without partiality or affection, do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify that A. B. is not, so far as we are informed, justly liable to evil report, either for error in religion, or for viciousness of life; and that we do not know or believe there is any impediment on account of which he ought not to be consecrated to that holy office; but that he hath, as we believe, led his life, for three years last past, piously, soberly, and honestly. CANON IV. Of Standing Committees. [The substance of this Canon was incorporated into the sixth Canon of 1789Journals, p. 95-and again, on the repeal of that Canon, into the second of 1795.-Journals, p. 153.] In every State or Diocese there shall be a Standing Committee, to be appointed by the Convention thereof. CANON V. Of the Consecration of Bishops in the Recess of the General Convention. [See Journals, p. 330. This Canon was originally passed as the second of 1799 -Journals, p. 186-and was repealed by the sixth of 1820.] CANON VI. Of the Age of those who are to be ordained or consecrated. [For the origin of this Canon see the fourth of 1789.-Journals, p. 95. See also the third of 1795, p. 154.] Deacons' orders shall not be conferred on any person until he shall be twenty-one years old, nor Priests' orders on any one until he shall be twenty-four years old. And no Deacon shall be ordained Priest, unless he shall have been a Deacon one year, except for reasonable causes it shall otherwise seem good unto the Bishop. No man shall be consecrated a Bishop of this Church until he shall be thirty years old. CANON VII. Of Candidates for Orders. [The first Canon on this subject was the sixth of 1795-Journals, p. 155; additional to which was the seventh of 1804-Journals, p. 238. The first paragraph_was repealed by the first Canon of 1823. See also the eighth Canon of 1820.] Every person who wishes to become a candidate for orders in this Church, shall give notice of his intention to the Bishop, or to such body as the Church in the Diocese or State in which he intends to apply for orders may appoint, at least one year before his ordination. No person shall be considered as a candidate for orders in this Church, unless he shall have produced to the Bishop of the Diocese or State to whom he intends to apply for orders, a certificate from the Standing Committee of said Diocese or State, that they believe, from personal knowledge, or from testimonials laid before them, that he hath lived piously, soberly, and honestly; that he is attached to the doctrines, discipline, and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church; and further, that in their opinion he possesses such qualifications as may render him apt and meet to exercise the ministry to the glory of God and the edifying of the Church. With this enumeration of qualifications, it ought to be made known to the candidate, that the Church expects of him, what can never be brought to the test of any outward standard-an inward fear and worship of Almighty God; a love of religion, and sensibility to its holy influence; an habit of devout affection; and, in short, a cultivation of all those graces which are called in Scripture the fruits of the Spirit, and by which alone his sacred influences can be manifested. The Bishop may then admit the person as a candidate for orders. In any State or Diocese where there is no Bishop, the Standing Committee may, on the evidence aforesaid, admit the person as a candidate; unless the person should be desirous of being considered as a candidate for orders in some State or Diocese where there is a Bishop. A candidate for orders may, on letters dimissory from the Bishop by whom he was admitted as a candidate, be ordained by any other Bishop of this Church. CANON VIII. Of the Conduct required in Candidates for Orders. The Bishop, or other ecclesiastical authority, who may have the superintendence of candidates for orders, shall take care that they do not indulge in any vain or trifling conduct, or in any amusements most liable to be abused to licentiousness, or unfavourable to that seriousness, and to those pious and studious habits, which become those who are preparing for the holy ministry. CANON IX. Of the Learning of those who are to be ordained. [Previous Canons on this subject were the seventh of 1789-Journals, p. 96; altered in 1792-Journals, p. 129; the fourth of 1795 Journals, p. 154; the fourth of 1799-Journals, p. 187; and the second of 1801-Journals, p. 208.] No person shall be ordained in this Church until he shall have satisfied the Bishop and the Presbyters by whom he shall be examined, that he is well acquainted with the holy Scriptures. can read the New Testament in the original Greek, and give an account of his faith in the Latin tongue; and that he hath a competent knowledge of natural and moral philosophy and Church history, and hath paid attention to composition and pulpit eloquence, as means of giving additional efficacy to his labours. It is also declared to be desirable that every candidate for orders should be acquainted with the Hebrew language. But the Bishop, with the advice and consent of all the clerical members of the Standing Committee of his Diocese, may dispense with the knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages, and other branches of learning not strictly ecclesiastical, in consideration of certain other qualifications in the candidate peculiarly fitting him for the Gospel ministry. CANON X. Of the preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Deacon's Orders: [The first Canon on this subject was the sixth of 1795-Journals, p. 155.] There shall be assigned to every candidate for Deacon's orders four different examinations, at such times and places as the Bishop to whom he applies for orders shall appoint. And if there be a Bishop within the State or Diocese where the candidate resides, he shall apply to no other Bishop for ordination without the permission of the former. The examinations shall take place in the presence of the Bishop and as many Presbyters as can conveniently be convened, on the following studies prescribed by the Canons, and by the course of study established by the House of Bishops. At the first examination-on some approved treatises on natural philosophy, moral philosophy, and rhetoric, and the Greek Testament; and he shall be required to give an account of his faith in the Latin tongue. At the second examination on the books of Scripture; the candidate being required to give an account of the different books, and to explain such passages as may be proposed to him. At the third examination on the evidences of Christianity, and systematic divinity. And at the last examination-on Church history, ecclesiastical polity, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Constitution and Canons of the Church, and of the Diocese or State for which he is to be ordained. In the choice of books on the above subjects, the candidate is to be guided by the course of study established by the House of Bishops. At each of the forementioned examinations he shall produce and read a sermon or discourse, composed by himself on some passage of Scripture previously assigned him; which sermon or discourse shall be submitted to the criticism of the Bishop and Clergy present. And before his ordination he shall be required to perform such exercises in reading, in the presence of the Bishop and Clergy, as may enable them to give him such advice and instructions as may aid him in performing the service of the Church, and in delivering his sermons with propriety and devotion. If the candidate should not reside convenient to the residence of the Bishop, the Bishop may appoint some of his Presbyters to conduct the above examinations; and a certificate from these Presbyters, that the prescribed examinations have been held accordingly, and satisfaction given, shall be required of the candidate. Provided that, in this case, the candidate shall, before his ordination, be examined by the Bishop and some of his Presbyters on all the above named studies. In a Diocese where there is no Bishop, the Standing Committee shall act in his place for the purpose of carrying into effect this Canon; and in this case the candidate shall be examined, by the Bishop to whom he applies for orders and his Presbyters, on the studies prescribed by the Canons. A Clergyman who presents a person to the Bishop for orders as specified in the Office of Ordination, without having good grounds to believe that the requisitions of the Canons have been complied with, shall be liable to ecclesiastical censure. CANON XI. Of the preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Priest's Orders. A candidate for Priest's orders shall, before his ordination, be required to undergo an examination in presence of the Bishop, and as many Presbyters as can conveniently be convened, on those leading books in the course of study prescribed by the House of Bishops, which he may have omitted in his preparation for Deacon's orders. CANON XII. Of the Testimonials to be produced on the part of those who are to be ordained. [Previous Canons on this subject were the sixth of 1789-Journals, p. 95; the fourth of 1792-Journals, p. 129; and the second of 1795-Journals, p. 153.] No person shall be ordained Deacon or Priest in this Church, unless he exhibit to the Bishop the following testimonial from the Standing Committee of the Diocese or State over which the Bishop presides to whom he applies for holy orders, which recommendation shall be signed by the names of a majority of the Committee duly convened, and shall be in the following words : - "We, whose names are hereunder written, testify, that A. B. hath laid before us satisfactory testimonials, that for the space of three years last past he hath lived piously, soberly, and honestly; and hath not written, taught, or held any thing contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church; and, moreover, we think him a person worthy to be admitted to the sacred order of In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this day of, in the year of our Lord." But before a Standing Committee shall proceed to recommend any candidate, as aforesaid, to the Bishop, such |