AN OFFICE OF Enstitution of Ministers INTO PARISHES OR CHURCHES T In the case of a Minister to be instituted in a State or Diocess where there is no Bishop, the oldest Priest by adoption or ordination, who is present, shall be appointed and act as Institutor, as follows: The day being appointed for the new incumbent's Institution, at the usual hour of Morning Prayer, the Institutor, attended by the new incumbent, and one or more presbyters appointed for that purpose, shall enter the church. Then, all the clergy present standing without the rails of the altar, except the officiating Priest, who shall go into the desk; the Wardens, (or, in case of their necessary absence, two members of the Vestry) standing on the right and left of the altar, without the rails: the senior Warden, (or the member of the Vestry supplying his place) holding the keys of the church in his hand, in open view, the officiating Priest shall read Morning Prayer. ¶ Morning Prayer ended, the Priest who acts as the Institutor, standing within the rails of the altar, shall say, DEARLY beloved in the Lord, we have assembled for the purpose of instituting the Rev. A. B. into this parish [or church] as Priest and Rector [or Associated Rector, or Assistant Minister] of the same: and we are possessed of your vote that he has been so elected; as also of the prescribed Letter of Institution. But if any of you can show just cause why he may not be instituted, we proceed no further, because we would not that an unworthy person should minister among you. If any objection be offered, the Priest who acts as the Institutor shall judge whether it afford just cause to suspend the service. No objection being offered, or the Priest who acts as the Institutor choosing to go on with the service, he shall next read the Letter of Institution from the Holy Council; and then shall the senior Warden, (or the member of the Vestry supplying his place) present the keys of the church to the new incumbent, saying, IN name and behalf of parish [or church], I do receive and acknowledge you, the Rev. A. B. as Priest and Rector [or Associated Rector, or Assistant Minister] of the same, and in token thereof, give into your hands the keys of this Church. ¶ Then the new incumbent shall say, A. B., receive these keys of the house of "God at your hands, as the pledges of my institution, and of your parochial recognition, and promise to be a faithful shepherd over you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. ¶ Here the Instituting Minister shall begin the office. Ans. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. DIRECT us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord : who hath taught us to pray unto thee, O Heavenly Father, in his prevailing name and words: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But delive us from evil : For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever and ever. Amen. T Then shall the Priest who acts as the Institutor receive the incumbent within the rails of the altar, and present him the Bible, Book of Common Prayer, and Book of Parochial Records, saying as follows: RECEIVE these books; and let them be the rule of thy conduct in dispensing the divine word, in leading the devotions of the people, and in exercising the discipline of the Church; and be thou in all things a pattern to the flock committed to thy care. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is the King of glory? It is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in. : 10 Who is the King of glory? Even the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. T The officiating Priest shall go within the rails, with such of the Clergy as can be there accommodated. The officiating Priest, sitting in his chair, shall have the instruments of donation and endowment, if there be any presented to him, and then standing up, and turning to the Congregation, shall say, DEARLY beloved in the Lord; forasmuch as devout and holy men, as well under the Law as under the Gospel, moved either by the express com. mand of God, or by the secret inspiration of the blessed Spirit, and acting agreeably to their own reason and sense of the natural decency of things, have erected houses for the public worship of God, and separated them from all unhallowed, worldly, and common uses, in order to fill men's minds with greater reverence for his glorious majesty, and affect their hearts with more devotion and humility in his service; which pious works have been approved of and graciously ac cepted by our heavenly Father: Let us not doubt but that he will also favorably approve our |