Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25
THE ORDER OF DIAGNOSES.
Interesting Exercises Held Yesterday-OriG
and Growth of the Order.

Interesting Exercises Held Yesterday-Origin
and Growth of the Order.
Yesterday was a day of humiliation and
prayer for the Woman's Home Missionary So
ciety and there were services at McKendree NJ
Z. Church, in which especial attention was di-
rected toward the work now being done by the
order of deaconesses. So noiselessly does this
order move on its errands of mercy that only a
few people in Washington know Of its exist
ence. 1t has an interesting history.
In 1896 Theodor Fliednor. a Protestant clergy,
man in the village of Kaiserworth, GERMANY
founded the first Protestant deaconess home
ever known to exist. Fliednor was not the
author Of the mOdernized idea but he was the
leader in organization. The first home was a
success and numerous branches sprang up to
do good ali over Germany. Since then homes
have been established all over Europe. and SO
great has been the harvest that American
Methodism naturalized the project and put it
in local operation. This was done st the
general conference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in 1888, and there are now 165 women
who have given themselves up to the self-im-
posed duties Of a deaconess.
THE DUTIES OF DEcoNEssEs.
These duties are defined by the discipline of
the Methodist church as follows:
The duties of the deaconesses are to minister
to the poor. visit the sick, pray with the diving.
care for the orphans, seek the wandering,
comfort the Borrowing. save the SHINING and
relinquishing wholly all other pursuits. devote
themselves in a general way to such forms of
Christian labor rs may he suited to their abilities
No vow shall be exacted from any deaconess
and any one OF their number shall be at liberty
to reinquish her position as . deaconess at any
time.
II a man were to perform the duties of one of
these deaconesses he would be termed a home
missionary, be paid for his labors and receive
personal and commendatory mention in the
public prints. but the deaconess gets no salary:
she works entirely ''for the love of Christ and
His name"
THE HOME IN THIS CITY.
The deaconess' home in this city is located
just now at 1873 F street northeast. 1t was
opened last May, but changes which had to be
made in the building compelled suspension Of
the work until september. The deaconess pro-
bationers now resident in the home are Miss
Libbie A. Smith of Illinois, superintendent:
Miss Ida l.. Thomas Of Frederick county, Nd:
Miss Ida f. Miner Of Massachusetts,, Miss Mag
gle E. Bell Of Dorchester county, Md. These
are pursuing the required studies while per-
forming such work as has been reported.
These four deaconesses have made over 1 800
visits during six months. They have relieved
temporal want. obtained employment for a
number Of persons, gained admission for the
sick into hospitals, cared for orphans and
started industrial schools in different parts Of
the city. They do not hesitate to do anything
in the homes they visit for the comfort Of the
sick or suffering.
The deaconesses enter the home on a two
years probation. during which time they are
required to devote certain hours each day to a
prescribed course of study. Lectures are given
each week by the different pastors. Having
completed the two years probation and fin
ished the course of study-some as nurse
dcaconesses, others as visiting deacoresses-
they receive the license of office of deaco
and are entitled to support for life in the
home, but neither superintendent nor deac on
receive any salary.
The home il supported entirely by voluntary
contributions of christian and bene VIOLENT peo-
pie and u great many such arr having their ewes
opened to the valuable services which are being
rendered by these mild, low-voiced women, who
give their lives up to toiling for others The
liberal minded of all creeds contribute to the
noble cause and the contributions are growing
steadily. II more people give more good can
be done.
little monthly journal-The Deaconess'
terest OF local home MISSIONS; its editor is Mrs.
A. I. Stuart and its business manager il Mrs.
Anna G. Mcdowell.
THE oFF ,ERs OF THE HOME.
The officers of the board Of directors Of the
home are Mrs. II. NJ. Teller, president; Mrs. T.
L. Tullock, vice president; Mrs. Clara L. Roach.
corresponding secretary: Miss Marian Fowler,
recording secretary, anu Mrs. Anna @. Nc
Dowell, treasurer.
BY and by the home will be located in an
other building ont on North Capitol street. q
structure that will be known as the Lucy Webb
Hayes Memorial Deaconess Home and Training
School for Missionaries-tbeg gift Of Mr.. Ephraim
Mash and his family.