secration, and others may soon proceed to the same, we pray to be favored with as speedy an answer to this our second address, as in your great goodness you were pleased to give to our former one. We are, with great and sincere respect, IN CONVENTION: Most worthy and venerable Prelates, Christ Church, Philadelphia, June 26, 1786. VIRGINIA-DAVID GRIFFITH, President. CYRUS GRIFFIN. Very humble servants, NEW YORK-SAMUEL PROVOOST, Rector of Trinity Church, New JOSHUA BLOOMER, Rector of Jamaica, Long Island. NEW JERSEY-ABRAHAM BEACH, Rector of Christ Church, New JAMES PARKER. MATTHIAS HALSTED. PENNSYLVANIA-WILLIAM WHITE, D.D., Rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's. SAMUEL MAGAW, D. D., Vice Provost of the University of Pennsylvania and Rector of St. Paul's. ROBERT BLACKWELL, Assistant Minister of Christ Church and St. Peter's. SAMUEL POWELL. FRANCIS HOPKINSON. DELAWARE-SYDENHAM THORNE, Rector of Christ Church and St. Paul's. CHARLES H. WHARTON, D.D., Rector of Emanuel Church, ROBERT CLAY. NICHOLAS RIDGELEY. MARYLAND-WILLIAM SMITH, D.D., Principal of Washington College, and Rector of Chester Parish. WILLIAM SMITH, Rector of Stepney Parish. SOUTH CAROLINA-ROBERT SMITH, Rector of St. Philip's Church, Charleston, JOHN PARKER. A GENERAL CONSTITUTION OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OF JUNE 23, 1786. Whereas, In the course of Divine Providence, the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America is become independent of all foreign authority, civil and ecclesiastical: And whereas, At a meeting of Clerical and Lay Deputies of the said Church in sundry of the said States, viz., in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvània, Delaware, and Maryland, held in the city of New York, on the 6th and 7th days of October, in the year of our Lord 1784, it was recommended to this Church in the said States represented as aforesaid, and proposed to this Church in the States not represented, that they should send Deputies to a Convention to be held in the city of Philadelphia, on the Tuesday before the Feast of St. Michael, in the year of our Lord 1785,in order to unite in a Constitution of Ecclesiastical government, agreeably to certain fundamental principles, expressed in the said recommendation and proposal: And whereas, In consequence of the said recommendation and proposal, Clerical and Lay Deputies have heen duly appointed from the said Church in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina: The said Deputies being now assembled, and taking into consideration the importance of maintaining uniformity in doctrine, discipline, and worship in the said Church, do hereby determine and declare: I. That there shall be a General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, which shall be held in the city of Philadelphia, on the third Tuesday in June, in the year of our Lord, 1786, and forever after once in three years, on the fourth Tuesday in July, in such place as shall be determined by the Convention; and special meetings may be held at such other times, and in such place, as shall be hereafter provided for. And this Church, in a majority of the States aforesaid, shall be represented before they shall proceed to business, except that the representation of this Church from two States shall be sufficient to adjourn. And in all business of the Convention, freedom of debate shall be allowed. II. There shall be a representation of both Clergy and Laity of the Church in each State, which shall consist of one or more Deputies, not exceeding four, of each Order, chosen by the Convention of each State; and in all questions the said Church in each State shall have but one voté, and a majority of suffrages shall be conclusive. III. In the said Church, in every State represented in this Convention, there shall be a Convention consisting of the Clergy and Lay Deputies of the congregations. IV. "The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the Church of England," shall be continued to be used by this Church, as the same is altered by this Convention, in a certain instrument of writing passed by their authority, entitled, "Alterations of the Liturgy of the Protestant Fpiscopal Church in the United States of America, in order to render the same conformable to the American Revolution and the Constitutions of the respective States." V. In every State where there shall be a Bishop duly consecrated and settled, who shall have acceded to the articles of this Ecclesiastical Constitution, he shall be considered as a member of the General Convention ex officio; and a Bishop shall always preside in the General Convention, if any of the Episcopal Order be present. VI. 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 jurisdiction, unless requested to ordain or confirm, or perform any other act of the Episcopal office, by any Church destitute of a Bishop. VII. A Protestant Episcopal Church, in any of the United States not now represented, may at any time hereafter be admitted, on acceding to the articles of this union. VIII. Every Clergyman, whether Bishop, or Presbyter, or Deacon, shall be amenable to the authority of the Convention in the State to which he belongs, so far as relates to suspension or removal from office; and the Convention in each State shall institute rules for their conduct, and an equitable mode of trial. And 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. IX. And whereas it is represented to this Convention to be the general desire of the Protestant Episcopal Church in these States, that there may be further alterations of the Liturgy than such as are made necessary by the American Revolution,. therefore, "The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies, as revised and proposed to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church, at a Convention of the said Church in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina," may be used by the Church in such of the States as have adopted, or may adopt, the same in their particular Conventions, till further provision is made, in this case, by the first General Convention which shall assemble with sufficient power to ratify a Book of Common Prayer for the Church in these States. X. No person shall be ordained, until due examination had by the Bishop and two Presbyters, and exhibiting testimonials of his moral conduct for three years past, signed by the Minister and a majority of the Vestry of the Church where he has last resided; or permitted to officiate as a Minister in this Church until he has exhibited his Letters of Ordination and 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 our salvation; and I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States." XI. The Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, when ratified by the Church in a majority of the States assembled in General Convention, with sufficient power for the purpose of such ratification, shall be unalterable by the Convention of any particular State, which hath been represented at the time of such ratification. A GENERAL CONSTITUTION OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OF AUGUST 8, 1789. ART. I. There shall be a General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America on the first Tuesday of August, in the year of our Lord, 1792, and on the first Tuesday of August 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 or 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 Dèputies 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 House of Revision; and when any proposed act shall have passed in the General Convention, the same shall be transmitted to the House of Revision for their concurrence. And if the same shall be sent back to the Convention, with the negative or non-concurrence of the House of Revision, it shall be again considered in the General Convention, and if the Convention shall adhere to the said act by a majority of three-fifths of their body, it shall become a law to all intents and purposes, notwithstanding the non-concurrence of the House of Revision; 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 two 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 Diocese 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 the sentence of deposition or degradation from the Ministry on any clergyman, whether Bishop, or Presbyter, or Deacon. |