The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-06

the hungry tor they were all equally
poor) that therefore, everywhere and al
ways the ministers and elders should
cease, yea, be excluded, from the care of
the poor, and give exclusive attention to
prayer and the ministry of the word.
Or to conclude that because In this ex-
traordinary state Of the church in one
city 1T seemed meet to appoint bench of
deacons to attend to the extraordinary
wants OF the saints, that therefore this
office mast Everywhere exist, nay, must
become catholic, and ramyy throughout
the whole Church nay further, that there
must be series of DIAGONAL courts
(whether subordinate or coordinate with
the courts of the Presbytery, the report
does not set forth) whose business shall
be to attend to all the temporal needs of
the whole Church. If we understand
the import of this piece of history, it
teaches only this, that the ministry
should not be hindered by the onerous
care of the temporal comfort of the saints.
and that local helps should be called
In where needed, to attend to this, that
the word of God be not hindered. Now
is 1t safe reason from the extraordinary
case, to the ordinary state? Is it safe to
deduce too much from too little?
II. The Office of Deacon was local and
was meant to be confined to the local
wants Of the Christian poor.
The occasion of their appointment at
Jerusalem shows this. They were not
suggested as something needed in the
Church elsewhere; but only from the
embarrassment at Jerusalem. And they
were needed there to attend to the daily
mlnistrations which were then needed.
by reason of the peculiar condition of the
church there. Furthermore to obviate
the wrong, the neglect of some Grecian
widows, which grievance gave rise to the
office, it was required that the office
should be special and local, instead Of
general. A board of honest, capable
men in Jerusalem, acquainted with the
people there, could attend to this bur-
densome ministration and serving of
tables and not slight or overlook any
part of the church.
Pray tell what would general Deacon
do more than an elder at large, to attend
to local wants and the exigences of par
ticular cases, unless he were confined to
his local ministration or diaconate?
III. What would be gained, in the
equipment of the Church, by having a
catholic Diaconate? DIR. Girardeau and
all true Presbyterians, confess frankly
that the Deacons have no ruling function
or power to govern in the Church. Then
why have this officer attached to the
Presbytery, to the Synod, and to the
highest court of the Church, the General
Assembly? Or why have catholic
Diaconate and 9amayfcatio,a of DIAGONAL
courts, when they confessedly have moth
ing to do with the government of the
Church, q. e., its persons and things
L own that the Doctors discussion was
not quite open on this point; but it
seemed to have the germ of this idea in
1t: we are to have DIAGONAL courts, CO.
ordinate, with the presbyter-courts in
our Church, and the presbyters are to
have nothing to do with things and only
to rule persons; while DeacoAs are to
have nothing to do with persons and only
to control the Churchs things.
Under the idea, which l think is the
true one, that Deacons are local officers.
under the direction of the local court OF
Presbyters, can see no reason for the
introduction of catholic Deacon and to
make him wait upon the Presbytery the
Synod, and the General Assembly. For
what function can catholic Deacon per-
form in or for these higher courts of
presbyters, that could not and would not
be performed better by the local Deacons
of the congregations? Let Presbytery.
a Synod, or General Assembly meet
any where to attend to their appropriate
business. They will meet in some church
owned by some congregation. There they
will meet sexton who will attend to the
comfort of the house of God. Then if
they wish to worship they will meet
local organist (who like most of that pro-
fession will have the notion that the AS
sembly had adjourned to meet there to
hear him play his preludes and inter
ludes) who will grind out music for YOU
and it will be sung by small committee
OF the local congregation. And then if
the Presbytery, Synod, or General AS
sembly should wish to exercise the grace
Of giving they will meet local board of
Deacons, who will receive and disburse
their gifts, and again if the said courts
should be in need they meet this local
board Of Deacons whose business it is to
relieve the poor. This whole notion pro-
ceeds upon the total disregard of the
question of where are the funds 10 come
from and where are they to be distrib
uted? Where are the catholic Deacons
to get their money? We answer, the