Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-24
Women in the Scriptures.

To the Editor of The EVENING star:
The question Of the day in the Methods.
Episcopal Church is the admission of women
as lay delegates to the general conference.
Considering the fact that in the membership
OF the Methodist church two-thirds are women,
1t does seem strange to the reasoning female
mind that 80 many Of the ministers are opposed
TO the admission Of women to the councils OF
the church. and that they distort the scriptures
to prove that il Is almost wicked for women to
dare to aspire to any equality with men.
nave before me pamphlet OF sixteen
pages, published by John A. Broadus, u. D.,
LID. Baptist divine. On the first page he
says Christian civilization has, by degrees,
greatly elevated the female sex" Then, GER
tainiy. women are not now in the same condi-
ton as in the days of Paul when advised to re-
main In sub lection and silence. Wcmen have
been elevated 80 high they now want another
degree. Has christianity lost its power and
women their capacity, that more elevation is
impossible?
How would the ministers Of today like to
obey the command. go without purse or
scrip, with but one coat?"
Mr.. Broadus quotes First Corinthians, ri ::34
to prove that woman are forbidden to speak in
the churches. then quotes First Corinthians.
xi:5, where women are told they must not
speak or prophesy in church with uncovered
heads. Mr.. Broadus tries 10 explain away tho
latter text and makes the use of English words
meaningless. he gives long explanation or
Greek verbs, but brings not one unporverted
scripture to prove that women (from tho day
OF Pentecost when women were. as well as
men, baptised with the Holy Ghost and spnke
with toagues) did not take part in the advance
ment OF christianity during the days OF Christ
and his apostles. We learn IN Genesis, i:2S,
that God gave to Eve equal dominion with
Adam lover every living thing that movcth
upon the EARTH"
From fourth chapter Judges we learn that
Deborah, married woman and prophecies,
Judged Israel" that God through her COM
manded Barak to go out against Sisera, and
that the general Of the army refused to so I'M
less Deborah went with him. Deborah went
and was victorious, and Jael, a woman. finished
the difficulty by hitting the nail on the head.
Tho Lord SAID to the children Of Israel
through Mirah. sixth chapter, fourth verse.
'.Did not send before you Moses. Aaron and
Miriam to deliver you out Of Egyptian bond
age?"
When the two Maryswent to the tomb of the
Savior the angel commissioned them to 60 to
the disciples with the good news that Christ
had risen: and when tho women met their dear
Savior on the way and chung to his feet he con-
firmcd the commission of the angel. Matthew,
twenty-eighth chapter.
If Lois ard Eunice could so thoroughly in
struct Timothy in the faith of which Paul
boasts why should they not be allowed to teach
others?
II women had wisdom and grace to teach in
the days of the apostles why should the ad-
vanced women of today be excluded from leg
islating for the best methods. in the promul-
CATION of the angels song that rcverbcrated
over the plains of bethlehem when the Prince
of Peace lay cradeled in manSer watched
over by very young woman?
Change of circumstances require different
conditions. What applies truly to one gen.
GRAFTON caunot be made the rule for succeeding
generations without great injustice in many
cases.
Advancement is written on the nineteenth
century. IL is woman's era and means wide
sphere, broad scope, great zeal, patient endur-
ance, final success, and must arouse men to
emulation. Woman has tho credit Of starting
humanity on the downward grade. She is now
older and wiser and wishes to tighten the
brakes on the wheels of sin, ere destruction
overtakes our nation. Why should any avenue
OF usefulness be closed to some women because
all women do not select to walk in that avenue?
The female sex greatly predominates. Many
women never marry and are free to choose
their own vocation. But mind has no sex. The
person to whom God gives talent should be
allowed to use that talent for the greatest good
to mankind, in family, church, state. On the
Use of tobacco and rum she would vote nay
every time. no matter if the ministry was in
volved in the question.
Let us hear the conclusion Of the whole
matter. Galatians. ills: There is neither
Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female. for We are all
one in Christ" Mrs. l.. E. DEANE.
Washington, d. c., October 20, 1890.