The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-12
MIR. Beccher ON the Woman
Question.
Brother Cuyler and Sister Smi-
ley Endorsed.
The Old and New Testaments in Favor Of
Female ExhOrters-The Sweetness,
Gentleness and Fragrance Of
Women Required by
the World.

Mr.. Beecner preached one of his boldest sermons
hast night upon the woman question: taking for his
text the contested words Of Paul that have lately
been made the excuse for very remarkable action
against certain presbytery-"Let your women
keep silence in the churches" &c.
The recent events, said ne, IN this city have ar.
rested the attention OF the whole community.
w0man-a regular preacher in o Christian sect-was
asked TO preach in a certain church. She had long
spoken in churches, and edlfcation had followed.
and that was the sign that Peter said was
to authenticate preaching. For permitting this an
esteemed and honest pastor was brought before q
presbytery, and his conduct passed by without
buke only on account Of tenderness to him.
But the churches were enioned not to follow his
example. The simple question: then, before us
u this:-Whether the New Testament does
forbid women to speak In the
churches. Are these words OF Paul OF
universal application, Of all time, everywhere,
nnaly2 There are those who regard this utterance
as final and forbid women 10 speak, no matter how
gifted. They accept this as meant TO cover the
whole future. There are next those who regard this
as explicit but do not believe IN the authority Of
Paul to settle this question. There are others who
regard this command as local,
NATIONAL AND TRANSIENT.
They hold to the authority Of the sacred Scriptures
but do not believe this to be the final word spoken
on this subject, and am one who nolds this view.
First 1t Is not the function OF Christianity to de-
termlne the external. 1t aims at the spiritual de-
velopment OF man by bringing him into direct COM
panl0nship with God. To this corrected
and inspired manhood was left the utmost
freedom. There can be no greater
imposition upon than to affirm that there Is in
the New Testament any attempt to decide details
Whatever relates TO universal morality. to interior
thoe Aat
take care OF itself. The life was left to organize
what belongs to life. The civil state the family
have been changed since the time OF Paul. There
those Of 1000 years ago. Now. the presumption Is
that Christianity did not step IN and paralyze
woman's tongue and shut her mouth. Did it put It's
finger on this exception and make that an absolute
analityY This would have been doing violence to
the Jewish idea.
WOMAN AMONG THE HEBREWS
was more as among us than any other nation. She
was public Instructor among the Jews. First we
1900 years. DEBORAH was not only prophecies but
. ruler. Here was woman Of great power, and
She rose TO the surface and ruled her people. have
read already In your hearing the song OF Hannah re-
corded In Samuel. When the king desired to consult
sSme Gne ON matters 81 ne passed BY
time OF Christ, Anna, the prophetess. broke forth
into song Of praise. 80, when Jew looked back
ing repetition OF women who had stood up to hold
the sceptre to teach and 10 pour forth
the Pentecost Peter made the programme
Of the future, did he say that women SHOULD keep
sienceS ne quoted from the Prophet JOEL who
ana nahumaidens, sons and daughters shall pro-
phesy, and upon them shall the spirit OF the Lord
Oe poured out you undertake to set up the letter
OF Paul, set up the letter OF the Holy Ghost. 1t
was forbidden to women to speak in the synagogues
was hturgicai and not extemporaneous, and the
technical knowledge OF this liturgy was not open
TO Jewish christians that cOntravenes this Hebrew
spirit anu custom. This direction OF Paul was
WRITTEN TO THE GREEK
Christians Now we can ask WIN he made differ.
ence IN this respect between Jews ana Greeks. The
condition OF women among the Greeks was degraded
10 a level that We can hardly conceive Of. The
Greek idea OF virtue In a woman was that she
should not go out unless veiled that she should not
even 90 the front door lest she should be SEEM Il
woman learned poetry, music, ART philosophy, the
knowledge stamped her as a couriesan. No woman
In Greece was permitted TO know these things ex.
cept at the price OF virtue. a vlrtuous woman in
Greece was merely domestic drudge. Now,
That being the status OF woman III Greece, II would
not DO for women to speak uncovered IN the
those circumstances would be 10 endorse cour-
tesanshlp. st. Paul sald:-'1 forbid women to
speak IN public I'm Greece; would that he had
put It In. II lie had known how stupid people
would be IN TINS day he would nave said It.. Al this
day, when woman Is poet, thinker, shall you go
BACK aud get that manace and put 1t Oh an enfran-
cnised womanhood-tne chain made for the be-
HONOR BROTHER cuYLER
LOT lDvitlng Miss Smiley into his pulpit, and when
ne was called To account for II wish he had stood
SD ey God or manf But all men can't do ali things.
wnat command Is palmer than that TO honor the
s,ng pid we honor the kingS We threw the
nns overheard. Mr. Beecher cOnvulsed ms
audience by his reading OF 1Imothy's command
~ women to not wear certain kinds OF ornaments.
o wnere are your literasts nowY me- Where
nse sy your women who braid their hair and wear
gearIsy "Oh." say yOu "Paul didn't preach that.v
The Apostle bore witness against vanity bnf moi
s&sihsy TASTE The same IL true In respect TO sav-
NO. 'oe whole tenor OF the New testament " 10