The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-05
Two Years of Preparation by
Miss Kate J. Adams
For Her Christian Work as a
DeacOneSs.
Miss Adams Now in the City and Will
Eventually Take Up Her Duties
in Kansas.

r nllaQelpnla IN the IalI MISS ADAMS mas
been in Philadelphia nearly two years
preparing for the work to which she win
devote her life. In January she expects
to be ordained as a deaconess. the cere-
mony being performed in Topeka. She
will take up her work in Kansas. Being
a diocesan deaconess she will labor in
Kansas under the direction of Bishop
Millspaugh, ministering to the sick, car
ing for the poor and needy; taking charge
of guilds, parish visiting, Sunday school
and bible class work. The two last
named features of the work, with that
among the sick, are perhaps the most i'm
portant which will engage the attention
of Miss Adams.
Canon No. 10, adopted by the general
convention of the Episcopal church, pro-
viding for the appointment of deacon
esses, gives a general idea of the work,
about which but little is known in To-
peka, or in this state. 1t is follows:
1. Unmarried women of devout char
acter and proved fitness may be appoint
ed to the office of deaconess by any bish-
op of this church.
2. The duty of a deaconess is to assist
the minister in the care of the poor and
the sick; the religious training of the
young and others and the work of moral
reformation.
3. No woman shall be appointed to the
OIlCe OF QeaCOnGSS until she S0all De at
least twenty-five years of age; nor until
she shall have laid before the bishop, tes-
timonials certifying that she is a COM
municant in good standing of this church
and that she possesses such character
istics as in the judgment of the persons
testifying fit her for at least one of the
duties above defined. The testimonials
of fitness shall be signed by two pres
byters of this church and by twelve kay
shall be women. The bishop shall also
satisfy himself that the applicant has
had adequate preparation for her
work both technical and religious, which
preparation shall have covered a period
of two years.
4. No deaconess shall accept work in
a diocese without the express authority,
in writing. of the bishop of that diocese;
nor shall she undertake work in a parish
without the like authority from the rec
tor of the parish.
5. When not connected with a parish
the deaconess shall be under the direct
oversight of the bishop of the diocese in
which she is economically resident. A dea-
coness may be transferred from one do
cese to anothe by letter dismissory.
6. A deaconess may at any time resign
her office to the ecclesiastical authority
of the diocese in which she is at the time
economically resident; but no deaconess,
having once resigned her office, shall be
re-appointed thereto, unless there be, in
the judgment of the bishop weighty cause
for such disappointment.
Z. The bishop shall have power, for
cause after a hearing granted, to sus-
pend or remove a deaconess from her
/ office.
until she has been set apart for that office
by an appropriate religious service, to be
prescribed by the general convention, or,
in the absence of such prescription, by
the bishop.
The church training and deacOness
| house in Philadelphia where Miss Adams
1 has been taking the course in study and
training was established six years ago.
Marked development has taken place.
| The efforts of the managers have been
| unusually successful. From three or
! four students at the opening of school the
| institution has grown until it now has an
! attendance of twenty residents and sew
1 enty-hve day pupils in training for church
work.
The word "deaconess'' has strange
and unfamiliar sound but it. does not
mean sisterhood. many believe. It
| does mean, however, that ones life is
devoted to the assistance of others and
that it is guided by a desire to follow
| more closely the teachings of Christ;
to spread the gospel; to point out the way
| of life and truth and to do good among
| the needy not only in a spiritual but ma
| terial way. It represents also a careful
| training for church work and education
| and practical work in household routine
needlework, music, cooking and drill also
in the business routine of missionary
| work.
| In her annual report Miss Elizabeth
Morris, corresponding secretary of the
house of deaconesses. commenting upon
| the favorable progress of the work says
. This condition is due to several causes
| First, to the spirit of the age whose
characteristic is specialization, training
| Training schools are growing up al
| through the land, and it will not do fol
| the church to put up with the leavings
to have only unframed volunteers
| Gather up the fra gments" may be he1
| motto for work, but not for her selection
of workers. Secondly, it is due to the
fact that our work is becoming better
! known through those who have gone Out
from US. From the glaciers of Alaska
from the burning sands of Africa, from
the perils of China, from the mountains
of North Carolina, from many a bed Of
pain and from the more hopeless cot OF
the incurable, from the crowded city
parish, and from the western missionary
Jurisdiction, rises a grateful chorus
from lives that have felt the influence OF
| our deaconess house"
Miss Adams first years work of study
and lecture was divided as follows:
Monday-Ancient Church History; Life
| of Christ.
Tuesday-Bible class teaching; lessons
in English; history of the prayer book.
1 Wednesday-Acts of the Apostles; The
Greed; I an II Corinthians; Old Tesla
ment.
Thursday-Business methods; Hygiene
and home sanitation! practical training.
The second years programme follows