The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-15
SHALL women
NOW PREACH z.
Wonderful Address on Mis-
sions bya Lady.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
a. WE'LL ATTENDED SESSION AT
LOUISBURG.
TO Build DISTRICT PARSONAGE At HERE
A Committee Named to Buy a Residence in
Raleigh Suitable for Presiding e.
der's Homa. Delightful
Rcspit | "


Louisburg. n. c., July If Editorial
Up to-day my theology
upon the question of women speaking
in the church has been about what was
expressed by the late big-brained and
big-hearted. J. III. Mills. When Mrs.
Moon was holding a revival in Edenton
Street Methodist church in Raleigh, the
question of woman's preaching was dis
cussed at much length. particularly by
the preachers. The late Rev. William
Gloss. 1.-THE greatest preacher North
Carolina Methodism has produced III
half century,, and Rev. DIR. John Il.
Brooks, Zone of the ablest living divines
of any church in the South, big enough
in brain to be Il bishop discussed the
question whether women ought to preach
or not in a series of elaborate and able
articles i'm the Raleigh Christian Advo-
cate. 1t was a controversy between
scholars and thinkers, armed with theo-
logical and biblical weapons. 1t created
great interest and was widely read.
When the controversery was at its
height, somebody met Mr.. Mills and
asked him if he had been reading the
articles.
YES" was his laconic reply.
what do you think OF thcm?" was
the next question.
Very aple." he answered.
That didn't satisfy the questioner. He
had hoped to draw Mr.. Mills out and
had failed. He then put this question
direct to Mr.. Mills:
what do you think of allowing a wo-
man to preach in churches!'
Mr.. Mills didn't answer at once. He
looked out of the window as il he We're
thinking Of something he saw on the
outside. After minute he said: Il
have read the Bible very carefully and
j do not think see any authority in
it for woman to preach the gospel.
/ know / have seen nothing i'll it to tell
me to stop Them
That answer has summed up my theo-
logy until today. l do not know that
have changed, hut after hearing Mrs.
I. II. Kendall, of Georgia, speak most
effectively and interestingly for more
than an hour on a hot day on Home Mis-
sions, | do not believe / can ever say,
LET women keep silence in the
churches To be exact, Mrs. Kendall did
not preach at all. 1t was rather "A lecture
delivered in the hall of Louisburg Fee
male College to the delegates to the
Raleigh District Conference and large
audience from Louisburg. But Mrs.
Kendall does speak in churches and if
she does not call her addresses sermons,
it is powerful good preaching. and il
it would not be considered ilereticai /
could wish that some preachers | have
heard mot any here attending this con-
ference) could catch some of her zeal
and intensity when they go in the nut
Mrs. Kendall is the wife of a leading
preacher of the North Georgia Confer
ence, and is going to the several dis
trict conferences to stir up interest in
the Home Mission work of the church.
BY Home Missions she means the work
in this country, emphasizing the neces-
sity for it i'm Alaska, among the for
eign-born population III the United
States, and the illiterate population OF
the mountains She does not oppose
foreign missions, but approves and endOr-
SEES them, declaring that all are one, and
there is no conflict between carrying the
gospel to the heather abroad and the
untaught here. But she draws the pic
ture of the destitution and needs right
here in America so powerfully and SO
graphically as to make you stop ana
say to yourself: '.If the needs at home
are so great, isn't it best to supply
those pressing needs-beginnin at Jeru-
salem-before expanding our means in
sending missionaries to the heathen!"
And that is a question that will not
down at your bidding after You have
heard Mrs. Kendall portray the destftu-
ton in Alaska. among the foreign-born
population, particularly the Chinese and
japanese on the Pacific slope, ant,
among the mountains.
''If you convert America, you will con-
vert the world" said Mrs. Kendall. She
told how missionaries in foreign conn-
tries had found their way blocked be-
cause of Americans shipment OF r,,m and
the immoral life of Americans who
have gone to Africa or Asia 10 make
money. Some of these incidents she re-
lated showed that many heatnen are
justified in doubling whether this is
really a Christian country when the
chief export which they receive from
us is rum and whiskey. But | did
not intend to give an outline of her
address, which pleased and moved the
whole audience. many of those present
being moved to tears by her simple
and earnest pleas to lift up the fallen
and carry the light to our brothers and
sisters here in our own land.
The District Conference began We'd
nesday night. the opening sermon being
preached by Rev. NJ. II. Turtle, of Ok
ford. who is regarded as one of the
strongest of the younger men in the
conference. | did not get mere in time
to hear the sermon. but hear that it
was brilliant effort.
Conference proper opened yesterday
morning. with devotional services by
Rev. Dr. ). /. Gibbs, the presiding elder.
rACranaA ,.