Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1891-01-10
Concerning a License to Preach.

Journal some "reminiscences OF my experience as a
minister. The unfortunateness refers not only to
natural reluctance to present that chapter of nv
life to the public, but also to the extreme difficulty
of fixing upon single incident or group of Incl
dents to take the central place in q disconnected
sketch like the present. Where to begin is the
question; the end is not yet for, though no longer
pastor Of church, still regard the vocation of
religious teacher as having always been the central
axis about which my life work has closely revolved
To begin, then, with the first sermon and the
somewhat curious setting of circumstances which
preceded and followed. 1t was given either late
in the year l847 or early in 1913; in either case
about fortythree years ago, when the mental
world occupied by womanhood was a different
world from that in which woman lives and works
to-day.
Several members of our Theological Glass had
been local preachers and lecturers, accustomed to
public speaking and the towns round about Ober-
lin frequently invited students to hold religious
meetings in the different neighborhoods For
these reasons, an early application was made by
the class generally to the Theological Faculty to
confer upon us the usual Faculty license to preach
and to conduct ordinary religious services. Now,
as there were two women in The class, and our
"teachers and pastors" did not believe in women
ministers, here was dilemma What could they
do about it?
The manifold perplexities which must have gath
cred about this Immediately practical issue to
trouble the long and frequent Faculty conferences,
conducted with carefully closed doors, may be
dimly surmised but not one word on the subject
has ever come to me. Only by reference to GER
tain earlier and similar complications about which
something is known shall we be prepared to APP
preciate the beauty, the force, and the wisdom Of
the final decision.
That woman seriouslylntelded to make a sys-
tematic study Of religious doctrine, and, later, to
enforce these highest truths not only in private
life but from platform and pulpit, let who would
hear or forbear, was not at that time an idea easy
of comprehension. 1t penetrated first to the
startled apprehension of the Ladies Board having
special supervision of the girls department OF this
already large and fourishing educational institu-
ton. As result, was sent for and gravely in
teryiewed The conference was something like
this:
"Why do you propose to take course so I'M
precedented?'
sBecause find no other work which seems to
me so desirable as that of teaching others the
highest truths which l can find for myself"
''Then why not consent to teach privately, as a
modest woman must?'
''Truth is mightier than modesty; if either is
compelled to give way, it cannot be the truth"
The Bible expressly forbids the public speak
Ing of women"
III am not satisfied with the Interpretation given
to st. Paul, and propose to study that subject as
well as many others, expressly for myself"
"Surely you will never dare to put your own
opinion above that Of the many wise and learned
men who have so long and thoroughly studied that
subjeot?"
"But President Finney and our other teachers
are compelled every day to put their own opinions
before those of many wise and learned men of the
past and the present-perhaps not of the future"
This argumentum ad hominem, addressed to the
laval wife Of one of our most reyered instructors,