The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-09-26

StOASAOAO AOL 0AOAS AL AC4 OWA Bills
but also for those of men, could have
but one result. 1t created within
women themselves a passion for self.
depreciation, humility and self-hatred,
and it also implanted in the minds of
men a superstitious horror of the nat
ural powers of women, the effect of
which is not yet wholly eradicated
from the mind of either sex.
Notwithstanding AL that the forces
OF ignorance, superstition and ecclesi-
astical selfishness have accomplished
in opposing the development of won.
ell and in preventing their highest
usefulness in the church, the pages of
history, even though written by pre-.
JUDGED men, are respondent with
their remarkable achievements in re.
ligious propaganda. The mother OF
Wesley. who was the real founder Of
the methodist faith, influenced her
son to recognize lay preachers and
thus laid the basis for the great splr.
itual success of methodism. The
Countess Of Huntingdon was the
founder of Calvinistic methodisnl.
Nine. Guyon numbered among her
converts Fenelon and several distin.
guished leaders of the court of Louise
Barbara Heck. the heroic 1rishwoman
who was the founder of American
methodism. Elizabeth Fry in the
prisons persuaded hundreds to turn
from lives of crime to virtue and in
dustry. Mrs. Bartlett in six years OF
her personal efforts added 600 mem.
bers to Mr.. Surgeons church. In
later times the salvation army largely
owes its existence and marvellous
power to the energy. zeal and devo.
ton of Mrs. Booth. In our own coun'
try scores of devout women, as min
listers, evangelists and missionaries.
have rendered invaluable service to
the church and humanity
Historically considered, the minis.
try seems to be work for which
women by nature are pre.eminently
fitted. Here are women in all ages OF
the church found in almost every
class and in every condition of life,
who, while engaged in the ministry,
have left records of which the church
may we'll be proud.
The beginning of the twentieth cen.
fury sees women recognized officially
in nearly every Christian denomina.
ton. In many Of them women are
ordained, though in some cases rather
grudgingly. In the more liberal de.
nominations-notably among the uni.
tarians. universalists and united
brethren-they have been recognized
in the ministerial Office from the be.
ginning, resulting in stronger corps
Of women ministers among these than
in any other denomination.
The prejudice of the past and the
conservatism of the present prevent
them from extending TO women the
same open, generous welcome which
they extended to men. This reacts
upon the women themselves. and
those instincts toward self-annulment,
which are the result of centuries OF
restraint and false ideas in women's
education, make them ever conscious
of antagOnism, even though uneX.
pressed and unacknowledged. This
Restraints the freedom of their thought
and action. necessarily crippling their
powers and preventing them from CIV
ing the best service of which they
are capable. Until women are re-
ceived into all positions of the church
with the same cordial welcome that
is accorded men, are granted the
and are as heartily urged and assisted
to enter 1t, there can be no fair est
mate of the value of their service.
The Society of Friends and after
them the salvation army and Amer
lean volunteers present the best fields
for estimating the value of the service
Of women in the Christian ministry.
Their immense influence lies unques-
tionably in the fact that from the in
ception of these organizations women
were received on equal terms with
men, 1t is generally conceded that
women make quite as efficient officers
and in many instances more desirable
soldiers than men. Their ability to
govern and lead their forces is freely
recognized. In the realm of the spir-
itual the governing forces are not
brute strength, but love and justice.
The need of women in the service.
of humanity was never SO great as it
is to-day and they will not hesitate
to enter it by the established and Of
ficially recognized channels of the
church if they may, but by new and
untried ones if they must.
There are scores of organized
bodies Of women doing the real work
Of the church. who, because they were
restrained from performing service
within. have been compelled to organ
iZe outside of the church.
The ministry of woman in the flu.
ture development Of religion is an
established fact. The value OF her
ministry will be gagged not so much
| by its official recognition as by the
motive and manner of her service Ia
humanity.
Let her go back to the simplicity OF
! toonbiur. h0r 49,,