The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-15
Episcopal CONVENTION.

LElSCVEAs.
New YORK, Oct. 14-The Convention held q
short session to consider the certificates OF the
candidates of the Bishoprics Of Wisconsin and
Illinois. The Joint Committee, appointed by the
last General Convention to consider the sxpedi-
ency Of revising the Primitive Order Of Deacon
esses, after giving the subject careful considera-
ton. unanimously recommended the passage oil
the following canon:
OF deaconesses or sisters-Flrst. Women OF
devoted character and proved fitness may be set
apart by any bishop OF this Church for the work
Of doacOness or a sister, according to such form
as shall be authorized by the bishop Of any
diocese.
z. The duties proper Of a deaconess or
sister are declared to be tho care of our Lords
poor and sick, the education of the young, the
religious instruction OF the neglected, and work
Of moral reformation.
g. No woman shall he set apart to the work OF
deaconess or sister until she shall be Is years Of
age, unless the Bishop shall, for special reasons,
deem it expedlent to admit a candidate at an
earlier age. Admission in no case shall be less
than 81 years.
It being further provided that no women shall
be so set apart until she shall have laid before
the bishop testimonials certifying that she 10 o
COMMUNICATE in good standing Of the church
that she possesses such character rs in the judg-
ment Of the prcsense testifying, fit her for Of
least one Of the branches OF duty above defined
such testimonial shall be signed by one presbyter
of this church and by five lay communicates Of
tuo o0Iu0, u NuU&Q Two 0ubu Ue men anu S0Ic8
women.
The Bishop shall also satisfy himself that the
applicant has had An adequate preparation for
her work both technical and religious, which pre-
paratiOn shall have covered period Of at least
one year.
The Episcopal Convention adopted . report
that it was inexpedient for that body to take &C
ton towards the assembling Of the synod OF all
the bishops OF the communion, with the See Of
Canterbury, for the consideration OF the cues
lions relating to the English version Of the
Scriptures, and the relation OF the Anglican
Church to other Christian bodies
4. No deaconess or sister shall work officially
on diocese without express authority in writing
OF this Bishop of that diocese.
5. A deac Jness or sister may at any time resign
her Office to the ecclesiastical authority from
which she received it, but no deaconess or sister.
having once given up her commission, shall be
reappointed unless, in the judgment of the
Bishop, said resignation was for urgent cause.
6. A deacOness or sister may be transferred
from one diocese to asother by letters dismiss
sive, upon the request of the Bishop of the do
cese to which she is transferred.
7. The constitution and rules for the home
government Of any community Of deaconesses or
sisters shall have the sanction of the Bishop OF
the diocese in which such community exists.
The books Of devotion and formularies of wOr-
ship used in such community shall have like
sanction, and shall be in harmony with the
usages Of the church and the principles OF the
Book OF Common PRAYER