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Church Wardens or Guardian! Ecclesie are certain officers
Parochical annually elected or Chosen by and with the Con-
sent of the Minister and a select number of the chief Parish-
ioners, According to the Custom of the Place, to look to the
Church and Church yard, and to Take Care of Concernments
thereof and of such Things as appertain thereto ; And also to
observe and have an Inspection into the Behavior Lives and
Conversation of their Parishioners touching such faults and
Disorders as are within the Cognizance and Censure of Eccle-
siastical Jurisdiction. Godolph Report. C. 13.
Sidesmen or Synodsmen from their Assistance to the
Synod, otherwise Questmen from their making Inquiry into
Disorders, otherwise Vestrymen from their Meeting in the
Vestry Room (i e in the Place where the Holy Vestments are
kept) are to Assist the Church Wardens in levying their
Church Rates in directing due Repairs in Examining into and
passing their Accounts and in Presentments. A Vestry may
Consist of all the Parishioners as in Case of the Building a
new Church or of a select number for Common Business
According to the Laws of the Place or the Custom of the
Parish. And this is the whole Business of which they are
directed to take Cognizance, either by the ancient Laws of the
Church or the particular Laws of the province. If a Vestry
then Cannot be Considered as Patron, Incumbent or Ordi-
nary, their Consent or Dissent with Respect to an Union or
Consolidation of Churches Authorized by the Canon & Statute
Law can have no Effects, and even to ask it is a Derogation
from Lord Baltimore's Supremacy who as patron and Ordi-
nary may do what he pleases in this Respect, either upon a
Vacancy, or With the Consent of the present Incumbent.
This Attempt shows at Least that the Living of Se Ann was
Look'd upon as too Scanty a Pittance Long before I came
into the Province and that it was not for a friend of Lord
Baltimores but of other persons that this Attempt was made
and which in all Probability would be made again as soon as
I am thrust out of the Parish, and yet I think a friend of his
Lordships who never has in the Church yet Provided for one
Might Reasonably expect a Preference ; at least his Lordships
Partiality to me after an intimate Acquaintance of Six years is
too flattering tamely to give up the good Effects of it.
Thus Sir have I endeavoured to prove to your Excellency's
satisfaction The Propositions laid down in the Beginning of
my Letter that the Instructions which my Lord honored me
with and which I have Submitted To your Excellency are per-
fectly Conformable to the Ecclesiastical Laws of England, and
in no Respect dissonant or Contrary to the Laws of Maryland.
I think I have proved (for if any proof be wanting I am ready
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