The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
The Revival OF Deaconesseo.

The Protestant Churches have been SLOW
In following the example Of the Church
Of Rome In setting apart women for specla
religious office; but at last they have learned
the lesson that they sacrifice a vast amount
OF valuable enrgy to old-time prejudice in
failing to utilia feminine faith and zeal in
the formal serve Of religion.
For many yeas past there have been SIS
terhoods In the Episcopal Church closely
similar to thost Of the Roman Catholics,
except that the ow Of chastity Is not en-
forced and no perpetual VOWS are held
obligatory. The. began against bitter op-
| position, but hap gone on flourishing until
now, their usefulness having been demon
strated by actul experience, they are
accepted as imprtan, auxiliaries to tho
Church The offlo OF deaconess was also
formally revived, aid canon on the subject
passed by the Senenl Convention of
the Episcopallans last YER. Both the Meth
odists and the PrebytTians have taken
steps to provide for the setting apart and
employment OF deacnessS; and the time is
probably near at hind when these Protes-
tant Sisters of CHARITY WILDE numerous and
recognized in the determinations generally
as essential TO the efficient performance of
the work Of Christianity.
Accordingly Grace hrisl Is about to es-
tablish at sO2 Broadway . specific train
ing school for deacoIhsse. 1t will open
next October, and the regular school year
will continue to the endpf APRIL with three
months hospital servie II addition. A
FACULTY OF ten teachers will dive instruction
IN the Scriptures, In Theology, Church his
tory, social science and lrgine, and house,
hold management and thecaD Of the sick.
No charge will be made inthe cases Of those
who enter the school with .hedeflnite inten-
tion OF becoming deaconeses though they
will have to bear their owl living expenses.
The experiment to determine how great Is
the desire for the Office amHgpious EDsco-
palian women will therefor, btmade after n
methodical manner, and it reasonable to
expect that 1t will DO successful. Such a
school Is made necessary ~ the require
ment or the new canon tina hfore dea-
coness Is set apart she Shall have had ian
adequate preparation for hervok, both tech
meal and religious, extending over two years
at least The minimum of aye If the pupils
huoO 10 ciSilc'H yours, buL no ITHCU on the
general subject of the Office, Which accom-
panies the prospectus OF he institution,
seems to infer that the age f. admission to
the female diaconate will DO xed Mt a point |
which will make subsequentmarriage I'M |
likely. But the form for sethg apart dea- |
authorized by l'isholPOTTER pre-
5cribes only these questions atl answers:
The Bhhop-IIaVe you well consIdeid in your own
mind your purpose TO serve COD in tb Office and min
utryf
AnE'OeT-I have so considered H.
The BShop-Wll you endeayor, so leg as you shall
hold this office faithfully TO fuh tn duties Of the
'Ame without nckleness or waywArdnesi
AnSWe,-l Will
The B"hOp-will you diligently ask OfjOp the grace
% enable you to cling to this endeavoiaHd to make
his purpose good
AnSWeT-I Will.
1t will be seen, therefore, thatnc VOW TO
'efrain from marriage is require, and the
erm OF the office seems to be voluntary.
The explanatory tract also spe'kI OF no
particular costume as necessary,tlough n
iress lat once simple and distiictve" Is
Ldvised in paper on the subject issued
" some OF the dignitarles OF the Church
# England. II a deaconess maItle, II is
Ilso argued. she need not consequently be
displaced from her order. though siA" hold
Ier DIAGONAL ministry In allegiance"
But u N RgORaRle thet y these 1sRe2esReS