s.--In the old Liturgies there was formerly a
short anthem after the Gospel, called _Offertorium_; for this in
our Liturgy has been substituted the "Offertory Sentences," being
short selections from Holy Scripture setting forth "instructions,
injunctions and exhortations to the great duty of giving; setting
before us the necessity of performing it and the manner of doing it."
Office.--The term "office," in ecclesiastical usage, means a
formulary of devotions; a form of service appointed for a particular
occasion; a prescribed form or act of worship; thus the Daily
Morning and Evening Prayer are called the "Daily Offices." The word
is commonly used of the various services set forth in the Prayer
Book, as "Baptismal Office," "Communion Office," etc.
Open Churches.--(See FREE AND OPEN CHURCHES.)
Ordain, Ordination.--The act of setting apart to the Sacred Ministry
and whereby {201} the grace of Orders is conferred. The right or power
to ordain belongs solely to the Bishop and this he does with prayer
and Laying on of Hands. (See IMPOSITION OF HANDS.) The times of
Ordination prescribed by Canon Law are the Sundays after the EMBER
DAYS (which see). These became the settled times of Ordination as
early as the Fourth or Fifth Century. But the Bishops are privileged
to ordain at other times if necessity require.
Order.--The word "Order" as used in the Prayer Book means _regulation_
or _ordinance_, according to its derivation from the Latin word
_ordo_. This is seen in the title of the Communion Office which
reads, "The Order for the Administration of the Lord's Supper, or
Holy Communion," _i.e._, the prescribed way in which the Holy
Communion shall be celebrated. So, also, of all other services; the
Prayer Book sets forth the order or manner in which they shall be
ministered, and such they are called.
Orders, Holy.--(See HOLY ORDERS.)
Ordinal, The.--The name given to that portion of the Prayer Book
containing the Offices for the consecration of Bishops and the
ordination of Priests and Deacons. The Ordinal being what it is, is
very properly prefaced with a statement of the witness of history
to the fact "that from the Apostles' time there have been these
Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church--Bishops, Priests and
Deacons." It is interesting to note that "our Ordinal was not taken
word for word from the Roman Pontifical, but was framed on the
comprehensive and broad ground of all known forms and manners of
Ordinati
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