The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-12-27

CANTON MINISTER'S
--s
Give Their Views on "WOmen In
the Pulpit"
Only a Few Heard From Up to
This Time,
But tho Indications Point to a Lively
and Interesting Discussion
More 10 Follow Soon.

II has been understood that there OK
listed among the ministers OF tho city a
difference OF opinion on this important
matter, and a letter was directed 10
each minister for his ylows briefly OK
pressed,
A number Of the ministers have re-
spOnded aud q few Of the letters are
given to the public to-day Other lot
tors are ~ hand aud VIII be published
daily until the list has been finished,
Indications point TO an animated dis
Gusaion on tho apblebt which
win soon be entered Into by leading
women church workers In the city
HEy, GRIsE QUOTES soRPTURE,
Rev. Ira Grlse, OF tho Wesleyan Meth
odist, writes "Your letter, saying that
/ am reported as being opposed to
women In the pulpit and asking my
views briefly given, received to-day,
First lct me say that am not opposed
10 women preaching tho gospel, nor
have l been since | became an advocate
Of woman suffrage, when but ~ years
of ago. Since my p]aatorate IN Canton
of q little more than two ana ono hall
years, we have held several series OF
meetings In which the preaching was
done principally by lady eyangellets,
This, however, touches practice not
theory. ! offer no apology for REFER
inc 10 Bible texts, since upon these,
Christian men and women need 10 base
their views. In Acts XXI, y, q evidence
IL given Of Philip, who had -four
daughter -ylrging, which did proph'
eBy."
First Cor, xi, $40, gives something
of the manner In which women lhall
appear In public congregations where
they pray or %prophosy,' hence,
there must have been women
who did pray and prophecy
| am aware that the issue on this VIII
be the meaning Of the word prophecy
Not only does the word refer 10 the
predicting of future events, but means
also teaching or %expOunding the scrip
lures, and Ia the scriptures noted the
word must DO accepted In this latter
sense. Other references arc made OF
women who were engaged In gospel
Work as helpers etc. But the bone OF
contention seems to spring from Cor,
IA, "a. "Let your women keep silence
In the churches" IL must DO romeni'
bered that at this time women held o
very inferior place In society aud be-
cause of selfish human nature the prop
or recognition Of the gifts OF woman
was very slow. In jewish assemblies
mon were permitted TO ask questions
and To debate; women had no SUCH
privilege, and ~ the thought was de-
rived from assembly or business gath.
erings, II must apply TO the same kind
Of meetings TO the people addressed.
But with prejudice removed ana the
lot OF women elevated, even this custom
came TO be changed with but little
shock 10 the religious world, ana now
we have the fact before us that woman
| has gotten into the pulpit and that she
Ii there TO stay, And why should she
not, when she displays so much ability
| Spiritual, logical, eloquent, oil the quail
ihoations necessary 10 make n success
| full evangelist or pastor, and when back
| Of all this the voice OF God speaking TO
her inmost consciousness and calling
her 10 this very sphere OF labor, why
falterp She does not falter nor hes
itate even though u selfish EccleaiaStic'
ism would urge her 10 silence.
NEVER 80 ExrREssED mMsELE.
Rev. Harpster, Of the Trinity Luth
eran writes: l have been mlsreported
never expressed myself rs being OPP
posed TO women In the pulpit, nor In
any words to that effect.
BELIEVER IN NO DISCRIMINATION
Reverend Pounds OF the Disciple
church writes: On the question Of
"Women In the Pulpit" | have space tC
express no more than an opinion. | an
In favor Of women preaching the Cos
pei. l mean by that, not preaching II
a private way, in her parlor only, but
publicly and from the pulpit, ] bc
lieye the restrictions laid upon womei
by the inspired writers Of the New
Testament (Which restrictions were u
that time necessary TO the maintai'
anCe OF feminine m0desty, reserve aGC
proprietyO were designed to pass away
with the times and public opinion
which demanded them. Ana, slnc'
our liberal yi0ws and culture nay
made 1t possible for q women TO bl
actively engaged in public life and gu
retain those qualities which make h.
so cherished and admired as true LADY
since The great principles OF equalit,
and liberty which Christ planted amonl
men, have succeeded In placing Womei
on an equality with man In honor an
intelligence, the barriers which oXolud
ed her from the pulpit exist no mort
and I think IL Is her right. believ
when God has given her the talent ah,
placed her In favorable circumstance
that IL Is her duty TO enter the pulp
and, In the name of her master, call stI
ners to repentance. ! think IL righ.
and am therefore In favor women enter
terlng the pulpit and preaching O
him in whom "rhere Is neither male 0
female but oil are one"
} A STRONG OPPONENT no WOMEN l
THE PULPIT.
Rev, L. II. Meyer, Of the Evangelist
Lutheran Jerusalem church writes; |
% communication received from you
, Office on Monday morning, you reque'
my views in regard to the Subject
women occupying the pulpit, a matte
which seems TO have been revive
again in certain circles in this city. J
reply to your request we will frank
state our position on that question an
furnish the reasons for the same, I'D
Lutheran church generally is decided
] opposed to the idea Of women engagin
/ in the holy calling Of the gospel mini
[. try, and | as q pastor in the Lnthera
! church heartily endorse her position