Deaconesses in Europe and their Lessons for America   By: Jane M. (Jane Marie) Bancroft (1847-1932)

AND

THEIR LESSONS FOR AMERICA

BY

JANE M. BANCROFT, Ph.D

WITH AN INTRODUCTION

BY

EDWARD G. ANDREWS, D.D., LL.D.

Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church

"No life Can be pure in its purpose and strong in its strife, And all life not be purer and stronger thereby."

NEW YORK: HUNT & EATON CINCINNATI: CRANSTON & STOWE 1890

IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION,

TO

THE EARNEST AND DEVOTED WOMEN WHO,

AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEACONESS WORK

OF

THE WOMAN'S HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

HAVE AIDED IN EXTENDING THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIACONATE OF WOMEN,

THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY

Dedicated

BY THE AUTHOR.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

The Author has aimed to present an accurate and concise statement of the deaconess cause as it exists at the present time.

In all cases where it was possible, original sources of information have been consulted.

Many friends, both in Europe and America, have given invaluable aid, for which words of thanks are an inadequate recognition.

The excellent Index at the close of the volume was kindly prepared by the Rev. J. C. Thomas.

Acknowledgments are also due to Mr. Gillett, Librarian of the Union Theological Seminary, and to Mr. C. H. A. Bjerregaard, of the Astor Library, for putting not only the facilities of the library, but their personal assistance, at the service of the writer.

JANE M. BANCROFT. NEW YORK CITY, June 5, 1889 .

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE DIACONATE.

Compassion a Christian virtue Brotherhood of all men in Christ Foreign Missions Home Missions Service of ministering compassion gives rise to the diaconate Diaconate of women Its qualities Field of labor Page 9

CHAPTER II.

DEACONESSES IN THE EARLY CHURCH.

Little knowledge of early Church Pliny's letter Apostolic Constitutions Deaconesses, widows, and virgins Duties of the deaconess Chrysostom, Olympias Deaconesses in Western Church Decline in importance Extinction Influences that led to decay 18

CHAPTER III.

DEACONESSES FROM THE TWELFTH TO THE NINETEENTH CENTURIES.

Béguines Characteristics Duties Gerhard Groot Sisters of the Common Life Obligations Duties Waldenses Bohemian Brethren Luther Calvin Reformed Church at Wesel Deaconesses in Amsterdam Damsels of Charity Mennonites and Moravians 34

CHAPTER IV.

FLIEDNER, THE RESTORER OF THE OFFICE OF DEACONESS.

Efforts for the restoration of the office of deaconess made by Klönne Amalie Sieveking Von Stein Count von der Recke Fliedner His childhood Youth Student life Pastorate and travels Marriage First prison society Founding of refuge Need of training schools Rhenish Westphalian Deaconess Society 46

CHAPTER V.

THE INSTITUTIONS AT KAISERSWERTH.

Opening of hospital training school Gertrude Reichardt The Home life Normal school Fliedner's wife Publishing house Orphan asylum Insane asylum Dispensary Farm "Salem" House of Evening Rest Extension of work Berlin Foreign lands Jerusalem Beirut Smyrna Bucharest Florence Rome 61