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styled church commission or council and synodal commission or council, is either collateral, or subordinate to the government of the canton, or has a representation therefrom, and is wholly or partly or not in any way chosen by the synod. Its duty is to prepare and execute the decisions of the synod, to regulate mostly the acceptance and eligibility of the clergy, supervise the clergy, institute visitations, settle cases of discipline and dispute, and, in many cantons, to supervise the administration of church property. The intermediate district, boards exist only in Zurich and Vaud. The colloquies in Graubanden and the deans of the chapters in St. Gall have similar prerogatives. The clergy of a district together form a chapter in Zurich, St. Gall, and Thurgau, and may submit matters to the action of the synod, and cooperate with it in practical and theological affairs. In Basel-Stadt and Aargau the clergy of the canton form the chapter. The Compagnie des pasteurs in Geneva and the convention of clergy at Schaffhausen and BaselLand have a similar function. The clergy become eligible on the basis of a university course, followed by examination before appointed committees, or a diploma granted by a theological faculty. Ordination takes place in connection with a public service by the laying on of hands, and in most cantons by the taking of a vow, pledging faithfulness in the preaching of the Gospel, and the administration of the sacred ordinances, and purity of 'life. Geneva and Neuchatel exclude the vow, placing every clerical on the responsibility of his own conscience. Pastors are elected for life in Vaud and Geneva; for three years in Glarus; five in Basel-Land; six in Zurich, Bern, Freiburg, Basel-Stadt, Aargau, and NeUChAtel; eight in Schaffhausen, and until dismissed in Graubiinden; but these terms are usually renewable. The church councils usually deal with the suspension of delinquent pastors; the synod with dismission from office in Glarus, Freiburg, St. Gall, Graubiinden; the civic council in Basel-Stadt, Vaud, Geneva, and Neuchitel; the church council in Appenzell. Dismission can be effected only by legal sentence in Bern and Zurich. The pastors are paid by the State in nine cantons, with here and there additional free-will offerings from the Church, and in the others by the churches, and salaries average between $390 and $595, the minimum being $195, the maximum, $780-877. A pension for retired clergy is provided by law in Bern, Basel-Stadt, Zurich, Schaffhausen, Aargau, and Vaud; and in many cantons there are free institutions for old and sick clergy, and for their widows and orphans.

The Concordat of Feb. 19, 1862, relating to the " mutual admission of Evangelical Reformed clergy " is in effect in the cantons of

Arrange- hausen, St. Gall, and from 1870 the ments. two Bawls. These cantons together appoint an examining board, which holds office three years, and may call in professors as experts in the examinations. The usual requirements for examination are a recommendation from the church council of the canton in which the candidate has a permanent residence, a certificate affirmXL-13

ing the sufficient gymnasium studies, and a testimonial as to morals, besides a certificate of at least two years in high-school studies for the propwdeutic test, and of at least three years for the theological. Ordination is performed by the church council that recommends the candidates. The examination certificates qualify the holders to a position in any of the associated cantons, but a pastor going from one canton into another must bring a certificate of official conduct and character from the church council of the former canton. Local reasons prevented Bern and Graubiinden from joining the Concordat, but free interchange is in effect in all German Switzerland. The first conference of the Evangelical church boards of Switzerland met annually, 1858-62, and resolved upon (1) Good Friday as a solemn holy day; (2) the mutual admission of pastors; (3) the arrangement of a liturgy for Evangelical field service, beside pastoral instruction, and preliminaries for a military hymnbook; (4) steps toward a, common translation of the Bible on the basis of Luther's; (5) propositions to the federal authorities for the simplification of the marriage ceremony; and (6) mutual exchange of the official reports of the cantonal church boards. No conferences were held between 1863 and 1875, but in the latter year the relation of the church boards to the state law as regards the civil estate was discussed and agreement arrived at concerning general principles. The church council of Zurich was authorized to look out for matters of common importance to the Evangelical churches, and to call a conference whenever circumstances warranted. In consequence by means of a joint resolution by circular of the church boards, 1876, the federal diet was induced to adopt a provision for the securing of religious instruction to children working in factories. On the occasion of the disturbance of the celebration of the national day of prayer by a military parade, 1877, similar steps secured the assurance against its recurrence. The conferences were resumed in 1881, in order to bring the church boards into closer affiliation in matters of common interests, and have been held annually ever since. They are attended by representatives of all the boards of the cantonal Evangelical state churches. The place of meeting changes every two years. Each canton has one vote which is cast according to the instructions of its board; these decisions are not obligatory, but suggestive to the cantons, or are simply expressions of common opinion. The most important subjects that have been treated are: the membership of the state churches; the right of outsiders to vote; the right of women to vote; church statistics; the matter of baptism and confirmation; a general proclamation for the day of prayer, and Reformation day, on the first Sunday in November; appointment of Mar. 6, 1904, .as Bible Sunday; celebration of'the fourth centennial anniversary of Zaingh's birthday, 1884; prayers for the federal celebration of 1891; the question of the establishment of a permanent Easter day; measures against instruction in- advanced education on Sunday, and for the restriction of amusements on solemn feast days, and especially the running of excursion trains on those