DEACON

In ecclesiastical law. Amin- ister or servant in the church, whose office is to assist the priest in divine service and the distribution of the sacrament. It is the low- est order in the Church of England.

In Ecclesiastical Law. The lowest degree of holy orders in the Church of England. 2 Steph. Com. 660; Mozley & W.

HOLY ORDERS, (what are). 15 East 577. also mentions mixed homage, e. g. that homage which is due to a prince who is sovereign in relation to his own subjects, and yet owes a subjection to some other prince. 24. Homage auncestral (homagium antecessorium) is "where a tenant holdeth his land of his lord by homage, and the same tenant and his ancestors, whose heire he is, have holden the same land of the same lord and of his auncestors, whose heire the lord is, time out of memorie of man, by homage, and have done them homage. And this is called 'homage auncestrell,' by reason of the continuance which hath beene by title of prescription in the tenancie in the blood of the tenant, and also in the seignorie in the blood of the lord." (Litt. § 143; see, also, § 152.) The continuance in the blood of the lord was not essential to the tenure, for land might be held of a corporation by homage auncestrel. (Litt. 146; Co. Litt. 102 b.) The peculiarity of homage auncestrel was, that it imposed on the lord the duty of warranty (q. v.) and acquittal (q. v., § 2,) towards his tenant. Litt. 143, 144. 5. Homage was abolished by the act 12 Car. HOMAGE.-Homage, in the sense of service, is derived from the Norman-French homage, from home, a man, because the tenant became the lord's II. c. 24. See FEALTY. man. (Britt. 174a) Homage, in the sense of the suitors at a court baron, is said to be of the same derivation, because the suitors were those who had done homage. (Blount 8. v.; Wms. Seis. 36.) This derivation is doubtful HOMAGE ANCESTRAL, or AUNCESTRAL.-See HOMAGE, § 4.

An officer in Christian churches appointed to perform certain subordinate duties varying in different communions. In the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, a person admitted to the lowest order in the ministry, subordinate to the bishops and priests. In Presbyterian churches, he is subordinate to the minister and elders, and has charge of certain duties connected with the communion service and the care of the poor. In Congregational churches, he is subordinate to the pastor, and has duties as in the Presbyterian church. The chairman of an incorporated company. [Scot.]

To read aloud each line of (a psalm or hymn) before singing it, -- usually with off. [Colloq. New. Eng.] See Line, v. t.

For a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir. | To kill a calf shortly after birth. | To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath. | To make sly alterations to the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold), etc.

A surname originating as an occupation. | A male given name from English.

A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6). | A modern-day member of a church who handles secular and/or administrative duties in a priest's stead, the specifics of which depends on denomination. | A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work. | An ordained clergyperson usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon. | A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor. | A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate. | A junior lodge officer. | The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts. | A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below). | The chairman of an incorporated company.