Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-24
WOMEN IN THE CHURCHES.
The Subject Discussed ut the woman's Ma
tional Council Last Might.

THE NOBLE WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN EVERY DrREc-
| TON OF CHRISTIAN ESDEAvoR ELoQUESTLY SET
FORTH BY EARNEST AND THOUGHTFUL SPEAKERS
LARGE AUDIENCE PRESENT.
The session OF the woman's National Council
ut Albaugh's Opera House last evening was
devoted TO the discussion Of the topic: women
in the Churches" A large number of promi-
nent women were down on the program to
speak on various phases of this subject. The
time for beginning the exercises was 7.45, but
quite a while before that hour the audience
began to file in, so that in the end there was
really very large attendance. A new feature
in the exercises was the introduction of orches-
tral music, and last evening the first thing on
the program was an appropriate overture
played by large orchestra under the leader
ship of Prof Dernays.
SOME MEN, But THEY WERE IN TIRE MINORITY.
The program included the reading Of five
papers by as many different women, and a dis
cussion participated in by representatives from
seven different missionary societies. When
the lights were turned on fully the auditorium
presented gala appearance. decorated as it
was with potted plants and draped freely with
bunting. There was perhaps larger proportion
OF men present than there was at the morning
session yesterday, but even then they were lost
IN the crowd, and most all of the heads to be
seen from the stage were covered when they
came IN and stayed covered all the evening.
short haired women and long haired men were
was made up wholly of well dressed, intellectual
and representative set of people.
MRS. SUSAN II. BARNES.
When the overture was concluded Mrs. Susan
II. Barnes of New York, national superintendent
of the temperance work among the young
people, offered prayer. Mrs. Barnes took a
prominent part in the white ribboners convo-
cation last week. and her prayer was in the
nature Of an appeal for a blessing upon the
organizations represented in the council, upon
their representatives present and those who
were to address the meeting and upon the de-
hberations of the council during its first tri-
ennial meeting. During the interim between
| the prayer and the beginning of the regular
program Miss Willard introduced Mr.. L. ID. F.
Jennings, who read the deed of a GIFT of a
piece of land at Glen Echo to the women of
the council for the erection of a suitable tenn
PIE for the future meetings Of the council.
airs. ". Louise Thomas. treasurer of the coun-
ell, In accepting the gift made 4 pleasant little
speech of thanks. Miss VI. Elizabeth Johnson
sang solo in her usual finished and delightful
manner.
REV. Mia FRANCES rUPpER.
Rev. Mia Frances Upper was the first
speaker on the program. taking for her theme,
''Womans Status in the Church Today" She
said in the early part of her discourse that the
present agitation in church circles as to
womans status was partly due to the query
raised IN the Methodist church as to woman's
constitutional right to hold church Offices. The
main reason. however. was a much larger one
the remarkable advance OF women themselves
In all lines OF life 1t had been found that con-
situations were fixed and did not grow as Gus
toms do and SC they do not always fit in with
81 ham 01 Qv,Ar ALL A.. IL
there was a growing need for radical changes
In many church governments in this line.
FULLER RECOGNITION OF WOMEN.
She then went on to tell of what is doing in
all denominations at present looking towari
fuller recognition Of women by the church
In scores of communities the ministry by women
was a commonplace affair. She told Of a num-
Der of instances where minister had been
asked for, "a woman preferred" and of one
where one of the church officers had written
that there was foolish prejudice against a
man preacher, which il was hoped would be
eradicated In western city q Unitarian
church was organized this winter by many Of
the leading citizens, who insisted that none but
a woman should minister there. They seemed to
think that the housekeeping instinct WAS needed.
This Is not sentimental chivalry either but
rational appreciation Of good work done by
women. Their work il criticised as freely as
is that Of men and is handled on its merits
lnere are parts OF THIS land already where
the men have grown great that they have
no room for petty jealousy Of women. The
work in the Congregational church on the
island of Nantucket, done by Rev. Miss Louise
Baker, has set an example for all New England.
while SAKE Holmes story Of Draxy Miller has
been duplicated in New York, where a woman
| has succeeded to the passionate of her deceased
husband. Long terms of service are a feature
OF womans ministry in the Congregational
church, and wherever a woman leaves a parish
I
The church asks of the ministry devotion
to the interests OF humanity and he serves best
who has lived the most and is the most in touch
with his fellow man. 1t cannot be denied that
there is a need of women in this work. If there
is az much of q distinction between the two
sexes as some would have Us believe, just so
Inuch Is intensified the need Of both sexes in
all branches of work.
MRS. BELoARNEY
Mrs. Belgarney of London, q representa-
tive of the British Women's Temperance Asso-
citation and tine Women Trades Unions. was in
| trodrced and made few pleasant remarks, be-
ginning by stating that though she had been
| In this country but week she had been made
| to feel so much at home that she already felt
| an American. She said that women in all Eng
| land are watching the women Of America and
| looking to them for inspiration. The women
there joyed in the thought that there was one
| state III this Union where women are admitted
/ 10 an t!le l'Shts OF cltlZensillp. she brought
| to the women here fraternal greeting from
| their sisters in England, and would be glad to
| take back To them the news that she had looked
! for the first time in her life upon fully or
| dained women ministers.
| MRS EMILY 8. SHERWOOD.
Mrs. Emily S. Sherwood. one Of the delegates
from The Woman's Centenary Association Of
the Universalist church, read thoughtful and
valuable paper on the matter of modern
charities and church work, full of caustic criti-
| cism and clever suggestions.
The tramp belongs to class with which
| Christian charity has to deal. He is not at
tractiye. but he is q man for all that and it is
| the duty OF society to study the best methods
| of dealing with him. 1 noted from a recent
| German report on tramps in that country:
| such thing as tramps are of the great rarities
| in that empire. For the viciously indolent the
| jails are good enough. For others encourage
/ ment 20 work Is offered. and their ambition
If they have any, is famed once more into
| flame. The proper thing 10 do is to find oc-
| cupation for those who are Just released from
| jail and prison and TO look out to save the
| children from vice and evil influences. Educa-
/ ton Is more efficient than hcredity. RESPONSE
| bility In these days in looking out for the poor
| and the tempted lies mainly with those who
have leisure ard means.
JANE VI. BANCROFT.
"Women in the Methodist Church" was the
subject for discussion by Jane NJ Bancroft and
Franc Elliott but Mrs Elliott was unable to