New-York tribune., 1880-10-24
CHRIsTT4NITY ~ THE MIRKErPLACE.

CHRiSIIfNIIl ~ mr. M1hhEL-ILHtT'
On last Sunday we called attention 10 the
unusual readiness shown BY the great religious
conventions latoly in conference to glapplc with
the prac caI questions Of the day. DuIlng last
week the subject brouoht forward most forclbly
by those sill ii session has been the kindred
one of the everyday practical work which
ought to be done by Christians, and how they
best could do It: matter which concerns every
reader of The TRIBUNE, whether profcs edly
Christian not.
As for example. The Eplscopa.ians took up
the question of the official employment OF sIngle
women or widows in church WORK, and de-
cided in favor OF the appointment OF Deacon
e,ses, whose duty should he the educ tion of
the Young the care Og the poor and sick, he
retaining of the fallen. and other works of
Christian char "" This is, in effect, n ac-
knowledgmrnt of the prudence and sagacity in
this matter of the Chui ch OF z me. who. What-
ever her errors, never suffers power within her
Limits to run TO waste. There Is a large
amount O. wasted power in the purpo,eess,
eropnc lives of many singlc Protestant women.
They have prob Ibly talent, sympithics, or bes5
of all. that especial womanIy quality Of mother
illness. but have no natural outlet for them.
w liy SDOulu Incg upt' 'Ilth' p' 'I' ~ NV
Church TO some defined da!y! Watcher they
helped humanity not, thcy would help them
selves. The objection II ged Is That any woman
minded To 40 Chrisi's WORK has the poor and
sick qnd children always about her; that she
does not need to wear cap and 10 n, to 20
under orders, to be dubbed Sister o, Dtacouess.
All OF which Is true enough. Bus the argument
in favor of giving costume, title and official
recognition to the work OF good woman IS
nrcciScly the same rs that for giving them 20
clergymen. The struggling. unsupported III
divilual the Christian widow or old maid,
becomes one OF an honorable profession; the
prestige of respect goes before her. and helps
b work. The very title and costume appeal
10 her own Imagination. She has the added
strength of recognition from pcopl" minded
like herself, and the perpetual stimulus 0i
certain esprit de corps. 1t is. in short the
difference between trudgng along dusty high
way alone and despi>cd, and marching Id
band with music and banners.
so far 50 much the better f0I the woman.
But for the work We believe that moro
Christian work wonld he done by this kind Of
organized effort thtn if the POOR aud sicl; and
needy were left 70 the spasmodic and some
women; for the simple reason that many wo-
men will join sisterhood and do good Chris
tan work in It, wIo, outside, would do no
Christian work at all. They want an outlet for
their energy, executive ability, and love of
control, and they get it in the hospital or asy-
lum. while in private life it would waste tself i'll
vehement housekeeping, gossip or meddling.
All Sisters and DeaconesseS cannot he spiritual
Marys the Church should find room and work
for the half-cOnverted, bustling, dictatOrial
Marthas.
The evil that may be feared from those semi
ordained women is that which they may inflct
on the cause OF Christ Not every young girl,
however sincere who may be drawn 10y
disappointment in love, or sickly sentiment, tC
forswear the world and take orders, Is fit of
ciaIly to represent her Master III the worlds
eyes. Christianity has to shoulder the short
cOmngs of TOO many weak and unable clergy
men and hypuaritical prOft sors as ii is; do not
nut upOn the cause the weight of feminine in
competency and mistaken zeal. The sister
hoods of the Roman Church arc kept under
strict surveillance and control; the vain
worldly or ambitious nun has no chance 10 dis
grace her Master by her errors in the worlds
eye The heads of the Protestant Church must
copy their sister also in this pre-, autiOnary
system. 1t viii not do, we suggest, to turn
loose pretty deaconcsses 10 work with Il
= Bishops sanction in writing" If the cause of
Christ is to be lifted to higher standard of
humility zeal and stem devotion to duty.
There is no Church. probably, which offers
better example of everyday religion and of
Christian doctrines practiscu ~ he market place
than The quiet Morayians, yhO recently closed
one of their great annual conferences in philade-
pbia. No sect, not even the Catholic with its
perfect ystcm and ages of experience, is as sue
cessful missionary agent AS this, simply be-
cause the best men in her ranks in Europe, the
noble by birth and the most thorough in cul-