WOMAN IN THE CHURCH

(J. W. Pritchard, “Editorial,” Christian Nation, vol. 8, No. 194 (June 13, 1888): p. 1-2)

The little Covenanter church maintains its supremacy and lead of all other ecclesiastical and religious bodies as the pioneer of Christian reform in America. When we consider the heroism and splendid achievements of this small body of Christians, and their large share in making American history of the better sort, we feel a pity, not unmingled with scorn, for those who speak sneeringly of their close communion, their plain churches, and their choirless and organless psalm-singing worship.

The story of their sacrifices, their contendings and triumphs, often told, will bear retelling to the end of time. But we do not mean to repeat it here, except to refer to some things that are necessary to introduce our subject. But first we desire to say very plainly that we are profoundly convinced of the wisdom of the church's position of political dissent because of the serious defect in the National Constitution. We reach this conviction first from the very lowest consideration, that is, not the necessity or righteousness of the position of dissent, but simply the wisdom or expediency of it. We reason thus, that the failure of our National Constitution to recognize the Nation's proper relation to Jesus Christ and his Word, is a defect of such gravity that it ought to be kept constantly in the minds of the people ; that were all citizens to incorporate with the Government by voting, they would weaken and stultify any protest uttered against it; and that Covenanters, to whom the right and privilege of voting is highly prized, by sacrificing that privilege, thus emphasizing their dissent by their sacrifice, and centering attention continually on the Nation's unfaithfulness to Christ, are rendering a service the wisdom of which cannot be too highly spoken of.

But the position of the Church is a higher one, it is that she would be recreant to the duty which she believes God has intrusted to her, that of teaching Christ's headship over nations, were her members to refuse to lie separate from a guilty Nation.

Holding this view, the Covenanter church has at all times taken the lead in accepting and advocating special Christian reforms. "I know these Covenanters," said Lincoln, "they have been granted their first demand of this Government, the emancipation of the slave; and they will yet be granted their other demand, the recognition of Christ's headship over the Nation." " South Carolina made a mistake," said Wm. Lloyd Garrison, "when a price was put upon my head; Covenanter ministers have taught me all the Abolition doctrine I know."

The Covenanter church was first in demanding the absolute prohibition of the liquor-traffic. Ministers and members are a unit for Prohibition, and almost so in sympathy with the Prohibition party.

But another great problem is pressing for solution; it is the question of woman's place in the church. It has come before other ecclesiastical bodies, and they have postponed its settlement, awaiting further light. A few days ago it was presented for settlement in the Synod of the Covenanter Church. A lady had been elected by the congregation at McKeesport, Pa., to the office of deacon. The Session of the congregation requested the Presbytery to ordain her, but it was a new question and Presbytery sent it up to Synod for instructions.

Now, we do not wish to create the impression that Synod reached a conclusion of the matter without debate. The members of Sjyod had known for months that this question had to be met, and they had prepared to meet it. Arguments were heard on both sides, the debate was long and animated, and feeling ran high. Levity was reproved and silenced, enthusiasm was restrained and subdued, and a conclusion was reached by an earnest, fervent study of God's word. The writer in Appleton's says, " The institution of deaconesses originated with the apostles, as is clear from Romans 16:1." And probably the Rev. James Kennedy's address on the words referred to, " I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea," was very effective in deciding the vote, though much credit in this direction is due to the careful and weighty sentences of Prof. D. B. Willson, who closed the argument with these words: " We have got to get rid of this prejudice against the equality of man and woman. We took the right position on the slavery question, and I am glad the church has got so far forward in this great truth, that God intends to use man and woman in advancing his cause."

The position of the Covenanter church on this question was then recorded by a vote of ninety-three to twenty-four, in these words: " That in our judgment the ordination of a woman to the office of deacon is in harmony with the New Testament and the Constitution of the Apostolic Church.