Ordinations emerged from private habitations when, in September, 1689, five ministers were ordained by Oliver Heywood and four of his brethren, after a notice had been given that the service would be held in the meeting-house at Alverthorpe, “to which whoever had a desire might repair.” One of the candidates stood behind a chair, and poured out a Latin discourse, which seemed to be _extempore_, but which Heywood believed to be _memoriter_, upon the validity of Presbyterian orders. This person behaved in an extraordinary manner the next day, for he was seen “walking in a lane, reading a book,” whilst the ordaining ministers were waiting for his appearance. After he had arrived, and had given in his confession, “running through the whole body of Divinity, according to Mr. Baxter’s _Methodus Theologiæ_, we proceeded,” says Heywood, “to setting the candidates apart. I came down, and there being a void space made, we made them kneel down, one by one, while we all prayed over them.” This was succeeded by the imposition of hands, the delivery of a Bible, the grasp of fellowship, a charge to the ordained, and a sermon to the congregation. The ministers assembled at eight o’clock, waited till ten for the eccentric youth, and did not terminate the service before five in the afternoon, when a dinner followed, at the charge of the ordained. Another service occurred in 1690, with accompaniments still more unseemly, the misbehaviour now being on the part of ordainers. The service took place at Rathmel in Yorkshire. Oliver Heywood and other Presbyterians came to share in the solemnity with two Independent ministers. Strange as it appears, those who thus met had not agreed what should be done; and one of the Independents, as Heywood reports, urged objections which the Presbyterians undertook to answer. He objected, amongst other things, that messengers from neighbouring churches were not present, and that the minister in this case would not be, as he ought, ordained in the midst of the congregation he intended to serve. Both the Independents were desired to pray, but they refused, “and sat by the whole day taking no part in the proceedings.” The service, however, was decorously enough conducted by the Presbyterians, who, touching the heads of the candidates, offered prayer, and after presenting a Bible, gave the right hand of fellowship. Heywood preached to the candidates and to the people, and the whole ended with singing and prayer. If anybody had wished to prejudice orderly people against Nonconformity, he could not have followed a more effectual method than we find pursued by Independents on this occasion. [Sidenote: NONCONFORMISTS.]