The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-23
THE FIRST WOMAN PREACHER.
Mrs. Claisy Miller, Pioneer of Female
Gospel EIpounders in Kentucky.

@&s1s s"s' s Shoo
Gospel Expounders in Kentucky.
BunKEsvrLLH. Ky. April 2l.-This little city
is the county seat OF one Of the most isolated
regions OF Kentucky. 1t lies on the lumber
land River In the southeastern part OF the
State. and except for this stream has almost no
means OF communication with the world.
Though in O rich agricultural region. the only
farming products to be marketed are live
stock and tobacco. The stock can be driven to
the railroads in other counties and the tobacco
can be shipped in fatboats down the Cumber-
land to Nashville. but no corn nor wheat nor
fruit can be grown for sale. the expenses Of
transportation to market being too great.
Burkesville rests In almost primeval solitude.
with few visitors from the outside world.
Strange to say. this backwoods region. so far
behind the rest OF the State. produced the
pioneer woman preacher Of Kentucky. She
was Mrs. Claisy Miller. who died thirty years
ago at the age OF 90. Nearly the whole Of her
long life was spent In the pulpit. and she began
at a time when Susan B. Anthony and Victoria
Woodruff had not been born.
She was the first woman l ever heard
preach. and I can't tell you what a sensation
her appearance created here" said an old citi-
zen. Il was a very small boy then. but Mrs.
the Word OF God as she Understood It In dis
tant counties, Burkesville was not prepared
for the spectacle Of a woman in the pulpit. and
Curiosity drew good congregations. and her
rude eloquence and evident sincerity soon got
q hold on her auditors that could not be
She was then an old woman. and everybody
ing character. She was Of tall and angular
figure. with q plain countenance. but a pair Of
wonderful blue eyes and q large and most ex-
p%resslve mouth. Her hair was white and her
face was deeply wrlnkled. but her old age was
green and vigorous, and in every way her ap-
ordinary u%nbecoming garb of the countryside.
and she always, wore an enormous sunbonnet.
She DID not believe In losing q moment of time.
or other work she was knitting. She was al
most always the first TO reaeh, the church where
che was to preach. and would occupy her time
vices would arrive.
Her views were not exactly orthodox. She
alone excluded. as true in its literal meaning.
and 80 taught her CONGREGATIONS. She had an
extraordinary memory, and L have heard 1t
said that she could repeat every word Of the
New Testament and almost all OF the Old. Per-
never knew her. when asked about any pas
sage OF Holy Writ. to fail to give the exact
fBnailRysir sh %lite xeffs IN Hhf the I bi f4s'a and % HAVING lawns;
great fueney Of speech, she was one OF the most
effective feyiyalists Of AL the pioneer preachers.
flames and no language was too forcible for
her to employ when admonishing her hearers
Dc shu and tho al liz his 81 f eHtSSi nre Prssp ane seen tGr h fes
send her congregation almost into spasms OF
fear. The grooming and shouting could be
hear I'd, for u long distance. The mourners' bench
was always crowded during her meetings. for
there were few who had the hardihood to
stand out against her pictures OF damnation.
How Q woman like her broke SC, far away
from the traditions OF the Church and society at
that early day and In such a puritanical back
woods community. is hard to imagine. She
would never have done SO but for an uncom-
monty strong intellect and determined will.
When quito a young woman she became con-
verted and Joined the Methodist Church, but
when she felt the call to preach the brethren
denied her a license. She was neither discour-
aged nor convinced that she was wrong. SO she
out as an independent evangelist, Her ability
to hold her own In the doctrinal debates then
80 popular gave. her great power and iniu-
ence among the people. and even among the
preachers. She differed from orthodox Meth
odists In other respects than In asserting her
right to the pulpit. She held that Saturday
was the. true Lords day, and always herself
observed It, notwithstanding which she was
quite willing to preach on Sunday. as IL was
that day. Before entering a church or a dwell
ing she would say. Peace be unto this house.
/ once asked her why she did this. and she said
this was the instruction Of the Saviour to His
apostles. and were admittance denied she
would shake the dust from her feet and quit
the place forever.
Granny Miller preached many years in thi.
part Of the State. and was greatly respected for
her pulpit powers and her zeal and wisdom
any male preacher ! knew In those days. What
she would have been with education and
knowledge OF the world I cannot say. but I be.
lieye she would have distinguished herself"