"Aut. VI. The Board of Managers is intrusted with
placed under episc laws which it mfli mentand for the g alwetw that, in rel
o enact' all by- * own govern- ttees: provided eses and mis-
shall be made tit gross to such dioceses and mis-ionary jurisdictions, to be disbursed by the local authorities thereof. The board shall notify to the several bishops the gross stun so appropriated, and those bishops shall regulate the number of mission stations, appoint the mis- sionaries, and assign to them their stipends, with the ap- proval of the Hoard of Managers.
"Art. VII. No person shall be appointed a missionary who is not at the time a minister of the Protestant Epis- copal (.'hurch of regular standing; but nothing in this sec- tion precludes the committees from making pecuniary ap- propriations in aid of missions under the care of other churches in communion with this Church, or of employ- ing laymen or women, members of this Church, to do
"Aut. VIII. The Board of Managers is authorized to promote the formation of auxiliary missionary associa- tions, whose contributions, as well as those specially ap- propriated by individuals, shall be received and paid in accordance with the wish of the donors, when expressed in writing. It shall be the duty of the Board of Mana- gers to arrange for public missionary meetings, to be held at the same time and place as the General Conven- tion, and at such other times .and places as may be deter- mined upon, to which nil auxiliaries approved by the Board of Managers may send one clerical and one lay delegate.
"Art. IX. This constitution may be altered or amended at any time bv the General Convention of this Church. All ca'n.. ns, anil all action by or under the authority of the General Convention, so far as inconsistent with the pro- visions of this canon and such amended constitution, are hereby repealed: provided ahoayit that nothing herein shall in any manner impair or affect any corporate rights of the said society, or any vested right whatever. This canon shall take effect immediately."
The principal and immediate effect of this reorganiza- tion was, on the part of the Board of Managers, a reso- lution to reduce central expenses connected with the mission work. Thus the department of home missions to colored people was assigned to the care of the com- mittee on domestic missions; a very considerable reduc- tion of expenses was made in carrying on the work among the Indians; several officers were dispensed with, and a general reduction of salaries took place, the result being a saving of some $12,000 per annum. It deserves also to be stated here that the American Church Mis- sionary Society, the especial agency of those of the cler- gy and laity who declined in former years to act in con- junction with the Board of Missions, now acceded to the wish long before expressed by the board. The society continued its organization as a society; the work in Mexico, which had been very largely sustained by it, was handed over to the foreign committee; and it was resolved that, in general, its members should hereafter act in concert with the Hoard of Managers of the newly organized Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church. This was deemed a happy resolve on their part, and excellent results are expected to follow in consequence.
PROTESTANT EPISC. CHURCH GSG PROTESTANT EPISC. CHURCH
For some year- past there has been a growing desire to add greater effectiveness to the labors of godly and devoted women in the Church. The matter was brought up at the Genera] Convention of 1874, but no action Mas obtained. lu 1*" it came again before the con- vention, and a canon of " Dea lesses or Sisters" was
proposed. After much discussion, however, the conven- tion, apparently not feeling quite sure of its ground, re- fused i" pass i lie proposed canon, and the following res- olution was adopted : "That it be referred to a joint committee of three bishops, three clerical and three lay to inquire and report to the next I General ( in- vention what legislation may he necessary and expe- dient for the authorization and regulation of women working in this Church under the name of deaconess or sister." Thus the matter lies over till 1880.
As the Church of England recently adopted a new Lectionary, it was deemed advisable by tin- convention of 1*77 to place this revised Table "! Lessons for Sun- days ami holydays before the Protestant Episcopal Church. Accordingly, it was formally resolved byboth houses that the l.eet ionary be permitted to be used un- til the next General Convention. This Table, there- fore, not only Of Lessons for Sundays and holydays. but also oi Daily Lessons, and Lessons for Lent and for Em- j her Days and Rogation Days, is allowed to be used by any clergyman in place of those in the calendar in the Prayer-book, and a copy has been sent to every clergy- man of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Whether it will be found to be so great an improvement upon the existing Table of Lessons as has been supposed In- itially may be doubted. The trial, however, of three years will lead to some settled agreement upon a mat- ter so largely affecting the question of how to ohtain the greatest edification in the reading of Holy Scripture in the public worship of the Church.