The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-06-02

mans laOOrs beyond expression In |
waiting ana nursing the sick? Her |
gentle caress;ng, her kind express
sions, and her thoughtful appliances
make her the sovereign panacea
among the sick. The sick home
would be but u military hospital
without the presence and prayers OF
our Christian women. Vigiiaut an
gels appointed Of God are they who
bring halo Of happiness into the
sick and dying chamber.
cts sweet to hink that when I die
There's one to hold my anguld head,
And let Inc on her bosom lie,
Till the breath of lie is fled"
/. But what shall we say of her in
the prayer.meetlng? To what eX-
tent should she be utilized in this
Christian du,y? At once reply, to
her utmost capacity. which embraces
a capabNlity to perform all of its exer-
cises. We would not limit her simp-
ly to singing and secret "amen"
TO what is uttered by the leader in
prayer; but why not she call
upon God orally aud audibly in the
capacity Of leader herself. Without
defining prayer, pray tell me what
Is there in or about it that renders IL
unbecOming for woman, or what is
there pertaining to woman that rem
ders her unadapted to prayer? l
mean audible public prayer. 0 that
we could rise above this false mod.
esty and change some OF the stere-
otyped customs Of our regenerate
age?
Without special reference Just here,
the Bible history OF prayer furnishes
us with frequent aud illustrious ex-
amples Of female prayers. And who
in this Christian country has not
heard ald Witnessed enough of wO-
mans exhibition in prayer to satisfy
them OF her efficiency IN this as we'll
as in singing and praise?
Furthermore, let her talk As the
Spirit gives her utlerance, for che
has both the intelligence and grace to
do it successfully, and God will APP
prove and bless. Perhaps it would
be more appropriate generally for
women to have their prayer-meetings
exclusively with themselves. But
let no sImple-minded man or silly
woman say that it is ridiculous or
even, To any degree, unbecOming. /
do not contend that all women, no
more than all meu, should lead in
prayer. But every church should
seek out such talent among both
sexes and encourage it more vigor-
ouSly.
We will next consider womau's
usefulness under the aspect OF the
| Ton mar tnr lNa
given frequent impetus to this cause,
though it cannot be said OF her, "She
hath done what she could The
tsuccess OF this work lies to-day more
in the power aud possibility of
, woman than in any source to which
we can look. Then let her urge its
claims in every possible way. Let
, every unmarried Christian woman
| utterly and absolutely reject and dls.
) cOuutenance every lnebriate who
/ would presume or propose to win hel
heart and hand. Let all Christian
= mothers and daughters come up in
! one solid phalanX, and with Que
e unanimous veto say, Down with thi,
e dark devil, and intemperance will
= fall, "aud great will be the fail ,
, Let her lead the van, and lectur,
long and loud against her Creates
t foe. would that she could legslatC
a upon this question, and that sht
+ could be enIranchised long enough
/ for one Destroying vote.
/ But there is yet another, yea, thu
e most exalted work for Christian
= women. | mean the preaching of tn,
+ gospel. Now | am aware that JUS
= here | enter a field Of fierce conflict
T. for many canLOt bear the idea o
l. wOman's preaching, and hardly en-
t dure those WHO advocate the pro
i priety q it. But, nevertheless,
must write my candid ~enthneut
e Whence came This opposition? VIII,
+ il it kept up, and how long will j
b. continue? 10 give the7e questions
o brief notice, FIRST, conceive that i
|. originated from the erroneous con
d struction Of Paurs language to tn
9 Corinthian4-'Let your women keel
i silence in the churrh.ne q Cor. xiv
II Now, if we consider the occasion O
?. this language, and c0nstrue il accord
y ing to the context, there is no trouble
i When Paul here commanded Isl
V lence" he had 10 illusion to preach
IS ing whatever, for these ignorant con
= verts from heather ranks coul,
= neither preach nor even ask peril
e nent questions in their circumstances
It Circumstances alter cases, and wer
It Paul here to-day melhinks he wOul
n say, LAY on Nancy" He had n
o ailusion to preaching, aud not eve
e 20 the ordinary religious meetings
fer they were ina wranRle-quarrel
Y ing about meats offered to idol5-an,
il these women were very clamorous
? The custom also under which the
II lived restrained them, and Paul wa
e only enforcing it.
lie On the other hand, as | have said
It he encouraged women in public ex
l. ercses. AS prima fscie evidence q
r his approval We tiud him giving di
e rections as to dress, etc, while en-
If gagged in public service. Il Cor. XII. ).
i 1t would then certainly be yer
. illogical in him to forbid such. Blu
- few references: We learn tina
d Aquila and Priscilla iusuuc,e
V Apolios while eXpounding the gospel
u acts XVIII. 26) Also Aura, an age
q widow, spoke in the temple to al
q present concerning the redemption
/ Of the Lord. (Luke il. IS Like
is wise the women of Samaria wen
about the streets telling of Jesus
V (Johu iv. 2S) Phillips four dsugh
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