The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-12


 emnixe marriages and perform the oth- CT functions of clergymcn. Among the earlier feminine ministers yet living are Revs Phebe Hannaford and Olym- pia Brown. These two were both or dained by the Universalist church. which. with the Unitarian and Chris tian" denominations, early recognized woman's right officially to bear the spiritual message to mankind.
 In 1874, also as a Universalist min ister, was ordained Rev. Ada Chastina Bowles, a beautiful. magnetic woman who won all hearts by her sweetness and eloquence. She was born in Mas sachusetts and among her ancestors were the Choates. By the sea she lived in her youth and learned to swim like . mermaid. to use carpenter tools and to do homework perfectly as we'll She also made such good use of the public schools of Gloucester Mass, her home, that at Is years Of age she began career as teacher. Later she was mar ried to Rev. B IF. Bowles. a univer- salist pastor of Meirose. Mass. It was at his request that Mrs. Bowles stud fed for tho ministry. She was pastor of . church in Philadelphia for time. afterward of one in Easton. Pa
 She bade farewell to the Easton con- Eregation to organize a church of her own in Trenton. N. J. While in charge of these various churches she was also engaged in the philanthropic and re- form work which somehow naturally appeals to all earnest ministers ofsthe other things lecturer for the ". c. T. U. and also for the National wo- man Suffrage Association.
 Many more women in America have been ordained to preach than have made a life work of their profession. Not few have started out under the most favorable auspices, had congrsE gations of their own for perhaps half a dozen years, then abandoned active pastoral work. This, giving up of the preachers profession is much more common among women than among men pastors; why, 1t is hard to say. A few women preachers have found their work. likewise their ideas. broadening out beyond the limits of a single par ish and have given up their individual pastorates to enter a larger field.
 Then. too, numbers have married and naturally found their domestic cares incompatible with the care of a con- gregation. Some have been proud to advertise their skill in housekeeping and have vaunted themselves of their domestic life. wherefore they have fall en between two stools. No woman any more than man can serve two mas ters. The main effort of one life must be consecrated to one purpose.
 Stiil there, are many women preach CTS who preach; pastors, who through thick and thin have remained faithful to their calling and have deemed it holy. It is to be noted that among these women preachers who have tho noble gift of rhang on" are the leaders of several of the spiritualist societies. One of these is Mrs. Helen Brigham, known familiar, to her friends as "Nel- lie" Mrs. Brigham is now pastor of q spiritualist society in New York city. She does not have, to prepare her ser mons beforehand. for they come to her of themselves when she rises to speak. For more than q quarter century Mrs. Brigham has been speaking to spirit ualist congregations. Another pastor of spiritualist society in New York city is Margaret Gaule. highly esteem cd by her congregation.
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