ORDINATION, the rite or ceremony by which ministers of the Christian church are dedicated to their sacred office. The use of'a ceremonial for such purposes is traceable among the Jews (Exod. xxix. 24, Levit. xxi. 10, Num. iii. 3); and the New Testament contains frequent reference to the specitieceremonial of "imposition of hands" (Acts vi. 1-7, xiii. 1-1, xiv. 23; 1 Tim. iv. 14, v. 22; 2 Tim. i. 6). In the Roman, the Greek, and the other eastern churches this rite of ordination is held to be sacramental, and it is reserved, at least as regards the major orders (see ORDERS, HOLY), exclusively to iiishops. In extraordinary cases it was permitted to cardinals and to certain abbots to confer the minor orders. Considerable controversy exists among Catholic writers as to what are essential portions (materia sacramentz) of the rite of ordination. Some 'place it in the "imposition of hands," sJoie in the presentation of the instruments" symbolical of each order. The controversy derives some importance from the diversity which exists between the Greek and Roman ceremonial; but on this bead Roman Catholics maintain that the essential rites are contained alike in both ceremonials. As regards the validity of the rite of ordination, the mere fact of its being conferred by a bishop suffices; but there is not any part of the Roman discipline which is more jealously guarded by laws than the administration of orders. The candidate can only be lawfully ordained by "leis own bishop" (proprius episcopal or with the authority of his own bishop, which must be communicated to the ordaining bishop by what are called dimissorial letters. The
candidate. may be claimed by a bishop as by "his own bishop" under any of four titles —of birth, of domicile, of benefice, or of connection by personal service; and if an ordi nation be attempted without some one of these titles, bealy ecclesiastical penalties are incurred as well by the ordainer as by the ordained. On the part of the candidate him self, certain qualifications are required; and certain disqualifications created or pro pounded by the canon law, called irregularities, arc held to render an ordination in some cases invalid, and in all unlawful.
In the church of England and other reformed Episcopal churches, the rules of the ancient canon-law are retained, by which no one could be ordained without previous examination of his fitness, or who was disqualified by bodily infirmity, illegitimacy, immorality; or simony. or who was unprovided with a title (i.e., an appointment to serve in some church), which should provide him with a maintenance; or who, being a candi date for deacon's orders, was under 20, and for priest's under 24 years of age; but the acre for admission to deacon's orders is changed to 23. A college fellowship is admitted as a title. (For the ceremony of ordination see ORDLNAL.) A person can only he ordained by the bishop in whose diocese he is to serve, except on letters dimistory from that bishop to another.
In other reformed churches ordination is performed by the presbytery', or by one or more ordinary ministers. Some small Protestant denominations have no ceremony of ordination whatever.