Two derivations are given of the title of Sidesmen. Some suppose that they are so called because they are elected as assistants to the Churchwardens to stand by their side; other suppose the word to be an abbreviation of Synodsmen, because in ancient times the Bishops summoned certain persons of credit from the various parishes in order to testify as to the morals of the clergy and people. These witnesses were called Testes Synodales, and hence some suppose the title of Sidesmen, or Synodsmen, to have taken its origin. Of late years in populous towns Sidesmen have often been elected, and are found to be of great help in assisting the Churchwardens in the execution of their duties. The Vestry at which the Churchwardens and Sidesmen (if any) are to be elected must be duly summoned. The notice summoning the Vestry must be signed either by the Incumbent, the Curate, one Churchwarden, or one Overseer of the poor. {7} It is obviously advisable that the signatures of the Incumbent and of both Churchwardens should be attached to the notice of the Easter Vestry. This notice specifying the particular business to be transacted must be affixed on a Sunday, three clear days before the holding of the meetings, at or near the principal door of all the Churches and Chapels in the parish. {8a} The Incumbent of the parish is by law the ex-officio Chairman of the Vestry. {8b} In his absence the ratepayers present must elect a Chairman for the occasion. The Curate does not necessarily take his place as Chairman, unless elected to do so by the Vestry. The usual custom in parishes is for the Incumbent to nominate one Churchwarden and the parishioners the other. Sometimes the parishioners elect both. The canon {8c} indeed seems to point out the election of both Churchwardens by the joint consent of the Minister and the parishioners as the normal mode of action, and the nomination by the Incumbent of one and of the parishioners of another as only to be resorted to when they cannot arrive at a common agreement. But custom goes for a long way in this matter, and the usual course is certainly for the Incumbent to nominate one and the parishioners the other. In the absence of the Incumbent the Curate has the same right to nominate one Churchwarden as the Incumbent if present would have. {9a}