Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-23
A Female Preacher.

Rev. Ella Bartlett, a clergywoman
Qf we may use the word) Of the Uni
versalist faith, preached in the base
ment of the Cumberland church last
Friday night. The room was small
one, but it was literally packed and
even the windows were filled, and
crowds stood outside, being unable to
get in. The audience was composed
of about three fourths ladies and one
fourth gentlemen. This was due to
the fact, however, that the men were,
like "IIirain" at the Commencement
Sermon, crowded out. The speaker
is from Madison, Wis, and the North
ern brogue is very pronounced in her
speech. She appeared attired in a
black silk dress, with 10 jewelry but
breast-pin, and stood TO one side of
the stand and not behind it. While
speaking she held her left hand be-
hind her, in which was paper with
few notes jotted down, though she
rarely ever referred to it. In her
right hand she held a palm leaf fan
which she piled vigorously as she
talked. As she warmed up in her
discourse she laid down the fan and
gesticulated gracefully with her right
hand. She was woman of cOmely
appearance, apparently somewhere in
the thirties as to age. Her hair was
black and put up in coil OH the back
of her head AMI she was without bangs
or other head adOrnments. Her fore
head was retreating, her figure stout,
waist large and voice deep and So
norous fora female. The services were
begun at s 80 O'Clock with prayer by
Rev. a. c. Biddle, after which Miss
Bartlett read a chapter and the choil
sang hymn. She then took hcl
text from | James, ~ and entered
with self-pOssession into her discourse
She referred to the Greek and Ro,
man contests and games for prizes in
ancient times and then spoke of the
contests of Christians against evil
their reward being a crown of glory
and eternal life. She dwelt upon
the promises i'll the Bible and said
eternal life was not a reward but a
free gift from God to man. She de-
fined eternal life as knowledge OF
God and closer communion with
God. Speaking Of the love of God
she said it was natural impulse with
man to love God and there should be
a chord Ofsympathy between man and
his God. Love is life. We live upon
love and should love our maker with
a good and pure love. The Chris
tian's reward for well-doing is eter-
nal life, the gift of God. No wicked
person could be approved of God OIL
receive the crown Of life. While this
crown is free gift, it must come Of
mans own work. 1t is better for all
to do their best to serve God, for evil
reacts upon wrong-doing. Develop
Christ, strive for a more perfect
knowledge of God and become glori.
fed in the end. The apprehension Of
Christ's spirit is an invincible armol
which makes its wearer safe from
evil. In the life eternal hereafter We
shall have closer communion with
God and be purer, more holy and
more spiritual. She then closed by
declaring that life of eternal happi.
ness awaited all mankind and ended
by invoking Gods blessings upon the
audience. The sermon was rather
disconnected and it was not till neal
the end that she even alluded to the
subject of universal salvation. She
was listened to with attention and
her sermon was pronounced by all tC
be a very good one from the stand.
point of her faith and belief.