An ecclesiastical action, by which, among
Episcopalians, a bishop lays his hands on the head of a person, in
ordination, confirmation, or in uttering a blessing. In Presbyterian
churches, the imposition is by the hands of the presbytery. This
practice is also frequently observed by the Independents and others at
their ordinations, when all the ministers present place their hands on
the head of him whom they are ordaining, while one of them prays for a
blessing on him and his future labours. This they retain as an ancient
practice, justified by the example of the Apostles, when no
extraordinary gifts were conveyed. However, Christians are not agreed as
to the propriety of this ceremony; nor do they all consider it as an
essential part of ordination.
Imposition of hands was a Jewish ceremony, introduced, not by any divine
authority, but by custom; it being the practice among that people,
whenever they prayed to God for any person, to lay their hands on his
head. Our Saviour observed the same custom, both when he conferred his
blessing on children, and when he cured the sick. The Apostles likewise
laid hands on those upon whom they bestowed the Holy Ghost, but it was a
form accompanied by _prayer_, through which only the blessing was
obtained. And the Apostles themselves sometimes underwent the imposition
of hands afresh, when they entered upon any new design. In the ancient
church, imposition of hands was practised on persons when they married;
which custom the Abyssinians still observe. But this ceremony of laying
on of hands is now restrained, by custom, chiefly to that imposition
which is practised at the ordination of ministers.
[In the Methodist Episcopal Church, a bishop is constituted by the
election of the general conference, and the laying on of the hands of
three bishops, or at least of one bishop and two elders; unless it
happen that, by death or otherwise, there be no bishop remaining in the
church: in this case, the general conference is empowered to elect a
bishop, and the elders, or any three of them appointed by the general
conference for that purpose, to ordain him. An elder is constituted by
the election of an annual conference, and the laying on of the hands of
a bishop and of two or more elders. A deacon, by the election of an
annual conference, and the laying on of the hands of a bishop.]
Episcopalians, a bishop lays his hands on the head of a person, in
ordination, confirmation, or in uttering a blessing. In Presbyterian
churches, the imposition is by the hands of the presbytery. This
practice is also frequently observed by the Independents and others at
their ordinations, when all the ministers present place their hands on
the head of him whom they are ordaining, while one of them prays for a
blessing on him and his future labours. This they retain as an ancient
practice, justified by the example of the Apostles, when no
extraordinary gifts were conveyed. However, Christians are not agreed as
to the propriety of this ceremony; nor do they all consider it as an
essential part of ordination.
Imposition of hands was a Jewish ceremony, introduced, not by any divine
authority, but by custom; it being the practice among that people,
whenever they prayed to God for any person, to lay their hands on his
head. Our Saviour observed the same custom, both when he conferred his
blessing on children, and when he cured the sick. The Apostles likewise
laid hands on those upon whom they bestowed the Holy Ghost, but it was a
form accompanied by _prayer_, through which only the blessing was
obtained. And the Apostles themselves sometimes underwent the imposition
of hands afresh, when they entered upon any new design. In the ancient
church, imposition of hands was practised on persons when they married;
which custom the Abyssinians still observe. But this ceremony of laying
on of hands is now restrained, by custom, chiefly to that imposition
which is practised at the ordination of ministers.
[In the Methodist Episcopal Church, a bishop is constituted by the
election of the general conference, and the laying on of the hands of
three bishops, or at least of one bishop and two elders; unless it
happen that, by death or otherwise, there be no bishop remaining in the
church: in this case, the general conference is empowered to elect a
bishop, and the elders, or any three of them appointed by the general
conference for that purpose, to ordain him. An elder is constituted by
the election of an annual conference, and the laying on of the hands of
a bishop and of two or more elders. A deacon, by the election of an
annual conference, and the laying on of the hands of a bishop.]