ADMISSION OF A DEACONESS.

The Candidate shall be presented to the Bishop by some Priest appointed for that purpose, with these words:

Right Reverend Father in GOD, I present to you this person to be admitted to the office and work of

a Deaconess.

Bishop. Have you reason to believe her to be fit in body and mind, in zeal, piety, and perseverance, for the discharge of this office?

Priest. I believe her so to be.

Bishop. Dearly beloved, it belongeth generally to the office of a Deaconess to assist the Clergy in all such good works as shall be committed unto them; especially visiting and tending the sick and needy, teaching the ignorant, and taking order for the seemly maintenance of God's House, and of the things pertaining thereto. Art thou ready, of thine own free will, to undertake this work, and to give thyself faithfully thereto?

Candidate. I am ready, GOD being my helper.

Bishop. Wilt thou be obedient to them who are over thee in the LORD, cheerfully and faithfully performing the service that shall be appointed to thee?

Can. I will, by the help of GOD.

[If the Deaconess is to join a Community, the following questions may be added.

The Bishop shall ask the Superior of the Community, or her deputy:

rules of the Community, so long as thou remainest a member of it?

Can. I promise so to do.

Bishop. Wilt thou help thy Sisters in their work and labour of

love? Wilt thou cultivate and

preserve sisterly love towards thy fellow-helpers, and all others, and above all, endeavour to order thy life and conversation according to the doctrine of CHRIST, and to live

in His faith and fear?

Ans. I will do so, the LORD being my helper.]

The Candidate shall then kneel in front of the Bishop, who shall pray as follows:

630. Almighty and everlasting GOD, Who hast hallowed women by the birth of Thine Only-begotten SON, our LORD, from a pure Virgin; look now, O LORD, on this Thine handmaid, call her to the work of Thy ministry, send down on her the rich gifts of Thy HOLY SPIRIT; keep her steadfast in the faith, and grant that she may always fulfil her office according to Thy good pleasure. Through.

Have you consented to admit N. Then giving the Cross or Badge, the

into your Community?

Ans. We have so consented.

Then the Bishop shall ask the Can

didate:

Bishop shall say,

Receive and wear this Cross [or Badge], a symbol of thy profession

as a Deaconess. Be not ashamed to confess the faith of CHRIST cruWilt thou faithfully observe the cified, and ever bear in thy heart

the remembrance of His love Who died on the Cross for thee.

The Bishop shall then bless the

Deaconess as follows:

GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON, GOD the HOLY GHOST bless, preserve, and sanctify thee, and so fill thee with all spiritual benediction and grace, with all faith, wisdom, and humility, that thou mayest serve before Him to the glory of His great Name, and to the benefit of His Church and people; make thee faithful unto death, and give thee the crown of everlasting life. Ry. Amen.

Let us pray.

Be

631. Grant, O LORD, we beseech Thee, to Thine handmaid whom we have called to the office of Deaconess, ministry; bestow on her the gifts the grace of perseverance in her of wisdom and sound judgment, of simplicity and singleness of heart, of sympathy with those amongst whom she dwells and works, of ready obedience to all lawful rule and authority; of firmness when she herself is called to rule, and of courtesy and mildness towards all with whom she has to do. Thou, O LORD, her guide in all doubt, her support in weariness, . Our help is in the Name of and her comfort in sorrow, that the LORD. R. Who hath made Thou mayest be also unto her an heaven and earth. Y. O LORD, exceeding great reward in the day bless Thine handmaid. R. Who of the revelation of Thine Onlyputteth her trust in Thee. . begotten SoN. To Whom with Make her a clean heart, O LORD. Thee and the HOLY GHOST, &c. Ry. And renew a right spirit within her. V. Give Thine Angels charge over her. Ry. To keep her in all Thy ways. V. O LORD, hear, &c. Ry. And let, &c. . The LORD, &c. Ry. And with, &c. y. Let us pray. Our FATHER, &c.

If the Holy Communion does not follow here, the Bishop may

say,

Let us depart in peace.
Ans. In the Name of CHRIST.

ORDER FOR THE CONSECRATION OF A CHURCH.

132. LORD, remember David, &c.

Ant. But will GoD in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have

The Bishop, attended by his Chap-
lains, and other officials and Cler-
gy, shall vest in some building or
tent near the Church. The peti-
tion for Consecration and other
necessary legal documents, shall
then be delivered to him. The Pro-built!
cession shall be formed and the
following Antiphons, Psalms, and
Prayers shall be sung, as they go
to the Church.

Ant. But will GOD in very deed dwell with men on the earth?

Ps. 86. Bow down Thine ear, &c.

LORD, have mercy, &c.
Our FATHER, &c.

. O LORD, show Thy mercy
upon us.
W. And grant us Thy
salvation. . Be Thou unto us, Ó
LORD, a strong tower. R. From
the face of the enemy. . Not

unto us, O LORD, not unto us. Ry. But unto Thy Name give the praise. V. O LORD, Save Thy servants. R. Who put their trust in Thee. LORD, hear, &c. Ry. And let, &c. y. Let us pray.

Prevent us, &c.

.

632. O GOD, Who by Thy FATHER'S might didst burst the fiery barriers of hell, and by Thy Blood didst purchase unto Thyself a people for evermore; clothe us with the spiritual arms of godliness and the invincible power of the holy Cross, to be our aid when in battle against the devil, until we recover Thine heritage for Thee from his unrighteous grasp, and Thou Who didst once come down in mercy to the house of Zacchæus, vouchsafe

to come into this house also which we are about to hallow, and enrich with spiritual joy the people who are assembled at its dedication, O SAVIOUR of the world, LORD JESUS CHRIST. Who livest.

Ant. It shall come to pass that the mountain of the LORD's house

shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Ps. 48. Great is the LORD, &c. Ant. It shall come to pass that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the GOD of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

The Bishop standing before the
Church door, and holding the Pas-
toral Staff in his hand, shall say,
Let us pray.
633. Almighty, everlasting GOD,

Who art everywhere present, and workest in all places throughout Thy kingdom; hearken to our petitions, and as Thou hast founded this House, so be now its Protector and Defence. Let no rebel powers resist Thee here, but grant that by the powerful working of the HOLY GHOST there may be offered unto Thee a pure service in godly freedom. Through.

Almighty and merciful God, Who hast granted such grace unto Thy Priests, that whatsoever they do fitly in Thy Name is held as done by Thee; we entreat Thy great goodness that Thou wouldst visit whatsoever we shall visit, and bless whatsoever we shall bless, and grant that as we enter this place in lowliness of heart, the evil spirits may be put to flight, and the Angel of peace enter in. Through.

Then shall the Bishop strike three times the threshold of the Church door, saying,

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in.

The Deacon from within shall say,
Who is the King of Glory?

The Bishop replies,

It is the LORD,strong and mighty,
even the LORD mighty in battle. The
LORD of Hosts, He is the King of
Glory.

The Bishop shall then say,
Open.

The Church doors shall then be
opened, and the Bishop, giving the
Pastoral Staff into the hands of
the Chaplain, shall receive a Cross,
and enter the Church, saying,
Peace be to this house.

Ant. Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the LORD.

Ps. 122. I was glad, &c.

beseech the mercy of GoD the FATHER Almighty, that He, hearkening to our cry, may sanctify with His blessing this Altar now to be consecrated for spiritual sacrifices, that He may ever vouchsafe to bless and hallow the offerings of His servants placed thereon, in devout reverence for Him, and, well pleased with that spiritual incense, may be ready to hearken to His people, as they make their prayer through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Who liveth.

. The LORD, &c. R. And with, &c. y. Let us pray.

sanc+tify it at our hands, and grant that the offerings on this Table may be acceptable and pleasing unto Thee, and be ever bedewed with the grace of Thy HOLY SPIRIT, that as Thy servants make their prayers to Thee in this place Thou mayest always relieve their distress, heal their sicknesses, hearken to their entreaties, accept their vows, confirm their desires, and grant their petitions. Through.

V. Stablish the thing, O Lord, that Thou hast wrought in us. R7. For Thy Temple's sake at Jerusalem. Glory, &c. As it was, &c. Then shall follow the Benediction of the Altar furniture, which has been previously placed on a sidetable.

The Altar Cloths.

636. O LORD, Holy FATHER Almighty, gracious, and merciful GOD, we humbly beseech Thee that this Altar may be unto Thee as that on which Abel offered unto Thee the firstlings of his flock; let this Altar be unto Thee as that on which Thy High Priest Melchizedek foreshowed the form of our sacrifice, as that whereupon our father Abra-ated things useful and necessary to ham offered up his son, and as the stone which Jacob placed beneath his head, whereon he beheld the Angels ascending and descending. Through the same.

637. O GOD, Who to hallow to Thyself Israel Thy firstborn people, didst show to Thy servant Moses a pattern of the tabernacle in Mount Sinai; mercifully bedew with the grace of Thy heavenly unction and consecration this Altar, set apart for celebrating the saving mysteries of redemption, that the offering thereupon, sanctified by Thy grace, may become the well-pleasing and sufficient sacrifice of the Body and Blood of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and that the WORD made flesh may give us Himself in that Holy Offering, and become our everlasting Life. Through the same.

638. Almighty GOD, in Whose honour we Thine unworthy servants, invoking Thy Name, do consecrate this Altar; mercifully and graciously hearken to our humble petitions, bless, hal+low, and

639. O LORD GOD Almighty, Who from the beginning hast cre

mankind, and hast willed that temples made with the hands of man should be dedicated to Thy Holy Name, and be called the places of Thy habitation; and Who by Thy servant Moses didst command vestments to be made for the High Priest, Priests, and Levites, and also other ornaments of divers kinds to deck and beautify Thy tabernacle and Altar; mercifully hear our prayers, and vouchsafe through our humble services to purify, bl+ess, hal+low, and con+secrate all these ornaments prepared for Thine honour and glory and for the use of Thy Church and Altar, that they may be meet for Divine Service and holy Mysteries, and for the ministration of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Who liveth.

[For the Cross, &c., p. 44.] While the Altar is being vested, the Choir shall sing,

Ant. Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Sion.