252                               Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 195

under the original Vestry Act of 1798, Chapter 24, prior to the
effective date of the Constitution of 1851, or any Separate Congre-
gation, formed under the law regulating the formation of religious
corporations generally, from voluntarily accepting the terms and
provisions of this sub-heading, and electing to be bound and governed
by its provisions, upon the adoption of a resolution by a majority
vote of the Vestry of such Parish or Separate Congregation, approved
by a majority of qualified voters at the next annual or special congre-
gational meeting called for the purpose, notice of either of which
said meetings shall be given pursuant to the provisions of Section
288C (a) of this sub-heading.

(e) Not to impair rights of Ecclesiastical Authority as to ecclesi-
astical affairs.

No NOR shall this sub-heading be construed to impair the right of
the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Easton to act in all
matters pertaining to the ecclesiastical affairs of the Diocese.

288-O. ACTS AMENDED—APPLICABILITY OF THIS SUB-
HEADING.

Except as to those parishes formed prior to the effective date of
the Constitution of 1851, and except as to separate congregations
heretofore incorporated which do not voluntarily accept the terms
and provisions of this sub-heading and thus do not elect to be
bound and governed by its terms and provisions, Chapter 24 of the
Acts of the General Assembly of 1798 and all Acts or parts of Acts
amending said Chapter 24 shall hereafter not apply to parishes and
separate congregations of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
Diocese of Easton within the nine Eastern Shore counties of Cecil,
Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somer-
set, and Worcester. Provided, however, that nothing in this sub-
heading shall affect the corporate existence of, or the validity of
any proceeding heretofore taken by, or the title to any real or per-
sonal property belonging to, any corporation formed or organized
under the provisions of said Chapter 24 of the Acts of 1798, as
amended from time to time; and further provided, that nothing in
this sub-heading shall affect the corporate powers of the Convention
of the Diocese of Easton granted by Chapter 23 of the Acts of the
General Assembly of 1870 and the amendments thereto.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if any provision, phrase,
or clause of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or
circumstance, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other
provisions, phrases, clauses, or applications of this Act which can
be given effect without the invalid provision, phrase, clause or
application, and to this end the provisions, phrases, and clauses of
this Act are declared to be severable.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1957.

Approved March 13, 1957.