The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-04-01
III NAW IKELNE TER
S 2D q
Is Victor Over Opposition
to Her Sex at Redwood
Church.

more on the score board TOT woman.
Here in this lumber camp, the larg-
est in the world, infested by rough
twoodsmen, aslender woman in viola
ton ofaIl the traditions Of that relig-
ious denomination; and in face Of
great opposition cnthat account has
been ordained a minister Of the Bap-
tist church.
Miss Helen Hill, woman, who. as
she expressed herself when asked
that delicate question regarding her
age, IS stilltin her twenties, is now
the till-aedged minister Of the Rich
wood Baptist church, working out
here in these mountains for the sal
walton Of the souls of these rough
woodsmen.
Miss Hill is the only woman minis
ter in West Virginia, Of any denohin-
alton. There was bitter opposition
against the ordination Of a woman as
1.-THE minister Of the Gospel. 1t was
iargued that woman was too frail a
creature for the sacredotal robes, too
frafi, indeed, for work here among
these crude mountaineers.
But Miss Hill fought and won her
battle. She showed there was prece-
dent, though She had to go far to es-
tablish 1t, for her sister, Rev. Edith
Hill Brooks, is an ordained Baptist
minister and built during her pastor
ate Of the Baptist church at Pitts
burg, Kan, one of the best churches
in that state. She is now engaged in
Ieyangelistic work in the state of
Washington
The Rev. Helen IIill is native OF
Kansas. There she lived until 1907
when she went to Northern New Mex
leo as mission teacher in Mexican
village. The next year was spent at
a Baptist Missionary Training School
at Chicago, and since that time she
has been located in Redwood as a
missionary and associate pastor.
These mountaineers have loved
their pastor for her fighting qualities.
They fought for her ordination
against the opposition in the ministry
in the Baptist church.
The Rev. Miss Hill comes of lam
lily Of clergymen. Her father was a
Baptist minister and her grandfather
was miniser Of that denomination.
Though physically frail, Miss Hi,t
is mentally big. She, is a powerful
.pulpiteer. Her sermons are powerful
and convincing. She has a clear and
resonant voice that, penetrates the Ut.
termost corners of the church, None,
of her predecessors OF the Redwood
Baptist church has had the drawing
power she has and the edifice is now
filled to overlooking at all services,
The congregation has begun to grow
by leaps and bounds. People are,
coming from RADIUS Of twenty-five
miles or more to hear the Rev. Miss
Hill preach. They come in every
conceivable sort of conveyance and
afoot and during the services the
street in front of the church presents
an usual spectacle with these vehi-
cles lined UP on both sides of tie
pavement for distance of nearly a
quarter of mile.
The church had the matter of Miss
Hills ordination under consideration
for several, months before the actual.
ordination took place. The congre-
tation was unanimous for the ordina-
ton Of Miss Hill, but by reason of the
opposition encountered from the out
side ministry the matter was deferred
from time to time. The congrega-
ton gave the digpitaries OF the
church their Iltinlatum-the would
have Miss Hill for their pastor or
they would have none.
Miss Hill has been connected With
the Baptist church here for two years
and has by her uniting and efficient
work won the esteem and confidence
of the church and of all the people OF
the town, who have stood firmly and
uncompromisingly for her ordination
in the face of opposition of the most
Overwhelming character. After Miss
Hill had been given a severe exami-
nation in the church doctrine and
shown her knowledge beyond the
question of doubt, the church coun-
Gil voted unanimously for her ordi-
nation.
AAnRIRIlIaIl0