IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 i |25 12.2 US m m S fei i 20 m m ^ 4^ ^*v/ '/ Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. U580 (716) 872-4503 ^ ■^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVi/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian tnttitute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de micror^productions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notaa tachniquaa at bibliographiquaa Tha Instituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy avaiiabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia copy which may ba bibliographicaliy uniqua. which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduction, or which may aignificantly changa tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackad baiow. □ Colourad covara/ Couvartura da coulaur I I Covara damagad/ D D □ D D Couvartura andommagia Covars raatorad and/or laminatad/ Couvartura raatauria at/ou palliculte I — I Covar titia miaaing/ La titra da couvartura manqua I — I Colourad mapa/ Cartaa gtegraphiquaa mn coulaur Colourad ink (i.a. othar than blua or black)/ Encra da coulaur (i.a. autra qua blaua ou noira) n~| Colourad plataa and/or illuatrationa/ Planchaa at/ou illuatrationa m* coulaur Bound with othar matarial/ Rali* avac d'autraa documanta Tight binding may cauaa shadowa or diatortion along intarior margin/ Lareliura tarria paut cauaar da I'ombra ou da la diatoraion i« long da la marga intAiiaura Blank iaavaa addad during raatoration may appaar within tha taxt. Whanavar poaaibla. thaaa hava baan omittad from filming/ II aa paut qua cartainaa pagaa blanchaa ajoutiaa lora d'una raatauration apparaiaaant dana la taxta. mala, loraqua cala Atait poaaibla. caa pagaa n'ont paa «t« filmAaa. Additional commanta:/ Commantairaa suppiimantairaa: T tc L'Inatitut a microfilm* la maillaur axamplaira qu'il lui a it* poaaibla da aa procurer. Lai details da cat axamplaira qui sont paut-dtra uniquat du point da vua bibliographiqua. qui pauvant modif iar una imaga raproduita. ou qui pauvant axigar una modification dana la mithoda normala da filmaga aont indiqute ci-daaaoua. I I Colourad pagaa/ D D D D D Pagaa da coulaur Pagaa damagad/ Pagaa andommagias Pagaa raatorad and/or laminatad/ Pagaa raatauriaa at/ou palliculiaa Pagaa diacolourad. atainad or foxad/ Pagaa dicolorAaa. tachatAaa ou piquias Pagaa datachad/ Pagaa ditachiaa Showthrough/ Tranaparanca Quality of print variaa/ Qualiti inigala da I'impraaaion Tl P< o f| O b« th ai 01 fii ai or rn Includaa aupplamantary matarial/ Comprand du material supplimantaira Only adition available/ Sauia Edition diaponibia T» •Y Ti w M di be ri| ra< mi Pagaa wholly or partially obacured by errata alipa, tiasuaa. etc., hava been refilmed to enaura the best poaaibla image/ Lea pages tetaiv^ment ou partiellement obacurciea par un feuillet d'errata. una pelure, etc., ont ^X6 filmtes A nouveau da fapon A obtanir la maillaura imaga poaaibla. Thia item is filmed at tha reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document eat film* au taux da rMuction indiqui ci-daaaoua. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X ,' t XX >/ 12X 1IX IDX 24X 28X 32X Th« copy fllmMl hw hn baan r«produo«d thanki to th« o«n«rotity of: DouglM Library Quaan's Univaraity L'axamplaira filmA fut raproduit grico i la g4n4roaltA da: Douglaa Library Quaan'a Univaraity Tha Imagaa appaaring hara ara tha baat quality poaalbia conaldaring tha condition and laglblllty of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract apacificationa. Original copiaa in printad papar covara ara fllmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha iaat paga with a printad or illuatratad innpraa- aion. or tha back covar whan approprlata. All othar original copiaa ara fllmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or illuatratad Impraa- aion. and anding on tha iaat paga with a prl*" id or illuatratad impraaaion. Laa Imagaa auhrantaa ont 4t* raprodultaa avac la piua grand aoln, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattatA da I'axampialra film*, at an conformitA avac laa conditiona du contrat da filmaga. Laa axamplalraa origlnaux dont la couvartura an paplar aat ImprlmAa aont filmAa an commandant par la pramiar plat at an tarmlnant aolt par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'Impraaaion ou d'illuatration, aolt par la sacond plat, aalon la caa. Toua laa autraa axamplalraa origlnaux aont fiimia an commanpant par la pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'Impraaaion ou d'illuatration at an tarmlnant par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una talla amprainta. Tha last racordad frama on aach microficha shall contain tha symbol — »> (moaning "CON> TINUED"), or tha symbol y (moaning "END"), whichavar cppllaa. Un daa symboiaa suivants apparattra aur la darnlAra imaga da chaqua microficha, aalon la caa: la symbrla -^ signifia "A SUIVRE", la symbols V signifia "FIN". Maps, piatas, charts, ate, may ba fllmad at diffarant raduction ratioa. Thoaa too larga to ba antiraiy included in ona axposura ara fllmad baginning in tha uppar iaft hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many framas aa raquirad. Tha following diagrama illustrata tha mathod: Laa cartas, planchaa, tableaux, ate, pauvant Atra fiimto A daa taux da rMuction diff Arants. Loraqua la document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un aaul clichi, 11 eat fiimA A partir da i'angle supArieur gauche, do gauche A droite, et do haut en baa, en prenant la nombre d'imagas nicessaira. Las diagrammes suivants iliustrent le mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 S 6 /^ A- V m i^olitg of if)e ^presitsterian - •■:.t- t 8. The SesRion determines when an addition to tiid ^Jderalilp l# requisite, and nominates persons, in its judgment the i^est qualifled for election. A person nominated for election must be not less thari twenty-one years of age, a member of the church in full communion, circumspect in his walk, punctual in his attendance upon ordinances) and regular in keeping up the wonliip of Qod in his family. 0. The appointment of elders may be made simply by the Session i or by election of the requisite number from a larger number nominated by the Session, the election being by a minority of the votes of the communicants in good standing, ana under the direction of the Ses- sion. In a new congregation where there are ho elders, the Presbytery shall use the best means in its power for getting an early election o^ elders. 10. After the appoiritment of dld^r^ has been made, the edict of theif (ntiinatioQ is served at the close of piiblid wofship on a Sabbath hot less than ten days before the ordination. If objections against any of* them are lodged with the Session, procedure is delayed until such objections have been disposed of. The edict having bron returned, if no objections are offered, or if those- offered are found to be Mvolous ir unsupported by evidence, the Session spfxiiuto 4)t«'OiwHnation to proceed. , . 1 1 . The ordination usually takes place on>a Sabbath, after sermon, in the presence of the congregation. After satisfying answers have been given to the questions promised,' the elders are solemnly set apart to fheir office by prayer. Th'6y Hftitirward receive the right hand of fellowship, and are exhorted' regarding their duties as rulers of th^ hous? of (Jod. Thereaft^ they are judiciallv called on to sign thti Formula, and then their namies are added to the Roll. 12. Elders coming from othef (dongregations, and duly certified a* being in good standing, may be received as memliers of Session, the (Serving of their edict an ^. subsequent procedure in their case l)eing the' Same as in the admission of riew elders, exce}>ting'the act of ordina- tion.* 13. The Sesfaion keeps a roll of the communicants, and reflses tht* same once a year. If a communicant removes from the bounds of thd congregation without asking for a certificate, the Session may, hftef the expiration of a year, remove his name from the roll. Certificates) t)f membership may" l)e granted by the Moderator and Clerk, or by thti Moderator alorie, when the Session is not mot. The Session keeps K Register of Baptisms. 14. The Session Records must be regularly kept, artd presented once a year to the Presbytery for revision. 15. The Session is represented in the Presbytery attd Sytiod by olt^ of the elders. The election is made annually, and the ciomihissioh i# tbrthwith sent to the Presbytery Clerk.- * When i)racticable, each elder has a district of the Con;;reigatiori assigned to him. of the memliers in which he keeps a Mst ; with these he cultivates special acquaintance, visiting them, and giving theni Counsel, encouragement or Warning, as need requires< PftESbtTtRY, 1. A Presbytery has its bounds fixed by the Supreme Court of the Church, and consists of all the ministers having charges within these bounds, assistant ministers being successors, professors in colleges con- nected with the church, being ordained ministers of the church, and an elder from each charge. 'i. Tlu! M6d(*rator iiJi"Hppointe voicant cun^refffttions and missiqn stations, .and to con^etfations in the event of thv illness or abseuoe of their ministers ; to erect new congregations, or alter the bounds of existing ones; to examine students; »nd on finding them duly qoalitied. to grant them'oertiikates to enable them to enter this Divinity hall, or to retitra to it { to superintend theeducation of, and tQ try, such students and license tlieni-(when fhund qualified) to preach the gospel < to grant moderations ia calls to- vacant congregations ; to dispose t>f such calls ; to try .the (|Ualifications of candidates for the ministry, and to ordain 1 and induct Uiem to the- pastoral ofllc^ ; to exercise 'discipline over all ministers and licentiates of tliet^urch within its bounds ;: to receive demissitms «nd loose ministers from tlieir > charges ; to revise the Records of the SeHsions within its bounds, and gunerajly to exercise a spiritual .jurisdiction over all the, ministers, licentiates, sessions nn(l congregations within its iK>uneriod of at least six moutlks. The.Presluttery.must. ne.satifified that he has jp<>mpleted hisJwenty-first year, unless. special'-permtsslon has been^l|t;aiM^d tVom the Supreme Court to proceed in,.tht! ,(aiH' of one yoyr^gef. It niust alup have received certificates fnnn^jjie Pr<)!fe*^s<)rs under whonj he )ija8 studied, bearing evidence of his having -passed through tlie wluile <;our8e of study required by law, and d^^'vered the appointed triiil dis- courses. It must further have satisfactory evidence of his gtXMl conduct and piety. If the Presbytery is satisfied in these resjHJcts, it issues Circular L wlyiwiile to eleutitt Uodenttor without regnrd to thU i>riu-tii.>e. .^■■4 8. LeitVe hA^lttfl 1)600 obtained from the Synod, tlio Prtwbytefy |>ro< 0«^8 to the trials as appointed bv the law of the Church. A Presby- tery may, at the request of a student, transfer him to another Presby^ tery; granting* him n Prosbyterial certificate which shall contain full intormation as to all that has been done anent his trials. 9. The trials beln^; finished, the Presbytery takes aconjunct view of them, and, if dissatisfied with them, remands the student to his studies, or apiHiints new trials for him to underf^o, or refuses to license him to fireacn the i^raspel. Its opinion, whether favourable or unfavourable, H recorded. If favourable, it then proposes tlie questions appointed to he put to such as are to be licensed. Satisfying answers having been ^ven to the qtteMtions, it requires him to sif^n the Formula for proba' tioners. The Moderator then, bv authority of the Presbytery, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Chnst, licenses him Ut preach the gospel and exercise his jarifts as a probationer for the holy miiilstry. 10. When a licentiate has gone to reside within the bounds of any Presbytery, he is required, at the earliest opportunity, to repdrt him- self to said Presbytery, producing his Extract of License, of whicli a note' shall btf4aken by such Presbytery. 11. When a iicentlate is to be ordained to the office of the ministry, the Presbytery apjloints trlrtls ^tmilar to those which' he underwent iiofore obtaining license. Ail farther requlreflientH of the Form of Process in this matter having been observed, the presiding minister thereafter invests him with tlie^full character of a minister of the gos- pel, conveying to 'lim by prayer and the laying on of the hands of tlio Presbytery, all the iwwors and .privilogea implied in that character, Tlie brethren present the* give him the right hand of fellnwship. 12. Presbyteries shall, at eitheV their firs^ or i*cond ordinary meet- ing after the Hfiing of the SVhod, or at a special 'meeting called fV)r the purpose, consider and d^ifcfde '>6h all overtures, tmd' other business remitted to them by the S\ii)etior Court, and in due time send up all fefwrts and other documents fejiuired by such court'. 13. Meetings of Presbytery held, at, stated times are called OrMnary MeetingH, Those which are appointed at an ordinary meeting, for the transactiim of special business are rolled Specifd {ad hniic ej^ectum) MeetiiwH, anid^ pan. transact (yil.V; the business for which they are ap- pointed. Meotings called by the Moderator for. emergent business are termed Pro re nnta Meetin-gs. He may call thcs'e'meetings either on Ills own motion, or when requested by two or more members to do so. In calling such meetings, the Moderator, or the Clerk on his sp(>cial authority expressed in writing, must send a circular letter to each mem- ber of the court. This circular letter intimates the time and place of meeting, and specifies the business to l)e tifansacted. A sufflcieht ti^pe must elapse lietween the date of the circUln,r ajid the -meeting called. At such mo ■ 15. Members of other Prcsbyterieh who may happen to hti present at •ft moetihjr of Presbytery have by riffht no status as members thereof, but, by invitati(m of the court, may have the privilege of sittinfr and delllMiratin/?, but not of voting. If appointed ns viHitors l»y their own. Prefcil»ytery, the Presbytery to which they come is i)ound to extend to them the privilege above named. ' *■ i • 16. Members of one Presbytery, oi* Ynore, when appointed as assessors by the Synod, shall have tile right to sit and vote as constitueht mem- bers of another Presbytery, on 'any ^artliJular businl^ss, or at any par- ticular time. 17. In the general oversight of the ministers, sessions and ctmgrega- tions within its bounds, should it in any way come to the knowknlge of the Presbytery that a state of things i'xists in any congregation by which the usefulness or comfort of- the minister is seriously lmi«ire(l, or the edification or pro8])erity of the congregation is seriously hindered by coust^H which do not subject any of the parties concerned to the owlinary process of discipline for offences, the Presbytery, if it see fit, hIiuII without delay investigate the matter, l>y a carefully selected com- mittee, or by a Presbyterial vvsitatier state of matters. ^ Should the Presl)ytery tie saMsfied that the continimnce of the minister in his premjnt |H)sition is not likely to prove comfortable or useful for hims^^lf or beneficial to the congregation, -it shall record its solemn judgment as to the necessity of his being removed fnmi that iH)sitifm, together.w-ith the grounds on which it has t4irnuMi such judgment. Pn)vlded that; before this judgment is pro-' nounctHl, the minister and two repre»>enttttive»* of the c(mgregati(m shall l>e heard for their interests. The Presbytery shall then transmit Extract Minutes of the whole prwtiedings to the Syn«)d, together with all docu- ments necessary for the understanding of the case, and shall crave fnmi that C!ourt ijermission and authority to stfparate the minirter from the congregation on such conditions as the Synod shall apjjoint. lentil the judgment of the Synod is given, the status of the minister shall not in any way be affecttni b/ tlie action of the Presbytery. 18. It belongs to Presbyteries to extend their care over all the ad- herents of the Church within their lM)unds ; to organize congregations in places where a sufficient numlier t»f adhen^ntsnre found, although such may not he rijH; for settlefneat ; t<» ordain eld<:rs over them, if suitable (X'rsons can be found ; and to retjuire tb-^-iti) adopt the Model ('(Histitution, »ind conform thei. practice ^o its requirements, the a- ecu- niary oiiligations for the maintenance of ordinances, and especially, as opportunity otters, to advise and direct them in supporting liberally the office of the Ministry. • 30. It is the duty of a Presbytery to see that every minister faithfully attends to his pulpit and pastoral duties. Should a minister in any circumstances leave his charge for more than six weeks, without the permissicm of his Presbytery, proceedings may l)e taken against him ; and, if cause appear, the Presbytery may sever him frcmi his charge, and declare it vacant. ilU At tiMK mentinff of PrnMli}-tei7 next ,pr«cadinir tliH mecAiniD ot' Hjuuxiv tlie Uf ti^e ^^Al, so madp up. to the, ii^^ynnd Clerk, so as to be in his hands not less than four cleajrdays before, tho m««itiQif <^ Sypod ; Sttoh copy to be attested be . transmitted. Sho^ld, any ehan^ uave oocurrtMl betiween the time of th^ Hell being made up and the iransmission^ the Clerk shall append a note of sucli change, sifirned by him. ,2^t Piesliyteriesara required to ft^ndup to the i^paual AU^ning of Synod a condensed report of their principal proceeding, inoladiug the lioen^ing of probationers, the ordination and induction of ministers, the remeval of , ministers by death or .otherwise, the pr/jrani/Ation of new cop^regations, the formation of now mission stations, the employ- ment of missionf^ries, their principal. missionHry oiwrations, and any pther facta- important as histoiiical data. . ^j; ■;•»• ■ ti»{tU'ltk ■ XiT' ''■■-' V't'- ..i " ,.^•-■• .o;.F • .. ir >. . "' ' .-Ur •■ ♦ ■ 4a .... (f»i I (V. - "• ■• . r-i. • •■ It.'r III r '. i -.ttt.'i '", ' 1. '■ i,.4 ■ ■ -■- ■ ■ I •■ -., a: . •• ,11 •-. !'' !■.•; ' ■ -I , i ! ,•■■.,, vi .^'^i . »;,,, ... . • .' ■• . • • .•,....•. ,. . ■■■.'• .• ',. I- Vj .J I . j; t , -i^.i .1 • n,V« 1 • . • . ... .« .■> ,11 •.•■,..-.. . '.■-.•.,,. ..„..»..'«. '■• vr * ..,- . .■<•' '1 ■ V » ! Jx •" » A •P'lpt' •■I.' 8VS'ul). .; ■• ^ • jKj • ..t .. ■.'., .'V I 'n>« ' -;i '■'''' ■ 1.— (iKNKUAI, PllOVIHIf)N8i '1 '.M •'ilf . 1. I'ho Syrioci tit (^oiiipoBvd «»f the niembeni of A\\ ilw Prenbyteri«i» Within its boundH. ^ 2. The BvtKMl Ih cotl«tltut«d hy tht4 Moderator of th«< preceding Hen- fclon, or, in hiB abHt'nco, by ^Jtrtn othei^emb«*r ; prefi^rehce beln^r flfiven to one wlio has formerly been Moderator. 8. The Roll of the Synod conMiMtR of the attefiled Holln of the iievt^rnl PreHbvterieH. The RoIIb of the PreBbyterieu are. in inakinpr up the H^ynod Roll, placed in the order of seniority in the formation ofihe Pre«byterieB. 4. The Moderator, with the advice of the College of former Modera- ators, nominates a memlwr of the Synod, (who must be A mhih»ter)(ttH hh BucceBBoi-, and the eleeals, and all bills, overtures, petitions, memorials, references, complaints. ap])eals or other documents, addressed to the Synod, must be examined by these Committees, and they are not noticed in the Synod unless transmitted W the proi)er Committee, except the cases mentioned in Secti(m 5. — The SyUints such other Committees as may '.le reijuired I'or forwardinjr the business. li. When causes cimie up for trial, the SyiK!('. ap|H>ints a Judicial Committee wh(»se duty it is todi^rest and arraujiff' all the ))aiH,'rs, and to prescril)e, under the direction of the Court, the whole order of the pro- ceedings thereanent. 4. The Kejiorts of (Vnnmit tees are presented in written form. 5. Should the ( 'ommittee on Bills and Overtures or that on References, Complaints, and Apjwals refuse to transmit t(» the Synod any matter broujjfht before them, their decisijm may l>e apptialed from, which aj)- t>ef ' the Synefore the Court ; and the Synod shall consider such ])e- tition and act m seems meet in the matter. 6. The Boards of Manaj^ement and Committees havinjjf charge of the Public Schemes of the Cliurch are appointed as provided for by the Statutes of Incor|)oration or the Acts of the Synod thereanent, and they are required to make their reports to the Synod, as directed by exist- ing enactments, or as Hjwcially ordered. 7. Whon a Prwibytery n»port« l«» the Hynod ItR iudfrmnnt that a min- ister ouffht to b(i UhmmhI from hia paatoral charge for reawmH otlier than his auMiwnslon or deposition from offloe, tiiv Hvnod shall dulv consider the case as sent up (the minister and a oommfsaloner fVom the congre- gation liaving opportunity to be heard), and aball pronounce a Judg- ment, empowering and instructing the Presbytery to sepaVate the min- ister f^m his cliargH ttonx and afUr a day named ; or shall otherwise dttoide and lustruot the Preabytery aa to what furthar action it should take. 8.. The IkZriderator may call a pro r«. no/a. meeting of the Synod in extraordinary circumstances, provided the businosa requiring it affects the whple Church, and when the want of a metUlng might cause se- rious ii\iury to the property or Interests of the Church, and further when ha shall have received a requisition asking him to call it, signtMl by Ave members of gynud.or else when he shall have consulted afi many memiiers of th^ Bypod as possible, and shall have lieen generally ad- vised by them to call it. To call such a meeting, the Mmlerator shall transmit at lea^t three weeks before the time of meeting a circular letter addressed to each member whose name appears on the RoU of the last preceding annual session, naming the time and place for .the meeting, and the business to be done. No buslnesff can be done other tlun that named in the circular letter calling the meeting. . , ,. COMMfMION OF HYNOD. (Act in force, adopted. May 30th, 1809.) '■( ii .i ■ II !i 11 *■ .*tfff llaUts of tf)e ^xt^h^itxian < '1. . V. Jf BOOK II. • - RULES OF PROCEDURE. I. General Rules for Church Courts, . ■ ' # 1, The Moderator shall take the chair at the hour to which the Court stands adjourned, flhall call the members to order, and, on the appear- ance of a quorum, shall constitute the meeting with prayer. 8. If a quorum be not assembled within one hour of the time appoint- ed for the meeting, it shall be competent for any two meml}er8 to aidjoum from time to time that an opportunity may be given for a quorum to assemble. 8. At the first assembling of a judicatory, the Roll shall be called and the Sederunt recorded ; and members coming in afterwards shall have their names noted on the minutes as they appear. 4. The Minutes shall be read at the opening of each diet of the Ses- ' sion, and corrected as may be requisite. \ 6. Each judicatory elects its own Clerk, and provides for his salary. 6. It is the duty of the Clerk to keep all papers in perfect order, so that they may be ready when needed, and to keep a docket containing memoranda of any business left unfinished at a former meeting ; on which he shall also enter every item of business to be brought before the Cou^. 7. Aftiar the Court is constituted, and the minutes are sustained, Xl\%A Moderator shall call for any papers and reports which are to be g^ven* in at that meeting, which, being g^ven in, shall be arranged by the ' Clerk, and noted on the docket, unless otherwise specially ordered. 8. The Moderator shall at all tijnes preserve order and see that bust* nesB is conducted in a regular manner, endeavouring to bring all busi« ' ness to a speedy and proper conclusion. 9. No member of any Church Court shall retire from a meeting with- out leave of tho Moderator, nor withdraw from it to return home, with* out the consent of the Court. 10. The Moderator shall name all Committees of the Court, unlesi'' otherwise provided for by motion or rule. ^. ?> i !il O 2 11. The Presbytery and Synod are open Courts, but, in the trial of certain causes, to avoid scandals, it is desirable to sit with closed dcon. A motion to have a particular matter discussed with closed doors is therefore competent. 13. It is incompetent for any inferior Cofirt to erase any part of the Records of a former meeting, unless when ordered by a sujierior Court. 18. It is the duty of the Moderator to see that the Minutes, as taken down, correctly record the proceedings of the Court, and for this pur- pose he shall nave the portions of the Minutes as they are framed, read and amended or corrected as necessary, until he is satisfied of their ac- curacy. 14. In all Courts the following fees shall be >ayable to the Clerk by the parties concerned, namely : Each person recording a dissent simpliciter, 25 cents. For reasons entered on the Minutes in support of such dissent, 20 centi for the first, and 10 cents for each subsequent one. For Extracts of Minutes or copies of papers furnished to individuals, for every 100 words or fraction thereof, 12^ cents. The proceeds of such fees in the Synod to be applied in aid of the Synod fund, and in the other Courts to such purpose as the Court may direct. 11. Standing obdbrb of the Supreme Coubt. Copy of the Act adopted May 31, 1869, with the following additions : {Motions,) XVII. If a motion under debate contains several parts, any two members may hare it divided and the question taken on each part. '^ MisceUaneoua. ' ' - - «< ' I. During a Session the Synod shall meet every morning at half past nine, and, before proceeding to any business, engage in devotional ex- ercises :— continue each Diet till five o'clock, P.M., with an interval be- tween one and half past two ; and resume proceedings in the evening at seven, when considered necessary. II. The Synod, at its Annual Meeting, shall nominate a Committee on business for the following year, to meet at the place where the Synod shall be appointed to be held, and previous to the Synod's meet- ing, to arrange as far as possible the whole business of the Session, and prepare and print a docket for the use of members. The Moderator and Clerk of Synod, the Presbytery Clerks, and nine other members of the Synod, of whom five must be elders, the best qualified for this purpose that the Synod can select, shall compose this Committee. Papers of every description, without exception, intended to be submitted to the annual meeting of Synod must be laid before this Committee at their said meeting ; and accurate intimations of their contents must be for- warded to the Synod Clerk, at least four clear days before the meeting of Synod ; nevertheless this order shall not be held as preventing any papers from being presented and received by permission of the Synod, at any time in the course of the meeting, when they refer to matters arising out of the proceedings of the meeting to which they are pre- sented, but such papers only shall it be competent to receive in this way. III. In order that all documents coming before the Synod may be preserved in a form easy of access and convenient for reference. Reports, Overtures, References, Appeals, Extract Minutes, and all other matters whatsoever, intended to be submitted to the Synod, or Commission of Synod, shall be written on foolscap paper with sufficient margins, so as 8 to admit of their being bound in volumes ; and for the sake of securing fully the ends of justice, parties are recommended, who have causes or questions which they deem it important to bring before the Synod for consideration and dis'posal, to print copies of the same in sufficient numbers for the use of members, and in a shape suitable for binding along with the printed minutes of Synod. IV. In the appointment of Committeec, unless otherwise specially Srovided, the person first named shall be the Convener thereof whose uty it shall be to call the Committee together at the proper time : and in the case of his absence or inability to act, the second named mem- ber shall take his place and perform his duties. V. The Legislative Enactments of the Supreme Court are regularly transmitted to the several Presbyteries, and are in force for only one year, if the dissent of a majority of Presbyteries be intimated to the meeting of the Supreme Court next after that, at which such enactments have respectively been made. VI. Regulations anent Records of Church Courts. 1. The pages are to be numbered in words at length. 2. Every page is to be signed by the Clerk, and the Records of each Session by the Moderator and Clerk. In case of the death or removal of the Moderator or Clerk, the Record shall afterwards be signed by the then acting Moderator or Clerk, in the presence of the Court, cum nota of the cause. 3. The time and place of meeting are to be minutely jtated in words at length. 4. The place and date of each meeting are to be shortly indicated on the margin at the top of each page. 5. Every page is to have a suitable margin, on which notes shall be written, distinctly indicating the various items of business. 6. All Church Courts shall take special care that their Records are correctly written ; if anything has to be erased as superfluous, it shall be marked on the margin how many words or lines are erased and that it was done by competent authority ; and the marginal note shall be signed by the n%me or initials of the Moderator or Clerk ; and if any- thing be omitted, it shall be written on the margin and signed by the Clerk. Here take in III. process for calling and settling Ministers, June 10, 1867. Minutes, p. 29. IV. Act anent Students and Candidates for the Holy Ministry, June 8, 1868. Minutes, p. 37. V. Act anknt reception of Ministers. " Whereas there is at present a great and lamentable want of Min- isters, and, from the laudable desire on the part of Presbyteries to sup- ply the congregations under their care, destitute of fixed Pastors, with the stated dispensation of ordinances, there is reason to fear that Pres- byteries might be disposed to settle Ministers with undue haste : — And whereas, the circumstances of the Church at all times, but more especial- ly at present, call for the exercise of the greatest care and faithfulness on the part of Presbyteries, in settling Ministers over vacant charges, — the Synod enjoin Presbyteries to take special care in settling Min- isters, that they be men of great prudence, undoubted piety, and high- ly respectable Ministerial gifts ; and further, not to ordp.v;'« or settle Ministers coming from other churches, whatsoever be their credentials, except in accordance with the following rules : — SI " 1. That no Probationer or Minister belonging to any Church, not in communion with this Church, shall be received by any Presbytery, ■without examination of his Literary and Theological attainments, his reasons for joining this Church, and his views of its constitution and fovemment, as well as ample certificates of his good standing in the ody from which he comes. " 2. That no Probationer or Minister shall be taken on trials, to be Teceived into this Church, until he has produced evidence satisfactory to the Presbytery, of his having gone through a course of education analagous to that required by this Church, and by the Church of Scotland. " 8. That every such Probationer or Minister shall reside at least one year within the bounds of the Synod after his being received, and be reported to the Synod by the Presbytery, before he can receive a call from any congregction in this Church ; but he may, in the meantime, be employed as a Missionary, under the direction of the Presbytery. "4. That the whole proceedings of each Presbytery in regard of re-, ceiving any such Probationer or Minister shall be read and approved in Synod, previous to his being ordained or inducted as a Minister of this Church. " 5. That before receiving any Probationer or Minister known to be under censure of any Church, in communion with this Church, Pres- byteries shall correspond with such Church." ■;;;_:> * .?•; ■p^.-; VI. Act anent Represe!Ntation of the Eldebbhip. " ' It shall be the duty of every Kirk-session to elect one of their number, being a bona fide acting elder of the congregation, to represent the Session in the Superior Courts for the year ; and it shall be the duty of the Minister or any Ordained Minister of the Church acting by his authority, or, in the case of a vacancy, by the authority of the Presby- tery, to call a meeting of Session for the purpose of such election on some convenient day within two months after the annual meeting of Synod ; and it shall be the duty of the Elder elect to transmit or pre- sent his Commission to the Presbytery without delay, it being compe- tent for any meeting of Presbytery to receive and sustain Elders' Com- missions. II. It shall be the duty of Presbyteries to ascertain that Kirk-sessions and Ministers perform their several duties in this respect, and take or- der, where from any cause an election has not taken place within the two months specified in this Act, that it be made with all convenient speed. III. The Representative Elder shall in every case hold office till hit successor is appointed, or till the expiry of the two months, whichever shall first happen. IV. It shall be compe' 3nt for Representative Elders to resign and for Sessions to appoint successors, whose Commission shall be valid when sustained by the Presbytery, or Synod, if no meeting of Presbytery in- tervene. V. The Elders of a Charge consisting of more than one congregation shall constitute one Session for the purposes of this Act. Forms. I. Session. 1. Edict for ordination of Eldera. f Messrs. A. B. &c. having been duly elected as elders in this congre- gation, it is hereby intimated that, if any of the members of this Church have any objections to state against the 'rdination of the brethren named, they are required to give in eiu I sections to me (if the edict is served bj the minister, or to some oi; .ise named, if 1^ the Pres- bytery) witliin ten days, that they may bo heard by the Session ; (or Presbytery) with certification that if no valid objections are adduced, the Session (or Presbytery) will therefore, without delay, proceed to the ordination of the said Messrs. A. B. &c. In case of receiving an elder who has been already ordained elsewhere, the word admiaaion will be substituted for ordination. 3. Queationa at ordination of Elders. 1. Do you beUeve the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice ? 2. Do you sincerely own .and declare the doctrine contained in the Shorter Catechism of this Church, to be the true doctrine, to which you will adhere ? 8. Do you own the Presbyterian Church government by Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods and General Assemblies to be the only govern- ment of this Church ; and do you engage to submit thereto, concur therewith, and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof. 4. Do you promise to observe uniformity of worship, and of the ad- ministration of all public ordinances within this Church, as the same are at present performed or allowed ? ' 8. lormviafor Eldert. ,^ ' I do sincerely own and declare the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God ; and the Westminster Shorter Cate- chism to contain the true doctrine to which I will constantly adhere ; as likewise that I own and acknowledge the Presbyterian Church gov- ernment of this Church by Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods and General Assemblies, to be the only government of this Church ; and that I will submit thereto, concur therewith, and never endeavour, directly or in- directly, the prejudice or subversion thereof ; and that I shall observe uniformity of worship, arid of the administration of all public ordinances within this Church, as the same are at present performed or allowed. 4. Commission to Bepresentalive Elder. At (place and date.) * The Session met and was constituted. " The Session elected Mr. A. B. one of their number to represent them In all meetings of the Presbytery and Synod during the current year." Extracted from the Records of the Session of by C. D. Sess. Clk 5. Ordinary Certificate to church memJ)er. That A. B. leaves the bounds of the Congregation of C. as a commu- nicant in good standing and bearing a good moral character, is certified by order of Session (or in interval of Session) at C. this day of 18 by E. F. Minister (or Sess. Clk.) II. Presbyteby. ' 1. Model Constitution, (Copy, now in force.) ^ 2 to 7. (Forms in process for calling ministers. June 10, 1867.) 6 8. Attestation on Call. That the within call was moderated in by me at the time and place stated, and that the names appended thereto are the subscriptions of the parties themselves, or written by their express request, is attested by me at C. this day of .&c. A. B. Minister. 9. CUation of Congregation on proposed tranMation of Minister. The Rev. A. B. Minister of this Church having received a call to be- come Minister of the Church and Congregation of C. in the Presbyte^ of D. — intimation is hereby given by authority of the Presbytery of E, to the Elders and all others interested to appear at a meeting of the said Presbytery of E. to be held in on the day of at o'clock in the [forenoon] to state their reasons, if they have any, why Mr. B's trans- lation should not proceed ; and they are certified that if none compear, they will be held as consenting to said translation. 10 Becla/ration of vacancy. The Rev. A. B. late Minister of this Church having (state cause of re- moval, as death, translation, deposition, resignation, &c. giving dates.) I hereby, in name and by authority of the Presbytery of C. declare this Church and Congregation to be vacant, from and after the day of &c. t 11. Questions for License. ' 1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God, and the only rule of faith and manners ? 3. Do you sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine of the West- minster Confession of Faith to be the truths of God, contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments ; and do you own the whole doctrine contained therein, as the Confession of your faith ? 3. Do you sincerely own the purity of worship presently authorized and practised in this Church ; and also own the Presbyterian govern- ment and discipline established therein ; and are you persuaded that the said doctrine, worship, discipline and Church government are found- ed upon the Word of God and agreeable thereto ? • 4. Do you promise that through the grace of God you will firmly and constantly adhere to, and in your station to the utmost of your power, assert, maintain and defend the said doctrine, worship, and dis- cipline and the government of this Church by Sessions, Presbyteries, Synods and General Assemblies ? 5. Do you promise that in your practice you will conform yourself to the said worship, and submit yourself to the said discipline and govern- ment of this Church, and will never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion of the same? 6. Do you renounce all doctrines, tenets or opinions whatsoever, con- trary to, or inconsistent with the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church ? 7. Do you promise that you will subject yourself to the several judi- catories of this Church, and are you willing to subscribe to these things? 12. Pretibfftery'a Ovreular Letter. Place and date. Rbv.Sir: The Presbytery of A. having had the necessary certificates in his favour regularly laid before them, purpose, wirh permission of the Synod, to take Mr. B. C, student in Divinity, on public probationary trials for license. I am, &c., D. E., Pbjf. Clerk. To the Rev. the Moderator of the Presbytery of • To be communicated. 18. License. At , the day of , one thousand, &c., Which day the Presbytery of having taken into consideration that A. B., Student in Divinity, had passed the usual course of liter- ature and philosophy, and thereafter the usual course of Divinity re- quired by the Acts of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland ; that he had produced satisfactory testi- monials of his proficiency and conduct as a student, and that he had delivered the prescribed discourses ; that all the previous steps had been duly taken, and the leave of the Synod obtained to his being taken on public probationary trials ; that having been admitted to these trials, he had now completed them ; did, on a review of his whole ap- pearances, declare their satisfaction therewith, and agree that he should be licensed to preach the gospel. Whereupon the questions required by the laws of this Church to be put to such as are to be licensed were put to him, and he gave satisfying answers to all the same, and ju- dicially signed the formula. By all which, he came under the engage- ments to the doctrine, worship, discipline and Presbyterian Church government contained therein. Whereupon the Presbytery of did, and hereby do, license the said Mr. A. B. to preach the gospel of Christ and exercise his gifts as a probationer for the holy ministry ; and, moreover, grant him this Extract of License and testimonials in common form. 14. Questiona at the Ordination of a Minister. (Process, June 10, 1867.) 15. FonntUafor Idcentiates and Ministers. » (Process, June 10, 1867.) 16. Bond for payments to Widows* Fund. (Form in use.) BOOK III. t I! DISCIPLINE. Chapteu I. — Nature and Object. 1. Discipline is the exercise of that spiritual authority which the Lord Jesus Christ has appointed in His Church. Its objects are the re- buke of offences, the removal of scandals, the vindication of the Divine honour, the promotion of the purity and edification of the Church, and the spiritual good of the members. 2. An offence, the object of discipline, is anything in the principles or practice of a member of the Church which is contrary to the worn of God, the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly. Hence, nothing is to be regarded as just cause of discipline which cannot be shown to be condemned by Scripture or by the estab- lished regulations and practice of the Church, founded on Scripture ; or unless Involving those evils which discipline is intended to prevent. 3. Offences may be personal or general, private or public. Personal offences are violations of the Divine law, considered in the special rela- tion of injury or wrong done to individuals ; general offences are here- sies or immoralities having no such relation, or as considered apart from it. Private offences are those which are known to only one or a few persons ; public offences are those which are notorious. Chapter II. Of the parties in cases of process. 1. Process against an offender shall not be commenced unless some person undertakes to make out the charge ; or unless a fama clamosa is so loudly proclaiming the scandal that a Church Court finds it neces- sary, for the honour of religion, to investigate the matter. 3. In the case of personal offences, the injured party cannot become a prosecutor without having previously tried the means of reconcili- ation and of reclaiming the offender, required by Christ, Matt.xviii, 15, 16 ; nor cam those to whom private offences ar ) known become accus- ers, without having previously used private means to remove the scan- dal. 3. In the case of general offences a Church court may commence process either at the instance of an individual or individuals who appear as accusers, and undertake to substantiate the charge, qr at their own in- stance on the existence of a. fama. In the latter case the previous stepa required in case of personal offences are not obligatory ; yet, with the view of reclaiming an offender by tender treatment, a judicatory should use private means by a Committee or a friendly conference to bring him to a proper sense of his guilt, before commencing process. hi y 9 which the } are the re- the Divine hurch, and principles the won! of ''eBtminster >f discipline Y the estab- Scripture ; to prevent. Per80Tial ispecial rela- •68 are here- dered apart ilj one or a inless some ma damoaa ids it neces- not become )f reconcili- tt.xviii, 15, M)me accuB> re the scan* )noe process » appear aa ;eir own in- iviouB steps t, with the bory should » bring him 4. Before commencing process on the ground of a/oma a judicatory must be satisfied that such /ama really exists ; and no rumour is to be considered as such, unless it specify some particular sin or sins, is widely spread, generally believed, and has strong presumption of truth. 6. If a slandered individual should himself request a judicial investi- gation in consequence of the existence of rumours injurious to him, but which the Court does not consider as constituting afama, as above de- fined, the judicatory may institute such investigation. If in such in- vestigation the individual is proved guilty, the judicatory shall deal with him the same as if convicted by regular process. 6. The original parties in a process are the accuser and the accused ; and in process on the ground of afama, the judicatory may appoint, if they see meet, a person to represent the fama who shall act as the ac- cuser or the judicatory itself may so act. In case of appeal, these parties become appellant and appellee. 7. Great caution is to be exercised in receiving accusations from any person who is rash or malicious, who is not of good character, who is himself under censure or process, or who is personally interested in the conviction of the accused. 8. Any prosecutor, but especially the prosecutor of a Minister, should be previously warned, that, if he fail to show good cause for the charges made, he must himself be censured as a slanderer, in proportion to the malignity or rashness of which he shall appear to h9,ve been guilty. Chapter III. Of Process. General Provisions. 1. Original jurisdiction in relation to Ministers and Licentiates be- longs to the Presbytery, and^in relation to other Church members to the Session. 3. All accusations shall be presented in writing, in which, as far as possible, times, places and circumstances shall be particularly stated. The judicatory shall then furnish the accused with a copy of the ac- cusation, with the names of the witnesses who may be cited to prove the charges. All parties shall then be cited to appear at a subsequent meeting, which, in the case of a Presbytery, shall not be held sooner than ten days after the citation, and in the case of a Session, two days.. 3. At this subsequent meeting the accused shall answer in writing. If he confess, or admit the facts charged, but deny that they constitute an oflFence, the Court, after hearing the parties, may proceed to judg- ment. If he deny the charges, the trial shall proceed. 4. Citations to parties are usually to be made in writing. Citations to witnesses may be made in writing or verbally at the discretion of the judicatory. A verbal citation to a witness may be made by one of the parties, or by any other competent person. A certificate of the serving of citation shall in all cases be lodged with the Co^rt. Any person, either party or witness who may be present at a meeting of the Court may be cited apud acta. 6. When an accused person refuses to obey a citation, he sball be cited a second time with certification that if he do not appear at the time appointed, unless providentially hindered, (of which he must no- tify the Court,) he will be dealt with for contumacy. If he fail to ap- pear the Court may proceed to trial and judgment in his absence. The time allowed for his appearance on the second or any subsequent citation shall not be less than is quite sufficient for a reasonable and convenient compliance with the citation. 10 6. If the accused party shall purposely absent or secrete himself, so that process caunot be served on him, the judicatory may suspend him until he shall appear and answer to the accusation. 7. Before proceeding to trial or to censure for contumacy, judicatories must ascertain and record the fact that their citations have been duly served. 8. The witnesses shall be examined in the presence of the parties (or after due notice to attend ;) and the parties shall be permitted to cross-examine them, asking through the Moderator, any relevant an^d respectful questions. After the testimony has been concluded, the par- ties shall be heard. 9. Minutes of the whole proceedings shall be regularly kept by the Clerk of the judicatory, but shall not be entered on the permanent re- cords until the trial has been completed. If the accused is acquitted, these minutes shall be then destroyed ; and the only record entered shall be a statement that such charge had been made, and that the party had been acquitted. If the accused is convicted, the charges, the answer and the judgment shall be recorded, and the whole minutes of the trial, including all the citations and returns thereto, the acts and orders of the judicatory relating to the cause, and all the testimony adduced, shall be attached together, and kept in retentis. In case of an appeal or complaint, these minutes together with the notice of appeal or complaint and the reasons thereof, if any have been minuted or filed, shall be duly authenticated by the Clerk, and trans- mitted to the higher Court. These papers shall be called the "judicial record." Nothing shall be taken into consideration in the higher Court which is not contained in the judicial record. 10. All parties shall be entitled to receive copies of the judicial re- cord, or extracts therefrom, at their own expense ; and on the final judgment of a causa, the higher Court shall retain the judicial record. 11. Questions relating to evidence shall be decided by the Moderator, subject to appeal to the Court. Decisions on points of order or evi- dence need not be minuted unless desired by a party, and then at the discretion of the Court. Chapter IV. If k Special provisions pertaining to process before Sessions. 1. In case it is impracticable to commence process immediately against an accused person, and the time for observing the Lord's Sup- per is near at hand, the Session may, if they think the edification of the Church require it, prevent the accused person from coming to the Lord's table at that time, the charges being afterwards, as soon as prac- ticable, examined and disposed of. 2. When an accused person has been twice duly cited, and refuses to compear, or compearing, refuses to answer the charges brought against him, he shall be suspended from the communion of the church for his contumacy ; and this sentence shall not be removed until he repents of his contumacy, and submits to the orders of the Court. 3. The censures to be inflicted by the Session are admonition, rebuke, suspension from sealing ordinances, and in case of gross and flagrant offenders, excommunication. 4. The Session may suspend or depose a ruling elder from his ofiBce, . with or without suspension from the communion of the Church, as the case may require. 11 8. A sentence may simply pass in Court, or if it be thouffht expe- dient to publisli it, it Bliall be published only in the Church or Churches which have been ofiunded. Chapkr V. Provmons pertaining to proceaa against a Minister. 1. As the honour and success of the gospel depend, in a great measure, on the character of its Ministers, it is the duty of the Presbytery care- iully and impartially to watch over the personal and proiessional con- duct of all its members. But as no Minister ought, on account of his office, to be screened from the hand of justice, nor his oflfences to be slightly censured, so neither ought scandalous charges to be received against him on slight grounds. 2. It is the duty of all christians to be very cautious in taking up an ill report of any man, but especially of a Minister of the gospel ; there- fore if any man know a Minister to be guiltv of a private fault, he should warn him in private. But if the guilty person persist in his fault, or it becomes public, he who knows it shoiild apply to some other Minister of the Presbytery for his advice. 8. If a Minister is supposed to have committed an offence at a dis- tance from home, which is not likely to become known to his own Pres- bytery, it shall be the duty of the Presbytery, within whose bounds the offence is alleged to have been committed, to send notice to the Pres- bytery of which he is a member of the offence charged, and the grounds for believing the truth of the charge ; and the Presbytery, on receiving such notice, shall, if they think it necessary, proceed against him, as in a case of fama. 4. If a Minister, accused of an offence, shall refuse to attend the Presbytery after being twice duly cited to appear and answer the ac- cusation, he may be immediately suspended from his office ; and if, after another citation, he shall refuse to attend, he shall be deposed as con- tumacious. 5. If, upon trial, a Minister shall be found guilty, he shall be admon- ished, rebuked, suspended from the functions of the ministry, deposed, with or Jut deprivation of Church privileges, or excommunicated, as the Court shall deem fit. 6. Heresy and schism may be of such a nature as to infer deposition : but errors should be carefully considered whether they strike at the vitals of religion, and are industriously spread, or whether they arise from the weakness of the human understanding and are not likely to do much injury. In the latter case, the Presbytery should use pru- dent measures to remove the offence. 7. A Minister deposed for scandalous conduct shall not be reponed, even on evidence of the deepest sorrow for his sin, until after some time of eminent and exemplary, humble and edifying conversation, to heal the wound made by his scandal ; and until public sentiment is strongly in favour of his restoration, and then only by the Presbytery which deposed him, or by the higher Court. 8. Deposition involves the separation of the pastoral tie, and the con- gregation shall be forthwith declared vacant. In suspension, the Pres- bytery shall decide whether such separation shall take place or not. Chaptbb VI. Ofcaaea 'without process. 1. When an individual commits an offence in the presence of the Court, or when he voluntarily confesses his guilt, it is competent to the mi ii 19 Court to proceed to jiidjfmont without procesB, tlie off«nder havlnfl; the privilege of being fully heard. The record must show the nature of the offence, the judgment of the ( 'ourt and the reasons thereof. 2. Should such judgment be apiwahjd from, the C'ourt Itself, or any member or members thereof, appointed for the iJurjMJse, shall act as api)ellee. 8. When a member, elder, or Minister shall renounce the communion of the Church bv joining another denomination without a regular dis- mission, if the denomination bo evangelical, and he be In good stand- ing, the Irregularity shall be noted in the records of the Court having jurisdiction, and his name erased. If charges are pending against him, they may bo prosecuted. If the denomination be heretical, he may be suspended, excommunicated, or deposed without trial, any furtlier than the Court's aBcertainipg and recurding the fact of his joining said de- nomination. « Chapter VII. Of Evidence. 1. Judicatories should be very careful and impartial in deciding on the competency and credibility of witnesses. Either party has a right to challenge a witness, and the Court decides on his competency. Dis- belief in the existence of God or a future state of rewards and punish- ments Involves Incompetency. 2. The credibility of a witness may be affected by relationship to one of the parties ; by interest in the result of the trial ; by want of projjer age ; by weakness of understanding ; by Infamy of character ; by being under censure ; by rashness, indiscretion or malignity of disposition ; or by other circumstances. 8. Agency, malice, or partial counsel may exist to such an extent as to exclude a witness altogether, and in any degree will lessen the value of his testimony. In this matter a Church Court must be very particu- lar in ascertaining how far any such alleged cause of disqualification really exists. 4! A question that is either frivolous or not pertinent to the matter under examination should not be allowed to be put to a witness ; and no evidence should be received except what is matter of knowledge or cause of kuo7.1edge of the witness. What a witness has heard should never be received, except it be what he has heard said by a person de- ceased, or by the accused, or by one in the presence of the accused. 5. A witness may look at writings or memoranda of his own to re- fresh his memory, but not at those of another person. 6. Leading questions are not to be put to a witness ; and no witness is bound to criminate himself. 7. The testimony of more than one witness is necessary in order to establish any charge ; yet if several credible witnesses testify to difft^r- ent act3 of a similar nature or to confirmatory circuinatances belonging to the same general charge, the crime may tie considered as proved. 8. No witness, afterward to be examined, except a member of the Court, shall be present during the examination of another witness in the same case, unless by consent of parties. 9. Witnesses shall first be examined by the party introducing them ; tlien cross-examined by the opposite party ; and, thereafter by any mem- ber of the Court who may vdsh to do so, through the Moderator. 10. The depositions of witnesses shall l»e reduced to writing and signed by them. The questions in full shall not be recorded, unless de- sired by a party as being very important. 13 ler having; the nature oreof. lelf, or any liall act as iomraunion egular dis- ood 8tand- urt having gainst him, he may be irther than ag said de- eciding on Ims a riglit ency. Dis- md punish- ship to one »t of proper • ; by being lisposition ; n extent as n the value ary parti cu- ualification the matter itness; and owledge or ard should person de- Lccused. own to re- no witness in order to Y to diff(!r- belonging proved, ber of the witness in iing them ; ■ any mem- ator. riting and unless de- ll. The Records of any Church Court or any part of them, whether original or transcribed, or any extract therefrom, if regularly authenti- cated by the Moderator and Clerk, or either of them, shall be d»!emed good and sufficient evidence in every other judicatory. 13. In like manner, testimony taken by one Court, and regularly cer- tified, shall be received by every other Court, as no less valid than If it had been taken by itself. 13. Any Church Court has the power, on the application of a party, and with good cause shown, to appoint a commission to examine wit- nesses. Ti)e testimony shall be taken in the same manner as in Court. Notice shall bo duly given of the time and place of such examination. The depositions shall be authenticated by the signatures of the ('ommis- sioners, sealed up by them and sent to the Clerk of the Court before which the cause is pending. The relevancy or competency of such tes- timony shall be decided by the Court. 14. If, after a trial, new testimony be discovered, 8upi)osed to be highly important to the exculpation of the accused person, it is proper for him, if the case has not been appealed, to ask, and for the Court to grant a new trial, when the new testimony shall be taken in the ordi- nary way. Thereafter the testimony formerly taken and the now tes- timony shall be read over in order, and the Court shall then proceed to judgment, as if no former judgment had been rendered ; and the new judgment shall entirely supersede the former one. 15. If, in the prosecution of an appeal, new testimony is offered, which, in the opinion of the appellate Court, has an important bearing on the case, it shall be competent to the Court to refer the cause to the infe- rior Court for a new trial ; or, with the consent of parties, to receive the testimony, and bring the case to an issue. Chapter VIII. The removal of a cause from a lower to a higher Court. A decision of any Church Court, except the highest, is subject to the review of a superior Court, and may be removed thereto in one of the four following ways : — namely, 1. general review and control ; 3. refer- ence ; 3. appeal ; and 4. complaint. When a matter is so removed by appeal or complaint, the inferior Court shall be regarded as a party in so far as the disposal of the appeal or complaint is concerned, and its members shall not be entitled to deliberate and vote thereon in the higher Court. In any other case of the removal of a decision as above, the inferior Court shall not be considered a party ; nor shall its mem- bers lose their right to sit, deliberate and vote in the higher Court. Section I. General Review and Control. 1. Every Court above the Session reviews the Records of the Courts next below (being within its j urisdiction) at least once a year, and, should the lower Court omit to send up its Records, the higher shall order them to be produced immediately, or on a day named. 8. In reviewing such Records, the higher Court shall examine first, whether the proceedings have been constitutional and regular ; second- ly, whether they have been wise, equitable, and for the edification of the Church ; and thirdly, whether they have been properly recorded. The superior Court shall record its decision on these matters, taking such further action as may be necessary, and ordering the lower Court accordingly. Provided, that a judicial sentence shall not be reversed, unless it has been brought up by appeal or complaint. 8 Inferior (freat ir-'>irului. > .- fvilH luu.v not be br<>i., tho sui'-Tior Court nhnl u n{iuUK0^ltnf>^oTn\ their duty, or they commit may ttWCe the Record. The appellant also craves ; Ttracts. If reasons > promised, they must be sent to the Clerk within ten days, and t' < . afterwards read in the Court and kept inretentia. Reasons i j respectfully expressed, else the Court will refuse to receive them. The Court, if cousidering it necessary, answers the reasons. 6. The sup? lor Court, after ascertaining that an appeal has been re- gularly made, all have the whole of the judicial record of the infe- rior Court re 4d. 'h'- parties shall then be heard, first the appellant, and then the ■« ji i '>e, aft o. which the Court shall proceed to judg- ment. When "lie '" m'.or Court ie in the position of appellee, only one member thereof Ha;u be heard. 7. The judgment of the superior Court may be to confirm or reverse, in whole or in part, the judgment of the inferior ; to remit the cause % It is all witl intil the! pari 15 xey eommit that such lecurtlR. If ^ils exist, it {matter and unconstltu- Lr at a Bpeci- [ne, or nave Ited to them Ikferior Court ar delicacy, its of exten- >ro mucli di- larger body decision of >r it may be ihing the de- iuperior, and a proper con- idgment has appeal is to laled against ' the Church, trial, are en- tie judgment her Court, adulgence to undue haste ^ourt is inti- e enter m\ on reasonb i*.i'< and t?.(«-' *.; ms 1; .t.4 : J them. The has been re- . of the infe- le appellant, ied to judg- ee, only one a or reverse, t the cause for the puriKwe of amnnding him Ilocord, If It appear »l«>fective, or to ret- mit it for a now trial. 8. Api)eal8 ma»l« agulnst particular parts of the ari-n of a Court In conducting a priH, but all such notices of appeal and oxcoptlonH by a party fo anv (iiifliiigs of t)\e Court shall b« takim nolo »)f, and Hent up to thi' >u[' rlor Court tor udjudicniion, as forming togetli«r a Hlnglo cauM(< with any fliml appt^al H hlch rauy be made. 9. If an appellant fail to prosecute his apiwal, by neglecting to a|i pear at the BU|M)rlor (^)urt, It shall be conHldered as fallen from, and the sentence appealed aganiHt shall be final; unl*>HH be hIih'^ niak(^ It appear that he was prevented In the providence ofOod from Mt^aHonably prosecuting his appeal, when the su{>erlor Court shall then proceed in the matter, due notlc bei g given to others Interested. 10. If an appell»^n' iu lound to manifest a litigious or other unchrist- ian spirit In tb" p'of^o- ti M of his ap|)eal, be shall be censured l)y the •uporior Cour. Section IV. VompUiintit. 1. A r;oi.iplalnt Is a representation made to a sui)erlor Court by any member or members of a minority In an Inferior Court resiM'ctlng u decision which, in the opinion of such member or members, has been Irregularly or unjustly made. The cominitency and grounds of a com- plaint are similar to those of an a]>peal by a party. 2. A member of an Inferior Court must dissent from the finding of the Court, and give notice of his Intention to complain, when the judg- ment Is pronounced, and the regulation aneut reasons of appeal applies to reasons of complaint. He must also crave extracts, which with re- lative documents the Court is required to send in due time to the higher Court. 8. Any person may have access to a superior Court by Memorial which may contain a complaint against an inferior Court for t)roceed- ings in which he feels aggrieved. Such memorial must be in respect- ful language, and a copy must have been previously sent to the ( ourt complained of. 4. The superior Court, in taking up a complaint, shall proceed, mu- tatia mutandis, as in an appeal. 5. Church Courts should not be impeded in the conducting of pro- cess, nor a superior one troubled by vexatious or frivolous complaints or appeals, and persons making such complaints or appeals shall be severely censured. Chapter IX. Diaaents and Protests. 1. 2i. iJissent is a declaration made by a member of a Court to record the fact that he did not agree with the decision of the majority, and which he considers unjust or irregular, in order to save himself from the consequences of such decision ; or it may be made by a minority. ^. It must be given at the timet when the decision is pronounced, and it is always entered on the records. It may stand alone or be accompanied with reasons. If reasons aro given in at the time that the dissent is intimated, they are entered ou f he Record. If not given in at that time, they must be sent to the CI, rk witliin ten days, and are then (after hav- ing been read in Court) kept in retevtis. Other members, who formed part of the minority, shall be allowed to adhere to a dissent. Id 2. A protest is a more solemn and formal declaration made by a party, a member, or a minority, bearing testimony against what is deemed a iniHcliievous or erroneous judgment. It usually accompanies an appeal or complaint. Forms. 1. Citation to party accused. To A. B. at . You are hereby required to appear before the Session of C. at a meeting to be held in on the day of &c., to answer to a charge of made against you by D. E. of F. (or by the said Session.) G. H. C. day of 18 Session Clerk. This citation, if used, must be served personally on the party accused or left at his place of residence, not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for conference, but a verbal citation by the minister, Session Clerk or officer, is usually sufficient. 2. Ubel. To Mr. A. B. Minister at C. (or preacher of the Gospel.) You are indicted by the Presbytery of D. at the instance of E. and F. (or at the instance of the said Presbytery [this if by/ama]) to appear at G. on the day of &c., to answer to the following charge ; — namely, that you the said A. B. did on the day of or on (give time) (here describe the offence charged) which conduct of yours was contrary to the word of God and the laws of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland, and in- consistent with your position as a Minister (or preacher) of the Gospe 1. Signed in name and by appointment of the Presbytery of D. at this day of Moderator and Clerk 8. Citation of party libelled. I certify that a true copy of the within Libel was duly served on the therein named A. B. at C. on the day of (or) was left at the dwelling house of the therein named A. B. on the day of This citation is executed by any member of the Presbytery or by any person whom the Presbytery may appoint as their officer for the pur- pose. 4. Citation of witnesses. To Mr. G. H. at C. The Presbytery of D. having at present a process pending against Mr. A. B. &c., who is charged (name charge) you are hereby re- quired to appear before the said Presbytery at G. on the day of «c., at o'clock to give evidence in the said cause on behalf of J. K. Presbytery Clerk. Witnesses may be cited as above or verbally by a party, a member of Presbytery, or any other competent person appointed by the Pres- bytery. In either case a certificate is given in, testifying that the ci- tation has been duly made as follows : — 5. Certificate of citation of witnesses. I hereby certify that I duly cited Messrs. C. D. &c. at day of to appear before the Presbytery of D. at C. on the on the I made by a i8t what is scompanies jpear before the G. H. JBsion Clerk, jarty accused pre the time ster, Session I) of E, and P. to appear g charge;— or on juct of yours Presbyterian Band, and in- r the Gospel. rD. at )r and Clerk erved on the 18 left at the of ry or by any for the pur- ine against 3 hereby re- day of Be on behalf ytery Clerk. •, a member y the Pres- that the ci- 17 day of as witnesses in the process presently pending against Mr. A. B. Ac, (or) that I left the citation of the Presbytery to Mr. C. D. to appear as a witness &c., at the dwelling house of the said C. D. at C. on the day of &c. 6. Minute of deprivation of License. (After detailing the steps taken in libelling, confession, or probation, and the finding of the Presbytery : — ) The Presbytery therefore did and hereby do deprive the said Mr. A. i B. of his license as a preacher of the Gospel, and declare him disqualified I to receive a call to the ministry. 7. Minute of deposition. The Presbytery, having duly considered the libel served on Mr. A. B. Minister of C. on the day of together with the proof adduced thereon (or together with his confession of his guilt) whereby he was , found to have been guilty of (relate crime proven or confessed), did by their vote depose the said A. B., like as they hereby do, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and only Head of this Church, and by virtue of the power and authority committed by Him, to them, depose the said A. B. from the oflftce of the Holy Ministry ; prohibiting and discharging him to exercise the same, or any part thereof, in all time coming. The Presbytery further declared the Church and Congrega- tion of C. to be vacant from this date. 8. Form of Deposition. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ the King and only Head of this Church, and by virtue of the power and authority committed by Him to it, and in the name of this Presbytery, I do now solemnly depose you, Mr. A. B. minister of C. from the oifice of the holy ministry, prohibiting and discharging you from exercising the same or any part thereof in all time coming. 9, 10. Sentence of Greater Excommunication, and of Absolution. (Forms of the Church of Scotland, Styles Nos. 113 and 114. n the 1 the IS m ■i BOOK IV. CODIFICATION OF SPECIAL ENACTMENTS OF THE SYNOD. Chapter I. — Position and Relations of the Church. 1. Resolution of Gd, with- iout delay. The Synod enjoin strictly on all Presbytery Clerks to notify I the Secretary of the Temporalities' Board of every induction or decease [of a Minister within the bounds of their Presbyteries, as soon as they ihave ascertained the fact in either case. 8. Predtytery meetings during Synod. May 26, 1858. Any Presbytery may meet and transact any competent businesfl'at Iwiy time during the Session of Synod when the Court is not sitting ; [but the intimation of meeting must be in writing, signed by the Mod- I erator, or, in his absence, any two members of the Presbytery of which I a meeting is requested, and must be read by the Moderator of Synod from the chair. 1 Chapter III.— Enactments respecting Worship and Ordinances. \. MissUmariea to dispense ordinances. July%,l%Z^. The Synod consider it expedient that Missionaries of this Church should be invested with the power of dispensing the Sacraments of the Church, and Presbyteries are authorized and instructed to ordain Missionaries over defined districts of country, as they shall see meet. 2. Pvblic Baptism, July 9, 1842. The Synod enjoin Presbyteries to see that the laws of the Church in regard to the public administration of the Sacrament of Baptism be duly observed throughout their respective bounds. 3. Ministers loithout pastoral charge, Sept. 21, 1844. No Minister of this Church, not having a pastoral charge, shall ad minister Baptism or dispense the Lord's Supper, within the bounds of any Presbytery, without having previously obtained the sanction of such Presbytery ; or within the bounds allotted to any settled Minis- ter, without the consent of such Minister. 4. Public worship by Elders. July 9, 1852. The Synod recommend to the Elders of such Congregations as are destitute of fixed pastors to assemble the people for the worship of God on the Lord's day ; to lead them in their devotional exercises, and to read to them the Scriptures and such discourses as may be recom- mended by the Presbytery. Chapter IV. — Schemes op the Church ; Missionary and Benevolent efforts, &c. Section First — Temporalities' Fund and Home Mission. 1. Congregational Associations. June 11, 1867. The Synod recommend the adoption of systematic measures in each Congregation, especially the formation of Associations and the appoint- ment of collectors, having for their object the obtaining of an annual, quarterly or monthly subscription from every member and adherent, in support of the various Missionary and Benevolent Schemes in which the Church is engaged. 22 2. Home MUmn Organization. July 12, 1842. Presbyteries shall arrange the Missionary ground within their re- spective bounds into missionary stations and districts, and establish Home Missionary Associations in each of the organized Congregation* under their care. Each Presbytery is recommended to institute a Presbytery Mission Fund for supplementing the salaries of Missionaries. 3. Temporaiities' Board. May 81, 1856. The Synod agreed that the interest of the Commutation Funds, and of all such funds as may come into their hands, shall, by them, (the managers) be applied in the following manner : 1st. For the payment of £112 10s. per annum to the ministers who commuted. 2nd. For the payment of £100 a year to the eleven ministers who were on the Synod'^B Roll, at the time of the secularization of the Clergy Reserves, but who were not permitted to commute ; and 3rd. For the payment to all ministers, not so provided for, of £100 a year, if the funds in their hands admit of it ;— it being understood that such annual subscriptions as may be received for the sustentation of the Church are to be applied to this last mentioned purpose ; further, that, if the sum that can be disposed of lor this purpose should at any time be insuflacient to give £100 a year, the whole sum be divided among the claimants, but the division shall not be continued after the allowance to each minister has fallen to £50. The Synod further agreed and declared that the guaranteed salary of £112 lOs. shall, upon the death of any one of the recipients, revert to the general fund : that any of the ministers holding the guaranteed sum ot £112 lOs., released from their respective charges from age and infirmity, with the consent of their Presbyteries, sanctioned by the Synod, shall enjoy their salaries for life : and that those who have al- ready retired on a stipulated sum shall continue to ^rjoy the sum al- lotted to them. Resolutions adopted by the Synod, 1859. 1. That, in view of the pressing necessities of the Board for the pre- sent year, the Synod approve of the action of the Commission which met in February, enjoining congregational collections throughout the Cburch in aid of the fund for the support ofMinisters, and require all con- gregations which have not yet collected to do so as speedily as possible: it being understood, however, that if congregations have taken another method of aiding the fund, as by subscription, such shall be taken in lieu of collections. 2. That, in consequence of the rapid increase of Ministers holding charges, the long contemplated effort for the increase of the fund can- not be longer delayed without injury to the best interests of the church, and that the Synod do therefore resolve to commence operations in the month of September next, by which time it is hoped, under the bless- ing of a kind Providence, the agricultural and commercial prosperity of the Province may be such as to give reasonable ground for the hope of success. 8. That, for more prompt and effectual action in this matter, the Tem- poralities' Board, or such of the members of the said Board as reside within the city of Montreal, be authorized to arrange deputations to the various congregations of the Church, if possible in idl cases, both of 23 Ministers and influential laymen, and to call on Ministers not employed in such deputations to supply the pulpits of those who are. 4. That, in carrying out this resolution, the deputations have respect to four objects, (1) the increase of the funds invested by donations given at once, or of which the payment is extended over a course of years ; (2) the formation of Church Societies, the members of which shall annually contribute to the fund, such contributions to be available for distribution annually by the Temporalities' Board ; (8) donations to be at the disposal of the Board either for investment at interest or distri- bution ; (4) Legacies in aid of any branch of the fund. 5. That the Synod approve and confirm the three following by-laws which have been adopted by the Board : — That the Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer be authorized to draw cheques against the Bank account of the Board for the payment of Min- isters and other expenses of the Board. That the Chairman of the Board be authorized to receive and grant ischarges for all divilends and interest accruing to the Board. That an Executive Committee be named in terms of the Act, and that it shall consist of Thomas Paton, Esq., the Rev. Dr. Mathieson, and Hugh Allan, Esq., who alone shall have power to receive, accept and execute transfers of stocks or Debentures, and every transfer or ac- ceptance must be signed by all the members of this Committee. Condition of payment o/$200. June 6, 1863. It shall be a condition of the paymant of each allowance of $200 to unprivileged ministers that $50 be obtained for the fund by the au- thority of the recipient ; the congregations beimg looked to for such sum. The congregations of privileged ministers are recommended to give an equal sum, and those which are large and wealthy, a large and liberal contribution. Status of Missionariet and Licentiates. June 5, 1868. The Synod placed Ordained Missionaries and Licentiates, actually employed in the service of the Church under the supervision of Pres- byteries, upon the same footing — in relation to the Temporalities' Fund — as settled Ministers, in order both that the Synod may be able to meet the views of the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland, in their recent regulations, and that the motives for undue haste iu the settlement of Licentiates may be removed. Section Second. — Ministeus' Widows' and Orphans' Fund. 1. Resolutions of Synod. July 13, 1846. 1. That it is expedient to establish a Ministers' Widows' Fund. 2. That to the success s.nd stability of such an institution an Act of the Provincial Parliament is necessary, rendering compulsory the pay- ment of the rate fixed on Ministers receiving Government allowance, — incorporating the Managers, — and enabling them to hold property to the amount of at least £1000 a-year. 3. That any such Act should fix the rate chargeable on Ministers at £3 per annum. 4. That the Managers should be one-third Ministers and two thirds Laymen — appointed by the Synod — twelve in number — and one Minis- ter and two laymen to retire annually, but to be eligible for re-election. 6. That the Managers shall have full power to fix the scale of annu- ities payable to Widows, and to conduct the whole business of the In- stitution. I 24 I 2. Acts of Synod, Sept. 13, 1847. Whereas, to the working of the Act incorporatiniar the Manapren of the Ministers' Widows' and Orphans' Fund, it is required that monies be raise.' 't is hereby enacted that each Minister snail pay annually the sum of Three Pounds, for the securing of the payment of which each Presbytery shall cause Bonds for said payment to be signed in du- plicate by each Minister within the bounds, authorizing the Synod's Clergy Reserve Commissioners to retain in their hands said annual payment of Three Pounds, in half-yearly instalments, out of the pay- ments rendered him by said Commissioners, one copy of which Bond shall be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners, and the Duplicate kept by the Clerk of the Presbytery. The Bond to be as follows : — (Substitute form in use). And further, Presbyteries are enjoined not to ordain or induct any Probationer or Minister into a Pastoral charge, without his first haying signed the above Bond in the presence of the Presbytery, and which Bond shall be attested by the Moderator and Clerk. And further, each Minister is enjoined to have a yearly collection on the first Sabbath of January in behalf of said Fund, and to use all dili> gence to obtain donations or subscriptions from his people, to be paid to the Treasurer of the Fund :— and Presbyteries are enjoined to see that Ministers show all diligence in this matter, and send yearly returns to the Synod. , Minute enjoined to be read previous to the annual collection. In the actual condition of the Church in Canada, little more can be expected oven from the more prosperous and wealthy Congregations, than a bare support for the Minister and his family, without any power on his part of making any provision for them, if, in the Providence of God, his wife should be left a widow, and his children fatherless. To meet such coses, which must be exiiected to occur among the ministry with the average frequency, it is held and declared to be a duty incum- bent on the people among whom a Minister labours, receiving nothing more from them than an immediate temporal support, to co-operate with the design of this Board for providing some relief for the bereaved families of such Pastors as have consecrated their whole time and talents to the spiritual edification of i he people committed to their charge. This duty of Congregations may be deemed the more incumbent, inasmuch as the Synod have enacted that every Minister shall contribute out of his public allowance the ijum of Three Pounds annually, diminishing by that amount his very limited income. The Synod would, therefore, exhort Congregations also to come forward freely to present their lib- eral contributions for the same object, not only as a token of regard for their own Pastor, but as an expression of their gratitude to their Divine Lord, who has ordained that they who serve at the altar should live of the things of the altar. Christians have always been wont to honour those who have in any way endured self-denying labours for the sake of Christianity ; and it is worthy of a Christian Church to do this by making the Fund for the relief of the W idows and Orphans of their Ministers the monument of their gratitude and dutiful remem- brance. While this claim on the liberality of the people is held to rest on the clearest principles of Christian obligation, it is deemed to be of pecu- liar force in this country where so much difficulty is experienced in ob- 85 fero of nonies Dually which indu- y nod's nnual e pay. Bond plicate B : — Bt any layin. « paid tainlng a suitable supply of Ministers for the Church, on account of the inadequacy of the temporal support that is attainable. This evil, which in present circtmstances it may be irapfissible materially to alleviate, would in some degree be counteracted, if Ministers had any sure pros- pect that the Church would manifest a benevolent concern for their families after their decease. The Synod, therefore, with these princinles declared, and with the statements contained in the Rei)<)rt before them, iadicatinf? the want of a proper sense of duty in this particular on the part of many of the Con- gregations, enjoin ui>on Presbyteries to take order that all IktinisteiB and Sessions do use dilligonce that every Congregation may be brought to contribute a sum at least equal to that contributed by their Minister ; and also, that all vacant Congregations within their bounds have an opportunity afforded them of devising liberal things in this matter. The Synod enjoin all ministers (July 7, 1851,) and congregations to be punctual in making the collection at the proper time, and remitting the same immediately to the Treasurer. And Presbyteries are directed to see that in appointments of supply of sermon to vacant congregations, arrangements be made for taking up collections in aid of the Fund. Ministers are to urge its (July 8, 1852,) special claims on the liberality of their people. The Synod resolved :— (June 4, 1856.) 1. That Presbyteries be enjoinod to send, with all convenient speed, to the Board of Managers of the Ministers' Widows' and Orphans' Fund, a statement of the date of the ordination or induction of all Ministers now on the Roll of the Synod. 2. That Presbyteries report to the Managers of the Widows' Fund the date of every ordination or induction of Ministers that may here- after be admitted, within one month thereafter. 8. That the Rule now in force respecting the taking up of collections for said Fund, on the first Sabbath of January each year, be strictly ob- served, as far as practicable : and, provided there be good cause, from in- clemency of weather, or otherwise, fcr deferring it on the first Sabbath, then it shall be taken up on the earliest day afterwards that is con- venient. 4. That all collections be remitted to the Treasurer before the first day of April each year, in order that the accounts for the year be made up, and a fair statement of the condition and operations of the Trust be given to the Synod at their Annual Meeting. 6. That the Rule now in force, (see Printed Minutes, 1861, page 20, near foot,) respecting Presbyteries taking care that collections be taken up in vacant Congregations, shall be observed strictly. 6. That united Congregations shall be considered as one, and their collections conjoined, so long as they are under the pastoral charge of one Minister. 7. That the Synod pledge themselves to carry into faithful operation, in so far as may be in their power, the By-Laws of the Board of Man- agers, now in operation, in respect to every Minister or Congregation, who contribute to the Fund under the existence of these By-Law», which, in respect to all such, are declared to be unalterable without the full consent of all parties,— and the Synod do hereby homologate and confirm the same. The Synod enjoin Presbyteries to see (June 1, 1857,) that Ministers make a return to the Board of the number of families in their several oongregations : — to make diligent inquiry whether congregations have made their collections, and to deal with defaulters as may seem meet ; 26 — Immodlatolv after an ordination or Induction to send an Extract of the same to the Secretary of the Board of Management. The Syn(Mi direct the Board, (June 1, 1857,) In the case of the demlBP of Widows to pay their annuities up to tho termination of the current half-year In which tlie dei. ise may take place. 8. Graduated teale of annuitie«. The Synod approve of the scale of distribution embodied in the Re- port ; (as follows ;) " 4th— That the annuity to be paid to Widows shall be at the rate ot £12 lOs. from the Fund conslstinj? of Ministers' contributions, and ac- cording to the following scale from the Fund consisting of Congrega- tional Collections. Where the average annual amount collected Is under three pounds, the Managers may, In their discretion, allow an annuity not exceeding fifteen pounds. Where the average is £3, and does not amount to £6, the annuity shall be £20. Where £6 and under £9 to £25 Where 9 and under 12 to 80 Where 12 and under 15 to 85 Where 15 and under 1« to 40 Where 18 and under 21 to 45 Where 21 and under 24 to 50 Where 24 and under 27 to 55 Where 27 and under 30 to 60 And no annuity shall exceed the last mentioned sum, namely, £60. 5th — That in the event of a child or children coming on the Fund i»> consequence of the death of both parents, the same annuity as in t •it- case of a widow should be payable to him, her or them, until the youngest daughter shall attain the age of 21 years, or the youngest boy shall attain the age of 18 years, unless he is studying with a view to the ministry in the Church of Scotland or in this Synod, when it shall continue to be paid until he attains the age of 21 years. When the youngest daughter shall have attained the age of 21 years, and it ap- pears to the Managers that the family is in destitute circumstances, they may where there is more than one daughter allow an annuity not exceeding one half what would be paid to a widow, and, where there is only one daughter, an annuity not exceeding one third of what would be paid to a widow. Whenever any daughter is married her interest in the Fund shall cease. In the case of boys who, from mental or physi- cal incapacity, are unable to support themselves, the Managers mav allow an annuity for a longer term than attaining the age of 18, such annuity in no case to exceed half of what would be allowed to a widow." The Synod approve of an intermediate (June 11, 1867,) grade in the scale of collections between twelve dollars and sixty dollars and annui- ties between eighty dollars and one hundred and sixty dollars, as also of the equity and propriety of increasing annuities to widows having children under age. Section Third— French Mission. The Synod enjoin all ministers (July 8, 1845,) and Sessions to bring the claims of this important Mission more fully and urgently before their congregations, and procure as liberal collections and Bubscriptions as possible. vt The Svnod appointed a Standing Comniltteo (June 1,1858.) on the F'rench MiBslon, authorizing thorn to tako such Htepg in it« revival, maintenancu and proHocutiou, att may bo necessary, re|H)rtinff their action to the Synod from time to time ; and the Synod recommend the Mission to the continued countenance and active co-operation and sympathy of the congregations of the Church. SSCTION FOUIITII— SCUOLAIISIIIP AND BURBARY SCHEMB. Presbyteries are enjoined to take such stops as to (July 12, 1842.) them may seem meet for the establishment of Bursaries at Queen's College for deserving; students for the ministry. The Synod au|)ointed a committee on (May 81, 1859,) the Bursary Scheme to watcli over the same and report. The Synod having ap[)ointed the first (May 81, I860,) Sal)bath of March as a day of si)eciai i)rayer for Queen's College, and for bringing the claims of the College under the notice of their congregations, do earnestly recommend that on that, or other convenient day, a collection be taken uj) in aid of the Bursary Fund. The Synod adopt the recommendation (Juno 0, 1860), that the Fund shall be mainly employed in Scli<»larshi|)s, to be awarded according to the result of competitive University examinatiiins. It shall be henceforth designated the "Scholarship and Bursary Scheme." Section Fifth— Jewish and Foreign Mission. The Synod recommend to all Se.ssions (July 7, 1840), to ap|K)int meet- ings at stated periods for bringing the subject of Missions before Con- gregations, and for united prayer in behalf thereof ; and at such meet- ings, or otherwise, to make collections in aid of the Missions of the Church of Scotland, or such other f)bject as may be approved of by the Sessions. The Synod renew their previous (June 8, 1856), frequent declarations of interest in the Mission work, and of the duty of this Church to take part therein, and apiwint a Committee to be called the "Jewish and Foreign Mission Committee of the Synod," to consider maturely the whole matter, and to report. The Synf>d directed that funds (June 6, 1866), which may be con- tributed expressly for British Columbia, be transmitted to the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland, in aid of their Mission to that Province ; and that funds contributed for Foreign Missions be trans- mitted to the India Mission Committee of the Church of Scotland, to be by them applied towards paying the salary of the Rev. Charles J. Cameron, Missionary at Madras. The Synt)d recommend all Congregations to contribute to the sup- port of the India Mission of the Church of Scotland, by collections, con- tributions from Missionary Associations, or otherwise. Section Sixth— Sabbath Schools. The Synod, earnestly desiring the (June 2, 1857). efficiency of Sab- bath Schools, direct the attention of Sessions and Presbyteries to the matter, appoint a Committee to be designated The Synod's Committee on ScMath Schools, — who shall exercise a general superintendence, and shall have power to take such action of a local or general kind, as to them may seem judicious — instruct Kirk-sessions to forward annually 28 to the Convoner of nald CommlttiHi before the flnit day of Maj, a atate- ment of the nunilier of teachers mule and female, acholara male and female, and the number of each on the n)ll, the averajfe attendance, and the IncnMHe or diminution d<«riti>f the year, the numi)er and kind of iKM.kn In the Sablmth School library, and all other mattera of Interest affecting? the welfare of the local wrhool or the general inatitutlon ; In- ■tract tlio Comiuittoe to pri'imro a report and dl^eat of said atatomenti, to be laid before the Synml. The Synod warmly recommend (June 8, 1861) this vital and imp^p well qualified men for the work of the Ministry. The Synod reHolve anew that we are specially called of God to use our utmost exertions to raise up a supply for the Ministry among us from the youth of this land, — Instruct Ministers to make continued su|)- plicatlon unto Grxl, as well In their private as in their public prayers, that He mav be pleased to send forth more labourers into the iiarvest, and also enjoin them frequentlv to adnicmlsh parents to consider what may be the call of God upon them in reference to the consecration ot their children unto Hliu in whatever doj>artment of service they may be qualified ; — and, furtlier, enjoin upon all Presbyteries and Sessions to make careful and diligent enquiry, in the several Congregations within their respective b<)undB, to ascertain whether any young men may be found in them whose attention should be specially called to the claims of < "hrlst ujMjn them, In regard to the Ministry of this Church — and to aid and encourage by all the means in their [K)wer such suitable young men as may declare their purpose to consecrate themselves to this sacred vocation. The Synod recommend both to Presbyteries and individual Minis- ters (July 4, 1861), to look out for youths of i)romising abilities and of piety to be brought under the educaticn and training necessary to their entering College, — and, further, recommend to Presbyteries to use all diligence in watching over the youths now studying Theology, — and also recommend to Ministers to aid such youths in tlieir studies privately, and, on their removing to College, to commend them specially to the pastoral superintendence of the Minister resident at the seat of the University. The Synod, further, enjoin all their Students of Di- vinity to appear before the Presbyteries, within whose bounds they re- side, at least once during the Summer recess, for the purpose of being examined, and, on their re-entering the Divinity Hall, to produce a certificate from their Presbyteries that they have done so. The Synod resolved, — 3. That all the Ministers of this Church be earnestly recommended (May 31, 1860), to preach on the second Sabbath of February in each year, or the first convenient Sabbath thereafter, on the call to the Gos- pel Ministry, setting forth the wants of the Church and the existing destitution of our land, and, at the same time, to hold up for consider- ation iuch t)iln(;H m will r(Hv>innu>Q(l the Uini|i«1 Ministry aa a calllnp^, In order that parents andyontli inny pflve Itn clalmit roHpectful hi^arinir; and the HyniKl further • |»iH»\iit tin- Hald sahhath an a day of Hpitrlal prayer for the out|K>arinjf of th<^ Holy Hplrit on th« rlHlnjf jfenoratlon, and upon the offir«;r« and HtudtuitH of (jtutun's Cnllo^e. 4. That thiH Hvnod earnetttly and atftictlonatt^ly recommend parentu to lend their children to the Lord, and to dedicate ntich aH, In their Jadffment, iMiHseaa the rt!(|iiisite qualiflcatlona to the otAce of the Holy Ministry. 5. That the 8yno Hymimthles of our Conf^^reffations, and apiHiint Mr. Paton Treasurer for the fund ; — renew (June 1, 1858) their cordial approval of the scheme, (May 81, 1801)) recommend it to the cordial support of the Church and Sabbath Schools (June 8, 18R3) and rejoice in the extended interest in Mission work manifested by the children. (May 28. 1862). The Synod resolve to mer^^e this and (June 9, 1868.) the Sabbath SchcH)l Scheme into one Scheme, to be culled the "Juvenile Mission and Sabbath School Scheme," and appoint a Committee for its management. Chaptek V— Colleobs. Section First— Quekn'b Colleob. 1. Formula for the Literary ProfctuorH and Tntsteea ofQueen'o College. (July 4, 1840.) I do sincerely own and declare the Confession of Faith, agreed upon by the Asaombly of Divines at Westminster to be the Confession of my faith ; and that I own the doctrine therein contained to be the true doctiine, which I will constantly adhere to : as likewise, that I own and acknowledge PrcHbyterian Church Government of this Church, bv Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assem- Imes, to be tlie only government of this Church, and that I will submit thereto, concur therewith, and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof. 2. Statutes of Queen's University. {June 9, ISQS.) Numbers 18, 19, 55, and 109 of the Statutes of Queen's University were read and approved of, and the Moderator and Clerk were instructed to attach their signatures to them. 8. CJiange in, Curriculum. {June 10, 1864.) The Synod approve of the change made in the Curriculum in Arts by adding a fourth Session, and, as regards Students for the Ministry in this Church, require them to conform to the amended Curriculum, subject to the payment of fees in the Arts classes, agreeable to the prin- ciple stated in the Report. 30 4. Claims on CImrch. {June 6, 1867.) The Synod recofrniee anew the claims of the College upon the prayer- ful encouragement and pecuniary support of the friends of the Church, by reason of the highly important services which it continues to render. Section Second— Morrin CoLLEaB. The Synod agreed to accept the authority (May 30, 1861,) to ap- point Governors of the College, as provided in the Act of Incorporation. The Synod decerned that, so soon as Morrin College shall possess the following staff' of Professors, namely, a Professor of Classics, a Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, and a Professor of Logic, Met-' aphyeics and Moral Philosophy, the certificates of such Professors shall be accepted as qualifying for admission to the study of Divinity, in the same way as certificates from the Professors of Queen's College ; and if, in addition to the Professor of Divinity appointed by the Deed of Dr. Morrin, there be also a Professor of Hebrew and Church History, their certificates of attendance shall in like manner be accepted, as qualify- ing students to come before the Synod and Presbyteries of the Church as candidates for license ; the time of attendance on said College and the course of study to be in accordance with tlie laws of the Church, pro- vided always that Theological Professors must be ministers or proba- tioners of the Church. Chapter VI— Synod Fund and Finance. 1. Assessment. The Synod fixed a rate of assessment (Mfty 27, 1859), making it com- [mlsory on each Session to contribute the amount apportioned to it in the Schedule, and leaving it optional to supplement this by such fur- ther sum as it may find itself able and disposed to give. In all cases, the contribution from a Congregation (July 19, 1853) with a settled Minister shall not be less than four dollars. 2. Duty of Presbyteries. It shall be the duty of Presbytery Clerks (June 6, 1854), to receive from the Ministers, Sessions and Congregations within their bounds, the annual contributions to the Synod fund, and to pay over the same to the Treasurer. The Synod enjoin Presbyteries to enquire at the first (June 6, 1864) meeting of each, after the rising of the Synod, and at the last regular meeting before the meeting of the Synod, how the duty of Congrega- tions to this Fund has been discharged ; and, where it appears that this duty has not been discharged, to take such steps as may be neces- sary for supplying the deficiency as soon as possible. 8. Fees and (JTmrges. The Synod adopted the following tariff of fees (June 1, 1861), the pro- ceeds thereof to go into the Treasurer of the Synod Fund, viz. : — Each person Recording a dissent simpliciter from any proceed- ings of the Synod |0 25 For reasons, that may be extended on the minutes in support of such dissent, |0 20 for the first and for each subsequent one 10 For extracts of minutes granted to individuals, for every 100 words 12i a 31 The Synod adopted the following (Juno 6, 1864) scale of charges for copies of Minutes of Synod ; — Whole set, 1830 to 1865, postage paid |5 00 Reprint of first six years ... 1 00 Single copy of Minutes for one year. 15 Chapter VII — Church Property. The Synod enjoin Presbyteries, without (July 12, 1853) delay, to take such steps as may be considered necessary for securing the public property of the Church within their bounds. The Synod appoint a Committee to enquire into the (May 31, 1855,) condition of the public property of the Church, to correspond with Pre- sbyteries, with legal agents and others, and to take such action as may be expedient for the preservation of that part which may be in jeopardy, or recovering such as may be illegally in possession of others : — con- stitute (May 30, 1857,) the same a Standing Committee ; enjoin Minis- ters who have not yet made returns of Church property, with which they are connected, to do so without delay. The Synod appointed the Committee (June 6, 1864,) to prepare a draft Act of Incorporation for this Church. Soliciting aid for building Churches. The Synod instruct Presbyteries not (July 14, 1846,) to authorize Congregations to solicit aid in the erection of Churches till satisfactory deeds or legal bonds for satisfactory deeds of the sites shall have been obtained and laid on their tables ; and generally to take care that pro- [teny acquired by congregations be properly secured. Act anent soliciting contributions for Church purposes. {June 9, 1863.) Whereas, the soliciting of contributions from the public for ecclesias- tical purposes by unauthorized individuals is a practice which is liable to abuse, and it is proper to subject the said practice, so far as this Church is concerned, to suitable regulations, it is hereby enacted : — I. That no minister or member of any congregation under the juris- diction of this Synod shall collect contributions, beyond the bounds of his congregation, for local ecclesiastical purposes, until he has first ob- tained from his Presbytery permission to that eflect, and an attested subscription list to be used in collecting. II. That it shall also be necessary to have the sanction of the Pres- bytery, within whose bounds it is intended to apply for contributions ; and individuals proceeding to collect are required to follow the direc- tions which such Presbytery may give as to time and mode of collecting. III. That accounts of all moneys so collected, together with state- ments of their api)lication, shall be laid before the Presbytery to which the collector belongs, for the purpose of being audited. IV. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Synod on Presbytery Records to enquire what evidence is furnished, by said Records of the attention paid by Presbyteries to the requirements of this Act. Chapter VIII — Grants prom the Colonial Committee. 1. The Synod ordained that grants (July 13, 1846) from the Colo- onial Committee may be applied to the building of Churches and the acquiring of fixed property, with the concurrence of the donors ; — that all correspondence with the Colonial Committee in regard to such 32 grants Bhall be carried on solely by the Synod or their Commission ; — that all applications from Congregations for any such grants, previous- ly to their being transmitted to the Synod or their Commission for ap- proval, shall have the sanction and recommendation of the Presbytery of the bounds. 2. (Act of June 12, 1867). Chapter IX— Management of Schemes and Aoent. (June 9, 1865). 1. The Synod respectfully request the following gentlemen, Thomas Patou, John Greenshields, William Darling, Jas. Johnston, Alexander Buntin, John Rankin, James S. Hunter, and John L. Morris, Esquires, to be a Committee, under the appointment of the Synod, to devise and to carry into execution such measures as to them may seem expe- dient for aiding and advancing the Schemes of the Church, and more particularly the Home Mission Fund in both its branches, — with au thority to appoint an Agent, and to direct him in the discharge of his dutiea. And the Synod do hereby recommend Mr. James Croil, an elder of the Church, to be appointed Agent, if he is willing to under- take the office ; and enjoin all Ministers, Sessions, and Presbyteries of the Church to co-operate with and encourage whatever Agent may be appointed in the discharge of his arduous duties. And the Synod, hav- ing full confidence in the zeal and judgment of said Committee, do only recommend further, that they confer with the Temporalities' Board, with the view of having the offices of Agent and Secretary of the Board combined — with a view also of ascertaining the sum necessary to en- able the Temporalities' Board to give to every Minister the regular al- lowance for the current year, which, together with the sum necessary to complete the original grant to Queen's College, it is the desire of the Synod that the members of the Committee should regard as the first object to be attained by the exertions of the Agent. The Synod do also wish that the Committee should add to their numbers any member of the Church, whose co-operation they desire to obtain ; and that John (i}reen8hields, Esq., be the Convener of the Committee. The Synod approve of the mode suggested (June 6, 1866), for meet- ing the salary of the Agent, namely : that the salary and expenses of the Agent should form a charge upon the revenue of the several schemes in proportion to the amount of congregational collections re- ceived during the year by each scheme, and instruct the Treasurers of the various schemes to honour the requisitions made upon them for this purpose by the Committee. The Synod enjoin Presbyteries to take (June 11, 1867) such steps as may seem to them best calculated to secure the regular payment of the salaries of all the Ministers within the bounds ; recommend Congrega- tions to adopt the Calendar year in their financial accounts ; urge them to prepare and print annual reports ; and sanction the intit)duction of printed schedules and visitation from house to house, in making col- lections for the several Schemes. 2. Act for Collections. (Standing Act. See minutes 1867 or 1868.) Chapter X — Miscellaneous Enactments. 1. Law Agents in Church Courts. The Synod ordained that no Law (July 7, 1843,) Agents shall be al- lowed to act as such in any of the Courts of this Church. n;— rioug- >r ap- 7tery 1865). uires. levise expe- more 3. Reports to be ready. The Synod strictly enjoin the Conveners (June 6, 1865.) of Synodica Committees, Chainuen of Boards of Trustees and Managers, Clerks of Presbyteries and others in charge of the business of the Church, to be Prepared to submit to the Synod all Reports, Returns, Statements, leferences. Overtures, Appeals, &c., on the first day of the meeting of Synod. Note. Some papers are required by special enactments to be fur- nished to the 8ynod Clerk before the meeting of Synod, and some Re- ports are appointed to be given in on fixed days of the Session. 3. Control of Church and tise. {June 1, 1S55.) Whereas the acknowledged use of a Church is for the public worship of God, and the Minister, with the Session, is responsible to his Pres- bytery and to the Synod, fer the use that is made of the church edifice, therefore it is the prerogative of the Minister and the Kirk Session to hold the key of the place of worship, and exercise their own discretion, under the Superior Church Courts, as to the uses to which it shall be Applied." 4. Catechista. {May 31, 1860.) The Synod enjoin Presbyteries to use diligence and exercise great oaution in their selection of Catechists, and take order that none be en- gaged without their sanction ; that the Synod require Catechists, before entering upon their work, to appear before the Presbytery or Com- mittee of Presbytery, charged with the supervision thereof, that they may be examined as to their gifts and ability to expound the Holy Scriptures ; that Catechists be required to write out beforehand what- ever expositions or exhortations they may offer to the people (whether to be read or repeated memoHter), and to hold themselves in readiness to Submit all such written expositions or exhortations to the Presby- tery or Committee of Presbytery, and to read any one of them that may be named or called for ; and further that along wiih their own expo- sitions they read a printed sermon from some volume sanctioned by the Presbytery, in the services of public worship which they conduct among the people. 6. Maintenance of Ministers. (Jf«y 30, 1861.) The Synod declared, that, in every case where the settlement of a Minister is about to take place, it is absolutely necessary that the min- imum stipend exclusive of any allowance from the Temporalities Board, be not less than four hundred dollars ; that Presbyteries be enjoined to do all in their power to see that the congregations within their respect- ive bounds implement all pecuniary promises made by them to Minis, ters ; and that the Synod retain all discretionary power in its own hands. 6. Retired Ministers. (In Act anent Temporalities Board, May 31, 1856.) Every case in which a Minister not provided (May 29, 1858,) for by deliverance of Synod 1856 craves to retire from the active discharge of his duties as a Minister on the ground of bad health, or any other cause,, on condition of receiving his allowance from the Temporalities' Fund, 34 in whole or In part, shall be reported to the Synod with the opinion of the Presbytery thereanent ; and the Synod only shall decide thereon. Retired Ministers are (June 4, 1868.) required to report themselves to their Presbyteries, either personally or by letter (in the discretion of the Presbytery), semi-annually in sufficient time to admit of their names being returned to the Synod and Temporalities' Board. 7. Formtofrorshvp. The Synod cordially recommend the (May 27, 1859,) Book " Forms of Worship," by a Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, for use by families and vacant congregations of the Church in Canada. %. IntemperaiMe. >..,t .. ,.»,,.-,, Whereas the prevalence of intemperance (July 8, 1839,) is productive of the most ruinous consequences to the best interests of society, greatly tending to the increase of crime, and to the frequent destruction of life and property, proving moreover, a powerful hindrance to the successful i)reaching of the gospel, by hardening the minds of many against its leavenly truths, and leading them away from the house of God ; — the Synod enjoin all the Ministers under their jurisdiction to preach on the subject, and to use such other means as they may judge necessary, to check the progress of intemperance. Inasmucn as the extensive prevalence of intemperance (July 6, 1841) and the numerous evils connected with it are continually creating se- rious difficulties in administering faithful discipline in the Church, and present a great obstacle to the progress of truth and piety among such as have little more than a nominal connexion with it, the Synod is called upon to bear its solemn testimony againsta sin which so greatly dishonours the Christian name, and involves so many souls in spiritual degradation and eternal ruin, and to enjoin, as they hereby do, all Min- isters of this Church faithfully and frequently to warn the people under their charge of the dangers to which they are exposed from this in- iquity ; and to exhort them to manifest such self-denial in regard to the use of intoxicating liquors, as may not only be a safeguard to them- selves, but a salutary example to the world ; and further recommend to all Presbyteries and Sessions so to bear their distinct and united tes- timony against tliis sin, that intoxicating liquors may he banished from general and ordinary use, and to exert all competent diligence to bring magistrates to so enlightened and conscientious a regard of the public good, that no improper persons shall obtain tavern licenses, and that taverns shall not be multiplied beyond the obvious necessities of the community, and further, if it should appear that the existing law is not sufficient to check the enormity of the evil, to biing the subject before the Legislature, in order that such amendment of the law may be ob- tained, as shajil render it a bulwark against this vice, so destructive to the temporal well being of the state, and to the spiritual and eternal interests of men. The Synod urge upon the Ministers of (June 13, 1867,) the Church anew, the adoption of such means as they may consider to be the best adapted, acconiing to the word of God, to prevent the sin and remedy the evils of intemperance. 9.' Hymn Book. The Synod authorize the Committee (June 6, 1866,) to publish an edition of the more limited collection of Hymns now proposed ; and permit the use thereof to the congregations of this Church. n of •n. esto fthe ■ames •i-r 10. The Predbyterian. The Synod, considering the importance (June 11, 1867,) of the " Pres- ^terian," as a periodical (July 19, 1848,) devoted to the interests of the Church, and deeminff so important a medium for the communication of Eccleedastical and Missionary intelligence deserving of a large and gen- «rouB support, earnestly urge its members and congregations to take active steps to promote its circulation. «.. I ,/i;r^ 11. Memorandvm of Pretbytery Buainess. The Svnod Clerk shall prepare a memorandum of the (June 8, 1868) principal matters to whicn Presbyteries are required by the Synod to attend annually ; a printed copy thereof to be furnished to each Pres- bytery Clerk, and affixed by him to the inside of the cover of the Pres- bytery Record. , 12. StatUtics. '■ ' :.. - -J- ■■.., . ,.-.-,• ,..,-■. /- - « ^ ■■' . •■■ The Synod agree to continue a Committee on Statistics (June 9, '68), enjoin Presbyteries to see that returns are made by each Congregation within their bounds, and, for the better carrying out of this object, in- struct each Presbytery to appoint a Statistical Committee ; the Synod's Committee to consist of Mr. Croil, Convener, and the Conveners of the Cbmmittees of the several Committees. :. .!.;f-«' V ■"'^; ■■■< ,. ■■! ■ iii '- ■' ■■», *■■ ;- • ".'*■■ f >