Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-02-28
Women in the PulpI,.
vIrws OF nEy. uENn1 WAND BnEoHER.


VIEWS OF REV. HENRY WARD BEEoHER.
There was q stir in. Plymouth Church, Sunday
evening, Feb. II, as The Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher read for his text the 34th and 3bth
verses of the fourteenth chapter of First Cor
inthians 81
Let your women keep silence in the churches;
for it is not permitted them to speak; but they
are commanded to be under obedience, as also
saith the law.
And il they will learn anything, let them ask
their husbands at home; for it is a sham for
women TO speak in the church. 81 /
Recent events, said MIR. Beecher, in church
in this city, have Interested the whole oommu-
nifty. woman-a regularly ordained preacher
was asked TO hpeals In Presbyterian church,
and she was in evefy.wAy qualified to do so. For
permitting this woman to preach, an esteemed
and honored pastor was brought before special
meeting of the preebytery, and his conduct
passed upon. He was directed not to do 30 any
more The simple question before Ms is wheth-
er in the New Testament
WOMEN ARE Forbidden TO PREACH
and teach. He said he proposed to speak of the
particular command laid down by the Word Of
God on women preaching and teaching publicly.
There are those who regard this utterance as
final and conclusive, and there are those who
admit the binding obligation of the scripture, but
regard this command as local, national, and
transient. 1t was in force only in particular
time aud purpose The modern Church is total
ly different from that OF the first ages. The
family does not stand as it did two Thousand
years ago. Women were far more equal to men
among the Hebrews than any other ancient ma
ton. They were not then excluded from any
public function. He spoke of the patriotic
| glory Of women who had stood up in those times
to hold the sseptre, and eulogized their wise ad-
minstrations
Women were forbidden to teach in the syna-
| gogue. Technical education women were not
| admitted to, and consequently they could not
know the work imposed BY the Church. 1t was
eminently proper that they should speak out
| (After pause,) and in the meeting too. APP
plause. There is nothing in the Gospel that
limits
THE R1GHTs AND DUTIES OF WOMEN
in this regard, excepting in Corinthians, Paul's
| letter TO COrinth and when he wrote to Timo-
thy. In both instances they were not directed
to Jews, but TO the Greeks. He commented on
| the characteristics Of the two nations-the sla
very and ignorance OF the Greek 2women, and
the freedom and cultivation OF the Hebrews.
virtuous woman in Greece was, he said, domos-
tic drudge, while a woman Of education wai
placed in the category Of courtesans. The Greek
would have derided the spectacle OF a woman
with uncovered face speaking in public place
Therefore it was that Panl forbade them to teacl
in the church-in Greece. Mr.. Beecher smiled
as he added, "Would that he had put that in. q"
II he had only known how stupid people are in
our day he would have done so. Laughter
MIR. Beecher spoke of the noble pursuits Of the
women OF the present time, and asked II they
SHOULD DE DEGRADED
and placed in the same catalogue with the wo
men OF ancient Greece. " do not say that
scorn on contemn those who look at the sub
ject differently from my view, but marvel Al
, the circumstances which could make wise mar
80 foolish. Laughter. l honor Brother Guy
Ter because he had the courage to invite Miss
Smiley to his church."
Speaking Of the many commands laid down in
the New Testament he said; You are com
manded to honor the King Do you honor himi
No; you have thrown him overheard. Pau
, says II will, therefore, that mon pray every
| where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath anG
doubling. In like manner also, that womer
adorn themselves in modest apparel laughter
: in which Mr. Beecher Joined |, with shamefaoed
ness and sobriety continued laughter |; no
with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or cost.
array" Another burst of laughter the paSto
+ calculating "Oh OH oh!'' Why are not tn
1 women who break these commands arraigned
n o, Brother Cuyler!
+ LET THE WOMEN BE TRIED.
Do you suppose it was wrong for woman t.
u braid their hair or wear jewelry I inveg
against extravaganza but all creation could no
keep an ordinary woman from following thi
fashion. Women have risen from the degratol
Of the past; we are not barbarians now. As
:, mother, wife, citizen, she has multiplied func
Q tons and noble work to perform. Are you go
ing to put back the dial-to turn the tide Of civ
iization? II women are called to the pulpit an
y show themselves fitted for the work. they hav
}, right to speak. Where can we find more nc
bic example Of womans cultivation and goodnes
than among the Society of the Friends? Mrs
It Smiley has extraordinary ability.
a He mathematical the rituals or doctrines tina
" forbade women to speak in the church. Ii
/ Christ there is neither jew nor Greek, there
= male nor female, for ye are all one. 'Whe
you ask me-" Mr.. Beecher said, 'if woma
shall speak in meeting, l answer no-unless sh
| has something to say. Wehave trumpet enong
. now, let us have the flute. Women, God bles
L you, and angels love you, il you properly brin
n up the boys and girls God has given you"