WOMAN'S POSITION IN THE CHURCH.
By George C. Tenney
A CORRESPONDENT raises again the familiar question of woman's relations to the church in the light of 1 Cor. 14:34, 35 and 1 Tim. 2:11, 12, and gives a little more force to the inquiry, perhaps, by adding, "Does Paul mean that we are to take no part in praising God?" The Bible, like any other book of precept, must be interpreted according to its evident meaning, and in harmony with the fundamental principles which it teaches. Passages more local or individual in their application must not be understood as opposing an evident principle of the Scriptures. One of the evident principles of the gospel is the elevation of all mankind to an equal standing and to equal privileges, and hence, to an equal accountability in the sight of God. In this the religion of the Bible stands vastly pre-eminent to all others. And under its influence alone has woman been elevated from a position of slavery to a rightful equality with man, and in some respects to a higher, a more sacred place. We cannot therefore think that the great apostle of this religion would teach anything to the contrary, nor does he. Doubtless there were evils of a peculiar nature in the church at Corinth, which 1 Cor. 14:34, 35 was designed to correct. And as Timothy, in his labor with the churches, would be likely to meet such evils, he was instructed in the proper way to treat them when they might appear. But when we come to consider the question of how Paul regarded the relation of woman to the church, and the work of the gospel, we come to another subject. Upon this point attention may be called to the following texts of Scripture: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:28. "And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither." Acts 16:13. "And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life." Phil. 4:3. "Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, neither is the woman without the man, in the Lord." "Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered," etc. 1 Cor. 11:11, 5. Many scriptures might be adduced to show the important part woman has had in the work of God in Bible times, and to which she was called by the providence and Spirit of God; but it is not the purpose of this article to enter into this subject except to show that in the great work which has been done for womankind by the gospel of Christ, whose work it has ever been "to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke," the apostle Paul has given the full measure of his potent influence.