Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DEACON, n.2 One of the officials in the Presbyterian Churches who have charge. of the temporal affairs of a congregation . Also in form dykon.Sc. 1719 Acts Gen. Assembly (19 May):
The General Assembly recommends to all the Ministers of this Church, to take Care, that Deacons as well as Elders, be ordained in such Congregations where Deacons are wanting, but declares that Deacons as such, shall have no decisive Voice in calling of Ministers, or in the Exercise of Church Discipline.Sc. 1908 W. M. MacPhail Presb. Church 176:
The New Testament office of deacon became extinct, until it was revived at the Reformation in the Churches of the Presbyterian order.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 24:
Bit een o' oor Free Kirk dykons wis tellin' me 'at he got three buttons an' a sweetie in's ladle the idder Sunday.
Hence Deacons' Court (see quot.); deaconship, the office of deacon.Sc. 1842 J. G. Lorimer Deaconship 98:
The deaconship, as affording an opportunity of knowing men's character and qualifications, and proving their graces in various ways, is exceedingly valuable as a preparation for the eldership.Sc. 1945 J. T. Cox Practice C. of Scot. 30:
The Deacons' Court of the Congregation consists of its minister, or ministers, its elders, and deacons — the deacons being elected and ordained to office for the purpose of administering the temporal affairs of the Congregation. Women may be elected to the office of deacon on the same terms as men.
