The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-06-16
YOUNG WOMEN PREACHERS.

The Sad End Of One In the West Who Died
When Her Ambition Was Blightetl-The
Story Of the Rev. Misses Shaw, Lent, and
Oliver-Are Girl Pr eachers Popular?
From the New York Sun.
There are several young women in this
country who have patiently prepared for the
ministry, and are now engaged in struggle
with the church dignitaries for ordination.
The most persistent opposition has come to
them from the College of Bishops Of the NJ.
E. church, and many of the friends of the
young women accuse the bishops of hard
heartedness and cruelty, and it is said that
ences are willing to accept the young wo-
men as co-workers, the higher officers of
the church have steadily set their faces
against the admission of women to the pull
pit. The story of the struggle of some of
these young ladies ia pathetic. Miss Mary
A. Phillips, a beautiful young woman of
the most perfect blonde type, who possess
ed q sensitive disposition, was killed by the
rebuffs she met from the church. She was
the daughter of jeremiah Phillips, of o.
ney, ILL.,, and when very young possessed
the feeling that she had been called to the
ministry.
II know" says her father, that she tried
long and hard to get rid of the feeling.
Many gifts in her little room she cried and
sobb ediherself to sleep when we did not
know the cause. She shr1lnk from the task
of becoming a preacher. for she was SEN
sitive plant, but at last. when it became q
question of the life and death of her soul
preparation for the ministry. She read in
secret for long time, and always read the
illogical works. At length, with slender
means, she started for the Garret Biblical
institute, young and alone, no protector but
God, no guide but the Holy Ghost. We
saw her of, waved her many good bys, and
as the train moved away we could see her
pale face, wet with tears. pressed against
the window, where it remained until the
train was out of sight.
Miss Phillips met with a cold reception
at the institute. Even her pastor, God
forgive him." says her father was cold as
ice." She rapidly made friends, and when
she graduated she was the popular member
of her class. She began her work, but
needed the sanction Of the Southern
Illinois conference to obtain church for
continuous employment. A canvass was
made of the members Of the conference,
and it is estimated that about two thirds of
the members of that body were in favor of
admitting her. Her pastor, the Rev.
1uOud0 Z 4Out6s WIZ W16 1OIlQeT1y
lawyer, and the presiding elder, the Rev.
hitting her; Bishop Andrews, who presided,
had met her in the theological institute
OF Evanston, and had learned Of her prepar-
alton to do conference work. As he gave
no hint of disapproval of her course, and
made no suggestion to diesuade her from
her studies, he wos thought to be favorably
disposed toward her, but when a motion
was made to recognize her, that she might
be permitted to work for the Christian
cause, Bishop Andrews said: II will not
entertain the notion"
The young woman never recovered from
the shock caused by these words. She be-
gan to waste away, and died on August 16.
1880, aged twenty one years, eight months,
and twenty one days. Until the light of
eternity shows me my mistake" says the
father, Il shall believe that the blood of
my dear child rests upon the head of the
bishop. Why did he not tell her at Evans
ton that she had mistaken the character of
the M. E. church, and that she could not
be received? She never for once thought
such faith in the church and its chief min
listers. The opposition she expected was
from the world. But she has gone now
where no inferred head will ever be heard
to say, I will not entertain the motion
just before she died she said: Jesus will
find something for me to do over there
I remember the time when q bishop refused
to put an anti slavery resolution to vote,
and said: 1t is too late in the day to ask my
reasons but slavery is dead and the bishop
is dead. The day will come when the wo-
men of he church will enjoy equal rights"
Mr.. Philips went to work to vindicate the
right of women to preach, and succeeded
in obtaining from the quarterly conference of
Olney, ILL.,, license fora Miss Longwood.
Bishop Andrews sent to Olney as 9 pastor
of the Phillips family one Of those who op-
posed opening the conference doors to wo-
men. The choice was taken as an indica-
ton that the bishop meant to cure Olney Of
its desire for women preachers, but the new
pastor, the Rev. William Wallis, was be-
sieged BY the adherents of the cause of wo-
mems rights to; preach, who sympathized
With jeremiah Phillips, and in April las the
preached sermon, which was accepted at
his cspitulation, inasmuch as he referred,
in terms OF. praise. to what women had &C
complished as preachers. This stirred up
Mr.. Phillips, who shouted vigorous
Amen" II hope the bishop" he said,
will send us another man of that sort." ::
z:zThe Rev. Miss Kate Lenttis q little wo!e
man, who will this year finish her studies
IN fha Mathodiet Eniacona1 achon1 ~ Ehanl