, where she is associated with two friends in an interesting school for American girls.

'94 and '01. Gertrude and Marjory Gane, after a year of travel on the Continent, have now started on a journey embracing India, China, the Philippines and Japan, expecting to reach home in another year.

'94. Una McMahon is still in Rome, Italy.

'97. Edith Breckenridge has returned to her former home in Toledo, Ohio, after two years spent in New York and California. Her address is 1845 Collingwood Street.

Alice P. Goodwin is practicing nursing.

Grace Whiting was married, December 2, to Mr. David Mitchell of Pittsburg.

'98. Maud Breckinridge is spending the winter in New York City. Her address is 139 West 69th Street.

Florence M. Reed has announced her engagement to Mr. Albert Newell Cryon of New York.

'99. Edith H. Hall is studying at the American School in Athens, where she holds the Agnes Hoppin Memorial fellowship.

Ruth Phelps will spend the winter in Paris.

Nettie M. Ripley arrived in Pasadena, California, November 1.

Emily Irish Stanton was married November 12, to Mr. Oliver Sheppard Picher.

Elizabeth Warner is taking a course in domestic science at Simmons College, Boston.

Deborah Allen Wiggin was married February 11, to Mr. Frank Wentworth Plummer, M. D., of Malden, Massachusetts.

'00. Ora Mabelle Lewis is studying medicine at Cornell University Medical College. Her address for the year is Sage Cottage, Ithaca, New York. Jaffray Smith's new address is 3 West 92d Street, New York City.

'01. Nina Almirall has published a book, "The Master Feeling", Richard G. Badger (The Gorham Press), Boston.

Ethel Comstock is studying nursing at the City Hospital, Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania.

Daisy Day is teaching in the Misses Metcalf's School, Tarrytown, New York.

Agnes Patton has announced her engagement to Mr. Schuyler Colfax Woodhull of the New Jersey Bar.

Ona L. Winants has announced her engagement to Mr. William Patterson Borland of Kansas City, Missouri. The wedding will probably take place in the spring.

'02. Edith Claflin is teaching Greek, German and science in the Attleboro High School. Her address for the winter is 144 Pleasant Street, Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Deborah Van Noorden expects to spend the winter at Jersey Farm,
Thomasville, Georgia.

Martha Warner Riggs was married November 24, to Mr. Arthur D.
Truax.

Helen Walbridge sailed for Naples in November.

'03. Caroline Bean is working at the Art Institute of St. Louis. She will also devote herself this winter to literary work with her father. During the summer she expects to go abroad again with William Chase. Annie Ellis is spending the winter at home.

Marjorie Gray's new address is The Montrose, 1648 Massachusetts Avenue,
Cambridge. She is taking painting and singing lessons.

Alice Haskins has been appointed a scientific aid in the Laboratory of
Plant Pathology, Washington, D. C.

Ella Kaiser's address for the winter is Los Animas, Colorado.

Madeline Newell is at home this winter.

ex-'03. Natalie Holden has announced her engagement to Mr. Joseph Lovejoy of Boston.