Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1891-01-10

rally, proposing step SO momentous, wished to
give some utterance to hopes, expectations re-
solves and fears which grievousy beset me- in part
from the need for adequate expression and wise
criticism. President Finney, with his head either
in theological clouds or in the serener upper blue,
did not yet realize that two young women had
actually begun to study in bis classes.
"Whose turn comes next" he asked, after
several young men had spoken.
1T is Antoinette Browns turn, answered some
one, after shade of hesitation.
"Her turn! Oh, we don't ask thu women to
speak," he replied in serene explanation. Then
the stir of something unusual seemed to make it,
self felt and the tardy remembrance of what be
must have heard before, evidently convinced him
that some state of things existed which would
need looking into later on.
"Certainly, if she is going to be regular stu
dent, we must have her tell her experience" was
his prompt conclusion when he understood the
case. s'But is she fanatic?'
The friend to whom he spoke thought that she
did not seem to have the kind of temperament
which would be called fanatical.
els she singer? Does she love music?" he
questioned. "Anybody who sings and is musical
IL Hot likely w ue d very WIN iahoUie, Ho ouaoo
thoughtfully.
The friend came directly back to me with the
question, "Do you sing?''
s'No, cannot sing" Then the explanation
came duly to light. Evidently the singing test
must be given up, and the decision, fanatic OR not
fanatic, settled on some other basis.
The consistent verdict of the brave President,
when be had made proper diagnosis of the case,
was worth dezen years of suspense. 'If you
think you ought to preach, you must preach.
You must act up to your convictions. Nobody
else has anything at all to say in the matter. ;"
These are his exact words. If memory is reliable,
and they have been echoing in 1t like bugle,note
down all the intervening years.
So the later question came in sequence to the
front: "Shall we give her license to preach, or
shall we withhold it?" The decision of the Fac
ulty finally amounted to about the same as Presi-
dent Finney's. There may have been differences
Of opinion; but they virtually said: ave do not
believe in women ministers. Not to save our right
hands would we give woman formal license to
preach but she may act for herself, only she must
bear the entire responsibility
The other woman student was young wife who
studied side by side with her husband. They had
deliberately chosen their position, and could be
trusted to follow their convictions. The misguided
girl standing alone had spoken in public in Mich-
gan year earlier, and she had given temperance
lecture in the neighborhood of Oberln only the
week before; evidently no protest could avail
None whatever was made.
The decision of the Faculty having been az
nounced, not long after gave my first sermon in
a schoolhouse in Henrietta Ohio, on Sunday
afternoon. was accompanied bya classmate,
who, few years later, gave his own life il attest
alton Of his sincerity, in carrying the truth, as he
understood it, to benighted souls in Africa. My
classmate, taking his ssat with the audience sang
every hymn with unusual fervor, and was an in
spring listener throughout the usual services of a
religious meeting The text has escaped from
memory; but it was familiar one, to be found
somewhere in the Gospels, and think in the fifth
chapter Of Matthew. The people, if a little more