Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-04-14
April IA, ls41.
nrpLY no nRorHER WAIT.


will allow me 10 say, here, that ! 90 hope
;fhe writes anything further on the SUBJ
;ect, he will just define has position, as
briefly as he can, so that can determine
and know what he does hold to and what
he does not. Such labyrinlhs OF inconsis-
,o,.;es and self subvcrsions as l have
hoer under the necessity of following him
through, hope not to find again.
Twill commence with one of his ques-
lions, which pertains 10 females teaching
or preaching in public assemblies. He
saws. il is only against women's public
teaching, preaching and voting, that stand
opposed" He then asks me, virtually,
why Paul did not give explicit directions,
if women were TO become teachers and
preachers in the church. / say, in an
swer, as have said before, that Paul was
giving instructions in the incipient stages
of Christianity-iu the LIST century, not
the 10Th. Some things, 10 De sure, which
he said then are applicable now-the most
Of them il you please. But he said many
things which brother Wait himself does
not heed, nor does any other christian, as
applicable to US now with the same force
they had then.
Brother Wait is perfectly vague and
dark, in talking about his "public assem-
bIies" in which he would mol have women
appear, and his conference and prayer"
meetings, in which he qoould have them
appear, us teachers, preachers, &c. Par
don, me, though, Brother, for the express
ion tha, you would have them teach or
preach anywhere! | suppose that if a
female should give precisely the same
instruction to FIVE hundred persons in q
conference meeting, herself standing in
the midst Of the assembly, that a male
should give TO half the number, bimseI
standing at one end OF the house, it would
be most shocking and unscriptural thing
10 allow that ste had taught any body, OF
/ preached the gospel, while has perform
ance~mighl with the strictest proprieiv be
Landed TO the skies, as teaching and preach
ing Of the first orderl Now confess
myself utterly in want of ligh: al this
point. confess that can not see the
least distinction where he undertakes to
make his diffelencc-if he has so under.
taken; and if he has not, trust he will
or that he will undertake to define hi;
position, as ] said before-unless he con
cludes to give me up entirely, as incapa
bic Of being enlightened on the subject
What does brother Wait call public as
sembly! Does he determine 1t by tn
place? If Sc, have seen conferenc
meetings in as public places as any othe
meetings. Or does he make numbers tn
test2 Precisely how many, then, does
take to make public meeting2 hav
seen conference meetings much large
than SOME other meetings that would b
called by other names.
But, again What constitutes teaching
or preaching2 My own view of SCUM
religious teaching and preaching is, thu
it consists in holding forth the will {
God and the duty of men, as taught b
the Word and the Spirit. Does brotht
Wait believe that females are incapable
understanding the Word, and that II
teachings of the Spirit are withheld fro
them2 Has he never been public
taught, edited, and comforted, from fema
lipsl If he has not, he has live
where there was deplofable state of s,
ciety.
As for brother Waits Inference fro
the want Of particular directions, | a:
him in reply, why Paul did not direct
to whether the speaker should be lifted |
IN pulpit, or stand in the midst of Il
assembly! And why did he not give {
rectlons in regard to conference meeting
prayer meetings sabbath schools SC. &
Brother Waits other question is. Wv
brother Murray tell US whether he wou
advocate the appointment Of women 10 Il
office OF public teachers in the church
| answer, frankly, that know Of no D,
hibition. | do verify believe tia, G