The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-09-15

, unto it in a peculiar manner, and to per
form the things that belong thereunto. >
(See Works, Orme's Edition, Vol. Xxx, p
524) Divested of its quaint scholastic an(
Puritan phraseology, Ovens meaning is
that while in the Scriptures we find no care
fully drawn definition Of the precise limits O.
the deacon's authority, yet the fact Of an Of
fee being instituted by Christ, carries with
it grant of power from him to transact the
duties pertaining to it, in such way as their
own judgment shall decide. Otherwise, is
the diaconate an Office at all, in the same
sense as the presbyterate is? sit not made
the mere creature or tool of the session ?
Owen argues that Office implies certain
original endowment of discretionary power
and if he is correct, does not the earlier Scot
fish theory vacate the Office of deacon p
The office of preacher involves certain dis
cretionary power; 6. g., the selection upon
his own judgment of topics from the word Of
God for presentationto, the people. And
the Office of ruling elder implies, er necessi-
tate rei, the right to judge of applicants for
the privilege of communion at the Lords
Table. Has the deacon no discretion as to
matters financial? And, in so far as the
Scottish theory proposes to secure un'ty and
honesty in the administration of the congre-
CATION, does our Book not secure the same
necessary end For the parochial presby-
terry, having "the care of the persons of the
Church. as DR.. Girardeau expresses it, GER
tainly has the charge over the morals of the
deacons, and may discipline them, when ne.
cessary, for neglect of duty, or for misuse of
funds.
There can, We think, be no question as to
the increasing Importance of the deacon's
work among the destitute families of our pop
ulation, and especially in the large cities
The great problem of pauperiSm, which has
long baffled the ski of European statesmen,
has become practical question in our own
country. Particularly is the change percep
tible in the South, where, before the war, We
rarely ever saw case of honest want. DR..
Lorimer's little volume on the Deacon's Of
fee addresses itself especially to this very
question, What shall be done for the poorer
classes? And he proposes the Church of
Christ as the reconcler of the alienation be.
tween the rich and the poor, which is show
ing itself in the International and the Com
mune. The diaconate he considers to be the
helping hand of the Church; and he con-
tends that no organization likely to be de-
vised, can take the place of Gods ordinance
The Doctors suggestion strikes us with great
force. There is mighty work to be done
for the glory of God and the good of man,
among the poor of our cities. And it must
be confessed that our modern Christianity,
with all the manifest advances in certain di-
rections, is far short of the apostolic examplar
in caring for the poor. When we look upon
the congregations of prosperous, well-dressed
citizens, who press through the carpeted
aisles and rest'in the softly cushioned pews
of our churches, we can hardly realise that
our Master announced to the despondent
Baptist, as the crowning demonstration of
his Messiahship-as the climax in the splen-
did array of miracles which attested his mis-
sion-that "tO the poor the gospel IS preach
ed." This breach between the churches and
the poor must be healed by all means, if
Christianity is to attest her divine origin
1t will not do to say, self complacently, that
the poorer classes can 60 to church if they
please. We must obey the Masters ipjunc-
ton to 90 out into the lanes and by-ways,
that we may compel them to come in, that
his house may be filled. The. very sight Of
this apostolic Christianity shall do more to
silence the cavils of materialistic infdelity,
than all the tones of learned controversy
which the teeming presses of Christendom
can put forth. The world is and has ever
been intensely practical. 1t sets far great
er store by deeds than by words. The
primitive Church comprehended this feature
of human nature, and met the SCOTS of in
fdel philosophy by simply pointing to the
deeds of love which Christ had, by his Spirit
evoked from his disciples. The masses have
neither the time nor the capacity for abstruse
argument; and if they are declaring them.
selves in favor Of Infdelity, when it claims
to ally itself with physical science, We be-
lieve it is more because they see the prac
tical power of science to meet the wants Of
men, than from any appreciation of the as
serted demonstrations of Postivism and Ma
terialism. Of course money alone will mo-
"answer all things" in this cause. 1t vii
require wisdom and prudence to check any
disposition to follow Christ for the loaves anG
fishes. But the homely logic of the APOSTLE
question is instinctively appreciated by th'
suffering people: "Whoso hath this world
goods, and seeth his brother have need, ant
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from
him, how dweleth the love of God in him ?
The Church will ever find her richest har
vest of souls among the sons and daughter
of poverty and sorrow. For it is written
not as passing feature of early Christianity
but as an everlasting fact "Ye see you
calling, brethren, how that not many wis
men after the flesh, not many mighty, no
mann nnhla are nalled hnt God hath chose,