ORDINATION, the act of conferring holy or-
ders, or of initiating a person into the priesthood by
prayer and the laying on of hands.
Ordination has always been esteemed the principal
prerogative of bishops, and they still retain the func-
tion as a mark of spiritual sovereignty in their dio-
cese. Without ordination, no person can receive any
benefice, parsonage, vicarage, &c. A clerk must
be 23 years of age before he can have any share in
the ministry; and 24 before he can be ordained,
and by that means be permitted to administer the sa-
crament. A bishop, on the ordination of clergymen,
is to examine them in the presence of the ministers
who assist him at the imposition of hands; and in case
any crime, as drunkenness, perjury, forgery, &c. be
alleged against any one that is to be ordained, either
priest or deacon, the bishop ought to desist from ordain-
ing him. The person to be ordained is to bring a
testimonial of his life and doctrine to the bishop, and
give account of his faith in Latin, and both priests
and deacons are obliged to subscribe the 39 articles.
The ordination-days in the church of England, are
the four Sundays immediately following the Ember-
weeks, viz. the first Sunday in Lent, Trinity-Sunday,
and the Sundays following the first Wednesday after
September 14. and December 13.
In Scotland, where there are no bishops, the power
of ordination is lodged in the presbytery. See PRES-
BYTERY.