WOMEN AND THE CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20335, 17 February 1928, Page 2

WOMEN AND THE CHURCH.

ADMISSION TO MINISTRY ADVOCATED. MORE DEVOUT THAN MEN. STATEMENT BY THE REV. W. J. ELLIOTT. That the union and progress of the Church might bo greatly stimulated by giving women a larger share in its otlicial life was a statement made by the Rev. W. J. Elliott in an address to the Methodist Conference at Christchurch last night. He was not insensible, ho said, to some of the inveterate objections. The tendencies of the age make it imperative that young men and women should be taught to chorish nobler conceptions of marriage and the obligations of parenthood. _To supply the necessary incentives to this was an. urgent duty on the part of scientists, moralists, and the leaders of the Church, Iho Church must act in a more chivalrous way and use every legitimate means. She must be guided more by moral sense and less by maudlin sentiment. She could no longer draw the silken chord of false peace over every solemn conviction and problem. It must bo considered by some a serious matter to delete the word " obey " from the marriage ceremony, but it was a more serious thing to disguise from a bridal pair that the wholesome perpetuation of the human family was the first thing emphasised in the marriage ceremony. It was: "It was ordained that children might bo brought up in the fear and. nurture of the Lord," and yet that was omitted today from the sacred ceremony by many officiating ministers—to-day when birthcontrol was being tampered with to such an unjustifiable extent, and it was alleged that some of the best people were ceasing to produce their share of the population. A. century ago it was assumed that tho inferior races would beoome extinct. " To-day we are compelled to revise our judgment, and the increasing pressure of racial competition requires us to adopt overy legitimate means to preserve our numerical status and strength," said Mr Elliott. "If civilisation is to be continued,

then the dominant races must either increase their populations, or constrain the inferior races to decrease theirs. It 13 the biggest challenge we have to face on any | battle ground. Ministers and educators of | consciences must definitely set forth tho j claims of society and the human race, | and (rive no excuse to normal beings to evade tho responsibilities of parenthood. Far bo it from me to suggest that tho measure to a woman's influence is the one function of motherhood, or that every woman is destined to the reserve and seclusion of the domestic circle. All the reasonable claims of motherhood do not raise an insuperable barrier against the admission of qualified women to holy orders in the Church. We may conjure up before ourselves a variety of conservative objections, but there "is no logical 'onu such as we can neither gainsay nor resist." Probably the first and second authorities on women's place and service in the Church were Jesus and Paul, the speaker continued. The attitude of Jesus did not suggest that she was Eo be excluded from the highest ministry. He was more satisfied with women than He was witli men during his earthly ministry, and He gave the women superior honour. The first Easter message was given to women to instruct the men disciples. The best example of liberality in the Bible was recorded of a woman. The best example of loving service in the lßble was recorded of a woman. The best example of conloving service in the Bible was recorded of a woman. The great Son of God never let fall From His gracious lips such words of royal commendation as concerning these three women. He recognised to the full the power of service that was in women, and Ho revealed for its exercise an infinite and varied scope. He was aware that Paul said, " Let your women keep silent in the churches," and again, " I suffer not a woman to teach," and Ke was also aware that the women of Corinth were forbidden by him to braid their hair and wear jewellery. Such an injunction had had no restraining influence over the fashions of the sex. Paul was no doubt a greater man that the Pope of Rome, but he had no mandato from the Divine Spirit to prohibit for all time the admission of women to tho Christian ministry. The regulations ■ he laid down tor the women of Corinth were not applicable now. and even Paul superseded some of them by supporting tho spiritual equality of the sexes. But Nature made a difference, and seemed a trifle niggardlv in the bestowment of her gifts. Where she bestowed great beauty she rarely bestowed a corresponding brain. Indeed, brains and beauty were frequently divorced, and that might be humiliating both ways. . Woman had justified her inclusion in business, law, medicine, politics, science, art. Christian work and sport, said Mr Elliott. The achievements of women in the field of athletics of late years had shown amazing physical endurance and records had been established in almost every department. There were at least 5000 well trained women athletes in the female grading list to-day who stood supreme among tho nations. Therefore, it can hardly be said she was devoid of the physical qualities necessary for tho ministry. The contribution he had made to the hymnology of the Church compared at least favourablv with that of the other sex. Ovor 100 of the most suitable hymns for young and old were the compositions of women. Why then should women who were more susceptible to religious impressions than men, more conscientious in religious observance, mro dovoted to the religious education and training of the young, he excluded bv anv decree from the highest service in fho Church? She might speak with the tongues of men and of angels," she might know her Bible in the original with critical accuracy; sho might be full of " faith and good works;" she might be as swayed by the spirits as John the beloved, yet she mi"-ht not be ordained to the ministry ot the" Church When he remembered that the vital founder of Methodism both in England and America was a woman, and that the modern missionary movement had received no greater impulse than had been given to it bv the promotion of women s missionary societies, he was prepared to onen almost any avenue to woman where she might exercise her powers, bhe had been faithful over a few things, and God would vet make her ruler over many things Tho seed of a diviner feminine type would yet destroy tho serpent.