the Minor or

In this Preface, while the major or chief orders are retained, the minor orders, however, Reference to are not referred to. They existed in the ders omitted. mediæval Church of England, and were almost identical with those still conferred in all parts of the Roman obedience as a preparation for the major orders. Three of the seven amongst Roman Catholics are now called "sacred" or "holy," viz. :— the (1) priest, (2) deacon, and (3) subdeacon,-the remaining four being respectively (4) acolyte, (5) exorcist, (6) reader, and (7) doorkeeper. In the Eastern communions the division is not quite the same, nor indeed are the orders themselves precisely identical with those of the Latin Church. Here in England the office of clericus* (clerk) has been retained, and in many cathedrals certain officials have been appointed ever since the Reformation to undertake some of those duties which had been previously performed by persons in minor orders. For example: choir-men and choristers, though not formally set apart by prayer, have been retained in cathedral, collegiate, and many parish churches; while "lay-deacons" so called, have been recently appointed by the late Primate of All England and certain of his suffragans.t

(a) "Then the Minister or Clerks going to the Lord's Table,”Rubric in Solemnization of Matrimony. (b) "The Priest and Clerks meeting the Corpse,"-Rubric in The Order for the Burial of the Dead, Book of Common Prayer.

† The following Form of Appointment was adopted by the late Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Rules which are appended have been formally sanctioned, and were issued by His Grace's authority :

"APPOINTMENT.

:

"Charles Thomas, by Divine Providence, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, to our well-beloved in Christ of the parish of

diocese of Canterbury, greeting.

in our

["Whereas

Both in theory and practice, therefore,-in word as well as in deed, both in written document and in public acts, no material change was effected at the Reformation. The ancient principle regarding the character and importance of Holy Orders was neither lost sight of, ignored, nor rejected. No one can deny that while this Preface most plainly and explicitly asserts what the Church of England intended to do, her constant practice from that time to the present, which none can ignore, sets forth with equal plainness what she has done. If, therefore, by a careful examination and statement of facts, it can be proved that the usual arguments against the validity of certain of our ordinations conferred at the period

"Whereas we are duly informed of your desire to assist in the pastoral administration of your parish, by undertaking the work of a lay deacon amongst the people, and under the direction of the parish priest, that

"We do hereby give you our ordinary authority and commission to execute such office of a lay deacon in the district to be assigned you of the said parish, and according to the rules in that behalf revised and appointed by us.

"Given under our hand this 16th day of October, 1865.

(L.S.)

(Signed) "RULES.

"C. T. CANTUAR."

"Each deacon to have a small defined district.

"He is to devote an hour a day to diaconate work.

"To acquaint himself by visitation with the names, persons, and callings and habits of the labouring population of his district.

"To specially seek out such children not baptized, attending no school, being neglected, or otherwise in an outcast state.

"To mark the case of any outcast adults whom there may appear any chance to reclaim.

"To note cases of sickness, &c.; make them known to the parish priest, and assist in their visitation.

"To be ministrants of alms to the sick and needy in connection with lady associates, now known as district visitors.

"To assist the parish priest in parochial work wherever his services can be of use."

of the Reformation are unsound and fallacious, it will follow that one material difficulty in the way of Roman Catholics placing the Church of England, as regards this particular, on a level with the Eastern Church, will have been successfully overcome. Erroneous impressions will be removed, and the re-ordination of persons already possessing the character of the priesthood will be shown to have been grounded on a misapprehension of the true facts of the case.

CHAPTER III.

THE FORM FOR THE ORDINATION OF DEACONS, 1549.

IN

N reprinting this and the following Forms, the rare black letter edition of 1549, with the colophon below, has been carefully followed :

RICHARDUS GRAFTON

TYPOGRAPHUS REGIUS EXECUDEBAT

MENSE MARTII

A. M.D.XLIX.

Cum privilegio ad imprimendum folum.

For the sake of convenience the modern form of spelling has been adopted, while a few notes indicating such changes as were made under Queen Elizabeth have been added, in order to obviate the necessity of needlessly lengthening this book by repetitions:

The Form and manner of Ordering of Deacons. First, when the day appointed by the Bishop is come, there shall be an exhortation, declaring the duty and Office of such as come to be admitted Ministers, how necessary such orders are in the Church of CHRIST, and also how the people ought to esteem them in their vocation.

After the exhortation ended, the archdeacon, or his deputy, shall present such as come to the Bishop to be admitted. Every one of them that are presented having upon him a plain alb, and the archdeacon or his deputy shall say these words.*

These words in italics were omitted in the Form of Ordination printed in 1552,

REVEREND father in GoD, I present unto you these persons present, to be admitted Deacons.

The Bishop. Take heed that the persons whom ye present unto Us, be apt and meet, for their learning and godly conversation, to exercise their ministry duly, to the honour of God, and edifying of His Church.

The Archdeacon shall answer.

I have inquired of them, and also examined them, and think them so to be.

¶ And then the Bishop shall say unto the people.

BRETHREN, if there be any of you, who knoweth any impediment, or notable crime, in any of these persons presented to be ordered Deacons, for the which he ought not to be admitted to the same, let him come forth in the Name of God, and shew what the crime or impediment is.

¶ And if any great crime or impediment be objected, the Bishop shall surcease from ordering that person, until such time as the party accused shall try himself clear of that crime.

*

Then the Bishop, commending such as shall be found meet to be ordered to the prayers of the congregation, with the Clerks and people present, shall say or sing the Litany as followeth, with the prayers.

The Litany and Suffrages.

O GOD the Father of Heaven have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Father of Heaven: have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the Son, Redeemer of the world have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son: have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

The words in italics here were omitted, and "the clergy" substituted for them in the revision of 1662,