cbe
Hfrican ©rtbobor Cburcb
ITts ^Declaration of jfaitb
Constitution ani> Canon0
AND
Episcopate
WITH A
Summary of proceedings of ibe
IFirst ©encral Seno£
^
'In Tenebris Lumen''
fleaDquarters:
224 Mcst i35tb Street
1Wew $orh
Robert W. Woodruff
Library
Special Collections
EMORY UNIVERSITY
Gbe
Hfrtcan ©rtboboi (Eburcb
Its declaration of ffattb
Constitution arfc Canons
AND
Episcopate
WITH A
Summary of proceedings of ibe
Jfirst ©eneral S^nofc
^
"In T*nebris Lumen"
IBeaDquartets:
2 24 TRUest I35tb Street
11-lcvv york
RT. REV. G. A. McGUIRE, D.B., M. D.
tishop of the African Orthodox Church
Declaration of jfaitb
of tbe
Bf r tea n ©rtbofcoi Cburcb
BDoptcD September I5tb, 1921
I. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
The African Orthodox Church declares it belief in the
Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the
Word of God and the only »uf!icient Rule of Faith and
■entreats all the faithful to read the same diligently, not
only as their duty and privilege, but in obedience to
Christ's comma/id, "Search the Scriptures." For the
xnoral instruction contained therein it accepts also the so-
called Apocryphal books.
II. THE CREEDS
The African Orthodox Church accepts the Nicene
•Creed, without the "filioque" interpolation as the only
one of universal obligation, but believes also the other two
symbols known as the Apostles' Creed, and the Creed of
f>. Atha,nasius.
III. THE COUNCILS
The African Orthodox Church receives as Ecumenical
the Seven General Councils whose dogmatic decrees are
today accepted by all the Apostolic Churches of the East
*nd V/est, viz:—(i) Nicea, 325; (2) Constantinople,
3
4
Declaration of Faith
381; (3) Ephesus, 431; (4) Chalcedon, 451; (5) Con¬
stantinople, 553; (6) Constantinople, 680; (7) Nicea,
787.
IV. THE SACRAMENTS
The African Orthodox Church holds that a Sacrament
is a sacred rite divinely instituted to convey grace, having
a sensible or visible sign connected with prayer as the
means by which the grace is conveyed. It receives as a
part of the original deposit of the faith "once for all
delivered to the saints" the Seven Gospel Sacraments.
i. Baptism. It acknowledges Baptism as the Sacra¬
ment established by Christ to cleanse men from Original
Sin and to ma,ke^ them members of the Christian Church.
It is the Sacrament of Regeneration or the New Birth.
ii. Confirmation. It believes that Confirmation is the
Sacrament in which the Holy Spirit is given with the
fulness of His Gifts to the believer, and regards the
Bishop as the ordinary minister of this Sacred Rite.
iii. Penance. It believes that in the Sa,crament of
Penance, Jesus Christ Himself inwardly looses from their
sins those who sincerely repent of them and outwardly
make confession, and that every validly ordained priest
has the power to pronounce Christ's pardon to penitent
sinners confessing their sins. It allows both public and
private confession, the mode being optinal with the
penitent.
iv. The Eucharist. It holds that the Eucharist is
both a Sacrament and a Sacrifice offered for the living
and the dead. It believes tha,t in this most holy- Sacra¬
ment of the Altar there is the Real Presence of the
glorified spiritual Body and Blood of Christ under the
Declaration of Fctith
5
forms of bread and wine, the mysterious transformation
being effected by the Holy Spirit. Since this is a mystery
it shuns all terms of definition and description. It main¬
tains tha,t the Chalice should not be denied the laity in
holy communion; it believes that the Liturgy ought to be
said in the language of the people; and it permits in con¬
nection with this Sacrament the use of the names Eucha¬
rist, Mass, or Divine Liturgy.
v. Unction of the Sick. It believes Unction of the
Sick to be a Sacrament of the New Dispensation, insti¬
tuted for the spiritual ajid corporal solace of the sick,
to be used for the benefit of the Christian when seriously
ill, and not only when approaching death. Both the mode
and the efficacy of this Sacrament are indicated in the fifth
chapter of the Epistle of St. James.
vi. Sacred Orders. It believes that Order is a; Sacra¬
ment which confers upon those who validly receive it the
power to exercise special ministerial function, Bishops
alone being the ministers of this Sacrament. The great¬
er, or Holy Orders, which are of divine institution,
are the Episcopate, the Priesthood, and the Diaconate.
The minor orders, which are of ecclesiastical origin, and
may be regarded as steps to the greater are doorkeeper,
reader, exorcist, ncolyte and subdeacon. It believes the
episcopate necessary for the life of the Church, that all
bishops are equal in power and authority by divine right
and that their prerogatives of honor and jurisdiction
are derived from the Church and r.egulated by her canons.
vii. Holy Matrimony. It believes marriage, when
a man and woman are joined together according to the
sacred rite of the Church, to be a, Sacrament, • and that
6 Declaration of Faith
the civil ceremony of marriage prescribed by lavV" in
certain countries, should always be blessed by the priest.
There should be no dissolution of the bonds of marriage
except for adultery and malicious desertion, and no priest
«f this Church is permitted to perform the marriage
ceremony of any person who has a divorced husband of
wife living, unless such person produces satisfactory evi¬
dence from court records that he or she is the innocent
party in a divorce granted for the cause of adultery or
malicious desertion. In all cases involving the mar¬
riage of a divorced person, the priest must submit the
facts to, and receive the consent of his Bishop, before per¬
forming the rite.
.V. THE SAINTS
The African Orthodox Churdh believes that the de¬
parted saints are not dead, but living, and that if the
prayers of the righteous on earth avail much, the prayer9
of our glorified brethren nearer the throne of God must
be more potent. Hence we consider it a good and useful
practice to invoke the prayers of the saints for us, and
to pray ourselves for the repose of the souls of the faith¬
ful departed.
VI. SACRED PICTURES AND IMAGES
The African Orthodox Church holds that pictures
and images of Christ and the Saints may be reverenced as
sacred things, Jiough not adored. We do not deny to
any Christian the use of this pious practice if it be an
aid to his worship, hut we caution against abuses thereof
when the picture or image is given the adoration which
'belongs only to God, or its veneration considered neces¬
sary to salvation or justification.
(Constitution
ARTICLE I.
Name
The narre of this Church, which was organized
September 2nd, 1921, is and shall be The African Ortho¬
dox Church. Its faith, as declared, is Orthodox, 'in
conformity with the Orthodox Churches of t!he East from
which its Episcopate is derived. While it admits to mem¬
bership and other privileges persons of all races, it' seeks
particularly to reach out to the millions of African
descent in both hemispheres, and declares itself to be
perpetually autonomous and controlled by Negroes.
Hence the name, African Orthodox.
ARTICLE II.
Government
The general legislation of this Church and the direc¬
ts n of all matters which concern and belong to and
affect the Church as a whole, shall be vested in its Gen¬
eral Synod, subject to its "Declaration of Faith" and
to such Constitution and Canons as it may from time
to time adopt.
ARTICLE III
Composition of the General Synod
'The General Synod shall be composed as follows:—
1. Of all Bishops and all Priests of this Church.
2. Of all Lay Officers of Synod.
3. Of Lay Deputies to be selected as provided in
the Canons.
7
8
Constitution
4. Of a,ll persons who attended and voted in the
first General Synod, provided they are still
members of the African Orthodox Church.
ARTICLE W-
Meetings of the General Synod
General Synod shall convene on the first Wednesday
in September in each year, unless for good reason the
Primate shall see fit to make a change, in which case
he shall state the reason in the notice of a new da,te,
and shall allow sufficient time for deputies from distant
points to arrive. 'The Primate, for urgent reasons, by
and with consent of at lea,st two-thirds of the Officers of
the General Synod, may on sixty days' notice call an
extraordinary meeting of the G:neral Synod. At any
time the General Synod may determine by a two-thirds
vote to meet bi-annually, or tri-annually.
ARTICLE V.
Officers of the General Synod
Section 1. The officers of the General Synod shall be
a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
Chancellor.
Sec. 2. The President shall be the Primate, Arch¬
bishop, or Presiding Bishop of the Church. The Vice-
President shall be a Bishop or Priest elected by bajllot
at each regular meeting of the General Synod. The Sec¬
retary shall be a Priest; the Treasurer and Chancellor
shall be laymen or Priests. All these shall be elected
by ballot at each regular meeting of General Synod.
Sec. 3. The duties of said several officers shall be
Constitution
9
those usually pertaining to their respective offices, and
such others as may be prescribed by the Canons.
Sec. 4. During the period intervening between ses¬
sions of the General Sjnod, the African Orthodox Con¬
sistory, consisting of all Officers of the General Synod,
all Bishops of the Church and the Dea,n of the Seminary,
shall transact the business of the Church, making report
thereof at the next meeting of the General Synod. The
Primate is the president of the Consistory.
Sec. 5. All Bishops of this Church shall be members
of the Conclave or House of Bishops, of which the Pri¬
mate shall be the President. The Conclave shall safe¬
guard the Episcopate and the Declaration of Faith and
seek communion with other Churches of Orthodoxy.
The Bishops of the African Orthodox Church a,re au¬
thorized to maintain membership in the Conclave of the
American Catholic Church through which the Epis¬
copate was transmitted from the*Apostolic See of St.
Peter at Antioch to the African (Orthodox Church.
ARTICLE VI.
Proceedings of the General Synod
Cection 1. General Synod shall deba,te and vote as
a general body according to such parliamentary rules
as may be adopted, and freedom of debate shall always be
allowed.
Sec. 2. On all matters pertaining to Fa,ith, Order
and Worship, the Clergy alone shall vote, the Bishops
and Priests separately, and concurrence of both Orders
shall be necessary for the passage of the measure so voted
on.
IO
Constitution
Sec. 3. Six Priests and six Lay Deputies, with the
President of the General Synod shall constitute a, quorum
for the transaction of business. This number may be
increased by legislation at any session of the General
Synod.
ARTICLE VII.
The Liturgy and Hymnal
A Commission of which the Bishops shall be members
shall prepare a Liturgy orthodox in faith, derived from
the Latin Rite, and published in the English language.
The forms of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer
shall be employed wherever suitable in the compilation
of said Liturgy. Until a Hymnal of this Church is pro¬
vided, the use of the "English Hymnal," or of "Hymns
Ancient and Modern" is authorized, care being exercised
in the choice of the hymns.
ARTICLE VIII.
Amendment of the Constitution
This Constitution, until otherwise ordered, may be
amended at any stated meeting of the GeneraJ Synod by
& two-thirds vote of all present and voting.
Canons
CANON I.
Lay Deputies to the General Synod
Section I. Lay Deputies shall be elected to each
General Synod at a regularly called meeting of the
parish for said purpose. In ajl cases they must be com¬
municant members of the congregation they are chosen
to represent.
Sec. 2. Each parish shall be entitled to one Lay
Deputy, but if its communicant membership as reported
Ly it to General S^nod be two hundred or more, it
shall be entitled to two such Deputies.
Sec. 3. No candidate for Holy Orders shall be eligible
as a Lay Deputy.
CANON II.
The Secretary of the General Synod.
Section 1. The Secretary of the General. Sync.l shall
be chosen by ballot and shall appoint his Assistant w».'h
the approval of the General Synod. In addition to his
general duties, he shall preserve and file in the archives
of the Church all documents, papers, reports and com¬
munications. relating to the business of the General
Synod which may come into his possession. He shall be
the Registrar of the Church and shall keep a record of
the Consecration of all its Bishops and the'ordination ©f
all its Priests He shall also keep a Register of all
Bishops, Priests and other Ministers of this Church,
whose names shall be delivered to him in the following
II
12
Canons
manner, tha,t is to say: Every Bishop of this Church, or
where there is no Bishop, the Bishop's Council, shall at
the time of every General Synod deliver or cause to be
delivered to the said Secretary a list of the names of all
the Clergy of this Church in their Diocese or Jurisdiction,
annexing- the names of their parishes or other official
position* and their places of residence.
Sec. 2. The Journal of the General Synod shall bc
prepa,red for publication by the Secretary, and after
examination and certification by the President, shall
be piimt-d as the official and permanent record of this
Church.
Sec. 3. The necessary expenses incurred by the Sec-
retaiy shall be provided for by vote of the General Synod.
CANON III.
[The Treasurer of the General Synod
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer of the General
Synod tp receive and disburse all funds collected under
the authority of the General Synod and for which there
is no oilier regulation. He shall present a summarized
report at the opening Session of each stated meeting of the
General Synod, and his books of account and vouchers
shall be audited by the Committee on Finance.
CANON IV.
fThe Chancellor of the General Synod
[The Chancellor of the General Synod shall l>e a per¬
son having a knowledge of the principles of Civil law
anH versed in Canon law, to whom shall be referred all
requests for interpretation of the Constitution and
Cations
13
■Canons of this Church. He shall he the Adviser of the
Primate and Consistory in all legal and judicial mat¬
ters, and with their consent shall secure such legal talent
a£ may be necessary in the affairs of this Church. He
*hall make a summarized report of his activities at the
ilrst session of each stated meeting of the General Sjnod.
CANON V.
Expenses of General Sy nod
The contingent expenses of the General Synod shall
be defrayed by assessments upon the several congrega¬
tions of this Church, said assessments to be made annually
by the Committee on Finance, and authorized by the
General Synod.
CANON VI.
Commissions and Committees
At each stated meeting of General Synod the President
shall appoint the following Commissions and Committees,
viz:—
1. A Commission on Liturgy and Hymnal, consisting
of the Primate and other Bisihops, and three Priests who
shall set forth a Liturgy and Hymnal, or portions thereof,
or revise said Liturgy and Hymnal from time to time.
(This Commission shall publish all theological, ecclecias-
tical and devotional literature of this Church.
2. A Committee on Constitution and Canons, con¬
sisting of the Primate and other Bishops, three Priests
and three Laymen, of which the Chancellor shall be one,
to whom shajl be referred all alterations or amendments
to the Constitution and Canons.
14
Canons
3. A Committee on Finance consising of the Pri¬
mate, three Priests and three Laymen, who shall perform
the duties usually pertaining to such a Committee, such
as caring for the contingent expenses of the General
Synod, levying assessments for any purpotf ordered b/
General Synod, and auditing all financia.1 reports and
statements. The Treasurer of the General Synod shall
be an ex-officio member of this Committee for the pur¬
pose of receiving funds and giving desired information,
but without vote.
4. A Committee on Church Extension Fund consist¬
ing of the Primate, two Priests and two Laymen, who
shall perform the duties of a Board of Missions and shall
ha,ve power to raise funds for the assistance of new con¬
gregations. This Committee shall take charge of (all
contributions and donations for any purpose connected
with the Extension work of this Church or of any chari¬
table or benevolent institution thereof. It shall also be the
Trustees of all property, real and personal, held by any
parish or congregation, which receives regular financial!
aid from said Committee.
5. A Committee on the Episcopate Fund consisting;
of the Primate, two Priests and two Laymen who shall
levy assessments and raise offerings for the support and
travelling expenses of the Bishops of this Church.
6. A Committee on the Seminary consisting of the
Primate and other Bishops, three Priests and the Dear*
of the Seminary. This Committee sha,II have general
charge and oversight of all the affairs of the Seminary.
Al! Commissions and Committees herein mentioned
shall make a report at every stated meeting of the General
and m majority of all the members of any such
Cen ins
15
Commission or Committee shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business. They shall keep a proper
record of all proceedings and funds.
OvNON VII.
Dioceses and Missionary Jurisdictions
Section 1. Ten or more contiguous parishes of this
Church being self-supporting, with ten or more Priests
of this Church each of whom shall be rector of one of
said parishes, may constitute themselves into a Diocese
liaving first received the consent of the General Synod.
Such Diocese sha,ll take its name from a city or other
geographical designationi and shall form its own Diocesan
Synod under the jurisdiction of a Bishop of this Church,
elected by such Synod. Each Diocesan Synod shall be
composed of all the Priests of this Church resident within
Its limits and such number of Lay Deputies from each
congregation as the Synod shall determine, and each
Diocesan Synod shall have power to frame a Constitution
and Canons for its own government not conflicting with
the Constitution and Canons of the General Synod.
Sec. 2. The territorial boundaries of a Diocesan
Synod shall be fixed by the General Synod and shall not
l>e changed except such Synod by a majority vote requests
and receives the consent of the General Synod.
Sec. 3. The General Synod may establish Missionary
and Special Jurisdictions wtih territorial boundaries and
elect Bishops therefor, and each such Jurisdiction shall
make Canons for its government under the direction of
its Bishop not conflicting with the Constitution and
Canons of the General Synod.
Canons
Sec. 4. The Bishop shall be the Ecclesiastical Author
ity of his Diocese or Jurisdiction with the assistance cf a
Bishop's Council of not less than four members who
may be Priests or Laymen, and who shall be appointed
by the Bishop a,t each annual meeting of Synod. If
there be no Bishop, the Council alone shall be the Ec¬
clesiastical Authority.
Sec. 5. No Candidate for Holy Orders shall be eli¬
gible as a Lay Deputy to a Diocesan Synod.
CANON VIII.
Bishops
Section 1. Any Priest of this Church in good stand¬
ing may be elected a Bishop, and any Bishop of thiV
Church may be elected over a vacant Diocese, or appoint¬
ed by General Synod over a Jurisdiction.
Sec. 2. (a) A Bishop of a Diocese shall be elected
by the Synod thereof at a meeting called for said purpose
according to the Canons of this Church, by the concur¬
rent vote by ballot of the Clergy and Lay Duties voting;
separately.
(b) A Bishop of a Missionary or Special Jurisdic¬
tion shall be elected a,t arty meeting of the General
Synod by the concurrent vote by ballot of the Bishops and
Clergy voting separately and the Lay Deputies voting;
separately.
Sec. 3. No election of a, Bishop by a Diocesan Synod-
is valid until confirmed by the African Orthodox Con¬
sistory, or by the General Synod if such election occur
less than three months prior to a. meeting of General
%nod.
Canons
17
Sec. 4. Every Bishop-elect, being a PriesjJ, before his
1 onsecration, shall present to the Prima,te his Certificate of
election duly signed by all the Officers clerical and lay
of the Diocesan or General Synod electing lim; also, a
statement from the Secretary of the General) Synod of
the confirmation of his election; also, a certi^^ite of good
character signed by three Priests in the following form:
"We whose names are underwritten, fujly sensible how
important it is that the office of a Biyop should not be
unworthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is-
our duty to bear testimony on this solemn occasion, with¬
out partiality or affection, do, in the presence of Al¬
mighty God, testify that A. B., i^ not, so far as we are
informed, justly liable to evil report, either for error ii*
the Orthodox Fajth or for viciou^iess of life, and that
wre do not know or believe there Is any impediment on
account of wThich he ought not to pe consecrated to the
office of a Bishop in the One Holy, Catholic and Apos¬
tolic Church. We do, moreover, jointly and severally
declare that we do, in our conscience, believe him to be
of sudh sufficiency in good learning, such soundness in
doctrine, and of such virtuous and pure manners and
godly conversation, that he is apt and meet to exercise
the office of a Bishop, to the honor of God and the edify¬
ing of His Church, and to be a wholesome example to
the flock of Christ."
These requirements being complied with, the Primate,
or some other Bishop or Bishops designated by him, shall
proceed to consecrate the Bishop-elect according to the
form established by this Church.
18 Canons
Sec. 5. |JNo man shall be consecrated a Bislhop in this
Church until he shall be thirty years old.
Sec. 6. - Every Bishop of this Church shall reside with¬
in his owis Diocese or Jurisdiction unless excused from
so doing by vote of the African Orthodox Consistory or
the GeneirU Synod. He shall visit the congregations
within his ct^rge at least once a year for the purpose of
performing th&spintual duties of his office and examin¬
ing the tempora\state eac^ suc^ congregation. The
expenses incurred sudh visit shall be defrayed in part
or whole by the Congregation for whose benefit it is
made, or in such othey way as the Synod of the Diocese or
Jurisdiction shall provide.
Sec. 7. Every Bishop in charge of a Diocese or Juris¬
diction shall make written report of his work and episco¬
pal acts to General 'Synod, mailing same so that it may
be in the ha,nd of the Secretary of General Synod, or of
its President, at lea,si' twenty days prior to the stated meet¬
ing of the General Synod.
Sec. 8. In case of the death, resignation, or vacancy
by any other cause, of a Bishop of a Missionary or Spe¬
cial Jurisdiction, the oversight of the vacant Jurisdiction
shall devolve upon the Primate of this Church, who may
appoint some other Bishop a,s: his substitute, until the next
meeting of the General Synod when a new Bishop shall
be chosen for the Jurisdiction.
Sec. 9. Any Bishop of a Jurisdiction may resign the
.same with the consent of the General Synod, after which
he shall perform episcopal acts only at the request of
Bishops having jurisdiction or of the Genera] Synod. The
Canons
19
Bishop of any Diocese may resign the same or be relieved
from the duties of his office by the Synod thereof for
causes not a,f?ecting his moral character. All Bishops SO'
resigning or relieved shall retain their seats in the Con¬
clave, or House of Bishops, the African Orthodox Con¬
sistory, and be entitled to a vote in General Synod.
Sec. 10. As soon as there shall be three or more
Bishops in the African Orthodox Church, they shall
form a Conclave or House of Bishops at the first meeting
of which they shall elect one of their number as Arch¬
bishop and Primate. Upon the death or resignation of
such Archbishop and Primate, the Senior Bishop in point
of Consecration shall immediately call a meeting of the
House of Bishops to elect his successor. A majority of
all Bishops of the Church shall form a quorum. The
votes of all absent Bishops on a personally signed ballot
shall be counted with the ballots of the Bishops present
a,nd voting, and the result of said election shall be publish¬
ed in all Dioceses and Jurisdictions of this Church.
Sec. 11. Until the election of an Archbishop, the Se¬
nior Bishop in point of consecration shall be the Primate
of the African Orthodox Church.
CANON IX.
General Provisions and Qualifications for Holy Orders
Section 1. No person shall be ordained to the Minis¬
try in this Church, who for reasons affecting his moral
character, has been refused ordination elsewhere.
Sec. 2. No person shall be ordained to the Priesthood
in this Church until he shall be twenty-four years old.
20
Canons
Sec. 3. Every person to be admitted to Holy Orders
in this Church shall be examined by a, Bishop and his Ex-
ramining Chaplains whose duty it shall be to ascertain that
he is well versed in the Holy Scriptures, the Faith and
Worship of this Church, the history of the Undivided
Church, Sermon Composition and Delivery, Pastoral
Theology, and the Constitutions and Canons of this
Church. Before such examination he sha)l present a
Testimonial from at least one Priest and two male com¬
municants of this; Church signifying a belief in his fitness
f3-r his sacred office afid in his purity, good morals and
behaviour for the space of three years last past .He mujt
further be able to show that he is calculated to be useful
in ministerial work.
Sec. 4. Deacons shall not be given charge of congre¬
gations, but shall be assistants to Priests, or serve tempo¬
rarily in a congregation under the supervision of the
Bishop. Deac6ns may prea,ch sermons and perform In¬
fant Baptism in the absence of a Priest and with the
consent of the Bishop. They shall be assistants, but not
•celebrants of the Eucharist.
Sec. 5. No Deacon or other Minister, not being a
Priest, shall be transferred from one Diocese or Juris¬
diction to another except by mutual agreement of the
Bishops concerned.
Sec. 6. No one shall be ordained a Priest until such
time as he is entering_ upon pastoral or other duties as¬
signed him in this Church by the Bishop, and any Priest
who shall forsake his sacred calling and the duties thereof
to engage in secular work after his ordination shall be
admonished by his Bishop and otherwise disciplined
Canons
21
-should he persist in the same against the admonition of
said Bishop.
Sec. 7. Any Priest of this Church in good standing
may at his own request, be transferred with Letters Tes¬
timonial to the jurisdiction of any other Bishop who may
desire to receive him. Every such transfer when effected
.shall be reported to the Secretary of the General Synod
fcy the Bishop receiving the Priest in question.
CANON X.
General Regulation of Ministers and their Duties
Section 1. No Priest in charge of any congregation
of this Church, or in case of vacancy or absence, no War¬
dens, Vestrymen or Trustees of the Congregation shall
permit any person not a Minister or Reader of the
African Orthodox Church to officiate in any manner in
JDivine services.
Sec. 2. There shall be no pulpit exchanges by Priests
of this Church with the ministers of other religious
t)odies. The Bishop alone may, for extraordinary reason
give in writing permission to a Christian man with a
special message, on the request of the Priest in charge to
speak from the Lectern or Pulpit of any church in his
Diocese or Jurisdiction. Any infraction of this Canon
will furnish cause for the discipline of the offender.
Sec. 3. Any Priest, in good standing, may be elected
by the'Wardens and Vestrymen of any congregation of
this Church as the Rector of said Church, provided that
the consent of the Bishop ha,ving jurisdiction has been
iirst given and his approval of the Priest in question
stated in writing.
Sec. 4. Every Priest in charge of a congregation shall
22
Canons
give due notice of an Episcopal visit and present such
persons as are ready and desirous to be confirmed, with
a list of their names and their former religious connec¬
tions, to the visiting Bishop.
Sec. 5. Every Priest in charge of a congregation of
this Church shall keep a Register of Baptisms, Confirma¬
tions, Communicants, Marriages and Burials, with a
list as far as practicable cf thr families under his care,
which Register shall be open to the Bishop for inspection
a/id shall be the property of the Parish for the use of
subsequent Priests.
Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of every Priest in charge
of a congregation to select all Hymns and Tunes to be
sung at any time of worship. He shall suppress all light
ajid unseemly music which may profane the service of the
sanctuary of God.
Sec. 7. Every Priest in charge of a congregation, or
if the charge be vacant, the Wardens of the congregation,
shall annually present a report thereof to the Synod or
Jurisdiction at its regular meetings according to the form
designated by the Canons of the Diocese or Jurisdiction.
If any Priest of this Church from any cause or inability
neglect to perform his duties in the congregation under
his charge or should fail to appoint or permit any other
Priest of this Church to perform such duties, the War¬
dens and Vestrymen of such Congregation shall report
the facts in the case to the Bishop who shall take any
action deemed necessary by him.
Sec. 8. A pastoral connection in this Church may at
any time be terminated by the consent of both parties, or
Cations
23
by the decision of the Bishop or Bishop's Council having
jurisdiction, on the appeal by one pa,rty, after givui:> due
notice to the other party. In case the Priest refuses tJ
abide by the decision of the Bishop or Bishop's Coun¬
cil having jurisdiction he shall forfeit his right to a seat
in the General and Diocesan Synod and shall be further
subject to discipline for disobedience of the Ecclesiastical
Authority. In case the Congregation refuses to abide by
such decision it shall forfeit the right of Lay representa¬
tion in the General and Diocesan Synods, and shall
be liable to be otherwise disciplined by the Bishop having
jurisdiction. Either party shall have the right of Appeal
to the final decision of the ensuing General Synod.
CAiS ON XI.
Candidates for Holy Orders
Section i. No person shall be admitted by a Bishop
as a Candidate for Holy Orders in the African Orthodox
Church unless he shall have produced a certificate signed
by at least one Priest and two male communicants of this
Church certifying that from personal knowledge, or from
satisfactory evidence laid before them, they believe that he
is pious, sober and honest; that he adheres to the Faith,
Worship and Discipline of this Church; is an enrolled
communicant in a congregation of the same; and in their
opinion possesses such qualifications as will render him
apt and meet to exercise the Ministry to the Glory of
God and the edifying of His Church.
Sec. 2. Every person desiring to become i, Candidate
for Holy Orders in this Church shall apply in writing to
the Bishop having jurisdiction over the congregation in
24
Canons
which he is enrolled as a communicant, and such Bishop
having examined him to discover his literary qualifications
and soundness in the Orthodox Faith may admit him a
Candidate by and with the advice of the Bishop's Coun¬
cil.
Sec. 3. No candidate for Holy Orders shall be trans¬
ferred from the jurisdiction of one Bishop to that of an¬
other unless with the mutual consent of both Bishops.
Sec. 4. Any candidate for~~Holy Orders may be dropped
from the list of candidates by his Bishop for causes affect¬
ing his moral character, for habitual neglect of the
ministrations of the Church, especially the Eucharist, and
for repeated failure to successfully pursue his studies.
No candidate so dropped shall again be accepted a can¬
didate for Holy Orders except by the same Bishop or
his successors. In any case in which the candidate has
reason to believe that he is unjustly dealt wtih he shall
have the right to appeal to the judgment of the Primate
whose decision shall be final.
Sec. 5. The term of continuance as a candidate shall
be determined by the Bishop or Bishop's Council having
jurisdiction.
CANON XII.
Religious Orders
Religious Orders of men and women may be organized
with the authority and consent of the Bishop of the
Diocese or Jurisdiction for promoting the life of sacrifice,
love and service towards God, His Church, and humanity
in general. The Superior of each Order shall be under
Canons 25
the direct and immediate supervision of the Bishop who
shall have full control of the temporal and spiritual affaits
of every such Religious Order.
CANON XIII.
Vestments
The Vestments of the Bishops, Priests and other Mins¬
ter of this Church shall be those of the Latin or Western
ise. Every Bishop ha,ving jurisdiction shall see that his
J^lergy are correctly habited.
CANON XLV.
Congregations and Vestries
Section 1. A Parish or Congregation consists of all
he persons enrolled as communicants or regular wor-
hippers and contributors therein. All persons herein
escribed being of full age, are entitled to vote for War-
ens and Vestrymen and for the transaction of other
usiness, but only communicants can vote for Lay Depu-
es to General or Diocesan Synods.
Sec. 2. The boundaries of a Parish or Congregation
•e not geographical, and the consent of a Rector, War-
ins and Vestrymen of any organized congregation of
is Church is not a prerequisite to the formation of an-
her congregation in the same vicinity.
Sec. 3. Persons desiring to form a Congregation of
is Church must first make written request over their
^natures to the Bishop and Bishop's Council, having
risdiction, stating their acceptance of the Faith, "Vy°r*
tp, Discipline, Constitution and Canons of the African
rthodox Church. Having received the authority and
26
Canons
consent in writing of the Bishop and Bishop's CounriJ
the persons concerned may organize themselves into i
Congregation, but not otherwise. Every such Congre¬
gation so organized, shall on application, be admitted into
union with the Diocesan Synod or Jurisdiction at a stated
meeting if circumstances of growth and stability justify.
Sec. 4. Any Congregation of Christian people de
siring to be received into union with the African Ortho¬
dox Church, shall declare the same in writing duly cer¬
tified by the authorities of said Congregation, which cer¬
tificate, together with declaration of acceptance of the
Faith, Worship, Discipline, Constitution and Canons
of this Church, shall be submitted to the Bishop and
Bishop's Council within whose jurisdiction such congre¬
gation lies. In case the same are found satisfactory, the
Bishop and Council may receive such congregation into
the African Orthodox Church, but it shall not becomt
a constituent part of the Diocesan Synod or Jurisdictiwi
until so voted a,t the next stated meeting thereof.
Sec. 5. In each Congregation, annually, on Month,
or some other day in Easter Week, or on some other
occasion, an election shall be held for Church Wardens!
Vestrymen, and Lay Deputies to General and Diocesan!
Synods. The Church Wardens and Lay Deputies sha,
be chosen from among the communicants, and whtr
practicable, the Vestrymen also. In all cases they shal
be persons of unimpeachable moral character, and it i
recommended that the Wardens, and Vestrymen be s
chosen that one-third of their entire membership shall t|
elected each year.
Canons
27
Sec. 6. The several congregations of this Church
shall be assessed annually in the sum of twenty-five cents
for each communicant member reported, to defray the
expenses of entertainment of the General Synod, the
same to be forwarded in quarterly payments to the Trea¬
surer of the General Synod.
Sec. 7. Females of full age, otherwise qualified, shall
have the right to vote in all elections and business meet¬
ings of the congregations of which they are members
and are eligible to be elected as Vestrymen, but not as
Wardens, or Lay Deputies to General Synod. They
may however be chosen as Deputies to the Diocesan
Synod.
Sec. 8. A (Vestry shall consist of two Church War¬
dens, and four, seven, or ten other Vestrymen. The
Church Wardens shall be "known as Senior Church War¬
den and Junior Church Warden respectively, the fJenior
taking precedence of the Junior. The mode of election,
term of office, an4 duties of Church Wardens and Ves¬
trymen shall be such a£ the Synod of the Diocese or
Jurisdiction shall enact by Canon, subject to the law
of the State, and the Church Wardens and Vestrymen
so elected shall hold office until the election of their
successors.
5ec. 9. Unless it conflict with the law of the State,
the Rector or Priest in charge shall be chairman of the
Vestry, preside over all its meetings when present, and
give a, casting vote when necessary.
28
Cations
CANON XV.
Regulations Respecting Communicants
Section i. A communicant in good standing removing;
from one congregation of this Church to another shall be
furnished with a certificate of good standing by the Priest
in charge of the congregation of which such communicant
is a member and upon his request. No Priest or Rector
shall enroll such communicant in his congregation, until
sa,id certificate has been produced, when the fact of en¬
rolment shall be communicated by him to the Priest or
Rector transferring the communicant.
Sec. 2. Any communicant of this Church in good-
standing about to visit within the boundaries of another
congregation of this Church, shall on request, be fur¬
nished by the Priest or Rector of the congregation of
which he is a member with a certificate of membership
and a recommendation to the good offices of the Clergy
of the congregation in whose vicinity the visit is to be
ma,de.
Sec. 3. No communicant member of another religious- '
body shall be received into the communicant membership'
and privileges of this Church, until such time as he shall
have received the rite of confirmation by a Bishop of thiV
Church, or satisfied such Bishop that he has been confirm¬
ed by a Bishop validly consecrated. Such person mav
however be at any time enrolled a,s a stated worshipper
and regular contributor of any congregation of this-
Church, with the right of voting in the business matters-
thereof.
Canons
29
CANON XVI.
Discipline
Section 1. Any communicant guilty of denial of the
Orthodox Faith, gross laxity in morals, or habitual neg¬
lect of the ministrations of this Church shall be admonish¬
ed by his Priest, and should he continue obdurate, the
Priest sha.Il refer the case to the Bishop in writing for
his judgment which shall be final.
Sec. 2. All persons admitted to the Minor Orders
must shun doubtful amusements and questionable as¬
sociations. Any habitual infringement of this rule will
receive the fatherly rebuke of the Priest who has the
spiritu:.! charge of such person or persons, and if con¬
tinued, the case shall be referred by the Priest in writing
to the Bishop whose judgment shall be final.
Sec. 3. Priests and Deacons charged with holding or
teaching any doctrine contrary to the Faith of this
Church, or with viciousness of life, or about whom there
shall be persistent rumors affecting their personal charac¬
ter shall be summoned before the Bishop who shall inves¬
tigate each case, adjust, or dismiss the same according to
the evidence submitted. Should the Bishop find sufficient
cause to warrant a trial he shall diiect the Chancellor of
the Diocese or Jurisdiction to present the accused before
:he Bishop and Bishop's Council for trial and sentence.
The right of appeal to the Conclave or House of Bishops
>f this Church shall be permitted to the offending clergy-
nan through the Chancellor of the General Synod who
hall obtain the records of the evidence and. judgment
ubmitted at the former trial and present and a.nalyze
.3°
Canons
same for the information of the House of Bishops wnose
judgment shall be final.
Sec. 4. A Bishop charged with any cause for which
he may be tried shall be summoned by the Primate for
such trial before and by the Conclave or House of
Bishops of this Church. The mode of procedure shall
be decided by the House in every case, ajid there can be
no appeal from the decision rendered.
CANON XVII.
Amendment of Canons
These Canons shall not be amended until the pro¬
posed amendment shall be first referred to the Committee
on Constitution and Canons, and adopted by a two-thirds
majority vote of the General Synod.
ATTESTATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true ajid correct
copy of the Constitution and Canons of the African
Orthodox Church as adopted at the First General Synod
of said Church, held in the Church of the Good Shepherd,
New York City, September 2, 3, 15 and 16, in the year
of our Lord, 1921.
WILLIAM ERNEST ROBINSON
Secretary of General Synod
I hereby certify as President of the First General
Synod to the accuracy of the above.
GEORGE ALEXANDER McGUIRE
Bishop and Prvnnit
September 16, 1921
Summary of proceeMnos of tbe jfirst
<3eiteral S^noD
The First General S3 nod was opened on Friday Even¬
ing, September 2nd, 1421, at 8:30 o'clock, in the Church
of the Good Shepherd, New York City, with Evensong
which was conducted by the Rev. Dr. McGuire, Rector
of the parish, Re. William E. Robertson, of Sydney,.
Nova Scotia, and Rev. Father Antony of the Russian
Orthodox Cathedral in New York. A large number of
ministerial and lay deputies were present from the con¬
gregations in the United States, Canada and Cuba.
After Evensong, the first session for business was called
to order by the Rev. Dr. Geo. Alex. McGuire. Tem¬
porary officers were then balloted for with the following
result:—Rev. Dr. McGuire was elected President, Rev.
James N. Bridgeman Vice-President, and Rev. W. E.
Robertson Secretary.
On assuming the chair, the Rev. Dr. McGuire de¬
livered the opening address of the Synod in which he
gave a clear and succinct statement of the history of the
movement which led to the calling of this First Synod,
covering the period from .november 9> *9^9 to da,te.
He outlined his vision of a branch of the Holy Catholic
Church controlled by Colored Churchmen, gathering in
people of African descent in all quarters of the globe, yet
showing prejudice to no other racial group, nor refusing,
such in its membership and privileges. Such a Church,,
should be Episcopal in government and polity, yet inde-
31
32
Summary of Proceedings
pendent and antonomous. He recited how he had or¬
ganized the first parish in New York City, known as
' The Good Shepherd, Independent Episcopal," ajid how
under his direction similar congregations had been organ¬
ized in Brooklyn, N. Y., Pittsburgh, Pa., Sydney, Nova
Scotia, in the Republics of Cuba and Santo Doming'.),
while the seed had been sown elsewhere in Bermuda, the
West Indies and Central America. He asserted that
£he present movement was neither schismatical nor hereti¬
cal. It was not a break from any existing Church, nor
the expression of any new or false doctrine. It was
rather the expression of the spirit of racial leadership in
ecclesiastical matters, in harmony with the aroused racial
consciousness of the Negro people following the recent
World's War. Me then briefly mentioned the important
work to be done by the First Synod, such as the selection
of the permanent name of this branch of the Church, the
setting forth of the Declaration of its Faith, the enact¬
ing of Constitutions and Canons, providing for a Liturgy,
Hymnal and Theological Seminary, and last but not
least, securing the Historic Episcopate and with it Apos¬
tolic Succession.
The President then warmly welcomed the two distin¬
guished visitors from the Russian Orthodox Church, the
Rev. Archimandrite Patrick and the Rev. Father An¬
tony. The former delivered a fervent and inspiring
address in which he extended the fraternal greetings
of his own and oth* Eastern Orthodox Churches. He
had great hope for the nobk and historic Church being
formed at this Synod. He wa,s reminded of the twelve
men in the upper room in Jerusalem who revolutionized
■Summary of Proceedings 33
the world. He felt that the step being taken now should
have been taken long ago, for as a member of an oppressed
race he fully appreciated the oppression which Negroes
have endured politically and ecclesiastically. He hoped
that we would accept unreservedly the Orthodox Fa,ith,
not only that we might receive consideration from the
Eastern Churches, but that in due time we may accom¬
plish union with the ancient a,nd apostolic Abyssinian
Church of glorious heritage, sacrifice, and continuity.
Finally he expressed his conviction that our efforts- to se¬
cure Bishops of Apostolic Succession would be successful.
The Rev. Father Antony spoke briefly recording his earn¬
est desire to see us launch forth successfully.
By motion it wa,s unanimously carried that all com¬
municant members of any of the Independent Episcopal
Congregations attending and voting in this Synod s>uall
be made "life members" of General Synod, in apprecia-.
tion of their efforts in the work of the organizing of this
Church.
Following the registration of ministerial and lay depu-
"ties, the President proceeded with the agenda. The
question ol the Episcopate was first taken up. It was
shown that while the Rev. Dr. IVIcGuire was abroad in
Cuba in the interest of the movement a not very friendly
editorial in the columns of the "Living Church" of June
11, 1921 appeared in criticism of the leader of our move¬
ment, and in consequence of which publication prelates
representing two different branches of the Catholic Or¬
thodox Church were moved to write to the Rev. Dr.
McGuire promising to aid him in securing the Apostolic
-Succession for the movement. After several conferences
34^, Summary of Proceedings
and much, correspondence with the prelates of both?
Churches, it was discovered that neither party was willing:
to consecrate a Bishop of our race for usi unless we con¬
sent to be a part of their own communion. This con—
dition being unacceptable, there was now a halt in.
the negotiations. The General Synod approved - the
action of those responsible for the efforts thus far made,
and particularly the action of the Rev. Dr. McGuire ii*
recalling all correspondence in connection with the mat¬
ter, unless our autonomy would be preserved while our
future Bishops would be members of the Conclave or
House of Bishops of the American Catholic . Church
through which it was hoped that we would receive the-
Apostolic Succession.
The General Synod then took up the question of the-
name of the Church. Numerous na,mes were presented,
many being f^nt by letter from congregations overseas,
and a long discussion followed. Finally the President"
suggested the name "African Orthodox," and gave his.
reasons in support thereof. Speeches in favor were elo¬
quently made by Rev. W. E. Robertson of Canada, Mr.
F. A. Toote of Philadelphia, and Messrs. C. Brown and*
H. Herod of New York. A preliminary vote upon the
name was then taken, not for final action, but to discover-
the present mind of the oynod with the result that a
unanimous vote was cast that the name "African Ortho¬
dox" was the most satisfactory of all submitted.
General Synod then received the report of a Prelimi¬
nary Meeting of Synod held in St. Saviour's Church,
Brooklyn, July 16, 1921, while Rev. Dr. McGuire was
absent in Cuba, at which time, as the report states, Dr~
Summary of Proceedings 35
George A. McGuire and Rev. James N. Bridgeman wertf
•elected unanimously to he Bishop and Auxiliary Bishop*
respectively. Sjnod having carefully inquired into the'
transactions of said meeting and election, decided to act
formally and finally on the question. On motion of Mr.
F. A. Toote of Philadelphia, seconded by Rev. George
S. Brookes of New Haven, it was unanimously carried
that this First General Synod ratify and confirm the elec¬
tion to the Episcopate of Rev. Dr. George Alexander
McGuire of New York, and that he be designated
Bishop-elect. On motion of Mr. F. A. Toote, seconded
by Mr. O. W. Hollinsed of Brookhn, it was unanimous¬
ly carried that the action of the Preliminary Synod in re¬
ference to the election to the Episcopate of the Rev. J. N.
Bridgeman be not ratified at present, but laid upon the
table pending further development on the part of Mr.
Bridgeman. Following the benediction by the Presi¬
dent the session adjourned until next day.
On Saturday morning, September 3, 1921, the sessiori
of General Synod was resumed in the Church of the
Good Shepherd. Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Rev.
Dr. George A. McGuire, President of Synod and Bishop-
elect. Clerical and Lay Deputies received the Blessed
Sacrament of the Altar. The transaction of business, be¬
gan with the reading and confirmation of the minutes ot
the previous session.
The discussion of the permanent name of the Church
was again the Order of the Day, but after much debate
it was decided to postpone final action for a later session.
At this juncture a telegram reached the Synod inform¬
ing us that the prelates of the American Catholic Church.
36
Summary of Proceedings
with headquarters in Chicago had favorably actecl upon
our petition for the Episcopate and that a letter would
follow announcing the date of the consecration of the
Bishop-elect. Whereupon the Synod unanimously voted
to stand adjourned until such time as the Rev. Dr. G.
A. McGuire should be consecrated, when it would be
again summoned by the Secretary.
On Thursday, September 15th, 1921, the First Gen¬
eral Synod O'f the Church again resumed its session in the
Church of the Good Shepherd at 10:30 a.m. After suit¬
able prayers offered by the President, the minutes of the
session of September 3, 1921 were read and confirmed
The Bishop-elect then reported that after the date of
his consecration had been fixed it was subsequently can¬
celled following which there came a letter from the
Chancellor of the American Catholic Consistory indicat¬
ing certain difficulties which had arisen for which we
were not held responsible, a,nd which might prevent the
granting of our request. Although the information
brought disappointment, Synod discussed the situation
calmly and adjourned for lunch at 2 p.m.
At 3 p.m., the session was resumed, prayer being offer¬
ed by the President. Synod then proceeded to consider
the Declaration of Faith as drafted by the Committee
which had the matter in hand. The Articles were taken
in successive order, debased and amended, and then the
Declaration was unanimously adopted as a whole and
*et forth as elsewhere appears. The Constitution was
next taken up as drafted by the Committee in charge ot
the same. The first Article being on the name of the
Church, final action on the matte t_was^no™r rpHed for.
Summary of Proceedings 37
By moinn of Mr. Ernest Peterson of Cuba, duly second¬
ed by.Rev. Father Antony who had now become a'mem¬
ber of the Synod as Rector of the Good Shepherd in suc¬
cession to the Bishop-elect, it was resolved that the name
be African Orthodox." Rev. James N. Bridgeman im¬
mediately moved, duly seconded, to amend so as to read
African Episcopal." Mr. Bridgeman spoke frequently
and lengthily in support of his amendment, but when the
vote was taken his motion was lost, none voting for it
but himself. Further attempts were made by others ro
omit "African" from the name, and insert "Holy" in its
place. Finally the President calling Rev. George S.
Br< okes to the chair, took the floor and made an eloquent
plea, for racial reasons, for the retention of the word
"Africaji." All amendments being then withdrawn it
was unanimously carried that "the Name of this Church
is, -and shall be, the African Orthodox Church." The
remaining articles of the Constitution were adopted as
drafted, and a vote of thanks was extended to Bishop-
elect McGuir-e and Secretary Robertson who had pre¬
pared the drafts for the Declaration of Faith, the Con¬
stitution, and the Canons. At 6 p.m., the session adjourn¬
ed to meet again at 8:30 p.m.
The Evening Session was resumed at the hour desig¬
nated. After Evensong sung by Rev. J. N. Bridgeman,
assisted by Rev. Geo. S. Brookes, the agenda was called
for The adoption of the Canons of the African Ortho¬
dox Church was the order of the day. The dra,ft sub¬
mitted by the Committee was received. Each .canon was
read debated, or amended when necessary, after which
38
Summary of Proceedings
the entire body of canons was unanimously adopted. Ad~
journment was taken at 11 p.m.
On Friday September 16, 1921, General Synod re¬
sumed its sitting a,t 2 p.m. Prayer being offered by the
President, the minutes of the sessions of the previous day
were read and confirmed. Continuing the agenda, the
election of Officers of the General Synod was next in
order.
For President no ballot was taken, the Bishop-elect,
Rev. George Alexander McGuire being by Constitutional
provision the holder of said office. Ballots were cast
for the remaining officers, resulting thus:—Rev. George
S. Brookes, Rector of St. Paul's Church, New Haven,
Conn., was elected Vice-President of the General Synod;
Rev. Willia,m E. Robertson, Rector of St. Philip's
Church, Sydney, Nova Scotia, was elected Secretary of
General Synod; William Ferguson, Esq., of New York.
City and Vestryman of the Church of the Good Shepherd
was elected Treasurer of General Synod; and the
Hon. Fred. A. Toote of Philadelphia was, elected Chan¬
cellor of General Synod. The Rev. Father Antony R.
F. Hill was appointed Dean of the Seminary. These six
General Officers comprise as per Constitution the
African Orthodox Consistory. The President then ap¬
pointed the members of the several Commissions and
Committees as provided by the Constitution, their names
being recorded in the official Journal of General Sjnod.
This being the last session of the First General Synod
devoted entirely to business, the all-important question of
securing the consecration of the Bishop-elect, ajid with
this, the Apostolic Succession for the African Orthodox
Summary of Proceedings 39
Church, was again called for, and after serious consider-
ation the following resolution was unanimously passed.
RESOLVED:—
1. That this First General Synod of the African
Orthodox Church, assembled in our closing session, send
as a, Deputation, our well-beloved Brother in Christ, the
Reverend Doctor George Alexander McGuire, Bishop-
elect, and our highly esteemed fellow-labourer, the Rev¬
erend William Ernest Robertson, to Chicago for the
purpose of presenting in person the humble request of the
General Synod to His Eminence J. R. Vilatte, the Must
Reverend F. E. J. Lloyd, the Right Reverend Carl A.
Nybladh, the Honorable Chancellor Edgar J. Sneed, and
other members of the American Catholic Consistory.
2. That we most earnestly petition the American
Catholic Consistory to review the whole matter i>i me
Consecration to the Episcopate of the Rev. Dr. George
Alexander McGuire, and to consider the great opportu¬
nity afforded them to give to the Negroes of the World
an Apostolic Church of Catholic and Orthodox Faith and
Order.
3. That we pray that the Holy Spirit may guide and
direct all concerned in this matter to the end that our
Brethren may return to our waiting Church and People
bringing with them the mo-t necessary and blessed Gitt.
In accordance with this resolution the Bishop-elect
was instructed to take Rev. W. E. Robertson as his Chap¬
lain and to proceed to Chicago immediately after the ad¬
journment of General Synod. A telegram to this effect
order^,,^^t'~fr~thr—•^Metropolitan the Most Rev.
4°
Summary of Proceedings
Joseph R. Vilatte, and a copy to Archbishop F. E. J.
Lloyd, requesting for the Deputation a reception a#d
conference.
In consideration of service rendered the Church in their
respective fields, the opportunity for extension of the
cause in their districts, and the faithful assistance given
to the leader during this First General Synod, the Bishop-
elect announced the appointment of Rev. Wm. IL. Robert¬
son as Archdeacon of Nova Scotia, and Rev. George S.
Brookes as Archdeacon of Connecticut. General Synod
then took recess.
At 8:45 p.m., a, large congregation assembled in the
Church of the Good Shepherd for the final service and
session of Synod. Arcljdeacon Robertson intoned Even¬
song, and Rev. Father Antony censed the Altar and
Clergy during the Magnificat. Two seminai ians,
Messrs. James Roberts and A. W. Cholmondeley read the
Lessons. A full choir with acolytes, thurifer and cru-
cifer formed in procession, the Bishop-elect and Dean
Antony being vested in their Copes. Missionary ad¬
dresses were then delivered by Deputies from Cuba, Cana¬
da and New England describing the growth of the work,
in those parts. The Very Reverend Dean then spoke of
the Seminary and its place in the development of the-
African Orthodox Church. He announced the opening
of the Autumn session during the first week in October
with an enrollment of over twelve students. In addition'
a correspondence course will be undertaken for twcveral
applicants in distant fields. The minutes of the day's-
sessions were read and confirmed. A Solemn Te Deum,
with incense, was then sung, the Clergy and Acolytes-
Summary of Proceedings
41
facing the Altar and standing in the Sanctuary, after
which the Bishop-elect gave his Blessing, and the First
General Sjnnd of the African Orthodox Clmrch adjourn¬
ed sine die, having accepted the invitation of the War¬
dens, Vestrymen and Congregation of the Good Shepherd
to be their guests in September, 1922.
^Historical motes
The Deputation spent ten days in Chicago in conference
with the American Catholic Consistory, during which
time the Declaration of Faith, the Constitution and
Canons, the purposes and aims of the African Orthodox
Church, were most carefully scrutinized. Certain steps
being ta,ken and agreed to by the Deputation for the
safeguarding of the Episcopate, the chief being a pledge
of the Bishop-elect to become a member of the Conclave
of Bishops of the American Catholic Church, and not
to consecrate Bishops without the consent of the Con¬
clave, it was unanimously decided by the Consistory to
grant the petit'on of the African Orthodox Church. Both
members of the Deputation received conditional baptism,
confirmation, and the Minor Orders on Sunday, Septem¬
ber, 25th, 1921; were admitted Deacons on Monday Sep¬
tember 26th 1921; and were ordained priests on Tuesday
September 27th. On Wednesday, September 28th, 1921
the consecration of Rev. Dr. McGuire to the Episcopate
followed. Arriving in New York Thursday, 29th Sep¬
tember, the Deputation met with a hearty reception, and
on the evening of the same day, the service of Enthrone¬
ment of the Right Reverend George A. McGuire in the
CathedraJ Chapel of the Good Shepherd was held in the
presence of a large congregation of both races. The new
Bishop was vested in Cope, Mitre, Pectoral Cross, Ring,
and carried his Crozier, and as the Procession moved
down the aisle, the people gratefully received his Blessing.
Clergy, white and colored, of the Protestant Episcopal
Historical ATote 43
Church, who had been his colleagues in the past, were
present both at his consecration in Chicago, and his
Enthronement in New York, and extended to him their
good wishes for the future.
THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC COMMUNION
Bishops
1. THE MOST REVEREND JOSEPH RENE
VILATTE, D.D., D.C.C., Exarch and Metropoli¬
tan of the American Catholic Church.
2. THE MOST REVEREND F. E. J. LLOYD,
D.D., Archbishop and Primate of the American
Catholic Church.
3. THE RIGHT REVEREND CARL F. NY-
BLADH, D.D., Bishop and Primate of the Swedish
American Church.
4. THE RIGHT REVEREND GEORGE ALEX¬
ANDER McGUIRE, D.D., M.D., Bishop and
Primate of The African Orthodox Church.
COMMISSION GIVEN FOR CONSECRATION
Hit tbe IFlame of tbe ffatber, an& of tbe Son,
an& of tbe Hols ©bost. amen.
JOSEPH RENE VILATTE, by Divine Providence a,nd
the favor of the Patriarchal See of Saint Peter at Antioch,
Archbishop and Metropolitan, Exarch of the American
Catholic Church, to all who may see these, health, peace
and benediction in Chirst Jesus Out Lord!
KNOW YE ALL MEN, tha,t:
Whereas the African Orthodox Church in
Provisional Synod assembled in St. Saviour's
Church, Brooklj'n, State of New York, on
July 16, 1921, unanimously elected the Rev-
erend Doctor George Alexander McGuire to
< be their first Bishop; and unanimously ratified
^ and confirmed said election in. First General
Synod assembled in the Church of the Good
Shepherd, New York, City, State of New
York, on September 2, 1921 and
Whereas the American Catholic Consistory, by Ordinance
of this day, after declaring all impediments removed, order¬
ed the Chancellor of the Church to present unto Us the
Reverend Doctor George Alexander McGuire, Priest, as
a fit person, regularly elected, and awaiting and entitled
to consecration to the Episcopate in this Church for the
African Orthodox Church; and
Whereas there have been presented unto Us all such
certificates and other manuscript testimonials as a,re re¬
quired by the Canon Law of the American Catholic
Church.
Therefore do We, in accordance with Article XIII,
Section 4, Paragraph A of the Constitution of the Ameri¬
can Catholic Church, hereby take upon Ourself, and
grant unto Our Beloved Brother the Right Reverend Carl
A. Nybla,dh, Bishop of the Swedish American Church
commission to assist Us in the imposition of hands., and
consecration to the Sacred Order of the Episcopate of:
THE REVEREND GEORGE ALEXANDER Mc-
Historical Xo/s
4=5
GUIRE, Priest, and Bishop-elect of the African Ortho¬
dox Church, which shall by Ourselves be celebrated and
performed on Wednesday the Twenty-eighth Day of
September, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-
One, A. D., in the Lhurch of Our Lady of Good Death,
4429 North Mulligan Avenue,- Norwood Fark, County
of Cook, Illinois.
And may the Almighty who is a, strong tower to all
who put their trust in Him, be evermore his defence and
consolation!
Given under the Seal of the American Catholic Church,
on Thursday, the Twenty-seventh day of September One
Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-One A. D.
In witness whereof we hereto affix Our Hand
hJ and Seal.
§ J. R. VILATTE, MAR TIMOTHEUS I.
Exarch of the American Catholic Church
I, the Chancellor of the Church do hereby certify
that these present letters are recorded in the Archives of
the America^ Catholic Church and that they have been
properly issued in accordance with the Constitution of the
same (No. 19210928C).
In virtue whereof I have hereunto set my hand
^ and Seal
< On this 28th day- of September, A. D. 1921
EDGAR J. SNEED
Priest
46
Historical Note
CERTIFICATE OF CONSECRATION
1Tn tbe flame of tbc jfatber, an£> of tbe Son,
anO of tbc IDols ©bost. amen.
JOSEPH RENE VILATTE, by Divine Providence
and the favor of the Patriarchal See of 5aint Peter at An-
tioch, Archbishop and Metropolitan, Exarch of the
American Catholic Church to all who may see these,
health, peace a,nd benediction in Christ Jesus Our Lord!
KNOW YE ALL MEN by these present letters that
on Wednesday the twenty-eighth of the month of Sep¬
tember of the One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-
first year of Our Lord in the Church of our Lady of
Good Death, 4429 North Mulligan Avenue, Norwood
Park, County of Cook, Illinois, at the request of and for
the African Orthodox Church, and with the assistance of
Our Brother, the Right Reverend Carl A. Nybladh, Bis¬
hop, and in the presence of Christians of Our Jurisdic¬
tion and others, by virtue of the powers conferred upon
Us in the One Holy Ca,tholic and Apostolic Church and
in accordance with the Constitution of the American
Catholic Church, We have imposed Our Hands upon, and
consecrated to the Sacred Order of the Episcopate: the
Priest
-GEORGE ALEXANDER McGUIRE, Bishop of the
African Orthodox Church;
In testimony wThereof We hereunto affix Our
Hand and Seal on this twenty-eighth day of
the month of September of the One Thousand
Nine Hundred and twenty-first year of Our
< Lord
3 ^ J. R. VILATTE, MAR TIMOTHEUS I.
Catholic Archbishop
CARL A. NYBLADH,
Bishop
Historical Note 47
Witnesses: C. DURAND, Priest
W. E.ROBERTSON, Priest
I, the Chancellor of the Church, do hereby certify that
t ese present letters are recorded in the Archives of the
American Catholic Church and that they have been pro¬
perly issued in accordance with the Constitution of the
same (No. 19210928A).
In virtue whereof I have hereunto set my hand
^ and seal
< On this 28th day of September A .D. 1921
^ EDGAR J. SNEED,
Priest
VALUABLE EXTRACT
From the "New Schajf-Herzog Encyclopedia of
Religious Knowledge"
"In the year 1891, the Syrian Patriarch of Antioch, to
whom can be ascribed as the historic successor to the first
Bishop of Antioch, the Apostle Peter himself, whatever
pre-eminence and primacy of jurisdiction the leader of
the apostolic college could impart to another, authorized
the elevation to the episcopate of the Old Catholic priest
Pere Vilatte (q.v.) of Wisconsin. The solemn patriarchal
bull permitting this canonical archi-episcopal consecration
by eastern prelates, of a western priest, and investing him¬
self with the plenary power and apostolic authority of the
primatial dignity, is given verbatim a? translated from
the authentic Syrian original.
"In the name of the Essential, Eternal, Self Ex¬
isting, Almighty God: His servant Ignatius Peter
Historical Note
III, Patriarch of the Apostolic See of Antioch and
the East.
"We, the humble servant of God, hereby allow
the consecration by the Holy Ghost of the Priest
Joseph Rene Vila,tte, elected for archi-episcopal dig¬
nity, Archbishop-Metropolitan in the name of Mar
Timotheus, for the church of the Mother of God
in Dykesville, Wisconsin, United States, an J other
churches in the archdiocese of America, viz: the
churches adhering to the orthodox faith, in the name
of the Father, amen; and of the Son, amen; and of
the living Holy Ghost, amen.
"We stand up before God's majesty, and raising
up our hands toward His grace, pray that the Holy
Ghost may descend upon him, as He did upon the
apostles at the time of the ascension of our Lord,
Jesus Christ, by whom they were made patriarchs,
bishops, and priests, and were authorized to bind
and loose, a,s written by St. Matthew.
"We, therefore, by virtue of our authority re¬
ceived from God, authorize him to bind and loose,
and elevating our voice we offer thanks to God, and
exclaim 'Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison. Kyrie Elei-
son' Again we pray to God to grant him cheer of
face before his throne of majesty, and that.wc and
he may be made worthy to glorify Him at all times,
for ever and ever.
"Given on the seventeenth of Konum Kolim of
the year of Lord, eighteen hundred and ninety-one
(corresponding to the' twenty-ninth of December,
eighteen hundred and ninety-one"L-from—tk*»eatri-
Historical Note
49
archa.1 palace of the monastery of Mardiu."
"(Signed) IGNATIUS PETER III."
The ceremony performed in conformity with this
apostolic authorization was unique in the simulta¬
neous use of both the western and eastern rites of
episcopal conscra,tion. The Portuguese Archbishop
Alvarez, himself consecrated by Syrian prelates, con¬
ferred the episcopate on Pere Vilatte, according to
the forms of the Latin ritual, while concurrently
the two co-consecrating Syrian metropolitan like¬
wise conferred the episcopate according to the forms
of the Syrian ritual, so that the validity of this new
apostolic succession in the western patriarchate is
indisputable, either respecting canonical authority,
intention, or rite. It wTill be noticed that the title of
consecration of Pere Vilatte is stated as archbishop-
metropolitan of the archdioece of America. This plenary
canonical power was consistently conferred on Arch¬
bishop Vilatte by the Patriarch of Antioch, because it is
admitted by all unbiased canonists that, as the Western
•continent was unknown during the concilia,r ages, it is
■obviously exempt from the exclusive jurisdiction of any
patriarch, either of the eastern or western branches of the
Holy Catholic Church of Christ.
There is, therefore, in the western patriarchate besides
the Latin succession of the Independent Catholic Church
of Holland, derived in 1724 from the French Bishop
Varlet, the canonical Syrian succession of Archbishop
Vilatte, who has already been solemnly recognized in his
archiepiscopal character, not only by the Church of Hoi-
5°
Historical Note
land, but even by the Holy Office of the Roman Catholic
Church.
In view of this fact, the several reformed communions
in the Western Church a,re not now dependent for a his¬
toric episcopate, either upon the disputed Anglican suc¬
cession dating from the Elizabethan restoration, or upom
the valid but irregular succession of the Old Catholic
bishops of Europe, since there is now available this de¬
rived direct from that first center of Christianity itself,
that oldest of all the branches of the primitive Church,,
the Syrian Church of Antioch.
Ernest Magrander.'*
Hbe Hpostolie Succession of tbc Gburcb of
Hntlocb tbe jfirst See of St. peter
The Syrian Church of ANHTUOCH, to which the
AFRICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH owes its Epis¬
copal Succession, has never ceased to elect and consecrate
licr own patriarchs and to preserve the Apostolic Succes¬
sor! unbroken.
We submit the list of Patriarchs of Antioch from St.
Peter the Apostle to the Patriarch to whom under God
we owe our Succession and Apostolic Authority.
A. D.
3
PETER the Apostle
38
a
EVODIUS
40
3-
IGNATIUS 1 martyr
43
4
EARON
123
.5
CORNELIUS
137
6
EADOS
142
.7
THEOPHILUS
157
8
MAXIMINUS
171
9
SERAPHIM
179
10
ASCLEPIADES, martyr
189
11
PHILIP
201
12
ZEBINUS
219
J3
BABYLOS, martyr
237
14
FABIUS
250
15
DEMEniRIUS
251
16
PAUL 1
259
DOMNUS 1
270
j8
[TIMOTHEUS
281
51
52
Apostolic Succession—Church of Antloch
19 CYRILUS 291
20 iTYRANTUS ,296
21 VITJALIUS 301
22 PHILOGONIUS 318
23 EUSTACHIUS 323,
24 PAULINUS 338:
25 PHILABINUS 383.
26 EVAGRIUS 386
27 PHOSPHORIUS 416
28 ALEXANDER 418
29 JOHN 1 428,
30 THEODOTUS 431
31 DOMNUS 11 442
32 MAXIMUS 450.
33 ACCACIUS 454
34 MAHT/YRIUS 457
35 PETER II 464
36 PHILADIUS 5oo
37 SERVERIUS the Great 509,
38 SERGIUS
39 DOMNUS III 547
40 ANASTASIUS 56Q
41 GREGORY I 564
42 PAUL II 567
43 PATRA Sll
44 DOMNUS W 58&
45 JULIANUS -gi
46 ATHANASIUS I 595
47 JOHN II 636
48 THEODORUS I 640
49 SEVERUS 668
Apostolic Succession—Church of Ant'ioch S3
50 ATHANASIUS II
51 JULIANUS II
G84
687
52 ELIAS I 7G9
53 ATHANASIUS III 724
54 EVANIUS I 740
55 GERVASIUS I 759
56 JOSEPH 790
57 CYRIJACUS 79J
58 DIONYSIUS I 818
59 JOHN III 847
60 IGNATIUS II 877
61 THEODOSIUS 887
62 DIONYSIUS II 897
63 JOHN V 910
64 BASILIUS I 92Z
65 JOHN V 936
66 EVANIUS II 95+
67 DIONYSIUS ill 958
68 ABRAHAM I 962
69 JOHN VI 965
jo ATHANASIUS IV 987
'i JOHN Vll 1004
72 DIONYSIUS IV 1032
THEODORUS II 1042
74 ATHANASIUS V 1058
75 Jl^JLXlS VIII 1064
76 BASILIUS II 1074
ABDOONE 1076
DIONYSIUS V 1077
79 EVANIUS III 1080
80 DIONYSIUS VI 108S
54 Apostolic Succession—Church •/ Antloch
tl
ATHANASIUS VI
1091
%2
JOHN IX
1131
*3
ATHANASJiUS VII
ii39
$4
MICHAEL I the Great
1167
•85
ATHANASIUS VIII
1200
86
MICHAEL II
1207
87
JOHN X
1208
88
IGNATIUS III
1223
89
DJ/ONYSIUS III
1253
90
JOHN XI
1253
91
IGNATIUS IV
1264
92
PHILANUS
1283
93
IGNATIUS BARUHID
1293
94
IGNATIUS ISMAEL
1333
95
IGNATIUS BASILIUS III
1366
96
IGNATIUS ABRAHAM II
1382
97
IGNATIUS BASILIUS W
1412
98
IGNATIUS BEHANAM I
1415
99
IGNATIUS
1455
100
IGNATIUS JOHN XII
1483
101
IGNATIUS NOAH
1492
102
IGNATIUS JEbUS I
1509
103
IGNATIUS JACOB I
1510
104
IGNATIUS DAVID I
1519
T05
IGNATIUS ABDULLAH
1520
106
IGNATIUS NA AMATHALAK
1557
107
IGNATIUS DAVID II
1576
108
IGNATIUS PHILATHUS
1591
109
IGNATIUS ABDULLAH II
1597
110
IGNATIUS CADHAI
1598
J11
IGNATIUS SIMEON
1640
112
"3
H4
"5
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
55
*6 53
1661
1686
1687
1708
1722
1746
1768
1781
1810
1817
1818
1839
1847
1872-
Apostolic Succession—Church of Antivch
IGNATIUS JESUS II
GNATIUS A. MESSIAH I
GNATIUS CABEED
GNATIUS GERVASIUS II
oinATIUS ISAAC
GNATIUS SICCARABLAK
GNATIUS GERVASIUS III
GNATIUS GERVASIUS IV
GNATIUS MATH IAS
GNATIUS BE HAN AM II
'GNATIUS JONAS
GNATIUS GERVASIUS .V
GNATIUS ELIAS II
GNATIUS JACOB II
GNATIUS PETER III
TZhc apostolic Succession of tbe dfirst
JBisbop of tbe Hfrican ©rtbofco* Cburcb
1. Ignatius Peter III, Patriarch of Antioch and the
East, assisted by two other Bishops, 1877, conse¬
crated Paul Athanasius.
2. Paul Athanasius, assisted by Bishops George Grego-
rius and Paul Evanius, 1889, consecrated Archbishop
Alvarez.
3. Archbishop Alvarez of Ceylon, in the Cathedral of
Our Lady of Good Dea,th, assisted by Bishop George
Gregorius and Bishop Paul Athanasius, consecrated
Archbishop Joseph R. Vilatte, May 29th 1892.
4. Archbishop Vilatte, Exarch and Metropolitan of the
American Catholic Church, assisted by Bishop Carl
A. Nybladh, Primate of the Swedish American
Church (himself consecrated in 1920 by Archbishop
Vila,tte) consecrated Bishop George Alexander Mc-
Guire, Primate of the African Orthodox Church, on
September 28th 1921 at Chicago, 111.
56
JBisbop /l£c(3uire