92 Assembly Proceedings, Sept. 20-Oct. 18, 1694.

Original
Journal.

By the Burgesses of Assembly October 17^th 1694.

Wee the Deputyes & Delegates of this Gen^ll Assembly
haveing taken into our Serious Consideracon the Message
sent by his Ex^ncy the Govern^r & Covnsill Relateing to the
Cofhissaryes office are of Opinion that a Suffragan Bishop
would be most requisite & Necessary but that it will not be
Convenient to Invite or give any Encouragem^t to a person of
that office & Degree till wee shall be in a Capacity to make
suiteable provisions for his reception and Residence here, The
which our many & great Vndertakeings all ready Under our
Care & Charge will not admitt of what is desired at this time,
Therefore referr the same to the Consideration of the next
Sessions of Assembly. Signed p Ord^r
C Lomax Clk Assembly.

In Answer whereto was drawne up the following paper and
accordingly sent to the house, Viz^t

Upon peruseall & Mature Consideracon of the Answer of
the Burgesses Dated October 17^th returned to his Ex^ncy &
this Hono^ble Board, They are of the same Opinion & doe
vnanimously concurr with them, That a Suffragan Bishop or
Comissary Deputed by & invested with such Ecclesiasticall
Authority & power by the Right Reverend ffather in God
The R^t Hono^ble the Lord Bishop of London as to his wisdom
shall seem most Expedient for the Better setling & Regulate-

p. 75

ing all matters Relateing to Churches and Churchmen which
are or shall be Establisht by God Almightys providence & his
paternall care in this province will be most convenient &
Necessary, But wee doe further represent into the said Bur-
gesses of Assembly That the Comissarys Office in the Nature
of it & by the Just & Honest profits & Advantages accruing
unto it is a most Sutable Employment and a Valuable Encour-
agem^t for such Suffragan Bishop or Comissary so to be
Deputed by his Lsp: without any charge to be laid upon this
province,
ffirst because that Office being Judiciall & of great import-
ance & Trust in this province in quieting & secureing to the
Right owners all Estates of persons Dying Testate or Intes-
tate & for preserveing the fortunes of all the Orphans of Mary-
land cannot well be Executed but By a person of Integrity and
Capacity resideing among us. And Secondly that being a
Judiciall office of an Ecclesiasticall nature it ought to be per-
formed by a person Qualifyed by his knowledge in the Civill
Law and may also properly appertain to the same person if
he shall have taken any degrees in the Study of Divinity.