The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-01-03
Welsmorrat-bta
MRS. MOLLIE SMELL. ksApn
FROM.
Orleans Christian Adxoc.,.

~ NtyineS 10 JNc
charge OF INSTRUMENTATION f.ougbt
against him by his prcsidinrelder.
Rev. ]. NJ. Weems, because he had
me 70 assist him in revival srvices.
The Rev. J. NJ. Weems presented the
Following questions to Bishop Dun.
can and his ruling is alsogiyen:
l. Does the discipline Of the N. E
Church. South, recognize the smnlsy
Ement pt~women as pre-.
Word, with the authority
It's pulpits 10 reading tie 10
lures, and In preaching the
ministers Of the Lord Jesus a..
Ans. 1t does not.
:. Does the Discipline of the N
Church, South, authorize a pastor
charge Of a station, circuit or uIssh
OF said church to invit von. |
Claiming to be a minister u the ~
Jesus Christ to occupy the psArr
said church to expound the -sns
as a preacher Of the wore. Ans Il
does not.
8. And does not such invita,o.
given and services SO rendered offend
against the authority and order i |
said church and the teaching Of ii.
Holy Oracles? Ans. 1t does.
Thus Bishop Duncan has ruled that
the Methodist Church does not rccoe,
nize the right OF women to "preacb.r
II by ito preach" means the right q,
women to assume the duties And
privileges Of the regularly ordained
ministry, l do not suppose there will
be found In all Of Methodism dis
senting opinion.
As my public work has brought
about 50 much discussion in your col.
umns, l beg you to grant me for The
first time the privilege Of saying some
things that l deem justice to NY work
demands.
! am no preacher" in the sense The
word is generally used, nor have |
ever at any place or at any time sought
to be regarded as such. l am simply |
one Of the laity who believes that CID \
has bestowed a special loye and Kin
for saving souls upon her, and who
seeks to do it IN a w0manly way under
the leadership and through the ins. !
tation Of regularly ordained minide, I
of the Methodist Church. bys
never wanted tospeak from 'pulps.r /
have always by choice preferred IN
floor just before or behind the altar
railing.
l do not belong to that class Of
women who regard st. Paul as an 'ud
f0gy," or who want u new translation
Of the Bible by ''women only" horde
| believe that the world is suffering 1
for "StrOng minds" more than it Isl G
more loving hearts filed with the in
dwelling Christ.
The Arkansas Methodist ConfcreuT
was in session during the same days
the Mississippi Methodist Conference
held its congress in Yazoo City. Mis-
HaygOOd, sister OF the bishop, was In
vited To speak To the assembled Gun.
ference. This she did at length, gir
ing a full account Of her work among
the heather, and closed by eXlmrtins
the ministers present to greater zeal
in the saving Of the heather. The
Conference not only heard her will
inglY, but passed a unanimous resolu'
tiOn indOrslng her aud her WORK. hs
| the Methodist Church in Mississippi
a law prohibiting women from dolns
that which Mcth0dism in Arkansas
all0ws? Is it unlawful for a woman
to do in Mississippi what a MeslWdE'
Conference in Arkansas cOmmendsre'
doing in China?
II Conference may lawfully allcS
a woman to deliver a religious address
to its body, may not n minister lafe
the right to have "a woman assist ihn
to save his people by working ID
public way in the church under h'
controls?
Women, In this as well as otle
States, during sessions OF their annu''
missionary meetings, deliver religious
addresses to mixed assemblies 10 OUT
churches. Mrs. HargrOve, well Kno"a
In this, as well as other States yIslla
Columbus, and by invitation occop'ee
the entire hour In a religious talE, aR
that was the regular preaching hou1
too, and the usual congregation Wv
there assembled.
These things we all know to DC CIV
tomary AMI constantly allowed 'pou
churches. Shaffour church becomes
rcspecter OF persons, and grant
|snme women the right toS speakln
deny It to otlsersP Upon wlst grow
and by what authority coridsucn W.
elimination be made?
As l do not desire the rlgns
preach" In our churches as q nln'ss'
Of the gospel exercises that rla''' ~.
to simply, as a Bible teacher, win n.y..
to Christ, l do not consider D''.t,
Duncan's ruling as necessarily a'vs
stacle in tho way Of my cont'nu'g
my religious work rs herete'o's
have never at any place or Time -"
myself . minister.