The Sermon being ended, the Bishop shall proceed in the Service for the Communion, if it is to be administered at that time. After the Communion, or, if it is not administered at that time, after the Sermon, and immediately before the final Blessing, the Bishop shall say the following Prayer. BLord God, for that it hath pleased thee to have thy habita- religious performance of this day, and grant that in this place now set apart to thy service, thy holy Name may be worshipped in truth and purity through all generations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen. AN OFFICE OF INSTITUTION OF MINISTERS INTO PARISHES OR CHURCHES. PRESCRIBED BY THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE BISHOPS, THE CLERGY, AND LAITY, 1804; AND SET FORTH WITH ALTERATIONS, IN GENERAL CONVENTION, 1808. The Bishop having received due Notice of the Election of a Minister into a Parish or Church, as prescribed by the Canon, concerning “the Election and Institution of Ministers," and being satisfied that the 'person chosen is a qualified Minister of this Church," may transmit the following Letter of Institution, for the proposed Rector, or Assistant Minister, to one of his Presbyters, whom he may appoint as the Institutor. ¶In any Diocese, the concluding Paragraph in the Letter of Institution may be omitted, where it interferes with the Usages, Laws, or Charters of the Church in the same. To our well-beloved in Christ, A. B., Presbyter, Greeting. E do by these Presents give W and grant unto Sigillum. you, in whose Learning, Diligence, sound Doctrine, and Prudence, we do fully confide, our License and Authority to perform the Office of a Priest, in the Parish [or Church] of E. And also hereby do in stitute you into said Signat. Parish, [or Church,] possessed of full power to perform every Act of sacerdotal Function among the People of the same; you continuing in communion with us, and complying with the rubrics and canons of the Church, and with such lawful directions as you shall at any time receive from us. And as a canonically instituted Priest into the Office of Rector [or Assistant Minister, as the case may be] of — Parish, [or Church, you are faithfully to feed that portion of the flock of Christ which is now intrusted to you; not as a man-pleaser, but as continually bearing in mind that you are accountable to us here, and to the Chief Bishop ani Sovereign Judge of all, hereafter. And as the Lord hath ordained that they who serve at the altar shoul live of the things belonging to the altar; so we authorize you to claim and enjoy all the accustomed temporalities appertaining to your cure, until some urgent reason or reasons occasion a wish in you, or in the congreg tion committed to your charge, to bring about a separation, and dissolution of all sacerdotal relation, between you and them: of all which you will give us due notice and in case of any difference between you and your congregation, as to a separation and dissolution of all sacerdot 1 connection between you and them, we, your Bishop, with the advice of our Presbyters, are to be the ultimate arbiter and julge. In witness whereof, we have hereunto affixed our episcopal seal and signature, at this day of, A.D. and year of our consecra in the tion. plying with the rubrics and canons of the Church. And as a canonically instituted Priest into the Office of Rector [or Assistant Minister, as the case may be] of — Parish, [or Church, you are to feed that portion of the flock of Christ which is now intrusted to you; not as a man-pleaser, but as continually bearing in mind that you are accountable to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Church here, and to the Chief Bishop and Sovereign Judge of all, hereafter. And as the Lord hath ordained that they who serve at the altar should live of the things belonging to the altar; so you have our authority to claim and enjoy all the accustomed temporalities appertaining to your cure, until some urgent reason or reasons occasion a wish in you, or in the congregation committed to your charge, to bring about a separation, and dissolution of all sacerdotal connection, between you and them: of all which you will give us due notice: and in case of any difference between you and your congregation, as to a separation, and dissolution of all sacerdotal connection between you and them, the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Church in this Diocese (aking the advice and aid of a Bishop) shall be the ultimate arbiter and judge. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this day of the year in 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 by the Bishop (or, where there is no Bishop, by the Clerical Members of the Standing Committee) 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 berethe Vestry supplying his PROPER PSALMS. Psalm cxxxiii. PROPER LESSONS. FIRST. Ezek. chap. xxxiii. verse SECOND. St. John chap. x. verse Morning Prayer ended, the Priest DE EARLY 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 Assistant Minister] of the same; and we are possessed of your Vote that he has been so elected; as Then the new Incumbent shall I, the House of God at your hands, as the ple 'ges of my In- Here the Instituting Minister shall IRECT us, O Lord, in all our DIR doings, with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and thy holy Name, and finly by ended in thee, we may glorify thy mercy obtain everla ting Lord, who hath taught us to life; through Jesus Christ our pray unto thee, O Almighty Father, in his prevailing Name and words, also of the prescribed Letter of O Institution. But if any of you If any objection be offered, the No objection being offered, or the And then shall the Senior War- N the name and behalf of Parish [or Church] I do receive and acknowledge you, the Rev. A. B., as Priest and Rector [or Assistant Minister] of the same; and in token thereof, give into your hands the keys of this Church. UR Father, who art in hea ven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on eart, As it is in henven. 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 deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Then shall the Priest who acts as the Institutor receive the Incumbent within the rails of the Aitar, and present him the Bible Book of Common Prayer, and Books of Canons of the General and State Convention, saying as follows. ECEIVE these Books; and R 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. Then shall be said or sung the following Anthem. Laudate Nomen. PRAISE the LORD, laud ye the name of the LORD; praise it, O ye servants of the LORD. Psalm cxxxv. verse 1. 2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. Verse 2. 30 praise the LORD, for the LORD is gracious; O sing praises unto his Name, for it' is lovely. Verse 3. 4 The LORD is gracious and merciful; long-suffering, and of great goodness. Psalm cxlv. verse 8. 5 The LORD is loving unto every man; and his mercy is over all his works. Verse 9. 6 All thy works praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints give thanks unto thee. Verse 10. 7 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem, and gather together the outcasts of Israel. Psalm cxlvii. verse 2. 8 He healeth those that are broken in heart, and giveth medicine to heal their sickness. Verse 3. 9 The LORD's delight is in them that fear him, and put their trust in his mercy. Verse 11. 10 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. Verse 12. 11 For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, and hath blessed thy children within thee. Verse 13. 12 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the flour of wheat. Verse 14. 13 He is our God, even the God of whom cometh salvation: GoD is the Lord, by whom we escape death. Psalm lxviii. verse 20. 14 O God, wonderful art thou in thy holy places: even the God of Israel, he will give strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. Verse 35. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Minister. The Law was given by Moses; People. But Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ: Minister and People. Who is God over all, blessed for evermore. Amen. Let us pray MOST gracious God, the Giver of all good and perfect gifts, who of thy wise providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church; Give thy grace, we beseech thee, to thy servant, to whom the charge of this Congregation is now committed; and so replenish him with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue him with innocency of life, that he may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. chased to thyself an univerHOLY Jesus, who hast pursal Church, and hast promised to be with the Ministers of Apostolic Succession to the end of the world; Be graciously pleased to bless the ministry and service of him who is now appointed to offer the sacrifices of prayer and praise to thee in this house, which is called by thy Name. May the words of his mouth, and the meditation of his heart, he always acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. GOD, Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the Faithful, visit, we pray thee, this Congregation with thy love and favour; enlighten their minds more and more with the light of the everlasting Gospel ; graft in their hearts a love of the truth; increase in them true religion; nourish them with all goodness; and of thy great mercy keep them in the same, O blessed Spirit, whom, with the Father and the Son together, we worship and glorify as one God, world without end. Amen. L Benediction. HE God of peace, who brought TH again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Then shall the instituted Minister kneel at the Altar, to present his supplication for himself, in this form. LORD my God! I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; yet thou hast honoured thy servant with appointing him to stand in thy House, and to serve at thy holy Altar. To thee and to thy service I devote myself, soul, body, and spirit, with all their powers and faculties. Fill my memory with the words of thy Law; enlighten my understanding with the illumination of the Holy Ghost; and may all the wishes and desires of my will centre in what thou hast commanded. And, to make me instrumental in promoting the salvation of the people now committed to my charge, grant that I may faithfully administer thy holy Sacraments, and by my life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively Word. Be ever with me in the performance of all the duties of my ministry; in prayer, to quick en my devotion; in praises, to heighten my love and gratitude; and in preaching, to give a readiness of thought and expression suitable to the clearness and ex cellency of thy holy Word. Grant this for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Saviour. The instituted Minister, standing The Lord be with you. ALMIGHTY God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone; Grant that, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, all Christians may be so joined together in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace, that they may be an holy temple acceptable unto thee. And especially to this Congregation present, give the abundance of thy grace; that with one heart they may desire the prosperity of thy holy Apostolic Church, and with one mouth may profess the faith once delivered to the Saints. Defend them from the sins of heresy and schism: let not the foot of pride come nigh to hurt them, nor the hand of the ungodly to cast them down. And grant that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; that so they may walk in the ways of truth and peace, and at last be numbered with thy Saints in glory everlasting; through thy merits, O blessed Jesus, thou gracious Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, who at with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God, world without end. Amen. ¶ Then shall follow the Sermon: and after that the Instituted Minister shall proceed to the Communion Service, and to administer the holy Eucharist to his Congregation; and after the Benediction, (which he shall always pronounce,) the Wardens, Vestry, and others, shall salute and welcome him, bidding him God speed. When the Bishop of the Diocese is present at the Institution of a Minister, he shall make to him the address prescribed in this Office in the form of a letter; and may perform such other duties herein assigned the Instituting Minister as he may choose. |