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} + a:visited {text-decoration:none; } + +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Deaconesses in Europe, by Jane M. Bancroft + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Deaconesses in Europe + and their Lessons for America + +Author: Jane M. Bancroft + +Release Date: March 6, 2007 [EBook #20747] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEACONESSES IN EUROPE *** + + + + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, David Wilson, Bill Tozier and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<hr class="pg" noshade="noshade" /> + +<div class="main"> +<a id="png.001" name="png.001"></a> +<h1 class="tp">DEACONESSES IN EUROPE</h1> + +<h5 class="tp">AND</h5> + +<h2 class="tp">Their Lessons for America</h2> + +<h5 class="tp">BY</h5> + +<h3 class="tp">JANE M. BANCROFT, Ph.D</h3> + +<h3 class="tp" style="text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: 2.5em;">WITH AN INTRODUCTION</h3> + +<h5 class="tp">BY</h5> + +<h3 class="tp">EDWARD G. ANDREWS, D.D., LL.D.</h3> + +<h5 class="tpi" style="margin-bottom: 4em;">Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church</h5> + +<hr class="chap" /> +<table summary=""><tr><td> +<p class="epigraph"> “No life<br /> +Can be pure in its purpose and strong in its strife,<br /> +And all life not be purer and stronger thereby.” +</p></td></tr></table> +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h5 class="tpi">NEW YORK and +CINCINNATI</h5> +<h5><ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: the original book was published by HUNT & EATON at New York, +and by CRANSTON & STOWE at Cincinatti. The copyright date was 1889.">1890</ins></h5> +<a id="png.002" name="png.002"></a> +<a id="png.003" name="png.003"></a> + + +<h3 class="tv newchap" style="margin-top: 8em;">IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION,</h3> + +<h5 class="tp">TO</h5> + +<h3 class="tv">THE EARNEST AND DEVOTED WOMEN WHO,</h3> +<h3 class="tv">AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEACONESS WORK</h3> + +<h5 class="tp">OF</h5> + +<h3 class="tvss">THE WOMAN’S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY,</h3> + +<h4 class="tv">HAVE AIDED IN EXTENDING THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIACONATE +OF WOMEN,</h4> + +<h6>THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY</h6> + +<h5><img src="images/dedicated.png" style="width: 7.5em; height: 2.5em;" alt="Dedicated" /></h5> + +<h5 style="margin-bottom: 8em;">BY THE AUTHOR.</h5> + +<a id="png.004" name="png.004"></a> + + + + +<h2 class="newchap">AUTHOR’S NOTE.</h2> +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<p>The Author has aimed to present an accurate and +concise statement of the deaconess cause as it exists at +the present time.</p> + +<p>In all cases where it was possible, original sources of +information have been consulted.</p> + +<p>Many friends, both in Europe and America, have +given invaluable aid, for which words of thanks are an +inadequate recognition.</p> + +<p>The excellent Index at the close of the volume was +kindly prepared by the Rev. J. C. Thomas.</p> + +<p>Acknowledgments are also due to Mr. Gillett, Librarian +of the Union Theological Seminary, and to Mr. +C. H. A. Bjerregaard, of the Astor Library, for putting +not only the facilities of the library, but their personal +assistance, at the service of the writer.</p> + + +<p class="right smc rindent nobrk">Jane M. Bancroft.</p> + +<p><span class="smc nobrk">New York city</span>, <i>June</i> 5, 1889.</p> +<a id="png.005" name="png.005"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">005/</span>1</samp> + + + + +<h2 class="newchap">CONTENTS.</h2> +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<h4>CHAPTER I.</h4> + +<h5>THE DIACONATE.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Compassion a Christian virtue—Brotherhood of all men in Christ—Foreign +Missions—Home Missions—Service of ministering compassion +gives rise to the diaconate—Diaconate of women—Its qualities—Field +of labor + <a href="#png.013">Page 9</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER II.</h4> + +<h5>DEACONESSES IN THE EARLY CHURCH.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Little knowledge of early Church—Pliny’s letter—Apostolic Constitutions—Deaconesses, +widows, and virgins—Duties of the deaconess—Chrysostom, +Olympias—Deaconesses in Western Church—Decline +in importance—Extinction—Influences that led to decay + <a href="#png.022">18</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER III.</h4> + +<h5>DEACONESSES FROM THE TWELFTH TO THE NINETEENTH CENTURIES.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Béguines—Characteristics—Duties—Gerhard Groot—Sisters of the +Common Life—Obligations—Duties—Waldenses—Bohemian Brethren—Luther—Calvin—Reformed +Church at Wesel—Deaconesses in +Amsterdam—Damsels of Charity—Mennonites and Moravians + <a href="#png.038">34</a></p> + +<a id="png.006" name="png.006"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">006/</span>2</samp> + + +<h4>CHAPTER IV.</h4> + +<h5>FLIEDNER, THE RESTORER OF THE OFFICE OF DEACONESS.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Efforts for the restoration of the office of deaconess made by +Klönne—Amalie Sieveking—Von Stein—Count von der Recke—Fliedner—His +childhood—Youth—Student life—Pastorate and travels—Marriage—First +prison society—Founding of refuge—Need of +training schools—Rhenish-Westphalian Deaconess Society + <a href="#png.050">46</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER V.</h4> + +<h5>THE INSTITUTIONS AT KAISERSWERTH.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Opening of hospital training-school—Gertrude Reichardt—The +Home-life—Normal school—Fliedner’s wife—Publishing house—Orphan +asylum—Insane asylum—Dispensary—Farm—“Salem”—House +of Evening Rest—Extension of work—Berlin—Foreign lands +Jerusalem—Beirut—Smyrna—Bucharest—Florence—Rome + <a href="#png.065">61</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER VI.</h4> + +<h5>THE REGULATIONS AT KAISERSWERTH AND THE DUTIES AND SERVICES +OF THE DEACONESSES.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Two classes of deaconesses—Nurses—Teachers—Qualifications—Probationers—Duties—Service +of consecration—Conferences—Table +of results—Instances of work—Duisburg—Schleswig-Holstein +war—Austrian war—Franco Prussian war + <a href="#png.083">79</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER VII.</h4> + +<h5>OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE CONTINENT.</h5> + +<p class="toc">House at Strasburg—Mülhausen—Marthashof at Berlin—Neudettelsau—St. +Loup—Riehen—Zürich—Gallneukirchen—Characteristics +of institutions—Countries where they exist + <a href="#png.097">93</a></p> + + +<a id="png.007" name="png.007"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">007/</span>3</samp> + + +<h4>CHAPTER VIII.</h4> + +<h5>DEACONESSES IN GERMAN METHODISM.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Origin of Bethany Society—House at Frankfort—Hamburg—Berlin—St. +Gall—Zürich—Sister Myrtha—House of Rest—“God’s Fidelity”—House +regulations—Training—Results + <a href="#png.114">110</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER IX.</h4> + +<h5>DEACONESSES IN PARIS.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Deaconess Home on Rue de Reuilly—Situation—School—Hospital—House +of Correction—Preparatory school—Instruction—Prison +mission—Mademoiselle Dumas—Expenses of house—Its founders—Deaconess +house on Rue Bridaine—Character of work—Duties +of the Sisters—Their consecration—Importance of parish deaconesses + <a href="#png.124">120</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER X.</h4> + +<h5>DEACONESSES IN ENGLAND.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Early beginnings—The Puritans—Cambridge Platform—Southey’s +complaint—Mrs. Fry—Fliedner—Florence Nightingale—Agnes +Jones—Distinction between “sister” and “deaconess”—Institutions +in Church of England—Garb—Ceremonies—Self-denying lives—Dr. +Laseron’s institutions and others—Prison mission of Mrs. Meredith—The +Sisters of the People + <a href="#png.146">142</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER XI.</h4> + +<h5>MILDMAY INSTITUTIONS.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Rev. W. Pennefather—Sketch of his life—Building of hall and +deaconess home at Mildmay—Conference hall—Nursing hall—Mission +and hospital at Bethnal Green—The deaconesses—Their +training—Expense—Expenses of institution + <a href="#png.170">166</a></p> + +<a id="png.008" name="png.008"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">008/</span>4</samp> + +<h4>CHAPTER XII.</h4> + +<h5>DEACONESSES IN SCOTLAND.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Church of Scotland—Organization of woman’s work—Report of +committees—Scheme—Adoption—Women’s Guild—Women-workers’ +Guild—Deaconesses—Training—Syllabus of lectures—Presbyterian +Church of England and Ireland + <a href="#png.193">189</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER XIII.</h4> + +<h5>THE DEACONESS CAUSE IN AMERICA.</h5> + +<p class="toc">German Lutherans—Fliedner visits America—Philadelphia—Mother-house +of Deaconesses—Deaconesses in the Episcopal +Church—Among the Presbyterians—The Methodist Episcopal +Church—Deaconess-home in Chicago—Action of General Conference—Fields +of work + <a href="#png.208">204</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER XIV.</h4> + +<h5>THE MEANS OF TRAINING AND THE FIELD OF WORK FOR DEACONESSES +IN AMERICA.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Advantages of the Home and Training-school—Field of work—In +hospitals—Insane asylums—Infant-schools—Teachers—The +Home-mission deaconess—Her work in London—Similar work +needed in cities of the United States + <a href="#png.232">228</a></p> + +<h4>CHAPTER XV.</h4> + +<h5>OBJECTIONS MET AND SUGGESTIONS OFFERED.</h5> + +<p class="toc">Objection that deaconesses resemble Catholic nuns—Their influence—Numbers +in different orders—Order of Charles—Objection to +garb—Its advantages—Objection to the life answered—Opinion of +Bryce concerning American women—Women of Methodism—Advice +to candidates—Associates—The Church commended by its +deeds + <a href="#png.251">247</a></p> + +<a id="png.009" name="png.009"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">009/</span>5</samp> + + + + +<h2 class="newchap">INTRODUCTION.</h2> +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="smc">How</span> far, and in what form, ought woman’s work +in the Church to be organized? What was the +deaconess of St. Paul’s epistles? What light on +this subject do the primitive and the mediæval +Churches yield us? Can “sisterhoods” be established +without weakening the sense of personal responsibility +in those Christian women who are not +thus wholly set apart to charitable and spiritual +work? Can they be multiplied without danger of +introducing into Protestant communions the evils +of the conventual life? Are there modern instances +of safe and successful organizations? What +good have they achieved, and what further good +do they promise? In what relation should such +organizations stand to the authority and fostering +care of the Church? What should be their scope, +spirit, methods? What regulations are fundamental<a + id="png.010" name="png.010"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">010/</span>6</samp> +and indispensable? What perils are real +and possibly imminent?</p> + +<p>To answer these, and other questions associated +with them, this book is written. Its authoress is a +gifted daughter of the Church, well known in literary +and educational circles. During a protracted +sojourn in Europe she enjoyed unusual facilities for +studying the deaconess work as carried on in many +places, and particularly in the institutions founded +by Pastor Fliedner at Kaiserswerth in Prussia, and +in those at Mildmay in England. She has also +made a thorough and discriminating study of the +subject as developed in the early centuries of the +Church and in the Middle Ages.</p> + +<p>The book itself will amply reveal these facts, +and cannot but contribute largely to the guidance +of the newly revived interest of the American +churches in the far-reaching question how Christian +women may best serve their Lord in serving the +humanity which he has redeemed.</p> + +<p>It appears at an opportune time. The General +Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at +its session in May, 1888, inserted in the law of the +Church a chapter on deaconesses, defining their<a + id="png.011" name="png.011"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">011/</span>7</samp> +duties and providing for the appointment and +oversight of them through the Annual Conferences. +This action was the natural outcome of a wide and +increasing appreciation of the service of Christian +women in many departments of Church work; and +it was greatly furthered by the advocacy of Dr. J. M. +Thoburn, now the devoted and honored missionary +bishop of India and Malaysia. But it had +not been the subject of any considerable previous +discussion in the periodicals of the Church, and +there was not in the Church a widely diffused or an +accurate knowledge of the history, scope, possibilities, +or perils of such an organization. The promptness, +however, with which the provision thus made +by the General Conference has been seized upon by +the Church in several of our large cities, indicates +that the time was ripe for the movement. But +information is still scanty; ideas concerning the +aim and place of the deaconess work are crude; +methods have been very little digested; the foundations +of local homes evidently may come to be +very imperfectly laid; and the movement may +easily come to naught.</p> + +<p>This book, it is hoped, will do a twofold work.<a + id="png.012" name="png.012"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">012/</span>8</samp> +It will awaken a lively interest in a movement +already arrived at large proportions in some parts +of European Protestantism; and it will guide those +among us who are studying how best to organize, +against the sin and suffering of the world, the practically +unlimited resources of Christian women. +Whenever any one shall in some good degree apprehend +what helpfulness for the lost as yet lies +undeveloped in the hearts and hands of the daughters +of the Church, and what honor may yet come +to Christianity by the rightly directed use of this +power, he will welcome a volume which, like the +present one, offers such guidance as history, observation, +and earnest reflection yield on the question +at issue.</p> + +<p class="right smc rindent">Edward G. Andrews.</p> + +<p><span class="smc">New York</span>, <i>May</i> 10, 1889.</p> +<a id="png.013" name="png.013"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">013/</span>9</samp> + + + + +<h1 class="newchap">DEACONESSES IN EUROPE.</h1> +<hr class="chap" /> + + + + +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h4>THE DIACONATE.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">In</span> the ruins of the old cities of Greece and Rome +we find buildings that were used for public purposes +of all kinds—forums, theaters, amphitheaters, circuses, +and temples of worship. Every provision +was made for the entertainment of the people, and +for their political and intellectual needs. But nowhere +do we find the ruins of structures, belonging +either to the public or to private individuals, indicating +that any attempt was ever made to care for +the feeble-minded, the insane, the deaf, the blind, +the sick, or the aged; those that in every nation +of modern times are the wards of the State and the +definite objects of religious ministrations.</p> + +<p>The ruins cannot be found because such buildings +never existed. No provision was made for those +suffering from bodily infirmities, because so far as<a + id="png.014" name="png.014"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">014/</span>10</samp> +the State could control circumstances they were +not allowed to exist. Children who were defective +in any way were put to death. In Sparta this +measure was carried out under government supervision. +Even Plato in his model republic has all +children of wicked men, the misshapen, or the illegitimate +put out of existence, that they may not +be a burden to the State.<sup><a href="#fn.i.1" name="fna.i.1" id="fna.i.1">1</a></sup></p> + +<p>With the coming of Christ new elements were +introduced into the civilization of the world; elements +of kindliness, of compassion, of sympathy of +man toward his fellow-man, that up to this time +had not been known. There was a new revelation +of the brotherhood of all men in the fatherhood of +God: “We are all one in Christ Jesus.”</p> + +<p>This spirit of compassion and of sympathy has +grown with every century in the Christian era, and +at no time has it been stronger in the history of the +world than it is to-day. Well has one American +historian said:</p> + +<div class="longquote"> +<p>“To a generation which knows but two crimes +worthy of death, that against the life of the individual +and that against the life of the State; which +has expended fabulous sums in the erection of reformatories, +asylums, and penitentiaries, houses of<a + id="png.015" name="png.015"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">015/</span>11</samp> +correction, houses of refuge, and houses of detention +all over the land; which has furnished every +State prison with a library, with a hospital, with +workshops, and with schools, the brutal scenes on +which our ancestors looked with indifference seem +scarcely a reality. Yet it is well to recall them, +for we cannot but turn from the contemplation +of so much misery and so much suffering with a +deep sense of thankfulness that our lot has fallen +in a pitiful age, when more compassion is felt +for a galled horse or a dog run over at a street-crossing +than our great-grandfathers felt for a +woman beaten for cursing, or a man imprisoned for +debt.”<sup><a href="#fn.i.2" name="fna.i.2" id="fna.i.2">2</a></sup></p> +</div> + +<p>The spirit of Christ has penetrated even where +his rule is not acknowledged, and the humanitarianism +of the present day is simply the leaven +of Christian love working among the masses of +men.</p> + +<p>In the Christian world the effort to realize the +brotherhood of all men in Christ is producing large +results. Treasures of money, and infinitely more +precious treasures of men, are every year devoted +to this one object. The cause of Protestant foreign +missions is not yet a century old, but the +latest available statistics tell us that the following<a + id="png.016" name="png.016"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">016/</span>12</samp> +sums are being contributed annually for this great +work:<sup><a href="#fn.i.3" name="fna.i.3" id="fna.i.3">3</a></sup></p> + +<table summary=""> +<tr><td>32</td><td colspan="3">American societies contribute</td><td class="right">$3,011,027</td></tr> +<tr><td>28</td><td>British</td><td class="ditto"> " </td><td class="ditto"> " </td><td class="right">5,217,385</td></tr> +<tr><td class="total">27</td><td>Continental</td><td class="ditto"> " </td><td class="ditto"> " </td><td class="total">1,083,170</td></tr> +<tr><td>87</td><td colspan="3">societies contribute </td><td class="right">$9,311,582</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>With this large sum American societies are employing +986 men, and 1,081 women; British societies, +1,811 men, and 745 women; Continental +societies, 777 men, and 447 women. Total, 3,574 +men, 2,273 women.</p> + +<p>Visible results of faithfulness in work:</p> + +<table summary=""> +<tr><td style="white-space: nowrap;">Members in</td><td colspan="2">American societies</td><td class="right"> 242,733</td></tr> +<tr><td class="ditto" style="text-align: center;"> " </td><td>British </td><td class="ditto"> " </td><td class="right"> 340,242</td></tr> +<tr><td class="ditto" style="text-align: center;"> " </td><td>Continental</td><td class="ditto"> " </td><td class="total">117,532</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3">Total membership in foreign lands </td><td class="right"> 700,507</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3">Children in the Sunday-schools </td><td class="right"> 626,741</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>The subject of home missions is to-day attracting +greater attention than ever before. “Die Innere +Mission” of Germany, the various forms the work +assumes in England, the many societies in the +United States occupied by the questions of city +evangelization, work among the Mormons, the treatment +of the Indians, care for the colored race, and<a + id="png.017" name="png.017"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">017/</span>13</samp> +other phases of home work show that Christians +are fully understanding that it is wise to build over +against our own house.</p> + +<p>Certainly the reproach cannot justly be made +that the Church of Christ is neglectful of the precept, +“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do +good unto all men.”</p> + +<p>This is genuine service of man to man, and the +motive of the service is love to God. Every revelation +of God is of ministering love and compassion, +and the efforts of his disciples to imitate the divine +love have indelibly stamped upon modern civilization +the Christian impress.</p> + +<p>The service of ministering compassion is so +clearly one of the duties of Christ’s Church that of +necessity there must be ordinances touching the +exercise of this duty. So in Acts vi, 3, we read of +the appointment of the deacons, “men of honest +report, full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom,” to +see that the service of the tables was not neglected.</p> + +<p>But Christian women have ever had special gifts +in caring for the poor and sick and helpless, and +the women of apostolic times must necessarily have +had their part in these services of love. In addition +to the diaconate appointed by the apostles recorded +in the sixth chapter of Acts, we must look +for a female diaconate as an office in the Church.<a + id="png.018" name="png.018"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">018/</span>14</samp> +This we do not fail to find. In Rom. xvi, 1, we +read: “I commend unto you Phebe, a deacon of +the church which is at Cenchrea.” Such at least +would have been the form of the verse if our translators +had rendered the Greek word here translated +servant as they rendered the like word in the sixth +chapter of Acts, the third of the First Epistle to +Timothy, and in other passages of the apostolic +writings.</p> + +<p>“That ye receive her in the Lord as becometh +saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever +business she hath need of you: for she hath +been a succorer of many, and of myself also.” +These words of St. Paul are especially valuable +as an apostolic witness for the existence of the +office of deaconess at the time when he wrote. +They are even more than that. They are an apostolic +commendation of the office addressed to the +Christian Church of all times to accept the deaconess +in the Lord, and to assist her “in whatsoever +business she hath need of you.”</p> + +<p>Whether Priscilla, spoken of with Aquila as “my +helpers in Christ Jesus,” or Tryphena, Tryphosa, +and the beloved Persis, who “labored much,” or +Julia and Olympas, all mentioned in the same +chapter, were or were not deaconesses we have +no means of knowing.</p> +<a id="png.019" name="png.019"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">019/</span>15</samp> + +<p>Outside of this chapter we do not find other +references to the order in the New Testament, +unless it be in 1 Tim. iii, 11. In the midst of a +lengthy description of the qualifications of deacons +is interjected the exhortation: “Even so must +their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful +in all things.” Now the word <i>wives</i> has no authority +from the Greek word, which is simply <i>women</i>. +Bishop Lightfoot remarks, in his book on the authorized +version of the New Testament, “If the +theory of the definite article (in the Greek) had +been understood our translators would have seen +that the reference is to deaconesses, not to wives +of the deacons.”</p> + +<p>Many eminent scholars are of the same opinion, +among whom are Chrysostom, Grotius, Bishop +Wordsworth, and Dean Alvord. Dean Howson +adds: “It should be particularly noticed in connection +with this that in the early part of the chapter +no such directions are given concerning the wives +of the bishops, though they are certainly as important +as the wives of the deacons; so that it can +scarcely be thought otherwise than that the apostle’s +directions were for the deaconesses, an order +which we find in ecclesiastical records for some +centuries side by side with that of deacons.”<sup><a href="#fn.i.4" name="fna.i.4" id="fna.i.4">4</a></sup></p> +<a id="png.020" name="png.020"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">020/</span>16</samp> + +<p>Those mentioned in Tit. ii, 3, and in 1 Tim. v, 9, +cannot be considered as holding the office of a deaconess. +They belong distinctively to the class of +widows, who held a position of honor in the Church. +St. Paul had clear conceptions of the administrative +needs of the Church, and it is not probable that +he would set apart to the service of deaconesses, +which had many difficult duties, those who were +already sixty years old.</p> + +<p>The many names of faithful women mentioned +in his letters as helpers in the Church are important +witnesses for the great apostle’s appreciation +of woman’s co-operation in the work of the Church, +although his judgment was necessarily limited in +some directions by the influence of the times in +which he lived.</p> + +<p>Let us examine the requirements for the diaconate +of the early Church. The word diaconate means +service; helpful service. We use the word to designate +service for the Church of Christ; service that +more particularly concerns itself with administering +the charities of the Church and performing its duties +of compassion and mercy. The men who were +selected for this office were to be men of “honest +report.” They must have led a blameless life. +Those who had repented of wrong-doing and reformed +their lives were excluded from the office,<a + id="png.021" name="png.021"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">021/</span>17</samp> +because they had lost a good report “of them +which are without.” Pre-eminently they must be +men of spiritual experience, proven Christians, +“full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom.” They +were also to have practical gifts that would make +them efficient and capable in the duties of every-day +life. 1 Tim. iii, 8.</p> + +<p>These are some of the qualifications spoken of as +belonging to the diaconate, and are the same in +application to either sex. The woman deacon must, +however, besides possessing the above qualities, be +unmarried or a widow. The married woman has +her calling at home, and cannot combine with that +an official calling in the Church, although she may +be a valuable lay helper.</p> + +<p>The field of labor of the women deacons of apostolic +times and of the present is essentially the +same. The conditions of society and of the Church, +however, are totally dissimilar. We must, therefore, +look to see new adaptations of the same useful +qualities. In other words, we shall not expect to take +the female diaconate of the days of the apostles +and transport it unchanged, into nineteenth century +environments. We shall rather expect to see +the invariably useful qualities of the diaconate of +women adapted to the needs of the sinful, sorrowing, +ignorant, and helpless of the age in which we live.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.i.1" id="fn.i.1" href="#fna.i.1">1</a> +<i>Heidenthum und Judenthum</i>, von Döllinger, p. 692. Regensburg, +1857.</p> +<p><a name="fn.i.2" id="fn.i.2" href="#fna.i.2">2</a> +MacMaster’s <i>History of the United States</i>, vol. i, p. 102.</p> +<p><a name="fn.i.3" id="fn.i.3" href="#fna.i.3">3</a> +Statistics from <i>North American Review</i>, February, 1889, “Why +am I a Missionary?”</p> +<p><a name="fn.i.4" id="fn.i.4" href="#fna.i.4">4</a> +<i>Deaconesses</i>, Rev. J. D. Howson, D.D., p. 236.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.022" name="png.022"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">022/</span>18</samp> + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h4>DEACONESSES IN THE EARLY CHURCH.</h4> + + +<p>To understand the position of the deaconess with +respect to the modern Church we must know something +of the relation in which she stood to the early +Church. Concisely as may be we must recall the +story of the intervening centuries to the present, +that we may learn the true position of deaconesses +in modern times.</p> + +<p>We have very little knowledge of the early +Church. During the first century and the first +half of the second century continued persecution +compelled the religious communities of the new +faith to live in almost complete seclusion. For the +same reason little has been left on record of those +years, and it is impossible to form clear conceptions +of Church history during the period. The first +trace which we find of the existence of deaconesses +after the times of the apostles comes to us from an +entirely outside source—from the official records of +the Roman government. Shortly after the close of +the first century the Emperor Trajan sent the<a + id="png.023" name="png.023"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">023/</span>19</samp> +younger Pliny as prefect to Bithynia in Asia Minor. +At the imperial command he began a persecution +of the Christians, but interrupted it for a time to +obtain further instructions from the emperor. His +letter and the reply still exist. In the course of +what he wrote Pliny says that he had sought to +learn from two maids, who were called “ministræ” +(“ex duabus ancillis, quæ ministræ dicebantur,” +Book x, chap. xcvii), or helpers, the truth of what +the Christians had said, and had even deemed it +necessary to put them to torture, but could obtain +evidence of nothing save unbounded superstition. +Here is independent testimony of singular interest +that deaconesses, followers of Phebe, were found in +Christian communities of Asia Minor at the beginning +of the second century, and that they kept the +faith, when put to cruel martyrdom.</p> + +<p>The clearest conceptions of the characteristics +and duties of deaconesses of the early Church we +obtain from the <i>Apostolic Constitutions</i>, a collection +of ecclesiastical instructions that gradually grew +up in the Eastern Church, and were gathered into +one work in the fourth century. These instructions +were of unequal antiquity, ranging from the earliest +usages to the rules and practices last determined +upon. Whether the <i>Apostolic Constitutions</i> have +all the authority that some claim for them is a<a + id="png.024" name="png.024"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">024/</span>20</samp> +question not here to be decided. If not genuine, +they must have been written at a very early time, +and from that fact possess a historical value of their +own. “They prove beyond a doubt that there was +a time in the history of the Church when a clear +idea was held by some writer of the office of the +female deacon as essential to the discipline of the +Church.”<sup><a href="#fn.ii.1" name="fna.ii.1" id="fna.ii.1">1</a></sup> From them we learn of three distinct +types of women connected with the administration +of the Church—deaconesses, widows, and virgins. +Deaconesses and widows date from apostolic times, +the Church virgins from a somewhat later period. +The distinction between widows and deaconesses +was not at first clearly maintained. By some +Church fathers widows were called deaconesses, +and deaconesses widows. It was only after the +lapse of time that we find the classes clearly distinguished, +and when that time is reached the +deaconesses have become exalted in office, being +regarded as belonging to the clergy,<sup><a href="#fn.ii.2" name="fna.ii.2" id="fna.ii.2">2</a></sup> while the widows +have lost somewhat the honorable position first +accorded to them. The deaconesses are active ministering +agents, caring for the necessities of others; +the widows have passed the period of active service,<a + id="png.025" name="png.025"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">025/</span>21</samp> +and having won the respect and protection of the +Church are supported in old age from a fund set +apart for that purpose. In the <i>Apostolic Constitutions</i> +the order of deaconesses stands forth independently, +its many official activities are mentioned, +and the importance of its service emphasized.</p> + +<p>By combining the different references we obtain +a tolerably clear picture of the deaconess and her +duties. She must be a “pure virgin,” or “a widow +once married, faithful, and worthy” (Book vi, chap. +xvii). Her special duties were as follows:</p> + +<p>(<i>a.</i>) She was a door-keeper at the women’s entrance +to the church. This was an ancient service, +dating back to the oldest times.<sup><a href="#fn.ii.3" name="fna.ii.3" id="fna.ii.3">3</a></sup> Ignatius died a +martyr’s death not long after the beginning of the +second century, and in a letter which bears his +name is written, “I greet the doorkeepers of the +holy doors, the deaconesses who are in the Lord.” + +This guardianship was maintained not only in +times of persecution, but as a matter of order and +discipline in times of peace.</p> + +<p>(<i>b.</i>) She showed women their places in the congregation, +being especially bound to look after the +poor and strangers, giving each due attention.</p> + +<p>(<i>c.</i>) She instructed the female catechumens. She<a + id="png.026" name="png.026"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">026/</span>22</samp> +also visited the women’s apartments, where male deacons +could not enter, carried messages to the bishops, +and acted as a missionary. Teaching was an important +part of the duties of the early deaconesses.</p> + +<p>(<i>d.</i>) The deaconess had certain duties in connection +with the baptism of women that were considered +important and indispensable.</p> + +<p>(<i>e.</i>) In times of persecution she visited those who +were oppressed or in prison, and ministered to their +bodily and spiritual needs. She seems to have been +less endangered in performing these acts than were +men. Lucian alludes to the service of these devoted +women in prisons. She also cared for the +sick and sorrowing, being especially “zealous to +serve other women.”</p> + +<p>(<i>f.</i>) On occasion she was a mediator when there +was strife in families, or among friends. Both to +deacons and deaconesses “pertain messages, journeys +to foreign parts, ministrations, services.” The +ever-to-be-remembered journey of Phebe to Rome, +when a whole system of theology was committed +to her keeping, was quite within the sphere of her +duties. It has also been said that to them was +given the safe-keeping of the holy books in periods +of persecution. The enumeration of these principal +duties implying so many lesser details helps us +to understand that “deaconesses are needed for<a + id="png.027" name="png.027"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">027/</span>23</samp> +many purposes” (Book ii, chapter xv). The deaconess +was ordained to her work, as is attested by +a great number of authorities.<sup><a href="#fn.ii.4" name="fna.ii.4" id="fna.ii.4">4</a></sup> “It was because +men felt still that the Holy Ghost alone could give +power to do any work to God’s glory that they +deemed themselves constrained to ask such power +of him, in setting a woman to do Church service.”<sup><a href="#fn.ii.5" name="fna.ii.5" id="fna.ii.5">5</a></sup></p> + +<p>The following beautiful prayer of ordination, attributed +to the apostle Bartholomew, bears within +it certain proofs of the very early existence of the +ceremony, as well as of the order of deaconesses:</p> + +<div class="longquote"> +<p>“Eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, +Creator of man and women, who didst fill Miriam +and Deborah and Hannah and Huldah with thy +Spirit, and didst not disdain to suffer thine only-begotten +Son to be born of a woman; who also in +the tabernacle and temple didst appoint woman-keepers +of thine holy gates, look down now upon this +thine handmaid, who is designated to the office of +deaconess, and cleanse her from all filthiness of the +flesh and of the spirit, that she may worthily execute +the work intrusted to her to thine honor, and +to the praise of thine Anointed, to whom, with thee<a + id="png.028" name="png.028"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">028/</span>24</samp> +and the Holy Ghost, be honor and adoration forever. +Amen.”</p> +</div> + +<p>The allusion to the creation of man and woman, +to the women in the Old Testament who were +called to special service, as well as to Mary, the +mother of the Lord, while no reference is made to +the women of the apostolic Church who were so +highly commended, and held in veneration as +worthy of all imitation, go to prove that the origin +of this prayer was so near the time of the apostles +as to be almost contemporary with them.</p> + +<p>The office of the deaconess, as described by the +<i>Apostolic Constitutions</i>, fitted into the needs of the +Eastern Church and the requirements of Greek life. +It was in the East that the diaconate of women originated, +and here that it attained its greatest growth. +In the West custom did not demand the careful +separation of the sexes as in the East, and church +relations were less bound by social usages; consequently +we meet with fewer references to deaconesses +in the works of the Latin fathers, and the +diaconate of women is not so deeply rooted in the +affections of the church communities as we have +found it in the Greek Church.<sup><a href="#fn.ii.6" name="fna.ii.6" id="fna.ii.6">6</a></sup></p> + +<p>The fourth century was the blossoming period of<a + id="png.029" name="png.029"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">029/</span>25</samp> +woman’s diaconate, when it attained its highest importance. +All the leading Greek fathers and Church +authorities of the age make mention of it. The +office is spoken of as worthy of all honor, filled by +women of rank from noble families, and those of +wealth and ability. It found its special advocate +and protector in Chrysostom, “John of the Golden +Mouth,” who was Bishop of Constantinople from +397 until 407 A.D. He seems to have had the +ability, rare for that age, of understanding the value +of the services of Christian women, and through his +wise guidance and encouragement had over them +almost unbounded influence. Forty-six deaconesses +were under his direction—forty attached to +the mother church at Constantinople, and six belonging +to a small church in the suburbs. A number +of these were closely identified with his history, +either as relatives or friends, and through his writings +their memory is preserved. Of these are +Nicarete, of a noble family of Nicomedia. We are +told she was of a modest, retiring nature, and +would not take places of responsibility when urged +to do so by Chrysostom. We note a strong tendency +toward the later celibate life of the nuns +when we read that she was extolled for “her perpetual +virginity and holy life.” Sabiniana was the +aunt of Chrysostom. To Amprucla the bishop<a + id="png.030" name="png.030"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">030/</span>26</samp> +wrote two letters still extant.<sup><a href="#fn.ii.7" name="fna.ii.7" id="fna.ii.7">7</a></sup> They are filled +with words of consolation for the religious persecution +she has undergone. In one of them he says: +“Greatly did we sympathize with your manliness, +your steadfast and adamantine understanding, your +freedom of speech and boldness.” “Manliness of +soul” seems to have held a high place in the bishop’s +favorite qualities. In another place, writing +to the same deaconess, he praises “your steadfast +soul, true to God; yea, rather, your noble and most +manly soul.”</p> + +<p>Pentadia and Procla were closely associated with +Olympias. In a letter to Pentadia, Chrysostom +writes: “For I know your great and lofty soul, +which can sail as with a fair wind through many +tempests, and in the midst of the waves enjoy a +white calm.”<sup><a href="#fn.ii.8" name="fna.ii.8" id="fna.ii.8">8</a></sup> Reading such words of appreciation, +words that in other places approach dangerously +near to adulation, we better understand the +influence Chrysostom exercised over the women +of his time, and their steadfast devotion to him. +They had the conviction that all their efforts met +with his sincere and profound appreciation and +quick responsive acknowledgment.</p> +<a id="png.031" name="png.031"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">031/</span>27</samp> + +<p>Pre-eminent among the friends of the great bishop +was Olympias, of whom Dean Howson said, “She +is the queenly figure among the deaconesses of the +primitive Church.” To understand her life we +must recall the scenes by which she was surrounded +and the age in which she lived.<sup><a href="#fn.ii.9" name="fna.ii.9" id="fna.ii.9">9</a></sup></p> + +<p>In the great capital of the Eastern Empire, where +the luxuriance and magnificence of the Orient combined +with the keen, quick intellectual life of the +Greeks; in the circle of the imperial court, with its +intrigues, its fashions, its favoritisms; at a time +when outwardly much respect was paid to the +forms of religious life, but when the great and vital +dogmas of the Church were made the sport of witty +sophistical disputations; when those who endeavored +to lead an earnest Christian life met with +nearly as much to oppose them as in periods of active +persecution; such were her environments. +They were little favorable to the strength of mind, +the fixedness of purpose, the self-denial and Christian +devotion that marked this noble deaconess. +Born in 368 A.D. of a heathen family of rank, owing +to her parents’ early death she was educated a Christian. +In her seventeenth year she married Nebridius, +the prefect of the city, but after a married life +of twenty months he died, leaving her at eighteen<a + id="png.032" name="png.032"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">032/</span>28</samp> +years a widow, rich, beautiful, and free to decide +her future. The Emperor Theodosius desired her +to marry one of his kinsmen, but she refused, saying, +“Had God designed me to lead a married life +he would not have taken my husband; I will remain +a widow,” and shortly after she was consecrated a +deaconess by Bishop Nectarius. The emperor, angered +at her refusal, took from her the use of her +large fortune, and put it under the care of guardians +until she should be thirty years old, whereupon +she only thanked him for relieving her of the heavy +responsibility of administering her estate, and begged +him to add to his kindness by dividing it between +the poor and the Church.</p> + +<p>Shamed out of his anger, the emperor soon restored +her rights, and when Chrysostom came to Constantinople +her lavish and often unwise generosity was +felt in every direction, being compared to “a stream +which flows to the end of the world.” He reproved +her unbounded liberality, and advised her to administer +alms as a wise steward who must render +an account. This counsel guided her into safer +paths. Finally, when Chrysostom was driven forth +to banishment, by his advice she remained in the +city, and became a support for his followers and +those who had been dependent upon him. She +met contemptuous treatment and judicial persecutions,<a + id="png.033" name="png.033"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">033/</span>29</samp> +but continued her works of charity, and outlived +the man whose mind and heart had so influenced +hers by eleven years. Chrysostom wrote +her many letters, of which seventeen are extant.<sup><a href="#fn.ii.10" name="fna.ii.10" id="fna.ii.10">10</a></sup> +They plainly show the estimate he set upon the +diaconate of women, and his endeavor to wisely +cherish it. Unfortunately, they also show exaggeration +of compliment and praise which detract +from his words of sincere and honest admiration. +Too often, also, he gives undue value to works of +mercy, and exalts acts of ascetic self-denial.</p> + +<p>The question of the age at which deaconesses +could be received is a vexed one. The confusion +of apprehension touching deaconesses and widows +led to differing enactments at different times and +places. The restriction of age, however, must +now have lost its force, as we find Olympias a +deaconess when not yet twenty years of age, and +Makrina, the sister of Gregory of Nyssa, was ordained +when a young girl. Deaconesses retained +control of their property. In truth, a law of the +State forbade them to enrich churches and institutions +at the expense of those having just claims on +them. Deaconesses also existed in the Church of +Asia Minor. Ignatius mentions them as at Antioch +in Syria. They were in Italy and Rome. The<a + id="png.034" name="png.034"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">034/</span>30</samp> +Church of St. Pudentiana, in the Eternal City, keeps +alive the memory of two deaconesses whose house +is said to have stood on this site; Praxedes and Pudentiana, +the daughters of a Roman senator, who +devoted themselves, with all they had, to the service +of the Church. Deaconesses also penetrated to Ireland, +Gaul, and Spain, lingering in the last named +country many years after they had passed out of +knowledge elsewhere.</p> + +<p>We find very little about this order of Christian +workers in the Western Church. There is a passage +of Origen in a Latin translation which speaks of the +ministry of women as both existing and necessary, +but in the great Latin fathers, the contemporaries +of Chrysostom, scarcely a mention occurs. From +the last half of the fifth century the diaconate of +women declined in importance.<sup><a href="#fn.ii.11" name="fna.ii.11" id="fna.ii.11">11</a></sup> It was deprived +of its clerical character by the decrees passed by +the Gallic councils of the fifth and sixth centuries. +It was finally entirely abolished as a church order +by the Synod of Orleans, 593 A.D., which forbade +any woman henceforth to receive the <i>benedictio diaconalis</i>, +which had been substituted for <i>ordinatio +diaconalis</i> by a previous council (Synod of Orange, +441). The withdrawing of church sanctions made +the deaconess cause a private one. But as such it<a + id="png.035" name="png.035"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">035/</span>31</samp> +existed for hundreds of years, often under the +patronage and protection of those high in authority. +About the year 600 A.D. the patriarch of +Constantinople, godfather of the Emperor Mauritius, +built for his sister, who was a deaconess, a +church which for centuries was called the “Church +of the Deaconesses.” It is still standing and, +only slightly changed, is now used for a Turkish +mosque.<sup><a href="#fn.ii.12" name="fna.ii.12" id="fna.ii.12">12</a></sup></p> + +<p>In the twelfth century there were still deaconesses +at Constantinople. Balsamon, a distinguished +professor of Church law, writing at the time, says +that deaconesses were still elected in that city and +took charge of conferences among women members, +but in other places the order had passed completely +away.</p> + +<p>There was no historian of the diaconate of the +early Church. We learn of it only from isolated +and occasional references in works devoted to other +subjects. Yet these references are sufficient to +enable us to affirm that deaconesses were a factor +in the life of the Church for from nine to twelve +centuries, or two thirds of the Christian era.</p> + +<p>The same influences led to its decay that affected +the entire life of the Church during these centuries.<a + id="png.036" name="png.036"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">036/</span>32</samp> +The superior sanctity attached to the unmarried +state, that brought about the celibacy of the priests, +gradually changed the active beneficent existence +of the old-time deaconesses into the cloistral life of +nuns. Statutes were passed forbidding her to marry. +Gradually grew up the dangerous superstition of the +marriage of the individual soul with Christ, that +made of the nun the Bride of Christ in an especial +sense. It was this false conception that led the vow +of the nun to be regarded as the vow of marriage, +and to be guarded from infringement in the same +way as the human marriage tie, and like it to be +lasting for life. The glorious doctrine of justification +by faith was replaced by ascetic mortifications +of the flesh based upon the belief in meritorious +works. The cell of the monk and the nun were +esteemed more sacred than the family circle, and +in the darkness of mediæval times that settled +down upon the life of the Church we lose sight +of the busy, active ministrations of women deacons, +who had once been esteemed so needful to her +usefulness.</p> + +<p>There are other minor causes that aided in the +downfall of the order; the abuses that arose in +some cases; the changes in the ceremony of baptism +by which the aid of women was not so indispensable, +and especially the fact that since the time<a + id="png.037" name="png.037"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">037/</span>33</samp> +of Constantine the care of the sick and poor was +placed under the charge of the State.<sup><a href="#fn.ii.13" name="fna.ii.13" id="fna.ii.13">13</a></sup></p> + +<p>These causes combined removed from the life of +the Church a powerful agency for good, and for +centuries deprived it of the pre-eminent gifts of +ministration which belong to Christian women.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.ii.1" id="fn.ii.1" href="#fna.ii.1">1</a> +<i>Woman’s Work in the Church</i>, J. M. Ludlow, p. 21.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.2" id="fn.ii.2" href="#fna.ii.2">2</a> +<i>Die Weibliche Diakonie in ihrem ganzen Umfang</i>, Theodor +Schäfer, 3 vols. Stuttgart: D. Gundert, 1887. Vol. i, p. 45.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.3" id="fn.ii.3" href="#fna.ii.3">3</a> +<i>Der Diakonissenberuf nach seiner Vergangenheit und Gegenwart</i>, +Emil Wacker. <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Guterslöh'">Gütersloh</ins>: E. Bertelman, 1888. <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'P. 33'">p. 33</ins>.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.4" id="fn.ii.4" href="#fna.ii.4">4</a> +Neander, <i>Hist. of Chr. Religion and Church</i>, vol. i, p. 188; +Schaff, <i>Hist. of Chr. Church</i>, vol. iii, p. 260; McClintock & Strong’s +<i>Encyclopædia</i>, art. “Deaconesses.”</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.5" id="fn.ii.5" href="#fna.ii.5">5</a> +J. M. Ludlow, <i>Woman’s Work in the Church</i>, p. 17.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.6" id="fn.ii.6" href="#fna.ii.6">6</a> +Neander, <i>Hist. of Chr. Rel. and Church</i>, vol. i, p. 188; Schaff, +<i>Hist. of Chr. Church</i>, vol. iii, p. 260.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.7" id="fn.ii.7" href="#fna.ii.7">7</a> +<i>Sancti Johannis Chrysostomi opera om</i>, t. ii, pp. 659, 662. +Paris, 1842.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.8" id="fn.ii.8" href="#fna.ii.8">8</a> +Chrys., <i>Op.</i>, vol. ii, p. 658.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.9" id="fn.ii.9" href="#fna.ii.9">9</a> +<i>Die Weibliche Diakonie</i>, Theodor Schäfer, vol. i, p. 8.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.10" id="fn.ii.10" href="#fna.ii.10">10</a> +Chrys., <i>Op.</i>, vol. ii, p. 600.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.11" id="fn.ii.11" href="#fna.ii.11">11</a> +Schaff’s <i>History of Chr. Church</i>, vol. iii, p. 260.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.12" id="fn.ii.12" href="#fna.ii.12">12</a> +<i>Denkschrift zur Jubelfeier</i>, J. Disselhoff, Kaiserswerth, 1880, +p. 5.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ii.13" id="fn.ii.13" href="#fna.ii.13">13</a> +Herzog’s <i>Protestantische Real Enc.</i>, vol. iii, p. 589.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.038" name="png.038"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">038/</span>34</samp> + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>DEACONESSES FROM THE TWELFTH TO THE NINETEENTH +CENTURIES.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">During</span> these seven centuries whenever there +arose a reviving spirit of true love to God, whether +within the Church of Rome or in any of the churches +formed from reforming elements that separated from +it, then we find traces of the diaconate of woman assuming +some form of devotion to Christ and work +for him. One of these movements well worth our +study originated in Belgium while the last of the +Greek deaconesses were still daily walking the +arched pathway that led to their church in Constantinople. +Toward the close of the twelfth century +great corruption of morals and open abuses +prevailed in society, and also in the Church. One +of those who protested against the evils of the +times was the priest Lambert le Bègue, as he was +called, meaning the stutterer. He lived at Liège, +in Belgium, and just without the city walls owned a +large garden. He determined to make use of this +to found a retreat for godly women, where they<a + id="png.039" name="png.039"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">039/</span>35</samp> +could lead in common a life of well-doing. Here +he built a number of little houses, and in the center +a church, which was dedicated to St. Christopher +in 1184. Then he presented the whole to some +godly women to be used and owned in common. +His earnest words of rebuke brought persecution +upon him from those whose consciences he disturbed, +but he went to Rome and appealed to the +pope, who not only protected him from his assailants, +but made him the patriarch of the order he +had founded. Only six months after his return, +however, he died, and was buried before the +high altar of the church he had erected in 1187. +Whether he was indeed the founder of the Béguine +houses has been called in question. Be that as it +may, fifty years after his death fifteen hundred Béguines +were living around St. Christopher’s Church,<sup><a href="#fn.iii.1" name="fna.iii.1" id="fna.iii.1">1</a></sup> +and Béguine courts were found throughout Belgium, +in the Netherlands, south along the Rhine, +in eastern France, and in Switzerland. The Crusades +made many widows, and both widows and young +girls sought shelter in the community life of the +Béguines. As a rule they lived alone, in separate +small houses built closely together and surrounded +by a wall. Each house bore on its door the sign +of the cross, and with every Béguine court there<a + id="png.040" name="png.040"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">040/</span>36</samp> +were invariably two large buildings—a church and a +hospital; the one for the worship of the sisters, +the other the field of their self-denying ministrations. +At first they were in no wise distinguished +in their dress from other women, but in time they +wore a habit which varied in color with each establishment, +but was generally blue, gray, or brown. +The veil was invariably white. The sisters had to +earn, or partly earn, their own livelihood. In the +time remaining they rendered essential service in +performing acts of charity. They received orphans +to bring up and educate, taught little children, +nursed the sick, performed the last offices for +the dead, and bound themselves by good deeds +closely with the lives of the people. They were +in no sense isolated from the world, but lived +busy, useful lives in the midst of the world. They +could leave the community at any time, and after +severing their connection with it were free to +marry. They also retained control of their own +property.</p> + +<p>There were certainly many points of resemblance +between these women who were so active in the +sphere of Christian charity in the twelfth and +thirteenth centuries and the deaconesses of Europe +to-day. The most prosperous period for the +Béguines was the first half of the thirteenth<a + id="png.041" name="png.041"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">041/</span>37</samp> +century, when they were numbered by thousands.<sup><a href="#fn.iii.2" name="fna.iii.2" id="fna.iii.2">2</a></sup> +Gradually persecution was directed against them. +The nuns looked upon them with disfavor, and the +pope withdrew his protection. In the Netherlands +many became Protestants at the time of the Reformation, +but the Béguines of to-day, changed in many +respects from the original type, and now, closely +resembling the other sisterhoods of Catholicism, are +frequently to be seen in the cities of Belgium and +north-eastern France.</p> + +<p>A new current of spiritual life swept over the +church in the fourteenth century, and again we +find women living together in community life, and +devoting themselves to common service in good +deeds, and known as the Sisters of the Common +Life. There was also a Brotherhood of the Common +Life, as there were Beghards, communities of Christian +men corresponding to the Béguines. The +Brotherhood and the Sisterhood of the Common +Life honored as their founder Gerhard Groot, of +Deventer, who was born in 1340. Of a singularly +attractive personality, a creative mind, and an<a + id="png.042" name="png.042"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">042/</span>38</samp> +ardent, enthusiastic nature, he was born to influence +and command. He was already known as a +priest of eloquence and wide learning when, in 1374, +he met with a deep spiritual change, and from that +year dated his conversion. Henceforth, with every +power of a rarely gifted nature, he sought to lead +those who heard him to lives of purity and holiness. +Gradually there grew up about him a circle of like-minded +friends, occupied in writing books to spread +his ideas, and aiding him as they could. His friend +Florentius proposed that they live together and +form a community. “A community!” answered +Groot. “The begging orders will never permit +that.” But Florentius, the planner and organizer, +persisted, offering his own house as a home, and +held to the advantages of his plan until Groot +yielded, and said, “In the name of the Lord begin +your work.”</p> + +<p>Such was the origin of the Brotherhood of the +Common Life, and from its circle proceeded that +immortal book, the <i>Imitation of Christ</i>, by Thomas +à Kempis, keeping alive in the hearts of choice +spirits of every generation the thoughts and sentiments +of the men of whom its author was the interpreter. +For a community of women of similar +aims and purposes it needed only that Groot should +make a few changes in the house that he had already<a + id="png.043" name="png.043"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">043/</span>39</samp> +set apart from his paternal inheritance as a +home for destitute women, and the first sister house +began. Like the Béguines, the Sisters of the Common +Life took no obligations binding them to life-long +service, but they differed from them in living +more closely together in one family, and had a +common purse. They wore a gray costume, and +also worked for their own support. The special +virtues they inculcated were obedience to those +above them in authority, humility that would not +shun the meanest task, and friendliness to all. +Their charitable duties were much the same as the +Béguines; they cared for children, nursed the sick, +and often acted as midwives. In the first half of +the sixteenth century there were at least eighty-seven +sister-houses, mostly in the Netherlands.<sup><a href="#fn.iii.3" name="fna.iii.3" id="fna.iii.3">3</a></sup></p> + +<p>It will be noticed that these freer communities of +religious women, that bear so much closer resemblance +to the deaconesses of the early Church than +to the sisterhoods of nuns contemporary with them, +mostly existed in the great free cities of Germany +and the Netherlands, which were the cradles of political +and religious liberty, the centers of commerce +and of civilization at that time.</p> + +<p>Among the Waldenses, the Poor Men of Lyons, +who were already prominent in the last half of the<a + id="png.044" name="png.044"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">044/</span>40</samp> +twelfth century, we find there were deaconesses. +We learn of them again, too, among the Bohemian +brethren, the followers of Huss. With deep Christian +faith they endeavored to form a Church after +the apostolic model, and in 1457 appointed Church +deaconesses. “They were to form a female council +of elder women, who were to counsel and care +for the married women, widows, and young girls, to +make peace between quarrelers, to prevent slandering, +and to preserve purity and good morals,”<sup><a href="#fn.iii.4" name="fna.iii.4" id="fna.iii.4">4</a></sup> aims +which keep close to the apostolic definition of this +office.</p> + +<p>Luther, the great master-mind of the Reformation, +was too clear-sighted to fail to appreciate the +importance of women for the service of the Church. +Speaking of the quality which is an inherent part +of the diaconate of women, he says: “Women who +are truly pious are wont to have especial grace in +comforting others and lessening their sorrows.” In +his exposition of 1 Pet. ii, 5, he uttered truly remarkable +words, for the age in which he lived, concerning +women as members of the holy priesthood. +He says: “Now, wilt thou say, Is that true that +we are all priests, and should preach? Where will +that lead us? Shall there be no difference in +persons? shall women also be priests? Answer.<a + id="png.045" name="png.045"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">045/</span>41</samp> +If thou desirest to behold Christians, so must +thou see no differences, and must not say, That is +a man or a woman, that is a servant or a lord, old +or young. They are all one, simply Christian people. +Therefore are they all priests. They may all +publish God’s word, save that women shall not +speak in the church, but shall let men preach. +But where there are no men, but women only, as +in the nuns’ cloisters, there might a woman be +chosen who should preach to them. This is the +true priesthood, in which are the three elements +of spiritual offerings, prayer, and preaching for the +Church. <i>Whoever does this is a priest. You are +all bound to preach the Word, to pray for the Church, +and to offer yourself to God.</i>”<sup><a href="#fn.iii.5" name="fna.iii.5" id="fna.iii.5">5</a></sup></p> + +<p>There is no mention in Luther’s writings, however, +of the diaconate of women. It would be +more natural that he should have tried to adjust +the lives of the monks and nuns as he knew of +them to the new relations arising from the Reformation +rather than to bring to life an office of which he +had no personal knowledge. This was what he did +when he wrote to the burghers of Herford in Westphalia. +In their new zeal they wanted to drive the +inmates from the religious houses, although the +latter had been the means of teaching them the<a + id="png.046" name="png.046"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">046/</span>42</samp> +reformed doctrines. In his letter of January 31, 1532, +Luther says: “If the brothers and sisters who are +by you truly teach and hold the true word it is my +friendly wish that you will not allow them to be +disturbed or experience bitterness in this matter. +Let them retain their religious dress and their accustomed +habits which are not opposed to the +Gospel.”<sup><a href="#fn.iii.6" name="fna.iii.6" id="fna.iii.6">6</a></sup></p> + +<p>Certainly Luther would have seen no harm in +allowing deaconesses the protection of a special +garb.</p> + +<p>Passing to another great reformer, Calvin, we +find not only references to deaconesses as filling +a “most honorable and most holy function in the +Church,” but in the Church ordinances of Geneva, +which were drawn up by him, there is mention of the +diaconate as one of the four ordinances indispensable +to the organization of the Church.</p> + +<p>In the Netherlands several attempts were made +to revive the ancient office. The General Synod of +the Reformed Church at Wesel, in 1568, first considered +the question. A later synod, in 1579, expressly +occupied itself with the work and office of +the deaconess, but the measures taken were not +adapted to advance the interests of the cause, and +it was formally abandoned by the Synod of Middleburg<a + id="png.047" name="png.047"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">047/</span>43</samp> +in 1581. In the city of Wesel, however, +there continued to be deaconesses attached to the +city churches until 1610. In Amsterdam local +churches preserved the office still later than at +Wesel. Already in 1566 we read that in the great +reformed Church not only deacons but deaconesses +were elected. The terrible days of the Spanish +fury swept away all Church organization for a time, +but when it was restored in 1578 both classes of +Christian officers again resumed their duties. From +1582 lists of deaconesses were kept, showing at first +three; later, in 1704, twenty-eight, and in 1800 only +eight. At the present time there are women directors +of hospitals and orphanages in Amsterdam +who are called by the title of deaconesses. The +helpless, sick, and neglected children are now gathered +in institutions instead of being cared for individually +as was formerly the custom, and women +having positions of control in these institutions +are designated by the name formerly applied to +those who had the personal care of the same needy +classes.</p> + +<p>It is interesting to note that there was one association +of women in the century of the Reformation +that bears close resemblance to the Béguines +and the Sisters of the Common Life. These were +the Damsels of Charity, established by Prince<a + id="png.048" name="png.048"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">048/</span>44</samp> +Henry Robert de la Mark, the sovereign prince of +Sédan in the Netherlands. In 1559 he, together +with the great majority of his subjects, embraced +the doctrines of the Reformed Church, and instead +of incorporating former church property with his +own possessions, as did so many princes of the Reformation, +he devoted it to founding institutions of +learning and of charity. These latter he put under +the care of the “Damsels of Charity,” an association +of women which he had instituted. The members +could live in their own homes or in the establishments, +but in either case they devoted themselves +to the protection and succor of the poor and sick and +the aged. While taking no vows, they were chosen +from those not bound by the marriage vow, and +were subject only to certain rules of living. The +Damsels of Charity have been held by some to be +the first Protestant association of deaconesses, although +not called by the name.<sup><a href="#fn.iii.7" name="fna.iii.7" id="fna.iii.7">7</a></sup></p> + +<p>There are two evangelical societies, small in numbers, +but one at least powerful in influence, which +have retained deaconesses from their origin to the +present time. These are the Mennonites or Anabaptists, +and the Moravians. It was among the +Mennonites in Holland that Fliedner saw the<a + id="png.049" name="png.049"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">049/</span>45</samp> +deaconesses, who so interested him in their duties that +he obtained the convictions which in the end led +him to devote his life to their restoration in the +economy of the Church. Among the Moravians, +deaconesses were introduced at the instance of Count +Zinzendorf in 1745, but only as a limited form of +woman’s service, by no means measuring up to the +place accorded them to day in Germany.</p> + +<p>We have now reached the nineteenth century, +and from the early Church to the present time we +find successive if sporadic attempts to incorporate +into the Church the active diaconate of women. +These constantly recurring efforts imply a consciousness, +deep, if unexpressed, of the need to utilize better +the especial gifts of women in Christian service. +We have reached the moment when this consciousness +is to take a suitable and enduring form; when +the Church machinery, long defective in this particular, +is to be re-adjusted and made complete.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.iii.1" id="fn.iii.1" href="#fna.iii.1">1</a> +<i>Die Weibliche Diakonie</i>, vol. i, p. 67.</p> +<p><a name="fn.iii.2" id="fn.iii.2" href="#fna.iii.2">2</a> +<i>Woman’s Work in the Church</i>, Ludlow, p. 117, note. “Matthew +Paris mentions it as one of the wonders of the age, for the +year 1250, that in Germany there rose up an innumerable multitude +of those continent women who wish to be called Béguines, to that +extent that Cologne was inhabited by more than a thousand of +them.”</p> +<p><a name="fn.iii.3" id="fn.iii.3" href="#fna.iii.3">3</a> +<i>Die Weibliche Diakonie</i>, Schäfer, vol. i, p. 70.</p> +<p><a name="fn.iii.4" id="fn.iii.4" href="#fna.iii.4">4</a> +<i>Der Diakonissenberuf</i> E. Wacker, p. 82.</p> +<p><a name="fn.iii.5" id="fn.iii.5" href="#fna.iii.5">5</a> +<i>Denkschrift zur Jubelfeier</i>, J. Disselhoff, p. 5. Gütersloh, 1888.</p> +<p><a name="fn.iii.6" id="fn.iii.6" href="#fna.iii.6">6</a> +<i>Die Weibliche Diakonie</i>, vol. i, p. 73.</p> +<p><a name="fn.iii.7" id="fn.iii.7" href="#fna.iii.7">7</a> +<i>Histoire de la principauté de Sédan</i>, Pasteur Pegran, vol. ii, +chaps. i, ii.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.050" name="png.050"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">050/</span>46</samp> + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h4>FLIEDNER, THE RESTORER OF THE OFFICE OF +DEACONESS.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">The</span> first years of the present century were sad +years for Germany. There was a life-and-death +struggle with an all-powerful conqueror to preserve +existence as a nation. The Germans still call this +“the war for freedom.” Immediately thereafter +followed a period of religious awakening, and this +proved to be the hour when the diaconate of woman +rose again to life and power. When the fullness +of time arrives for a cause or a movement to take +its place among the forces of society, many hearts +become impressed with its importance. So, between +the years 1820 and 1835, there were four several +attempts to awaken the Christian Church to an enlightened +conscience in this matter, the last of which +obtained a wide and an enduring success. The +first was made by Johann Adolph Franz Klönne, +pastor of the church at Bislich, near Wesel. +Stirred to admiration by the activity that the +women’s societies had shown in the Napoleonic<a + id="png.051" name="png.051"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">051/</span>47</samp> +wars, he lamented the fact that the associations had +dissolved, and complained that they had not taken +a permanent form, in which the members might +have performed the duties for the Church that deaconesses +had done in the early years of Christianity. +In 1820 he published a pamphlet entitled <i>The +Revival of the Deaconesses of the Primitive Church +in our Women’s Associations</i>. This he sent to +many persons of influence, trying to win their co-operation +for the cause. He received a great many +answers in reply, among them one from the Crown +Princess Marianne. But while in a general way +his project met with approval, no one could suggest +a practical method by which his thought could be +realized.</p> + +<p>A distinguished woman, Amalie Sieveking, attempted +the same task of utilizing the labor of Christian +women as deaconesses in the Church. She belonged +to a well-known patrician family in the old +free city of Hamburg, and was well known for her +philanthropic views and her generous deeds. “When +I was eighteen years old,” she relates, “I first +learned about the charitable sisterhoods in Catholic +lands, and the knowledge seized upon me with almost +irresistible power. Like a lightning’s flash +came the thought, What if you were appointed +to found a similar institution for our Protestant<a + id="png.052" name="png.052"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">052/</span>48</samp> +Church?”<sup><a href="#fn.iv.1" name="fna.iv.1" id="fna.iv.1">1</a></sup> The thought stayed by her, and disposed +her to receive willingly a similar suggestion +coming from the great Prussian minister Von +Stein, the Bismarck of Germany during the first +quarter of this century. He had been favorably +impressed by what he had seen of the Sisters of +Mercy in the camp and in hospitals. He consulted +with one of his councilors about increasing their +number, so that they could be employed in all the +Hospitals, Insane Asylums, and Penitentiaries which +had women inmates. To another minister he complained +with warmth that the Protestant Church had +no such sisterhoods by which the beneficent stream +of activities among women could be directed into +well-regulated channels. “The religious life of +Protestantism suffers from the want of them,” he +said. These words were repeated to Amalie Sieveking +and stirred her to make the endeavor to fulfill +her own long-cherished wishes, which were those of +Stein. Just at this time, in 1831, the cholera broke +out in her native city. She took this as a providential +opening, by means of which deaconesses could begin +their work, and went at once to one of the cholera +hospitals, offered her services as a nurse, and at the +same time issued an appeal for sister-women to<a + id="png.053" name="png.053"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">053/</span>51</samp> +join her. But no one came. The only outcome of +her effort was a woman’s society which she formed +to care for the sick and the poor of her native city, +and to work for this she devoted the remainder of +her life. Stein and Amalie Sieveking had in mind +an order of women closely resembling the Sisters +of Charity. That their efforts were not crowned +with success seemed to the evangelical Protestant +promoters of the deaconess cause in later times +providential.<sup><a href="#fn.iv.2" name="fna.iv.2" id="fna.iv.2">2</a></sup></p> + +<p>Shortly after, in 1835, Count von der Recke, already +well known as the founder of two charitable +institutions, issued the first number of a magazine +called <i>Deaconesses; or, The Life and Labors of +Women Workers of the Church in Instruction, Education, +and the Care of the Sick</i>. Only a single number +appeared, but his earnest plea for deaconesses, +and the elaborate plan he devised for an institution +and officers, aroused wide attention, and brought +him a letter of warm commendation from the crown +prince, afterward King Frederick William IV. Evidently +the idea was ripening, and a near fruition +could be anticipated. But neither to minister of +state, count, nor prince—to no one among the distinguished +of the earth—was the honor given of<a + id="png.054" name="png.054"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">054/</span>50</samp> +reviving the female diaconate. It was to a humble +pastor of an obscure village church that this work +was committed.</p> + +<p>The little village of Eppstein lies in a beautiful +country, full of high mountains and deep-lying valleys, +about a dozen miles from Wiesbaden. At the +village parsonage of the little hamlet was born, +January 21, 1800, a son, the fourth of a family that +numbered twelve children. The pastor, whose +father before him had filled a like office, was a +favorite among his people for his pleasant speech, +sound advice about every-day matters, and his +faithfulness in instructing the children in the Bible +and the catechism, and caring for the sick and the +afflicted.</p> + +<p>The little boy proved to be a strong, healthy +child, and as he grew older developed a liking for +books. His father taught a class composed of his +children and some boys in the neighborhood, and +when Theodor became old enough to join it he +soon outstripped the rest, giving his father no +little pride by his fluent rendering of Homer. +Theodor Fliedner was not quite fourteen years +old when the sudden death of the father changed +the whole life of the family, and left the mother +with eleven children to maintain and educate. +Now began for Fliedner a struggle to complete his<a + id="png.055" name="png.055"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">055/</span>51</samp> +education. The simple, kindly hospitality that had +been so generously exercised in the village parsonage +met its reward. Friends came forward to offer help, +and at the beginning of the New Year Fliedner and +his brother went to the gymnasium at Idstein. +Here he was obliged to live sparingly, and earned +his bread by teaching, but he was happy and contented, +and found in study his great delight. He +was fond of reading books of travel and the lives of +great men, which stirred him to emulation. In +1817 he went to the University of Giessen. Here +he kept aloof from the political agitations among +the students. Neither was he affected by the rationalistic +teachings of the professors. His shy, +retired nature aided him in this course, and his +leisure hours were passed in reading the writings of +the Reformers. The jubilee festival of the Reformation +occurred in 1817, and the lives of the heroes of +the faith were brought freshly home to him. +Their strength of faith shamed him, but he had not +yet learned the secret of their power. He was yet +without a deep, spiritual life. From Giessen he +went to Göttingen, where he devoted himself to a +year’s study of history, philosophy, and theology. +During the holidays, as is the custom with German +students, he made repeated pedestrian tours. In +this way he visited the great free cities of the north,<a + id="png.056" name="png.056"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">056/</span>52</samp> +Bremen, Hamburg, and Lubeck. From Göttingen +he and his brother went to the theological +seminary at Herborn, where the following summer +he passed with credit his theological examination. +He was now ready to enter God’s great school of practical +life to be further fitted for the mission he was +to accomplish. In September he went to Cologne +and was employed in the house of a wealthy merchant +as a private tutor. This was a great change +for the quiet youth of country habits. He took +great pains to accommodate himself to his surroundings, +and to acquire the truly Christian art of +becoming all things to all men. In after life, when +speaking of this period and its usefulness to him, he +wrote: “It is a great hinderance to a man, even +to his progress in the kingdom of God, not to have +been brought up in gentle and refined manners +from his childhood.” Although a faithful and +devoted teacher his life-work was not forgotten. +He constantly sought to widen his knowledge and +experience, was made assistant secretary of the +local Bible society, and formed friendships which +led to his appointment to the pastorate at Kaiserswerth. +This was a Catholic town formerly of some +importance. The ruins of an imperial palatinate are +still to be seen there, but in Fliedner’s time it +had become a little village of workmen dependent<a + id="png.057" name="png.057"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">057/</span>53</samp> +on a few manufacturers. On January 18, 1822, +alone, and on foot, to save his poor society the +expense of his journey, Fliedner entered the town +where his life was henceforth to be centered. He +was to share the parsonage with the widow of +a previous pastor, and his sister was to be his +housekeeper. His income was one hundred and +thirty-five dollars a year. Only a month after +his arrival the great firm of velvet manufacturers +who provided the work-people with employment +failed, and the little church community seemed +about to be dispersed. The government offered +him another and better appointment, but he +felt that he must be a true shepherd, and not a +hireling, and would not leave his people. He +decided to make a journey to collect money to +form a permanent endowment for his church. A +journey over sixty years ago, to a young German +of quiet habits, was a very different matter from a +similar trip taken in this day of railroads and steamboats. +To Fliedner it seemed a very important matter; +and so it was in its results, which reached far +beyond the little congregation he served. With +great hesitation he began at Elberfeld, a town near +at hand. A pastor of the city, to encourage him, +accompanied him to friends, and on parting gave +him a friendly suggestion that, in addition to trust<a + id="png.058" name="png.058"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">058/</span>54</samp> +in God, such work required “patience, impudence, +and a ready tongue.” Before starting on the longer +journey to Holland and England he returned +to his congregation and encouraged them by the +sum of nine hundred dollars that he had so far +secured. He was now absent for nine months, and +during that time obtained an amount sufficient to +put the little church in a position where a certain, +if modest, annual allowance was assured. The pastor +had also, in serving others, greatly strengthened +and broadened his own faith. As he says, “In +both these Protestant countries I became acquainted +with a multitude of charitable institutions +for the benefit both of body and soul. I +saw schools and other educational organizations, +alms-houses, orphanages, hospitals, prisons, and +societies for the reformation of prisoners, Bible and +missionary societies, etc., and at the same time I +observed that it was a living faith in Christ which +had called almost every one of these institutions and +societies into life, and still preserved them in activity. +This evidence of the practical power, and fertility +of such a principle had a most powerful influence +in strengthening my own faith, as yet weak.” +It was while in Holland that he wrote to Klönne +concerning the deaconesses, whose duties he had +observed among the Mennonites. After his return<a + id="png.059" name="png.059"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">059/</span>55</samp> +he applied himself with zeal and success to his pastoral +duties. Work was a delight to him, and his +energy and force of character were constantly +seeking new ways by which to make his church +services more attractive, and to increase his influence +over each member of his congregation. +“He never asked himself what he <i>must</i> do, but +always what he <i>might</i> do.”<sup><a href="#fn.iv.3" name="fna.iv.3" id="fna.iv.3">3</a></sup> But, work as industriously +as he would, his small society left him time +for other activities. While in London he had +been profoundly impressed by the noble labors of +Elizabeth Fry in the prisons of England. It was +this woman’s hand that pointed out the way for +Fliedner in Germany. The prisons in his own land +had remained untouched by any spirit of reform. +The convicts were crowded together in small, filthy +cells, and often in damp cellars without light or +air; boys, who had thoughtlessly committed some +trifling misdemeanor, with gray-headed, corrupt sinners; +young girls with the most vicious old women. +There was no attempt at classification of prisoners. +Some of them might be innocent people waiting +for trial. Neither was there oversight, save to +keep the prisoners from escaping. No work was +provided, and as for schools, where the larger number +of convicts could neither read nor write, no one<a + id="png.060" name="png.060"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">060/</span>56</samp> +thought of such a thing.<sup><a href="#fn.iv.4" name="fna.iv.4" id="fna.iv.4">4</a></sup> That such idleness, the +beginning of all vice, was here especially pernicious +and corrupting can be readily seen. But few knew +of this state of things, and those few left it for the +government to provide a remedy.</p> + +<p>Fliedner, however, could not rest in this indifference. +He says: “The smallness of my charge +left me more leisure than most of my clerical +brethren, and the opportunities I had enjoyed on +my travels of at once collecting information and +strengthening my faith imposed a more urgent obligation +on me to try to make up by the help of +our God for our long neglect.” He tried to obtain +permission to be imprisoned a few weeks in the +prison at Düsseldorf, that he might view prison life +from within the walls, but his request was refused. +He then obtained leave to hold services every other +Sunday afternoon in the prison at Düsseldorf. The +efforts that he put forth succeeded in waking the +interest of a great many persons, and at last there +was formed by his efforts the first society in behalf +of prisoners in Germany.</p> + +<p>It was while engaged in this work that he met +his wife, Frederika Münster, who was occupied in +bettering the condition of the prisoners in the penitentiary +at Düsselthal. He married her in 1828,<a + id="png.061" name="png.061"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">061/</span>57</samp> +and she became a helpful, inspiring co-worker with +him in all his undertakings.</p> + +<p>In 1832 he was commissioned by the government +to revisit England, to furnish a report on the various +charitable organizations, especially those connected +with prisons and alms-houses. This brought +him into closer relations with Elizabeth Fry, as well +as with many other noble men and women of all +ranks who were caring for the poor and neglected +of England. He extended his journey to Scotland, +met Dr. Chalmers, and found his heart strangely +touched by what he saw. His spiritual experience +had deepened with the years, and while here he +wrote to some friends, “The Lord greatly quickens +me.”</p> + +<p>His heart became still more open to works of +mercy and love, and he gathered rich experiences +which were afterward utilized in his work.</p> + +<p>Fliedner had now attained a certain reputation +of his own as a friend to prisoners and outcasts. +It was not surprising, therefore, that a poor female +convict, discharged from the prison at Werden, +should have taken the weary six miles’ walk to Kaiserswerth +September 17, 1833, to ask the good pastor +for help. There stood in the parsonage garden a +little summer-house twelve feet square, with an +attic. This was offered to the convict Minna as<a + id="png.062" name="png.062"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">062/</span>58</samp> +a temporary refuge, and she became the first inmate +of the Kaiserswerth institutions. She had +arrived at an opportune moment. In the previous +spring Count Spee, the President of the Prison Society, +had urged the founding of two institutions, +one Lutheran and one Catholic, to receive discharged +female convicts. Fliedner, who had seen +such refuges in England, declared himself ready for +the plan, and tried to induce the pastors of the +larger and wealthier communities in the neighborhood +to locate the Protestant asylum in some one +of these cities. No one responded to his appeal. +His wife, whose courage was often greater than his +own, urged him to make a beginning in the little +village where he lived, unpromising as the conditions +seemed, and after a little hesitation, seeing no +one was ready to assume any responsibility in a +matter that he took so deeply to heart, the good +pastor decided to follow her advice. The old parsonage +was for rent, and he secured it on low +terms.</p> + +<p>Frau Fliedner had a friend of her school-days +and early youth, now a woman of experience and +ability. She sent for her to come and visit them +to see if she would become the superintendent of +the refuge, but shortly after her arrival she was +taken sick, and her friends sent letters of expostulation<a + id="png.063" name="png.063"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">063/</span>59</samp> +urging her to return. Just now, when affairs +were in rather an untoward state, appeared the first +inmate. Let Fliedner tell the story:</p> + +<div class="longquote"> +<p>“We at first gave her lodging in my summer-house, +and the necessity of attending to her did +more good to the poor, distressed superintendent +than all her quinine and mixtures. Countess Spee, +the wife of our president, had prophesied that our +inmates would never remain with us a month, they +would certainly run away. So when the first month +was over I marched over to Heltorf and triumphantly +announced, ‘Minna is yet there.’ Minna was +followed by another, and the garden-house became +too small.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Finally Fliedner obtained possession of the house +he had hired, after some delay on the part of the +former tenants, and the asylum was opened. The +number of inmates increased, and Fräulein Göbel +soon had more than she could manage. She must +have an assistant. The need of trained Christian +workers, who could care for these poor women, +grew daily more apparent.</p> + +<p>Fliedner’s thoughts constantly dwelt on the subject; +they gave him no rest. He had discovered +with joyful surprise in 1827 the traces of the apostolic +deaconesses among the Mennonites, and two +years later he wrote:</p> +<a id="png.064" name="png.064"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">064/</span>60</samp> + +<div class="longquote"> +<p>“Does not the experience of this our sister +Church, do not the women societies in our last +war, does not the holy activity of an Elizabeth Fry +and her helpers in England, and the women’s associations +of Russia and Prussia formed after their +model to care for the bodies and souls of women +prisoners—do all these not show what great power +God-fearing, pious women possess for the up-building +of Christ’s kingdom as soon as they have opportunity +to develop it?”<sup><a href="#fn.iv.5" name="fna.iv.5" id="fna.iv.5">5</a></sup></p> +</div> + +<p>His practical experience with the work he had in +hand brought him to the same conclusion; namely, +that there must be training-schools where Christian +women, especially set apart for such service, could +have instruction and practice in the duties they had +undertaken. As a consequence there were drawn +up in May, 1836, and signed by Fliedner and a few +friends, the statutes of the Rhenish-Westphalian +Deaconess Society.</p> + +<p>Fliedner had now reached the work that was +henceforth to be his life mission; that is, the restoration +of deaconesses to the Christian Church of the +nineteenth century.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.iv.1" id="fn.iv.1" href="#fna.iv.1">1</a> +<i>Denkschrift zur Jubelfeier</i>, J. Disselhoff, Kaiserswerth, 1886, +p. 8.</p> +<p><a name="fn.iv.2" id="fn.iv.2" href="#fna.iv.2">2</a> +Schäfer, <i>Die Weibliche Diakonie</i>, vol. ii, p. 86; <i>Denkschrift zur +Jubelfeier</i>, p. 9.</p> +<p><a name="fn.iv.3" id="fn.iv.3" href="#fna.iv.3">3</a> +T. Fliedner, <i>Kurzer Abriss seines Lebens</i>, p. 43.</p> +<p><a name="fn.iv.4" id="fn.iv.4" href="#fna.iv.4">4</a> +T. Fliedner, <i>Kurzer Abriss seines Lebens</i>, p. 48.</p> +<p><a name="fn.iv.5" id="fn.iv.5" href="#fna.iv.5">5</a> +<i>Kurzer Abriss seines Lebens</i>, p. 60.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.065" name="png.065"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">065/</span>61</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<h4>THE INSTITUTIONS AT KAISERSWERTH.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">Fliedner</span> saw clearly that if the office of deaconess +were to be planted in the Church there must be +soil suitable to nourish it: in other words, there +must be an institution founded which could furnish +not only instruction, but practice in their duties, +and a home for those who should offer their services +for this office. “But,” he says, “could our little +Kaiserswerth be the right place for a Protestant +deaconess house for the training of Protestant +deaconesses—a village of scarcely eighteen hundred +people where the large majority of the +population were Roman Catholics, where sick +people could not be expected in sufficient numbers +for training purposes, and so poor that it +could not help defray even the yearly expenses +of such an institution? And were not older, more +experienced pastors than I better adapted for +this difficult undertaking? I went to my clerical +brethren in Düsseldorf, Dinsberg, Mettmann, Elberfeld, +and Barmen, and entreated them to start<a + id="png.066" name="png.066"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">066/</span>62</samp> +such an institution in their large societies, of +which, indeed, there was pressing need. But all +refused, and urged me to put my hand to the work. +I had time, with my small congregation, and the +quietness of retired Kaiserswerth was favorable to +such a school. The useful experiences I had +gained on my journeys had not been given me for +naught, and God could send money, sick people, +and nurses. So we discerned that it was his will +that we should take the burden on our own shoulders, +and we willingly stretched them forth to receive +it. Quietly we looked around for a house for the +hospital. Suddenly, the largest and finest house in +Kaiserswerth was offered for sale. My wife begged +me to buy it without delay. It is true it would +cost twenty-three hundred thalers, and we had +no money. Yet I bought it with good courage, +April 20, 1836. At Martinmas the money must be +paid.”</p> + +<p>It is not possible to give here in detail the occurrences +by which loans were made, and the money +that was needed obtained at the required time. +God gave friends for the cause, and through them +provided the means. The house was furnished +with a little second-hand furniture which had been +given him, and October, 1836, was opened as a hospital +and training school for Christian women. Services<a + id="png.067" name="png.067"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">067/</span>63</samp> +of praise and thanksgiving consecrated this +deaconess home yet without deaconesses, this hospital +without patients. Both, however, soon became +inmates of the building. The first deaconess +was Gertrude Reichardt, the daughter of a physician. +She had assisted her father in the care of the +sick, and had become experienced in looking after +the welfare of the poor and the destitute. She +was an invaluable helper in the new enterprise, and +shared with the doctor the duty of giving instruction +in nursing and hospital duties. Fliedner’s +wife was the superintendent. She had the oversight +of the house, gave the deaconesses practical +direction in housekeeping, and in their early visits +to the sick and poor accompanied them from house +to house. Fliedner was the director, and took upon +himself the religious instruction of the sisters. +Every effort was taken to make the house a home +in which a cheerful, loving spirit should prevail. +Nearly every evening Fliedner or his wife would go +over to the home, and read to the sisters, or tell +them interesting facts outside their lives. When +he went away on his journeys he would write in +full every thing pertaining to the interests of the +common cause, and the letters would be read aloud. +This was to be a home in every sense of the word, +in which the members were to feel themselves<a + id="png.068" name="png.068"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">068/</span>64</samp> +belonging to one great family, bound together by the +common tie of unselfish devotion to others “for +Christ’s sake.” The spirit of the founder has permeated +the institution even to the present time. +Those who know any thing of Kaiserswerth testify +to the strong affection for the common home, the +“mother-house,” as they beautifully term it, felt +by all its children. Every pains is taken to preserve +it. There is correspondence, frequent and +regular, from here to every sister. No matter in +what distant land she may be, her birthday is remembered, +and she is taught to look to this as a +waiting refuge for the days of trouble, sickness, and +old age.</p> + +<p>There was soon arranged a series of house regulations +and instructions for work which became the +basis for after regulations in nearly all existing +institutions.</p> + +<p>Almost contemporary with the mother-house +arose the normal school for infant-school teachers. +It had first started as a child’s school, and afterward +young women who had taste for the care of +children were received to be taught their duties. +Fliedner took great interest in the instruction of +children. He devised little games for them, and +arranged stories to be told. His simplicity and his +child-like nature led him to disregard formalities, and<a + id="png.069" name="png.069"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">069/</span>65</samp> +to think solely of the end he had in view. On one +occasion, when picturing the combat of David and +Goliath, reaching that point in the narrative when +the young shepherd lad slings the stone that brings +the giant to the ground, he cast himself headlong, +to the great delight and amazement of his little +audience, who enjoyed to the full this object-lesson +that made the story so vivid to them.</p> + +<p>Then he took special pains that his teachers +should learn to tell the stories of the Bible so as to +make them clear and interesting to the youngest +child. Every day a story was told in school, and each +evening the teacher whose turn it was to relate the +story the following day came to Fliedner and rehearsed +it to him as though he were a child, afterward +receiving his suggestions as to how the narrative +could be improved. The work went along +quietly, ever growing, ever advancing. “Among +all others, and more than all others, was Fliedner’s +wife his best help. Her keen glance, made pure +and holy by her Christian faith, preserved him from +mistakes. With the household virtues of cleanliness, +order, simplicity, and economy she united +large-hearted compassion toward those needing +help of any kind, yet knowing withal how, with +virile sense and energy, to prevent the misuse of +ministering love. She became a model for the<a + id="png.070" name="png.070"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">070/</span>66</samp> +deaconesses, as well as a mother to them, and her +name deserves to be mentioned with honor, as one +who had an important part in the Protestant renewal +of the diaconate of women.”<sup><a href="#fn.v.1" name="fna.v.1" id="fna.v.1">1</a></sup></p> + +<p>In 1842 a new building was erected for the +normal school for infant-school teachers. The publishing +house of the institution was also started, +which issues religious books and tracts. The first +work sent forth was a volume of sermons, presented +to the new enterprise by the late Professor Lange, +which went through several editions.</p> + +<p>The same year the <i>Kaiserswerth Almanac</i> appeared +and a large picture Bible for schools was +published. In 1848 the magazine <i>Der Armen und +Kranken Freund</i> was sent forth as an organ for the +deaconess cause, not only for Kaiserswerth, but for +all the institutions that are represented at the +triennial Conferences. The publishing house is an +important source of income, as the institution has +little in the way of endowment beside the produce +of the garden land attached to it. At present +about three fourths of the expense are met by the +sale of publications and the fees of patients; the +remaining sum is given by friends.</p> + +<p>The financial story of Fliedner’s life could form +a tale of thrilling interest, if it were separated from<a + id="png.071" name="png.071"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">071/</span>67</samp> +other facts and told by itself. He constantly +went forward, purchased houses, added lands, and +erected new homes when he had no money in +reserve, but unfailingly when the time came for +payments to be made the sum was obtained in +some way or other to meet them. “We have no +endowment,” he once said, “but the Lord is our +endowment.”</p> + +<p>The same year, 1842, the orphan asylum was +opened. For a very moderate sum this receives +children who are both fatherless and motherless, +and who belong to the educated middle class, having +fathers who were pastors or professors, or the like. +Fliedner hoped not only to provide a home for +these girls befitting their station in life, but to develop +among them those who should make a vocation +of the care of children and the sick, and in +this hope he was not disappointed.</p> + +<p>In the midst of these successes the hand of God +often lay heavily on Fliedner’s family. Brethren +and children passed away, and, sorest affliction of +all to him, his wife, who had so closely and sympathetically +shared all his labors, died April 22, 1842. +“She was the first of the deaconesses to die,” writes +Fliedner. “As she, their mother, had always led +the way for her spiritual daughters in life, so she +was their leader into the valley of the shadow of<a + id="png.072" name="png.072"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">072/</span>68</samp> +death.”<sup><a href="#fn.v.2" name="fna.v.2" id="fna.v.2">2</a></sup> Not long after this a normal school for +female teachers in the public schools was started, +for this practical believer in woman’s work was one +of the first to advocate the introduction of women +teachers in the public schools of Germany, against +which there then existed a strong prejudice. The +Board of Education looked favorably on his project, +and afterward sent a government commissioner +to attend the examinations and award the certificates +at Kaiserswerth. At a later period provision +was made for teachers of girls’ high schools, as also +for those who desired to become teachers but were +too young to enter the normal school. Over two +thousand teachers have gone forth from these +schools, carrying with them a love for the institution +which has brought back to it many returns in +money and service. Fliedner well called them his +“light skirmishing troops.”</p> + +<p>In 1849 he resigned his pastorate, and henceforth, +with singleness of purpose, devoted himself to his +one calling. From time to time new buildings were +added to meet new needs. In 1852 an insane asylum +for Protestant women was founded, as sisters +were often called upon to nurse patients of this +class. The building set apart for the purpose was<a + id="png.073" name="png.073"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">073/</span>69</samp> +formerly used as military barracks and was given +to Fliedner by King Frederick William IV. In +1881 this, as with so many others of the original +buildings at Kaiserswerth, became too small for the +increase in numbers, and a new building took its +place. It stands on an eminence just outside of the +village, and is provided with every modern appliance. +Fliedner’s practical good sense and administrative +ability led him to care for all the minor details +that were needed for the success of so great +an undertaking. He added a dispensary to the hospital, +where a sister who had passed a regular examination +before the government medical board +made up the medicines required for the hospital. +Many deaconesses have been trained to the same +knowledge, which has been an especially valuable +acquisition in the hospitals situated in Eastern +countries. Little by little he secured land for +farming operations, until there were one hundred +and eighty acres in garden and meadow land, generally +lying close about the various buildings, and +affording means of recreation as well to the inmates. +Nearly all of the vegetable and dairy products that +are needed are so provided. A bakery, bath-houses, +homes for laborers and officials, were added, and +bakers, shoemakers, carpenters, and blacksmiths +formed part of the staff of the great establishment.</p> +<a id="png.074" name="png.074"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">074/</span>70</samp> + +<p>Gradually every variety of institution that could +furnish active practice to the deaconesses took its +place here, and the whole might be denominated a +great normal training-school for Christian women. +The refuge for discharged female convicts, which +was the starting-point of the movement, still +continued its good work during all these years. +The last report<sup><a href="#fn.v.3" name="fna.v.3" id="fna.v.3">3</a></sup> states that nine hundred and +nineteen women of different ages and different +degrees of wrong-doing have been its inmates. +Parents send insubordinate girls; societies forward +those who profess penitence; magistrates +sentence degraded creatures often too late for any +reasonable hope to reform them. The old experience +of the refuge is repeated in this last report: +one third are saved, one third are irredeemable, and +the judgment as to the remaining third, doubtful. +There were two buildings erected during the later +years of Fliedner’s life in which he took great interest. +One of these was a cottage among the +neighboring hills, where deaconesses who had become +exhausted by long days in the sick-room, or +whose health was suffering from over-toil, could +retire for a few weeks of mountain air and quiet +rest during the summer months. This pleasant retreat +was well named Salem. Soon afterward was<a + id="png.075" name="png.075"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">075/</span>71</samp> +laid the corner-stone of the second building, regarded +with peculiar favor not only by the good +pastor, but by all friends of the institution. This +was the “Feierabend Haus,” the House of Evening +Rest, where, somewhat apart from the busy +activity of the great household, those deaconesses +whose best strength had been given to faithful labor +in the service could pass the evening hours of life +in quiet waiting for the last great change, while +using the experience they had gathered and the +strength still remaining in behalf of the cause they +had faithfully served.</p> + +<p>Such are the main features of the great establishment +that year by year grew up in this village on +the Rhine. But from this as a center had gradually +branched off manifold lines of service, and many +daughter-houses both in Germany and foreign lands. +It was only a year and a half after the home was +opened that the first appointment of deaconesses +to work outside of Kaiserswerth was made.</p> + +<p>This was an important victory for the new institution. +It took place January 21, 1838, on Fliedner’s +birthday, when he and his wife escorted two of the +sisters to Elberfeld, where they were to act as trained +nurses in the city hospital. From that time to +the present the hospital has continued under the +management of the Kaiserswerth deaconesses.</p> +<a id="png.076" name="png.076"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">076/</span>72</samp> + +<p>Soon afterward sisters were sent out to nurse in +private families, and in 1839 two more were sent to +superintend the workhouse in Frankfort. As the +institution became known there was a constant demand +for superintendents, and matrons for public +reformatories, prisons, and charitable establishments. +Between 1846 and 1850 more than sixty deaconesses +were at work at twenty-five different stations outside +of the mother-house. About the same time +deaconesses began to work in connection with special +churches which called for their services, having +the duties which in England are assigned to those +called “parish deaconesses.”</p> + +<p>King Frederick William IV., from the beginning +Fliedner’s faithful friend and supporter, had long +desired a deaconess home in Berlin. This was +finally obtained, and set apart under the name +“Bethanien Haus,” or Bethany House, October 10, +1847, at a special dedicatory service, at which the +king, with his court, was present. It was while +seeking a superintendent for this home in Berlin +that Fliedner learned to know Caroline Bertheau, +of Hamburg, a descendant of an old Huguenot +family that was driven from France by the revocation +of the Edict of Nantes. He led her home as +his wife in May, 1843, and she became to him a +true helpmeet for his children, his home, and his<a + id="png.077" name="png.077"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">077/</span>73</samp> +institution. She is still living, having survived her +husband over twenty-five years, and in an advanced +age still retains a place on the Board of Direction +at Kaiserswerth.</p> + +<p>In one place after another deaconess homes +arose, sometimes simply through Fliedner’s advice, +more often by his direct co-operation. From 1849 +to 1851 he was chiefly engaged in traveling from +one land to another, occupied in kindling the zeal +of Christian women to devotion to the sick and sorrowing, +and finding fields of service for their priceless +ministrations. He visited the United States, +England, France, and Switzerland, as well as various +cities of the East, including Jerusalem and +Constantinople.</p> + +<p>The work in our own land was begun at Pittsburg, +where Fliedner came with four sisters in the +summer of 1849, at the invitation of Pastor Passavant, +of the German Lutheran Church.</p> + +<p>The deaconesses at once entered upon hospital +work, and their care of the sick met with warm appreciation, +but their numbers did not increase. An +orphanage was afterward started at Rochester, and +hospitals under the same auspices exist at Milwaukee, +Jacksonville, Ill., and Chicago. Still the +work has not grown, and it has proved the least +successful of any initiated by Fliedner. Upon his<a + id="png.078" name="png.078"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">078/</span>74</samp> +return he aided in opening mother-houses in Breslau, +Königsberg, Dantzic, Stettin, and Carlsruhe.</p> + +<p>We have now come to the period when Kaiserswerth +institutions met with a notable extension. +Fliedner had long been looking toward Jerusalem, +hoping to found a deaconess home there. “Who +would not gladly render service on the spot where +the feet of the Saviour once brought help and healing +to the sick?” he had said.</p> + +<p>Now, through Dr. Gobat, the Bishop of Jerusalem, +the opportunity was given. The king offered +two small houses in Jerusalem that were his private +property, and volunteered to pay the expenses of +the journey. Associations were formed in all parts +of Germany to provide an outfit for the mission. +Gifts flowed in rapidly, and March 17, 1851, Fliedner, +accompanied by four deaconesses, two of them +being teachers, set out on this new and peaceful +crusade to the holy city. From that beginning +has resulted a net-work of stations throughout the +East.</p> + +<p>There is at Jerusalem a hospital<sup><a href="#fn.v.4" name="fna.v.4" id="fna.v.4">4</a></sup> where, during +1887, four hundred and ninety-three patients were +given medical aid and nursing, and seven thousand +seven hundred and two patients were treated in the<a + id="png.079" name="png.079"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">079/</span>75</samp> +dispensary. No woman in the city is better known +or more justly honored than Sister Charlotte, the +head-deaconess.</p> + +<p>The Mohammedans at first regarded the work of +the sisters with fanatical distrust, but a glance at +the statistics of the last report will show how completely +they have cast aside their prejudices.</p> + +<p>Of the 493 patients in 1887, there were 404 Arabians, +43 Armenians, 30 Germans, 5 Abyssinians, 4 +Greeks, 3 Roumanians, 2 Russians, 1 Italian, and 1 +Hollander. As to religion, there were 235 Mohammedans, +97 Protestants, 78 Greeks, 23 Roman Catholics, +45 Armenians, 6 Copts, 3 Syrian Christians, 4 +Proselytes, 1 Jew, and 1 Maronite; so that in all +nine nations and nine religious faiths were represented +in the hospital.</p> + +<p>There is also a girls’ orphanage, called “Talitha +Cumi,” just outside the city walls at Jerusalem, +where one hundred and fourteen native girls were +last year taught by the Kaiserswerth deaconesses. +Over a hundred more made application to enter, +but there was no room to receive them. In Constantinople, +Alexandria, Cairo, Beirut, and Pesth +there are also well-appointed hospitals, some of +them of spacious dimensions, and all having excellent +medical service and nursing that cannot be +surpassed.</p> +<a id="png.080" name="png.080"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">080/</span>76</samp> + +<p>The orphanage and school at Beirut had a sad +foundation. In 1860 came the terrible news of the +massacre of the Maronite Christians by the Druses +in the Lebanon mountains.</p> + +<p>Kaiserswerth deaconesses were immediately sent +out, and were among the first to arrive to join the +resident Europeans and Americans in caring for the +sufferers. Numbers of children were left fatherless +and motherless, and the sisters started the orphanage +at Beirut to shelter them. When its twenty-fifth +anniversary was celebrated in 1885 over eight +hundred girls had received a home and education +here, and had gone forth to eastern homes, carrying +with them the light and knowledge of Christian +faith into the dark, degraded social life of the +Orient.<sup><a href="#fn.v.5" name="fna.v.5" id="fna.v.5">5</a></sup></p> + +<p>From the two orphanages at Beirut and Jerusalem +over forty have gone out as teachers in girls’ +schools in Palestine and Syria. Twelve others +have become deaconesses, and are ministering in +this capacity to their own countrymen and to foreigners +in eastern hospitals.<sup><a href="#fn.v.6" name="fna.v.6" id="fna.v.6">6</a></sup></p> + +<p>In Smyrna there is also a girls’ school, that was +opened at the request of some wealthy Protestants<a + id="png.081" name="png.081"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">081/</span>77</samp> +residing there. The school is not so needed as +formerly, since the government has started girls’ +high schools, but it is still maintained, and aids in +bringing new life into the hopeless society of the +East. There is also an orphanage at Smyrna, +where some girls of the poorer classes were gathered +after the ravages of the cholera had left them +without parents or homes.</p> + +<p>The eastern deaconesses have also their Salem. +Just above the little village of Areya, in the Lebanon, +on the summit of a hill overlooking the Mediterranean, +stands the house of retreat, where, during +the summer months, the more than forty sisters +stationed in Beirut, Alexandria, Cairo, and Jerusalem +can take refuge in seasons of overpowering +heat.</p> + +<p>The deaconess who superintends the house has a +school for the native children of the village, which +is taught by one of the girls educated at the Beirut +orphanage.</p> + +<p>Prosperous girls’ schools are also in existence at +Bucharest, and at Florence, Italy. The Italian +school was started in 1860 with four girls in the +upper floor of a rented house. It now possesses a +beautiful house and grounds of its own, and had +one hundred and forty-five girls under its charge +the past year. Most of these were Italians, but<a + id="png.082" name="png.082"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">082/</span>78</samp> +different foreign residents also availed themselves +of the opportunity to send their children to an excellent +Protestant school. There is also a mission +at Rome maintained by deaconesses during the +winter months.</p> + +<p>The large majority of the undertakings outside +of Kaiserswerth were initiated personally by Fliedner. +When we recall the complex demands of the +home field in Germany we marvel at the versatile +executive ability of this man, who started life as the +humble pastor of an obscure village church. But +he loved work. He possessed “iron industry.” +He was ever hopeful, courageous, and indefatigable. +Above all, he trusted completely in the leadings of +Divine Providence, and constantly went forward +with sure confidence. Then he was a true leader. +He knew men. He put the right person in the +right place, gave him full liberty of action, and held +him to a strict responsibility for results. So, while +Fliedner remained the soul of the great institution, +he knew how to make himself spared, which was +not the least of his qualifications for his calling.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.v.1" id="fn.v.1" href="#fna.v.1">1</a> +<i>Der Diakonissenberuf</i>, Emil Wacker, Gütersloh, 1888, p. 116.</p> +<p><a name="fn.v.2" id="fn.v.2" href="#fna.v.2">2</a> +<i>Life of Pastor Fliedner</i>, translated by C. Winckworth, London, +1867.</p> +<p><a name="fn.v.3" id="fn.v.3" href="#fna.v.3">3</a> +<i>Ein und fünfzigster Jahres-Bericht</i>, p. 30.</p> +<p><a name="fn.v.4" id="fn.v.4" href="#fna.v.4">4</a> +<i>Achtzehnter Bericht über die Diakonissen Stationen im Morgenlande</i>, +1888.</p> +<p><a name="fn.v.5" id="fn.v.5" href="#fna.v.5">5</a> +<i>Vierzehnten Bericht über die Diakonissen Stationen am Libanon</i>.</p> +<p><a name="fn.v.6" id="fn.v.6" href="#fna.v.6">6</a> +<i>Der Rheinisch Westfälische Diakonissen Verein</i>, p. 64, J. Disselhoff.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.083" name="png.083"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">083/</span>79</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<h4>THE REGULATIONS AT KAISERSWERTH, AND THE +DUTIES AND SERVICES OF THE DEACONESSES.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">The</span> regulations in daily use at Kaiserswerth are +based on those that Fliedner drew up in the early +days of the institution. They have been adopted +with few alterations by the larger number of deaconess +institutions that have since arisen, so that to +understand the spirit and usages prevailing in them +it is well to give these rules some study. They are +contained in a book numbering one hundred and +seven pages,<sup><a href="#fn.vi.1" name="fna.vi.1" id="fna.vi.1">1</a></sup> treating with great minuteness every +question that affects the daily lives of the deaconesses. +The qualities that the office demands are +first dwelt upon as they are described in Acts vi, 3, +and 1 Tim. iii, 8, 9. The sisters are reminded that +their life is one of service; that they serve the Lord +Jesus; that they serve the poor and the sick and +helpless “for Jesus’ sake;” and that they are servants +one of another.</p> +<a id="png.084" name="png.084"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">084/</span>80</samp> + +<p>Special stress is given to the importance of cultivating +unity, love, and forbearance in the relations +of daily life, and the deaconesses are enjoined “to +protect and further the honor of other sisters,” “to +form one family living unitedly as sisters, through +the tie of a heartfelt love for the one great object +that brings them to this place.”</p> + +<p>There are two classes of deaconesses formally +recognized, nurses and teachers; although there is +another, deaconess whose work is year by year becoming +more important, and that is the deaconess +who is attached to a church in the capacity of a +home missionary. She is designated by the term +“commune-deaconess,” or, as the English translate +it, “parish-deaconess.”</p> + +<p>Those who desire to become nurse-deaconesses +must have the elements of a common school education, +must be in good health, and, as a general rule, +be over eighteen and not over forty years of age. +Most important of all is it that she possess personal +knowledge of the salvation of Christ, and a +living experience of the grace of God. Those who +desire to become teacher-deaconesses must, in addition, +present certain educational certificates, and be +able to sing. All must pass some months at the +mother-house, taking care of children and assisting +in housework, so that their fitness for the office can<a + id="png.085" name="png.085"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">085/</span>81</samp> +be proven. A great deal of care is taken to test +the efficiency of the candidates, and only about one +half the probationers finally become deaconesses in +full connection. The teachers have, further, a seminary +course of one year for those who are to teach +in infant schools, of two years to prepare for the +elementary schools, and of three years for the girls’ +high schools.</p> + +<p>While probationers, they receive, free of charge, +board and instruction, and the caps, collars, and +aprons that are their distinctive badges. Their +remaining expenses they provide for themselves. +Those who have completed the full term of probation, +and have proved their fitness for the office, +must pledge themselves to a service of at least five +years. At the end of the time they may renew the +engagement or not, as they wish. Should a deaconess +be needed at home by aged parents, or +should she desire to marry, she is free to leave her +duties, but is expected to give three months’ notice +of her intention to do so.</p> + +<p>The deaconess performs her duties gratuitously. +This is a main feature of the system. She is not +even free to accept personal presents, for envy, jealousy, +and unworthy motives might then creep into +the system. She is truly “the servant of the Lord +Jesus Christ.” All of her wants are supplied, and<a + id="png.086" name="png.086"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">086/</span>82</samp> +her future needs anticipated, so that, literally “taking +no thought for the morrow,” she can give herself +with single-hearted devotion to the work in +hand. The deaconess at Kaiserswerth receives from +the institution her modest wardrobe, consisting of a +Sunday suit, a working-dress of dark blue, blue +apron, white caps and collars. A deaconess attired in +her garb, with the placid, contented countenance that +seems distinctively to belong to her, is a pleasant, +wholesome sight that is constantly to be seen on +the streets of German cities. Her deaconess attire +is not only a protection, assuring her chivalrous +treatment from all classes of men, but it is a convenient +identification that insures her certain privileges +on the State railroads and steamboats, for the +German government recognizes the sisters as benefactors +of society, and treats them accordingly. +For her personal expenses the Kaiserswerth deaconess +in Germany receives yearly twenty-two dollars +and fifty cents; sometimes when in foreign lands +she is paid a slightly larger sum. When she becomes +unfitted for service by reason of sickness or +old age, and has no means of her own, the Board of +Direction provides for her maintenance.</p> + +<p>The rules for probationers are full of practical +suggestions touching the details of daily life. There +is not space to transcribe them here, but those who<a + id="png.087" name="png.087"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">087/</span>83</samp> +have charge of training schools will find them valuable +reading. Every kind of house and hospital +service is clearly defined. The deaconesses are instructed +what duties are theirs in hospitals for +women and in hospitals for men. In the latter +the sister undertakes only such nursing as is suited +to her sex, and for that reason she has a male +assistant. She must follow strictly the doctor’s +orders in all matters pertaining to diet, medicine, +and ventilation, and must inform him daily of the +patient’s state. She also assists the clergyman, if +desired, in ministering to spiritual needs. But she +must not obtrude her religion, when it is distasteful +to her patients; rather manifest it in her deeds and +manner of life.</p> + +<p>Every portion of the day has definite duties +assigned to it. On reading them over you say, +Can much be accomplished when the hours are +subdivided into so many portions, and given over +to so many objects? But the unvarying testimony +is that no nurses accomplish more than +the German deaconesses. No matter how busy they +may be, the effort is made for each to have a quiet +half hour for meditation and private devotion. +Every afternoon the chapel is opened for this purpose, +and all the sisters who can be spared meet here. +A hymn is sung, and afterward each spends the<a + id="png.088" name="png.088"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">088/</span>84</samp> +time as she will in meditation, reading the Bible or +silent prayer, the quietness and stillness being unbroken +by words. The “Stille halbe Stunde,” as +it is called, is greatly prized by the sisters, and is +observed by them in all their institutions, and +in all lands. There are Bible-classes and prayer-meetings +for the deaconesses during the week, +and the first Sunday of every month there is a +special service of prayer and thanksgiving for all +sisters, all the affiliated houses, and similar homes +wherever they exist. Fliedner prepared a book of +daily Bible readings for the use of the sisters, and +a hymn-book, used in all the Kaiserswerth institutions +at home and abroad. “We have no vows,” +he said, “and I will have no vows, but a bond of +union we must have, and the best bond is the word +of God, and our second bond is singing.”<sup><a href="#fn.vi.2" name="fna.vi.2" id="fna.vi.2">2</a></sup> The +sisters of each house meet together to give their +votes for the admission of new deaconesses and the +election of the superintendents. Each deaconess +is expected to obey those who are placed over her, +and to accept the kind of work assigned her, except +in the case of contagious diseases, when her permission +is asked. What a tribute it is to these +women that such a refusal has never yet been +known! Every effort is made to harmonize the<a + id="png.089" name="png.089"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">089/</span>85</samp> +right of the individual with the needs of the whole +body, a marked characteristic of the Protestant +sisters of charity.</p> + +<p>When a probationer becomes a deaconess she +is consecrated to her work by a service the main +features of which it may be well to indicate. They +are as follows:</p> + +<p>Singing. Address commending the deaconesses +for acceptance. Address to the deaconesses, recalling +the ever-repeated thought, “You are servants in a +threefold sense: servants of the Lord Jesus; servants +of the needy for Jesus’ sake; servants one of +another.” Then, having answered the question, +“Are you determined to fulfill these duties truly in +the fear of the Lord, and according to his holy +will?” the candidate kneels and receives the benediction: +“May the Triune God, God the Father, +Son, and Holy Ghost, bless you; may he give you +fidelity unto death, and then the crown of life.” +After this is repeated the prayer of the <i>Apostolical +Constitutions</i>, that beautiful prayer which has been +said on similar occasions in many lands and in +many tongues.<sup><a href="#fn.vi.3" name="fna.vi.3" id="fna.vi.3">3</a></sup> The service ends with the communion.</p> + +<p>A similar consecration service is used by nearly +all the German deaconess houses. The features of<a + id="png.090" name="png.090"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">090/</span>86</samp> +those that meet together in the triennial Conferences +at Kaiserswerth are strikingly similar; the +spirit of the original founder pervades them all.</p> + +<p>The first of the Conferences was held in 1861, +just twenty-five years after the founding of the first +deaconess house at Kaiserswerth. It was celebrated +as a Thanksgiving festival for the restoration of the +diaconate of women to the Church. The representatives +of twenty-seven distinct mother-houses met +together to exchange their experiences, and to deliberate +on matters touching the further usefulness +of the order.</p> + +<p>Since then the Conferences have been continued +at intervals of three and four years. The last General +Conference assembled at Fliedner’s old home +in September, 1888.</p> + +<p>Just before it convened, as is the custom, statistics +were obtained from the different mother-houses +represented in the association, and pains were taken +to verify their correctness. The results so obtained +are given in the following table:<sup><a href="#fn.vi.4" name="fna.vi.4" id="fna.vi.4">4</a></sup></p> + +<a id="png.091" name="png.091"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">091/</span>87</samp> +<table class="center" summary=""> +<tr> +<th>Conferences.</th><th>Mother-houses.</th><th style="width:5em;">Sisters.</th><th>Fields of Work.</th></tr> +<tr><td>1861</td><td> 27 </td><td> 1,197 </td><td class="ctr"> ?</td></tr> +<tr><td>1864</td><td> 30 </td><td> 1,592 </td><td class="ctr"> 386</td></tr> +<tr><td>1868</td><td> 40 </td><td> 2,106 </td><td class="ctr"> 526</td></tr> +<tr><td>1872</td><td> 48 </td><td> 2,657 </td><td class="ctr"> 648</td></tr> +<tr><td>1875</td><td> 50 </td><td> 3,239 </td><td class="ctr"> 866</td></tr> +<tr><td>1878</td><td> 51 </td><td> 3,901 </td><td class="ctr"> 1,093</td></tr> +<tr><td>1881</td><td> 53 </td><td> 4,748 </td><td class="ctr"> 1,436</td></tr> +<tr><td>1884</td><td> 54 </td><td> 5,653 </td><td class="ctr"> 1,742</td></tr> +<tr><td>1888</td><td> 57 </td><td> 7,129 </td><td class="ctr"> 2,263</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Five additional houses had made application for +entrance at the time the table was made, and were +received at the ensuing Conference, among which +was the Philadelphia mother-house of deaconesses +in connection with the Mary J. Drexel Home.</p> + +<p>Over sixty mother-houses now belong to the association, +and notwithstanding the necessary loss of +deaconesses from death or removal from work since +the preceding Conference, there are 1,476 more in +number now than then. Surely the deaconess cause +is striking deep root in the religious life of Protestant +Europe. During Fliedner’s life-time occasions +arose which called the deaconesses outside their accustomed +fields of work, and proved their value in +the exceptional emergencies that so often arise. +Here is an instance that occurred during the early +days of the establishment:<sup><a href="#fn.vi.5" name="fna.vi.5" id="fna.vi.5">5</a></sup></p> + +<div class="longquote"> +<p>“An epidemic of nervous fever was raging in two +communes of the circle of Duisburg, Gartrop, and<a + id="png.092" name="png.092"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">092/</span>88</samp> +Gahlen. Its first and most virulent outbreak took +place at Gartrop, a small, poor, secluded village of +scarcely one hundred and thirty souls, without a +doctor, without an apothecary in the neighborhood, +while the clergyman was upon the point of +leaving for another parish, and his successor had +not yet been appointed. Four deaconesses, including +the superior, Pastor Fliedner’s wife, and a maid, +hastened to this scene of wretchedness, and found +from twenty to twenty-five fever patients in the +most alarming condition, a mother and four children +in one hovel, four other patients in another, +and so on, all lying on foul straw, or on bed-clothes +that had not been washed for weeks, almost without +food, utterly without help. Many had died already; +the healthy had fled; the parish doctor +lived four German leagues off, and could not come +every day. The first care of the sisters, who would +have found no lodging but for the then vacancy +of the parsonage, was to introduce cleanliness and +ventilation into the narrow cabins of the peasants; +they washed and cooked for the sick, they watched +every night by turns at their bed-side, and tended +them with such success that only four died after +their arrival, and the rest were only convalescent +after four weeks’ stay. The same epidemic having +broken out in the neighboring commune of Gahlen,<a + id="png.093" name="png.093"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">093/</span>89</samp> +in two families, of whom eight members lay ill at +once, a single deaconess was able, in three weeks, +to restore every patient to health, and to prevent +the further spread of the disease. What would not +our doctors give for a few dozen of such hard-working, +zealous, intelligent ministers in the field of +sanitary reform?”</p> +</div> + +<p>The Schleswig-Holstein war of 1864 was the +first in which Protestant deaconesses were active +as nurses. Already in the Crimean war the Greek +Sisters of Charity among the Russians, the Sisters +of Mercy among the French, and Florence Nightingale +and Miss Stanley among the English, had +wakened the liveliest gratitude on the part of the +soldiers, and secured the respect and approbation +of the surgeons.</p> + +<p>In the Austrian war of 1866 two hundred and +eighty-two deaconesses were in the hospitals and +on the battle-fields, fifty-eight of whom were from +Kaiserswerth. The Franco-Prussian war of 1870 was +on a greater scale, and afforded wider opportunities +for the unselfish, priceless labors of these Christian +nurses. Neatly eight hundred deaconesses, sent +from more than thirty mother-houses, cared for the +sick and wounded in the camp hospitals or on the +field. The willingness of a number of boards of +administration to release sisters who were in their<a + id="png.094" name="png.094"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">094/</span>90</samp> +service, and the voluntary offers of other women to +take their places, enabled Kaiserswerth to send two +hundred and twenty of the number. Their experience +in improvising hospitals, in aiding the surgeon +in his amputations, and in ministering to the +wounded and dying, throws a tender glow of compassionate +sympathy over the terrible scenes of +war.<sup><a href="#fn.vi.6" name="fna.vi.6" id="fna.vi.6">6</a></sup></p> + +<p>The importance of trained deaconesses in times +of war is now well understood by the military authorities +at Berlin. In the winter of 1887, when +war seemed imminent, the directors of the German +deaconess houses were summoned by the government +to a conference at the German capital to take +measures for supplying nurses in case war should +be declared.</p> + +<p>Deaconesses are now thoroughly incorporated +into the religious and social features of the German +national life, as must be admitted by any +one who has weighed the facts that have been +given.</p> + +<p>The example of Kaiserswerth has been far-reaching; +the mission of Fliedner, that simple-hearted, +true-souled, practical, energetic pastor, has been +wonderfully successful.</p> + +<p>In this rapid sketch I have said but little of the<a + id="png.095" name="png.095"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">095/</span>91</samp> +hinderances he met, nothing of the ridicule which +at first attacked him unsparingly. He paid no +heed to these obstacles, and why should we waste +time in detailing them? Steadfastly and undeviatingly +he went forward toward the end he had in +view; that is, to restore in all its aspects the +devoted disciplined services of Christian women +to the Church. He passed away from life October +5, 1864, leaving the great establishment that +he had watched over in the charge of his son-in-law, +Pastor Disselhoff, and other members of his +family.</p> + +<p>The institution has become an imposing mass of +building, forming an almost absurd contrast to the +little garden house, the cradle of the whole establishment, +which is still standing in the parsonage +garden.</p> + +<p>When the fiftieth anniversary of the rise of the +deaconess cause was celebrated in 1886 the Kaiserswerth +sisterhood put their mites together and purchased +the little house, to hold it in perpetuity as a +monument of God’s providence.</p> + +<p>The symbol of Kaiserswerth is a white dove, carrying +an olive branch, resting against a blue ground. +The blue flag floats from the old windmill tower +on the river-bank, attracting the attention of the +traveler as he floats up the Rhine.</p> +<a id="png.096" name="png.096"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">096/</span>92</samp> + +<p>Other flags bear messages of conquest, of victory, +of battles fought and won, of storm and stress and +endeavor in the conflict of man against his fellow-man. +But only peace and good-will, the victory of +goodness and of love—these alone are the messages +that are waved forth to the wind by the blue flag +of Kaiserswerth.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.vi.1" id="fn.vi.1" href="#fna.vi.1">1</a> +<i>Haus Ordnung und Dienst-Anweisung für die Diakonissen +und Probeschwestern des Diakonissen Mutterhauses zu Kaiserswerth</i>.</p> +<p><a name="fn.vi.2" id="fn.vi.2" href="#fna.vi.2">2</a> +<i>Deaconesses</i>, Rev. J. S. Howson, D.D., p. 81.</p> +<p><a name="fn.vi.3" id="fn.vi.3" href="#fna.vi.3">3</a> +Refer back to <a href="#png.027">page 23</a>, chapter ii, where it can be found.</p> +<p><a name="fn.vi.4" id="fn.vi.4" href="#fna.vi.4">4</a> +<i>Der Armen und Kranken Freund</i>, August Heft, 1888.</p> +<p><a name="fn.vi.5" id="fn.vi.5" href="#fna.vi.5">5</a> +<i>Woman’s Work in the Church</i>, p. 273, J. M. Ludlow. A. +Strahan, London, 1866.</p> +<p><a name="fn.vi.6" id="fn.vi.6" href="#fna.vi.6">6</a> +<i>Denkschrift zur Jubelfeier</i>, p. 215.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.097" name="png.097"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">097/</span>93</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<h4>OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS ON THE CONTINENT.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">In</span> a book of these dimensions no exhaustive +historical account can be given of all the developments +of the deaconess movement in the various +countries on the Continent. Only a few of the +leading houses can be spoken of, but through a +knowledge of these we can gain an insight into +the life and characteristics of the movement as a +whole.</p> + +<p>The mother-house at Strasburg is one of the +oldest ones, dating from 1842. It owes its origin +to the holy enthusiasm and life experiences of +Pastor Härter, who exercised a deep religious influence +in the city where he lived. In 1817, when +he was a young man of twenty, the great Strasburg +hospital was re-organized. The six to eight hundred +patients were divided according to their religious +faith. To the Catholics were assigned as nurses +Sisters of Charity. For the Protestants there were +paid women nurses.</p> + +<p>The magistrates appealed to the pastors to find<a + id="png.098" name="png.098"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">098/</span>94</samp> +at least two Protestant women of experience and +ability to oversee the nurses, but the most persistent +search in the various churches of Strasburg +failed to procure suitable candidates. Years afterward, +when death entered Härter’s family circle, +and his life became clouded and darkened, he was +called as a pastor to the largest church in Strasburg. +He entered upon his new pastorate with a +heart heavy and sad, and not until after ten months +of struggle, in which the depths of his soul were +stirred, did he come forth strong, confident, and +positive as never before that “Jesus Christ came +into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” +Henceforth there was force to his life, conviction +in his words, and never-ceasing energy in good +works.</p> + +<p>When he heard of Fliedner’s new undertaking +below him on the Rhine he remembered the difficulty +in finding Protestant nurses for the hospital, and +declared that Strasburg must have a similar institution. +He won the support of a number of Christian +men and women, and the house was opened in +October, 1842. From its beginning many branches +of charitable and religious work were undertaken. +Especial attention was at first given to preparing +Christian teachers, and the schools in connection with +the deaconess house were filled with pupils. The<a + id="png.099" name="png.099"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">099/</span>95</samp> +success in this particular aroused apprehension lest +the deaconesses should be diverted from their legitimate +duties in caring for outside interests, so for a +time the schools were discontinued. They have +been resumed, however, and are to-day prosperous +as of old.<sup><a href="#fn.vii.1" name="fna.vii.1" id="fna.vii.1">1</a></sup> There are also a hospital, a home for +aged women, a servants’ training-school and a +foundling asylum under the charge of the deaconesses. +They are, as a class, of higher social rank +than these of Kaiserswerth, the preponderating +number of whom are from the lower grade of social +life. They are also better educated. This is +partly a necessity, from the fact that the city is on +the border-land between two great nations and if +the deaconesses are to be effective they must be +familiar with the spoken and written speech of both +peoples. Strasburg continues to be a great and +powerful center of deaconess activities, having a +number of branch houses and various fields of +work.</p> + +<p>The affiliated house at Mülhausen has obtained +an especially good report for its successful use of +parish deaconesses. No other house has so systematized +their labors or developed their possibilities +as has the deaconess house at Mülhausen. All +the authorities on deaconess work agree that the<a + id="png.100" name="png.100"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">100/</span>96</samp> +office of the parish deaconess is the crown and +glory of the diaconate, and approaches most nearly +the type of the deaconesses of the early Church.</p> + +<p>The parish deaconess has occasion to use every +gift which she can possibly acquire in the varied +training of the deaconess school. She must know +how to care for the poor, the weak, the sick, and those +needing help for either body or soul, as she finds +them in her visits from house to house. She must +be able to pray at the bedside of the rich man, +and to serve in the kitchen of the poor man; +to be motherly to children, sympathetic with +the sorrowing, and silent with the complaining. +She must be an intelligent nurse, having some +knowledge of medicine, able to faithfully carry out +the instructions of the physician. She must be +keen in detecting imposition, and wise in the administration +of charity, knowing that “to deny is +often to help, and to give is often to corrupt.” +Truly, there is no gift of Christian womanhood +which has not here its use.</p> + +<p>For many reasons Mülhausen was well adapted +for a field of labor for parish deaconesses. It is +an old city, dating back to mediæval times, having a +population of about sixty thousand inhabitants, half +of whom are workmen. It has long been known +for its noble and successful endeavors to promote<a + id="png.101" name="png.101"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">101/</span>97</samp> +the well-being of the working class. One of the +first building and loan associations was started here +to enable the operatives to earn their homes by +gradual payments. Other organizations whose object +is the moral elevation of the employees have +united the different social circles by strong ties of +sympathy. It was an easy matter, therefore, to +raise a subscription of two hundred thousand francs +to provide a home for the deaconesses who were +invited here from Strasburg in 1861. There are +now fourteen sisters in the deaconess house. Half +of the number remain at the home to nurse the +sick, and perform house duties. The remainder +are parish deaconesses, who go forth early in the +morning, each to her own quarter of the city, where +she is busy at her labors during the day. In the +evening she returns to the central home. In each of +the seven districts into which the city is divided is +located a district house; a pleasant, well-kept place. +This contains a waiting-room for the deaconess +and a consultation-room for the district physician, +who comes at stated hours during the week. The +poor who are recommended by the sister he treats +gratuitously, and, so far as the physician directs, she +furnishes food gratuitously. She keeps on hand a +good stock of lint, bandages, and instruments. +Each house has a kitchen and cellar. Every morning<a + id="png.102" name="png.102"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">102/</span>98</samp> +a woman comes in and prepares a large kettle +of nourishing soup, and at 11 A. M. this is given +out to the sick and poor.</p> + +<p>In the store-room are rice, sugar, coffee, meal, +and similar articles of food. From here she sends +out at noon such portions as are needed for the +most destitute of the district. In winter she also +sells from her stores to the poor. Then there is a +closet amply provided with sewing materials, and +when the deaconess obtains work for seamstresses +she furnishes them at a small price the necessary +outfit to begin sewing. At two o’clock the deaconess +ends her duties at the district house, and spends +the remainder of the day in making visits in her +quarter. To provide means to support the constant +expenditure, there is in each quarter of the +city a committee of fifteen ladies and three gentlemen, +being in all more than one hundred ladies and +twenty gentlemen, who are responsible for the administration +of the charity. Each committee has a +yearly collection in its district, and in this way about +forty thousand francs are gathered annually. In +each quarter nine hundred francs (one hundred and +eighty dollars) is set apart for the maintenance of +the sister and the rent of the district house. The +remaining sum is expended by the deaconesses in +their several districts in caring for the sick and<a + id="png.103" name="png.103"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">103/</span>99</samp> +destitute. Every month each one receives the sum +allotted her from the treasurer, and in return reports +her expenditure. The ladies on the committee +often give personal assistance to the deaconess, +and sometimes assume responsibility for +individual cases, or for an entire street. The arrangements +are constantly being improved upon +as knowledge is gained by practice. The experience +that has been gathered at Mülhausen is very +practical, and therefore very valuable. Similar +work could be undertaken in any of our large +American cities, with the anticipation of like +beneficent results. For that reason the above detailed +description has been ventured upon, with the +hope that the Old World example will find imitators +in the New.<sup><a href="#fn.vii.2" name="fna.vii.2" id="fna.vii.2">2</a></sup> Similar institutions, although +not so carefully perfected, are found in Gorlitz and +Magdeburg.</p> + +<p>In Berlin are a good many deaconess institutions. +Among them is the Marthashof, a training-school +for servants, and a home for those out of employment.</p> + +<p>The first impulse to care for the girls who come +to large cities to obtain work, and to provide them +a home where they can have respectable surroundings,<a + id="png.104" name="png.104"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">104/</span>100</samp> +came from Pastor Vermeil, the founder of the +deaconess house at Paris. When Fliedner visited +the Paris house his heart was touched by what he +saw. He thought of the thousands of girls coming +annually to Berlin from the provinces, and of the +exposures and temptations to which they were subjected. +He knew that many of them in their ignorance +and inexperience were ruined body and soul +in the lodging-houses to which they resorted, and +drifted away on the streets of the city, only to find +a place eventually in the hopeless wards of the great +hospital, La Charité.</p> + +<p>He determined to do what he could to provide a +remedy, and, as was his wont, “without money and +without noise” he set to work. In the north of +Berlin, at quite a distance from the railroad stations, +he hired a small house on a street then called “The +Lost Way”—a street well named, as it was unlighted +and unpaved, and so poorly kept that when +the queen came to visit the home, shortly after it +was opened, her carriage, in spite of the strong +horses, got stuck in the mud.</p> + +<p>By the aid of some ladies in the city the home +was furnished with twelve beds; three deaconesses +were put in charge, and after perplexing difficulties +the authorization to open a registry for servants +was obtained. The idea at first met with<a + id="png.105" name="png.105"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">105/</span>101</samp> +derision. It was said that such an institution was +rightly located on “The Lost Way,” for no one +would ever come to it. But they came. In two +years the number of beds increased to twenty, and +the same year Fliedner purchased the entire court +in which the house stood, containing five houses +and a fine garden. Queen Elizabeth of Prussia became +the patroness of the institution, and it grew +in favor with the people. A training-school was +added in which the girls were taught to wash, iron, +cook, and sew, and also to work in the garden and +to care for cows, the last two branches of domestic +service being required of servant-girls in Germany. +Later an infant school was added in which nursery +girls were practiced in taking charge of children, a +pleasant, helpful demeanor being made one of the +requisites. Over two hundred children, mostly +coming from the poorest and gloomiest homes, are +in daily attendance. About three hundred and +fifty more attend the girls’ school for children of +the working classes. In the home and training-school +for servants about eight hundred girls are +received annually, and sixteen thousand have been +sheltered and taught during the years it has been +open. They readily secure situations, over two +thousand applications being annually received for +the servants of the Marthashof. They remain in<a + id="png.106" name="png.106"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">106/</span>102</samp> +friendly relation to the home, receive good counsel +and advice, and are encouraged to spend their free +Sundays there.</p> + +<p>The Marthashof has had a beneficent influence +over the moral and spiritual welfare of servants +throughout Germany. In nearly all the cities similar +homes are now established, while in the larger +cities Sunday associations are formed to provide +suitable places of meeting for the entertainment +and instruction of those who are free Sunday afternoons +and evenings. So far as I am aware, no similar +work has been attempted for servant-girls in +the United States. It is true that training-schools +exist, but not with religious supervision, and with +the moral and religious instruction of the inmates +made a prominent feature. The Marthashof offers +us a lesson well worth our learning.</p> + +<p>The deaconess house, “Bethanien,” in Berlin, was +founded by King Frederick William IV., who as the +Crown Prince took a warm interest in Fliedner’s +undertakings.<sup><a href="#fn.vii.3" name="fna.vii.3" id="fna.vii.3">3</a></sup> +It still remains under the protection<a + id="png.107" name="png.107"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">107/</span>103</samp> +of the emperor, and is one of the most important +mother-houses. Over three thousand patients are +annually admitted to the hospital connected with +the house, and five hundred children are treated at +a dispensary devoted solely to cases of diphtheria. +Outside of the city it has thirty-three stations. +There are also the Lazarus Hospital and Deaconess +Home, the Paul Gerhardt Deaconess Home, provided +for parish deaconesses, and the Elizabeth +Hospital and Home, which started independently +but is now allied to Kaiserswerth.</p> + +<p>The deaconess house in Neudettelsau stands in +closest union with the Lutheran Church. The sisters +are mostly from the higher ranks of society, +and intellectual training is made prominent. Certain +liturgical forms are used, and in the main +deaconesses are employed in preparing ecclesiastical +vestments and embroideries for church +adornment.</p> + +<p>In marked contrast to Dettelsau is the deaconess +house at Berne. It is almost a private +institution, having only slight connection with +the State Church. It owes its origin to Sophie +Wurdemberger, a member of one of the old patrician +families of Berne. A visit to England made +her acquainted with Elizabeth Fry, with the usual +beneficent result of increased interest and activity<a + id="png.108" name="png.108"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">108/</span>104</samp> +in good works. On her return to Berne she gained +the support of a society of women, and through +their aid secured a hospital and deaconess home. +It is now fourth in number among the largest +mother-houses, has two hundred and ninety-seven +deaconesses, five affiliated houses, and forty-five +different fields of work.</p> + +<p>The oldest mother-house in Switzerland is at St. +Loup, not far from Lausanne, standing on one of +the beautiful heights of that picturesque region. +It was founded by Pastor Germond in 1841, through +the direct influence of the work at Kaiserswerth. +There are now seventy-three deaconesses, mostly +acting as nurses either in private homes or public +institutions.<sup><a href="#fn.vii.4" name="fna.vii.4" id="fna.vii.4">4</a></sup></p> + +<p>There is also a large institution at Riehen near +Basel, which sends out two hundred deaconesses. +The greater number are of the peasant class, and are +nearly all employed as nurses. The home at <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Zurich'">Zürich</ins> +was at first a daughter-house of Riehen, but is now +an independent institution with twenty-seven stations. +In Austria there is a mother-house at Gallneukirchen +from which sisters are sent forth, four +of them working in as many Vienna parishes. The +story of deaconess work in Austria is an interesting +one, and is told by Miss Williams in a recent<a + id="png.109" name="png.109"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">109/</span>105</samp> +number of <i>The Churchman</i>, from which the following +extracts are taken:</p> + +<div class="longquote"> +<p>“The Protestants of Gallneukirchen were first +formed into an independent parish in the year +1872, and it is the only one lying between the +Danube and the Bohemian frontier. It is very +widely extended, but numbers only three hundred +and eighteen souls, and is so poor that with the +greatest effort it can raise only four hundred florins +a year (about one hundred and sixty dollars) for +church and school. With the aid of those interested +in the work a parish-house has been secured, +where the pastor and his wife reside, and in which +is the deaconess asylum for the aged, infirm, and +insane of all classes. It has not as yet been possible +to clear off the debt on the purchase. Still the +sisters strive in every way to enlarge their usefulness, +so that they now possess extensive buildings +and farms—only partly paid for, it is true—wherein +to house the many afflicted who apply to them for +aid. In one building, standing alone on a hill, they +purpose to collect the insane patients, and suitable +additions are now being made to insure their safety +and comfort. In another village, two hours’ drive +from here, is their school, where more than sixty +boys and girls are taught, fed, and clothed, in most +cases gratuitously, at worst at a nominal charge.”</p> +<a id="png.110" name="png.110"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">110/</span>106</samp> + +<p>“The sisters are bright and cheerful, and keep +their various dwellings so exquisitely neat and clean, +with their white-washed walls adorned with Scripture +texts and pictures. No work, however menial, +is beneath them. I have myself seen one scrubbing +the stairs, and in turns they sleep on a hard +straw bed on the floor, ready to rise in the night +as often as a bell summons them to the aid of a +suffering invalid or a refractory lunatic.”</p> +</div> + +<p>There are a few institutions that exist independently +of those represented at the Kaiserswerth +General Conference. They stand alone for various +reasons; perhaps they have not met the conditions +required of those which belong to the association. +Any house whose administration rests exclusively +either in the hands of a man or a woman is excluded +from the Conference. In every mother-house there +represented the administrative head is twofold, +consisting of a gentleman, who, with rare exceptions, +is a clergyman, and a lady who is a deaconess. +The Kaiserswerth authorities regard this joint +management as an indispensable condition.</p> + +<p>The rector, as he is usually called, cares for the +intellectual and spiritual instruction of the probationers, +conducts public services in the chapel, and +issues the publications and reports of the house.</p> + +<p>The oberin, or house-mother, is the direct head<a + id="png.111" name="png.111"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">111/</span>107</samp> +of the sisters. She is responsible for the interior +management, regulates the duties of the sisters, and +gives practical instruction. The two are jointly +responsible for the acceptance and dismissal of probationers, +for the assignment of the sisters to different +fields of labor, and the kind of labor required. +Every mother-house has its own peculiarities. The +personal characteristics of those who conduct it are +naturally impressed upon the house.</p> + +<p>Then, too, the influence of environment is to be +reckoned with. The house may be located in a +large city or in a small one; in the country or in +towns. It may be under the influence of a State +Church, as in Germany, or of Christians of all +Churches, as at Mildmay. It will share the characteristics +of the race of people from which come its +workers. Doubtless in the Methodist Episcopal +Church in America the deaconesses that eventually +become recognized as set apart to special Christian +service, through the training that is provided for +them, will be women who are peculiarly adapted to +the needs of that Church, with all the distinguishing +American traits that will prepare them to understand +the people whom they are to serve, and that +will give them access to the hearts of this people.</p> + +<p>If the deaconess cause should gain favor with us +as it has in Europe, and should the deaconesses<a + id="png.112" name="png.112"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">112/</span>108</samp> +become as established in the social life of the +people as they are there, the effective agencies will +be largely increased that are to deal with the questions +that come to the front whenever, as in great +cities, large numbers of people are massed together.</p> + +<p>Deaconess institutions now exist in Switzerland, +France, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia, +Austria, England, and Germany, while the countries +in which these homes have stations are literally +too numerous to mention. Spain, Italy, +Greece, Turkey, the countries of Northern Africa, +and of Asia Minor, as well as isolated mission stations +throughout the entire world are now served +by deaconesses.</p> + +<p>If there were ten times the number of sisters, +places could be at once found for them. It is instructive +on this point to read what Pastor Disselhoff +says<sup><a href="#fn.vii.5" name="fna.vii.5" id="fna.vii.5">5</a></sup> in the account he gives of the various +demands made upon him, which he has been unable +to meet. One of the letters he quotes was from an +English missionary on the Cameron River. “Send +us deaconesses for our hospital,” he says. “It was +built for European sailors, especially Germans. +We hope and trust to overcome the superstitions +of the natives, and that they too, may come to be +healed.” But there were no sisters to send.</p> +<a id="png.113" name="png.113"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">113/</span>109</samp> + +<p>A similar call came from Shanghai, but as it was +impossible to return a favorable answer, although +the hospital was a Protestant institution, the Sisters +of Mercy were invited in, and given control. +From 1870 up to 1886 over two hundred and twenty-seven +places at widely remote distances, such as +Madras, New Orleans, Port Said, Rio de Janeiro, +and elsewhere, sent most urgent appeals for Kaiserswerth +deaconesses to be assigned them, but +invariably the same answer must be returned: +“There are none to send.” Disselhoff closes by +saying, “How many open doors has God given! +Whose fault is it that they remain closed?”</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.vii.1" id="fn.vii.1" href="#fna.vii.1">1</a> +Schäfer, <i>Die Weibliche Diakonie</i>, vol. i, p. 21.</p> +<p><a name="fn.vii.2" id="fn.vii.2" href="#fna.vii.2">2</a> +The details of the deaconess work at Mülhausen are largely +taken from Schäfer’s <i>Die Weibliche Diakonie</i>, vol. ii.</p> +<p><a name="fn.vii.3" id="fn.vii.3" href="#fna.vii.3">3</a> +<i>Life of Pastor Fliedner</i>, translated by C. Winckworth, London, +1867, p. 133. “The favor of the great, especially the condescending +kindness of our late Sovereign, he took as a gift from the King +of kings, who allowed his own work to be thus promoted. He +strenuously avoided all personal distinction, and never wore the order +which had been sent him; ‘for a servant of the Church,’ he +said, ‘there should be but one order—the Cross of the Lord.’”</p> +<p><a name="fn.vii.4" id="fn.vii.4" href="#fna.vii.4">4</a> +<i>Der Armen und Kranken Freund</i>, August, 1888.</p> +<p><a name="fn.vii.5" id="fn.vii.5" href="#fna.vii.5">5</a> +<i>Denkschrift zur Jubelfeier</i>, pp. 248, 249.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.114" name="png.114"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">114/</span>110</samp> + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<h4>DEACONESSES IN GERMAN METHODISM.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">The</span> good results of the work of deaconesses in +the other Protestant bodies of Germany doubtless +had their influence upon German Methodism. As +far back as 1868 in Wurtemberg, and later in +Frankfort, some preachers introduced parish deaconesses +for the care of the sick; but well-directed +efforts, and unity in management, were lacking.</p> + +<p>The existing association was started July 8, 1874, +under the title of “Bethanienverein,” or the Bethany +Society, through the efforts of several members +of the German Conference, among whom were Rev. +G. Weiss, who, with two deaconesses, initiated the +work in Bremen, Rev. Frederick Eilers, the present +inspector, and Rev. G. Hausser, who for several +years was president of the board of direction, and +now resides in America.<sup><a href="#fn.viii.1" name="fna.viii.1" id="fna.viii.1">1</a></sup> A further number of +ministers showed themselves inclined to stand by +the society, both by their influence and through +contributions taken in their churches, so that in<a + id="png.115" name="png.115"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">115/</span>111</samp> +1876 the first trained deaconesses were set at work +in the city of Frankfort.</p> + +<p>As has been said,<sup><a href="#fn.viii.2" name="fna.viii.2" id="fna.viii.2">2</a></sup> the little institution in its +early days had to pass through a series of critical +experiences, as a young child has to encounter the +series of childhood diseases that assail it; but it +outlived them all, and is now enjoying a vigorous +youth. It was but another illustration of the truth +that all beginnings are difficult, and that successful +experience has to be bought by overcoming hinderances +and obstacles.</p> + +<p>To-day there is no branch of German Methodism +more successfully and substantially incorporated +into the Church life than the deaconess society, +and none that wins greater favor among those outside +of denominational lines.</p> + +<p>The first printed report was issued in October, +1884. In this the inspector says: “Our society is +now in three cities, Frankfort, Hamburg, and Berlin, +and our sisters are not able to meet all the demands +upon them for service.” At that time there +were thirteen deaconesses and twenty probationers. +The last report, issued in July, 1888, shows an +increase in numbers both of deaconesses and their +stations. There are now eighty-nine deaconesses,<a + id="png.116" name="png.116"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">116/</span>112</samp> +eleven of whom are probationers, and there are +stations in five places. Besides the ones previously +mentioned in Germany, two additional stations +have been started in Switzerland: one in Zürich, +and one in St. Gall.</p> + +<p>Nearly all the Methodist German deaconesses +are engaged in caring for the sick; it is only +recently that attempts have been made in some +other directions of charitable endeavor. In the last +report we are told that at Frankfort steps have +been taken to reform fallen women. One of the +sisters seems to be especially endowed with tact +and ability for this difficult work. She has already +induced twenty-two of these girls to enter the +asylum at Sachsenhausen. The police authorities +and city magistrates have given this same sister +access to the women prisoners, which is a decided +favor, coming from German officials. Besides her +work in this particular, she has devoted her remaining +time to the care of the poor and the sick.</p> + +<p>Many deaconesses were called upon to go out as +nurses in private families, and, in order to obtain +room to accommodate the added number these services +required, it has been necessary to rent an additional +house. There are two clinics in connection +with the institution; one for those suffering from +nose, throat, or lung diseases, the other for diseases<a + id="png.117" name="png.117"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">117/</span>113</samp> +of women. In both, the hours of consultation +are free, and attract numerous visitors. Two +hundred and forty-six people were received in the +hospital last year, and were cared for in four thousand +one hundred and fifty days of nursing. Spiritual +results are also anticipated from the seed of +God’s word sown in the hearts of the sick through +daily prayer and Sunday services.</p> + +<p>The house at Frankfort is too small for its increasing +needs, and a permanent home of more +ample dimensions is greatly to be desired.</p> + +<p>In Hamburg the house has been enlarged, and +there is now room for thirty-five sisters; yet still +there are more demands made than can be met. +In one month ninety requests were handed in for +the aid of the deaconesses. The city authorities +offered them a large lot of land at a very moderate +sum, which is at present used as a garden, +and adds much to the enjoyment of the home.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of March, 1888, occurred the anniversary +of the founding of the Hamburg house, at +which time six sisters were set apart to their life +calling by a service of consecration. As in all +places where our deaconesses are employed, so also +in Hamburg their influence is felt in the increase of +religious life among the families they serve.</p> + +<p>In Berlin, again, there is an imperative call for<a + id="png.118" name="png.118"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">118/</span>114</samp> +enlarged house accommodations, and more sisters +are needed to meet the requests for help that are +constantly coming to them. As the report expresses +it, “Something must happen!”<sup><a href="#fn.viii.3" name="fna.viii.3" id="fna.viii.3">3</a></sup> After six years +of activity in Berlin the deaconesses find themselves +well appreciated, and with a broad field of +labor. The city authorities gave them permission +to take a house collection during the months of +February and March. One of the German ministers +said, “This is an unusual favor, only granted in +exceptional cases, as when a village is swept away, +or there is an inundation, or a failure of harvests.” +This collection was no easy task. In the depth of +winter, in rigorous cold and snow the sisters had +to climb weary flights of stairs, in houses four and +five stories high, arranged in flats; to knock at +many doors, often meeting with but slight success +or a positive refusal; yet daily they went with +fresh courage to their work, encouraged by the +thought that they were toiling not for themselves, +but to serve the needy, “for Jesus’ sake.” The +collection resulted in obtaining nearly twenty +thousand marks, to which has been added the loan +of a larger sum at a small rate of interest, so that +there is good prospect of soon obtaining a permanent +home as the property of the deaconess society.</p> +<a id="png.119" name="png.119"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">119/</span>115</samp> + +<p>St. Gall is one of the newer stations, but from +the beginning it has been a work of promise. In +this old center of missionary operations, where +Irish missionaries founded one of the most famous +monasteries of mediæval times, is now to be erected +a hospital under the care of Methodist deaconesses, +who have already begun to collect means for this +purpose. In Scheffel’s famous story of <i>Ekkehard</i> +the only way in which the Duchess Hadwig could +enter the monastery of St. Gall (as there was a law +that no woman should set her foot upon the threshold) +was by the ingenious device of a young monk, +who lifted her over in his arms. These peaceful +women of Methodism are finding no obstacle now +as did Hadwig of old; they do not need even figuratively +to be lifted over the entering threshold; +they are gladly welcomed, and are introducing a +new element into the life of the old city.</p> + +<p>In Zürich seven deaconesses are at work under +the protection, and with the sympathetic co-operation, +of the pastor and the church. I saw something +of the deaconesses and their duties in this place. +The inspector, Rev. Fr. Eilers, came with the first +deaconesses and introduced them to their new field +when I was a resident of the city. On Sunday +morning he occupied the pulpit, preaching from +Rom. xvi, 1, commending the deaconesses to the<a + id="png.120" name="png.120"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">120/</span>116</samp> +kindness and helpful aid of the members of the +church. I used often to see Sister Myrtha, who was +the head sister, hastening hither and thither on her +errands of mercy. In her plain black dress and +round shoulder-cape to match, and broad white collar +and white cap, she was a pleasant and attractive +figure. She was always happy and contented, ready +to answer the many questions with which I plied +her in my desire to look through the eyes of a deaconess, +and to obtain her views of the office to which +she belonged. She had a great love for her work, +and believed that she was doing service for Christ +in a true missionary field. Her simple uniform was +a distinguishing mark that insured her respect and +attention wherever she went, and she regarded it as +a garb of honor that marked her as belonging to +the daughters of the great King. You could not +call such a life an austere or unnatural one. It was +too thoroughly filled with thoughts of love to others +to be either morbid or introspective. I obtained +my first favorable impressions of the usefulness of +deaconesses and their importance to the Church +from the cheerful, contented labors of Sister Myrtha +and her associates among the poor and sick of Zürich—quiet +women, of no particular prominence in +the social world, and not learned or accomplished; +“<i>nur einfache Mädchen</i>” (only simple maidens,<a + id="png.121" name="png.121"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">121/</span>117</samp> +quiet, ordinary women, as we might translate Sister +Myrtha’s own phrase), but living “not to be ministered +unto, but to minister,” commending their +creed by their deeds, and winning sympathy by the +loving, self-denying spirit that they manifest.</p> + +<p>During the last year a house of rest has been +opened similar to the house Salem at Kaiserswerth. +This is called by the beautiful name “<i>Gottestreue</i>,” +or “God’s Fidelity.” The report says that they +have named it God’s Fidelity in recollection of this: +“That the Lord has so faithfully led us and has +cared for us in all storms which, especially at the +beginning of the work, threatened to overwhelm it, +has watched over us and upheld us, and has so +richly blessed us.” The acquisition of this house +came through the work of the sisters. One of +them was caring for an aged widow, whose sympathies +were so won that she offered to give her property, +amounting to about ten thousand marks, to +the deaconess society, asking only that she be +cared for for the remainder of her life. This sum +enabled the house to be built, and last summer it +was opened for use. It lies upon a mountain, has +a pleasant outlook to the south, and a beautiful view +over the valley of the Main and off to the distant +forests. Near at hand is a grove of chestnut trees, +and farther removed are extensive pine forests with<a + id="png.122" name="png.122"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">122/</span>118</samp> +pleasant walks. The house is in the charge of one +of the older sisters.</p> + +<p>The regulations touching the training and duties +of the sisters are similar to those of Kaiserswerth. +Two years of probation are required, part of which +is devoted to practical work under the superintendence +of an older deaconess. The rules of daily life +are much the same; a quiet half hour of prayer and +meditation is strongly urged, and the same freedom +in control of personal property and withdrawal from +the office exists. It is pleasant to record that our +deaconesses have secured to themselves such good +report for their usefulness that the city officials in +Germany accord to them the free use of steamboats +and street-cars; and the Prussian government does +the same for roads that are under State control.</p> + +<p>The Bethany Society of the German Methodists is +self-supporting and is independent of the Conference, +save only that the board of direction is composed +of Methodist preachers chosen by the Conference. +Each of the homes at the five stations has also its +board of control, made up of the inspector, the pastor +in charge, and the head sister. The inspector is a +member of the Conference, but has no appointment, +as his whole time is devoted to the duty of superintendence. +Last year the society took the further +step of deciding that henceforth the deaconesses<a + id="png.123" name="png.123"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">123/</span>119</samp> +should not be sent, as heretofore, to outside hospitals +or other institutions to complete their training, +but should be given the advantages they require +at our own homes. Owing to this decision only six +probationers can be received for the coming year, +and others who have made application to enter +must wait their turn.</p> + +<p>The German Methodist Church, the daughter of +American Methodism, anticipated the parent Church +in utilizing the womanly gifts and services of deaconesses +as members of her aggressive forces, and +furnished it a very helpful and stimulating example.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.viii.1" id="fn.viii.1" href="#fna.viii.1">1</a> +<i>Jahresbericht des Bethanienvereins</i>, 1884, Bremen.</p> +<p><a name="fn.viii.2" id="fn.viii.2" href="#fna.viii.2">2</a> +<i>Der Christliche Apologete</i>, article by Rev. G. Hausser, September +20, 1888.</p> +<p><a name="fn.viii.3" id="fn.viii.3" href="#fna.viii.3">3</a> +<i>Jahresbericht</i>, 1888, page 8.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.124" name="png.124"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">124/</span>120</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<h4>DEACONESSES IN PARIS.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">When</span> in Paris we visited the deaconess establishment +on the Rue de Reuilly, and had the pleasure, +ever to be remembered, of seeing the institution +in all its workings under the guidance of Mademoiselle +Sara Monod, the daughter of Adolphe +Monod; members of a family that have been Protestants +of the Protestants in the annals of France. +We examined with some degree of thoroughness +the different departments, and saw them in the +busy working hours, when the full activities of the +great establishment were in exercise.</p> + +<p>In addition to the information and reports then +secured I am under further obligation to Mademoiselle +Monod for other material lately received, +among which is a pamphlet entitled <i>Une Visite à la +Maison de Diaconesses</i>, by Madame W. Monod, “the +worthy daughter of one of the founders, and the +worthy wife of one of the present chaplains of the +institution.” I have translated freely from this +in the following pages, as it is pervaded by a tone<a + id="png.125" name="png.125"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">125/</span>121</samp> +of intimate knowledge, and nothing can take the +place of the long years of close personal relation +that make this little book so fresh and attractive +in its recital.</p> + +<p>The institution is situated on the outskirts of the +Faubourg St. Antoine, upon an elevation, where the +view in one direction is limited by Mont St. Geneviève, +and on the other embraces a large territory +intersected by the windings of the Seine and by +lines of railroad. The space is thickly dotted by the +high chimneys of manufactories and massive constructions +of various forms. A great pile of buildings +which fronts upon the street forms one of the +sides of the court within; two long wings extend +at right angles, which seem to have been built at +different intervals of time. That on the right ends +with the penitentiary, or house of correction; the +left wing terminates more modestly at the garden +entrance; while farther, at the extreme portion of +the grounds, still to the left, rises the hospital, +standing apart from the rest. The whole establishment, +including the gardens, has an extent of fifty-five +hundred square meters.</p> + +<p>In the little room at the entrance, where the +<i>concierge</i> is usually found in these French houses, +sits one of the sisters, surrounded by bell-cords and +tubes and bells which are constantly in use, bringing<a + id="png.126" name="png.126"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">126/</span>122</samp> +messages to and fro in all directions. A sister +is always on duty, morning, afternoon, and at night +when it is necessary, responding with discreet politeness +to the inquiries made. Adjoining are the +little reception rooms, where comers and goers are +met, and the consulting-room of the distinguished +oculist, who twice a week gives gratuitously his +valuable services. Then come the office and reception-room +of the chaplain of the house, followed by +the little “prophet’s chamber,” occupied by the +former directress when she returns upon visits +which her age and poor health render only too infrequent.</p> + +<p>What the French call the “<i>économat</i>” or business +office, next demands our attention. A dozen +registers admirably kept, portfolios of all kinds, and +numberless papers are arranged upon different +shelves. The sister in charge notes in her journal +every entrance and every departure, and all the journeys +and leaves of absence of the sisters. In a safe +she has the necessary money for current expenses, +the rest being deposited in the bank. She provides +the stores, examines the accounts of the pharmacy +and the kitchen, pays the salaried employees, gives +or sends to each deaconess the modest sum allowed +her for personal needs, and transacts the daily +business of the house. She must also every month<a + id="png.127" name="png.127"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">127/</span>123</samp> +hand in three reports—one to the Prefect of Police, +another to the Minister of the Interior, and +the third to the Minister of Finance, giving detailed +statistics concerning the age, occupation, and progress +of her <i>protégés</i>. “How many know how to +read? How many to read and write? How many +to read, write, and cipher? What progress has +been made since the last report?” These are +some of the questions she has to answer; and, +meanwhile, if a crowd of little children come in, she +turns from her writing and calculations and plays +with them as if she had nothing else to do.</p> + +<p>Let us see where these children come from. +Here is the “Salle d’Asile,” as it is called, with its +benches and chairs for the little ones, maps and +historical pictures suspended upon the walls, slates +and globes, and all the belongings of a school-room. +The sister who has directed this school +for thirty-five years has seen sons and daughters +succeed fathers and mothers. More than nineteen +hundred children have passed through her hands. +With what pride she showed us the copy-books, +and pointed out some particularly good compositions. +Hers was no perfunctory task; a mother +could not have displayed greater interest in her +children. The number of pupils varies from one +hundred and ten to one hundred and thirty, a little<a + id="png.128" name="png.128"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">128/</span>124</samp> +less than half of them being Catholics. All kinds +of primary instruction are given, including gymnastics, +singing, and marching. Bible stories hold an +important place in this elementary teaching, even +those which are sometimes considered to be beyond +the reach of children; for there is nothing in any +other book to take their place. It is useless to +add that not only lessons are given, but shoes, +aprons, and garments of all kinds, some of the little +ones being clothed from head to foot by the institution. +Every day soup is distributed, ostensibly +to the poor and the ill-nourished, but practically +partaken of by all. Even during the siege of Paris +the soup continued to appear. It gradually became +less substantial, it is true, but still it was +soup.</p> + +<p>From four to six o’clock the mothers and older sisters +and brothers, or perhaps some old lady who has +been engaged to have the care of several children, +come to take the little ones home. The influence of +these children is felt beyond the school-room; it is +a visible, constant force. Such a little girl has persuaded +her grandmother not to work on Sundays. +Another asks for a book that her father can read +aloud to the family. And similar instances could +be multiplied; they are always to be obtained +where loving Christian hearts are interested in<a + id="png.129" name="png.129"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">129/</span>125</samp> +children, and when they remember that fine saying +of Jacqueline Pascal; “<i>Parler à Dieu des petites +âmes plus qu’ aux petites âmes de +Dieu.</i>”<sup><a href="#fn.ix.1" name="fna.ix.1" id="fna.ix.1">1</a></sup></p> + +<p>There used formerly to be attached to this a +“<i>Crèche</i>,” where a mother could bring her babe +when she went to work in the morning, and could +come for it at night. But the government has now +started a day-home for this district of the city, so +this part of the work of the deaconesses has been +discontinued.</p> + +<p>Passing by the vegetable garden, which is also a +pleasure garden for the sick and infirm, we come to +the hospital. This was opened in September, 1873, +and can accommodate sixty to seventy patients. +There are two large wards for women, one for children, +a dormitory for aged women, and rooms with +one, two, and three beds. All are perfectly heated, +lighted, and ventilated. The medical inspector +visits the house every month, and gives it due +praise for meeting every condition of modern medical +science.</p> + +<p>A committee of ladies takes the hospital as an +especial object of its care. They have organized a +system of patronage, by which beds are furnished +poor patients at a low rate, in some cases<a + id="png.130" name="png.130"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">130/</span>126</samp> +gratuitously. Fifteen subscribers give each two francs, +or forty cents, a month; the sick man or his patron +pays a franc a day, to which the Deaconess Home +adds also a franc daily. These three francs represent +the bare expenses of a hospital bed. Of course, +sixty cents a day is far from meeting the entire +cost of rent, food, baths, medicine, and service; +but those patients who have been accustomed to a +certain degree of comfort in life, when paying three +francs, are freed from the painful impression of receiving +charity.</p> + +<p>Many of the patients, when sent forth from the +hospital, are directed to the Convalescents’ Home, +at Passy. This is an inestimable benefit; what +could this poor servant do, whose strength is not +yet sufficient to undertake fatiguing labor? Or +this mother of a family, who would certainly fall ill +again if obliged to resume the heavy burden of +housekeeping, accompanied by privations and wearing +economies, were it not for the home at Passy? +Such homes of rest and convalescence are a necessity +in connection with every well-equipped +deaconess institution. The pharmacy is in the +charge of a deaconess trained especially for her +duties. A deaconess director, several nurse deaconesses +and probationers, with one or two aged +women, constitute the working force of the<a + id="png.131" name="png.131"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">131/</span>127</samp> +hospital outside of the physicians. So many denominational +hospitals are now arising in America that +the arrangement of hospitals under the care of deaconesses +in Germany, France, and England, cannot +fail to have interest for us.</p> + +<p>There are no nurses like the deaconesses. Other +nurses, however well prepared in the best of training-schools, +do not have the same high motive that +lifts the service onto the plane of religious duty, +where the question of self-interest is wholly lost +sight of. It was the perception of this truth that +led the authorities of the German Hospital in Philadelphia +to send to Germany for deaconesses as +nurses, and that has brought about the erection of +the magnificent Mary J. Drexel Home for Deaconesses.</p> + +<p>But let us return to Paris and our examination +of the home on the Rue de Reuilly. Leaving the +hospital, and turning in the opposite direction from +that to which we came, we are at the house of +correction. Bars of iron before the windows apprise +us of the character of the building. There +are two divisions of inmates; the one in which the +discipline is more rigid is called the <i>retenue</i>. +Those placed here are generally between fourteen +and twenty-one years of age, although occasionally +a child of precocious depravity is met with, who has<a + id="png.132" name="png.132"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">132/</span>128</samp> +to be separated from those under less restriction +even at ten years of age. The <i>disciplinaire</i> is +the division of milder restraint. The twenty-five +or twenty-six places in each of the two divisions +are ordinarily applied for in advance. Pastor Louis +Valette said: “We shall not have room enough +until we have too much room.”</p> + +<p>There are three classes of inmates: those who +are put here by their parents for insubordination +or other grave faults; those who are sent here by +order of a judge of the court for a limited period, +and those who are recognized guilty of a misdemeanor, +but are acquitted on account of their age, +and must remain a certain time, sometimes until +they have attained their majority, in houses of correction +and education.</p> + +<p>The Minister of the Interior pays twelve cents a +day for pupils of the third class; the Prefect of Police +four hundred dollars a year for those of the +second class, whatever their number, only the establishment +is bound to receive them at any time +and at any hour.</p> + +<p>There is a system of rewards, to promote good +behavior, and those who profit by it can accumulate +a small sum of money, sometimes amounting to +sixteen or eighteen dollars, to have when they go +out from here. In other cases there is a large<a + id="png.133" name="png.133"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">133/</span>129</samp> +indebtedness on the opposite side, which can never +be collected.</p> + +<p>The days are occupied in household work, washing, +ironing, and sewing, and two hours of schooling. +When the nature of the work will permit, instructive +books are read aloud, or the deaconesses +give pleasant talks on different subjects that will +keep the thoughts of the workers busy, and give +them helpful ideas to store away in their minds. +As we went about in the sewing-classes, we noticed +that the time was invariably utilized in some way +that was profitable to the girls. Most of them are +pitiably ignorant of even the commonest knowledge +demanded in life. There are separate court-yards +for the recreations of the two divisions. The girls +of the <i>disciplinaire</i> are sometimes taken outside the +institution for walks; those of the <i>retenue</i>, never. +The work in this last division is especially difficult, +and requires the utmost patience and love. These +poor girls have to be watched carefully, and kept +isolated from one another. Some are greatly influenced +by the atmosphere of the place, the gentle, +firm kindness of the sisters, and the restriction they +receive. Others go out to take up again the old life +of immorality, and are dragged away into the meshes +of sin, finding their place, after brief delay, in the +wards of a hospital, or sometimes a suicide’s grave.<a + id="png.134" name="png.134"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">134/</span>130</samp> +It is a singular fact that the numerical appreciation +of those influenced by this school of reform is precisely +the same as that given in the report of the +similar work at Kaiserswerth, although the two reports +have no connection with one another, and one +in no wise supposes the other. Thirty-three years +ago one of the founders of the institution, Pastor +Valette, said in answer to a question as to the +amount of good accomplished, “Sixteen years ago +this question came to my ears, and I stated as a principle +that one cannot and ought not to answer it +precisely and absolutely, because no one but God +can give an appreciation of its real value. However, +out of curiosity, I set myself at work to gather +and register some results; and, matured by the experience +of six years, I offer them, such as they are: +One third of the moral results may be considered +excellent; another third as offering good guarantees, +and a final third has no value. It seems to +me, however, as I am sure it will seem to you, that +here is cause for rejoicing. Here is something for +which to praise the Lord, and to encourage those +who administer our affairs. For, I ask of the merchants +who listen to me, if any one were to offer +you thirty-three and one third per cent. assured, +with the hope of a dividend, would you refuse the +investment?”</p> +<a id="png.135" name="png.135"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">135/</span>131</samp> + +<p>In 1871 an occurrence took place worthy of being +recorded. On April 13, at ten o’clock in the evening, +emissaries of the Commune entered the house, +revolvers in hand. Armed men were posted at all +the entrances. The deaconesses were summoned +to one of the parlors, and held prisoners until three +o’clock the following morning. Meanwhile an investigation +took place among the girls in the penitentiary, +as they would be the most likely of any of +the inmates of the house to have complaints. The +officers of the Commune interrogated them closely. +Their answers were favorable beyond all expectation. +“Are you happy here?” “Oh, yes, very +happy.” “What have you done deserving punishment?” +“Nothing that we need talk to you +about.” “How are you punished here?” “The +sisters don’t punish us; they advise us what to do, +and warn us.” “Now,” said the chief to one, “just +tell me quietly, no one else need hear; if you are +not contented I will take you away with me.” +“What a coward you are,” she answered, quite +scornfully. Not one of them thought of escaping. +All this time the prison wagon had been waiting in +the street, and would have been filled with deaconesses +had the slightest cause of complaint been +found; but it went away empty. Later the sisters +had occasion to go to the head-quarters of the<a + id="png.136" name="png.136"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">136/</span>132</samp> +Commune in their ward, and they met with polite +consideration. This is not the only experience of +the troubled <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'polititical'">political</ins> life of the great city that the +deaconesses have had. The Faubourg St. Antoine +has been noted ever since the time of the Fronde +as being the haunt of all that is turbulent and revolutionary. +In February 1848, a great barricade was +thrown across the Rue de Reuilly, men, women, +and children hurrying with bricks and stones to +help in building it. Then came the moment of +storm and attack, and forty-two men lay dead in +the <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: period missing in original">street.</ins> + Some of the wounded were received by +the sisters, crowded as they were with the children +whom the mothers had brought for safety. Meanwhile +the deaconesses went about unmolested, +bought food and medicine, hunted friends and relatives +for the sick, and through all that period of +excitement and strife kept up their ministrations of +mercy.</p> + +<p>There is no distinct home for women who are left +alone and desire Christian surroundings, as is the +case in several German institutions, but about sixty +such ladies are received as boarders in the Paris +home. Frequently also the hospitality of the +house is enjoyed by young girls who come to Paris +alone to earn a livelihood, or who have to stop here +for some hours on their way to another place; a<a + id="png.137" name="png.137"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">137/</span>133</samp> +great advantage for inexperienced young women, +unversed in the ways of a city, who find themselves +alone in the great world for the first time.</p> + +<p>The preparatory school for deaconesses is on the +first floor, below the rooms of the sisters. For two +years the candidates are under the instruction of +superior sisters. They are received into the house +gratuitously, and accept its regulations while they remain. +They have to pass through all practical duties +of house-work, and care of the sick and children. +They also pursue practical and theoretical courses +in hygiene, and receive lessons in singing and pedagogics. +The chaplains of the institution give them +courses of religious instruction, and lectures on +Church history. Some (the larger number) need +very elementary lessons; others come with a good +education. Each is directed according to her education +and experience. In fact, all classes are represented +among the deaconesses; servants, teachers, +ladies, and shepherdesses. They come from +different parts of France, but in larger numbers +from the South.</p> + +<p>Deaconesses are constantly in demand to go out +in the city as nurses in private families. Such requests +often meet with refusals, because sisters cannot +be spared for such duties. Their work is limited +by the smallness of their numbers. The last<a + id="png.138" name="png.138"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">138/</span>134</samp> +report gives sixty deaconesses attached to the Home +on the Rue de Reuilly.</p> + +<p>The work is upon sterile soil as compared to Germany. +The Protestants of France are in a small +minority, surrounded by an overwhelming majority +of Catholics; while in the beginning of the work +some influential members of the Protestant faith, +having an inadequate comprehension of the good in +the movement, and a misconception of its plans, +exerted a powerful influence that for awhile told +adversely to the cause. The home has now passed +beyond the stage when it can be affected by adverse +criticisms; and it to-day not only has the approbation +of Christians, but also of those who regard it +solely from the point of view of +philanthropy.<sup><a href="#fn.ix.2" name="fna.ix.2" id="fna.ix.2">2</a></sup></p> + +<p>There are but two parish deaconesses who are at +work in Belleville and Ste. Marie. The directors +of the institution would be glad to increase the +number, as they regard the work of the sisters +under the direction of the city pastors as that +which presents the widest opportunities for doing +good, while it perpetuates those aspects of the deaconess +work which most closely resemble those of +the early Church. But Calvin’s reply from Geneva +to the Church of France is theirs. When petitioned<a + id="png.139" name="png.139"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">139/</span>135</samp> +to send more pastors over the boundary into France +he replied, “Send us wood and we will send you +arrows.” So the want of deaconesses is a continual +hinderance to the furtherance of the cause, both in +the city and the provinces.</p> + +<p>The prisons for women in France are under the +supervision of women, save the office of chief director, +which is filled by a man. The great majority +of the prisoners in France being Catholics, the number +of Sisters of Charity is naturally much larger +than the number of deaconesses employed. At the +prison of Clermont four of the Paris deaconesses +are kept constantly at work among the prisoners.</p> + +<p>In connection with the old prison of St. Lazare, +the women’s prison of Paris, the deaconesses have +a mission especially concerned with caring for discharged +female convicts. As was the case at Kaiserswerth, +this, in its initiation, is closely connected +with the saintly life of Elizabeth Fry. When she +came to Paris, in 1835, a drawing-room meeting was +held at the residence of the Duchess de Broglie, in +which she told of her efforts to effect a reform in +prisons in England. None of the ladies of rank and +wealth who heard her were stirred to greater effort +than was demanded by the keen interest with which +they listened to her words; but a quiet governess +was present, Mademoiselle Dumas, and with her<a + id="png.140" name="png.140"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">140/</span>136</samp> +the seeds of truth fell into prepared ground. She +determined to attempt for her own country a portion +of the work Mrs. Fry had accomplished for +England. Obtaining permission from the authorities +to visit the prison of St. Lazare, she went daily +to the prisoners shut up in the rooms of this great +building, formerly the monastery of St. Vincent de +Paul, the founder of the Sisters of Charity. After +the deaconess home was established, some deaconesses +were set apart to aid Mademoiselle Dumas in +her work. All these years the mission has continued, +not interrupted even during the dark days of +the Commune. A committee of ladies aids in +providing shelter and work for the prisoners when +they are discharged. The great publishing house +of Hachette & Co., although the head of the firm +is a Catholic, provides employment in folding paper +for books.</p> + +<p>Through the kind offices of Mademoiselle Monod +we called on Mademoiselle Dumas. She is now an +extremely aged woman; but her interest in the +Christian reformation of prisoners of her sex is as +keen as it was over fifty years ago, when her labors +began. The registers of many years stand by her +desk, and from these we were shown how the records +of the mission are kept, and in what way the +lives of those assisted are watched and followed for<a + id="png.141" name="png.141"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">141/</span>137</samp> +years. Narratives of individual reformation were +related to us, and through the long correspondence +of many years she was enabled to tell us of those +who had turned to a better life and held to it permanently. +As she talked her eyes brightened, the +tones of her voice became stronger and clearer, her +manner more vivacious, and the years seemed to +slip from her. Finally, as if overcome by the memories +that the long retrospect had brought to her, +and thrilled by the recollections, of all this work +meant to her, she ended by exclaiming, “O, my +dear St. Lazare!” I looked at her astonished. I +had just come from the walls of the gloomy prison, +and the place had chilled me with horror as I walked +through its corridors, and read the stories of shame +and guilt in the faces of its inmates; most hopeless +looking faces, belonging to little children of ten and +twelve up to hardened and prematurely aged women +of fifty and sixty. I could not comprehend a term +of endearment applied to such a place. But a moment’s +consideration led me to see that this aged +saint had there fought and won the best of her +life’s battles, and the place remains glorified in her +thoughts by most hallowed and Christ-like memories.</p> + +<p>Now that Mademoiselle Dumas is kept to her +room, the deaconesses still come to her weekly,<a + id="png.142" name="png.142"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">142/</span>138</samp> +make their reports, and keep up the proper entries +in her books.</p> + +<p>A recent letter from Mademoiselle Monod says: +“Mademoiselle Dumas still lives, having completed +her ninety-sixth year the 26th of last December +(1888). Only yesterday our prison committee met +at her house, she acting as presiding officer.”</p> + +<p>The life of this quiet woman is but little known +outside the circle of her immediate influence, but it +has been more valuable to her country than that of +many a general or statesman who has been ranked +among the famous of the earth.</p> + +<p>The deaconess home has also branches of work +in different parts of France. These include nine +hospitals, two homes for the aged and infirm, four +orphanages, two work-rooms for young girls, and +a convalescents’ home. The house has established +close connection with the deaconess houses at +St. Loup in French Switzerland, and with Strasburg. +The ties of a common language and former +memories are strong, and these are the homes most +akin to the Paris home.</p> + +<p>The ordinary expenses of the Paris deaconess +home are about thirty thousand dollars a year. +Nearly seven thousand dollars are collected annually +by subscriptions, the remaining sum being +made up of returns arising from service.</p> +<a id="png.143" name="png.143"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">143/</span>139</samp> + +<p>The institution was founded in 1841 by Rev. +Antoine Vermeil, a distinguished minister of the +Reformed Church, aided by a devout and worthy +minister of the Lutheran Church, Rev. Louis +Valette. It has grown up under the joint and harmonious +patronage of these two State Churches.</p> + +<p>A later deaconess home, entirely devoted to training +and employing parish deaconesses, was started +in 1874, under the sole control of the Lutheran +Church. Some pastors secured the co-operation of +a few young Christian women to consecrate a portion +of their strength and time to the service of the +Church. From this beginning sprang the work that +exists to-day. The home is located in the Rue de +Bridaine. There are now sixteen deaconesses, six +of whom are probationers. Five of them are located +in different parishes in Paris, usually at a long distance +from the central house. Each goes forth +early in the morning to her parish, where is a room +of some kind serving as a center to the work. Materials +used in nursing and medicines are stored here, +and there is an office for the physician, who comes +at stated periods to give free consultation. From +the district house the deaconess goes in all directions +and in all weather to look up families which +have fallen away from the Church, to gather in children +for the Sunday-school, to visit the sick, and to<a + id="png.144" name="png.144"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">144/</span>140</samp> +collect garments and money from the rich in order to +distribute them among the poor. Such are some +of their duties. Each sister is under the direction +of a pastor, and is aided by his advice, while still +remaining a member of the community to which +she belongs.</p> + +<p>In both of the deaconess houses of Paris, as in +the German houses, a special service sets <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'aparts'">apart</ins> +those sisters who have passed their period of probation, +and have been received into full connection. +As one of the deaconess reports beautifully says: +“When Christ calls the soul to a special vocation +he gives it special grace, and those who consecrate +themselves to him he consecrates to their task by +the strength of his Spirit. So in conformity with +the usages of the primitive Church we give consecration +to our sisters by the laying on of hands. +The consecration is not a sacramental act, conferring +a particular character, greater sanctity, or special +powers; neither is it simply a ceremony or pious +formality. It is a real and efficacious benediction, +which the Saviour accords to our sisters to consecrate +them to their holy work, as he accorded it to +the deacons who received the imposition of the +apostles’ hands.”</p> + +<p>The good that can be accomplished by deaconesses +working together with ministers in behalf of<a + id="png.145" name="png.145"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">145/</span>141</samp> +the manifold interests of the Church is incalculable. +The most faithful pastor can make only short and +unsatisfactory visits. Many sorrows which he overlooks +the deaconess can discern and assuage. She +knows best how to reach the heart of a sorrowing +woman, to care for her needs, to discern her wants, +and to bring solace to the sorrowing and succor to +the needy. Deaconesses who have been specially +trained for service cannot be spared now that the +world has learned to know of them. For “charity +cannot take the place of experience, nor good-will +replace knowledge;” and trained Christian service +is the highest of all service.</p> + +<p>The old spirit of the Huguenots has not died out +of France, and with that ready susceptibility to noble +ideas which is a marked characteristic of the +French character, we can expect to see the deaconess +cause thrive and prosper as it has done in other +lands.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.ix.1" id="fn.ix.1" href="#fna.ix.1">1</a> +Speak to God about the little ones, rather than to the little souls +of God.</p> +<p><a name="fn.ix.2" id="fn.ix.2" href="#fna.ix.2">2</a> +See a sympathetic study of the work by Maxime du Camp, a +member of the French Academy, in his book <i>Paris Bienfaisant</i>.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.146" name="png.146"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">146/</span>142</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER X.</h3> + +<h4>DEACONESSES IN ENGLAND.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">To</span> learn the first facts about deaconesses in England, +we must go back to the early days of the +Puritans. In 1576, under Queen Elizabeth, about +sixty non-conformist ministers of the eastern counties +assembled to make regulations concerning +Church constitution and discipline, and one of +them was as follows: “Touching deacons of both +sorts, namely, both men and women, the Church +should be admonished what is required by the apostle, +that they are not to choose men by custom or +course, or for their riches, but for their faith, zeal, +and integrity; and that the Church is to pray in the +meantime to be so directed that they may choose +them that are meet. Let the names of those that +are thus chosen be published the next Lord’s Day, +and after that their duties to the Church, and the +Church’s duty toward them. Then let them be received +into their office with the general prayers of +the whole Church.”<sup><a href="#fn.x.1" name="fna.x.1" id="fna.x.1">1</a></sup></p> +<a id="png.147" name="png.147"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">147/</span>143</samp> + +<p>There are other references in the works of the +early Puritans that indicate that the office of deaconess +was as well known and recognized as were +the other offices that were named in accordance +with the usages of the primitive Church.</p> + +<p>In the early part of the seventeenth century it still +survived, as we shall see from a quaint and curious +picture that is of especial interest to all Americans, +because it portrays what took place in that community +of pious souls who furnished us the men we +delight to honor as the Pilgrim Fathers. A number +of these heroic souls, who could give up their country, +but would not yield their faith, went forth from +England in 1608, and settled in Amsterdam. They +preserved in a foreign land their own Church usages, +as the following words show: “In Amsterdam there +were about three hundred communicants, and they +had for their pastor and teacher those two eminent +men before named (Johnson and Ainsworth); and +had at one time four grave men for ruling elders, +three able, godly men for deacons, and one ancient +widow for a deaconess, who did them service many +years, though she was sixty years of age when she +was chosen. She honored her place, and was an +ornament to the congregation. She usually sat in +a convenient place in the congregation, with a little +birchen rod in her hand, and kept little children in<a + id="png.148" name="png.148"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">148/</span>144</samp> +awe from disturbing the congregation. She did +frequently visit the sick and weak, especially +women, and as there was need called out ladies and +young women to watch and do them other helps +as their necessity should require; and if there +were poor she would gather relief for them of those +that were able, or acquaint the deacons. And she +was obeyed as a mother in Israel and an officer of +Christ.”<sup><a href="#fn.x.2" name="fna.x.2" id="fna.x.2">2</a></sup></p> + +<p>Whether the “ancient widow” with the little +“birchen rod” had any followers in the early Puritan +communities of the Plymouth Colony we cannot +say, as there are no records that throw light on +the subject; but the history of early New England +Congregationalism gives us one indication that the +office was recognized in the New World. In the +Cambridge Platform, a system of Church discipline +agreed upon by the elders and messengers of the +New England churches assembled in synod at Cambridge, +in 1648, the seventh chapter enumerates the +duties of elder and deacons, and then adds, “The +Lord hath appointed <i>ancient widdows</i>, where they +may be had, to minister in the Church, in giving +attendance to the sick, and to give succor unto<a + id="png.149" name="png.149"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">149/</span>145</samp> +them and others in the like <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'necessties'">necessities</ins>.” The same +confusion of thought concerning the Church widow +and the deaconess is here seen, but there is evident +the recognition of the services that women were +officially to render the Church.</p> + +<p>In the early part of the present century Southey +voiced the complaint, long reiterated, that Protestantism +had no missionaries. We who live in the +closing years of the same century, surrounded by +the multiplied evidences of the extent of missions, +when the Protestants of the world are expending +nearly ten millions of dollars annually, and employing +nearly six thousand men and women as missionaries, +cannot realize the change that has taken +place. In 1830 Southey again wrote: “Thirty +years hence another reproach may also be effaced, +and England may have her Sisters of Charity.” +He had learned to know their value when serving +as a volunteer in Wellington’s army, and a year +after the battle of Waterloo he had visited the Béguines +at Ghent, and what he saw deeply impressed +him. “We should have such women among us,” +he said. “It is a great loss to England that we +have no Sisters of Charity. There is nothing Romish, +nothing unevangelical in such communities; +nothing but what is right and holy; nothing but +what belongs to that religion which the apostle<a + id="png.150" name="png.150"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">150/</span>146</samp> +James has described as ‘pure and undefiled before +God the Father.’”<sup><a href="#fn.x.3" name="fna.x.3" id="fna.x.3">3</a></sup></p> + +<p>Southey’s prophecy has come true. England to-day +in her deaconesses possesses her Sisters of +Charity. How has this change been brought about? +The acquaintance of Mrs. Fry with Fliedner, and +her visit to Kaiserswerth, led her to introduce into +England the practical training of nurses for the sick. +The Nursing Sisters’ Institution in Devonshire +Square, Bishop’s Gate, was founded through her +efforts in 1840, and still exists “to train nurses for +private families, and to provide pensions for aged +nurses.”<sup><a href="#fn.x.4" name="fna.x.4" id="fna.x.4">4</a></sup></p> + +<p>In 1842, Fliedner came to London, accompanied +by four sisters, at the invitation of the German +Hospital at Dalston. These deaconesses won +golden opinions from the hospital authorities for +their quiet, efficient manner, and their trained skill. +The hospital continues to be served by them, but +the Sisters now come from the mother house at +Darmstadt.</p> + +<p>Kaiserswerth and its deaconesses became more +widely known through the life and inestimable services +of Florence Nightingale. When a child, one<a + id="png.151" name="png.151"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">151/</span>147</samp> +of Fliedner’s reports fell into her hands. Its perusal +marked an era in her life. It made clear to her what +she should do. She would go to Kaiserswerth, and +fit herself for a nurse. Her childish resolve never +wavered. “Happy is the man who holds fast to +the ideals of his youth.” Florence Nightingale held +fast to hers. She went to Kaiserswerth at two different +times, and through her deeds and her writings +the care of the sick in England has been completely +transformed. She has won a nation’s gratitude, +and now is living in honored old age in one +of the London institutions founded mainly by the +money that she contributed, and which she obtained +by selling some valuable gifts given her by a foreign +government in acknowledgment of her care of its +wounded soldiers during the Crimean war.</p> + +<p>Another woman distinguished in England’s philanthropies +is Agnes Jones, who left a home of +wealth and refinement to receive her training also +at Kaiserswerth. Returning to England she gave +her time and talents in single-hearted devotion to +the care of the poor in the Liverpool work-house, +and met death in the midst of her labors. The +training which led two such women to accomplish +such noble deeds naturally was recognized as valuable, +and Kaiserswerth soon became an honored +name in England.</p> +<a id="png.152" name="png.152"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">152/</span>148</samp> + +<p>In 1851 Miss Nightingale sent out anonymously +her little book entitled <i>An Account of the Institution +of Deaconesses</i>, which added to the knowledge already +in circulation about the movement in Germany. +Meanwhile articles were appearing in the +reviews. In 1848 one was written in the <i>Edinburgh +Review</i> by John Malcolm Ludlow, who later, +in 1866, gave the results of the thoughts and studies +of a number of years in <i>Woman’s Work in the +Church</i>, the best historical study of the subject up +to the date at which it was written. Since then the +Germans have pushed their historical investigations +further, and the work needs to be revised and to be +brought down to the present time.</p> + +<p>In <i>Good Words</i> for 1861 there were two articles by +Dr. Stevenson, of the Irish Presbyterian Church, +entitled “The Blue Flag of Kaiserswerth,” afterward +incorporated in his work, <i>Praying and Working</i>, a +book too little known among us.</p> + +<p>The great upholder of the deaconess cause in the +Church of England was the late Dean of Chester, +Rev. J. S. Howson. His essay, first published in +the <i>Quarterly Review</i>, was amplified and issued +in book form in 1860 under the title <i>Deaconesses</i>. +It won many friends. The cause remained a +favorite one with him, and he constantly advocated +it by speech and by deed. Since his death<a + id="png.153" name="png.153"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">153/</span>149</samp> +his latest thoughts, which remained substantially +the same as those that he first advanced, have +been published in a work entitled <i>The Diaconate of +Women</i>.</p> + +<p>Within the Church of England, however, the deaconess +cause has not met the same prosperous development +that it has obtained in connection with +certain independent institutions, notably that of +Mildmay.</p> + +<p>Among the institutions on the Continent, as well +as in the pages of this work up to the present, the +terms “sister” and “deaconess” are used synonymously, +to indicate one and the same person. But +when we come to consider the deaconess institutions +within the Church of England we cannot continue +to use these two names in the same way. A deaconess +is a member of a deaconess institution, actively +engaged in charitable deeds, but, like the deaconess +on the Continent, she can sever her connection +with it when adequate cause presents itself, and return +to her family and friends. A sister belongs to +a sisterhood which closely resembles the Roman +Catholic sisterhoods in many features. These sisterhoods +began in 1847 with a number of ladies +brought together through the influence of Dr. Pusey, +who formed themselves into a community to +live under its rule. Their influence and number<a + id="png.154" name="png.154"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">154/</span>150</samp> +increased, and twenty-three sisterhoods are mentioned +in the last official report.<sup><a href="#fn.x.5" name="fna.x.5" id="fna.x.5">5</a></sup></p> + +<p>Doubtless it was the activity and great usefulness +of the continental deaconess houses that provided +the stimulating examples which acted on the Church +of England and led to the rise of sisterhoods and +deaconess institutions. But the two opposing tendencies +within the Episcopal Church—namely, that +which desires to approach the Church of Rome, +with which it feels itself in sympathy on many +points, and that which views with disfavor any conformity +to it, and strives to keep to the landmarks set +at the great Reformation—these two distinct tendencies +are closely reflected in the woman’s work of +the Anglican Church.<sup><a href="#fn.x.6" name="fna.x.6" id="fna.x.6">6</a></sup> +The sisterhoods are distinctly +under the fostering care of the former element, +the deaconesses are manifestly favored by the +latter. Sisterhoods, again, differ among themselves, +some being strongly conventual in their life and +practice, adopting the three vows of poverty, chastity, +and obedience, and a few even advocating penance +and confession. The vows are taken for life, +and, in connection with the view of the sacred obligation +to life-long service, great stress is laid upon +the position of the sister as the “bride of Christ”—the<a + id="png.155" name="png.155"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">155/</span>151</samp> +same thought of the mysterious union with +the heavenly Bridegroom that is so dwelt upon in +the nunneries of the Catholic Church. With such +views Protestants, distinctly such, can have no +sympathy. Those who look upon the deaconess +as a valuable member of the Church economy do +so because they regard her as a Christian woman, +strengthened and disciplined by special training to +do better service for Christ in the world. This is +the recognized difference: “The sisterhood exists +primarily for the sake of forming a religious community, +but deaconesses live together for the sake +of the work itself, attracted to deaconess work by +the want which in most populous towns is calling +loudly for assistance; and with a view of being +trained, therefore, for spiritual and temporal usefulness +among the poor.”<sup><a href="#fn.x.7" name="fna.x.7" id="fna.x.7">7</a></sup></p> + +<p>There are now seven deaconess establishments in +the Church of England, each having a larger or +smaller number of branches, with diocesan sanction +and under the supervision of clergymen.<sup><a href="#fn.x.8" name="fna.x.8" id="fna.x.8">8</a></sup></p> + +<p>The first of these was founded in 1861, and is +now known as the London Diocesan Deaconess +Institution. At that time Kaiserswerth was<a + id="png.156" name="png.156"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">156/</span>152</samp> +accepted as its model; deaconesses were sent there +to be trained; Kaiserswerth rules were adopted as +far as possible, and a modification of the Kaiserswerth +dress for the sisters. The house was then +represented at the triennial Conferences in Germany, +and in the list of mother houses published +at Kaiserswerth<sup><a href="#fn.x.9" name="fna.x.9" id="fna.x.9">9</a></sup> +the name still appears. It would +seem, however, that now the Kaiserswerth connection +is entirely set aside by the London house, for in +an historical sketch of the revival of deaconesses in +the Church, that is found in the organ of the institution, +called <i>Ancilla Domini</i>, for March, 1887, there +is no mention made of any of the continental houses. +The Anglican Church apparently dates the entire +work from the setting apart of its first deaconess, +Elizabeth C. Ferard, in 1861, as she was the first to +receive consecration through the touch of a bishop’s +hand. The former connection with Kaiserswerth +and the great work carried on in Germany +from 1836 to the present time are quite ignored.</p> + +<p>Besides the London house already mentioned an +East London deaconess home was opened in 1880, +to provide deaconesses and church-workers for East +London. Besides the deaconesses and probationers +thirty-two associates are connected with this home. +The associates are ladies who do not intend to<a + id="png.157" name="png.157"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">157/</span>153</samp> +become deaconesses, but give as much time as they +can to the work. They live with the deaconesses, +conform to the rules, and wear the garb, but pay +their own expenses. These associates are a highly +important part of the working force. They form a +valuable tie connecting the sisters with sources of +influence and aid that would otherwise be closed to +them. Nearly always they are ladies of independent +means, and come for longer or shorter periods +to relieve the deaconesses, their zeal often being as +great as that of the sisters whose places they take.</p> + +<p>Besides these houses there are homes located at +Maidstone, Chester, Bedford, Salisbury, and Portsmouth, +in the respective dioceses of Canterbury, +Chester, Ely, Salisbury, and Winchester.</p> + +<p>In the home at Portsmouth sisters not only engage +in nursing and parish work, but are also given +special training for penitentiary and out-of-door +rescue work. They also have a home for the rescue +of neglected children.</p> + +<p>The Salisbury Home is beautifully situated in +the quiet cathedral city of the same name. The +house is a picturesque and venerable mansion, covered +with clinging green vines, opening out into a +garden which in olden times belonged to the convent. +There is in connection with the home an institution +for training girls for domestic service,<a + id="png.158" name="png.158"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">158/</span>154</samp> +supported by the funds of a charity given for that purpose. +The whole service of the house is done by +the girls. They attend upon the deaconesses and +the ladies who board there to receive training in +the hospital. Each deaconess pays for board and +lodging while training, and, if able to do so, when +she returns for rest, or a visit to her old home.</p> + +<p>In other houses the deaconess is expected to +keep her own room in order, and may have some +duties in the house, but servants do the rough +work. The social status of the English deaconesses +is, as a rule, markedly different from the +German deaconesses. Here ladies of rank and +inherited social traditions, of refinement, of accomplishments, +and of education, many of them women +of means, defraying their entire expenses and often +those of their poorer sisters, are largely represented +among the deaconesses. On the other hand, the +German deaconesses, as we have seen, are largely +of that station in life that furnishes many for domestic +service. Although of course there are among +them women of all ranks and all degrees of education, +still such women form the larger number; +and the conditions under which Fliedner began the +work, as well as the difference of custom and habit +in the two countries, incline the German houses +to maintain the rules of service by which nearly<a + id="png.159" name="png.159"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">159/</span>155</samp> +every detail of domestic service in their institutions +is cared for by the deaconesses. There is +more of ceremony and formality in the English +deaconess institutions which are under the direction +of the Church of England. At Salisbury, for instance, +the candidate must reside in the home for +three months, that her ability and efficiency may be +tested. If accepted, she then puts on a gray serge +habit, a leathern girdle, white cap, black bonnet, +the veil and cloak of a probationer, and is admitted +to the “degree” of a probationer at a special service. +The year of probation having come to an +end, she is again presented to the bishop, and is +set apart as a deaconess by the laying on of hands. +This time the habit is changed from gray to blue, +and a black ebony cross, with one of gold inlaid, is +hung upon her neck.<sup><a href="#fn.x.10" name="fna.x.10" id="fna.x.10">10</a></sup></p> + +<p>This is very different from the way in which +Fliedner regarded the dress and adornment of the +deaconesses for whom he was responsible. The +king of Prussia desired to present them with a +small silver cross as their badge of service, but the +simple-hearted German pastor dissuaded him, saying +that the deaconesses needed no ornament save +a meek and quiet spirit, and they must avoid symbols +which would suggest Romish imitations.</p> +<a id="png.160" name="png.160"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">160/</span>156</samp> + +<p>The Strasburg deaconesses also at first wore a +small cross, but Pastor Härter discontinued it when +he found that the wearing of it gave occasion for +complaint.</p> + +<p>Yet however we may differ in the lesser details, +of garb, of rules, and of ceremonies, from those +accepted by some of the Church of England deaconess +institutions, we can give unstinted admiration +to the lives of self-denial, and active, unceasing +efforts in behalf of others, that we see among their +numbers. Take, for instance, the little publication +<i>The Deaconess</i>, issued by the East London Home, +and notice the undertakings carried on by the +members—district-visiting, nursing of the sick, +mothers’ meetings, Sunday-school teaching, Bible +classes, and all the multitudinous ways of meeting +the squalor, poverty, ignorance, sickness, and +sin of the poor of the east of London. There is +no poetic enthusiasm that strengthens one for such +work, the dirt, the degradation, the forlorn condition +are so trying. The little children so precociously +wicked, so preternaturally cunning, that the +natural charm and attraction of childhood have +wholly disappeared; the sights and sounds that +assail the senses; the dulled, hopeless faces, the +apathy, the stunted intellectual growth—these are +the depressing influences that continually beset the<a + id="png.161" name="png.161"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">161/</span>157</samp> +deaconesses, and nothing short of God-given +strength and Christ-like enthusiasm can enable these +women to devote six, eight, and ten years of service +to this worst city district, and to come forth with sunshiny, +peaceful faces, and sympathetic, loving hearts.</p> + +<p>Taking the total number of deaconess institutions +under the Church of England, there are +eighty one deaconesses, thirty-four probationers, +and two hundred and twenty-nine associates.<sup><a href="#fn.x.11" name="fna.x.11" id="fna.x.11">11</a></sup></p> + +<p>So far, sisterhoods have proved more attractive +to the women of the Church of England than have +deaconess establishments. The latter do not seem +to increase largely in numbers. Vexing questions +have arisen as to how the deaconess should be set +apart to her work. Should she be consecrated +by the imposition of the bishop’s hands? What +relation should she have to the Church? These +questions have been partially settled by the principles +and rules that were drawn up in 1871 and +were signed by the two archbishops and eighteen +bishops. They define a deaconess as “a woman +set apart by a bishop, under that title, for service +in the Church;”<sup><a href="#fn.x.12" name="fna.x.12" id="fna.x.12">12</a></sup> +placing her under the authority<a + id="png.162" name="png.162"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">162/</span>158</samp> +of the bishop of the diocese. These recommendations +have not been formally adopted by the +Church of England; they hold good only so far as +they are accepted.</p> + +<p>But there are other institutions, lying outside +of the boundaries of the State Church, which have +developed more fully and prosperously than those +within it. Of these we must speak first of the institution +of Dr. Laseron, which is more closely connected +with Kaiserswerth than any other in England. +In 1855 Dr. Laseron and his wife lost their only +child; and as Mrs. Laseron walked through the +streets with burdened heart she looked at the little +children with quickened sympathy, and noticed how +many were poor and hungry and scantily clothed. +She talked with her husband, and they opened a +“ragged school” for children. This increased and +branched off, until now there is an orphanage, +workhouses for boys, and a servants’ training school +for girls. Requests were frequently made for some +of the older girls to act as nurses among the poor; +and, finally, Dr. Laseron, who was a German by +birth, determined to found a deaconess house and +hospital. A small hospital of twelve beds was +opened, and proved insufficient to meet the demands; +and none could be accepted as deaconesses, +as there was no opportunity to train them in so<a + id="png.163" name="png.163"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">163/</span>159</samp> +small a place. While waiting to see how the house +could be enlarged, he mentioned his perplexity to +Mr. Samuel Morley. This gentleman heard him +with interest, and said that he was one of the directors +of a large hospital; that at a recent meeting +of the directors a Catholic bishop had offered to +send Sisters of Charity who, without compensation, +should nurse the sick, and he had thought what +a fine thing it would be if the Protestant Church +had also its women of piety who could devote themselves +to a similar work. The result of the conversation +was that Mr. Morley contributed forty +thousand dollars, with which Dr. Laseron purchased +a site in Tottenham, built a hospital with fifty beds, +and a deaconess was called from Kaiserswerth to +superintend it. The hospital has been again enlarged, +so that it now accommodates one hundred +patients. Sixty-four deaconesses are connected +with it, who are at service in the hospitals of Cork, +Dublin, Scarborough, and Sunderland. This institution +is unsectarian, and has met with special aid +from non-conformists. It still keeps in close relation +to Kaiserswerth, and is represented at the +Conferences. It has constantly thriven, and the +mother-house at Tottenham is a center for various +benevolent enterprises.</p> + +<p>In connection with Dr. Barnardo’s Orphanage<a + id="png.164" name="png.164"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">164/</span>160</samp> +there is also a deaconess house. Harley House, +the missionary training-school under the direction +of Dr. and Mrs. Grattan Guinness in East London, +has a deaconess home as one of its branches. +The Kilburn (St. Augustine’s) Orphanage of Mercy, +and the London Bible-women’s Mission are also +centers for the training and organizing of women’s +work in London.</p> + +<p>We must pause more at length over the prison +mission under the care of Mrs. Meredith. American +women are beginning to occupy themselves +with questions of philanthropy and religious activity +to an extent not before equaled. The women’s +prisons in England are especially fruitful of suggestions +to us, as many here are interested in having +our women prisoners separated in prisons by +themselves, as has already been attempted in a few +States. Mrs. Meredith’s work is in behalf of the +prisoners after they have served their sentence and +are discharged. She is the daughter of General +Lloyd, who was formerly governor-general of prisons +in Ireland. As a little child she was accustomed +to go about with her father, and the interior +of prisons became familiar to her. Later in life, +when her family ties were broken, and her hands +left free for service, her interest was engaged in behalf +of the women convicts who were discharged<a + id="png.165" name="png.165"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">165/</span>161</samp> +from prison. She enlisted the support of other +ladies of like views, able to assist her, and in 1866 +the Prison Gate Mission began, which has continued +to the present day. Every morning, as the gate of +Millbank prison swings back to allow those who have +been released from penal bondage to come forth, a +sister stands waiting to invite those who will go +with her to a room near by, where breakfast awaits +them; there are ladies to inquire about their plans +and to offer them work. A great laundry was +opened in 1867 to provide employment for these +women. Here washing is done for two classes: for +the poor and sick, to whom the service is given as +a charity, and to those who pay for the work and +whose money enables the mission to be partly self-supporting. +Then the ladies extended their plans +to take in the children of the prisoners. A law was +passed by Parliament which enabled Mrs. Meredith +and her associates to have the care of those children +at the Princess Mary Village Home until they are +sixteen years of age. This home was founded at +Addlestone in 1870, and was named after the Princess +Mary, Duchess of Teck, who aided in obtaining +funds to build it. The institution takes not +only the female children of criminal mothers, but +also little girls who are likely to drift into a career +of crime. It is conducted on the cottage plan, each<a + id="png.166" name="png.166"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">166/</span>162</samp> +little house having ten inmates and a house mother +to superintend it, and being complete in its own +arrangements. There are eighteen cottages, a large, +generous school-room, a small infirmary for the sick, +and a little church. About two hundred children of +criminals and the unfortunate class are here cared +for. Instead of allowing them to drift away and to +perpetuate vice, crime, and immorality, they are +taken entirely from their old surroundings, and new +influences of knowledge and purity are thrown +about them. There is no part of Mrs. Meredith’s +mission which has such hope for the future and is +so valuable in results as this preventive work among +the children.</p> + +<p>There are also a woman’s medical mission (1882), a +Christian woman’s union, a girls’ school, and a deaconess +house in Jerusalem under the control of the +same association. How it arose is well intimated by +the following extract from a letter from Mrs. Meredith +to the author, dated March 9, 1889: “You will +know that my course has been progressive with regard +to the mode of congregating the women who +joined me in working. At first we merely came together +daily from our own homes, as those who +make a business concern do. Then to spare time +and money we began to live together. The next +step was to admit useful and devoted women who<a + id="png.167" name="png.167"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">167/</span>163</samp> +had no property, and to form an association with +degrees of membership. When we found ourselves +becoming a corporation of importance, and having +combined to acquire property and to found institutions, +we invited the help and counsel of some +men of known eminence. Our institutions are all +branches of a parent stock, and are now placed +in the charge of these good men, and we have +taken the name of the Church of England Woman’s +Missionary Association. I am daily persuaded of +the value of such organizations.”</p> + +<p>In connection with the London West Central +Mission there is an association of ladies called the +Sisters of the People. “They are expected to be +worthy of the beautiful name they bear. They are +true sisters of the unprivileged and the disheartened; +as ready to make a bed, cook a dinner, or +nurse a baby as to minister to the higher need of +the immortal spirit. The sisters live together in +the neighborhood of their work, and wear a distinctive +dress as a protection and for other reasons; but +they take no vows, and are at liberty to withdraw +from the mission at any time. Their work is directed +by Mrs. Hughes. Katherine House, the +residence of the Sisters of the People, was opened +early in November, 1887, and from that day the +work of the sisters dates its commencement. Their<a + id="png.168" name="png.168"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">168/</span>164</samp> +daily labors are very similar to those of the deaconesses +of Mildmay, who work among the London +parishes. Each sister has a district allotted to her, +which she visits regularly and systematically. The +first object which she sets before herself is to get +to know the people, and to make them feel that she +is their true sister and friend, irrespective of the +fact that they are themselves good or bad, respectable +or degraded. When once true friendliness is +established, the way is opened for direct religious +influence; and many, who in the first instance would +never pay any attention to religion, will listen to +an appeal from one whom they love and +respect.”<sup><a href="#fn.x.13" name="fna.x.13" id="fna.x.13">13</a></sup></p> + +<p>Katherine House accommodates twelve sisters. +A second house is urgently needed, and a strong +plea is made for it in the Report.</p> + +<p>There are besides “out sisters,” who work with the +sisters but reside at their own homes. This is a +valuable feature of this mission, as it interests ladies +who are living in their own homes, and yet who can +be very useful to those who devote their whole +work to the sisters’ labor. In the Report a great +many instances are given which show what an intimate +knowledge of the poor people is obtained by +these sisters, and in what practical ways they<a + id="png.169" name="png.169"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">169/</span>165</samp> +minister to the bodily and spiritual needs of those +whom they find in their house-to-house visitations. +The term “sister,” as it is used in the report of +the London West Central Mission, is in all respects +a synonym for “deaconess,” as the name is understood +in the large deaconess establishment at +Mildmay. To the study of this we shall devote +the following chapter.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.x.1" id="fn.x.1" href="#fna.x.1">1</a> +Daniel Neal’s <i>History of the Puritans</i>, London, 1703, vol. i, +pp. 344–346.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.2" id="fn.x.2" href="#fna.x.2">2</a> +<i>Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth, +from 1602 to 1625</i>. By Alex. Young. Second edition. Boston: +C. E. Little & J. Brown, 1844, <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: Original has 'pp,'">pp.</ins> 455, 456.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.3" id="fn.x.3" href="#fna.x.3">3</a> +Schäfer, <i>Die Weibliche Diakonie</i>, vol. i, p. 207.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.4" id="fn.x.4" href="#fna.x.4">4</a> +<i>The Royal Guide to London Churches</i> for 1866, 1867. By Herbert +Fry, p. 162.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.5" id="fn.x.5" href="#fna.x.5">5</a> +<i>Official Year-book of the Church of England</i>, 1889.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.6" id="fn.x.6" href="#fna.x.6">6</a> +<i>Andover Review</i>, June, 1888, art., “European Deaconesses,” p. 578.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.7" id="fn.x.7" href="#fna.x.7">7</a> +<i>Deaconesses in the Church of England</i>. Griffith & Farran: +London, 1880, p. 22.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.8" id="fn.x.8" href="#fna.x.8">8</a> +<i>Official Year-book of the Church of England</i>, 1889.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.9" id="fn.x.9" href="#fna.x.9">9</a> +<i>Armen und Kranken Freund</i>, October, 1888.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.10" id="fn.x.10" href="#fna.x.10">10</a> +“Deaconess Work in England,” <i>The Churchman</i>, May 19, 1888.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.11" id="fn.x.11" href="#fna.x.11">11</a> +I am indebted to the kindness of the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of +Wakefield for these numbers, upon whom the mantle of Dean Howson +seems to have fallen in caring for the deaconess cause.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.12" id="fn.x.12" href="#fna.x.12">12</a> +<i>London Diocesan Deaconess District Services</i>.</p> +<p><a name="fn.x.13" id="fn.x.13" href="#fna.x.13">13</a> +<i>First Annual Report of the London West Central Mission</i>, pp. +14–42.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.170" name="png.170"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">170/</span>166</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER XI.</h3> + +<h4>MILDMAY INSTITUTIONS.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">Valuable</span> suggestions will be obtained from the +study of every successful deaconess institution, and +none will perhaps furnish more practical models for +American Methodism than does the establishment +at Mildmay Park in North London. Its methods +of work are flexible, and allow place for a diversity +of talent among the workers, while a wide variety +of charitable and evangelistic effort is undertaken. +These two causes give a breadth and vigor to the +work at Mildmay that impress every one who has +knowledge of it.</p> + +<p>Whenever we find a good cause carried on successfully +and prosperously, we know that behind it +there must be a strong man or woman who has +“thought and wrought” to good purpose. So the +first question that arises in the mind of the visitor +who for the first time forms one of the audience in +the great Conference Hall, or looks about in the +adjoining building to see the deaconess home, is, +“Who first thought this out? Who was the founder<a + id="png.171" name="png.171"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">171/</span>167</samp> +of this wonderful mission?” And the answer tells +us that Mildmay originated, as did Kaiserswerth, in +the prayerful determination of a Christian minister +and his wife to reach out to every good end that +God’s spirit of enlightenment could suggest to +them. Rev. William Pennefather was rector of +Christ’s Church at Barnet, and while devoted to his +ministerial duties his sympathies did not end with +his own people, nor his own denomination. His +home was sometimes called the “Missing Link,” for +it was a meeting-place for noblemen and farmers, +bishops and clergymen of all churches; a place +“where nationalities and denominations were easily +merged in the broad sunshine of Christian +love.”<sup><a href="#fn.xi.1" name="fna.xi.1" id="fna.xi.1">1</a></sup> +He carried his principle of Christian fellowship +further, for, after mature deliberation, in 1856, he +issued a call for a conference to be held at Barnet +whose object was “to bring into closer social communion +the members of various Churches, as children +of the one Father, animated by the same life, +and heirs together of the same glory.”<sup><a href="#fn.xi.2" name="fna.xi.2" id="fna.xi.2">2</a></sup> These conferences +have been continued from then to the +present time, and are known and prized in many +lands. I was present at the conference of 1888, +and representatives were there from nearly every<a + id="png.172" name="png.172"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">172/</span>168</samp> +Protestant country, while on the platform were +leaders of nearly every Protestant denomination, +furnishing a wonderful illustration of the union +of the Christian Church in Christ; a spiritual union +so real and eternal that the minor differences of +faith were swallowed up in the great fact that in +Christ Jesus all are one.</p> + +<p>Gradually a variety of missionary and evangelistic +agencies grew up about the conferences. In 1860 +the little Home was opened at Barnet which subsequently +developed into the deaconess house at +Mildmay Park. The question of calling into more +active exercise the energies of educated Christian +women, as we have seen in the preceding chapter, +was one that was attracting attention at the time +in England. Mr. and Mrs. Pennefather had long +desired to do something in this direction, and their +desire took this practical form. In its beginning it +had to battle with all the “definite and indefinite +objections” that could be advanced against any +attempt at organizing woman’s work. But those +days of latent suspicion or more open antagonism +are long past. The institution has justified its +right to be by doing a work that otherwise would +have remained undone.</p> + +<p>In 1864 Mr. Pennefather was called to St. Jude’s, +Mildmay Park, and the philanthropic and religious<a + id="png.173" name="png.173"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">173/</span>169</samp> +undertakings which he had begun were transferred +to his new home. He took with him the “iron +room” that had been erected for the conferences +at Barnet, and continued to use it for the same purposes +at Mildmay; while the missionary training-school +and home were accommodated in a house +which he hired for the purpose.</p> + +<p>His new parish was in a part of London where +poverty and want abounded. There was no adequate +provision for the education of the poor and +neglected children, so he erected a building where +elementary instruction could be given at a very low +price. A soup-kitchen was started at the iron +room: clubs of various kinds were formed, and +other agencies were set at work, both for the temporal +and spiritual welfare of the people. The +degraded and miserable neighborhood gradually +underwent a transformation, and the police testified +that there was a manifest restraint on the lawless +locality. “To many of the waifs of life no human +hand was stretched in kindness until he came to +the district and taught them what Christianity +was.”<sup><a href="#fn.xi.3" name="fna.xi.3" id="fna.xi.3">3</a></sup></p> + +<p>A small legacy coming to him, he bought a house +with a large garden attached, and made it a mission +center for the needs of the infirm and aged; while<a + id="png.174" name="png.174"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">174/</span>170</samp> +the ignorant and careless, who would not enter a +church, were often induced to attend meetings +here.</p> + +<p>The training-school had been started at Barnet +for the purpose of training foreign missionaries; +but Mr. Pennefather now saw that there was as +great a demand for home mission workers in the +sorrowful and benighted portions of the vast metropolis, +so, after much deliberation and consultation +between himself and his wife, he decided to +initiate the ministry of Christian women as deaconesses. +He hesitated about the name to be given to +the women whom he employed as Christian workers, +but no other was suggested conveying the +same idea of service to Christ among his suffering +and needy ones, and, as the appellation had already +won respect through the good reports of the deaconess +houses on the Continent, he decided to adopt +the same name. They continued to work in his +parish only until the terrible visitation of the +cholera in 1866. Then when men were swept into +eternity by hundreds, and hundreds more were in +dire distress, the deaconesses were invited by the +minister of another parish to come to his assistance. +In this way the bounds of the work began to +enlarge. A small hospital was added to the home +and a medical-school mission was begun.</p> +<a id="png.175" name="png.175"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">175/</span>171</samp> + +<p>It now became necessary to build a large hall; +the iron room was too small for the conferences, +the church too small for the congregation, and the +missions had outgrown the capacity of the mission +room. When the plan for a new building was made +known money came in unsolicited from various +sources. The undertaking was pushed rapidly forward, +and in October, 1870, the hall was opened. +It will seat 2,500 people, having a platform at the +west end, and a gallery running around the sides +and east end.</p> + +<p>Thanksgiving and prayer were built into the walls +from the very foundation; and before the basement +rooms were cleared of rubbish, or the floor laid, a +prayer-meeting was held to ask for a blessing upon +the future undertakings of the mission. The basement +was divided into five rooms, to be used for +night-schools and other agencies for the benefit of +the poor.</p> + +<p>Adjoining the hall, at the west end, was built the +deaconess house. From his home near by Mr. +Pennefather had watched the completion of the +work with great interest. In one of his letters he +says:<sup><a href="#fn.xi.4" name="fna.xi.4" id="fna.xi.4">4</a></sup> +“Sometimes I can scarcely believe that it +is a reality, and not all a dream—the Conference +Hall, with its appendages, and the deaconess house<a + id="png.176" name="png.176"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">176/</span>172</samp> +actually in existence. May the Holy Spirit fill the +place, and may he make it a center from whence the +living waters shall flow forth.”</p> + +<p>From a letter written to one of these deaconesses, +we gain his opinion as to the need of deaconesses, +and what was his ideal of a Home.<sup><a href="#fn.xi.5" name="fna.xi.5" id="fna.xi.5">5</a></sup> +“The need +for such an institution is great indeed. I do not +suppose there was ever a time in the history of +Christianity in which the openings for holy, disciplined, +intelligent women to labor in God’s vineyard +were so numerous as at present. The population +in towns and rural districts are waiting for +the patient and enduring love that dwells in the +breast of a truly pious woman, to wake them up to +thought and feeling. O! if I had the women and +had the means, how gladly would I send out hundreds, +two by two, to carry the river of truth into +the hamlets of our country, and the streets and +lanes of our great cities. Will you pray for the +Home? Ask for women and for means. I want +our Home to be such a place of holy, peaceful memories +that, when you leave it, it may be among the +brightest things that come to your mind in a distant +land, or in a different position; and each inmate +can help to make it what it should be.” But Mr. +Pennefather did not live to see the great extension<a + id="png.177" name="png.177"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">177/</span>173</samp> +in usefulness and importance that the Deaconess +Home was to obtain in later years. He passed +away from life April 28, 1873, leaving to his wife, +who had ever been his sympathetic and devoted +helper, the care of continuing the work he had begun. +She is still the head of the Mildmay Institutions, +assisted by a resident superintendent, and +aided by the counsels of wise, experienced men, who +form the board of trustees.</p> + +<p>From the beginning of the erection of the new +building every portion of it was put to use. In one +of the basement rooms is the invalid kitchen, where, +daily, puddings, jellies, and little delicacies are prepared +and sent out to sufferers in the neighborhood, +who could not otherwise obtain suitable nourishment. +From eleven to two o’clock tickets are +brought in, which have been distributed by the sisters +or by the district visitors; and those who come +to take the dinners, while waiting their turn, have +a kind word, or sympathetic inquiry about the sick +one, from the deaconess in charge.</p> + +<p>A flower mission occupies another room. Kind +friends send here treasures from the garden and +green-house, field and wood, and children contribute +bouquets of wild flowers. A deaconess superintends +the willing hands that tie the bunches, each +of which is adorned with a brightly colored Scripture<a + id="png.178" name="png.178"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">178/</span>174</samp> +text. Ten hospitals and infirmaries were regularly +visited during 1888; and more than thirty-eight +thousand bunches of flowers were distributed, +each accompanied by an appropriate text.</p> + +<p>Near at hand is the Dorcas room, where deaconesses +are kept busy in cutting out clothing and superintending +the sewing classes. During the winter +of 1887 thirty widows attended this class three +times a week, glad to earn a sixpence by needlework +done in a warm, lighted room, while a deaconess +entertained them by reading aloud. A large +amount of sewing is given out from the same room, +and the garments that are made are often sold to +the poor at a low price. A most impressive scene +is witnessed during the winter months, when, on +three evenings of the week, all the basement rooms +are crowded with the men’s night-school, which has, +it is believed, no rival in England. The ordinary +number of names on the books exceeds twelve hundred. +There are forty-nine classes, all taught by +ladies, the majority of them being deaconesses. +The subjects range from the elementary to the +higher branches of general and practical knowledge, +including arithmetic, geography, geometry, freehand +drawing, and short-hand. The Bible is read in +the classes on Monday and Friday, and a scriptural +address is given by some gentleman on Wednesday.<a + id="png.179" name="png.179"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">179/</span>175</samp> +The school always closes with prayer and singing. +The men may purchase coffee and bread and butter +before leaving, and of this they largely avail +themselves. A lending library is also attached to +the school. The highest attendance during last +session was five hundred and eighty-one, the lowest +two hundred and eighty-seven.</p> + +<p>The influence of this school is very great, and +many pass on from it to the men’s Bible-class, +which is held on Sunday afternoons in the largest +basement room.<sup><a href="#fn.xi.6" name="fna.xi.6" id="fna.xi.6">6</a></sup></p> + +<p>A servants’ registry is attached to the deaconess +house, and through its means about four hundred +servants are annually provided with places.</p> + +<p>Nearly fifty deaconesses make their home at this +central house, many of them having work in the +different parts of the city, perhaps at remote distances, +but returning at night to the home-like surroundings +and purer air of the central house. The +large sitting-room, the common living-room of the +deaconesses, is a charming place. It is of great +size, but made cheerful and attractive by pictures, +flowers, and bright and tasteful decorations that are +restful to the eyes. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pennefather +made it a principle of action to have the home life +cheerful, pleasant, and attractive, so that when the<a + id="png.180" name="png.180"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">180/</span>176</samp> +sisters come in toward evening, tired physically, and +mentally depressed and exhausted by the long strain +of hearing tales of misery, and seeing sights of +wretchedness and squalor the day through, they +could be cheered not only by the words of sympathy +and love of their associates, but by the silent, +restful influences of their surroundings.</p> + +<p>As I looked around the great room with deep-set +windows, brightened by flowers, and still more by +the happy faces of the deaconesses, some of whom +were young girls with the charms of happy girlhood +set off by the plain, black dress and wide white collar +of the deaconess garb, I could but think the +founders wise in arranging such pleasant, home-like +surroundings for their workers.</p> + +<p>From the windows you look down into a beautiful +garden, a rare luxury for a London dwelling. +This garden was among the later accessions of Mr. +Pennefather, being purchased by him shortly before +his death. A train of circumstances led to its possession +which he regarded as markedly providential; +and the delightful uses to which “that blessed garden,” +as it has been called, has since been put, +seem to justify the importance he attached to securing +it. During the conference times great tents +are reared here for the refreshments which the +weary body needs. A fine old mulberry tree<a + id="png.181" name="png.181"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">181/</span>177</samp> +extends its branches, and under its ample shade +meetings of one kind or another are held at all +hours of the day. The lawn, with its quiet, shady +walks, furnished with comfortable garden seats, provides +a meeting place for friends, where, in the intervals +between the services, those who perhaps +never see each other during any of the other fifty-one +weeks of the year may walk or sit together. +“Here in more ordinary times may be seen the +children of the Orphanage (where thirty-six girls +form a happy, busy family) playing together, or +the deaconesses in their becoming little white caps, +who have run out for a breath of air. Here, too, +during the summer, a succession of tea-parties is +held for the different classes which have been +reached by the deaconesses in the more densely +populated parts of London, to whom the garden is +a very paradise.”<sup><a href="#fn.xi.7" name="fna.xi.7" id="fna.xi.7">7</a></sup></p> + +<p>Before leaving the Central Deaconess Home I +must speak of one branch of work—the artistic +illustration of Scripture texts—because it so illustrates +the happy freedom and wisdom of the +Mildmay methods, which seek to develop the strength +of each sister in the line of her special aptitudes. +Two of the deaconesses have marked ability as +artists, and they devote their time to illuminating<a + id="png.182" name="png.182"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">182/</span>178</samp> +texts and adorning Christmas and Easter cards with +rare and exquisite designs. From the sale of these +illuminations over five thousand dollars were realized +last year for the benefit of the institution.</p> + +<p>The Conference Hall, too, should have a further +word of recommendation for the truly catholic spirit +in which it serves the interests of a myriad of good +causes. Besides the crowded meetings of the conference +there are held Sunday services throughout +the year. The hospitality of its rooms is readily +granted to every good cause with which the mission +has sympathy. During 1887 “temperance society +meetings, railway men and their wives, Moravian +missions, Pastor Bost’s mission at La Force, the +MacAll Paris missions, the Sunday closing movement, +young men’s and young women’s Christian +associations, a Christian police association, the Children’s +Special Service mission, the Christmas Letter +mission, Bible readings for German residents, and +various other foreign and home missions have all in +turn been advocated here.”<sup><a href="#fn.xi.8" name="fna.xi.8" id="fna.xi.8">8</a></sup></p> + +<p>The larger number of the deaconesses at the +central house, as well as the twenty-five at the +branch house in South London, are employed in +twenty-one London parishes, where their work has +been sought by the clergymen; they go to all,<a + id="png.183" name="png.183"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">183/</span>179</samp> +undertaking every kind of labor that can give them +access to the hearts and homes of the people. +While co-operating with the clergyman in charge of +a parish their work is superintended from the Deaconess +Home. They visit from house to house +among the sick and poor, hold mothers’ meetings, +teach night-schools, hold Bible-classes separately +for men, women, and children; hold special classes +for working women and girls who are kept busily +employed during the day, and during the winter +months have a weekly average of more than nine +thousand attendants on their services. They are +solving the problem of “how to save the masses” +by resolving the masses into individuals, and then +influencing these individuals by the power of personal +effort and love.</p> + +<p>But a few steps from Conference Hall is the Nursing +Home, where about one hundred “nurse sisters,” +nurses, and probationers make their home in the intervals +between their duties, and are presided over +by a lady superintendent of their own. Adjoining +is the Cottage Hospital, a beautiful building, the +gift of a lady in memory of her son. The walls +have been painted and decorated throughout by +some ladies who delight in using their skill to make +beautiful the homes of the sick.</p> + +<p>A large hospital and medical mission also exist<a + id="png.184" name="png.184"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">184/</span>180</samp> +in Bethnal Green, a densely populated part of London +that in some portions can vie with the worst +slums of the city. It was so necessary to provide +better accommodations for nursing the sufferers +than could be found in their poor homes that a +warehouse was fitted up with beds and transformed +into a small hospital. In 1887 four hundred and +thirteen patients were received at the hospital, and +in the dispensary for outside patients sixteen thousand +four hundred and eighteen visits were paid +during the year, nearly two thirds of which number +were to patients in their own houses. There is no +place in which a hospital could be more sorely +needed than in this destitute part of London, and +perhaps no place where it could be more appreciated. +“I had no idea,” said a man of the better +class who was brought in, “of there being such a +place as this; you give as much attention to the +poorest man you get out of the street as could be +given to a prince.”<sup><a href="#fn.xi.9" name="fna.xi.9" id="fna.xi.9">9</a></sup></p> + +<p>Every Christmas some kind of an entertainment +is arranged for the hospital patients, and, through +the gift of friends, articles of warm clothing are +distributed to protect against the winter’s cold.</p> + +<p>A variety of mission work is carried on in connection +with Bethnal Green. There is a Men’s<a + id="png.185" name="png.185"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">185/</span>181</samp> +Institute, open every evening except Sunday and +Monday, in connection with which is a savings’ +bank that is well patronized. There is a Lads’ Institute, +where the deaconesses have classes and +meet the boys in a friendly way; a men’s lodging-house, +where a comfortable bed and shelter can be +had for eight cents a night. The latter is an enterprise +which could be imitated with profit in all our +large American cities, where it is very difficult for +the homeless and poverty-stricken to obtain a decent +lodging, or to find any place, in fact, where +liquor is not sold. There are also evangelistic services +in the mission here, Sunday-schools, Bible-classes, +temperance meetings, a soup kitchen, and a +coffee bar, where, during Christmas week, between +four and five hundred men and boys were given +light refreshments, and at the same time some idea +of the kindliness and good-will that are associated +with this happy season of the year.</p> + +<p>There are also two convalescent homes, one at +Barnet and one at Brighton. The home at Brighton +is especially designed for the poor patients of the +East End mission. The report for the year ending +December 31, 1887, says that five hundred and fifty +men, women, and children enjoyed its benefits for +a fortnight or longer.<sup><a href="#fn.xi.10" name="fna.xi.10" id="fna.xi.10">10</a></sup></p> +<a id="png.186" name="png.186"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">186/</span>182</samp> + +<p>Mildmay nurse deaconesses have also charge of +the Doncaster General Infirmary, the Nurses’ Institute +at Malta, and the Medical Mission Hospital at +Jaffa, where two hundred and nineteen patients +were received the last year, of whom one hundred +and seventy-five were Moslems.</p> + +<p>There also exists under the supervision of Mildmay +workers a railway mission that was begun in +1880 for men on duty at two of the London stations. +An organized mission has sprung up from +this small beginning that has now extended over +three great lines of railroads which employ thousands +of men.</p> + +<p>The long list of labors given do not exhaust the +efforts of Mildmay workers, for, besides special teas +for policemen and postmen, and the mission room +and day-school at Ball’s Pond, there is also an educational +branch that is meeting the demand for +higher educational advantages for women, under +distinctly religious influences, by the Clapton House +School.</p> + +<p>The questions involuntarily present themselves, +when reading the undertakings just enumerated, +that involve not only faithfulness and devotion in +service, but disciplined, practiced faculties, “What +class of women are these by whom so much has +been accomplished? And what is the training that<a + id="png.187" name="png.187"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">187/</span>183</samp> +has made them so effective?” It is difficult to answer +the first question. The deaconesses are of all +classes, many of them being ladies who devote their +time, talent, and means to forward the cause. There +are a good many daughters of clergymen, who are +carrying out the associations of their life at home. +Just how many are self-supporting and just how +many are maintained by the Institution are facts +that are never known; as Mrs. Pennefather says in a +letter of February 11, 1889, “There are certain<a + id="png.188" name="png.188"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">188/</span>184</samp> +points we deal with as strictly private. While every +probationer pays four guineas for her first month, +the after monetary arrangements are never known +except to myself and the resident lady superintendent.”</p> + +<div class="sidebar"> +<p><span class="smc">Note.</span>—There is a further department at Mildmay that has +never been named, but is certainly an important and busy one; +it might be called the “Department of Inquiry,” for certainly +the personal visits and letters received, inquiring into the details +of the institution, must be very large. My obligations to Mrs. +Pennefather are great, who, both by letter and printed matter, +has placed a great number of facts at my disposal, of which I +have availed myself freely in writing this sketch. Mrs. Pennefather’s +words, “we are glad when we can help any Christian +work with the experience God has permitted us to gather,” +echo the words of the great apostle, <a name="gal66" id="gal66">“Let him that is taught +in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good +things.”</a> I remember, too, the gracious patience with which, +during one of the crowded days of the last conference, Miss +Coventry, the superintendent, spent a long hour with us, answering +fully and minutely the many questions which we put +when trying to supplement our want of knowledge by her long +experience. Indeed, the spirit of Mildmay impressed me as +generous and helpful; as has been said, “Over the whole +house rules the spirit of love, devotion, and prayer.”<sup>*</sup> +</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<p style="font-size: x-small;">* +“Deaconess Work in England,” <i>The Churchman</i>, May 12, 1888.</p> +</div> + +<p>The second question is more easy of response. +There is a probation house, where ladies that present +themselves as candidates are received for a +month, and are given work in teaching orphan +children, or go out to the city missions and the +night-schools under the care of a deaconess. If the +probation has proved satisfactory the candidate enters +the training-school called “the Willows,” a mile +or two from the Central House, a pleasant home +which about three years ago came into the possession +of the institution and the inmates of the +school, formerly accommodated in five small houses, +are now gathered, at slightly greater expense, +under one roof in the larger, pleasanter home. The +following extracts, taken from a little circular called +“A Missionary Training-school,” will give us a good +idea of the life of the embryo deaconesses, and the +instruction, practical and theoretical, that they receive. +“The house, which lies a little back from +the road, is entered through a conservatory passage, +and on the other side of the spacious hall, with its +illuminated motto, ‘Peace be to this house,’ above<a + id="png.189" name="png.189"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">189/</span>185</samp> +the fireplace, are the lady superintendent’s sitting-room +and the large dining-room, where, on the day +when I visited ‘the Willows,’ about thirty of us sat +down to dinner. Several others were absent in connection +with their medical studies. Both these +rooms open on a terrace, and beyond stretches a +garden which, even in lifeless winter-time, looked +inviting, and, in its spring beauty and summer loveliness, +must be in itself a training for the young +natures which are learning in the slums of Bethnal +Green and Hoxton their hard acquaintance with +sin and sorrow. Perhaps in these days of strain and +toil too little has been thought of the need of young +hearts for some gentle relief from the first shock of +meeting with the evil with which older workers +have a mournful familiarity.”</p> + +<p>The inmates of the Training-school are not deaconesses +alone. The school was started to prepare +workers for the foreign field, but the crying need of +the vast metropolis turned attention to the home +field. The Church of England Zenana Society sends +its candidates to Mrs. Pennefather for training, +and she is glad to accept them, believing that a variety +of companionship is needed by those who, in +zeal for their personal work, might lose the broad +sympathy for all kinds of Christian labor, which is an +invaluable cultivation for wise and useful laborers.</p> +<a id="png.190" name="png.190"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">190/</span>186</samp> + +<p>The several classes who pass through the course +of training may be designated as follows:</p> + +<p><i>a</i>.) Those who pass on to the deaconess house.</p> + +<p><i>b</i>.) Candidates for (1) the Church of England +Zenana Society; (2) the Church Missionary Society.</p> + +<p><i>c</i>.) Those who receive medical training for working +among the women and children of India.</p> + +<p><i>d</i>.) Those who are as yet unconnected with any +society.</p> + +<p><i>e</i>.) When vacancies occur some few are received +who merely return to home or parish work, but who +are greatly benefitted by training and experience.</p> + +<p>“The general routine of life seems to be as follows: +Prayers at eight o’clock, then breakfast, followed +by a certain amount of domestic duty which +falls to the lot of each. For it is not forgotten that +these years of training are not for the sake of home +life, but as preparation for the self-denials of missionary +life. Speaking broadly, the mornings seem +to be chiefly devoted to classes; afternoons to out +of door and district work; and thus theory and practice +pleasantly relieve and support each other.”</p> + +<p>There are regular Bible-classes held by different +clergymen, and once a fortnight there are lectures +on the history of missionary work. There are +classes in Hindustani, drawing, and singing, and<a + id="png.191" name="png.191"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">191/</span>187</samp> +for those whose education is defective, elementary +classes in arithmetic, geometry, and short-hand. +The probationers are also given training in the +duties of the store-room, and the order and method +that they are taught in caring for the minutest +details must certainly form valuable habits in all +those who have any desire to profit by the instruction +they receive.</p> + +<p>For those who are destined for medical work +among the women of India there is a special course +of medical training, both theoretical and practical.</p> + +<p>The age requirement is not so strictly maintained +at Mildmay as at many other deaconess houses, +but, as a rule, ladies from about twenty to thirty +years of age are preferred as students in the training-school. +The sum of three hundred dollars is +charged for the year’s expenses at the training-school, +medical students paying one hundred dollars +additional.</p> + +<p>Our study of the Mildmay Institutions has been +somewhat extensive. As was said at the beginning +of the chapter, the great freedom and simplicity of +the Mildmay methods, as well as the happy faculty +that its directors possess of utilizing all varieties of +individual talent, make this deaconess establishment +one that is full of valuable suggestions to the similar +institutions that are now arising in American<a + id="png.192" name="png.192"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">192/</span>188</samp> +Methodism. No working force is wasted; if a deaconess +possess a special talent, she is given a field in +which to exercise it; and if exceptional conditions +arise workers are found ready to meet them. This +training provides well-equipped missionaries for the +foreign field, and equally well-prepared missionaries +for the great field of the present hour—the home +mission work in the crowded wards of great cities.</p> + +<p>The annual expenses of the Mildmay Institutions +vary from one hundred and ten thousand to one +hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Sixty thousand +dollars are received in voluntary contributions, +and the remaining sum is generally obtained +from friends who are immediately concerned in the +work.</p> + +<p>It is certainly a marvelous tribute to Christian +faith, although it is never heralded as such, that an +establishment of the extent and magnitude of Mildmay +has been maintained for years with no permanent +endowment to fall back upon, and that annually +the renewed self-denial of constant friends has to +supply the large amount of money needed to meet +the entire expenses. Besides those outward and +visible services which it renders “for the love of +Christ, and in his name” Mildmay furnishes a constant +testimony to the fidelity of the Christian faith +in the hearts of many believers.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.xi.1" id="fn.xi.1" href="#fna.xi.1">1</a> +<i>Life and Letters of the Rev. W. Pennefather</i>, p. 279.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xi.2" id="fn.xi.2" href="#fna.xi.2">2</a> +<i>Ibid.</i>, p. 305.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xi.3" id="fn.xi.3" href="#fna.xi.3">3</a> +<i>Life and Letters of the Rev. W. Pennefather</i>, p. 435.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xi.4" id="fn.xi.4" href="#fna.xi.4">4</a> +<i>Life and Letters of the Rev. W. Pennefather</i>, p. 471.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xi.5" id="fn.xi.5" href="#fna.xi.5">5</a> +<i>Life and Letters of the Rev. W. Pennefather</i>, p. 471.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xi.6" id="fn.xi.6" href="#fna.xi.6">6</a> +<i>Mildmay Deaconesses and their Work</i>, p. 7.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xi.7" id="fn.xi.7" href="#fna.xi.7">7</a> +<i>Mildmay Deaconesses and their Work</i>, p. 6.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xi.8" id="fn.xi.8" href="#fna.xi.8">8</a> +<i>A Retrospect of Mildmay Work During the Year 1887.</i></p> +<p><a name="fn.xi.9" id="fn.xi.9" href="#fna.xi.9">9</a> +<i>Mildmay Deaconesses and their Work</i>, p. 13.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xi.10" id="fn.xi.10" href="#fna.xi.10">10</a> +<i>A Light in a Dark Place</i>, p. 21.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.193" name="png.193"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">193/</span>189</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER XII.</h3> + +<h4>DEACONESSES IN SCOTLAND.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">When</span> Fliedner went on his second tour to England +he extended his journey to Scotland, and +ventured to Edinburgh at a time when the cholera +was sweeping with fearful ravages through the city +in order to become acquainted with Dr. Chalmers. +The great Scotch divine and his good deeds, that +were connected with all kinds of charitable endeavor, +moved the German pastor to admiration +and stirred him to holy emulation. On the other +hand, that Chalmers was profoundly touched by the +work that Fliedner had accomplished in Germany +there can be no doubt; we have his own words to +testify to the importance he attached to the diaconate +of women. In his lectures on Romans, he +says: “Here, too, we are presented with a most +useful indication, the employment of female agency, +under the eye and with the sanction of an apostle, +in the business of the Church. It is well to have +inspired authority for a practice too little known, +and too little preached on in modern times. Phebe<a + id="png.194" name="png.194"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">194/</span>190</samp> +belonged to the order of deaconesses, in which capacity +she had been the helper of many, including +Paul himself. In what respect she served them is +not particularly specified. Like the women in the +gospels who waited on our Saviour, she may have +ministered to them of her substance, though there +can be little doubt that, as the holder of an official +station in the Church, she ministered to them by +her services also.” It is but recently, however, that +deaconesses have become incorporated into the religious +life of Scotland, and, so far, they do not exist +in connection with the Free Church, of which Chalmers +was the able and heroic leader, but only in +connection with the national Church—the old historic +Church of Scotland. Within this Church the +question has assumed the form, not alone of the revival +of the apostolic order of deaconesses, but also +of the organization of all the manifold activities of +women within the Church into one whole, which +is put under the authority and direction of the officers +of the Church.</p> + +<p>Isolated attempts in this direction had previously +been made, but in 1885 the first definite steps were +taken when the Committee on Christian Life and +Work, of which Dr. Charteris was the Convener, presented +to the General Assembly a report on “The +need of an organization of women’s work in the<a + id="png.195" name="png.195"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">195/</span>191</samp> +Church,” part of which is as follows: “The organization +of women’s work in the Church has become +a subject of pressing interest. The Assembly has +already sanctioned and regulated the organization +of women’s work in collecting for foreign missions, +and in sending out and superintending missionaries. +The great and growing strength of the movement +thus recognized is one of the most gratifying things +in our mission; ... but of still older date, and +not less powerful, is the part taken by women in +the home work of the parish church. Lady visitors +are carrying messages of divine truth and of human +sympathy into the dwellings of the poor both +in town and country. Many have been trained as +nurses that they may be skilled ministrants to the +suffering and sick; and there can be little doubt +that the greater part of the actual personal help +which ministers receive in parishes is from the +women of the congregations. But those who have +done most of the good work are most instant in +asking from the Church some means of doing still +more. From ministers and from their female helpers +have come many requests to the committee for +some provision for training; some recognition and +organization of those who are trained…. In the +Church of England are many homes for nurses and +deaconesses; training institutions for female<a + id="png.196" name="png.196"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">196/</span>192</samp> +mission work of every kind; and the rapidity with +which they are multiplying proves of itself how +much they are needed; also non-conformist institutions +of the kind, and some separate from all +Churches. Your committee believe that the time +has fully come for our Church’s taking steps to supply +her own wants in this important department of +mission work.”<sup><a href="#fn.xii.1" name="fna.xii.1" id="fna.xii.1">1</a></sup></p> + +<p>The General Assembly then directed the committee +to inquire into the subject of women’s work in +the Church, and to bring up a definite report to the +next assembly. The committee accepted the task, +sent out requests to every parish for suggestions as +to the forms of Christian work to be carried on by +women, and the best means of making preparation +for their special training, and prepared themselves +by personal inspection of the leading institutions +for training women workers in England to be able to +answer intelligently the same questions. A scheme +was reported in 1886 which should incorporate all +existing parish organizations, such as Sabbath-school +teachers’ and women’s societies of all kinds, +and should aim at increasing their number and +working power. In 1887 regulations were perfected +for working this scheme, and the approval of<a + id="png.197" name="png.197"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">197/</span>193</samp> +this by the Assembly of 1887 made the new plan a +part of the organized work of the Church.</p> + +<p>The comprehensive character of the new departure +in the Church of Scotland is plainly seen from +a view of the organization as it now exists. The +three grades into which the Christian women workers +are divided embrace every kind of work done +in connection with the Church. The first grade is +general in its character, and forms an association +called the Women’s Guild. In each parish the +members of Bible-classes, of Young Women’s Congregational +Associations, of mission working parties, +of Dorcas societies, as well as tract distributers, +Sabbath-school teachers, members of the Church +choir, and any who are engaged in the service of +Christ in the Church are all to be accepted as +members of the guild. The next higher grade is +the Women Workers’ Guild, for which a certain age +is required, and an experience of at least three +years, with the approval of the kirk session which +enrolls them. In connection with this guild are +associates, who have a similar relation to the members +of the Women Workers’ Guild that the associates +have to deaconesses in the English deaconess +houses. They are not pledged to regular or constant +service, but engage to do some work or contribute +some money every year. They can go to<a + id="png.198" name="png.198"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">198/</span>194</samp> +the deaconess house, put on the garb of the deaconess +while there, and as long as they remain can +assume the responsibilities and enjoy the privileges +belonging to deaconesses. The third higher grade +is that of the deaconesses. Any one desiring to +become a deaconess “must purpose to devote herself, +so long as she shall occupy the position of a +deaconess, especially to Christian work in connection +with the Church, as the chief object of her +life.”<sup><a href="#fn.xii.2" name="fna.xii.2" id="fna.xii.2">2</a></sup> +Provision was also made for a training-school +and home where deaconesses could be prepared +for their duties.</p> + +<p>There are a great many ladies who for a long +time have been engaged in doing the practical work +of a deaconess without being clothed in the garb, +or invested with the office. The Church of Scotland +recognized these workers by providing two +classes of deaconesses, who should be equal in position, +but have different spheres of activity. Those +who for seven years had been known as active +workers, and who have given their lives largely to +Christian service, are accepted as deaconesses of +the first class, and are free to work wherever they +find themselves most useful within the limits of +the Church. The second class embraces those who +shall have received training in the deaconess<a + id="png.199" name="png.199"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">199/</span>195</samp> +institution, or have been in connection with it for at +least two years.</p> + +<p>When the measure was finally passed by the +General Assembly there was no delay in carrying +into execution the details indicated by the plan of +work. The Deaconess Institution and Training +Home was at once started. It was located at Edinburgh, +as the most central and convenient place +for the institution, and as furnishing the most available +advantages for the instruction and training of +the deaconesses. From here as a center the work +is expected to penetrate into every part of Scotland +by means of the trained workers whose services will +be available for all parts of the country when desired +by the ministers and kirk sessions. With true +Scotch prudence and wisdom it was arranged that +the lady who was chosen to be the superintendent +should fit herself thoroughly for the duties of +her responsible place by becoming familiar with +the workings of similar institutions in England. +She was accordingly given six months’ leave of absence, +which she spent among the great London +Homes, and only assumed the duties of her position +May 1, 1888. Meanwhile the Home had opened +under the temporary care of a lady who had been +a worker in Mrs. Meredith’s Prison Mission, and for +six years a Mildmay deaconess. It had from the<a + id="png.200" name="png.200"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">200/</span>196</samp> +beginning the warm co-operation of sympathizing, +influential friends. Regular courses of lectures were +arranged on subjects connected with Christian work, +and as similar courses will be demanded of like institutions +in America it may be interesting to give +the syllabus in full:</p> + +<div class="syllabus"> +<h4>SYLLABUS OF LECTURES.</h4> + +<h5>(On Tuesdays at 12.)</h5> + +<h4 style="margin-top: 0;">1. B.—Professor Charteris. Four Lectures.</h4> +<h5>“How to Begin a Mission.”</h5> + +<p>Nov. 29.—1. Whom to visit, and why. The ills we know of, bodily, +spiritual, social; and seek to lessen.</p> + +<p>Dec. <span class="phantom">0</span>6.—2. How to induce the people who belong to no church—perhaps +care for none—to come in.</p> + +<p>Dec. 13.—3. What to do with the children; (<i>a</i>) to attract, (<i>b</i>) to influence +them.</p> + +<p>Dec. 20.—4. What agencies besides Sunday services prove best.</p> + +<h4>2. C.—Dr. P. A. Young. Six Lectures.</h4> +<h5>“Medical Hygiene for the Use of Visitors.”</h5> + +<p>Jan. <span class="phantom">0</span>3.—1. Object and scope of the course of lectures; short sketch +of the structure and functions of the human body, including a +brief description of the functions of digestion, absorption, circulation, +respiration, excretion, secretion, and enervation.</p> + +<p>Jan. 10.—2. Fractures, how to recognize and treat them temporarily; +bleeding, and how to treat it; the use of the triangular +bandage.</p> + +<p>Jan. 17.—3. Treatment of fainting, choking, burns and scalds, bites +from animals, bruises and tears from machinery, convulsions, +sunstroke, persons found insensible, suspected poisoning and +frostbite; how to lift and carry an injured person.</p> + +<p>Jan. 24.—4. Sick-room, its selection, preparation, cleaning, warming,<a + id="png.201" name="png.201"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">201/</span>197</samp> +ventilation, and furnishing, bed and bedding, infection and disinfection.</p> + +<p>Jan. 31.—5. Washing and dressing patients, bed-making, changing +sheets, lifting helpless patients, food administration, medicines +and stimulants, what to observe regarding a sick person.</p> + +<p>Feb. 7.—6. Taking temperature, baths, bedsores, nursing sick children, +application of local remedies, poultices, fomentations, +blisters, etc.; management of convalescents.</p> + +<h4>3. D.—Rev. George Wilson. Four Lectures.</h4> +<h5>“Difficulties Encountered by District Visitors.”</h5> + +<p>Feb. 14.—1. Difficulties proceeding from indifference.</p> + +<p>Feb. 21.—2. Difficulties proceeding from ignorance.</p> + +<p>Feb. 28.—3. Difficulties proceeding from adversity.</p> + +<p>Mar. 6.—4. Difficulties proceeding from anxiety.</p> +<p><span class="phantom">Mar. 6.—4. </span>Note.—Questions invited from the ladies.</p> + +<h4>4. E.—Rev. Dr. Norman Macleod. Four Lectures.</h4> +<h5>“Some Qualifications of a Church Worker, especially among the +Poor.”</h5> + +<p>March 13.—1. Motives and aims.</p> + +<p>March 20.—2. Difficulties and hindrances, how to overcome them.</p> + +<p>March 27.—3. Conditions of success.</p> + +<p>April<span class="phantom">h 0</span>3.—4. Helps, agencies, etc.</p> + +<h4>5. F.—Rev. John McMurtrie. Two Lectures.</h4> +<h5>“History and Methods of Missions to the Heathen.”</h5> + +<p>April 10.—1. History of missions.</p> + +<p>April 17.—2. Methods of missions.</p> +</div> + +<p>Another wise provision in this Scotch home is +the arrangement by which those who do not wish to +become deaconesses, but who want to become competent +Christian workers in their own homes, can<a + id="png.202" name="png.202"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">202/</span>198</samp> +come here and spend some months in receiving +training and instruction in various methods of Christian +work. There is no department in life in which +many blunders and much loss of time and usefulness +cannot be prevented by making use of the experience +of others who have previously overcome the +difficulties to be encountered. In other words, we +need to obtain all the preparation and discipline we +can possibly have in order to do our work well; and +especially is this true of Christian work, which demands +the highest service that the heart and soul +of humanity can give. Many individuals will come +to the home to be trained and fitted to work in +their own homes, and will start new lines of +Christian activity that will win the sympathies and +efforts of many who are eager to be employed +in good works, if only they can have competent +direction.</p> + +<p>A pamphlet entitled <i>The Deaconess Institution +and Training Home</i> says: “Are there not many +parts all over Scotland—mines, quarries, etc.—where +the population is poor and hard-working? +Would it not in such places be an advantage both +to minister and people to have a Christian lady, +trained, experienced, and devoted, to live and work +among them? Or, which would be possible in +every parish, would it not be a great advantage that<a + id="png.203" name="png.203"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">203/</span>199</samp> +in case of need—in a mining accident, an outbreak +of sickness—a trained Christian nurse should be +available during the emergency?”</p> + +<p>The General Assembly provided that deaconesses +should be solemnly inducted into their office at a +religious service in church. It also provided “that +along with the application for the admission of any +person to the office of a deaconess there shall be +submitted a certificate from a committee of the +General Assembly intrusted with that duty stating +that the candidate is qualified in respect of education, +and that she has had seven years’ experience +in Christian work, or two years’ training in the +Deaconess Institution and Training Home.” Also, +“Before granting the application, the kirk session +shall intimate to the presbytery their intention of +doing so, unless objection be offered by the presbytery +at its first meeting thereafter.” On Sunday, +December 9, 1888, the first deaconess was set apart +to her duties. The kirk session was already in possession +of the necessary certificates testifying to her +“character, education, experience, devotedness, and +power to serve and co-operate with others.” Due +intimation had been made to the presbytery. The +questions were put that were appointed by the General +Assembly:</p> + +<p>“Do you desire to be set apart as a deaconess,<a + id="png.204" name="png.204"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">204/</span>200</samp> +and as such to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in the +Church, which is his body?</p> + +<p>“Do you promise, as a deaconess of the Church +of Scotland, to work in connection with that Church, +subject to its courts, and in particular to the kirk +session of the parish in which you work?</p> + +<p>“Do you humbly engage, in the strength and +grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, +faithfully and prayerfully to discharge the duties +of this office?”</p> + +<p>The lady who, by answering the above questions, +received the sanction of the Church as one of its +appointed officers was Lady Grisell Baillie, of Dryburgh +Abbey. She writes to the author of this +book: “I count it a great honor to be permitted to +serve in the Church of my fathers, and I pray that +I may be enabled faithfully and prayerfully to fulfill +the duties to which I am called, and that it maybe +for the glory of our God and Saviour that I am +permitted to work in his vineyard.”</p> + +<p>Miss Davidson, who was temporary superintendent +of the home, but who is now engaged in organizing +branches of the Women’s Guild throughout +Scotland, and Miss Alice Maud Maxwell, the present +superintendent of the home, have also been set +apart to the same office. As has been said, “Each +represents an old Scottish family, whose members<a + id="png.205" name="png.205"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">205/</span>201</samp> +have been distinguished for Christian and philanthropic +labors;” and “each represents a different +type of deaconess work.” Lady Grisell Baillie is +engaged in gentle ministrations among the people +of her own home. Miss Davidson is at the service +of every minister who desires aid in organizing +women’s work in his parish. And Miss Maxwell +is at the training-home, leading a busy life +in directing the class labors and missionary activities +that center around it and in impressing her life +and spirit upon a band of workers who are to +further Christ’s cause both at home and in the +mission field.</p> + +<p>The mention of any facts that can bring before +us the varied character that the deaconess work can +assume is valuable. For to be truly useful, this +cause needs to provide a place for women of very +unlike qualities, and also to allow a certain degree +of freedom which will insure the individuality of +each worker.</p> + +<p>The action of the Church of Scotland has had its +influence upon the Reformed Churches throughout +the world holding the presbyterial system. At the +session of the London Council of the Alliance of Reformed +and Presbyterian Churches during the summer +of 1888, Dr. Charteris presented a report embracing +many of the features of the elaborate scheme<a + id="png.206" name="png.206"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">206/</span>202</samp> +which he had previously devised for the Church of +Scotland. And the Council, in receiving the report, +not only approved it, but “commended the details of +the scheme stated in the report to the consideration +of the churches represented in the Alliance.” We +may regard the Presbyterian churches of Great +Britain, therefore, as committed, not only to the +indorsement of deaconesses as officers in the service +of the Church, but to the organization of the +whole work of women in the churches, under ecclesiastical +authority and direction.</p> + +<p>There is one feature of the deaconess cause as it +has been developed in the Church of Scotland that +is of especial interest to the Methodists of America. +Most of the great deaconess houses of England +have sprung from the personal faith and works of +earnest-souled individuals. Mildmay, for example, +is a living testimony to the faithfulness and energy +of the Rev. Mr. Pennefather and those associated +with him. Within the Church of England the recognition +accorded deaconesses is a partial one, resting +on the principles and rules signed by the archbishops +and eighteen bishops, and suggested for +adoption in 1871. But as yet the English Church +has not formally accepted this utterance, and made +it authoritative. The German deaconess houses, +while receiving the practical indorsement of the<a + id="png.207" name="png.207"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">207/</span>203</samp> +State Church of Germany, are not in any way officially +connected with it. Even Kaiserswerth itself +is solely responsible to those who contribute to its +support for a right use of the means placed at its +command. The same fact applies to the Paris deaconess +houses. They are all detached efforts, not +parts of a general system. But the Scotch deaconesses +are responsible to a church, and a church is +responsible for their work. The Church of Scotland +is, therefore, justified in its claim when it says that +the adoption of the scheme of the organization of +women’s work by the assembly of 1888, “is the +first attempt since the Reformation to make the +organization of women’s work a branch of the <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: Original has 'geneneral'">general</ins> +organization of the Church, under the control +of her several judicatories.”<sup><a href="#fn.xii.3" name="fna.xii.3" id="fna.xii.3">3</a></sup> +The second attempt +was made, which was the first also for any Church +in America, when, May 18, 1888, the Methodist +Episcopal Church of the United States instituted +the office of deaconess, and made it an inherent +part of the Church economy, under the direction +and control of the Annual Conferences.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.xii.1" id="fn.xii.1" href="#fna.xii.1">1</a> +<i>Organization of Women’s Work in the Church of Scotland</i>. +Notes by A. H. Charteris, D.D.; p. 4.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xii.2" id="fn.xii.2" href="#fna.xii.2">2</a> +<i>Report of Committee on Christian Life and Work</i>, 1888, p. 36.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xii.3" id="fn.xii.3" href="#fna.xii.3">3</a> +Nearly all of the facts, both printed and personal, concerning +the deaconess cause in Scotland have been furnished the writer +through the kindness of Lady Grisell Baillie, Dryburgh Abbey, +Scotland.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.208" name="png.208"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">208/</span>204</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER XIII.</h3> + +<h4>THE DEACONESS CAUSE IN AMERICA.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">It</span> was no part of the plan of this book, when +first projected, to treat of the deaconess cause as +it is developing within the United States of America, +but gradually, through the kindness of many +friends belonging to different denominations, a number +of facts have been obtained which bear directly +upon the question of how the example of European +deaconess houses has influenced and is influencing +the Protestant Churches of America; and it seems +unwise to omit them from the consideration of the +subject.</p> + +<p>Naturally the German Lutherans, who were well +acquainted with the deaconess work in their native +land, were the first to try to introduce it among +their churches. In the yearly report sent out +from Kaiserswerth, January 1, 1847, Fliedner mentions +that an urgent appeal had been made to him +to send deaconesses to an important city in the +United States, there to have the oversight of a hospital, +and to found a mother-house for the training<a + id="png.209" name="png.209"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">209/</span>205</samp> +of deaconesses. In the report for the following +year Fliedner again refers to the call from America, +and states his intention to extend his travels to the +New World, and to take with him sisters who shall +aid in founding a mother-house. In the summer +of 1849 he was enabled to carry out his intention, +and July 14, 1849, accompanied by four deaconesses, +he reached Pittsburg, Pa., where Rev. +Dr. W. A. Passavant, who had written so many +urgent appeals for his aid, was awaiting him. The +building had already been secured for a hospital +and deaconess home, and, July 17, was solemnly +dedicated at a service where Fliedner delivered the +principal address, and a large audience testified to +their interest.</p> + +<p>Before his return to Europe Fliedner visited the +New York Synod, and, in an English discourse, +described the character and aims of Kaiserswerth, +and commended the newly founded institution at +Pittsburg to the sympathy and aid of the German +Lutheran Church in America. No further results +were reached, as the synod contented itself with +resolving that “this Ministerium awaits with deep +interest the result of the work made in behalf of the +institution of Protestant deaconesses at +Pittsburg.”<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.1" name="fna.xiii.1" id="fna.xiii.1">1</a></sup></p> + +<p>The institution is occasionally heard of afterward<a + id="png.210" name="png.210"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">210/</span>206</samp> +in the proceedings of the Pittsburg Synod, +and in the paper, <i>The Missionary</i>, published under +the auspices of the same Church. Urgent appeals +were also sent out for devoted Christian women to +come to the aid of the sisters and to join their numbers; +but although the hospital, commended by their +skillful and able ministrations as nurses, had the full +approval of the public, there were few, if any, who +came to join them, and they were unduly burdened +by a task too great for their small number.</p> + +<p>In 1854 Dr. Passavant resigned his pastoral +charge, and devoted his entire time to the furtherance +of the cause, but, up to the present, it has not +attained the complete organization and wide extension +that its friends in the German Lutheran Church +have desired.</p> + +<p>The institutions which owe their existence to Dr. +Passavant’s efforts are the infirmary at Pittsburg; +the hospital and deaconess home in Milwaukee; +the hospital in Jacksonville, Ill.; the orphanages +for girls in Rochester and Mount Vernon, N. Y., +and one for boys in Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>There is, at the present time, only one of the +original Kaiserswerth sisters left, and that is Sister +Elizabeth, the head deaconess at Rochester. Dr. +Passavant still continues to labor at forming a complete +organization on the basis of the Kaiserswerth<a + id="png.211" name="png.211"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">211/</span>207</samp> +system, and, to quote the words of Dr. A. Spaeth, +“As he succeeded forty years ago in bringing +the first sisters over from Kaiserswerth to Pittsburg, +I have no doubt that now, when the Church +is at last awakening to the importance of this +work, he will succeed in the completion of his +undertaking.”</p> + +<p>A more recent development of the deaconess +work in the German Lutheran Church has arisen +in connection with the German hospital in Philadelphia. +The hospital was well equipped for its +work, but there was much dissatisfaction with the +nursing, which was inefficient and unskillful. In +the fall of 1882 the hospital authorities turned for +advice and co-operation to Dr. W. J. Mann, Dr. A. +Spaeth, and other clergymen of the denomination +in Philadelphia. It was determined to secure German +deaconesses as nurses. Several attempts were +made to induce Kaiserswerth, or some other large +mother-house in Germany, to give up a few sisters to +the hospital, but on all sides the applications were +refused. The deaconesses were too greatly needed +in the Old World to be spared for work in the +New. At length, through the unremitting efforts of +Consul Meyer, and of John D. Lankenau, president +of the board of managers, a small independent community +of sisters under the direction of Marie Krueger,<a + id="png.212" name="png.212"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">212/</span>208</samp> +who had herself been trained in Kaiserswerth, +acceded to the proposal, and the head-deaconess, +with six sisters, arrived in Philadelphia June 19, +1884. They left the field of their self-denying work +in the hospital and poor-house at Iserlohn, in Westphalia, +sadly to the regret of the authorities and +citizens of the place, but to the hospital at Philadelphia +they gave invaluable aid. From the first +their good services met with appreciation. The +efficiency of the hospital service was greatly increased; +and from physicians and hospital authorities +there was only one testimony, and that a most +favorable one, to the value of deaconesses as trained +nurses. Mr. Lankenau, who has ever been the wise +and munificent patron of the institution, determined +to insure a succession of these admirable nurses for +the service of the hospital, and, at an expense of +over five hundred thousand dollars, he built an edifice +of palace-like proportions, and made over this +munificent gift to the hospital corporation. It was +accepted by them January 10, 1887. The western +wing of the building is used as a home for aged +men and women; the eastern wing is a residence +and training-school for the deaconesses, the chapel +uniting the two, and the whole being known as the +Mary J. Drexel Home and Philadelphia Mother-house +of Deaconesses.</p> +<a id="png.213" name="png.213"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">213/</span>209</samp> + +<p>A visit to the Home convinced me that the regulations +of the house, the work of the sisters, and +the devotion to duty that characterize the mother-houses +in Germany rule also in this home in the New +World. The imposing entrance hall with the great +stair-way, the floor and stairs of white marble, the +wide halls and spacious reception-rooms and offices +seemed at first almost incongruous surroundings for +the modest active deaconesses, some of whom were +busy in the hospital wards, others hanging clothes +on the line, and others occupied in duties within +the building. But place and environments are only +incidental matters; the spirit within is the determining +quality; and a conversation with the <i>Oberin</i> +(head deaconess) and the rector left me with the +persuasion that the spirit of earnest devotion to +God and humanity is the main-spring of duty in +this house.</p> + +<p>The arrangement of the rooms for the sisters is +similar to that at Kaiserswerth; each consecrated +sister has a small apartment simply furnished for +her own use. The older probationers are divided +two and three in a room. Those who have recently +entered are placed in two large rooms, but here +every one has her own four walls—even if they are +only made by linen curtains. When Elizabeth +Fry first visited Kaiserswerth, among the arrangements<a + id="png.214" name="png.214"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">214/</span>210</samp> +that she at once recognized and commended +was that by which each deaconess was +given the privacy of her own apartment. In the +deaconess houses that are so rapidly springing +up in different parts of the United States this +provision ought to be guarded with care, for a life +that is so constantly drawn out in ministrations to +others should have some moments of absolute privacy +upon which no one can intrude.</p> + +<p>There are at present thirty-two deaconesses at +the Philadelphia Mother-house, twenty of whom +are probationers. The house was admitted to the +Kaiserswerth Association, and will henceforth be +represented at the Conferences. The direction is +vested in a rector and head deaconess, neither of +whom can be removed except on just cause of +complaint. The distinctive dress is black, with +blue or white aprons, white caps and collars. +There is one addition to their garb which Fliedner +would have looked upon with disfavor, and that +is a cross—worn by the sisters from the time they +are fully accepted as deaconesses.</p> + +<p>The first consecration took place in the beautiful +chapel of the Home, January 13, 1889, when three +deaconesses were accepted as members of the order.</p> + +<p>For those who desire to form a good conception +of the deaconess institutions as they are conducted<a + id="png.215" name="png.215"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">215/</span>211</samp> +in Germany, a visit to the Philadelphia Mother-house +of Deaconesses will be fruitful of valuable +suggestions.<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.2" name="fna.xiii.2" id="fna.xiii.2">2</a></sup></p> + +<p>In July, 1887, a Swedish Lutheran pastor in +Omaha sent a probationer to Philadelphia to be +trained as a sister for a deaconess house to be established +in that central city of the United States. +In 1888 four others joined her, and the building of +a hospital and deaconess home is now progressing +by the generous support of all classes of philanthropists +in Omaha. A deaconess home has also +recently been founded by Norwegian Lutherans in +South Brooklyn, L. I.</p> + +<p>In the German Reformed Church a layman +endeavored in 1866 to arouse interest in the deaconess +office. The Hon. J. Dixon Roman, of Hagerstown, +Md., at Christmas gave five thousand +dollars to the congregation, and with it sent a +proposition to the consistory that three ladies of +the congregation should be chosen and ordained to +the order of deaconesses, with absolute control of +the income of said fund for the purposes and duties +as practiced in the early days of the +Church.<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.3" name="fna.xiii.3" id="fna.xiii.3">3</a></sup><a + id="png.216" name="png.216"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">216/</span>212</samp> +This, and the action of the Lebanon Classis in +1867, requesting the synod “to take into consideration +the propriety of restoring the apostolic +society of deaconesses,” seem to have been +the only steps taken by those connected with this +denomination.</p> + +<p>In the Protestant Episcopal Church of America +the bishop of Maryland first instituted an order +of deaconesses in connection with St. Andrew’s +Parish, Baltimore, Md. Two ladies gave themselves +to ministering to the poor, and, with the +sanction and approval of the bishop, a house was +obtained and given the name of St. Andrew’s Infirmary. +In 1873 there were four resident deaconesses +and four associates.<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.4" name="fna.xiii.4" id="fna.xiii.4">4</a></sup> +An early report of the +infirmary says: “The deaconesses look to no organization +of persons to furnish the pecuniary aid +required by the demands of their position. Their +first efforts have been for the destitute and sick. +At the home they minister daily to the suffering +and destitute sick wherever found; some requiring +only temporary medical aid and nursing; others, +whom God has chastened with more continuous +suffering, requiring, in their penury, constant care +and continual ministration.” There is also under<a + id="png.217" name="png.217"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">217/</span>213</samp> +their charge a church school for vagrant children, +and one also for the children of those comfortably +situated in life.</p> + +<p>The “Forms for Setting Apart Deaconesses,” the +“Rules for Self-Examination,” and the “Rules of +Discipline” in the order of deaconesses in Maryland +are largely patterned after the Kaiserswerth +rules. In truth, the general questions for self-examination +in regard to external duties, spiritual +duties to the sick, the conduct of the deaconesses +or sisters to those whom they meet, and the +means for improving in the duties of the office are +in many cases selected, and but slightly altered, +from the series prepared by Pastor +Fliedner.<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.5" name="fna.xiii.5" id="fna.xiii.5">5</a></sup> +The influence of the devout German pastor is indelibly +stamped upon the deaconess cause in whatever denomination +it has developed during the nineteenth +century.</p> + +<p>In 1864 the deaconesses of the Diocese of Alabama +were organized by Bishop Wilmer. Under +the supervision of the bishop the three deaconesses +with whom the order originated were associated in +taking charge of an orphanage and boarding-school +for girls. In 1873 there were five deaconesses, one +probationer, and two resident +associates.<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.6" name="fna.xiii.6" id="fna.xiii.6">6</a></sup></p> + +<p>In the Church Home all of the work is done by<a + id="png.218" name="png.218"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">218/</span>214</samp> +the inmates. As in the foreign Homes, the deaconesses +are provided with food and raiment, and during +sickness or old age they are cared for at the +expense of the order. They are forbidden to receive +fee or compensation for their services. Any +remuneration that is made is paid to the order. In +one feature, however, the deaconesses of Alabama +differ from either their German or English sisters, +and that is in the care of their individual means. +The “Constitution and Rules” says: “The private +funds of deaconesses shall not be expended without +the approval of the chief deaconess or the +bishop.”<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.7" name="fna.xiii.7" id="fna.xiii.7">7</a></sup> +This usage prevails in sisterhoods, but, outside of +this instance, so far as the author has been able to +learn is not known in deaconess institutions.</p> + +<p>The rules for the associates in connection with +the order are given somewhat at length, from which +the following are taken. After defining an associate +as a Christian woman desiring to aid the work +of the deaconesses, and admonishing her that, although +not bound by the rules of the Community, +yet she must be careful to lead such a life as is +becoming one associated in a work of religion +and charity, she is requested “to state what kind +of work she will undertake, under the direction of<a + id="png.219" name="png.219"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">219/</span>215</samp> +the chief deaconess, and to report the result to +her at such intervals as may be agreed upon.” The +following modes of assistance are suggested as most +useful; namely, “to provide and make clothing for +the poor; to collect alms; to procure work, or promote +its sale; to teach in the school; to assist in +music or other classes; to relieve the destitute; to +minister to the sick; to visit and instruct the ignorant; +to attend the funeral arrangements for the +poor; and to take charge of or assist in the decoration +of the church.”</p> + +<p>The feature of the union of the associates with +the deaconesses is one whose importance can +scarcely be exaggerated. There are many who +would be able to serve for a short time in this relation +whose valuable aid would be entirely lost if +none but deaconesses who give all their time and +strength could work in the order.</p> + +<p>In the Diocese of Long Island Bishop Littlejohn +instituted an association of deaconesses by publicly +admitting six women to the office of deaconess +in St. Mary’s Church, Brooklyn, February 11, 1872. +The association has not continued in the form in +which it originated, but has now changed into the +Sisterhood of St. John the Evangelist. Still this +sisterhood retains many of the distinctive deaconess +features. A sister may, for instance, withdraw<a + id="png.220" name="png.220"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">220/</span>216</samp> +from the sisterhood for proper cause. She labors +without remuneration, and the sisters live together +in a home, or singly, as they may please, in any +place where their work is located.</p> + +<p>In the Diocese of Western New York there are +five deaconesses, with their associates and helpers, +under the direction of the bishop of the diocese.</p> + +<p>In America, however, as in England, within the +Episcopal Church sisterhoods are more influential +and more rapid in their growth than are deaconess +institutions. In a list of the sisterhoods of the +Episcopal Church in America, given in the monthly +magazine devoted to women’s work in the +Church,<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.8" name="fna.xiii.8" id="fna.xiii.8">8</a></sup> +fourteen sisterhoods are named, one religious order +of widows, and two orders of deaconesses, one of +which is that which is now changed into the Sisterhood +of St. John the Evangelist.</p> + +<p>In 1871 the Board of Missions of the Protestant +Episcopal Church discussed at some length the +relation of women’s work to the Church, and there +resulted increased interest in the subject of sisterhoods +and deaconess institutions. An effort has +been made to obtain for the order of deaconesses +a wider recognition than it now enjoys, as it simply +has the support of the bishop within whose diocese +the deaconesses are at work. To this end, in the<a + id="png.221" name="png.221"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">221/</span>217</samp> +General Convention of 1880, a canon was presented +to the House of Bishops, and accepted by a large +vote. But it reached the Lower House too late for +consideration, and no further action has been taken +since that time.</p> + +<p>In the Presbyterian Church of America the question +of the revival of the office of deaconess has +already claimed some attention. The late Dr. A. T. +McGill for many successive years earnestly +recommended the revival of the office to the members +of his classes in the theological seminary at +Princeton; and his views, matured by years of reflection, +were given for publication in an article +published in the <i>Presbyterian Review</i>, 1880.</p> + +<p>In the Minutes of the General Assembly for 1884, +page 114, and of 1888, page 640, we find an overture +asking if the education of deaconesses is consistent +with Presbyterian polity, and, if so, should +they be ordained, answered in the negative in the following +words: “<i>The Form of Government</i> declares +that in all cases the persons elected [deacons] must +be male members. (Chap. 13. 2.) In all ages of +the Church godly women have been appointed to +aid the officers of the Church in their labors, especially +for the relief of the poor and the infirm. +They rendered important service in the Apostolic +Church, but they do not appear to have occupied a<a + id="png.222" name="png.222"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">222/</span>218</samp> +separate office, to have been elected by the people, +to have been ordained or installed. There is nothing +in our constitution, in the practice of our +Church, or in any present emergency, to justify the +creation of a new office.” The next year an explanation +of this action, which so obviously contradicts +the facts of history, was asked, but the +committee declined to say any thing more.</p> + +<p>The Southern Presbyterian Church has proceeded +further, and in the direction of the female diaconate, +as it is characterized in its main features wherever +it has existed, when it declares in its <i>Book of Church +Order</i>, adopted in 1879, that “where it shall appear +needful, the church session may select and appoint +godly women for the care of the sick, of prisoners, +of poor widows and orphans, and, in general, in the +relief of the sick.”<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.9" name="fna.xiii.9" id="fna.xiii.9">9</a></sup></p> + +<p>In isolated Presbyterian congregations deaconesses +have already obtained recognition. At the +Pan-Presbyterian Council, held in Philadelphia in +1880, Fritz Fliedner, the son of Dr. Theodor Fliedner, +was present as a member, and through the influence +of his words the Corinthian Avenue Presbyterian +Church set apart five deaconesses, whose<a + id="png.223" name="png.223"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">223/</span>219</samp> +duty it should be to care for the poor and sick belonging +to the congregation.</p> + +<div class="longquote"> +<p>“More recently the Third Presbyterian Church +of Los Angeles, Cal., empowered its three deacons +to choose three women from the congregation to +co-operate with them in their work, granting them +seats and votes in the board’s monthly +meeting.”<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.10" name="fna.xiii.10" id="fna.xiii.10">10</a></sup> +</p> +</div> + +<p>The very interesting article from which the quotation +has just been made seems to think the term +“deaconess” a misnomer for the Kaiserswerth +deaconess, as she belongs to a community, whereas +the deaconess of the early Church was attached +to a congregation and belonged to a single church +as an officer; but it may well be questioned +whether the class of duties assigned to the deaconess +of the early Church and of modern times +alike, that is, the nursing of the sick, the care of the +infirm in body and mind, the succoring of the unfortunate, +and the education of children, are not the +main characteristics of the office of a deaconess, +while the fact of her connection with a number of +like-minded women in community life is merely an +external feature of the office as it has developed in +the nineteenth century. Whatever form the question<a + id="png.224" name="png.224"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">224/</span>220</samp> +may assume, with the Presbyterian churches +of Scotland and England so far committed to the +adoption of the office of the deaconess as an +effective part of the organization of the Church, it +seems inevitable that the Presbyterian Church of +America will have to meet this question in the near +future.</p> + +<p>The Methodist Episcopal Church of America, +although occupying itself with the question of the +diaconate of women later than any of the denominations +previously mentioned, by its acceptance of +the office and by making it an inherent part of its +ecclesiastical organization has taken a higher ground +than any Protestant body, with the exception of the +Church of Scotland. The Methodist Episcopal +Church has ever offered a freer scope for the activities +of its women members than any other body of +Christians save the Quakers, who are still the leaders +in this respect; but it may be questioned if any +furnishes a larger number who are actively engaged +in promoting philanthropic and religious measures.</p> + +<p>The honor of practically beginning the deaconess +work in connection with the Methodist Episcopal +Church in the United States belongs to Mrs. Lucy +Rider Meyer, of the Chicago Training-school, who, +during the summer months of 1887, aided by eight +earnest Christian women, worked among the poor,<a + id="png.225" name="png.225"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">225/</span>221</samp> +the sick, and the needy of that great city without +any reward of man’s giving. In the autumn the +Home opened in a few hired rooms, and Miss Thoburn +came to be its first superintendent. The story +of the growth of the work, the securing of a permanent +home, and the enlargement of its resources +is a most interesting one.<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.11" name="fna.xiii.11" id="fna.xiii.11">11</a></sup></p> + +<p>The Rock River Conference, within whose boundaries +the Chicago Home is situated, had from the +beginning an earnest sympathy and confidence in +the work as it was developing in its midst. A memorial +was prepared, and was presented to the General +Conference in May, 1888, by the Rock River +Conference, through its Conference delegates, asking +for Church legislation with reference to deaconesses. +At the same time the Bengal Annual Conference, +through Dr. J. M. Thoburn, also presented +a memorial asking for the institution of an order +of deaconesses who should have authority to administer +the sacrament to the women of India. Our +missionaries in India have long felt the need of +some way of ministering to the converted women +who are closely secluded in zenana life, and who, +though sick and dying, are precluded by the customs<a + id="png.226" name="png.226"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">226/</span>222</samp> +of the country from any religious service of +comfort or consolation that male missionaries can +render. If it had been possible for our women missionaries +to administer the sacrament many Indian +women could have been received into the Church. +All of the papers and memorials on this subject +were put into the hands of a committee, of which +Dr. J. M. Thoburn (afterward made missionary +bishop to India and Malaysia) was chairman; and +the report of the committee was as follows:</p> + +<div class="bigquote"> +<h5><span style="font-variant: normal;">“</span>THE NEW OFFICE OF DEACONESSES IN THE +METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.</h5> + +<p>“For some years past our people in Germany +have employed this class of workers with the most +blessed results, and we rejoice to learn that a successful +beginning has recently been made in the +same direction in this country. A home for deaconesses +has been established in Chicago, and +others of a similar character are proposed in other +cities. There are also a goodly number of similar +workers in various places; women who are deaconesses +in all but name, and whose number might be +largely increased if a systematic effort were made +to accomplish this result. Your committee believes +that God is in this movement, and that the Church<a + id="png.227" name="png.227"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">227/</span>223</samp> +should recognize the fact and provide some simple +plan for formally connecting the work of these excellent +women with the Church and directing their +labors to the best possible results. They therefore +recommend the insertion of the following paragraphs +in the Discipline, immediately after ¶ 198, +relating to exhorters:</p> + + +<h5><span style="font-variant: normal;">“</span>DEACONESSES.</h5> + +<p>“1. The duties of the deaconesses are to minister +to the poor, visit the sick, pray with the dying, +care for the orphan, seek the wandering, comfort the +sorrowing, save the sinning, and, relinquishing +wholly all other pursuits, devote themselves in a +general way to such forms of Christian labor as may +be suited to their abilities.</p> + +<p>“2. No vow shall be exacted from any deaconess, +and any one of their number shall be at liberty to +relinquish her position as a deaconess at any time.</p> + +<p>“3. In every Annual Conference within which +deaconesses may be employed, a Conference board +of nine members, at least three of whom shall be +women, shall be appointed by the Conference to +exercise a general control of the interests of this form +of work.</p> + +<p>“4. This board shall be empowered to issue certificates +to duly qualified persons, authorizing them<a + id="png.228" name="png.228"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">228/</span>224</samp> +to perform the duties of deaconesses in connection +with the Church, provided that no person shall receive +such certificate until she shall have served a +probation of two years of continuous service, and shall +be over twenty-five years of age.</p> + +<p>“5. No person shall be licensed by the board of +deaconesses except on the recommendation of a +Quarterly Conference, and said board of deaconesses +shall be appointed by the Annual Conference +for such term of service as the Annual Conference +shall decide, and said board shall report both the +names and work of such deaconesses annually, and +the approval of the Annual Conference shall be +necessary for the continuance of any deaconess in +her work.</p> + +<p>“6. When working singly each deaconess shall be +under the direction of the pastor of the church with +which she is connected. When associated together +in a home all the members of the home shall be +subordinate to and directed by the superintendent +placed in charge.<span style="float: right;">“<span class="smc">J. M. Thoburn</span>, <i>Chairman</i>.</span> +</p> + +<p class="right nobrk" style="clear: both;">“<span class="smc">A. B. Leonard</span>, <i>Secretary</i>.”</p> + +</div> + +<p>The adoption of this report made its contents a +portion of the organic law of the Church.</p> + +<p>It is doubtful if there was any measure taken at +the General Conference of 1888 that will be more<a + id="png.229" name="png.229"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">229/</span>225</samp> +far-reaching in its results than that which instituted +the office of deaconess. The full and complete +recognition accorded by the highest authority of +the Church commended it to the people, who +showed a remarkable readiness to accept the provisions. +Nearly simultaneously, at important points +distinct from each other, steps were taken to establish +deaconess homes, and to provide lectures and +practical training to educate deaconesses for their +work.</p> + +<p>The terms of the law in which the Conference +action was expressed were not closely defined. It +was felt that in establishing a new office for a great +Church there must be room for a wide interpretation, +to meet the various exigencies that will arise. +It is true, also, that there can be no final interpretation +until there shall be a basis of experience +wide enough and varied enough to furnish facts +that will justify us in forming conclusions from +them. Still it was thought by those who were +practically engaged in the work that there should +be a common agreement on certain practical +points: What was to be the training that the deaconesses +were to receive during the two years +of “continuous service?” What was to be their +distinctive garb? What was to be the relation +of the deaconess homes, that were arising, to the<a + id="png.230" name="png.230"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">230/</span>226</samp> +Conference board appointed by the Annual Conference? +To discuss these and other questions a +Conference was held in Chicago, December 20 and +21, 1888, of those who were actively engaged in the +work. The outcome of the deliberations was the +“Plan for Securing Uniformity in the Deaconess +Movement.” Regulations were suggested concerning +homes and their connection with the Conference +boards, conditions of admission were agreed upon, +and a Course of Study and Plan for Training +recommended.<sup><a href="#fn.xiii.12" name="fna.xiii.12" id="fna.xiii.12">12</a></sup> +Of course the recommendations set +forth in the “Plan” are not obligatory, but there +has been remarkable unanimity so far in accepting +them.</p> + +<p>In addition to the Chicago Deaconess Home, and +the branch in New Orleans, there is the Elizabeth +Gamble House in Cincinnati, of which Miss Thoburn +is superintendent; the Home in New York +city, instituted by the Board of the Church Extension +and Missionary Society, under the superintendence +of Miss Layton; the home in Detroit, +under the auspices of the Home Missionary Society; +and homes under way or projected in Philadelphia, +St. Louis, and Minneapolis; while individually +deaconesses are employed in Kansas City,<a + id="png.231" name="png.231"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">231/</span>227</samp> +Jersey City, Troy, and Albany. It is also well to +add that since his return to India, Bishop Thoburn +has opened a deaconess house in Calcutta, with +four American ladies as deaconesses, while at +Muttra a second home has been opened, of which +Miss Sparkes, so long connected with our mission +work in India, is superintendent.</p> + +<p>Pastor Fliedner thought it strange that in the +New World where there is such ceaseless activity in +good works, the deaconess cause should make such +slow progress; but the season of sowing had to +precede that of reaping, and it seems now as though +the fullness of time had arrived for the incorporation +into the agencies of the churches of America of the +priceless activities of Christian deaconesses.</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.1" id="fn.xiii.1" href="#fna.xiii.1">1</a> +<i>Phöbe die Diakonissen</i>, Dr. A. Spaeth, p. 31.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.2" id="fn.xiii.2" href="#fna.xiii.2">2</a> +For facts concerning the Philadelphia Mother-house of Deaconesses, +and other important assistance rendered me, I desire to express +acknowledgements to Dr. W. J. Mann, Dr. A. Spaeth, and Rev. A. +Cordes, the rector of the house.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.3" id="fn.xiii.3" href="#fna.xiii.3">3</a> +McClintock and Strong’s <i>Cyclopedia</i>, vol. ii, art. “Deaconesses.”</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.4" id="fn.xiii.4" href="#fna.xiii.4">4</a> +<i>Sisterhoods and Deaconesses</i>, Rev. H. C. Potter, D.D.. 1873, +p. 118.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.5" id="fn.xiii.5" href="#fna.xiii.5">5</a> +<i>Sisterhoods and Deaconesses</i>, p. 105.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.6" id="fn.xiii.6" href="#fna.xiii.6">6</a> +<i>Ibid.</i>, <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: Original has 'p'">p.</ins> 181.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.7" id="fn.xiii.7" href="#fna.xiii.7">7</a> +Constitution and Rules for the Order of Deaconesses of Alabama, +Art. vi.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.8" id="fn.xiii.8" href="#fna.xiii.8">8</a> +<i>Church Work</i>, May, 1888.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.9" id="fn.xiii.9" href="#fna.xiii.9">9</a> +For this and other suggestions regarding the deaconess question +in the Presbyterian Church, I am greatly indebted to the kindness +of Dr. Hastings, President of the Union Theological Seminary.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.10" id="fn.xiii.10" href="#fna.xiii.10">10</a> +<i>Presbyterian Review</i>, April, 1889, art. “Presbyterian Deaconesses.”</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.11" id="fn.xiii.11" href="#fna.xiii.11">11</a> +Mrs. Meyer’s book on <i>Deaconesses</i>, containing also the story of +the Chicago Training-school and Deaconess Home, gives the best +description to be obtained of the rise of the work in Chicago.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiii.12" id="fn.xiii.12" href="#fna.xiii.12">12</a> +A more extended and elaborate course of study has been prepared +by the Rev. Alfred A. Wright, D.D., Cambridge, Mass.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.232" name="png.232"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">232/</span>228</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER XIV.</h3> + +<h4>THE MEANS OF TRAINING AND THE FIELD OF WORK +FOR DEACONESSES IN AMERICA.</h4> + + +<p><span class="smc">The</span> deaconesses of the early Church differed +from those of modern times, as we have seen, in +being directly responsible to a church society, and +in belonging to a church congregation in numbers +of two or more. Modern life shows a strong tendency +to organization. Wherever there are workers +in a common cause they are banded together +in societies and associations. It was in accordance +with the spirit of the age in which he lived that +Fliedner united his workers in the Rhenish-Westphalian +Deaconess Society, in 1836. It was a +happy inspiration—shall we not say a <i>providential</i> +one?—that furnished a convenient organization for +the office under present conditions. The mother-houses +in Germany offered good working-models, +and their practical advantages were so obvious that +in whatever Protestant denomination the diaconate +of women has revived, it has been in connection +with these homes. There is no place where the<a + id="png.233" name="png.233"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">233/</span>229</samp> +training of a deaconess in all its aspects can be so +well obtained as in the deaconess home and training-school, +which is our synonym for the German +mother-house.</p> + +<p>Besides the advantages of a permanent home, under +careful supervision, to which the probationers +and deaconesses have access, in such a home care +is taken to train the deaconesses in the doctrines +of the Church, and there is an atmosphere favorable +to the virtues of faith and devotion that the work +demands. The deaconesses are never allowed to +forget that they serve in a threefold capacity: +“Servants of the Lord Jesus; servants of the sick +and poor, ‘for Jesus’ sake;’ servants one to another.” +The motto of the indomitable little republic +of Switzerland, “All for each and each for all,” +might well be accepted as that characteristically +belonging to them.</p> + +<p>Then, too, there is a tradition of service in such +a home. One deaconess learns from another. The +physician is at hand to give his suggestions and +medical instruction, and the lectures on Church +history, on the history of missions, and on methods +of evangelization make the home a center of information +on all questions that affect the usefulness +of the office. There is no other one place in which +to obtain the practical and theoretical instruction<a + id="png.234" name="png.234"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">234/</span>230</samp> +that is needed for the education of a deaconess +well equipped for her work.</p> + +<p>Furthermore, the deaconess home offers a wide +and varied field for those possessing different gifts. +None can be so highly educated and cultivated that +places cannot be found to utilize their talents to +good advantage; while those who are sadly lacking +in the education of the schools can, by talent, untiring +industry, and energy make up for defects in +early training.</p> + +<p>The field of work of the deaconess in modern +times is a large one. It would be easier to define +what it is not than what it is. In orphanages, in +asylums for fallen women, in women’s prisons, in +reform schools, in Sunday-schools, infant schools, +and higher schools, in classes among working-girls +and servants, in industrial homes, in asylums for +the blind and deaf and dumb, in hospitals of various +kinds, and in churches, working under the direction +of the pastor—in all of these relations and many +others we find deaconesses in Germany, France, +England, and other European countries.</p> + +<p>The service in hospitals seems especially incumbent +upon Christian women, and in the early history +of these institutions we find deaconesses mentioned +in connection with them.</p> + +<p>Before the birth of Christ hospitals were unknown.<a + id="png.235" name="png.235"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">235/</span>231</samp> +It is true that in Rome and Athens a certain provision +was made for the poor, and largesses were +given them from time to time. But this was done +from motives of political expediency, and not from +sympathy or commiseration with their ills. But as +soon as the early Christians were free to practice +their religion openly, hospitals arose in all the great +cities. In the latter half of the fourth century the +distinguished Christian teacher, Ephrem the Syrian, +in Edessa, placed rows of beds for the sick and +starving. His contemporary, Basil, the great bishop +of Cæsarea, founded a number of institutions for +strangers, the poor, and the sick, caring especially +for the lepers.<sup><a href="#fn.xiv.1" name="fna.xiv.1" id="fna.xiv.1">1</a></sup> +Little houses were built closely +together, but so that the patients could be separated +one from another, and cared for separately. Even +at that early date the hospitals were arranged into +divisions for either sex, as they are at the present +time. To use a modern phrase, the wards of the +men patients were placed under the charge of a +deacon while the deaconesses ministered to the sick +of their own sex, according as their services were +required. “It was a rule for the deacons and deaconesses +to seek for the unfortunate day by day, and +to inform the bishops, who in turn, accompanied<a + id="png.236" name="png.236"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">236/</span>232</samp> +by a priest, visited the sick and needy of all +classes.”<sup><a href="#fn.xiv.2" name="fna.xiv.2" id="fna.xiv.2">2</a></sup></p> + +<p>In the Middle Ages there were orders of Hospitallers, +consisting of laymen, monks, and knights, +who devoted themselves entirely to the care of the +sick. Under their influence great and splendid +hospitals were built, of which the old Hôtel Dieu +in Paris was a conspicuous example. The Hospital +of the Holy Ghost in Rome, and the service of the +same order, originated like hospitals all over Europe. +In late years, with the development of medical +and surgical art, hospital arrangements have +arrived at a degree of perfection never before +known; and the care of the sick, as it has been +studied and practiced by Protestant deaconesses +and Catholic Sisters of Mercy, has also greatly improved.</p> + +<p>The state to which the hospitals had degenerated +in Fliedner’s time, and the need of experienced +nurses who should be actuated by the highest +Christian motives, were among the strong reasons +he advanced for providing the Church with deaconesses +as helpers. Here are his words:<sup><a href="#fn.xiv.3" name="fna.xiv.3" id="fna.xiv.3">3</a></sup> +“The poor<a + id="png.237" name="png.237"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">237/</span>233</samp> +sick people lay heavily on my mind. How often +had I seen them neglected, their bodily wants miserably +provided for, their spiritual needs quite forgotten, +withering away in their often unhealthy +rooms like leaves in autumn; for how many cities, +even those having large populations, were without +hospitals! And I have seen many on my travels in +Holland, Brabant, England, and Scotland, as in our +own Germany; I often found the portals of glittering +marble, but the nursing and care were wretched. +Physicians complained bitterly of the drunkenness +and immorality of the attendants, and what shall I +say of the spiritual care? In many hospitals preachers +we’re no longer found; hospital chaplains yet +more seldom. In the pious olden time these men +were always in such institutions, especially in the +Netherlands, where evangelical hospitals bore the +beautiful name of “God’s house,” because it was +recognized that God especially visits the inmates of +such houses, to draw them to himself. Do not such +wrongs cry to heaven? Is not our Lord’s reproachful +word addressed to us, ‘I was sick and in prison +and ye visited me not?’ And shall not our Christian +women be capable and willing to undertake +the care of the sick for Christ’s sake?” It was by +such words, and similar ones, as in his famous appeal +“Freiwillige vor” (Volunteers to the front!)<a + id="png.238" name="png.238"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">238/</span>234</samp> +which he sent out from <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Würtemberg'">Wurtemberg</ins> to Basel in +1842, that he aroused the Christian women of Germany +to give themselves to this service. By their +aid he instituted a system of nursing that has +changed the aspect of every hospital ward in Germany; +and, through the training that Florence +Nightingale enjoyed at Kaiserswerth, the reform +that was there instituted passed to England, and +has effected a transformation in the entire hospital +system of England.</p> + +<p>In Germany deaconesses are often trained to special +duties that are required in hospitals for certain +diseases or certain classes of patients, and they +are becoming so skillful in their duties that the +present system of hospital nursing could not be +continued without their aid.</p> + +<p>The nursing care of deaconesses in insane asylums +is especially valuable. The large and well-ordered +Insane Asylum for Female Patients in +Kaiserswerth, with its long lists of cases soundly +cured, shows how healthful and important is the +quiet, constant influence of intelligent Christian attendance +upon those who are mentally unsound.</p> + +<p>The usefulness of deaconesses as care-takers in +all kinds of hospitals and homes for the aged, and +asylums of every description, is so apparent that it +does not need to be dwelt upon. The <i>crèche</i>, or<a + id="png.239" name="png.239"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">239/</span>235</samp> +day home, where infants and young children can +be sheltered and watched during the day while their +mothers are at work, is an institution that started +in Paris in 1834, through the efforts of M. Marbeau, +one of the mayors of a district of the city. This +is now incorporated into the government system of +Paris, and the idea has spread to neighboring lands, +so that such homes are found in many of the cities +in South Germany and Switzerland. It is true that +there are no nurses that can care for children as the +true mother, but where mothers have to be absent +from morning until night engaged at hard work, and +the little ones are left neglected at home, or in the +care of other children who are themselves young +enough to need very nearly the same attention that +is bestowed on the infants; or where the mothers +are such in name, but in reality are failing in every +quality which we attach to that sacred office; or +where the foundling hospital is the only alternative +to which the real mother, confronted by the necessity +of earning bread for herself and child, can +turn—in such cases the <i>crèche</i> is a real benefaction +whose existence has enabled families to keep together, +and children to be given a chance in life who +otherwise would have had small prospect of keeping +soul and body together.</p> + +<p>There is another institution, called the waiting-school,<a + id="png.240" name="png.240"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">240/</span>236</samp> +where children from two to four years of +age are received, whose parents both go daily to +work, and who would be left to wander about the +streets unless this place of refuge were opened to +them. The <i>crèche</i>, or day home, seeks only to +watch over the infants who are put in its care, or +to amuse them and keep them contented; the waiting-school +goes further, and tries to give the little +ones some ideas of discipline and the elementary +beginnings of instruction. Fliedner, who was a +lover of children, took great interest in both these +institutions, and in his school for infant-school teachers +prepared deaconesses especially for the duties +that are required in teachers of this class. The +motherly heart, the gift of story-telling and singing, +a pleasant and unruffled demeanor, the quiet but +firm inculcation of order and obedience—these and +other qualities Fliedner sought to develop in instructors +for these schools.</p> + +<p>The day homes have already been introduced +into many places in the United States, and often +cover the field of both the <i>crèche</i> and waiting-school, +but there is a wide opportunity for the extension +of their usefulness; and whether in the future, +when the demands upon Christian deaconesses +shall be much more multiplex than they are now, it +may be necessary to provide special training for<a + id="png.241" name="png.241"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">241/</span>237</samp> +Christian teachers in America for such special work, +time alone can decide. The question of Christian +education is one that has not yet been determined +in its full extent. In the year 1800 Mother Barat, +of the Catholic Church, founded the order of Sisters +of the Sacred Heart, which is especially devoted to +the education of daughters belonging to the higher +social ranks. At her death it numbered three +thousand five hundred members, and had over seventy +establishments, which are located in every civilized +land. It cannot be maintained that the education +given in these schools is either extensive or +profound, but the influence of the order upon the +women whom it has reached has been both. Fliedner, +at Kaiserswerth, went as far as his age and +environments would permit him to go. He provided +schools where teachers were prepared as instructors +for all grades of schools, from the most +elementary up to the girls’ high-schools; and no +other institution in Germany, with one or two exceptions, +such as the Victoria Institute at Berlin, +yet offers positions to women teachers of a higher +grade than is afforded by these schools. But in +other lands, where the educational facilities for +women are far beyond those that Germany can offer +at the present time, positions of higher importance +and wider influence are held by women; and<a + id="png.242" name="png.242"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">242/</span>238</samp> +it is an important question for the future what class +of women shall fill these places. If Fliedner had +had to meet the problem we can imagine he would +have done so with the boldness and energy that he +showed in solving those that his times and circumstances +afforded him. He would, doubtless, have +enlisted among his deaconesses those whose talents +gave him reason to provide them with the widest +training the schools can offer; and then he would +have endeavored to place them where they could do +the most effective service for Christ and his Church. +It may be that in the future which opens before the +women of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America +there will be just such questions seeking and +finding solution.</p> + +<p>Doubtless at the present time the deaconess +who will answer to the greatest number of immediate +wants is the “parish-deaconess,” or the +home mission deaconess, as we may call her. Her +usefulness has been well tested in the great cities +of Germany, France, and England, as we have +seen. Perhaps nowhere is her work better appreciated +than in London, the greatest city of modern +times. The tendency of this age of manufactures +and commerce is to attract laborers and workers +from country homes, where work has become less +open to them through the increased use of agricultural<a + id="png.243" name="png.243"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">243/</span>239</samp> +machines of all kinds, into cities, where factories, +shops, counting-rooms, and offices constantly +afford openings. London has felt the full force of +this movement. In 1836 her population was about +equal to that of New York, including Brooklyn and +Jersey City. Now the great city contains 5,500,000 +inhabitants. It is growing at the rate of over +100,000 a year, nor is there any influence at work +to stop its growth. The same causes that produce +it are constantly at work. The great massing of the +population together, with the unequaled increase +in the wealth of the people, make the contrast of +riches and poverty striking and obvious. The west +of London, with its vast wealth, its homes of refinement +and elegance, and its appliances for the +enjoyment of art, science, and literature, is separated +from the poverty, the degradation, the misery, and +the sorrow of the East End by a gulf as great as that +which separated Lazarus from Dives. It is difficult for +those who are at ease, whose lives, to use Wordsworth’s +felicitous phrase, are made up “of cheerful +yesterdays and confident to-morrows”—it is difficult +for such even faintly to apprehend the dullness, +the drudgery, and the hardships of those who, even +at the best estate, are obliged to live in such surroundings. +The vast metropolis a few years ago +was for a short time shaken out of its lethargy by<a + id="png.244" name="png.244"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">244/</span>240</samp> +a voice that would be heard, when <i>The Bitter Cry +of Outcast London</i> was published. “Few who will +read these pages have any conception of what these +pestilential human rookeries are, where tens of +thousands are crowded together amid horrors which +call to mind what we have heard of the middle passage +of the slave-ship. To go into them you have +to penetrate courts reeking with poisonous malodorous +gases arising from accumulations of sewerage, +refuse scattered in all directions, and often flowing +beneath your feet; courts, many of them, which the +sun never penetrates, which are never visited by a +breath of fresh air. You have to ascend rotten +stair-cases, grope your way along dark and filthy +passages swarming with vermin. Then, if you are +not driven back by the intolerable stench, you may +gain admittance into the dens in which these thousands +of beings herd together. Eight feet square! +That is about the average size of many of these +rooms…. Where there are beds they are simply +heaps of dirty rags, shavings, or straw, but for +the most part the miserable beings find rest only +upon the filthy boards…. There are men and +women who lie and die day by day in their +wretched single room, sharing all the family +trouble, enduring the hunger and the cold, without +hope, without a single ray of comfort, until God<a + id="png.245" name="png.245"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">245/</span>241</samp> +curtains their staring eyes with the merciful film of +death.”<sup><a href="#fn.xiv.4" name="fna.xiv.4" id="fna.xiv.4">4</a></sup></p> + +<p>Such are the places where the deaconesses of +East London go in and out from morn to eve, like +angels of mercy, succoring the miserable and unhappy, +often rebuking vice, and encouraging with +friendly words those who are worn and discouraged +in the battle of life. Here they nurse the +sick, hold mothers’ meetings, start evening classes +for working young men, and gather the children +of all ages in every kind of class that can interest +and instruct them. They are always ready to provide +for individual cases that they meet. If they +find a friendless young servant-girl who is out of +work, they send her to the servants’ home, where, +for very little payment, sometimes nothing at all, +she can be taken care of long enough to give her +fresh courage and strength. Then she is aided in +seeking a situation, and so she is saved from the +innumerable temptations to vice and misery that +are sure to assail her if she stands alone.</p> + +<p>Many of these deaconesses are educated women, +gladly devoting their whole life and energies to the +work, and who with “food and raiment” are quite +content. Nothing but a strong indomitable faith +in God’s love and promises can stand the strain of<a + id="png.246" name="png.246"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">246/</span>242</samp> +such work. But if there is the faith and love to +deny self and dare all “for the love of Christ and in +His name,” where can such rewards for labor be +found? The dull streets become filled with friends, +sodden countenances brighten, the little children +come with loving faces and gladdened hearts, and +the deaconess is recognized as interpreting to the +hearts of these weary, forlorn, helpless people the +love of God who, when He came upon earth, shared +the burdens that belonged to His humanity. He came +as a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief, +and it was the “common people” that heard Him +gladly. The deaconess, in her distinctive dress, is +becoming a well-known figure in the east of London, +and not only protected but recommended by +her garb, she visits the lowest parts of the city +without danger. Just such deaconesses are needed +in the cities of America. The cities of the United +States are increasing as wonderfully as the great +cities of the Old World. With the surplus population +of Europe pouring in upon us by the hundreds +of thousands annually our country is doubling in +numbers every twenty-five years; and the growth +of the towns absorbs a larger proportion of this multitude +than does the country. The cities attract +the immigrants because there they find others of +their own nationality. In some cities there are<a + id="png.247" name="png.247"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">247/</span>243</samp> +whole foreign colonies where the people speak a +foreign tongue, read foreign newspapers, and have +very few interests in common with the people of the +land in which they live. They continue the same +customs and the same habits of thought that belonged +to them in the Old World. Examples of +such colonies are found in the thirty thousand +Poles in Buffalo, and the sixty thousand Bohemians +in Chicago.</p> + +<p>Then the cities offer attractions that are irresistible +to the young men and women from the country. +Thousands leave quiet country homes every +year, and, with no certain prospects before them, +cast themselves into the busy life of the nearest +great metropolis. In many places, especially in +New England, the villages number less, and farm +land is much less valuable than it was fifty years +ago. It is this massing of population that is causing +us already to experience some of the evils that +are old problems in the great cities of Europe. +There is the same gulf between the rich and the +poor, with the added element that the great mass +of the poor are composed of foreigners and their +children. And the difference in race is a hinderance +to a common ground of sympathy. A greater hinderance +is the difference in religious faith. The preponderating +number of native Americans are Protestants,<a + id="png.248" name="png.248"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">248/</span>244</samp> +and their thoughts and beliefs are permeated +with the principles that their fathers held so +dear, and which they sacrificed home and country +to preserve. They hold a faith that is inseparably +connected with free institutions, personal liberty, +and personal responsibility. But the mass of foreigners +that are in the great cities largely belong to +the working-class, and, with the large proportion of +the poor who are the wards of the city, are Roman +Catholic in faith, a faith that has little in sympathy +with republican institutions, and which least prepares +its followers to exercise the duties of citizens +of a republic. Keeping these facts in mind, the +statistics contained in the following extracts are of +telling force: “If the laboring class should contribute +its due proportion to the congregations, the +churches, many of which are now half empty, would +not begin to hold the people. In 1880 there was +in the United States one evangelical organization +to every 516 of the population; in Boston, <i>counting +churches of all kinds</i>, there was but one to every +1,600 of the population; in Chicago, one to every +2,081; in New York, one to every 2,468; in St. +Louis, one to every 2,800.” “The worst of it is +that, instead of improving, the condition of things +has been growing worse every year. While the +prosperous classes are moving away to the suburbs,<a + id="png.249" name="png.249"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">249/</span>245</samp> +and the laborers are being more densely +massed together in the heart of the city, the church +accommodations, even if fully used, are becoming +more inadequate to the needs of the community. +Including religious organizations of all sorts, New +York had in 1830 one place of worship for every +1,853 of its inhabitants; in 1840, one for every 1,840; +in 1850, one for every 2,095; in 1860, one for every +2,344; in 1870, one for every 2,004; in 1880, one +for every 2,468; and the religious history of Chicago +is even more noteworthy in this respect: +Chicago had in 1840 one church for every 747 of its +population; in 1851 there was one for every 1,009; +in 1862, one for every 1,301; in 1870, one for 1,593; +in 1880, one for 2,081; in 1885, one for 2,254. +All the large cities have districts which are destitute +of church accommodations, and have not seats +in Sunday-school for more than one tenth of their +children.”<sup><a href="#fn.xiv.5" name="fna.xiv.5" id="fna.xiv.5">5</a></sup></p> + +<p>Have we not as great need of deaconesses as any +of the cities of the Old World? Most of our pastors +stand alone. They do not have the assistant +curates and pastors that are connected with large +city churches in Berlin and London. When the +minister makes pastoral calls, and, entering working-men’s +homes, finds sickness and scanty resources,<a + id="png.250" name="png.250"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">250/</span>246</samp> +he has no deaconess to call to his aid with her +cheerful words of encouragement and her loving +sympathy, that are better than money and medicine. +It is not charity alone that is wanted in such cases; +it is the knowledge of how to use proper means to +make the sick one comfortable, how to lessen the +burden on the family that a small additional call +for work and care has so sadly taxed; how to +enlighten the ignorance that is so common without +wounding the susceptibilities that are so human. +For, to quote the words of the Christ in the <i>Vision +of Sir Launfal</i>:</p> + +<blockquote> +“Not what we give, but what we share,<br /> +For the gift without the giver is bare;<br /> +Who gives himself with his alms feeds three:—<br /> +Himself, his hungry neighbor, and Me.” +</blockquote> + +<p>It is for such ministrations that we need deaconesses +in every evangelical church of the United +States; may the women that are ready to “publish +the tidings” be “a great host.”</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.xiv.1" id="fn.xiv.1" href="#fna.xiv.1">1</a> +<i>Der Diakonissenberuf nach seiner Vergangenheit und Gegenwart</i>. +Emil Wacker, Gütersloh, 1888, p. 196.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiv.2" id="fn.xiv.2" href="#fna.xiv.2">2</a> +McClintock and Strong’s <i>Cyclopedia</i>, vol. iv, art. “Hospitals.” +The editors give as authority for this statement, Augustine, <i>De Civit. +Dei</i>, i, xxii, c. 8.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiv.3" id="fn.xiv.3" href="#fna.xiv.3">3</a> +Theodor Fliedner, <i>Kurzer Abriss seines Lebens</i>. Kaiserswerth, +1886, p. 60.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiv.4" id="fn.xiv.4" href="#fna.xiv.4">4</a> +<i>The Bitter Cry of Outcast London</i>, pp. 3–10.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xiv.5" id="fn.xiv.5" href="#fna.xiv.5">5</a> +<i>Modern Cities</i>, by S. L. Loomis, New York, 1887, pp. 88, 89.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.251" name="png.251"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">251/</span>247</samp> + + + + +<h3 class="newchap">CHAPTER XV.</h3> + +<h4>OBJECTIONS MET AND SUGGESTIONS OFFERED.</h4> + + +<p>“<span class="smc">Success</span> and glory are the children of hard +work and God’s favor,” is the inscription upon the +tablet erected in Christ’s Hospital, London, to the +memory of Sir Henry Maine.</p> + +<p>Upon these two elements depends the future of +the deaconess cause in America. We are assured of +the one; will the other be forthcoming? Will the +individual members of the Church give this cause +their hearty support? Surely the facts that have +been stated must have convinced the judgment, but +perhaps there are certain prejudices to be overcome. +“I fear that deaconesses too closely resemble +Catholic nuns for Protestants to accept them,” +says one. No; these helpful Christian women are +thoroughly Protestant. Deaconesses are no Catholic +institution. Wherever they have appeared they +have been met by open antagonism from the Catholic +Church. Witness the calumnies with which +the papers of that capital have constantly assailed +the deaconess home of Paris.<a + id="png.252" name="png.252"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">252/</span>248</samp></p> + +<p>There is good in the Catholic sisterhoods, but +mingled with much that we disapprove. The deaconess +institutions have the good features, but have +avoided the ill. Much of the success of the Catholic +Church in winning the poor and in retaining its +influence over the lowly is due to the power exerted +by the sisters who go about from house to +house among the poor, and are received as friends.</p> + +<p>There is a great army of Catholic sisters. It +is calculated that there are about 28,000 Sisters +of Vincent de Paul, 22,000 Franciscan Sisters caring +for the sick, 6,000 Sisters of the Holy Cross, 5,000 +Sisters of Charles, making a total of about 60,000 +sisters of various orders belonging to the Catholic +Church<sup><a href="#fn.xv.1" name="fna.xv.1" id="fna.xv.1">1</a></sup> +who are occupied with works of mercy. +The sisters engaged in education are often well-trained +and accomplished. The order of Charles +will not accept widows, orphans without property, +girls from asylums, or those that have served as +maids. As a rule, those that join it must make +some contribution of money to the order when +they are received. This order is small, but one of +the most active and aggressive of any. The great +number of the sisters, however, are women of few +advantages, taken from poor homes and lives of toil.<a + id="png.253" name="png.253"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">253/</span>249</samp> +There is wisdom in this course, for a great deal of +the work to be done depends upon qualities that +can be developed by training, while the exceptional +education and talents are employed in the exceptional +places.</p> + +<p>A contemplation of these facts just recorded +causes us better to understand the importance that +the co-operation of women has for the Catholic +Church. It causes us, too, to appreciate better the +opening before the Protestant women of all evangelical +churches, so wide, so all-embracing that every +variety of talent can find a place.</p> + +<p>Gifts of clothes or food or fuel are not so well +appreciated as the respectful hearing which clothes +the teller with self-respect, the kind word and loving +sympathy that feed the heart, the inspiring consolations +of religious faith that animate and warm +the soul, and such gifts women of sympathetic +Christian hearts can ever render. As has been well +said, “Shall the advantages of such a system be +monopolized by those who have so little else to +offer?”<sup><a href="#fn.xv.2" name="fna.xv.2" id="fna.xv.2">2</a></sup></p> + +<p>You may say, “I do not object to the deaconess +and her work, but I do object to her distinctive +dress. I do not believe in a uniform of charity.”<a + id="png.254" name="png.254"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">254/</span>250</samp> +But let us consider the arguments that can be +brought forward in favor of it. It is a distinctive +garb because its wearer is a distinctive officer of the +Church. Unless she were “set apart” by some +uniform immediately and widely recognized how +could she have the protection that is accorded her? +Alike in every land where she is known, as we have +seen, the deaconess can venture into any part of +the great cities at any hour, and is invariably treated +with respect. There is in the heart of the rudest +and most lawless some trace of chivalry which +recognizes the self-denying lives of these women. +Then, in making her visits, the deaconess +finds her dress an introduction that opens doors +that would otherwise remain closed to her. It certainly +is a convenient and economical garb, that +saves a great deal of time and money to the wearer.</p> + +<p>Are not these advantages more than an offset to +an ill-defined objection to the dress because it has +been associated with women who are alien to our +Protestant faith? This is a minor matter, however, +and one that can be adjusted at liking.</p> + +<p>You may say, “I do not like to think of a woman +who is dear to me cut off from the pleasures of +home life, and devoted to a life-time of work among +those who, in many respects, must be repugnant to +her tastes. It does not seem so high and beautiful<a + id="png.255" name="png.255"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">255/</span>251</samp> +a life as that which makes home a center, and carries +on its activities from there.”</p> + +<p>But there are many women debarred from the +pleasures of home life by God’s direct providence +to whom other duties and responsibilities have been +allotted. And then this work may not necessarily be +for life. It is true that when a Christian woman occupies +the position of a deaconess she must relinquish +wholly all other pursuits so long as she holds this +office. Neither without grave and weighty reasons +should she seek to leave it. It is her calling. The +period of probation has its uses, not only in making +the probationer familiar with the duties and tasks +demanded of her, but in giving her time to test the +strength of her call to service, that she may not, +through enthusiasm, lightly assume the duties of +the office, nor as lightly throw them aside.</p> + +<p>But if a deaconess is called away to perform her +duties as a sister or daughter, or if she desires to +marry, she is free to do so, after giving due information +to those with whom she is connected in work. +Freedom and liberty are in every phase of this +office.</p> + +<p>As to the highest life for a woman, an archbishop +of England well said some years ago, “that +whatever life God gives to any woman is the +highest life for that woman,” and that “in<a + id="png.256" name="png.256"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">256/</span>252</samp> +becoming a deaconess a woman devoting herself to +this life must believe that it is the highest life for +her, and that in it she gives herself wholly to the +Lord.”<sup><a href="#fn.xv.3" name="fna.xv.3" id="fna.xv.3">3</a></sup></p> + +<p>There should be no country like America for the +favorable development of the deaconess cause, because +in no other have women such large freedom +of action, and, if we may believe our friends, they +have improved it well. A distinguished English +historian has just given us what we are fain to accept +as words of just and discriminating praise. “In +no other country have women borne so conspicuous +a part in the promotion of moral and philanthropic +causes…. Their services in dealing with charities +and reformatory institutions have been inestimable…. The +nation, as a whole, owes to the active +benevolence of its women, and their zeal in promoting +social reforms, benefits which the customs +of continental Europe would scarcely have permitted +women to confer…. Those who know the +work they have done and are doing in many a +noble cause will admire still more their energy, +their courage, their devotion. No country seems +to owe more to its women than America does, +nor to owe to them so much of what is best in<a + id="png.257" name="png.257"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">257/</span>253</samp> +social institutions, and in the beliefs that govern +conduct.”<sup><a href="#fn.xv.4" name="fna.xv.4" id="fna.xv.4">4</a></sup></p> + +<p>Nor in any denomination should we expect women +to be more ready to adopt this work than in the +Methodist Episcopal Church, because women members +have been accustomed to exercise nearly all the +obligations and duties, and many of the privileges, +that are accorded the laity of the great connection, +and they are prepared to accept new duties in new +relations. This Church has over a million women +enrolled as members, able to serve it in every capacity, +from the lady in her home dispensing gracious +Christian hospitality, to the one standing quite +alone, who will welcome, as a brevet of rank, this +new call to service. There are many such women +ready to respond. Many, too, whose hearts have +been left desolate by bereavement, who will be glad +to fill the empty hands and vacant life by work for +God and humanity. To such a woman the wide +world is her home; the dear ones of her family are +the poor and sick and needy who crave her aid.</p> + +<p>The beautiful Mildmay motto is: “They dwell +with the King for his work.” There are thousands +of women all over the land who are ready to become +“King’s Daughters” in this additional sense<a + id="png.258" name="png.258"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">258/</span>254</samp> +of the word. The possibility of what such women +can accomplish in the furtherance of God’s kingdom +upon earth has not begun to be fathomed.</p> + +<p>Think of a great city church, with the manifold +interests clustering around it, left to the care of a +single pastor! He has not only the preparation of +his weekly sermons, the care of the social meetings +of the church, but a long line of other duties that +are equally important to maintain. He must perform +pastoral duties, push forward aggressive movements +in behalf of the masses not touched by the +church services, and fulfill public duties in connection +with great charities, philanthropies, and moral +reforms that he cannot neglect without injury. If +the efforts of such a pastor could be furthered by +one, two, or more deaconesses, as are many of the +pastors of the London churches, how greatly would +the working force of such a Church be increased!</p> + +<p>It is true that we must develop the work in accordance +with our American ideas and institutions. +Through the study of the methods that have been +adopted in European institutions, and the experience +that has been there won through long years +of patient toil, we are prepared in a measure to start +where their work leaves off. But we shall find that +our circumstances require new adjustments, and +that we shall have our own problems to solve, so<a + id="png.259" name="png.259"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">259/</span>255</samp> +that eventually our work will assume a distinctively +American form.</p> + +<p>We have only to plant the seed and to give it +favorable conditions for growth. The outcome is +not ours: “In the morning sow thy seed, and in +the evening withhold not thy hand.” The results +are with Him who giveth the increase.</p> + +<p>The practical question may occur to some one +who reads these pages, “What shall I do to become +a deaconess?” Write to the superintendent of the +nearest deaconess home, and ask for directions. +It is best not to multiply homes until we have a +larger number of trained deaconesses that are ready +to take charge of them, and until the number of +applicants desiring to enter them is much greater +than at present.</p> + +<p>Many churches that need the services of a deaconess +will doubtless select one of their number +whose heart God has inclined to this service, and +will provide the means by which she can secure the +necessary training at a home and training-school. +There are many devout Christian women in every +community who have for years been deaconesses +in labors, if not in title and prerogatives. It is very +important for such women to give their sympathies +and fostering care to this new institution. If not +deaconesses by office, they can ally themselves as<a + id="png.260" name="png.260"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">260/</span>256</samp> +associates. The associate is a real officer in many +of the deaconess establishments in London. Ladies +who have great sympathy with the cause, and +an earnest desire to do what they can to advance +it, give some portion of their time, their labor, or +their means to promote its interests. They will go +to the home and reside there for some weeks or +months, being under the direction of the superintendent +and filling all the duties of a sister. Or, if +such duties are not practicable, they will work in +behalf of the home, often securing the aid of those +whose assistance is most valuable. In some places +it is arranged that a woman who earns her bread +by daily toil shall be assigned to labor at her regular +vocation, consecrating a certain portion of her +wages (perhaps one twenty-fourth) to the cause with +which she is allied.</p> + +<p>The Church has been accused of being too abstract, +too ideal, too far removed from the life of +the people in its every-day aspects. It is well for +Church members to examine themselves, and the +Church communities to which they belong, to judge +how much ground there is for such criticism. +None are so sharp-sighted as hostile critics, and +from none can such good lessons be learned. But +this accusation is not a new one, and the only effectual +way to meet it is to point to what the Church<a + id="png.261" name="png.261"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">261/</span>257</samp> +has accomplished. Over eighteen hundred years +ago, when John the Baptist was in danger of mistaking +our Lord, he sent to him, saying: “Art +thou he that should come? or look we for another?” +and the answer was: “Go your way, and tell John +what things ye have seen and heard; how that the +blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, +the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the +gospel is preached.”</p> + +<p>Let us be prepared to make a similar answer to-day, +and the Church need fear no accusation of holding +aloof from the needs of the daily life of the +people.</p> + +<p>“Christianity, as it stands in the Bible and in our +creeds, will neither be read nor understood by millions; +Christianity as it is revealed in the loving +service of deaconesses will be recognized by the +dullest eyes.”<sup><a href="#fn.xv.5" name="fna.xv.5" id="fna.xv.5">5</a></sup></p> + +<p>We have reached a new departure in Methodism. +The Church has added another to its aggressive +forces. How is it to be received? What welcome +will be given it? May pastors and people, one and +all, be in that attitude of spirit where we shall respond +readily to the command: “Whatsoever he +saith unto you, do it.”</p> + +<hr class="footnote" /> +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="fn.xv.1" id="fn.xv.1" href="#fna.xv.1">1</a> +<i>Die Diakonissenberuf nach seine Vergangenheit und gegenwart</i>. +Emil Wacker. Gütersloh, 1888, chap. vi.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xv.2" id="fn.xv.2" href="#fna.xv.2">2</a> +<i>Modern Cities</i>. S. L. Loomis, The Baker & Taylor Co., New +York, 1887, p. 192.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xv.3" id="fn.xv.3" href="#fna.xv.3">3</a> +<i>Deaconesses in the Church of England</i>, Griffith & Farran, 1880, +p. 31.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xv.4" id="fn.xv.4" href="#fna.xv.4">4</a> +<i>The American Commonwealth</i>, James Bryce. MacMillan & Co., +1889, vol. ii, pp. 586, 589.</p> +<p><a name="fn.xv.5" id="fn.xv.5" href="#fna.xv.5">5</a> +<i>Phöbe die Diakonissen</i>, p. 8.</p> +</div> +<a id="png.262" name="png.262"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">262/</span>258</samp> + + + +<h2 class="newchap">NOTE.</h2> +<hr class="chap" /> + +<h4 class="smc">Yearly Expenditures at Kaiserswerth</h4>. + + +<p>While the book is in press the following interesting +statistics are received, which are deemed of +sufficient importance to insert here.</p> + +<p>Receipts and expenditures of Kaiserswerth for +the three years from 1885 to 1888:</p> + +<table summary="Receipts and expenditures of Kaiserswerth for +the three years from 1885 to 1888"> +<tr> +<th> Year. </th><th></th><th> Receipts. </th><th></th><th> Expenses. </th></tr> +<tr> +<td>1885–1886</td><td>……</td><td>333,476 m. 74 pf.</td><td style="width: 2em;"> </td><td>331,812 m. 12 pf.</td></tr> +<tr> +<td>1886–1887</td><td>……</td><td>371,523 m. 46 pf.</td><td></td><td>370,626 m. 45 pf.</td></tr> +<tr> +<td>1887–1888</td><td>……</td><td>337,508 m. 14 pf.</td><td></td><td>492,384 m. 21 pf.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>In the year 1887–1888, the excess of expenses +over receipts was caused by the construction of a +new building, and special funds were contributed +which more than met the deficit.</p> + +<p>Rev. F. Fliedner, the son of Pastor Fliedner +further writes: “This does not include the expenses +in the East and other foreign stations. In +truth, about six hundred thousand marks pass +yearly through our treasury.” What an amount of +good accomplished by the yearly expenditure of +one hundred and fifty thousand dollars!</p> + +<a id="png.263" name="png.263"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">263/</span>259</samp> + + + +<div class="index"> +<h2>INDEX.</h2> +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p>Acts vi, <a href="#png.007">3</a>, + <a href="#png.017">13</a>, + <a href="#png.083">79</a>.</p> + +<p>Addlestone, <a href="#png.165">161</a>.</p> + +<p>Africa, Northern, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Age requirements, <a href="#png.033">29</a>, + <a href="#png.191">187</a>.</p> + +<p>Alabama, <a href="#png.217">213</a>.</p> + +<p>America, <a href="#png.077">73</a>, + <a href="#png.111">107</a>, + <a href="#png.256">252</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.america" id="i.america"><span class="smc">America, The Deaconess Cause in</span></a>, + <a href="#png.208">204</a>: + German Lutherans, <a href="#png.208">204</a>; + W. A. Passavant, Pittsburg, <a href="#png.209">205</a>; + Mary J. Drexel Home and Philadelphia Mother-house of Deaconesses, <a href="#png.212">208</a>; + Swedish Lutherans, Omaha, <a href="#png.215">211</a>; + Norwegian Lutherans, Brooklyn, <a href="#png.215">211</a>; + German Reformed, Hagerstown, <a href="#png.215">211</a>; + Protestant Episcopal Church, Baltimore, <a href="#png.216">212</a>; + Alabama, <a href="#png.217">213</a>; + Long Island, <a href="#png.219">215</a>; + Western New York, <a href="#png.220">216</a>; + Presbyterian Church, <a href="#png.221">217</a>; + Southern Presbyterian Church, <a href="#png.222">218</a>; + Methodist Episcopal Church, Lucy Rider Meyer, <a href="#png.224">220</a>; + Rock River Conference, Bengal Conference, <a href="#png.225">221</a>; + General Conference action, <a href="#png.226">222</a>; + Conference, “Plan,” Homes, <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smc">America, The Means of Training and + the Field of Work for Deaconesses in</span>, <a href="#png.232">228</a>: + threefold service, <a href="#png.233">229</a>; + hospitals, <a href="#png.234">230</a>; + day-homes, <a href="#png.240">236</a>; + home-mission deaconesses, <a href="#png.242">238</a>; + London, <a href="#png.243">239</a>; + cities, <a href="#png.246">242</a>; + parish deaconesses, <a href="#png.249">245</a>.</p> + +<p>Amprucla, a deaconess, <a href="#png.029">25</a>.</p> + +<p>Amsterdam, <a href="#png.047">43</a>, + <a href="#png.147">143</a>.</p> + +<p>Andrews, Edward G., <a href="#png.010">6</a>.</p> + +<p><i>Andover Review</i>, <a href="#png.154">150</a>.</p> + +<p>Apostolic Constitutions, <a href="#png.023">19</a>, + <a href="#png.025">21</a>, + <a href="#png.028">24</a>, + <a href="#png.089">85</a>.</p> + +<p><i>Armen und Kranken Freund</i>, <a href="#png.070">66</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.assoc" id="i.assoc">“Associates,”</a> <a href="#png.197">193</a>, + <a href="#png.217">213</a>–<a href="#png.219">215</a>, + <a href="#png.260">256</a>.</p> + +<p>Asia Minor, <a href="#png.080">76</a>, + <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Austria, <a href="#png.108">104</a>, + <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Author’s facilities, <a href="#png.008">4</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Baillie, Lady Grisell, <a href="#png.204">200</a>, + <a href="#png.205">201</a>, + <a href="#png.207">203</a>.</p> + +<p>Ball’s Pond, <a href="#png.186">182</a>.</p> + +<p>Balsamon, Professor, <a href="#png.035">31</a>.</p> + +<p>Baltimore, St. Andrew’s, <a href="#png.216">212</a>.</p> + +<p>Baptism, <a href="#png.026">22</a>, + <a href="#png.036">32</a>.</p> + +<p>Barat, Mother, <a href="#png.241">237</a>.</p> + +<p>Barnet, <a href="#png.171">167</a>, + <a href="#png.185">181</a>.</p> + +<p>Bartholomew’s prayer, <a href="#png.027">23</a>.</p> + +<p>Basil, of Cæsarea, <a href="#png.235">231</a>.</p> + +<p>Beghards, The, <a href="#png.041">37</a>.</p> + +<p>Béguines, The, <a href="#png.039">35</a>–<a href="#png.041">37</a>, + <a href="#png.149">145</a>.</p> + +<p>Beirut, Syria, <a href="#png.080">76</a>.</p> + +<p>Belgium, <a href="#png.038">34</a>, + <a href="#png.041">37</a>.</p> + +<p>Belleville, France, <a href="#png.138">134</a>.</p> + +<p>Bengal Conference, <a href="#png.225">221</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.berlin" id="i.berlin">Berlin</a>, <a href="#png.076">72</a>, + <a href="#png.103">99</a>, + <a href="#png.106">102</a>, + <a href="#png.115">111</a>, + <a href="#png.117">113</a>, + <a href="#png.118">114</a>, + <a href="#png.241">237</a>, + <a href="#png.249">245</a>.</p> + +<p>Barnardo, Dr., <a href="#png.163">159</a>.</p> + +<p>Berne, Switzerland, <a href="#png.107">103</a>.</p> + +<p>Bertheau, Caroline, <a href="#png.076">72</a>.</p> + +<p>Bethany House, <a href="#png.076">72</a>, + <a href="#png.106">102</a>.</p> + +<p>Bethany Society, <a href="#png.111">115</a>, + <a href="#png.122">118</a>.</p> + +<p>Bethnal Green, <a href="#png.184">180</a>, + <a href="#png.189">185</a>.</p> + +<p>Bible-classes, <a href="#png.179">175</a>, + <a href="#png.190">186</a>.</p> + +<p>Bible stories, <a href="#png.069">65</a>, + <a href="#png.128">124</a>.</p> + +<p>Bible study, <a href="#png.088">84</a>.</p> + +<p>Birthdays, <a href="#png.068">64</a>, + <a href="#png.075">71</a>.</p> + +<p>Boarders in Home, <a href="#png.136">132</a>.</p> + +<p>Bohemian brethren, <a href="#png.044">40</a>.</p> + +<p>Bohemians, Chicago, <a href="#png.247">243</a>.</p> + +<p>Boston churches, <a href="#png.248">244</a>.</p> + +<p>Bremen, Germany, <a href="#png.114">110</a>.</p> + +<p>Brighton, England, <a href="#png.185">181</a>.</p> + +<p>Brooklyn, N. Y., <a href="#png.215">211</a>, + <a href="#png.219">215</a>.</p> + +<p>Brotherhood in Christ, <a href="#png.014">10</a>, + <a href="#png.015">11</a>.</p> + +<p>Brotherhood of the Common Life, <a href="#png.041">37</a>.</p> + +<p>Buffalo, Poles in, <a href="#png.247">243</a>.</p> + + +<p class="first"> +Calcutta, India, <a href="#png.231">227</a>.</p> + +<p>Calvin, John, <a href="#png.046">42</a>, + <a href="#png.138">134</a>.</p> + +<p>Cambridge Platform, <a href="#png.148">144</a>.</p> + +<p>Catechumens, female, <a href="#png.025">21</a>.</p> + +<p>Celibacy. See <a href="#i.monks">Monks</a>, + <a href="#i.nuns">Nuns</a>.</p> + +<p>Chalmers, Thomas, <a href="#png.061">57</a>, + <a href="#png.193">189</a>.</p> + +<p>Charitable institutions, <a href="#png.013">9</a>, + <a href="#png.058">54</a>, + <a href="#png.061">57</a>.</p> + +<p>Charité, La, <a href="#png.104">100</a>.</p> + +<p>Charlotte, Sister, <a href="#png.079">75</a>.</p> + +<p>Charteris, A. H., <a href="#png.194">190</a>, + <a href="#png.196">192</a>, + <a href="#png.205">201</a>.</p> + +<p>Chicago, Ill., <a href="#png.077">73</a>, + <a href="#png.247">243</a>–<a href="#png.253">249</a>.</p> + +<p>Chicago Training-school, <a href="#png.224">220</a>, + <a href="#png.225">221</a>.</p> + +<p>Children, <a href="#png.014">10</a>, + <a href="#png.068">64</a>, + <a href="#png.127">123</a>.</p> + +<p>Cholera, <a href="#png.052">48</a>, + <a href="#png.174">170</a>.</p> + +<p>Christ, <a href="#png.250">246</a>.</p> + +<p>Christianity, <a href="#png.261">257</a>.</p> + +<p>Christmas, <a href="#png.182">178</a>, + <a href="#png.184">180</a>, + <a href="#png.185">181</a>.</p> + +<p>Chrysostom, <a href="#png.029">25</a>, + <a href="#png.030">26</a>.</p> + +<p>Church of England, <a href="#png.153">149</a>, + <a href="#png.154">150</a>, + <a href="#png.161">157</a>, + <a href="#png.195">191</a>.</p> + +<p>Church of England Woman’s Missionary Association, <a href="#png.167">163</a>.</p> + +<p>Church of England Zenana Society, <a href="#png.189">185</a>.</p> + +<p>Church of Scotland, <a href="#png.194">190</a>, + <a href="#png.197">193</a>, + <a href="#png.199">195</a>, + <a href="#png.205">201</a>, + <a href="#png.207">203</a>.</p> + +<p>Church of the Deaconesses, <a href="#png.035">31</a>.</p> + +<p><i>Churchman, The</i>, <a href="#png.109">105</a>, + <a href="#png.159">155</a>.</p> + +<p>Cincinnati, O., <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>Cities, <a href="#png.246">242</a>, + <a href="#png.247">243</a>, + <a href="#png.249">245</a>.</p> + +<p>Clapton House School, <a href="#png.186">182</a>.</p> + +<p>Classes of deaconesses, <a href="#png.190">186</a>, + <a href="#png.198">194</a>.</p> + +<a id="png.264" name="png.264"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">264/</span>260</samp> + +<p>Collecting money, <a href="#png.057">53</a>, + <a href="#png.058">54</a>, + <a href="#png.118">114</a>.</p> + +<p>Commune, <a href="#png.135">131</a>.</p> + +<p>Commune deaconess. See <a href="#i.parish">Parish deaconesses</a>.</p> + +<p>Compassion, Christian, <a href="#png.015">11</a>, + <a href="#png.017">13</a>.</p> + +<p class="maj">Conference, Chicago, <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> Kaiserswerth, <a href="#png.090">86</a>, + <a href="#png.110">106</a>, + <a href="#png.156">152</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> Mildmay, <a href="#png.171">167</a>.</p> + +<p>Conference Hall, <a href="#png.175">171</a>, + <a href="#png.182">178</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.cons" id="i.cons">Consecration</a>, <a href="#png.027">23</a>, + <a href="#png.033">29</a>, + <a href="#png.089">85</a>, + <a href="#png.144">140</a>, + <a href="#png.203">199</a>, + <a href="#png.214">210</a>, + <a href="#png.215">211</a>, + <a href="#png.221">217</a>.</p> + +<p>Contagious diseases, <a href="#png.088">84</a>, + <a href="#png.092">88</a>, + <a href="#png.174">170</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smc"><a name="i.continent" id="i.continent">Continent</a>, + Other Establishments on the</span>, <a href="#png.097">93</a>: + Strasburg, Pastor <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Harter'">Härter</ins>, <a href="#png.097">93</a>; + <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Mülhaussen'">Mülhausen</ins>, parish deaconesses, <a href="#png.099">95</a>; + Berlin servants, <a href="#png.103">99</a>; + Bethany House, <a href="#png.106">102</a>; + <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Dettlesau'">Dettelsau</ins>, Berne, Sophie Wurdemberger, <a href="#png.107">103</a>; + Saint Loup, Pastor Germond, <a href="#png.108">104</a>; + Riehen, Zürich, Gallneukirchen, <a href="#png.108">104</a>; + joint management, <a href="#png.110">106</a>; + environment, <a href="#png.111">107</a>; + many deaconesses, more needed, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Convalescent homes, <a href="#png.185">181</a>.</p> + +<p>Convalescents’ home, <a href="#png.130">126</a>.</p> + +<p>Cordes, <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original lacks period">A.</ins>, <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p>Constantinople, <a href="#png.029">25</a>, + <a href="#png.032">28</a>, + <a href="#png.035">31</a>.</p> + +<p>Cottage Hospital, <a href="#png.183">179</a>.</p> + +<p>Coventry, Miss, <a href="#png.187">183</a>.</p> + +<p>Crèche, <a href="#png.129">125</a>, + <a href="#png.238">234</a>, + <a href="#png.240">236</a>.</p> + + +<p class="first"> +Dalston, <a href="#png.150">146</a>.</p> + +<p>Damsels of Charity, <a href="#png.047">43</a>.</p> + +<p>Darmstadt, <a href="#png.150">146</a>.</p> + +<p>Daughter-houses, <a href="#png.075">71</a>, + <a href="#png.142">138</a>.</p> + +<p>Davidson, Miss, <a href="#png.204">200</a>, + <a href="#png.205">201</a>.</p> + +<p class="maj">Day homes, <a href="#png.239">235</a>, + <a href="#png.240">236</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> “Deaconess,” <a href="#png.153">149</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> how become? <a href="#png.259">255</a>.</p> + +<p>Deaconess Institution and Training-home, <a href="#png.199">195</a>, + <a href="#png.202">198</a>.</p> + +<p class="maj">Deaconesses, numerous, <a href="#png.111">107</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> world-wide demand, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> See “<a href="#i.assoc">Associates</a>,” + <a href="#i.america">America</a>, + <a href="#i.cons">Consecration</a>, + <a href="#i.continent">Continent</a>, + <a href="#i.diaconate">Diaconate</a>, + <a href="#i.early">Early</a>, + <a href="#i.england">England</a>, + <a href="#i.fliedner">Fliedner</a>, + <a href="#i.german">German</a>, + <a href="#i.kaisers">Kaiserswerth</a>, + <a href="#i.literature">Literature</a>, + <a href="#i.methodist">Methodist Episcopal Church</a>, + <a href="#i.mildmay">Mildmay</a>, + <a href="#i.objections">Objections</a>, + <a href="#i.paris">Paris</a>, + <a href="#i.scots">Scotland</a>, + <a href="#i.12th">Twelfth</a>, etc.</p> + +<p>Deacons appointed, <a href="#png.017">13</a>.</p> + +<p>De la Mark, Henry Robert, <a href="#png.048">44</a>.</p> + +<p>Denmark, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Detroit, Mich., <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>Devonshire Square, <a href="#png.150">146</a>.</p> + +<p>Devotions, <a href="#png.087">83</a>, + <a href="#png.122">118</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.diaconate" id="i.diaconate"><span class="smc">Diaconate, The</span></a>, + <a href="#png.013">9</a>: + brotherhood of all in Christ, <a href="#png.014">10</a>; + foreign missions, <a href="#png.015">11</a>; + home missions, <a href="#png.016">12</a>; + diaconate, <a href="#png.017">13</a>; + female diaconate, <a href="#png.018">14</a>; + meaning, <a href="#png.020">16</a>; + qualities, field, <a href="#png.021">17</a>.</p> + +<p class="maj">Diaconate, female, <a href="#png.017">13</a>, + <a href="#png.021">17</a>, + <a href="#png.024">20</a>, + <a href="#png.028">24</a>, + <a href="#png.034">30</a>, + <a href="#png.038">34</a>, + <a href="#png.049">45</a>, + <a href="#png.050">46</a>, + <a href="#png.193">189</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> organic, <a href="#png.207">203</a>.</p> + +<p>Discipline, <a href="#png.131">127</a>, + <a href="#png.133">129</a>.</p> + +<p>Dispensary, <a href="#png.073">69</a>, + <a href="#png.079">75</a>, + <a href="#png.107">103</a>, + <a href="#png.184">180</a>.</p> + +<p>Disselhoff, J., <a href="#png.035">31</a>, + <a href="#png.045">41</a>, + <a href="#png.052">48</a>, + <a href="#png.080">76</a>, + <a href="#png.095">91</a>, + <a href="#png.112">108</a>, + <a href="#png.113">109</a>.</p> + +<p><ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Dollinger'">Döllinger</ins>, <a href="#png.014">10</a>.</p> + +<p>Doncaster General Infirmary, <a href="#png.186">182</a>.</p> + +<p>Dorcas room, <a href="#png.178">174</a>.</p> + +<p>Dove, symbol, <a href="#png.095">91</a>.</p> + +<p>Dress, distinctive, <a href="#png.040">36</a>, + <a href="#png.086">82</a>, + <a href="#png.120">116</a>, + <a href="#png.159">155</a>, + <a href="#png.160">156</a>, + <a href="#png.214">210</a>, + <a href="#png.246">242</a>, + <a href="#png.253">249</a>.</p> + +<p>Du Camp, Maxime, <a href="#png.138">134</a>.</p> + +<p>Dumas, Mademoiselle, <a href="#png.139">135</a>, + <a href="#png.142">138</a>.</p> + +<p><ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Dusseldorf'">Düsseldorf</ins>, <a href="#png.060">56</a>.</p> + +<p><ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Dusselthal'">Düsselthal</ins>, <a href="#png.060">56</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Early Church, <a href="#png.235">231</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.early" id="i.early"><span class="smc">Early Church, + Deaconesses in the</span></a>, <a href="#png.022">18</a>: + Pliny’s letter, <a href="#png.023">19</a>; + apostolic constitutions, <a href="#png.023">19</a>; + deaconesses, widows, virgins, <a href="#png.024">20</a>; + deaconess’ duties, <a href="#png.025">21</a>; + prayer of ordination, <a href="#png.027">23</a>; + greatest growth in Eastern Church, <a href="#png.028">24</a>; + Chrysostom, <a href="#png.029">25</a>; + Olympias, <a href="#png.031">27</a>; + age, property, <a href="#png.033">29</a>; + in Western Church, <a href="#png.034">30</a>; + decay, extinction, <a href="#png.036">32</a>.</p> + +<p>East London Deaconess Home, <a href="#png.156">152</a>, + <a href="#png.160">156</a>.</p> + +<p>Easter cards, <a href="#png.182">178</a>.</p> + +<p>Eastern Church, <a href="#png.028">24</a>.</p> + +<p>Eccl. xi, <a href="#png.010">6</a>, + <a href="#png.259">255</a>.</p> + +<p>Edinburgh, Scotland, <a href="#png.193">189</a>.</p> + +<p>Eilers, Frederick, <a href="#png.114">110</a>, + <a href="#png.119">115</a>.</p> + +<p>Elberfeld, <a href="#png.062">58</a>, + <a href="#png.075">71</a>.</p> + +<p>Elizabeth of Prussia, <a href="#png.105">101</a>.</p> + +<p>Endowment, <a href="#png.071">67</a>.</p> + +<p>England. See <a href="#i.london">London</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.england" id="i.england"><span class="smc">England, + Deaconesses in</span></a>, <a href="#png.146">142</a>: + Puritans, <a href="#png.146">142</a>; + Amsterdam, <a href="#png.147">143</a>; + Plymouth colony, widows, <a href="#png.148">144</a>; + Southey, Protestants, <a href="#png.149">145</a>; + Mrs. Fry, Fliedner, Florence Nightingale, <a href="#png.150">146</a>; + Agnes Jones, <a href="#png.151">147</a>; + Ludlow, Stevenson, Howson, <a href="#png.152">148</a>; + “sister,” “deaconess,” <a href="#png.153">149</a>; + Church of England, <a href="#png.154">150</a>; + outside institutions, <a href="#png.162">158</a>; + Tottenham, <a href="#png.163">159</a>; + Prison Gate Mission, <a href="#png.165">161</a>; + London West Central Mission, <a href="#png.167">163</a>. + See <a href="#i.mildmay">Mildmay</a>.</p> + +<p>Environment, <a href="#png.111">107</a>.</p> + +<p>Eppstein, <a href="#png.054">50</a>.</p> + +<p>Epidemic, <a href="#png.091">87</a>.</p> + +<p>Ephrem the Syrian, <a href="#png.235">231</a>.</p> + +<p>Europe. See <a href="#i.continent">Continent</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.expenses" id="i.expenses">Expenses</a>, <a href="#png.086">82</a>, + <a href="#png.191">187</a>, + <a href="#png.192">188</a>, + <a href="#png.262">258</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Faith and works, <a href="#png.206">202</a>, + <a href="#png.234">230</a>.</p> + +<p>Fallen women, <a href="#png.116">112</a>.</p> + +<p>Farming, <a href="#png.073">69</a>.</p> + +<p>Faubourg Saint Antoine, <a href="#png.125">121</a>, + <a href="#png.136">132</a>.</p> + +<p>Feierabend Haus, <a href="#png.075">71</a>.</p> + +<p>Ferard, Elizabeth C., <a href="#png.156">152</a>.</p> + +<p>Flag at Kaiserswerth, <a href="#png.095">91</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.fliedner" id="i.fliedner"><span class="smc">Fliedner, + the Restorer of the Office of Deaconess</span></a>, <a href="#png.050">46</a>: + Klönne, <a href="#png.050">46</a>; + Amalie Sieveking, <a href="#png.051">47</a>; + Count von der Recke, <a href="#png.053">49</a>; + Theodor Fliedner, <a href="#png.054">50</a>; + Idstein, Giessen, Göttingen, <a href="#png.055">51</a>; + Herborn, Cologne, Kaiserswerth, <a href="#png.056">52</a>; + collecting money, <a href="#png.057">53</a>; + Elizabeth Fry, <a href="#png.059">55</a>; + Prison Society, Frederika Münster, <a href="#png.060">56</a>; + convict Minna, refuge, <a href="#png.061">57</a>; + Fräulein Göbel, <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'deaconessses'">deaconesses</ins>, <a href="#png.063">59</a>; + Rhenish Westphalian Deaconess Society, <a href="#png.064">60</a>.</p> + +<p class="maj">Fliedner, Theodor, <a href="#png.018">44</a>, + <a href="#png.054">50</a>, + <a href="#png.059">55</a>, + <a href="#png.060">56</a>, + <a href="#png.064">60</a>, + <a href="#png.065">61</a>, + <a href="#png.070">66</a>, + <a href="#png.072">68</a>, + <a href="#png.077">73</a>, + <a href="#png.078">74</a>, + <a href="#png.094">90</a>, + <a href="#png.104">100</a>, + <a href="#png.106">102</a>, + <a href="#png.150">146</a>, + <a href="#png.159">155</a>, + <a href="#png.193">189</a>, + <a href="#png.209">205</a>, + <a href="#png.217">213</a>,<a + id="png.265" name="png.265"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">265/</span>261</samp> + <a href="#png.236">232</a>, + <a href="#png.241">237</a>, + <a href="#png.242">238</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> wife of, <a href="#png.060">56</a>, + <a href="#png.062">58</a>, + <a href="#png.066">62</a>, + <a href="#png.067">63</a>, + <a href="#png.069">65</a>–<a href="#png.071">67</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> wife, second, <a href="#png.076">72</a>.</p> + +<p>Fliedner, Fritz, <a href="#png.222">218</a>, + <a href="#png.262">258</a>.</p> + +<p>Florence, Italy, <a href="#png.081">77</a>.</p> + +<p>Florentius, <a href="#png.042">38</a>.</p> + +<p>Flower mission, <a href="#png.177">173</a>.</p> + +<p>Foreign missions, <a href="#png.174">170</a>.</p> + +<p>France, <a href="#png.071">67</a>. See <a href="#i.paris">Paris</a>.</p> + +<p>Frankfort, <a href="#png.076">72</a>, + <a href="#png.114">110</a>, + <a href="#png.115">111</a>, + <a href="#png.117">113</a>.</p> + +<p>Frederick William IV., <a href="#png.053">49</a>, + <a href="#png.073">69</a>, + <a href="#png.076">72</a>, + <a href="#png.106">102</a>.</p> + +<p>Free Church of Scotland, <a href="#png.194">190</a>.</p> + +<p>Friends, The, <a href="#png.224">220</a>.</p> + +<p>Fry, Elizabeth, <a href="#png.059">55</a>, + <a href="#png.061">57</a>, + <a href="#png.064">60</a>, + <a href="#png.107">103</a>, + <a href="#png.139">135</a>, + <a href="#png.150">146</a>, + <a href="#png.213">209</a>.</p> + +<p>Fry, Herbert, <a href="#png.150">146</a>.</p> + +<p class="firstmaj"> +Gal. vi, 6, <a href="#gal66">183</a>.</p> +<p class="min">vi, 10, <a href="#png.017">13</a>.</p> + +<p>Gallneukirchen, <a href="#png.108">104</a>, + <a href="#png.109">105</a>.</p> + +<p>Gamble, Elizabeth, <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>Garden, <a href="#png.061">57</a>, + <a href="#png.129">125</a>, + <a href="#png.180">176</a>.</p> + +<p>General Conference, <a href="#png.225">221</a>. + action, <a href="#png.008">4</a>, + <a href="#png.226">222</a>.</p> + +<p>German hospital, <a href="#png.131">127</a>, + <a href="#png.150">146</a>.</p> + +<p>German Lutherans, <a href="#png.208">204</a>, + <a href="#png.209">205</a>, + <a href="#png.210">206</a>, + <a href="#png.211">207</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.german" id="i.german"><span class="smc">German Methodism, + Deaconesses in</span></a>, <a href="#png.114">110</a>: + Bethany Society, <a href="#png.114">110</a>; + reports, <a href="#png.115">111</a>; + fallen women, nurses, <a href="#png.116">112</a>; + Frankfort, Hamburg, Berlin, <a href="#png.117">113</a>; + collection, <a href="#png.118">114</a>; + Saint Gall, Zürich, <a href="#png.119">115</a>; + Sister Myrtha, <a href="#png.120">116</a>; + “God’s Fidelity,” <a href="#png.121">117</a>; + regulations, Bethany Society, <a href="#png.122">118</a>; + home training, <a href="#png.123">119</a>.</p> + +<p>German Reformed Church, <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p>Germany, <a href="#png.050">46</a>, + <a href="#png.122">118</a>, + <a href="#png.206">202</a>, + <a href="#png.239">235</a>. + See <a href="#i.berlin">Berlin</a>.</p> + +<p>Germond, Pastor, <a href="#png.108">104</a>.</p> + +<p>Giessen, University, <a href="#png.055">51</a>.</p> + +<p>Gobat, Dr., <a href="#png.078">74</a>.</p> + +<p>Göbel, <a href="#png.063">59</a>.</p> + +<p>Gottestreue, or God’s Fidelity, <a href="#png.121">117</a>.</p> + +<p>Göttingen, University, <a href="#png.055">51</a>.</p> + +<p>Greece, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Greek Church, <a href="#png.028">24</a>.</p> + +<p>Groot, Gerhard, <a href="#png.041">37</a>, + <a href="#png.042">38</a>.</p> + +<p>Guinness, Grattan, <a href="#png.164">160</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Hachette & Co., <a href="#png.140">136</a>.</p> + +<p>Hadwig, Duchess, <a href="#png.119">115</a>.</p> + +<p>Hagerstown, Md., <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p>Hamburg, <a href="#png.115">111</a>, + <a href="#png.117">113</a>.</p> + +<p>Harley House, <a href="#png.164">160</a>.</p> + +<p><ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Harter'">Härter</ins>, Pastor, <a href="#png.097">93</a>.</p> + +<p>Hastings, President, <a href="#png.222">218</a>.</p> + +<p>Hausser, G., <a href="#png.114">110</a>, + <a href="#png.115">111</a>.</p> + +<p>Headship, twofold, <a href="#png.110">106</a>.</p> + +<p>Herborn, <a href="#png.056">52</a>.</p> + +<p>Herford, <a href="#png.045">41</a>.</p> + +<p>Herzog, <a href="#png.036">32</a>.</p> + +<p>Holland, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Home, pleasures of, <a href="#png.254">250</a>.</p> + +<p>Home missionary. See <a href="#i.parish">Parish deaconess</a>.</p> + +<p>Home missions, <a href="#png.174">170</a>.</p> + +<p>Hospitals. <a href="#png.052">48</a>, + <a href="#png.066">62</a>, + <a href="#png.073">69</a>, + <a href="#png.075">71</a>, + <a href="#png.077">73</a>–<a href="#png.079">75</a>, + <a href="#png.087">83</a>, + <a href="#png.097">93</a>, + <a href="#png.104">100</a>, + <a href="#png.107">103</a>, + <a href="#png.119">115</a>, + <a href="#png.129">125</a>, + <a href="#png.131">127</a>, + <a href="#png.150">146</a>, + <a href="#png.162">158</a>, + <a href="#png.174">170</a>, + <a href="#png.183">179</a>, + <a href="#png.184">180</a>, + <a href="#png.210">206</a>, + <a href="#png.211">207</a>, + <a href="#png.234">230</a>, + <a href="#png.236">232</a>.</p> + +<p>House-mother, <a href="#png.110">106</a>.</p> + +<p>House of correction, <a href="#png.131">127</a>.</p> + +<p>House of Evening Rest, <a href="#png.075">71</a>.</p> + +<p>Howson, J. D., <a href="#png.019">15</a>, + <a href="#png.031">27</a>, + <a href="#png.088">84</a>, + <a href="#png.152">148</a>, + <a href="#png.161">157</a>.</p> + +<p>Hoxton, <a href="#png.189">185</a>.</p> + +<p>Hughes, Mrs., <a href="#png.167">163</a>.</p> + +<p>Huguenots, <a href="#png.145">141</a>.</p> + +<p>Humanitarianism, <a href="#png.015">11</a>.</p> + +<p>Huss, John, <a href="#png.044">40</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Idstein, gymnasium, <a href="#png.055">51</a>.</p> + +<p>Ignatius, <a href="#png.025">21</a>, + <a href="#png.033">29</a>.</p> + +<p>Infirmary, <a href="#png.210">206</a>.</p> + +<p><i>Imitation of Christ</i>, <a href="#png.042">38</a>.</p> + +<p>Immigrants, <a href="#png.246">242</a>.</p> + +<p>India, <a href="#png.190">186</a>, + <a href="#png.191">187</a>, + <a href="#png.225">221</a>, + <a href="#png.231">227</a>.</p> + +<p>Inquiry, Department of, <a href="#png.187">183</a>.</p> + +<p>Insane, <a href="#png.072">68</a>, + <a href="#png.109">105</a>, + <a href="#png.238">234</a>.</p> + +<p>Introduction, <a href="#png.007">3</a>.</p> + +<p>Invalid kitchen, <a href="#png.177">173</a>.</p> + +<p>Iserlohn, Westphalia, <a href="#png.212">208</a>.</p> + +<p>Italy, <a href="#png.081">77</a>, + <a href="#png.082">78</a>, + <a href="#png.112">108</a>, + <a href="#png.236">232</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Jacksonville, Ill., <a href="#png.077">73</a>, + <a href="#png.210">206</a>.</p> + +<p>Jaffa, <a href="#png.186">182</a>.</p> + +<p>Jerusalem, <a href="#png.078">74</a>, + <a href="#png.166">162</a>.</p> + +<p>John ii, 5, <a href="#png.261">257</a>.</p> + +<p>John the Baptist, <a href="#png.261">257</a>.</p> + +<p>Jones, Agnes, <a href="#png.151">147</a>.</p> + +<p>Jubilee anniversary, <a href="#png.095">91</a>.</p> + +<p class="firstmaj"> +Kaiserswerth, <a href="#png.056">52</a>, + <a href="#png.061">57</a>, + <a href="#png.151">147</a>, + <a href="#png.156">152</a>, + <a href="#png.207">203</a>, + <a href="#png.238">234</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> yearly expenses, <a href="#png.262">258</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.kaisers" id="i.kaisers"><span class="smc">Kaiserswerth, + The Institutions at</span></a>, <a href="#png.065">61</a>: + deaconess home, hospital, first deaconess, <a href="#png.067">63</a>; + normal-school for infant-school teachers, <a href="#png.068">64</a>; + Bible stories, <a href="#png.069">65</a>; + Fliedner’s wife, <a href="#png.069">65</a>; + publishing house, <i>Kaiserswerth Almanac</i>, <i>The Poor and Sick Friend</i>, finance, <a href="#png.070">66</a>; + orphan asylum, <a href="#png.071">67</a>; + normal-school for female teachers, insane asylum, <a href="#png.072">68</a>; + farm, <a href="#png.073">69</a>; + refuge, Salem, <a href="#png.074">70</a>; + House of Evening Rest, daughter-houses, <a href="#png.075">71</a>; + Berlin, <a href="#png.076">72</a>; + Pittsburg, <a href="#png.077">73</a>; + Jerusalem, <a href="#png.078">74</a>; + Beirut, Smyrna, <a href="#png.080">76</a>; + Salem in the Lebanon, <a href="#png.081">77</a>.</p> + +<p><span class="smc">Kaiserswerth, The Regulations at, + and the Duties and Services of the Deaconesses</span>, <a href="#png.083">79</a>; + service, <a href="#png.083">79</a>; + nurses, teachers, visitors, <a href="#png.084">80</a>; + probation, <a href="#png.085">81</a>; + dress, expenses, <a href="#png.086">82</a>; + duties, quiet half-hour, <a href="#png.087">83</a>; + union, obedience, <a href="#png.088">84</a>; + consecration, <a href="#png.089">85</a>; + conferences, statistics, <a href="#png.090">86</a>; + emergencies, <a href="#png.091">87</a>; + wars, <a href="#png.093">89</a>; + Fliedner’s death, successors, <a href="#png.095">91</a>.</p> + +<p><i>Kaiserswerth Almanac</i>, <a href="#png.090">86</a>.</p> + +<p>Katherine Home, <a href="#png.197">163</a>.</p> + +<p>Kempis, Thomas à, <a href="#png.042">38</a>.</p> + +<p>Kilburn Orphanage, <a href="#png.164">160</a>.</p> + +<p>King’s Daughters, <a href="#png.257">253</a>.</p> + +<p>Klönne, Johann Adolph Franz, <a href="#png.050">46</a>, + <a href="#png.058">54</a>.</p> + +<p>Krueger, Marie, <a href="#png.211">207</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Lads’ Institute, <a href="#png.185">181</a>.</p> + +<p>Lambert le Bègue, <a href="#png.038">34</a>.</p> + +<p>Lankenau, John D., <a href="#png.211">207</a>, + <a href="#png.212">208</a>.</p> + +<p>Laseron, Dr. and Mrs., <a href="#png.161">157</a>, + <a href="#png.162">158</a>.</p> + +<p>Laundry, <a href="#png.165">161</a>.</p> + +<p>Layton, M. E., <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>Lectures, syllabus of, <a href="#png.200">196</a>.</p> + +<p>Leonard, A. B., <a href="#png.228">224</a>.</p> + +<p>Library, lending, <a href="#png.179">175</a>.</p> + +<p>Life, the highest, <a href="#png.255">251</a>.</p> + +<p>Lightfoot, Bishop, <a href="#png.019">15</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.literature" id="i.literature">Literature referred to</a>, <a href="#png.014">10</a>, + <a href="#png.015">11</a>, + <a href="#png.016">12</a>, + <a href="#png.019">15</a>, + <a href="#png.024">20</a>, + <a href="#png.025">21</a>, + <a href="#png.027">23</a>, + <a href="#png.028">24</a>, + <a href="#png.030">26</a>, + <a href="#png.035">31</a>, + <a href="#png.037">33</a>, + <a href="#png.048">44</a>, + <a href="#png.051">47</a>, + <a href="#png.053">49</a>, + <a href="#png.059">55</a>, + <a href="#png.070">66</a>, + <a href="#png.072">68</a>, + <a href="#png.074">70</a>, + <a href="#png.080">76</a>, + <a href="#png.083">79</a>, + <a href="#png.114">110</a>, + <a href="#png.115">111</a>,<a + id="png.266" name="png.266"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">266/</span>262</samp> + <a href="#png.124">120</a>, + <a href="#png.138">134</a>, + <a href="#png.146">142</a>, + <a href="#png.148">144</a>, + <a href="#png.150">146</a>, + <a href="#png.152">148</a>, + <a href="#png.154">150</a>–<a href="#png.156">152</a>, + <a href="#png.159">155</a>–<a href="#png.161">157</a>, + <a href="#png.168">164</a>, + <a href="#png.171">167</a>, + <a href="#png.179">175</a>, + <a href="#png.182">178</a>, + <a href="#png.185">181</a>, + <a href="#png.196">192</a>, + <a href="#png.198">194</a>, + <a href="#png.209">205</a>, + <a href="#png.216">212</a>, + <a href="#png.218">214</a>, + <a href="#png.220">216</a>, + <a href="#png.221">217</a>, + <a href="#png.225">221</a>, + <a href="#png.230">226</a>, + <a href="#png.236">232</a>, + <a href="#png.245">241</a>, + <a href="#png.249">245</a>, + <a href="#png.257">253</a>.</p> + +<p>Littlejohn, Bishop, <a href="#png.219">215</a>.</p> + +<p>Liverpool work-house, <a href="#png.151">147</a>.</p> + +<p><ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'London.'"><a name="i.london" id="i.london">London</a>,</ins> <a href="#png.170">166</a>, + <a href="#png.242">238</a>–<a href="#png.245">241</a>, + <a href="#png.249">245</a>, + <a href="#png.260">256</a>. + See <a href="#i.mildmay">Mildmay</a>.</p> + +<p>London Diocesan Deaconess Institution, <a href="#png.155">151</a>.</p> + +<p>London Bible-women’s Mission, <a href="#png.164">160</a>.</p> + +<p>London West Central Mission, <a href="#png.167">163</a>, + <a href="#png.168">164</a>.</p> + +<p>Loomis, S. L., <a href="#png.249">245</a>.</p> + +<p>Los Angeles, Cal., <a href="#png.223">219</a>.</p> + +<p>“Lost Way, The,” <a href="#png.104">100</a>.</p> + +<p>Love, Christian, <a href="#png.015">11</a>, + <a href="#png.017">13</a>.</p> + +<p>Lucian, <a href="#png.026">22</a>.</p> + +<p>Ludlow, John Malcolm, <a href="#png.024">20</a>, + <a href="#png.027">23</a>, + <a href="#png.041">37</a>, + <a href="#png.091">87</a>, + <a href="#png.152">148</a>.</p> + +<p>Luke x, <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has '5.'">5,</ins> <a href="#png.189">184</a>.</p> + +<p>Luther, Martin, <a href="#png.044">40</a>, + <a href="#png.046">42</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +McClintock & Strong, <a href="#png.027">23</a>, + <a href="#png.236">232</a>.</p> + +<p>McGill, A. T., <a href="#png.221">217</a>.</p> + +<p>MacMaster, <a href="#png.015">11</a>.</p> + +<p><ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Macrina'">Makrina</ins> ordained, <a href="#png.033">29</a>.</p> + +<p>Maine, Henry, <a href="#png.251">247</a>.</p> + +<p>Malta, <a href="#png.186">182</a>.</p> + +<p>Mann, W. J., <a href="#png.211">207</a>, + <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p>Marbeau, M. <a href="#png.239">235</a>.</p> + +<p>Marthashof, <a href="#png.103">99</a>, + <a href="#png.106">102</a>.</p> + +<p>Mary J. Drexel Home and Philadelphia Mother-house of Deaconesses, <a href="#png.091">87</a>, + <a href="#png.131">127</a>, + <a href="#png.214">210</a>, + <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p>Matt. xi, 3–5, <a href="#png.261">257</a>.</p> + +<p>Maxwell, Alice Maud, <a href="#png.204">200</a>, + <a href="#png.205">201</a>.</p> + +<p>Medical mission, <a href="#png.183">179</a>.</p> + +<p>Medical training, <a href="#png.190">186</a>, + <a href="#png.191">187</a>.</p> + +<p>Mennonites, <a href="#png.048">44</a>, + <a href="#png.058">54</a>, + <a href="#png.063">59</a>.</p> + +<p>Men’s Bible-class, <a href="#png.179">175</a>.</p> + +<p>Men’s Institute, <a href="#png.184">180</a>.</p> + +<p>Men’s Night-school, <a href="#png.178">174</a>.</p> + +<p>Meredith, Mrs., <a href="#png.164">160</a>, + <a href="#png.166">162</a>.</p> + +<p>Methodism, German, <a href="#png.114">110</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.methodist" id="i.methodist">Methodist Episcopal Church</a>, <a href="#png.111">107</a>, + <a href="#png.207">203</a>, + <a href="#png.224">220</a>, + <a href="#png.257">253</a>, + <a href="#png.261">257</a>.</p> + +<p>Meyer, Consul, <a href="#png.211">207</a>.</p> + +<p>Meyer, Lucy Rider, <a href="#png.224">220</a>, + <a href="#png.225">221</a>.</p> + +<p>Middle Ages, <a href="#png.236">232</a>.</p> + +<p>Middleburg, <a href="#png.046">42</a>.</p> + +<p>Mildmay, <a href="#png.206">202</a>, + <a href="#png.257">253</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.mildmay" id="i.mildmay"><span class="smc">Mildmay Institutions</span></a>, <a href="#png.170">166</a>: + William Pennefather, Barnet, Conferences, <a href="#png.171">167</a>; + Mildmay Park, <a href="#png.172">168</a>; + missionary training-school and home, <a href="#png.173">169</a>; + deaconesses, <a href="#png.174">170</a>; conference hall, + deaconess house, <a href="#png.175">171</a>; + Pennefather’s death, successor, <a href="#png.177">173</a>; + invalid kitchen, flower mission, <a href="#png.177">173</a>; + Dorcas room, men’s night school, <a href="#png.178">174</a>; + lending library, men’s Bible-class, servants’ registry, <a href="#png.179">175</a>; + sitting-room, <a href="#png.179">175</a>; + garden, <a href="#png.180">176</a>; + orphanage, Scripture texts, <a href="#png.181">177</a>; + conference hall, parish deaconesses, <a href="#png.182">178</a>; + nursery home, cottage hospital, medical mission, <a href="#png.183">179</a>; + Bethnal Green, <a href="#png.184">180</a>; + convalescent homes, <a href="#png.185">181</a>; + nurses, railway mission, <a href="#png.186">182</a>; + deaconesses of all classes, <a href="#png.187">183</a>; + missionary training-school, <a href="#png.188">184</a>; + classes trained, <a href="#png.190">186</a>; + expenses, <a href="#png.192">188</a>.</p> + +<p>Milwaukee, Wis., <a href="#png.077">73</a>, + <a href="#png.210">206</a>.</p> + +<p>Ministræ, <a href="#png.023">19</a>.</p> + +<p>Minna, convict, <a href="#png.061">57</a>.</p> + +<p>Minneapolis, Minn., <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>Missionary training school, <a href="#png.173">169</a>, + <a href="#png.174">170</a>, + <a href="#png.188">184</a>, + <a href="#png.189">185</a>, + <a href="#png.190">186</a>.</p> + +<p>Missions, <a href="#png.015">11</a>, + <a href="#png.016">12</a>.</p> + +<p>Mohammedans, <a href="#png.079">75</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.monks" id="i.monks">Monks</a>, <a href="#png.036">32</a>, + <a href="#png.045">41</a>, + <a href="#png.140">136</a>.</p> + +<p>Monod, Sara, <a href="#png.124">120</a>, + <a href="#png.140">136</a>, + <a href="#png.142">138</a>.</p> + +<p>Monod, W., <a href="#png.124">120</a>.</p> + +<p>Moravians, <a href="#png.048">44</a>, + <a href="#png.049">45</a>.</p> + +<p>Morley, Samuel, <a href="#png.163">159</a>.</p> + +<p>Mother-houses, <a href="#png.068">64</a>, + <a href="#png.076">72</a>, + <a href="#png.078">74</a>, + <a href="#png.084">80</a>, + <a href="#png.090">86</a>, + <a href="#png.110">106</a>.</p> + +<p>Mothers, <a href="#png.239">235</a>.</p> + +<p>Mount Vernon, N. Y., <a href="#png.210">206</a>.</p> + +<p>Mülhausen, <a href="#png.099">95</a>.</p> + +<p>Münster, Frederika, <a href="#png.060">56</a>.</p> + +<p>Muttra, India, <a href="#png.231">227</a>.</p> + +<p>Myrtha, Sister, <a href="#png.120">116</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Neal, Daniel, <a href="#png.146">142</a>.</p> + +<p>Neander, <a href="#png.027">23</a>, + <a href="#png.028">24</a>.</p> + +<p>Nectarius, Bishop, <a href="#png.032">28</a>.</p> + +<p>Netherlands, <a href="#png.039">35</a>, + <a href="#png.041">37</a>, + <a href="#png.043">39</a>, + <a href="#png.046">42</a>, + <a href="#png.048">44</a>.</p> + +<p>Neudettelsau, <a href="#png.107">103</a>.</p> + +<p>New Orleans, La., <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>New York, N. Y., <a href="#png.230">226</a>, + <a href="#png.248">244</a>, + <a href="#png.249">245</a>.</p> + +<p>Nicarete, deaconess, <a href="#png.029">25</a>.</p> + +<p>Night-school, <a href="#png.178">174</a>.</p> + +<p>Nightingale, Florence, <a href="#png.150">146</a>-<a href="#png.152">148</a>, + <a href="#png.238">234</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.normal" id="i.normal">Normal</a> school, <a href="#png.068">64</a>, + <a href="#png.070">66</a>, + <a href="#png.072">68</a>.</p> + +<p><i>North American Review</i>, <a href="#png.016">12</a>.</p> + +<p>Norway, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Norwegian Lutherans, <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.nuns" id="i.nuns">Nuns</a>, <a href="#png.036">32</a>, + <a href="#png.041">37</a>, + <a href="#png.045">41</a>, + <a href="#png.155">151</a>, + <a href="#png.251">247</a>.</p> + +<p>Nursery girls, <a href="#png.105">101</a>.</p> + +<p>Nursery home, <a href="#png.183">179</a>.</p> + +<p>Nurses, <a href="#png.072">68</a>, + <a href="#png.075">71</a>, + <a href="#png.084">80</a>, + <a href="#png.087">83</a>, + <a href="#png.093">89</a>, + <a href="#png.094">90</a>, + <a href="#png.097">93</a>, + <a href="#png.108">104</a>, + <a href="#png.116">112</a>, + <a href="#png.117">113</a>, + <a href="#png.131">127</a>, + <a href="#png.137">133</a>, + <a href="#png.186">182</a>, + <a href="#png.195">191</a>, + <a href="#png.212">208</a>.</p> + +<p>Nursing sisters’ institution, <a href="#png.150">146</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"><a + name="i.objections" id="i.objections"><span class="smc">Objections met + and Suggestions offered</span></a>, <a href="#png.251">247</a>: + hard work and God’s favor, <a href="#png.251">247</a>; + not nuns, <a href="#png.251">247</a>; + Roman Catholic sisters, <a href="#png.252">248</a>; + distinctive dress, <a href="#png.253">249</a>; + cut off from home life, <a href="#png.254">250</a>; + America favorable, <a href="#png.256">252</a>; + Methodist Episcopal Church favorable, <a href="#png.257">253</a>; + how become deaconess? <a href="#png.259">255</a>; + “do it,” <a href="#png.261">257</a>.</p> + +<p>Orleans, Synod of, <a href="#png.034">30</a>.</p> + +<p>Olympias, <a href="#png.030">26</a>, + <a href="#png.031">27</a>.</p> + +<p>Omaha, Neb., <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p>Ordination. See <a href="#i.cons">Consecration</a>.</p> + +<p>Origen, <a href="#png.034">30</a>.</p> + +<p>Orphanages, <a href="#png.071">67</a>, + <a href="#png.077">73</a>, + <a href="#png.079">75</a>–<a href="#png.081">77</a>, + <a href="#png.163">159</a>, + <a href="#png.181">177</a>, + <a href="#png.210">206</a>.</p> + +<p>“Outsiders,” <a href="#png.168">164</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Palestine, <a href="#png.080">76</a>.</p> + +<p>Paris, <a href="#png.236">232</a>, + <a href="#png.239">235</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.paris" id="i.paris"><span class="smc">Paris, + Deaconesses in</span></a>, <a href="#png.124">120</a>: + Sara Monod, W. Monod, <a href="#png.124">120</a>; + deaconess establishment, <a href="#png.125">121</a>; + reports, children, <a href="#png.127">123</a>; + crèche, hospital, <a href="#png.129">125</a>; + convalescents’ home, <a href="#png.130">126</a>; + house of correction, <a href="#png.131">127</a>; + moral results, <a href="#png.134">130</a>; + Commune investigation, <a href="#png.135">131</a>; + wounded, boarders, <a href="#png.136">132</a>; + preparatory school, nurses, <a href="#png.137">133</a>; + success, parish<a + id="png.267" name="png.267"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">267/</span>263</samp> + deaconesses, <a href="#png.138">134</a>; + prisons for women, <a href="#png.139">135</a>; + Mademoiselle Dumas, <a href="#png.140">136</a>; + branches, <a href="#png.142">138</a>; + parish deaconesses, <a href="#png.143">139</a>; + consecration, <a href="#png.144">140</a>.</p> + +<p>Paris, Matthew, <a href="#png.041">37</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.parish" id="i.parish">Parish Deaconesses</a>, <a href="#png.076">72</a>, + <a href="#png.084">80</a>, + <a href="#png.100">96</a>, + <a href="#png.107">103</a>, + <a href="#png.114">110</a>, + <a href="#png.138">134</a>, + <a href="#png.143">139</a>, + <a href="#png.195">191</a>, + <a href="#png.242">238</a>, + <a href="#png.258">254</a>.</p> + +<p>Pascal, Jacqueline, <a href="#png.129">125</a>.</p> + +<p>Passavant, W. A., <a href="#png.077">73</a>, + <a href="#png.209">205</a>, + <a href="#png.210">206</a>.</p> + +<p>Passy, <a href="#png.130">126</a>.</p> + +<p>Pastors, <a href="#png.249">245</a>, + <a href="#png.258">254</a>.</p> + +<p>Pegran, Pasteur, <a href="#png.048">44</a>.</p> + +<p>Pentadia, <a href="#png.030">26</a>.</p> + +<p class="maj">Pennefather, William, <a href="#png.171">167</a>, + <a href="#png.177">73</a>, + <a href="#png.206">202</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> wife of, <a href="#png.177">173</a>.</p> + +<p class="maj">1 Pet. ii, 5, <a href="#png.044">40</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> iii, 4, <a href="#png.159">155</a>.</p> + +<p>Pharmacy, <a href="#png.130">126</a>.</p> + +<p>Philadelphia, Pa., <a href="#png.091">87</a>, + <a href="#png.131">127</a>, + <a href="#png.211">207</a>, + <a href="#png.214">210</a>, + <a href="#png.222">218</a>, + <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>Phœbe, <a href="#png.018">14</a>, + <a href="#png.026">22</a>, + <a href="#png.193">189</a>, + <a href="#png.209">205</a>.</p> + +<p>Pilgrim fathers, <a href="#png.147">143</a>, + <a href="#png.148">144</a>.</p> + +<p>Pittsburg, Pa., <a href="#png.077">73</a>, + <a href="#png.209">205</a>.</p> + +<p>Plan for securing uniformity, <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>Plato, <a href="#png.014">10</a>.</p> + +<p>Pliny, letter, ministræ, <a href="#png.023">19</a>.</p> + +<p>Poles in Buffalo, <a href="#png.247">243</a>, + <a href="#png.248">244</a>.</p> + +<p>Poor Men of <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber's note: original has 'Lyons.'">Lyons,</ins> <a href="#png.043">39</a>.</p> + +<p><i>Poor and Sick Friend</i>, <a href="#png.070">66</a>, + <a href="#png.108">104</a>, + <a href="#png.156">152</a>.</p> + +<p>Portsmouth, <a href="#png.157">153</a>.</p> + +<p>Potter, H. C. <a href="#png.216">212</a>.</p> + +<p>Prayer, <a href="#png.027">23</a>, + <a href="#png.087">83</a>, + <a href="#png.088">84</a>, + <a href="#png.122">118</a>.</p> + +<p>Presbyterian Church, <a href="#png.206">202</a>, + <a href="#png.221">217</a>.</p> + +<p><i>Presbyterian Review</i>, <a href="#png.221">217</a>, + <a href="#png.223">219</a>.</p> + +<p>Preparatory school, <a href="#png.137">133</a>.</p> + +<p>Princess Mary Village Home, <a href="#png.165">161</a>.</p> + +<p>Prison Gate Mission, <a href="#png.165">161</a>.</p> + +<p>Prisoners, <a href="#png.059">55</a>–<a href="#png.062">58</a>, + <a href="#png.064">60</a>, + <a href="#png.074">70</a>, + <a href="#png.116">112</a>, + <a href="#png.139">135</a>, + <a href="#png.164">160</a>, + <a href="#png.165">161</a>.</p> + +<p>Probation, <a href="#png.085">81</a>, + <a href="#png.122">118</a>, + <a href="#png.188">184</a>, + <a href="#png.191">187</a>.</p> + +<p>Procla, deaconess, <a href="#png.030">26</a>.</p> + +<p>Protestant Episcopal Church, <a href="#png.216">212</a>.</p> + +<p>Protestants, <a href="#png.052">48</a>, + <a href="#png.109">105</a>, + <a href="#png.149">145</a>, + <a href="#png.155">151.</a></p> + +<p>Psa. lxviii, 11, <a href="#png.250">246</a>.</p> + +<p>Publishing House, <a href="#png.070">66</a>, + <a href="#png.140">136</a>.</p> + +<p>Pudentiana, deaconess, <a href="#png.034">30</a>.</p> + +<p>Puritans, <a href="#png.146">142</a>, + <a href="#png.148">144</a>.</p> + +<p>Pusey, Dr., <a href="#png.153">149</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Railway mission, <a href="#png.186">182</a>.</p> + +<p>Recke, Count von der, <a href="#png.053">49</a>.</p> + +<p>Rector, <a href="#png.110">106</a>.</p> + +<p>Reformed Church, <a href="#png.046">42</a>.</p> + +<p>Regulations, <a href="#png.083">79</a>, + <a href="#png.122">118</a>, + <a href="#png.197">193</a>, + <a href="#png.217">213</a>.</p> + +<p>Reichardt, Gertrude, <a href="#png.067">63</a>.</p> + +<p>Rest, <a href="#png.074">70</a>, + <a href="#png.075">71</a>, + <a href="#png.121">117</a>.</p> + +<p>Rhenish-Westphalian Deaconess Society, <a href="#png.232">228</a>.</p> + +<p>Riehen, near Basel, <a href="#png.108">104</a>.</p> + +<p>Rochester, N. Y., <a href="#png.077">73</a>, + <a href="#png.210">206</a>.</p> + +<p>Rock River Conference, <a href="#png.225">221</a>.</p> + +<p>Roman, J. Dixon, <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p>Roman Catholic Church, <a href="#png.034">30</a>, + <a href="#png.038">34</a>, + <a href="#png.248">244</a>, + <a href="#png.252">248</a>, + <a href="#png.253">249</a>.</p> + +<p>Rom. xvi, 1, <a href="#png.018">14</a>, + <a href="#png.119">115</a>, + <a href="#png.193">189</a>.</p> + +<p>Rome, <a href="#png.034">30</a>, + <a href="#png.082">78</a>, + <a href="#png.236">232</a>.</p> + +<p>Rue de Bridaine, <a href="#png.143">139</a>.</p> + +<p>Rue de Reuilly, <a href="#png.124">120</a>, + <a href="#png.131">127</a>, + <a href="#png.136">132</a>.</p> + +<p>Russia, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Sabiniana, <a href="#png.029">25</a>.</p> + +<p>Sachsenhausen, <a href="#png.116">112</a>.</p> + +<p>St. Christopher’s Church, <a href="#png.039">35</a>.</p> + +<p>St. Gaul, <a href="#png.116">112</a>, + <a href="#png.119">115</a>.</p> + +<p>St. Louis, Mo., <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>St. Loup, <a href="#png.108">104</a>.</p> + +<p>St. Marie, <a href="#png.138">134</a>.</p> + +<p>Salem, <a href="#png.074">70</a>, + <a href="#png.081">77</a>, + <a href="#png.121">117</a>.</p> + +<p>Salisbury Home, <a href="#png.157">153</a>.</p> + +<p>Salle d’Asile, <a href="#png.127">123</a>.</p> + +<p>Savings Bank, <a href="#png.185">181</a>.</p> + +<p>Schäfer, Theodor, <a href="#png.026">22</a>, + <a href="#png.031">27</a>, + <a href="#png.043">39</a>, + <a href="#png.046">42</a>, + <a href="#png.053">49</a>, + <a href="#png.099">95</a>, + <a href="#png.103">99</a>, + <a href="#png.150">146</a>.</p> + +<p>Schaff, Philip, <a href="#png.027">23</a>, + <a href="#png.028">24</a>, + <a href="#png.034">30</a>.</p> + +<p>Scheffel, <a href="#png.119">115</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.scots" id="i.scots"><span class="smc">Scotland, + Deaconesses in</span></a>, <a href="#png.193">189</a>: + Church of Scotland, A. H. Charteris’s report, <a href="#png.194">190</a>; + three grades of women workers, <a href="#png.197">193</a>; + Deaconess Institution and Training-home, <a href="#png.199">195</a>; + syllabus of lectures, <a href="#png.200">196</a>; + consecration, seven years’ experience or two years’ training, <a href="#png.203">199</a>; + Presbyterian Churches of Great Britain, <a href="#png.206">202</a>; + office of deaconess made organic, <a href="#png.207">203</a>.</p> + +<p>Scripture texts, illustration of, <a href="#png.181">177</a>.</p> + +<p>Servants, <a href="#png.089">85</a>, + <a href="#png.103">99</a>, + <a href="#png.105">101</a>, + <a href="#png.106">102</a>.</p> + +<p>Servants Home, <a href="#png.245">241</a>.</p> + +<p>Servants’ Registry, <a href="#png.179">175</a>.</p> + +<p>Service, threefold, <a href="#png.083">79</a>, + <a href="#png.233">229</a>.</p> + +<p>Shanghai, <a href="#png.113">109</a>.</p> + +<p>Sieveking, Amalie, <a href="#png.051">47</a>.</p> + +<p>Singing, <a href="#png.088">84</a>, + <a href="#png.089">85</a>.</p> + +<p>“Sister,” <a href="#png.153">149</a>, + <a href="#png.169">165</a>.</p> + +<p>Sisterhoods, <a href="#png.051">47</a>, + <a href="#png.154">150</a>, + <a href="#png.161">157</a>, + <a href="#png.216">212</a>, + <a href="#png.219">215</a>, + <a href="#png.220">216</a>, + <a href="#png.252">248</a>.</p> + +<p>Sisters of Charity, <a href="#png.097">93</a>, + <a href="#png.140">136</a>, + <a href="#png.149">145</a>.</p> + +<p>Sisters of the Common Life, <a href="#png.041">37</a>, + <a href="#png.043">39</a>.</p> + +<p>Sisters of the People, <a href="#png.167">163</a>, + <a href="#png.168">164</a>.</p> + +<p>Sisters of the Sacred Heart, <a href="#png.241">237</a>.</p> + +<p>Smyrna, <a href="#png.080">76</a>.</p> + +<p>Soup Kitchen, <a href="#png.173">169</a>.</p> + +<p>Southern Presbyterian Church, <a href="#png.222">218</a>.</p> + +<p>Southey, <a href="#png.149">145</a>, + <a href="#png.150">146</a>.</p> + +<p>Spaeth, A., <a href="#png.209">205</a>, + <a href="#png.211">207</a>, + <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p>Spain, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Sparkes, Miss, <a href="#png.231">227</a>.</p> + +<p>Sparta, <a href="#png.014">10</a>.</p> + +<p>Spee, Count, <a href="#png.062">58</a>.</p> + +<p>Spee, Countess, <a href="#png.063">59</a>.</p> + +<p>Statistics, <a href="#png.090">86</a>, + <a href="#png.091">87</a>.</p> + +<p>Stevenson. Dr., <a href="#png.152">148</a>.</p> + +<p>“Stille halbe Stunde,” <a href="#png.088">84</a>.</p> + +<p>Strasburg, <a href="#png.097">93</a>.</p> + +<p>Success and glory, <a href="#png.251">247</a>.</p> + +<p>Superintendent, <a href="#png.076">72</a>, + <a href="#png.199">195</a>.</p> + +<p>Support. See <a href="#i.expenses">Expenses</a>.</p> + +<p>Sweden, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p>Swedish Lutherans, <a href="#png.215">211</a>.</p> + +<p>Switzerland, <a href="#png.108">104</a>, + <a href="#png.116">112</a>, + <a href="#png.239">235</a>.</p> + +<p>Syllabus of Lectures, <a href="#png.200">196</a>.</p> + +<p>Syria, <a href="#png.080">76</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Talitha Cumi, <a href="#png.079">75</a>.</p> + +<p>Teachers, <a href="#png.072">68</a>, + <a href="#png.080">76</a>, + <a href="#png.084">80</a>. + See <a href="#i.normal">Normal</a>.</p> + +<p>Theodosius, Emperor, <a href="#png.032">28</a>.</p> + +<p>Thoburn, Isabella, <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>Thoburn, J. M., <a href="#png.009">5</a>, + <a href="#png.225">221</a>, + <a href="#png.226">222</a>, + <a href="#png.228">224</a>, + <a href="#png.231">227</a>.</p> + +<p class="maj">1 Tim. iii, 8, <a href="#png.021">17</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> iii, 8, 9, <a href="#png.083">79</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> iii, 11, <a href="#png.019">15</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> v, 9, <a href="#png.020">16</a>.</p> + +<p>Tit. ii, 3, <a href="#png.020">16</a>.</p> + +<p>Tottenham, <a href="#png.163">159</a>.</p> + +<p>Training-school, <a href="#png.066">62</a>, + <a href="#png.074">70</a>, + <a href="#png.233">229</a>.</p> + +<p>Turkey, <a href="#png.112">108</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="i.12th" id="i.12th"><span class="smc">Twelfth to the nineteenth centuries, + Deaconesses from the</span></a>, <a href="#png.038">34</a>; + Belgium, Lambert le Bègue, <a href="#png.038">34</a>; + Béguines, <a href="#png.039">35</a>;<a + id="png.268" name="png.268"></a><samp class="pgmark" + ><span class="png">268/</span>264</samp> + Sisters and Brothers of the Common Life, Gerhard Groot, <a href="#png.041">37</a>; + Thomas à Kempis, <a href="#png.042">38</a>; + Waldenses, <a href="#png.043">39</a>; + Bohemians, Huss, <a href="#png.044">40</a>; + Luther, <a href="#png.044">40</a>; + Calvin, <a href="#png.046">42</a>; + Netherlands, <a href="#png.046">42</a>; + Damsels of Charity, <a href="#png.047">43</a>; + Mennonites, Moravians, <a href="#png.048">44</a>; + Zinzendorf, <a href="#png.049">45</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Uniformity, Plan, <a href="#png.230">226</a>.</p> + +<p>United States. See <a href="#i.america">America</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Valette, Pastor, <a href="#png.134">130</a>, + <a href="#png.143">139</a>.</p> + +<p>Vermeil, Pastor, <a href="#png.104">100</a>, + <a href="#png.143">139</a>.</p> + +<p>Vienna, <a href="#png.108">104</a>.</p> + +<p>Virgins, <a href="#png.024">20</a>, + <a href="#png.025">21</a>, + <a href="#png.029">25</a>.</p> + +<p>Von Stein, <a href="#png.052">48</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Wacker, Emil, <a href="#png.025">21</a>, + <a href="#png.044">40</a>, + <a href="#png.070">66</a>, + <a href="#png.235">231</a>, + <a href="#png.252">248</a>.</p> + +<p>Waiting-school, <a href="#png.239">235</a>, + <a href="#png.240">236</a>.</p> + +<p>Wakefield, Bishop of, <a href="#png.161">157</a>.</p> + +<p>Waldenses, <a href="#png.043">39</a>.</p> + +<p>Wars, nurses in, <a href="#png.093">89</a>.</p> + +<p>Weiss, G., <a href="#png.114">110</a>.</p> + +<p>Wesel, <a href="#png.046">42</a>.</p> + +<p>Western Church, <a href="#png.034">30</a>.</p> + +<p>Western New York, <a href="#png.220">216</a>.</p> + +<p>Widows, <a href="#png.020">16</a>, + <a href="#png.024">20</a>, + <a href="#png.025">21</a>, + <a href="#png.148">144</a>.</p> + +<p>Williams, Miss, <a href="#png.108">104</a>.</p> + +<p>“Willows, The,” <a href="#png.188">184</a>.</p> + +<p>Wilmer, Bishop, <a href="#png.217">213</a>.</p> + +<p>Winckworth, C., <a href="#png.106">102</a>.</p> + +<p class="maj">Women, Old Testament, <a href="#png.028">24</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> Apostolic times, <a href="#png.017">13</a>, + <a href="#png.020">16</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> Early Church, <a href="#png.024">20</a>.</p> +<p class="min"> Methodist, <a href="#png.010">6</a>.</p> + +<p>Women’s Guild, <a href="#png.197">193</a>, + <a href="#png.204">200</a>.</p> + +<p>Women Workers’ Guild, <a href="#png.197">193</a>.</p> + +<p>Wordsworth, <a href="#png.019">15</a>, + <a href="#png.243">239</a>.</p> + +<p>Work, hard, <a href="#png.251">247</a>.</p> + +<p>Wounded, <a href="#png.093">89</a>, + <a href="#png.135">131</a>.</p> + +<p>Wurdemberger, Sophie, <a href="#png.107">103</a>.</p> + +<p>Wurtemberg, <a href="#png.114">110</a>.</p> + +<p>Work-house, <a href="#png.076">72</a>, + <a href="#png.151">147</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Young, Alexander, <a href="#fn.x.2">144</a>.</p> + +<p class="first"> +Zinzendorf, Count, <a href="#png.049">45</a>.</p> + +<p>Zürich, <a href="#png.108">104</a>, <a href="#png.116">112</a>, + <a href="#png.119">115</a>, <a href="#png.120">116</a>.</p> +</div> + +</div> + +<div class="tnote"> +<h3>Transcriber’s Notes:</h3> + +<p>Obvious spelling/typographical and punctuation +errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other +occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.</p> + +<p>Transcriber’s notes in text—mostly detailing corrections—are +indicated by faint dotted underlining. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the note will <ins class="transcriber" + title="Transcriber’s note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p> + +<p>The original book was published by HUNT & EATON at New York, +and by CRANSTON & STOWE at Cincinnati. The copyright date was 1889.</p> + +<p>Occasional discrepancies between index and text (for example, +“Harter” in the index but “Härter” in the text) have been corrected to +match the text.</p> + +<p>Some inconsistent mid-line hyphenations have been retained:</p> +<ul> +<li>“bedside” and “bed-side” occur once each</li> +<li>“housework” and “house-work” occur once each</li> +<li>“workhouse[s]” occurs twice and “work-house” occurs three times</li> +</ul> +</div> + +<hr class="pg" noshade="noshade" /> + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Deaconesses in Europe, by Jane M. 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