1282 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 462

But nevertheless, on the petition of the Vestry of any
Parish or Separate Congregation of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church in the State of Maryland, the Convention of
the Diocese with which such Parish or Separate Congre-
gation is in union may authorize and empower said Vestry
to give women the same right to vote and hold office as is
above conferred upon men by this Act.

Upon the first organization of any Parish or Congrega-
tion all persons thus qualified to vote for the election of
Vestrymen shall on Easter Monday OR SUCH OTHER
DATE AS MAY BE PROVIDED BY THE LAWS BY-
LAWS OF ANY PARISH OR CONGREGATION at such
hour of the day as has been previously publicly announced
in the Church at least ten days theretofore, assemble in
their Church or in adjacent church buildings or such other
convenient place as may have been appointed by the Vestry
upon like ten days' notice, and said persons so qualified
to vote when assembled shall proceed by a majority of the
voters then present to elect by ballot eight (8) Vestrymen
from among the persons qualified to vote who, with the
Rector of the Parish for the time being, shall be deemed
and considered the Vestry of said Parish or Separate Con-
gregation for the ensuing year and until the election of
their successors, and the Rector of the Parish shall always
be a member of the Vestry.

And if for any reason the said congregational meeting
for the election of Vestrymen shall not be held on Easter
Monday as above stated, such congregational meeting for
the said purpose shall thereafter be held as soon as possi-
ble upon like ten days' notice to be given by the Rector of
the Church or minister in charge or, in his absence, then
by authority of the majority of the Vestrymen then in
office.

Provided, however, that any of the several Parishes or
Separate Congregations of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the State of Maryland may by by-laws provide
for the manner of conducting elections of Vestrymen, the
number of Vestrymen to be elected and the length of terms
of office of Vestrymen. Such by-laws may be adopted at
any annual meeting or special meeting of members of the
Parish or Separate Congregation by a vote of two-thirds
of the qualified voters present at such meeting. Any such
by-laws after once being adopted shall subsequently be
subject to amendment, modification or repeal at any annual
meeting or special meeting of the Parish or Congregation
in the same manner. Ten days' notice in the manner above
provided for the annual meeting shall be given for any
such special meeting of the Parish or Congregation with