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| Quaker women could speak in meeting! |
David Teague has kindly assented to let me repeat his recent blog about a poem written by Margaret Fell. The feelings expressed by Ms. Fell reflect the Quaker belief that women were worthy vessels for God's word. This countered the Puritan and Anglican conviction that women should remain silent in church.
Herodias Long never heard this poem, but I believe it would have matched her personal beliefs. And now, here is David's blog post from: http://davidteague.blogspot.com/2012/10/an-early-quaker-found-poem.html
If George Fox was the father of Quakerism, Margaret Fell (1614-1702), was its mother. In 1666, she published Women's Speaking Justified, the earliest known defense of women's ministry actually written by a woman.
While Margaret's writing style is a bit rambling for modern tastes, and some of her arguments are more clever than profound, some of her language approaches the lyrical. I have always found Margaret's observation that women loved Jesus because he was kind to them, and so they kept faith with him even after he was buried, to be quite moving.
FROM WOMEN'S SPEAKING JUSTIFIED:
While Margaret's writing style is a bit rambling for modern tastes, and some of her arguments are more clever than profound, some of her language approaches the lyrical. I have always found Margaret's observation that women loved Jesus because he was kind to them, and so they kept faith with him even after he was buried, to be quite moving.
FROM WOMEN'S SPEAKING JUSTIFIED:
Those
that speak against
the Spirit of the Lord
speaking in a woman,
the Spirit of the Lord
speaking in a woman,
simply
by reason of her sex,
or
because she is a woman,
not
regarding
the
Seed
and
Spirit
and
Power
that
speaks in her,
such
speak against
Christ
and his Church. . . .
God the Father
made
no such difference
in
the first Creation –
nor
ever since –
between the male
between the male
and
the female,
but
always,
out
of his mercy
and
lovingkindness,
had
regard unto the weak.
So
also his Son,
Christ
Jesus,
confirms
the same thing. . . .
Also,
that woman
that woman
that
came unto Jesus
with
an alabaster box
of
very
precious
precious
ointment,
and
poured it
on
his head
as
he sat at meat—
this woman knew more
of the secret power
and wisdom
of God
than his disciples did. . . .
this woman knew more
of the secret power
and wisdom
of God
than his disciples did. . . .
Jesus
owned
the love and grace
that appeared in women
that appeared in women
and
did not despise it:
and he received as much love,
and he received as much love,
kindness,
compassion,
and
tender dealing
from
women
as he did from any others,
as he did from any others,
both
in his lifetime,
and
also
after
they had exercised their cruelty upon him. . . .
Mark
this,
ye
despisers
of
the weakness of women:
if these women
if these women
who
had received mercy
and grace
and grace
and
forgiveness of sins
and
virtue
and
healing from him –
if
their hearts
had
not been so united
and
knit unto him
in
love
that
they could not depart
(as
the men did)
but
sat watching,
and
waiting,
and
weeping around the Sepulchre
until
the time of his Resurrection,
and
so were ready
to
carry his Message,
how
should his disciples have known
(who
were not there)?Image:
http://www.favimp.com/Quakers.html
What a beautiful poem! There are some denominations in the 21st century still struggling with the concept of women in ministry. As Margaret Fell did, many of us with spiritual gifts know we were given the gifts for a purpose, but some people, including women, have dug into their trenches and said No, we won't have it. I agree with Margaret that those who deny the gifts in themselves and others, deny the power of God.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the poem.