FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF VARIOUS CANONS ADOPTED IN GENERAL CONVENTIONS OF SAID CHURCH, (FROM A. D. 1789, TO A. D. 1832,) AND SET FORTH, WITH ALTERATIONS & ADDITIONS, IN GENERAL CONVENTION, A. D. 1832; ALSO, THE CANONS PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTIONS, A. D. 1835 AND 1838. TO WHICH ARE ANNEXED THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH, AND THE COURSE OF ECCLESIASTICAL STUDIES, ESTABLISHED BY THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS, IN THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF 1804. NEW-YORK: SWORDS, STANFORD & CO., No. 152 BROADWAY. THE CONSTITUTION of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the United States I. Of the Orders of Ministers in this Church,.... II. Of the Election of Bishops, (repealed by Canon I. 1835,).. III. Of the Certificates to be produced on the part of the Bishops Elect, V. Of the Consecration of Bishops during the Recess of the General VII. Of the Performance of Episcopal Duties in Vacant Dioceses, (repealed VIII. Of the Age of those who are to be Ordained or Consecrated,. IX. Of Candidates for Orders, (repealed by Canon IV. 1838,). X. Of the Conduct required in Candidates for Orders,.. XI. Of Candidates for Orders who are Lay Readers, XII. Of Candidates who may be Refused Örders,................ XIII. Of the Learning of those who are to be Ordained, (repealed by Canon XIV. Of the Preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Deacon's Orders,... XV. Of the Testimonials to be produced on the part of those who are to be XVI. Of Candidates coming from Places within the United States in which the Constitution of this Church has not been acceded to,........ XVIII. Of the Preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Priest's Orders,.... XIX. Of the Titles of those who are to be ordained Priests,. XXI. Of those who have officiated as Ministers among other Denominations of Christians, and apply for Orders in this Church, (repealed by XXII. Of Clergymen ordained for Foreign Parts,.. XXIII. Of Clergymen ordained by Foreign Bishops, or by Bishops not com- munion with this Church, and desirous of officiating or settling in XXIV. Of Ministers celebrating Divine Service in a Foreign Language,.. XXV. Of Episcopal Visitations,... XXVI. Of the Duty of Ministers in regard to Episcopal Visitations,.. XXX. Of Election and Institution of Ministers into Parishes or Churches,. XXXI. Of the Officiating of Ministers of this Church in the Churches, or XXXIV. Of Differences between Ministers and their Congregations,... XXXV. Of Ministers removing from one Diocese to another, (repealed by XXXVI. Of the officiating of Persons not Ministers of this Church,. XXXVII. Of Offences for which Ministers shall be Tried and Punished,.. XXXVIIL Of a Minister declaring that he will no longer be a Minister of this XXXIX. Of Degradation from the Ministry, and of Publishing the Sentence XL. Of a Clergyman in any Diocese chargeable with Misdemeanor in any Canon XLI. Of the Due Celebration of Sundays,..... XLII. Of Crimes and Scandals to be Censured,. XLIII. Of a Congregation in any Diocese uniting with any other Diocese,... XLV. Of the Use of the Book of Common Prayer,...... XLVII. Of Forms of Prayer or Thanksgiving for Extraordinary Occasions,.. PAGE. 24 24 24 24 XLIX. Of the Mode of Calling Special Meetings of the General Convention, 25 L. Of the Mode of Transmitting Notice of all Matters submitted by the General Convention to the Consideration of the Diocesan Conventions, LI. Of the Mode of Securing an Accurate View of the State of the LIV. Of Defraying the Expenses of the General Convention, (repealed by .......... 25 26 LV. Of the Trustees of the General Theological Seminary,... CANONS OF 1835. Canon I. Of the Election of Bishops, (repealed by Canon I., 1838,). IV. Of Ministers removing from one Diocese to another,.. V. Of Amenability and Citations.... VI. Of the Mode of Publishing Authorized Editions of the Book of Com- VII. Of the Mode of Securing an Accurate View of the State of the Church VIII. Of Defraying the Expenses of the General Convention, (repealed by CANONS OF 1838. Canon I. Of the Election of Bishops,.. II. Of Missionary Bishops,.. III. Of the Performance of Episcopal Duties in Vacant Dioceses,. .... V. Of the Learning of those who are to be Ordained.. X. Of Defraying the Expenses of General Conventions.. ................ CONSTITUTION OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Adopted in General Convention, in Philadelphia, October, 1789. ARTICLE I. There shall be a General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, at such time in every third year, and in such place, as shall be determined by the Convention; and in case there shall be an epidemic disease, or any other good cause to render it necessary to alter the place fixed on for any such meeting of the Convention, the presiding Bishop shall have it in his power to appoint another convenient place (as near as may be to the place so fixed on) for the holding of such Convention; and special meetings may be called at other times, in the manner hereafter to be provided for; and this Church, in a majority of the Dioceses which shall have adopted this Constitution, shall be represented, before they shall proceed to business; except that the representation from two Dioceses shall be sufficient to adjourn: and in all business of the Convention, freedom of debate shall be allowed. ARTICLE II. The Church in each Diocese shall be entitled to a representation of both the Clergy and the Laity, which representation shall consist of one or more deputies, not exceeding four of each order, chosen by the Convention of the Diocese; and in all questions, when required by the Clerical and Lay representation from any Diocese, each order shall have one vote; and the majority of suffrages by Dioceses shall be conclusive in each order, provided such majority comprehend a majority of the Dioceses represented in that order. The concurrence of both orders shall be necessary to constitute a vote of the Convention. If the Convention of any Diocese should neglect or decline to appoint Clerical Deputies, or if they should neglect or decline to appoint Lay Deputies, or if any of those of either order appointed, should neglect to attend, or be prevented by sickness or any other accident, such Diocese shall nevertheless be considered as duly represented by such deputy or deputies as may attend, whether Lay or Clerical. And if, through the neglect of the Convention of any of the Churches which shall have adopted, or may hereafter adopt, this Constitution, no Deputies, either Lay or Clerical, should attend at any General Convention, the Church in such Diocese shall nevertheless be bound by the acts of such Convention. ARTICLE III. The Bishops of this Church, when there shall be three or more, shall, whenever General Conventions are held, form a separate House, with a right to originate and propose acts, for the concurrence of the House of Deputies, composed of Clergy and Laity; and when any proposed act shall have passed the House of Deputies, the same shall be transmitted to the House of Bishops, who shall have a negative thereupon; and all acts of the Convention shall be authenticated by both Houses. B |