HATS IN CHURCH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 185, 30 March 1932, Page 7

HATS IN CHURCH

THEORIES OF INJUNCTION BY ST. PAUL REGARDING , WOMEN. CENTURIES OLD HABIT. "But every woinan that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoureth her head; for that is* even all one as if she were shaven." On this Pauline injunction, ChriStiafi wometi have never entered the church without a head covering. And so strong is tradition that, according to a smiling divine, if the edict were annulled to-morrow, women would no more think of going to church without hats than they would go to bed with them! Rev. W. J. Glant has proclaimed that there is no earthly reason why women should have to wear hats in bhurbh. Objection has been taken to this vie'W' by a correspondent to The Sydney Siiri; who signs himself "Marcus," and says: — "There niay be no 'earthly' reason for wearing hats, but I would like to remind Mr. Grant that there is a Scriptural one, and would subniit for consideration Corinthians I, which is God's order." Not for All Time." "One could argue th£ point till doomsday and never settle it," answers Mr. Grant. "There are two ways of looking at the injunction of Paul. "My theory is that the Apostle spoke about one particulai* people at orie particlar time for one particular purpose, and it was never intended that his injunction shduld apply to all. the world for all time." Admittiiig that therb certainly was an injunction by St. Paul to women to keep their heads eovered in church, Rev. D. F. Brandt said he could advance nb argument for or against the practic.e, except the one that for 2000 years it had been done as a token of respect. "Arid these things cannbt lightly be set aside/' he added. "The majori- ] ty of the people would be very sorry to see women entering church with heads uncovered. "Women would be no cooler nor warmer with or without their hats in church, but many would. he uncomfortable with heads uncovered," he added. Priests of the Church of England and of the Catholic Church said that the question had been determined eenturies ago, and they were not interested in arguing the merits or demerits of • theii* church laws.