New-York tribune., 1874-03-07
THE CORINTHIAN WOMEN.
rcrrRE ny THE REV, T. ARMITAGE. ID. d.

LECTURE BY THE REV. t. ARMITAGE. d. d.
The Rev. Il. Armitage, ID. d., lectured yes
terday afternoon Oh the subject, "Did Paul enoin
silence on Womenl" He said: The question before us
has arisen from the Apostles Episte to the Corinthians
and I shall largely base my remarks on First Corin-
thans, xi, 5; xiv, Si 49, Timothy, H., II. IL. An
anonymous writer took exception to my handling Of
this theme some weeks ago in article in The Examiner
and Chronice. Though his style was gentlemlny and
scholarly, I must regret that his reply was
based on newspaper report necessarily
synoptical, aud not characterized by
fine verbal criticism. The reviewer says that with
st. Pauls xpress injunctious the subject OF
as regards church matters there is ground for
lecture. deny that | have INDUCED in presumptve
conjecture In legal jurisprudence II IL acknowledged
principle that must define the sense Of clause by the
drift OF the whole passage in which such clause occurs
To whom Paul wrote the passages which the sub
iect OF discussion and why wrote them are ques-
tipns OF moInentous importance 70 us The reviewer
charges me with drawing shocking picture OF Greek
women, aud OF finding some OF the evidence on
which / base my statements in profane his
tory Since ST. Paul quotes from three heather
writers. Arabus, Cieonthes, and comedy Of
Neander, sufficiently justified. II 81. Paul pre-
septs us with portrature Of Greclan wOmanhood far
inferior 10 that which described either my critic must
admit what say refute the Apostle. The eplthets
which Euripides applied TO Greek women and which
tory. the reviewer would hardly consider ransatabe.
Morals were at such low ebb among Spartan women in
solop's time that one Of mis- euactments was that
woman should not be allowed on the street with more
than one servant unless she drunk. Such was
female character at the dime St. Paul wrote 10 the
Achaisn Church. II Priscilla and Phoebe should be ad-
duced as xceptions be answered that neither
a Grecan although each eventually made her home In
Greece. In Romans xvi H. 49, we have authority Tor
believing women labOred for Christ The question
Corinthians that Paul ad such special niunctons upon
Cornthian women We know OF one noble exception
Choewho reported the Irregularities Of her brethren
and sisters the apostle. We are hence led TO
sider the internal condition OF the Church OF Corinth
aud are forced from careful consideration to believe
Pauls letter TO the Corinthians intended to be
mainly local in teachings. The reviewer however.
objects this conclusion because of St PauPs Eplse
10 Timothy. IL may be answered that the apostle
giving Timothy general rules. hpeaklng
oniectionabe in women was urged onlyhupOn the Cor
iuthans II therefore logical TO infer that only ia
COrinthan churches did women behave unseemy In
tins respect st. Paul had been absent from Corluth
During the period Of his absence false teachers had In
cuIcated false dOctrines pernIcIous methods of
ship. Drunkenness was even allowed al the Lords
supper and the most dgraceful disorders tolerated,
that St. Paul obliged not only To speak plainly to
TO children, but also 70 ldnn them
with his mOst whitening sarcasm. He had also 10
rect their nordiuate vanity To the meD AZ we as 10
the women he gave advice.
When lmmodcrt dre sacrec orgies at the sacra
ment OF the Last supper, drunkenness were tolerated.
is II any wonder that have 81 Pau repremand ia
Niyth chapter of COrlDthlaDst My reviewer says
that women were Christian women 70 were their
brethren Christian Bat Christians they
far asray and lacking in good order can speak OF
them a. low as did the Apostle They babes in
spiritual knowledge; they could not bear the strong
DRINK OF the truth.