The Preaching of Women.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 207, 7 September 1901, Page 2

The Preaching of Women.

(To the Editor of the Times ) Sir, —At the risk of incurring blame for my temerity in not being willing to accept the positivo ipso dixit of your correspondent, I venture to inquire how we are to account for the very positive instructions given to women as to tho mode to bo i adopted when they prayed or prophesied (simply another term for preaching) as recorded in Ist Cor., 2nd chapter, 4 to 16. Paul also refers to Philip, who had four daughters who preached. I am aware that Paul appears to contradict, if the one verso is taken in connection with the instructions in the 12 verses above referred to; but wo must consider tho state in which that church was just emerging from—grossest idolatory—and the contention:' that occurred at their meetings for conducting their church affairs. Peter distinctly referred to the spirit being poured out on tho handmaidens as well as on the servants. Man has no right to arrogate to himself the solo right to enunciate the truths of Christianity. I have heard the late Doan Stanley in Westminster Abbey, Canon Wilberforce in Paul’s Cathedral, and C. H. Spurgeon, but they were to my mind no better than tho late Mrs Booth ; and I listened to Mrs M. Wright in her 102nd year preach as clear and spiritual a sermon as I ever heard. Elizabeth Fry and many most gifted women’s gospel labors havo been blessed to many. The Puritans of Boston hung three women preachers, and tried to sell others into slavery. Happily we are blessed with more of the spirit of gospel, love and liberty,—l am, etc., J. Pkckovee.