The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-13
MODERN DEACONEssEs.

1t ia generally taken for granted,
saws the Presbyterian Journal, that the
proposal mooted IN several branches OF
the Evangelical church. both in Europe
and America, for the establishment ID
the modern church of the order OF
deacOnesses is but the revival OF an IL
stitution that existed 20 apostolic days
This assumption, however, has not re-
manned entirely unchallenged. OF one
thing. however, there is no reason TO
doubt: there is ample testimony thdi
devout women ministered To Jesus dur
ing His earthly life, and nowhere does
that unseldsh devotion shine out more
clearly than in the last sad days Of HIS
trial and crucifxion. When the discl
ples forsook Him and fled, ministerlng
women waited and watched through
the hours of His agony. What ten
der hands and loving hearts could
do TO manifest mistaken ailectiOuate
devotion 10 the dead Christ was done n
the face Of the greatest danger, and on
the Joyful morning Of the resurrection
the ministering women were the lrst
AT the tomb, where the triumph over
death had been secured. Woman S
ministry is no less conspicuous in the
annals of the Apostolic Church. Paal S
freouent references 10 individuals
make this abundantly clear. Weth-
er 1t can be settled beyond peradVeu-
ture that an official order OF deacon
esses existed in the Apostolic Church or
not. all that is meant by The Term had
a distinct and recognized place IN the
life and service Of tine primitive Church.
If devout women had a place IN the
work of the early Church there Is no
need to spend much time and critical
examination over the proper technical
designation that may be assigned them.
Dean Afford has an analogous aTgu
meut a. prove from the use Of certain
term in New Testament Greek that
there was probably an official order 81
voung men in cOntradistlnctlOn TO
elders in the service OF the early
/ Church.
1t is significant that the proposal to
institute an order Of deaconesses IN the
modern church has met with So large
an amount Of favor and that so lIttie
affection should have been offered. q
/ taGt that is by no means surprising
| This is CT age of organization No-
men have OF i2te years been very
active in the promotion OF Narleu
kinds of religious and philanthroplc
work. FOR the more elective per
formance Of ali such Work, system
and organization are indispensable. 10
concentrate energy and unity purpose
it is of much consequence to nave the
various forms of religious activity regh-
lated according 10 the practIcal results
ri net tentative efforts. An adequate
idea Of the Gtness or unEtness OF 1e-
male diaconate OF the Christian Cnurch
can only be obtained ~ trial sum O.
entlv long and under diverse corGl.
lions. There is, however, little doubt
that the proposed order VIII emerge
triumphsntiy from the probationary
stage OF its existence.
Tn the Assembly OF the AOrthsIA
/ Church at Saratoga the rev departure
has obtained most favorable considera-
tion. A yea. ago the question OF insll-
| tntino an order Of dcacOnesses came up
( in the General Assembly after dellO-
Grafton il was RENTED to committee
! 10 consider and report. Last week FRO.
lessor Warfeld, of Princeton. reported
on behalf Of The committee. Ihrough
ont that report it 10 taken for granted
that the Office Of dea0oness had rec
ognized place in the apostolic Church,
and il recommends that the time was
rine for its reconstruction, bus advises
tbat there should be no hasty actlon
in regard TO the matter" The question
Is now ieft for the consideration anu
action of Presbytesiee, and Is pfeseh'eu
81 l.. amNN
in this form: Shall the iovo"iu De- So
aons be added to the Form Of nossIA'
,oent-yiz In chapter six women also
served the apostolic Church as deacon
esses. " hose office and duties we're sim
liar to those of deacons. Ia chapte'
thirteen nine deaconesses may be elect
ed IN Office in manner similar TO ina
appointed for deacOns, and set apart o. ?,
line American Church will be observed
with interest