The news & observer., 1905-12-17
THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIAN CHAR
ITY.
BY REV. X. III. WHITAKER.


and strong as a reasoner-left some
things of record that are not under
stood alike, in these latter days. by all
the people. One of those things is
just how he stood on the woman
preaching question. I am free to con-
fess that am unable to reconcile his
statements. but it may be because ]
belong to that great number to whom
Peter referred, when speaking of the
things hard to be understood. written
by Paul, he dominated the 'un-
learned who wrest the Scriptures"
/ wish. for the sake of harmony
among the brethren. and sisters of
these times that the great Apostle
had made it a little palmer. or rather
that he had told us whether what he
said had reference to the women of
his time or to all times and places. In
the 14th chapter of 1st Corinthians.
the Apostle speaks very emphatically
and. seemingly. very decidedly. on the
subject when he says
V. 34.-"Let your women keep ST.
lence in the churches, for it is not per-
mitted unto them to speak; but they
are commanded to be under obedience
as also saith the law.
v. 35.-"And if they will learn any
thing. let them ask their husbands at
home, for it is a shame for women tc
speak IN the cnurcn.
That's pretty plain talking, and
seems to justify brother Bailey's po-
sition, in reply to some remarks made
by brother Joe WeatherS, last Sunday
evening. But, taking some other texts
into consideration, We must conclude
that Paul did not mean, in the verses
quoted above, that women were not
to pray and prOphesy in the churches;
for. in the IL chapter. beginning at
the 4th verse. the Apostle says:
Every man praying or prophesy-
ing, having his head covered, dishon-
ereth his head. But every woman
that prayeth or prophesyeth with her
head uncovered. dishonoreth her
head for that is even all one as if
she were shaven."
These verses are just as plain and
as emphatic as those first quoted, and
clearly prove that women were in
the habit of praying and prophesying
publicly. 1t might be said there were
no men present; but think that
would be begging the question for the
reason that the apostle does not make
any such intimation; but, on the con-
trary uses the same language i'm ref
erence to the men and women who
prophesy.
So, there it is, the women are tn
keep silence i'm the churches" the
women must have their heads covered
when they pray or prophesy.
/ did not hear brother Joe Wealth
ers who spoke for, now brother Bal
ley who expressed himself against
women's speaking in public but, L
see, from the texts quoted. that each
had Paul on his side; therefore, both
were right, to a certain extent.
/ am sure that Paul meant what
he said, speaking of those women
who, before Joining the church, had
led dissolute lives, having been ac-
customed to the brawls and conten-
tions of the streets and the haunts of
vice, and who, after they joinee the
church had not entirely gotten out
of the habit of being noisy. They were
not the praying women; but as we
might infer, they were women who
liked to talk out in meeting to at
tract attention-asking silly ques-
tions and making inappropriate and
perhaps very rude remarks.
can't believe that as wise man
as Paul. whose whole soul was ablaze
with zeal for the extension of the
Kingdom of Christ, would have put
his veto on the prophesylng of wom-
en-, knowing, as he did, the power for
good they could exert. Besides, he
knew the old prophecy, spoken by
Joel to the effect that in the last
days, ''Your sons and your daughters
shall phophesy." And he knew that
Philip had four daughters which were
reaching, at that very time, down at
Gaesarea; for he abode with the evan
~ellst, and, / expect. like as not, heard
ngs of the girls preach while there.
-. / have no idea that Paul in
lied to be understood in what he
- as putting a seal on women S
T., olI nf
wonen have been recognized. and
rvned of God As efficient workers.
= she keeps her head covered, Wo-
rams praying and prophesying are al
right, as / understand the matter.
I should think brothrr Bailey. if he
= oetting along toward b7chelordom,
would like to hear the sisters espec-
ally the mothers i'm Israel. talk in
aeting Many of them t7lk well,
9nd some of them preach better
.Nan a good many men: and the Lord
onors their labors: and. go. by their
rreaching the cause Cf Chris is set
forward, and nobody IS hr~t. | think
I'll have to join brother Weathers in
lie controversy and e We my vote in
favor of letting the women speak out
IN meeting, when they wish to prav or
n prophesy. if they'll keep their hats
on; and I'm sure they'll do that, il
their hats are stylish.
The loud talking sisters. who don't
care any more for a church than they
do for a theatre or card playing ough
to keep silence in church. for the
rood reason they have nohing to say
hat would interest or edify. Perhaps
Paul referred to that class when In
r'imothv he says: 81 suffer them not
20 teach" that is to interpret scrip
trre by inspiration. If so, was he not
right?
But good women who are moved
upon by the Holy Spirit ought to have
liberty to testify. to exhort. to pray and
to prophesy. for surely their work is
needed
The late Jack Mills once said:
az don't find anything in the Bible
si1thor zing women to preach, nor do
geo ANYTHING in that book requiring
r, forbid their preaching"
- very sure if Paul were living
IN 'hio day and time he would not
rake = compulsory on the women
who will learn anything to ask theil
husbands at home" for the average
husband don't take time to acquire
much h'b' ical knowledge, and don't
pray enough to have much spiritual
experience. Women would find it a
mighty slow process becoming good
xx-ico I,0 fao