Increase of the Deaconate.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 22, 25 January 1877, Page 2

Increase of the Deaconate.

We have among us as an established part of the machinery of our Church, the office of Lay Readers, and most valuable aYe the services which are rendered hy it, and rendered gratuitously"; but there are duties which cannot be undertaken by it; duties in which the Parish Priest requires especial help, as for instance^ when he ministers the Holy Communion — a help the need of which will be increasingly felt in proportion to the success of his pastoral labours, and to his people's appreciation of Christian worship. The authority to preach moreover, that is to interpret or expound the Holy Scriptures, and to set forth Gospel truth otherwise than by reading sermons aud homilies selected for him, in the view of the Church, requires the special sanction of the Bishop, and was of old a more responsible function than that assigned to Lay Readers. All these duties aud many others most needful to the edification of the Church, may be undertaken by a Deacou — aud hence it is worthy of consideration whether it is not expedient to utilise that office to a greater extent — and not necessarily as a step to the Priesthood, and again whether men might not be called to that office, and still allowed to retain their secular occupations; even in the case of those who desire to give themselves exclusively to the work of the ministry aud to advance from the lower to the higher office it would he greatly to their profit, as well as to the profit of the Church, if their diaconate were prolonged. As regards those who are admitted to the Priesthood and have charge of Cures, there can be no doubt but that, so far as is possible, they should separate themselves from all secular occupations, and in the language of Holy Writ, " give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the. Word," such at* least is expected of them iv the ordinal of the Church. But it does not appear either from the ordinal or Holy Scripture that a Deacou must necessarily be excluded from all such occupations. In the earliest days of the Church, even those who held the higher offices iv it, thought it not incompatible with their position and duties to labor with thei___own hands at some honest trade or calling, alike for their own subsistence and that they might have to give to those iv need.* But as the resources of the Church increased thes^e occupations were laid aside, not because they were then considered unlawful^ but' because the maintenance of the clergy could he otherwise supplied. J It is simply, therefore, a question of expediency whether Deacons, so long as they continue Deacons, and are discharging certain sacred offices, should be permitted to engage in some secular calling, aud derive from it their means of subsistence — and there is much in the condition of the Church here to recommend this. It is inadequately endoAved, as in the primitive times, and the Clergy of necessity are mainly dependent on the voluntary contributions of the people, and these contributions both in the more populous and wealthy Cures are insufficient to support them in numbers proportionate to the increasing deiriauds for unremitting pastoral labors, for the frequent and due celebration of Divine Services, and for the continuous preaching of God's Word. It is obvious how much the Church would he the gainer if Laymen of known piety and faithfulness were admitted to the Diaconate, and were willing to exercise its. functions without remuneration, as assistants of Parish Priests, or under the direction of the ordinary or other chief ministers of the Church. As Deacons they could serve with that degree of authority which, in the estimation of so many, is Avanting to the office of a Lay Reader ; and their disinterested services would have weight with those Avho recognise no particular authority in any office, unless supported hy personal character and devotion to the w ork of God. I have already reminded you that Statute No. 10, Avhich relates to Candidates for Deacon's Orders, Avill expire at the close of this session ; an opportunity, if that St-ttute is to he reneAved,

will be given for the consideration of the suggestions which I have ventured to hring before you. Diocesan Courts and Courts of Appeal, and Ecclesiastical Offences. I would express a hope that attention also may he given to^the revision of Statute No. 9, for establishing Diocesan Courts aud Courts of Appeal, and of Statute No. 16, for defining Ecclesiastical Offences. The experience of the last year has shown that some of the provisions of the former Statute are of doubtful interpretation, and some amendments and additions to both Statutes seem to be necessary. In connection with this subject I have heen requested to lay hefore you the following resolutions, adopted by the Standing Commission, May 18, 1876. The meeting of the Commission was convened for the purpose referred to in clause 13 of Statute No. 7, and in clause 31 of Statute 9, and resolved : — "That inasmuch as the Ecclesiastical Tribunals Statute, 1874, appears to provide a sufficient mode of procedure for hearing and determininocharges under the Ecclesiastical Offences Statute, 1874, it is inexpedient at present to frame rules for regulating the proceedings of Diocesan Courts and Courts of Appeal. Aud again, that whereas, under the 29th Section of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal Statute, 1 874, it is competent for the Bishops to consider and decide all questions of doctrine or practice without meeting together as a Court for that purpose, the Commission are of opinion that tho aforesaid provision is open to grave objection on the ground, amongst others, that it practically precludes the possibility of having the case properly argued before, the Court as well as, to a great extent, of conference among themselves, and so far tends to detract from the value of any decision that may he arrived at by them. A Report also of a Select Committee on the above-mentioned Statutes I was requested, by the Synod of Christchurch, to lay before you; several copies of it. have been printed for this purpose.