New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-13
DEACONESSES UNDER FIRE.
DISCUSSING THE WOMAN QUESTION.
SPEECHES BEFORE THE PEE,BYTERY IN RE
GARD TO THE REVIVAL OF AZ ANCIENT


The ovcrtnrcs Of the General Assembly of the
PRESBYTERIAN Church relating to the question VI
deaconcsseS were vigorously discussed in the re'"Si
Yesterday. but an animated lasting nearly
two hours the subject laid over uh'l 'he
February meeting For another entire month the
women Of the Presbyterian Church in this CITY VIII
not know whether their sisters served the ApoN
Church PRESBYTERIAN. their husbands say)' a. deacoh
cNseS having an once and duties similar 10 'oNe of
deacOns will they be certain whether deacoheSSe>
may be elected 70 Office in the future in manner
similar 20 that appointed for daaconS, and SCI apart
by prayer. The General Assembly overturcS answer
both OF those vexed questions the affirmative ana the
last Assembly was confident that its committee
had reached a proper conclusion that it has asked
the PreSbvterieS If they Will agree to change the
form Of government 80 10 settle the historical
fact and make il possible where il IS desired, TO
revive the order.
Professor Wariicd. Of Princeton Theological Seminary.
the champion for the women at Saratoga, and
Professor Brown ~ Union Theological seminary stands
at the head Of tho movement here With him. fivoring
the second overture. are Or. Charles /. Thompson,
the pastor Of the Madison Avenue Church and J.
Cleveland Cady. fellow members Of the minority in the
Prcsbytcry', committee appointed TO answer the
lures: DR.. J. II. NcIlvainc Of the Church Of the
Covenant the Rev g. Laws. chaplain Of TIE Tombs.
and the rev. Dr. Ramsay. NJ INC HarIrrn Church.
Against both Ovcrurcs Drs. g.. W. +. Birch. ~
bethany Church, and u J. LAME ~ Christ Church:
Professor L. II. Bu and Peter Carter. the majority
member, 81 the committee: DR.. John Hall. Of Tho
Fifth Avenue Church ". \. Mclean. Of the American
Bible society. other names VIII be added ~ both
lists when the discussion Is resumed next month.
DR.. Lampc presented tho principal argument for
tho majority 81 the committee in opposition 10 the
ovcrturc~. After calling attention 10 the uncertainty
which seemed to bc I'm the mind " the General
Assembly committee when H. SAYS that the Office ~
dcaconc>- appear T. have been office ~ the
Apl,tOlCll Church, and again IT seem, 10 10
possibly traccahlc I'm the New Testament ITSELF The
speaker said that H. would DE we'll f. wait until Tho
Church could peak with som" certainty ON thee
important ppirt~. The inchoatc. vacu" and incom-
pletc form I'm which 10" overture s. prc-cnt"d
pointed ont. and then these points were pre-
scned against the overture: ~ There is no script
urTl or Apo~tolcal authority for oraininc women
10 official places i'm the Church. e. The Office 81
dcacone>> did not arise early I'm the Church as
the advocate, Of ii claim No one can prove the
existence of the oicc previous T. th" third century.
O. Woman f. doing grand work now. at which We
rejoice ard for which We tlaul. God. md nr This
work -he j., receiving the best Of All recognition in
the love 81 the Church and the abundant blessing
Of the Master. 90 II /, suggested That God 8, n tau.
movement. leading liz Church on into measure ~
more extended u~"fuluc-. and that tho-c who resist
IT, therefore are fighting against Gpd. conir>- my
inability 20 meet statement II that Kind. il A..
sumcs such an immcn-" superiority for our friends
the other side and puts The opposition at fatal
disadvantage. )jj II !, further objection &" IN"
adoption Of the A~~cmblys overture that both in The
ancient and modern Church the oricc II dca"Ucs'
Ia, led to the establishment OF order Of cellbate
women
Professor Brown made an earnest and forcciul
speech in behalf II the minority report. he began
with the assertion that there uO di-put" IN The
commNt"" and apparently non" In iie lir~b''"rv
Assembly. Nj admit That 10 should Doe an E"rcd in
IA" negative Hut 900 regard t. III" -"r'nd overture