THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

White Ribbon, Volume 24, Issue 285, 18 March 1919, Page 8

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

The following appeared in the Canadian “Woman’s Century”:— “The question of the position of women in the church was discussed, and while the Conference was strongly in favour of giving women all right'' as laymen, the matter of allowing them to be ordained as preachers was finally left over for the next meeting. It was bitterly opposed by many.” Newspaper report. The Methodist Conference has spoken. Let the women keep silence! Hut they throw out one small mouldy, mildewed crumb of hope: They’ll think about it! For four years they will consider it, and then, if we’re good, and the weather s fine, and it doesn’t rain or anything, and the> feel like it, ina\l*c they v ill think about it again ! It mu't be a wonderfully exhilarat ing feeling, to mistake yourself for C»od. It must throw a thrill down the spine and cause a iosy glow to spread all over the bald head, to even assume that you arc the arbiter of human destiny. The brethren go ba< k to the Scriptures foi their authority. Christ did not call women! Then now! Sure enough. He didn’t’ There are many things C’aiist did i «»t do. He only enunciated principles, lie did not organise a Ladies’ Aid either, and here we have been working away, without tin slightest Scrip tural authority. 1 ; tn going to quit it, now that 1 have found out. I never really wanted to fry < hicken for church socials, or give the money that 1 wanted for a new hat to repair the parsonage, but I thought I should. Now 1 see it was « mistake. So the •urkey supjrer with its morning after, of dish-washing, will know me no more! Farewell, Oh autographed quilt, whereby we raised the mortgage and puf a prop under it! Christ did not institute you—so you must go! The W.C.T.U. has no Scriptural basis e ther. Neither has the Boy Scouts or the Y.W.C.A. Strange to say, Christ did not institute superannua tion funds or a Stationing Committee. or even a vieneral Conference. But these things have got started somehow, and the Scriptural ones alike no objection. Th** (General Conference has a way of reasoning, which would no* encourage the average ]>erson to altend church But

these light afflictions will not woiry us. The Methodist Church has fail ed to grasp a situation it has gone groping into the dark past, when it should Have been turning its face to the light. The door of opportunity is oi>en wide to women. If the Chun h does not want us, there are other channels f«.r our activity. Let us pass on!