ies, also, are empowered by
their charters to make by-laws which are binding on their members. Such
by-laws must be in harmony with the objects of the society and must not
infringe or limit the powers and duties of its officers.

BYLES, MATHER (1706-1788), American clergyman, was born in Boston,
Massachusetts, on the 26th of March 1706, descended, on his mother's side,
from John Cotton and Richard Mather. He graduated at Harvard in 1725, and
in 1733 became pastor of the Hollis Street church (Congregational), Boston.
He held a high rank among the clergy of the province and was noted for his
scholarly sermons and his ready wit. At the outbreak of the War of
Independence he was outspoken in his advocacy of the royal cause, and after
the British evacuation of Boston his connexion with his church was
dissolved. He remained in Boston, however, and subsequently (1777) was
arrested, tried and sentenced to deportation. This sentence was later
changed to imprisonment in his own house. He was soon released, but never
resumed his pastorate. He died in Boston on the 5th of July 1788. Besides
many sermons he published _A Poem on the Death of George I._ (1727) and
_Miscellaneous Poems_ (1744).

His son, MATHER BYLES (1735-1814), graduated at Harvard in 1751, and was a
Congregational clergyman at New London, Connecticut, until 1768, when he
entered the Established Church, and became rector of Christ church, Boston.
Sympathizing with the royal cause, he settled, after the War of
Independence, in St Johns, New Brunswick, where he was rector of a church
until his death.

BYNG, JOHN (1704-1757), British admiral, was the fourth son of George Byng,
Lord Torrington, and entered the navy in 1718. The powerful influence of
his father accounts for his rapid rise in the service. He received his
first appointment as lieutenant in 1723, and became captain in 1727. His
career presents nothing of note till after his promotion as rear-admiral in
1745, and as vice-admiral in 1747. He served on the most comfortable
stations, and avoided the more arduous work of the navy. On the approach of
the Seven Years' War the island of Minorca was threatened by an attack from
Toulon and was actually invaded in 1756. Byng, who was then serving in the
Channel with the rank of admiral, which he attained in 1755, was ordered to
the Mediterranean to relieve the garrison of Fort St Philip, which was
still holding out. The squadron was not very well manned, and Byng was