Thy blessed unction from above Teach us to know the Father, Son, Thy praise may be our endless song. Then shall the Bishop preach a sermon setting forth the work and obligations of the Ministry in general, and the duty and office of a Deacon in particular, and, after the sermon, shall deliver a charge to the candidate for ordination. Thereupon, the candidate standing before him, the Bishop shall say and the candidate respond: Brother (here he shall name him), do you believe in the truth of the Old and New Testaments, as inspired by the Holy Ghost? I do. Do you trust that you have by divine grace been brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ? This is my humble trust. Are you resolved to devote yourself to the work of the Ministry, and to the service of the Lord in the Church of the United Brethren? I am. Will you diligently apply yourself to the study of the Holy Scriptures and to prayer, and declare all the counsel of God, that you may be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed? I will, by the grace of God. Is it your sincere purpose to live according to the precepts of God's word, and to teach nothing but the truths and doctrines contained therein, as received and taught in the Church of the United Brethren? This is my sincere desire. Do you promise to conform to the principles, regulations and requirements of the Church of the United Brethren, as they are laid down by her Synods and constituted authorities, so long as you shall continue in the service of the same? This I promise to do, the Lord helping me. ¶ Then, all kneeling, the Bishop shall offer prayer, invoking the blessing of the Triune God upon the act of ordination which is about to be performed, and imploring him, in particular, that the candidate may be en At the close dowed with power and unction for doing all those things which belong to the office of a Deacon, for the edification of the Church. of the prayer the choir shall sing: In the name of Jesus: Amen. Then the congregation standing, but the candidate kneeling, the Bishop, with the imposition of hands, shall say: I ordain thee, Brother (here he shall name the candidate), to be a Deacon of the Church of the United Brethren, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee Thereupon all shall kneel in silent prayer, at the close of which the choir shall sing the following doxology, and the congregation, still kneeling, shall join in the Amen, Hallelujah. Glory be to thy most meritorious ministry, O thou servant of the true tabernacle, Amen, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, The service shall close with the singing of a hymn, and the benediction. II. THE ORDINATION OF A PRESBYTER. The service shall be opened in the same way as at the ordination of a Deacon. After the singing of the Veni Creator Spiritus. or of some other hymn, the Bishop shall preach a sermon, setting forth the work and obligations of the Ministry in general, and the duty and office of a Presbyter in particular, and deliver a charge to the candidate for ordination. Thereupon, the candidate standing before him, the Bishop shall say and the candidate respond: Brother (here he shall name him), do you abide by the sentiments and purposes which you solemnly avowed at your ordination as a Deacon of the Church? I do. Will you continue faithfully to administer the word and sacraments, to exercise the discipline of the church, and in every way, to fulfill the functions of your pastoral office, that souls may be won for Christ, and built up on their most holy faith? I will. Having recognized in your past experience the importance of upholding the principles and regulations of the Church of the United Brethren, as they are laid down by its Synods, will you faithfully observe them, and as much as lies in your power guard against any violation of the same? I will, God being my helper. Then, all kneeling, the Bishop shall offer prayer, invoking the blessing of the Triune God upon the act of ordination which is about to be performed, and imploring him, in particular, that the candidate may be endowed with power and unction for preaching the word of God, for administering the sacraments, and for doing all those things which belong to the office of a Presbyter, for the edification of the Church. At the close of the prayer the choir shall sing: In the name of Jesus: Amen. Then, the congregation standing, but the candidate kneeling, the Bishop with the imposition of hands, shall say: I ordain thee, Brother (here he shall name the candidate), to be a Presbyter of the church of the United Brethren, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace: In the name of Jesus: Amen. At the close of the silent prayer the choir shall sing the following doxology, and the congregation, still kneeling, shall join in the Amen, Hallelujah. Glory be to thy most holy priesthood, Christ, thou Lamb of God; Thou who wast slain for us; Who by one offering hast perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Amen, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen, Hallelujah. The service shall be closed with the singing of a hymn, and the benediction. III. THE CONSECRATION OF A BISHOP. If possible, not less than three Bishops shall take part in the consecration of a Bishop. The service shall be opened with the Church Litany, or a part thereof, and the singing of the Veni Creator Spiritus, or of some other hymn. Thereupon, one of the Bishops shall preach a sermon setting forth the work and obligation of the Ministry in general, and the duty and office of a Bishop in particular, and another Bishop, or the same Bishop, shall deliver a charge to the Bishop elect. Then, all kneeling, the presiding Bishop shall offer prayer, invoking the blessing of the Triune God upon the act of consecration which is about to be performed, and imploring him, in particular, to endow the Bishop elect with power and unction for ordaining his brethren, with diligence and zeal for doing all other things which belong to the episcopal office, and with wisdom and grace for edifying the church and setting a holy example to its ministry. At the close of the prayer the choir shall sing: In the name of Jesus, Amen. Then, the congregation standing, each of the officiating Bishops shall lay his right hand upon the head of the Bishop elect who kneels before them, and the presiding Bishop shall say: We consecrate thee, Brother (here he shall name him), to be a Bishop of the Church of the United Brethren, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace; In the name of Jesus: Amen. ¶ Thereupon, all shall kneel in silent prayer, at the close of which the choir shall sing the following doxology, and the congregation, still kneeling, shall join in the Amen, Hallelujah. Glory be to the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, The great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; Glory and obedience be unto God the Holy Ghost, our Guide and Comforter; Glory and adoration be to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Father of all who are called children on earth and in heaven. O might each pulse thanksgiving beat, And every breath his praise repeat. Amen, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen, Hallelujah. ¶The service shall end with the singing of a hymn, and the doxology which follows the Litany (page 7); or, instead of the doxology, merely with the benediction. THE LAYING OF A CORNER-STONE. The service may be opened with the Te Deum Laudamus, or with the Canticle of Praise, or with an Invocation. Then shall be sung a hymn, after which shall be read the ninety-sixth Psalm, or some other portion of Scripture. An address, or several addresses, shall follow. Thereupon, the Pastor of the church shall read the document appointed for such occasions, and put it into the corner-stone, as well as all the other articles which the same is to contain, naming them, as he does so, one by one. Then shall be sung the following hymn: L.M. This stone to thee in faith we lay, We build the temple, Lord, to thee; Here when thy people seek thy face, Here, when thy messengers proclaim Thy glory never hence depart: Yet choose not, Lord, this house alone; In every bosom fix thy throne. TUNE 22. Here the Bishop, or, if no Bishop be present, the Pastor of the Church, or some other Minister appointed by him, shall lay the stone in its place, saying and the congregation responding: Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Then, taking a hammer, he shall say, and the congregation respond: I lay the corner-stone of a church, (or chapel,) to be here erected by (here he shall name the congregation for whose use it is to be built), and to be set apart for the worship of the Triune God agreeably to the ritual and usages of the Church of the United Brethren, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Here he shall thrice strike with the hammer upon the corner-stone. Then each of the Ministers present shall in like manner strike thrice upon the corner-stone, repeating the words: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Amen. Thereupon the Bishop, or the officiating Minister, shall offer prayer, and the service shall close with a hymn and the benediction. |