that branch of the Church in America which became independent of the Church of England in 1789, by adopting a constitution of its own. The prayer book adopted was nearly like the one of the English Church (See ENGLAND, CHURCH OF). Previous to 1811 the church made but little progress. However, during the next ten years such advancement was made that there were churches in thirteen states. Following 1835 churches were establishen in Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. A division of the church occurred later, owing to difference of opinion concerning the ritual, one branch opposing its outward forms, because they felt that they bore too close a resemblance to the Roman Catholic Church, while the other branch held to the original forms. Those opposing the ritual are known as the low church faction, while those advocating it are known as the high church party. The latter is now the dominant element in the United States. The church maintains a general conference, which meets every three years and is composed of the house of bishops, including all the bishops having jurisdiction in the United States, and the house of clerical and lay deputies, composed of four clergymen and four laymen from each diocese. Changes in the prayer book or constitution of the church can be made only by this body, and then, only when such changes have been published in every diocese for a period of three years previous to the bringing of the question before the general conference for final action. The church maintains sisterhoods and deaconess orders and has a powerful auxiliary in the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew.