Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-09-17
vol. XII.
lBY REQUEsT.I

| Ga-g May ., 1000 he discourse iS loundel
on /. Cor. xiv: 34-"Le. your women keel
| silence in the churches--ior il is Rol permit
ted unto them TO speak." It 10 production
of superior excellence, and we would rejoice
| il it were practicable, to have q copy sen
to every Female school, and into every fam
| lily where there is a daughter TO be trained
The relation to each other, and the differ
ent spheres of the sexes, is thus given in the
exposition of the text:
This injunction is found amongst certain
rules which were given for regulating the
exercise OF those spiritual gifts that were
peculiar to the Apostolic times. The Cor
intbian Christians. coming together foI wor-
ship, had acted in a dsorderly manner, BY
| suffering may persons, who were APPARENTLY
possessed Of the supernatural ability to teach
their brethren in spiritual matters, to speak
all at once, thereby producing the most un-
ediiying confusion. Paul would correct this
evil by exhortations which, taken together,
amount to this: Let one, not several at a
time, interpret" But this difficulty being
removed, his authority aims blow at still
another, which, though more subtle, was not
more tolerable. Women, feeling themselves
gifted with the power of supernatural speech
joined their voices to those of the other sex,
in an attempt to edify the Church. The
Apostle silenees these misguided zeaIcts, by
an appeal 10 those early Scriptures, which
show the woman 10 be ssunder obedience -
aud that in all divinely appointed assemblies
OF Christian people, they were to be learners
rather than instructors. And he adds, in
the way of an appeal to enlightened reason: ::
at 10 shame for women to speak in the
Church." Indeed, there is a broad ailusion,
Throughout, the entire passage, 10 that gen.
eral doctrine of Scripture. and its instructive
acknow iedgment by mankind that no human
society can exist in its due order, or produce
its proper results, unless the two sexes occu-
py always their respective positions: the one
ruling us the head, and the other subject to
that head.
But, it may be asked, 10 what purpose did
God endow these Corinthian wives and
daughters with special gifts, if they were not
allowed te exercise them in common with
those husbands and fathers who were simil-
arly endowedl What could the four daugh-
ters of Philip do with his grace of phrophc-
cy! The reply is obvious. They could cx-
erc;se all their unusual powers within the
appointed sphere of their ordinary duties
They might do the work of editying them
selves, and of enlighteping others in private
intercourse. Certainly, they must not at
temps to Go the less good o teaching in pub
lie, and thereby disturb the whole foundation
OF the greater good which arises out OF the
firsi relation oi The sexes. They are not TO
10 pc deprived of all reIigi, influence, bet
only Of the liberty to exercise thar influence
improperly. Their work is indeed nigh
~ one for the benefit of The race; but it does
not he in Ibe region where the loud poice is
to claim audience from the public ear; but
in that other and more retired region where
the soft voice is TO exert less obtrusve
though not less effective, power--not in the
Church, 5ul in the little meetings Of the fam
lily; where are those sacred gatherings of
children o6eying the call of maternal love;
where are ,hcse lrt quent reunions, which
the table, the tireside, the worship hour, wit
ness, where those naneless ontgones
aud incomings, which nothing 50 well guards,
or so steadily regulates, the soft but firm
hand of wumaniy affection.
M doubt, many OF the !cnales whom the
Apostle rebukes, we're more highly gifted, in
every way, than were they OF the other sex
whom he allowed 10 speak in preference.-
And no doubt, in numerous instances among
US nov days, would the ulerances of re-
fined end cultivated women, on religious and
other subjects, be more for the improvement
ui public assemblies than the coarser thu'ts
OF men less gifted and more meanly trained :.
And il is not upon this idea that the monstrous
conduct of whole class Of modern women
has sought 10 justify itself. in ,hrusting into
bold publicity thei. unshrinking persons and
uniemitsine acts,
Brsrs no: While the woman is not to for
get or neglect her power. neither is she to
lose eight of its krnd, or fail in the measure
men, of its just limits. She is TO seat her.
self in all que,ness (but yet with all dignity
upoa her appointed throne-tise queen
of heEAe--ihe monarch of hearts. She is to
take her honofed place at the fountdia head
| of tue srea, influences which control, throue h
many a stream of life, the main interests of
time and the one mighty fnterestof eternity.
| To these streams she is 10 give direction,
with fingers apt, and patient and gentle, TO
remove the interruptng pebbles, which i, is
! better noiseIessly to lit at the source, tEfen
to engage in aff the bofstefoGs scenes and
sweaiy labors that would else attend the re-
moval OF our Mountainous Obstacles obstruct-
! ing the course of the water fdrfffer down in
| the neglected and distorted channels. Sne
must know that the silent influence is more
! like the agency Of Sod than the loud-that
the drop by drop process of filing the deeps
OF useful living is most like the work Of heav-
IL sL. L..
mcaner or less esscntisi office than that OF
reapng harvests-that iubeddins in the mind
4! of child alphabet, is laying the indis-
pensible corner stone of vast tZssjc OF
learuing-th,at whispering into the ready cal
of childhood the name of God is a first pre-
paration for many realizations Of the aw.
tules. glories Of salvati,n.
10 not care 10 discuss the question oi
the relative superiority of the sexes-for
think that i: is u ve.y Ioulish question. God
made each superior IN its own place. They
are the two perfect halves of an indivisible
whole. Each is warning in some of the
qualities which the other possesses, simply
because these are not aeeded for securing
the respective euds of their being. On one
occasion when David prayed for special bles
sings upon his people, he seems to have
gladdened his heart with the prospect o
strong, energetic, Courageous, commandln!
sons OF Israel shading beneath their manly
virtues, the prudent, retiring, affectioDait
} sisters and wives OF their homes-each sel
, occupying its own posture. and complete d
that. But no sacred writer ever leads hi
readers to suppose tina, young women. ihougl
unrugged and soft OF nstureI are designe
only for the ornaments uf society. Every
where in Scriptures are they recognized q
co-workers with men in all the scenes of
true living. The Psalmist, indeed, pray
[ 81 L. nirrhA hs, =.