"Pillars in the Same Temple and Priests of the Same Worship": Woman's Rights and the Politics of Church and State in Antebellum America

Abstract

In 1853 editor oS. Magazine condemned Woman's Rights—or movement that goes by that name. No other movement was so deddedly infidel, he daimed, opposed as it was to divine revelation, time-honored propdeties, and biblical authority. At stake was a fragile but socially vital alliance between church and state, becatise, editor contended, Chdsdan ecdesia bound dvil society together by preserving sexual differences. Three well-known biblical verses supplied basis for editor's scathing aitique of woman's rights. The Pauline injuncdon I suffer a woman not to teach reinforced prohibidon against women speaking, preaching, or engaging in the life of forum. The bridal relation between Church and her Spiritual Lord and Head signified male governance through a masculine godhead. Lasdy, editor quoted most significant verse: Let Them leam in Silence; Adam was first formed, then Eve. This verse, which cast man closer to divine and woman as man's etemal pupil, reflected principle that husband and minister were joint guardians of church and family, both vested with earthly and sacred authodty over women.' The editor's charges did not go tmanswered. In three sequendal ardcles— Harper's Editor and Women—published in theZi/y, fim significant periodical to herald woman's movement, New Vferk lawyer and woman's rights supporter Anson Bingham challenged what he claimed was an absurd view of Chxisdan ecclesia. The term itself, like dispute in which it figured, litiked political and religious realms. Originally, Greek word ekklesia referred to an assembly of free citizens ofa town. The early Chrisdans borrowed it to name their religious assemblies, suggesdng that church consdtuted a social order. By