Ques. 9.-Will you please give answer to the following questions:

(1) Is there scriptural authority for a "sisters' prayer meeting?"

(2) Is the offering of money at the breaking of bread part of our worship? If so, kindly give the Scripture reference.

(3) Should the sisters give to the offering individually, or should married sisters leave this entirely to their husbands?

(4) Are family relationships recognized in the Assembly? If not, and if money as offered at the breaking of bread is part of our worship, would it not be the privilege of every individual to give?

(5) Should "laboring brethren" participate in the business meetings of their respective "local" assemblies?

ANS._(1) Acts 16:13 seems to answer this question in the affirmative; for, to man's shame be it said, not one man seems to have had enough humility or godliness, or courage, to come "where prayer was wont to be made" by the river side, until the apostle went. And where can the heart be, or even common sense, that would oppose God fearing women to meet together for prayer?

(2) Yes. So says Heb. 13:15,16. "Sacrifice of praise," and offerings out of what God has given us are priestly offerings, in which "God is well pleased"-too little thought of as such by many of God's people. See also Deut. 16:10; 1 Chron. 29:14.

(3) We might answer this by another question:Should the husbands worship God for their wives? Or is it an individual privilege of which none are deprived?

(4) "In Christ" (in our spiritual standing before God) "there is neither Jew nor Greek.. .neither male nor female;" but while we are here on earth, in the natural body, all the relationships which God has established exist, and are to be recognized and, maintained in the assembly. All the exhortations given in the epistles-to husbands, to wives, to parents, children and even slaves-are given to members of the assembly in general, and each one is responsible to the Lord and to one another in these various relationships.

(5) "Business meetings" are for rule, for order, and seeing to the various needs in the local assembly. Therefore we should expect such as answer to the directions given in 1 Tim., chap.3, and Titus, chap. 1, to guide on such occasions. Gift for preaching or teaching is not the requirement at such meetings; but if a special servant of our Lord is locally connected there, why deprive the assembly of what help he may render, if qualified for it? But intimate acquaintance with the needs presented, or cases that need admonition, etc., is a requisite which the Lord's servant may lack, being often away.