Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-11
wnmAN,s LIRERTY
With Especial Reference to Her Usefulness fin the Church-Re- marks By Rev, NIT. Ford.

With Especial Reference to Her
 Usefulness fin the Church-Re-
 marks By Rev, NIT. Ford.
 Rev. 0. B. Ford, pastor of the George street M E. church, preached yesterday morning upon the subject ''Woman's Liber- ty in Christ's church, The text was taken from Mark, xiv 8, ''She hath done what she could'' The question concerning woman's position and work is neither novel nor un- important. The propriety and rightfulness of her praying and speaking in religious as- semblies are opposed by many upright and pious members of the church and are upheld by equally pious members We may look at the text and find Christ's commendation of woman's work in behalf of himself In the great day of final judgment God will render to everyone according to his works; but ability and opportunities will be taken into account. In regard to the approval of woman's work in the church the question is rightly asked: Can she-that is, has she abil
 ity so to speak and pray as to honor Christ? Is she prevented by Christ from laboring in his behalf! Praying and speaking by those authorized so to do cannot fail to honor Christ But has woman this authoritys In I Corinthians, xiv, 34 and 35, we read, 'Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything let them ask their husbands at home; for it is shame for women to speak in the church. D And in I Timothy, ii, II and 12, f'Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But l suffer not woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" These two passages are all that can be forced into the opposition theory. We are to consider both the command of the Lord Jesus Christ and mans interpretation of it in forming our judgment of this ques- tion. It is urged that the science of woman rests on foundation principles. Principles must abide, but customs, which are illustra- tive of those principles, may change cus- toms; give place to others without detri- ment to the cause of Christ If it was important that the women in the churches of Corinth and Ephesus should keep silent, it does not follow that in all ages she should be silent in religious assem- plies, else it would prevent her teaching in the Sunday school and singing in the choir or congregation. The passages forbid wo- men from engaging in the disorderly disputa tions, interruptions and discussions which often arose in the church at that time, not from speaking or praying in religious assem-
 plies as at present conducted. Paul had in view only the prevention of disorderly con duct If the passage is interpreted in any other light, it raises Paul in opposition to Paul, and is opposed to what took place in the days of Christ and the apostles
 'In silence" means in quiet, and thus wo- man is not prohibited from speaking and praying; she has the right to work in this way in Christ's vinegar Woman has the &o Nh,-ic3 oI,T a1,1 is her bounden duty and glorious privilege to do all that she can for Christ by speaking and interpreting his word and in praying for the welfare of her fellow beings. There is work for all to do in the Christian church. and the part that belongs to woman is by no means small" Last evening MT. Ford be- gan series of three sermons upon topics which relate to the future. The subject last evening was ''Heaven-What and Where" The other two of the series will be upon ''Heaven-Who are to be admitted there," and "Shan we know each other in heavens"