Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-21
PREsBYTER|ANs WILL NOT
ALLOW WOMEN TO PREACH
Southern General Assembly Votes,
132 to so, In Favor Of Status
Remaining as It Is.
DEBATE LASTS FIVE HouRs
Question Of Their Acting as Deacon.
esscs Not Determined, This Being
Dcferred-No Change in Rule
Governing Wine for Communion.

ORLANDO. FLA, May 2o.-Enorts to
further the interest of women to the
extent that they would be allowed to
preach in Presbyterian churches failed
here to-day after hve-hour debate
at the General Assembly of the South
ern Presbyterian Church in the United
States. The status OF women as dea-
conesses was not determined, that par
OF the report having been deferred un.
til Monday.
Interest was keen during to-day's
discussion. which ended in the vote OF
l32 to so in favor of allowing the
status of women as regards preach
Ing to remain as 1t is. The proposal
to limit debate brought a severe pro-
test from DR.. G. +. Blackburn, of Co.
lumbia, s. c.. who said that the as
sembiy was facing one OF the greatest
questions that can come before any
Presbyterian body, and to talk about
limiting debate on this subject Is folly
a time limit OF ten-minute speeches
was voted, however.
The vote upheld the majority rcpor
OF the committee. 10 which the question
had been referred. 4 minority report
favored allowing women to preach
REPORT IN FAVOR OF THEIR
WORK AS DEACONNESSES
The majority report. submitted by
the Rev. j. +. Cannon, declared that
leadership and rule in the church be-
longs to man. as directed by the Scrip
lures. but that the use of women as
deaconesses is not against Scripture
teaching. and, therefore. in their homo
churches and in home and foreign mis-
sion fields women may work az
deaconesses.
The minority report submitted by the
Rev. James I. Vance, recommended
that women may teach and expound
Scripture in the churches without vio-
lating Scripture teachings. DIR. Vance
declared that if women can DO trusted
to do church work, they can be trusted
to tell about it, and that either one or
the other should be changed.
1t was decided to-day 20 divide the
discussion into four subjects. the ma
tority and minority reports OH the
question Of preaching, and the majority
and minority reports on the status of
dcaconesses. The first to be taken up
was the minority report on women in
the pulpit. submitted by the Rev James
7. Vance, of Nashville
SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED
AS 4 LAW OF THE CHURCH
The Rev. Neal l.. Anderson, of Win
ston-S Salem. y. c., offered this substi-
tutc for the part Of the report under
discussion. and ii was adopted as n
law of the church:
'1nasmuch as the public preaching
OF the Gospel is q breach of the minis
tcrial office, to the authorization of
which ordination OF ncensure is essen
tfal. and inasmuch rs tho inspired
Scripture as Interpreted by our stand-
ards. now here. in the case of women,
docs not sanction such a soIemnity,
but on the contrary does clearly pro-
hibit II, this assembly does therefore
declare the. assumption OF this sacred
Office by women to be opposed to tho
advancement OF true piety. and to The
promotion Of tho peace OF the church
and this to such nh extent AZ to make
l. NContinued- on Second PaGe,l