The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-09-29
From the Soutbesn Presbyterian Review.
THE DEAC0N'S OFFICE IN THE CHURCH
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
(oQNTINUED.)


2 Weurge that steps be taken by the Churc
to put this clause of her Cor stitution into ope
ration, becauseit will tend to promoting great
er efficiency in the entiis system of ou
church work. Let one class of office bearer
understand that their duty consists in carin
for "the persons of the church" and tn
other class that they are responsible for 9Th
things of the Church" This will secure il
the Church that very divisiOn of labor whicl
has SO greatly aided in advancing the science
and the mechanic arts. AS matters now ar,
the clause recommending that deacons b.
placed in charge of all finances being over
looked, as if by common consent-the nee(
of such division of labor is obvious. For
not only are church courts clogged with pc
cuniary business for which many of theil
members have no aptitude, but in every con
gregation confusion and negligence are seer
TO result. Deacons are overshadowed, and
in many instances, set aside, by unscriptura
substitutes in the shape of committees OF
trustees who, like the Canaanites left in
the land, only too frequently become thorns
in the sides of pastors and sessions. In
most of our village and rural congregations,
there being scarcely an INDECENT member to
be found, the deacons have nothing to do,
unless it be to pass the collection-plate at
the bidding of the session. And so the Of
fee helps to manufacture class of inactive
men, who are but little more than the cum.
berers of the ground" Nor is the inquiry
less real, as we honestly believe, to the
preacher and ruling elders. The elders are
In part withdrawn from their appropriate vo.
cation, which is to "shepherdise the Church
of God" (poimainOw) by the care of perplex-
ing finances, which in the end come to be
regarded as the more important part of their
duty. And thus the undivided responsible
ity of visiting, counselling, and comforting
the people, is devolved upon the preacher,
who is in turn withdrawn from his peculiar
sphere of labor, to the great detriment of his
public ministrations for the whole congrega-
ton. In fact the care of the poor also pass
es into his hands, the diaconate, like an un-
used limb, becoming enfeebled and inert
Any lawful expedent for restoring the elder.
ship to it's scriptural duties, and developing
nethe deacons an increased sense of respon-
sibility, should be hailed as an omen of good.
Lorimer, in his Essay on the Deacon, states
that DR.. Chalmers, in his "Christian and
Economic Polity of Nation" devoteS a
chapter to discussion Of the reasons which
render it expedient that the same officers who
look to the spiritua Interests of the poor
should also distriba.s> Inns among them.-
And Lorimer himself occupies chapter in
pleading for the general advantages to the
pastors and eldership, and to the cause at
large, of reviving the deacOns office He
argues that, by relieving the elders of bur-
den for which many Of them are confessed
lily unsuited, they will be enabled to devote
their undivided time to the work of guiding,
instructing, and correcting the flock. He
mentions that in some places in Scotland.
the undivided burden Lad proven too heavy
and many excellent men had declined the
eldership altogether, or until relief could be
had. The minister, be contends, would be
greatly strengthened by surrounding him
with large body of intelligent men, who
would relieve him of oppressive cares of q
pecuniary nature, which despite the help de-
rived from the elders, often rest as burden
upon him. 1t would bring, he says, larger
body of chosen men into active service, and
by making them blessing to others, secure
blessing for their own souls. And, as re
CARDS the poor themselves, it would call at
tention to other matters besides physical suf
fering, and by promoting kindly intercourse
between rich and poor, greatly tend towards
softening down the asperities of social dis
tinctions. And the result of it all must bt
greatly to strengthen the hold of Christian
ity upon the masses of the community.
Scottish writer's Of the Established Church
do not hesitate to ascribe much of the eff
cheney of the Free Church to it's use of tht
diaconate. 1t may not be amiss, therefore
to give in the briefesr form, some account o
the peculiar arrangement made at the Dis
ruption, under the guidance of such leader
as the sagacious Chalmers, for the manage
ment of matters financial. In Forbes
Procedure in the Inferior Courts of tn
Free Church of Scotland" p. 7, we find tn
following statement of the Free Church
doctrine.
"The peculiar duties of deacons are thu
stated, (Assemb., 11946, VII. y Q) To Civ
special regard to the whole secular affairs o
the congregation (2) To attend to th
gathering of the peoples Contributions 70
the sustentation of the ministry, and to re
ceive donations made for other ecclesiastca
purposes; (3) To attend to the congrega
tonal poor; and (4) To watch over the edu
cation of the children of the poor. Alon
with the elders they may receive the Sab
bath collections of the people, according
such arrangements as may be made by tn
deacon's court 1t is their duty to visit pc
riodically the districts assigned to them, an
to cultivate an acquaintance with the mem
bers and adherents of the church residen
therein. When sufficient number of des
cons cannot be had, the elders may be en-
ployed as deacons; while On the other hant
tba deacons NAV assist the elders with thei