ORDERS, HOLY, an institution regarded in the Greek and Roman churches as a sacra ment, by which ministers are specially set apart for the service of religion, and are regarded as receiving a certain religious consecration, or, at least, designation for their office. While some of the reformed churches altogether deny the distinction of ranks in the ministry, none of them admits more than three ranks, of bishop, priest, and deacon. But in the 'Roman and Greek churches a further classification exists. In the Roman church, a distinction is made between the major (or holy) orders and the minor orders. Of the major orders, three have been described in genetl terms, under the head hier archy (q.v.), viz., the classes of bishops, priests, and deacons. A fourth rank of sub deacons is generally regarded as one of the major orders, but its functions closely resemble in their nature and their degree those of the deacon. The minor orders in the Roman church are four in number—those of render, exorcist, and acolyte. To none of these orders is any vow of celibacy annexed. Some of their functions had their origin hi the peculiar religious condition of the early church. The duties of door-keeper arose chiefly out of the discipline in regard to the penitents and catechumens; but although these functions find no room in the modern discipline of the Roman church, the door keeper of the modern church is held to succeed to other functions of his ancient proto type in relation to the cateehetical instruction of .children and of the poor and ignorant. Preparatory to the receiving of these orders, candidates are initiated in what is called the tonu sre, which consists in the cutting off of the hair, as a symbol of separation from the world and its vanities—a rite which appears also as one of the ceremonies of the religious profession. Tonsure, however, is not reckoned as an order; it is but a distinguishing characteristic of a class. In the Roman church the sacrament of orders is held •to pro duce an indelible character, and therefore to be incapable of being forfeited and of being validly repeated. This, holvever, applies only to the holy orders. The Greek church 1ms the distinction of major and minor orders, in common with the Raman. But the Greeks commonly exclude sub•deaconship from the major orders, and 01 the functions of the four minor orders of the Roman church are united by the Greeks in one single order, that of reader (anagniistes).
In the Anglican and other Reformed Episcopal churches the three higher orders of bishop, priest, and deacon are alone retained. An Anglican clergyman may he deprived
of his benefice, or suspended by his bishop, for various ecclesiastical offenses; and the right of the court of arches to pronounce sentence of deprivation has also been recog nized. But in the usual case of deprivation, the clergyman does not forfeit his status of priest or deacon, which can only be lost by deposition or degradation. Statue 23 Hen. VIII. c. 1. s. 6 reserves to the ordinary the power of degrading clerks convicted of j treason, petit treason, murder, and certain other felonies, before judgment. A bishop may he deprived of his see by his metropolitan, with or without the co-operation of a synod of the bishops of the province, but it has been questioned whether he can be law fully deprived of his orders as bishop. A clergyman of the church of England and Ire land cannot become a member of the house of commons. In the Presbyterian and other non-episcopal churches, the ceremony of ordination is not held to impart any indelible character. A minister found guilty of or immorality is deprived of his office by deposition, by which his clerical status is forfeited. His removal from his charge, how ever, in any other way, does not affect his office as a minister; and a minister removed from one charge to another, or, after a time, inducted into a new charge, is not re-or dained. A minister having no charge or flock may yet dispense the sacraments if duly called upon. A minister deposed ceases altogether to be a minister, and is no more capa ble of any of the functions of the office than if lie had never been ordained.
The ceremony of imposition of hands is used in almost all Protestant churches in the ordination of ministers, the ordaining bishop or presbyters placing the eight hand on the head of the person ordained; and is always accompanied with prayer. It is deemed a proper and Scriptural form (1 Tim. iv. 14), but not essential.
In the nburch of Scotland and other Presbyterian churches, when an already ordained minister is inducted into a new charge. no imposition of hands takes place. In the SCot tish and American Presbyterian churches, candidates for the ministry are licensed to preach the gospel before being called to any particular charge, and are then styled licentiates or probationers. They are licensed, according to an old phrase, " for trials of their gifts," but are not entitled to dispense the sacraments.
There is nothing to prevent a minister of the church of Scotland, or any Presbyterian or Independent church, from being a member of the•British house of commons.