This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ... had the power of appointing and setting apart Deaconesses whensoever they pleased. 8. Authorities.--If I could have fulfilled my promise thoroughly, I should have concluded with a large list of books which bear directly or indirectly upon this subject of the Primitive Diaconate of Women. Under present circumstances I will limit myself to the mention of the following:1--I.--Ziegler: "De Diaoonis et Diaconissis."--Wittenberg, 1678. 2.--The late Bishop of Lincoln's Notes, in his Greek Testament, on the following passages: I Tim. iii. II, v. 3. 3.--Bingham's "Antiquities of the Christian Church."--i Book II. ch. xxii., and VII. ch. x. 4.--Various Essays in German and English, published at Kaiserwerth, especially by Pastor Fliedner. 5.--"Six Months among the Charities of Europe," by John de Liedfe (2 Vols., London, 1865). 6.--"Sisterhoods and Deaconesses at Home and Abroad," by the Rev. H. C. Potter, C.D. (now Coadjutor Bishop of New York.)--New York, 1873. 1 I attach great importance to what is said by M. Renan on this subject. On the one hand he is free from partisanship on such a point, and on the other hand he retains much of his old ecclesitical sympathies. His historical insight enables him to perceive in the institutions of the very earliest Church both the marvellous appearance of the ministry of women as a great fact, and the official appointment of women-deacons side by side with the men-deacons. It should be very carefully noticed that the indirect evidence furnished by Liturgical Services constitutes an evidence more cogent than any evidence which is direct.1 The learned writers quoted above have referred to what is found of this kind in the work of Goar. I may be allowed to add what I produced in the preface to my work...