Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-03-02
The Woman Preacher,
VIEWS OF REV. HENRY WARD pExcuEH.

There was stir in Plymouth Church Sun.
day evening, as the Rev Henry Ward Beecher
read for his text the 34ih and 35th verses OF
the fourteenth chapter of First Corinthians
Let your women keep silence in the
churches for it is not permitted them
to speak but they are commanded to be
under obedience, rs also saith the law. -
Aud if they will learn anything, let
them ask their husbands at home for
II IS shame tur women to speak in the
church.
Recent events, said Mr.. Beccher. in a
church in this city, have Interested tue
whole community. y woman-a regu-
lariy ordained preacher-was asked TO
speak in Presbyterian church, and she
was in every way qualified to do SO.
For permitting this woman TO preach,
an esteemed aud honorei 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 FORBIDDEN TO PREACH
and teach. He said he proposed to speak
OF the particular command laid down by
the word of God OH women preaching
and teaching publicly. There are those
WHO regard this ulteranue as final and
conclusive, and there are those who ad-
init the binding obligation OF the Scrip
ture, but regard this command as local,
national and transient. 1t was in iorce
only i'll particular time and purpose.
The modeIn church is totally different
from that of the first ages. The tamilv
does not stand as ii did Two thousand
years ago. Women were far more eoual
10 men among the Hebrews than any
other ancient nation. They were mot
Thea excluded from public function. He
spoke Of the patriotic glory OF women
who had stood up in those times 10 hold
the sccptre, and calogizel their wise ad-
nluiSlration,
Women are forbidden 10 teach in the
synagogue Technical education women
were not admitted to, and consequently
they could not know the work imposed
by the church. IL was emnently proper
that they should speak out latter pausel
and in meeting, too. (Applause.) There
is noiLiag in the gospel that limits
THE RIGHTS AND DUTIEDs or WOMEN
ia this regard, excepting in Corinthians,
Paul's letter to Coriuth, and when lie
wrote to Timothy. In both instances
they were not directed TO Jews, but to
the Greeks. He commented on the
characteristics Of the two nations-the
slavery and ignorance of the Greek wo-
men, and the freedom and cultivation of
the Hebrews. A virtuous woman IN
Greece was, he said, a domestic drudge,
while woman OF education was placed
III the category OF courtesans. The
Greek would have derded the spectacle
OF woman with uncovered face speak
ing in public place. Therefore il 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" Ii he had only known how
stupid people are in our days, he would
have Gone so. Laughter. Mr.. Beeoher
spoke OF the noble pursuits OF the wo-
men OF the present time, and asked if
they ...... '.......... .......
SHOULD BE DEGRADED
and placed in the same catalogue with
the women of ancient Greece. IL do
not say that i scorn or contempt those
who loo k at the subject differently from
my view, but | marvel at the circum-
stances which would make wise man
foolish. Laughter. / honor Brother
Cuyler because he mad the courage to
invite Miss Smiley to his church.
Speaking OF the many commands laid
down in the New Testament, ne said
"You are command to honor the King.
Do you honor him (? No; you have
thrown him overheard. Paul says, l !
VIII, therefore, that men pray every,
where, lifling up holy hands without
wrath and doubling, In like manner,
Also, that women adorn themselves in
modest appeal, Laughter, in which
MIR, Bcecher joined shame-facedness
aud soPriety +; [continued laughter not
With hroidered hair, or gold, or pearls,
or costly array. Another burst OF
aughter, the pastor circulating sob, oh,
'h,) Why are not these women who
break these commands arraigped 2 Oh,
,rother Cuyler, ,arr of.f.,. r,
- LET THESE WOMEN BE TRIEp>
ho non suPPosH IL Vas wrong for wo- I