(of America), the law or discipline of that Church. The canons are of two kinds:
(1.) "The constitution and canons of the General Convention, forming a code for the uniform government of every diocese and every church;"
(2.) "The constitutions and canons of the several dioceses, of force only within their several precincts, and generally subordinate to the power of the General Convention." The canons are liable to be repealed or altered by the successive Conventions. They are given by Hammond, Definitions of Faith and Canons of Discipline (N. York, 1844, p. 283 sq.). There is also a Digest of the Canons by Dr. Hawks and Judge Hoffman (N. Y. 1860); see also Hoffman, Treatise on the Law of the Protestant Episcopal Church (N. York, 1850); Digest of the Canons for the Government of the Protestant Episcopal Church, adopted in the General Conventions of 1859, 1862, and1865 (Boston, 1866, 8vo). (See PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH).