Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-05-19

man. Witness the case OF Deborah and
Barah, Abigail and David, Manoah and
his wife, Huldah, and the wise women of
Tekoah -
Are they, then, inferior in literary ac-
complishments2 Never, where they
have equal opportunities with the mem
Witness the case of Miss Hannah More,
Miss Edgworth, and many other fair au-
thoresses whose works are read, if not
with everlasting wonder, yet with perpetu-
al delight.
Neither are they inferior in spiritual
gifts Experience shows that they are
equally gifted and more acceptable in
their religious exercises than men. They
may not be as strong in argument, nor as
fierce in controversy, but they are far
more edifying whenever they pray and
speak in the name of the Lord And the
simple fact that Christ did not refuse to be
born of woman, while he did refuse to
acknowledge any earthly father, is ofltself
an everlasting combination of the doctrine
of woman's inferiority to man, except on
ly so far as it relates to her physical pow
ers, and even here it must be acknowledge
ed that what she lacks in strength IS more
than made up in beauty and other person
al accomplishments,
The supposition that under the gospel
dispensation, women are prohibited from
exercising their spiritual gifts, is entirely
gratuitous, and is completely set aside by
the plain declarations of the New Tesla
ment ..-"
!. The author of the Acts of the Apos-
ties informs us, CHI. /. IA, that "all the
apostles continued with one accord in
prayer and supplication with the women. :"
To suppose that the men prayed in pres
ence of the women, and not the women in
presence of the men, is a far fetched and
overstrained Interpretation of this text.
2. The same author tells US that Peter
in explaining the circumstances ofthe day
of Penticost, refers to a prophecy in Joel,
where God, by the mouth of his prophet,
promises to pour out his spirit upon their
" daughters" and hand-maidens," as
we'll as upon their sons.
g. The same author tells US that " Phil
ip, the Evangelist, had four daughters that
did prophecy;" and as there are none oil
their predictions recorded, and as St. Paul
when speaking of prophecying, says, ir
effect, at least, that prophecying mean:
"speaking to men to edifcation and ex.
hortation and comfort "-therefore, Phil,
ip's daughters did speak in the public as
semblies.
4. The Apostle Paul says, that "eve
ry woman praying or prophecying with
her head uncovered, dishonoreth her head,
which certainly means, in the presenc
of men," if it mean any thing, for certain
ly it were no dishonor to woman to pray
in secret, or in the presence of her owl
sex, with her cap or bonnet on.
S. The same Apostle says expressly
that ''in Christ Jesus there is neither
male nor female" that is, there is no in
feriority in the woman, no superiority in
the man.
From all that has been said, then, i
appears that it is duty, and very rea
sonable one too. for women to "speak ant
pray in religious conference in the pres
ence Of the other SEX" 1t is also "scrip
tural," as is shown above; and that i
will "have a good influence upon {
church where it is practised, and upon the
impentent" we may be sure, unless pre-
vented by the other sex.
The contrary doctrine throws us bacl
into Jewish and Pagan times. and into tn
regions of heathenism, completely. How
is it with the Indians Their womel
are slaves to the men-mere beasts of bur
den. How is it among other pagans?-
Their women mustnot eat in the presenct
of men! How is it among Mahometans
Their doctrine is that women have n,
souls! How is it among modern Jews
Their women are sent up gallery to pra,
alone, while the other sex, below, pretend
to bless God that he did not create then
women. while they. poor souls, thanl
God that he made them as they are.
Such doctrine is an outrage upon eiU
I iItzGtiomt How are our women treate'
in company-in the parlor, and in all 9th
er places? He that is so vulgar as not Il
pay attention to the ladies is not educate'
! he is barbarian-he is no gentleman
, In the higher circles in the world, womel
are, by common consent, made consclou
of their superiority in many things, ant
: shall it be said that in the house of Co
2 only, they are inferior to the meme W.
be to us if this doctrine prevail. WHY
D do we admit them into our singing circles
y and listen to them with such extaiic de
& light if inferior to men? Is not music ;
mental as well as physical exercise p
Why are they permitted to join US i
lpraising God when we singa Why ID
, they sing in the presence ofmen2 Is no
singing d religious exercise, as well a
, speaking and praying2 Why are the,
r permitted to teach US by books if we ar
j not permitted to listen TO their exhorta
/ tons and prayers Let US be consisten