Orders

(Eccl.) An institution regarded in the Roman and Greek Churches as a sacrament, by which ministers are specially set apart for the service of religion, and are regarded as receiving a certain religious consecration, or, at least, designation for their office. The Rom. Cath Church holds that there are 7 orders:-4 minor, those of janitor, exorcist, reader, and acolyte; 3 major, those of sub-deacon, deacon, and priest. It does not consider the episcopacy asa separat O., but merely the perfection of the priesthood. Previously to admi ion to the lowest order the tonsure is conferred; it consists in clipping and shaving a small circular space on the crown of the head; the size of this space is increased as the cleric advances through the various orders. The Reformed Churches acknowledge only 3 orders: those of deacon, priest, and bishop. [s. 667]