e report, not only approved it, but "commended the
details of the scheme stated in the report to the consideration of the
churches represented in the Alliance." We may regard the Presbyterian
churches of Great Britain, therefore, as committed, not only to the
indorsement of deaconesses as officers in the service of the Church, but
to the organization of the whole work of women in the churches, under
ecclesiastical authority and direction.

There is one feature of the deaconess cause as it has been developed in
the Church of Scotland that is of especial interest to the Methodists of
America. Most of the great deaconess houses of England have sprung from
the personal faith and works of earnest-souled individuals. Mildmay, for
example, is a living testimony to the faithfulness and energy of the
Rev. Mr. Pennefather and those associated with him. Within the Church of
England the recognition accorded deaconesses is a partial one, resting
on the principles and rules signed by the archbishops and eighteen
bishops, and suggested for adoption in 1871. But as yet the English
Church has not formally accepted this utterance, and made it
authoritative. The German deaconess houses, while receiving the
practical indorsement of the State Church of Germany, are not in any
way officially connected with it. Even Kaiserswerth itself is solely
responsible to those who contribute to its support for a right use of
the means placed at its command. The same fact applies to the Paris
deaconess houses. They are all detached efforts, not parts of a general
system. But the Scotch deaconesses are responsible to a church, and a
church is responsible for their work. The Church of Scotland is,
therefore, justified in its claim when it says that the adoption of the
scheme of the organization of women's work by the assembly of 1888, "is
the first attempt since the Reformation to make the organization of
women's work a branch of the general organization of the Church, under
the control of her several judicatories."[77] The second attempt was
made, which was the first also for any Church in America, when, May 18,
1888, the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States instituted the
office of deaconess, and made it an inherent part of the Church economy,
under the direction and control of the Annual Conferences.

[75] _Organization of Women's Work in the Church of Scotland._
Notes by A. H. Charteris, D.D.; p. 4.
[76] _Report of Committee on