New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-09-19
ORDINATION or THE REV. ANToINETTE J.
BROWN

after four miles carriage ride from Savannah depot
central station between Syracuse and Rochester, on
the straight line Central Rsirosd route Our warm
hearted greeting from Gerrit Smith more than neutral
lies any eblllness from the damp atmosphere; then
Harriet K Hunt emerging from the dripping carriage
il saying, The physician of the body feels implied to
witness the ordination Of the physician TO the soul
and her genial laugh and earnest good nature make sun
shine midway in the forty hours equnoctial Albeit
the severity Of the storm has detained at home President
! Cskins Of meanwhile Dir Winchester Of Farpor and
many other reverend gentlemen who expectsdye' IN
10 wise seems the day unproptous for in the ordination
Of Antoinette Brown Pastor Of the Congregational
Church Of South Bur the people Of her charge are fully
competent perform the services unaded but as IN these
times the proceeding novel to set apart woman to
,be sared Office il deemed best 70 have assistance in the
exercises Heaven bless this society and surely 1t
LLssed Composed mostly of farmers whose thoughts have
room 10 range meath the broad sky whose opinions
vstrn cannot rame the mbage on the Sabbath ills
the little brown meeting house to overlooking Nor VII
be to it, disadvantage that the growing favor Of s pastor
this people have deemed wise remove every restriction
Tint custom or legal statute impose her performing the
various gous and civil ordinances devoying on Cope
minister.
The Baptist Society opened its larger house for the ocea
sion and at NJ with congregation large for the IN
clement weather voluntary from the interested choir
followed with prayer By the Rev Mr. Npper Of Victoria
opened the exercises Of the ordination. DR. Watts hymn
60 preach my gospel saith the Lord was then read and
supg meanwhile Gerrt Smith, the Rev Mr. Lee OF syria
cue and others entered the desk Mr.. Caudee one Of the
deaeons then said This church do not believe in the
necessity Of ordination, qualfcatonto preach the
gospel but that whatever individual has the capacity and
is willing to take upon himself the duty is at liberty to
become the pastor Of any people 10 whom ms services are
acceptable. Why then have ordinatonl The church
needs to be instructed and it we for pastors and for
people to be reminded other duties to each other there
fore we have invited few friends to be with us and to
recognize with us the relationship between ourselves and
pastor Our friend Gent Smith, will now address u.s.
BIZ Smith then rose and spoke follows do not be-
eve ecclesiastical ordinations in SCI sense OF the term
do not believe in any individual being set apart to ex
ousvely preach the gospel The question then arises way
are YOU here did decline coming and stated my rea-
sons but they overled and agreeing with my broth
or who has Just spoken happy be with you on this
deeply interesting occasion. Now, having stated what
do not believe | will state what l do believe. lido be.
eve in the pasor,hp believe every church should have
at leest one pastor believe the brother has stated
the right to preach the gospel grows solely out OF the
ability TO preach the gospel believe the people are On
titled TO no voice whether not one OF their number
shall be preacher but they entitled to declare VINO
shall be their pastor Martin Luther expressed the same
when he said The priest meaning the preaeher IS not
made he is born" Ny whole creed on this point can
he summed nm in few words Of Paul d" believe and
therefore have spoken Would that this creed of Paul
might be the creed of the whole church. and OF the
world The preacher elected but the pastor is elect
ed If YOU agree with this point there 10 no dim
Guilty with you in my being here l congratulate you
upon your selection Of pastor You have chosen one
who is WISE and strong, and good and faithful and
trusting and full of love. | say this because know
! f. You have chosen who will believe
! continue to meet your highest approval am
not of those who believe woman made OF finer
CLAW than man at the time cannot but express my
great pleasure that You have dared be true TO your convc
tions and select omneny qualified for her position
that Won have dared brave that low depIaved public sent
ment that puts an embargo upon WOmanbe she never so
high souod The day is coming-and is not that happy
future when merit and capabity VIII be the ground OF
choice VIII it not be day of common sense when
powers and ability VIII be the tests for any station When
we select woodchOpper the brawny arm and sturdy
| frarpc-be It man or woman-wi be taken when if we
select Pastor capably and inclination viii decide our
choice and recolect religion comes in collision win
common sense would have Christians recognize the TACT
that the Christians of place the Church OF place
South Butler very good pace-much better than most
uacos-yet am told they have here six Churches ms
| is mans wisdom This is not Gods wisdom When Paul
addressed the Church at Rome the Christians at Rome
were the Church Rome The Church OF place is God
Church Christians compose that Church. man does not
make made the Church at South Butler
Think YOU Jesus Christ knows than one Church here
Having recognized the Church what next Let the Church
not orsake the assembling OF themselves together lndi
viduay souls must suffer if neglect social prayer
We neglect to cultivate each others ace by social worship
and religious conference Next Church must choose its
ofcers-mus select It's pastor The Church is democratic
body purely and you give the pasoTshpto Wholso
ever you will But make for brother Lee know
brother Lucknow that he will give you sermon for the
occasion and hope you will call for it for the Press
think win GO far TO enghen the public on the point tha
woman has right to preach the gospel as well as man
And now YOU are about set apart of your number to
be your pastor BE reasonable be just be patent with
your pastor exact no of her than IS her duty to per
form Hold up her hands make her pa,h easy Tor her
Let there be nolack of pecuniey VIII be greater
injury TO yourselves than her You obge her to have anx
ious thought about her living Above all pray for her. and
may YOU be blessed her and she in YOU and all be blessed
/ in God
Mr. Lee now came forward He asked the indulgence Of
the audience as never before in his life had he delivered
a written sermon lie read his text from Gal O. 2s.
There neither jew there niher bOnd nor freq
neither male female ioE ye are ali one
Sad the text was unusual one for an ordination ser
mon bu, no more unusual than the occasion: The setting
apart of female to preach the Gospel Some communiie
allowed female preachers bu. they were those which never
ordained their pastors On receiving the invitation to
preach here to day he had questioned the poprey oil a
cep,inc had never examined the question whether the
scriptures authorized occupying the position OF
public preacher of the Gospel But as he could give no
valid for declining he concluded that H. on eA"a