The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-22
TO HAVE DEAC0NESS
MISS DIXON WILL BE THE FIRST
OFF THE ORDER IN SAVANNAH.
WILL ARRIVE ON THURSDAY.
MISSION WORK MAPPED OUT FOR
THE METHODIST CHURCHES:

Rev. t. d. Ellis Preached on
Mission at Both EpwOrth and
Wesley Monumental Church Last
Nieht-Exhorted His Hearers to
Perform the Duties Delegated to
Them by Their Understanding
The Scope of a Deaconess' Duties.
Work in Which DeacOness Dixon
Will Engage.
Savannah is to have a deaconess.
Miss Dixon, a graduate of the Deacon
ess Training School of Kansas City,
will arrive on Thursday, and will as
sist in the conduct of the mission work
mapped out for the Methodist churches
of Savannah by Rev. T. D. Ellis, pre-
siding elder of this district. The dea-
coness will assist particularly in the
work to be done at Trinity and Wes-
ley Monumental churches.
The Order of Deaconesses was or
ganized by the general conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church at
Dallas. Only unmarried women are
they are required to give their entire
time to religious and charitable work.
They are clad in a distinctive way, in
order that they may be readily recog-
nizable and their presence always ex-
planned.
The mission propaganda, mapped out
by Rev. Mr.. Ellis, contemplates not
only the Epworth Mission, but SINH
lar establishment for each of the other
Methodist churches. Trinity Church s
line of action in this field will be YAM
dcraw. Wesley Monumental Church
will conduct similar work along East
Broad street, and in Smithville and
Collinsville, and Grace Church Will
have Robertsville as it's territory. 1t
| will be in this mission work, mainly
| that the new deaconess will be en-
gagged.
Sermons to the MethOdists.
Rev. Mr.. Ellis filled the pulpit OF
Grace Church yesterday morning in
the absence of the pastor, Rev. G. A
Jackson, who preached at the Epworth
Church, Rev. ]. A. Smith being too
unwell to conduct the service there.
Mr.. Ellis sermon was an appeal for
mission work His theme was the
Gospel of Christ to the poor, and his
remarks had reference mainly to the
enormous amount of mission work to
be done in Savannah.
At the evening services at Wesley
Monumental Church, where Mr.. Ellis
held service. in the absence of it's pas
tor, Rev. Ed F. Cook, who filled the
Epworth pulpit, the presiding elder
spoke earnestly to his congregation on
the same theme. His text, taken from
St. Matthew, 5;13, was Eye are the
salt of the earth: but if the salt have
lost its SAVIOR, wherewith shall 1t be
sailed? 1t is thenceforth good for
nothing, but to be cast out, and to
be trodden under foot of men,"
This verse had application particu-
| larly, he said, to mission work. They
| were Christs words to the apostles
in the mountain, when he babe them
go forth and preach the gospel. The
| essential power of salt is to save, Mr..
Ellis said, and it is inherent in it's ma
ture; without it, it is worth nothing.
Man is measured by his inward, and
| not his outward, worth. Those duties
which God had put us in this world
to perform were not beyond our pow
| er. The commands of God are reason
able, and therefore his servants are
| responsible for their performance.
Dr. Ellis made a strong plea for or
ganization and unity. and exhorted his
| hearers to do those commands which
| God had given them. Their perform
| ance, he said. would mean a perfect
mission work, and unity and organiza-
| ton.