tion legal existence and to define its relations to the State. It is not the function of the Charter to define the relation of the corporation to the Convention, or to the Diocese, except to the extent that such a definition is necessary to a statement of the purpose for which the body corporate is created and to a prescription of the requisites for membership therein. If provisions solely affecting the ecclesiastical relations of the corporation are inserted in the Charter, there is danger that the Courts will refuse to give the document their approval. The Committee has accordingly prepared a form of Charter from which such provisions have been omitted. Matters of purely internal management are out of place in a Charter. The present form of Charter contains much that is objectionable on this ground. The Committee has endeavored to eliminate all such matter from the form recommended. It is unnecessary (and, as a general rule, inexpedient) to insert in a Charter grants of power which the Acts of Assembly confer independently of such grants. This thought also the Committee has striven to keep in mind. It will doubtless be urged, as it was in the Convention of 1898, that it is wise to err on the side of fullness for the sake of giving information about Church organization to inexperienced Vestrymen. It is sufficient to say in reply that a Church corporation is not formed for this purpose, and the Legislature certainly never intended that the corporate Charter should be framed as a "Vestrymen's guide." There is, however, no doubt that much of the matter omitted from the recommended form of Charter should be incorporated in a Canon dealing with the relation between the corporation and the Convention and with the terms upon which a new corporation should be admitted into union with the Convention. The Committee is of opinion that a definite declaration of submission to the Constitution and Canons should be formally executed by every Church applying for admission to the Convention. The making of such a declaration is provided for in the amended Canon and form of declaration accompanying this report. Much of the matter omitted from the Charter should find a place in every code of corporate By-Laws. The By-Laws may with perfect propriety be framed for the guidance of the Vestry and other officers of the Corporation. The Committee accordingly recommended to the Convention of 1898 that a standard series of By-Laws be prepared and that an amendment to the present Canon be drafted, so that, when taken in connection with the suggested form of Charter, a complete system of corporate organization might be provided for the Diocese. The Convention, without taking action upon the Charter, continued the Committee with instructions to prepare By-Laws and a Canon. The Committee submits the result of its labors for your consideration. It will be observed that the By-Laws suggested by the Committee are only those which are made necessary and appropriate by the provisions of the recommended Charter. The Committee has felt that an attempt to report a complete scheme of By-Laws dealing with all the details of management of a Church corporation would be to invite endless discussion and consume the time of the Convention. 4. The Committee is aware that there is on the part of the Convention a proper reluctance to change the existing form of Charter. It is submitted, however, that serious legal objections can be made to the form now set forth by authority. On the other hand, it is believed that the suggested form complies strictly with legal requirements, and that the conjoint operation of the suggested Charter, By-Laws and Canon is certain to prove satisfactory both to the Convention and to the incorporators of new Churches. Respectfully submitted, F. A. BRÉGY, W. W. FRAZIER, RICHARD C. DALE, ROWLAND EVANS, GEORGE WHARTON PEPPER, Committee. The "Suggested Amendment of Canon IV" was referred to the Committee on Canons. (See page 142.) The "Form of Charter of Incorporation," "Form of Declaration to be Executed by a Church for Admission to Convention," and "By-laws Recommended by the Committee." (See pages. 145 to 150.) The Bishop then read his address, as follows: Dear Brethren of the Clergy and Laity: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, and from the Holy Ghost. In accordance with the provisions of the Canons, I herewith present a record of my official acts during the past Convention year, with a list of Clerical changes in the Diocese, Clergy transferred and received, Postulants and Candidates received and in the Diocese, Lay Readers Licensed, with a summary of the same: 1898. OFFICIAL JOURNAL. May 15, Fifth Sunday after Easter. A. M. In Calvary, Conshohocken, confirmed 16 persons, preached, and celebrated the Holy Communion. Evening. In Trinity, Southwark, confirmed 23 persons, 2 of whom were from St. Clement's, and preached. May 16, Monday. Took part in the service at the funeral of the Rt. Rev. William Stevens Perry, D. D., LL. D., D. C. L., Bishop of Iowa, and at his burial in the churchyard of St. James the Less.-Appointed Messrs. Henry R. Lawrence, William R. Diller, O. Perry Smith, John M. Harmer, and Harry Hinds, Trustees of St. Peter's Church, Weldon, till Easter, 1899. May 17, Tuesday. Met with the Standing Committee for the hearing of a petition for consent to establish a new congregation at Pelham, Germantown. May 18, Wednesday. In the Academy of Music, offered prayer at the Commencement of the Women's Medical College.Presided at a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Magdalen Home. May 19, Ascension Day. Presided at a meeting of the Diocesan Board of Missions. Evening. In Holy Comforter, West, confirmed 9 persons, and preached. May 20, Friday. In Holy Trinity, West Chester, took part in the service at the funeral of the Rev. John Bolton, and also at his burial in the cemetery.-Appointed Edward Hope Lay Reader for the Lincoln Institution at Ponemah. May 22, Sunday after Ascension. A. M. In St. Luke's, Chester, confirmed 9 persons, and preached. P. M. In St. James the Less, confirmed 24 persons, and preached. Evening. In the George L. Harrison Memorial House of the Episcopal Hospital, confirmed 6 persons.In the Episcopal Hospital Mission, confirmed 47 persons, 3 of whom were from the Hospital, and preached. May 23, Monday. Attended a meeting of the National Relief Commission.-Presided at a Conference of the Faculty, Managers, and Associates of the Church Training and Deaconess House.-Presided at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Sunday School Association. May 24, Tuesday. Attended the Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the General Theological Seminary in New York. May 25, Wednesday. P. M. Presided at a meeting of the Stewards of the Sustentation Fund. Evening. In All Hallows', Wyncote, confirmed 10 persons, and preached. May 26, Thursday. P. M. In St. Luke's, Bustleton, confirmed 8 persons, and preached; and also dedicated a window in memory of Mrs. S. F. Hotchkin, and made an address. May 27, Friday. In Christ Church Mission, Fifth and Venango Streets, confirmed 29 persons, and preached. May 28, Saturday Accepted the resignation of the Rev. W. S. Baer as Secretary to the Bishop, and appointed the Rev. H. M. G. Huff as his successor for one year from June 1. May 29, Whitsun-day. A. M. In the Mission of the Holy Spirit, Snyder Avenue, confirmed 19 persons, I of whom was from St. Simeon's, preached, and celebrated the Holy Communion. P. M. In St. Luke's, Germantown, confirmed 38 persons, I of whom was from Calvary, Germantown, and preached. Evening. In St. Matthew's, confirmed 25 persons, and preached. May 30, Monday in Whitsun-week. A. M. In the First Presbyterian Church, made an address at a Memorial Day Service. P. M. In Lebanon Cemetery, consecrated a plot of ground as a burial place for the House and Chapel of St. Michael and All Angels. Evening. In Christ Church, Media, confirmed 25 persons, and preached. May 31, Tuesday, in Whitsun-week. A. M. In the Church Training and Deaconess House, made an address at the closing service of the year, and celebrated the Holy Communion. P. M. Presided at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Divinity School. Evening. In Trinity, Collingdale, confirmed 14 persons, I of whom was from St. John the Evangelist's, Lansdowne, and preached. June 1, Wednesday. Appointed the Rev. L. M. Robinson Chaplain of the Church Home, Angora, for one year.Presided at a meeting of the Board of Control of the Diocesan Library. Evening. In the Beloved Disciple, confirmed 11 persons, and preached. June 2, Thursday. In the Chapel of the Episcopal Hospital, presided at the graduation of Nurses from the Training School, presented diplomas to 17 graduates, and made an address. June 3, Friday. Presided at a meeting of the Trustees of the George W. South Memorial Church of the Advocate.-Presided at a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Evangelical Education Society.-Attended a meeting of the Committee of the University of Pennsylvania. Evening. In St. Clement's, confirmed 28 persons, and preached. June 4, Saturday. Took part in the service at the funeral of the Rev. William Augustus White, at his late residence. |