grant the request of the bishop of Augsburg to forbid bishop lleiukens from administering the sacrament of confirmation in Bavaria. The thiril Old-Catholic Con- gress, hekl in Sejitember, 1873, at Constance, adopted a synodal constitution of the Church, which, however, was expressly designated as provisional, in order to re- serve all the rights of the Old Catholics to the property of the Catholic Church in Germany. The synodal con- stitution, in many points, resembles that of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church of the United States. The diocesan, |)rovincial, and general synods consist of priests and lay delegates. At the head of the diocese stands the bishop, who is assisted by a vicar-general and a synodal committee (Synodalrepriisentanz ), con- sisting of four priests and five laymen. The diocesan synod, which meets annually under the presidency of the bishop, consists of all the priests of the diocese and of lay delegates, each delegate representing two hundred constituents. The work of the synod is prepared by the synodal committee ; amendments are admitted when signed by at least twelve members; resolutions, peti- tions, remonstrances, etc., can only be discussed when notice of them has been given at least fourteen days before the opening of the synod. The resolutions are passed by an absolute majority of votes; but all resolu- tions not passed by a two-thirds majority arc suspended at the request of either the minority of the synod or the synodal committee, until their discussion and re- adojition by the next synod. In regard to affairs strictly religious, the congregation is administered by the pastor and by the bishops ; in all other matters it is represented by the Church Council and the Congregational Assembly. The Church Council, which consists of from six to eight- een members, administers the property of the congre- gation, represents it in all legal questions, establishes the budget, appoints the sexton and organist, makes the necessary preparations for the care of the poor, con- vokes the Congregational Assembly, and carries on cor- respondence with other congregations. The Church Council chooses its own president. Tlie Congregational Assembly, in which all the adult male members of the congregation who are in possession of their civic rights take part, ratifies the budget, ap|5ortions the taxes, elects the pastor, the Church Council, and the delegates to the svnod. The pastor is confirmed by the bishop, in conformity with the existing state laws, and installed in his ofKce. He can only be removed for a legal rea- son, and after a formal proceeding by the synod. Be- sides the adoption of the Church constitution, the Con- gress discussed the subject of the reunion of the Chris- tian churches; and, to carry out its views the more ef- ficiently, appointed special committees for negotiations with tlie Greek and with the Anglican churches. In accordance with the new constitution of the Church, the first Old-Catholic Synod met at Bonn in August, 1874. It was attended by thirty priests and fifty-nine lay delegates. The synod adopted the Church consti- tution which had been agreed upon by the Congress of Constance, passed resolutions on Cluirch reforms in gen- eral, and issued a series of declarations on auricidar con- fession, on fasting and abstinence, and on the use of the native tongue in divine service. The synod pointed out a number of desirable reforms which might be car- ried out without any change of Church legislation, as the abolition of abusive practices in connecti<in with in- dulgences and the veneration of saints, the administra- tion of the sacrament of penance, etc. It appeared to be the unanimous sentiment that all reforms in the Church should prooeed from the synod, and that indi- vidual clergymen and congregations should abstain from arbitrary changes. In regard to confession, it was re- solved that the |iractice of private confession should be retained, but that it should be freed from liomish cor- ruptions, and brought back to the purity of the ancient Christian Church. Similar resolutions were passed with regard to fasting and abstinence. No action was taken on the abolition of priestly celibacy, which was pro-
OLD CATHOLICS
OLD CATHOLICS