234                               Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 195

(j) "Diocese" means the Diocese of Easton.

(k) "Ecclesiastical Authority" means the Bishop or the Standing
Committee of the Diocese if the Committee be canonically authorized
to act.

(I) "Ecclesiastical matters" means those matters which may be
and are regulated by the Protestant Episcopal Church or by its
authority.

(m) "Gender"—words in the masculine may or shall include the
feminine and neuter genders, except as may result from necessary
implication.

(n) "Law" means statutory law enacted by the General Assembly
of the State, or case law promulgated by judicial interpretation.

(o) "Member of Church" means a baptized person belonging to a
Parish or a Separate Congregation or to the Protestant Episcopal
Church, dependent upon context.

(p) "Member of Vestry" means a Vestryman, who, together with
others, constitutes the governing body of a Parish.

(q) "Minister in charge" means the clergyman in temporary charge
of a Parish.

(r) "Number"—words in the singular may or shall include the
plural.

(s) "Original Vestry Act" means the Vestry Act of 1798, Chapter
24, and the amendments thereof.

(t) "Parish" means a geographical area, the bounds of which have
been set apart and delimited for the purpose of Church organization
and administration; as used in this sub-heading, "Parish" may also
and often does include a "Separate Congregation", in so far as
organization and administration are concerned.

(u) "Parochial year" means the period of time between the annual
congregational meetings for the election of Vestrymen.

(v) "Record of By-Laws" means the book or record in which the
by-laws of a parish are separately recorded.

(w) "Rector" means the priest in permanent charge of a parish.

(x) "Secular matters" means those matters which may be and are
regulated by the State or by its authority.

(y) "Separate Congregation" means a congregation separately
incorporated under the provisions of law regulating the formation
of religious corporations generally, and later united with the Con-
vention of the Diocese.

(z) "Treasurer" shall include an assistant treasurer and collector
of contributions.

(aa) "Vestry" means the governing body of a Parish or Separate
Congregation and may and often does include the "Cathedral
Council".