Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-03-31
Forth e Tele graph."
REPLY TO THE EDITOR,

S~tSsono lay DiOtnCI, uc TAXES the DFOau
ground that the Scri ptures forbid females
TO teach, in moral or religious meetings,
or 10 speak or vote in church meetings."
I certainly have no objection to this state
ment of my sentiments in connection with
my communication. | should have sup
posed | was understood, but from YOUR
last remarks on my communication, Nov.
Is, where. you wish to know if 1 would
allow females to testify in church meet
ings in case of discipline. Now l must
acknowledge it requires stretch of my
charity to confess the candor of such a
question. You might have as we'll asked,
and with as much propriety in my iutg-
ment, whether the law Of this State would
allow all men to speak or testify in court,
because it prohibits all but certain class,
whom it has pronounced qualified to teach
or instruct in such courts. Or whether
[ would allow enc Of my family to spe ak
IN my house, because [ would not allow
them to dictate, or control my family gov
eminent. You ask whether [ would
allow females to vote in receiving or ex-
| GLIDING members. answer both ia the
affirmative and negative. would have
them vote iii the reception, but net in the
exclusion of members. The former is an
act, or test Of fellowship; in relation to
which male and female stand upon lev
eI, and essential to the verv existence of
the church; as church withou: fellow
ship would as naturally fall apart as iron
and clay. The latter is an act of govern
ment and authority of the church; in re-
gard to which females have neither mar,
nor lot, being expressly forbidden to usurp
authority over the males. You ask for
plain and more marked distinction between
church and covenant meetings. [ had
supposed that short experience in the
Baptist denomination, had taught all the
proper distinction between church and
covenant meetings. But will explain.
BY Church Meetings, mean those ap-
polntmeats Of the church to attend to its
legal, or executive concerns, in carving
outthe laws of Christ's kingdom on earth;
Of which every Baptized church is con :
stltuent part. By Covenant Meetings
mean those appointments of the church
to come together for prayer and praise
to read and hear again the articles ex-
pressive Of their faith, and the covenan.
into which they have entered, RECOGNIZING
their duty and obligation to God, to one
another, and TO the world. Both of which
originated before, and were essential to.
the very existence of the church, thas
they might be one body and one loaf
Neither of which have any connection
with the executive department of the
Church. But as they were essentinl to
the commencement, SO they are to the
continuance of that church who owns but
one Lord. one faith, and one baptism. At
our covenant meetings therefore, is the
the place to recognize or test new converts
proposing our fellowship. And so far as
an experience of twenty-three years is
concerned, have never known a Baptist
lchureh to give fellowship to a new con.
vert when organized to attend to church
business, or In its executive capacity. AT
covenant meetings therefore, it is proper
and gospel-wise that sisters or females
tshou'd both attend and vote, as no yo,ino
is to be done, but as an expression Of fell
lowship.
] As to your inquiry whether I know of
Baptist church which does not allow its
female members to vote in excluding
members, and on all moral and religious
questions. answer, l do not know of a
Baptist church in my acquaintance which
does allow its female members to vote in
any case, but in the reception of members.
Nor DO | believe there is one church in
twenty of the Baptist denomination that
ldoes. | should be sorry to believe that
4 Sickness il my family with other circum