iest 24, and a Deacon 23, unless
dispensed by a faculty from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

_Priest_. The second Order in the Christian Ministry. The word is
a corruption of _Presbyter_ (which see). In common with Bishops,
Priests have the power to absolve, to consecrate, and to bless,
but not to ordain. The difference between a Priest and a Deacon
is far greater than that between a Deacon and a layman.

_Deacon_. The lowest Order in the English Church. The word is
derived from the Greek, and means a _minister_. He is the assistant
of the Priest, and may only perform certain spiritual duties--_e._
_g_., the rubrics of our Prayer Book direct certain parts of the
Service to be taken by the "Priest," while the rest is left to
the "Minister," Priest or Deacon as he may happen to be, unless
from the nature of the office, we know that the term "Minister"
refers only to "Priest." (See _Minister_.)

ORDERS, QUALIFICATIONS FOR. Although the preface to the Ordinal
and Canon 39 lay down generally what is necessary from Candidates
for Holy Orders, yet any one intending to be ordained had better
write to the Secretary of the Bishop into whose diocese he thinks
of going for further particulars as to the subjects for examination,
&c. The papers generally necessary for Deacon's orders are the
following--(1) Certificate of Baptism, or a declaration by some
competent witness that the candidate has completed his 23rd year
and has been baptized. (2) Graduates of Cambridge must have passed
either the Special Theological, or the Preliminary Examination for
Holy Orders; Graduates of Oxford must produce Certificates that
they have attended two courses of Lectures by Divinity Professors.
Durham men must be either B.A. or L.Th. Dublin men must be B.A.,
and hold also the Divinity Testimonial. (3) College Testimonials.
(4) The "Si quis," a notice read in the Church of the place where
the candidate resides, to give opportunity for raising objections,
something like the asking of Banns. (5) Letters Testimonial for
three years, or for the time elapsed since the Candidate left
College. This Testimonial must be subscribed by three beneficed
clergymen. (6) A Title, or nomination to a Curacy. For Priest's
Orders, the Candidate requires 4, 5, and 6, as above. When a
Candidate is accepted by the Bishop, he has then to pass an
Examination, which slightly differs in the various dioceses, but
generally comprehends the following subjects, viz.--The Bible;