Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-08-04
Pc. women May
become DEACONS
Many Churchmen Will Op-
pose Proposal TO Be Made
to Convention
CHURCH FIGHTS
BIRTH CONTROL

A proposal to establish holy or
ders for women, similar to the
order Of Deaconesses mentioned in
The Epistles Of st. Paul and in the
Acts of the Apostles, promises to
create a furore in the General Con-
vention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church at Portland. ore, which
will begin its sessions early In Sep
tember while the idea is merely to
confer minor orders" upon women,
Il viii, it is felt be regarded with.
suspicion and provoke the hostility
Of a considerable class of church
men who are fearful that such a
move will become an opening wedge
for the admission Of women to the
priesthood.
On the other hand, the broaden
ing of the powers OF an Episcopal
deaconess. so as to give her many
Of the prerogatives of a deacon,
which is one step this side Of a
priesthood, would. many say be a
blessing TO the church, since 1t would
provide an army Of competent wo-
men for missionary work in fields
where bishops of the church are
finding it almost impossible TO OBJ
tain the necessary quota of men.
The Baptist, Methodist Episcopal
and other Protestant bodies ordain |
women and permit them to hold |
pastorates. but nothing of the kind |
Is contemplated by the commission |
which will recommend this new /
order of Deaconesses to the General /
Convention. Indeed, it is explicitly |
stated that the proposed canon does
not favor the opening Of the priest
hood 10 women" Women are effect
ually barred from the priesthood In
the Protestant Episcopal Church,
under the proposed legislation, by
the rule that mo deacon may be-
come the rector OF a parish or be
chaplain in the Army or Navy Of
the United States"
Under the proposed canon, a wo-
man viii have the same examination
and be subject TO the same condi-
tons set for men who desire ordi-
nation 10 deacons' orders Twelve
persons must certify TO her good
standing in the diocese before she Is
accepted as a postulant,- and the
Standing Committee must pass upon
her papers prior to her acceptance
by the Bishop.
ION snap judgments. without
having read the proposed canon,
should say that this new Order OF I
Deaconesses would be an excellent
thing" said the Rev. DIR. II. Cresson
general secretary of the
Protestant Episcopal City Mission.
these women in the minor orders
would be a Epdsend in missionary ]
fields where Christian effort Is hamp-
cred by a distressing shortage of
workers. Many OF the Western
II seems to me. could use '
he women, and there would also be '
/ demand for them In mlssion I
chools. parochial schools and other
departments OF educational work"
Birth control will receive I'M u
leasured denunciation in a report =
: periis to the homelife OF the Ma
on that. Will be. presented by a
ommission. consisting of Bishop i
'iske. Of Syracuse. Bishop Ferris. Of
'uffa o. and the Rev. DR.. j. II. Mel
n. OF Brooklyn. Indorsing the
EARNING issued by the Lambeth con-
erence Of 1920. in which Bishops -
rom all PARTS Of the world partici- 4
'ated the report protests against
he practice OF means for the avoid
lnce of conception as involving
-rave dangers TO physical health as
veil as moral Innocence, and threat 70
ming the future of the human race, n,
Where family life is dishonored, n,
welded unfaithfulness lightly re- ,r
,arded parental responsibility neg Il
ected flial respect and obedience =,
lighted, there, we may be sure. so 81
iety is rotten at the core" says !,
he report. .