it is scarce yet
decided distinctly who have the Right of giving Parishes to Ministers,
whether the Governors or the Vestries, though the best of _Council_ have
been applied to for their Opinion; for their Sentiments are not
obligatory.

The _Vestries_ consist of the Minister, and twelve of the most
substantial and intelligent Persons in each Parish. These at first were
elected by the Parish by Pole, and upon Vacancies are supplied by Vote
of the Vestry; out of them a new Church-Warden is annually chosen, under
(as it were) the Instruction of the old one chosen the Year before. By
the Vestry are all parochial Affairs managed, such as the Church, Poor,
and the Minister's Salary.

The _Clerk_ in Case of the Minister's Death or Absence has great
Business, and is a kind of _Curate_, performing frequently all the
Offices of the _Church_, except the two _Sacraments_ and _Matrimony_;
but 'tis Pity but his Practices were better regulated, and Sets of
Sermons also appointed for his Purpose; for in several Places the
_Clerks_ are so ingenious or malicious, that they contrive to be liked
as well or better than the Minister, which creates Ill-Will and
Disturbance, besides other Harm. In some Places they read the Lessons,
publish Banns, _&c._ when the Minister is present, for his Ease; which
first may not be improper in very hot Weather, or if the Minister be
sick or infirm, if the _Clerk_ can read tolerably well. Likewise might
they be allowed to bury when a Minister cannot possibly be had before
the _Corpse_ would corrupt in hot Weather; but little more should be
granted them, since some Places long accustomed to hear only their Clerk
read Prayers and Sermons at Church, have no right Notions of the Office,
Respect, and Dignity of a _Clergyman_. For registering Births and
Burials, there is a small Allowance which is generally given to the
Clerk, who takes that Trouble off the Minister's Hands. The Use of this
is to know the Number of Tythables, for laying of Levies, and for other
Occasions, and Lists of these Registers are delivered into the Hands of
proper Officers. The Parishes being of great Extent (some sixty Miles
long and upwards) many dead _Corpses_ cannot be conveyed to the Church
to be buried: So that it is customary to bury in Gardens or Orchards,
where whole Families lye interred together, in a Spot generally
handsomly enclosed, planted with Evergreens, and the Graves kept
decently: Hence likewise arises the Occasion o