VII.

APPOINTMENT TO OFFICE

1

FORM FOR A PUBLIC INSTITUTION [AND INDUCTION]

OR

LICENSING OF AN INCUMBENT TO THE
CURE OF SOULS

HYMN

¶ The Bishop, having proceeded to the Altar, will say, EARLY beloved in the Lord: In the Name of

God, and in the presence of this congregation, we purpose now to give Institution into (or License for) the Cure of Souls in this Parish to our well-beloved in Christ, A.B., Clerk (Master of Arts); and, forasmuch as the charge of immortal souls, which our blessed Lord and Saviour has purchased with his own most precious blood, is so solemn and weighty a thing, we beseech you to join together with us in hearty prayer to Almighty God, that he would vouchsafe to give to this his servant grace to perform aright the duties which appertain to so sacred and grave a trust.

Then shall silence be kept for a space, so that prayer may be made to God.

Then shall be said, all kneeling,

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Ο

UR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.

O Lord, save thy people.

And bless thine inheritance.

Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
And make thy chosen people joyful.

O Lord, let thy mercy be shewed upon us.
As we do put our trust in thee.

The Lord be with you.

And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock; Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors of thy Church diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that when the chief Shepherd shall appear, they may together receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A

LMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church; Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are called to any office and administration in the same, and specially to this thy servant now present before thee; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

LORD Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy

mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. Then shall be sung,

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, etc.; or some other Hymn.

Then will the Bishop be seated in a chair at the entrance to the Chancel: and the Patron, if he be present, or his representative, shall present the Clergyman to be instituted or licensed, with the words,

Reverend Father in God, we present unto thee A. B., to be instituted (or licensed) to the Rectory (or Vicarage) of —.

Then will the Bishop say,

Let the declarations and oaths be made, subscribed, and taken, according to law.

Then follow the Declarations to be made, and the Oaths to be taken, by the Rector- (or Vicar-) elect.

(1) THE DECLARATION OF ASSENT I, A.B., Clerk (Master of Arts), do solemnly make the following Declaration :-I assent to the ThirtyNine Articles of Religion, and to the Book of Common Prayer and of the Ordering of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. I believe the Doctrine of the Church of England as therein set forth to be agreeable to the Word of God; and in Public Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments I will use the Form in the said Book prescribed, and none other, except so far as shall be ordered by lawful authority.

(2) THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

I, A.B., do swear that I will be faithful, and will bear true Allegiance to His Majesty King George, His Heirs and Successors according to Law.

So help me God.

(3) THE OATH OF CANONICAL OBEDIENCE I, A.B., do swear that I will pay true and Canonical obedience to the Lord Bishop of Oxford and his Successors, in all things lawful and honest.

So help me God.

(4) THE DECLARATION AGAINST SIMONY (The Form prescribed in the Benefices Act, 1898; see The Diocesan Calendar.)

¶ Then, the Rector- (or Vicar-) elect kneeling before him, the Bishop will institute or license him in the accustomed form.

¶ Then, if it be a case for induction, the Archdeacon or his Deputy, taking the Mandate of Induction in his hand, shall proceed with the Bishop, the Churchwardens, and the newly-instituted Rector (or Vicar) to the Church door, and laying the hand of the Rector (or Vicar) upon the key or handle of the door, shall say to him after the accustomed manner,

By virtue of this Mandate I do induct you into the real, actual, and corporeal possession of the Church of with all the rights, profits, and appurtenances thereto belonging.

Adding also,

The Lord preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth for evermore. Amen.

After which the newly-inducted Rector (or Vicar) shall toll the bell, to signify to the Parishioners his so taking possession.

¶ Then, the Bishop and the Rector (or Vicar) standing at the Font, the Bishop will say,

HEAR the words of our Saviour Christ, written in the twenty-eighth chapter of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew.

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

It is the duty of the Minister frequently to admonish the people, that they defer not the Baptism of their children; and diligently to seek out and bring any unbaptized persons in the parish to the holy Sacrament of Baptism; and to catechize and prepare for Confirmation by the Bishop those who have been baptized.

The Rector (or Vicar). I will so do, the Lord being my helper.

Then they shall proceed to the place where the Prayers are said, and the Bishop will say,

HEAR the words of Saint Paul, written in the second chapter of the First Epistle to Timothy.

I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

It is the duty of the Minister diligently to say public prayer, and devoutly and reverently to order the service of God's house.

The Rector (or Vicar). I will so do, the Lord being my helper.

And at the place where the Lessons are read the Bishop

will say,

HEAR the words of Saint Paul, written in the third chapter of the Second Epistle to Timothy.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

It is the duty of the Minister diligently to study and read God's holy Word, according to the solemn promise made at his Ordination.

The Rector (or Vicar). I will so do, the Lord being my helper.