Doubtless a severe shock will be conveyed to many a Presbyterian in the far regions when he reads of the proposal in the English Presbyterian Church to admit women as elders. Shades of Matthew White, the ancient commentafor on the Scriptures, who is probably laughing up his old-fashioned sleeve, if his burial garments contain one, at the thought. Matthew was a regular dry-as-dust, but it is a peculiar fact that copies of his great work are keenly sought by divines to-day that they are practically unobtainable by the ordinary man. Once, however, in his commentaries Matthew became human, namely, where he commented on the Presbyterian rule that women, should not speak in church, and that if they wanted information on any subject they should wait and ask their husbands when they got home. Matthew agreed that this was a good interpretation of the -scriptural recommendation, but he pointed out that it was none the less a shame that when wives asked these questions at home their husbands should be unable to supply the answers. Obviously husbands have remained in a state of ignorance, for experiences of a Presbyterian kirk include the hearing of questions asked by wives in the intervals between consumption of peppermints and pan-drops. £0 the English Presbyterians are merely logical in: their present proposal, for from asking questions to making speeches or taking up collections (an especial duty of the kirk elder) is but a small step. without permission.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.