THE DEACONSHIP. BY ROBT. BOYTE C. HOWELL, D.D. PASTOR OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, NASHVILLE, TENN. "They that have used the office of a Deacon well, purchase to + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1846, by W. W. KEEN, Treasurer of the American Baptist Publication Society, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. George Charles, Stereotyper, No. 9 George Street, Philadelphia WOR 20JUN 34 DEDICATION. To the Deacons of all the Baptist churches throughout the United States of America, this little volume is respectfully dedicated, by their obliged brother, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. A valued friend and brother, lately solicited from me, an article on the Deaconship, for publication in a Quarterly, which is under his editorial direction. About the same time my own beloved church decided to appoint several additional deacons, and called upon me for such instruction as might be necessary to guide them in their proceedings. My attention was thus specially called to the subject, and I determined to give it a thorough re-investigation. To write a book formed no part of my design. As, however, |