MOTHERS AS MINISTERS
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Mr. Robert Anderson says that " because a woman decides that she wishes to be a minister, it does not follow that a church must accept her as its minister." No ; but if a church has accepted (or rather has actually called) a woman to be its minister, it should not then decide for her that she must not marry or if married have children. When a person is appointed to an office, that person should be continued in that office until his or her work is found in experience to be unsatisfactory. If Miss Vera Findlay (Mrs. Kenmure) defaults in this way, then obviously her congregation has a right and duty to demand her resignation. Otherwise not.
Mr. Anderson begs the whole question by speaking of women whose ministry must be always hampered by wifely or maternal duties." A woman who has been called to a certain office should be allowed to prove in her ministry whether these experiences hamper or enrich her.
" And how long before and after childbirth are such women to be liberated ? And how frequently ? " The answer to these questions depends entirely on circumstances. As they stand they are-,Mr. Anderson will forgive me—grotesque. I can only reply by asking him what woman he is referring to 9 Is she strong in mind and body ? Has she adequate means ? Hew many Children has she ? Does Mr. Anderson really suppose that one can make a rule about an entire sex and expect to fit every individual woman and every individual
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