The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-24

THE SCRA
| tion, inasmuch as we make much more
of vocations that are OF recent origin
than we make of the diaconate.
[office THAT Entails Labor.
"The office presupposes work. Be-
cause the work was too much for the
apostles, they called others to help
them, who were afterward called dea-
cons. The diaconate is simply the
business part of the ministry. If the
apostles were able to do all the work,
the diaconate would not have been es-
Ia blished. but inasmuch as they had no
time and that 1t would be unwise for
them to leave the Word of God to serve
tables, they advised the church to elect
seven men to help them. According to
the Biblical and apostolic idea, they are
to serve tables, that Is, they are to
superintend the temporal or monetary
affairs of the church To this purpose
the office was brought into vogue.
at Is unwise on the part of the pas
tor to interfere with the business af-
fairs of the church and at the same
time neglect his own specific duties,
and on the other hand the deacons
should be careful to do their special
work before attempting to do that
which is planned out for others. The
apostolic idea of the dlaconate was
work, and that in a special direction,
the business affairs of the church.
"Ths loads us to notice the status of
the diaconate among us. In the first
place | venture to say that our actions
are neither Biblical nor apostolic in
many instances regarding this Office.
In many of our churches the office is
almost extinct
81 am afraid that persons have been
elected to the dlaconate for the only
reason that they have been faithful
members; 1t is a compensation for hard
work in years gone by; they are not eX-
peCted to work; the season for work is
passed before they are elected, and
this is the reason why so many aged
pcrs ons are elected deacOns. No doubt
you have noticed that II member be
uneasy owing to bad heart or a bad
liver. that the officers are his targets;
he shoots at them continually, and 1t
may be the best way to bring him to a
sense of duty by electing him a dea-
con-"
Plea for Special Training
Mr.. Jones afterwards showed the lack
Of qualifications SO general in holders
of the diaconate, and made Il plea for
special training. In conclusion he said:
II am not ready to bury this olfice-it
has been of service and can be again.
We ought to endow it with its former
respect and authority. Give the dea-
cons a season to regain the confidence
Of the churches. II there be ministers
or churches represented here today
who have mOnopUli2ed that which was
originally intended for these Offices, let
them return it without delay. This Of
flee will be restored to its former glory
and efficiency when ministers and
churches give it fair play, and when
those elected be filled with the Spirit of
God and the earnestness that becomes
their position"
Resolutions were passed regarding
the growth of lynch law and beseeching
all religious bodies in the States, where
such offenses had occurred, to speak
with no uncertain sound for law and
order.
The following were elected as the
committee on the Messenger Revs. II.
NJ. Bowden, Braddock; Charles A.
Jones, Kane; David Jones, Scranton,
and A. II. Claflin, Allegheny, the latter
to act as business manager. The fol-
lowing were elected the business COM
mittee:' Rev. J. S. Upton, Ridgeway;
Rev. D. NJ. George, Pittston; Rev. A.
II. Claflin, Allegheny.
Rev. ]. S. Upton, of Ridgeway, read an
Instructive paper on "Religious Giving,
Old and New" after which the Wo-
mems Missionary union report was pre-
sented, and was regarded as highly
satisfactory.
Rev. Mr.. Claflin's Report.
Rev. A. H. Clahin, of Allegheny, pre-
sented his report upon the Congrega-
tional Messenger, from which it ap-
peared that at the close of the previous
year a deficit of $50 was paid, but the
present year would show a profit
At the evening meeting the church
was crowded when the annual meet
ings Of the Congregational Home Mis-
sionary society and the Sunday School
and Publishing society were held. Rev.
William Kincaid, d. D., of New York,
delivered an address at the first meet
ing and w. A. Duncan, Ph. D., of Bos-
ton, Mass. at the latter meeting.
A meeting of the Women's Mission
airy union was held this morning at the
lunch house" under the presidency of
Mrs. Jones, Philadelphia, Miss Sadie
Swift, of Ridgeway acting as secretary.
The nomination committee recommend
ed the following names: President,
Mrs. j. w. Thomas, LanSford; vice
president, Mrs. r. r.. Davies, Meadville;
secretary, Mrs. c. f. Renne, Ridgeway;
treasurer, Mrs. T. w. Jones, Philadel-
phia; auditor, John S. Edwards; repre-
sentatives on the Eastern association,
Mrs. w. G. Davies; Minersville; Wy
oming, Miss Della p. Evans, Scran-
ton; Northeastern, Mrs. II. NJ. Bowden,
Braddock; Western, Mrs. Humphreys,
Ebensburg; Swedish, Mrs. Ed Lunbers,
Ridgeway.
A cordial vote of thanks was ten
dered to the ladies' of the church. who
had provided dinner, etc, to the dele
gates during the convention.
T. o. G.