Early beginnings--The Puritans--Cambridge Platform--Southey's complaint--Mrs. Fry--Fliedner--Florence Nightingale--Agnes Jones--Distinction between "sister" and "deaconess"-- Institutions in Church of England--Garb--Ceremonies-- Self-denying lives--Dr. Laseron's institutions and others-- Prison mission of Mrs. Meredith--The Sisters of the People 142 CHAPTER XI. MILDMAY INSTITUTIONS. Rev. W. Pennefather--Sketch of his life--Building of hall and deaconess home at Mildmay--Conference hall--Nursing hall-- Mission and hospital at Bethnal Green--The deaconesses--Their training--Expense--Expenses of institution 166 CHAPTER XII. DEACONESSES IN SCOTLAND. Church of Scotland--Organization of woman's work--Report of committees--Scheme--Adoption--Women's Guild--Women-workers' Guild--Deaconesses--Training--Syllabus of lectures-- Presbyterian Church of England and Ireland Page 189 CHAPTER XIII. THE DEACONESS CAUSE IN AMERICA. German Lutherans--Fliedner visits America--Philadelphia-- Mother-house of Deaconesses--Deaconesses in the Episcopal Church--Among the Presbyterians--The Methodist Episcopal Church--Deaconess-home in Chicago--Action of General Conference--Fields of work 204 CHAPTER XIV. THE MEANS OF TRAINING AND THE FIELD OF WORK FOR DEACONESSES IN AMERICA. Advantages of the Home and Training-school--Field of work--In hospitals--Insane asylums--Infant-schools--Teachers--The Home-mission deaconess--Her work in London--Similar work needed in cities of the United States 228 CHAPTER XV. OBJECTIONS MET AND SUGGESTIONS OFFERED. Objection that deaconesses resemble Catholic nuns--Their influence--Numbers in different orders--Order of Charles-- Objection to garb--Its advantages--Objection to the life answered--Opinion of Bryce concerning American women--Women of Methodism--Advice to candidates--Associates--The Church commended by its deeds 247 INTRODUCTION.