found for you in the service of the Church of Christ. In our Master's wide vineyard there are a thousand forms of labor, and to each disciple some fitting task is assigned; but to you are accorded peculiar privileges and priceless opportunities. Released from other cares, you give yourselves without reservation to the service of the Lord of the Vineyard, ready for any duty which may fall to your lot. Like our blessed Master, you will henceforth go about doing good, ministering as he did to the wants of a suffering, sorrowing, and sin-laden world. The Church now solemnly sets you apart for her special service. You are to work for Jesus only. You are to minister to the poor, visit the sick, pray with the dying, care for the orphan, seek the wandering, comfort the sorrowing, save the sinning, and ever be ready to take up any other duty for which willing hands cannot otherwise be found. Such a ministry is one which confers upon you a great honor, but also a solemn responsibility. You have not entered upon it lightly, and no doubt in the sacred stillness of the sanctuary of the heart you have already consecrated yourselves to this office and work. What you have done alone with God, you now do formally and publicly in the presence of the Church.

Quest. Do you believe that you have been led by the Spirit and providence of God to engage in this work, and assume the duties of this office?

Ans. I do.

Quest. Do you, in the presence of God and of this congregation, promise faithfully to perform the duties of a Deaconess in the Church of God?

Ans. I do.

Quest. Do you accept the Bible as God's Word, and

will you make it a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your path?

Ans. I so accept it, and will so walk in its light.

Quest. Will you strive to walk so close to your Saviour's side that you will ever carry his blessed presence to the hearts and homes of those to whom you minister?

Ans. I will endeavor so to do.

Quest. Will you

cheerfully accept the direction of those whom the Church may set over you in the prosecution of your work?

Ans. I will cheerfully do so.

[Congregation and Candidates, kneeling, after a brief season of silent prayer unite in singing.]

6. HYMN

(Or selection from Church Hymnal, if preferred.)

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to thee;

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of thy love.

Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for thee;
Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only, for my King.

Take my will and make it thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is thine own,
It shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love, my God, I pour
At thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for thee.

[The Congregation rise while Candidates remain kneeling.]

7. INVOCATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

May the Spirit of the Living God descend upon you and abide with you evermore. May his holy anointing impart to you grace for every trial, and gifts for every duty. May his presence be to you a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, all along the journey of life; and may the blessing of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore. Amen.

[The Candidates rise, and the Minister, taking the right hand of each Candidate, shall say:]

I admit thee to the office of Deaconess in the Church of God, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

8. DISMISSAL, WITH BENEDICTION

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

CHAPTER VII

CORNER STONE AND DEDICATION

¶ 471. Form for Laying the Corner Stone of a Church

The Minister, standing near the place where the Stone is to be laid, shall say unto the Congregation:

DEARLY BELOVED, we are taught in the Word of God, that, although the heaven of heavens cannot contain the Eternal One, much less the walls of temples made with hands, yet his delight is ever with the sons of men, and that wherever two or three are gathered in his name, there is he in the midst of them. And in all ages his servants have separated certain places for his worship: as Jacob erected a stone in Bethel for God's house; as Moses made a tabernacle in the desert; as Solomon builded a temple for the Lord, which he filled with the glory of his presence before all the people. We are now assembled to lay the Corner Stone of a new house for the worship of the God of our fathers. Let us not doubt that he will favorably approve our godly purpose, and let us now devoutly unite in singing his praise, and in prayer for his blessing on this our undertaking.

Let one of the Hymns 656-666, Church Hymnal, be sung.

Then shall the Minister say:

Let us pray.

Most glorious God, the heaven is thy throne and the earth is thy footstool; what house then can be

builded for thee, or where is the place of thy rest? Yet, blessed be thy name, O Lord God, that it hath pleased thee to have thy habitation among the sons of men, and to dwell in the midst of the assembly of the saints upon the earth. And now, especially, we render thanks unto thy holy name that it hath pleased thee to put it into the hearts of thy servants to erect in this place a house for thy worship. We thank thee for thy grace which has inclined them to contribute of their substance for the glory of thy name: and we pray thee to continue thy blessing upon their pious undertaking. Amen.

May many unite with them in their holy work, until this habitation of thy house shall be completed, and ready for dedication to thy service, free from all debt or claim of man. Amen.

May peace and harmony prevail in the counsels of thy servants, and may no selfish or divided aims find place among them. May the work of this building be completed without hurt or accident to any person. And when thou shalt have prospered the work of their hands upon them, and this house shall be prepared and finished for thy service, grant that all who shall enjoy the benefit of this pious work may show forth their thankfulness by making a right use of it, to the glory of thy blessed name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant that all who shall hereafter worship thee in the temple here to be builded may so serve and please thee in all holy exercises of godliness, that in the end they may come to that temple on high, even to the holy place made without hands, whose builder and maker is God. Amen.