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CANONS

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF

THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

IN THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Passed in General Convention in New York, October, 1832.

CANON I. Of the Orders of Ministers in this Church.

[This Canon was adopted in 1789.]

In this Church there shall always be three orders in the Ministry, viz.; Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.

CANON II. Of the Election of Bishops.

[Repealed by the first Canon of 1835.]

CANON III. Of the Certificates to be produced on the part of the Bishop Elect.

[Former canons on this subject were the second of 1789, the fourth of 1792, and the third of 1808.]

SECT. 1. Every bishop elect, before his consecration, shall produce to the house of bishops, from the convention by whom he is elected, evidence of such election, and from the house of clerical and lay deputies in General Convention, evidence of these approbation of his testimonials, and of their assent to his consecration, and also certificates respectively, in the following words: such certificates, in both cases, to be signed by a constitutional majority of the clerical and lay deputies, composing the state convention, or the house of clerical and lay deputies, as the case may be. The same evidence of election by, and the same certificate from the members of, the state convention, shall be pre

sented to the house of clerical and lay deputies in General Con

vention.

Testimony from the members of the Convention in the Diocese 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 conscience 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 xercise the office of a bishop, to the honor of God and the edifying of his church, and to be a 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.

SECT. 2. If the house of bishops consent to the consecration, the Presiding Bishop, with any two bishops, may proceed to perform the same, or any three bishops to whom he may communicate the testimonials.

CANON IV. Of Standing Committees.

Former Canons on this subject were the sixth of 1789, the second of 1795, and the fourth and twenty-fourth of 1808.

SECT. 1. In every diocese there shall be a standing committee, to be appointed by the convention thereof, whose duties, except so far as provided for by the canons of the General Convention, may be prescribed by the canons of the respective dioceses. They shall elect from their own body a president and a secretary. They may meet on their own adjournment, from time to time; and the president shall have power to summon special meetings whenever he shall deem it necessary.

SECT. 2. In every diocese where there is a bishop, the standing committee shall be a council of advice to the bishop. They shall be summoned on the requisition of the bishop, whenever he shall wish for their advice. And they may meet of their own accord, and agreeably to their own rules, when they may be disposed to advise the bishop.

SECT. 3. Where there is no bishop, the standing committee is the ecclesiastical authority for all purposes declared in these

canons.

CANON V. Of the Consecration of Bishops during the Recess of the General Convention.

(Former Canons on this subject were the second of 1799, the fifth of 1808, and the sixth of 1820.]

SECT. 1. If during the recess of the General Convention, the church, in any diocese, shoul be desirous of the consecration of a bishop elect, the standing committee of the church in such diocese 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 dioceses, 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 diocese concerned, shall forward the evidence of such consent, together with other testimonials, to the Presiding Bishop of the house of bishops, or in case of his death, to the bishop who, according to the rules of the house of bishops, is to preside at the next General Convention, who shall communicate the same to all the bishops of this church in the United States; and if a majority of the bishops consent to the consecration, the Presiding Bishop, or bishop aforesaid, with any two bishops, may proceed to perform the

same; or any three bishops to whom he may communicate the testimonials.

SECT. 2. The evidence 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. But in case the election of a bishop shall take place within a year before the meeting of the General Convention, all matters relative to the consecration shall be deferred until the said meeting.

CANON VI. Of Assistant Bishops.

[The former Canon on this subject was the fifth of 1829.]

When a bishop of a diocese is unable, by reason of old age, or other permanent cause of infirmity, to discharge his episcopal duties, one assistant bishop may be elected by and for the said diocese, who shall in all cases succeed the bishop in case of surviving him. The assistant bishop shall perform such episcopal duties, and exercise such episcopal authority in the diocese, as the bishop shall assign to him; and in case of the bishop's inability to assign such duties declared by the convention of the diocese, the assistant bishop shall, during such inability, perform all the duties, and exercise all the authorities which appertain to the office of bishop. No person shall be elected or consecrated a suffragan bishop, nor shall there be more than one assistant bishop in a diocese at the same time.

CANON VII. Of the performance of Episcopal Duties in vacant Dioceses.

[Repealed by the third Canon of 1838.]

CANON VIII. Of the age of those who are to be Ordained or Consecrated.

[Former Canons on this subject were the fourth of 1789, the third of 1795, and the sixth of 1808.]

Deacons' orders shall not be conferred on any person until he shall be twenty-one years old, nor priests' 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 IX. Of Candidates for Orders.

[Repealed by the fourth Canon of 1833.]

CANON X. Of the Conduct required in Candidates for Orders.

[The former Canon on the subject was the eighth of 1808.]

The bishop, or other ecclesiastical authority who may have the superintendence of candidates for orders, shall take care that they pursue their studies diligently, and under proper direction, and that they do not indulge in any vain or trifling conduct, or in any amusements most liable to be abused to licentiousness, or unfavorable to that seriousness, and to those pious and studious habits, which become those who are preparing for the holy ministry.

CANON XI. Of Candidates for Orders who are Lag Readers.

Former Canons on this subject were the tenth of 1804, and the nineteenth of 1808.1

No candidate for holy orders shall take upon himself to perform the service of the church, but by a license from the bishop, or, if there be no bishop, the clerical members of the standing committee of the diocese in which such candidate may wish to perform the service. And such candidate shall submit to all the regulations which the bishop or said clerical members may prescribe; he shall not use the absolution or benediction; he shall not assume the dress appropriate to clergymen ministering in the congregation; and shall officiate from the desk only; he shall conform to the directions of the bishop or said clerical members, as to the sermons or homilies to be read; nor shall any lay reader deliver sermons of his own composition; nor, except in cases of extraordinary emergency, or very peculiar expediency, perform any part of the service, when a clergyman is present in the congregation.

CANON XII. Of Candidates who may be refused Orders.

[Former Canons on this subject were the ninth of 1801, and the sixteenth of 1808.1 No bishop shall ordain any candidate, until he has inquired of him whether he has ever, directly or indirectly, applied for orders in any other diocese; and if the bishop has reason to believe, that the candidate has been refused orders in any other diocese, he shall write to the bishop of the diocese, or, if there be no

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