HANDS, IMPOSITION OF.
(1) Old and ilfew Testament. Laying on hands, or imposi.ion of hands, is understood in different ways both in the Old and New Testa ment. It is often taken for ordination and conse cration of priests and ministers, as well among the Jews as Christians (Num. viii :to; Acts vi :6; xiii : 3; Tim. iv :4). It is sometimes also made use of to signify the establishment of judges and magistrates, on whom it was usual to lay hands when they were intrusted with these employments. Th-us when Moses constituted Joshua his suc cessor, God appointed him to lay his hands upon him (Num. xx vii :18). Jacob laid his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh, when he gave them his last blessing (Gen. xlviii:14). The high-priest stretched out his hands to the people as often as he recited the solemn form of blessing (Lev. ix : 22). The Israelites, who presented sin-offerings at the tabernacle, confessed their sins while they laid their hands upon them (Lev. i:4). This testified that the person acknowledged himself worthy of death, that he laid his sins upon the sacrifice, that he trusted in Christ for the expia tion of his sins, and that he devoted himself to God. Witnesses laid their hands upon the head of the accused person, as it were to signify that they charged upon him the guilt of his blood, and freed themselves from it (Deut. xiii:o; xvii :7). Our
Savior laid his hands upon the children that were presented to him, and blessed them (Mark x :t6). And the Holy Ghost was conferred on those who were baptized by the laying on of the hands of the apostles (Acts viii :17; xix :6).
(2) Ecclesiastical Uses. In the rites of the early church the imposition of hands was used in confirmation, which generally was an accompani ment of baptism, and symbolized the reception of the Holy Ghost. It was also practiced in ORDINA TION (which see). In the modern church the Ro man Catholics use the imposition of hands in the ceremonies which precede extreme unction, in or dination and confirmation, in both of which serv ices it has received a sacramental efficacy. In the mass, previous to the consecration of the elements. the priest extends his hands over the people in blessing. The Church of England, the Protestant Episcopal, and the Reformed Episcopal churches employ it as a symbolical act in baptism and con firmation. The Methodist Episcopal, the Presby terian, and Congregational Churches employ it only in ordination. (Barnes' Bib. Diet.) (See HAND.)