MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                           1253

312G.

The rector of each parish for the time being shall preside in the
vestry, collect the votes, and shall have a vote, and he shall have,
unless he otherwise contracts with the vestry, the possession, occu-
pation and free use of all the glebe-lands, houses, ground-rents, books
and other property, belonging to his parish, and be entitled to the
benefit thereof during the time he shall officiate therein as rector.
Provided, however, that each parish may, by by-laws duly enacted
in accordance with the provisions of Section 312A(a) hereof, pro-
vide for any additional, or different, manner of determining the
presiding officer of a vestry meeting.

312H.

The vestry of each parish for the time being, as trustees of the
parish, shall have an estate in fee-simple in all churches and chapels,
and in all glebes, and other lands, and shall have a good title and
estate in all other property heretofore belonging to the church of
England, or which shall hereafter belong to the said church, now
called Protestant Episcopal Church, in Maryland; and it shall be
lawful for such vestry so to manage and direct all such property as
they may think most advantageous to the interests of the parish-
ioners, and they shall also have the property in all books, plate and
other ornaments belonging to said churches and chapels, or any of
them.

312-I.

A Senior Warden and a Junior Warden shall be elected from
among the members of the parish entitled to vote. The by-laws of
the parish shall provide for the manner of conducting elections of
such churchwardens, either by the members of the parish or by the
vestry; their length of terms; and the manner of filling vacancies in
the office of churchwarden. Their duties shall be as prescribed in the
by-laws of the parish, and in the Constitution and Canons of the
Protestant Episcopal Church and of the Diocese in which such
parish is located.

312J.

The vestry of every parish shall have full power and authority,
from time to time, to choose one or more ministers or readers of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, (heretofore called the Church of
England,) to officiate in any church or chapel belonging to the parish,
and to perform the other duties of a minister therein, for such time
as the said vestry may think proper, and they may agree and con-
tract with such minister or ministers, reader or readers, for his or
their salary, and respecting the use and occupation of the parsonage-
house, or any glebe or other lands, or other property, if any, belong-
ing to the parish, and on such terms and conditions as they may think
reasonable and proper, and their choice and contract shall be entered
among their proceedings; and upon the expiration of such contract,
the said vestry may, in their discretion, renew their choice, or make
a new contract, but if they do not incline so to do, their former choice
and contract shall remain until they declare their desire to make a
new choice or contract. Provided, however, that no action shall be
taken hereunder contrary to provisions, consonant with public law,