New-York tribune., 1898-10-02
POSSESSING THE TITLE D. D.
THE REV. AUGUSTA J. CHAPLIN HAS
THAT SOLITARY HONOR
THERE ARE MANY WOMEN PASTORS AND SOME
DISTINGUISHED FOR TACT AS WELL AS
EIooUENcE-THE REV. ANNA

THERE ARE MANY WOMEN PASTORS AND SOME
DISTINGUISHED FOR TACT AS WELL AS
EIoouENcE-TrIE REV. ANNA
sHAws VIEWS
In a recent magazine article the Rev Anna Shaw
gives some interesting data concerning woman's
work In the ministry and her particular fitness for
this kind Of work.
Although statistics are Of course. incomplete on
the subject 1t appears that the society having the
greatest number Of women pastors or preachers
IS that OF the Friends. denomination more strict
IN all matters Of Church discipline than almost any
other. and yet perfect equality among it's men and
women preachers is and has always been main
tanned Another thing noticed about the Friends Is
that the proportion of men to women In their con-
grega'ions Is greater than in any other Church.
One OF the first women to be ordained AS a minis
ter was the Rev Lydia Sexton, VINO belonged 20 the
United Brethren, and she began her work In 1851
continuing 1t most actively until 1890 Another of
the pioneer women in this field was the Rev An
toinette Brown, since married 10 Mr.. Blackwell
She was graduated from theological school In 1880
but was refused ordination However, she preached
wherever opportunity offered and in 1853 was or
dained by the Congregational denomination In
New-York State. and engaged actively In church
work for many years.
Mrs. Brown-Blackwell is at present living in
New-York City. and. although her active career is
| about over her presence is always at the COM
| mand Of any needy cause
AT the present time the Congregational Church
| has something over thirty regularly
| Gained In Its ministry. among the more prominent
| OF them being the Rev. Ann!s Ford Eastman, who
| is assistant pastor OF church in Elmra N Y.
In the Baptist denomination there are few
! dancd women preachers. although many women
| have worked successfully in evangestic work in
this Church. Chicago. Pttsburg. Kansas Nebras-
ka and Michigan all have women ministers in Bap-
tist churches While the rules of the Presbyterian
| Church strictly prohibit from ordination.
and go far forbid ministers inviting
women TO speak in their pulpits. law which is
ignored very often, that Miss Briggs has re-
Gently been graduated at the head OF her class in
| Union Seminary something may be done TO mod
ify this rule. bringing 1t in closer conformity with
public opinion the subject. Besides Miss Briggs.
there are fourteen other women students n the
theological department Of Union.
ONE STUDENT SUCCESSFUL.
The only woman who ever received the title Of
D. D. is the Rev Augusta J. Chaplin. who began
preaching in 1889. being regularly ordained by the
Universalist Church. which has always opened It's
doors wide for the admission OF women into full
fellowship. She graduated from both Lombard
and Michigan universities. and in 1893 the former
conferred upon her the honor of the Il. D. de-
gree. Besides holding number Of pastorates, she
| has been a wide lecturer. and was chairman OF the
| Womans General Committee OF Religious Con-
| crosses at the Worlds Fair The Universalis;s
| have f1fty-seven ordained women at present, among
| them being many gifted speakers
| The Rev. Phoebe A Hanaford born Quaker, but
induced by Miss Brown to enter the field of church
work. was ordained in 1868 and since that time has
! filled number Of pupits.
Among the other churches in the country under
the pastora:e OF women is the Peoples Church of
| Kalamazoo Mich Caroline Bartlett Crane who
| was ordained in 1889. at once took charge of this
church. and since that time $4,000 building has
been built, free from any debt Meetings are held
every day. and the church supports free kinder
garten. school Of household science, a gym
nasium and manual training school
Two young women who completed their studies
in oxford. England the Rev. Marion Murdoch and
the Rev. Florence Buck have Jointly the charge
OF Unity Church. Cleveland, Ohio. This church
also has free kindergarten, loan library. moth
ers' classes boys clubs and many study and sew
ing classes.
! In the Methodist Protestant denomination several
women have been ordained among them Mrs
| Anna Howard Shaw who enjoys an enviabe repu-
| tation both a preacher and a lecturer She is n
graduate of the Boston University and was at
| first refused ordination by the New-Engand Con-
| ference but in 1880 was ordained at Tarrytown,
| n. y.
The Methods. Episcopal Church has never or
dained women as ministers. although 1t has gladly
availed Itself of their work in Its missionary and
| evangelical fields having many brilliant speakers
In that work. whose good deeds and efficient iabors
| are not excelled anywhere.
| The first time the marriage service was per
| formed In Massachusetts, by woman preacher
| the Rev Olympia Brown. belonging TO the UNI
versaIst Church-the legality OF the proceeding
was questioned and finally had TO be settled by the
Legislature Of that State.
WHY MINISTER'S ARE HAMPERED
Mrs Shaw regrets the lack of cordality shown
| to woman in her work in the pulpit. as she has so
thoroughly shown her fitness for the work She
savs the restraint In manner and the lack of gen
| erous support due Ia oldtime prejudice. react on
the women when they undertake the work. and IN
| consequence they feel hampered. often not peihe
| able to Go their best.
| Go far as my own experience is concerned. !
| have met with the most corda! ana hospltaDle
| treatment in the Universalis; Church, where Or
| aained women do indeed occupy position of equal
! d,eri,v and power With ordained men. The oniy
time I am ever conscious of being woman MN
ster' Is when l wander into some cnurciiiT,i n th
where the women bgrcb c1g worN but unit to ex.
ercise the right TO TO claim the privilege oil
ordination. $780,, ,, ube, allowed 10
Join heartily in the work. succeed note the Wpr,T %
uhnre both Emma Booth-Tucker and Maud Bal
lington Booth have had JOINT command WIN 49, -
husbands And as II is Sycb ha menbers are
women il would most certainly seem that ~ N h
quiet OF the pSsaTts of their parish
icncrs and TO give them aid and cohIoit M.Sii
have come to be much part OF 'he ministerial
Woman takes naturally TO the spiritual side s,o OF
life; child training and mmH and evange-
ica work Of the Church she 3as 3h,rb De The future
part from the beginning OF 'ne & he nupts of ali
| will enlarge her scope anu 'P''' w F~'
is one of those fields of effort where
me '.n 'csaristics of patience tact. trustfulness
md above all love, are IN denana: mani anu mich