PHASES OF CONVOCATION. Anglican Synods, A.D. 601 то A.D. 1860. BY WILLIAM PEACE. "An independent Ecclesiastical Association, possessed of deliberative, LONDON: PARTRIDGE AND CO., 34, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. MDCCCLX. 1.0.0.109. PHASES OF CONVOCATION. CONVOCATION is an assembly, convoked, and meeting under the presidency of a superior, for the purpose of consulting and resolving upon such measures as may be considered necessary, in references to the subjects which may be placed before them. In this country such assemblies have been known under the following titles:— The Cealc-gemot, or Holy Synod, probably for regulating the minutiae of religion, and the details of religious worship. The Folk-gemot, or People's Council, for the secular affairs of the country The Wittena-gemot, or Council of wise men, for the consideration generally of all the affairs of the nation, foreign and domestic-the latter embracing all subjects of internal polity, including the maintenance and protection of the Christian religion. In and over all these the Sovereign presided-without his authority they could not assemble-without his sanction, their deliberations and conclusions had no legal efficacy. Councils.-After the interference of the Court of Rome, councils were assembled-sometimes composed of ecclesiastics only, sometimes of clerics and laymen. They were generally engaged upon Church questions; but occasionally interfered in secular affairs. Most frequently the president was a legate of the Church of Rome, sometimes an archbishop with legatine authority, and sometimes an archbishop without that title, yet still acting as the locum-tenens of the Papal power. Such councils were generally summoned by the Sovereign, or with his sanction; sometimes without; he frequently sat in them, but seldom presided. Those councils were not assembled for consultation, or legislation; but, as the medium, through which decrees, previously agreed upon, were promulgated for the information and observance of all concerned. During the period of the preceding councils under the Papal influence, the clergy obtained permission to assemble in a separate meeting, and to impose on themselves and on Church properties such taxes towards the expenses of the state as in their benevolence they might deem meet—and so doing they were exempted from the taxation imposed by Parliament. This privilege is supposed to have been granted, or at least recognized by the Conciliary Congress held at Berghamsted in 696, and by that which met at Cloves-hoo in 742. The privilege was, by mutual agreement, set aside in 1663. In the exercise of that privilege, originated the assembling of our present Convocation. The present Conciliar Institutions of this country areFirst. The Parliament or National Assembly: the Great Council of the Nation, consisting of two Houses, viz., the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. Their duty is to deliberate and legislate, in whatever is essential or advisable for the general interests and welfare of the empire. Whatever may be suggested must be approved by the two houses, before it be submitted to the consideration of the Sovereign, and it must receive the sanction of the Crown before it can possess any legal authority. In this Council we recognise those which previously existed under the titles of Wittena-gemot and Folk-gemot. Secondly. Ecclesiastical Councils. These are National Assemblies, called together originally by the Sovereigns, afterwards, under the direction of Rome, by the Papal Legate, for the consideration of Ecclesiastical and Church affairs. In this assembly we may recognize the Circ-gemot, Holy Synod of the Saxons, which was a meeting wholly distinct from the Folk-gemot. These councils have merged in that alluded to under our sixth division. Thirdly. The Provincial Council or Synod. An assembly of the bishops and clergy of the province under the presidency of the archbishop, summoned by the writ of the archbishop, sometimes without, but more generally, I believe, under the direction of the Sovereign. It has deliberative and executive authority, so far as respects the carrying out within the province, the existing laws and regulations of the Church. Fourthly. The Diocesan Synod. An assembly of the clergy, &c., of the diocese, summoned and presided over by the bishop of the diocese. In authority it is similar to that of the provincial synod, but restricted to the diocese in which it is held. In these two assemblies we may again recognize the Circgemot of the Saxons. Fifthly. Convocation. The assembly generally recognized under that appellation, is a meeting of the clergy of each province, convened to come together at the same time as the Parliament is assembled. This assembly is indebted for its origin to the decrees of the councils held at Berghamsted in 696, and at Cloves-hoo in 742, which empowered the clergy to tax themselves, at the same time exempting the Church property from the taxes imposed by Parliament. In 1663, this privilege ceased, and the clergy and the Church were |