IN VIEW of the decision of the Bishops in the Upper House of Convocation with regard to a form of “Ordination” for Deaconesses, it is interesting to recall that there was in the early Church an official known as the Deaconess. Her origin is obscure, and her duties are not very clearly defined, but one of her chief functions was to attend baptisms for the purpose of robing adult female converts after their immersion. She also ministered among the poor. As time went on she disappears from the page of history and becomes absorbed in the nun. Some relics of such ministerial status as she possessed appear in the insignia and ecclesiastical dignity of the Lady Abbesses of certain orders. The idea of reviving this lost and ancient ministry of women occurred to the Lutherans, and at Herrenhut in Germany an order of Deaconesses was created. This movement attracted the interest of some English Bishops, who proceeded about half a century ago to encourage and foster a similar movement in the Church of England, laying but little stress upon the inspiration derived from Herrenhut but a great deal upon that elusive person, the Deaconess of the primitive Church. A valuable and learned report was issued in order to clear men’s minds as to what precisely a Deaconess was or could do. Whether she should be “solemnly set apart” or “ordained” was for long a moot point. It appears she is to be “ordained”, but her functions are still vague. There is some danger that in distant areas of our communion, as in China, she may be given a position which she never possessed in primitive times, for she was never reckoned in the hierarchy. It is notable that the religious life for women, which has never been fostered by official encouragement, has taken strong and deep hold in our Church and flourished exceedingly. The order of Deaconesses, on the other hand, in spite of distinguished patronage in high quarters, has never shown great signs of vitality. Some Deaconesses are also religious, living under vows, but the majority do not take life vows, and it seems uncertain whether their “ordination” conveys indelible character.

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