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"A Pilgrim-maid: the self-told tale of Frances E. Townsley."
She was one of the first women ordained as a Baptist Pastor, in 1885 in Fairfield, Nebraska. Her autobiography is available for free online.
https://archive.org/stream/pilgrimmaidselft00town/pilgrimmaidselft00town
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![I'm flipping through "A Pilgrim-maid: the self-told tale of Frances E. Townsley."She was one of the first women ordained as a Baptist Pastor, in 1885 in Fairfield, Nebraska. Her autobiography is available for free online. https://archive.org/stream/pilgrimmaidselft00town/pilgrimmaidselft00town[1/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfZE5MXMAAW-UL.png "I'm flipping through \"A Pilgrim-maid: the self-told tale of Frances E. Townsley.\"She was one of the first women ordained as a Baptist Pastor, in 1885 in Fairfield, Nebraska. Her autobiography is available for free online. https://archive.org/stream/pilgrimmaidselft00town/pilgrimmaidselft00town[1/15]")
"A Pilgrim-maid: the self-told tale of Frances E. Townsley."
She was one of the first women ordained as a Baptist Pastor, in 1885 in Fairfield, Nebraska. Her autobiography is available for free online.
https://archive.org/stream/pilgrimmaidselft00town/pilgrimmaidselft00town
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Her mother, a widow, took in tenants in her childhood Massachusetts home to make ends meet. Among the many coming-and-going temporary tenants was Sojourner Truth, who impressed Frances.
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![Her mother, a widow, took in tenants in her childhood Massachusetts home to make ends meet. Among the many coming-and-going temporary tenants was Sojourner Truth, who impressed Frances.[2/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfZLMxWgAEULjf.jpg "Her mother, a widow, took in tenants in her childhood Massachusetts home to make ends meet. Among the many coming-and-going temporary tenants was Sojourner Truth, who impressed Frances.[2/15]")
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After her conversion, Frances attended the Wheaton College. Wheaton unlike many universities at the time, admitted women.
She studies languages, Bible, & even writes an early history of the college which she calls a "feebler college copy of Oberlin," at one point.
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![After her conversion, Frances attended the Wheaton College. Wheaton unlike many universities at the time, admitted women. She studies languages, Bible, & even writes an early history of the college which she calls a "feebler college copy of Oberlin," at one point. [3/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfaEXZXAAAYqDw.png "After her conversion, Frances attended the Wheaton College. Wheaton unlike many universities at the time, admitted women. She studies languages, Bible, & even writes an early history of the college which she calls a \"feebler college copy of Oberlin,\" at one point. [3/15]")
She studies languages, Bible, & even writes an early history of the college which she calls a "feebler college copy of Oberlin," at one point.
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Also, she makes a song about logic and sings it in a quartet. Because their textbook was awful.
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![Also, she makes a song about logic and sings it in a quartet. Because their textbook was awful.[4/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfaYQtWgAA9iDI.png "Also, she makes a song about logic and sings it in a quartet. Because their textbook was awful.[4/15]")
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Financial matters, & her mother's sudden death, cause her later to become a teacher to earn income.
One day, a woman, Nell, visited her at school. She said,
"Dear, I am convinced that you are to preach the everlasting gospel of our precious Lord!"
This surprised Townsley.
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![Financial matters, & her mother's sudden death, cause her later to become a teacher to earn income.One day, a woman, Nell, visited her at school. She said,"Dear, I am convinced that you are to preach the everlasting gospel of our precious Lord!"This surprised Townsley.[5/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfbRBcXUAIko0T.png "Financial matters, & her mother's sudden death, cause her later to become a teacher to earn income.One day, a woman, Nell, visited her at school. She said,\"Dear, I am convinced that you are to preach the everlasting gospel of our precious Lord!\"This surprised Townsley.[5/15]")
One day, a woman, Nell, visited her at school. She said,
"Dear, I am convinced that you are to preach the everlasting gospel of our precious Lord!"
This surprised Townsley.
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You're a devout Episcopalian, how could you say that! She objects. But the woman was steadfast. And Townsley gets to work on her first sermon. This began a long preaching and evangelistic career. Later, Townsley would go to preach at Fairfield Baptist Church in Nebraska.
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![You're a devout Episcopalian, how could you say that! She objects. But the woman was steadfast. And Townsley gets to work on her first sermon. This began a long preaching and evangelistic career. Later, Townsley would go to preach at Fairfield Baptist Church in Nebraska. [6/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfbZsoXIAEXjYh.jpg "You're a devout Episcopalian, how could you say that! She objects. But the woman was steadfast. And Townsley gets to work on her first sermon. This began a long preaching and evangelistic career. Later, Townsley would go to preach at Fairfield Baptist Church in Nebraska. [6/15]")
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She preached weekly. But Townsley was a stickler for church order, and refused to preside over communion, as she was un-ordained. Church members, tired of seeking out other celebrants, ask her to be ordained.
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![She preached weekly. But Townsley was a stickler for church order, and refused to preside over communion, as she was un-ordained. Church members, tired of seeking out other celebrants, ask her to be ordained.[7/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Etfbx_RXAAEay1E.jpg "She preached weekly. But Townsley was a stickler for church order, and refused to preside over communion, as she was un-ordained. Church members, tired of seeking out other celebrants, ask her to be ordained.[7/15]")
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After initially resisting, she was ordained after examination from ministers at 14(!) area Baptist Churches over a protracted three hour meeting. This caused a stir. What were these frontier people DOING!? But she fulfilled every requirement— and then some. (3 screenshots)
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![After initially resisting, she was ordained after examination from ministers at 14(!) area Baptist Churches over a protracted three hour meeting. This caused a stir. What were these frontier people DOING!? But she fulfilled every requirement— and then some. (3 screenshots)[8/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfcLqRXMAA1GUu.png "After initially resisting, she was ordained after examination from ministers at 14(!) area Baptist Churches over a protracted three hour meeting. This caused a stir. What were these frontier people DOING!? But she fulfilled every requirement— and then some. (3 screenshots)[8/15]")
![After initially resisting, she was ordained after examination from ministers at 14(!) area Baptist Churches over a protracted three hour meeting. This caused a stir. What were these frontier people DOING!? But she fulfilled every requirement— and then some. (3 screenshots)[8/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfcRVqXYA0eof9.jpg "After initially resisting, she was ordained after examination from ministers at 14(!) area Baptist Churches over a protracted three hour meeting. This caused a stir. What were these frontier people DOING!? But she fulfilled every requirement— and then some. (3 screenshots)[8/15]")
![After initially resisting, she was ordained after examination from ministers at 14(!) area Baptist Churches over a protracted three hour meeting. This caused a stir. What were these frontier people DOING!? But she fulfilled every requirement— and then some. (3 screenshots)[8/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfclqZWgAQTGf9.jpg "After initially resisting, she was ordained after examination from ministers at 14(!) area Baptist Churches over a protracted three hour meeting. This caused a stir. What were these frontier people DOING!? But she fulfilled every requirement— and then some. (3 screenshots)[8/15]")
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Townsley was also a leader in the temperance movement. Sometimes I think we are prone to forget how tied together women's rights, abolition, and other causes were in this area of reform. And WOW could she be a moral crusader! In one chapter she describes the following:
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![Townsley was also a leader in the temperance movement. Sometimes I think we are prone to forget how tied together women's rights, abolition, and other causes were in this area of reform. And WOW could she be a moral crusader! In one chapter she describes the following:[9/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfcsBHWQAESBtp.png "Townsley was also a leader in the temperance movement. Sometimes I think we are prone to forget how tied together women's rights, abolition, and other causes were in this area of reform. And WOW could she be a moral crusader! In one chapter she describes the following:[9/15]")
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There is a new resident who is suspected of violating the local prohibition town laws of Fairfield. Townsley is personally is responsible for sending a husband who thought he could get around the prohibition laws to jail.
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![There is a new resident who is suspected of violating the local prohibition town laws of Fairfield. Townsley is personally is responsible for sending a husband who thought he could get around the prohibition laws to jail.[10/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Etfc0fXXEAI-KI6.png "There is a new resident who is suspected of violating the local prohibition town laws of Fairfield. Townsley is personally is responsible for sending a husband who thought he could get around the prohibition laws to jail.[10/15]")
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She also threatens a corner store owner who is selling tobacco to underage children with jail time. She then invites him to her Sunday evening preaching and prayer service.
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![She also threatens a corner store owner who is selling tobacco to underage children with jail time. She then invites him to her Sunday evening preaching and prayer service.[11/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfdIh8XEAME-JD.png "She also threatens a corner store owner who is selling tobacco to underage children with jail time. She then invites him to her Sunday evening preaching and prayer service.[11/15]")
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She also organized a campaign when a store owner had an advertisement in his store featuring a nude woman. In 1 day, the day 9 women individually go into the store, claim to be ready to buy something, look at the wall with the advertisement, & leave without buying.
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![She also organized a campaign when a store owner had an advertisement in his store featuring a nude woman. In 1 day, the day 9 women individually go into the store, claim to be ready to buy something, look at the wall with the advertisement, & leave without buying. [11/15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfdO2ZXEAYjG6-.png "She also organized a campaign when a store owner had an advertisement in his store featuring a nude woman. In 1 day, the day 9 women individually go into the store, claim to be ready to buy something, look at the wall with the advertisement, & leave without buying. [11/15]")
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By the end of the day, the store owner has brought his wife to the store, asking what is wrong in distress. His wife makes him take down the nude ad. This was published in 1908, and Townsley is optimistic about the force of the Prohibition and moral Reform movements.
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Her story includes suffering. The grief of her mother's sudden death. A man who fought so hard for her affections, & whom she initially rejected, leaving her days before the wedding -unseen for decades- because of some undisclosed lie he was told, and believed, about her.
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Her love of Christ and her enduring picture of love as steadfast faithfulness comes through, hard-won lessons.
"Much of error & folly & sin could be save us all, did we learn the difference between Passion & Love. Passion cries, & howls, & demands Love, not defined. Love
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![Her love of Christ and her enduring picture of love as steadfast faithfulness comes through, hard-won lessons."Much of error & folly & sin could be save us all, did we learn the difference between Passion & Love. Passion cries, & howls, & demands Love, not defined. Love[14/ 15]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtfezDpWgAQg6bA.png "Her love of Christ and her enduring picture of love as steadfast faithfulness comes through, hard-won lessons.\"Much of error & folly & sin could be save us all, did we learn the difference between Passion & Love. Passion cries, & howls, & demands Love, not defined. Love[14/ 15]")
"Much of error & folly & sin could be save us all, did we learn the difference between Passion & Love. Passion cries, & howls, & demands Love, not defined. Love
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...which science cannot analyze, or any encyclopedia classify, love is based on the holiest of friendship. It does not fade away when the hair of the loved one is grey, when the beauty of the once fair face is married by wrinkles,& lines suggestive of toil, trial & crosses."
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