Q. 1-Is it permissible for sisters to ask questions at a Bible Reading, seeing it is not an assembly meeting?
Q. 2-May not sisters be asked to remain at an inquiry meeting, as, though not allowed to speak or take part, they might help by prayer?
R.M.H.
A. 1-If the Bible Reading be of a private character there might be no breach of propriety in a sister asking a question (provided it be not done in the way of " teaching "), but where strangers are present or even many brothers, nature as well as scripture would seem to indicate the becomingness of silence on her part (1 Tim. 2:11, 12).
A. 2-It is a great evil where everything is brought into the assembly. Nor indeed is every brother even qualified to take up matters of investigation. Not all are spiritual or wise, or called to oversight or leadership (Rom. 12:8; Gal. 6; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 12:17; 1 Peter 5:2). We must remember that although it may be a necessary duty, occupation with evil is defiling. And it should be only when all other means have failed to restore, and the person is clearly proved to be a " wicked person " according to scripture, that the assembly is bound to act, and in this every brother and sister is concerned. Matt. 18:15-17 enjoins precedent action to the assembly being made privy, as we see also in the Epistles the various activities of conduct in dealing with what is wrong apart entirely from assembly action.