290 Assembly Proceedings, October 2-November 30, 1771.

No. 31

Liber R. G.
1771

An Additional Supplementary Act to the Act entitled an Act for the
Establishment of religious Worship in this Province according
to the Church of England and for the Maintenance of Ministers.

[Ministers
to take the
Oaths, &c.,
within Four
Months after
Induction.]

Be it enacted by the Right Honorable the Lord Proprietary by &
with the Advice & Consent of his Lordship's Governor & the Upper
and Lower Houses of Assembly & the Authority of the same, That
every Minister who shall be presented inducted or appointed to any
Church Living or Benefice within this Province, shall within four
Months thereafter take the several Oaths appointed by Law to be
taken to the Government, subscribe the Oath of Abjuration and
repeat & subscribe the Test in the Provincial Court or in the County
Court of the County in which his Living or Benefice shall be & then
also in the same Court take the following Oath to wit: "I A B do
swear that I have made no Simoniacal Contract, Payment or Promise
directly or indirectly by myself or by any other to my Knowledge
or with my Consent to any Person or Persons whatsoever for or
concerning the procuring or obtaining the Benefice or Living of

Parish nor will at any Time hereafter perform or
satisfy any Such Kind of Payment Contract or Promise made by
any other without my Knowledge or Consent. So help me God
through Jesus Christ.

[Ministers
neglecting
to take the
Oaths, or
concerned
in any
simoniacal
Contract,
rendered in-
capable of
holding a
Benefice.]

And be it further enacted, That in Case any Minister shall directly
or indirectly give any Sum of Money, Reward, Gift, Profit, or
Benefit or shall directly or indirectly make or give any Agreement,
Promise, Grant, Bond or other Assurance for the paying or giving
any Sum of Money Reward Gift Profit or Benefit for procuring his
Presentation Induction or Appointment to his Benefice or shall will-
fully omit or neglect to take all & every the Oaths aforesaid and in
the Manner aforesaid or in Case any Minister shall in any Manner
be concerned in any Simoniacal Contract such Minister shall there-
upon & from thence forth be adjudged a disabled Person in Law to
have or hold the same or any other Benefice or Church Living
within this Province. And if any Minister shall be presented, in-
ducted or appointed to any Benefice or Church Living in this Prov-
ince by or through the Means of any Simoniacal Contract or
Agreement to which he shall not be privy such Minister shall there-
upon & from thenceforth be adjudged a disabled Person in Law
to have or hold the same Benefice or Church Living.

[Proviso.]
p. 157

Provided always that no Lease really bona fide and for good &
valuable Consideration made by any Person simoniacally promoted
or concerned in any Simoniacal Contract to any Tenant or Person
not being privy to or having Notice of such Simony shall be im-
peached or avoided for or by Reason of such Simony.

[Penalty in
case any

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in
Case any Minister presented inducted or appointed or that shall be