APPENDIX III. SECT. I. CANONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ADOPTED IN GENERAL CONVENTION. TO WHICH ARE ANNEXED, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH; AND THE COURSE OF CONSTITUTION Of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America. Art. 1. There shall be a general convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, on the third Tuesday in May, in the year of our Lord, 1808, and on the third Tuesday in May in every third year afterwards, in such place as shall be determined by the 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 states which shall have adopted this constitution, shall be represented, before they shall proceed to business; except that the representation from two states shall be sufficient to adjourn; and in all business of the convention, freedom of debate shall be allowed. Art. 2. The church in each state 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 state; and, in all questions, when required by the Clerical and Lay Representation from any state, each order shall have one vote; and the majority of suffrages by states shall be conclusive in each order, provided such majority comprehend a majority of the states represented in that order; the concurrence of both orders shall be necessary to constitute a vote of the convention. If the convention of any state 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 state 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 state shall, nevertheless, be bound by the acts of such convention. Art. 3. 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. And, in all cases, the house of Bishops shall signify to the convention their approbation or disapprobation (the latter, with their reasons in writing) within three days after the proposed act shall have been reported to them for concurrence; and, in failure thereof, it shall have the operation of a law. But until there shall be three or more Bishops as aforesaid, any Bishop attending a general convention shall be a member ex officio, and shall vote with the clerical deputies of the state to which he belongs; and a Bishop shall then preside. Art. 4. The Bishop or Bishops in every state shall be chosen agreeably to such rules as shall be fixed by the convention of that state; and every Bishop of this church shall confine the exercise of his episcopal office to his proper diocess or district; unless requested to ordain, or confirm, or perform any other act of the episcopal office, by any church destitute of a Bishop. Art. 5. A Protestant Episcopal Church in any of the United States, not now represented, may, at any time hereafter, be admitted, on acceding to this constitution. Art. 6. In every state, the mode of trying clergymen shall be instituted by the convention of the church therein. At every trial of a Bishop there shall be one or more of the Episcopal order present; and none but a Bishop shall pronounce sentence of deposition or degradation from the ministry, on any clergyman, whether Bishop, or Presbyter, or Deacon. Art. 7. No person shall be admitted to holy orders until he shall have been examined by the Bishop and by two Presbyters, and shall have exhibited such testimonials, and other requisites as the canons in that case provided may direct. Nor shall any person be ordained until he shall have subscribed the following declaration : "I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation: and I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States." No person ordained by a foreign Bishop shall be permitted to officiate as a minister of this church, until he shall have complied with the canon or canons in that case provided, and have also subscribed the aforesaid declaration. Art. 8. A Book of Common Prayer, administration of the sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies of the church, articles of religion, and a form and manner of making, ordaining and consecrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, when established by this, or a future general convention, shall be used in the Protestant Episcopal Church in those states which shall have adopted this constitution.* Art. 9. This Constitution shall be unalterable, unless in general convention, by the Church, in a majority of the states which may have adopted the same; and all alterations shall be first proposed in one general convention, and made known to the several state conventions, before they shall be finally agreed to, or ratified, in the ensuing general convention. Done in the General Convention of the Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Church, the 2d day of October, 1789. CANONS Of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. CANON I. Of the Orders of Ministers in this Church. In this Church there shall always be three orders in the Ministry, viz. Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. CANON II. Of the Election of Bishops. No Diocess or State shall proceed to the election or appointment of a Bishop, unless there be at least six officiating Presbyters residing therein, and who, agreeably to the Canons of the Church, may be qualified to vote for a Bishop, a majority of whom at least shall concur in such election. But the conventions of two or more Diocesses or States, having together nine or more such Presbyters, may associate and join in the election of a Bishop.t * Addition to the 8th Art. of the Constitution made by the Gen. Con, 1811. No alteration or addition shall be made in the Book of Common Prayer, or other Offices of the Church, unless the same shall be proposed in one Ġeneral Convention, and, by a Resolve thereof, made known to the Convention of every Diocess or State, and adopted at the subsequent General Convention. + CANON limiting the operation of the 2d and 37th Canons, passed in Gcn. Con. 1817. In the event of there being a Bishop consecrated for any State or States, westward of the Alleghany mountains, it shall be lawful for the Episcopal congrega CANON III. Certificates to be produced on the part of the Bishops elect. Every Bishop elect, before his consecration, shall produce to the Bishops to whom he is presented for that holy office, from the Convention by whom he is elected a Bishop, and from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in General Convention, certificates, respectively, in the following words, viz: Testimony from the Members of the Convention in the State or Diocess from whence the Person is recommended for Consecration. We, whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how important it is that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be unworthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to bear testimony on this solemn occasion, without partiality or affection, do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify that A. B. is not, so far as we are informed, justly liable to evil report, either for error in religion, or for viciousness in life; and that we do not know or believe there is any impediment, on account of which he ought not to be consecrated to that holy office. We do moreover jointly and severally declare, that we do in our consciences believe him to be of such sufficiency in good learning, such soundness in the faith, and of such virtuous and pure manners, and godly conversation, that he is apt and meet to exercise the office of a Bishop, to the honour of God, and the edifying of his Church, and to be an wholesome example to the flock of Christ. The above certificate shall be presented to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in General Convention. Testimony from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in General Convention. We, whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how important it is that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be unworthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to bear testimony on this solemn occasion, without partiality or affection, do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify, that A. B. is not, so far as we are informed, justly liable to evil report, either for error in religion, or for viciousness of life; and that we do not know or believe there is any impediment, on account of which he ought not to be consecrated to that holy office; but that he hath, as we believe, led his life, for three years last past, piously, soberly, and honestly. tions in Pennsylvania and Virginia, westward of the said mountains, or for those of either of the said states, to place themselves, with the consent of the Bishops of these States respectively, under the provisionary superintendence of the Bishop the first referred to; the 37th Canon to the contrary notwithstanding. Further; it shall be lawful for such congregations in Pennsylvanian, and for those in Virginia, the majority in each case concurring, to unite in convention with the church in any western state or states. These provisions are to cease whenever the consent for the continuance of them, on the part of the Bishop of the Church in Pennsylvania, or in Virginia, as the case may be, with the approbation of the General Convention, shall be withdrawn. In the case above referred to, the number of Clergymen specified in the second Canon, shall not be requisite. CANON IV. Of Standing Committees. In every State or Diocess there shall be a Standing Committee, to be appointed by the Convention thereof. CANON V. Of the Consecration of Bishops in the Recess of the General Con vention. If, during the recess of the General Convention, the church in any state or diocess should be desirous of the consecration of a Bishop, the Standing Committee of the church in such state or diocess may, by their president, or by some person or persons specially appointed, communicate the desire to the Standing Committees of the churches in the different states, together with copies of the necessary testimonials; and if the major number of the Standing Committees shall consent to the proposed consecration, the Standing Committee of the state or diocess concerned, may communicate the evidences of such consent, together with the other testimonials, to any three Bishops of this church, who may thereon proceed to the consecration. The evidences of the consent of the different Standing Committees, shall be in the form prescribed for the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in General Convention; and without the aforesaid requisites, no consecration shall take place during the recess of the General Convention. CANON VI. Of the age of those who are to be Consecrated or Ordained. Deacon's Orders shall not be conferred on any person until he shall be twenty-one years old, nor Priest's Orders on any one until he shall be twenty-four years old. And no deacon shall be ordained priest, unless he shall have been a deacon one year, except for reasonable causes it shall otherwise seem good unto the Bishop. No man shall be consecrated a Bishop of this church until he shall be thirty years old. CANON VII. Of Candidates for Orders. Every person who wishes to become a candidate for orders in this church, shall give notice of his intention to the Bishop, or to such body as the church in the Diocess or State in which he intends to apply for orders may appoint, at least one year before his ordination. No person shall be considered as a candidate for orders in this church, unless he shall have produced to the Bishop of the Diocess or State, to whom he intends to apply for orders, a certificate from the Standing Committee of said Diocess or State, that they believe, from personal knowledge, or from testimonials laid before them, that he hath lived piously, soberly and honestly; that he is attached to the doctrines, discipline and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church; and further, that in their opinion he possesses |