The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-03-09
THE WOMAN PREACHER.
VIEWS OF REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER

There was stir in Plymoth Church, OF
Sabbath evening, as the Rev. Henry Ware
Beecher read for his text the 34th and 35tl
verses of the 14th chapter of First CORN
thians:
"Let your women keep silence in the
churches; for it is not permitted them t.
speak; but they are commanded to be under
obedience, as also saith the law
And if they will learn anything, let then
ask their husbands at home: for it is =
shame for women to speak in the church. -
Recent events. said Mr.. Beecher, in a
church in this city, have interested the
whole community. A woman-a regularly
ordained preacher-was asked to preach in
Presbyterian church, and she was in ever,
way qualified to do so. For permitting
this woman to preach, an esteemed and
honored pastor was brought before a special
meeting of the presbytery, and his conduct
passed upon. He was directed not to do
so any more. The simple question before
us is whether in the New Testament
WOMEN ARE FoBIDDEN 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 conclu
sive, and there are those who admit The
binding obligation of the scripture. bu,
regard this command as local, national. and
transient. 1t was in force only in partic
ular time and purpose. The modern
is totally different from that of the frs,
ages. The family does not stand as it did
two thousand years ago. Women were fal
more equal to men among the Hebrews than
any other ancient nation. They were no,
then excluded from public function. HI
spoke of the patriotic glory Of women who
had stood up in those times to hold tn,
sceptre, and eulogized their wise admins
tratons.
Women are forbidden to teach in the
synagogue. Technical education women
were not admitted to, and consequent,
they could not know the work imposed b,
the Church. 1t was eminently proper tina,
they should speak out latter pause, and
in the meeting too. Applause There
is nothing in the Gospel that limits
THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF WOMEN
in this regard, excepting in Corinthians
Paul's letter to Corinth, and when he wrote
to Timothy. In both instances they were
not directed to Jews, but to the Greeks
lie commented upon the characteristics of
the two nations-the slavery ana ignorance
of the Greek women, and the freedom and
cultivation of the Hebrews. A virtuous
woman in Greece was, he said, domestic
drudge, while woman of education was
placed in the category of courtezans. The
Greeks would have derided the spectacle of
a woman with uncovered face speaking in
a public place. Therefore it was that Paul
forbade them to teach in the church-in
Greece. Mr.. Beecher smiled as he added,
" Would that he had put that in.''l If he
had only known how stupid people are in
our day, lie would have done so. Laugh
ter Mr.. Beecher spoke of the noble pur-
suits of the women of the present time,
and asked if they
SHOULD BE DEGRADED
and placed in the same catalogue with the
of ancient Greece. 81 do not say
that scorn or contemn those who look at
the subject differently from my view, but l
marvel at the circumstances which could
make wise man so foolish. Laughter
| honor Brother Cuyler because he had the
to invite Miss Smiley to his
church."
Speaking Of the many commands laid
down in the New Testament, he said: You
are commanded to honor the King. Do
you honor him: No; you have thrown
him overheard. Paul says, l will. there
fore; that men pray everywhere, lifting up
holy hands, without wrath and doubling
In like manner also, that women adorn
themselves in modest apparel laughter, in
which Mr.. Beecher joinedl; with shame
Iacedness and sobriety continued laugh
teri; not with broidered hair, or gold, or
pearls, Or costly array" [Another burst
Of laughter, the pastor calculating "Oh.
oh! oh ~ Why are not the women who
break these commands arragned? 0,
Brother Cuyler.
LET THESE WOMEN BE TRIED.
Do you suppose it was wrong for women
to braid their hair and wear .ewelry? !
nveigh against extravaganza, but all crea-
ton could not keep an ordinary woman
from following the fashion. Women have
risen from the degradation of the past; we
are not barbarians now. AS mother,
wife, citizen, she has multiplied functions
and noble work to perform. Are you
going to put back the dial-to turn the
tide of civilization? If women are called
to the pulpit, and show themselves fitted
for the work, they have right to speak:
Where can we find more noble examples of
cultivation and goodness than
omong the Society of Friends: Mrs
Smiley has extraordinary ability.
He mathematical the rituals or doctrines
that forbade women to speak in the church.
In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek;
here is neither bond nor free; there is
neither male nor female, for We are all one.
- When you ask me-" Mr.. Beecher said,
'if woman shall speak in meeting, l
answer no-unless she has something to
say. We have trumpet enough now, let
is have the flute. Women, God bless you.
md the angels love you. if you properly
bring up the boys and girls God has given
you.'
PAINLESS EXTRACTION OF TEETH.
DR.. A. C. Castle Dental Cosmos observes
hat he has for thirty years adopted the
plan Of obtuding or benumbing the ex
of the temporal nerves, for pain
ess extraction of teeth from their sockets,
with com plete success never having uSpd