DORCAS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3825, 23 October 1936, Page 5

DORCAS

“SHE LIVED FOR OTHERS.” Joppa, the modern Jaffa, has had a wonderful history; but it was a humble woman named Dorcas who made it for ever memorable. Her neighbours, speaking in the common Aramaic language, called her Tabitha, with the accent on the first syllable, and the name means ‘gazelle’; but its Greek form, Dorcas, is in general use, and is the distinctive title of the well known church societies which devote themselves to making garments for the poor. From Joppa in ancient times ships carried wheat, oil, balm and Oriental wares, and brought back cloth and various metals, but occasionally they carried Hebrew slaves and outlaws. It was the first and only harbour of the Jews. The Syrians retook it, and when the Jews were again in possession Pompey decreed it should be free. Changes came, and Joppa was violently Jewish in the Maccabean degree. It was while this spirit animated the city that Peter came down from Jerusalem to Joppa, and on one of the housetops, which no doubt overlooked the harbour, saw his vision of things clean and unclean. In the narrow lanes he would see foreign sailors and foreign wares, and would become perplexed about the Jewish laws relating to food. Long before Peter's day Jonah had gone down to Joppa to “flee from the presence of the Lord," by taking ship to the west instead of finding his way eastward to Ninevah, where he was bidden to

go. The sequel to his flight is naw the subject of foolish jokes by people not intelligent enough to inquire as to its spiritual significance. A much more ancient story is that it was near Joppa that Andromeda, the Abyssinian princess, was chained to a rock and left to the mercy of a sea monster. Perseus rescued her, and won her as his bride. In crusading times Joppa was taken and retaken by Christian and Moslem. Napoleon stormed it and massacred his prisoners, and in 1832 it was restored to the Turks by British help. It has been strikingly changed since the Great War, and in 1892 a railway was opened to Jerusalem, about 35 miles distant. In this historic city lived Dorcas, but whether maid or widow the record does not reveal. We are not explicitly told she was rich, but tlie number of poor people she had helped suggests that she had some means She was rich in good deeds, and it would appear that she was one of those pious women who give time and labour to supplying the needs of others. Whatever place recreation or sport held in those distant days, one would conclude that she had not become the equivalent of a golf or bridge fiend. Had she been a sport maniac of the modern type the Apostle Peter would never have thought of raising her from the dead. The eight or nine women singled out for special distinction in the New Testament were distinguished for their service to others. Dorcas was a Jewess, and her race in every page of history has honourable record for ministering to the poor. She had become a Christian, and the phrase which describes her life work has the quaint touch which renders it impressive. “She was full of good works

and alms deeds which she did.” The idea conveyed is that she gave up her time and strength to help the poor. Her hands were so fully occupied with benevolent work that she had little leisure for aught else. Time never hung heavy oii her hands, and she never thought of self at all. She gave money and she gave actual service. There are great givers anil there are great workers, and both are worthy of honour, but Dorcas filled both roles. “Which she did as a pregnant phrase with rich associations. Our Lord “went about doing good,” and in his graphic picture of the Day of Judgment the verdict was, “Ye did it” or “Ye did it not.” Dorcas died, and the poor neighbours wept and showed the garments she had made for them. She died with the scissors on the table, and perhaps, as one may say, with the needle in her hand, died deeply regretted, and would be sorely missed. The weeping company were too conscious of their unspeakable loss to reflect that we should temper our grief with the thought that the ship was now safe in the haven. Nobody apyears to have wept when Dives died, though Lazarus hungered and wept while the rich man lived and passed him by as if Lazarus were no more to him than the dogs that licked the poor man’s sores. Peter was only nine miles away when Dorcas died. He had been to Lud, where St. George was honoured, and the apostle, like the patron saint of England, had slain the-dragon, this one in the form of the paralysis that was devouring Aeneas. Till now Peter had been healing ankles and palsy, and his fame had gone abroad. He was sent for by the little band of Christians in Joppa, rendered poor,

no doubt, by persecution and loss of the bread winners. What precisely did tliey expect of Peter? Dorcas was dead. Perhaps they felt he would comfort them, and also find some one who would marry on her good work.