Roman antiquity, an appellation given to the senators of Rome, who were called con- script fathers, an account of their names being all en- tered in one register.

Consecration, the act of devoting any thing to the service and worship of God. The Mosaical law ordained, that all the first-born, both of man and beast, should be sanctified or consecrated to God. We find also that Joshua consecrated the Gibeonites, as Solomon and David did the Nethinims, to the service of the temple; and that the Hebrews sometimes con- secrated their fields and cattle to the Lord, after which they were no longer in their power.

Among the ancient Christians, the consecration of churches was performed with a great deal of pious so- lemnity. In what manner it was done for the three first ages, is uncertain; the authentic accounts reach- ing no higher than the fourth, when, in the peaceable reign of Constantine, churches were everywhere built, and dedicated with great solemnity. Some think the consecration consisted in setting up the sign of the cross, or in placing a communion table in the church; others, that no more was done than preaching a panegyrical sermon in commemoration of the founder, and that then they proceeded to prayers, one of which was composed on purpose for the church to be conse- crated.