The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-02-10

any one, we DeileVe ne Is csllcu u
God to preach. These We receive as
sufficient proof that he is moved by
the Holy Ghost. ;"
Now as the candidate had met all
the requirements and tests demanded
in such cases, the question turned on
the use of the masculine gender in the
paragraphs we have quoted.
This ruling opens the. whole ques-
ton Of women 10 that denomination.
For, following out this ruling to its
legitimate sequence, we lind that wO-
men may not be ordained. because the
use OF the masculine gender in the
Discipline makes it illegal for them
to be licensed.
They cannot exhort, for IAN ex-
horter shall be constituted by the
recommendation of the class of which
he is member, or the Leaders and
Stewards meeting, page 12O.
They may not become Stewards, for
the Discipline, page 121 says Let
the Stewards be men OF solid piety,
&c.
They may not become class leaders.
Discipline. page 40; Let report of
the condition Of his class be presented
by the leader at each quarterly con-
ference. Let each leader be careful
to inquire how every soul of his class
prospcrs," &c.
There is section, page Al, Revised
Discipline, allowing the preacher in
charge to appoint women as leaders of
of children's classes, OF the ''age of
ten years or younger. But the ques-
ton of membership could not be made
to run in their favor on that, as on
voua C0R Ror.ca.1 h1co1,l;po 1s
very clearly shown that persons may
hold Office in the Church, may be
trustees and not be members of the
Church.
Nor may they become members.
"The visible Church of Christ is
congregation of faithful men, in which
the pure word of God is preached"
&C. Revised Discipline, page %.
In,the general rules further state
ment is made in connection with the
history of the rise of MethOdism in
Europe and America, and it is assert
ed in page 81. Revised Discipline, that
such Society is no other than a
company Of men having the form and
seeking the power of Goodness" etc.
And these men are eXhOrted to con-
tinue in well doing, by doing good of
every possible sort and as far as pos
sible to all men. Discipline, page 8.
So, following out this ruling, the
Church is composed Of men. and they
must give their energies to the sal
walton and care of men. And this
plan is followed when members are
received into full connection. Ad-
dressing the candidates, the pastor is
instructed to say, Dearly Beloved
Brethren. e-.fs essF
We had always supposed that breth-
rem included sisters, and that men
meant women as we'll; and when the
Bishops or ministers addressed their
instructions and appeals to the Dear
Brethren" we very naturally con-
clude0 that the women were entitled
to full share of the pastoral advice
and instruction.
But 1T may be some consolation to
our Methodist sisters to know that
under this ruling they cannot be tried,
or expelled from the church. After
stating the manner Of proceeding with
the trial ola member, the Discipline
says: III the accused person be
found guilty by the decision Of ma
jority of the committee, and the crime
be such as is expressly forbidden by
the Word of God, sufficient to exclude
a person from the kingdom of grace
and glory. let the preacher in charge
expel him.
IF the accused person evade trial !
by absenting himself, after sufficient i
notice has been given him. he may be |
tried in his absence, and if found /
guilty he shall be expelled"
And the same rule holds good in !
the matter of giving. discipline,
page 29) Notwithstanding, every
man ought, of such things as he ros-
literally to give aims to the
poor according to his ability.
But we need not pursue the subject
farther than to say that it is not SO
much question as to whether women
shall be ordained or not, as whether
they have under this ruling place in
the church or not. As bishops do not
make laws, issue edicts on church
policy or gospel truth, but are the in
terpreters of the laws as they stand in
the Isook of Discipline, all outside
questions of Scripture teaching and
policy are shut out, and they
ire limited to the law. So (if they
have not gone beyond the law in this
matter,) by their ruling. if carried to
It's legitimate sequence. it is illegal tor
to become members OF the NJ.
Z. Church, and clearly within their
province to rule every woman out of
he church. And such action would
be in harmony with the Interpretation
put upon the Book of Discipline. in
relation to licensing women. More
han two-thirds of the church are
women, and they possess a large share
IF her moral power, and crowd her
reasuries with their consecrated Of
erings.
How the Methodist church would
;hrivel and shrink TO mere skeleton
f this ruling was carried out to its
legitimate results An attempt was
% strike out this distinction in sex,
,ut it failed. So the question is an
,pen one, as to whether women have
lights and privileges in the Methodist
Episcopal Church as members.
In the House of Representatives,
IN the 4th, john Young 81 own, of
Kentucky, under cover of q speech
IN the civil rights bill, made a
most Indecent and uncalled for
stack on General Butler, securing
he opportunity to emit his venom
~ what the majority of tho House
mildly denominated'' prevarication,'I
,ut which, outside of that body,
would have been called downright
ying. He was promptly arrested,
brought before the bar of the
louise. and severely censured, es
aping expulsion only because Mr..
Dawes resolution ordering such