This section is from the book "The Home Cyclopedia Of General Information", by Charles Morris. Also available from Amazon: Home Cyclopedia of Necessary Knowledge.
A person in the lowest degree of holy orders. In the Roman Catholic Church the deacon acts as an assistant to the priest, and may preach and baptize with the permission of the bishop. In the Church of England he can exercise nearly all priestly functions. In the Presbyterian, Baptist and other Churches the deacon or elder is an officer selected to assist the minister in the direction of religious affairs.
 
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