Thanks vienne.
Reading the account of Maria helps a person have mercy on themselves for searching in religion for human relief and justice.
She seemed a brave person especially in the mid 1800’s. Women were discredited and vilified for stepping out of the bounds of domestic concerns. She was a searcher for human good.
Ex-Jdubs should note that her search didn’t make her an acolyte of Russell. She might haveconsidered his teachings but left them to go on to help others -especially destitute girls and women fallen into prostitution . Hers were the practical actions we did not do as JWs (too bad). But we should have sympathy for the impulse to kindness that drove any of us to look into religion for human kindness.
Pretty interesting.
(-edited for clarity )