PARISH LAFOURCHE INTERIOR.

As it respects the condition of my charge, consisting of a colored congregation, on an estate near Thibodeaux, I have to report, viz:

Sunday School Pupils--- Males 58, Females 57,

3

19

25

81

.92

115

Christ crucified preached to this congregation has, evidently, been

accompanied with the divine blessing.

SPENCER WALL.

Divine service has been regularly held twice on each Lord's day, during the year. From the seventh Sunday after Trinity, until the twenty-second, I read prayers and preached once each Lord's day at Christ Church, on Canal Street.

On the 6th of April, the foundation of a new church edifice was laid, and completed ready for divine service on the first Sunday in July, and consecrated on the second Sunday in advent, the 9th of December, 1849, by the name of St. Peter's Church for Seamen.

The reading room has been enlarged, and still continues to be well attended by the seamen. The practice of distributing books among the seamen on board their ships is still continued, viz: Bibles, books of common prayer, manuals of prayer, tracts, etc.

CHARLES W. WHITALL,

Missionary.

GRACE CHURCH, NEW ORLEANS.

The Rector of Grace Church, New Orleans, respectfully reports to the Right Reverend the Bishop of the Diocese: That having just entered upon the discharge of his duties he has not yet been able to make himself acquainted with the condition and prospects of the Parish.

For the year past, Grace Church has been without the services of a settled pastor, and, in conséquence, the former parishoners have, to a great extent, connected themselves with the other parishes in the city. The number of communicants, therefore, cannot be accurately reported. Upon consulting the Parish Register, I find that since the last Convention there have been

Infant Baptisms,

Confirmed,
Marriages,
Funerals,

9

1

From the importance of this field of labor, the great success which crowned the ministry of my predecessor, and the devotion manifested by the few zealous laymen who have had the interests of this Parish so much at heart from the period of its organization, the hope is confidently cherished that, under the divine blessing, an abundant harvest will at length be gathered in, to the praise and glory of God. WM. C. CRANE.

MAY 8th, 1850,

APPENDIX B.

Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church

OF LOUISIANA.

ARTICLE I.

The Church in Louisiana hereby accedes to the Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and acknowledge its authority.

ARTICLE II.

The annual Convention of the Church in this State shall be held at such time and place as shall have been determined by the preceding Convention. The Bishop shall be, ex officio, President of the Convention; or, in case of his absence, or of a vacancy in the Episcopate, a President pro tempore shall be elected by ballot from among the clerical members present. A Secretary, who shall also be ex officio Treasurer of the Convention, shall be chosen at the opening of each Convention, and shall continue in office till next annual Convention. Special meetings of the Convention may be called by the Bishop, when in his judgment the good of the Church shall reqnire it; and when there is no Bishop, by the Standing Committee.

men.

ARTICLE III.

The Convention shall be composed of both clergymen and lay. All ministers of this Church, in regular standing, who shall be officiating in some Parish in the State; Clerical Instructors of youth and Chaplains in the Army and Navy who have been residents in the State six months, shall be members of the Convention. Each Parish in the State, in union with this Convention. shall be entitled to a representation by three lay delegates; and if it consists of more than fifty families, by five, to be chosen by the Vestry; a certificate of whose appointment signd by the Wardens, or either of them, or by the Secretary of the said Vestry, or the Rector of the parish, shall, before they are admitted to a seat, be laid before the Convention. A representation, whether clerical or lay, from one-half of the Parishes in union with this Convention, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business: but a smaller number may adjourn.

ARTICLE IV.

The clergy and the laity shall deliberate in one body, in all cases

not hereinafter provided for; and on every question, a majority of votes of those present shall decide, the Bishop or President being entitled to a casting vote.

ARTICLE V.

A Standing Committee, to consist of not more than three clergymen and three laymen, shall be appointed at each annual meeting of the Convention; any three of whom, always including one clerical member, shall be a quorum for the transaction of business; except for such purposes as, by the canon of the General Convention, shall require a larger number.

ARTICLE VI.

The election of a Bishop shall be in the following manner; at least four weeks before the Convention to be held for the purpose of such election, the Standing Committee shall send a notice to the Wardens and Vestry of each Parish, specifying the business to be laid before the Convention. In the election of a Bishop, the clergy and laity shall vote separately; the clergy choosing by ballot some fit and qualified person for that office: Whereupon such choice shall be communicated to the lay delegates; and if, on the ballot, the person so chosen is approved by the lay order, he shall be declared to be duly elected.

ARTICLE VII.

Delegates to the General Convention shall be appointed, and shall continue in office during the time that may intervene between the stated meetings of the General Convention; but in case of vacancy by death or resignation, a substitute or substitutes may be appointed by the Bishop; or if there be no Bishop, by the President of the Standing Committee.

ARTICLE VIII.

This Constitution shall not be subject to alteration, except at the annual meeting of the Convention; nor unless such alteration shall have been proposed and received at a previous meeting.

Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church

OF LOUISIANA.

CANON 1.

OF THE ORGANIZATION OF NEW PARISHES.

To entitle any new parish to be admitted into union with this Convention, it is required of those forming said parish, to conform to the provisions of an act of the Legislature of Louisiana entitled "an act providing for the organization of certain corporations in this State," approved April 30th, 1847; and such parish applying for admission, besides producing a duly certified record of their compliance with said act, shall also produce evidence of their having adopted resolu tions declaring their adhesion to the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and also to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Louisiana.

CANON II.

OF PARISH MEETINGS.

The election of the Wardens, Vestrymen, and Parish Clerk shall be made at the annual parish meeting, to be held on Easter Monday; which officers shall continue in office till the next annual meeting, or till a new election takes place. In case of manifest expediency, a special meeting may be held for that purpose. All persons who own or hire a pew, or who contribute annually to the support of the ministry, shall be entitled to vote.

CANON III.

OF THE CONVENTION FUND.

It shall be the duty of every parish to send annually to the Treas. urer of the Convention, a sum equal to one per centum on the salary of its minister, at least ten dollars annually, and the sum so raised shall be appropriated by the Standing Committee to pay for publishing the journals, and other contingent expenses of the ConventionEach parish shall be entitled to at least twenty copies of the journals. The Treasurer's annual report to the Convention shall contain a statement of the sums received, the parishes from which they were received, and the purposes for which they were expended. The Sec.