Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-07
DEDICATION EXERCISES,
CeremOies Tomorrow at Deaconess
Mother House in BaitimOre.

The dedication of the new Lutheran Dea-
coness Mother House in Baltimore, men
ton Of which has already been made in
The Star, will take place tomorrow. Mr.
Cornelius Eckhardt of this city represents
the Lutherans of Washington on the board
of management of the institution.
The opening of this new home will mark
an epoch in the history Of deaconess' work
in this country. That history is a story Of
patient and persevering effort on the part
of those who introduced this continuation
of the ancient apostolic office into this
country. Theodore Fledner established the
first deaconess mother house in Kaiser
werth, Germany, and it was dedicated Oc-
tober 10, 1886
Fifty years ago the work was introduced
into the United States by the late Rev Dr.
Passavant of Pittsburg, who died about a
year ago. Since then the work has been
carried on in the Episcopal, Methodist and
Lutheran churches.
The Lutheran branch Of the deaconess
work was begun in 1888 by Rev F. p
Manhart, who is the present chaplain of
the mother house. Two years later it was
taken under the care of the general synod
Of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and a
board appointed to supervise the work.
Then came ten long years of waiting and
working, and at last, in 1885, the Lutheran
DeacOness Mother House was founded.
In the six years elaps1ng between 1895
ana the purchase Oh the new nome In May
last the number of inmates has increased
to thirty-five, including probationers as well
as full deaconesses. Nine of these are at
present scattered throughout the church.
engaged in parish and orphan home work
Two of the nine are trained nurses. Four
dei.copesses are located at the mother house.
engaged in training the probatoners. Sis
ter Julia Vandiver. one Of the deaconesses,
Is a physician, having received the degree
of NJ. d.
The probationers are put through a course
| Of study which they have to complete sat
| sfactorily before being admitted to fun
| membership in the order. The course is
very thorough and is planned to fit them
| as religious teachers as well as nurses It
comprises doctrine church history Old and
| New Testament, lectures on the deaconess
calling materia medica. hygiene, physiol-
| ogy, and, in addition, they are given ex-
| perience in practical nursing.
| The deaconesses go out to the various
| parts of the church whenever a pastor re-
| quests that one be sent to work in his
| congregation.
| The dedication services will take place in
! the afternoon. AT o'clock the house will
be opened for inspection. and at 2:3O the
| services will commence Addresses will he
| delivered by prominent clergymen, and the
| dedication proper conducted by the board
| At 6 o'clock luncheon will be served in ST
| Marks Church, the proceeds to go to the
| home.
| At 8 o'clock public meeting will be
| held, when 1t is expected Governor Smith
| of Maryland and Mayor Hayes of Balti-
more will be present. The other speakers
| will be Mr. Charles A. Schieren former
mayor of Brooklyn. n. Y; Rev George
| W. Enders Of York, Pa, and Rev 10. H
Delk of Hagerstown.
Mr.. James A. Kemp, chief clerk of the
/ denarfmanf W &c