the act of conferring holy orders, or of initiating a person into the priesthood by prayer and the laying on of hands.

Ordination has always been esteemed a principal prerogative of bishops, and they still retain the function Ordination, as a mark of spiritual sovereignty in their diocese.

Without ordination, no person can receive any benefice, parsonage, vicarage, &c. A person must be 23 years of age, or near it, before he can be ordained deacon, or have any share in the ministry; and full 24 before he can be ordained priest, and by that means be permitted to administer the holy communion. A bishop, on the ordination of clergymen, is to examine them in the presence of the ministers, who, in the ordination of priests, but not of deacons, assist him at the imposition of hands; but this is only done as a mark of assent, not because it is thought necessary. 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 ordaining him. The person to be ordained is to bring a testimonial of his life and doctrine to the bishop, and to give account of his faith in Latin; and both priests and deacons are obliged to subscribe the 39 articles.

The ordination of bishops is more properly and more commonly called consecration.

In the ancient discipline there was no such thing as a vague and absolute ordination; but every one was to have a church, whereof he was to be ordained clerk, or priest. In the twelfth century they grow more remiss, and ordained without any title or benefice.

The Council of Trent restored the ancient discipline, and appointed that none should be ordained but those who were provided of a benefice sufficient to subsist them. Which practice still obtains in England.

The council of Rome, in 944, ordered, that no ordinations shall be held, except on the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth months. In England, by can. 31, ordination days are the four Sundays immediately following the Ember-weeks; being the second Sunday in Lent, Trinity-Sunday, and the Sundays following the first Wednesday after September the 14th, and December the 13th. These are the stated times; but ordinations may take place at any other time, according to the discretion of the bishop or circumstances of the case.

Pope Alexander II. condemns ordination per saltum, as they call it; i.e. the leaping to a superior order without passing through the inferior.

Ordination is one of the sacraments of the church of Rome.

In the establishment of Scotland, where there are no bishops, the power of ordination is lodged in the presbytery, and by the Independents in the suffrage of the people. See Episcopacy, Presbyterians, and Independents.