CLERGY (OF. clergie, Lat. cicrieus, film] Gk, arpoc6s, kliTikos, clergyman, frODI KXvos, klcros, lot). A term very generally applied to the ministers of the Christian religion, in eontradis tinction to the laity ('I.'.). This use of the term is very ancient, and appears to have grad ually become prevalent, as the ministers of relig ion more and more exclusively, instead of the members of the Christian Church equally, began to be regarded as God's 'heritage' and 'priest hood' (1. Pet. ii. 9, and v. 3) , consecrated to Ilim, and peculiarly Ilis. The distinction lietween the clergy and the laity became more marked through the multiplication of offices and titles among the clergy, the ascription to them of a place in the Christian Church similar to that of the priests and Levites in the Jewish Church, with peculiar rights and privileges, their assump tion of a peculiar dress and of official insignia, the growth of monastic institutions, and the introduction of celibacy. In harmony with the notions on which this distinction is founded is that of an indelible, sacramentally stamped char acter derived from ordination, so that a renuncia tion of the clerical office is either viewed as an impossibility or a sort of apostasy. These no
tions in their highest degree belong to the Church of Rome. In the Protestant churches the distinc tion between clergy and laity is much less wide; and, although the same terms are often owed, it is rather conventionally than in their full signi fication. The employment of official robes by the clergy preced.d their assumption of a peculiar ordinary dress, and is not so intimately @onnected with any peculiar pretensions. Among the priv ileges accorded to the clergy by the Roman emperors, and in the Middle Ages, was exemp tion from civil offices; among the rights asserted by them, and which caused 71111(.11 dispute, was exemption from lay jurisdiction, even in cases of felony. (See BENEFIT OF CLERGY.) The clergy were distinguished into the higher clergy and the tower clergy; the latter including ostiarii, acolytes, lectors, exorcists, etc, The term secular clergy is the designation of priests of the Chu•eh of Rome who are not of any re ligious order, but have the care of parishes. Monks who are in holy orders are designated rrgular clergy (from reanla, rule). See ORDERS, IIOI.Y; BISHOP; PRIEST; DEACON.