Ordeal
the judicium Dei of mediæval writers; the practice of referring disputed questions (especially those touching the criminality of a suspected person) to supernatural decision, in the belief that the Deity would work a miracle rather than the innocent should suffer or the guilty escape punishment. It exthe negroes of the Gold Coast of Africa; and ordeal in some form or other is still practiced by races of low culture, and of adultery was required to drink "the bitter water that causeth a curse" (Num. v: 12-31), and a strangely similar institution exists at the present day among the negroes of the Gold Coast of Africa; and ordeal in some form or other is still practiced by races of low culture, and by individuals of low culture among chiefly of three kinds: (1) By fire-a ilization. In the Middle Ages in Europe ordeal was sanctioned both by civil and the ecclesiastical authorities, and was chiefly of three kinds: (1) By fire-a survival from the early classic times, in which the accused had to walk barefoot rank; (2) By water, for persons of the or to take up and carry a piece of redhot iron a certain distance. This method was allowed only to persons of high rank; (2) By water, for persons of the middle and lower classes. This was of two kinds. The accused had to take a stone out of boiling water, and if, after a certain time, his arm presented no marks of injury, he was adjudged innotwo kinds. The accused had to take a stone out of boiling water, and if, after a certain time, his arm presented no marks of injury, he was adjudged innocent. In the second case-a common believed that a guilty person would float the accused, bound hand and foot, was thrown into a river or pond, and it was believed that a guilty person would float without effort, and that an innocent person would infallibly sink; (3) Wager of battle. Besides these three principal A supposed murderer was methods there were three others in less general use: required to touch the body of the murdered man, and was pronounced guilty if blood flowed from the wounds; the 3. Ladies' Dresses. 4. Snake Mouth.
Ordeal of the Eucharist, in which divine judgment was supposed to follow un- worthy reception of the sacrament; and don, but never recovered its position. It was famous for its musical festival in honor of the Graces, who were specially worshiped in the city.
ORDEAL TREE ORDERS