Sacerdotal Breeches.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 208, 9 September 1901, Page 3

Sacerdotal Breeches.

(,To the Editor of the Times.) Slit. —Women preachers richly deserve the strictures passed on them by Mr G. 11. Wilson .for ignoring his claim to the Apostolic succession, and failing to enquire beforehand whether ho confirmed the social—but strictly private—position assigned to them by his predecessors of Jong ago. They will, however, extend to him their gracious sympathy in his lament that the Holy Spirit has not up to the | present personally called on Mr G. 11. Wilson and explained to his satisfaction (if that were possible) how the teaching ot St. Paul in regard to woman's scope and mission has been expanded so as to tit in with the best instincts of the age in which we live. Apparently Mr G. 11. Wilson prefers Mrs Caudle to Sister Kuth. Why is he not consistent, and clamour for Sister Ruth to be tortured or burnt at the stake, or something else equally pleasant ? Surely she deserves nothing better if she transgresses the teaching of St. Paul; there is plenty of warrant for extreme measures. She is a heretic ; away with her to tlit? torture chamber 1 Possibly Mr G. 11. Wilson's ideal woman is duel, who was famous among Hebrew women because she treacherously drove a nail into the, head of the sleeping refugee who had sought shelter within her tent. Is that thc°social —but strictly private—position she ought to be kept in '? Mr G. 11. Wilson's reading of the Bible must be very au' jcrileial if he cannot trace through its pages the gradual evolution of woman alongside that of man : they have shared with man in the slow development of all the virtues. The only charge I know that can be brought against them is that they would set aside courage, hardihood, self-reliance, foresight, providence, and all the sterner am! harder qualities that make the man, and place supreme the softer and more feminine virtues of love, patience, resignaand reliance on other and supernatural help. Is a woman who finds herself endowed by God with brains and eloquent tongue not to put those gifts to their prop, r use just because ages ago the Jews in their then stage of evolution had no conception of what was possible in course of time ? Evolution is a fact, and Mi G. H. Wilson has got to submit to it; old-time views of life must give place to the new. just as the violent teachings of the Oil Testament were replaced by the sweeter reasonableness of the New Testament. We are gradually building up the newei Testament and getting more tolerant, humane, liberal minded and charitable than was possible in the ages_ of superstitious faith. If Mr G. H. W ilson will distinguish evolution from revolution we mav find him in course of time hand in band on the platform with the—at present —objectionable woman preacher, seeking together the destiny of the human race.—l am, etc., Hopeful.