D'Azeglio

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

See AZEGLIO. DEACON [Lat. diaconus, all from Gr. diakonos (as subst.) (1) a servant, a waiting man; (2) a minister of the ess; (as adj.) serving, serviceable; probably from diōkō = to cause to run, to pursue.] In Scripture. - Omitting the passages in which diakonos has a general meaning, three portions of the New Testament refer to the ecclesiastical officers so denominated. In Phil. i: 1, they are mentioned in conjunction with the "bishops," and were evidently of inferior authority to them, for they are mentioned last. In I Tim. iii: 6-13, the proper qualifications requisite for their office, as well as the character which their wives should possess, are pointed out, but no mention is made of the precise duties which they had to discharge. In Rom. xvi: 1, Phebe is described as a servant or deaconess of the Church at Cenchrea, and in commendation of her it is stated that she had been a succorer of many, the Apostle Paul himself being among the number. There is a very general opinion that the first institution of the order of deacons is narrated in Acts vi. If the officers whose election is described in Acts vi. were deacons, then the special duty of that order of men was the distribution of the Church alms to the poor. A "daily ministration" took place in the early apostolic times to widows who could not support themselves unaided. The majority of these could speak only Aramaic; a minority, Jewish by descent like the former, were Grecians, i. e., spoke Greek, or at least their husbands had done so. The majority monopolized all the attention of the almsgivers, and the representatives of the minority had to complain of neglect . The apostles, being appealed to, felt that it would interfere with the success of their spiritual work if they became mixed up with disputes about the apportionment of money; they advised or commanded that seven men of honest report, i. e., of honorable reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, should be sought and appointed almsmen to the Church. In the Methodist Episcopal Churches. -The junior order of the priesthood, the novitiate being first ordained a deacon, and then after a time, if satisfactory conditions have been fulfilled-such as progress in grace and gifts, and the probation of character-elevated to the full priesthood or eldership. In the Churches of Rome and England. -A deacon is a spiritual officer ranking beneath the bishops and priests or presbyters. The diaconate may be held at 23 years of age, the priesthood not till 24. In the Presbyterian Churches. The orders here are teaching elders, or ministers, ruling elders, generally called simply elders (these ese two orders lers looking over the spiritual affairs of the congregation); and deacons (now gradually being displaced in many places by managers), to attend to the more secular matters. In the Congregational, Baptist, and other Churches. - Deacons are spiritual officers ranking immediately under the minister, and looking after both the spiritual and the temporal concerns of the congregations.