The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-17
EQUAL SUFFRAGE IN CHURCH.
One Colorado Woman Who Refuses
10 Accept st. PauPs Ideas.
From the New York Sun

From the New York Sun
Denver, Jan. 31.-One of the logical re-
suits of equal suffrage in this state was
witnessed last Sunday in the eastern part
of the city where some people had as
sembled to form a new Lutheran church
After preliminary matters had been set
tied the reception Of members began
A woman of more than average intelli-
gence passed an examination that was
satisfactory 10 the board of inquiry. The
minister was about to place her name
upon the rolls when she rose and asked
II she might be heard. OF course the wo-
men all turned round to look at her and to
listen to what seemed to be an unusual
proceeding. Having received permission
to speak. she asked
do I understand that join this church
upon the same footing as menu"
The minister answered: "All are equally
the children of the Lord"
"rhen / am to have all the rights en-
joyed by the men?" she asked. with a
toss of her head
you will have all the rights and the OBJ
legations, belonging alike to men and
women, of leading Christian lives before
God"
The woman clasped the back of the
chair before her, took a swift survey of
the listening congregation, and snapped
forth this question:
What I mean to ask is whether / can
occupy the same offices in the church as
if l were man. Can l be a deacon?"
A startling buzZing began instantly to
rise through the assembly. The minister
flushed slightly as he replied:
mo. madam, you can not"
"Can serve as an usher?"
No"
Can pass the contribution plate?''
Can 1 read the prayers and oficiate
as a lay preacher in your absence?"
No"
The minister wiped his glasses, mopped
his brow, his face flushing now deeply.
The woman inspected her kid gloves leis-
urely and then returned to the charge:
shall have a vote in church matters ?'
"Such a privilege has never been Gus
tomary," answered the minister I'VE fol-
low the teachings of the Apostle Paul, who
believed that women should keep silence
in the churches
This plai0ly rritated the women for she
retorted: saint Paul was bachelor and
he was unfair to the women. If he had
lived in Colorado he would never have
voted for equal suffrage, and he oughtn't
be taken as an example out here where
women have their rights"
The minister pounding upon his hymn
book said the words just spoken were ir-
reVerent.
Let us have no more of this" he conclu-
| ded.
But the woman held her ground.
IF you are going TO run a mean. old
! fashioned down east church you can, but
| / won't join it. so there she said.
She sat down. and for fully ten minutes
| the congregation was deep in meditation.
The minister suggested hymn, but that
dragged frightfully, though the men
strove to shake the roof with their voices
The minister drank glass of ice water
mopped his face once more, and suggested
that the sister had better think over the
| matter for week when she would proba-
bly, come to the conclusion that the exist
ing conditions had best not be disturbed
| Then he called the list of names and asked
the applicants to come forward to Join in
the final act. The men came readily
| enough. but the women hesitated, excused
| themselves, and kept their seats. The con.
! straint deepened over the whole congrega-
ton, and the services closed to the evident
| relief of all. 1t now remains to be seen
what the fate of the new church will be
There is no doubt that equal suffrage in
Colorado is permeating all society and is
questioning long-established customs and
traditions