WOMAN'S PLACE IN THE CHURCH.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 266, 13 April 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

WOMAN'S PLACE IN THE CHURCH.

By EDITH PICTOX-TURBERVILL In Tlio London Daily News.

(In view of the discussion on "Tho Empty l'uipit," -Miss PictonTurbervili's \iews, which have recently attracted much attention, will bo read with particular interest.)

A naval officer, having spent most of the past year at sea, was dining the other night with some friends- in London. At the dinner table someone referred to tho Bishop of Loudon's action in first sanctioning and then prohibitmg women from speaking m churenes during tlio National Mission. Tlio officer was evidently quite ignorant of the whole affair, and asked rather naivety, "But why shouldn't women speak m church?" Tihoro was a pause, for to tlio very readl astonishment ol everyone present not a single person was ready with an answer to that very simple question. Everyone seemed genuinely taken aback that this was the case. Eventually someone said, rather lamely, "Oh, but it is never done.'' It however, strangely unconvincing, and. tho conversation speedily passed to another subject. Docs not tho naval officer, with his simple query, practically represent tho position of "the general public, and those at the dinner table, who, to their own astonishment, were unable to give a satisfactory reply, represent the position <ii those who are opposed to a woman ever speaking within the walls of a consecrated budding?

Tradition and ecclesiastical history may en the whole not countenance the idea. The .word "may" is emphasised, for there "s a growing belief that hitherto unexplored historical material will, when studied, yield somewhat startling results on this question. The ancient ordus, i.e., ordination service, show us that the diaconal ordination for women was exactly the same as that for men. Deaconesses '•catechized, baptized, :.nd administered tho Comjuinion to women, carried tho Host to tho absent, chanted tho Gospel and read tho homily,'' .is we are told man ablo article dealing with tho historical aspect of the subject m the December "Nineteenth Century.'' Whether this is correct or not, there is no doubt that tho prophetic office, i.e., preaching, of women is counterbalanced in both Old and New Testament. In tho Apostolic Constitutions deacons and deeonesses are spoken of together, their duties are alike, and it is not until later that tho deacon begins to assume higher rank. It is perfectly clear that in the primitive Church woman has a far more responsible share in tho ministry of tho Church than she has to-day, and it calls for no surprise. The primitive Church was certainly historically, ana surely spiritually nearer to tiie life of Christ than is the Church to-day nearer to tV?> lifo of Him who never uttered a word that can Be interpreted as implying any superiority of the one sex over tho other. St. Paul's instructions under special conditions to one special Church, even if it implies what it is generally supposed to imply which it probably docs not, cannot be taken as a principle for all time.

History is of interest, tradition not to be ignored, yet it cannot be taken as the final standard for all future movements. We as a nation would become stultified, and dead indeed, were we to admit lor ono moment tint it could be. New conditions call for new, methods. The spirit of God can guide us now as in years gone by, and to be continually looking back to the past for final guidance is almost to deny that God lives and guides His children to-day. My lite has brought me in close touch with tho religious ministry of women. The first small share I had in it was with Mrs. Garnett, who surely was an apostle, to navvies, for she certainly was a sent one. Her name is still reverenced amongst thousands of navvies to-day. Though nearly twenty years ago, I remember now a living message of God's love and power with which one Sunday she had cntliralled for a whole hour — no light test —Hundreds of navvies, many of the roughest kind .That night those men hnd a vision of" the power of tho spirit which lifted them into another world and transformed many lives. For several years I watched the effect of nor ministry upon their hves, and there are men living now who I know would say, without a moment's hesitation, that they owe tho happiness of their lives, thoir wholo insight into the Kingdom of God, humanly speaking, to tho ministrations of tnat one womp.u.

During the National Mission a woman way asked 10 preach in a certain parish. She did .so on a Sunday morning. The congregation met for the morning service and trailed out of the church to the suhoolorom to hear the sermon she delivered. Is not one who is considered worthy to give God's message, worthy to stand in rTisThouse? I have spent years in Inda in very close touch with the work ot women missionaries. Apart from their work the Christian Church would not ho as strong in India as it is to-day. Wo give the gospel message to the Mo nammodans and Hindus, wo tell them of tho sacredness of womanhood, how Christ for ::11 time raised women, that there is no inferiority, men and women in tho Christian faith equally precious in the s'ght- of Ciod, equally recipients of His Holy Spirit. Yet in spite of what wo teach they are quick to not-? that though Mm Chrstian woman may speak and give her message in the zenana and schools, she must lira, even . an ordained deaconess, speak cr monster within tho holy walls of a consecrated building, a holy place. That Mohammedans should exclude women from ministry in tho mosque calls for no surprise, when the teaching of Mohammed concerning women is taken into consideration. That the Christian Church, in spito of tho Muster's whole attitude to women, should practically exelud.i them i'run ministry within the Church suggests the mournful reflect'on that we have faded to interpret the full Christian message.

l< this to continue? A general consciousness has arisen that tho Church needs a message, and that possibly it may l>e women who have a living message to give In t'ucKo dark days of trial and sorrow. Is the thought to be encouraged, or will the Church once again drive from it what may he a regenerative power? We hope not. We can but hop-. There i°, as far as I know, not :i single woman who in tins matt.T desires t> forre tho hands of tliosti in aiillnrity. It is perhaps to bj regretted that many of the Bi.-diops — and possibly Nonconformist ministers in like manner though m a dffowiit way —find rofugo in taking no acii.-.n, when faced with a situation that calls for foarl "-snes.\ by saying that nothing can he done except by tho united action of the Episcopate. Bishops have acted independently in tho past.. Tho Bishop of London nnH have f It ■*