240                               Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 195

said delegate and alternate as to how they shall vote on such questions
as shall come before the Convention to be approved or rejected.

(j) Procedure for adoption of by-laws generally.

The procedure for the adoption, amendment, modification and re-
peal of Parish by-laws permitted by Sections 288B (a), 288B (c) 4,
288C (a), 288C (b), 288C (d), 288D (6) 288D (B), 288D (g), 288D
(i), 288F (b), 288F (c), 288H (e), and 288-1 (c) of this sub-heading
shall be substantially the same as that required by the provisions of
Section 288D (e) 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this sub-heading regulating the
adoption of by-laws anent the alternative method for the election,
number, qualifications and tenure in office of Vestrymen.

288E. OATH OF PAROCHIAL OFFICERS.

Every Vestryman, Registrar, Treasurer and Churchwarden shall,
before he acts as such, take and subscribe the following oath of office,
to be administered by the Rector, any Vestryman then in office, or a
Notary Public of the State: "In the presence of Almighty God, I,

...................................., do solemnly promise and declare that I will

faithfully execute the office of ............................ of ..........................

Parish, in................................ County, without prejudice, favor or

affection, according to the best of my skill and judgment. And I
further declare my belief in the Christian religion."

288F. ORGANIZATION OF VESTRY AND ELECTION OF
OFFICERS—SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS OF VESTRY.

(a)  Organization meeting.

Immediately after the first or annual election of Vestrymen, or as
soon thereafter as possible, the newly elected Vestrymen having first
taken and subscribed the prescribed oath of office, the Vestry shall
meet and organize, and forthwith choose other Parish officers.

(b)  Election of other parochial officers—term of office—may be
Vestrymen.

The first order of business shall be the election of a Registrar,
two Churchwardens (one of whom shall be designated Senior Warden
and the other Junior Warden), and such assistant wardens as the
Vestry may deem expedient or necessary, and a Treasurer, and such
assistants or collectors of contributions as the Vestry may desire,
all of whom shall be chosen from among those qualified to vote at a
congregational meeting, unless modified by the Parish by-laws pur-
suant to the provisions of Sub-section (c) of this section, and the
persons so elected shall hold office for one year from the date of the
annual congregational meeting or until their successors are elected
and have qualified.

The Registrar, Wardens and Treasurer may, but need not, be mem-
bers of the Vestry.

(c)  Qualifications of parochial officers.

Any Parish may by by-laws prescribe the qualifications of the
Registrar, Churchwardens and Treasurer.

(d)  Subsequent meetings—frequency thereof.

The Vestry shall hold regular meetings at such time and place
as they may adopt by a majority vote from time to time.