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(Ditr |htljiit.
Duties and Qualifications of Deacons.
i
An Ordlntatlon Sermon Delivered at Cuhbert, Ga.,
January 16, 1876.
BY REV. JOHN T. CLARKE.
‘* For they that have used the office of a
Deacon well, purchase to themselves a good de
gree, and great boldness in the faith which is in
Christ Jesus.”—l Tim. iii: 13.
[concluded.]
Thus have we delineated some of the
duties of deacons. We close this part
of our discourse by saying, that noth
ing however slight, or however grave,
is foreign to the office in question, if it
be suitable to the general design of
the institution. Let deacons assume
“ the oversight of all matters concern
ing the church, the care of which would
distract the pastor from his peculiar
work of spiritual teaching and exhorta
tion.”
But, my brethren, such duties de
mand peculiar qualifications. Reason
ing from what is suitable, we might
have discovered every characteristic of
a good deacon. But Paul has given us,
in the sure words of Revelation, a cat
alogue of the qualifications for the
office. They will be found in first
Timothy, third chapter, beginning at
the eighth verse. “ Likewise,” says
the apostle, “ must the deacons be
grave." Surely the gravity here en
joined, does not mean a long face and
a sanctimonious air. Neither does it
exclude all harmless mirth, or joyous
ness of face and manner. There are
many delights for all the senses, set
around us everywhere in nature. He
who created these fountains, also cre
ated us with appetites fitted to derive
pleasure from them, and has made it
our duty to appreciate them and give
Him thanks for them. Of all men,
he who feels that the Creator, the Pro
vider of all these things, is his Heavenly
Father, and that these delights are
only a foretaste of the felicities re
served for him in Heaven, has the best
reason to enjoy uuforbidden pleasures
undisturbed by fear of the future.
The peace and thankfulness of a
Christian’s heart should give bright
ness to his face, and cheerfulness to
his manners. Yet there is a habitual
levity, which shows a mind seldom oc
cupied by any serious thoughts or lofty
aspirations. Such levity is contempt
ible in the eyes of sensible men even
of the world- Such is the character,
for instance, of some men who seem to
be always acting and speaking in jest.
They are as willing to make apes of
themselves,as to ridicule others. In jest
they will impute to themselves conduct
and motives which, if imputed by an
other, they ought to esteem the most
outrageous insults. For the gratifica
tion of their love of low fun, and to
gain the admiration of men whose
praise is a reproach, they relate obscene
anecdotes, and authorize others to as
sociate their names with the lowest of
hnman couduct.
A deacon should have such an aspect
and bearing as will suggest to sensille
observers a mind habitually conver
sant with something worthy of a man’s
thoughts. He should never consent to
be a laughing stock. A ridiculous
deacon, and a funny preacher are two
of the most contemptible caricatures
on Christianity ever invented by Satan.
Secondly: The deacon should be
“ not double tongued.” Some men are
naturally deceitful, and, even after re
generation, find it hard to avoid some
form of falsehood. They are so de
sirous to p’ease all that they affect
agreement with every one. Some of
the smoothest faced, most pleasing and
popular people with whom we meet
are the slaves of this miserable vanity.
But a deacon is expected to be a man
who means something. He should have
opinions and sentiments, and, on proper
occasions, he should eipress them in
unequivocal terms. He should be on
ene side of every question fit to call for
his practical consideration. In short,
he should be an honest, candid, reliable
man, else how can his counsels have
weight with the pastor, or the breth
ren ? How else can they trust him to
manage their financial interests ? How
else can he maintain the high charac
ter imputed to him by his ordination ?
Thirdly : The deacon must be “ not
given to much wine.” Had the pre
cept been written in modern times,
we dare say, these words would have
been added, “nor to any whisky or
brandy.” In our times, and, generally
in our part of the country, perhaps there
are few who injure themselves much
with wine. But with the long cata
logue of fiercer liquid fires, which mod
ern genius has invented, it is manifest
that even church members are too
familiar. The duty of absolute abste
miousness from all intoxicating bev
erages cannot be shown to be taught
directly in the Scriptures. But this is
sure, no more dangerous indulgence
can be allowed, however moderate in its
beginnings. Observation shows that
its tendency to excess is invariable and
almost inevitable. The stages of its
development are insidious and almost
imperceptible to the subject of the
habit. Many a church member has
become habitually intoxicated who
never dreams of considering himself
drunk.
From month to month, and from
year to year, he continues his increas
ing potations, until his countenance is
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-YfESTERN BAPTIST.
marred and bloated, his eyes blood
shotten and his breath habitually pes
tilential. His dullness, his morose
ness, his irritability, his unreasonable
ness, his rashness of speech and con
duct often show him to be drunk,
while his gait is steady, and his atten
dance upon the daily routine of external
duties is regular. Deacons are the
marked men of the church. If they
are known as drinking men, they have
lost their Christian influence and are
setting a fearful example, especially to
the young. No preacher, or deacon,
who solemenly respects his calling, will
ever be seen patronizing a bar-room.
The small glass of wine, which they
are often importuned to accept, at the
houses of their brethren and enter
tainers, is not unfrequently quoted
against them, as a sauction to the free
indulgence in drink. Brethren, especi
ally ministers and deacons, let us fore
go the small gratification, rather than
hazard its evil consequences to our
selves and others, Paul says, deacons
should be “not given to much wine.”
and we add, in the spirit of the pre
cept, and the less the better.
Fourthly: Deacons should be “not
greedy of filthy lucre.” If they are
over much devoted to making money,
they can scarcely find the necessary
time to serve the church. As mana
gers of the church’s finances, their in
tegrity should be above the suspicion
which marked greed of gain will bring
upon it. The appointed collectors of
the churches alms, and of the salaries
promised, or due to pastors, they need
liberal conduct on their own part, as
the best means of stirring it up in
others. He who will not himself give
freely to the poor, aud to the various
interests dependent on the liberalty of
the church, will always prove an in
effie’ent collector for the sacred treasu
ry. This vice of avarice is not to be
confounded with that diligence “in
business” which is so compatible with
fervency “in spirit,” and for which the
office of deacon makes large demands.
Fifthly : The deacons must be men,
“bolding the mvstery of faith in a
pure conscience.” This requires a con
scientious soundness in doctrine and an
earnest, personal acceptance of the truth
as it is Jesus. How shall the deacons
be good counsellors to the pastor un
less they can judge of the Scriptural
ness of his preaching and have them
selves the spirit of Christ? Whence,
but from the precious doctrines of our
blessed religion, cherished in good aud
honest hearts, shall they derive stimu
lants and supports in their varied and
arduous duties ? How shall they wise
ly lead in discipline, except their judg
ments be balanced by a thorough
knowledge and solemn appreciation of
God’s word ? How can they be safely
trusted wi*h the • influence of their
office, as the church’s representative
men before the world, and as leaders
among their brethren, while through
ignorance, or erroneous opinions, or
personal ungodliness they are liable to
disseminate or support heresy, or to
give the lie to all religious pretensions?
That promptness and zeal and devo
tion to the cause which will make them
ever ready to relieve the pastor of all
improper burdens, will never be found
separated from sound and experimental
views of our blessed salvation. Those
who accept the deacons office, then, are
especially obligated to give to the in
vestigation of doctrines and the gen
eral study of God’s word, frequent and
prayevful attention, and to lead fives of
exemplary holiness.
Sixthly: “Let the deacons be the
husbands of one wife, ruling their
children and their own houses well.”
It is a common saying, that preachers
daughters aie the fastest girls and
their sons the wildest boys. Like most
of these boasted wise sayings, this is
an unjust reproach; but it has this
much significance : it that the
world expects preachers sons to be
better than the sons of worldly men.
Their faults and vices are more observ
ed and become more conspicuous by
contrast with the sacred calling of their
fathers. This truth constitutes a pow
erful argument in favor of the most
prayerful and faithful administration
of family government by men who
stand prominently forth as representa
tives of religion. Observation sus
tains revelation, that if “you train up
a child in the way he should go, when
he is old he will not depart from it.”
Deacons daughters should be restrain
ed, in early childhood, from that un
graceful forwardness so common among
girls who are allowed their own way.
Their reverence for sacred things,
places and characters, should be care
fully developed and prayerfully nursed.
Their spiritual affections should be ten
derly cultivated. They should be early
impressed with a sentiment of superi
ority to mere dress, fashion and world
ly display. They should be carefully
guarded, as they grow up, from famil
iar association with young men of dis
solute habits and grossly irreligious
dispositions. Deacons sons ought not
to be seen, in their childhood, often
about public places unguarded. They
ought never to be allowed to become
familiar with bar-rooms, or the imple
ments, places and ways of gambling.
They should not be seen at night wan -
dering about over town. All boys, and
most men, ought to- stay at home at
night, when not drawn out by some
duty or prospect of* improvement.
Deacons sons ought never, on Sabbath
evenings, to be seen careering about on
horseback, like wild Saracens. The
children of these responsible officers
of the church ought to be assembled
daily around the family altar, and God’s
blessing invoked upon them. They
ought to be early instructed in Bible
history, and made familiar with the
sacred doctrines. They should always
be at the Sabbath-school, and regular
and reverential attendants upon all
the stated religious meetings of the
church.
Far be it from our purpose to advo
cate an austerity of manners calculated
to repel the young, or to repress all
youthful mirth. The rules above sug
gested are intended to be enforced in a
pleasant and affectionate way, which
will make it the pleasure of the children
to obey them. Begin early. Let there
be no occasional interregnum ; but let
the administration of a God-fearing
family government be continuous and
perpetual, and accompanied with well
directed efforts to blend pleasure with
duty. One important suggestion is,
study to make home the sweetest, dear
est place on earth ; and let parents be
the most intimate and confidential
friends of their children.
Thus have we plainly and, perhaps,
tritely, presented the subject ol the
duties and qualifications of deacons.
It is proper to remark, that the qual
ifications already stated are to be con
sidered in two aspects. They constitute
the standard, by which the churches
should be guided in the choice of dea
cons. We should select those who
most nearly meet these requirements.
The various communions are not all
equally gifted with such qualifications.
But it is better never to set apart any
one to this responsible office than to
give such holy and dangerous distinc
tion to men who have not these quali
ties in some fair degree. Not a duty
i3 required of a deacon but may be
lawfully done by an unordained per
son.
Secondly, not a qualification is de
manded of deacons, but is the Chris
tian duty of every man. In each of
these qualifications, it is their duty to
make continued improvement. We
hold up the Scriptural standard, then,
as that to which deacons should con
stantly and prayerfully aspire.
This seems a fit occasion for a pass
ing exhortation to the church.
My brethren, the deacon’s office was
instituted for the relief of the ministry,
not for that of the members. The dea
cons have no exclusive right to dis
charge any of the duties assigned to
them in this discussion, in such sense
as to relieve any man from his due
share of responsibility in any depart
ment of church labor. Indeed, most
of their functions are such as they can
only succeed in discharging while you
faithfully co-operate with them. Re
gard them, indeed, as chosen leaders
in all these things. But promptly and
faithfully do whatever falls to your
part. You have called these two
brethren forth, and by your order we
are about to lay hands solemnly upon
them, and charge them before your
eyes, the world and Almighty God,
with the heavy responsibilities which
we have been discussing. Let ev°ry
brother and every sister stand by them.
Respect their counsels, respond to their
calls, facilitate as much as in you lies,
all their pious plans. Let this day be
anew era begun. What is the church
but a body of selected and enlisted
persons, for the support and advance
ment of a great cause; the cause of our
own spiritual prosperity, and the salva
tion of souls? Here is no room for
one idler. Young or old, rich or poor,
male or female, you can do something,
and must do something for vour
Saviour. Here, to-day, let us conse
crate ourselves afresh to Him, and to
our little church. Let us so love her,
and meditate and work for her peace
and glory, that each of us can truly
say, “ One thing have I desired of the
Lord, that will I seek after ; that I may
dwell in the house of the Lord all the
days of my life, to behold the beauty of
the Lord, and to inquire in His tern
pie.”
To you, brethren, who are about to
assume the office of deacon, allow a
brief appeal. To humble, faithful,
prayerful devotion to the duties assign
ed you, we would exhort you by two
considerations.
First, the dignity and importance of
your office demand it. In rank, it
stands next to that of the ministry of
the Word. To a local church, it may be
doubted if it is not of, at lesst, equal
practical importance. The pastoral re
lation is seldom of long duration.
Preachers move from place to place.
Deacons are commonly permanent.
Deacons have much to do with intro
ducing and sustaining pastors. It
often happens that during the term of
one set of deacons several pastors
serve in succession. The respectability
and character of the chu-ch, locally, is
quite as much dependent on the char
acter of her deacons as on that of her
occasional pastor. You are mixing
daily, with the world, in business in
tercourse. The pastor’s points of con
tact with the people are not so varied
as yours, and he will not be so famil
iarly known as you. If you are incon
sistent men, you lay and fasten a
permanent character of inconsistency
on your church. To-day, my dear
brethren, we solemnly and unanimous
ly testify to the world how much we
trust and love you. Do not betray us !
You are our representative men. We
place this power in your hands, and we
implore you by your immortal interests,
and by the honor and welfare of this
church, to exert yourselves, in all godly
activity and faithfulnoss, to use “the
office of deacon well.”
But consider, in conclusion, the re
wards which are held out before you in
the text. They who, by cultivating its
high qualifications and discharging
faithfully its duties, “have used the
office of a deacon well purchase to
themselves a good degree, aud great
boldness in the faith.”
Honor and shame from no condition rise ;
Act well your part; there all the honor lies.”
To be an unfaithful or inefficient
deacon is only to make your unfaith
fulness and faults conspicuous. But
he who labors in all godly energy and
perseverance in this office, acquires
an enviable distinction among his
brethren. Ho establishes a weighty
and exalted character before the world.
Nor will this distinction fail with this
life. In distributing eternal rewards,
no doubt, the great head of the church,
then the arbiter of all our destinies,
wLI assign the most shining degrees to
those who, upon earth, have borne
faithfully the heaviest responsibilities,
endured with patience the greatest
trials, and discharged with perseverance
and energy, and godly sincerity, the
most numerous and arduous duties.
But to well doing in your office is
also assured “great boldness in the
faith.” Much of the life of most
Christiani is spent in distrust and fear.
How often do our hearts adopt the lan
guage of the hymn:
“ ’Tia a point I long to know ;
Oft it causes anxious thought,
Do I love the Lord or no?
Ami his, or am I not? ”
To the inactive and unfaithful Chris
tian, especially, the hours of heavenly
sunshine are but occasional. Doubts
becloud most of his days, and fears
chill his nights. In the active labors
of the faithful deacon will occur many
opportunities of beholding the good
ness of God to His dependent children
and the triumphs of His grace.
The lively exercise of that faith
which must be his chief incentive to
official faithfulness, is, by a law of our
spiritual nature attended with develop
ment. The frequent experiences of
trials overcome, and arduous duties
successfully done, by divine help, will
add assurance to your belief in God’s
love and care for you. “Boldness in
the faith, great boldness in the faith !”
How desirable to one’s self ! How ad
mirable to the beholder ! To have it is
to be a Christian hero. When you pos
sess that holy heroism, if difficult du
ties call you can meet them resolutely,
with the motto, “I can do all things
through Christ, who strongtheneth me.”
Do trials waylay you and fiery perse
cutions blaze around ? You can march
firmly into their midst crying : “In all
these things we are more than conquor
ers, through him that loved us.” You
ca£ tifi'se to that triumphant boast of
Paul—“We glory in tribulations also ;
knowing that tribulation worketh
patience, and patience experience, and
experience hope, and hope maketh not
ashamed, because the love of God is
abroad in our hearts, by the Holy
Ghost which is given unto us.” It is
such who can exclaim, “I know that
my Redeemer liveth.” Such, amid
all the varying experiences of life,
can adopt that beautiful Psalm, “ Tho
Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: He leadeth me beside the
still waters ;He restoreth my soul; He
leadeth me in the paths of righteous
ness for His name’s sake. Yea, though
I walk through tho valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil: for thou
art with me; thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me. Thou preparest a
table before me in the presence of mine
enemies : thou anointest my head with
oil; my cup runneth over. Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life : and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord forever.”
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poor Sunday-school ministers, etc. Agents wan
ted who are able to pay cash.
W. D. HAT FIELD,
jun2s-ly 367 Main street, Memph Tcim •
“KIND WORDS.”
Published at Macon, Ga., by the Home Mis
sion Board of the Southern Baptist Convention,
S. Boykin, editor. Terms, including postage,
which has to be prepaid at the office of publica
tion : Weekly —single copy, $1.10; ten or
more, each, 03 cents. Semi-Monthly —single
copy, 75 cents; ton or more, each, 33 cents.
Monthly— single copy, 50 cents ; ten or more,
each, 16 cents.
Prcminms-A spleudid Organ, worth
$215.00, will be given to the school sending the
most money, subscriptions or renewals, hi pro
portion to number of the scholars, by Decem
ber next. A maguificient Communion Set, (five
pieces,) worth $40.00, will be given to schools
sending largest Bums, rouewals or new subscrip
tion, by November next. A splendid Bible,
$20.00 ; Pulpit Bible, $15.00 ; Family Bible, $lO.-
00; Family Bible, $8.00; Family Bible, $5.00, (or
same value of library or singing hooks,) to
the next five schools sending the largest amount
by November. Address simply KIND WOKDS,
Macon, Ga. jan24-tf
Agents wanted for
THE LIFE AND LABORS OF
LIVINGSTONE.
INCL UDINO ms LAST JOUItAALS.
The only complete history of his thirty years
travels in Africa. Vividly portraying his many
thrilling adventures and the wonders and wealth
of that marvelous country.
805 pages—loo rare illustrations. 12,000 copies
sold in first seven weeks. For term Hand par
ticulars, address National Publishing Cos., 7
aud 9 Marietta street, Atlanta, Ga. novlß.6m
A NEW BOOK ON
MOODY and SANKEY
And their Work on Both Sides of the Sea. By
an eminent Chicago Divine, a neighbor of Mr.
Moody for three years, and an eye-witness of,
and participant in his great revival meetings in
England. Indorsed and approved by eminent
Christians. Says President Fowler, of the
Northwestern University : “ May Gcd grant this
book a million readers, and many converts to
Christ.” Send for circulars to P. T>. RANDALJj
& CO., 38 West Fourth street. Cincinnati, Ohio.
dec23.l3t
THE OFFER
The American Baptist Publication Society
wish to mark the Centennial Year
by an offer of
iST* Unparalleled Attraction!
The Churches that will introduce, during the
first half of the Centennial year, our now aud
universally popular (
Baptist Hymn Book,
WE WILL FURNISH
100 HYMN BOOKS FOE SSO,
This offer includes the most popular editions,
as follows :
30 Hymn and Tune Books Price, $1 00
25 Hymn Books, (Pew Edition,).... “ 125
30 Hymn Books, (Pocket Edition,). “ 75
14 Hymn Books, (Cheap Edition,).. “ 50
1 Pulpit .... “ 400
100
These Books, at regular prices, amount to
$94 75.
feel” To small churches we will supply
50 BOOKS FOR $25.
15 Hymn and Tune Books.
15 Hymn Books, (Pocket Edition.)
12 Hymn Books, (Pew Edition.)
8 Hymn Books, (Cheap Edition.)
•3“ In these offers no modification whatever
will he make.
All other quantities will he sold at regular
introductory prices.
CvT This offer is limited only to the first half
of the Centennial Year, from January 1 to June
30,1876.
6v>‘ Churches ordering must state positively
that they have not got the Baptist Hymn Book
in use.
Tlio Bcptist Hymn Book has already been
adopted by over two thousand churches. Send
for circulars. B. GBIFFTH, Sec’y,
1420 Chestnut St., Philadelphia.
Branch Houses —2 Trtruont Temple, Boston; 76
E. Ninth street, New York; 61 Washington street,
Chicago; 209 N. Sixth street, St. Louis. sep2tf
AGENTS WANTED FOR
THE WONDERFUL CAREER OF
Moody & Sankey,
in Great Britain and America. By an Eminent
Divine. Has over 600 pages and 20 illustrations.
Price $2. Best book to sell. No other com
plete. 300 agents made first month. Selling by
the thousands. Address H. S. GOODSPEED &
CO., 14 Barclay street, New York. jan2o.3m
AGENTS WANTED FOR RIDPATH’S
HISTORY OF THE U S.
Embracing a clear account of the Aborigines ;
the Norse explorations of the Eleventh Century;
a full series of progressive Maps; numerous col
ored chronological Charts (after the plan of Ly
man’s Historical Chart); tho largest and finest
gallery of Portraits over incorporated in a work
of this kind, and topographical diagrams that
accurately locate every important military cam
paign, battle scene, etc. These distinctive fea
tures, and its many other excellencies, make it
the most rapidlv selling hook ever offered to
agents. A $5 BOOK FOR $3. Send for illustra
ted circular and terms. JONES BROTHERS &
CO., Publishers, Memphis and Atlanta. l'olO-XSt
Sej A WEEK to Male and Female Agents
4 4 in their locality. Costs NOTHING
to try it. Particulars free. P. 0., Vickery A Cos.,
Augusta, Me. septl6.6m
3