Sentence:  “[…] This is Mr. Churchill, who, as you are aware, is good enough to come to us for his <WSD>diaconate</WSD>, and, as we hope, for much longer; and being a gentleman of independent means, he declines to take any payment.” Saying this Walden rubbed his hands together and smiled contentedly. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The period of office of a deacon.