Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-03-31

As noticed in my former communication |
on the subject, Adam Clarke says they were
holding a set of meetings in which they |
were debating things 10 little or no profit |
and among other things which the Apostle
reproved, it appears that their women had
become so clamorous and contentious as to
call forth this language from him. Now to
take such words and phrases, standing in
such connection, and make such use OF
them as brother Wait has-now making it
to allow "speaking," and then making ii TO
prohibit voting for some purposes, and to
allow voting for other purpposes-is, to me,
a strange perversion of language. 1t is one
thing to receive notions, and entertain and
cherish them, and carry them out in prac
tice 1t is another thing to make examina-
ton and be able to give good reasons for
what is believed and done.
Brother Waits effort "to show that fe-
males did not teach, or possess the gift oc
teaching, even in the age Of miracles" is Of
consistent piece with what have already
noticed. He commences his proof to this
point in the following positive assumption:
/" it is manifest as the clear sun at noon day,
that from the 18th to the 14th of CORN
thians the Apostle is speaking of the exer-
cises Of the church under the special inf1u-
ences of the Spirit, in its diverse operations
upon different members of the same BODY"
Now without either conceding or denying
the truth Of this assumption, | propose to
| take up brother Wait on this his own chosen
ground, and make him overthrow himself
in the main thing at issue between US. l
take it for granted that he is among those
who hold that the Gage Of miracles" is
past-that the church is not now "under
the special influences of the Spirit" in the
sense which he here means. 1t should be
borne in mind that in fact the main thing
in dispute between him and me will be
settled, by settling the meaning and bearing
CT the 34th and 35th verses Of the 14lh
chapter. The question in regard to THEN
meaning is, are they rule Of conduct fol-
females nop? say they are not-but tina
they have lost their force with the passing
away Of the circumstances which called
them forth. Brother Wait says that "the
Apostle is speaking Of the exercises Of tht
church under the special influences OF The
Spirit" With what propriety then, Or au
thorily, ask him, does he undertake Il
apply the directions given a church for the
regulation of their conduct under miracu
lous interposition, to the church at the pres
ent time? But right away in the same
paragraph, brother Wait starts off on anothe
track, and says the Apostle "is in this lette
not only regulating the manner of inspired
or gifted persons, but laying down rules 70
their future order in the church under ordin
airy circumstances. He speaks therefor
with authority, let your women keep 81
lence in the churches: for it is not permitte
t unto them to speak, &C." 1t will be nc
f ,iced that this latter declaration pertains t
the same part of the epis,le included in tn
previous sweeping assumption. Putting tn
t two things together will show how conven
lent thing it would be if one might a
ways be allowed TO provide his own way
and means for the attainment of any desire
} purpose-how easy thing to arrive at an
. desired result, if one know in the first plac
! what that result be, and then be permitte
a TO make and apply his own rules for reach
. ing it. Now look at brother Waits process
: When he wants to prove one thing, "it
t manifest as the clear sun at noon day." thi
g these four chapters pertain to "exercises {
q the church under the special influence
| the Spirit" But when be wishes to max
e out something else, he finds that his rule
h reference to these chapters is not exact
! suited to his object: so he makes a ne
l. rule, or adds to his former one what
k necessary for his present purpose and say
If " But he is in this letter not only regulatir
e the manner of inspired or gifted person
OF but laying down rules for their ftture ord
d in the church under ordinary circumstances
Is This is what call justifying the ends
St the means. A Practice abhorred by eve
g one IN moral things. And see not why
le should be more allowable in things int,
ig lectual and religious. Brother Wait mt
e, now allow me to take him up On his rule
lit amended. / ask him then if be holds Ii
it the direction given the Corinthian men al
OF men, in the 11lh chapter--one of the four
" touching the covering of their heads, /
on wearing of their hair. &C., is binding
en- christians now? But this will probat
CD present new problem to his mind. reou