New-York tribune., 1874-03-30
wOMEN's WORK IN THE CHURCH.

4. ~
The Rev. CYRUS ID. Foss, ID. d., preached In
st. Pauls NJ. L. Church at Fourthave ana Twenty-Tc,
ond.s, Yesterday morning from the text: commend
INTO Won Phebe our sister. which Is servant OF the
church which Ia at Cenchrea that ye receive her III "o
Jora "A becometh saints and that ye assist her IN
whatsoever business she has need OF you Tor she ha'
hse, a succorer OF many and Of myself also" Romans
xvi and O. The apostle Paul. said the speaker had
number Of women among his helpers In the church. ana
from them substantial aid. 1t would be strange
If the Gospel that makes OF everything did not also
make use OF everybody. 1t would be strange II tho
women, who have so much to do with the human race
and who constitute the larger portion Of It, should not
also have much to do with Gods work toward IL.
God confers upon women especial honor. The
Christian religion employs women largely it calls
for active service from Them ana rccoS,
ni,es IL when performed Even in the Old
Testament times women were held in high honor. Eve
was not only the companion she was the confinement OF
Adam So also was sarah Of Abraham and r. becca OF
isaac Besides these Hannah and Miriam and Deborah
received especial honor OF God In me New Iestsmen'
You are not surprised 20 una tne m hra bsr loftv
praise and OF joy. When Christ began ms ministry
lovers and His most faithful adherents. How he de-
lighted to heal and teach and comfort women fctei
was raised up There was a company of women in Gal
hlee who followed Him. This ract Is en9ugnLlhaI
csSed fSS "ISss "S Of His love
men despised Jesus and Judged Him worthy OF
death the daughers OF Jerusalem na tbc" when
He hung upon against that cross were
the women who loved Him. Early on the morning OF
the third day the faithful were at the TOMB IN
all that sacred history there IL no record oi iemae
Judas or female Peter This record prepares W. ior
the Scripture teaching Of the rotation OF women 70 ln
Apostolic Church Nearly all the customs OF tine Church
are the results of its practice in its early history IN
fant baptism practiced In early times, ana no douD
by the Apostles. What then was the relation OF women
TO the Church OF God IL Is manifest tha women
though not ministers of the Word In the Apostolic
Church yet had prominent part in H. ana were minis
ters OF good works Had the Savior meant women 10 DC
pastors Of churches He would. think, have chosen
women among His Apostles. Yet women had
prominent place I'm the work OF tine Church
They were helpers OF Paul, not simply companions
This picture of the Apostolic Church aud OF womdns r.
aton 70 IT, was viewer, dark encd In the third
OF fourth cetues the spirit Of acecsm begun to show
Itself The beginning Cf sy stem OF mOnastic excli
siyeness was the tranitOn period, and little later
egious life meant life OF exclusiyeness. Whatever
good there was, wrought not by this idea OF her
tage but by the brotherlOods and ssterh0Ods whlcn
were an Outgrowth from it. There are mutitudes oi
women who would be GIFTED to do whatever they can
10 serve their They accomplish tins w0rK
by serving children by helping the needy by nursing
the fallen Let all hearers become prOcalmers OF the
Gospel DO YOU ask, how Go to some SICK aud suner.
ing one send him the Bible and other good books and
lend him sympathy aud consolation Or 90 10 the
poor and cheer II by your presence ana hep Dy
your aid. Thus You accomplish the work of the
church and win the admiration OF angels anu the ap
proyal of your Lord. In individual methods which you
can surely lind out there IL work for every woman ana
every girl Become servants Of the church.