New-York tribune., 1874-11-30
NOVEL EPISCOPAL SERVICE.

Bishop Littlcjohn of the Protestant Epls-
copal diocese OF Long Island, admitted lady yesterday
to the Order OF Deacouess. TIE WAS held at the
Church Of the IeleemeT Mt FJurthave and Pdchc-st,
Brooklyn ana exceedingly beautiful and impress
sve one Nine OF the twelve deaconesses admitted 10
the order sat together in the front pews Bishop Lille
John has taken q conspicuous part in the revival or this
Order OF the primitive Church. In his pastoral ad-
dresses the Diocesan Convention for several years
past lie has advocated the Redistribution OF M oFdrr,
and at the last tWo General Conventions o.,
the Protestant Episcopal Church ne has eA'rtei
n strong influence IN this direction Ihere has
been no formal opposition TO the movement III any OF
the conventions in The Church, for there are sncA
ample warrants for the establishment OF the Orifr
precedents OF the carly Church so
INC %GIH @ o so 5o ] rom t Of the conyentui
orders of the Roman Catholic Chur or the ssteroods
OF the Rtualists, that tue Low Churcimeh nave
had nothing to say against it, The experiment was was
made two wears ago in the conservative diocese OF Long
Island and the admission or another SISTER 10 the ofuer
yesterday increased the membership 10 twelve slS,
nitcaut number tine Bishop TOOK occasion 10 remind
bis The candidates must DC ctncr "idONs or
unmarried women and they are exnectfd 70 rrmain III
sumption is that they will devote the oi thciF
lives to the work.
been sung and the aDte-cOmmunion service rem ered.
the Bishop preached very comprehensive sermon on
the Scriptur for and the scope or he OTier
OF Drac0ntsses The text was: And enireat ILea,
also. help these women which aboed with ne III the
cGc6 in the Acts and the Epistes Of Paul 10 wonans
weiauhcnticitcd uslges Ot primitive Christianity for
three centuries, claiming that there in that age
sysfenatic ana wdey-OrsInizsd boiy OF dedcOnosses
in the Church. There was, he claimed, ~ good and as
convincing i'll the WrgS OF the Apostles ana
tho early Bishops for thc existence OF TINS order as
there was for the existence OF three orders in the minis
ry infant baptism hturgical Worship, any OF tne
established uSaSes OF TIE Church. History explained
when aud why this Order of the early Church was
abandoned During tAe middle ages the doctrines.
systeI9s and sagcs OF Church perverted and
their purity sacrificed. and THIS wholesome order Or
female workers gave place 10 cOnVcnual orders or u
morbid ana less useful typc The Bishop thea explained
the relaOus:of the OrdcrGs now revived to the church.
and indicated how wide fed for useful labor III wOiks
OF mercy the sick and poor IN the parishes of the
diocese sisters had entered upon. IL was not qcS-
ton Of wOman's rights 10 not sphere IN which
womans ambition cOui I've sratlhcd; 1t was Il field for
benehcent and quiet work Of the Christian cause, such
as the sanity women in ST. Paui's day had wrought.
The revival the Order he regarded hopefully as the
sunrise brighter day for the Church III this country.
The sermon quito long, and was delivered very III
prcSslfe!Y.
The deacOnesses' hymn was sung, and the candidate
presenting herself at the cBancel rail was admitted 10
the order Of Deae The communion service ioi-
lowed thc nine deaconesses al dressed IN bac kneel
ing first at the chancelrd. Vne Rev. william a. Leon
ard had announced earlier in the service that the new
chapel would DO formally opened On tho following
Sunday.