The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-06-20
PASSING oF THE DEACON.
title Said to Have Lost Some of IT.
OId-Tfme Reverence.

Old-Tfme Reverence.
It is a pity, if true as reported. that
the Office of deacon has ceased to be
regarded with favor by members of the
Protestant churches in New England,
says the North American Review. Time
was when the title conferred distinc-
ton and honor, and was sought with
as great diligence as could be consid-
cred seemly by good and pious men.
Once acquired, too, it wrought a
the demeanor of the possess0r, who
forthwith became graver and more
chary of speech, except in saying grace
at table and, in the really old days, at
the beautifully simple home service
known as family prayers" But. as
the spirit of irreverence gradually per-
meated unregenerated days, stories Of
uncouth humor were spun about the
deacon as central figure, comic pa
pers depicted him chiefly as INDUCING
on the sly liking for horse race,
and, all in all, the title continued to
lose its former dignity and significance
until now, as We are told, it is not only
no longer sought, but rather generally
avoided.
Although perhaps sometimes forgot
ten, it is fact, scarcely surprising to
those given to investigating the orr
gins of customs, that widows are di-
| rectly responsible for the earliest APP
pointment of church officials of the
class we have in mind. When the apos-
ties realized the necessity of providing
bodily sustenance for those who were
in attendance. ON their ministrations
they made the requisite arrange
ments; but apparently the distribution
was unsystematical, and presently the
Grecians were egged on by their widow
folk to complain that the Hebrews
were obtaining more than their fair
share of the proyender.
Whereupon the twelve took counsel
and decided that, slice it i'll became
them as spiritual teachers to serve the
tables, the appointment of certain
brethren of good repute to superintend
the business was in every way desir-
able. Seven were chosen-Stephen,
who subsequently was famed for his
faith and good works; Philip, another
admirable man. Prochorus; Nicanor
Timon, Parmenas and the yproselyte
Nicolas-and they were designated fit
tingly from the nature of their task as
deacops-from the Greek diakonos OF
its Latin derivative diaconus, meaning
attendant, or one who serves That
! these first members of the order per
formed we'll their work is evidenced
| by the fact that the widows ceased tt
murmur and by their own rapid ad
vancement in authority, until some
were permitted to preach and even t.
| do miraculous deeds.
To this day in the Methodist Episco
pal Church, deacons are ordained by
| the bishop and may serve as travelling
preachers, solemnize marriage and ad
minister the rite of baptism. In the
Congregational bodies, they seldom
preach, but often read sermon In Tho
absence Of the pastor, and invariably
| distribute the elements of the com
munion. They are also supposed to ac1
as almoners after the fashion of Ste
phen and Philip, and In some States
are empowered to hold as trustees the
property of the church. In the very
early days there were deaconesses also
but. as the widows generally selected
| apparently did not enjoy being classi
fed as "of mature age" the practics
fell into disuse, although the order II
still maintained in Germany, and Il
limited degree by various sects In
this country.