VESTRY: A term originally applied to that portion of a church (usually a special room or even a

174

separate building) where the sacred vestments and the like were kept, and where the clergy robed for divine services. Since, however, meetings were often held there by those of the parishioners concerned with the business of the parish, the word came to be applied to the body entrusted with the temporal affairs of the parish, even when meeting in some place which had no connection with the church property. The laws governing the duties and rights of vestries differ much in England and America, on account of the far closer relation between Church and State in England, though it is only in connection with the Anglican communion that the vestry, properly speaking, exists.

In England a distinction is drawn between general and special vestries,. the former including all rated for poor relief, even though not living within the parish bounds, while the special vestry is a smaller body chosen from the general vestry, and corresponds to the American connotation of the term. The duties of the English vestry are to elect church-wardens, to nominate proper persons for appointment as overseers of the poor, to adminster the parish property, and frequently to levy taxes for and superintend the performance of paving and lighting the parish, and they are also empowered, in case an old burying-ground be deemed inadequate or dangerous to health, to make provision for the acquisition of a new one.

In the United States the constituency and duties of the vestry vary considerably; in some dioceses it is not even required that vestrymen be communicants. In general the vestry consists of the incumbent of the parish as presiding officer, two wardens, and a number of vestrymen. Their duties are concerned almost exclusively with the administration of the finances of the parish, and the rector (or other incumbent, as vicar, priest-in-charge, and the like) can make no disbursements or enter into any contracts involving the parish finances without their approval. They are bound to pay the incumbent the salary agreed upon, and it is out of their power to remove an incumbent after he has been duly accepted. On the other hand, the choice of a new incumbent, when the rectorate has fallen vacant, is practically under the control of the vestry, subject to the approval of the bishop of the diocese, who, either in person or through a bishop or priest appointed by him, is the actual institutor of the new incumbent. At the institution of a new incumbent, according to the American Office of Institution, the two wardens (or two vestrymen appointed by them) stand on the right and left of the altar, the senior warden holding the keys of the church, which, after the reading of the bishop's letter of institution, he gives +o the new incumbent with the words: " In the name and behalf of

Parish [or Church) I do receive and acknowledge you, the Rev. .A. B., as Priest and Rector of the same; and in token thereof, give into your hands the keys of this Church."

In case an incumbent fails to meet with the approval of the vestry and parish, complaint is to be lodged with the bishop of the diocese; but if the vestry can not themselves remove their incumbent, neither can he resign his charge without their con-

sent. During the absence of the incumbent the vestry have power to engage substitutes, and they are also empowered to elect the parish delegates to the diocesan conventions, while legally they are responsible for all the finances of the parish and for its debts, and must at any time show their minutes and other records and accounts to the bishop or any other person authorized to see them.

Bibliography: Bingham, Origines, VIII., vii. 7; S. Wilber foree, Hist. of the Protestant Episcopal Church, London, 1856; M. Hoffmann, Ritual Law of the Church, London, 1872; H. M. Baum, Rights and Duties of . . . Vestry , men in the American Church, Philadelphia, 1879; B. H. Paddock, in Journal of the General Convention, 1883, Ap pendix x.; DCA, ii. 2013-14.