logical study and admission to the ministry; it nominates the
members of the table or any special bodies of commissioners for particular
occasions; it superintends all evangelic work, whether in the valleys or
its numerous mission stations in other places. It now meets yearly, but in
former times its meetings were seldom, and were attended by a
representative of the civil power.

THE TABLE is the executive of the Vaudois Church, and consists of five
members, the moderator, assistant moderator, and secretary being pastors,
with two laymen. The table is appointed by the synod from year to year, and
responsible to that body in respect of its operations.

The officers of the Vaudois Church are pastors, evangelists, elders, and
deacons. To exercise the office of pastor a person must be set apart by the
laying on of hands, previous to which he must ([alpha]) have attained
the age of twenty-three, ([beta]) have the requisite gifts for the work
of the ministry, ([gamma]) be of irreproachable character, ([delta])
receive a certificate from his university or other place of education,
([epsilon]) profess convictions in harmony with the doctrines and
discipline of the Vaudois Church. These points are decided by the table, in
concert with the whole body of the pastors of the church. Furthermore, a
pastor is not allowed to have the sole care of a parish before he has
reached the age of twenty-five years.

It is not necessary to speak of the functions of the evangelists, as the
name itself is explicit, and the office one common to all evangelical
churches, although denominated by a different title, _e.g._ catechist,
reader, lay missionary.

The elders are lay members of the church of well-known religious character,
residing in the parish, and not receiving any benefit from the funds they
may be called upon to administer. At an election of an elder for the first
time he is required before installation to undergo an examination by a
commission from the consistory of his own parish, assisted by a pastor from
the nearest adjoining parish. The elder is chosen for life, unless he
voluntarily resigns, or falls into a breach of church discipline, or
becomes incapacitated by failing health; in the latter case, however, he
retains the title of honorary elder.

_The deacons_ must have much the same qualifications as the elders. They
are elected for five years, and their special work is the care of the sick
and needy. In addition to a zealous