IMPOSITION OF HANDS (im'p6-zisb'tin), an ecclesiastical action, by which a bishop lavs his hand on the head of a person in ordination, in con firnaation, or in uttering a blessing.
This practice is also usually observed by the different churches at the ordination of their min isters; when the clergymen present place their hands on the head of him whom they are ordain ing, while one of them prays for a blessing on him, and on his future labors. There is not full agree ment, however, as to the propriety of this cere mony. Some suppose it to be confined to those who received extraordinary gifts in the primitive times; others think it ought to be retained, as it was an ancient practice used where no extraor dinary gifts were conveyed (Gen. xlviii :14 ; Matt. xix.:15). They do not suppose it to be of such an important and essential nature, that the validity and usefulness of a man's future ministry depend upon it in any degree.
Imposition of hands was a Jewish ceremony, in troduced not b'y any Divine authority, but by cus tom; it being the practice among those people, whenever they pray to God for any person, to lay their hands on his head. Our Savior observed the same custom both when he conferred his blessing on children and when he healed the sick, adding prayer to the ceremony. The apostles, likewise, laid hands on those upon whom they be stowed the Holy Ghost. The priests observed the same custom when any one was received into their body. And the apostles themselves underwent the imposition of hands afresh every time they entered upon any new design. In the ancient church, im position of hands was even practiced on persons when they married, which custom the Abyssinians still observe.