22. Memorials and Overtures Received from Bodies other than Presbyteries and Synods, a, b, c, d. 23. The Rule of 1870 Affirmed and Enforced, a, b, c, d, e. 24. The Rule does not Deny the Right of Petition. 25. Decisions and Deliverances on Doctrine. Case of John Miller, D. D., a; Case of the Rev. Isaac M. See, b; Deliverance on the so-called Higher Criticism, c. 26. The Power of Visitation exercised by the Assembly, a; Report of the Committee, b. 27. Pastoral Letter on Sabbath-schools. 28. Testimony against the Support of Roman Catholic and other Denominational Institutions by Public Funds.... 522 2. Of Erecting New Synods; Altering their Bounds, etc., a; Erecting, b; Changing Boundaries, c; Transferring Churches, d, Dissolving Synods, e....... 263 Reorganizing, f; Erecting New Synods, g...... 531 3. Of Erecting, Modifying, Changing and Dissolving Presbyteries. a, Of Erecting, etc., Carlisle, Huntingdon; b, Columbia, Oneida, Albany; c, Geneva, Detroit, Chenango; d, Philadelphia Second; e, Philadelphia Third; f, Luzerne; g, Wisconsin; h, Ningpo, Amoy, Western Africa; i, California, San Francisco, Oregon, Sierra Nevada and San Jose; j, Yedo, Wyoming, Montana. 2. To Transfer Churches. 3. To Transfer Ministers, a, b. 4. To Receive other Ecclesiastical Bodies. a, The Presbytery of Suffolk; b, The Presbytery of Charleston; c, The Associate Reformed Synod; d, The Presbytery of Pittsburg, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. 5. To Define the Succession of Presbyteries.......... 263 Erecting, etc., Puget Sound, South Oregon, Denver, Pueblo, Alaska, Chili, Zacatecas, a; Dissolving, b; Changing, c. 6. Of Receiving, etc., Presbytery of Philadelphia, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church..... 531 4. Of Corresponding with Foreign Churches. 1. The Assembly alone may open Correspondence. 2. Proposals for Correspondence with the New England Churches. 3. Plan of Correspondence with the General Association of Connecticut. 4. THE PLAN OF UNION and action under it. 5. Correspondence with the Reformed Churches. a, With the Reformed Dutch Church; b, Amendments of the Plan; c, Proposal Declined; d, Complaint against Presbytery of North River. 6. Southern Presbyterian Church Recognized as an Independent Body. 7. Correspondence with the Southern Presbyterian Church, a, b, c, d, Answer of the Southern Assembly; e, Action touching the Southern Assembly Declared null and void. 8. Report on Foreign Correspondence, 1870. 9. Bodies with which the Assembly is at present in Correspondence, 1873. 10. Power of the Assembly to Expel a Member. 11. Deliverance on the Perils of our System of Public Education. 12. THE PASTORAL LETTERS. 1. On Missions. 2. On the Old French War, 1756. 3. On the Repeal of the Stamp Act, 1766. 4. On the Revolution, 1775. 5. Address to Washington, 1759; Reply of the President, 1790. 6. On the Results of the French Revolution, 1798. 7. On the Disturbances in Kentucky, etc., 1804. 8. On the Sabbath, 1814. 9. On Christian Activity, 1817. 10. On prevalent Vices and Immoralities, 1818. 11. On Revivals and their Abuses, 1832. 12. On the Maintenance of Doctrinal Purity, 1839. 13. On Revivals of Religion, 1849. 14. On Diligence in Repairing the Wastes of War, 1865. 15. On the Observance of the Sabbath, 1867........ 267 15. Correspondence. The Assembly Receives and Appoints Delegates only in the Case of Ecclesiastical Bodies, a, b. 16. The Presbyterian Alliance. Report of Delegates to the London Conference of 1875, a; Constitution of the Alliance, b; Provision for Expenses of the Standing Committee. Secretary, c; Members of the Executive Committee Appointed, d. 17. The Assembly will not Appoint Delegates to Churches Represented in the Alliance. Exceptions. The Southern Presbyterian Church, a ; The Free Evangelical Church of France, b. 18. Correspondence with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, a, b, c, d, e. 19. Delegates Appointed by the Southern Assembly, a; Delegates to the Southern Assembly, b; To Correspond by Letter, c; Committee of Correspondence Appointed, d. 20. Special Committee on Co-operation, a; Report of Committee, b. 21. Answer to Memorial of O. S. Synod of Missouri.... 532 VI. Modes in which Changes may be made in the Constitution; The Approval of a Majority of Presbyteries Required. 1. Power of the Assembly to make Standing Rules. 2. General Principles on which Amendments may be made, a, b, c; In what way Doctrinal Portions may be Amended. 3. Amendments Approved by the Presbyteries, but not Adopted by the Assembly. 4. Where all the Presbyteries do not respond, the votes given are to be filed as the final answer of those Presbyteries, unless reversed by them, a, b; But the Asssembly sends down the Overture again. 5. The Mauner in which Answers to Overtures are to be Authenticated to the Assembly......... 325 6. The Clerks authorized to Declare an Amendment Adopted. 7. Returns on Overtures Referred to a Committee of Canvass, a, b, c. Answer Recorded after the Result is Declared, d. 8. Formal Declaration that Overtures have been Adopted and become a Part of the Constitution of the Church. Revised Book of Discipline, a; Amendments to, b; Reduced Representation, c. Judicial Commissions, d......... 542 VII. The Assembly to Meet at Least Once in Each Year; How Opened; Who may Preside; Commissioners may not sit until Regularly Enrolled. 1. Adjourned Meetings of the Assembly; Their Legality; Opinion of Chancellor Kent. 2. The Adjourned Meetings of 1869, a, b. 3. Who may sit as Commissioners in an Adjourned Assembly, a, b. 4. The Assembly Excludes Commissioners from Sitting pending Investigation, a, b. Answer to Protest...... 330 VIII. Opening and Closing of the Assembly with Prayer; Final Dissolution. 1. Specimen of the Minute of Dissolution........ 2. The Place of Meeting determined by the Vote of the Assembly. 3. Permanent Committee on the Place of Meeting of the Next Assembly.... 332 543 THE CHARTER OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ASSEMBLY; Style and Title, a; The Charter Accepted, b; Mode of Electing Trustees, c; Rules of Intercourse between the Trustees and the Assembly, d; Adjustments on the Reunion, e........... 333 CHAPTER XIII. OF ELECTING AND ORDAINING RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS. 337 I. The Mode in which Ecclesiastical Rulers should be Ordained to their Offices......... II. Ruling Elders and Deacons to be Chosen in the Mode most Approved, and in Use in that Congregation; Must be male Members in Full Communion. 1. Elders must be duly Elected and set apart. 2. The Session may Propose Names to the Congregation. 3. A Meeting of the Congregation to Elect Elders can be called only by the Session, or some Higher Court. 4. The Remedy, if the Session Refuse. 5. A Superior Judicature authorizes the Meeting. 6. Irregularity of the Call does not necessarily Invalidate the Election, a; nor does Irregularity in the Mode of Election Invalidate the Ordination, b; Those Elected must be Members in Full Communion with that Church, a. 7. Ministers not Eligible, b; Because not Members of a particular Church, e; An Exception made in case of Foreign Missionaries, d. 8. Uniformity in the Mode of Election deemed Impracticable. 9. The Mode most Approved and in Use may be Changed; There should be a Direct Vote of the Congregation. 10. A Superior Judicature may not Interfere with the Mode in Use. 11. Who are Electors of Ruling Elders and Deacons? a, Election not made Void where others than Communicants Vote; b, Only Baptized Persons may Vote; c, and that Communicants only should Vote Advised; d, No Distinction to be made as to the Age of the Electors. 12. Election for a term of years; a, Declared Irregular; b, Overture to limit the Term of Service Declined; c, d, e, Overture to make the Office Temporary Refused: f. Plan Condemned. 13. The right to Elect to Serve for a Term of Years affirmed; Judicial Case; a, History of the Case; b, Action of the Assembly; c, Minute in the Case; The Office Perpetual, but the Time of its Exercise Left to the Decision of the Church itself; d, Dissent; e, Answer of the Assembly; Limitation of the Term of Service Constitutional...... 337 14. Election Governed by the Mode most in Use and Approved. 15. A Minister not Eligible as a Ruling Elder. 16. The Word "Congregation" defined as Meaning Actual Communicants. 17. All Office Bearers must Faithfully Accept the Standards. 18. No Authority for the Election of Deaconesses. 19. Term Service of Deacons, a, b........... 544 III., IV. Upon Acceptance of the Election, the Mode of Ordination and Installation. V. The Existing Session to give the Right Hand of Fellowship. 1. Mode of Ordination; Laying on of Hands Approved, a, b, c; But left to the Discretion of the Session. 2. Ordination Essential to the Validity of the Judicial Acts of an Elder. 3. Must be Installed on Resuming Office. 4. Order of Installing an Elder already Ordained 346 5. An Elder who has Removed or Resigned, if Re-elected, must be again Installed. 546 VI. The Office of Ruling Elder and Deacon Perpetual; But Either may Cease to Act. 1. Perpetuity of the Office Affirmed, a, b. 2. Restoration to Church Privileges does not Restore to the Eldership. 3. An Elder without Charge can sit in no Church Court.......... 348 VII. Of the Way in which an Elder Incapable of Serving the Church to Edification, may be Relieved of the Functions of his Office; His own Consent or the Action of the Presbytery must be had. 1. Elders who cannot obey the Superior Court should Resign. 2. They may Resign to promote the Peace of the Church. 3. The Superior Court directs to cease acting. 4. A Presbytery may direct an Elder to cease to act, without a request from the Session. 5. When an Elder is unacceptable; the Remedy, to Memorialize Presbytery. 6. When an Elder Resigns, Presbytery may not order his Restoration. 7. The Official Relations of an Elder terminate with his Dismission. 8. The Return of a Letter, unused, Restores to Official Position.... 349 9. Resignation of an Elder or Deacon should be Tendered to the Session; and takes Effect when Accepted.......... 546 .............. VIII. A Church, by Vote of Members in full Communion, may Elect Elders for a Limited Term of Service; but for not less than Three Years. The Session to Consist of Three Classes. Elders once Ordained, if not Re-elected, shall not be Divested of Office; but may Represent that Particular Church in the Higher Judicatories, if Appointed. 1. Elders not Re-elected under this Section may be Delegated to the Superior Judicatories. 2. Elders not Re-elected on the Adoption of Term Service cease to be Acting Elders in that Particular Church. 3. Where Re-elected they should be Reinstalled, a, b. 4. The above not Retroactive. 5. The Re-installation of an Elder Elected not Essential to the Validity of his Office; but is more Orderly, a, b 6. Section VIII. has Reference to Elders. 7. One or Two Elders may be Elected under Section VIII. 8. The Term must be Three Years and the Classes Three. 546 [Amended 1886. See Addenda.] CHAPTER XIV. OF LICENSING CANDIDATES OR PROBATIONERS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL. I. The Scriptural Requirements; Reasons for Trial of Candidates; Presbyteries shall License. 1. Preaching without Licensure Condemned as Irregular, a; Disapproved of, b. 2. On the Licensing and Ordaining of Women, a; Deliverance on the Subject, b. 3. Education for the Ministry. a, The Board of Education Established; b, Charter of the Board; c, The Permanent Committee on Education Established; d, Charter of the Committee. 4. BOARD OF EDUCATION of the Reunited Church. a, Constitution; b, Act of Incorporation; c, Act Authorizing Transfer of Property of Committee to the Board; d, Rules of the Board of Education....... 5. Women may not Fulfill the Offices of Public Preachers.............. 352 549 II. Candidates to be under Care of the Presbytery to which they naturally belong; Defined; Exceptions. 1. The Usage of the Olden Time. 2. Going Abroad for Licensure Disapproved of. 3. Candidates for the Ministry should be placed under care of Presbytery; a, Especially in their Theological Studies; b, As soon as Possible, and Licensed, Ordinarily by the Presbytery to which they belong; c, The Full Term should not be Shortened. 5. No Candidate to be Received until he has been a Communicant, and pursued his Classical Studies for a year. 6. Candidates must Connect themselves with the Presbytery to which they naturally Belong......... 364 7. The above confirmed... 549 III. Literary and Moral Qualifications Demanded; Must be a Member of some Particular Church, and give Satisfaction as to Experience and Motives; Testimonials of Scholarship. 1. A liberal Education Required, a, b; To keep pace with the Progress of Society and of Letters, c. 2. Letter on the Thorough Literary Training of the Ministry. 3. Liberal Education waived in certain Cases, a; b, Case of John Gloucester. 4. THEOLOGICAL INSTRUCTION; a, Overtures for the Establishment of a Theological School; b, Plans Proposed; c, Act Establishing the Seminary; d, Agreement with Trustees of College of New Jersey. e, Terms of Agreement; f, Location fixed at Princeton. 5. THE SEMINARIES: 1. Princeton; Plan of the Seminary, a; Rules for Election of Directors, b; Rule for Electing Professors, c; Plan as Amended by the Assembly of 1870, d; Substitute for Art. II., Sec. I., of the Plan. 6. Report Detailing the Origin of the Seminaries, and their Relations to the Assembly, 1870. 2. Auburn. 3. Western Theological Seminary; a, Proposition of the Assembly Accepted; b, Plan of the Seminary; c, Change of Name Authorized. 4. Lane; The Assembly's Plan Adopted. 5. Union; a, Proposition to the Assembly; b, The Proposal Accepted by the Assembly; c, Memorial of the Directors. 6. Danville. 7. North-Western, a; Plan of the Seminary Approved, b. 8. German Theological School, Newark. 9. German Theological School of the North-West, Dubuque. 10. Lincoln University; Oversight of Theological Department Accepted. 11. San Francisco. 12. Blackburn University. 7. Limitation of Time within which the Election of a Professor may be Vetoed........ 366 8. Candidates must be Members of some Particular Presbyterian Church. 9. Great Caution prescribed in the Exceptional Cases. 10. Amendment to Rules of the Board of Education............ 550 IV. Candidates to be Examined in Languages, Arts and Sciences, Theology, History, Sacraments and Church Government; Parts of Trial............. 397 V. The Presbytery to Satisfy itself of the Candidate's Piety, Literature and Aptness to Teach. Candidates should be well versed in the Catechisms, and furnished with 398 VI. Time of Study of Theology, at least Two Years. 1. a, Efforts to Extend the Term; b, A Rule Requiring three years, Unconstitutional; c, Overture sent down, but not Adopted. 2. Full Term of three years urgently Recommended, a, b, c; Licensure Proof-texts.................. ........... at a time which would prevent a full course Disapproved. 3. A Pledge of three VIII. The Form of Licensure. A "like form" may be used. 399 400 IX. A Candidate, having pursued his Course Partially in one Presbytery, may be taken up 4. The Discretion of Granting or Withdrawing License is with the Presbytery...... 551 CHAPTER XV. OF THE ELECTION AND ORDINATION OF BISHOPS, OR PASTORS, AND EVANGELISTS. I. Order of Procedure in the Election of a Pastor; The Session to Convene the Congre- II. Session to Procure a Moderator, unless highly Inconvenient....... 403 ........... 404 404 IV. Mode of Procedure in the Election of a Pastor; Who are Debarred from Voting. 404 552 405 d. All Communicant Members may Vote in the Election of a Pastor............... 1. The Presbytery may Refuse to Permit a Call, a, b, c.... 409 X. How a Call may be put into the hands of the Licentiate of another Presbytery.......... 409 XII. Order of Exercises in Ordination; Questions. The Assent Embraces the Larger and .......... 410 XIII. Questions to be put to the Congregation.......... ....... 412 412 CHAPTER XVI. OF TRANSLATION, OR REMOVING A MINISTER FROM ONE CHARGE TO ANOTHER. II. Mode of Proceeding in Calling and Translating a Settled Pastor. 1. Consent of the VII. The Right Hand of Fellowship. 1. A Pastoral Relation without Installment CHAPTER XVII. OF RESIGNING A PASTORAL CHARGE. 418 The Steps to be Taken by Either Party Desiring to be Released. 1. Whether the Relation 6. Rule XVII. to be strictly Observed and Enforced.......................................... 554 CHAPTER XVIII. The Duty and Power of the Presbytery, Synod and Assembly, in the matter of Providing for ........... 433 .......... ..... 558 VI. RELIEF FUND FOR DISABLED MINISTERS AND THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF ......... 3. The Board Constituted. 4. The Charter Obtained. 5. The Charter.................. 561 |