Parson
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
eccles. law. One who has full possession of all the rights of a parochial church. He is so called because by his person the church, which is an invisible body, _ig represented: in England he is himself a body corporate in order to protect and defend the church (which he personates) by a perpetual succession.
Co. Litt. 300.
Fortunately in the United States, where religion is generally well supported, we have no national church, and, therefore, no parsons known as such to the law.