JAC Online

Railton on Women
by Commissioner George Scott Railton
(from HEATHEN ENGLAND, which is available online at http://bloodandfire.org.uk/)
(we're using with permission from Andrew Bale)

CHAPTER IX. - Prophetesses

"WHAT, women?"

Yes, women: and why not, pray?

"Why, Paul says—"

But stop a bit about Paul. Why did he want to explain how women should be dressed when they prophesied, if he really meant they never should prophesy? If not allowing them to speak means not permitting their public ministration to the souls of hearers, then how could they prophesy?

"Oh, but prophecy is a totally different thing to ordinary preaching. A prophetess has a special authority from God."

If the conviction that God authorizes and commands her to speak is sufficient, very good; that is all we ask. We want nobody, male or female, to do any ordinary preaching. We only wish people to speak when and as they are moved by the Holy Ghost, for only such speaking can break sinners' hearts, and lead them to the Lamb of God. What we maintain is that the Spirit of God does move every converted man and woman, so to speak, in public at times; and that only by quenching the Spirit and despising prophesyings (of women especially), is the engagement of thousands of women and men in such public testimony prevented .

Poor Paul! We wonder if the dear man knows how his words have been twisted to make him condemn a practice he fostered, ho doubt, in every way.

"In Jesus Christ," says he, "there is neither male nor female." He is arguing to show that no human being has any privilege now over another; that the Gentile may come as near God, do as much for Him, or before Him, as the Jew in every respect, and it is in this connection that be says, "there is neither male nor female."

The greatest care has constantly been taken by many excellent, well-intentioned people, that there should be no females in any prominent place in the Kingdom of Christ, but the males are everywhere. Paul says — God says:-

“There is neither male nor female."

Now, that is a grand principle, clear as noon-day, and which anybody can act upon with ease. There is to be no distinction between any two people now on account of any merely casual circumstance. The Roman, the Englishman, has as much right to preach the Gospel, to exercise any sacred authority or power, as the Jew; and the female has as much right to preach the Gospel, to exercise any sacred office, as the male.

Why? What is the foundation of this grand principle? Nothing short of the great truth — " Ye are all one in Christ Jesus." It makes no matter how anybody is born now. Male or female, they must be born again of the Spirit, or die for ever. It makes no matter to what family or sex anyone belongs now. They must not attempt to be God's priests unless they are made "priests unto God" by the Holy Ghost. And every converted person, male or female, is so honoured, for He "hath made us." It makes no matter how anyone may be regarded by men now, honoured, ordained, called out, stationed, commended, testimonialised, titled, diplomaed, or what not, they must not preach unless they are filled with the Spirit of the Lord. It makes no matter how anyone may be disregarded either, scorned, repelled, refused, insulted, decried, written against, misrepresented, slandered, they must confess Christ before men (no matter who says they should only do it before women), or He will not confess them before His Father and the holy angels.

We can conceive of no escape from this clear principle, and the all-comprehending truth upon which it is built. If God would only have saved 'the two sexes in two different ways, or damned them, if unbelieving or disobedient, to two separate hells, then this monstrous distinction between men and women's rights in connection with the preaching of the Gospel might have had some show of reason.

But God utterly repudiates any dividing line whatever, and therefore, depend upon it, unless the female servants of the Lord bestir themselves, quit themselves like men of God, and be strong for Him, He will not give them the lot of the men of God in heaven, Paul, who expressed this great principle of absolute equality before God so often, never in his life so outrageously set it aside as to oppose the preaching of any woman.

'Will anybody explain to us what course Paul took when he and his friends stayed at the house of Philip, the evangelist, who had four virgin daughters prophetesses? Four in one family! Four! Talk about the little extravagances of The Salvation Army! Four in one family!

Whatever had Philip the evangelist been about? He used to be a man full of the Holy Ghost, guided as by an unseen hand in every step and word. Perhaps it was while he was away serving tables, or on an evangelistic tour, that his four daughters broke out with this prophesying unbeknown to him. But was Mrs. Philip dead? Whatever did mamma say? And what did papa say when he got home? Why did he not at least stop them before this dreadful Paul came along, who did not "suffer a woman to speak”? Was he not afraid Paul would report him and his daughters to "the elders at Jerusalem," and "have the whole thing put a stop to," or Philip discharged from being a deacon?

How could Paul endure living in the house with four female preachers, if he had been persecuting their sisters in every city? Whichever way he turned, the reproachful glance of a female preacher must have fallen upon him (and that is no "light affliction," even if it be "but for a moment"), Surely he hurried off as soon as possible, without giving them the chance of beginning to exercise their gifts against him! He seemed to be in a hurry, too, when he came; for he had only spent a day with the brethren at Ptolemais. But when he got to the house where the four female preachers lived, he" tarried many days." No doubt he found, as many a one has since, that preaching does not prevent a good woman from looking well to the affairs of
her house. We know that many a working-man's house whose wife is a Salvation Army speaker will bear comparison with any home supported on the same income.
It is perfectly c1ear that Paul and the four female preachers got on admirably together; so much so that, when Agabus came down and told them what awaited Paul at Jerusalem, the dear girls cried like to break his heart, which was a very stout one, to say nothing of their own, and would fain have kept him for any length of time rather than he should come to any harm.

Now, upon Paul's arrival at Jerusalem he gathered the elders together and "declared particularly what things God had wrought amongst the Gentiles by his ministry." Surely the lively recollection of those four young female preachers at Caesarea led him to particularize how completely God had stopped the mouths of the female speakers by his ministry, even as He stopped the months of the lions in Daniel's time. Surely he said a little word about the great disorder in the Church of Caesarea, and made a little suggestion or two? But there is no trace of anything of the sort, and if those dear cautious old gentlemen did not send a letter to all the females to "abstain from public speaking," we may be quite certain neither Paul nor anyone of them thought it a "necessary thing" for there to be any such abstention. Oh, that every elder to-day were equally wise!

Does anyone charge us with trifling with a solemn theme? We are in no mood for trifling. We have reasonable hopes of being in a short time with Paul and all his female preachers, for scores and hundreds we doubt not he raised up, if not many thousands, and oh! if we can say anything to clear our brother's memory in any mind of this absurd calumny, we shall feel it a double pleasure to meet him in the "morning." Oh, if we can, even by a little playfulness, stir the thoughts of many and arouse the female members of God's Church (always the bitterest, opponents of woman's preaching mission) to inquire, and especially to inquire of the Lord direct in prayer, as to their duty in this respect, we shall have well spent the time. For Satan has indeed well managed to prevent the more attractive sex from proclaiming Christ.

What is woman's work if not to preach? The devil made her the first preacher on earth, and the result of her first sermon was the ruin of us all. And now she must not preach any more! Of course not. Devil! — how clever a deceiver you are.

Woman's first wrong step was looking too much after food, and too little after Divine things, and the devil and the churches he has so largely mastered would fain point woman in the same direction still. “Cook! cook! cook! Oh, noble woman, behold the object of thine existence! "

One of the first fruits of woman's sin was that she had to put on an "apron." The devil and the churches detest to see her without one. Pretty, silk, ornamented, tasteful, useless if you like; but, woman, you must stick to the apron! If you want to be particularly pious or great, you may wear a long white one with red-crossed armlets in the Hospital, and we will saint you and medal you for it; but above the apron you must never aspire, woman!

Your sire fell, it is true, as well as you; but then he can rise again; in Christ were all (men of course) made alive. Men often begin under an apron and finish in a villa; but you, woman, the apron, always the apron! In the villa, if possible in the mansion, aye even in the palace if you can; but remember, never fail to wear the apron. And fastening your children to its strings, lead them to look upon it as the necessary, one, only vocation of a woman.

But stay! The double-faced devil will consent to thy advancement to the most public position possible if it be but to lead precious souls to hell! The stage! Oh, yes, by all means, go on to the stage. Dance there half-dressed if you like. Take part unblushingly in the representation of the vilest iniquity before a dense crowd of the highest and most learned in the land. Sing, speak, perform, be shameless, be a great, public, constant lie, and you shall be worshipped by whole nations for it all. Nobles shall pour their wealth at your feet for the honour of your hand. The greatest monarchs of the earth shall bow to you, the whole press of every Christian people shall belaud you. The "religious papers" reserve a little quiet column on purpose for such names as yours! Very kingdom of the world shall be yours if you like to take the foremost part in leading men down to the pit.

But to stand upon that very same stage to lead men to heaven! To speak, or sing, or pray there! Oh, horrible! Abomination! Degradation of your sex! Disgrace to religion! Outrage upon society! Society! — the very society that would gloat over your performances as an actress, and shut you out of its circles because you were one!

And as to appearing in the open air, at the street corners, addressing men, braving insult, and standing amidst the godless multitudes to speak aloud for God, — why, you must be demented — lost to every sense of propriety, utterly without respect for yourself, to dream of anything of the sort! Surely, you will not make such an exhibition of yourself, and disgrace family and friends for ever!

Woman of God, make thy choice! There is the stage — there is the open-air stand. The multitudes will crowd to hear thee — no matter what thy name, thy position, thy abilities-simply because thou art a woman. If thou, by the power of God, no matter whether with finished oratory, or with faltering, disconnected phrases, shalt move their hearts, they will come, and come again, and thou wilt see many or them fall at the feet of thy Jesus, if thou wilt but go forth and speak to them. Thy God says to thee as much as to anyone, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." “There is neither male nor female" in the eye or thy Creator, thy King, thy Saviour, thy Judge. Wilt thou obey Him? It may cost thee all thy friends, thy reputation, thy comfort in life, thy home, thy fortune, thy health, thy life, thy all; but "He freely gave Himself up for us all” — for women as well as for men. Wilt thou give 'up all for Him? Wilt thou hear the Master's voice, and gladly answer, when He calleth, "Here am I-send me, send me." Oh, woman, heaven and earth and hell are eager to catch thy answer! Wilt thou?

How many "careless women" there are in Israel still who" do not (will not) see their obligation to do so;" who "do not feel qualified for such a work" (how can any one until they have attempted in the power of God, the one great qualification, to undertake it) ; who" do not feel prepared for such sacrifices," as God felt prepared, before the foundation or the world, to make for them; who "dare not, cannot (that is, will not) take such a step." "Their system could not endure such a strain!" How will their system endure the Judgment Day, when they see millions of damned souls who might have been sheep had there been more shepherdesses — had woman had her proper place in God's kingdom?

Oh! should the hearts that are most tender turn away from a dying world because it is not thought proper to save them in God's appointed way by preaching? Oh! should the gentle, loving voices, that first spoke of Jesus to all these multitudes in their early days, be silent while, in maturer years, they rush down to perdition? Oh! should those whose mission it is confessedly to minister to the ease, the rest, the comfort of man look alter the animal, and leave the soul to be ministered to by men — or by nobody, if men's ministrations are not listened to? God forbid! He does forbid! “Let not man prevail" "We ought to obey God rather, than men!"

"But women are not qualified for the management of spiritual, still less of business, affairs! "

Indeed! are they not? How many huge mansions and large families are under the care of a woman, and well cared for? How many millions of money are gained, and how many millions of souls drowned in drink yearly in public-houses and hotels, under a landlady?

We do not argue for the employment or anyone in any task they are not fully qualified for; but we insist that disqualification must be proved — not merely asserted Caesarea in every case, and that a woman who is duly qualified to manage shall be allowed to do so. You need not protect, or support, or counsel such a woman much! She will manage everybody, and overcome everything, if you but just give her the position — the opportunity! Leave the rest to God and her. And oh! take care with your proprieties and your talk about "Paul," lest you should be found to fight against God.
Not allow a woman to usurp authority over a man! Ye married men, what are the facts? Aye, and ye moonstruck youths too? Is not the very joy of your life to submit, in everything, from the choice of a business — a town — a horse, to that of a stud or a salt-cellar, to the sweet little gentle influence that can usurp to any extent, before you know it has done so ?

Does not Paul (that sole authority you know upon these things) let out the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, when he says, that "a married man leaves caring for God," and sets himself to please his wife! Thank God, you will allow exceptions to Paul's doctrine here. Job was one, and Abraham was one, and Moses was one. But did not the wife of each of these heroes have much to do with all their affairs? Did they never usurp at all? Ask the sons of Ishmael!

What nonsense it all is! Why cannot people leave God alone to manage, and to set up whom He pleases? Did He not make a woman a judge in Israel, and has He not the eternal right to make as many more female judges as the necessities of Israel may demand?

Is it not time somebody usurped authority over all the millions of professedly Christian men, who stand idle while the world is perishing! If a house were burning, and a woman finding all the firemen gaping below usurped authority and showed how to save it, would the Insurance companies object?

Did anybody cry shame when the captain of a brig having fallen in on the Atlantic, a few years since, his wife usurped his authority and brought the vessel into port?

The helm of many a Church is in feeble enough hands today! Members idling, chatting, entertaining one another and their dear pastor, while the souls around are perishing for lack of the knowledge that Churches should diffuse! May God raise up some spiritual Grace Darlings, who, even if they have to row alone in the boat they manage, may bring salvation to thousands who through the mismanagement and carelessness and stupidity of men are ready to perish! Grace Darlings, wherever you are, for ye are legion, come forward in spite of earth and hell, and usurp authority to save!

If the Salvation Army ceased to exist to-day, it would have amply justified its past career, and covered its originator with glory, if only because it has brought forward again to the light that chosen instrumentality of the kingdom of heaven, Female Ministry, and allowed of the demonstration of its utility and power — its Divine right.
The Salvation Army woman, at a street corner, can get and hold as large a crowd by even giving out a hymn, as the most eloquent of its male officers. The power of the woman's speaking, as her own heart melts and her tears flow at the sight of the lost around her, streams of tears from eyes that never wept for sin before, heaving breasts and broken hearts attest it, a million times, every Sabbath-day!

The Salvation Army preacher on the platform, as she teaches the wondering audiences, who crowd to hear the things concerning Jesus Christ, finds ample reply to every hostile criticism in the mighty working with her of God's Holy Spirit, and as she leads score after score of penitents to the Saviour's feet, catches in His smile something to light up the path His followers would make so thorny and so dark.

May the Salvation Army long perpetuate such marvels, till they cease by their multiplicity to be marvelous!

But your female officers get married! Well, and quite right too! God bless them and their children, if they have any! He has already blessed every husband beyond measure who secures such a prize.

But then they stop preaching! Indeed! Do they? The most constant female preachers we know are married women! No woman deserves a good husband and a nice home so much as a female preacher, and even supposing that they so far lose their religion, when they marry, as to cease to preach, or suppose that household care and ill health prevent their doing so, what worse are they than the millions of women of Israel, who never began to do their duty? Is not the work of their past, the memory of their faithfulness, the salvation of the souls they led to Christ, as precious, if not apparently more so, when they turn aside to folly-to the unspeakably awful folly-of an extinguished lamp?

"The Bridegroom cometh!” Women of God, disregarding every other voice, "Go ye forth to meet Him!" Let His path be illuminated by the gleam of your light, which was no more given to be hid "under a 'bed" or "a bushel," active, or passive private life, than that of your brethren.

 

 

 

   

 

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