when it will become a reality. A political meeting of the women’s auxiliary of the government party was in session one evening. The women were discussing the merits of a monogamous marriage. The concensus of opinion was that it had tremendous advantages. A man who with oth ers was listening on the outskirts of the crowd begged permission to say a word. “ Could you not have a law made,” he said, “ allowing a man to limit himself to two wives?” The quick-witted leader of the meeting hesitated a brief moment and then replied spiritedly, “ All right, if you men want to have two wives, then we should be allowed to have two husbands.” That terminated the dis cussion. Now a girl enjoys the right to decide whom she will marry. A law has been put into effect that no girl may be married until she is 17 years of age, thus abolishing the custom of child marriage. And even then she is not to be forced to marry anyone against her will. One of the tenets of the constitution of the new government is the liberation of womanhood. The new nation desires to at tain a high standing among the nations of the world, and her leaders realize that one means of accomplishing this end is to treat their women with respect and honor that they receive in the more fully developed countries. Guinea women now have the franchise. They also have their own organization within the political party of the government. Their officers are very much in evidence at all public functions and command the respect of all— men as well as women. Their demands cannot be dis regarded nor neglected. Their auxiliary is a force to be reckoned with at all times. Their elaborate dress and dominating bearing attest the fact that they are fast attaining a position of importance in the political and social life of the country. One day at the airport, as we awaited the arrival of some African dignitaries, we stood beside the head of the women’s auxiliary of the govern ment party. She is an elderly, unlettered woman, but I was amazed to watch the courteous, deferential way in which she was greeted by many men as they passed by. Such expressions of respect were unheard of 35 years ago. Girls are being trained to be clerks and cashiers in stores, to operate the telephone exchange, to become nurses and nurses’ aides in hospitals, to run motorcycles and drive tractors. What a contrast to the former days when education for African girls was scoffed at by the men! A girl go to school? Why, she doesn’t have any sense; she doesn’t have any brains. What could she learn in school? This was the attitude of even some of Christian men, when it was proposed that the Mission open a school for girls. The sincerity of their attitude was revealed when they expressed amazement at the abilities of the first girls to finish their training at our school. They could hardly believe their eyes and ears when a woman stood before the congregation in church, read the Scripture without hesi tation and offered several comments on it before she led in prayer. Such poise! Such fluency! Why, after all, the men admitted, women are good for something else besides the drudgery of farm and kitchen chores. And so you may ask, “What of the Christian women in this new day and age?” In 1944 God laid the need of the womanhood of Guinea upon the hearts of a missionary couple who established a girls’ school at Baro, the site of the original Guinea mission station. Over the years scores of girls have come to school, ignorant, undisciplined, dis respectful, uncouth, timid or shy. Many have left the school, well-trained in the Word of God, ready to be married to pastors, Christian workers or Bible School students. Today most of them are out representing Christ among their own people.
INCARNATION AND HUMILIATION By William Ward Ayer Down From Heaven Jesus came Sharing earthly sin and shame; Down to earth from God above, Demonstrating God is love. Down From power— Adoration! Down! Rejected by His nation; Spit and scoff and mocking cry— On a Roman Cross to die! Down From life Effulgent, free— Living from Eternity; Down into the dismal gloom Of dark Death— the stenched Tomb! Down From Heaven To the race! Shepherds see that blessed Face; Angel choirs lift the strain— "Peace on Earth, good will to men!"
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APRIL, 1963
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