WOMAN MINISTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 2

WOMAN MINISTER

VISITING NEW ZEALAND. The Rev. Dorothy F. Wilson, AI.A. B.Litt. Oxon, the English woman minister who is at present visiting Auckland was trained in religious educational work at Wcsthill Training College, Birmingham, and later became young people’s secretary to the Presbyterian Church of England, having charge of the development of work among young people in all parts of the kingdom. In 1923 she became preaching assistant at Crosby Congregational Church, and in the following year she entered .Mansfield College, Oxford. After obtaining the university diploma in theology with distinction, which no woman had ever done before she was awarded the degree of B.Litt. in theology fora thesis entitled “Child Psychology and Religious Education,’’ later published in book form.

Since Presbyterianism, in which she had been brought up, had no place for wo» m in its ministry, Aliss Wilson offered her services to tho Congregational Church, and was ordained in the famous Carr’s Lane Church, Birmingham, in 1927. She was assistant minister there for a year, preaching at regular intervals and helping in the varied work of the church. For health reasons she was obliged to resign, and for a time was minister of Host Bank Congregational Church, near Lancaster. In 1931 she accepted a year’s appointment as college pastor and professor of religion at Afills’ College for Women, Oakland, California. Most of last year she spent in Australia, preaching at Collins Street Church, Afelbourne, and Stow Alemorial Church, Adelaide, and lecturing in tho principal cities of the Commonwealth chiefly upon religious education.

“It seems strange that the Christian Church should lag behind other societies in giving an equal place to women,’’ said Aliss Wilson in discussing her ministerial work with a N.Z. Herald representative. “One might reasonably expect it to load in such a matter. Of course, I realise that preaching should only be open to thos o women who really have something to say and are capable of saving it. Still, there is great scope for women in personal ministry. When I was at Birmingham numbers of women used to bring their troubles and perplexities to me—some of them many miles to do so—and I believe that I was able to give them a great deal of help.’ ’ So far tho progress of women it the ministry had been slow in Britain, she continued. There wore seven or eight in the Congregational Church and Unitarians brought jV e total up to about 25. Th ( » Presbyterian and Alethodist churches had approved the principle but had delayed putting it into practice. The Church o r England w r as un likely to admit women to its ministry for another century at least, although such leaders as Dean Inge, who was a friend of hers, nnd Canon Streeter, under whom she had studied at Oxford, and Canon Raven, of Cambridge, were strongly in favour of it. Aliss Wilson spoke admiringly of Miss Aland Boyden, the celebrated woman preacher, who visited New Zealand some years ago. She said that at times she had occupied Aliss Roydcn’s pulpit in the Guildhouse Chapel, London. Aliss Roy den had peen deservedly honoured by tho University of Glasgow. which had made her an honorary Doctor of Divinity. Mr. Ramsay AlacDonald was one of her most regular hearers, nnd it was probably through his regard that she had been made a Companion of Honour by the King. “I am certain that, if Christianity is to keep its place in the modern world wo must give more attention to religious education.’’ said Aliss Wilson, “nnd in that there is much work for women to do. We cannot use the methods of a century ago if we are to help the child to a right adjustment of self with God and society. The ideal was to have efficient religious teaching in tho dav-school but where this was unobtainable it was necessary to rely upon the Sunday school. This of fcred a real problem, but much was being done to solvp it by thorough per manont organisations for training Sun dav school teachers ad loaders, and for guiding and assisting them week by wook. ”