Washington telegraph., 1852-06-16
A ParsOn in PetticOats.


graduate from the Theological School, at
Oberlin, Ohio, was received at the Melodeon,
yesterday afternoon, by crowded congre-
cation, assembled to listen to a discourse
from her on St. Paul's doctrine that women
should keep silent in the churches
The Reverend but youthful maiden was
conducted to the pulpit by Rev. Theodore
Parker he, however, did not sit beside her,
but took seat with the congregation, leav-
ing the young divine to conduct the services
herself, alone.
The dear preacher is apparently twenty
one years of age She is slender and gen.
teel in form, and pretty in feature, with a
fine expressive face. She wore glossy black
hair, neatly arrayed, a close fitting, high
necked dress that became her vastly and
altogether she made a favorable impression
upon the audience by her modest deport-
ment and pretty face, as well as by her
chaste language and logical discourse. If
she were to remain in the city and would
accept of some loud CALL there would be
powerful revival among our young men, and
hundreds would come under the influence of
the preached word, who now pass the hours
of the Sabbath in idle and vain pursuits.
After voluntary on the organ, the
preacher arose very quietly, and gracefully
folded her hands in prayer. From this
performance, it was very easy to discover
her theological education. The prayer had
the good old Puritanical twang about it.
1t was perfect daguerreotype Of prayer
we have heard scores of times in our Sunday
School days, by good and pious North
End Baptist deacon, who would always then,
and does now, commence his invocation by
thanking God he had established a church
on the earth.
After the prayer, the young clergywoman
read the XIV chap. 1st Corinthians (there
was no choir) in a peculiarly soft mellifu-
Gus voice Her reading was very correct,
clear and distinct She then announced
her text from the 34th and 35th verses of
the chapter she had read:
Let your women keep silence in the
churches for it is not permitted unto them
to speak T; but they are commanded to be
under obedience, as also saith the Lord
"And if they will learn anything, let
them ask their husbands at home for it is
shame for women to speak in the church.
Her bold stand in thus taking the great
theological bugbear of ST. Paul by the
horns, was admirably sustained throughout
her whole discourse She took the position
that st. Paul had had bad commentators
and that his language and meaning had
been very much distorted, by divines, who,
from prejudice and education, had predjudg
ed the question, and commented on the
text to bring it to meet their views Had
she been born man, she said, she might
possibly have thought as they do but thank
God, she was born on the other side of the
question. 70 illustrate this sentiment, she
told feeling and impressive fable of
bear, who passing down Broadway one day,
saw picture of hunter drawing out a
knife wreaking with the blood of his shag
gy victim All, ha . thought the BEAR if |
was an artist, could give quite different
view of this subject.
The preacher contended that st. Paul
never forbade women to speak IN the church
es in the sense that commentators contend
for. She was forbidden to speak or talk
unless she does teach This was illustra-
ted by the context Had ST. Paul so for
hidden, he would have gone contrary to
Gods own word, who had said, 81 will pour
out my spirit upon you, and your sons and
your daughters shall prophecy
The enchanting divine was particularly
severe upon Prof Stewart and DR.. Samuel
Hanson Cox, who had saiG that the reason
of Paul's prohibition was found in the fact
of the universal gullibility and Stiffness of
women. DR.. Cox's idea of womanhood,
she thought might be drawn from his recol-
lections of his mother
The Reverend charmer paid a handsome
compliment to the gallantry of st. Paul =
He was, though much abused and SANDER
ed, the most polite of all the Apostles, and
was far ahead, in the social qualities and
high appreciation of wOman's character OF
any of his fippant commentators, either
past or present.
The discourse was ably written, hand
somely delivered and well received.
Mrs. Folsom was present, OF course
After the lecture, she regretted that she had
not an opportunity to speak from the text.
She would have illustrated it differently
A wag who heard her lamentation. suggest
ed that she should commence lecture right
off, on the principles of the new letter just
discovered, "What is that?' asked Abby.
"Why letter rip, to be sure Abby was
no such woman, and declined the invita-
ton, she pursued her way, while the con-
gregation dispersed to their several homes.
Bostoaa Herald.