The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-11
For the Central Presbyterian.
A Few Modest Suggestions.


try elder, and one too, only recently in
Quoted into the Presbyterate, do not
P.cfess to be fully acquainted with all
tn workings of our ecclesiastical ma.
chinery. l suppose, however, that it is
the business of the Stated Clerk of our
General Assembly to supervise the pub
fishing of its printed Minutes. If this be
the case, | beg leave, through your col
umns, to make few modest suggestions
to the brother who fills that responsible
position. My suggestions relate to the
deliverance of the recent Assembly on
the Public Preaching of Women 1 offer
them with the greatest difidence, and
trust that if in any respect they are con-
trary to established forms and usages
may be pardoned. Whatever may be
the value of my suggestions intrinsically,
they spring from the purest motives,
namely, desire to preserve our Chris
tian liberty and right Of conscience intact.
desire to prevent tyrannical invasion
Of the rights guaranteed Sessions by our
excellent constitution, and desire to do
what | can to oppose those agitators who
seek to turn our Assembly into Popish
Council.
My first suggestion is that the Stated
Clerk make footnote at the bottom of
the page on which the deliverance in
question, to the effect this deliverance is
merely didactic, advisory, and mont
tory Or if the language of the deliv-
erance appears to him to be an authori-
tative Interpretation of the teachings of
our standards on the subject of the Public
Preaching of Women, he might (at least
so it seems to me) add footnote to the
effect that this deliverance is probably
to be regarded as nothing more than di-
dactic, advisory, and monitory."
think some such explanation as this
is imperatively demanded. For none
know better than yourselves, Messrs.
Editors, that the public generally take
an instrument in its plainest and most
obvious sense This being true, it does
seem to me that unless the footnote l
have suggested is added, the language of
this deliverance is liable to gross and
fatal misconstruction. 1t is very en-
phatic, and to plain reader like myself,
seems to be nothing more nor less than
an attempt to interpret the word of God
and the constitution of the Church in re-
lation to the matter in hand 1t declares
that our constitution does clearly pro-
hibit the public preaching of women.
Moreover, it seems to make it the duty
of the lower courts to deal with any min
lister who introduces a woman into his
pulpit 1t says: "This Assembly de-
clares the introduction of women into our
pulpits for the purpose of publicly ex-
pounding Gods word an irregularity
not to be tolerated" What are we to
make of such language as this? If it is
to be taken in its plain and obvious sense
we are forced to exclaim-O ten1pora, O
m1oresQNeI Have we returned to infalli-
bic CEcumenical councils? Does the AS
sembly mean to insinuate that Presby-
terians are so bereft of intelligence that
each cannot interpret for himself even
the clear teachings of God word and our
constitution? Are our brethren whom
we send to represent us in the Assembly
to illuminate DEGREES debating to us what
be tolerated.? Alas for the Church, if
this action were capable of no other con-
struction. Triumphant agitators would
then have room to congratulate them
selves that their willy plots to bring in
Popery by back door were likely to be
successful. But happily this action ad,
mlts OF another explanation. Evidently
this action is to be taken in serio-Pick-
wickian sense. 1t is nothing but an IN
tbesj deliverance after ALTO vita
safety valve for the darkened zeal and
and papistical propensities of violent ex-
tremists 1t means nothing and settles
nothing. Each minister and Session is
just as much at liberty to introduce noble
gifted women into the pulpit to preach as
he was before. 1t rather confirms than
lessons the safety of those who, freed from
the shackles Of bigotry, desire to open
new sphere of usefulness to Christian wo-
men. For should any Presbytery in un-
dertaking to discipline one of its members
for introducing woman into his pulpit,
base its action on this deliverance or
should it even refer to this deliverance in
the most remote way, such action would
be null and void-being itself based on
nullity. Here is a beautiful illustration
of the saying I'm medii8 t7ltissiD,1ls ibi8,' "
q. C., you will walk with greatest safety
between the word Of God and IN thesi
deliverances. IF the courts of our Church
could only be persuaded of what is an
undoubted truth, namely, that our con
stitution itself is only a great an fbesi Mt