The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-03

diocesan canon, to give effect to the action
of vestry dismissing their rector, and the
fact that the names of the clergy of st.
Clements were by the Bishop kept upon the
roll of clergy entitled to seats in the conven-
ton after lie had ''concurred" in their dismis-
sal, would seem to show that the above un-
derstanding Of the Law of the Church was
latent in his own mind also, else; why were
those who, according to the very terms of
dismissal by the vestry and concurrence
by the Bishop, had no ecclesiastical standing
whatever in the Diocese of Pennsylvanis,
admitted to be entitled to o seat and vote in
her convention?
One thing is very certain. This matter is
not simply one concerning the clergy of ST..
Clements. 1t is a question involving the
rights of every settled minister in the diocese;
and, whatever may be it's results in the case
of DR.. PATTERSON and DIR. Stewart if its ven-
tilation and discussion terminate in the adop-
ton by the Diocese of Pennsylvania of some
such canon as that adopted in 1865 by the
Diocese of Ohio, great good will have been
accomplished, and Vexing questions of pre-
rogative and authority will be once and for
all settled without the humiliating necessity
on the part of churchmen to appeal to the
civil courts to enforce in ecclesiastical mat
ters the commonest principles of equitable
fairness.
The following is the canon of Ohio, the
italics being our own as quoted by Murray
Hoffman,
''Section 1. Whereas it is provided in Canon
4, Title II, of the Digest of Canons of the
General Convention, that when q minister
has been regularly settled in a parish or
church, he shall not be dismissed without the
concurrence of the ecclesiastical authority of
the diocese; it is hereby provided that in
cases of controversy between any rector or
assistant minister of any church or parish
which cannot be settled by the parties them
Selves the said parties, or either of them,
may make written application to the Bishop
of the diocese, who shall thereupon nominate
four presbyters and four laymen of
the diocese, and cause list of
their names to be served upon
the rector or assistant minister, and also upon
the clerk or secretary of the vestry, upon one
or more of the applicants on behalf of the
congregation, who shall, within ten days after
such service, return their respective lists to
the Bishop, each party having the right of
striking off the name of one clergyman and
one layman; and should this right not be ex-
ercised, or both parties strike off the same
names, then the bishop shall reduce the num-
ber in the manner above prescribed to four,
three of whom shall constitute quorum, and
shall meet at such time and place as the Bishop
may designate, and of which due notice shall
be given to the parties concerned, IN order
that the grounds Of the controversy may be
fully stated and the case fully heard.
'section 2. If it shall appear to a majority
of the board thus summoned, after a full e1-
animation Of the case, that there is no hope
of favorable termination of such contro-
versy and that dissolution of the connection
is necessary, they shall recommend to such
rector or assistant minister to relinquish his
connection with such parish on such condi-
tions as shall appear to them proper and rea-
sonable.
''Section 3. The said recommendation shall
be submitted in writing, and in duplicate to
the Bishop, who, if he shall clearly disap-
prove of the same, may set aside said recon-
mendation, and nominate new board, which
mentioned, and whose accommodation and
finding shall be final. The Bishop shall make
known to the parties the said recommendation
if not set aside, or if set aside, then the said
final recommendation, within ten days after
the receipt of the same, and he shat report
all proceedings to the conoention at its nert
annua! meeting, with statement Of the
grounds of his action in case he shall have
dsapproved of the first finding in any case
as aforesaid.
''Section A. Should the rector or assistant
minister refuse to comply within ten days
after the decision shall have been made
known to him, he shall be liable to suspen-
sion from the exercise of all ministerial func-
tions until he submit to such decision.
''Section 5. And if the vestry of the church
or the congregation refuse or neglect to COM
ply on their part with the decision aforesaid
the said parish shall be prohibited from re-
presentation in the convention of the diocese,
until they shall have performed their duty in
accordance with the same"
May this canon, or one like it, speedily be-
come naturalized in the Diocese of Pennsyl-
vania
EnnpTu OE THTv 1921