gifts, and independent fortunes-as in the case of Miss Nightingale-a similar work can be carried on in individual freedom; but it is urged that in Germany, at least, these cases are not numerous, and that in dispensing with communities like the deaconess houses, based on the obligation of voluntary obedience, the church would reject an immense means of usefulness, and almost the only agent for utilizing a large amount of female religious power.

(c) But this vow of obedience is not exhaustive. Intercourse with friends and relations is in no sense forbidden. The community is to be the home to which the chief affections of the sisters are to be summoned; but it does not, as does the Romish system, require renunciation of natural affections. So, as to liberty, Rome, in its convents, undertakes to direct every action, leaving nothing free; the deaconess institutions lay down specific rules, leaving everything else free. With regard to these rules, the institutions greatly vary in detail. But in all of them, the common principle obtains, that obedience to the commands of the home authorities is to be thorough. By them the sister superintendent and pastor, with or without a council of sisters, as the case may be - the official duties of each deaconess are prescribed, her station selected, and her labors in it limited or changed. By it the religious and social services of the mother-house are determined, and its home arrangements settled. From the decisions of this authority there is no appeal.

It should be observed that in no case a specific vow of celibacy is made. Of course a sister cannot marry and remain in the community. But it is open to her, should she leave the community, to marry, without any ecclesiastical reproach.

(d) Renunciation of vows. On this point Pastor Krabbe, with the assent of Pastor Uldrich, to whom the point was referred, stated expressly as follows: "In the place of an irrevocable vow, the evangelical church establishes the service of free love. Far different from the Romish vow is a

promise tendered voluntarily on the basis of a voluntarily assumed ecclesiastical office. The office is not assumed in subordination to the vow, but the promise is made as a part of the legal acceptance of the office. When the deaconess tenders such a promise, it is on the silent assumption that she has undertaken the office for her life. An engagement for a series of years is inconsistent with this. To each deaconess the liberty is reserved to leave the community on any ground she may prefer. The vow' of the deaconess, therefore, limits itself to this: to live, when in the community, according to its rules. In this way, true evangelical liberty is in no wise infringed."

IV. SPECIAL SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION FOR THE SISTERS.

Very significant and instructive was the discussion of this topic at the Kaisers werth Conference of 1868. From the points made we select the following:

It has sometimes been objected that in deaconess institutions there may be a tendency to adopt the Romish doctrine of creature merit, or, in other words, of righteousness by works, which has proved the bane of the monastic systems. Practically, however, this fear has proved to be unfounded. It is true that the leaven of Pharisaism introduces itself in greater or less degree in all hearts; but experience, so it is stated, shows that in its Romish form -- that of dependence. on self and self-merit for salvation it finds no place, as a theological dogma, in the sisterhoods. The peril is not from the theological, but the moral side; it does not arise from the idea that the deaconess state is one of peculiar merit before God, but from the vanity common to Protestants as well as to Romanists, which is so apt to associate itself with an ecclesiastical office. "When, for instance, a deaconess to quote from Pastor Schultz, of Berlin, "is not praised or commended, when her labors are for a time unnoticed, then arises the temptation to despondency, and she cries, I have lost my religious joy.' If, however, praise or commendation. should follow, even though it take merely the shape of a

kind word from a casual visitor, she breathes more freely, and her joy returns; and yet in each case it is vanity; the joylessness is vanity, suffering from want of food; the joy is vanity when fed. This self-deceit it is the pastor's office to meet and correct. And the danger arises peculiarly in cases when some of the sisterhood are employed within the walls, where there are no strangers to notice and praise, while others are engaged in outer duties, where this notice and praise are constant. If the pastors do not here reach the true moral source of the despondency which may follow the one case, or the.exhilaration which may accompany the other, much spiritual detriment and practical deterioration may ensue." The doctrine must always be preached, that all must be done for the love of Christ, and that human praise and human station are to be despised, when in the doing of his will.

Some danger springs, also, from the variety of social rank which is represented in the sisterhood. To those coming from a lower station in society there is a natural temptation to undue sensitiveness to the feeling that their personal claims are not duly estimated; and this may tend to sullen pride or sensitive irritability. "These cases, however, are much fewer than we might suppose. I must testify," said Pastor Schultz, speaking of his large Berlin experience, "that in the great body of cases simplicity and humility remain untouched." But still the danger is to be remembered, and warded off. And so, also, of the opposite temptation, which approaches those who come to the sisterhood from higher social ranks. "It should be always remembered by such that the sisterhood is not a place for social dignity. In all there must be the same simplicity and humility."

In such a community there must necessarily be a distinction of offices. There must be governors and governed. But, beyond all things, pride of office must be suppressed; and each member of the society must be taught to rejoice equally whether as serving or served. And yet, on the other hand, so it is recommended, the dignity which belongs

to a mission of mercy must not be forgotten; and, with Paul (2 Cor. iv. 1), each sister must learn to feel that the office of mercy is one in which none should faint or despond.

The temptation to "eloquence" to those whose main work is to nurse the sick is to be especially repressed. Few words, but tender- these are what turn the suffering or dying to Christ.

Then, it is hard so to crush out natural pride as to be willing to provide nothing for self, but to receive all from the common home. But this must be done. The sister's whole care is to be given to mercy; no money, no presents, is she to receive for herself. Her food and raiment come from the home, and in this she finds a refuge in sickness and old age.

"Another danger comes from the confusion of feeling with faith. Sectarian attractions [so speaks Pastor Schultz, referring to such movements as those of the Plymouth brethren and of other associations of mystics] have found no converts in the sisterhoods, nor do we observe among them the unhealthy, manneristic religionism which springs from such sources; but the confusion of feeling with faith is not infrequent. Thus faith in the forgiveness of sins is made to give way to a feeling of forgiveness; and hence come many deceptions and many unnecessary, exhausting anxieties. In such cases the address should be made: 'Thank God that he has placed you in a state of spiritual fasting, rather than in one of spiritual exaltation; for in the first is found faith; in the last, too often, intoxication and fall.'

With regard to marriage, it is to be taught that the unmarried condition is a state that has its peculiar conditions and requirements, as well as dignities. Christian women called to it have one of the chief requisitions for the deaconess office. Those not so called those whose affections and opportunities point towards a married life-should be advised not to become deaconesses, or to leave the office, if it be already assumed.

The Lord's supper should be dwelt upon as an especial means of grace, and self-examination and preparatory instruction should be solemnly observed on the eve of each reception. For this the tenderest pastoral care should be invoked. The sisters in the house meet together for this purpose in their prayer-rooms for special preparatory devotions; those in outer missions correspond in writing with the pastor. All is done to make the occasion one of the most solemn and spiritual. Mutual confessions of sins. among the sisters, and confessions to the pastor, accompanied by personal and intercessory prayer and close pastoral advice - these are specially recommended.

It should be remembered, in this connection, that a pastor is placed at the spiritual head of each of the several motherhouses, that in most cases he is a married man, and in all cases is selected on account of his experience, spirituality, and administrative gifts.

Such is a summary of the German Protestant deaconess system, as developed at the Kaiserswerth Conference. In studying it, it is impossible to suppress the inquiry how far such a system could be established in the United States. In considering this question, the following thoughts may not be out of place.

First, with regard to the work to be performed. Now we need not to be reminded that a large part of the work which in Germany is undertaken by the deaconess, is performed in America by voluntary associations of ladies. With us, from the general diffusion of wealth, there is a far greater amount of leisure available for such purposes than in Germany, where almost every woman is engrossed by household cares. When these our American benevolent associations are based on merely humanitarian principles, they afford great physical relief to poverty and suffering, though with limitations that we shall proceed presently to state. When they are based on Christian principles, and when they are so guided as not merely to supply the sufferer's physical wants, but to lead him to the cross of Christ, the benefits they bestow are