FROM 1797 until 1849, a period of fifty-two years, Mary Lyon lived upon
this earth. Some lives seem too short. To us they appear to be broken
off at the wrong place--in the midst of earnest successful work--and we
wonder how the world can get along without them. And so I suppose it
must have seemed to those interested in the grand work of education in
which Mary Lyon was engaged when she at the command of the Master laid
down the burden and slept the last sleep. For thirty-five years she
had been using her talents and her energies in training up young girls
for noble womanhood. Like others in our list of Remarkable Women, her
early home was among the New England hills. As another has expressed
it, "On the little mountain farm the child saw the flax grow to make
her single summer dress, and herself petted and fed the lambs and sheep
which gave the wool to keep her warm in winter. The fairy flax flowers,
blue as heaven, delighted her eyes." And we may believe that later she
watched the process of preparing the flax for the wheel and loom, and
we are told that the little girl in her homespun dress which made her
no oddity in the old-time country school, was earnest and diligent in
her studies, standing at the head of her classes and steadily advancing
in scholarship. Mary Lyon early realized that life was not meant for a
play-day, and when at the age of seventeen she became a teacher, she
took with her into the schoolroom a strong faith and earnest endeavor
for the highest development of her pupils. She sought more than mental
progress--even moral and spiritual growth. Though she taught, leaving
her impress for good in other places, Mt. Holyoke Seminary, at South
Hadley, stands as her monument. The founding of this school was her
great work, and in thousands of homes her influence is still felt.
Many of our mothers and grandmothers are living lives of usefulness,
the inspiration of which was drawn from lessons learned of this most
remarkable of teachers. Mary Lyon was one of the great teachers of
this world. If there should be among the girls who read this article
those who expect to become teachers, let me urge you to study the life
of Mary Lyon. See if you can find out the secret of her success; go
over the record of her struggle with the difficulties encountered in
those days when Mt. Holyoke Seminary was getting a foothold. One has
said that "the story of Mary Lyon and her work should be read by every
young girl who desires to know the meaning of a noble and consecrated
life." I think you will find the secret of her successful life lies in
the fact of its being a consecrated life; consecrated to the high and
noble purpose for which she labored. Believing "that Christian women
inspired with Christian zeal would be powerful promoters of the kingdom
of Christ in this world," she sought to perfect a plan whereby young
girls might be brought under the influences which would tend to inspire
their hearts, awaken their powers, and prepare them for the positions
of influence which they might be called to occupy. With a sublime faith
in the leadership of Christ, a belief that she was called to do this
thing, she fought out the battle, accomplished her mission and left
behind her in many hearts a spirit akin to her own. Out from the sweet,
sacred influences of this first collegiate school for girls established
in this country, have gone thousands of noble women. Some have gone
to carry the word of life into the dark places of earth, showing the
beauty of a Christian home as contrasted with the heathen homes; some
have gone out to establish other schools of like character; and on
mission fields, in homes everywhere and in schools and in society, the
spirit which so long ago found expression in that consecrated life is
still influencing the world for good.