The St. Cloud journal., 1872-04-11
SHALL W0HAH PREACH?
BY JANE GREY sWIesHILM.

the world and rcnding the churches,
and its settlement on s,riptural basis
is very desirable. Rev. Theodore Guy
Ter, while admitting the ezpediency Of
revoking the established rule, says "the
Bible is -committal on the subject"
and 10 SO saying is certainly mistak.
en-.
The first public preacher of Christ
was Anna, ''who departed not from the
temple, and spake Of him to all them
that looked for redemption in Jerusa-
lem." His mother and Elizabeth had
preached, privately, by divine iuspira-
tion but the first public presentations
of this Jesus ss the very Christ were by
Anna, prophecies.
The Bible is non.comm1tted as to
whether any Of the seventy sent out to
preach were woman ; but it is not prob
able they were. The exposure Of such
service would have been unsuited
to women; and "a decent res.
pect for the opinions Of mankind"
! made, aud still makes, great eircum-
spection necessary. No commission
could release woman from the law
which requires all to "avoid the appear.
ance of evil;;" and the fact that no
woman was among Christ's constant
companions is, no doubt, due to the
proper observance of this law.
Those who overlook the respect
which Christ and his apostles paid to
the auctuating law Of prop.iety must
always be at loss to interpret the Bible
on the woman question. 1t was in
obedience to this law that Paul directed
or commanded the Corinthian women
to keep silence in churches. None but
lewd women had been in the habit Of
attending public assemblies Of men in
Coriuth; and it would bring scandal on
the infant Church to have its women
talk in public. Aside from this con-
sideratioo, they were ignorant, and had
nothing to say that it was not an annoy
| ance to hear. They were like chill
| dren, and must be taught the first les
| SOD iu public Instruction.. e., 20 sit
| still and listen.
Those who have seen congregation
OF c, ntrabands can understand what
Paul meant By enjoining silence on
these barbarian women. They must
not disturb the meeting by asking
questions out wait aud inquire of their
husbands, whv were the only persons
they were likely to meet 10 private that
were better informed than themselves.
If Paul were DOW writing to the mis-
sion churches in China, he would prob.
ably direct that none but women should
preach to or teach Chinese women, and
forbid that promiscuous assembling of
the sexes which so much endargers the
missions. He would certainly enjoin
great tenderness for the prejudices and
established custo rs OF the people he
sought to win to an acknowledgment
that Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour of
the world but the great commission
was gwen alike to "Jew and Greek,
bond aud free, male and female"
Matthew, in the last two verses,
gives the most perfect copy of that
commission "AlI power is given un-
to me, in Heaven and in earth. Go
ye, therefore" etc. "Lo! I am with
you Away, even unto the end of the
world"
The last clause makes it certain that
the eleven to whom the commission
vas given were representatives Of long
succession of followers and here we
have the claim for apostolic succession.
Marks account of the same transaction
adds "They went forth and preached
every rywhere, the Lord working with
them and confirming the Word by signs
following"
The "they" certainly means more
than the eleven, for eight followed the
preaching Of other disciples; and We
lii ust believe that the apostles repre-
seuted others, then living, who did not
receive a commission form them. But
Luke leaves no room for doubt, by in-
forming US that, after delivering the
commission, Christ added "Tarry ye
in the city Of Jerusalem until ye be
endued with power from on high"
This is all We know of the comm1s
sion, for John says nothing about it
! but the eye" who were to be enduced
with power from on high were certain
ly tho eye" who were to preach and
baptize, and it was they and their sue,
cessors With whom Christ is to be until
the end Of the world.
The settle the question as to who was
so erducd, we turn to Acts ii. Let the
inquirer after truth read the cha 2ter !;
'Thcy we're all with one accord in one
; place." when the power came, "a rush
,ng. mighty wind, and cloven tongues
of fire, aud sat upon each of them r
The people were astonished; the
city filed with wonder and the Ten.
pie was soon packed to witness the
phenomena. Then Peter arose and ex-
, planned that "this"-the event then
: transpiriug before their cyes-w.s the
; fuIillment Of the prophecy Of God 4
will pour out of my spirit on all flesh,
and your sous and your daughters shall
DrOnhesv and IN nv servants ond IN