The Iola register., 1889-05-17
wUMeN IN THE CHURCH.


sages Bearing Upon the Subject.
The acti OF the General Conference
lately in session in New York, in ex.
pelling from their doors the women
who had been elected and sent there as
delegates, is step that affects all wo,
men in every denomination. 1t is,
therefore, subject upon which all wo-
men should inform themselves.
Before starting out in their investiga-
tons they should remind themselves
that the first chapter of Genesis teaches
that God created man and woman abso-
lutte equals and gave them joint ruler
ship over the whole inferior creation.
They should also remember that
Christ was in an especial sense the
friend OF woman. that she never fell too
low to receive His tenderest sympathy
and helpful words. and that all of His
religion was based on this: .All things
whatsoever We would that men should
do to you, do We even so to them"
Having thus firmly fixed in mind the
knowledge that Old and New Testa-
ments reveal that God knows no par
tiality for His sons over His daugh-
tiers, they should now examine the
practice of the men who manage the
churches.
These men, it must be recollected,
decide all questions by the rule of ma
iority. Two-thirds of all church men,
! bership is composed of women If
Gods intention concerning woman was
carried out and women chose to regu-
late church government according to
sex, they would have absolute control
in every denomination to-day.
But what do we actually see in all
these denominations to-day? That
men have decided that the ruling ma
iority shall be man majority, and
that they have wrongfully seized upon
all the high places of honor. and hold
in their firm grasp the entire control of
church government
We have had one great reformation
in church history. when Luther dared
! to throw off the yoke of mans construc-
ton. The time is now ripe for another
for woman to assert her right as joint
ruler, and her right to her own inter-
probation of Gods message to her.
Every time you put woman in you
put man out" shouted Dr. Buckley.
the rabid opponent of women on the
floor of the NJ E. Conference. mo
church worthy of the name erer re-
ceived women into its law-making
body"
Said St Paul to his "law-making
body" II commend you unto Phebe
our sister. that We receive her in the
Lord, as becometh saints. and that We
assist her in whatsoever business she
hath need of you. Which is the more
Christ-like?
As if foreseeing these latter days
when men should try to torture isolated
passages into supporting their love of
power and desire to control women, st.
Paul exclaims. The letter killeth, but
the spirit giveth life"
As you look at the beasts Of the field.
at the raving lunatic. do you not feel
that Gods most precious gift to you is
your reason? Is it not an insult to the
giver when the recipient of a gift
thrusts it into dark corner. refuses to
use it. and sits foolishly lost in admira-
ton of that which belongs to some one
else? Yet so does every woman who
allows man, purely as man. to decide
what she shall think and what she shall
do.
The legal government of Christian
America has placed. and still keeps.
Christian women in rank with idiots.
lunatics and criminals The Church
overnment follows suit by treating her
perpetual child. They virtually
interpret the Golden Rule in this way:
Whatsoever things each man would
that each man should do unto him.
even so let each man do unto each
man." They graciously permit women
to minister to the poor, visit the sick.
beg money, give it, or hold fairs to
make it. or. as they say, devote them
selves. in general way, to such forms
of Christian labor as may be suited to
their abilities" But they select for
themselves the right to decide uhat all
uomen's abilities are.
There be wise women and foolish wo-
ment, eloquent women and silent wo-
men. women Of great executive talent
and woman who can only work as SUBJ
ordinates, and yet the church govern
ment virtually says, None of these
women shall sit in our high councils"
You have only to read the reports of
any Church conference, assembly. con-
vention. or what ever it may be called.
to see that not all the lawmakers are
wise. not all eloquent. not all even kind
and gentle. What does this prove, if
not that the Church prefers even fool
isd man to a wise woman?
/ charge you. women who are moth
srs. think upon these things. Your
son and daughter grow up by your side.
1t often does happen that that daughter
is more intellectual. more spiritual.
more Christ-like. more gifted by God
than your son. Is it just that you two
as women. should abuse the gifts Of
God by making yourselves ladders for
such man to climb into pulpit. from
whence he may shout: II suffer not
woman to teach; let women keep si-
lence in the churches?"
1t is only the ignorant. the narrow,
the un-Christ-like who use that mis-
text as a shield for their |
own monumental selfishness. Saturate
yourselves with the Spirit OF God. who |