The office confers no masonic authority at all, except that of a seat and a vote in the Grand Lodge.
Section VII.
_Of the Grand Deacons._ But little need be said of the Grand Deacons.

Their duties correspond to those of the same officers in subordinate lodges.

The office of the Deacons, even in a subordinate lodge, is of comparatively modern institution.

Dr.Oliver remarks that they are not mentioned in any of the early Constitutions of Masonry, nor even so late as 1797, when Stephen Jones wrote his "Masonic Miscellanies," and he thinks it "satisfactorily proved that Deacons were not considered necessary, in working the business of a lodge, before the very latter end of the eighteenth century."[27] But although the Deacons are not mentioned in the various works published previous to that period, which are quoted by Dr.Oliver, it is nevertheless certain that the office existed at a time much earlier than that which he supposes.

In a work in my possession, and which is now lying before me, entitled "Every Young Man's Companion, etc., by W.Gordon, Teacher of the Mathematics," sixth edition printed at London, in 1777, there is a section, extending from page 413 to page 426, which is dedicated to the subject of Freemasonry and to a description of the working of a subordinate lodge.