Private Baptism, which was to be administered only in cases of necessity, the water was to be poured on the infant. As Deacon maintained the doctrine of Infant Communion, the Eucharist was ordered to be administered to the sick child.
In the Office for Churching of Women, there is not any material variation from our own Form: while in the Burial Service, the alterations consist chiefly of additions of prayers for the departed. The Form for "the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Burial of the Dead" differs in several particulars from that in the First Prayer Book of King Edward.
The last of the Public Offices, the Service for Ordinations and Consecrations, is peculiar, especially as one part relates to Deaconesses. The sign of the cross is retained; the kiss of peace is also enjoined to be given by Bishops to the new Bishop, by the Bishop and Presbyters to a Priest, and by the Deacons to a Deacon. The service for Deaconesses is nearly similar to that for Deacons.[1]
The second part of the collection consists of Private Devotions. There are Devotions for the Morning: the Evening: for the ancient Hours of Prayer: to
- ↑ Alluding to the Deaconesses, Deacon says that their office "is to assist at the baptism of women, that the ceremony may be performed with all possible decency: to instruct (in private) children and women who are preparing for baptism: to visit and attend women that are sick and in distress: to overlook the women in the Church: and to introduce any woman who wants to make application to a Deacon, Presbyter, or Bishop." He states that the order was always received in the Ancient Church. Comprehensive View, p. 429. Elsewhere he says "that all occasion of scandal and immodesty may be prevented in so sacred a mystery as baptism, men and women are baptized apart: and the latter have Deaconesses to attend them, to undress, and dress them, &c." Ibid. 231.
