Women of Faith Make a Change

The Houston Morning Start reported "It is a source of much astonishment and of considerable severe complaint that while we have a theatre, a courthouse, a jail, and even a capitol in Houston,  we have not one single church"  It was difficult to keep building churches and congregations as the pioneers moved west.

According to recorded statistics, women were much more likely to be part of a church than a man.  Some records show total female congregations.  As far back as the beginning of their long journey west, women began talking about the "Disappearance of the Sabbath" as they called it.  The need to find food and water for the animals, to cover more miles, trade supplies -  women tell of "traveling on the Sabbath is not pleasant" and "I was obliged to do many things I was loathe to do on the Sabbath".

Sunday seems to be the day for men to lay on the grass and rest as women continued their work.  "There is nothing that seems like the Sabbath" laments one frontier woman on the trail.
A woman's spiritual needs were satisfied with church and church activities.  It linked their new life with the old one they left behind and supported their role as the future builders of the community and western civilization.
Next time...Church Bells Ring