c 
 
 
 

DIGEST 
 
A NEW 
 
 DIGEST 
 
 OF THE ACTS AND DELIVERANCES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 faeral 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 COMPILED 
 
 imenl 
 
 REV. WM. E. MOORE. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 PRESBYTERIAN PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. 
 
 1334 CHESTNUT STREET. 
 NEW YORK : A. D. F. RANDOLPH, 683 BROADWAY. 
 
i\ / j fc? 7 
 />3 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by 
 
 WM. L. HILDEBURN, 
 
 (In trust for the Presbyterian Publication Committee,) 
 
 In the Clerk s Office of the District Court fpr the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 
 
 } 
 
 C. SHERMAN & SON, PRINTERS, 
 S. W. Cor. Seventh and Cherry Sts., Philadelphia. 
 
EDITOR S PREFACE. 
 
 IT is with much satisfaction that this volume is presented to the 
 churches by the Presbyterian Publication Committee. The need of a 
 new, reliable, and complete DIGEST OF THE ACTS AND DELIVERANCES 
 of the General Assembly has been long and deeply felt. To the great 
 body, whether of our laymen or of our ministers, it has been practically an 
 impossibility to have the decisions of the highest judicatory of the Church 
 upon topics of the greatest interest and importance. Full files of the 
 Minutes of the Assemblies of even a single generation are rare. The 
 records of earlier Assemblies are far more rare. And even were they in 
 the hands of our church officers, they would be useful for reference only 
 at an expenditure of time that would seldom be justifiable. Hence, 
 the want of a well-arranged and fully-indexed Digest of these Acts and 
 Deliverances. Such a Digest the committee have now. the satisfaction 
 of publishing. For its preparation, they and the churches are indebted 
 to the patient, laborious, and skilful services of the Rev. William E. 
 Moore, of West Chester, Pennsylvania. The time and toil which has 
 thus been expended by one will be saved to many. Without the ob 
 trusion of his personal opinions, or of unauthentic documents, the com 
 piler has, with modesty and impartiality, allowed the successive General 
 Assemblies to declare their own views and to expound their own 
 positions. He has rigidly adhered to the preparation of a Digest. 
 
 By the aid of its full table of contents and alphabetical index, any 
 topic discussed in the Digest will be readily found. 
 
 The typography and materials of the volume, it is hoped, will not dis 
 parage the excellence of its contents. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE want of a Digest of the Acts of the Supreme Judicatory of the 
 Presbyterian Church was early felt. In 1818 the following overture 
 was adopted by the Assembly, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That Drs. Janeway, Neill, and Ely, be appointed a com 
 mittee, and they are hereby appointed, to extract from the records of 
 the General Assembly and of the late Synods of New York and Phila 
 delphia all such matters as may appear to be of permanent authority and 
 interest (including a short account of the manner in which Missions 
 have been conducted, and their success), that the same may be published 
 for the information of ministers and their people in our churches ; and 
 that they report the same to the next Assembly." Minutes, 1818, p. 
 673. 
 
 The committee reported to the next Assembly, and were authorized 
 to complete the work on the plan reported, and to publish it at the 
 expense of the Trustees of the Assembly. Minutes, 1819, p. 713. 
 
 The Digest thus authorized was published in 1820. Minutes, p. 727. 
 
 In 1836, upon an overture on the subject of a new Digest, the As 
 sembly 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That in the judgment of this Assembly, it is expedient 
 that a new Digest of the acts and proceedings of the highest Judicatory 
 of our Church be prepared and placed within the reach of all our minis 
 ters and elders. 
 
 "2. Resolved, That Dr. John McDowell, Mr. Winchester, and Mr. 
 Duffield, be a committee to prepare such a Digest, and report the same 
 to the Assembly as soon as practicable, provided the expense of its pub 
 lication be not defrayed out of the. funds of the Assembly." Minutes, 
 1836, p. 262. 
 
Vlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 This committee made no report. In 1838, the Assembly 
 
 "Resolved, That the Stated Clerk (Erskine Mason, D.D.) and Dr. 
 Patton be a committee to prepare and print a complete Digest of all the 
 important acts of past General Assemblies. 7 Minutes, 1838, p. 661. 
 
 This committee " reported progress, and were continued/ Minutes, 
 1839, p. 11. 
 
 In 1841, they reported "that they were engaged in the duty assigned 
 them, but were not at present prepared to make a final report." The 
 committee was continued. Minutes, 1841, p. 24. 
 
 In 1849, the committee to whom was referred the subject of the pre 
 paration of a new Digest, reported that they could not learn that any 
 progress had been made in this matter by the committee who were 
 appointed for this purpose by a former Assembly: 
 
 That it is desirable that a new and more complete Digest should be 
 prepared ; and that a committee be appointed to accomplish this object. 
 
 The plan which has seemed to them most likely to be useful, is to 
 publish a volume containing the text of our standards, with marginal 
 notes, exhibiting, in the proper place, the history of the changes in the 
 Constitution, and the various acts of General Assemblies explanatory of 
 our standards ; the whole forming a complete commentary on the Con 
 stitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. 
 
 The report was adopted ; and the Rev. Messrs. E. F. Hatfield, S. T. 
 Spear, and A. E. Campbell, were appointed to prepare such a volume. 
 Minutes, 1849, p. 189. 
 
 In 1850, the committee " reported progress, and was continued." 
 Minutes, 1850, p. 308. 
 
 Also in 1851. Minutes, p. 10. 
 
 In 1852, the committee appointed to prepare a Digest, reported that 
 a Digest sufficient for the present had been prepared by other hands, 
 and requested therefore to be discharged. Their report was accepted, 
 and the committee discharged. Minutes, 1852, p. 254. 
 
 The Digest referred to was that prepared by the Rev. Richard Web 
 ster, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., and published by the Presbyterian Board of 
 Publication. It did not, however, prove satisfactory. In 1854, the 
 Committee on Bills and Overtures reported a an overture respecting 
 a new Digest; and recommended that a committee of three be appointed 
 to prepare and publish such a Digest, if it can be done without expense 
 to the Assembly. The report was adopted." Minutes, 1854, p. 504. 
 
 The following committee were appointed, viz. : Rev. Messrs. George 
 
INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 Duffield, Jr., Henry Darling, and Wm. E. Moore. The Stated Clerk 
 (Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield ; D.D.) was added to this committee. Ibid., 
 p. 505. 
 
 The committee reported from year to year till 1857, when 
 
 "The Committee on the Polity of the Church, to whom was referred 
 the report of the Committee on the Digest, recommended that the course 
 pursued by the Special Committee, in the preparation of the Digest thus 
 far, be approved by the Assembly. 
 
 " That they be instructed to complete the work according to the plan 
 heretofore followed, and to use their discretion in relation to the ques 
 tions proposed in their report. 
 
 " That when completed, it be submitted to the Permanent Publica 
 tion Committee, and, if approved by them, be published under their 
 direction. The report was adopted/ Minutes, 1857, p. 400. 
 
 The committee thus appointed and authorized have been delayed in 
 the performance of the duty assigned them by the want of funds to 
 publish the Digest "without expense to the Assembly," a delay the 
 less to be regretted, however, inasmuch as it has enabled them to add 
 to the volume the acts of the last five years, perhaps the most impor 
 tant years of the Assembly s history. 
 
 The difficulty of digesting the acts and deliverances of a series of As 
 semblies, running through a century and a half, each independent of 
 the other, will readily be appreciated, and may, to some extent, excuse 
 the imperfections of the work. That difficulty has been greatly en 
 hanced, by the failure of the Minutes, in most cases, to present any clear 
 and intelligible view of the questions which have come before the 
 Assembly for its adjudication. 
 
 The plan adopted will, it is hoped, meet the approval of those who 
 have occasion to use the work. The effort has been made to digest, 
 under thirteen general heads or chapters, everything of importance in 
 the Acts of the Assembly. The task assigned the committee was not to 
 prepare a history, but a DIGEST of such Acts of the Assembly as inter 
 pret the Constitution of the Church, or express her views upon questions 
 of morals and doctrines, or aim to increase and direct her power for good 
 to the world. Much has been omitted that is now obsolete, or that was 
 temporary, or that pertains to institutions not now under our control. 
 For the most part, reports, protests, proposals, and other papers not the 
 Acts of the Assembly, have been omitted. Where the very words of 
 the records are not used, the fact is signified by brackets. 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The labors of the committee extend over the whole period of the 
 organized existence of the Presbyterian Church, from 1706 to 1860. 
 The references in the Digest, from 1706 to 1835, are to the three 
 volumes of Minutes published by the Presbyterian Board of Publication, 
 viz. : " Records of the Presbyterian Church, from 1706 to 1788," 
 " Minutes of the General Asseml/t/, from 1789 to 1820," and "Minutes 
 of the General Assembly, from 1821 to 1835." From 1836 to 1860, 
 the references are to the annual Minutes. 
 
 The committee have freely availed themselves of the labors of their 
 predecessors, so far as they have trodden common ground. They would 
 cheerfully acknowledge their obligations to the Rev. S. J. Baird, the 
 compiler of the Digest recently published by the Board of Publication. 
 
 It is proper to say that the chief responsibility of preparing the Digest 
 has devolved upon one member of the committee. 
 
 The aim has been to furnish the office-bearers and intelligent laymen 
 of our beloved Church a volume which will be of practical use to them 
 in their endeavors to serve the cause of the Master through her organi 
 zations. 
 
 We rejoice in the confidence that no lover of Christ, of orthodoxy, of 
 good morals, of large-hearted catholic liberality, of beneficence, of edu 
 cation, and of liberty, can ponder these acts and deliverances of the 
 Supreme Judicature of our Church without wisdom and profit and 
 grateful admiration. No Presbyterian can read this record without 
 thanking God for his heritage. May the Head of the Church so use 
 our labors as to advance His kingdom and glory, through the enlarge 
 ment of our branch of His universal Church ! 
 
 W. E. M. 
 
 WEST CHESTER, PA., December 31st, 1860. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 SECTION 1. STANDARDS OF THE CHURCH, . . 17 
 
 Overture on subscribing the Confession of Faith, 1728. 2. The Confession 
 of Faith ; Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly 
 adopted. The Adopting Act, 1729. 3. The Directory recommended. 4. 
 Intrants, or candidates, required to adopt the Standards. 5. The Adopting 
 Act to be inscribed on each Presbytery book. 6. An Act explanatory of 
 the Adopting Act. 7. Plan of union of the Synod of New York and New 
 Jersey, 1758. 8. Constitution of the Presbyterian Church adopted. 1788. 
 9. Proof-texts added by order of the Assembly. 10. The text alone con 
 tains the Constitution of the Church ; the marginal notes have no authority. 
 11. Use and obligation of the Standards defined; to traduce them subjects 
 to censure. 12. Subscription to the Standards required of every minister 
 entering the Church. 13. .The Catechisms are an integral part of the Con 
 stitution, and are to be taught to the young. 14. The term " standing rule" 
 defined. The Assembly has power to enact standing rules. 
 
 SECTION 2. OF A PARTICULAR CHURCH, . . 85 
 
 A particular Church defined. 2. How new congregations are to be organ 
 ized. Application should always be made to the Presbytery. Order of 
 procedure: members to be received by letter: candidates to be examined: 
 a covenant to be entered into: ruling elders and deacons to be elected and 
 ordained: the Church to be enrolled. In exceptional cases congregations 
 may be formed without ruling elders. 3. The organization of churches 
 belongs to the Presbytery, and is not the prerogative of the minister as such. 
 
Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGK 
 
 SECTION 3. OP THE MEMBERS or THE CHURCH, . 38 
 
 1. Universalists not to be admitted ; decision reaffirmed. 2. Those who re 
 fuse to present their children for baptism are not to be refused communion, 
 but the expediency of receiving them to the Church to be judged of by the 
 Session. 3. Postmasters officiating on the Sabbath to be excluded. 4. 
 Owners of mail-coaches running on the Sabbath not to be admitted to com 
 munion of the Church. 5. By whom members are to be admitted to the 
 Church: by an individual Session regularly constituted: by the Session of 
 that Church to which he will belong; great circumspection to be used, un 
 due haste to be avoided. 6. A regular certificate of dismission should be 
 required of those coming from another Church. 7. Rule as to absent mem 
 bers whose residence is unknown. Every member is amenable to some 
 tribunal ; he can cease to be a church member only by death, exclusion, 
 dismission, or orderly withdrawing to join another denomination. To with 
 draw from the use of privileges is censurable, and may infer suspension. 
 Members absent and unheard of for years, are not to be stricken from the 
 roll. Those that withdraw wilfully from Church privileges are to be sus 
 pended. 8. Members who wish to be released from their obligation. The 
 provisions of the book declared sufficient. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 SECTION 1. OF DEACONS, . . 47 
 
 1. They have no juridical power. 2. Their duties consist in distributing the 
 charities of the Church to which they belong to the poor of that Church. 
 3. They are to be ordained in the same manner as Ruling Elders. 4. The 
 duties of Trustees and Deacons not identical. A Board of Trustees not 
 inconsistent with Presbyterianism. The minister not ex-officio President, 
 or a member of the Board. 
 
 SECTION 2. Or RULING ELDERS, . . .48 
 
 1. The Eldership is essential to the Presbyterian system. 2. Elders must-be 
 duly elected. 3. Mode of election: a direct vote of the congregation, in 
 every case, recommended. The Session has authority to convene the con 
 gregation. Should it refuse or neglect to convene the congregation, the 
 party aggrieved may complain to Presbytery. 4. Who are the electors of 
 
CONTENTS. Xlll 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Ruling Elders and Deacons? It seems desirable that communicants only 
 should be electors; but the voting of others, where such is custom, does not 
 make the election void. Unbaptized persons are not to be allowed to vote 
 for Elders. No distinction is to be made as to the age of the voters. 5. 
 The office of Ruling Elder is perpetual : it cannot be laid aside by the will 
 of the individual ; nor can a congregation form a rule making it lawful to 
 lay it aside. Election for a term of years irregular, but not invalid. A 
 rotary eldership not contemplated by the Constitution, and therefore to be 
 discouraged. 6. A Ruling Elder may cease to act as such. 7. An Elder 
 who has no official charge cannot sit in the Church courts. 8. An Elder 
 cannot hold office in two churches at the same time, nor adjudicate in a 
 church of which he is not an Elder. 9. Elders censured for leaving with 
 out permission : and the churches urged to defray their expenses in attend 
 ing Church courts 10. Elders have the same right to sit in Synod as in 
 Presbytery. ] 1. Every church having a stated supply is entitled to be 
 represented in Presbytery or Synod by a Ruling Elder. 12. A Minister, 
 with one Elder, may form a Session, if there be but one Elder, but not 
 otherwise. 13. When an Elder has been suspended from Church privi 
 leges and is restored, he is not thereby restored to office, nor can he be, 
 without a special act of Session, with the acquiescence of the church. 
 14. Elders not to participate in the ordination of Ministers by the laying on 
 of hands. 
 
 SECTION 3. OF PASTORS, . . .57 
 
 1. Mode of proceeding to elect a Pastor. The Session to judge when the 
 congregation is prepared to elect a pastor. To use all due diligence for a 
 speedy settlement. If remiss, a complaint will lie. The Presbytery to 
 take cognizance of the proceedings. 2. Who may vote in the election of a 
 Pastor? The major vote determines the election. 3. A pastoral relation 
 allowed where no instalment had taken place. 4. The translation of a 
 Pastor. Consent of parties may shorten the constitutional process for trans 
 lating a minister. Every case left to the discretion of the Presbytery. 5. 
 Removal without consent of Presbytery censurable. 6. Pastoral faithfulness 
 in visiting and lecturing enjoined 7. Catechetical instruction enjoined. 8. 
 Stated supplies have no pastoral relation. 
 
 SECTION 4. OF MINISTERS WITHOUT CHARGE, . 63 
 
 Ministers without charge have a seat and a vote in the Church Judicatures. 
 2. No Minister can be regularly divested of his office but by a course of 
 discipline terminating in deposition. If incapacitated he still possesses 
 ministerial privileges. If he neglect his duties, Presbytery is to use every 
 
XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 FAGS 
 
 means to recall him to duty. When ministers withdraw wholly or in part 
 from the work of the ministry, Presbytery is to make inquiry, and record 
 their approbation or disapprobation. It belongs to Presbytery to judge 
 ministers. 3. Demission of the ministry; Case of Robert Laing ; also, of 
 William Woodhull. In the case of John Montgomery, Presbytery censured 
 for allowing him to demit. The Assembly refuses leave to the Presbytery 
 of Portage. Full deliverance on the subject. 4. Holding civil office not in 
 compatible with the ministry; but world ly-mindedness discouraged. 5. A 
 Minister may be a chaplain in the army. 6. An ordination to a chaplaincy 
 not sine titulo. 7. A chaplain not to be at the same time pastor of a 
 church. 8. Office of chaplain in the navy encouraged. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ON CANDIDATES. 
 SECTION 1. BEFORE LICENSURE, AND AS LICENTIATES, . 73 
 
 1. A liberal education required. 2. Waived in certain cases. 3. Time of 
 study. Three years proposed, but not adopted. Rule of a Synod requiring 
 three years, unconstitutional. Presbyteries refuse to extend the time. 4. 
 Minute on the jurisdiction over candidates and licentiates. They belong to 
 the order of the laity until ordained, and are subject to the jurisdiction of 
 the Session of the church to which they belong. In case Presbytery arrest 
 the studies of a candidate, or withdraw the license of a licentiate, it must 
 remit him to the Session, if discipline be necessary. If Session commence 
 process against a candidate or licentiate, it must notify the Presbytery under 
 whose care he is. 5. Candidates are under the care of the Presbytery to 
 which they most naturally belong. 6. For candidates to seek licensure of 
 foreign bodies disapproved. 7. Candidates should be placed under the care 
 of Presbytery as soon as possible, and licensed by the Presbyteries to which 
 they most naturally belong. 8. Candidates of one Presbytery should not be 
 licensed by another. 9. Certain irregularities in licensing condemned, viz.: 
 Trial and licensure at the same meeting; ordination without previous 
 licensure; and licensing fora certain term. 10. Irregularity does not in 
 validate licensure or ordination. Preaching without license irregular. 11. 
 Lay preaching, and preaching before licensure, condemned. On lay agency. 
 12. Licensure by a self-constituted committee, in a special case, approved. 
 13. When students are to be reported as " candidates." 
 
 SECTION 2. OF ORDINATION, : . .85 
 
 1. Ordination by a Committee frequent with the Synod. 2. Ordination by 
 foreign bodies not approved. Ordination, sine tiiulo, generally disapproved 
 
CONTENTS. XT 
 
 riai 
 
 of. Ordination permitted to such as should go as missionaries. Permis 
 sion asked and granted in special cases. 4. Overture on ordination, sine 
 titulo, rejected. Censure of a Presbytery for ordaining a man, sine titulo, 
 not sustained by the Assembly. 6, Ordination on the Sabbath disapproved 
 of. 7. Reordination of a Methodist elder. 8. These decisions set aside. 
 9. Ministers coming from other churches not to be reordained. But all 
 qualifications, as to learning and piety, which are required of our own can 
 didates, to be required of them. 9. Lay ordination invalid. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ON THE SACRAMENTS. 
 
 SECTION 1. ON BAPTISM, . . .94 
 
 1. Baptism by an impostor; by an Unitarian ; by a suspended minister; by a 
 deposed minister, invalid. The unworthiness of a minister does not inva 
 lidate the ordinances administered by him. 2. Is Rornish baptism Chris 
 tian baptism ? 3. Obligations and qualifications of parents. Should be 
 persons of regular life and Christian knowledge. Credible profession to 
 be judged of by the merits of the case. Parents required to enter into en 
 gagements to perform their duties to their children. 4. The subjects of 
 baptism. Children of servants. Age of infancy undetermined. 5. Pastoral 
 care to be exercised over baptized children. To be instructed and cate 
 chized. 6. Discipline of baptized persons, not communicants. 7. Mode of 
 baptism. Dipping of the person not necessary, but baptism is rightly ad 
 ministered by pouring or sprinkling. 8. Baptism of adults is ordinarily to 
 be in connection with their reception into the church. 
 
 SECTION 2. ON THE LORD S SUPPER, . . 103 
 
 1. Permitted where there is no organized church. 2. Not ordinarily to be ad 
 ministered within the bounds of a congregation without the consent of the 
 minister and session. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 OF THE COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 SECTION 1. Or THE SESSION, . . . 105 
 
 1. Quorum of the Session. One elder, if there be but one, with a minister, 
 may constitute a quorum. 2. The appointment of a special Session is un- 
 
XVI CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 constitutional. 3. The Session should be represented in Presbytery and Synod. 
 4. A Session may not invite a minister to sit as corresponding member ; 
 nor assign him as counsel for the accused. 5. No one not a member of the 
 judicatory may act as counsel. 6. A ruling elder has in no case a legal 
 right to adjudicate in a church other than that in which he is an elder. 7. 
 Session records to be sent up annually for review. 8. The Session has not 
 the power to introduce a new psalmody without the consent of the major 
 part of the congregation. 9. Where a minister is the accuser, a minister 
 should preside. 10. The Session cannot be set aside, and the right of ap 
 peal denied by the act of the church. Nor would such attempt deprive 
 the church of its right to be represented by its elders in the judicatories of 
 the church. 
 
 SECTION 2. OF THE PRESBYTERY, . . 110 
 
 I. ITS MEMBERS. 1. Ruling elders in the absence of the pastor admitted. 
 2. Ministers without charge are members of Presbytery. 3. An elder who 
 has retired is not entitled to a seat. 4. The Presbytery alone the judge of 
 the fitness of admitting a member. 5. A Presbytery may reject an appli 
 cant for cause. 6. But not without sufficient reasons. 7. v The Assembly 
 refuse to alter the rule. 8. Rule as to a member of an extinct Presbytery, 
 bearing a dismission to another. The Presbytery should receive him; but 
 if it refuse he may appeal to Synod, or to the General Assembly. Minutes 
 dismissed by an extinct Presbytery, and not received into any others, are 
 under the jurisdiction of the Synod. 9. Ministers and licentiates coming 
 from corresponding bodies, are required to answer the constitutional ques 
 tions. 10. Ministers dismissed in good standing, should be received on 
 their testimonials. 11. It is the right of Presbytery to satisfy itself of the 
 soundness in the faith and good character of those who apply for admission. 
 12. Examination made imperative in all cases 13. This rule declared 
 unconstitutional. 14. Rule as to the reception of foreign ministers. The 
 rule enforced. Decided that the year may be spent in different Presbyte 
 ries. 35. Modification of the rule refused. 
 
 II. ITS JURISDICTION, p. 122. 1. The jurisdiction of the Presbytery ex 
 tends over members who are non-resident within its bounds. May be 
 transferred to the Presbytery in whose bounds he lives. Chap, v, sec. 3, 4, 
 Book of Discipline does not transfer jurisdiction. 2. The Presbytery is the 
 proper court to try Ruling Elders, when the Session is incompetent to act. 
 3. When ministers, churches, or church members, withdraw irregularly 
 to join other bodies, their names to be stricken from the roll, and notice 
 given. 4. When ministers withdraw from the work of the ministry, they 
 are to give their reasons, which the Presbytery must record, with its 
 approbation or disapprobation. 5. A minister who has withdrawn and 
 wishes to return, must apply to the Presbytery from which he withdrew. 
 
CONTENTS. Xvil 
 
 PAGE 
 
 6. Leave to prosecute ministers of other Presbyteries, refused. 7. Juris 
 diction over a deposed minister, is in the Presbytery which deposed him 
 8. A minister having asked of his Presbytery a letter of dismission, is a 
 member of that Presbytery until received by another. 
 
 HI. DISMISSION OF MEMBERS, p. 127. 1. When a Presbytery dismisses a 
 member it should specify particularly the body to which he is dismissed, 
 and the member dismissed is amenable to the body dismissing him, until 
 connected with the body he is directed to join. 2. The Presbytery may 
 not dismiss by a " standing committee." 3. Where sentence has been re 
 versed, and trial not commenced within a certain time, a member may 
 claim a dismission in good standing. 
 
 IV. BOUNDARIES, p. 128. 1. Should have geographical limits. 2. "Elective 
 affinity" condemned. 3. Exceptions allowed ; permission withdrawn. 4. 
 Ministers living out of the bounds of their Presbyteries to show reason, 
 or be transferred to the Presbyteries within whose bounds they reside 5. 
 One Presbytery may not dismiss a church to another without the permission 
 of Synod. 
 
 V. MISCELLANEOUS, p. 132. 1. Presbytery to inquire into the fidelity of its 
 members. 2. A Presbytery, organized without the agency of Synod, recog 
 nized. 3. Where a majority has withdrawn, duty of the minority. 4. Reso 
 lutions, excluding slaveholders from the pulpit and from communion, un 
 constitutional. 5. To frame church covenants belongs to Presbyteries and 
 Synods. 6. Two clerical members are not a quorum. 
 
 SECTION 3. Or THE SYNOD, . . . 135 
 
 1. The Synod is a convention of Bishops and Elders. 2. Where a Synod has 
 failed to meet on its adjournment, the Moderator may fix the time and place. 
 Less than a quorum may adjourn from day to day. 3. Special or called 
 meetings of Synod are constitutional. 4. The Moderator has no power to 
 change the place of meeting. 5. A Synod may net refuse the members of 
 its Presbyteries. Nor, 6. Order their erasure from the roll of Presbytery. 
 7. The Synod may not act judicially on review, when there is no appeal 
 or reference before it. 8. The Records are to be sent up annually for 
 review. 9. The members of an inferior Judicatory may not vote on the 
 approval of their own Minutes. 10. When exceptions are taken to the 
 
 ^ Records of inferior Judicatories, the exceptions should be stated, and the 
 reasons assigned. 11. Sessions on the Sabbath censured. 12. The Records 
 should state the ecclesiastical body to which a corresponding member be 
 longs. 13. They should state that the meetings w r ere opened and closed 
 with prayer. 14. The Minutes should be read and approved. 15. They 
 should be attested by the stated clerk. 16. A narrative of the State of Re- 
 
 B 
 
XV111 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAG a 
 
 ligion should be prepared and recorded. 17. Names of absentees should 
 be recorded. And 18. Their reasons for absence called for. 19. Erection 
 of the Synods. 1. New York and New Jersey, 1788; 2. Philadelphia, 
 1788; 3. Virginia, 1788; 4. The Carolinas, 1788; 5. Pittsburg, 1802; 6. 
 Kentucky, 1802; 7. Albany, 1803; 8. Geneva, 1812; 9. North Carolina, 
 1813; 10. South Carolina and Georgia, 1813; 11. Ohio, 1814; 12. Ten 
 nessee, 1817; 13. Genesee, 1821; 14. New York, 1823 ; 15. New Jersey, 
 1823 ; IG. Western Reserve, 1825 ; 17. West Tennessee, 1826 ; 18. Indiana, 
 1826; 19. Utica, 1829; 20. Mississippi and South Alabama, 1829; 21. Cin 
 cinnati, 1829; 22. Illinois, 1831; 23. Missouri, 1832; 24. Chesapeake, 
 1833; 25. Michigan, 1834; 26. Delaware, 1834; 27. Alabama, 1835; 28. 
 Pennsylvania, 1838; 29. Newark, 1839; 30. New York and New Jersey, 
 1840; 31. Peoria, 1843; 32. West Pennsylvania, 1843; 33. Wabash, 1851 ; 
 34. Iowa, 1853; 35. Susquehanna, 1853; 36. Onondaga, 1855; 37. Wis 
 consin, 1857; 38. Alta California, 1858. 
 
 SECTION 4. Or THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, . . 155 
 
 Formation of the Assembly by the General Synod. 2. Organization of the 
 General Assembly. Time of meeting. Mode of procedure. Committee 
 on commissions. Standing committee, consisting of the stated and perma 
 nent clerks. 3. Commissioners from new Presbyteries required to give 
 satisfactory proof of the regular organization of their Presbytery. 4. Ratio 
 of representation. Fourteen commissioners, of whom seven must be minis 
 ters, constitute a quorum. Style and title : THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN 
 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 5. Where a Presbytery sends more 
 than its proportion of commissioners, the last elected are refused. 6. Such 
 commissioners only should be elected as will remain throughout the ses 
 sions. 7. In case of the defect of a commission, or its absence, the usage. 
 8. Principals and alternates, former usage ; present rule, that they shall 
 not resign their seats to each other. 9. Commissioners under the Plan of 
 Union. Admission of committee men, not ruling elders, discountenanced. 
 10. Corresponding members. Ministers casually present not to be invited 
 to sit. Delegates from corresponding bodies have the right to deliberate, 
 but not to vote. The secretary of any of the Assembly s committees has 
 the same privileges as a corresponding member, when the business of his 
 committee is under consideration ; also, the stated and permanent clerks, in 
 matters pertaining to their official duties. 11. Mode of choosing the mode- > 
 rator of the Assembly. 12. Rules of the General Assembly. Address of 
 the moderator to his successor. 13. The moderator has no other than the 
 casting vote. 14. Communications to the Assembly through the moderator. 
 15. The phrase, "last moderator present," construed literally. 16. The 
 stated clerk. Appointment. Duties : To publish the Minutes, and to have 
 
CONTENTS. XIX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 charge of all the documents of the Assembly. To notify Presbyteries as to 
 delinquent commissioners. His salary. 17. Permanent clerk. Appoint 
 ment and duties. 18. Temporary clerks. Choice of clerks not limited to 
 members of the Assembly. 19. The standing committees, i. e, those ap 
 pointed at the opening of each Assembly, and their duties. I. Committee 
 on Bills and Overtures. II. Judicial Committee. III. On the Polity of the 
 Church. IV. On Church Extension. V. On Education. VI. On Publi 
 cation. VII. On Devotional Exercises. VIII. On the Narrative. IX. On 
 Leave of Absence. X. On Mileage. XI. On Foreign Missions. 20. The 
 Commissioners Fund. How distributed. Plans devised and adopted. 
 The present plan. 21. Contingent Fund. Design of. 22. Publication, dis 
 tribution, and price of the Minutes. 23. Charter of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the United States. 24. Mode of electing Trustees, and Rules of Inter 
 course. 25. Powers of the General Assembly. 26. The Assembly will 
 not ordinarily decide questions in thesi. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 OF DISCIPLINE. 
 SECTION 1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES, . . .191 
 
 1. Censure without trial informal, as also in the absence of the party. Names 
 should not be connected with charges without evidence and intent to prose 
 cute. To circulate evil reports, not in the way of duty, is slander. Minis 
 ters may not be excluded from the pulpit, nor members from the commu 
 nion, without trial and conviction. 2. The charges must be specific. All 
 charges for heresy must be as definite as possible. 3. The Constitutional 
 Rules must be observed. Cases cited. An appeal may not be sustained, 
 when due notice has not been given. Evidence of notice. Where there is 
 no reference or appeal, a judicatory may not try on review. Unconstitu 
 tional action to be reversed. An order for a new trial does not restore the 
 defendant. 4. The authority for administering judicial oaths by the mode 
 rator of a session. 5. Testimony in a judicial case should be under oath. 
 6. A husband and wife may both be witnesses in a case affecting either, 
 but great caution is to be observed, to guard against collusion. 7. The 
 accused should be present at the trial. Where he has excused himself by 
 letter for non-attendance, he is not contumacious. 8. A sentence dispro- 
 portioned to the crime will not be sustained, nor where the charges are not 
 fully supported. New censure may not be passed without a new trial. 9. 
 Suspension from the ministry. I. During process, where the charges are 
 heinous. II. Fora specified time. 10. Restoration to communion does not 
 
XX CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 restore a suspended elder to his office. He can be restored to office only 
 by an express act of the Session, and the acquiescence of the Church. 11. 
 A suspended minister is not to be regarded as possessing the rights of a 
 private Christian in good standing. 12. Deposition and excommunication 
 are distinct acts, and to be inflicted by the Presbytery. 13. If a deposed 
 minister persist in exercising the ministerial functions, his name is to be 
 published.. 14. Refusal to submit to sentence, bars the right to petition. 
 15. But does not invalidate the sentence. 16. A Presbytery is censured for 
 restoring a man without due evidence of his repentance. But, 17. When 
 once restored, he can be deprived of office only by a new process and con 
 viction 18. New trial may be had on the discovery of new evidence. If 
 it seem desirable for a court to review its own decisions, it should refer the 
 case to the next higher judicatory. 19. A Synod corrects it*hasty action, 
 and is sustained, but a judicatory may not call back a case after an appeal 
 has been taken. 20. The accused on trial has no right to introduce testi 
 mony inculpating others not on trial. 21. The Assembly cannot reverse 
 the judicial acts of a former Assembly, unless in case of error. 22. The 
 decisions of the superior courts are binding on the inferior. 23. The judi 
 cial sentences of sister Churches are to be respected. 
 
 SECTION 2. OF APPEALS, . . . 209 
 
 1. An appeal defined and distinguished from a "complaint." 2. The right 
 of appeal is limited to the original parties. 3. Limitation of time. Must 
 be prosecuted at the first ensuing meeting of the judicatory, appealed to, 
 or the sentence will be confirmed. Personal attendance is not essential. 
 4. The appeal must be lodged with the clerk, on the first or second day of 
 the sessions of the court appealed to. 5. Due notice must be given of the 
 intent to appeal. 6. On the failure of the inferior judicatory to send up their 
 records and copies of the testimony, the appeal was sustained. 7. An 
 appeal postponed, where the appellant failed to give notice to the court 
 appealed from. 8. The case may be postponed at the instance of the 
 appellant. 9. May an appeal be carried over the next higher court 1 
 Various decisions. General principle. 10. The best evidence the case 
 admits of required, and in all trials, this is the record of the judicatory which 
 tried the case. 11. A copy made by the appellant not admitted as suffi 
 cient. 12. Neglect of the inferior judicatory shall not harm the appellant. 
 13. Testimony not on record may be received by agreement. 14. Leave 
 to introduce testimony going to show that the appellant has not submitted 
 to the sentence of the court, refused. 15. An appeal arrests all further 
 process until it is issued. 16. But does not arrest the sentence, where the 
 delay is asked for by the appellant. 17. No one may sit on the trial who 
 was a member of the judicature when the vote appealed from took place, 
 
CONTENTS. XXI 
 
 PAGE 
 
 nor one who is interested in the case. 18. The death of the respondent 
 bars the prosecution of an appeal by his prosecutor. 19. An express vote 
 must be taken in an appeal. The sentence must be definite, precise, and 
 j us t. 20. Certain irregularities of the inferior judicatures censured. 21. 
 Appeal of George Sheldon. Points of order decided. 22. Appeal of Lewis 
 Tappan. Appeal sustained and both parties censured. 23. Order for 
 issuing an appeal. 
 
 SECTION 3. Or COMPLAINTS, . . . 228 
 
 1. Distinction between a complaint and an appeal must be observed. 2. 
 The complaint should be carried to the next superior court, unless valid 
 reasons be given for a different course. 3. The complaint dismissed for 
 want of evidence of the complaint itself: for want of evidence of due notice 
 of the intent to complain. 1. Through failure of the prosecutor to appear 
 in person or by proxy. 5. On account of informality. G. After conference 
 with the parties. 7. In the absence of the records. 8. Complaint sus 
 tained for reasons assigned. 9. Referred back by consent of parties. 10. 
 Referred to the court below with instructions. 11. Judgment of a Synod 
 reversed, because they decline the merits of the case; because they do not 
 adhere to the rules ; because they do not distinguish between their appellate 
 and original jurisdiction, and because they restore an appellant without 
 evidence of repentance. 12. The superior court may reverse either in 
 whole or in part, but must observe the rules of discipline. 13. The 
 record should state the nature of the complaint and the grounds of the 
 decision. 14. A complaint against a Synod for dissolving a Presbytery is 
 sustained and the Presbytery restored. 15. A complaint may be issued in 
 the absence of the complainant. 1G. The complaint must be specific. 
 17. The record must state that the minutes were read on the trial. 18. 
 Advice given by ajudicatory not a ground of complaint. 19. The discussion 
 must not involve the character of a party in his absence. Regularity of pro 
 ceedings only to be inquired into. 20. Order for issuing a complaint. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 SECTION 1. ON MARRIAGE, . . . 237 
 
 1. Marriage with a brother s widow declared incestuous, and the parties 
 debarred communion while living together. A similar case referred to the 
 discretion of the Session. 2. With a deceased wife s sister. The offender 
 
XX11 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 restored, but such marriages discountenanced. Proposal for a change of 
 the Constitution negatived. 3. Marriage of the relicts of a brother and 
 sister not incestuous. 4. With a wife s brother s daughter to be censured, 
 but the parties not to be debarred of Christian privileges. 5. With a 
 deceased wife s sister s daughter, referred to the lower judicatories. With 
 a sister s daughter declared incestuous, and to demand judicial action. 6. 
 Marriage engagements may be dissolved by consent. Hasty engagements 
 condemned. 7. Clandestine marriages to be discountenanced. S. What 
 is a sufficient publication of the purpose of marriage ? 9. On bigamy and 
 divorce; a special case. A bigamist to be excluded from communion. 
 Wilful desertion a just cause of divorce. If just cause exist, and divorce 
 be refused, he may be admitted to communion, but only with extreme 
 caution. 10. Marriage with a woman divorced for other than scriptural 
 reason declared to be adultery, and the offender properly convicted of adul 
 tery. 11. A deposition for having obtained a divorce on other than scrip 
 tural grounds and marrying again sustained. 
 
 SECTION 2. ON THE SABBATH, . . . 248 
 
 A postmaster officiating on the Sabbath is rightly excluded from the church. 
 The decision confirmed. 2. Ownership in stages running on the Sabbath 
 inconsistent with Christian character. 3. Petitions to Congress on carrying 
 the mails on the Sabbath 4. A deliverance on the profanation of the 
 Sabbath. Ministers enjoined to preach upon the subject, and the Sessions to 
 enforce discipline. 5. Deliverance of the Assembly of 1836 upon the same 
 subject. 6. On Sabbath desecration. Travelling on the Sabbath specially 
 condemned. 7. Church sessions enjoined to greater fidelity in watchfulness 
 and in discipline. 
 
 SECTION 3. ON INTEMPERANCE, . . . 257 
 
 1. Action of the Assembly. Recommends ministers to preach upon the sin 
 and mischiefs of intemperate drinking, and Sessions to exercise special 
 vigilance. 2. Entire abstinence from the use of ardent spirits recommended, 
 and Temperance societies approved of. 3. Manufacture and traffic in 
 ardent spirits condemned. 4. Total abstinence from all that will intoxicate 
 commended 5. Prohibitory laws approved of and urged. 6. An over 
 ture on Temperance. Relation of the church to voluntary associations. 
 
 SECTION 4. ON THE THEATRE AND DANCING, . . 262 
 
 1. Theatrical exhibitions and dancing condemned. 2. Dancing a dangerous 
 
CONTENTS. XX111 
 
 PAGE 
 
 amusement, and to be discouraged. 3. Promiscuous dancing inconsistent 
 with Christian character, and calls for faithful and judicious discipline. 
 
 SECTION 5. ON GAMBLING, LOTTERIES, AND BETTING, . 264 
 
 1. These sins to be denounced and avoided. 2. Lotteries discountenanced, 
 and if possible done away. 
 
 SECTION 6. ON DUELLING, . . . 265 
 
 Duelling denounced, and to be discountenanced. Duellist to be excluded 
 from Church privileges, and ministers recommended to refuse attendance 
 on the funeral of a fallen duellist. 
 
 SECTION 7. ON SLAVERY, . . . 266 
 
 1. First notice of the matter in Synod, 1774. 2. Action of the Synod, 1787. 
 3. Overture on communion with slaveholders, 1795, 1840. 4. Delive 
 rance of the Assembly of 1815. 5. Overture on selling a slave, a member 
 of the Church, and deliverance of the Assembly of 1818. 6. Indefinitely 
 postponed, 1836. 7. Referred to the lower judicatories, 1839, 1843, 8. 
 Declaration of the Assembly on the subject of slavery, 1846. 9. Action of 
 1849. 10. Slavehokling declared to be an offence, 1850. 11. Information 
 asked for from the Southern Churches. 12. A committee to report on the 
 constitutional powers of the Assembly over the subject of slaveholding. 
 13. Report of the Committee. 14. Deliverance of the Assembly of 1857, 
 at Cleveland. 15. The Assembly refuse to instruct the Church Extension 
 Committee not to assist a church having slaveholders in its communion. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINES,. . 296 
 
 Case of Samuel Harker ; his views condemned. 2. Testimony against 
 the doctrine of universal salvation, and the finite duration of hell torments. 
 3. Against Socinianism. 4. Case of Rev. Hezekiah Balch. His creed 
 condemned, and he required to retract. 5. Case of Rev. William C. Davis. 
 The Gospel Plan." 6. Case of Rev. Thomas B. Craighead. 7. Case of 
 Rev. Albert Barnes. 8. Testimony against certain disorders and irregulari 
 ties. 9. Testimony against doctrinal errors. 10. An explication of doc 
 trine. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 SECTION 1. ON DOMESTIC MISSIONS, . . 319 
 
 1 . The earliest missionary appointments temporary. 2. Missionaries ap 
 pointed to itinerate for some months. 3. Ministers sent to organize 
 churches, ordain elders, administer the ordinances, and instruct the people. 
 4. Candidates sent on missionary duty. 5. Plan of missions adopted by 
 the Assembly. 6. Operation of the plan. 7. Leave granted the Synods, 
 in special cases, to prosecute their own missionary work. 8. The work re 
 sumed by the Assembly. 9. Collections ordered. They may not be pro 
 hibited by a church Session. 10. The Assembly refuse to exempt a Pres 
 bytery from contributing to its funds ; as, also, to appropriate their own funds. 
 11. Instructions of the missionaries. Form of commission. 12. Kind of 
 men required as missionaries, and their duties. 13. "Standing Committee 
 on Missions" appointed; its duties. 14. Its powers enlarged, and its 
 name changed to "The Board of Missions." 15. Recommendations to 
 raise funds, and to supply the new States in the South and West with the 
 Gospel. 16. Powers of the Board enlarged. Powers defined. 17. Pro 
 posal to unite with the American Home Missionary Society. Any change in 
 the Assembly s mode of conducting missions inexpedient. 18. The Board 
 has no power to judge of the orthodoxy or morality of a minister who is in 
 good standing in his own Presbytery. 19. Action of the Assemblies of 
 1837, 1838, 1849, with regard to the American Home Missionary Society. 
 20. A " Standing Committee on Home Missions" appointed. 21. History 
 of the subsequent relations to and intercourse with the American Home Mis 
 sionary Society. Committee of Conference appointed. Reports of Com 
 mittees. A commission raised. 
 
 SECTION 2. ON EDUCATION FOR THE MINISTRY, . 341 
 
 1. Early efforts by the Synod and Assembly. 2. The Board of Education 
 established. Passes into the hands of the " Old School. 1 3. Other action. 
 American Education Society commended. Action leading to the establish 
 ment of the Permanent Committee. 
 
 SECTION 3. ON FOREIGN MISSIONS, . . 343 
 
 1. Earliest effort to evangelize the heathen. 2. First missionary appointment. 
 John Brainerd. 3. Minute on the Indian mission. 4. The Assembly de- 
 
CONTENTS. XXV 
 
 PAGE 
 
 clines to form a Board of Missions co-operative with the American Board. 
 5. The United Foreign Missionary Society formed. Amalgamated with 
 the American Board. The American Board commended. 
 
 SECTION 4. ON THE BIBLE, . . . 348 
 
 1. Gratuitous distribution. Aitkin s edition. 2. Collins s edition. Ostervald s 
 Notes recommended. 3. American Bible Society. The Bible to be given 
 to every family, and to the whole world. 4. The common version com 
 mended, and the "new version" deprecated. 5. Co-operation with the So 
 ciety urged. 
 
 SECTION 5. ON RELIGIOUS BOOKS AND TRACTS, . 353 
 
 1. Religious books and tracts distributed gratuitously. 2. Formation of Tract 
 Societies commended. 3. American Sunday-School Union approved. 4. 
 The " American" Societies endorsed. 
 
 SECTION 6. ON AFRICAN COLONIZATION, . .356 
 
 1. First notice; recommended. 2. Collections on Fourth of July recom 
 mended. 3. Recognition of Liberian independence urged. 
 
 SECTION 7. ON SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE, . . 359 
 
 1. The Plan endorsed. 2. The American Systematic Beneficence Society 
 commended. 
 
 CIIAPTEK X. 
 
 THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 SECTION 1. PRELIMINARY ACTION, . 361 
 
 1. Reports of committees in 1849 and 1850, looking to raising up ministers, 
 gathering and organizing churches, and building church edifices. 2. A full 
 report on Church extension. The American Home Missionary Society re 
 commended. Each Presbytery to appoint a standing committee on Church 
 extension, and to take the oversight of the work within their bounds. The 
 Home Missionary Society requested not to require the official sanction of any 
 
XXVI CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 of its agents to a Presbyterial application. Exploring missionaries encour 
 aged. Committee of Conference with the American Home Missionary 
 Society. 3. Report of the Committee of Conference. 
 
 SECTION 2. THE CHURCH EXTENSION COMMITTEE, . 367 
 
 ] . The powers and duties of the Assembly in regard to home missions. Com 
 mittee on Church Extension established. A majority to reside in or near 
 Philadelphia. Powers, only such as are conferred by the Assembly. Func 
 tions of the committee designated. Intention to interfere with the American 
 Home Missionary Society disavowed. Number of the committee; classes 
 and term of office; five a quorum. The committee has power to fill its 
 vacancies, in the recess of the Assembly. 2. Intent of the appointment of 
 the committee, not to change the co-operative policy of the Church, but to 
 supplement the agencies already existing. 3. The committee authorized to 
 use their discretion in case of applications requiring prompt action. 4. The 
 powers and duties of the committee enumerated and enlarged. Authorized 
 to provide for churches which can receive aid from no other source. 5. The 
 committee instructed to prosecute their work with energy. Feeble churches 
 to ask the least amount possible ; and all the churches not aided by the 
 American Home Missionary Society to take up collections. 6. The Board 
 of Missions has no authority to sit in judgment upon the orthodoxy or mo 
 rality of a minister in good standing in his own Presbytery. 7. The com 
 mittee can make no discrimination between churches, having the same 
 standing under the Constitution. 8. Rules of the committee. 
 
 SECTION 3. COMMITTEE ON CHURCH ERECTION, . . 375 
 
 1. Initiatory measures. 2. The committee appointed; its number, classifica 
 tion, and duties. 3. The Church Erection Plan 4. The charter accepted 
 by the Assembly. The fund transferred to the trustees. The Synods en 
 joined to appoint Committees of Church Extension. 5. The fund com 
 pleted. G. The trustees authorized to require houses mortgaged to be kept 
 insured. 7. Rigid adherence to the plan required. Amendment of art. 
 xiv, sec. 3. 8. Appropriations not to be made, when there is no organized 
 congregation. The trustees are the sole custodians of the fund. The 
 Assembly refuse to alter the plan. 9. Act of incorporation of the Trustees 
 of the Church Erection Fund. 10. By-laws of the trustees. 11. Rules 
 and regulations for the use of applicants for aid from the fund. 
 
 SECTION 4. THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE, . . 394 
 
 1. Preliminary action. 2. The " Doctrinal Tract Committee" appointed. Lo 
 cated at Philadelphia. Its duties and powers. Unanimous consent of the 
 
CONTENTS. XXV11 
 
 PAGE 
 
 committee required before any book or tract is published. The committee 
 empowered to fill its own vacancies. 3. The committee enlarged. Rule 
 requiring unanimous consent changed to three-fourths. 4. Committee 
 enlarged to fifteen, nine of whom to reside in Philadelphia or its vicinity. 
 Five shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the committee must consent 
 to the publication of anything issued by the committee. The committee 
 divided into three classes of five each. Names of the committee. 5. Name 
 changed to Publication Committee. 6. Negotiations respecting the Church 
 Psalmist. The committee authorized to apply for and to accept an act of 
 incorporation. 7. Power of the press to be employed. The committee 
 empowered to issue such works of an evangelical character as may be 
 profitable to the Church at large. The trustees of the house authorized 
 and directed to act as Trustees of the Publication Committee. The " Psalm 
 ist" recommended. An appendix to be added. 8. Churches permitted to 
 receive publications to the amount of one-half their collections. 9. A work 
 ing capital of $25,000 urged. Power to employ an agent. 10. Presbyterial 
 depositories recommended. 
 
 SECTION 5. THE TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE, 404 
 
 1. History of the origin of the plan. Acceptance of the House conditionally 
 authorized. 2. The trustees. 3. The charter accepted. The Board of 
 
 ; Trustees enlarged ; its duties and powers. 4. The charter. 5. The trustees. 
 G. The legal title secured. 
 
 SECTION 6. THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, . . 410 
 
 1. Formation of the Permanent Committee. Located in New York. Five 
 constitute a quorum. Classes and term of ofhce. Duties of the committee. 
 Duties of the Presbyteries and Synods as arising from the Plan. Names of 
 the committee. 2. Organization and report of the committee. Plan for 
 aiding beneficiaries. 3. The Plan endorsed and commended. The charter 
 approved and accepted. Candidates to retain their church and Presbyterial 
 relations unchanged during their studies. The act of incorporation. 4. 
 The Plan again commended. No student ought to receive from educational 
 funds a larger appropriation than is contemplated by the Plan of the Assem 
 bly. The endowment of scholarships urged. 5. The committee instructed 
 to continue their work, to revise the Plan and submit it to the Presbyteries. 
 
 SECTION 7. THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS, . 424 
 
 1. Origin of the committee. The Permanent Committee established. 2. The 
 committee enlarged to twelve, and divided into three classes. 3. Duties of 
 the committee. 4. Formation of foreign Presbyteries encouraged. The 
 
XXV111 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Synod of ISew York and New Jersey empowered to form and receive such 
 Presbyteries. 5. Report of 1860. The Jubilee year. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES, 434 
 
 1. To correspond with foreign churches belongs to the Assembly. 2. The 
 Assembly grants permission to Presbyteries and Synods to correspond with 
 local bodies. 3. Proposals to correspond with the New England churches. 
 4. Plan of correspondence with the General Association of Connecticut. 
 5. The right to vote asked by the Assembly and conceded. 6. Confer 
 ence on complaint of the Presbytery of Philadelphia in reference to the 
 licensure of John Chambers. 7. For either body to receive a candidate, 
 licentiate, or minister from the other, without regular testimonials and dis 
 mission, is irregular. 8. Correspondence with the General Convention of 
 Vermont. Regulations same as with the General Association of Connecti 
 cut. 9. With the General Association of New Hampshire. 10. With the 
 General Association of Massachusetts. 11. With the General Conference 
 of Maine. 12. With the Evangelical Consociation of Rhode Island. Corre 
 spondence discontinued by the Consociation. 13. The Assembly requests 
 that the right to vote be given up. 14. Replies. New Hampshire agrees. 
 Vermont refers the matter to a committee. Massachusetts declines. 15. 
 The rule as to receiving candidates, licentiates, and ministers urged upon 
 Associations of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. 16. Reply 
 of the Association of Massachusetts. The right to vote given up. The rule 
 referred to the District Associations. 17. Minute on correspondence with 
 the New England churches. 18. Correspondence with the German Re 
 formed Synod of North America. 19. With the General Synod of the 
 Evangelical Lutheran Church. 20. With the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church. 21. With the Congregational and Presbyterian Convention of Wis 
 consin. 22. With the General Association of New York. Further pro 
 ceedings. The correspondence continued. The Association requested to 
 couch its communications in courteous language. The right to review our 
 proceedings, rebuke or reprove denied. 23. The terms of correspondence 
 defined. 24. With the union of Evangelical Churches of France. 25. With 
 the "Reformed Presbyterian Church, "and with the " Associate Reformed. 
 Terms of correspondence. 26. Compensation of delegates to corresponding 
 bodies. 
 
CONTENTS. XXIX 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 PLAN OF UNION AND THE DIVISION. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 SECTION 1. THE PLAN OF UNION, . . 453 
 
 1. Original proposition by the General Association of Connecticut. 2. Plan 
 digested and adopted by the General Assembly. 3. Resolutions declaring 
 any change inexpedient and undesirable. 4. Resolutions to request the 
 Association to consent to annul the Plan of Union. 5. The Plan declared 
 to be abrogated. 
 
 SECTION 2. THE EXSCINDING ACTS or 1837, . 456 
 
 1. The Plan of Union declared to be abrogated, on the ground of its uncon- 
 stitutionality. 2. Protest against the abrogation. 3. Answer to the pro 
 test. 4. Resolutions to cite to the bar of the Assembly such inferior judi 
 catures as are charged by common fame with irregularities. 5. Protest 
 against this resolution. 6. Answer to the protest. 7. Proposal to inquire 
 into the expediency of a voluntary division of the Presbyterian Church. 
 8. Committee of ten appointed. 9. Report of the Committee of the Ma 
 jority. 10. Report of the Committee of the Minority. 11. The Synod of 
 the Western Reserve declared to be no longer part of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States. 12. The Synods of Utica, Geneva, and 
 Genesee declared to be out of connection with the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 13. Protest of the Commissioners of the Synod of the Western Reserve. 
 
 14. Answer to the protest. 15. Protest of the Commissioners of the Synods 
 of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee. 10. Answer to the protest. 1 7. Dissolution 
 of the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia. 18. Protest against the dissolu 
 tion. 19. Answer to the protest. 
 
 SECTION 3. PERTAINING TO THE DIVISION, . .495 
 
 1. Pastoral Letter to the churches under the care of the General Assembly, 
 1837. 2. Circular Letter to the Churches of Christ. 3. Assembly of 1838. 
 Organization of the Assembly. 4. Demands for the records, books, papers, 
 &c., of the General Assembly. The demand refused. 5. Trustees elected. 
 G. Committee of twelve appointed with power to advise and direct. 7. 
 The Assembly willing to agree to any reasonable measures for the amicable 
 adjustment of difficulties. 8. Pastoral letter to the churches under the care 
 of the General Assembly, 1838. 9. Report of the committee of twelve. 
 
XXX CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Articles of agreement proposed. Result of the trial at law. Charge of the 
 court. 10. A declaration of the General Assembly setting forth its present 
 position and its causes. 11. Withdrawal of the suits at law. 12. The roll 
 of the Assembly rectified. 13. Proposal to unite in communion refused. 
 14. Committee of Correspondence appointed. The result. 15. Detail of 
 efforts for a harmonious understanding. 
 
 CHAPTER XHL 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 SECTION 1. SECESSION OF THE SOUTHERN CHURCHES, . 563 
 
 1. The protest against the action at Cleveland, and the answer. 2. With 
 drawal of the Synods of Missouri, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Ten 
 nessee, and Mississippi. Claims of the " United Synod." 3. Report of the 
 trustees of the Church Erection Fund upon these claims. 4. Adjustment of 
 the roll. The Synods of Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Ten 
 nessee stricken from the roll. 5. The Synod of Virginia stricken from 
 the roll, and the bounds of the Synod of Pennsylvania enlarged so as to in 
 clude the Presbytery of the District of Columbia. 
 
 SECTION 2. BIBLE CLASSES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS, . 568 
 
 1. The forming of Bible classes recommended. Plan of instruction. Not to 
 supersede the Catechism. 2. Sabbath-schools approved. The instruction of 
 the young. American Sunday-School Union commended. 3. Catechetical 
 instruction urged on parents, pastors, and teachers. 
 
 SECTION 3. ON THE SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY, . 573 
 
 1. Early action. Glebe and parsonage recommended. 2. Adequate provisions 
 urged. Presbyteries to inquire into the fulfilment of contracts. 3. Congre 
 gational libraries for the use of ministers. 4. Liberality in the support of 
 the ministry urged. 
 
 SECTION 4. ON FASTING AND PRAYER, . . 575 
 
 1. Prayer for the General Assembly. 2. Special seasons for prayer recom 
 mended. 3. Revivals consequent on special prayer. 4. The monthly con 
 cert. Time of observing it. 5. Appointment of a day of fasting and prayer 
 for the conversion of the world. First Monday in January ; standing custom. 
 Last Thursday in February. 6. Prayer for magistrates. 
 
CONTENTS. XXXI 
 
 PAGE 
 
 SECTION 5 ON PSALMODY, : . .580 
 
 1 Narrative of early action. A new collection to be prepared and a committee 
 appointed. The book approved. 2. Movement, for a new Book of Psalmody. 
 Referred to the committee ad interim. 3. The " Church Psalmist" recom 
 mended. 4. Purchased for the Assembly. 5. An appendix added. G. 
 Book of Tunes prepared. 
 
 SECTION 6. AMENDMENTS TO THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, 
 BOOK OF DISCIPLINE, AND DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP, ADOP 
 TED OR PROPOSED, ........ 585 
 
 1. Amended in 1821, and adopted substantially as at present. 2. Proposal to 
 amend Form of Government, chap, x, refused. 3. Amendment of chap, 
 xiii, sec. 2, Form of Government refused. 4. Proposal to amend Form 
 of Government, chap, xii, sec. 4. Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sec. 1, art. 
 iv. Chap, vii, sees. 2, 3, 4, on appeals, complaints, and references. Form 
 of Government, chap, xii, sec. 7, and chap, xiv, sec. 6. 5. Answer of the 
 Presbyteries. Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 7, altered. Five of the 
 six proposed amendments agreed to. but the sixth being rejected the As 
 sembly refuse to make the alterations. 6. Proposal to alter the ratio of re 
 presentation in the Assembly ; also to make it Synodical and not Presbyte- 
 rial. 7. Proposal of an overture in reference to calling special meetings of 
 Synod not adopted. 8. The ratio of representation altered. Form of Go 
 vernment, chap, xii, sec. 2. 9. Proposal to limit the appellate jurisdiction 
 of the Assembly to charges against a minister, and to processes originating 
 in Synod. 10. Proposal to make the Synods in all cases the courts of final 
 jurisdiction, to hold the Assembly triennially, and to authorize the calling 
 of the Assembly, pro re nata 11. The proposed amendments affirmed. 
 Alterations of the Constitution made accordingly. Form of Government, 
 chap, xii, sees. 2, 7, and 8. 12. Proposal to return to annual Assemblies, 
 Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 7, and to restore appellate jurisdiction 
 to the Assembly. 13. The proposal more clearly stated. Revision of the 
 standards referred to a committee. 14. The overtures, 1 and 2, respecting 
 annual assemblies, chap, xi, sec. 7, arid chap, xii, sec. 7, Form of Govern 
 ment, adopted. Overtures 3, 4, and 5, pertaining to appeals in the case of 
 ministers, Book of Discipline, chap, vii, paragraph 2, sec. 3, paragraph 2, 
 and sec. 4, paragraph 4, not adopted. 15. Report on the changes of the 
 Constitution. Proposal to restore it as in 1840 or before the division. Over 
 tures sent down on Book of Discipline, chap, xii, sec. 4, chap, vii, sec. 2, chap, 
 vii, sec. 3, sub sec. 2, chap, vii, sec. 4, sub sec. 1. Form of Government, 
 chap, xii, a new section after 7, and chap, xii, sec. 2. 16. These overtures 
 rejected, and the Book restored as before the division. 
 
XXX11 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 SECTION 7. RULES FOR JUDICATORIES, . . 602 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 OPINION OF JUDGE GIBSON IN BANG, ..... 607 
 
 YORK CHURCH CASE, ........ 613 
 
 LANE SEMINARY CASE, 618 
 
UNI7SESPJ 
 
 DIGEST. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OF THE CHURCH. 
 SECTION 1. STANDARDS OF THE CHUHCII. 
 
 1. Overture in reference to subscribing the Confession of Faith. 2. Confession of 
 Faith. Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster Assembly adopted. 
 3. The "Directory" recommended. 4. Intrants or Candidates must adopt the 
 standards. 5. The "Adopting Act" to be copied in the Presbytery books. 
 6. An act explanatory of the Adopting Act. 7. Plan of Union of 1758. 8. The 
 Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, 
 amended and adopted. 9. Proof texts added by order of the Assembly. 
 10. The marginal notes have no constitutional authority. 11. Use and obliga 
 tion of the standards. 12. Subscription to them in every case required. 
 13. The Catechisms are an integral part of the Constitution. 14. The term 
 "Standing Rule" in the Constitution defined. The Assembly may enact stand 
 ing rules. 
 
 ADOPTION OF THE WESTMINSTER STANDARDS. 
 1. Overture laid over a year. 
 
 11 There being an overture presented to the Synod in writing having 
 reference to the subscribing of the Confession of Faith, &c., the Synod, 
 judging this to be a very important affair, unanimously concluded to 
 defer the consideration of it till the next Synod, \vithal recommending 
 it to the members of each Presbytery present to give timeous notice 
 thereof to the absent members." Minutes, 1728, p. 91. 
 
 2 
 
18 I. OF THE CIIURCII. 
 
 2. The Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the 
 Westminster Assembly adopted. 
 
 tl The committee brought in an overture upon the affair of the Con 
 fession, which, after long debating upon it, was agreed upon, in hcec 
 verla : 
 
 "Although the Synod do not claim or pretend to any authority of 
 imposing our faith upon other men s consciences, but do profess our just 
 dissatisfaction with, and abhorrence of such impositions, and do utterly 
 disclaim all legislative power and authority in the Church, being willing 
 to receive one another as Christ has received us to the glory of God, and 
 admit to fellowship in sacred ordinances, all such as we have grounds to 
 believe Christ will at last admit to the kingdom of heaven, yet we are 
 undoubtedly obliged to take care that the faith once delivered to the 
 saints be kept pure and uncorrupt among us, and so handed down to our 
 posterity. And do therefore agree that all the ministers of this Synod, 
 or that shall hereafter be admitted into this Synod, shall declare their 
 agreement in, and approbation of, the Confession of Faith, with the 
 Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Assembly of Divines at West 
 minster, as being in all the essential and necessary articles, good forms 
 of sound words and systems of Christian doctrine, and do also adopt the 
 said Confession and Catechisms as the confession of our faith. And we 
 do also agree, that all the Presbyteries within our bounds shall always 
 take care not to admit any candidate of the ministry into the exercise of 
 the sacred function, but what declares his agreement in opinion with all 
 the essential and necessary articles of said Confession, either by sub 
 scribing the said Confession of Faith and Catechisms, or by a verbal 
 declaration of their assent thereto, as such minister or candidate shall 
 think best. And in case any minister of this Synod, or any candidate 
 for the ministry, shall have any scruple with respect to any article or 
 articles of said Confession or Catechisms, he shall at the time of his 
 making said declaration declare his sentiments to the Presbytery or 
 Synod, who shall, notwithstanding, admit him to the exercise of the 
 ministry within our bounds, and to ministerial communion, if the Synod 
 or Presbytery shall judge his scruple or mistake to be only about articles 
 not essential and necessary in doctrine, worship, or government. But if 
 the Synod or Presbytery shall judge such ministers or candidates erro 
 neous in essential and necessary articles of faith, the Synod or Presby 
 tery shall declare them uncapable of communion with them. And the 
 
I. OF THE CHURCH. 19 
 
 Synod do solemnly agree, that none of us will traduce or use any oppro 
 brious terms of those that differ from us in these extra-essential and not 
 necessary points of doctrine, but treat them with the same friendship, 
 kindness, and brotherly love, as if they had not differed from us in such 
 sentiments." 
 
 [In the afternoon.] 
 
 All the ministers of this Synod now present, except one, that declared 
 himself not prepared, viz. : Masters Jedediah Andrews, Thomas Craig- 
 head, John Thomson, James Anderson, John Pierson, Samuel Gelston, 
 Joseph Houston, Gilbert Tennent, Adam Boyd, Jonathan Dickinson, 
 John Bradner, Alexander Hutchinson, Thomas Evans, Hugh Stevenson, 
 William Tennent, Hugh Conn, George Gillespie, and John Willson, after 
 proposing all the scruples that any of them had to make against any 
 articles and expressions in the Confession of Faith and Larger and 
 Shorter Catechisms of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, have 
 unanimously agreed in the solution of those scruples, and in declaring 
 the said Confession and Catechisms to be the confession of their faith, 
 excepting only some clauses in the twentieth and twenty-third chapters, 
 concerning which clauses the Synod do unanimously declare, that they 
 do not receive those articles in any such sense as to suppose the civil 
 magistrate hath a controlling power over Synods with respect to the ex 
 ercise of their ministerial authority; or power to persecute any for their 
 religion, or in any sense contrary to the Protestant succession to the 
 throne of Great Britain. 
 
 The Synod observing that unanimity, peace, and unity, which ap 
 peared in all their consultations and determinations relating to the affair 
 of the Confession, did unanimously agree in giving thanks to God in 
 solemn prayer and praises. Minutes, 1729, p. 94. 
 
 3. The "Directory" recommended. 
 
 "A motion being made to know the Synod s judgment about the 
 Directory, they gave their sense of that matter in the following words, 
 viz. : The Synod do unanimously acknowledge and declare, that they 
 judge the Directory for worship, discipline, and government of that 
 Church, commonly annexed to the Westminster Confession, to be agreea 
 ble in substance to the word of God, and founded thereupon ; and there 
 fore do earnestly recommend the same to all their members, to be by 
 them observed as near as circumstances will allow, and Christian pru 
 dence direct." Minutes, 1729, p. 95. 
 
20 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 4. Intrants or Candidates to adopt the Confession and Catechisms in 
 the same manner and as f idly as those then present . 
 
 a. "Whereas, some persons have been dissatisfied at the manner of 
 wording our last year s agreement about the Confession, &c., supposing 
 some expressions not sufficiently obligatory upon intrants : 
 
 "Overtured, That the Synod do now declare, that they understand 
 these clauses, that respect the admission of intrants or candidates, in 
 such a sense as to oblige them to receive and adopt the Confession and 
 Catechisms at their admission, in the same manner and as fully as 
 the members of the Synod did that were then present, which overture 
 was unanimously agreed to by the Synod." Minutes, 1730, p. 98. 
 
 b. (i Ordered, That the Synod make a particular inquiry during the 
 time of their meeting every year, whether such ministers as have been 
 received as members since the foregoing meeting of the Synod have 
 adopted, or have been required by the Synod, or by the respective Pres 
 byteries, to adopt the Westminster Confession and Catechisms with the 
 Directory, according to the acts of the Synod made some years since for 
 that purpose, and that also the report made to the Synod, in answer to 
 said inquiry, be recorded in our minutes." Minutes, 1734, p. 109. 
 
 5. To be inscribed on the Book of each Presbytery . 
 
 "Ordered, That each Presbytery have the whole Adopting Act in 
 serted in their Presbytery book." Minutes, 1735, p. 115. 
 
 6. An Act explanatory of the Adopting Act. 
 
 "An overture of the committee upon the supplication of the people of 
 Paxton and Derry was brought in, and is as followeth : That the Synod 
 do declare, that inasmuch as we understand that many persons of our 
 persuasion, both more lately and formerly, have been offended with some 
 expressions or distinctions in the first or preliminary act of our Synod, 
 contained in the printed paper, relating to our receiving or adopting the 
 Westminster Confession and Catechisms, &c. ; that, in order to remove 
 said offence, and all jealousies that have arisen or may arise in any of 
 our people s minds on occasion of said distinctions and expressions, the 
 Synod doth declare, that the Synod have adopted and still do adhere to 
 the Westminster Confession, Catechisms, and Directory, without the 
 least variation or alteration, and without any regard to said distinctions. 
 
* 
 
 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 And we do further declare, that this was our meaning and true ?nte.nt 
 in our first adopting of said Confession, as may particularly appear by 
 our Adopting Act, which is as followeth : All the ministers of the 
 Synod now present (which were eighteen in number, except one that 
 declared himself not prepared), after proposing all the scruples any of 
 them had to make against any articles and expressions in the Confession 
 of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Assembly of Divines 
 at Westminster, have unanimously agreed in the solution of these 
 scruples, and in declaring the said Confession and Catechisms to be the 
 confession of their faith, except only some clauses in the twentieth and 
 twenty-third chapters ; concerning which clauses the Synod do unani 
 mously declare, that they do not receive these articles in any such sense 
 as to suppose the civil magistrate hath a controlling power over Synods 
 with respect to the exercise of their ministerial authority, or power to 
 persecute any for their religion, or in any sense contrary to the Protest 
 ant succession to the throne of Great Britain/ 
 
 "And we hope and desire, that this, our Synodical declaration and 
 explication, may satisfy all our people as to our firm attachment to our 
 good old received doctrines contained in said Confession, without the 
 least variation or alteration, and that they will lay aside their jealousies 
 that have been entertained through occasion of the above hinted expres 
 sions and declarations as groundless. This overture approved nemine 
 contradicente." Minutes, 1736, p. 126. 
 
 7. Upon the reunion of the Synods of New York and Philadelphia, 
 May 29, 1758, the following Plan of Union was agreed upon, viz. : 
 
 " The Synods of New York and Philadelphia, taking into serious con 
 sideration the present divided state of the Presbyterian Church in this 
 land, and being deeply sensible that the division of the Church tends to 
 weaken its interests, to dishonor religion, and consequently its glorious 
 Author; to render government and discipline ineffectual, and finally to 
 dissolve its very frame ; and being desirous to pursue such measures as 
 may most tend to the glory of God, and the establishment and edification 
 of his people, do judge it to be our indispensable duty to study the 
 things that make for peace, and to endeavor the healing of that breach 
 which has for some time subsisted amongst us, that so its hurtful con 
 sequences may not extend to posterity; that all occasion of reproach 
 upon our society may be removed, and that we may carry on the great 
 designs of religion to better advantage than we can do in a divided 
 
22 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 state ; and since both Synods continue to profess the same principles of 
 faith, and adhere to the same form of worship, government, and disci 
 pline, there is the greater reason to endeavor the compromising those 
 differences which were agitated many years, ago with too great warmth 
 and animosity, and unite in one body. 
 
 a For which end, and that no jealousies or grounds of alienation may 
 remain, and also to prevent future breaches of like nature, we agree to 
 unite and do unite in one body, under the name of the Synod of New 
 York and Philadelphia, on the following plan : 
 
 " I. Both Synods having always approved and received the West 
 minster Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms as an 
 orthodox and excellent system of Christian doctrine, founded on the 
 word of God, we do still receive the same as the confession of our faith, 
 and also adhere to the plan of worship, government, and discipline, con 
 tained in the Westminster Directory, strictly enjoining it on all our 
 members and probationers for the ministry that they preach and teach 
 according to the form of sound words in said Confession and Catechisms, 
 and avoid and oppose all errors contrary thereto. 
 
 "II. That when any matter is determined by a major vote, every 
 member shall either actively concur with or passively submit to such 
 determination; or, if his conscience permit him to do neither, he shall, 
 after sufficient liberty modestly to reason and remonstrate, peaceably 
 withdraw from our communion, without attempting to make any schism : 
 Provided always, that this shall be understood to extend only to such 
 determinations as the body shall judge indispensable in doctrine or 
 Presbyterian government. 
 
 " III. That any member or members, for the exoneration of his or 
 their conscience before God, have a right to protest against any act or 
 procedure of our highest judicature, because there is no further appeal 
 to another for redress, and to require that such protestation be recorded 
 in their minutes. And as such a protest is a solemn appeal from the 
 bar of said judicature, no member is liable to prosecution on the account 
 of his protesting : Provided always, that it shall be deemed irregular and 
 unlawful to enter a protestation against any member or members, or to 
 protest facts or accusations instead of proving them, unless a fair trial be 
 refused, even by the highest judicature. And it is agreed, that pro 
 testations are only to be entered against the public acts, judgments, or 
 determinations of the judicature with which the protestor s conscience is 
 offended. 
 
I. OF THE CIIURCEI. 23 
 
 " IV. As the protestation entered in the Synod of Philadelphia, Ann. 
 Pom. 1741, has been apprehended to have been approved and received 
 by an act of said Synod, and on that account was judged a sufficient 
 obstacle to an union, the said Synod declare, that they never judicially 
 adopted the said protestation, nor do account it a Synodical act, but 
 that it is to be considered as the act of those only who subscribed it; 
 and therefore cannot in its nature be a valid objection to the union of 
 the two Synods, especially considering that a very great majority of 
 both Synods have become members since the said protestation was 
 entered. 
 
 " V. That it shall be esteemed and treated as a censurable evil, to 
 accuse any member of heterodoxy, insufficiency, or immorality, in a ca 
 lumniating manner, or otherwise than by private brotherly admonition, or 
 by a regular process according to our known rules of judicial trial in 
 cases of scandal ; and it shall be considered in the same view, if any 
 Presbytery appoint supplies within the bounds of another Presbytery 
 without their concurrence ; or if any member officiate in another s con 
 gregation, without asking and obtaining his consent, or the Session s in 
 case the minister be absent; yet it shall be esteemed unbrotherly for 
 any one, in ordinary circumstances, to refuse his consent to a regular 
 member when it is requested. 
 
 " VI. That no Presbytery shall license or ordain to the work of the 
 ministry any candidate, until he give them competent satisfaction as to 
 his learning, and experimental acquaintance with religion, and skill in 
 divinity and cases of conscience, and declare his acceptance of the West 
 minster Confession and Catechisms as the confession of his faith, and 
 promise subjection to the Presbyterian plan of government in the West 
 minster Directory. 
 
 "VII. The Synods declare it is their earnest desire that a complete 
 union may be obtained as soon as possible, and agree that the united 
 Synod shall model ,the several Presbyteries in such manner as shall 
 appear to them most expedient. Provided nevertheless, that Presby 
 teries where an alteration does not appear to be for edification, continue 
 in their present form. As to divided congregations, it is agreed that 
 such as have settled ministers on both sides be allowed to continue as 
 they are ; that where those of one side have a settled minister, the other 
 being vacant, may join with the settled minister, if a majority choose so 
 to do ; that when both sides are vacant, they shall be at liberty to unite 
 together. 
 
24 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 fi VIII. As the late religious appearances occasioned much specula 
 tion and debate, the members of the New York Synod, in order to pre 
 vent any misapprehensions, declare their adherence to their former 
 sentiments in favor of them, that a blessed work of God s Holy Spirit 
 in the conversion of numbers was then carried on ; and for the satisfac 
 tion of all concerned, this united Synod agree in declaring, that, as all 
 mankind are naturally dead in trespasses and sins, an entire change of 
 heart and life is necessary to make them meet for the service and enjoy 
 ment of God ; that such a change can be only effected by the powerful 
 operations of the divine Spirit; that when sinners are made sensible of 
 their lost condition and absolute inability to recover themselves, are 
 enlightened in the knowledge of Christ, and convinced of his ability and 
 willingness to save, and upon Gospel encouragements do choose him for 
 their Saviour, and, renouncing their own righteousness in point of 
 merit, depend upon his imputed righteousness for their justification 
 before God, and on his wisdom and strength for guidance and support; 
 when, upon these apprehensions and exercises, their souls are comforted, 
 notwithstanding all their past guilt, and rejoice in God through Jesus 
 Christ; when they hate and bewail their sins of heart and life, delight 
 in the laws of God without exception, reverently and diligently attend 
 his ordinances, become humble and self-denied, and make it the business 
 of their lives to please and glorify God, and to do good to their fellow 
 men : this is to be acknowledged as a gracious work of God, even though 
 it should be attended with unusual bodily commotions, or some more 
 exceptionable circumstances, by means of infirmity, temptations, or re 
 maining corruptions ; and wherever religious appearances are attended 
 with the good effects above mentioned, we desire to rejoice in and thank 
 God for them. 
 
 "But, on the other hand, when persons seeming to be under a reli 
 gious concern, imagine that they have visions of the human nature of 
 Jesus Christ, or hear voices, or see external lights, or have fainting and 
 convulsion-like fits, and on the account of these judge themselves to be 
 truly converted, though they have not the Scriptural characters of a work 
 of God above described, we believe such persons are under a dangerous 
 delusion ; and we testify our utter disapprobation of such a delusion, 
 wherever it attends any religious appearances, in any Church or time. 
 
 " Now as both Synods are agreed in their sentiments concerning the 
 nature of a work of grace, and declare their desire and purpose to pro 
 mote it, different judgments respecting particular matters of fact ought 
 
I. OF THE CHURCH. 25 
 
 not to prevent their union ; especially as many of the present members 
 have entered into the ministry since the time of the aforesaid religious 
 appearances. 
 
 " Upon the whole, as the design of our union is the advancement of the 
 Mediator s kingdom, and as the wise and faithful discharge of the minis 
 terial function is the principal appointed mean for that glorious end, we 
 judge that this is a proper occasion to manifest our sincere intention 
 unitedly to exert ourselves to fulfil the ministry we have received of the 
 Lord Jesus. Accordingly, we unanimously declare our serious and fixed 
 resolution, by divine aid, to take heed to ourselves that our hearts be up 
 right, our discourse edifying, and our lives exemplary for purity and godli 
 ness; to take heed to our doctrine, that it be not only orthodox, but 
 evangelical and spiritual, tending to awaken the secure to a suitable 
 concern for their salvation, and to instruct and encourage sincere Chris 
 tians, thus commending ourselves to every man s conscience in the sight 
 of God ; to cultivate peace and harmony among ourselves, and strengthen 
 each other s hands in promoting the knowledge of divine truth, and 
 diffusing the savor of piety among our people. 
 
 " Finally, we earnestly recommend it to all under our care, that in 
 stead of indulging a contentious disposition, they would love each other 
 with a- pure heart fervently, as brethren who profess subjection to the 
 same Lord, adhere to the same faith, worship, and government, and en 
 tertain the same hope of glory. And we desire that they would improve 
 the present union for their mutual edification, combine to strengthen the 
 common interests of religion, and go hand in hand in the path of life ; 
 which we pray the God of all grace would please to effect, for Christ s 
 sake. Amen. 
 
 " The Synod agree, that all former differences and disputes are laid 
 aside and buried; and that no future inquiry or vote shall be proposed 
 in this Synod concerning these things; but if any member seek a Sy- 
 nodical inquiry or declaration about any of the matters of our past dif 
 ferences, it skall be deemed a censurable breach of this agreement, and 
 be refused, and he be rebuked accordingly/ Minutes, 1758, p. 285, 
 288. 
 
 8. Constitution Amended and Adopted. 
 
 [In 1787, preparatory to forming the General Assembly, the Synod 
 ordered a thorough revision of the standards, altering the articles ex- 
 cepted to in the Adopting Acts, and making such amendments as were 
 found necessary. The Constitution as thus amended was adopted.] 
 
26 I. OF TPIE CHURCH. 
 
 Form of Government and Discipline, as Amended, Adopted. 
 
 " The Synod having fully considered the draught of the Form of 
 Government and Discipline, did, on review of the whole, and hereby do, 
 ratify and adopt the same, as now altered and amended, as the Consti 
 tution of the Presbyterian Church in America, and oi derthe same to be 
 considered and strictly observed as the rule of their proceedings, by all 
 the inferior judicatories belonging to the body. And they order that a 
 correct copy be printed, and that the Westminster Confession of Faith, 
 as now altered, be printed in full along with it, as making a part of the 
 Constitution. 
 
 (t Resolved, That the true intent and meaning of the above ratification 
 by the Synod is, that the Form of Government and Discipline, and the 
 Confession of Faith, as now ratified, is to continue to be our Constitu 
 tion, and the Confession of our Faith and practice unalterable ; unless 
 two-thirds of the Presbyteries, under the care of the General Assembly, 
 shall propose alterations or amendments, and such alterations or amend 
 ments shall be agreed to and enacted by the General Assembly." Min 
 utes, 1788, p. 546. 
 
 Directory as Amended Adopted. Larger and Shorter Catechisms 
 Ratified as the Catechisms of the Church. 
 
 " The Synod having now revised and corrected the draught of a Di 
 rectory for Worship, did approve and ratify the same, and do hereby 
 appoint the said Directory, as now amended, to be the Directory for the 
 worship of God in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of 
 America. They also took into consideration the Westminster Larger 
 and Shorter Catechisms, and having made a small amendment of the 
 Larger, did approve, and do hereby approve and ratify the said Cate 
 chisms, as now agreed on, as the Catechisms of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the said United States. And the Synod order, that the said Directory 
 and Catechisms be printed and bound up in the same voljirne with the 
 Confession of Faith and the Form of Government and Discipline ; and 
 that the whole be considered as the standard of our doctrine, govern 
 ment, discipline, and worship, agreeably to the resolutions of the Synod 
 at their present session." Minutes, 1788, p. 547. 
 
 9. Proof Texts added l>y Order of the Assembly. 
 The committee appointed to consider the expediency of a new im- 
 
I. OF THE CHURCH. 27 
 
 pression of the Confession of Faith, Form of Government and Discipline 
 of this Church, reported .... that another impression appeared 
 expedient, in which, if the Scripture proofs were inserted at length, it 
 would become more acceptable, and might be of greater utility to the 
 churches ; and proposed that a committee be appointed properly to select 
 and arrange the Scripture texts to be adduced in support of the articles 
 in the Confession of Faith, Form of Government and Discipline, and 
 prepare the same to be laid before the next General Assembly. 
 
 "Resolved, That Dr. Robert Smith, and Messrs. Mitchell and Grier, 
 be a committee to carry the above into execution." Minutes, 1792, 
 p. 59. 
 
 " A letter was received and read from Mr. Mitchell, one of the mem 
 bers of a committee appointed by the Assembly of 1792, to revise and 
 prepare for publication an edition of the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, 
 and Form of Government and Discipline of this Church, informing this 
 Assembly that considerable progress had been made in the business, but 
 that it was still incomplete. Whereupon the business was recommitted, 
 and the Moderator [the Rev. James Latta], added to the committee in 
 the place of the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, deceased, and they were di 
 rected to report to the Assembly in 1794." Minutes, 1793, p. 66. 
 
 [The letter was as follows :] 
 
 "UPPER OCTORAUA, May 14th, 1793. 
 
 " THE REVEREND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 " REVEREND FATHERS AND BRETHREN: The task assigned the Rev. 
 Dr. Robert Smith, Mr. Grier, and myself, by the last General Assembly 
 of our Church, was divided by your committee in the following manner : 
 Doctor Smith undertook to adduce Scripture testimony in proof of the 
 Larger Catechism, Mr. Grier the Shorter, and Mr. Mitchell the Confes 
 sion of Faith and Church Government. Doctor Smith s remove from 
 serving any longer in the Church militant, has left his part unfinished, 
 and uncorrefted (if correction it requires). I send his manuscript, and 
 the printed book, which was the Doctor s property. Mr. Grier will in 
 form the Reverend the General Assembly what progress he has made on 
 his part. Your correspondent has completed the proofs for the Confession 
 of Faith, and made some progress on Church Government, the first 
 twelve chapters; but a severe pain in my right arm, attended with a 
 paralysis in my hand, prevented me from finishing what I had incon 
 siderately undertaken. I hope I shall not tire nor repent of any poor 
 
28 I. OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 service I may be called to perform to the Church of Christ; but this 
 was a herculean labor for the time assigned to do it in. 
 
 " The General Assembly will perceive my method, which was to men 
 tion the chapter in the Confession, with its title and the several sections 
 it contains j then insert the small letters of the Roman alphabet in the 
 printed copy, and these serve to direct to those texts of Scripture ad 
 duced to prove the subject, or any part of it, where they are placed. 
 Those texts that appear to me to be the most adequate and suitable to 
 the design, I have wrote out in full. Where I have viewed them as 
 serving either as parallel, or corroborating, I have only set down book, 
 chapter, and verse in figures. There may be lapsus pennce, which can be 
 corrected when reviewed and examined. But these, with many other 
 things, I submit to the Assembly s correction and inspection. Had it 
 been pardonable, I should have taken the liberty to have altered some 
 of the terms and phraseology in our translation, as more correspondent 
 to the original ; but to depart from established customs in religious mat 
 ters is dangerous. I would also have abridged the proofs ; but this 
 would have raised a clamor among the people at large, that we had de 
 parted from the ancient faith. The printed copy belongs to the General 
 Assembly, and accompanies my manuscript papers, together with the 
 Scripture proofs on Church Government. May the great Head of the 
 Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, be in the midst of you, to direct and 
 assist you in all your consultations and deliberations for his glory and the 
 prosperity of Zion. So prays your brother in the Gospel of Christ. 
 
 "A. MITCHELL." 
 Minutes, 1793, p. 66. 
 
 "The committee appointed to prepare the Scripture proofs in support 
 of the doctrines of the Confession of Faith, the Catechisms, &c., of the 
 Presbyterian Church, submitted their report, which was read, examined, 
 and approved as a specimen of the work. Whereupon Dr. Green, 
 Messrs. John B. Smith, James Boyd, William M. Tennent, Nathaniel 
 Irwin, and Andrew Hunter, were appointed a committee tocompare the 
 proofs prepared by said committee, and now reported to the General 
 Assembly, with the proofs annexed to the Westminster Confession of 
 Faith, Catechisms, and Directory ; to revise the whole, prepare it for 
 the press, to agree with the printer for its publication, and to superintend 
 the printing and vending of the same." Minutes, 1794, p. 88. 
 
I. OF THE CHURCH. 29 
 
 10. Authority of the Notes. The Text alone contains the Constitution. 
 
 The committee to which was referred an inquiry, proposed to the 
 Assembly by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, relative to the notes found 
 in the book containing the Constitution, reported. Their report was 
 adopted, viz. : 
 
 tl That the book referred to was first published with nothing but the 
 simple text, without any Scripture proofs, or any notes of any description 
 whatsoever. This is evident not only from the minutes of the General 
 Assembly, but from the numerous copies of this first edition of the 
 standards of our Church which are now in existence. It is also equally 
 evident, from examining the records of the General Assembly, that not 
 a single note in the book has been added to or made a part of the Con 
 stitution of the Church, since it was first formed and published, in the 
 manner above recited. Several alterations and additions have been made 
 by referring them, when contemplated, to the Presbyteries for their 
 decision thereon, in the manner pointed out in the Constitution itself. 
 But among all the points thus referred, there is not found a single note 
 which now appears in the book containing the Constitution of our Church. 
 Hence it follows, beyond a doubt, that these notes are no part of that 
 Constitution. If, then, it be inquired how these notes obtained the place 
 which they now occupy, and what is the character, as to authority, which 
 they possess, the answer is this : AVhen a second edition of the standards 
 of our Church was needed, it was thought by the General Assembly, 
 that it would be of great use in itself, highly agreeable to the members 
 of our Church generally, as well as conformable to the example of the 
 Church of Scotland, from which we derive our origin, if the Scripture 
 proofs were added in support of the several parts and clauses of the 
 Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Form of Government. A com 
 mittee was accordingly appointed by the Assembly to select the Scripture 
 proofs, and to prepare them for being printed in the second edition of 
 the book. The work of this committee was, the following year, referred 
 to another, and ultimately the committee charged with preparing the 
 Scripture proofs reported, along with these proofs, the notes which now 
 appear in the book, and which were approved by the General Assembly, 
 and directed to be printed with the proofs, in the form in which they 
 now appear. These notes, then, are explanations of some of the prin 
 ciples of the Presbyterian Church, given by the General Assembly, and 
 which, of course, the General Assembly may modify or altogether ex- 
 
80 I. OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 elude, at their pleasure, whereas the articles of the Constitution must 
 govern the Assembly themselves, and cannot be altered or abrogated, 
 but in the manner pointed out in the Constitution itself. 
 
 "On the whole, in the book containing the standards of our Church, 
 the text alone contains the Constitution of our Church ; the notes are an 
 exposition of principles given by the highest judicature of that Church, 
 of the same force, while they continue, with the other acts of that 
 judicature, but subject to alterations, amendments, or a total erasure, as 
 they shall judge proper. 
 
 " Resolved, That as it belongs to the General Assembly to give direc 
 tion in regard to the notes which accompany the Constitution, of which 
 they are the supreme judicatory, this Assembly express it as their 
 opinion, that in printing future editions of the Constitution of this 
 Church, the parenthesis on the note, on this part of the Form of Govern 
 ment, which defines a Synod, and which is expressed in these words, 
 since a Synod is only a larger Presbytery/ be omitted, as well as the 
 note connected with the Scripture proofs in answer to the question in 
 the Larger Catechism, What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? 
 in which the nature of the crime of man-stealing and slavery is dilated 
 upon. In regard to this last omission, the Assembly think proper to 
 declare, that in directing it, they are influenced by far other motives 
 than any desire to favor slavery, or to retard the extinction of that 
 mournful evil as speedily as may consist with the happiness of all con 
 cerned." Minutes, 1816, p. 630. 
 
 [NoTE. These notes are not found in the Constitution as revised in 
 1820.] 
 
 " Resolved, That as the notes which have been expunged from our 
 public formularies, and which some of the memorials referred to the 
 committee request to have restored, were introduced irregularly, and 
 never had the sanction of the Church, and therefore never possessed any 
 real authority, the General Assembly has no power to assign them a 
 place in the authorized standards of the Church, and does not deem it 
 proper to take the constitutional measures for effecting their restora 
 tion/ Minutes, 1836, p. 248. 
 
 11. Use and Obligation of the Confession. 
 
 1. That, in the opinion of this Assembly, Confessions of Faith, con 
 taining formulas of doctrine, and rules for conducting the discipline and 
 
T. OF THE CHURCH. 31 
 
 worship proper to be maintained in the house of God, are not only 
 recognized as necessary and expedient, but as the character of human 
 nature is continually aiming at innovation, absolutely requisite to the 
 settled peace of the Church, and to the happy and orderly existence of 
 Christian communion. Within the limits of Christendom, few are to be 
 found in the attitude of avowed hostility to Christianity. The name of 
 Christian is claimed by all, and all are ready to profess their belief in 
 the Holy Scriptures, too many reserving to themselves the right of put 
 ting upon them what construction they please. In such a state of 
 things, without the aid of Confessions, Christian fellowship can exist 
 only in a very limited degree, and the disorder of the Corinthian Church, 
 condemned by the Apostle, would be realized : "lam of Paul and I of 
 Apottos." 
 
 2. That, though the Confession of Faith and standards of our Church 
 are of no original authority^ independent of the Scriptures, yet we 
 regard them as a summary of those divine truths which are diffused 
 throughout the sacred volume. 
 
 They, as a system of doctrines, therefore, cannot be abandoned, in our 
 opinion, without an abandonment of the word of God. They form a 
 bond of fellowship in the faith of the Gospel, and the General Assembly 
 cannot but believe the precious immortals under their care to be more 
 safe in receiving the truth of God s holy word, as exhibited in the 
 standards of our Church, than in being subject to the guidance of any 
 instructor, whoever he may be, who may have confidence enough to set 
 up his own opinions in opposition to the system of doctrines which men 
 of sound learning, full of the Holy Ghost, and mighty in the Scriptures, 
 have devised from the oracles of the living God. It should never be 
 forgotten, that the Church is solemnly cautioned against the danger of 
 being carried about by every wind of doctrine. 
 
 3. This Confession of Faith, adopted by our Church, contains a sys 
 tem of doctrines professedly believed by the people and the pastors 
 under the care of the General Assembly, nor can it be traduced by any 
 in the communion of our Church, without subjecting the erring parties 
 to that salutary discipline which hath for its object the maintenance of 
 the peace and purity of the Church, under the government of her great 
 Master. Minutes, 1824, p. 114. 
 
 12. Subscription to the Standards in every case required. 
 The committee appointed on an overture respecting the consistency 
 
32 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 of admitting into this Church ministers who manifest a decided hostility 
 to ecclesiastical creeds, confessions, and formularies, make the following 
 report, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 1. That the Constitution, as is well known, expressly requires of all 
 candidates for admission, a solemn declaration that they sincerely receive 
 and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as containing the 
 system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 2. That the last Assembly, in a report of their committee, to be seen 
 on the minutes, have so explicitly and fully declared the sentiments of 
 this Church in regard to her ecclesiastical standards, and all within her 
 communion who may traduce them, that no further expression of our 
 views on this subject is deemed necessary. Minutes, 1825, p. 155. 
 
 13. The Catechisms an Integral part of the Standards of the Church. 
 
 The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 5, viz. : " On 
 subscribing the Confession of Faith," made the following report, which 
 was unanimously adopted, viz. : 
 
 That, in their judgment, any further legislation on the subject by the 
 Assembly would be unnecessary and inexpedient. They consider the 
 formula contained in our book, and the rule adopted by the Assembly in 
 1830, viz. : u That, in their judgment, every licentiate coming by cer 
 tificate to any Presbytery, in connection with the General Assembly, from 
 any portion of a corresponding ecclesiastical body, should be required to 
 answer in the affirmative, the constitutional questions directed by chapter 
 fourteenth of our Form of Government, to be put to our candidates be 
 fore they are licensed ; and that in like manner every ordained minister 
 of the Gospel coining from any church in correspondence with the Gen 
 eral Assembly by certificate of dismission and recommendation, should 
 be required to answer affirmatively the first seven questions directed by 
 chapter fifteenth of our Form of Government, to be put to one of our 
 own licentiates when about to bo ordained to the sacred office/ (p. 12, 
 1830), sufficiently explicit; and would earnestly recommend these to the 
 attention of the Presbyteries under the care of the Assembly. 
 
 As to the question submitted to them, " Whether the Catechisms, 
 Larger and Shorter, are to be considered as a part of the Standards of 
 our Church, and are comprehended in the words, Confession of Faith of 
 this Church ?" the committee feel no hesitation in answering that ques 
 tion in the affirmative. It does not appear that any doubts on that sub- 
 
I. OF THE CHURCH. 33 
 
 ^y?^. 
 
 jcct have ever been entertained until very recently. The committee 
 find in the minutes of the old Synod, at the union of the Synod of Phil 
 adelphia with the Synod of New York, in 1758, that the first article of 
 the Plan of Union contains the following words (Digest, p. 118), viz. : 
 " Both Synods, having always approved and received the Westminster 
 Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms as an orthodox 
 and excellent system of Christian doctrine founded on the word of God, 
 we do still receive the same as the Confession of our Faith ; and also the 
 plan of worship, government, and discipline, contained in the Westmin 
 ster Directory, strictly enjoining it on all our members and probationers 
 for the ministry that they preach and teach according to the form of 
 sound words in said Confession and Catechisms, and avoid and oppose 
 all error contrary thereto." In the recital of the manner in which a 
 Presbytery was received by the Synod of New York, 1763, we have the 
 following record which is contained in the Assembly s Digest, p. 50 : 
 " It was agreed to grant their request, provided that they agree to adopt 
 our Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, and engage to ob 
 serve the Directory as a plan of worship, discipline, and government, 
 according to the agreement of this Synod." 
 
 In 1788, in the Adopting Act of the Confession, as entered in the Di 
 gest, p. 124, the Catechisms are distinctly mentioned as a part of our 
 standards. " They also took into consideration the Westminster Larger 
 and Shorter Catechisms, and having made a small amendment of the 
 Larger, did approve, and do hereby approve and ratify the said Cate 
 chisms as now agreed on, as the Catechisms of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the said United States. And the Synod order that the said Directory 
 and Catechisms be printed and bound up in the same volume with the 
 Confession of Faith and the Form of Government and Discipline; and 
 that the whole be considered as the standard of our doctrine, govern 
 ment, discipline, and worship, agreeably to the resolutions of the Synod 
 at their present sessions" one of which resolutions was (p. 123), " that 
 the Form of Government and Discipline, and the Confession of Faith, 
 as now ratified, is to continue to be our constitution and the confession 
 of our faith and practice unalterably, unless two-thirds of the Presby 
 teries under the care of the General Assembly shall propose alterations 
 or amendments, and such alterations or amendments shall be agreed to 
 and enacted by the General Assembly." Accordingly, in the Directory 
 for the administration of baptism, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of 
 the Westminster Assembly are mentioned in connection with the Con- 
 
 3 
 
34 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 fession of Faith, as adopted by this Church, and are to be recommended 
 as containing a summary of the principles of our holy religion, taught 
 in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. 
 
 The committee therefore recommend to the Assembly the adoption of 
 the following resolutions, viz. : 
 
 1. Resolved by the Assembly, that in receiving and adopting the Con 
 fession of Faith, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy 
 Scriptures, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westminster As 
 sembly of Divines are included, and do constitute an integral part of the 
 standards of this Church. 
 
 2. Resolved, That the use of the Catechisms in the religious instruc 
 tion of the young and of the children under the care of the Church, be 
 affectionately and earnestly recommended to the Sessions in connection 
 with the General Assembly, as the most effectual means, under God, of 
 preserving the purity, peace, and unity of our Church. Minutes, 
 1832, p. 371. 
 
 14. Power of the Assembly to maJce, tc Standing Rules." 
 
 [The Presbytery of New York laid before the Assembly the following 
 paper, viz. :] 
 
 " The Presbytery took into consideration the regulations adopted by 
 the General Assembly at their last meeting, intended to embrace and 
 extend the existing rules respecting the reception of foreign Ministers 
 and Licentiates ; whereupon the Presbytery were of opinion that if the 
 General Assembly designed these regulations as a standing rule, sup 
 posing that having passed through their body, they became obligatory 
 upon the subordinate judicatories, and ought to be carried into immedi 
 ate effect, they therein violated the sixth section of the eleventh chapter 
 of our Constitution, which says, Before any overtures or regulations, 
 proposed by the Assembly to be established as standing rules, shall be 
 obligatory upon the churches, it shall be necessary to transmit them to all 
 the Presbyteries, and to receive the return of at least a majority of the 
 Presbyteries, in writing, approving thereof/ " Minutes, 1799, p. 172. 
 
 [To this the Assembly reply :] 
 
 " 1. That the first reason assigned by the Presbytery of New York for 
 their request is founded on a misinterpretation, of an ambiguous expres 
 sion in the Constitution. The sixth section of the eleventh chapter is 
 thus expressed : Before any overtures or regulations proposed by the 
 
I. OF THE CHURCH. 35 
 
 Assembly to be established as standing rules shall be obligatory on the 
 churches, it shall be necessary to transmit them to all the Presbyteries, 
 and to receive the returns of at least a majority of the Presbyteries, in 
 writing, approving thereof/ Standing rules in this section can refer 
 only to one of the following objects : 1st. To articles of the Constitution 
 which, when once established, are unalterable by the General Assembly ; 
 or 2d. To every rule or law enacted without any term of limitation ex 
 pressed in the act. The latter meaning would draw after it consequences 
 so extensive and injurious as forbid the Assembly to give the section 
 that interpretation. It would reduce this Assembly to a mere committee 
 to prepare business upon which the Presbyteries might act. It would 
 undo, with few exceptions, all the rules that have been established by 
 this Assembly since its first institution, and would prevent it forever 
 from establishing any rule not limited by the terms of the act itself. 
 Besides, standing rules, in the evident sense of the Constitution, cannot 
 be predicated of any acts made by the Assembly and repealable by it, 
 because they are limited, in their very nature, to the duration of a year, 
 if it please the Assembly to exert the power inherent in it at all times 
 to alter or annul them, and they continue to be rules only by the As 
 sembly s not using its power of repeal. The law in question is no other 
 wise a standing rule than all othgr laws repealable by this Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1799, p. 179. 
 
 SECTION 2. Or THE PARTICULAR CHURCH. 
 
 1. A " Particular Church" defined. 2. How new Congregations are to be organ 
 ized. a. Application must be made to the Presbytery. b. Order of proceeding 
 in constituting a Church. c. Covenant to be entered into. d. Ruling Elders 
 and Deacons to be elected and ordained. e. The newly formed Church to be 
 reported to Presbytery. /. In exceptional cases congregations may be formed 
 without Ruling Elders. 3. Churches not to be organized without an order of 
 Presbytery. 
 
 1. What is a particular Church? 
 
 a. "A particular Church consists of a number of professing Christians, 
 with their offspring, voluntarily associated together for divine worship 
 and godly living, agreeably to the Holy Scriptures, and submitting to a 
 certain form of government." Form of Gov. } ch. ii, sec. 4. 
 
3b I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 b. The committee to whom was recommitted the report to the last 
 Assembly on the organization of new churches, reported again, and their 
 report was read and adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 That a particular Presbyterian Church, so far as adults are concerned, 
 is constituted and organized, as such, by a number of individuals pro 
 fessing to walk together as the disciples of Jesus Christ, on the princi 
 ples of the Confession of Faith and Form of Government of the Pres 
 byterian Church, and the election and ordination of one or more ruling 
 elders, who, by the ordination service, become the spiritual rulers of the 
 persons voluntarily submitting themselves to their authority in the Lord. 
 Minutes, 1881, p. 325. 
 
 2. How new Congregations are to be organized. 
 
 a. This organization ought always to be made by application to the 
 Presbytery within the bounds of which the church to be organized is 
 found, unless this be exceedingly inconvenient, in which case it may be 
 done by a duly authorized missionary, or a neighboring minister of the 
 Gospel. 
 
 b. At the time appointed for the purpose, after prayer for divine direc 
 tion and blessing, the presiding minister, or committee appointed by the 
 Presbytery, should first receive from those persons to be organized into 
 the new church, if they have been communicants in other churches, 
 letters of dismission and recommendation j and in the next place, exa 
 mine and admit to a profession of faith, such persons as may offer them 
 selves, and may be judged suitable to be received on examination. If 
 any of these persons, admitted to a profession on examination, have not 
 been baptized, they should, in this stage of the business, be made the 
 subject of Christian baptism. 
 
 c. The individuals ascertained in the foregoing manner to be desirous 
 and prepared to associate as a church of Christ, should now, by some 
 public formal act, such as rising, joining hands, or subscribing a written 
 statement, agree and covenant to walk together in a church relation, 
 according to the acknowledged doctrines and order of the Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 d. The next step is to proceed to the election and ordination of ruling 
 elders, in conformity with the directions given on this subject in the 
 Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Deacons are to be elected and ordained in like manner as in the case 
 of ruling elders. Minutes, 1831, p. 326. 
 
I. OF THE CHURCH. 37 
 
 e. When a church has been organized in the manner already described, 
 report of the same should be made as soon as practicable to the Presby 
 tery within whose bounds it is located. And when a missionary, or 
 other minister of the Gospel, not specially appointed to the work by a 
 Presbytery, has, in the manner above specified, organized a church, not 
 within the known bounds of any Presbytery, the church thus organized 
 should as soon as practicable make known to some Presbytery, with 
 which it may be most naturally and conveniently connected, the time 
 and manner of its organization, and desire to be received under the care 
 
 O / 
 
 of said Presbytery. 
 
 In cases in which churches are to be formed within the known 
 boundaries of any Presbytery, it is most desirable that persons wishing 
 to be organized as a Presbyterian Church should petition that Presby 
 tery to receive them under its care for the purpose of organizing them 
 in due form. 
 
 There may be people in destitute portions of our land who may be 
 disposed to associate for the purpose of forming a Presbyterian congre 
 gation, when no minister of the Gospel can be obtained to aid them. 
 The forming of associations for such a purpose, in the circumstances 
 contemplated, should be considered not only as lawful, but highly com 
 mendable. And such associations when formed, should, as speedily as 
 possible, take measures for obtaining the preaching of the Gospel, and 
 for becoming organized as regular churches. Minutes, 1831, p. 326. 
 
 f. " Cases may also occur in various places, in which a collection or 
 association of people may desire the preaching of the Gospel, and be 
 willing in whole or in part to support it, and yet may not have suitable 
 men among them to sustain the office of ruling elders. Such people 
 may and ought to obtain a preacher of the Gospel to labor among them, 
 and occasionally to administer ordinances, under the direction of some 
 Presbytery, till they shall find themselves in circumstances to make 
 proper choice of ruling elders, and to have them regularly set apart to 
 their office." Minutes, 1831, p. 326-7. 
 
 3. To organize Churches belongs to the Presbytery. 
 
 The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 14, viz., "Is a 
 minister of the Gospel in our connection ex-officio authorized to organ 
 ize churches in the bounds of Presbyteries, without any previous order 
 
38 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 of Presbytery, directing such organization," made a report recommend 
 ing the following resolution, which was adopted accordingly, viz. : 
 
 Resolved, That, except in frontier and destitute settlements, where, 
 by Form of Government, chap, xv, sect. 15, it is made a part of the 
 business of Evangelists to organize churches ; and, except in cases where 
 it is exceedingly inconvenient to make application to a Presbytery, for 
 which provision is made in the act of Assembly of 1831, it is not the 
 prerogative of a minister of the Gospel to organize churches without the 
 previous action of some Presbytery directing or permitting it; since in 
 Form of Government, chap, x, sect. 8, to form new congregations is 
 enumerated among the powers of the Presbytery; and since in chap, iv, 
 of Bishops or Pastors, no mention is made of any such power being 
 lodged in the hands of an individual minister. Minutes, 1833, p. 410. 
 
 SECTION 3. MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 1. Universalists not to be admitted. Decision reaffirmed. 2. Persons refusing to 
 present their children for baptism not to be refused communion; but the expe 
 diency of receiving them to membership left to the Session. 3. Postmasters 
 officiating on the Sabbath to be excluded from communion. Decision reaf 
 firmed. 4. Owners of stage coaches which run on the Sabbath ought not to be 
 received to the communion of the Church. 5. Members to be admitted to the 
 communion of the Church. a. Only by an individual Session regularly consti 
 tuted. b. By the Session of that Church to which he will belong. c. Undue 
 haste is to be avoided. 6. Members by letter should produce a regular certificate 
 of dismission. 7. Absent members whose residence is unknown. a. Every 
 member amenable to some tribunal. b. Cannot avoid membership but by death 
 or process. c. Withdrawal irregularly from Church privileges censurable. 
 d. Absent members not to be stricken from the roll. e. But those -who wilfully 
 withdraw are to be suspended. 8. Members wishing to be released from their 
 obligations. The provisions of the book sufficient. 
 
 1. Who may be received. 
 
 a. A question from the Synod of the Carolinas was introduced as 
 follows, viz. : 
 
 " Are they who publicly profess a belief in the doctrine of the uni 
 versal and actual salvation of the whole human race, or of the fallen 
 angels, or both, through the mediation of Christ, to be admitted to the 
 sealing ordinances of the Gospel ?" 
 
I. Or THE CHURCH. 39 
 
 The Assembly determined that such persons should not be admitted. 
 Minutes, 1792, p. 60. 
 
 b. The consideration of Dr. McCorkle s letter was resumed. On the 
 proposition in the letter ; requesting a reconsideration of the sentence of 
 the General Assembly, respecting the doctrine of universal salvation, 
 passed at Carlisle in 1792, the Assembly unanimously agreed to adhere 
 to the aforesaid decision. Minutes, 1794, p. 86. 
 
 2. Persons refusing to present their Children in Baptism not to be 
 refused Communion; lut the expediency of receiving them to be 
 judged of by the Session. 
 
 The committee appointed on Overture No. 7, from the session of 
 Union Grove church, Illinois, made the following report, which was 
 adopted, viz. : 
 
 That two questions are submitted in this overture to the judgment of 
 the Assembly, viz. : 
 
 1st. Is it the duty of Church Sessions to admit to membership persons 
 who refuse to present their children to God in the ordinance of baptism ? 
 
 2d. What is the duty of the Session in case of parents, members of 
 the Church, who refuse from conscientious scruples to present their 
 children for baptism ? 
 
 For a reply to these questions, the Session are referred to the Digest, 
 part iv, chap ii, sec. 7, p. 98, where the decision of the Assembly on 
 the principle involved in both is recorded as follows : 
 
 "A letter also came, through the Committee of Overtures, from 
 Bethuel Church, Esq., inquiring whether he may be admitted to occa 
 sional communion, whilst he has scruples concerning infant baptism. 
 
 " The letter from Bethuel Church, Esq., as overtured, was read, and 
 the motion formerly made thus amended, That the Session of the 
 church of Cambridge be permitted to receive Mr. Church upon satis 
 factory evidence of his good character, his scruples notwithstanding/ 
 was taken up and agreed to." 
 
 But while it is clear, that persons otherwise of good Christian cha 
 racter, are not to be excluded from the communion of the Church, 
 because they have scruples concerning infant baptism, there is in every 
 case, where such persons apply for admission, a question as to the expe 
 diency of receiving them, upon which the Session of the Church must 
 decide. Minutes, 1834, p. 449. 
 
40 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 3. Postmasters officiating on the /Sabbath. 
 
 An appeal by Mr. Wiley, postmaster in Washington, Pennsylvania, 
 from a decision of the Synod of Pittsburg, by which it is determined 
 that Mr. Wiley s officiating as postmaster on the Sabbath day, under 
 existing circumstances, is a sufficient reason to exclude him from the 
 special privileges of the Church, was overtured and read. On motion, 
 
 Resolved, That the above decision of the Synod of Pittsburg be 
 affirmed. And it is hereby affirmed. Minutes, 1810, p. 456. 
 
 A petition signed by a number of persons in Washington, Pennsyl 
 vania, and its vicinity, praying the revision, with a view to its being 
 rescinded, of the decision of the Assembly of 1810, respecting the case 
 of Mr. Wiley, postmaster, was overtured. 
 
 Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners be not granted. Mi 
 nutes, 1812, p. 508. 
 
 4. May the Proprietor of a Stage running on the /Sabbath be received 
 
 in the Church ? 
 
 In answer to an " Overture relative to receiving a person as a member 
 of the Church, who is a proprietor in a line of stages which carries the 
 mail, and runs on the Sabbath;" the following was adopted. 
 
 Resolved, That it is the decided opinion of this Assembly, that all 
 attention to worldly concerns on the Lord s day, farther than the works 
 of necessity and mercy demand, is inconsistent both with the letter and 
 spirit of the fourth commandment ; and consequently, all engagements 
 in regard to secular occupations on the Lord s day, with a view to secure 
 worldly advantages, are to be considered inconsistent with Christian 
 character; and that those who are concerned in such engagements 
 ought not to be admitted to the communion of the Church, while they 
 continue in the same. Minutes, 1819, p. 713. 
 
 5. By whom to be admitted, &c. 
 
 The committee to whom was referred the subject involved in so much 
 of the records of the Synod of Cincinnati as relates to the admission of 
 persons to church privileges at the great meetings common in that 
 region, made the following report, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 That they have given this subject a careful consideration, and recom 
 mend the adoption of the following resolutions, viz. : 
 
I. OF THE CHURCH. 41 
 
 Resolved, 1. That the order of the churches requires that all persons 
 making a public profession of religion be introduced to the communion 
 of the Church only by an individual Session regularly constituted 
 
 Resolved, 2. That it is the right and duty of Sessions to take the ex 
 clusive oversight of their respective congregations, and that the practice 
 of one Session admitting to a Christian profession persons belonging or 
 intending to belong to a congregation under the care of another Session, 
 is irregular, and ought not to be countenanced. 
 
 Resolved, 3. That the purity and prosperity of the Church, as well 
 as the best interests of those immediately concerned, demand great cir 
 cumspection in the admission of persons to church privileges , and that 
 ordinarily it is deemed improper to receive persons immediately upon 
 their indulging a hope of reconciliation with God, and especially in the 
 case of the young, and of persons of previously immoral lives or lax 
 principles, and of those concerning whom little is known. Minutes, 
 1832, p. 373. 
 
 6. Members received by Certificate. 
 
 Nor can the Assembly forbear to regret that the Session of Chilicothe 
 had not acted in a more formal manner, in receiving Mr. McCalla, and 
 had not required a regular certificate of dismission from the church to 
 which Mr. McCalla belonged before they received him. Minutes, 1821, 
 p. 21. 
 
 7. Absent Members, whose Residence is unknown. 
 
 a. The committee appointed on the overture from the Synod of New 
 Jersey, inquiring what a church Session ought to do with members in 
 communion, who have been absent for years without having taken a 
 certificate of dismission, and whose place of residence is unknown, made 
 a report, which, being read and amended, was adopted, and is as fol 
 lows, viz. : 
 
 That although this particular case is not provided for by a specific 
 regulation in our Book of Discipline, yet it is embraced by certain 
 general principles, which are recognized in that book, and interwoven 
 with many of its provisions. These principles, together with the result, 
 bearing on the case in question, the committee beg leave most respect 
 fully to state : 
 
 1. Every church member is amenable to some appropriate tribunal, 
 
42 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 by the wisdom and fidelity of which, in case of his falling into any 
 error, immorality, or negligence, he may be dealt with according to the 
 word of God. 
 
 2. No member of a church can properly ever cease to be such but by 
 death, exclusion, a regular dismission, or an orderly withdrawing to join 
 some other Christian denomination ; and must of necessity continue to 
 be amenable to that church until he becomes regularly connected with 
 another. 
 
 3. For a church member to withdraw from a use of his privileges as 
 a member, either by irregularly connecting himself with another deno 
 mination, or by going to a distant part of the world, to reside for a 
 number of years, without making known his removal to the church Ses 
 sion, and asking a certificate either of good standing, for the purpose of 
 enjoying occasional eornmunion elsewhere, or of dismission, to join some 
 other church, is itself a censurable violation of the principles of church 
 fellowship, and may infer suspension from its privileges. 
 
 4. Church members, therefore, who have been absent for a number 
 of years in unknown places, are by no means to have their names erased 
 from the churches to which they respectively belong, but are to be held 
 responsible to their respective churches ; and if they should ever return, 
 or be heard from, are to be regularly dealt with according to the word 
 of God, and the principles of our Church ; and, although great caution 
 and tenderness ought to be exercised toward those whose withdrawing 
 from Christian privileges may be occasioned by the unavoidable dispen 
 sations of Providence, without any material fault of their own, yet in 
 all cases in which a church Session has good reason to believe that any 
 of the church under their care have absented themselves with design, 
 either from a disregard of Christian privilege, or from a wish to escape 
 from the inspection and discipline of the Church, they ought without 
 unnecessary delay to declare such persons suspended from the privileges 
 of the Church, until they give evidence of repentance and reformation; 
 and, of course, in making their statistical reports, ought to enumerate 
 such among the members under suspension. Minutes, 1825, p. 138-9. 
 
 b. The Records of the Synod of New York and New Jersey were ap 
 proved, with the exception of the action of the Synod (p. 381) in rela 
 tion to the course of the Presbytery of North River, in the case of 
 delinquent church members. Minutes, 1853, p. 323. 
 
 [The record referred to is as follows, viz. : " The Committee on the 
 Records of the Presbytery of North River, reported recommending that 
 
I. OP THE CHURCH. 43 
 
 they be approved as far as written, with the following exception, viz. : 
 On page 18, the Presbytery refused to sustain the following exception 
 to the Records of the Session of Freedom Plains, viz. : 
 
 " That several members o the church have been suspended by the 
 Session simply for having absented themselves for years, and having gone 
 beyond the knowledge of the Session without applying for certificates. 
 The Report was adopted." Minutes of the Synod of New York and New 
 Jersey. ~\ 
 
 The Rev. William Homes, in behalf of himself and forty-three other 
 commissioners, in accordance with notice given yesterday, submitted the 
 following dissent from the action of the Assembly on the report of the 
 Committee on the Records of the Synod of New York and New Jersey : 
 
 " The undersigned, acting in the fear of God, and unfeignedly regard 
 ful of the interests of the Presbyterian Church and the just rights of 
 its individual members, in the full belief that the action of the Assem 
 bly, in excepting to the Records of the Synod of New York and New 
 Jersey, was erroneous in judgment, and may prove the sanction of fu 
 ture action mischievous to the honor of the Church of Christ, involving 
 principles injurious to the interests of religion and subversive of the 
 constitutional rights of the members of the Presbyterian Church, ask 
 leave respectfully to dissent from the action above mentioned for the fol 
 lowing reasons : 
 
 " 1. It concedes to the judicatories of the Church the right to inflict 
 a judicial sentence upon members of churches, without a trial, contrary 
 to the Form of Government, in which there is no authority whatever for 
 sentence of any kind against such without a fair and impartial trial, a 
 citation and a hearing. 
 
 "2. It violates the constitutional rights of individuals, not less sacred 
 in the Church than out of it, to such trial for any alleged offence before 
 sentence of condemnation can be pronounced upon them ; reversing also 
 the principle of common law, that innocence is to be presumed of every 
 individual till proved guilty by due process of trial, he having fair op 
 portunity to explain or defend. 
 
 "3. It is mischievous to the interests of justice and the credit of 
 religion, in that it establishes the principle, that not only in the offence 
 in question, but in any and every alleged offence, a judicatory may sit in 
 judgment upon members of churches, and, without legitimate trial, 
 record sentence of suspension or excommunication. 
 
 " 4. Affording license as it does for such indiscriminate and unlimited 
 
44 I. OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 illegal action, even if the course of the lower judicatory should be de 
 fined and limited to cases where Sessions could know that members had 
 unworthily separated themselves from church association, yet sentence 
 of suspension is utterly unwarranted in such cases without a citation and 
 a hearing ; and, moreover, the difficulty in ascertaining the real facts, 
 and the possibility of committing a mistake, are so manifest, that such a 
 proceeding is to be discountenanced in all cases. 
 
 " 5. By assuming that members of churches have absented themselves 
 without good and sufficient reasons, when, in many cases, it is impossible 
 that the judicatory should know anything about it, it allows that a stigma 
 may be inflicted upon members of the Church, worthy, and in other 
 places fulfilling conspicuously their obligations as true and honorable 
 members of Christ s Church universal, and upon others who are kings 
 and priests unto God in the New Jerusalem. 
 
 " 6. Even if it be affirmed that such sentence of suspension, as is 
 sanctioned by the action from which we regret to be compelled to dis 
 sent, entails no obloquy; yet the Form of Government knows nothing 
 of a sentence of suspension from the honorable and precious privileges 
 of church membership that does not imply guilt and reproach, and fur 
 nishes no authority for a sentence of condemnation without dishonor. 
 
 " For these reasons, which seem to us to take deep hold of the founda 
 tions of justice and true religion in the Presbyterian Church, and be 
 lieving that the offence for which it is implied that sentence of suspen 
 sion may be pronounced without a trial, however, as we freely allow, it 
 is one requiring the notice of Church Sessions, is not one so offensive to 
 the honor of Christ, or destructive of the purity and edification of the 
 Church, as to justify the alarming proceeding of a departure from the 
 express enactment of our Form of Government, and an ignoring of those 
 rights guaranteed by civil and ecclesiastical law, we beg leave to dissent 
 from the action of the General Assembly, and to have these reasons 
 spread upon the minutes." Minutes, 1853, pp. 325, 326. 
 
 The Rev. Marcus Smith, Rev. E. J. Richards, Rev. J. C. Smith, and 
 Hon. William Strong, were appointed a committee to answer the fore 
 going dissent, who subsequently presented a report, which was adopted, 
 and is as follows : 
 
 " It is fully conceded and firmly maintained by the General Assembly 
 that, in all cases where an offender can be reached by citation and brought 
 to trial, it is the duty of the judicatory to which he is directly amena 
 ble, to proceed against him according to the process prescribed by the 
 Book of Discipline. 
 
I. OF THE CHURCH. 45 
 
 "But the action complained of by the dissentients relates to a very 
 different class of cases. The individuals in question have absented them 
 selves from the church with which they are connected, and after diligent 
 inquiry cannot be found. They are, therefore, beyond the reach of cita 
 tion. They cannot possibly be brought to trial. Shall the Church, in 
 such cases, be responsible for them ? As they have placed themselves 
 beyond the oversight of the Church, it is but reasonable that the Church 
 should be permitted to secure itself against any reproach which might 
 come upon it from the conduct of such absentees. 
 
 "In accordance with these principles, the Constitution of our Church 
 makes provision (Book of Discipline, chapter xi), for the case of ab 
 sent church members. It relieves the Church from the responsibility of 
 sustaining a certificate of good standing when it has run on for more 
 than one year. It implies that a church member may not absent him 
 self a longer time from the ordinances, without a forfeiture of his good 
 standing. In those cases, therefore, where individuals have absented 
 themselves for years together, and after the most diligent inquiry cannot 
 be found, it is but right that the Session of the church to which they 
 are amenable should make entry of the fact on their records, and de 
 clare such persons to have forfeited their good standing, until they return 
 and account for their absence. Such was the judgment of the Assembly 
 of 1825, with which this Assembly perfectly accords." 
 
 The Rev. S. Holmes moved a reconsideration of the action of the 
 Assembly in reference to the Records of the Synod of New York and 
 New Jersey. 
 
 The motion was lost. Minutes, 1853, p. 327. 
 
 8. Members who wish to be released from their Obligations. 
 
 The Committee on the Polity of the Church reported a paper, "ask 
 ing what shall be done with certain Church members, against whose 
 moral character no charges can be made, but who wish to be released 
 from their Church obligations. The committee recommend that such 
 cases be referred to the sound discretion of the Sessions to which such 
 persons may be answerable ; reminding the Sessions, that it is a funda 
 mental law of the Church that no person can be suspended from the 
 communion of the Church, or have any other penalty inflicted, without 
 regular citation and trial, according to the form prescribed in our Book 
 of Discipline." 
 
46 I. OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 The report was recommitted, " with instructions to report, that no 
 new order be taken in the case." Minutes, 1859, pp. 17, 18. 
 
 Subsequently, " The report of the Committee on the Case of Delin 
 quent Church Members was taken up, and it was resolved, in accordance 
 with their recommendation, that the provisions of the Book of Discipline 
 are all that is needed/ Minutes, 1859, p. 48. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 SECTION 1. DEACONS. 
 
 1. Have no juridical power. 2. Their duty consists in distributing the charities 
 of the Church to the poor. 3. To be ordained in the same manner as Ruling 
 Elders. 4. The duties of Trustees and Deacons not identical, and Ministers 
 not ex-officio members or Presidents of the Board of Trustees. 
 
 1. Deacons have no Juridical Powers. 
 
 "We need only represent unto you the ends and institution of Scrip 
 ture Deacons, and that there is no juridical power allowed them in the 
 Scriptures." Minutes, 1716, p. 42. 
 
 2. Their Duty consists in distributing the Charities of the Church to 
 
 the Poor. 
 
 The committee on Overture No. 4, viz., a reference from the Presby 
 tery of West Tennessee, requesting an answer to the two following ques 
 tions, viz., 1. What are the nature and duties of the office of deacon? 
 
 2. What is the Scriptural and appropriate mode of ordination ? made 
 the following report, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 In answer to the first inquiry, " What are the nature and duties of 
 the office of deacon ?" we reply : The answer we conceive to be expli 
 citly given in our Form of Government, chapter vi. Their duties there 
 are plainly made to consist in distributing the charities of the church to 
 which they belong, to the poor of that church. Over charities collected 
 for any other purpose than those specified, their office gives them no 
 control. In addition to this the temporalities of the church generally 
 may be committed to their care. Minutes, 1833, p. 405. 
 
48 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 3. To be ordained in the same manner as Ruling Elders. 
 
 In answer to the second inquiry, " What is the Scriptural and appro 
 priate mode of ordaining them T we reply : Our Form of Government, 
 chap, xiii, sec. 4, declares that such, whether Elder or Deacon, shall 
 be set apart to their respective offices by prayer. The imposition of 
 hands, however, we are aware, in many of our churches, is practised, 
 and, as it is plainly in accordance with apostolic example, it is the 
 opinion of the committee that it is proper and lawful. We conceive 
 that every church in this respect may with propriety be left to adopt 
 either of these two modes, as they think suitable and best. Minutes, 
 1833, p. 405. 
 
 4. The appointment of Trustees, not inconsistent with Presbyterianism ; 
 their Duties distinct from those of Deacons. Ministers are not ex- 
 officio Members or President of the Board of Trustees. 
 
 "It is not inconsistent with the Presbyterian plan of government, nor 
 the institution of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Trustees, or a committee 
 chosen by the Congregation, should have the disposal and application of 
 the public money raised by said Congregation, to the uses for which it 
 was designed ; provided that they leave in the hands and to the manage 
 ment of the Deacons, what is collected for the Lord s table, and the poor. 
 And that Ministers of the Gospel, by virtue of their office, have no 
 right to sit with or preside over such Trustees or committees." Minutes, 
 1752, p. 249. 
 
 SECTION 2. RULING ELDERS. 
 
 1. The Eldership is essential to the existence of a Presbyterian Church. 2. Elders 
 must be duly elected. 3. Mode of Election. 4. Who are electors of Ruling 
 Eiders and Deacons? a. Baptized persons only, legal voters. 6. No distinc 
 tion is to be made as to the ages of the voters. 5. The office of a Ruling Elder 
 is perpetual. Form of Government, chap, xiii, sec. 6. Election for a term of 
 years is irregular, but not invalid. 6. An Elder may resign his office. Form 
 of Government, chap, xiii, sec. 6. 7. In which case he has no seat in any 
 Church court. 8. An Elder cannot hold office in two churches at the same 
 time, nor adjudicate in a church in which he is not an Elder. 9. Elders cen 
 sured for leaving, and also for non-attendance upon Church courts. 10. An 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 49 
 
 Elder who may sit in Presbytery, may sit in Synod by the same right. 11. 
 Every church having a stated supply, entitled to be represented by an Elder. 
 
 12. A Minister with one Elder, may form a Session, if there be but one Elder. 
 
 13. Restoration to Church privileges, does not restore to office. 14. Elders are 
 not to participate in the ordination of Ministers, by the laying on of hands. 
 
 1. The Eldership essential to the Existence of a Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " The report of the Committee to Examine the Records of the Synod 
 of the Western Reserve was taken up and adopted ; and is as follows, viz. : 
 That the records be approved, with the exception of the sentiment on 
 page 154, viz., that the Eldership is not essential to the existence of 
 the Presbyterian Church. In the opinion of the committee, the Synod 
 advance a sentiment that contravenes the principles recognized in our 
 Form of Government, chap, ii, sec. 4; chap, iii, sec. 5; chap, v; 
 chap, ix, sects. 1, 2." Minutes, 1833, p. 404. 
 
 [This does not prevent the forming of congregations for religious wor 
 ship, where they " may not have suitable persons among them to sustain 
 the office of Ruling Elder." See ante, p. 37.] 
 
 2. Elders must le duly elected. 
 
 " The following inquiry was referred to the decision of the Assembly, 
 by the Synod of the Carolinas, viz. : 
 
 "In what point of light are the Elders, nominated and ordained by 
 Mr. Balch, to be viewed hereafter in Mount Bethel Congregation ? 
 
 "It was determined by the Assembly that the f Elders 7 mentioned in 
 the inquiry, are to be henceforth viewed as private Church members 
 only, unless they be duly elected and set apart as Church officers here 
 after." Minutes, 1798, p. 158. 
 
 3. Mode of Election. 
 
 " Every congregation shall elect persons to the office of ruling elder, 
 and to the office of deacon, or either of them, in the mode most approved 
 and in use in that congregation." Form of Government, chap, xiii, 
 sec. 2. 
 
 a. " And while the Assembly would recognize the undoubted right 
 of each congregation to elect their elders in the mode most approved and 
 in use among them, they would recommend that in all cases where any 
 
 4 
 
50 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 dissatisfaction appears to exist, the congregation be promptly convened 
 to decide on their future mode of election. And they are inclined to 
 believe that the spirit of our Constitution would be most fully sustained 
 by having, in all cases, a direct vote of the congregation in the appoint 
 ment of elders." Minutes, 1827, p. 215. 
 
 It. The committee on Overture No. 9, relating to an amendment in the 
 Form of Government, chap, xiii, sec. 20, reported, and their report was 
 adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " The committee to whom was referred the consideration of the Over 
 ture (No. 9) relating to an alteration of that part of the Constitution of 
 our Church which gives the right of choosing ruling elders and deacons 
 to the congregation, in the way most approved and in use in the congre 
 gation, reported, that after deliberating on the subject, they find them 
 selves unable to devise any method by which a uniformity of practice 
 can be established in this interesting concern throughout the different 
 sections of our Church, and believe that any alteration, effected in the 
 Constitution, with a view to relieve the difficulties in one section, would 
 produce difficulties in another section of the Church. The committee 
 therefore judge it inexpedient to propose any alteration, and recommend 
 that the Assembly dismiss this subject from any further consideration/ 
 Minutes, 1826, p. 187. 
 
 c. " The Assembly gave their opinion, that the Session of a church 
 has the authority to convene the congregation for all such purposes; but 
 should the Session neglect or refuse to convene the congregation, the 
 party feeling aggrieved has its remedy by application to Presbytery in 
 the form of a complaint." Minutes, 1822, p. 49. 
 
 4. Who are the Electors of Ruling Elders and Deacons? 
 
 a. The consideration of the report of the committee to which was 
 referred the appeal of Messrs. Lowerie and Kelso from the decision of 
 the Synod of Ohio, affirming the decision of the Presbytery of Miami, 
 by which decision the Presbytery had pronounced the election of Messrs. 
 Dillingham and llice to the office of ruling elders in the Second Presby 
 terian Church of Cincinnati a valid election, was resumed and finished , 
 and the report being amended and fully discussed, was adopted, and is 
 as follows, viz. : 
 
 The General Assembly, having gone fully into the consideration of 
 the appeal from the decision of the Synod of Ohio by Messrs. Lowerie 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 51 
 
 and Kelso, and having seen, with deep regret, the appearance of much 
 disorder in the whole business, which they disapprove ; believing, as 
 the Assembly do, that the election of elders should be conducted with 
 all due deliberation, according to the letter of the Constitution of the 
 Presbyterian Church, and in the spirit and temper of the Gospel, and 
 that, although the Assembly are of the opinion that it would be most 
 desirable to have the communicants only as the electors of ruling elders, 
 yet, as it appears to be the custom in some of the churches in the Pres 
 byterian connection to allow this privilege to others, they see no reason 
 why the election should be considered void, nor any reason why the 
 decision of the Synod of Ohio should not be affirmed. 
 
 Therefore Resolved, that the sentence of the Synod of Ohio be, and it 
 hereby is affirmed. Minutes, 1822, p. 49. 
 
 1. The committee on Overture No. 1, viz., the following reference 
 from the Presbytery of Steubenville : Ought an unbaptized person, who 
 yet pays his proportion for the support of a congregation, to be permitted 
 to vote for ruling elders ? made the following report, which was adopted, 
 viz.: 
 
 That, in the opinion of your committee, the office of ruling elder is an 
 office in the Church of Christ; that ruling elders, as such, according to 
 our Confession of Faith, book i, on Government, chap, v, are "the 
 representatives of the people by whom they are chosen, for the purpose 
 of exercising government and discipline," in the kingdom of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ; that the discipline lawfully exercised by them is the dis 
 cipline exercised through them by their constituents, in whose name 
 and by whose authority they act in all that they do. To suppose, there 
 fore, that an unbaptized person, not belonging to the visible kingdom of 
 the Redeemer, might vote at the election of ruling elders, would be to 
 establish the principle, that the children of this world might, through 
 their representatives, exercise discipline in the Church of God ; which 
 is manifestly unscriptural, and contrary to the standards of our Church; 
 your committee would therefore recommend, that the question in the 
 said overture be answered in the negative. Minutes, 1830, p. 284. 
 
 c. The Committee on Polity reported paper No. 4, inquiring as to the 
 right of minors to vote in the election of elders and deacons. The com 
 mittee recommend to return for answer 
 
 That it is not in accordance with the principles and usages of the 
 Presbyterian Church to distinguish between members of the Church as 
 to their ages in voting for officers of the Church. 
 
52 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 The recommendation was adopted. Minutes, 1859, p. 18. 
 
 5. The office of Ruling Elder is perpetual. Election for a term of 
 years is irregular, but not invalid. 
 
 a. " The report of the committee on Overture No. 1 was amended and 
 adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 1, a communica 
 tion from the Session of Wheatland congregation in reference to the ap 
 pointment of Freeman Edson as a commissioner to this Assembly, beg 
 leave to present the following report, viz. : 
 
 " Agreeably to the Constitution of our Church, the office of Ruling 
 Elder is perpetual (see Form of Government, chap, xiii, sec. 6), and can 
 not be laid aside by the will of the individual called to that office, nor 
 can any congregation form rules which would make it lawful for any one 
 to lay it aside. Your committee are 1 of opinion that the mode of elect 
 ing Elders in the congregation of Wheatland for a term of years was 
 irregular, and ought in future to be abandoned, but cannot invalidate the 
 ordination of persons thus elected and ordained to the office of Ruling 
 Elder. And whereas, it appears that Mr. Freeman Edson was once 
 elected to the office of Ruling Elder in the church of Wheatland, and 
 was regularly set apart to that office ; whereas, there seems to be some 
 material diversity of views between the Presbytery of Rochester and 
 the church Session to which Mr. Edson once belonged, as to the man 
 ner in which, and the principle on which, he ceased to be an acting 
 Elder in the said church, into which the Assembly have no opportunity 
 at present of regularly examining; and whereas, the Presbytery, with a 
 distinct knowledge, as is alleged, of all the circumstances attending this 
 case, gave Mr. Edson a regular commission as a Ruling Elder to this 
 General Assembly ; therefore 
 
 " Resolved, That he retain his seat as a member of the Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1835, p. 471. 
 
 b. "The overture on limiting the term of service of Ruling Elders 
 was, on motion, taken up for consideration. The report of the commit 
 tee was adopted, and is as follows : Whereas, sundry memorials have 
 been presented to the Assembly, asking fora change of the Constitution, 
 respecting the term of service in the office of Ruling Elder. 
 
 " Resolved, That while the Assembly sympathize with those churches, 
 which are more especially tried by the present rule, yet, believing that 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 53 
 
 the evils of a change would far outweigh those of the present system, 
 they are not prepared to recommend any overture on the subject/ 
 Minutes, 1849, p. 182. 
 
 c. " An overture from the Presbytery of Pennsylvania, asking t whe 
 ther the Constitution of our Church shall be so altered as to make the 
 term of office of Ruling Elder temporary in such churches as prefer it/ 
 was taken up and answered as follows : 
 
 " The Assembly do not deem it expedient, or for the edification of the 
 Church, to send down to the Presbyteries such an overture ; the most 
 obvious and natural construction of our Form of Government does not 
 contemplate a rotatory Eldership ; and while such an organization of a 
 Session is not Anti-presbyterial, yet the Assembly would discourage the 
 adoption of the principle in our Church, from respect to the plain mean 
 ing of our rule ; but nothing in this resolution is intended to disturb the 
 relations of those churches which have adopted the principle of a limited 
 period in the service of Elders." Minutes, 1852, p. 177. 
 
 6. A Ruling Elder may cease to act as such. 
 
 [See Form of Government, chap, xiii, sees. 6, 7.] 
 
 a. " A petition from the members o the Session of the Third Pres 
 byterian Church in this city, asking advice of this Synod with respect 
 to the execution of their office in consequence of the judgment of the 
 Synod respecting that church. After it was duly considered, they re 
 turned the following answer, viz. : The Synod advise them to continue 
 to act as elders, but in case they cannot, consistently with what they 
 apprehend to be their duty, continue as such, and act upon the decisions 
 of Synod, that they may resign their office, and the congregation pro 
 ceed to choose other elders, who may have freedom to act according to 
 the determinations of the Synod." Minutes, 1772, p. 435. 
 
 &. "The Assembly earnestly recommend to the whole Session, in 
 cluding the majority and the minority, in view of the state of the Fifth 
 Church, to take the constitutional steps, and cease from acting as Ruling 
 Elders in that congregation, and that the entire church take immediate 
 measures to elect a new bench of Elders, with a view to promote the 
 peace of the church, and to secure the permanent settlement of the 
 Gospel ministry among them. And further, that it be recommended to 
 the persons so elected not to accept the office unless they shall obtain the 
 
54 IT. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 suffrages of at least two-thirds of the electors participating in the elec 
 tion." Minutes, 1834, p. 453. 
 
 7. A Ruling Elder without Office lias no Seat in a Church Court. 
 
 " Resolved, That no Ruling Elder who has retired from the active 
 exercise of his office in the church to which he belongs, can be admit 
 ted as a member of a Presbytery, Synod, or General Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1835, p. 489. 
 
 8. An Elder cannot hold Office in two Churches at the same time. 
 
 a. "The Judicial Committee reported that, by permission of the Assem 
 bly, a complaint was presented to them by the Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, 
 in behalf of a minority, against a decision of the Synod of Philadelphia,* 
 recorded on the Synod book, page 168, by which complaint the following 
 question is presented for the decision of the Assembly, viz. : 
 
 " Is it consistent with the Constitution of this Church for the same 
 individual to hold the office of Ruling Elder in two different churches 
 at the same time ? 
 
 " The complainants were heard in support of their complaint ; the 
 Synod was heard in defence of their decision, and the complainants con 
 cluded with a reply : 
 
 " When it was resolved by the Assembly, that the decision of the 
 Synod be affirmed, and the complaint dismissed/ Minutes, 1827, p. 
 204. 
 
 Nor Adjudicate in a Church of which he is not an Elder. 
 
 I. " Overture No. 14, viz., the following question from, the Presby 
 tery of Salem : Has a Ruling Elder in any case a legal right to adju 
 dicate in another church than that of which he is an Elder V was taken 
 up and decided in the negative." Minutes, 1831, p. 324. 
 
 9. Elders Censured for leaving without Permission, and Sessions 
 directed to defray Expenses. 
 
 a. " Upon calling the roll, it being found that many of the Elders 
 have gone home without leaving any reason for their doing so, the Synod 
 
 * The Synod having rejected a resolution declaring it lawful for an elder to exer 
 cise the office in two different congregations. 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 55 
 
 do order that sucli Elders as do withdraw from the Synod without leave, 
 shall be left to the censure of their Sessions, and report made thereof to 
 the next Synod. And the Synod do recommend it to the several con 
 gregations to defray the necessary charges that their Elders be at during 
 their attendance upon the Synod." Minutes, 1735, p. 117. 
 
 I. Whereas, the Synod is deeply affected that the judicatures of the 
 Church are so exceedingly neglected, both by ministers and elders, es 
 pecially the latter, and taking this matter into serious consideration, and 
 apprehending that one reason of this non-attendance, particularly on the 
 sessions of Synod, arises from the congregations making no provision 
 for defraying the expenses of ministers and elders, do therefore request 
 the Presbyteries to direct their members to recommend it to their 
 respective congregations to make contributions for this purpose ; and the 
 Synod do further request that the Presbyteries take every proper mea 
 sure to excite their members to attend upon this judicature. Minutes, 
 1781, p. 491. 
 
 10. Elders have the same Right to sit in Synod as in Presbytery. 
 
 The committee also overtured this question : Has an elder, whom 
 the discipline of our Church authorizes to sit as a member in Presbytery 
 from a vacant congregation, or united congregations, a right by that dis 
 cipline to sit in Synod as a representative of such congregation or con 
 gregations ? 
 
 The vote being taken, the question was determined in the affirmative. 
 Minutes, 1808, p. 403. 
 
 11. Every Church, having a Stated Supply, is entitled to le represented 
 in Presbytery or Synod l>y a Ruling Elder. 
 
 The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported Overture No. 2, from 
 the Synod of West Pennsylvania, "On Stated Supplies and Vacant 
 Congregations," in the form following : 
 
 " When a minister is at the same time pastor of one church, and acts 
 as the stated supply of another church, has each of said churches a right 
 to be represented by its own elder at the same meeting of Presbytery or 
 Synod ? Or does this case come under the rule, chap, x, sec. 4, p. 368, 
 of Form of Government ?" They recommend that the following answer 
 be returned, viz. : " That churches, having stated supplies only, are not 
 such churches as are contemplated in the article referred to, and have a 
 
56 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 right of representation according to the principles of the Form of Go 
 vernment, chap, x, sec. 5." 
 
 The report was adopted. Minutes, 1851, p. 15. 
 
 12. A. Minister, with one Elder, may form a Session, if there be but 
 
 one Elder. 
 
 The question, " Can a minister, with one elder, form a Session capa 
 ble of transacting judicial business T is sufficiently answered in the 
 Constitution, Form of Government, chap, ix, sec. 2, where it seems to 
 be implied that cases may occur with infant or feeble churches in which 
 it would be impracticable, for a time, to have more than one elder, and 
 yet be necessary to perform acts of a judicial character. For such the 
 Constitution provides ; but if there be more than one elder, then two at 
 least, with a minister, are necessary to form a Session. Minutes, 1836, 
 p. 263. 
 
 13. When an Elder has been suspended from CJiurch privileges and 
 
 restored, he is not thereby restored to Office. 
 
 " When an elder has been suspended from Church privileges, for an 
 offence, and again restored to the privileges of the Church, is he also 
 restored to his office as a ruling elder?" should be answered in the 
 negative. The two things are distinct ; and since an elder, as well as a 
 minister, may be suspended from his office, and not from the communion 
 of the Church, so there may be reasons for continuing his suspension 
 from his office after he is restored to the privileges of the Church. He 
 cannot be restored to the functions of his office without a special and 
 express act of the Session for that purpose, with the acquiescence of the 
 church. Minutes, 1836, p. 263. 
 
 14. Elders not to Participate in the Ordination of Ministers by the 
 
 laying on of Hands. 
 
 The Committee on the Polity of the Church reported an answer to the 
 inquiry, " Ought the eldership to participate in the ordination of minis 
 ters by laying on of hands?" as follows : 
 
 It is a recognized principle of our Church polity, in accordance as we 
 believe, with Apostolic teaching, that bishops, ministers, and elders, 
 constitute but one grade or rank of officers in the Christian Church ; 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 57 
 
 and hence that in all our Church judicatories they have equal rights 
 and powers. In all the judicial business of the Church, all are Pres 
 byters alike. (See Form of Gov., chap, ix, sees. 1, 2,4; chap, x, 
 sees. .2 to 7; chap, xi, sees. 1, 2; and chap, xii, sec. 2.) Still it can 
 not be denied that in the Bible a distinction is recognized between those 
 Presbyters who rule only, and those who both rule and preach. In the 
 practice of the Presbyterian Church in all its branches, this distinction 
 has become very marked. Some are set apart expressly to preach the 
 Gospel, and to administer the ordinances of God s house. They are 
 Presbyters in common with others; but as ministers of Christ, they have 
 functions and rights peculiar to themselves, and are required to possess 
 peculiar qualifications. In the ordination of ministers, your committee 
 believe there are two distinct things to be done : 1st. The examination 
 and approval of the candidate. In this all the members of the Presby 
 tery participate alike ; and 2d. The formal act of induction into office, 
 in which, by almost universal consent, as we suppose, only ministers 
 officiate. It is true our Form of Government, chap, xv, sec. 14, speaks 
 of the whole Presbytery as laying on hands, and giving the right hand 
 of fellowship. But every statute should be construed consistently with 
 itself, and with general usage under the statute. Your committee 
 would suggest, that the act of induction is ministerial, not judicial. 
 And, as in respect to baptism, the elders, jointly with the pastor, deter 
 mine who shall be admitted to this ordinance; yet the pastor only 
 administers it; so in ordination the whole Presbytery determine the 
 fitness of the candidate, but only the ministers present induct into office. 
 This, we believe, has been the universal practice under this rule ; and 
 that this usage was intended by the framers of the book seems probable 
 from the fact that, in the form of induction, those aiding in the service 
 are directed to extend to the new minister their right hands, saying, 
 " We give you the right hand of fellowship to take part of this ministry 
 with us." This language manifestly implies, that those thus welcoming 
 him do themselves occupy places in that ministry to which they welcome 
 him. The committee therefore recommend, that the question be an 
 swered in the negative. The report was adopted. Minutes, 1860, p. 
 243. 
 
 SECTION 3. PASTORS. 
 
 1. Mode of proceeding to elect a Pastor. The Session to judge of the readiness 
 of the Congregation to elect. To procure a settlement as speedily as possible. 
 
58 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 If remiss after being requested, a complaint to Presbytery will lie. The 
 Presbytery lias full cognizance of the proceedings to avoid undue delay or haste. 
 2. Electors. None may vote for a Pastor but those who contribute to his sup 
 port; and a major vote determines. 3. Case of a Pastorate by prescription. 
 4. Dissolution of the Pastoral relation; mode of proceeding. 5. To remove 
 without consent of Presbytery, censurable. G. Pastoral faithfulness enjoined, in 
 visiting and in lecturing. 7. Catechetical instruction enjoined. S. Stated sup 
 plies have no Pastoral relation. 
 
 1. Order of Proceeding in the Election of a Pastor. 
 
 u The business left unfinished in the morning was resumed, and, after 
 a full discussion of the subject, the motion to sustain the appeal of the 
 Session of the Third Presbyterian Church in this city from the decision 
 of the Synod of Philadelphia, affirming a decision of the Presbytery of 
 Philadelphia, by which the Presbytery directed the said Session, within 
 twenty days from the date of their decision, or after the final determi 
 nation of the case, to convene the congregation for the purpose of elect 
 ing a Pastor, was determined in the affirmative; and Dr. Green, Dr. 
 Neill, and Mr. Richards were appointed a committee to prepare a minute, 
 stating the principles on which the Assembly sustained the appeal. 
 
 " The committee appointed to prepare a statement of the principles 
 and grounds upon which the Assembly sustained the appeal of the Ses 
 sion of the Third Presbyterian Church in this city reported, and their 
 report being read and amended, was adopted in the words following, 
 viz. : 
 
 "That both to prevent misapprehension and to aid the congregations 
 and judicatures of this Church in deciding on any similar cases that 
 may arise, the Assembly therefore declare, 
 
 " I. That in vacant congregations which are fully organized, the Ses 
 sion of each Congregation are to determine, under their responsibility to 
 the higher judicatures, when the Congregation are prepared to elect a 
 Pastor, as directed in the Form of Government of this Church, chap, 
 xiv, sec. 1. 
 
 t{ II. That it is the duty of the Session when a Congregation is vacant, 
 to use their best endeavors to promote the settlement of a Pastor in the 
 same, in the speediest manner possible, consistently with the peace, order, 
 and edification of the Congregation; and it is the privilege of the 
 people, or of any portion of them, to complain to the Presbytery when 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 59 
 
 they think that the Session, after being suitably requested, neglect, or 
 refuse to convene the Congregation to elect a Pastor. 
 
 " III. That it belongs to the Presbyteries to take cognizance of the 
 proceedings of Sessions and Congregations in the important concern of 
 settling Pastors, and to adopt the most effectual measures on the one 
 hand to prevent all undue delay by the Session, or the people, and on 
 the other, to prevent all precipitancy in the settlement of any Minister, 
 or the adoption of any system of proceedings in the Congregation incon 
 sistent with the real and permanent edification of the people. 
 
 " IV. That by the due and discreet observance of these principles by 
 all concerned, it will be found, that so far from the Session of a Congre 
 gation having it in their power to deprive a majority of a Congregation 
 of their right to make an election of a Pastor, when sought in an orderly 
 and Christian manner, or to keep a Congregation unsettled for an inde 
 finite length of time, the rights of the people will be most effectually 
 secured, and their precious and inalienable privilege of choosing their 
 own Pastor will be exercised by them in the shortest period which their 
 own real benefit will permit. 
 
 " V. That the conviction of this Assembly, that the foregoing ob 
 vious and constitutional principles had not been duly adhered to in the 
 case before them ; that the Congregation had not proceeded with a suit 
 able respect to the Session, and that the Presbytery did not adopt the 
 most suitable measure when they advised and directed the Session to 
 convene the Congregation in twenty days, has led the Assembly to sus 
 tain this appeal as the measure most constitutional, best calculated on 
 the whole to do justice to all the parties concerned, and to point the way 
 to the most speedy settlement of the unhappy differences and disorders 
 which have so long existed in the particular Congregation immediately 
 concerned." Minutes, 1814, p. 559-560. 
 
 2. Who may Vote in the Election of a Pastor. 
 
 " Agreed, that none shall be allowed to vote for the calling of a Mi 
 nister, but those that shall contribute for the maintenance of him, and 
 that the major vote of these shall be determinative." Minutes, 1711, 
 p. 24. 
 
 " In this election no person shall be entitled to vote, who refuses to 
 submit to the censures of the Church regularly administered ; or who 
 does not contribute his just proportion, according to his own engage- 
 
60 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 ments, or the rules of that Congregation, to its necessary expenses." 
 Form of Government, chap, xv, sec. 4. 
 
 3. A Pastoral Relation allowed where no Instalment had occurred. 
 
 " It appears evident to this Synod, that Mr. Tennent having in all 
 respects acted, and been esteemed and looked upon, not only by this 
 Synod, but also by the Congregation of Neshaminy, and particularly by 
 the appellants themselves, as the Minister and Pastor of the people of 
 Neshaminy, that he is still to be esteemed as the Pastor of that people, 
 notwithstanding the want of a formal instalment among them ; which 
 omission, though the Synod doth not justify, yet it is far from nullifying 
 the pastoral relation between Mr. Tennent and said people." Minutes, 
 1736, p. 127. 
 
 4. The Translation of a Pastor. 
 
 a. Amendment to chap, xvi, sec. 2, of Form of Government. Strike 
 out together with a written citation to him, and insert if the parties be 
 not prepared to have the matter issued at that Presbytery, a written 
 citation shall be given to the Minister. Minutes, 1804, p. 305. 
 
 Note by the Assembly. " This amendment [adopted 1805, p. 333], 
 is intended to provide that consent of parties shall shorten the constitu 
 tional process for translating a Minister." Minutes, 1804, foot of p. 305. 
 
 b. The committee on overture, viz. : " Is it contrary to chap, xvii 
 of the Form of Government for a Presbytery to dissolve the connection 
 between a Minister and his congregation at the time when he presents 
 his request for its dissolution, and the congregation joins issue by com 
 missioners duly appointed for that purpose ?" made the following report, 
 which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That it is not expedient for this Assembly to give a de 
 cided answer to the question, but to leave every Presbytery to act accord 
 ing to their own discretion in the premises." Minutes, 1832, p. 373. 
 
 5. Removal without Consent of Presbytery censurable. 
 
 a. " The Presbytery of East Jersey having reported that Mr. John 
 Cross has, without the concurrence of Presbytery, removed from one 
 congregation to another, the Synod do declare that the conduct of such 
 Ministers that do neglect attendance upon the meetings of the Presby- 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 61 
 
 tery without necessity, or that take charge of any congregation without 
 the Presbytery s concurrence, to be disorderly, and justly worthy of 
 Presbyterial censure, and do admonish said Mr. Cross to be no further 
 chargeable with such irregularities for the future." Minutes, 1735, p. 
 115. 
 
 It. "The Synod having deliberately considered the affair of Mr. Ali 
 son s removal to Philadelphia, judge that the method he used is con 
 trary to the Presbyterian plan. Yet considering that the circumstances 
 which urged him to take the method he used were very pressing, and 
 that it was indeed almost impracticable to him to apply for the consent 
 of Presbytery or Synod, in the orderly way, and further, being persuaded 
 that Mr. Alison s being employed in such a station in the Academy, has 
 a favorable aspect in several respects, and a very probable tendency not 
 only to promote the good of the public, but also of the Church ; as he 
 may be serviceable to the interests thereof in teaching philosophy and 
 divinity, as far as his obligations to the Academy will permit, we judge 
 that his proceedings in said affair are in a great measure excusable. 
 Withal the Synod advises, that for the future its members be very cau 
 tious, and guard against such proceedings as are contrary to our known 
 approved methods in such cases." Minutes, 1752, p. 206. 
 
 6. Pastoral Faithfulness enjoined in Visiting and Lecturing. 
 
 a. Upon an overture to Synod, in pursuance of an order of the com 
 mittee to that purpose, viz., to use some proper means to revive the de 
 clining power of godliness, the Synod do earnestly recommend it to all 
 our ministers and members, to take particular care about ministerial visit 
 ing of families, and press family and secret worship, according to the 
 Westminster Directory, and that they also recommend it to every Pres 
 bytery at proper seasons to inquire concerning the diligence of each of 
 their members in such particulars. Minutes. 1733, p. 105. 
 
 b. " That in the discharge of pastoral duties they take the utmost 
 care that the word of God be known and understood by the people, and 
 that for this purpose, in their public instructions, the practice of lectur 
 ing on certain portions of Holy Scripture be not laid aside, but rather 
 revived and increased; that they endeavor, where it is prudent and 
 practicable, to institute private societies for reading, prayer, and pious 
 conversation; above all, that they be faithful in the duties of family visita- 
 
62 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 tion and catechetical instruction of children and youth." Minutes, 
 1799, p. 182. 
 
 7. Catechetical Instruction enjoined. 
 
 The following resolutions on the subject of catechetical instruction 
 were unanimously adopted, viz. : 
 
 "1. Resolved, That this General Assembly consider the practice of 
 catechetical instruction as well adapted to the prosperity and purity of 
 our Zion. 
 
 "2. Resolved, That this Assembly view also with deep regret the 
 neglect, on the part of many of our churches, of this good old practice 
 of our fathers ; a practice which has been attended with such blessed 
 results to the cause of pure and undefiled religion. 
 
 "3. Resolved, That the institution of Sabbath Schools does not exo 
 nerate ministers and parents from the duty of teaching the Shorter Cate 
 chism to the children of the Church. 
 
 " 4. Resolved, That this Assembly earnestly and affectionately recom 
 mend to all the Ministers and Killing Elders in its connection to teach 
 diligently the young of their respective congregations the Assembly s 
 Shorter Catechism." Minutes, 1849, p. 181. 
 
 8. Stated Supplies have no Pastoral Relation. 
 
 a. The committee on Overture No. 9, viz., a memorial from East Hano 
 ver Presbytery on inefficiency in the ministry, made the following report, 
 which was adopted, viz. : .... 3. That it be enjoined on all the Pres 
 byteries to take such measures as they may deem expedient for forming 
 the pastoral relation, in a regular manner, in all cases where churches 
 are now served by stated supplies, unless there be special reasons to the 
 contrary, of which reasons the Presbytery is required to judge, and to 
 make their judgment matter of record on their minutes. Minutes, 1834, 
 p. 450. 
 
 b. The committee to whom was referred the complaint of the minority 
 of the Session of the First Presbyterian Church in New Orleans, re 
 ported the following minute, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 Resolved, That as Mr. Clapp was merely a stated supply of the church 
 in New Orleans, the Presbytery of Mississippi had a right, and it was 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 63 
 
 their duty, under existing circumstances, to adopt measures to detach 
 him from said congregation. Minutes, 183 1, p. 340. 
 
 c. Churches having stated supplies only are not such churches as are 
 contemplated in chap, x, sec. 4, Form of Government, and have a right 
 of representation according to the principles of the Form of Government, 
 chap, x, sec. 5. Minutes, 1851, p. 15. 
 
 d. " The pastoral office should be more and more highly appreciated, 
 practically honored, and mainly promoted, in all our judicatories and 
 churches, as the ordinary, the permanent, and the incomparable way of 
 the Lord, in promoting his own cause, and in educating his people for 
 Heaven." Minutes, 1840, p. 17. 
 
 SECTION 4. MINISTERS WITHOUT CHARGE. 
 
 1. Ministers without charge have a right to sit in Church Courts. 2. A minister 
 cannot cease to be such but by deposition ; but if providentially incapacitated, 
 he is still held to possess the ministerial character and privileges, and is under 
 the inspection of his Presbytery. If, through a worldly spirit, or any other 
 criminal motive, he lay aside his office, Presbytery is to endeavor to bring him 
 to duty ; and failing of this, at length to exclude him from office. When minis 
 ters have withdrawn wholly or in part from the work of the ministry, Presbytery 
 is to require and record the reasons, with its approbation or disapprobation. 3. 
 Demission of the ministry allowed in the case of Robert Laing; also of Wm. 
 Woodhull. Case of Joseph Montgomery, leave refused by the Assembly. 4. 
 On holding civil office; deliverance upon the subject. 5. Office of chaplain in 
 the army allowed. 6. An ordination to a chaplaincy is not sine titulo. 7. A 
 chaplain may not at the same time be pastor of a church. 8. Office of chaplain 
 in the navy approved of. 
 
 1. Have a Seat in Church Courts. 
 
 a. The committee to which was referred the overture from the Pres 
 bytery of Baltimore, in the following words, viz., " Are ministers with 
 out charges constituent members of our Church judicatures, and have 
 they an equal voice with settled pastors and ruling elders of congregations 
 in ecclesiastical governments ?" reported, and their report being read 
 and amended, was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " In the judgment of this Assembly, this question is answered affirma 
 tively, chap. ix ; sec. 2, of the Form of Government of the Presbyterian 
 
64 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Church, in these words : A Presbytery consists of all the ministers and 
 one ruling elder from each congregation within a certain district. " 
 Minutes, 1816, p. 615. 
 
 The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 9, relative to the 
 right of ministers without charge to a seat in our judicatories, made 
 their report, which, after some discussion, was referred to a committee 
 consisting of Dr. Blythe, Dr. Hoge, Mr. Montfort, Mr. Elliot, and Mr. 
 A. 0. Patterson, to take the subject into consideration, and report to 
 the next General Assembly. Minutes, 1835, p. 492. 
 
 The report of the committee on the rights of ministers without charges 
 to a seat in the judicatories of the Church, was taken up, and indefi 
 nitely postponed. Minutes, 1836, p. 294. 
 
 2. Who Withdraw from the Discharge of the Duties of the Ministry, 
 how regarded and dealt with. 
 
 By a report of the Presbytery of Lewes, it appeared that a minister, 
 heretofore a member of that Presbytery, had been declared to be no 
 longer a member thereof, and, as the Assembly were informed, is con 
 sidered by them as divested of the ministerial office, and this without 
 deposition, suspension, or censure ; wherefore 
 
 Resolved, That it is a principle of this Church, that no minister of 
 the Gospel can be regularly divested of his office, except by a course of 
 discipline, terminating in his deposition. 
 
 That if any minister, by providential circumstances, become incapa 
 ble of exercising his ministerial functions, or is called to suspend them, 
 or to exercise them only occasionally, he is still to be considered as pos 
 sessing the ministerial character and privileges; and his brethren of the 
 Presbytery are to inspect his conduct; and while they treat him with 
 due tenderness and sympathy, they are to be careful that he do not 
 neglect his ministerial duty beyond what his circumstances render un 
 avoidable. 
 
 That if any minister of the Gospel, through a worldly spirit, a dis 
 relish for the duties of his office, or any other criminal motive, become 
 negligent or careless, he is by no means to be suffered to pursue this 
 course, so as at length to be permitted to lay aside the ministry, without 
 censure ; because this would be to encourage a disregard of the most 
 solemn obligations, by opening a way to escape from them with impunity. 
 
 But in all such cases, Presbyteries are seasonably to use the means 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 65 
 
 and pursue the methods pointed out in the word of God and the rules 
 of this Church, to recall their offending brother to a sense of duty; and 
 if all their endeavors be ineffectual, they are at length regularly to ex 
 clude or depose him from his office. 
 
 If any cases or questions, relative to this subject, arise in Presbyteries, 
 which are not contemplated by the provisions of this rule, such cases or 
 questions should be referred to the General Assembly for a special 
 decision. Minutes, 1802, pp. 258, 259. 
 
 Resolved, That when ministers have withdrawn, or may hereafter 
 withdraw, wholly or in part, from the work of the ministry, it be en 
 joined upon the Presbyteries to which they belong to require of such 
 ministers their reasons for so doing; which reasons are to be put upon 
 record by the Presbytery, with an expression of their approbation or dis 
 approbation of the same. Minutes, 1834, p. 450. 
 
 Resolved, That the constitutional remedy of these evils is in the {lands 
 of the Presbyteries, to whom it belongs to ordain, instal, remove, and 
 judge ministers (see Form of Government, chap, x, sec. 8), and whose 
 duty it is to inspect the fidelity of those whom they have solemnly set 
 apart to the work of the ministry by the imposition of hands. Minutes, 
 1834, p. 450. 
 
 3. Allowed to demit the exercise of the Ministry, for cause assigned. 
 
 a. There being from time to time complaints of the weakness and 
 deficiency of Mr. Robert Laing, rendering his exercise of the ministerial 
 function a detriment to the interest of religion, and rather a scandal 
 than a help to the Gospel; the Synod advised him to demit the whole* 
 exercise of the ministry, and not to take it up again, but by the appro 
 bation of at least three ministers of the Presbytery wbere-in he may 
 reside. The said Mr. Laing did quietly and humbly acquiesce in the 
 aforesaid advice. Minutes, 1726, p. 84. 
 
 1). " The Presbytery of New York report, that the Rev. Mr. William 
 "Woodhull, one of their members, appeared before them at their last- 
 meeting, and stated to them his situation, as being still incapable of ex 
 ercising his ministry by his continued indisposition, and the little or 
 rather no probability of his ever being able to attempt the exercise of it 
 in future ; and that he was at the same time engaged, in certain secular 
 employments that would seem to render it improper to have his name 
 in their records as a member, while he is incapable of attending their 
 
 5 
 
66 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 meetings or discharging any of the great duties of his ministry j and 
 therefore submits to them the propriety of their continuing and consider 
 ing him as a member from time to time ; and that the Presbytery, on 
 considering his situation, thought it best to leave his name out of their 
 records in future, till he shall be able to return to the exercise of his 
 ministry an event that would give them great pleasure. 
 
 "The Synod considered the above report, and are of opinion that 
 Mr. Woodhull ought to be continued a member of the Presbytery of 
 New York, and therefore direct that Presbytery to insert his name in 
 their roll." Minutes, 1783, p. 497, 498. 
 
 c. [The Presbytery of New Castle reported], " that in consequence of 
 Mr. Joseph Montgomery s having informed them that, through bodily 
 indisposition, he was incapable of officiating in the ministry, and having 
 also accepted an office under the civil authority, they have left his name 
 out of their records." 
 
 " The Synod disapprove of the conduct of the Presbytery of New 
 Castle, in striking the name of Mr. Montgomery off their roll, for the 
 reasons given in their report, neither of which, nor both together, seem 
 to be sufficient ; and in future recommend to all Presbyteries, when any 
 ministers under their inspection resign their charge, or discontinue the 
 exercise of their office while they remain in the same bounds, to pass 
 a regular judgment on the reasons given for such conduct; and 
 continue their inspection of those who shall not have deserved to be 
 deprived of the ministerial character, though they may be laid aside 
 from immediate usefulness. 7 Minutes, 1785, pp. 507, 510. 
 
 d. [The Committee on Church Polity reported Overture No. 4, from 
 the Presbytery of Portage, asking advice as to the case of a minister, 
 "who, though charged with no disciplinable offence, had forsaken the 
 ministry for ten or more years, had regularly and permanently engaged 
 in secular employment, had become a private member of the Church, 
 and had no design of again acting as a minister of the Gospel, and who 
 on this ground had requested his Presbytery to strike his name from the 
 roll of members." 
 
 The committee recommended, a that the Presbytery be directed to 
 -strike his namfe from the roll, without implying any censure or any im 
 putation on his Christian character/ ] 
 
 " The action recommended by the Committee on the Polity of the 
 Church was not adopted." Minutes, 1852, p. 177. 
 
 .e. " The Assembly resumed the consideration of the report of the 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 67 
 
 special committee [Edwin F. Hatfield, D.D., Henry B. Smith, D.D., 
 and Walter S. Griffith, Esq.] on the Demission of the Ministry. After 
 considerable discussion, the report was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "The committee to whom was referred, by the last General Assem 
 bly, an Overture from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Third, on the 
 1 Voluntary Demission of the Ministry, respectfully submit the follow 
 ing report : 
 
 " The Constitution of our Church, it is well known, provides for the 
 deposition of the unworthy, by due process of discipline; but seems 
 not to have anticipated that any other class would require to be sepa 
 rated from the responsibilities of an office so high and so sacred. It 
 nowhere contemplates the dismission of the members of the Church to 
 the world, nor the return of the ministry, at their own instance, to the 
 mere secularities of every-day life. 
 
 " Such is the view that has been taken of our standards from the be 
 ginning. Neither the old Synod of New York and Philadelphia, nor 
 any of our General Assemblies, has ventured to give any different inter 
 pretation. The Assembly of 1802, on the occasion of the exercise, by 
 the Presbytery of Lewes, of the prerogative of divesting one of their 
 ministers of his office, without deposition, suspension, or censure, passed 
 the following resolution: 
 
 Ui Resolved j That it is a principle of this Church, that no minister 
 of the Gospel can be regularly divested of his office except by a course 
 of discipline terminating in his deposition. That, if any minister, by 
 providential circumstances, become incapable of exercising his ministe 
 rial functions, or is called to suspend them, or to exercise them only 
 occasionally, he is still to be considered as possessing the ministerial 
 character and privileges ; and his brethren of the Presbytery are to in 
 spect his conduct ; and, while they treat him with due tenderness and 
 sympathy, they are to be careful that he do not neglect his ministerial 
 duties beyond what his circumstances render unavoidable. 
 
 "The office is to be retained; but, for sufficient reason, the exercise 
 of the office may be discontinued in whole or in part. Such was the 
 judgment of the Synod of 1726, in the case of Mr. Robert Laing, who, 
 by reason of the complaints of his weakness and deficiency/ brought 
 against him, l rendering his exercise of the ministerial function a detri 
 ment to the interests of religion, and rather a scandal than a help to the 
 Gospel/ advised him to demit the whole exercise of the ministry, and 
 
68 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 not to take it up again, but by the approbation of at least three minis 
 ters of the Presbytery wherein he may reside. 
 
 " Similar was the judgment of the Synod of 1783, in the case of Mr. 
 William Woodhull, who had represented to the Presbytery of New York, 
 of which he was a member, ( his situation as being still incapable of ex 
 ercising his ministry by his continued indisposition ; and the little, or 
 rather no, probability of his ever being able to attempt the exercise of 
 it in future ; and that he was at the same time engaged in certain secu 
 lar employments that would seem to render it improper to have his 
 name in their records as a member/ The Synod judged, l that Mr. 
 Woodhull ought to be continued a member of the Presbytery of New 
 York/ " 
 
 Two years afterwards, in the case of Mr. Joseph Montgomery of the 
 Presbytery of New Castle, whose name had been dropped from the roll 
 of the Presbytery, at his own instance, on account of indisposition of 
 body, and the acceptance of " an office under the civil authority/ the 
 Synod expressed their disapprobation of the measure, and recommended 
 " to all Presbyteries, when any ministers under their inspection resign 
 their charge, or discontinue the exercise of their office while they remain 
 in the same bounds, to pass a regular judgment on the reasons given for 
 such conduct, and continue their inspection of those who shall not have 
 deserved to be deprived of the ministerial character, though they may 
 be laid aside from immediate usefulness." 
 
 Thus uniformly has the doctrine been maintained by the ecclesiastical 
 authorities of our Church, " that no minister of the Gospel can be regu 
 larly divested of his office except by a course of discipline terminating in 
 his deposition." The Assembly of 1852 took the same ground, or at 
 least refused to take ground to the contrary. In the case of a member 
 of the Presbytery of Portage, " who, though chargeable with no discip- 
 linable offence, had forsaken the ministry for ten or more years, had 
 regularly and permanently engaged in secular employments, had become 
 a private member of the Church, and had no design of again acting as 
 a minister of the Gospel, and who, on this ground, had requested his 
 Presbytery to strike his name from the roll of members," the Presbytery 
 took the position, " that presbyterial law contemplates the ministerial 
 office as permanent, ceasing not but by death or deposition " yet they 
 referred the case to the wisdom of the General Assembly. And the 
 Assembly of 1852, although the Committee on the Polity of the Church 
 recommended " that the Presbytery be directed to strike his name from 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 69 
 
 the roll, without implying any censure or any imputation upon his Chris 
 tian character/ refused to adopt the recommendation ; thereby confirm 
 ing the position taken by the Presbytery, and conforming their action to 
 the uniform decisions of the highest ecclesiastical authorities of our 
 Church from the beginning. 
 
 It is true that, in common with most of the evangelical denomina 
 tions, we maintain that ordination is but a ceremony an outward sign 
 a public recognition on the part of the ordainers of the fitness of him 
 who is ordained for the office to which he is set apart, it does not im 
 press a character or impart a fitness not previously possessed. But, in 
 the case of a minister of the Gospel, it recognizes the fact that the man 
 has consecrated himself to this high and holy calling; has, by irrevoca 
 ble vows, set himself apart from merely secular pursuits to the service 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ in the ministry. From these vows the Church 
 has received no dispensation to release him; and, therefore, has ever 
 disclaimed the power and right, even in the exercise of discipline. 
 
 So long, therefore, as it is in the power of the minister, he is to exer 
 cise his gifts and graces in this particular calling. He is under cove 
 nant, both to Christ and to the Church, thus to serve God. He may not, 
 without breach of covenant, abandon, merely at his own instance, the 
 ministerial for a secular calling. If the providence of God puts it out 
 of his power, evidently and unmistakably, to pursue his ministerial work, 
 it becomes his duty to Iriny his case before his brethren of the Presby 
 tery, and submit it to their decision. If any minister neglects this ob 
 vious duty, and of his own accord devotes himself to secular pursuits, 
 his Presbytery are to investigate the case, and pass judgment upon it. 
 Such was the judgment of the General Assembly of 1834. 
 
 "When ministers have withdrawn," they say, "or may hereafter 
 withdraw, wholly or in part, from the work of the ministry, it is en 
 joined upon the Presbyteries to which they belong to require of such 
 ministers their reasons for so doing ; which reasons are to be put upon 
 record by the Presbytery, with an expression of their approbation or 
 disapprobation of the same." 
 
 In like manner, also, the Assembly of 1802, in order, very properly, 
 to guard against the practical demission of the office, determined and 
 directed, " that if any minister of the Gospel, through a worldly spirit, 
 a disrelish for the duties of his office, or any other criminal motive, be 
 comes negligent or careless, he is by no means to be suffered to pursue 
 this course, so as at length to be permitted to lay aside the ministry, 
 
70 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 without censure ; because this would be to encourage a disregard of the 
 most solemn obligations, by opening a way to escape from them with 
 impunity. But, in all such cases, Presbyteries are seasonably to use the 
 means and pursue the methods pointed out in the word of God and the 
 rules of this Church, to recall their offending brother to a sense of duty ; 
 and, if all their endeavors be ineffectual, they are at length regularly to 
 exclude or depose him from his office." 
 
 This rehearsal of the action of previous Assemblies, it is thought is 
 a sufficient answer to the overture, without entering upon a discussion 
 of the abstract question : " May an ecclesiastical body, in any case, demit 
 from the office of the ministry without discipline or censure?" We 
 simply refer to the usages of our own Church, and urge them upon the 
 attention of our Presbyteries. They are not to allow any of their min 
 isters to retire from the ministerial work of their own accord ; but to 
 require, of such as are desirous to enter into a secular calling, their 
 reasons for such a course, which they are to put upon record, approv 
 ingly or otherwise. The circumstances of the age call loudly upon this 
 Assembly to reaffirm these long-established principles, and to enjoin upon 
 the Presbyteries the utmost carefulness in preventing the secularization 
 of our ministry. Minutes, 1860, pp. 234, 236. 
 
 4. May they liold Civil Office f 
 
 a. "The committee to whom were referred the communication from 
 the Presbytery of Ohio, respecting the Rev. Boyd Mercer, and his letter 
 to the Moderator of the Assembly, exhibited their report. 
 
 "The report having been read and amended, was adopted, and is as 
 follows : 
 
 "With respect to the abstract question, whether the tenure of a civil 
 office be or be not incompatible with that of the holy ministry ; your 
 Committee are of opinion that there is nothing in the Holy Scriptures, or 
 in the Constitution, acts, or proceedings of the Presbyterian Church in 
 these United States, expressly prohibitory of such union of offices. 
 
 " With respect to the particular case referred to their consideration, 
 as Mr. Mercer in his letter expressly asserts, that it is not his intention 
 to decline the office of the holy ministry, and that he was led to devote 
 himself, for the present, to the functions of an Associate Judge, by a 
 state of health so infirm as to interrupt the regular discharge of his 
 public duties as a minister of religion ; your committee are of opinion 
 
II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 71 
 
 that the Presbytery of Ohio ought not to censure him, unless there be 
 some circumstances in the case unknown to the Assembly. 
 
 " That none, however, may so far misconstrue these sentiments as to 
 persuade themselves that they countenance a covetous, ambitious spirit; 
 your committee farther beg leave to suggest the propriety of cautioning 
 your clergy against worldly-mindedness ; of exhorting them not to as 
 pire after places of emolument or civil distinction ; of reminding them 
 that the cure of souls is their peculiar business, and that they who serve 
 at the altar, ought, as far as possible, to avoid temporal avocations. " 
 Minutes, 1806, pp. 363, 364. 
 
 b. " The Committee (of Overtures) also overtured the following ques 
 tion, preferred by the First Presbytery of South Carolina, viz. : Is it 
 admissible for a Gospel minister to hold office V 
 
 " Resolved, That the Presbytery be referred to the decision of the 
 Assembly of 1806, on the same question." Minutes, 1808, p. 399. 
 
 5. May hold the Office of Chaplain in the Army or Navy. 
 
 a. "Application was made to Synod by Mr. Beatty, desiring to know 
 their mind with respect to his going chaplain to the forces that may be 
 raised in the Province of Pennsylvania, if he shall by the Government be 
 called to that service. The Synod do judge it to be his duty/ Minutes, 
 1756, p. 275. 
 
 1). " Application having been made to Mr. Beatty by Colonel Arm 
 strong, to serve as chaplain to the first battalion of the Pennsylvania 
 Provincials for the ensuing campaign, he requested the advice and judg 
 ment of this Synod with respect to his duty therein. The Synod do 
 unanimously agree that it is his duty to go/ Minutes, 1758, p. 282. 
 
 c. " Tis allowed that Messrs. Alexander McDowel, and Hector Al 
 lison, go as chaplains to the Pennsylvania forces, and that Mr. Kirk- 
 patrick go with the New Jersey forces the ensuing campaign." Min 
 utes, 1760, p. 302. 
 
 d. "The First Philadelphia Presbytery report, that they have or 
 dained Mr. Israel Evans, and Mr. William Lynn, to qualify them to act 
 as chaplains in the Army, to which they had been appointed." Min 
 utes, 1776, p. 472. 
 
 e. " Also ordained Mr. Robert Keith, to qualify him to act as a chap 
 lain in the Army." Minutes, 1777, p. 477. 
 
72 II. OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 6. An Ordination to a Chaplaincy, not sine titulo. 
 
 " By the report now made by the New Castle Presbytery, it appears 
 that there was a mistake in the report of last year, respecting Mr. Arm 
 strong s ordination j that he was not ordained sine titulo ^ but in conse 
 quence of his having accepted a chaplaincy in the army." Minutes, 
 1779, p. 484. 
 
 7. May a Chaplain be at the same time Pastor of a Church. 
 
 "The affair respecting the First Presbyterian Congregation in this 
 city was resumed. 
 
 " In the course of reasonings upon it, a case of conscience was put, 
 viz., Whether a minister, having connection with any part of His Ma 
 jesty s regular forces as their chaplain, and receiving the salary, or any 
 part thereof as such, may, or ought to accept of a stated pastoral relation 
 to any congregation ? Which question was answered in the negative." 
 Minutes, 1759, p. 294. 
 
 8. Chaplains in the Navy. 
 
 " A reference from the Presbytery of Philadelphia on the propriety 
 of their ordaining to the work of the Gospel ministry, a licentiate under 
 their care, who now holds the office of a chaplain in the Navy of the 
 United States, was considered ; whereupon the Assembly 
 
 "Resolved, That this judicature of the Presbyterian Church feels a 
 deep and lively interest in the spiritual welfare of the mariners of this 
 country j and especially of those who are engaged in the naval service 
 of our Union ; and that the Assembly therefore will rejoice, if any Pres 
 bytery under its care has the opportunity of ordaining any well-qualified 
 persons, men of piety and learning, with a view to their rendering per 
 manent ministerial services to large congregations of our fellow-citizens 
 who dwell in ships of war." Minutes, 1826, p. 171. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 CANDIDATES. 
 SECTION 1. BEFORE LICENSUKE AND AS LICENTIATES. 
 
 1. A liberal education required. 2. Waived in certain cases. 3. Time of 
 study. a. Three years proposed, but not adopted. b. Rule of a Synod enjoin 
 ing three years study, unconstitutional. c. A new proposal to extend to 
 three years, negatived. 4. Candidates are under the care of Session till 
 ordained. a. They belong to the order of the laity ; and, b. Discipline over 
 them is to be exercised by the Session. c. In case of discipline, the Session 
 must notify the Presbytery under whose care he is. d. When Presbytery drops 
 a candidate, or deprives a licentiate, it must notify the Session to which he is 
 amenable. 5. Candidates under the care of that Presbytery to which they most 
 naturally belong; i. e. , in the bounds of which" they have lived for the most 
 part, and are best known. G. For candidates to go to foreign bodies to be 
 licensed, is irregular. 7. Candidates aided by the churches, to be placed under 
 the care of Presbytery as soon as possible, and licensed by the Presbyteries to 
 which they most naturally belong. 8. Candidates of one Presbytery not to be 
 licensed by another. 9. Neglect to record the adoption of the standards; trying 
 and licensing at the same meeting; ordaining without trial or licensure; and 
 licensing for a certain time, condemned as irregular. 10. Irregularity does not 
 invalidate licensure. 11. Lay-preaching and preaching before licensure, con 
 demned. 12. Case of licensure by a self-constituted committee 13. How soon 
 students are to be reported as candidates. 
 
 1. A Liberal Education required. 
 
 a. It was requested by the First Presbytery of Philadelphia, that 
 Synod declare to them their sense on this point, viz., Whether a person 
 without a liberal education may be taken on trial or licensed to preach 
 the Gospel ? The question being put, it was carried in the negative. 
 Minutes, 1783, p. 499. 
 
 I. "An overture was brought in in the following terms, viz. : Whether 
 in the present state of the Church in America, and the scarcity of mi- 
 
74 III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 nisters to fill our numerous congregations, the Synod, or Presbyteries, 
 ought therefore to relax in any degree in the literary qualifications re 
 quired of intrants into the ministry ? And it was carried in the nega 
 tive by a great majority." Minutes, 1785, p. 511. 
 
 c. " Your committee recommend to the General Assembly to enjoin 
 it upon all their Presbyteries to take the most effectual order in their 
 power to increase, if possible, the qualifications of candidates for the 
 Gospel ministry, with regard both to sincere piety and solid and exten 
 sive learning, that the improvements of the pulpit may keep full pace 
 with the progress of society and letters. " Minutes, 1799, p. 181. 
 
 (See also letter to Dr. Rice, Minutes, 1804, p. 299). 
 
 2. Liberal Education waived in certain cases. 
 
 a. " Several very earnest applications were made to the Synod by 
 Welsh people in different parts, representing that many among them 
 understand not the English tongue, and unless they have a pastor capa 
 ble of speaking in their own language, they must live entirely destitute 
 of ordinances ; that a certain Mr. John Griffith came some years ago 
 from Wales, with good certificates of his Christian knowledge and piety, 
 though he has not had a liberal education, and of being there licensed 
 to preach the Gospel ; that he has preached among them to their great 
 satisfaction; and therefore pray the Synod to ordain him to the minis 
 try, that he may both preach and also administer the sacraments among 
 them. 
 
 " Upon considering the case, the Synod find that several members have 
 seen his certificates from Wales, that some have conversed with him, 
 and were much satisfied with his Christian knowledge and acquaintance 
 with experimental religion ; that those of the Welsh here who testify to 
 the Synod concerning his useful preaching and pious conduct, are known 
 to be men of judgment and integrity; and as the circumstances of that 
 people are singular, and no other way appears in which they can enjoy 
 ordinances, the Synod agree that the said Mr. John Griffith, though 
 he has not the measure of school learning usually required, and which 
 they judge to be ordinarily requisite, be ordained to the work of the 
 ministry, and appoint Messrs. Samuel Davies, Dr. Allison, Treat, Hun 
 ter, and Kettletas, to be a Presbytery pro re nata to ordain him to 
 morrow at 11 o clock/ Minutes, 1758, p. 289. 
 
 [Mr. Griffith was accordingly ordained.] 
 
III. CANDIDATES. 75 
 
 Case of John Gloucester. 
 
 b. Whereas, from the communications from the Presbytery of Union, it 
 appears that the said John Gloucester has been for some time under the 
 care of the Presbytery of Union ; that, in the opinion of that Presby 
 tery, he possesses promising talents and eminent piety; that he has been 
 for several years engaged in the study of literature and theology, but 
 has not yet obtained all the literary qualifications usually required in 
 candidates for licensure ; and that if he were licensed, there is much 
 reason to believe he might be highly useful in preaching the Gospel 
 among those of his own color; and whereas, said Presbytery requests 
 the advice of the General Assembly ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved, 1. That the General Assembly highly approve the cau 
 tion and prudence of the Presbytery of Union in this case. 2. That 
 considering the circumstances of this particular case, viz., the evidence 
 of unusual talents, discretion, and piety possessed by John Gloucester, the 
 good reason there is to believe that he may be highly useful in preaching 
 the Gospel among those of his own color, and the various difficulties 
 likely to attend a farther delay in proceeding in this case, the General 
 Assembly did, and hereby do, authorize the Presbytery of Philadelphia 
 to consider the case of John Gloucester, and, if they think proper, to 
 license him to preach the Gospel. Minutes, 1807, p. 387. 
 
 3. Time of Study. 
 
 a. On motion Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Presby 
 teries of this Church to consider whether it would be proper to extend 
 the time necessary for young men to apply to the study of Divinity be 
 fore they be taken on trials, to three years at least, and to send up a 
 report of their opinion to the next General Assembly. Minutes, 1792, 
 p. 60. 
 
 [No action of the Presbyteries is reported.] 
 
 Rule of a Lower Judicature Unconstitutional. 
 
 I. The records (of the Synod of New York and New Jersey) were ap 
 proved, except a vote of that Synod by which they determine it to be 
 constitutional for that Synod to enact, " That, in future, candidates who 
 have the Gospel ministry in view, be required to attend to the study of 
 Divinity at least three years before licensure ;" which vote was deter 
 mined by the Assembly to be unconstitutional. Minutes, 1792, p. 59. 
 
< D III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 "A remonstrance was presented by the Synod of New York and 
 New Jersey, against the decision of last year, by which they determine, 
 that <it is unconstitutional for the Synod of New York and New Jersey 
 to enact that, in future, candidates who have the Gospel ministry in 
 view, shall be required to attend to the study of Divinity at least three 
 years before licensure. 
 
 " It was moved to reconsider the above decision ; which was agreed to. 
 
 " When it was unanimously Resolved, as the sense of this house, that 
 the decision of the last General Assembly, which is the subject of com 
 plaint, ought not to be altered." Minutes, 1793, p. 73. 
 
 Proposal to Extend the Time to Three Years. 
 
 c. " Overture No. 6 was taken up, viz. : Requests from several Presby 
 teries that the 6th section of chapter xiv, of our Form of Government, 
 rnigflt be sent down to the Presbyteries, to be so altered as to read, to 
 study theology at least three years, &c. The overtures were read. And 
 it was resolved that the proposed alteration be sent down as an overture 
 to the Presbyteries ; and that the Presbyteries be required to send up 
 their answer to this overture, in writing, to the next General Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1835, p. 475. 
 
 " The committee to whom was referred the reports of Presbyteries, 
 on the overture from the last General Assembly, proposing a change in 
 the term of study of Theological Students, from two to three years, made 
 a report, which being amended, was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "That they have had under their consideration, reports from fifty-Jive 
 Presbyteries. Of these, thirty-Jive are in favor of the proposed change, 
 and twenty are opposed to it. By the Constitution of our Church, the 
 consent of a majority of the Presbyteries is necessary to authorize the 
 alteration contemplated. And as a majority of the Presbyteries have 
 sent up no report to this Assembly, that such Presbyteries be careful to 
 send up their opinion in relation to the proposed alteration in the Con 
 stitution, to the next General Assembly." Minutes, 1836, p. 276. 
 
 tl The committee to whom was referred the reports of the Presbyteries 
 in relation to certain changes of the Constitution, reported thai fifty-two 
 Presbyteries have reported in favor of, and thirty-eight against, the ex 
 tension of the term of study to be required from Theological Students." 
 Minutes, 1837, p. 438. 
 
 [Since an affirmative vote of a majority of all the Presbyteries is needed 
 
III. CANDIDATES, 
 
 for any change in the Constitution, the change proposed was not 
 made.] 
 
 4. Candidates under the Care of the Session until Ordained. 
 
 The committee to whom was recommitted Overture No. 1, viz.. The 
 question at what period of their preparatory course are candidates for 
 the Christian ministry to be considered as dismissed from the jurisdic 
 tion of the Session and transferred to that of the Presbytery, made a 
 report, which, being read and amended, was adopted, and is as follows, 
 viz. : 
 
 Whereas it appears necessary, in order to preserve the purity of the 
 Church, and uniformity of procedure in the judicatories under the care 
 of the General Assembly, that the manner of administering discipline 
 to candidates and licentiates for the Gospel ministry should be distinctly 
 specified ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved, 1. That as the word of God, and the Constitution of the 
 Presbyterian Church, recognize the distinction of laity and clergy, and 
 a system of procedure in discipline in some respects diverse, as the one 
 or the other of these orders of men is concerned, it becomes the judica 
 tories of the Church to guard against the violation of this principle in 
 the administration of discipline. 
 
 2. That, although candidates and licentiates are in training for the 
 Gospel ministry, and in consequence of this are placed under the care 
 of Presbyteries, and in certain respects become immediately responsible 
 to them, yet they are to be regarded as belonging to the order of the 
 laity till they receive ordination to the whole work of the Gospel min 
 istry. 
 
 3. That it follows from the last resolution, that when candidates for 
 the Gospel ministry are discovered to be unfit to be proceeded with in 
 trials for the sacred office, it shall be the duty of the Presbytery to 
 arrest their progress ; and, if further discipline be necessary, to remit 
 them for that purpose to the Sessions of the churches to which they 
 properly belong ; and that, when licentiates are found unworthy to be 
 permitted further to preach the Gospel, it shall be the duty of the Pres 
 bytery to deprive them of their license ; and if further discipline be 
 necessary, to remit them for that purpose to the Sessions of the churches 
 to which they properly belong. 
 
 4. That, in order to insure the proper effect of discipline in the per- 
 
78 III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 formance of the duties which severally belong to Sessions and Presby 
 teries, it will be incumbent on church Sessions, when they shall see 
 cause to commence process against candidates or licentiates, before 
 Presbytery has arrested the trials of the one, or taken away the licens- 
 ure of the other, to give immediate notice to the moderator of the Pres 
 bytery to which the candidates or licentiates are amenable, that such 
 process has been commenced, to the intent that the impropriety may be 
 prevented of an individual proceeding on trials, or continuing to preach 
 after committing an offence that ought to arrest him in his progress to 
 an investiture with the sacred office ; and when Presbyteries shall enter 
 upon an investigation with the view of stopping the trials of a candidate, 
 or taking away the license of a licentiate, the Session to which such 
 candidates or licentiates are amenable shall be immediately informed of 
 what the Presbytery is doing, that the Session may, if requisite, com 
 mence process and inflict the discipline which it is their province to 
 administer. Minutes, 1829, pp. 263, 264. 
 
 5. Candidates under the care of the Presbytery to which they most 
 naturally Lelony. 
 
 " Query. Whether our students, bred in our colleges, have not a right 
 to apply to any of our Presbyteries for improvement for the sacred work 
 of the ministry, and whether they ought not to be received on sufficient 
 recommendations?" Minutes, 1760, p. 305. 
 
 The Synod judge that any student in divinity who professes a design to 
 enter into the ministry has a right, in our present situation, to study for 
 his improvement under the direction of any divine of reputation in the 
 Synod, according to a former act ; but that, when he proposes to enter 
 upon trials, with a view to the ministry, he shall come under the care of 
 that Presbytery to which he most naturally belongs ; and he shall be 
 deemed most naturally to belong to that Presbytery in whose bounds he has 
 been brought up and lived for the most part, and where he is best known. 
 But if another Presbytery desire that any student or students should 
 come into their bounds, or if any such student or students, for greater 
 conveniency, or from any circumstances that make it necessary, desire 
 to enter on trials in a different Presbytery, upon his offering satisfactory 
 reasons, he may be dismissed ; but in either case, the Presbytery to 
 which he removes shall not receive nor admit him to come under trials 
 upon his having a certificate as a regular church member only; but he 
 
III. CANDIDATES. 79 
 
 shall bring a testimonial from the Presbytery, or several neighboring 
 ministers where he lived, recommending him as a candidate for the 
 ministry, of exemplary piety and holiness of conversation ; nor shall any 
 thing less be esteemed a sufficient recommendation. Minutes, 1764, 
 p. 337. 
 
 6. Query. Whether it is regular for our students of divinity, who 
 intend to return and officiate in the bounds of the Synod, to go into 
 New England, or elsewhere, in order to be licensed. Minutes, 1760, 
 p. 305. 
 
 Answer. " Though the Synod entertains a high regard for the asso 
 ciated Churches of New England, yet we cannot but judge that students 
 who go to them, or to any other than our own Presbyteries to obtain 
 license, in order to return and officiate among us, act very irregularly, 
 and are not to be approved or employed by our Presbyteries, as hereby 
 we are deprived of the right of trying and approving the qualifications 
 of our own candidates ; yet, if any case may happen, wherein such a 
 conduct may, in some circumstances, be thought necessary for the 
 greater good of any congregation, it shall be laid before the Presbytery 
 to which the congregation belongs, and approved of by them." Minutes, 
 1764, p. 338. 
 
 7. Candidates should be placed under the care of Presbytery. 
 
 a. " It is recommended to the agencies and committees to endeavor to 
 have the young men aided by the Church, especially in their theological 
 studies, placed under the care of Presbyteries, and that, in all ordinary 
 cases, they be licensed by those Presbyteries where they naturally belong." 
 (See Form of Government, chap, xiv, sec. 2.) Minutes, 1854, p. 507. 
 
 b. " It is recommended that the young men aided by the Assembly s 
 committee be ordinarily placed, as soon as possible, under the care of 
 Presbyteries; and that, in all ordinary cases, they be licensed, if con 
 venient, by the Presbyteries to which they naturally belong." Minutes, 
 1856, p. 224. 
 
 8. Candidates of one Presbytery may not be Licensed by Another. 
 
 a. " The Presbytery of New Castle expressing some uneasiness at the 
 conduct of the Second Philadelphia Presbytery, for having received 
 and licensed a certain Mr. John McClean, who, they apprehend, most 
 properly belonged to the Presbytery of New Castle, and had applied to 
 
80 III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 them to be licensed ; and while they were taking the proper steps for 
 obtaining more full satisfaction concerning his church membership and 
 Christian character, he, in the mean time, removed from them, and 
 applied to the Second Philadelphia Presbytery, and was licensed by 
 them : both the Presbyteries were fully heard in a free conference on 
 this subject, and withdrew. The Synod, after mature deliberation, order 
 Mr. McClean to be cited before the Presbytery of New Castle, with 
 power to them to hear the charges against him, and issue the affair in a 
 regular manner, and report to the next meeting of Synod. And the 
 Synod do prohibit the Second Philadelphia Presbytery from employing 
 him to preach till the affair shall be concluded." Minutes, 1772, p. 435. 
 
 b. The consideration of the report of the Committee to Examine the 
 Minutes of the Synod of Philadelphia was resumed. The report is as 
 follows, viz. : 
 
 "Your committee observe in page 24th, that although the Synod 
 were informed by the Presbytery of New Castle, that a certain Mr. 
 Hindman had put himself under the care of the Presbytery of Donegal 
 for trials, and afterwards, without certificate or dismission, offered him 
 self to, and was received upon trials by the Presbytery of Lewes; and 
 though in page 34th the Presbytery of New Castle represent that the 
 said gentleman had been laid under censure by the Presbytery of Done 
 gal, that they had no authentic proof that it was taken off, and that this 
 gentleman had obtained license in opposition to a rule of the Synod of 
 New York and Philadelphia, in their minutes of 1764, pages 79 and 
 80; yet the Synod recommended it to the Presbytery of New Castle to 
 receive and treat this gentleman as a regular candidate, without any de 
 cision upon the matters referred to them." 
 
 [Whereupon the Assembly] 
 
 "Resolved, That the Synod be informed that the Assembly disap 
 prove of the proceedings as represented in their records, in recommend 
 ing a candidate to be received as in full standing, before they had given 
 a decision upon the allegations against him." Minutes, 1791, p. 37. 
 
 c. "At a meeting of the Presbytery of New Castle, in Wilmington, 
 upon the first Tuesday of January, 1791, and continued by adjourn 
 ments, the Rev. James McCoy, of Morris County Presbytery, with a 
 commissioner from Queen Ann s Congregation, applied to be received as 
 a member of this Presbytery. As Mr. McCoy had been under trials for 
 licensure in the Presbytery of New York, and was licensed and ordained 
 by the Presbytery of Morris, this Presbytery agreed not to receive him 
 
III. CANDIDATES. 81 
 
 as a member, until bis case be laid before the General Assembly, at their 
 next stated meeting. 
 
 " The General Assembly, upon considering this case, determined that 
 neither the Presbytery of New Castle, nor any other Presbytery, ought 
 to receive Mr. McCoy into their connection, until he shall have produced 
 a certificate from the Presbytery of New York, of his having given 
 them the satisfaction which his case requires." Minutes, 1791, p. 38. 
 
 9. Certain Irregularities in Licensing condemned. 
 
 "The Presbytery book of Suffolk approved, except that they have 
 neglected to record their candidates adopting our public standards at 
 licensure, though they inform us it is a matter of constant practice; that 
 they try and license at the same Presbytery; and in one instance, or 
 dained without previous trial or licensure ; and that they license for a 
 certain time. All which we highly disapprove." Minutes, 1764, p. 339. 
 
 10. Irregularity does not invalidate the Licensure. 
 
 a. " The committee appointed to draught a minute respecting the ap 
 peal from the decision of the Synod of Philadelphia, whereby they refused 
 to revise a minute of their preceding sessions, in the case of Mr. Hind- 
 man, and refused to take into consideration the conduct of the Presby 
 tery of Lewes in the affair of his licensure, produced a draught to that 
 purpose, which, after some amendment, was approved, and is as follows, 
 viz. : 
 
 " The Assembly having had the whole affair laid before them, and 
 fully heard the parties, after mature deliberation, judged that in the case 
 of Mr. Hindman there appeared to have been such a want of attention 
 to the rules of this body, and neglect of order, as to afford just ground 
 of uneasiness to the appellants, and to deserve the disapprobation of the 
 Assembly. But inasmuch as acts which have been performed in an in 
 formal manner must often when done be sustained, the Assembly do 
 hereby sustain the licensure and ordination of Mr. Ilindman, while at 
 the same time they enjoin it in the most pointed manner on the Synod 
 of Philadelphia, to give particular attention that no Presbytery under 
 their care depart in any respect from that rule of the former Synod of 
 New York and Philadelphia, which is as follows : 
 
 "Any student in divinity, who professes a design to enter into the 
 
 G 
 
OIS III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 ministry, has a right, in our present situation, to study for his improve 
 ment under the direction of any divine of reputation in the Synod, 
 according to a former act j but that when he proposes to enter upon 
 trials, with a view to the ministry, he shall come under the care of that 
 Presbytery to which he most naturally belongs ; and he shall be deemed 
 most naturally to belong to that Presbytery in whose bounds he has been 
 brought up and lived for the most part, and where he is best known. 
 But if another Presbytery desire that any student or students should 
 come into their bounds, or if any such student or students, for greater 
 convenience, or from any circumstances that make it necessary, desire to 
 enter on trials in a diflerent Presbytery, upon his oifering satisfactory 
 reasons, he may be dismissed; but in either case, the Presbytery to 
 which he removes shall not receive nor admit him to come under trials, 
 upon his having a certificate as a regular Church member only, but he 
 shall bring a testimonial from the Presbytery, or several neighboring 
 ministers where he lived, recommending him as a candidate for the 
 ministry, of exemplary piety and holiness of conversation, nor shall any 
 thing less be deemed a sufficient recommendation." Minutes, 1792, 
 p. 56. 
 
 11. Preaching before Licensure and Lay Preaching irregular. 
 
 a. " Upon information that David Evan, a lay person, had taken upon 
 him publicly to teach or preach among the Welsh in the Great Valley, 
 Chester County, it was unanimously agreed that the said Evan had done 
 very ill, and acted irregularly in thus invading the work of the ministry, 
 and was, thereupon, censured." Minutes, 1710, p. 17. 
 
 L. " The consideration of the business left unfinished yesterday after 
 noon, was resumed, viz., the complaint of the Presbytery of Washing 
 ton, Ohio, against the Presbytery of West Lexington, for licensing and 
 ordaining the Kev. William L. McCalla contrary, in the opinion of the 
 complainants, to Presbyterial order, Mr. McCalla having been suspended 
 from Church privileges by the Presbytery of Washington, in consequence 
 of a reference on the subject from the Session of the Church of Chili- 
 cothe." 
 
 "After a long discussion of the subject, the Assembly adopted the 
 following resolution and decision in the case, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That while the Assembly disapprove the conduct of Mr. 
 McCalla in preaching the G-ospel before he was regularly licensed; 
 
III. CANDIDATES. 83 
 
 and while they regret that the Presbytery of West Lexington, in the 
 final trials of Mr. McCalla for licensure, did not pay sufficient attention 
 either to his irregularity in preaching as just mentioned, or to the pro 
 ceedings in the Session of the Church of Chilicothe, and of the Pres 
 bytery of Washington in his case, they nevertheless judge that the 
 proceedings of the Presbytery of West Lexington, in licensing and 
 ordaining Mr. McCalla, be sustained, and that Mr. McCalla be consi 
 dered as a Minister in good and regular standing in the Presbyterian 
 Church/ Minutes, 1821, p. 21. 
 
 Lay-Agency no Organization needed. Rights and Duties of Lay- 
 Members defined. 
 
 c. " The committee to which was referred the paper on the subject of 
 lay-agency, presented a report, which was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The committee appointed to consider the overture of the Presbytery 
 of Philadelphia, Fourth, inquiring as to the expediency of organizing a 
 lay-agency in the work of evangelization, beg leave respectfully to 
 report : 
 
 " They have taken the inquiry presented in the overture under careful 
 consideration, and are of the unanimous opinion, that no such organi 
 zation is needed by the Church as is therein suggested. In declaring 
 this opinion, they would not be understood as disparaging in any way 
 the importance of lay efforts in advancing the Gospel. It is one of the 
 cardinal doctrines of Protestants, that the proper sanctification and effi 
 ciency of the Church depends, in a large degree, on the constant 
 exercise of all the natural talents and spiritual gifts of its members in 
 the service of the Lord. Believing, though we do, in the divine ap 
 pointment of a specially trained and ordained ministry, we do by no. 
 means confine to it the blessed work of bearing witness for Christ, by 
 words and example. The divine word makes it the duty of every be 
 liever to let his light shine, and the savor of his salt be diffused; and 
 so to contribute, according to his ability, unto the edification of the 
 Church, and the saving of souls. This duty can never be too earnestly 
 enforced and carried out. Its faithful observance is the very life of the 
 Church, and the administrative skill of a minister and session is nowhere 
 more signally shown, than in the means which they employ to bring 
 every Church member under their care to realize and carry out the obli 
 gation. But, in order to this, your committee believe that no new 
 
84 III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 ecclesiastical provision is required. Indeed, it is to be feared that such 
 provision would hinder rather than promote the good sought. The ex 
 cellence of lay-agency consists very largely in its voluntary character. 
 It tells upon the people, because it is the free out-going of earnest and 
 irrepressible sentiments and convictions, and because it is neither com 
 missioned nor rewarded by man. We rob it of its peculiar power and 
 efficiency, when we render it perfunctory. Very undesirable is it, there 
 fore, to change its character, and convert it into a second-rate ministry, 
 liable to assert pretensions for which it is not qualified. The history of 
 the Church, in times past, too clearly sets forth the evils arising from 
 the creation of such an order, for us to venture on the renewal of the 
 measure. 
 
 " Accordingly, your committee recommend that no action be taken by 
 the Assembly in the matter proposed, excepting, 
 
 "1. To declare it as our unanimous judgment, that the liberty con 
 ceded by our excellent polity, for the free exercise of all spiritual gifts 
 in an orderly manner, renders the organization of any lay-agencies super 
 fluous. 
 
 "2. To urge on all pastors and sessions, that they exert themselves, 
 in all suitable ways, for the development, the employment, and direction 
 of all the lay-talent existing in their churches, unto the upbuilding of 
 the Redeemer s kingdom, and the glory of his name." Minutes, 1859, 
 p. 45. 
 
 12. Case of Ucensure ~by a self -constituted Committee upon sufficient 
 reasons approved. 
 
 "It is reported that Mr. Samuel Davis, Mr. Hampton, and Mr. 
 Henry, having, upon good and sufficient reasons, taken Mr. John Brad- 
 ner under trials, in order to his being licensed to preach the Gospel, 
 and having gone through the ordinary pieces of trial, and being satisfied 
 with him therein, as also with respect to the orthodoxy of his faith, did 
 license him accordingly in March last; which was approven." Minutes, 
 1714, p. 36. 
 
 13. When Students are to le Reported as " Candidates." 
 
 The following overture from the Presbytery of New York, Third, was 
 then adopted : 
 
III. CANDIDATES. 85 
 
 " Resolved, That it be recommended to the General Assembly, in 
 order to ascertain the full number of individuals in the Church who are 
 preparing for the ministry, to require of every Session to state in their 
 annual report to their -Presbytery how many of the communicants 
 under their care are pursuing a course of study for the Gospel ministry ; 
 and that every Presbytery be required to report the whole number of 
 these students, thus ascertained, among their churches, in their annual 
 statement to the General Assembly, instead of reporting, as heretofore, 
 only those who have formally been received under the care of the Pres 
 bytery." Minutes, 1852, p . 176. 
 
 SECTION 2. ORDINATION. 
 
 1. Ordination by a committee, frequent and approved. 2. Ordination of our can 
 didates by foreign bodies, disapproved. 3. Ordination sine titulo, generally dis 
 approved of. In cases where it seems desirable, the Presbytery to consult 
 Synod. Leave granted in certain cases. 4. Ordination sine titulo. Overture 
 upon, rejected. 5. A Presbytery censured by Synod for an ordination sine titulo. 
 The censure disapproved of by the Assembly. 6. Ordination on the Sabbath 
 disapproved of generally. 7. Reordination of Foreign Ministers. 8. Decisions 
 reversed. 9. Rule as to receiving a Minister from any other Church. Not 
 to be reordained, but all the qualifications demanded of our own candidates to be 
 insisted on. 10. Lay-ordination invalid, 
 
 1. By a Committee. 
 
 a. "The Presbytery having seen Mr. George Gillespie s certificate 
 from the Presbytery of Glasgow, concerning his being licensed to preach, 
 and his conversation, did approve of them ; and in case Providence make 
 way for his ordination by a call from any congregation before next Pres 
 bytery, Mr. Andrews, McNish, Anderson, and Morgan, are ordered to 
 ordain him ; and that one of the said members, or two, as they shall see 
 fit, preach at the solemnity." Minutes, 1712, p. 26. 
 
 I. " It was reported by the ministers appointed to transact the aifair 
 relating to Mr. Wotherspoon s ordination, that they, in compliance with 
 the last year s minutes, did solemnly, by prayer, fasting, and imposition 
 of hands, ordain the said Mr. Robert Wotherspoon unto the sacred func 
 tion and office of the ministry to the Presbyterian congregation at Apo- 
 quinomy, upon the 13th day of May, 1714." Minutes, 1714, p. 35. 
 
 c. " An unanimous call from the people of Welsh tract to Mr. David 
 
86 III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 Evans, being presented to us and approven, we offered it to him, which 
 he accepted ; whereupon it was appointed as follows, viz. : 
 
 "That Messrs. Jedediah Andrews, Jones, Anderson, Gillespie, and 
 Wotherspoon, solemnly ordain him to the work and office of the minis 
 try, after having been satisfied with his ministerial abilities, in any pieces 
 of trial they shall think fit to appoint him." Minutes, 1714, p. 86. 
 
 [See Minutes of General Presbytery passim. ] 
 
 d. " The appointment of the Synod with respect to the ordination of 
 Masters John Clement and William Stewart, was complied with. They 
 being solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry by the Rev. Mas 
 ters Samuel Davis, John Hampton, and John Thompson, at Hehoboth, 
 in Somerset County, in Maryland, upon the day of June, 1719." 
 Minutes, 1719, p. 55. 
 
 [See, also, case of John Griffith, ordained by a Presbytery pro re nata, 
 appointed by Synod, p. 74. 
 
 This mode of ordination by a committee was common with the 
 Synod.] 
 
 2. Ordination ~by Foreign Bodies not approved. 
 
 The Assembly took up the report of the committee on Overture No. 
 3, which was laid on the table ; which, being read and amended, was 
 adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 Whereas many of the ministers, who are to supply the vacant churches 
 and destitute places in the more new and growing parts of our Church, 
 must, for some time to come, continue to be educated in the older sec 
 tions of our country, and at a great distance from the field where they 
 are to be employed ; and whereas, it is important to the happy and use 
 ful settlement of these ministers, in their several fields of labor, that 
 they should enjoy the full confidence of the ministers and churches 
 among whom they are to dwell ; and whereas, the ordination of ministers 
 in the presence of the people among whom they are to labor, is calcu 
 lated to endear them very much to their flocks, while it gives their fath- 
 t ers and brethren in the ministry an opportunity of knowing their opin 
 ions and sentiments on subjects of doctrine and discipline; and whereas, 
 our Form of Government seems to recognize the right and privilege of 
 each Presbytery to examine and ordain those who come to the pastoral 
 office within their bounds, and who have never before exercised that 
 office; therefore, Resolved, 
 
III. CANDIDATES. 87 
 
 1. That it be earnestly recommended to all our Presbyteries not to 
 ordain, sine titulo, any men who propose to pursue the work of their 
 ministry in any sections of the country where a Presbytery is already 
 organized, to which they may go as licentiates and receive ordination. 
 
 2. That the several bodies with which we are in friendly correspon 
 dence in the New England States, be respectfully requested to use their 
 counsel and influence to prevent the ordination, by any of their Councils 
 or Consociations, of men who propose to pursue the work of the ministry 
 within the bounds of any Presbytery belonging to the General Assembly 
 of the Presbyterian Church; and that the Delegates from this Assembly 
 to those bodies respectively be charged with communicating this resolu 
 tion. Minutes, 1834, p. 428. 
 
 3. Ordination, sine titulo. 
 
 a. " The Synod would bear testimony against the late too common, 
 and now altogether unnecessary, practice of some Presbyteries in the 
 north of Ireland, viz., their ordaining men to the ministry, sine tituloj 
 immediately before they come over hither, thereby depriving us of our 
 just rights, viz., that we, unto whom they are designed to be co-presby 
 ters, and among whom they design to bestow their labors, should have 
 just and fair inspecting into their qualifications; we say, it seems neces 
 sary that the Synod bear testimony against such practice by writing 
 home to the General Synod, thereby signifying our dissatisfaction with 
 
 the same The Synod do agree that no minister ordained 
 
 in Ireland, sine titulo, be for the future received to the exercise of his 
 ministry among us, until he submit to such trials as the Presbytery among 
 whom he resides shall think proper to order and appoint. And that the 
 Synod do also advertise the General Synod in Ireland, that the ordain 
 ing any such to the ministry, sine titulo, before their sending them 
 hither, for the future, will be very disagreeable and disobliging to us." 
 Minutes, 1735, p. 119. 
 
 I). " A question was proposed : Whether it be proper to ordain to the 
 ministry sine titulo, except for some particular mission ? The considera 
 tion of which is deferred till our next sederunt." Minutes, 1762, p. 
 314. 
 
 The question, Ought ministers to be ordained sine titulo, i. e., with 
 out relation or probable view had to a particular charge, resumed ; and, 
 after further deliberation, we judge as follows : 
 
88 III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 That in ordinary cases, where churches are properly regulated and 
 organized, it is a practice highly inexpedient and of dangerous conse 
 quences, not to be allowed in our body except in some special cases, as 
 missions to the Indians, and some distant places, that regularly apply 
 for ministers. But as the honor and reputation of the Synod is much 
 interested in the conduct of Presbyteries in such special cases, it is 
 judged that they should previously apply to the Synod and take their 
 advice therein, unless the cases require such haste as would necessarily 
 prevent the benefit of such a mission if delayed to the next session of 
 Synod ; in which cases the Presbyteries shall report to the next Synod 
 the state of the cases and the reasons for their conduct. Minutes, 1764, 
 p. 337. 
 
 c. Application was made to the Synod by the Presbytery of New Cas 
 tle for advice respecting the propriety of Mr. Samuel Smith s being 
 ordained by said Presbytery of New Castle, under whose care he is, in 
 consequence of his having accepted a call from a congregation within 
 the bounds of the Presbytery of Hanover. 
 
 The Synod having heard all the circumstances relative to this case, 
 and deliberated thereon, agree that it is not expedient for the Presby 
 tery of New Castle to ordain Mr. Smith, as the matter now stands. 
 Minutes, 1775, p. 465. 
 
 d. The Presbytery of Lewes, by their commissioner, Mr. Siemens, 
 requested leave to ordain a certain Mr. James Lang, a licentiate under 
 their care, sine titulo. 
 
 "Resolved, That the reasons offered for this measure are not sufficient, 
 and therefore that the request be not granted." Minutes, 1800, p. 199. 
 
 c. The following request was overtured by the Committee of Bills and 
 Overtures : 
 
 "That the Synods of Virginia and the Carolinas have liberty to direct 
 their Presbyteries to ordain such candidates as they may judge necessary 
 to appoint on missions to preach the Gospel ; whereupon 
 
 "Resolved, That the above request be granted, the Synods being care 
 ful to restrict the permission to the ordination of such candidates only 
 as are engaged to be sent on missions to preach the Gospel." Minutes, 
 1795, p. 98. 
 
 /. " The Presbytery of Baltimore directed their commissioners to 
 solicit the permission of the General Assembly to ordain Mr. William 
 Maffit, a licentiate under their care, to the office of the Gospel ministry, 
 if upon examination he should appear qualified. The request was made 
 
III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 at the particular instance of the church of Bladensburg, where Mr. 
 Maffit officiates as a stated supply. 
 
 "Resolved, That said request be granted." Minutes, 1798, p. 146. 
 
 g. The Presbytery of Philadelphia submitted to the Assembly for 
 their decision the case of Mr. John Jones, a licentiate under their care, 
 who at their last session had requested that Presbytery would take 
 measures to ordain him, sine titulo. The Presbytery stated that Mr. 
 Jones had been a licensed candidate for a number of years; that he had 
 always sustained a good and consistent character ; that he was engaged 
 in teaching an academy, and was so circumstanced, that his being or 
 dained might render him more extensively useful. The Assembly, 
 having considered the case 
 
 " Resolved, That the Presbytery of Philadelphia be permitted and 
 authorized to ordain Mr. Jones to the work of the Gospel ministry, sine 
 titulo : provided, the Presbytery, from a full view of his qualifications 
 and other attending circumstances, shall think it expedient so to ordain 
 him/ Minutes, 1807, p. 386. 
 
 h. " Mr. Robert Smith was appointed a missionary to the western 
 and northern frontiers of the State of New York, provided he shall be 
 ordained by the Presbytery of New Castle for that purpose." Minutes, 
 1794, p. 86. 
 
 [See also Minutes, 1799, p. 172; 1809, p. 415; 1810, p. 459.] 
 
 i. A reference from the Synod of Philadelphia, was laid before the 
 Assembly. By an extract from the minutes of that Synod, it appeared 
 that Mr. John Waugh, a licentiate under the care of the Presbytery of 
 New Castle, had, for special reasons, requested the Presbytery to take 
 measures for his ordination, sine titulo. The Presbytery accordingly 
 presented the request to Synod, and the Synod finding that the authority 
 in this case is by the Constitution expressly vested in the General As 
 sembly, agree to refer the matter to them for their decision. The 
 Assembly, having taken the subject into consideration 
 
 Resolved, That the Presbytery of New Castle be, and they hereby are 
 permitted and authorized to ordain the said Mr. Waugh to the work of 
 the Gospel ministry, sine titulo: provided, that the Presbytery, from a 
 full view of his qualifications and other attending circumstances, shall 
 think it expedient. Minutes, 1805, p. 337. 
 
 4. Ordination sine titulo. Overture on rejected. 
 a. " The following overture was brought in and read, viz. : 
 
90 III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 "In what cases, except the one provided for in the seventeenth chap 
 ter of the Constitution of our Church, may a Presbytery ordain a man 
 to the work of the Gospel ministry without a call to particular charge ?" 
 Minutes, 1810, p. 456. 
 
 This overture was referred to Drs. Miller and Green, Messrs. Nathan 
 Grier, Anderson, and Campbell, as a committee. Minutes, 1811, p. 464. 
 
 This committee reported as follows, viz. : 
 
 u Whereas, there may exist cases in which it may be needful for 
 Presbyteries to ordain without a regular call ; but as the frequent exer 
 cise of this power may be dangerous to the Church, and as this case 
 does not appear to be fully provided for in our Constitution and Book of 
 Discipline 
 
 Resolved, That the following rule be submitted to the Presbyteries 
 for their opinion and approbation, which, when sanctioned by a majority 
 of the Presbyteries belonging to the Church, shall become a constitu 
 tional rule, viz. : 
 
 " That it shall be the duty of Presbyteries, when they think it neces 
 sary to ordain a candidate without a call to a particular congregation or 
 congregations, to take the advice of their respective Synods, or of the 
 General Assembly, before they proceed to this ordination/ Minutes, 
 1811, p. 474. 
 
 [Answered in the negative 11 to 7 and the subject dismissed.] 
 Minutes, 1812, p. 494. 
 
 b. [In 1813 another rule was proposed], viz. : The rule proposed, and 
 on which an affirmative or negative vote of the Presbyteries is required, 
 is in the following words, viz. : 
 
 " It shall be the duty of Presbyteries, when they think it necessary 
 to ordain a candidate without a call to a particular pastoral charge, to 
 take the advice of a Synod, or of the General Assembly, before they pro 
 ceed to such ordination." Minutes, 1813, p. 524. 
 
 [Of the Presbyteries answering this overture, twenty-six replied in 
 the negative and four in the affirmative.] Minutes, 1814, p. 558. 
 
 5. Censure of Synod for Ordination, sine titulo, not sustained. 
 
 The records of the Synod of Illinois were, on the recommendation of 
 the committee, approved, with the exception of a censure, on p. 209, of 
 the action of Knox Presbytery, for ordaining a man when there was no 
 call from any part of the Church. Minutes, 1843, p. 17. 
 
III. CANDIDATES. 9 1 
 
 6. Ordination on the Sabbath. 
 
 An overture was received from the Presbytery of Orange, requesting 
 the opinion of the General Assembly on the question, whether it be 
 proper to ordain licentiates to the office of the Gospel ministry on the 
 Sabbath day. The General Assembly think it would not be for edifica 
 tion to adopt a uniform rule on the subject. In general they think it is 
 not expedient that ordinations should take place on the Sabbath ; yet 
 that there may be cases in which urgent or peculiar circumstances may 
 demand them. The Assembly, therefore, judged it best to leave it to 
 the Presbyteries to act, in this concern, as they may judge that their 
 duty requires. Minutes, 1821, p. 10. 
 
 7. Reordination of Methodist Ministers. 
 
 a. A petition was laid before the General Assembly from the Presby 
 terian Church in the Island of Bermuda, requesting the settlement of 
 a Mr. Enoch Matson, an elder formerly connected with the Methodist 
 Church, who was represented as willing to subscribe the doctrine, dis 
 cipline, and government of the Presbyterian Church, accompanied with 
 a request from the Presbytery of Baltimore, for direction in what man 
 ner to proceed in receiving him into this Church. 
 
 " The Assembly recommend to the Presbytery of Baltimore to pro 
 ceed in receiving Mr. Matson to trials for the ministry, in the same 
 manner as if no licensure or ordination by the Methodist Church had 
 taken place." Minutes, 1792, p. 56. 
 
 6, " The following question from the Commissioners of Hudson Pres 
 bytery was brought in through the Committee of Overtures, viz. : 
 
 " Ought a Methodist minister, applying to one of our Presbyteries, 
 and proposing to put himself under their care and to adopt their stand 
 ards, to be again ordained ? 
 
 " On motion, it was agreed that a sufficient answer is already given to 
 this question by the Assembly in their sessions of 1792, where they 
 direct a Presbytery in a similar situation to proceed as though no ordina 
 tion had taken place/ Minutes, 1800, p. 199. 
 
 8. These decisions reversed. 
 " The Committee of Overtures brought in the following resolution, 
 
92 III. CANDIDATES. 
 
 which, having been read and amended, was adopted, and is as follows, 
 viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Assembly, the decisions of the 
 General Assembly of 1792, and referred to by the Assembly of 1800, 
 respecting the reordination of ministers regularly ordained in the Metho 
 dist Episcopal Church, and desiring to connect themselves with the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, however expedi 
 ent at the time of its formation, ought not to be considered as a prece 
 dent to guide the future decisions of the judicatories of this Church; 
 and that the Presbyteries under the care of this Assembly, when they 
 receive into their connection an ordained minister from any other denomi 
 nation, be careful to record the circumstances of the case and the reasons 
 which induced them to receive such ordained minister." Minutes, 1810, 
 p. 441. 
 
 9. Rule in respect to receiving a Minister from another Church. 
 
 The consideration of the report of the committee to which had been 
 referred the question of validity of ordination in the case of a Baptist 
 elder, was resumed, and the report being read was adopted, and is as 
 follows, viz. : 
 
 It is not among the principles or usages of the Presbyterian Church 
 to consider the ordination of ministers by other Protestant churches as 
 invalid ; on the contrary, the Presbyterian Church has always considered 
 the ordinations of most other Protestant churches as valid in themselves, 
 and not to be repeated, when those who have received them become 
 members of the Presbyterian Church. Nor is it perceived that there 
 is any sufficient reason why the ordinations in the Baptist Church should 
 not be considered as valid, and be sustained as such. 
 
 But while the Presbyterian Church can act as has now been stated in 
 regard to ordinations, it is among those principles and usages which she 
 regards as most sacred and important, to secure for her churches both a 
 pious and a learned ministry, and she cannot admit of any usage, or ex 
 ercise any apparent liberality, inconsistent with security in this essential 
 particular. On the whole, therefore, the committee recommend the 
 following resolution : 
 
 Resolved, That when applications are made by ministers of the Bap 
 tist or any other Protestant denomination, to be connected with the 
 Presbyterian Church, the Presbytery to which the applications are made 
 
III. CANDIDATES. 93 
 
 shall require all the qualifications, both in regard to piety and learning, 
 which are required of candidates for licensure or ordination of those who 
 have originally belonged to the Presbyterian Church ; and shall require 
 the applicants from other denominations to continue their study and 
 preparation till they are found on trial and examination to be qualified 
 in learning and ability to teach in the manner required by our standards; 
 but that when found to be thus qualified, it shall not be necessary to re- 
 ordain the said applicants, but only to instal them when they are called 
 to settle in Presbyterian congregations. Minutes, 1821, p. 23. 
 
 10. Lay Ordination invalid. 
 
 a. The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 15, viz., on 
 ordination by a deposed minister or by laymen, made the following re 
 port, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 That this paper contains a letter from a minister in South Carolina to 
 the stated clerk, requesting him to obtain a decision of the General As 
 sembly on the question, " whether the ordination of a minister of the 
 Gospel by the interposition of the hands of the laity is valid ?" That 
 the answer to this question should be in the negative is so obvious and 
 evident, on all correct principles of ecclesiastical order, that your com 
 mittee are of opinion that it is unnecessary for the General Assembly to 
 give any further consideration to the subject. Minutes, 1832, p. 366. 
 
 b. The committee on Overture No. 3, viz., a question from the Pres 
 bytery of Bethel, respecting holding communion with the followers of 
 \Vm. C. Davis, a deposed minister, and calling themselves Independent 
 Presbyterians, reported that, in their judgment, the questions proposed 
 in said overture ought to be answered in the negative. They, there 
 fore, would recommend the adoption of the following resolution, viz. : 
 
 Resolved, That while this Assembly readily acknowledges the right of 
 the Session to determine according to the Scriptures and the Constitu 
 tion of our Church the qualifications for admission to sealing ordinances, 
 yet they feel it to be their duty to declare that, in their judgment, the 
 services of those who have received only lay-ordination, and of those 
 who have been deposed from the Gospel ministry, are unscriptural and 
 unwarrantable ; and, therefore, an attendance on their ministrations can 
 not be in the order of the Gospel, and ought to be discouraged and dis 
 countenanced by every friend of the Redeemer s kingdom. Minutes f 
 1833, p. 407. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE SACRAMENTS. 
 
 SECTION 1. BAPTISM. 
 
 1. By whom administered. a. Baptism by an impostor invalid. b. As also by a 
 Unitarian. c. And by a suspended Minister during his suspension. Also, d, 
 When administered by a deposed Minister. e. Unworthiness of the Minister 
 does not invalidate the ordinances dispensed by him ; but the effect of irregu 
 larities to be judged of in each case by the Session. 2. Is Romish baptism 
 Christian baptism? indefinitely postponed. 3. The parents or others presenting 
 children for baptism. a. To be examined as to character and knowledge. b. 
 And instructed in their duties. c. Meaning of "a visible and credible profes 
 sion" to be decided in each case by the proper judicatory. d. Parents required 
 to enter into an express engagement to perform their duties to the baptized. 
 4. The subjects of baptism. a. Slaves of Christian masters and mistresses may 
 be baptized. b. Christian slaves of unbelieving masters should have their chil 
 dren baptized. c. It is the duty of Christian masters to present the children of 
 their servants, and of Ministers to baptize them. d. The period of infancy is 
 not defined, but must be decided in each case by the proper authorities. 5. 
 Pastoral care to be exercised over baptized children. And catechetical in 
 struction imparted. 6. Discipline of baptized persons, not communicants. 7. 
 Mode of baptism. 8. Baptism not ordinarily to be administered to adult con 
 verts previous to their reception to a particular church. 
 
 1. By whom administered. 
 
 a. Whereas a certain person pretending, at Egg Harbor, to be a min 
 ister regularly ordained among the Presbyterians, under that character 
 baptized some adults and infants, and it appearing to the Synod that his 
 pretences were false, having at that time no license or ordination, it is 
 our opinion that all the Gospel ordinances he administered under that 
 false and pretended character are null and void. Minutes, 1752, p. 249. 
 
IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 95 
 
 5. The Committee to which was referred the question submitted by 
 the member from the Presbytery of Harmony, and with the advice of 
 that Presbytery in the following words, viz. : 
 
 " A person who had been baptized in infancy by Dr. Priestley applied 
 for admission to the Lord s table ; should the baptism administered by 
 Dr. Priestley, then a Unitarian, be considered valid ? reported, and their 
 report being read was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That this question be answered in the negative. And it 
 accordingly was determined in the negative. 
 
 " In the present state of our country, whilst Unitarian errors in vari 
 ous forms are making their insidious approaches, whilst the advocates of 
 this heresy in many cases are practising a system of concealment and 
 insinuating themselves into the confidence of multitudes who have no 
 suspicion of their defection from the faith, the Assembly feel it their 
 duty to speak without reserve. 
 
 " It is the deliberate and unanimous opinion of this Assembly, that 
 those who renounce the fundamental doctrine of the Trinity, and deny 
 that Jesus Christ is the same in substance, equal in power and glory 
 with the Father, cannot be recognized as ministers of the Gospel; and 
 that their administrations are wholly invalid." Minutes, 1814, p. 549. 
 
 Baptism l>y a Suspended Minister. 
 
 c. " The following overture was presented by the Committee on Over 
 tures, viz. : 
 
 " Can a Presbytery consistently acknowledge as valid the ordinance 
 of Baptism, as administered by those who are regularly suspended by a 
 higher judicatory of the Church ? If not, how are we to regard the 
 baptism of the Cumberland Presbyterians ? 
 
 " The Assembly resumed the consideration of the report of the com 
 mittee on the overture respecting the Cumberland Presbyterians. After 
 considerable discussion, the report of the committee was adopted, and is 
 as follows, viz. : 
 
 "1. That, in the opinion of this Assembly, Ministers of the Presby 
 terian Church, when regularly suspended by the competent judicatories, 
 have no right to exercise the functions of a Minister during that sus 
 pension. 
 
 " 2. That while those persons styling themselves the Cumberland Pres 
 bytery were under suspension, their administrations are to be considered 
 
96 IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 
 
 as invalid ; but after the General Assembly have declared them as no 
 longer connected \vith our Church, their administrations are to be viewed 
 in the same light with those of other denominations not connected with 
 our body. This decision is grounded on the opinion, that the act of the 
 Assembly of 1814 precluded the propriety of deposition, or any other 
 process in the case. Minutes, 1825, p. 156. 
 
 d. " A reference from the Presbytery of Hudson, requesting of the 
 Assembly an answer to the following question, was received and read, 
 viz. : 
 
 "Is baptism administered by a minister after he is deposed from 
 office valid ? 
 
 " Resolved, That in answer to this question, the Presbytery be referred 
 to chap, vii, sec. 1, of the Directory for Public Worship/ Minutes, 
 1819, p. 701. 
 
 [The section thus referred to is as follows, viz. : " Baptism is not to 
 be unnecessarily delayed ; nor to be administered, in any case, by any 
 private person; but by a minister of Christ, called to be the steward of 
 the mysteries of God/ ] 
 
 e. " The following question was proposed by the Committee of Over 
 tures, viz. : 
 
 " Ought such persons to be rebaptized as have been offered in bap 
 tism by notoriously profligate parents, and baptized by ministers of the 
 same description ? 
 
 " The question proposed by the Committee of Overtures respecting 
 baptism was resumed; and after a full investigation of the subject, the 
 following determination was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That it is a principle of this Church that the unworthi- 
 ness of the ministers of the Gospel does not invalidate the ordinances 
 of religion dispensed by them. It is also a principle, that as long as 
 any denomination of Christians is acknowledged by us as a Church of 
 Christ, we ought to hold the ordinances dispensed by it as valid, not 
 withstanding the unworthiness of particular ministers. Yet, inasmuch 
 as no general rule can be made to embrace all circumstances, there may 
 be irregularities in particular administrations by men not yet divested of 
 their office, either in this or in other churches, which may render them 
 null and void. But as these irregularities must often result from cir 
 cumstances and situations that cannot be anticipated and pointed out in 
 the rule, they must be left to be judged of by the prudence and wisdom 
 of church Sessions, and the higher judicatories to which they may be 
 
IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 97 
 
 referred. In such cases, it may be advisable to administer the ordinance 
 of baptism in a regular manner, where a profane exhibition of the cere 
 mony may have been attempted. These cases and circumstances, how 
 ever, are to be inquired into by the church Sessions, and referred to a 
 Presbytery before a final decision." Minutes, 1790, p. 26. 
 
 2. Romish Baptism. 
 
 " The Committee on the Polity of the Church reported an overture 
 from the Third Presbytery of New York, which is as follows : l Is bap 
 tism, as administered by the Roman Catholic Church, to be regarded as 
 Christian baptism? [Referred to a committee to consider the sub 
 ject, and report an answer to the next General Assembly.] Minutes, 
 1853, p. 342. 
 
 [The majority and minority of the committee made each a report, 
 which were discussed at great length,] "and the whole subject indefi 
 nitely postponed." Minutes, 1854, p. 512. 
 
 3. Obligations and Qualifications of Parents. 
 
 a. [The Synod] " do also exhort all the ministers within our bounds 
 to take due care in the examination of all candidates for baptism, or 
 that offer to dedicate their children to God in that sacred ordinance, 
 that they are persons of a regular life, and have suitable acquaintance 
 with the principles of the Christian religion ; that that seal be not set to 
 a blank, and that such be not admitted to visible Church relation that 
 are manifestly unfit for it." Minutes, 1735, p. 115. 
 
 b. " That previously to the administration of baptism, the minister 
 shall inquire into the parent s knowledge of the great and fundamental 
 doctrines of the Gospel, and the regularity of their lives j and being- 
 satisfied so as to admit them, shall, in public, point out the special duties 
 of the parents, and particularly that they teach their children the doc 
 trines and precepts of Christianity, contained in the Scriptures of the 
 Old and New Testaments, and comprised in the Westminster Confession 
 of Faith and Catechisms, which therefore he shall recommend unto 
 them." Minutes, 1755, p. 267. 
 
 c. " The following reference from the Synod of Philadelphia was laid 
 before the Assembly : l As baptism is to be administered to the infants 
 of those who are members of the visible Church (but our Directory 
 leaves the description of the visible and credible profession of Christian- 
 
 7 
 
98 IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 
 
 ity vague and indefinite), it is humbly proposed to the Assembly to give 
 some precise direction and definition of such a profession for the informa 
 tion of its ministers/ In answer to the above reference, the Assembly 
 judged it unnecessary, and perhaps impracticable, to deliver rules more 
 explicit than those contained in the standards of our Church , but should 
 cases of difficulty arise, they must be decided respectively, according to 
 their own merits, before the proper judicatories." Minutes, 1794, p. 91. 
 
 Parents required to enter into Engagements. 
 
 d. " The following question, through the Committee of Overtures, 
 was read, viz. : 
 
 < Whether, besides requiring of parents dedicating their children to 
 God in baptism, an express acknowledgment of the duties of parents, 
 and recommending to them the observance thereof, it should be con 
 sidered as essential to require that they come under an explicit vow or 
 solemn engagement also to perform those duties ? whereupon the Assem 
 bly 
 
 Resolved, That an answer to this question is contained in the Di 
 rectory for Public Worship of this Church, under the head of the admin 
 istration of baptism, which requires an express engagement on the part 
 of the parents." Minutes, 1794, p. 89. 
 
 4. The Subjects of Baptism. 
 
 a. " The following case of conscience from Donegal Presbytery was 
 overtured, viz. : Whether Christian masters or mistresses ought in duty 
 to have such children baptized as are under their care, though born of 
 parents not in the communion of any Christian Church ? Upon this 
 overture, Synod are of opinion that Christian masters and mistresses, 
 whose religious professions and conduct are such as to give them a right 
 to the ordinance of baptism for their own children, may and ought to 
 dedicate the children of their household to God in that ordinance when 
 they have no scruples of conscience to the contrary." Records, 1786, 
 p. 527. 
 
 I. " It was overtured, whether Christian slaves, having children at the 
 entire direction of unchristian masters, and not having it in their power 
 to instruct them in religion, are bound to have them baptized; and 
 whether a Gospel minister in this predicament ought to baptize them ? 
 And Synod determined the question in the affirmative." Records, 
 1786, p. 527. 
 
IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 99 
 
 c. " The committee to which was referred the following question, viz. : 
 Ought baptism on the profession and promise of the master to be ad 
 ministered to the children of slaves T reported, and their report, being 
 amended, was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " 1. That it is the duty of masters, who are members of the Church, 
 to present the children of parents in servitude to the ordinance of bap 
 tism, provided they are in a situation to train them up in the nurture 
 and admonition of the Lord, thus securing to them the rich advantages 
 which the Gospel provides. 
 
 " 2. That it is the duty of Christ s ministers to inculcate this doctrine, 
 and to baptize all children of this description when presented by their 
 masters." Minutes, 1816, p. 617. 
 
 Age of Infancy undetermined. 
 
 d. The committee to which was referred the question, " At what age 
 ought children to be considered too old to be baptized on the faith of 
 their parents?" reported the following answer, which, being read, was 
 adopted, viz. : 
 
 The precise time of life when the state of infancy ceases is not deter 
 mined in the Word of God, nor by the standards of our Church, and, 
 from the nature of the case, is incapable of being regulated by any 
 uniform rule, but should be left to the judgment of ministers and Ses 
 sions, to be determined according to the particular circumstances of each 
 case. The Assembly therefore deem it inexpedient to attempt to fix 
 the precise time at which children ought to be considered too old to be 
 baptized on the faith of their parents. Minutes, 1822, p. 53. 
 
 5. Pastoral Care to be exercised over the Baptized. 
 
 " Whereas, The Book of Discipline states that children born within the 
 pale of the visible Church, and dedicated to God in baptism, are under 
 the inspection and government of the Church, and specifies various 
 important particulars in which that inspection and government should 
 be exercised, as also directs the mode in which they shall be treated if 
 they do not perform the duties of church members ; and whereas, there- 
 is reason to apprehend that many of our congregations neglect to catechize 
 the children that have been admitted to the sealing ordinance of baptism,, 
 and do not exercise suitable discipline over them, therefore 
 
 "Resolved, That the different Presbyteries within our bounds are 
 
100 IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 
 
 hereby directed to inquire of the different Sessions, whether a proper 
 pastoral care be exercised over baptized children in their congregations ; 
 that they learn the principles of religion, and walk in newness of 
 life before God , and that said Presbyteries do direct all Sessions that 
 are delinquent in this respect, to attend to it carefully and without 
 delay." Minutes, 1809, p. 431. 
 
 To be Instructed as to their Duties. 
 
 b. u Resolved , That the General Assembly recommend, and they do 
 hereby recommend to the pastors and Sessions of the different churches 
 under their care, to assemble, as often as they may deem necessary dur 
 ing the year, the baptized children, with their parents, to recommend 
 said children to God in prayer, explain to them the nature and obliga 
 tions of their baptism, and the relation they sustain to the Church." 
 Minutes, 1818, p. 691. 
 
 Catechetical Instruction. 
 
 c. " The following resolutions on the subject of catechetical instruction 
 were unanimously adopted, viz. : 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That this General Assembly considers the practice of 
 catechetical instruction as well adapted to the prosperity and purity of 
 our Zion. 
 
 " 2. Resolved, That this Assembly view also with deep regret the 
 neglect, on the part of many of our churches, of this good old practice 
 of our fathers, a practice which has been attended with such blessed 
 results to the cause of pure and undented religion. 
 
 "3. Resolved, That the institution of Sabbath-schools does not exo 
 nerate ministers and parents from the duty of teaching the Shorter 
 Catechism to the children of the Church. 
 
 " 4. Resolved, That this Assembly earnestly and affectionately recom 
 mend to all the ministers and ruling elders in its conqection to teach 
 diligently the young of their respective congregations the Assembly s 
 Shorter Catechism." Minutes, 1849, p. 181. 
 
 6. Discipline of Baptized Children. 
 
 a. " How far, and in what sense, are persons who have been regu 
 larly baptized in infancy, and have not partaken of the sacrament of the 
 Lord s Supper, subject to the discipline of the Church? 
 
IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 101 
 
 "Resolved, That the public standards of this Church contain a suffi 
 cient answer to the question stated in the above reference/ Minutes, 
 1799, p. 171. 
 
 b. [The Book of the Synod of Kentucky] " con tains a reference from 
 said Synod to this Assembly of a case relative to the disciplining of bap 
 tized persons arrived at maturity, not in communion, 
 
 "This reference was committed to Dr. Clark, Messrs. Nathan Grier 
 and Picton, who were directed to report to the Assembly on the sub 
 ject." Minutes, 1811, p. 468. 
 
 "The committee . . . brought in their report; which was read, and 
 the subject indefinitely postponed." Minutes, 1811, p. 475. 
 
 " Resolved, That Drs. Miller and Romeyn, and Rev. James Richards, 
 be a committee to prepare and report to the next Assembly a full and 
 complete answer to the following overture from the Synod of Kentucky, 
 viz.: 
 
 " What steps should the Church take with a baptized youth, not in 
 communion, but arrived at the age of maturity, should such youth prove 
 disorderly and contumacious/ Minutes, 1811, p. 480. 
 
 " The committee appointed by the last Assembly to report to this As 
 sembly on the subject of disciplining baptized children, reported, and 
 the report was recommitted to the same committee for revision and pub 
 lication; and it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the Assembly, without expressing any opinion on the 
 principles it contains, recommend it to the serious consideration of all 
 the Presbyteries and ministers, that in due time a decision may be had 
 on the important subjects discussed in the report/ Minutes, 1812, 
 p. 509. 
 
 c. [In 1814, the matter came up again, and it was] 
 
 "Resolved, That the whole subject be referred to a committee, to 
 consider and report to the Assembly, what shall appear to them to be the 
 correct method of procedure to be adopted relative thereto, in the cir 
 cumstances in which it is now before the Assembly; and that Drs. 
 Green, Woodhull, and Wilson, and Messrs. Caldwell and Connelly, be 
 the committee." Minutes, 1814, p. 543. 
 
 "The report on the subject of disciplining baptized children, which 
 had at a former session of this Assembly been laid on the table, was 
 again read, and recommitted to the same committee, with the addition 
 of Drs. Griffin and Blatchford, and Messrs. Blackburn, Fisher, and 
 Haslett." Ib. p. 551. 
 
102 IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 
 
 " On motion, 
 
 " Resolved, That the committee appointed to report to the Assembly 
 a correct method of procedure to be adopted relative to a report made 
 by a former committee, on the subject of disciplining baptized children, 
 be discharged. 
 
 "And they were accordingly discharged, and the subject was indefi 
 nitely postponed/ Ib. p. 567. 
 
 d. " A reference from the Presbytery of Fayetteville, on the subject 
 of excommunicating a person who had been baptized, but had not been 
 received into full communion with the Church, was overtured, and was 
 committed to Dr. Miller, Messrs. Finley, Freeman, Cook, and Haslett." 
 Minutes, 1815, p. 578. 
 
 11 The consideration of the report of the committee to which had 
 been committed the reference of the Presbytery of Fayetteville, con 
 cerning the proper construction of the first article of the first chapter of 
 the forms of process, relative to persons who have been baptized, but 
 have not been admitted to the Lord s table, was resumed. After a long 
 discussion of the subject, a motion was made and seconded for an inde 
 finite postponement. The question being taken, was determined in the 
 affirmative j and therefore the farther consideration of the subject was 
 indefinitely postponed." II. p. 589. 
 
 7. Mode of Baptism. 
 
 The committee to whom were referred Overtures 4 and 5, from the 
 Synod of West Tennessee, made the following report, which was adopted, 
 viz. : That two distinct questions are presented by the Synod : 
 
 1. " Is it expedient in the present state of the Church for a Presby 
 terian minister to baptize by immersion in any case ? 
 
 2. "Is the baptism of the children of non-professing parents to be 
 regarded as valid baptism ?" 
 
 In relation to the first inquiry, the Confession of Faith, chap, xxviii, 
 sec. 3. page 121, teaches as follows, viz. : "Dipping of the person into 
 water is not necessary ; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring 
 or sprinkling of water upon the person/ Your committee see no cause 
 for adding anything to the doctrine of the Confession on this subject. 
 
 For a reply to the second inquiry, your committee refer to the Digest, 
 part iv, chap, ii, sec. 1, on page 94, where the judgment of the Assem 
 bly in relation to it is fully recorded. Minutes, 1834, p. 433. 
 
 [See ante, chap, iv, sec. 1, 3.] 
 
IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 103 
 
 8. On Baptism on a General Profession of Faith in Christ. 
 
 " The Committee on the Polity of the Church reported an answer to 
 the following inquiry : 
 
 " t Is it forbidden by our standards to baptize adult converts upon a 
 general confession of faith in Christ, previous to their being received 
 into a particular church, and assenting to its articles of faith T as fol 
 lows, viz. : 
 
 " A profession of faith in Christ and obedience to Him is all that is 
 required in our standards of those who are out of the visible church, in 
 order to their being baptized. (See Con. of Faith, chap, xxviii, sec. 4 ; 
 Larger Cat., quest. 166 ; Shorter Cat., quest. 95.) Hence, cases may 
 occur in which, as in the case of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, it 
 may be proper to baptize a person who does not expect immediately to 
 connect himself with any particular church. But inasmuch as it was 
 the obvious intent of the Saviour that all His disciples should be asso 
 ciated in local churches, and inasmuch as we cannot obey one of His 
 commandments, that requiring us to remember Him at his table, without 
 such connection j therefore, your committee believe that in no ordinary 
 circumstances can a person give good evidence of a readiness to obey 
 Christ in all things, who. having the opportunity, does not connect him 
 self with some particular branch of the visible body of Christ. In the 
 practice of our Church, and according to her standards, baptism is mani 
 festly regarded as a part of the general profession of faith in, and obe 
 dience to, Christ, which constitute his initiation into the visible Church, 
 and into some particular branch of it; and in no ordinary case ought the 
 several parts of this solemn profession to be separated." Minutes, 1860, 
 p. 244. 
 
 SECTION 2. THE LORD S SUPPER. 
 
 i. Administration permitted where there is no organized church. 2. Not ordina 
 rily to be administered within the bounds of a congregation without the consent 
 of the minister and Session. 
 
 1. Permitted where there is no organized Church. 
 
 " It was moved that the restriction laid by the last General Assembly 
 on our missionaries, which confines them to administer the ordinance of 
 
104 IV. THE SACRAMENTS. 
 
 the Lord s Supper in such places only where there are church officers 
 regularly appointed, be repealed, and it was repealed accordingly/ 
 
 Minutes, 1798, p. 146. 
 
 * 
 
 2. Not ordinarily to be administered within the "bounds of a Congrega 
 tion without consent of the Minister and Session. 
 
 "The committee to which was referred the appeal of the Rev. R. B. 
 Dobbins, from the decision of the Synod of Kentucky, affirming a de 
 cision of the Presbytery of Ebenezer, in the cases of the Rev. William 
 L. McCalla, and the Session of the Church of Augusta, reported, and 
 the report being read, was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "While the Assembly, as a general principle, disapprove of the admin 
 istration of the sacraments by one of their ministers within the bounds 
 of a congregation with which he is not connected, without the consent 
 of the minister and Session of said congregation ; yet under the peculiar 
 local circumstances of the people, among which Mr. McCalla occasion 
 ally administered ordinances, the Assembly cannot decide that he de 
 serves censure ; therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That the decision of the Synod of Kentucky, affirming a 
 decision of the Presbytery of Ebenezer in regard to the complaint of 
 the Rev. Mr. Dobbins, against the Rev. Mr. McCalla, be, and it hereby 
 is, affirmed." Minutes, 1824, p. 124. 
 
^U T L ,!J % 
 
 u, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 OF THE COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 SECTION 1. OF CHURCH SESSIONS. 
 
 1. Quorum of the Session. One elder, if there be but one, with a minister, may 
 form a quorum. 2. The appointment of a special Session is unconstitutional. 
 3. The Session should be represented in Presbytery and Synod. 4. A Session 
 may not invite a minister to sit as a corresponding member, nor assign him as 
 counsel for the accused. 5. No one, not a member of the court, may act as 
 counsel. 6. An elder has in no case a legal right to adjudicate in any other 
 church than that in which he is an elder. 7. Records of the Session to be an 
 nually sent up for review. 8. The Session may not introduce a new Psalmody 
 without the consent of the majority of the congregation. 9. Where a minister 
 is the accuser, a minister should preside. 10. The Session cannot be set aside 
 by an act of the church ; nor would such attempted act deprive the church of 
 its right to be represented by its elders in the courts of the Church. 
 
 1. Quorum of Sessions. 
 
 a. " I. The Church Session consists of the pastor or pastors and ruling 
 elders of a particular congregation. 
 
 "II. Of this judicatory, two elders, if there be as many in the con 
 gregation, with the pastor, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum." 
 Form of Government, chap. ix. 
 
 b. The inquiry, which is in these words, " Can a minister with one 
 elder form a Session capable of transacting judicial business ?" is suffi 
 ciently answered in the Constitution, Form of Government, chap, ix, 
 sec. 2, where it seems to be implied that cases may occur with infant or 
 feeble churches, in which it would be impracticable for a time to have 
 more than one elder, and yet be necessary to perform acts of a judicial 
 character. For such the Constitution provides; but if there be more 
 than one elder, then two at least, with a minister, are necessary to form 
 a Session. Minutes, 1836, p. 263. 
 
106 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 2. A Special Session unconstitutional. 
 
 a. The Presbytery of Miami did appoint a special Session composed 
 of elders belonging to different congregations, for the purpose of trying 
 Mr. Lowrey , and the decision of such a special Session was affirmed by 
 the Synod of Ohio ; therefore 
 
 Resolved, That the appeal of Mr. Lowrey be sustained, and it hereby 
 is sustained ; and that all the proceedings in the case be, and they hereby 
 are reversed, on the ground that the appointment of such a special Ses 
 sion is entirely unconstitutional ; and if Mr. Lowrey has done anything 
 offensive, he ought to be tried by the courts that have been instituted by 
 the Constitution of our Church. Minutes, 1823, p. 92. 
 
 Z>. " This Assembly concur in opinion with the last General Assembly, 
 that the special Session appointed by the Presbytery of Miami for the 
 trial of S. Lowrey, was an unconstitutional court, and that all the pro 
 ceedings of that body in this case, and of the Presbytery of Miami and 
 of the Synod of Ohio, sanctioning the acts of that body, are irregular. 
 And the allegation of th~e Synod, in their memorial, that this body, 
 though called a Session, was, in reality, no more than a committee of 
 Presbytery, is incorrect ; for they are not only denominated a Session, 
 but they performed the acts which belong peculiarly to a Church Session : 
 they sat in judgment upon a member of the Church and an elder, and 
 condemned and suspended him; but no Presbytery has authority, accord 
 ing to the Constitution of our Church, to delegate to a committee a power 
 to perform such acts as those. " Minutes, 1824, p. 115. 
 
 3. Of the Session: Duty to be represented in Presbytery and Synod. 
 
 "The Synod do recommend it to the several Presbyteries belonging 
 to their body to call those Sessions to account that do not send elders to 
 attend upon the Synod and Presbyteries, and to enjoin these Sessions to 
 call those elders to an account that do not attend upon judicatories when 
 sent by them." Minutes, 1753, p. 256. 
 
 4. A Session may not invite a Minister to sit as Correspondent; nor 
 assign him as Counsel for the Accused. 
 
 The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported Overture No. 4 in 
 these words, viz. : 
 
THE SESSIONS. 107 
 
 " May a Session of a church invite a minister of the Gospel, belonging 
 to the same Presbytery or Synod to which the church belongs, to sit as 
 a corresponding member of said Session ; and when so invited, may such 
 minister, at the request of an accused brother, be assigned as counsel for 
 the accused ? 
 
 " The committee recommended that both questions be answered in the 
 negative, and the report was adopted." Minutes, 1851, p. 20. 
 
 5. No one not a Member of the Judicatory may act as Counsel. 
 
 The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported Overture No. 5, as 
 follows : 
 
 " May the Session of a church, at the request of an accused brother, 
 assign as his counsel a minister of the Gospel belonging to the same 
 Presbytery to which the Session belongs ?" 
 
 The committee answered : " There is no provision for such a case in 
 our Constitution, and though it does not appear to contravene its spirit 
 and design, and might, in special cases, be allowable with advantage, yet 
 a strict interpretation of chap, iv, sec. 21, of the Book of Discipline 
 seems to preclude the employment of any one as counsel who is not a 
 member of the Judicatory." 
 
 The report was adopted. Minutes, 1851, p. 29. 
 
 6. A Ruling Elder lias no ri(jht to Adjudicate in another Church. 
 
 11 Overture No. 14, viz., the following question from the Presbytery of 
 Salem, Has a ruling elder, in any case, a legal right to adjudicate in 
 another church than that of which he is an elder ? was taken up, and 
 decided in the negative/ Minutes, 1831, p. 324. 
 
 7. Session Records to be annually sent up for Review. 
 
 a. The following resolution was submitted to the Assembly, and after 
 a long discussion, was adopted. 
 
 " Whereas, It appeared, in the course of the free conversation on the 
 state of religion, that in one of the Presbyteries under the care of the 
 General Assembly, the sessional records of the several church Sessions 
 were not regularly called up and examined every year by the said Pres 
 bytery, and there is reason to believe that other Presbyteries had con 
 ducted in the same manner, therefore 
 
108 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " Resolved, That it be and it hereby is required of all the Presbyteries 
 within the bounds of the General Assembly annually to call up and 
 examine the sessional records of the several churches under their care, 
 as directed in the Book of Discipline." Minutes, 1809, p. 429. 
 
 I). The committee appointed to consider the order of the last General 
 Assembly, respecting the examination of Session books, and also the 
 remonstrance of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, requesting this Assem 
 bly to review said order, brought in their report, which was read and 
 adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The Assembly, after seriously reviewing the order of the last Assem 
 bly, and maturely deliberating on the remonstrance of the Presbytery of 
 Philadelphia against it, can by no means rescind the said order, inasmuch 
 as they consider it as founded on the Constitution of our Church, and as 
 properly resulting from the obligation on the highest judicatory of the 
 Church to see that the Constitution be duly regarded ; yet, as it is 
 alleged, that insisting on the rigid execution of this order, with respect 
 to some of the church Sessions, would not be for edification, the Assem 
 bly are by no means disposed to urge any Presbytery to proceed, under 
 this order, beyond what they may consider prudent and useful/ 
 Minutes, 1810, p. 453. 
 
 [For duties of Session when a church is vacant, see under Election 
 of Pastors, p. 58.] 
 
 8. Session may not introduce a new Psalmody, without the Consent of 
 the Congregation. 
 
 " It being moved to the Synod, whether a church Session hath power 
 to introduce a new version of Psalms into the congregation to which 
 they belong, without the consent of the majority of said congregation , 
 it was voted in the negative, nemine contradicente." Minutes, 1753, 
 p. 255. 
 
 9. Where a Minister is the Accuser, a Minister must Preside. 
 
 <( Ordered, To hear the reference by the Second Philadelphia Presby 
 tery of Mr. Alexander Alexander s appeal from the judgment of the 
 Session of the Third Presbyterian Church in this city. ^ 
 
 "After stating the cause and reading the judgment of the Session 
 and the appeal, both parties were fully heard ; and the Synod finding, 
 
THE SESSIONS. 109 
 
 that as the Session had not a minister of the word to preside through 
 the course of the trial, and that a minister was the accuser of the appel 
 lant, it was judged it was at least inexpedient to proceed to trial; and 
 upon the whole we think it best, and do remit the matter back to the 
 Presbytery, to be heard and judged of by them de novo. Minutes, 
 1773, p. 447. 
 
 10. Deliverance in a Special Case. 
 
 " The Committee on the Polity of the Church, to whom was referred 
 the overture, When a church shall dismiss its ruling elders, and deny to 
 its members the right of appeal and complaint, and deny the authority 
 of Presbytery over it, has it a right to be represented in the judicatories 
 of our Church ? reported as follows : 
 
 " Our Church is organized on constitutional principles, with powers 
 and duties appropriate to each branch or part thereof; and, with a gra 
 dation of subordinate and superior judicatories, designed to preserve 
 unity of doctrine, and orderly discipline, according to the Scriptures. 
 
 " This Constitution does not recognize a right of revolution, and makes 
 no provision therefor, but treats all such cases simply as breaches of 
 order, and visits them with appropriate constitutional remedies. Any 
 individual church is represented in the Church judicatories constitution 
 ally, only by the pastor or an elder, one or both ; and it can find admis 
 sion into such judicatories only through such a mode of representation. 
 
 "The overture supposes three cases : 1st, a dismissal of elders; 2d, 
 a denial of the right of appeal and complaint; and 3d, a denial of the 
 authority of the Presbytery. 
 
 " Each of these is an unconstitutional act, is utterly null and void, 
 and subjects the offending church to visitation and discipline at the 
 hands of the Presbytery. The Form of Government, chap, x, sec. 8, 
 empowers the Presbytery to visit particular churches, for the purpose 
 of inquiring into their state, and redressing the evils that may have 
 arisen in them ; to unite or divide congregations, at the request of the 
 people ; or to form or receive new congregations ; and, in general, to 
 order whatever pertains to the spiritual welfare of the churches under 
 their care. 
 
 " The above-named acts of insubordination, being void, work no effect; 
 the Session have still the right, and it is their duty, to send one of the 
 elders to the Presbytery and the Synod ; and his votes and acts in these 
 
110 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 bodies are the votes and the acts of the church. So, too, the Presby 
 tery may send any one of such elders to the General Assembly ; and 
 should such church refuse obedience to the acts of the judicatories so 
 constituted, it would be subject to the discipline, in due form, of our 
 ecclesiastical law. Such church has a right to be represented by elders, 
 and it cannot pass by them and substitute a private member as its repre 
 sentative. A void act of deposition, or dismission of its elders, does not 
 incapacitate the church. In sending one of its dismissed elders to the 
 Presbytery or the Synod, it disaffirms its illegal act, and that is an end 
 of it; and if it should send a delegate not an elder, he could not be 
 received ; and the church would simply be unrepresented (except by 
 the pastor), pro liac vice; but the church is still under the care of the 
 Presbytery, and subject to its government. The bond of union, which 
 was formed bj mutual and concurrent consent and act, cannot be dis 
 solved by an ex parte act of insubordination or revolution, until the other 
 party has acted thereon. The committee, therefore, recommend the fol 
 lowing answer to the overture : 
 
 "Resolved, That the acts of insubordination specified in the overture 
 do not, of themselves, infer a forfeiture of the church s right to be 
 represented in the Church judicatories; but such representation must 
 be in the mode, and by the persons, specified in the Constitution of the 
 Church. 
 
 "The report was adopted." Minutes, 1860, pp. 260, 261. 
 
 SECTION 2. THE PRESBYTERY. 
 
 I. ITS MEMBERS. 1. Ruling elders, in the absence of their pastors, entitled to a 
 seat. 2. Ministers without charge are members of the Church courts. 3. But 
 a ruling elder without charge has no seat in any judicatory of the Church. 4. 
 The Presbytery alone is the judge of the fitness of its members. 5. It may 
 reject an applicant at its discretion; but, 6, not without good reasons. 7. A 
 new rule refused. 8. Rule as to a member of an extinct Presbytery, charged 
 with an offence. The Presbytery to which he applies should receive him, and 
 if charged with an offence, try him. But the Presbytery may refuse to receive 
 him ; in which case he is under the special jurisdiction of the Synod. 9. Mi 
 nisters and licentiates, received from, other bodies, are required to answer the 
 questions, Form Gov. chaps, xiv, xv. JO. Members dismissed in good stand 
 ing by sister Presbyteries ought to be received; but, 11, it is the right of every 
 Presbytery to satisfy itself of the soundness of the applicant. 12. Examination 
 made imperative, in every case; but, 13, the rule declared unconstitutional and 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. Ill 
 
 void. 14. Rule for the reception of foreign ministers. The rule enforced. 15. 
 Modification of the rules refused. 
 
 II. ITS JURISDICTION. 1. a. Over members non-resident, to try them. b. Diffi 
 culty of process does not relieve the Presbytery of responsibility. Discipline by 
 a " mission," not recognized. c. A case transferred to the Presbytery within 
 whose bounds the accused resides. d. Construction of chap, v, sees. 3 and 4, 
 Book of Discipline. 2. Where a Session cannot act, the Presbytery is the proper 
 court to try ruling elders. 3. When ministers withdraw irregularly, their 
 name is to be stricken from the roll. Also churches, and church members. 
 4. When ministers withdraw partially or entirely from the work of the minis 
 try, their reasons for so doing are to be recorded, with the approval or disap 
 proval of the Presbytery. 5. A minister having left the Presbyterian Church, 
 and wishing to return, must apply to the Presbytery from which he withdrew. 
 6. The Assembly refuses leave to prosecute ministers of other Presbyteries, who 
 preach heresy within their bounds. 7. Jurisdiction over a deposed minister, is 
 in the Presbytery that deposed him. 8. A minister holding a letter of dismis 
 sion, is a member of the Presbytery, until received by another body. 
 
 III. DISMISSION OF MEMBERS. 1. The body to which he is dismissed must be 
 specified. 2. May not dismiss by a " standing committee." 3. Where a sen 
 tence is reversed, and process not renewed within a certain time, a member 
 may claim a dismissal in good standing. 
 
 IV. BOUNDARIES OF PRESBYTERIES. 1. Should have geographical limits. 2. 
 " Elective affinity" condemned. 3. Exceptions permitted. 4. Ministers living 
 out of the bounds of their Presbyteries, to show cause for non-residence; or to 
 be transferred to the Presbytery within whose bounds they reside. 5. A Pres 
 bytery may not dismiss, nor receive, a church without the approval of Synod. 
 
 V. MISCELLANEOUS. 1. The Presbytery to inspect its members. 2. A Presby 
 tery, organized without the act of Synod, recognized. 3. Duty of minorities, 
 where the majority has withdrawn. 4. Resolutions excluding slaveholders 
 from the pulpit and from communion unconstitutional, and Presbyteries re 
 quested to rescind such resolutions. 5. Church covenants belong to Presby 
 teries and Synods. G. Two clerical members not a quorum. 
 
 I. ITS MEMBERS. 
 
 1. Ruling Elder entitled to a Seat in the absence of the Pastor. 
 " Mr. Edmundson being present as a representative of the congrega 
 tion of Patuxent, and their minister absent, it was put to the vote 
 whether the said Mr. Edmundson should act here as a representative, 
 notwithstanding the minister s absence, and carried in the affirmative, 
 nem. con" Minutes, 1716, p. 42. 
 
 2. Ministers without Charge entitled to a Seat. 
 lt Are ministers without charges constituent members of our church 
 
112 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 judicatures, and have they an equal voice with settled pastors and 
 ruling elders of congregations in ecclesiastical governments ?" 
 
 " In the judgment of this Assembly, this question is answered affirma 
 tively, chap, ix, sec. 2, of the Form of Government of the Presbyterian 
 Church, in these words : l A Presbytery consists of all the ministers and 
 one ruling elder from each congregation within a certain district/ " 
 Minutes, 1816, p. 615. 
 
 3. An Etder without Charge is not, entitled to a Seat. 
 
 Resolved, That no ruling elder who has retired from the active ex 
 ercise of his office in the church to which he belongs, can be admitted 
 as a member of a Presbytery, Synod, or General Assembly. 
 
 This resolution, after some discussion, was adopted by yeas and nays : 
 yeas 76, nays 15. Minutes, 1835, p. 489. 
 
 4. The Presbytery alone must judge of the fitness of its Members. 
 
 " Your committee doubted the correctness of the order given by the 
 Synod to the Presbytery of Geneva, to reconsider their proceedings on 
 the subject of the admission of the Rev. Shipley Wells, a constituent 
 member of that Presbytery, which order, though it be not appealed 
 from, appears to have given rise to the protest in question. 
 
 11 The Synod of Geneva were beyond doubt, in the opinion of your 
 committee, competent to censure the Presbytery of Geneva for admitting 
 hastily, and on slight evidence, into their body, an unworthy or even a 
 suspicious character. But it is, in the opinion of your committee, 
 equally clear, that the right of deciding on the fitness of admitting Mr. 
 Wells, a constituent member of the Presbytery of Geneva, belonged to 
 the Presbytery itself; and that having admitted him, no matter how 
 improvidently, that their decision was valid and final. The individual 
 admitted became a member in full standing ; nor could the Presbytery, 
 though it should reconsider, reverse its own decision, or in any way sever 
 the member so admitted from their body, except by a regular process. 
 Adopted." Minutes, 1816, p. 612. 
 
 5. A Presbytery may reject an Applicant for cause. 
 
 A complaint and appeal of the Rev. Thomas Ledlie Birch against 
 certain proceedings of the Presbytery of Ohio in the case of Mr. Birch, 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 113 
 
 particularly for refusing to receive him as a member of their body, on 
 the ground of a supposed want of acquaintance with experimental reli 
 gion, together with a representation of the congregation of Washington, 
 in the bounds of said Presbytery, on the same subject, was brought in 
 by the Committee on Bills and Overtures. 
 
 Subsequently, u Resolved, That no evidence of censurable procedure 
 in the Presbytery of Ohio, in the case of Mr. Birch, has appeared to 
 this house, inasmuch as there is a discretionary power necessarily lodged 
 in every Presbytery to judge of the qualifications of those whom they 
 receive, especially with respect to experimental religion. " Minutes, 
 1801, pp. 213, 218. 
 
 6. But not without sufficient reasons. 
 
 a. A complaint was brought in by the Rev. Mr. George Duffield 
 against the Second Philadelphia Presbytery, that they had, by one of 
 tlieir members, obstructed his entrance into a church in this city under 
 their care, to which he had accepted a call, and had also refused to re 
 ceive him as a member, although he was dismissed from, and recom 
 mended by, the Presbytery of Donegal, which was read. 
 
 After having maturely considered this matter, the Synod judge that 
 Mr. Duffield had just cause of complaint against the conduct and judg 
 ment of the Second Philadelphia Presbyter} 7 , who ought to have admit 
 ted him to membership with them, and allowed him a fair trial ; where 
 fore we now declare him to be minister of the Pine Street or Third 
 Presbyterian congregation in this city, and order that he be put upon 
 the list of the aforesaid Presbytery. Minutes, 1773, p. 446. 
 
 I. Resolved, That the appeal of the Presbytery of Abingdon from the 
 decision of the Synod of Virginia, in the case of the Rev. Robert Glenn, 
 be dismissed, on the ground that the substantial cause of appeal has 
 been removed by the act of that Presbytery, in their receiving Mr. 
 Glenn, in conformity with the decision of the Synod. The appeal was 
 accordingly dismissed. Minutes, 1822, p. 55. 
 
 7. Assembly refuses to make an alteration in the Book. 
 
 The following overture from the Presbytery of Baltimore was received 
 and read, viz., "That after the 12th article of the 10th chapter of the 
 revised Form of Government, the following be added : XIII. Every 
 
114 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Presbytery shall judge of the qualifications of its own members." On 
 motion, 
 
 Resolved, That it is inexpedient to grant the request contained in 
 this overture, or to make any new alterations at present in the Book of 
 Discipline. Minutes, 1821, p. 10. 
 
 8. Rule as to a Member of an extinct Presbytery. 
 
 *The committee appointed to consider the overture sent up by the 
 Presbytery of Baltimore, respecting the course proper to be pursued by 
 a Presbytery, when a minister, with a certificate of good standing from 
 a Presbytery which has no longer any existence, applies for admission, 
 but is supposed to be chargeable with some offence subsequently to the 
 date of that certificate, made the following report, which was adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 That after the most attentive consideration of the question presented 
 in said overture, it appears to them that the proper answer is embraced 
 in the following particulars, viz. : 
 
 1. It is well known that the Book of Discipline of our Church expressly 
 provides, that when a minister shall be dismissed by one Presbytery with 
 a view to his joining another, he shall always be considered as remaining 
 under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery which dismissed him, until he 
 actually becomes a member of another. In the case stated in the over 
 ture, however, as the dismissing Presbytery had become extinct, it was 
 physically impossible to act according to the letter of this rule. In 
 these circumstances, every principle of sound interpretation seems to 
 direct that, in ordinary cases, the Presbytery into which admission is 
 sought should receive the applicant; and, if he be charged with any 
 offence, conduct the process against him. 
 
 2. Nevertheless it is the privilege of every Presbytery to judge of the 
 character and situation of those who apply to be admitted into their own 
 body, and unless they are satisfied, to decline receiving the same. A 
 Presbytery, it is true, may make an improper use of this privilege j in 
 which case the rejected applicant may appeal to the Synod or the Ge 
 neral Assembly. 
 
 3. When any minister dismissed in good standing by an extinct Pres 
 bytery is charged with an offence subsequently to the date of his dis 
 mission, the Presbytery to which he applies for admission not only may, 
 if they see cause, decline receiving him ; but if their own situation be 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 115 
 
 such that there is no prospect of their being able to conduct process 
 against him in an impartial and efficient manner, ought to decline ad 
 mitting him into their body. 
 
 4. In this case, ministers dismissed by an extinct Presbytery, and not 
 received into any other, are to be considered as under the direction of 
 their proper Synod, and ought to be disposed of as the Synod may order. 
 Minutes, 1825, pp. 146, 147. 
 
 9. How Ministers and Licentiates from corresponding Bodies are to l>e 
 
 received. 
 
 The committee appointed by the General Assembly of 1829, to con 
 sider and report to the Assembly of 1830 on the manner in which 
 ministers and licentiates are to be received into any of our Presbyteries 
 from ecclesiastical bodies in the United States which correspond with 
 this General Assembly, made the following report, which was adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 That, in their judgment, every licentiate coming by certificate to any 
 Presbytery in connection with the General Assembly from any portion 
 of a corresponding ecclesiastical body, should be required to answer in 
 the affirmative the constitutional questions, directed by chap, xiv of our 
 Form of Government to be put to our own candidates before they are 
 licensed ; and that, in like manner, every ordained minister of the Gos 
 pel, coming from any church in correspondence with the General Assem 
 bly by certificate of dismission and recommendation, should be required 
 to answer affirmatively the first seven questions directed by chap, xv of 
 our Form of Government, to be put to one of our own licentiates when, 
 about to be ordained to the sacred office. 
 
 The course which is thus recommended by the committee, they believe,, 
 has been generally practised by our Presbyteries , and the impropriety, 
 of admitting strangers into our connection on other terms than our own, 
 licentiates and ministers is too obvious to require remark. It is the 
 assent of licentiates and ministers to these questions which brings them 
 under the watch and care of the Presbyteries which receive them, and 
 without which they ought not to enjoy the privileges of preachers of the 
 Gospel in our ecclesiastical connection. Minutes, 1830, p. 287. 
 
116 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 10. Ministers dismissed in good standing should be received on tlieir 
 
 Testimonials. 
 
 "Resolved, That a due regard to the order of the Church and the 
 bonds of brotherhood require, in the opinion of this Assembly, that 
 ministers dismissed in good standing by sister Presbyteries should be 
 received by the Presbyteries which they are dismissed to join upon the 
 credit of their constitutional testimonials, unless they shall have forfeited 
 their good standing subsequently to their dismissal." Minutes, 1834, 
 p. 440. 
 
 11. The rinlit of Presbytery to satisfy itself of the soundness of the 
 
 Applicant. 
 
 "Resolved, That, in the judgment of this General Assembly, it is the 
 right of every Presbytery to be entirely satisfied of the soundness in the 
 faith and the good character in every respect of those ministers who 
 apply to be admitted into the Presbytery as members, and who bring 
 testimonials of good standing from sister Presbyteries, or from foreign 
 bodies with whom the Presbyterian Church is in correspondence. And 
 if there be any reasonable doubt respecting the proper qualifications of 
 such candidates, notwithstanding their testimonials, it is the right, and 
 may be the duty of such a Presbytery to examine them, or to take such 
 other methods of being satisfied in regard to their suitable character as 
 anay be judged proper; and if such satisfaction be not obtained, to 
 decline receiving them. In such case, it shall be the duty of the Pres- 
 -bytery rejecting the applicant to make known what it has done to the 
 Presbytery from which he came, with its reasons. It being always 
 understood, that each Presbytery is, in this concern, as in all others, 
 responsible for its acts to the higher judicatories." Minutes, 1835, p. 
 485. 
 
 12. Examination made imperative in all Cases. 
 
 u The report of the Committee on the right of Presbyteries to examine 
 ministers applying for admission, which was adopted this morning, was 
 reconsidered, amended, and adopted, as follows, viz. : 
 
 "That the constitutional right of every Presbytery to examine all 
 seeking connection with them was settled by the Assembly of 1835. 
 (See Minutes of 1835, p. 27.) And this Assembly now render it impera- 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 117 
 
 live on Presbyteries to examine all who make application for admission 
 into their bodies, at least on experimental religion, didactic and polemic 
 theology, and church government." Minutes, 1837, p. 429. 
 
 13. The above Rule unconstitutional. 
 
 The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 14, reported the 
 following resolution, which was adopted : 
 
 " Whereas, It is the inherent right of Presbyteries to expound and 
 apply constitutional rules touching the qualification of their own mem 
 bers, therefore 
 
 "Resolved, That the action of the last General Assembly (p. 429, 
 printed Minutes), making it imperative on the Presbyteries to examine 
 all who make application for admission to their bodies, not excepting 
 ministers coming from other Presbyteries, is null and void." Minutes, 
 1838, p. 660. 
 
 14. Reception of Foreign Ministers the Rule. 
 
 [The original rule on this subject may be found in the Minutes for 
 1735, p. 118. Action was also taken in 1773, p. 448, and 1774, p. 
 455. In 1784, the same matter forced itself upon the notice of Synod.] 
 
 " The Synod having reason, by information given since their present 
 meeting, to apprehend the churches under their care in imminent danger 
 from ministers and licensed candidates of unsound principles coming 
 among us, do hereby renew their former injunction to the respective 
 Presbyteries within their bounds, relative to this matter, and do also 
 strictly enjoin on every member of this body, under pain of censure, to 
 be particularly careful in this respect. And the stated clerk of the 
 Synod is hereby directed to furnish each of our Presbyteries with an 
 attested copy of the said injunctions, together with a copy of this 
 minute." Minutes, 1784, p. 504. 
 
 [In 1798 (Minutes, p. 148), the Assembly adopted " regulations in 
 tended to embrace and extend the existing rules." In 1800, it was 
 modified and amended, and is now the rule, viz. :] 
 
 " The draught of certain regulations respecting the admission of fo 
 reign ministers and licentiates, reported by the committee appointed for 
 that purpose, was again read, and having been fully considered and 
 amended, was adopted by a large majority, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
118 V. COURTS OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 " When any minister or licentiate from Europe shall come into this 
 country, and desire to become connected with the Presbyterian Church 
 in the United States, he may apply to any committee appointed to direct 
 the services of travelling ministers and candidates; which committee 
 shall inspect his credentials, and, by examination or otherwise, endeavor 
 to ascertain his soundness in the faith and experimental acquaintance 
 with religion ; his attainments in divinity and literature ; his moral and 
 religious character, and approbation of our public standards of doctrine 
 and discipline. If the result shall be such as to encourage further trial, 
 said committee may give him appointments to supply and recommend 
 him to the churches till the next meeting of the Presbytery to which 
 such committee belongs. It shall then become the duty of such minister 
 or licentiate to apply to that Presbytery, or to any other, in whose bounds 
 he may incline to labor; provided always, that he make his application 
 to the Presbytery at their first meeting after his coming within their 
 bounds ; and also, that immediately on coming within the bounds of any 
 Presbytery, he apply to their committee to judge of his certificate of 
 approbation, and, if they think it expedient, to make him appointments; 
 or, if it shall be more convenient, the application may be made to the 
 Presbytery in the first instance ; but it shall be deemed irregular for any 
 foreign minister or licentiate to preach in any vacant church till he have 
 obtained the approbation of some Presbytery or committee of Presby 
 tery, in manner aforesaid. 
 
 " The Presbytery to which such minister or licentiate may apply, shall 
 carefully examine his credentials, and not sustain a mere certificate of 
 good standing, unless corroborated by such private letters, or other col 
 lateral testimony, as shall fully satisfy them as to the authenticity and 
 sufficiency of his testimonials. After inspecting any evidences of his 
 literary acquirements which may be laid before them, the Presbytery 
 shall enter into a free conversation with him, in order to discover his 
 soundness in the faith and experimental acquaintance with religion. If 
 they shall obtain satisfaction on these several articles, they shall proceed 
 to examine him on the learned languages, the arts, sciences, theology, 
 Church history and government; nor shall they receive him, unless he 
 shall appear to have made such attainments in these several branches as 
 are required of those who receive their education or pass their trials 
 among ourselves. But if, upon the whole, he appears to be a person 
 worthy of encouragement, and who promises usefulness in the Church, 
 they shall receive him as a minister or candidate on probation, he first 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 119 
 
 adopting our standards of doctrine and discipline, and promising subjec 
 tion to the Presbytery in the Lord. During this state of probation he 
 may preach the Gospel where regularly called, either as a stated or oc 
 casional supply; and if an ordained minister, perform every part of the 
 ministerial functions, except that he may not vote in any judicatory, or 
 accept a call for settlement. 
 
 " If the foreigner who shall apply to any Presbytery or committee, as 
 aforesaid, be an ordained minister, such committee and Presbytery may, 
 at their discretion, dispense with the special examination on literature 
 in this Act prescribed, provided he shall exhibit satisfactory evidence 
 that he has received such education, and made such progress in lan 
 guages, arts, and sciences, as are required by the Constitution of our 
 Church as qualifications for the Gospel ministry. But in all other re 
 spects, the examination shall be the same as in the case of a licentiate. 
 
 " If from prospects of settlement, or greater usefulness, a minister or 
 licentiate under probation in any Presbytery, shall wish to move into 
 the bounds of another, he shall receive a dismission, containing a certi 
 ficate of his standing and character, from the Presbytery under whose 
 care he shall have been ; which certificate shall entitle him to the same 
 standing in the Presbytery into whose bounds he shall come, except that 
 from the time of his coming under the care of this latter Presbytery, a 
 whole year shall elapse before they come to a final judgment respecting 
 his reception. 
 
 " When any foreign minister or licentiate, received on certificate, or 
 pursuant to trials in any Presbytery, shall have resided generally and 
 preached within their bounds and under their direction, for at least one 
 year, they shall cause him to preach before them (if they judge it expe 
 dient), and taking into consideration, as well the evidence derived from 
 their former trials as that which may arise from his acceptance in the 
 churches, his prudence, gravity, and godly conversation, and from the 
 combined evidence of the whole, determine either to receive him, to 
 reject him, or to hold him under further probation. In case of receiving 
 him at that, or any subsequent period, the Presbytery shall report the 
 same to their Synod at its next meeting, together with all the certificates 
 and other testimony on which they received them j or, if it shall be 
 more convenient, this report may be made to the General Assembly. 
 The said Assembly or Synod, as the case may be, shall then inquire into 
 the proceedings of the Presbytery in the affair, and if they find them to 
 have been irregular or deficient, they shall recommit them to the Pres- 
 
120 V. COURTS OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 bytery, in order to a more regular and perfect process. But if the pro 
 ceedings had in the Presbytery appear to have been conformable to this 
 regulation, they shall carefully examine all the papers laid before them 
 by the Presbytery, or which shall be exhibited by the party concerned, 
 and considering their credibility and sufficiency, come to a final judg 
 ment, either to receive him into the Presbyterian body, agreeably to his 
 standing, or to reject him. 
 
 " In order, however, to facilitate the settlement of foreign ministers 
 as soon as may consist with the purity and order of the Church, it is 
 further ordained, that if the proper Synod or the General Assembly are 
 not to meet within three months after that meeting of a Presbytery at 
 which a foreign minister on probation is expected to be received, the 
 Presbytery may, if they see cause, lay his testimonials before that meet 
 ing of the Assembly or Synod which shall be held next before said 
 meeting of the Presbytery. If this Assembly or Synod shall approve 
 the testimonials, they shall give the Presbytery such information and 
 direction as the case may require, and remit the same to them for final 
 issue. In all other cases, it shall be deemed irregular for any Synod or 
 General Assembly to receive a foreign minister or licentiate, until he 
 shall have passed his period of probation, and been received and reported 
 by some Presbytery, in manner aforesaid. 
 
 "No minister or licentiate, after being rejected by one Presbytery, 
 shall be received by another, or if received through mistake or otherwise, 
 he shall be no longer countenanced or employed, after the imposition is 
 discovered. If, however, any minister or licentiate shall think himself 
 aggrieved by the sentence of any Presbytery, he shall have a right to 
 carry the matter by complaint to the proper Synod, or to the next Gene 
 ral Assembly, giving notice thereof to the Presbytery during the meet 
 ing at which the sentence was pronounced, or at the meeting next fol 
 lowing. 
 
 " These regulations and provisions relative to the reception of foreign 
 ministers and licentiates, are to be considered as coming in place of all 
 that have heretofore been established on this subject; and all judicatures 
 and individuals under the care of the Assembly are to regard them ac 
 cordingly." Minutes, 1800, pp. 200-202. 
 
 The Rule enforced, 
 a. " The committee appointed to examine the records of the Synod 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 121 
 
 of Albany, reported, and the book was approved to page 177, excepting 
 the case of receiving a foreign licentiate by the Presbytery of St. Law 
 rence, without laying their proceedings in the case before the Synod or 
 General Assembly/ Minutes, 1822, p. 38. 
 
 b. Overture No. 4 was taken up, viz., an application from the Pres 
 bytery of Watertown, for leave to receive Mr. William Lockhead, a 
 foreign licentiate, who, after being under the care of the Presbytery of 
 Champlain for five months, had been dismissed to the Presbytery of 
 Watertown, and had been under the care of the latter Presbytery since 
 the 9th of February last. The Presbytery of Watertown requests, that 
 the Assembly will allow them to take into the account, for the term of 
 trial, the time which Mr. Lockhead spent on trials in th e Presbytery of 
 Champlain. On this request the Assembly resolved, that the standing 
 rule, which requires that the foreign licentiate must spend a year in the 
 Presbytery to which he is dismissed, be hot dispensed with." Minutes, 
 1830, p. 299. 
 
 Leave granted to count the Year from the time of his first Reception. 
 
 c. " The committee appointed on Overture No. 14, from the Presby 
 tery of Elizabethtown, respecting the case of Mr. John Anderson, a 
 foreign licentiate, who, in October, 1834, was received under the care 
 of the Presbytery of New York, and in April last transferred to the 
 Presbytery of Elizabethtown, requesting that Mr. Anderson s year of 
 probation may be considered as commencing at the time when he was 
 received by the Presbytery of New York, reported as follows : 
 
 " After examining all the documents put into their hands respecting 
 the subject, they unanimously recommend that the request of the Pres 
 bytery of Elizabethtown be granted. This report was accepted and 
 adopted/ Minutes, 1835, p. 470. 
 
 15. Modification of the Rules Refused. 
 
 " The Committee (on Polity) further report, an application from the 
 Fourth Presbytery of New York, for such a modification of the rules in 
 the Digest as will facilitate the reception of ministers from foreign 
 bodies, with whom we are on terms of fraternal correspondence. The 
 committee can see and appreciate the fact, that, in the great changes 
 which have occurred, bringing the ends of the earth near together, in- 
 
122 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 stances of seeming hardship may occur; still, in their judgment, the 
 time has not yet come, when it is wise for this Assembly to introduce 
 the change in our arrangements referred to; and they therefore recom 
 mend that no action be taken by the Assembly in the premises." 
 Minutes, 1855, p. 26. 
 
 II. OF ITS JURISDICTION. 
 1. Jurisdiction over Members non-resident. 
 
 a. The Presbytery of New York represented to Synod that one of 
 their members now resided in the bounds of New Brunswick Presby 
 tery, whose moral character labored under some imputations, and re 
 quested the advice of the Synod as to which of the Presbyteries should 
 make inquiry into the matter; whereupon the Synod judged it to be the 
 duty of the Presbytery of New York. Minutes, 1786, p. 495. 
 
 Difficulty of process does not relieve the Presbytery of responsibility. 
 Discipline by persons not organized under any distinctive form of 
 Church Government not recognized. 
 
 b. The Third Presbytery of New York, by overture, inquire what order 
 it would be proper for them to take with reference to a member who has 
 been excluded from Christian fellowship by a ministerial Association 
 under the patronage of the American Board of Commissioners for Fo 
 reign Missions, and dismissed from the service of that Board for immo 
 rality, and with whom a regular process of discipline by the Presbytery 
 is difficult, on account of his distance from them and from any ecclesias 
 tical body of our connection. The General Assembly reply, that the 
 ecclesiastical relations of the individual in question evidently remain 
 unchanged by the action of persons not organized under any distinct 
 form of government, and especially not guided by the principles of dis 
 cipline to which he was subject; and the only correct course for the 
 Presbytery to take, if they regard him as a proper subject of discipline, 
 is to pursue precisely the forms of process given in our Book of Disci 
 pline, however difficult or protracted the actual process may be. Mi 
 nutes, 1856, p. 194. 
 
 A case transferred to the Presbytery in which the party resides. 
 
 c. Petitions from the churches at Mount Pleasant and Greensburg, in 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 123 
 
 New York, and from five ministers of the Gospel residing in the vicinity 
 of Mr. George Bourne, requesting that Mr. Bourne might be restored 
 to the office of the Gospel ministry, were overtured } and application on 
 behalf of Mr. Bourne was made by Dr. Ely, that, on the profession of 
 his penitence, he may be restored ; whereupon, it was 
 
 " Resolved, That the case of Mr. George Bourne be referred to the 
 Presbytery of New York, in whose bounds he now resides ; and it is 
 hereby ordered that the Presbytery of New York be furnished, by the 
 Presbytery of Lexington, with all the documents relative to the deposi 
 tion of Mr. Bourne, that they receive testimony as to the character and 
 deportment of Mr. Bourne since his deposition, and also the evidences 
 of repentance which Mr. Bourne may furnish ; and it is ordered more 
 over, that the said Presbytery of New York do proceed to issue the case, 
 and either continue the sentence of deposition or restore him, the said 
 Bourne, to the Gospel ministry, as they may judge proper." Minutes, 
 1824, p. 124. 
 
 The Presbytery within which a Minister resides may examine wit 
 nesses, and transmit the record, but may not try him. 
 
 d. The Judicial Committee also made a statement in the case of the 
 Rev. Horace Belknap, and recommended the adoption of the following 
 resolutions, which were adopted accordingly, viz. : 
 
 Resolved, 1. That, in the opinion of this Assembly, the resolution of 
 the last General Assembly,* in answer to Overture No. 2, does not apply 
 to the case of the Rev. Horace Belknap, as referred by the Presbytery 
 of Harmony. 
 
 Resolved, 2. That, in the opinion of this Assembly, the Presbyteries 
 both of Harmony and Steubenville appear to have misconceived the direc 
 tions as laid down in chapter v, sections 3d and 4th of the Book of Dis 
 cipline; inasmuch as those rules do not transfer jurisdiction from a Pres 
 bytery to which a minister belongs to the one within whose bounds he 
 resides, so as to authorize the latter Presbytery to try such minister; but 
 only to examine witnesses in the case, and transmit an authentic record of 
 the testimony to the Presbytery which made the application ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved, 3. That the Presbytery of Harmony is at liberty to pursue 
 such a course in the case of Mr. Belknap as the circumstances of the 
 case and the good of religion shall, in their opinion, require. Minutes, 
 1831, p. 339. 
 
 * See 3, 6, page 124 ; Reference for Advice from the Presbytery of St. Lawrence. 
 
124 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 2. The proper Court to try Ruling Elders in a given case. 
 
 The following question from the Presbytery of Genesee was presented 
 by the Committee of Overtures, viz. : 
 
 " Common fame accuses two ruling elders of a church [they being the 
 only acting elders] of unchristian conduct, which took place several years 
 ago, but which has lately been made known to the Presbytery with which 
 said church is connected. What is the duty of the Presbytery in the 
 case ?" 
 
 Resolved, That the Presbytery is the competent court to try these two 
 elders, and that it is their duty to cite the offending persons before 
 them, and proceed to issue the case. Minutes, 1825, pp. 142, 144. 
 
 3. Ministers withdrawing from Presbytery irregularly, to le stricken 
 from the roll. 
 
 a. Overture No. 5, viz. : A reference from the Presbytery of Che- 
 nango, asking advice in the case of the Rev. Edward Andrews, a member 
 of their body, who has recently withdrawn and received Episcopal ordi 
 nation, was taken up and committed to Mr. Crothers, Mr. Weed, and 
 Mr. Farrand. Minutes, 1828, p. 239. 
 
 The committee on the reference from the Chenango Presbytery, in 
 the case of the Rev. Edward Andrews, made the following report, which 
 was adopted, viz. : 
 
 Resolved, as the sense of this Assembly, that though the conduct of 
 Mr. Andrews was disorderly, it be recommended to the Presbytery to do 
 nothing further in the case than simply to strike his name from the list 
 of their members. Minutes, 1828, p. 240. 
 
 b. " The Committee on Overture No. 2, viz., a reference for advice 
 from the Presbytery of St. Lawrence, reported the following resolution 
 as a suitable answer to be given in the case, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That when a minister otherwise in good standing gives 
 notice in form to the Presbytery to which he belongs, that he renounces 
 the fellowship of the Presbyterian Church, or by neglecting to attend 
 the meetings of its judicatorics after being dealt with for such neglect, 
 gives evidence that he has done so in fact, his name ought to be struck 
 from the roll of membership, a notice of this procedure communicated 
 to the disowned member, and, if necessary, published to the Church. 
 The congregation under the care of such minister ought to be held as 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 125 
 
 still under the care of Presbytery, unless they give evidence that they 
 also have withdrawn, in which case their name ought also to be struck 
 from the list of congregations belonging to the Presbytery." Minutes, 
 1830, p. 305. 
 
 c. Resolved^ That it be recommended to majorities of church Sessions 
 and Presbyteries to take no other action in relation to members who 
 have left them to join other ecclesiastical bodies not in connection with 
 us, than to strike their names from the roll. Minutes, 1839, p. 24. 
 
 4. Ministers withdrawing from the work of the Ministry to be ques 
 tioned as to their reasons. 
 
 " When ministers have withdrawn, or may hereafter withdraw, wholly 
 or in part, from the work of the ministry, it is enjoined upon the Pres 
 byteries to which they belong to require of such ministers their reasons 
 for so doing, which reasons are to be put upon record by the Presbytery, 
 with an expression of their approbation or disapprobation of the same." 
 Minutes, 1834, p. 450. 
 
 5. A Minister who has icithdrawn must return to his own Presbytery. 
 
 " Mr. David Austin, who had been formerly a member of the Presby 
 tery of New York, and had withdrawn from the Presbytery and the 
 Presbyterian Church, appeared before the Assembly, and renewed his 
 request of last year, to be again received into ministerial communion and 
 regular standing in the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " Mr. Austin, having been fully heard in support of his petition, with 
 drew j when the Assembly, after maturely considering the case, 
 
 "Resolved, That, as it would be disorderly for this Assembly to 
 restore Mr. Austin to his standing in the Presbyterian Church in the 
 form in which it is sought by him, inasmuch as he withdrew from the 
 Presbytery of New York, against whom he makes no complaint, and to 
 whom of course he ought to apply; so this Assembly, in the course of 
 the discussion had on the subject of Mr. Austin s application, have had 
 before them sufficient evidence that it is inexpedient at present to 
 recommend his reception by any judicature of this Church." Minutes, 
 1802, p. 238. 
 
 6. Leave to prosecute Heretics within their Bounds refused. 
 Overture No. 13, being a proposition from the Presbytery of West 
 
126 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Lexington and Louisville, to the Assembly, to authorize them to prose 
 cute ministers of other Presbyteries who may preach heresy within their 
 bounds, was taken up and read : Whereupon, it was resolved, that the 
 Constitution in sections 2, 3, or 4, of chap, v, of the Book of Discipline, 
 contains sufficient provision on the subject overtured. Minutes., 1834, 
 p. 476. 
 
 7. Jurisdiction over a deposed Minister is in the Presbytery which 
 deposed him. 
 
 [The Presbytery of Des Moines deposed Rev. James H. Shields from 
 the ministry. Subsequently, Mr. Shields applied for restoration to the 
 Presbytery of Keokuk, within whose bounds he resided at the time of 
 his application.] 
 
 The Committee on Polity also reported Paper No. 2. An Overture 
 from the Presbytery of Keokuk, asking if they have jurisdiction over 
 the case of James H. Shields, deposed by the Presbytery of Des Moines. 
 
 The committee recommended to the Assembly, that the question sub 
 mitted by the Presbytery of Keokuk be answered in the negative; and 
 the recommendation was adopted. Minutes, 1859, p. 18. 
 
 8. A Minister, holdiny a Letter of Dismission, is a Member of the 
 Presbytery dismissing him until received by another Body. 
 
 [Overture to the Synod of Ohio. When a member of Presbytery has 
 taken a letter to join another Presbytery or association, what relation 
 does he sustain to, and what rights and privileges has he in the Presby 
 tery from which he received the letter, during the time that intervenes 
 between receiving the letter and uniting with that other Presbytery or 
 consociation ? 
 
 Answer by the Synod of Ohio. It is often a fact that dismissions are 
 granted during the sessions of a Presbytery, to take effect at its close. 
 This fact decides that in all ordinary cases all the rights and privileges 
 of an individual in a Presbytery cease the moment his request for a dis 
 mission is granted. He may, however, at any time before he has used 
 it, return his letter, and then claim all his former rights and privileges ; 
 but until he has used his letter, he is amenable to the Presbytery. See 
 Form of Government, chap, x, sec. 1, 2. Minutes, Synod of Ohio, p. 
 225.] 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 127 
 
 The Committee on the Records of the Synod of Ohio reported, and 
 their report was adopted, recommending the approval of the Records as 
 far as written, with the following exception : 
 
 That the answer to the question contained in Paper No. 2, p. 225, 
 should be : " He is a member of the Presbytery until he is received by 
 another body/ See I. S. Minutes, 1860, p. 239. 
 
 III. DISMISSION OP MEMBERS. 
 
 1. Presbytery must specify the Body to which a Member is dismissed. 
 
 Resolved, That, whereas it is a fundamental principle of the govern 
 ment and discipline of the Presbyterian Church, that every minister of 
 the Gospel belonging to it be subject, at all times, to his brethren in the 
 Lord, and accountable to them for the orthodoxy of his principles, and 
 for his moral, religious, and orderly deportment; it is therefore 
 
 " Ordered, That every Presbytery under the care of this Assembly, 
 whenever they dismiss a member, be careful particularly to specify with 
 what Presbytery, association, or classis, or other religious body, he is to 
 be associated after his dismission (to which some of the Presbyteries do 
 not appear to have been sufficiently attentive) ; and that every member 
 so dismissed be, in all cases, considered as amenable to the Presbytery 
 which has dismissed him till he shall become connected with the eccle 
 siastical body which he shall have been directed to join/ Minutes, 
 1806, p. 351. 
 
 2. May not dismiss l>y a Standing Committee. 
 
 " The report of the committee on the reference from the Presbytery 
 of Cayuga, relative to the constitutionality of a rule of that body, which 
 had been laid on the table, was taken up. The rule of the Presbytery of 
 Cayuga, referred to the Assembly, is as follows, viz. : The moderator for 
 the time being, and the stated clerk ex officio, were appointed a com 
 mittee to grant letters of dismission to ministers without charge, and to 
 licentiates and candidates under the care of this Presbytery, to unite 
 with other Presbyteries ; and were directed to report at each stated 
 meeting." 
 
 In relation to this rule, the following resolution reported by the com 
 mittee was adopted, viz. : 
 
128 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 "Resolved, That the rule hitherto acted upon by the Presbytery of 
 Cayuga is inexpedient and unconstitutional." Minutes, 1830, p. 302. 
 
 3. Where Sentence has been reversed, and Process is not commenced 
 anew within a certain time, a Member may claim a Dismission in 
 good standing. 
 
 The committee appointed to prepare a minute expressive of the sense 
 of the Assembly, concerning the appeal of Mr. Joseph E. Bell, reported 
 the following resolutions, which were adopted, viz. : 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That, in the judgment of the Assembly, Mr. Bell was, 
 and still continues to be, fully amenable to the Presbytery of Concord. 
 
 "2. That, while the Assembly do not wish to protect the guilty, they 
 do judge that great caution, deliberation, and, as far as may be, the rules 
 of discipline, where ministerial character is impeached, ought to be 
 strictly observed, and that in this case the informality was exceptionable. 
 
 " 3. That if it be deemed necessary for the good of religion, and the 
 honor of the ministerial character, the Presbytery of Concord are entirely 
 competent to commence a new trial. Or if Mr. Bell shall desire, for his 
 own sake, a new trial, the door is still open. 
 
 " 4. That in the mean time Mr. Bell s ministerial standing shall be 
 considered regular; and if no process shall be commenced by either party 
 within the space of six months, from the 1st of June next, then Mr. 
 Bell may claim from the Presbytery of Concord a dismission declaring 
 him to be in regular standing." Minutes, 1828, pp. 240, 241. 
 
 IV. BOUNDARIES or PRESBYTERIES. 
 
 1. Presbyteries should have Geographical Boundaries. 
 
 a. "A Presbytery consists of all the ministers and one ruling elder 
 from each congregation, within a certain district." Form of Govern 
 ment, chap, ix, sec. 2. Minutes, 1816, p. 615. 
 
 b. "Resolved, That, except in very extraordinary cases, this Assem 
 bly are of the opinion that Presbyteries ought to be formed with geo 
 graphical limits." Minutes, 1834, p. 441. 
 
 2. Elective Affinity condemned. 
 "Resolved, That the erection of Church courts, and especially of 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 129 
 
 Presbyteries and Synods, on the principle of elective affinity/ that is, 
 judicatories not bounded by geographical limits, but having a chief re 
 gard in their erection to diversities of doctrinal belief, and of ecclesias 
 tical policy, is contrary both to the letter and the spirit of our Constitu 
 tion, and opens a wide door for mischiefs and abuses of the most serious 
 kind. One such Presbytery, if so disposed, might, in process of time, 
 fill the whole Church with unsound and schismatic ministers, especially 
 if the principle were adopted that regular testimonials must of course 
 secure the admission of those who bore them into any other Presbytery. 
 Such a Presbytery, moreover, being without geographical bounds, might 
 enter the limits and disturb the repose of any church into which it might 
 think proper to intrude; and thus divide churches, stir up strife, and 
 promote party spirit and schism, with all their deplorable consequences. 
 Surely a plan of procedure in the Church of God which naturally and 
 almost unavoidably tends to produce such effects as these, ought to be 
 frowned upon, and as soon as possible terminated by the supreme judi- 
 catory of the Church." Minutes, 1835, p. 486. 
 
 3 . Exceptions permitted. 
 
 a. " The committee appointed to consider the petition of Union 
 Presbytery (Overture No. 3) made the following report, which was 
 adopted, viz. : 
 
 " The petition of the Presbytery states, that the missionaries of the 
 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, laboring among 
 the Cherokee Indians, have organized a number of churches according 
 to the order of the Presbyterian Church in the United States; that 
 these churches have been for the most part taken under care of the 
 Union Presbytery, although some of the churches are within the terri 
 torial limits of other Presbyteries ; that this measure was adopted on 
 the presumption that no other judicatory of the Church would object to 
 it ; especially as the missionaries and their churches united with the 
 Presbyterian body, on condition that they should be permitted to con 
 nect themselves with the Presbyteries that might be most agreeable to 
 the natives, and most convenient to the missionaries. On this statement 
 the Union Presbytery founds a petition that the General Assembly 
 would give liberty to the missionaries and churches in the Cherokee 
 nation, to unite to such adjacent Presbyteries as may be most agreeable 
 to themselves. Whereupon, 
 
 9 
 
130 v. COURTS or THE CHURCH. 
 
 "Resolved, That the request herein made be granted; and the several 
 Presbyteries to which the missionaries and churches aforesaid may unite 
 themselves, are directed to report the names of ministers and number of 
 communicants thus received to each future General Assembly; it being 
 understood that in all other respects the said ministers and churches 
 shall submit to the government and order of the Presbyterian Church." 
 Minutes, 1826, p. 181. 
 
 Z>. " The committee to whom was referred the memorial from the 
 Synod of West Tennessee, complaining of the Assembly of 1826, be 
 cause they admitted the verbal testimony of a delegate to set aside a 
 written document from the Synod of Tennessee, and on that account, in 
 dividing the Synod, granted them only a part of their request ; com 
 plaining also of the privilege granted by the Assembly to the mission 
 aries among the Cherokees, as found in the printed Minutes of 1826, 
 pages 21, 24, and 27, and requesting that the privilege there referred 
 to may be rescinded 5 made the following report, which was adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 " 1. That it does not appear, either from the Minutes of the Assem 
 bly, or from the memorial, what part, if any, of the request of the Synod 
 of Tennessee was refused to be granted. The Assembly, therefore, can 
 grant no relief till the grievance be specified and understood. 
 
 " 2. That in regard to the privilege granted to the Cherokee mission 
 aries to join such Presbyteries as should be most convenient and agree 
 able to themselves, the Assembly do not perceive any particular griev 
 ance, either to the missionaries, or to the Synod of West Tennessee ; 
 yet, as it seems to have given some dissatisfaction, and is out of the usual 
 course, therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That the aforesaid Act, contained on page 27 of the 
 printed Minutes of 1826, be rescinded, and that the missionaries be, 
 and they hereby are directed, to connect themselves with those Presby 
 teries within whose territorial bounds they may reside." Minutes, 1828, 
 pp. 246, 247. 
 
 c. " The committee to whom was referred the representation of the 
 Presbytery of Union, touching the ecclesiastical connection of the Rev. 
 Messrs. Daniel S. Buttrick and Samuel A. Worcester, missionaries 
 among the Cherokee Indians, with said Presbytery, and stating the 
 grounds on which they request the continuance of said connection, 
 having taken the said document into serious consideration, beg leave 
 respectfully to recommend to this General Assembly the adoption of the 
 following resolution, viz. : 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 131 
 
 "Resolved, That, in the opinion of this General Assembly, the pecu 
 liar circumstances in which the said missionaries are placed, renders the 
 request now under consideration reasonable and proper; and to the end 
 that the object thereof may with all practicable expedition be effectually 
 secured, this General Assembly do hereby ratify and confirm such 
 friendly and amicable arrangement as may hereafter be made between 
 the Presbyteries of Hopewell and Union for this purpose." Minutes, 
 1829, p. 259. 
 
 d. li Overture No. 2, from the Presbytery of Cincinnati, touching the 
 condition of certain churches in Kentucky, seeking connection with us. 
 The committee recommend that, for the present, such churches be al 
 lowed to connect themselves with the Presbyteries contiguous, most to 
 their convenience. The report was adopted/ Minutes, 1859, p. 17. 
 
 c. " No. 3. A memorial from Rev. Benjamin Mills and others, of 
 the Synod of Kentucky, with respect to himself and others, formerly 
 members of the Synod of Kentucky, expressive of their attachment to 
 us, and their desire to return to our connection, if, with their views on 
 the subject of slavery, the way may be open to receive them. The 
 committee recommend, that these ministers and churches, and others 
 similarly situated, be referred to the Presbytery of Cincinnati or any 
 other border Presbytery; and that such Presbyteries be authorized so to 
 extend their jurisdiction as to receive any such ministers and churches, 
 situated near their borders, whose principles and practice are found to 
 harmonize with the position of the Church, as expressed and published 
 to the world by former Assemblies/ Minutes, 1859, p. 18. 
 
 Adopted. 
 
 4. Ministers Living out of the Bounds of their Presbyteries. 
 
 11 The committee to whom was referred an overture from the Synod 
 of Albany, in regard to non-resident members of Presbyteries, made the 
 following report, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " In conformity with the overture from the Synod of Albany, the 
 committee would recommend to the Assembly the adoption of the fol 
 lowing resolution, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That it be enjoined on the Presbyteries to inquire care 
 fully in regard to any of their members, who may be residing without 
 the bounds of their respective Presbyteries, whether there be sufficient 
 cause for such non-residence; and if not, that measures be taken to 
 
132 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 transfer the relation of such ministers to the Presbyteries in the bounds 
 of which they reside." Minutes, 1836, p. 272. 
 
 5. One Presbytery may not Dismiss a Church to another, ivithout the 
 Approbation of Synod. 
 
 " Resolved, That it is unconstitutional for a Presbytery to dismiss a 
 congregation under their care, and for any other Presbytery to receive 
 the congregation so dismissed, without the approbation of the Synod to 
 which such Presbyteries respectively belong. 7 Minutes, 1823, p. 91. 
 
 V. MISCELLANEOUS DECISIONS. 
 
 1. Presbytery to inquire into tlie Fidelity of its Members. 
 
 The Synod does recommend unanimously to all our Presbyteries to 
 take effectual care that each of their ministers are faithful in the dis 
 charge of their awful trust; and in particular, that they frequently 
 examine, with respect to each of their members, into their life and con 
 versation, their diligence in their work, and their methods of discharging 
 their ministerial calling; particularly, that each Presbytery do, at least 
 once a year, examine into the manner of each minister s preaching : 
 whether he insists in his ministry upon the great articles of Christianity, 
 and, in the course of his preaching, recommends a crucified Saviour to 
 his hearers as the only foundation of hope, and the absolute necessity of 
 the Omnipotent influences of Divine grace to enable them to accept of 
 this Saviour; whether he do, in the most solemn and affecting manner 
 he can, endeavor to convince his hearers of their lost and miserable state 
 whilst unconverted, and put them upon the diligent use of those means 
 necessary in order to obtaining the sanctifying influences of the Spirit of 
 God ; whether he do, and how he doth, discharge his duties towards the 
 young people and children of his congregation, in a way of catechising 
 and familiar instruction ; whether he do, and in what manner he doth, 
 visit his flock, and instruct them from house to house. 
 
 And the Synod hereby orders, that a copy of this minute be inserted 
 into the books of each of our Presbyteries, and be read at every of their 
 Presbyterial meetings, and a record of its being read minuted in said 
 
THE PRESBYTERY. 133 
 
 books at the beginning of every session ; and that there be also an annual 
 record in each Presbytery book of a correspondence with this minute. 
 
 And in case any minister within our bounds shall be found defective 
 in any of the above-mentioned cases, he shall be subject to the censure 
 of the Presbytery \ and if he refuse subjection to such censure, the Pres 
 bytery are hereby directed to represent his case to the next Synod. 
 
 And the Synod recommends to each of the ministers within our 
 bounds to be as much in catechetical doctrines as they in prudence 
 may think proper. Minutes, 1734, p. 111. 
 
 2. A Presbytery, organized without the Act of Synod, recognized. 
 
 Mr. Judd, from the Committee of Elections, made a report in relation 
 to the commissioners from the Presbytery of Hanover, which was con- 
 sidefed and adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 After a full investigation of the facts in reference to the case of the 
 llev. A. D. Pollock, and Mr. James Caskie, elder, commissioners to 
 this Assembly from the Presbytery of Hanover, the committee have 
 come to the following results, viz. : 
 
 1. That, as a majority of the Presbytery of East Hanover had declared 
 their adherence to a body claiming to be the General Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church, which, by its palpable violations of the Constitu 
 tion of said Church, had forfeited all claim to the appellation, the 
 minority might have retained the name of the Presbytery of East 
 Hanover. 
 
 2. Since they forbore to do this from courtesy to their brethren of 
 the majority, and peaceably retired and assumed the name of the Pres 
 bytery of Hanover, without the agency of Synod, this deviation from the 
 ordinary usages of our Church ought not, in their peculiar circumstances, 
 to invalidate their organization. 
 
 3. The committee therefore recommend the recognition by this As 
 sembly of the Presbytery of Hanover as a constituent part of the Pres 
 byterian Church in these United States ; the enrolment of the names of 
 said commissioners on the list of its members ; and that this Assembly 
 determine the Synodical relations of said Presbytery. Minutes, 1839, 
 p. 9. 
 
 3. Where Majorities have withdraivn, duty of the Minority. 
 a. Resolved, That it be recommended to ministers, where majorities 
 
134 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 have left, to continue their ecclesiastical organizations as before, if in 
 sufficient numbers; and if not, to connect themselves with the ecclesi 
 astical bodies most convenient to their locality and circumstances which 
 adhere to this General Assembly. Minutes, 1839, p. 24. 
 
 b. Also, No. 8, " An inquiry by a commissioner of the Presbytery of 
 Ottawa, whether, if a majority of a Presbytery withdraw from the 
 General Assembly, the remaining members, if sufficient in point of 
 numbers, are to be regarded as the Constitutional Presbytery?" 
 
 Answered in the affirmative. Minutes, 1850, p. 320. 
 
 4. Resolutions excluding Slaveholders unconstitutional. 
 
 " Whereas, It appears from memorials sent up to this Assembly, that 
 several of our Presbyteries have adopted resolutions excluding slave 
 holders from their pulpits, and from their communion : And whereas, 
 Our Constitution requires that no member of the Presbyterian Church 
 shall be thus disfranchised without a regular trial and conviction : And 
 ivhereas, This proceeding is a repetition of the exscinding acts of the 
 New Basis Assembly, against which we have taken our stand as friends 
 of the Constitution ; therefore 
 
 "Resolved, That the said Presbyteries be requested to rescind such 
 resolutions. 
 
 "The foregoing resolution was, with one dissenting voice, adopted." 
 Minutes, 1840, p. 24. 
 
 5. Church Covenants belong to Presbyteries and Synods. 
 
 Overture from the Synod of New York and New Jersey, and from the 
 Presbytery of Pittsburg, " On Church Covenants/ requesting the As 
 sembly to take order in reference to some uniform mode and formula of 
 receiving members into our churches, [the committee] recommend the 
 following answer : 
 
 " That it is inexpedient for the Assembly to attempt such a measure, 
 however desirable it is to have uniformity ; but that it more properly 
 belongs to the Presbyteries and Synods. Adopted." Minutes, 1851, 
 p. 15. 
 
 6. Two Clerical Members not a Quorum. 
 
 The Records of the Synod of Genesee were approved, with the follow 
 ing exception, viz. : 
 
THE SYNOD. 135 
 
 " The Synod made two clerical members of Presbytery a quorum for 
 transacting business." Minutes, 1857, p. 387. 
 
 SECTION 3. OF THE SYNOD. 
 
 The Synod is a convention of Bishops and Elders. 2. Where a Synod has 
 failed to meet on its adjournment, the Moderator may fix the time and place. 
 3. Special or called meetings of Synod are constitutional. 4. The Mode 
 rator has no power to change the place of meeting. 5. A Synod may not 
 refuse the members of its Presbyteries. Nor, 6. Order the erasure of their names 
 from the roll of Presbytery. 7. The Synod may not act judicially when there 
 is no reference or appeal to it. 8. The Records are to be sent up annually for 
 review. 9. The members of an inferior Judicatory may not vote on the approval 
 of their own Minutes. 10. When exceptions are taken to the records of inferior 
 Judicatories, the exceptions should be stated and the reasons assigned. 11. 
 Sessions on the Sabbath censured. 12. The Records should state the body to 
 which a corresponding member belongs. 13. The Records should state that the 
 meetings were opened and closed with prayer. 14. The Minutes should be 
 read and approved. 15. They should be attested by the stated clerk. 10. A 
 narrative of the State of Religion should be prepared and recorded. 17. Names 
 of absentees should be recorded. 18. Reasons called for; and absentees not 
 to be suspended without trial. 19. Formation of the Synods, 138. 
 
 1. The Synod is a Convention of BisJiops and Elders. 
 
 " As a Presbytery is a convention of the Bishops and Elders within 
 a certain district, so a Synod is the convention of several Presbyteries 
 within a larger district, including at least three Presbyteries." Form of 
 Government, chap, xi, sec. 1, 1789. Amended, 1804-5, so as to read 
 as at present : " So a Synod is a convention of the Bishops and Elders 
 within a larger district including several Presbyteries." Minutes, 1804, 
 p. 304. 
 
 Approved by the Presbyteries. Minutes, 1805, p. 333. 
 
 " This amendment goes to make a Synod consist not of Presbyteries, 
 but, as it ought, of Bishops and Elders." Note, Minutes, 1804, p. 304. 
 
 2. Where a Synod has failed to meet on its Adjournment. The Remedy. 
 
 " As it appeared from the representations of ministers and elders 
 assembled at Yorktown, the 20th of October, 1795, and signed Robert 
 
136 V. COURTS OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 Davidson, that the Synod of Philadelphia did not meet according to its 
 last adjournment, nor since the time to which it was adjourned. On 
 motion, 
 
 " Resolved, That the Moderator of the Synod of Philadelphia, the 
 Rev. Dr. Robert Davidson, ought to be considered as competent to call a 
 meeting of the same, and that he do accordingly call a meeting, to be 
 held in the Third Presbyterian Church in the city of Philadelphia, on 
 the fourth Wednesday of October next ; and that he give due notice 
 thereof by a circular letter to the Moderators of the several Presbyteries 
 composing the said Synod, whose duty it shall be to acquaint the other 
 members. 
 
 " Resolved, as the opinion of the Assembly, That from the nature of 
 the thing, two or more members of any judicatory, meeting according to 
 adjournment, may adjourn from day to day until a sufficient number at 
 tend for the transacting of business; and in case a quorum should not 
 attend within a reasonable time, that the Moderator shall be considered 
 as competent to fix any time and place he may judge proper for con 
 vening the body; and if he be absent, that the members assembled shall 
 represent the matter speedily to him that he may act accordingly." 
 Minutes y 179G, p. 113. 
 
 3. Meetings pro re nata constitutional. 
 
 a. The Committee of Overtures also reported Overture No. 13. This 
 overture was taken up, and is as follows, viz. : " An answer is requested 
 to the following question, viz., Has the Moderator of a Synod a right to 
 call a meeting of the Synod during the interval of its stated sessions ?" 
 
 Resolved, by the Assembly, That this question be answered in the 
 affirmative. Minu tcs, 1829, p. 268. 
 
 b. The Assembly took up the protest and complaint of a minority of 
 the Synod of Virginia, against a decision of said Synod in favor of call 
 ing meetings of Synod. The complainants and Synod were heard, after 
 which it was resolved that the complaint be not sustained. Minutes, 
 1832, p. 368. 
 
 c. The Committee on the Records of the Synod of Tennessee reported, 
 that after a careful examination of said Records, they find them correct; 
 and the attention of the committee having been called to the report of 
 a committee of the Synod of Tennessee, relating to the constitutionality 
 of a called meeting of said Synod, convened in accordance with a de- 
 
i l 
 
 THE SYNOD. 137 
 
 claratory resolution of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, 
 in 1796, and found on page 321 of the Digest published in 1820, after 
 a careful examination of the whole subject, they recommend the follow 
 ing action in the case : That, in the judgment of this General Assembly, 
 the meeting of the Synod of Tennessee at Knoxville, in said State, on 
 the 9th day of November, was in accordance with the Constitution of 
 the Presbyterian Church, and the Assembly do so declare. The report 
 was adopted. Minutes, 1855, p. 16. 
 
 4. Moderator may not change the Time of Meeting. 
 
 Records of the Synod of Illinois, approved : " Except in the case of 
 the action of that body, as recorded on p. 415, sustaining the act of the 
 Moderator of the Synod, in changing the time of its annual meeting." 
 Minutes, 1854, p. 500. 
 
 5. Synod may not refuse to receive the Members of its Presbyteries. 
 
 " The Records of the Synod of Michigan were, on the recommenda 
 tion of the committee, approved, with the following exception, That 
 on pages 137, 138, 139, 140, the Synod declined to receive two mem 
 bers, whose names appear on the minutes of two of the Presbyteries ; and 
 that the Synod also directed said Presbyteries to strike the names of said 
 members of Presbytery from their roll : one of the members belonging to 
 the Presbytery of Monroe, the other to the Presbytery of St. Joseph." 
 Minutes, 1819, p. 176. 
 
 6. Nor enjoin the Erasure of their Names. 
 
 "Overture No. 28. On the doings of the Synod of Michigan, the 
 matter of enjoining the Presbyteries of St. Joseph and Monroe to erase 
 the names of Rev. Marcus Harrison and Rev. A. L. Payson from their 
 rolls, was taken up. It was Resolved, That the action of the Synod in 
 the premises is unconstitutional." Minutes, 1849, p. 177. 
 
 7. The Synod may not act judicially upon Review, when there is no 
 appeal or reference to it. 
 
 " The Assembly, having maturely considered the appeal of Mr. Davis, 
 from the proceeding of the Synod of the Carolinas in his case 
 
138 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 "Resolved, That although they highly approve of the zeal of the 
 Synod to preserve the purity and peace of the Church within their 
 bounds, yet they cannot but decide that, in their proceedings in the 
 above case, in deciding that they had a right to try Mr. Davis, when 
 there was no reference or appeal in his case before them, they have not 
 strictly adhered to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church." 
 Minutes, 1810, p. 448. 
 
 8. The Synods to send up their Records annually. 
 
 a. " Ordered , That the Minutes of the respective Synods be laid yearly 
 before the General Assembly, to be by them revised." Minutes, 1789, 
 p. 7. 
 
 To report all Changes within their bounds. 
 
 I. "Resolved, That the respective Synods make yearly reports to the 
 General Assembly of all the licensures, ordinations, instalments, trans 
 lations, resignations, deaths, and whatever changes may take place 
 among the members within their bounds." Minutes, 1789, p. 7. 
 
 9. The Members of an inferior Jadicatory may not vote on the approval 
 of their own Minutes. 
 
 a. "A protest, signed by a number of members of the Synod of 
 Geneva, against a decision of that Synod, excluding the Presbytery of 
 Geneva from voting on the question, Whether their own records should 
 be attested by the Moderator of the Synod, as approved. Your com 
 mittee were, however, of opinion that the decision of the Synod was con 
 sonant to the prevalent usage of the judicatures of the Presbyterian 
 Church, as well as to the usage of other analogous bodies in similar 
 cases; and that it ought therefore to be approved." Adopted. Minutes, 
 1816, p. 611. 
 
 b. The records of the Synod of Kentucky approved, except, "That 
 the members of the West Lexington Presbytery voted in approbation of 
 their own proceedings, which is deemed to be irregular." Minutes, 
 1821, p. 23. 
 
THE SYNOD. 139 
 
 10. Wlien Exceptions are taken to the Records of the inferior Court, the 
 Exceptions should be stated, and reasons assigned. 
 
 a. " The committee appointed to examine the records of the Synod 
 of Pittsburg, reported, and the book was approved, excepting the resolu 
 tion on page 74, disapproving of the proceedings of a Presbytery without 
 assigning the reason." Minutes, 1820, p. 728. 
 
 I). " The records of the Synod of Ohio were approved, with the excep 
 tion of a minute on page 243, disapproving of a decision of a Presbytery, 
 and ordering said Presbytery to reconsider that decision, without any 
 reasons being assigned." Minutes, 1827, p. 202. 
 
 c. u The Synod of Pennsylvania, in approving the action of a Presby 
 tery in a judicial case, assigned an entirely unsatisfactory reason, p. 
 259." Minutes, 1850, p. 314. 
 
 d. " The records of the Synod of Indiana were approved, excepting 
 that on page 342, the records of Greencastle Presbytery are reported 
 as approved, with exceptions, while these exceptions are not spread upon 
 the Minutes of the Synod, as required by the Form of Government, 
 chap, vii, sec. 1, art. 3." Minutes, 1857, p. 387. 
 
 11. Session on the Sabbath censured. 
 
 a. The committee appointed to examine the records of the Synod of 
 North Carolina, reported, when the records were approved, with the 
 exception that on page 48 it is recorded that Synod held a session on 
 Sabbath evening. This was the closing meeting, and though it does not 
 seem to have been one of much business, still, in the opinion of the 
 Assembly, it was not proper. Minutes, 1834, p. 445. 
 
 b. The records of the Synod of Peoria were approved, with the excep 
 tion that " on p. 33, there is a record of a business meeting held on 
 Sabbath evening." Minutes, 1846, p. 18. 
 
 12. The Record should state the Body to ivhich a Corresponding 
 Member belongs. 
 
 a. "The proceedings of the Synod of Albany approved, with the ex 
 ception of having invited several ministers to take their seats as corre 
 sponding members, without describing the ecclesiastical body to which 
 such ministers belong." Minutes, 1815, p. 578. 
 
140 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 6. " The records of the Synod of Peoria were approved, with the 
 exception that on page 28, mention is made of a minister being invited 
 to sit as a corresponding member without designating the ecclesiastical 
 body to which he belonged/ Minutes, 1846, p. 18. 
 
 c. The records of the Synod of Illinois, p. 440, " do not state the 
 ecclesiastical connection of the Rev. Amasa Lord, who was invited to 
 sit as a corresponding member." Minutes, 1857, p. 387. 
 
 13. The Records should state that the Meetings were opened and dosed 
 
 with Prayer. 
 
 a. The records of the Synod of Pennsylvania approved, except that 
 "there is no evidence from the records that the last meeting of the 
 
 O 
 
 Synod was opened with prayer." Minutes, 1850, p. 314. 
 
 b. " The records of the Synod of Tennessee were approved, with the 
 following exceptions : 
 
 "1. On p. 34, it appears from the record that the Synod adjourned 
 at the close of the day without prayer. 
 
 " 2. On p. 36, it is recorded that the Synod was constituted with 
 prayer, it being the second day of the sessions of the Synod." Minutes., 
 1854, p. 500. 
 
 c. The records of the Synod of Kentucky approved, except that 
 "there is no record of prayer in p. 176." Minutes, 1854, p. 501. 
 
 d. Records of Synod of Minnesota approved, except " that on p. 54, 
 in the record of the session of Friday, Sept. 30th, 1859, no mention is 
 made of the opening services." Minutes, 1860, p. 239. 
 
 e. "The opening minute of each session of the Synod of Cincinnati is 
 defective, in not recording the meeting of the Synod before its being 
 opened with prayer." Minutes, 1849, p. 177. 
 
 14. The Minutes should le read and approved. 
 
 a. The records of the Synod of Cincinnati approved, except " the 
 omission at the opening of each session to read the Minutes of the pre 
 vious session, with no evidence in the records that the Minutes were 
 approved by Synod." Minutes, 1849, p. 177. 
 
 b. " The records of the Synod of Wabash were approved, with the 
 following exceptions : 
 
 " 1. On pages 51 and 52, the Synod met and proceeded to business 
 without reading the Minutes of the previous day s session. 
 
THE SYNOD. 141 
 
 "2. On page 59, the Synod closed its annual sessions and adjourned 
 without reading or approving the Minutes of the clerk/ Minutes, 
 1854, p. 500. 
 
 c. " The records of the Synod of Pennsylvania were approved, except 
 ing, that it does not appear from the book that the records have ever 
 been approved by the Synod/" Minutes, 1857, p. 387. 
 
 15. The Minutes should be attested by the Stated Clerlt. 
 
 a. "The records of the Synod of Tennessee are not attested by the 
 stated clerk." Minutes, 1854, p. 500. 
 
 b. u The records of the Synod of Kentucky not approved by the 
 Synod, and some not attested by the stated clerk." Minutes, 1854 ; p. 
 501. 
 
 16. A Narrative of the State of Religion slwuld le prepared and 
 
 recorded. 
 
 a. The records of the Synod of Illinois were, on the recommendation 
 of the committee, approved, with the following exception, viz. : 
 
 " At the sessions of Synod in October, 1846, it does not appear from 
 the records, that a narrative of the State of Religion was prepared. 
 Such an omission is considered contrary to the general usage of Synods, 
 and not for the edification of the Church." Minutes, 1849, p. 176. 
 
 I. " The records of the Synod of Illinois were approved, except, that 
 they do not contain the narrative on the State of Religion, which was 
 presented by the committee on that subject at the sessions of the Synod 
 in 1854, p. 434. " Minutes, 1857, p. 387. 
 
 17. Names of Absentees should be recorded. 
 
 The Records of the Synod of Peoria were approved, except " that, 
 in the roll of the Synod, record is made that no members of the Presby 
 tery of Belvidere were present; but no record of the names of absen 
 tees." Minutes, 1850, p. 314. 
 
 18. Absentees must be called to answer. 
 
 "The committee appointed to examine the Records of the Synod of 
 Virginia reported, and the book was approved to page 83, with the ex- 
 
142 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 ception of a resolution found in page 82, in which the Synod determined 
 to discontinue the practice of calling upon their members for the reasons 
 of their absence from its meetings." Minutes, 1825, p. 140. 
 
 Absentees not to be disciplined without trial. 
 
 u The Records of the Synod of the Carolinas were approved to page 
 28 of the twenty-third sessions of said Synod, with the exception of the 
 resolution to make a minister liable to suspension without trial for three 
 years absence from Synod, without sending forward his reason for ab 
 sence." Minutes, 1811, p. 468. 
 
 19. Erection of the Synods. 
 
 1-4. SYNODS OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, PHILADELPHIA, 
 VIRGINIA, AND THE CAROLINAS, 1788. "Your committee beg leave 
 to report that they conceive it will be most conducive to the interests of 
 religion that this Synod be divided into four Synods ; and therefore sub 
 mit to the Synod the following plan for dividing the Synod of New York 
 and Philadelphia into four distinct Synods, subordinate to a General 
 Assembly, to be constituted out of the whole. 
 
 " 1st. That one of the said Synods shall consist of the Presbyteries 
 of Dutchess county, Suffolk, New York, and New Brunswick, to be 
 known by the name of The Synod of New York and New Jersey. 
 
 "2d. That another Synod shall consist of the Presbyteries of Phila 
 delphia, Lewistown, New Castle, Baltimore, and Carlisle, to be known 
 by the name of The Synod of Philadelphia. 
 
 "3d. That another Synod shall consist of the Presbyteries of Red 
 stone, Hanover, Lexington, and Transylvania, to be known by the name 
 of The Synod of Virginia. 
 
 " 4th. That another Synod shall consist of the Presbyteries of Abing- 
 don, Orange, and South Carolina, to be known by the name of The 
 Synod of the Carolinas." Minutes, 1786, p. 523. 
 
 "1. Resolved unanimously, That this Synod be divided, and it is 
 hereby divided, into four Synods, agreeably to an act made and provided 
 for that purpose in the Sessions of Synod in the year one thousand seven 
 hundred and eighty-six ; and that this division shall commence on the 
 dissolution of the present Synod. Minutes, 1788, p. 547. 
 
THE SYNOD. 143 
 
 5, 6. THE SYNODS OF PITTSBURG AND KENTUCKY IN 1802. "The 
 committee appointed on the petition of the Synod of Virginia, praying 
 to be divided into three Synods, reported. The report being read and 
 amended, was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 "It is the opinion of the committee that the said division ought to 
 be made. They, therefore, submit the following resolutions, viz. : 
 
 "1. That the Presbyteries of Hanover, Lexington, and Winchester, 
 constitute a Synod, to be known by the name of The Synod of Virginia; 
 that they hold their first meeting at the Presbyterian church at Lex 
 ington, in Virginia, on the last Wednesday of September next, and be 
 opened with a sermon by the Rev. Dr. James Waddel, or, in case of his 
 absence, by the next senior minister who may be present, and that they 
 afterwards meet on their own adjournments. 
 
 " 2. That the Presbyteries of Redstone, Ohio, and Erie be constituted 
 a Synod, to be known by the name of The Synod of Pittsburg ; that 
 they hold their first meeting in the Presbyterian church at Pittsburg, 
 on the last Wednesday of September next, and be opened with a sermon 
 by the Rev. James Power ; and, in case of his absence, by the next se 
 nior minister who may be present, and that they afterwards meet on their 
 own adjournments. 
 
 "3. That the Presbyteries of Transylvania, West Lexington, and 
 Washington, be constituted a Synod, to be known by the name of The 
 Synod of Kentucky ; that their first meeting be held in the Presbyterian 
 church, in the town of Lexington, in Kentucky, on the second Thurs 
 day in October next, and be opened with a sermon by the Rev. James 
 Welch, and, in case of his absence, by the next senior minister who may 
 be present, and that they afterwards meet on their own adjournments. 
 
 "4. That the southern boundary of the Synod of Pittsburg be, from 
 the mouth of the Scioto, up the Ohio River to the mouth of the Great 
 Kanawha, thence a line due east unto the top of the Alleghany moun 
 tains ; and that the western boundary of the said Synod begin at the 
 mouth of the Scioto, and thence up the said river to its source, &c. } and 
 that the line between the States of Virginia and Kentucky be the boun 
 dary between those Synods." Minutes, 1802, p. 250. 
 
 7. THE SYNOD OF ALBANY IN 1803. "A communication was re 
 ceived from the Presbyteries of Albany, Oneida, and Columbia, request 
 ing, among other things, that the said Presbyteries may be constituted 
 a Synod, by the name of the Synod of Albany. Satisfactory evidence 
 
144 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 was laid before the Assembly that the Synod of New York and New 
 Jersey, to which said Presbyteries belong, has been consulted, and given 
 their consent to the measures proposed ; therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That the Presbyteries of Albany, Oneida, and Columbia 
 be, and they hereby are, constituted and formed into a Synod, to be 
 known by the name of The Synod of Albany ; that they hold their first 
 meeting in the Presbyterian church of Albany the first Wednesday of 
 October next, at two o clock, p. M., and be opened with a sermon by the 
 Rev. Jedecliah Chapman, or, in case of his absence, by the next senior 
 minister present, and that they afterwards meet on their own adjourn 
 ments." Minutes, 1803, p. 278. 
 
 8. THE SYNOD OF GENEVA IN 1812. "The following application 
 from the Synod of Albany was overtured by the Committee of Overtures, 
 that said Synod be divided in the manner following, viz. : 
 
 " That the Presbyteries of Londonderry, Columbia, Albany, and Onei 
 da, form the eastern division, and be constituted a Synod, to be called and 
 known by the name of The Synod of Albany. 
 
 l( That the Presbyteries of Onondaga, Cayuga, and Geneva, form the 
 western division, and be constituted a Synod, to be called arid known by 
 the name of The Synod of Geneva. Adopted." Minutes, 1812, p. 502. 
 
 9, 10. THE SYNODS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA 
 AND GEORGIA, IN 1813. "Resolved, That the said Synod (of the 
 Carolinas) be divided as follows, viz. : 
 
 " That the Presbyteries of Orange, Concord, and Fayetteville be con 
 stituted a Synod, to be known by the name of The Synod of North 
 Carolina. 
 
 "That the Presbyteries of South Carolina, Ilopewell, and Harmony 
 be constituted a Synod, to be known by the name of The Synod of South 
 Carolina and Georgia" Minutes, 1813, pp. 526, 527. 
 
 11. THE SYNOD OF OHIO, in 1814. " The committee to which were 
 referred the petition of the Presbytery of Lancaster, for the division of 
 the Synod of Kentucky, and a resolution of the Synod on the same 
 subject, reported in favor of the petition; and it was 
 
 "Resolved by the Assembly, That the Presbytery of Lancaster be 
 separated from the Synod of Pittsburg, and the Presbyteries of Wash 
 ington and Miami be separated from the Synod of Kentucky, and be 
 
THE SYNOD. 145 
 
 erected into a new Synod, and called by the name of The Synod of Ohio, 
 to meet at Chillicothe, on the last Thursday of October next; that the 
 Rev. Robert G. Wilson, or, in case of his absence, the senior minister 
 present, open the Synod with a sermon, and preside till a new moderator 
 be chosen." Minutes, 1814, p. 547. 
 
 12. THE SYNOD OF TENNESSEE, IN 1817. " The committee to whom 
 was referred the petition of the Synod of Kentucky, praying a division 
 of said Synod, reported, and their report being read, was adopted, and 
 is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " That, agreeably to the request of the Synod of Kentucky, the Pres 
 byteries of Union, Shiloh, West Tennessee, and Mississippi, be consti 
 tuted a Synod, to be known and called by the name of the Synod of 
 Tennessee; that they hold their first session at Nashville, on the first 
 Wednesday of October next ; and that the Rev. James AY. Stephenson, 
 or, in case of his absence, the senior minister who may be present, open 
 the Synod with a sermon, and preside until a new moderator be chosen/ 
 Minutes, 1817, p. 643. 
 
 13. THE SYNOD OF GENESEE, IN 1821. "The Synod of Geneva 
 requested that said Synod be divided in the following manner, and their 
 request was granted, viz. : 
 
 " That the Presbyteries of Niagara, Genesee, Rochester, and On 
 tario be erected into a Synod, to be known by the name of The Synod 
 of Genesee; and that they hold their first meeting at Rochester, on the 
 third Tuesday of September next, at 2 o clock, P.M., and be opened with 
 a sermon by the Rev. Ebenezer Fitch, D.D., or, in case of his absence, 
 by the senior minister present ; and afterwards meet on their own ad 
 journments." Minutes, 1821, p. 16. 
 
 14, 15. THE SYNOD OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY DIVIDED, IN 
 1823. "Resolved, That, agreeably to the petition of said Synod [of 
 New York and New Jersey], the Presbyteries of New York, Long 
 Island, Hudson, North River, and Second Presbytery of New York, be 
 constituted, and they are hereby constituted a Synod, to be called The 
 Synod of New York; that they hold their first meeting on the third 
 Tuesday of October next, at 10 o clock, A.M., in the First Presbyterian 
 Church in the city of New York, and afterwards upon their own ad 
 journments; that Dr. Rowan, or, in case of his absence, the senior 
 
 10 
 
146 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 minister present, open the meeting with a sermon, and preside till a new 
 moderator is chosen. 
 
 " That the Presbyteries of Jersey, New Brunswick, Newton, and Sus- 
 quehanna be constituted, and they hereby are constituted a Synod, to be 
 called The Synod of New Jersey ; that they hold their first meeting on 
 the third Tuesday of October next, at 10 o clock, A.M., in the First 
 Presbyterian Church in Newark, and afterwards on their own adjourn 
 ments; that Dr. Woodhull, or, in case of his absence, the senior min 
 ister present, open the meeting with a sermon, and preside till a new 
 moderator is chosen." Minutes, 1823, p. 71. 
 
 16. SYNOD OF WESTERN RESERVE, IN 1825. "Resolved, That the 
 Presbyteries of Grand River, Portage, and Huron be, and they hereby 
 are, detached from the Synod of Pittsburg, and constituted a new Synod, 
 to be designated by the name of The Synod of the Western Reserve; that 
 they hold their first meeting at Hudson, on the fourth Tuesday of Sep 
 tember next, at 11 o clock, A.M., and that the Rev. Joseph Badger 
 preach the Synodical sermon, and act as moderator till another shall be 
 chosen, or, in case of his failure, then the oldest minister present shall 
 officiate in his place." Minutes, 1825, p. 145. 
 
 17, 18. SYNODS OF WEST TENNESSEE AND INDIANA, IN 1826. 
 " The committee to whom was referred the petition from the Synod of 
 Tennessee, requesting a division of said Synod, made the following 
 report, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That the prayer of the Synod be granted, so far as to 
 constitute the Presbyteries of West Tennessee, Shiloh, Mississippi, and 
 North Alabama, into a Synod, to be denominated The Synod of West 
 Tennessee; to meet in Huntsville, on the second Wednesday of October 
 next, at 11 o clock, A.M. ; and that the Rev. Robert Hardin, or, in 
 case of his absence, the senior minister present, open the Synod with a 
 sermon, and preside till a moderator be chosen and the Synod regularly 
 organized. 
 
 " The committee to whom was referred the petition from the Presby 
 tery of Salem, requesting that the Presbyteries of Salem, Madison, 
 Wabash, and Missouri be constituted a Synod, to be known by the name 
 of The Synod of Indiana, made the following report, which was adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 t( Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be granted, and that the 
 
THE SYNOD. 147 
 
 said Synod meet in Vincennes, on the third Wednesday of October 
 next; and that the Rev. William Martin, or, in case of his absence, 
 the senior minister present, open the Synod with a sermon, and preside 
 till a moderator be chosen and the Synod regularly organized." Minutes, 
 1826, p. 179. 
 
 19. THE SYNOD or UTICA, IN 1829. "Overture No. 3, viz., an ap 
 plication from the Synod of Albany, for the erection of a new Synod, 
 was taken up ; when it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the request be granted; and, agreeably to the re 
 quest of the Synod, the Presbyteries of Ogdensburg, Watertown, 
 Oswego, Oneida, and Otsego are hereby constituted a new Synod, to be 
 called The Synod of Utica." Minutes, 1829, p. 260. 
 
 20. SYNOD OF MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTH ALABAMA, IN 1829. " The 
 committee on Overture No. 2, from the Judicial Committee, viz., the 
 complaint and request of the Presbytery of Missisippi, reported, that 
 in consequence of the insufficiency of testimony, they express no opinion 
 respecting the correctness of the complaint; but they recommend that 
 the request be granted, which is, that the Presbyteries of Mississippi, 
 South Alabama, and Bigby be formed into a new Synod. The report of 
 the committee was adopted ; and the Presbyteries of Mississippi, South 
 Alabama, and Bigby are hereby formed into a new Synod, to be known 
 by the name of The Synod of Mississippi and South Alabama" 
 Minutes, 1829, p. 263. 
 
 21. SYNOD or CINCINNATI, IN 1829. u Resolved, That a new Synod 
 be constituted, by the name of The Synod of Cincinnati, to consist of 
 the Presbyteries of Chillicothe, Cincinnati, and Miami; and that the 
 line which divides the Presbyteries of Athens, Lancaster, and Columbus, 
 on the east, from the Presbyteries of Chillicothe and Miami, on the 
 west, shall be the dividing line between the Synods of Ohio and Cin 
 cinnati; excepting that the portion of the Presbytery of Columbus 
 which lies in the counties of Clarke, Champaign, and Logan, and west 
 of a line running due north from the northeast corner of the county of 
 Logan, to the boundary of the Synod of the Western Reserve, shall be 
 attached to the Presbytery of Miami; and the Synod of Cincinnati shall 
 hold their first meeting in Lebanon, on the fourth Thursday of October 
 next, at 11 o clock, A.M., and shall be opened with a sermon by the 
 
148 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Rev. James Kemper, or, in case of his absence, by the senior minister 
 present, who shall preside until a moderator shall be chosen/ Minutes, 
 1829, p. 271. 
 
 22. SYNOD OF ILLINOIS, IN 1831. "The committee to whom was 
 referred Overture No. 10, viz., an application for the division of the Synod 
 of Indiana, reported in favor of the application; when it was resolved, 
 agreeably to the request of the Synod, that the Presbyteries of Illinois, 
 Kaskaskia, Sangamon, and Missouri, be, and they hereby are, erected 
 into a new Synod, to be known by the name of The Synod of Illinois 
 Minutes, 1831, p. 324. 
 
 23. SYNOD OF MISSOURI, IN 1832. " The Presbytery of Missouri re 
 quested the Synod of Illinois to take measures for the erection of a new 
 Synod ; whereupon the Synod divided the ministers and churches in the 
 State of Missouri into three Presbyteries, viz., the Presbytery of St. 
 Louis, the Presbytery of St. Charles, and the Presbytery of Missouri. 
 The Synod of Illinois pray the G-eneral Assembly to erect a new Synod, 
 to be composed of the above-named Presbyteries, and to be called The 
 Synod of Missouri. Granted." Minutes, 1832, p. 366. 
 
 24. SYNOD OF CHESAPEAKE, IN 1833. [The Synod of Chesapeake, 
 consisting of the Presbyteries of the District of Columbia, Baltimore, 
 and East Hanover, was erected in 1833, see Minutes, p. 395, and dis 
 solved in 1834. See Minutes, 1834, p. 451.] 
 
 25. SYNOD OF MICHIGAN, IN 1834. " The Assembly took up Over 
 ture No. 11, viz. : A petition from the Synod of the Western Reserve 
 to erect the Presbyteries of Detroit, Monroe, and St. Joseph, in said 
 Synod, into a new Synod, to be called The Synod of Michigan. 
 
 " Resolved, That the petition be granted ; and the said Presbyteries of 
 Detroit, Monroe, and St. Joseph, are hereby erected into a Synod, to be 
 known by the name of The Synod of Michigan." Minutes, 1834, p. 436. 
 
 26. SYNOD OF DELAWARE, IN 1834. " Resolved, That the Second 
 Presbytery of Philadelphia, and the Presbyteries of Wilmington and 
 Lewes, be, and the same hereby are, erected into a new Synod, to be 
 called The Synod of Delaware ; that they hold their first meeting in 
 the Second Church, Wilmington, the 4th Thursday in October next, at 
 
THE SYNOD. * 149 
 
 11 o clock, A. M., and that the opening sermon be preached by the Rev. 
 James Patterson, or, in case of his absence, by the oldest minister pre 
 sent/ Minutes, 1834, p. 451. 
 
 DISSOLVED. "Resolved, That at and after the meeting of the Synod 
 of Philadelphia, in October next, the Synod of Delaware shall be dis 
 solved, and the Presbyteries constituting the same shall be then and 
 thereafter annexed to the Synod of Philadelphia/ Minutes, 1835, p. 
 486. 
 
 27. SYNOD OF ALABAMA, IN 1835. "The committee to whom was 
 referred Overture No. 26, being a petition from the Synod of Mississippi 
 and South Alabama, for the erection of a new Synod, made their report, 
 which was accepted and adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That the request of the Synod be granted. 
 
 "2. That the Presbyteries of South Alabama, Tuscaloosa, and Tombig- 
 bee, be erected into a new Synod, to be called The Synod of Alabama " 
 Minutes, 1835, p. 489. 
 
 28. SYNOD OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN 1838. "A petition of certain 
 members of the Presbyteries of Wilmington, Lewes, Philadelphia 2d, and 
 Philadelphia 3d, praying for the erection of a new Synod, from the parts 
 of the Synod of Philadelphia, was reported, and the following resolution 
 was adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, That the ministers and congregations belonging to the Pres 
 byteries of Wilmington, Lewes, Philadelphia 2d, Philadelphia 3d, Car 
 lisle, Huntingdon, and Northumberland, be, and they hereby are, set off 
 from the Synod of Philadelphia and erected into a new Synod, to be 
 called The Synod of Pennsylvania ; that they hold their first meeting 
 in the Eleventh Presbyterian Church, in the city of Philadelphia, on 
 the 2d Wednesday of July next, at 11 o clock, A.M., and be opened with 
 a sermon by the Rev. E. W. Gilbert, or, in case of his absence, by the 
 oldest minister present/ Minutes, 1838, p. 657. 
 
 29. SYNOD OF NEWARK, IN 1839. "Overtures No. 1 and 2, two 
 memorials from the Presbyteries of Newark and Montrose, requesting 
 the erection of a new Presbytery, by the name of The Presbytery of 
 Rockaway, and also the erection of a new Synod, by the name of The 
 
150 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Synod of Newark, were taken up for consideration, and the following 
 resolutions were adopted : 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That the Presbytery of Newark be divided into two 
 Presbyteries, and that the ministers and churches within the city of 
 Newark and the townships of Paterson, Bloomfield, and Orange, toge 
 ther with the Rev. Samuel Fisher, D.D., Rev. Gideon N. Judd, and 
 Rev. Henry A. Axtell, be and remain the Presbytery of Newark; and 
 that the remaining ministers and churches belonging to the Presbytery 
 of Newark be, and they hereby are, erected into a new Presbytery, to 
 be called The Presbytery of Rockaway. 
 
 "2. Resolved, That the Presbytery of Newark meet in the Third 
 Presbyterian Church in Newark, on the second Tuesday in June next, 
 at 4 o clock, P.M., to transact any business which may become necessary 
 in consequence of the division of said Presbytery, and that the last 
 moderator preside until a new moderator be chosen. 
 
 "3. Resolved, That the Presbytery of Rockaway meet in the church 
 in Parsippany, on the third Tuesday in June next, at 8 o clock, P.M., to 
 be opened with a sermon by the Rev. Barnabas King, or, in case of his 
 absence, by the oldest minister present, who shall preside until a new 
 moderator be chosen. 
 
 "4. Resolved, That the ministers and congregations belonging to the 
 Presbyteries of Newark, Rockaway, and Montrose be, and they hereby 
 are, set off from the Synod of New Jersey, and erected into a new 
 Synod, to be called The Synod of Newark; that they hold their first 
 meeting in the First Presbyterian Church in Newark, on the third Tues 
 day in October next, at 3 o clock, P.M, and be opened with a sermon by 
 the Rev. Asa Hillyer, D.D., or, in case of his absence, by the oldest 
 minister present, who shall preside till a new moderator be chosen ; and 
 that they meet afterward on their own adjournment. 
 
 " And whereas it is understood that the Synod of New Jersey, at 
 their last meeting, renounced the authority of this General Assembly, 
 and declared their adherence to a different body; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That the territory heretofore comprehended within the 
 bounds of the Synod of New Jersey, be attached to the Synod of 
 Newark ; and that if any of the Presbyteries heretofore belonging to 
 the Synod of New Jersey, shall choose to be connected with the Synod 
 of Newark, the said Synod is hereby authorized to receive them." 
 Minutes, 1839, pp. 10, 11. 
 
THE SYNOD. 151 
 
 30. SYNOD OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, FORMED BY UNION OF 
 SYNODS OF NEWARK AND NEW YORK, IN 1840. " The committee 
 further report and recommend, that it be ordained by the General As 
 sembly, in reference to the Synods of New York and of Newark, that 
 they be united into one Synod, to be called The Synod of New York 
 and New Jersey ; and that said Synod meet in the city of New York, 
 in the Pearl Street Presbyterian Church, on the evening of the third 
 Tuesday of October next, at 7 o clock, and be opened with a sermon by 
 the Rev. Samuel Fisher, D.D., or, in case of his absence or inability to 
 act, by the Rev. Erskine Mason, D.D. 
 
 " It was further ordered by the Assembly, that the Presbytery of Mont- 
 rose may have their election, whether they shall belong to the Synod of 
 New York and New Jersey, or to the Synod of Geneva, or to the Synod 
 of Pennsylvania; provided they decide and signify their decision to the 
 stated clerk of the Assembly before the first of October next ; and in 
 case of their failure to take the requisite order in the premises, that then 
 they remain in their present connection with the Synod of New York 
 and New Jersey." Minutes, 1840, p. 18. 
 
 31. SYNOD OF PEORIA, IN 1843. "Resolved, That a new Synod 
 be erected within the bounds of the Synod of Illinois, embracing the 
 ministers and churches connected with the Presbyteries of Ottawa, 
 Peoria, Knox, and Galena, to be known by the name of The Synod of 
 Peoria; that the first meeting of the new Synod be held at Galena, on 
 the second Thursday of October, 1843, at 6 o clock, P.M., to be opened 
 with a sermon by the Rev. George W. Gale, or, in his absence, by the 
 oldest minister present, who shall preside till another moderator shall 
 be chosen/ Minutes, 1843, p. 11. 
 
 32. SYNOD OF WEST PENNSYLVANIA, IN 1843. "Resolved also, 
 That a new Synod be erected within the bounds of the Synod of Penn 
 sylvania, embracing the ministers and churches connected with the 
 Presbyteries of Erie, Meadville, and Pittsburg, to be known by the 
 name of The Synod of West Pennsylvania ; that the first meeting of 
 the new Synod be held at Meadville, Crawford County, on the third 
 Tuesday of October, 1843, at 6 o clock, P.M., to be opened with a sermon 
 by the Rev. D. H. Riddle, D.D., or, in his absence, by the oldest mi 
 nister present, who shall preside till another moderator shall be chosen. " 
 Minutes, 1843, p. 11. 
 
152 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 33. SYNOD OF WABASH, IN 1851. "The Committee on the Polity 
 of the Church presented a report, which was adopted, recommending 
 that the Synod of Indiana, at their own request, be divided in the fol 
 lowing manner : 
 
 "Resolved, That the Presbyteries of Crawfordsville, Logansport, and 
 Fort Wayne be detached from the Synod of Indiana, and constituted a 
 Synod, to be called The Synod of Wabash; that they hold their first 
 meeting at Fort Wayne, on the second Thursday of September next, at 
 11 o clock, A.M. ; and that the Rev. Charles White, D.D., or, in case 
 of his absence, the senior minister present, preach the opening sermon, 
 and preside until a new moderator be chosen ; and that the Synod meet 
 afterwards on their own adjournment/ Minutes, 1851, p. 13. 
 
 34. SYNOD OF IOWA, IN 1853. " The Committee on the Polity of 
 the Church presented a report, recommending the formation of a new 
 Synod, to be called The Synod of Iowa, as follows : 
 
 "At the request of the Presbyteries of Des Moines, Iowa City, and 
 Keokuk, and the concurring request of the Synod of Illinois, that the 
 said Presbyteries be formed into a new Synod, it is hereby 
 
 "Resolved, That the Presbyteries of Des Moines, Iowa City, and 
 Keokuk be, and they are hereby set off from the Synod of Illinois, and 
 erected into a new Synod, to be styled The Synod of Iowa, to meet at 
 Yellow Springs, Iowa, on the first Thursday of September next, at 2 
 o clock, P.M.; that the Rev. W. W. Woods be appointed to preach the 
 opening sermon, and preside till a moderator be elected, and, in case of 
 his absence, the oldest minister present." Minutes, 1853, p. 314. 
 
 35. SYNOD OF SUSQUEHANNA IN 1853. "The same Committee (on 
 Polity) also reported that they had received a request from the Presby 
 teries of Otsego, Delaware, and Chenango, to be erected into a new 
 Synod, and recommended that it be granted, provided the commissioners 
 from the Synods to which these Presbyteries are attached do not object, 
 the new Synod to take the name of The Synod of Susqiiehanna. Their 
 report was put upon the docket. 
 
 " The committee, to whom was referred the subject of the erection of 
 a new Synod, to be called The Synod of Susquehanna, made a report, 
 which was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 "1. The Presbyteries requesting the action of the Assembly occupy 
 
THE SYNOD. 153 
 
 a large and important territory, sufficiently large and important for a 
 separate Synod. 
 
 "2. There is a sufficient number of ministers and churches connected 
 with those Presbyteries to warrant the formation of the proposed Synod j 
 and 
 
 " 3. The geographical position of the members of those Presbyteries is 
 such as to render it almost impossible for them to attend the meetings 
 of their respective Synods. 
 
 " The committee would further report, that two of the three Synods 
 more particularly interested on this subject, viz., the Synods of Geneva 
 and Albany, make no objections to the erection of the proposed Synod; 
 and the objection made by the Synod of Utica is, mainly, that it will 
 reduce their number. 
 
 " While the committee think that the Presbyteries of Otsego and Dela 
 ware should have consulted their respective Synods in reference to the 
 matter, yet, in view of the importance of the proposed change, they 
 would recommend the adoption of the following resolution 1 : 
 
 11 Resolved, That the Presbyteries of Otsego, Chenango, and Delaware, 
 belonging respectively to the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Albany, be, 
 and they hereby are, constituted into a new Synod, to be called The 
 Synod of Susquehanna, to hold their first meeting at Franklin, Dela 
 ware Co., N. Y., on the third Thursday of October next, at 2 o clock 
 P. M. ; opening with a sermon from the oldest minister present, who shall 
 preside until a moderator shall be elected." Minutes, 1853, pp. 314, 
 330, 331. 
 
 36. SYNOD OF ONONDAGA, IN 1855. " The Committee on the Polity 
 of the Church report, that an application has been made by the Synod 
 of Geneva for the erection of a new Synod, to be composed of four Pres 
 byteries of the Synod of Geneva ; and, as the matter has been amicably 
 arranged by those concerned, and no objection appears to such a course, 
 they recommend that the Presbyteries of Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland, 
 and Tioga be erected into a new Synod, to be called The Synod of 
 Onondaga. 
 
 "They also recommend that the first meeting of the Synod of Onondaga 
 be appointed at Cortlandville, on the second Tuesday of October, 1855, 
 at 7 o clock, p. M. ; that Rev. Levi Parsons preach the opening sermon, 
 and preside until a moderator is chosen ; or, in case of his absence, that 
 
154 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 the oldest member present preach and preside." Adopted. Minutes, 
 1855, p. 26. 
 
 37. SYNOD OF WISCONSIN, IN 1857. " The Committee on the Polity 
 of the Church reported Overture No. 1, being a request from the Synod 
 of Peoria for the erection of a new Synod. 
 
 "The committee recommend that the request be granted, and that 
 the Presbyteries of Milwaukie, Pox River, and Columbus, now attached 
 to the Synod of Peoria, be erected into a new Synod, to be called The 
 Synod of Wisconsin; and that they hold their first meeting in Columbus, 
 Wisconsin, on the third Thursday of October, 1857, at 7 o clock, P. M., 
 the oldest minister present to preach the sermon, and to preside until a 
 moderator be chosen. 
 
 The report was adopted." Minutes, 1857, p. 383. 
 
 38. SYNOD OF ALTA CALIFORNIA, IN 1857. " Also Overture No. 2, 
 being a request from the Presbytery of San Francisco for the division of 
 that Presbytery, and the erection of a new Synod. 
 
 "The committee recommend that the request be granted ; that the 
 Rev. Messrs. Silas S. Harmon, Laurentine Hamilton, Walter Frear, and 
 Edward B. Walsworth, together with the churches of Columbia, Sonora, 
 Placerville, and Marysville, be constituted into a new Presbytery, to be 
 called The Presbytery of Sierra Nevada, to hold their first meeting at 
 Sacramento, California, on Tuesday, October 6th, 1857, at 3 o clock, 
 p. M. , and to be opened with a sermon by the oldest minister present, 
 who is to preside until a moderator be chosen. 
 
 " That the Rev. Messrs. Samuel B. Bell, James Pierpont, William W. 
 Brier, Eli Corwin, and Albert F. White, together with the churches of 
 Oakland, Alemada, and Eden, be constituted into a new Presbytery, to 
 be called The Presbytery of San Jose; to hold their first meeting at 
 Sacramento, California, on Tuesday, October 6th, 1857, at 3 o clock, 
 p. M. ; and to be opened with a sermon by the oldest minister present, 
 who is to preside until a moderator be chosen. 
 
 "That the Presbyteries of San Francisco, Sierra Nevada, and San Jose, 
 be erected into a new Synod, to be called The Synod of Alta California; 
 to hold their first meeting at Sacramento, California, on Tuesday, Octo 
 ber 6th, 1857, at 7 o clock, P.M. j and to be opened with a sermon by the 
 oldest minister present, who is to preside until a moderator be chosen. 
 
 "The report was adopted." Minutes, 1857, p. 383. 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 155 
 
 SECTION 4. OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 1. The formation of the General Assembly by the Synod. 2. Form of organization 
 of the General Assemby. Committee on commissions. 3. Commissioners from 
 new Presbyteries. 4. Ratio of representation and quorum. 5. Where a Pres 
 bytery sends more than its quota, the commissioners last elected are refused. 
 6. Such commissioners only should be elected as will remain during the sessions 
 of the Assembly. 7. In case of defective commission, or loss of it, mode of pro 
 ceeding. 8. Principles and alternates may not resign their places to each other. 
 9. Commissioners under the Plan of Union. 10. Corresponding members. 
 Ministers casually present not invited. Delegates from corresponding bodies 
 may deliberate, but not vote. The secretary of any of the permanent committees, 
 the stated and permanent clerks, have the same privileges as corresponding 
 members in matters relating to them. 11. Mode of choosing the moderator. 
 12. Rules of the General Assembly. 13. The moderator has no other than the 
 casting vote. 14. Communications through the moderator. 15. The phrase 
 " last moderator present," construed literally. 16. The stated clerk. Appoint 
 ment and duties. To publish the Minutes, and preserve the papers of the 
 Assembly. To notify Presbyteries whose commissioners absent themselves 
 without leave. Salary of the stated clerk. 17. Permanent clerk. Appointment 
 and duties. 18. Temporary clerks. Choice not limited to members of Assem 
 bly. 19. Standing committees. Their duties. I. Bills and Overtures. II. 
 Judicial Committee. III. On the Polity of the Church. IV. On Church Exten 
 sion. V. On Education. VI. On Publication. VII. On Devotional Exercises. 
 VIII. On the Narrative. IX. On Leave of Absence. X. On Mileage. XI. On 
 Foreign Missions. 20. The Commissioners Fund. 21. The Contingent Fund. 
 22. The publication, distribution, and price of the Minutes. 23. The Charter of 
 the Trustees of the General Assembly. 24. Mode of electing the Trustees. r25. 
 Powers of the General Assembly. 26. The Assembly declines to decide ques 
 tions in thesi. 
 
 1. Formation of the General Assembly. 
 
 a. " The Synod, considering the number and extent of the churches 
 under their care, and the inconvenience of the present mode of govern 
 ment by one Synod, 
 
 " Resolved, That this Synod will establish out of its own body three 
 or more subordinate Synods, out of which shall be composed a General 
 Assembly, Synod, or Council, agreeably to a system hereafter to be 
 adopted." Minutes, 1786, p. 517. 
 
156 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 I). "Resolved unanimously, That this Synod be divided, and it is 
 hereby divided into four Synods, agreeably to an Act made and provided 
 for that purpose in the sessions of Synod in the year one thousand seven 
 hundred and eighty-six; and that this division shall commence on the 
 dissolution of the present Synod. 
 
 "Resolved, That the first meeting of the General Assembly, to be 
 constituted out of the above said four Synods, be held, and it is hereby 
 appointed to be held, on the third Thursday of May, one thousand seven 
 hundred and eighty-nine, in the Second Presbyterian Church in the city 
 of Philadelphia, at eleven o clock, A.M. ; and that Dr. Witherspoon, or, 
 in his absence, Dr. Rogers, open, the General Assembly with a sermon, 
 and preside till a moderator be chosen." Minutes, 1788, p. 548. 
 
 
 
 2. Organization of the Assembly. 
 
 [Usage has fixed the third Thursday of May, at 11 A.M., as the time 
 for the annual meeting of the Assembly. The last moderator present 
 preaches the sermon, and then opens the session with prayer, and pre 
 sides during the organization of the Assembly. The Committee on 
 Commissions report; irregular commissions are referred to a special 
 committee, who report, and the roll is completed. A moderator and 
 temporary clerks are chosen, and the Assembly is ready for business.] 
 
 Rules of Organization Committee of Commissions. 
 
 a. "I. Immediately after each Assembly is constituted with prayer, 
 the moderator shall appoint a Committee of Commissions. 
 
 "II. The commissions shall then be called for, and delivered to the 
 Committee of Commissions; and the person delivering each commission 
 shall state whether the principal or the alternate is present. 
 
 " III. After the delivery of the commissions, the Assembly shall have 
 a recess, until such an hour in the afternoon as will afford sufficient time 
 to the committee to examine the commissions. 
 
 " IV. That the Committee of Commissions shall, in the afternoon, 
 report the names of all whose commissions shall appear to be regular 
 and constitutional ; and the persons whose names shall be thus reported, 
 shall immediately take their seats and proceed to business. 
 
 " V. The first act of the Assembly, when thus ready for business, 
 shall be the appointment of a Committee of Elections, whose duty it 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 157 
 
 shall be to examine all informal and unconstitutional commissions, and 
 report on the same as soon as practicable." Minutes, 1826, p. 191. 
 
 Standing Committee of Commissions. 
 
 1. " Resolved, That the permanent and stated clerks be, and they 
 hereby are appointed a standing Committee of Commissions ; and that 
 the commissioners to future Assemblies hand their commissions to said 
 committee, in the room in which the Assembly shall hold its sessions, 
 on the morning of the day on which the Assembly opens, previous to 
 11 o clock; and further, that all commissions which may be presented 
 during the sessions of the Assembly, instead of being read in the house, 
 shall be examined by said committee, and reported to the Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1829, p. 269. 
 
 3. Commissioners from Neiv Presbyteries. 
 
 a. " The committee to which was referred an overture on the subject 
 of admitting commissioners from newly-formed Presbyteries to seats in 
 this house, reported the following resolutions, which were adopted, viz. : 
 
 "1. Resolved, That it be adopted as a standing rule of this house, 
 that commissioners from newly-formed Presbyteries shall, before taking 
 their seats as members of this body, produce satisfactory evidence that 
 the Presbyteries to which they belong have been regularly organized 
 according to the Constitution of the Church, and are in connection with 
 the General Assembly. 
 
 a 2. Resolved also, That such commissioners shall be entitled to fur 
 nish the evidence required in the foregoing resolution, before the house 
 shall proceed to the choice of a moderator/ Minutes, 1822, p. 48. 
 
 b. "Resolved 1, That no commissioner from a newly-formed Presbytery 
 shall be permitted to take his seat, nor shall such commissioner be re 
 ported by the Committee on Commissions, until the Presbytery shall have 
 been duly reported by the Synod, and recognized as such by the As 
 sembly ; and that the same rule apply when the name of any Presbytery 
 has been changed. 
 
 "2. When it "shall appear to the satisfaction of the General Assem 
 bly, that any new Presbytery has been formed for the purpose of unduly 
 increasing the representation, the General Assembly will by a vote of the 
 majority refuse to receive the delegates of Presbyteries so formed, and 
 
158 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH, 
 
 may direct the Synod to which such Presbytery belongs to reunite it to 
 the Presbytery or Presbyteries to which the members were before at 
 tached." Minutes, 1837, p. 446. 
 
 4. Ratio of Representation and Quorum. 
 
 a. u Every Presbytery shall, at their last stated meeting preceding 
 the meeting of the General Assembly, depute to the General Assembly 
 commissioners, in the following proportion : Each Presbytery consisting 
 of not more than six ministers, shall send one minister and one elder ; 
 each Presbytery consisting of more than six- ministers, and not more than 
 twelve, shall send two ministers and two elders ; and so in the same pro 
 portion for every six ministers. And these commissioners, or any four 
 teen of them, whereof seven to be ministers, being met on the day and 
 at the place appointed, shall be competent to enter upon business. And 
 the judicatory thus constituted shall bear the style and title of The 
 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of 
 America." Minutes, 1786, p. 524. 
 
 In 1819, the ratio was altered by "substituting the word nine for the 
 word six, and the word eighteen in place of the word twelve. 7 Mi 
 nutes, 1819, p. 700. 
 
 In 1826 the ratio was increased from nine to twelve, and from eigh 
 teen to twenty-four. Minutes, 1826, p. 168. 
 
 The Present Ratio. 
 
 I. " Resolved, That the 2d section of the 12th chapter of the Form of 
 Government be, and the same is, hereby so amended as to read thus : 
 The General Assembly shall consist of an equal delegation of bishops 
 and elders from each Presbytery, in the following proportion, viz. : Each 
 Presbytery consisting of not more than twenty-four ministers, shall send 
 one minister and one elder ; and each Presbytery consisting of more 
 than twenty-four ministers, shall send two ministers and two elders ; and 
 in like proportion for every twenty-four ministers in every Presbytery ; 
 and these delegates so appointed shall be styled Commissioners to the 
 General Assembly." Minutes, 1833, p. 401. 
 
 " The Assembly rule and ordain that the ratio of Presbyterial repre 
 sentation be reduced to its minimum, altering our Form of Government 
 (chap, xii, sec. 2), so that said section shall be hereafter alone, and in 
 all, and read as follows, viz. : The General Assembly shall consist of an 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 159* 
 
 equal delegation of bishops and ruling elders from the Presbyteries, in 
 the simple proportion of one minister and one elder from each Presby 
 tery. And these commissioners so appointed shall be styled Commis 
 sioners to the General Assembly." Minutes, 1840, p. 17. 
 
 [This, though acted on from 1841 to 1850, was " never submitted to 
 the Presbyteries and constitutionally adopted" (Minutes, 1819, p. 183). 
 It was sent down as an overture in 1849, and rejected, 28 to 56 (Mi 
 nutes, 1850, p. 318). The ratio remains, therefore, as fixed in 1833, 
 above.] 
 
 5. Where a Presbytery sends more than its proportion of Commissioners, 
 
 the last elected are refused. 
 
 "The right of two persons to a seat in the Assembly from the Presby 
 tery of Portage was questioned ; whereupon their case was referred to 
 the Committee of Elections. After considering the subject, the commit 
 tee reported that the names of the minister and elder last appointed 
 should be erased ; because the Presbytery is entitled to no more than 
 two commissioners. This report was adopted." Minutes, 1835, p. 466. 
 
 6. Such Commissioners only should be appointed as will remain through 
 
 out the Sessions. 
 
 " It is, in the opinion of this General Assembly, highly important 
 that commissioners should not be appointed, unless it shall satisfactorily 
 appear to the several Presbyteries that they design to remain throughout 
 the sessions." Minutes, 1827, p. 207. 
 
 7. In case of the Defect of a Commission, or its Absence. 
 
 [The case of the claimant is referred to a special committee, who, on 
 satisfactory evidence to them that he has been elected, recommend that 
 his name be enrolled.] 
 
 a. The committee further reported, that the commission of David M. 
 Wilson, a ruling elder from the Presbytery of the District of Columbia, 
 wants the signature of the clerk ; and that the Rev. F. W. Graves, of 
 the Presbytery of Alton, is without a regular commission, but has pre 
 sented a certificate of his election from the stated clerk of that Presby 
 tery, 
 
160 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " These cases were referred to Messrs. Judd, Lathrop, and Rood, as a 
 Committee of Elections. The committee reported favorably, and, at 
 their recommendation, the names of Messrs. Wilson and Graves were in 
 serted on the roll." Minutes, 1839, p. 8. 
 
 Where the Form is substantially observed, and the Commission authen 
 ticated by either Moderator or Clerk, the name is to be enrolled. 
 
 b. " The Committee on Commissions further reported, that the com 
 missions from the Presbyteries of Buffalo, Otsego, Bath, Elyria, and 
 Logansport, want the signature of the moderator, that the commission 
 from the Presbytery of Hudson wants the signature of the stated clerk, 
 and that the commissions from the Presbytery of Tioga, though regu 
 larly signed, are not after the form prescribed by the Constitution. 
 
 " It was ordered that, where the form is substantially observed, and 
 the commission authenticated by either moderator or clerk, the name be 
 enrolled ; and the commissioners from these Presbyteries were enrolled 
 accordingly." Minutes, 1849, p. 166. 
 
 c. " The committee further reported the case of the Rev. A. Cogswell 
 Frissell, from the Presbytery of North River, as appearing without a 
 commission. 
 
 " The Assembly having received other and satisfactory evidence of his 
 appointment as a commissioner, it was resolved that Mr. Frissell be re 
 ceived as a member, and his name was put upon the roll of the Assem 
 bly. "Jl/mwfes, 1852, p. 151. 
 
 d. " The Committee on Elections reported, and, on their recommenda 
 tion, the Rev. Eleazar T. Ball, of the Presbytery of Ithaca, Elder Wm. 
 Hubbard, of the Presbytery of Grand River, and Elder John D. Arm 
 strong, of the Presbytery of Providence, who had appeared without 
 commissions, were admitted to seats in the Assembly." Minutes, 1853, 
 p. 305. 
 
 Change of Usage. 
 
 e. " The stated clerk also reported the following persons as appearing 
 without commissions, and that their appointment is sustained by the tes 
 timony of commissioners present : 
 
 " Rev. George Painter, of the Presbytery of New River; Elder Milton 
 J. Snow, of the Presbytery of Portage; Rev. Reed Wilkinson, of the 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 161 
 
 Presbytery of Athens ; Elder John C. Bestow, of the Presbytery of 
 Athens; Rev. James B. Shaw, D.D., of the Presbytery of Rochester; 
 Elder Orlando Hastings, of the Presbytery of Rochester ; Elder Marvin 
 Freeman, of the Presbytery of Troy ; Elder Peter B. Ackart, of the 
 Presbytery of Troy; Rev. George A. Howard, of the Presbytery of 
 Catskill ; Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D.D., of the Presbytery of Philadel 
 phia 4th. 
 
 " Whereupon it was 
 
 " Resolved, That the above names be inserted in the roll as commis 
 sioners. Minutes, 1854, p. 480. 
 
 f. " The permanent clerk also reported the following persons as appear 
 ing without commissions, and that their appointment is sustained by tes 
 timony satisfactory to the committee : 
 
 " Rev. Seth G. Clark, of the Presbytery of Cleveland ; Rev. John G. 
 Atterbury, of the Presbytery of Salem ; Elder Solomon Beckley, of the 
 Presbytery of Keokuk ; Elder William Porter, of the Presbytery of 
 Franklin. 
 
 " Whereupon it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the names of the above persons be inserted in the roll 
 as commissioners. Minutes, 1855, p. 8. 1856, p. 182. 
 
 " The stated clerk also reported that Elder John Dunning had presented 
 an irregular commission from the Presbytery of Rockaway ; which was 
 referred to a committee, consisting of Rev. Horace P. Bogue and Rev. 
 Henry Kendall. 
 
 " The Committee reported that the name of Mr. Dunning be added to 
 the roll." Minutes, 1857, p. 374. 
 
 8. Principals and Alternates. 
 
 [From the origin of the General Assembly, it was frequent usage for 
 the principal to resign his seat to the alternate, and vice versa. But 
 in 1827, the following act was adopted.] 
 
 " The Committee to whom were referred Overtures No. 4 and 5, con 
 taining resolutions of the Presbyteries of Richland and Charleston Union, 
 disapproving the practice of permitting members of the General Assem 
 bly at various stages of the sessions to resign their seats to others, 
 called alternates/ made the following report, viz. : 
 
 " These overtures present two points of inquiry. 
 
 11 
 
162 V COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " 1. Whether the Constitution of the Church, according to a fair 
 interpretation, permits the practice complained of by these Presbyteries. 
 
 "2. If this practice is allowed by the Constitution, whether it is 
 expedient that it should be continued. 
 
 " As to the first question, the only authority on this subject, as far as 
 appears to your committee, is found in Form of Government, chap, xxii, 
 sec. 1, in these words : And as much as possible to prevent all failure 
 in the representation of the Presbyteries, arising from unforeseen acci 
 dents to those first appointed, it may be expedient for each Presbytery, 
 in the room of each commissioner, to appoint also an alternate commis 
 sioner to supply his place in case of necessary absence. 
 
 " The first remark obviously presenting itself here is, that the language 
 quoted, so far from making the appointment of alternates necessary, con 
 tains nothing more than a recommendation of the measure, expressed in 
 very gentle terms. 
 
 u In the next place, although the terms of the article may be so inter 
 preted as to make it provide for the necessary absence of a commissioner 
 at any time during the sessions of the Assembly, yet it appears most 
 reasonable to suppose that the intention of the framers of the Constitu 
 tion was to provide for those unforeseen events which might altogether 
 prevent the attendance of the primary commissioners. For it is not at 
 all probable that wise men, in drawing up a Constitution for a Church 
 judicature of the highest dignity, whose business is often both very 
 important and extremely difficult, would provide for a change in the 
 members of the court, after it should be constituted, and become deeply 
 engaged in the transaction of weighty affairs, and the investigation of 
 perplexing questions. A measure of this kind is, the committee believe, 
 without example, and therefore the construction, which would support 
 it, is thought to be erroneous. 
 
 " If, in this case, the committee have judged correctly, they are much 
 more confident in the remarks that the Constitution does not justify the 
 practice, now very common, of the arrangements, for convenience, made 
 by the primary commissioner and his alternate, according to which the 
 one or the other, as the case may be, takes his seat for a few days in the 
 Assembly, resigns it, and goes to his secular business. 
 
 " But, secondly, if it should be determined that the Constitution per 
 mits these changes, in some instances, the committee are constrained to 
 believe that the practice is, on the whole, entirely inexpedient. 
 
 "1. Because it creates dissatisfaction among many brethren, as well 
 those who have complained of it, as others who have held their peace. 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 163 
 
 "2. It gives an invidious advantage to the neighboring Presbyteries 
 over those which are remote. 
 
 " 3. It may be the occasion of a number of abuses, against which the 
 Assembly ought to guard, but which the committee do not think it need 
 ful to specify. 
 
 "4. But chiefly, it often embarrasses and retards the proceedings of 
 the Assembly, because members of committees resign to alternates before 
 the committees to which they belong have finished their business, or 
 received a discharge from the house ; because new members, coming 
 into the Assembly in the midst of business, often cannot possibly under 
 stand it sufficiently to decide on it wisely, and because speeches made in 
 relation to matters imperfectly understood often shed darkness, and 
 throw perplexity on them, and thus very much time is wasted in dis 
 cussions which profit nothing. 
 
 " Finally, the practice is thought to be derogatory to the dignity and 
 usefulness of the General Assembly. For these reasons, the committee 
 recommend the adoption of the following resolution : 
 
 " Resolved, That, in the judgment of this General Assembly, the con 
 struction of the Constitution, Form of Government, chapter xxii, section 
 1, which allows commissioners, after holding their seats for a time, to 
 resign them to their alternates, or which allows alternates to sit for a 
 while, and then resign their places to their principals, is erroneous ; that 
 the practice growing out of this construction is inexpedient, and that it 
 ought to be discontinued. 
 
 " The above report was accepted, and the resolution with which it 
 closes was adopted/ Minutes, 1827, pp. 209, 210. 
 
 Rule dispensed witli under peculiar Circumstances. 
 
 I). "Rev. Jacob D. Mitchell informed the Assembly that, as the alternate 
 named in the commission from West Hanover, his principal, Rev. James 
 Wharey, not being present, he had, at the commencement of the Assem 
 bly, taken his seat as a member, and that Mr. Wharey had now arrived, 
 having been detained in the Providence of God. Mr. Mitchell moved 
 that he have leave to resign his seat in favor of Mr. Wharey. It was 
 then moved and carried, that under the peculiar circumstances of the 
 case, the standing rule be dispensed with, and that Mr. Wharey be 
 admitted a member in the place of Mr. Mitchell/ Minutes, 1836, p. 
 245. 
 
164 v. COURTS or THE CHURCH. 
 
 9. Commissioners under the Plan of Union. 
 
 a. "A commission, signed by the moderator and clerk of the Pres 
 bytery of Hartford, appointing Mr. Daniel "W. Lathrop, one of the 
 standing committee of the church in Ellsworth a commissioner to this 
 Assembly, was read. 
 
 [The subject was referred to a committee, who reported as follows. 
 The report was adopted unanimously.] 
 
 "Whereas, a conventional agreement was entered into with the 
 General Association of Connecticut by the General Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church, in the year one thousand eight hundred* and one, 
 for the purpose of preventing alienation, and promoting harmony in those 
 new settlements which are composed of persons adhering to both those 
 bodies : 
 
 "And whereas, in the said agreement it is provided, that in a church 
 composed in part of Congregationalists and in part of Presbyterians, the 
 church may choose a standing committee for the exercise of discipline j 
 and moreover, that the standing committee of any church may depute 
 one of their body to attend the Presbytery, and that the person so de 
 puted may have the same right to sit and act in Presbytery as a ruling 
 elder of the Presbyterian Church : 
 
 And, moreover, as in the mixed state of Christian society contem 
 plated in the agreement aforesaid, Presbyteries have sometimes appointed 
 members of standing committees so admitted into their body as commis 
 sioners to represent them in General Assembly. Therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, In order to carry into effect the friendly object of the 
 above agreement, that Daniel W. Lathrop be admitted as a member of 
 this Assembly. 
 
 "Resolved, That it be affectionately recommended to the brethren 
 who compose mixed societies of this kind, so far as expediency will 
 allow, to conform to the letter of the Constitution of the Presbyterian 
 Church in making their appointments and organizing their congrega 
 tions." Jltoiwfcs, 1820, pp. 721, 722, 724. 
 
 L. " Mr. Josiah Bissell, from the Presbytery of Rochester, appeared 
 in the Assembly, and produced a commission as an elder from that 
 Presbytery. A member of that Presbytery informed the Assembly that 
 Mr. Bissell had not been set apart as an elder; but that he was ap 
 pointed, as was supposed by the Presbytery, in conformity with the 
 conventional agreement between the General Assembly and the General 
 Association of Connecticut. After considerable discussion, it was 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 165 
 
 "Resolved, That Mr. Bissell be admitted as a member of the As 
 sembly." 
 
 " The following protest was offered, and ordered to be entered on the 
 Minutes, viz. : 
 
 " The subscribers enter their dissent and protest against the resolution 
 by which Mr. Josiah Bissell was admitted as a member of this General 
 Assembly, for the following reasons : 
 
 " 1. Because he was neither an ordained minister, nor a ruling elder; 
 and consequently he was destitute of the qualifications which the Con 
 stitution of our Church requires in commissioners appointed by Pres 
 byteries as their representatives in this body. 
 
 "2. Because he was not even a committee-man, on which ground 
 some might, in existing circumstances, have been disposed to advocate 
 his admission as a member. 
 
 "3. Because he had not, either from the Constitution, or from the 
 conventional agreement [the Plan of Union], the shadow of a claim to a 
 seat in this house." 
 
 [In reply, it is said that] " Mr. Bissell was admitted by the Assembly 
 for the following reasons : 
 
 " 1. The commission which Mr. Bissell produced was in due form, 
 and signed by the proper officers of the Presbytery. 
 
 "2. Every Presbytery has a right to judge of the qualifications of its 
 own members ; and it is amenable to Synod, and not to the General As 
 sembly, except by way of appeal, or reference, or complaint, regularly 
 brought up from the inferior judicatories, which has not been done in 
 the present case. 
 
 "3. It would be a dangerous precedent, and would lead to the de 
 struction of all order in the Church of Christ, to permit unauthorized 
 verbal testimony to set aside an authenticated written document." 
 Minutes, 1826, pp. 164, 178, 181. 
 
 c. [The Committee of Elections reported] : " With respect to the 
 case of the standing committee-man from Grand River Presbytery, they 
 decline expressing any opinion as to the constitutional question of the 
 right of such to a seat in the Assembly. 
 
 " The Assembly proceeded to consider the case of the person denomi 
 nated standing committee in the commission; and after considerable 
 discussion, it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the member be received and enrolled among the list 
 of members." Minutes, 1831, p. 318. 
 
166 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 d. " The consideration of the overture on the right of members of 
 standing committees to be members of the General Assembly was re 
 sumed. After considerable discussion, the overture was adopted, and 
 is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That in the opinion of the General Assembly the ap 
 pointment by some Presbyteries, as has occurred in a few cases, of mem 
 bers of standing committees to be members of the General Assembly, is 
 inexpedient and of questionable constitutionality, and therefore ought 
 not in future to be made." Minutes, 1831, p. 338. 
 
 e. " The Committee [of Commissions] also reported two commissions 
 for members of standing committees, instead of ruling elders, from the 
 Presbytery of Grand River. These commissions were referred to the 
 Committee of Elections. 
 
 " The Committee of Elections reported that the commissions referred 
 to them from the Presbytery of Grand River had been withdrawn by 
 the persons presenting them/ 7 Minutes, 1832, pp. 354, 356. 
 
 f. " The Committee [of Commissions] reported that Mr. Erastus 
 Upson, a standing committee-man from the Presbytery of Oswego, had 
 been appointed a member of this body. A motion was made to refer 
 this case to the Committee of Elections, which was negatived. It was 
 then 
 
 " Resolved, That Mr. Upson have leave to withdraw his application/ 7 
 Minutes, 1833, p. 392. 
 
 g. " The committee appointed to examine the records of the Synod 
 of South Carolina and Georgia made a report; when the records were 
 approved, with the exception of a resolution recorded on pages 218 and 
 219, on the subject of admitting the representatives of Congregational 
 and Independent churches to be members of their Presbyteries and 
 Synod, in the same manner as ruling elders/ 7 Minutes, 1832, p. 370. 
 
 10. Corresponding Members. Ministers casually present, not invited. 
 
 a. " Upon motion, it was agreed, That, whereas this Assembly, copy 
 ing the example of their predecessors, have admitted several ministers, 
 who are not commissioners, to join in their deliberations and conclusions, 
 but not to vote on any question and although this Assembly has been 
 much indebted to the wise counsels and friendly assistance of these 
 corresponding ministers, nevertheless, on mature deliberation, it was 
 
 " Resolved, As the opinion of this house, 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 167 
 
 " 1. That no delegated body has a right to transfer its powers, or any 
 part thereof, unless express provision is in its Constitution. 
 
 " 2. That this Assembly is a delegated body, and no such provision 
 is in its Constitution. * 
 
 "3. Although such admission has hitherto produced no bad conse 
 quences, it may, nevertheless, at some future day, be applied to party 
 purposes, and cause embarrassment and delay : wherefore, 
 
 " Resolved, 4. Lastly, that the practice of this Assembly, in this case, 
 ought not to be used as a precedent in future/ Minutes, 1791, p. 42. 
 
 Delegates from other Bodies. 
 
 I. [At first these were not allowed to vote; but in 1794, the Assem 
 bly asked, and the General Association of Connecticut acceded to the 
 request, " That the delegates from these bodies, respectively, shall have 
 a right, not only to sit and deliberate, but also to vote on all questions 
 which may be determined by either of them." Minutes, 1794, p. 80 ; 
 1795, p. 96. 
 
 [The Assembly afterwards, 1827, asked that the right of voting be 
 given up; and, since 1830, corresponding members have the right only 
 to sit and deliberate, but not to vote.] See chap, xi, sec. 2. 
 
 The Secretary of any of the permanent Committees, the stated and 
 temporary Clerks, have the privileges of corresponding Members. 
 
 c. " Resolved, That it be a standing rule of the Assembly, that the 
 secretary of any of the permanent committees shall be entitled to the 
 same privilege as the delegates from corresponding bodies, while the 
 business intrusted to that committee is under consideration in the house. 
 
 "The Assembly voted that the same privilege be extended to the 
 stated and permanent clerks, in reference to matters pertaining to their 
 official duties." Minutes, 1858, p. 581. 
 
 11. Of the mode of Choosing the Moderator of the Assembly. 
 
 "On motion agreed, that it be the standing rule of the General 
 Assembly, in choosing a moderator, that any commissioner may nomi 
 nate a candidate for the chair. The candidates so pointed out shall then 
 severally give their votes for some one of their number, and withdraw ; 
 when the remaining commissioners shall proceed viva voce, to choose 
 
168 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 by a plurality of voices one of the said candidates for moderator." 
 Minutes, 1791, p. 39. 
 
 12. Rules of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. 
 The Moderator s address to his successor in office, introductory to the Rules of Order. 
 
 " SIR : It is my duty to inform you, and announce to this house, that 
 you are duly elected to the office of moderator in this General Assembly. 
 For your direction in office, and for the direction of this Assembly in all 
 their deliberations, before I leave this seat, I am to read to you and this 
 house, the rules contained in the records of this Assembly ; which, I 
 doubt not, will be carefully observed by both in conducting- the business 
 that may come before you. 
 
 " 1. The moderator shall take the chair precisely at the hour to which 
 the Assembly stands adjourned; shall immediately call the members to 
 order ; and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall open the session with 
 prayer. 
 
 "2. If a quorum be not assembled at the hour appointed, any two 
 members shall be competent to adjourn from time to time, that an oppor 
 tunity may be given for a quorum to assemble. 
 
 " 3. After calling the roll, the minutes of the last sitting shall be read, 
 and if requisite, corrected. 
 
 "4. The General Assembly, at every meeting, shall appoint a Com 
 mittee of Bills and Overtures, to prepare and digest business for the 
 Assembly. Any person thinking himself aggrieved by this committee, 
 may complain to the Assembly. 
 
 " 5. Petitions, questions relating either to doctrine or order, and, usual 
 ly, all new propositions tending to general laws, shall be laid before the 
 Committee of Bills and Overtures, before they be offered to the Assembly. 
 
 " 6. The Assembly shall also, at every meeting, appoint a committee, 
 to be styled the Judicial Committee, whose duty it shall be to take into 
 consideration all appeals and references brought to the Assembly; to 
 ascertain whether they are in order, to digest and arrange all the docu 
 ments relating to the same, and to propose to the Assembly the best 
 method of proceeding in each case. 
 
 "7. It shall be the duty of the moderator, at all times, to preserve order ; 
 and to endeavor to conduct all business before the Assembly to a speedy 
 and proper result. 
 
 "8. It shall be the duty of the clerk, as soon as possible after the 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 169 
 
 commencement of the sessions of the Assembly, to form a complete roll 
 of the members present, and put the same into the hands of the mode 
 rator; and it shall also be the duty of the clerk, whenever any additional 
 members take their seats, to add their names, in their proper places, to 
 the said roll. 
 
 " 9. It shall be the duty of the clerk, immediately to file all papers, in 
 the order in which they have been read, with proper endorsements, and 
 to keep them in perfect order. 
 
 " 10. The moderator may speak to points of order in preference to 
 other members, rising from his seat for that purpose ; and shall decide 
 questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Assembly by any two 
 members. 
 
 "11. Business left unfinished at the last sitting, is, ordinarily, to be 
 taken up first. 
 
 "12. A motion made must be seconded, and afterwards repeated by 
 the moderator, or read aloud, before it is debated; and every motion 
 shall be reduced to writing, if the moderator, or any member require it. 
 
 "13. Any member who shall have made a motion, shall have liberty 
 to withdraw it, with the consent of his second, before any debate has 
 taken place thereon ; but not afterwards, without the consent of the 
 Assembly. 
 
 * " 14. On questions of order, adjournment, postponement, commit 
 ment, or the previous question, no member shall speak more than once ; 
 on all other questions, each member may speak twice, but not oftener, 
 without the express permission of the Assembly. 
 
 "15. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, 
 except to amend it, to commit it, to postpone it, for the previous question, 
 or to adjourn. 
 
 " 16. An amendment may be moved on any motion, and shall be 
 decided before the original motion. 
 
 " 17. If a motion under debate contains several parts, any two mem 
 bers may have it divided, and a question taken on each part. 
 
 * " 18. The previous question shall be in this form : Shall the main 
 question be now put ? and, until it is decided, shall preclude all amend 
 ment, and further debate on the main question. 
 
 f "19. If the previous question be decided in the affirmative, the debate 
 
 * Modified by act of Assembly of 1851. See p. 172. The 14th and 18th. here, 
 correspond with the 13th and 17th of the "Rules for Judicatories/ 
 
 t Modified by act of Assembly of 1835. See p. 172. 
 
170 v. COURTS or THE CHURCH. 
 
 on the main question may proceed ; if in the negative, the effect shall 
 be to arrest the discussion, and to produce an indefinite postponement. 
 
 " 20. A question shall not be again called up, or reconsidered at the 
 same sessions of the Assembly at which it has been decided, except by 
 the consent of two-thirds of the members who were present at the 
 decision; and unless the motion to reconsider be made and seconded by 
 persons who voted with the majority. 
 
 "21. A subject which has been indefinitely postponed, either by the 
 operation of the previous question, or by a direct motion for indefinite 
 postponement, shall not be again called up, during the same sessions of 
 the Assembly, except by the consent of three-fourths of the members 
 who were present at the decision. 
 
 "22. Every member, when speaking, shall address himself to the 
 moderator; and shall treat his fellow-members, and especially the 
 moderator, with decorum and respect. 
 
 "23. Without express permission, no member, while business is going 
 on, shall engage in private conversation ; nor shall members address one 
 another, nor any person present, but through the moderator. 
 
 " 24. No speaker shall be interrupted, unless he be out of order, or 
 for the purpose of correcting mistakes or misrepresentations. 
 
 "25. It is indispensable, that members maintain great gravity and 
 dignity while judicially convened; that they attend closely, in their 
 speeches, to the subject under consideration, and avoid prolix and de 
 sultory harangues; and when they deviate from the subject, it is the 
 privilege of any member, and the duty of the moderator, to call them 
 to order. 
 
 " 26. No member, in the course of debate, shall be allowed to indulge 
 in personal reflections. 
 
 " 27. If more than one member rise to speak at the same time, the 
 member who is most distant from the moderator s chair shall speak first. 
 
 " 28. When more than three members shall be standing at the same 
 time, the moderator shall require all to take their seats, the person only 
 excepted who may be speaking. 
 
 "29. If any member act, in any respect, in a disorderly manner, it 
 shall be the privilege of any member, and the duty of the moderator, 
 to call him to order. 
 
 " 30. If any member consider himself aggrieved by a decision of the 
 moderator, it shall be his privilege to appeal to the Assembly; and the 
 question on such appeal, shall be taken without debate. 
 
 "31. Any member who may think himself aggrieved by a decision 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 171 
 
 of the General Assembly, shall have his dissent, or protest, with his 
 reasons, entered on the records of the Assembly, or filed among their 
 papers, if given in before the rising of the Assembly.* 
 
 " 32. It is the duty of the moderator to appoint all committees, except 
 in those cases in which the Assembly shall decide otherwise. 
 
 "33. The person first named on any committee, shall be considered 
 as the chairman thereof, whose duty it shall be to convene the com 
 mittee ; and in case of his absence, or inability to act, the second-named 
 member shall take his place, and perform his duties. 
 
 "34. When .various motions are made with respect to the filling of 
 blanks with particular numbers or times, the question shall always be 
 first taken on the highest number, and the longest time. 
 
 " 35. When the moderator has commenced taking the vote, no further 
 debate or remark shall be admitted, unless there has evidently been a 
 mistake ; in which case, the mistake shall be rectified, and the moderator 
 shall recommence taking the vote. 
 
 "36. When a vote is taken by ballot, the moderator shall vote with 
 the other members ; but he shall not vote in any other case, unless the 
 Assembly be equally divided, when, if he do not choose to vote, the 
 question shall be lost. 
 
 " 37. The yeas and nays on any question, shall not be recorded, unless 
 it be required by one-third of the members present. 
 
 "38. Whenever the Assembly is about to sit in a judicial capacity, 
 it shall be the duty of the moderator, solemnly to announce from the 
 chair, that the Assembly is about to pass to the consideration of the 
 business assigned for trial, and to enjoin on the members to recollect 
 and regard the high character, as judges of a court of Jesus Christ, and 
 the solemn duty, in which they are about to act. 
 
 "39. No member shall retire from the Assembly, without the leave 
 of the moderator; or withdraw from it, to return home, without the 
 consent of the Assembly. 
 
 " 40. The moderator, in finally closing the sessions of the Assembly, 
 in addition to prayer, may cause an appropriate psalm or hymn to be 
 sung; and shall pronounce the Apostolical Benediction. 
 
 Conclusion of the Moderator s address to his successor in office. 
 
 " Having now read these rules, according to order, for your instruc 
 tion, as moderator, and for the direction of all the members, in the 
 
 * See Form of Government. Book II, Chap. 8. 
 
172 V. COURTS OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 management of business, praying that Almighty God may direct, and 
 bless all the deliberations of this General Assembly, for the glory of his 
 name, and for the edification and comfort of the Presbyterian Church in 
 the United States, I resign my place and office as moderator." Minutes, 
 1822, p. 42-45. 
 
 Modifications of Rules. 
 
 [The 13th, 17th, and 18th of the " Rules for Judicatories" corres 
 pond with the 14th, 18th, and 19th of the Rules for the Assembly 
 given above. The " Rules for Judicafories as they now stand will be 
 found in full in the last chapter of this Digest.] 
 
 The Assembly resumed the consideration of the Report of the Com 
 mittee on the 17th and 18th Rules for Judicatories. The Report was 
 amended and adopted, and is as follows, viz. : That the 17th Rule re 
 main as it now stands, and that the 18th be so altered as to read thus : 
 " If the previous question be decided in the affirmative the main ques 
 tion shall be immediately put without debate; if in the negative, the 
 debate may proceed." Minutes, 1835, p. 473. 
 
 The Committee (Hon. William Strong, Mr. Abraham B. Conger, and 
 Mr. William H. Brown), to whom was referred the interpretation of the 
 17th rule, presented a report, and, on their recommendation, the 13th 
 and 17th rules were amended, so as to read as follows: 
 
 u The previous question shall be put in this form : /Shall the main 
 question be now put? It shall only be admitted when demanded by a 
 majority of the members present; and its effect shall be to put an end 
 to all debate, and bring the body to a direct vote, first, upon a motion 
 to commit the motion under consideration (if such motion shall have 
 been made) ; secondly (if the motion to commit does not prevail), upon 
 pending amendments ; and, lastly, upon the main question. To call 
 for the previous question shall not be debatable. 
 
 "The 13th rule shall be amended by striking out the words, c or the 
 previous question. " Minutes, 1851, p. 27. 
 
 13. The Moderator has no other than the casting vote. 
 
 " On the question being taken, the moderator [Dr. John Blair Smith] 
 claimed a right to a vote as a commissioner from the Presbytery of Albany, 
 distinct from the casting vote. He left it to the house to decide on the 
 claim. The house, having taken a vote on the subject, decided by a 
 great majority against the moderator s claim." Minutes, 1798, p. 140. 
 
 [See ante 36, p. 171.] 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 173 
 
 14. Communications to the Assembly through the Moderator. 
 
 " On motion, 
 
 "Resolved, That every letter or communication addressed to the 
 moderator, be opened and read by him, and at his discretion be either 
 communicated immediately to the Assembly for their decision, or to the 
 Committee of Overtures, to be by them brought before the house in 
 the ordinary channel." Minutes, 1794, p. 79. 
 
 15. The u last Moderator present" not necessarily a Member of the 
 
 Assembly. 
 
 "PiTTSBURG, May 21st, 1835. 
 
 "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church met in the First 
 Presbyterian Church in this city, and the Rev. Dr. Lindsley, the mode 
 rator of the last Assembly, being absent, was opened with a sermon by 
 the Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D., at the request of the Rev. Dr. William 
 A. McDowell, the last moderator present, with a sermon on 2 Corinthians 
 4:7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency 
 of the power may be of God and not of us/ 
 
 " After sermon the stated clerk called the house to order, and informed 
 them, that the Rev. Dr. Lindsley, the moderator of the last Assembly, 
 being absent, the duties of the chair devolved upon the last moderator, 
 who is present, and has a commission to sit in this Assembly, and there 
 fore he moved that the Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, D.D., be called to 
 the chair. This motion prevailed, and Dr. Beman took the chair, and 
 constituted the Assembly with prayer. 
 
 "Thursday afternoon, 3 o clock. 
 
 " The Assembly met. 
 
 " A motion was made to reconsider the vote by which Dr. Beman was 
 called to the chair, on the ground that many persons voted in the appre 
 hension that Dr. Wm. A. McDowell, the moderator immediately pre 
 ceding Dr. Lindsley, was not in the house ; and that many others believed 
 the rule of the house required the constituting moderator to be in com 
 mission, which Dr. McDowell was not. This motion, after considerable 
 discussion, was adopted unanimously. 
 
 " After some further remarks, it was agreed that the original motion 
 of the stated clerk should be again submitted to the house, and the vote 
 be taken by him. Whereupon Dr. Ely put the question : < All who are 
 in favor of sustaining the resolution passed in the morning, by which 
 
174 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Dr. Beman was called to the chair, will signify it by saying aye. This 
 motion was lost. 
 
 " It was then moved that the Rev. Wm. A. McDowell, D.D., being the 
 last moderator present, be requested to take the chair. This motion pre 
 vailed, and Dr. McDowell took the chair accordingly." Minutes, 1835, 
 pp. 461, 4G6. 
 
 16. THE STATED CLERK. 
 
 Appointment. 
 
 a. il Ordered, that Dr. Duffield be appointed stated clerk of the 
 Assembly, procure a proper book into which to transcribe their minutes, 
 and lay the expense of the book and of transcribing the minutes, before 
 the General Assembly at their next meeting/ Minutes, 1789, p. 18. 
 
 Duties of the Stated Clerk. 
 
 b. " The stated clerk shall transcribe for the press such parts as may 
 be necessary of the minutes ordered to be published from year to year. 
 He shall correct the press, and superintend the printing of all the mi 
 nutes and papers which shall be ordered to be printed by the General 
 Assembly. As soon as the extracts are printed from year to year, he 
 shall send one copy by mail to each Presbytery, and apportion and send 
 the rest by private conveyance to the Presbyteries and other bodies, as 
 shall be prescribed by the Assembly, only reserving a sufficient number 
 of copies for binding. He shall have the charge of all the books and 
 papers of the General Assembly, shall cause their minutes to be fairly 
 transcribed into the book or books provided for the purpose, and give at 
 tested copies of all minutes and other documents, when properly required 
 so to do." Minutes, 1807, p. 377. 
 
 To Notify Presbyteries whose Commissioners have left without Leave. 
 
 c. " Whereas, it has frequently happened that members of this As 
 sembly, neglecting their duty and inattentive to the rules of decorum, 
 have abruptly left the Assembly, and returned home without leave of 
 absence, 
 
 "Resolved, That in all similar cases which shall occur in future, it 
 shall be the duty of the clerk of this House to give notice thereof to 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 the Presbyteries to which such delinquent members may belong ; and 
 that it be recommended to the said Presbyteries, in their settlements 
 with such delinquents, not to allow them any compensation for services 
 as members of the Assembly." Minutes, 1801, p. 233. 
 
 " Resolved, That it be the duty of the stated clerk hereafter, to report 
 to the several Presbyteries the names of the commissioners who, at the 
 calling of the roll at the close of the Assembly, may appear to have left 
 the Assembly without permission." Minutes, 1820, p. 723. 
 
 " Resolved, That as the names of persons who have left the Assembly 
 without leave are to be published in the printed journals, therefore the 
 stated clerk is liberated from the duty enjoined by a standing rule, of 
 writing to the Presbyteries on the subject." Minutes, 1824, p. 125. 
 
 Salary of the Stated Clerlt. 
 
 d. " Resolved, That the salary of the stated clerk be hereafter one 
 hundred dollars per annum, exclusive of the expense of having the 
 minutes transcribed." Minutes, 1837, p. 467. 
 
 17. PERMANENT CLERK. 
 
 Appointment and Duties. 
 
 " Resolved, That a permanent recording clerk be chosen, whose duty 
 it shall be, from year to year, to draught the minutes of the Assembly 
 during their sessions, and afterwards to perform such services respecting 
 the transcribing, printing, and distributing the extracts as shall be as 
 signed to him, from time to time; and that he be paid out of the funds 
 of the Assembly three dollars per day, for the time he shall be em 
 ployed, as well during the sessions of the Assembly as after their disso 
 lution." Minutes, 1802, p. 235. 
 
 " Resolved, That hereafter the permanent clerk shall receive for his 
 services two dollars per day, during the sessions of the Assembly, and 
 one dollar and fifty cents per day, while necessarily attending upon the 
 business of the Assembly after their adjournment." Minutes, 1806, 
 p. 372. 
 
 11 The permanent clerk shall furnish all the stationery for the use of 
 the Assembly and the several clerks. He shall make the original 
 draught of all the minutes, and give certified copies, as occasion may 
 require, of all such as may be proper to be transmitted to the trustees of 
 
176 v. COURTS or THE CHURCH. 
 
 the General Assembly, or any of their officers. After the Assembly 
 rises, from year to year, he shall carefully revise the manuscript, render 
 it correct and legible, and deliver it over to the stated clerk. He shall 
 receive a reasonable compensation for the stationery supplied by him, 
 and the pay (per diem) fixed by the last Assembly ; (i. e., two dollars 
 per day during the sessions of the Assembly, and one dollar and fifty 
 cents per day, while necessarily attending on the business of the Assem 
 bly after their adjournment). Minutes, 1807, p. 377. 
 
 [Restored to three dollars per diem. Minutes, 1826, p. 188.] 
 
 18. TEMPORARY CLERKS. 
 
 a. "Resolved, That a temporary clerk be chosen by each Assembly 
 as heretofore, to read the minutes and communications to the Assembly, 
 and otherwise aid the permanent clerk as occasion may require, and that 
 he be paid one dollar per day for his services/ Minutes, 1802, p. 235. 
 
 It. " The temporary clerk shall hereafter receive no pecuniary com 
 pensation for his services." Minutes, 1806, p. 372. 
 
 Choice of Clerks not confined to Members of Assembly. 
 
 c. "On motion, 
 
 "Resolved, That it be considered as the right of every member of 
 the Assembly to vote for a clerk who is not a member of the body." 
 Minutes, 1793, p. 64. 
 
 19. TJte Standing Committees. 
 
 "Resolved, That the committees appointed at the opening of each 
 Assembly be called Standing Committees, and those outside of the 
 Assembly, Permanent Committees." Minutes, 1856, p. 192. 
 
 1. Committee of Bills and Overtures. 
 
 a. " The General Assembly at every meeting shall appoint a Com 
 mittee of Bills and Overtures, to prepare and digest business for the 
 Assembly. Any person thinking himself aggrieved by this committee 
 may complain to the Assembly." Minutes, 1789, p. 8. 
 
 I. " Petitions, questions relating either to doctrine or order, intended 
 to be brought before the Assembly for decision, and in general, all new 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 177 
 
 propositions tending to general laws, shall usually be laid before the Com 
 mittee of Bills and Overtures before they be offered to the Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1819, p. 718. [See Rules 4 and 5, p. 168.] 
 
 II. Judicial Committee. 
 
 " The Assembly shall also at every meeting appoint a committee, to be 
 styled the Judicial Committee, whose duty it shall be to take into con 
 sideration all appeals and references brought to the Assembly; to ascer 
 tain whether they are in order ; to digest and arrange all the documents 
 relating to the same; and to propose to the Assembly the best method 
 of proceeding in each case." Minutes, 1819, p. 718. [See Rule 6, p. 168.] 
 
 ///. Committee on Polity of the Church. 
 
 (< Resolved,, That a Committee of seven members be appointed on the 
 Polity of the Church ; and that it be referred to this committee to exa 
 mine and settle the true roll of the Presbyteries and Synods connected 
 with the Assembly ; and that they receive the reports of the several 
 Presbyteries on amending the Constitution of the Church." Minutes, 
 1840, p. 7. 
 
 IV. Committee on Church Extension. 
 
 " There shall hereafter be appointed, with the other standing committees 
 of the General Assembly, one on Church Extension, to whom shall be 
 committed, at an early period of their sessions, the Synodical and Pres- 
 byterial reports on the subject, whose duty it shall be to present a con 
 densed view of them to the Assembly, with such further propositions to 
 promote this work as they may deem desirable. This standing com 
 mittee shall be required to report as soon as a faithful discharge of its 
 duties will permit." Minutes, 1852, p. 172. 
 
 V. Committee on Education. 
 
 VI. Committee on Publication. 
 
 " Resolved, That hereafter there be appointed, at the opening of each 
 Assembly, Standing Committees on Education and Publication, to whom 
 may be referred appropriate reports and communications." Minutes, 
 1856, p. 192. 
 
 12 
 
178 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 VII. Committee on Devotional Exercises. 
 
 "Resolved, That it be hereafter a standing rule of the General Assem 
 bly to spend the first Wednesday of their sessions in religious exercises, 
 as follows, viz. : 
 
 " It is recommended that each member should spend from eight till 
 nine o clock, A. M. of that day in secret devotion. At ten, the Assem 
 bly shall meet together, and spend a season in prayer, praise, reading 
 the Scriptures, and exhortation. In the afternoon, there shall be a 
 public meeting of the Assembly, with all who may choose to convene 
 with them, to engage again in religious exercises. 
 
 " Each Assembly shall, at an early period of its sessions, appoint a 
 committee to make arrangements for the observance of this day, in con 
 formity with the above general plan." Minutes, 1828, p. 239. 
 
 VIII. Committee on the Narrative. 
 
 The following proposition was introduced through the Committee of 
 Bills and Overtures, viz. : 
 
 " That the General Assembly take measures to bring into distinct 
 view, at its different sessions, the situation of the Presbyterian Church 
 under its jurisdiction in the United States of America, with respect to 
 the state of religion in the different Presbyteries, the state of religious 
 denominations amongst them, and the most probable expedients for 
 reviving and promoting the essential interests of Christ s kingdom in the 
 world; whereupon 
 
 u Resolved, That it be recommended to each Synod to enjoin it upon 
 the respective Presbyteries within their bounds, to specify the above 
 particulars in the annual reports which they make of the state of their 
 respective churches, to be laid before the General Assembly at its stated 
 meetings." Minutes, 1792, p. 59. 
 
 Narrative to notice the Decease of Ministers. 
 
 " Resolved, That the narrative on the state of religion annually contain 
 a notice of the decease of all the ministers of our Church, who may have 
 been removed by death during the preceding year; and the several 
 Presbyteries are ordered to incorporate with their reports on the state of 
 religion, made to the Assembly, the case of every such removal within 
 their bounds." Minutes, 1822, p. 38. 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 179 
 
 IX. Committee on Leave of Absence. 
 
 "Resolved, That, as a standing rule of the Assembly, a committee of 
 five be appointed, whose duty it shall be to consider all applications for 
 leave of absence, with power to decide on the same, in place of the 
 house, and with instructions to require in every case satisfactory reasons 
 for the necessity of such absence, and report to the house, at the com 
 mencement of every session, the members so dismissed ; and that an 
 appeal to the Assembly may be made in any instance of refusal on the 
 part of the committee to grant the application." Minutes, 1833, p. 390. 
 
 X. Committee on Mileage. 
 
 " Resolved , That the members entitled to mileage shall give to the 
 Committee on the Commissioners Fund, within three days after the ap 
 pointment of said committee, in writing, their names, the names of their 
 Presbyteries, and their distance from home to the Assembly; and if any 
 member neglects to comply with this resolution, he shall forfeit his por 
 tion of said fund. And that no member may be ignorant of this reso 
 lution, the moderator shall read it as soon as the committee on said fund 
 is appointed each year." Minutes, 1818, p. 687. 
 
 "The Committee on Mileage reported in part, when it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the commissioners from Newburyport, Clinton, and 
 Madison be struck off from the list of applicants for a portion of the 
 commissioners fund, on the ground that their respective Presbyteries 
 have paid nothing into this fund. 
 
 l Resolved further, That the commissioners from the following Pres 
 byteries, viz., Cortland, Genesee, Onondaga, Oswego, Rochester, and 
 Ontario be allowed to draw from the commissioners fund only the 
 amount that their Presbyteries have respectively paid in." Minutes, 
 1833, p. 404. 
 
 " It is hereby ordered, that no commissioner who shall obtain leave of 
 absence within the first six days of the sessions shall be entitled to re 
 ceive anything from the commissioners fund, unless the General As 
 sembly shall order otherwise, when the reasons of the application are 
 given." Minutes, 1827, p. 207. 
 
 XL Committee on Foreiyn Missions. 
 u Resolved) That a standing Committee on Foreign Missions be an- 
 
180 v. COURTS or THE CHURCH. 
 
 nually appointed, who shall have charge of this general subject in the 
 sessions of the Assembly." Minutes, 1858, p. 596. 
 
 20. Commissioners 1 Fund. 
 
 a. "1. Resolved, That it be, and hereby is earnestly recommended to 
 the several Presbyteries, and all the ministers under the care of the 
 General Assembly, to urge upon the people under their care the equity, 
 the importance, and the absolute necessity of contributing to the com 
 missioners fund, in order to secure the attendance of commissioners at 
 the sessions of the General Assembly, from those sections of the Church 
 which are at the greatest distance from the place of the Assembly s 
 meetings, and which in the Divine Providence are least able to sustain 
 the burden of expense, both of time and money, in giving such attend 
 ance. 
 
 " 2. Resolved, That in the judgment of this General Assembly, those 
 Presbyteries that are wealthy, and that have judged it proper to pay the 
 expenses of their own commissioners, are bound in a peculiar manner to 
 contribute liberally to the general fund, in order that they may bear 
 their due proportion of the^ expenses of commissioners who attend from 
 distant Presbyteries; which Presbyteries and their commissioners, in 
 the Providence of God, are not able to pay their own expenses; and 
 this General Assembly would fain hope that the wealthy Presbyteries 
 will esteem it both their privilege and their duty to make such contri 
 butions. 7 Minutes, 1833, p. 410. 
 
 l>. " The committee to whom was referred the subject of mileage, pre 
 sented a report, which was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The commissioners fund is distributed at the present time in the 
 following manner : The money contributed for the general fund is paid 
 into the hands of the Committee en Mileage, and distributed to such 
 commissioners as claim it (whose Presbyteries have contributed anything 
 to the fund, and who have not otherwise been paid), according to the 
 number of miles each has travelled to the place of meeting. 
 
 " This mode of distribution appears to be as simple and equitable as 
 any that can be adopted ; and the committee recommend that it remain 
 unchanged. 
 
 " Our Form of Government, chap, xxii, sec. 3, makes it proper for 
 each Presbytery to pay its own commissioners; consequently, if any 
 Presbytery shall choose to do so, the Assembly cannot require them to 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 181 
 
 contribute to the general fund; but it is most earnestly recommended to 
 the older and abler Presbyteries, in view of the wide extent of our 
 Church, and the great importance of our rising Presbyteries being 
 represented in the meetings of the Assembly, if they shall still choose 
 to exercise their right to pay their own commissioners in full, that they 
 be particular in making additional collections for the general fund, so 
 that the younger and feebler Presbyteries may be fully represented. 
 And it is hereby made the duty of the stated clerk to give due notice 
 of this recommendation previous to the meeting of the General Assem 
 bly/ Minutes, 1851, p. 24. 
 
 c. "The Committee on the Polity of the Church made the following 
 report, which was adopted : 
 
 u Whereas, a full representation, both of ministers and of elders, from 
 all the Presbyteries, is essential to the efficiency and welfare of the 
 Church ; and whereas this can be secured only by the co-operation of 
 all the Presbyteries in raising an adequate fund to defray the necessary 
 expenses of all the commissioners to the Assembly. Therefore, 
 
 u Resolved j 1. That there be a Permanent Committee on Mileage, of 
 which the stated clerk shall be ex officio a member, who shall estimate 
 the probable amount that will be required to defray the travelling ex 
 penses of commissioners and the contingent expenses of the Assembly, 
 shall apportion the same to the several Presbyteries, and recommend to 
 them prompt measures to secure the amount, the apportionment for 
 each successive Assembly to be reported to the preceding Assembly. 
 And if any Presbytery supposes its apportionment unjust, it may make 
 representation to the Permanent Committee on Mileage, who shall re 
 consider their case, and make such changes as they shall deem proper. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. That on the fourth day after the opening of the As 
 sembly, the Presbyteries be called upon to report, whether the amount 
 assigned them has been paid into the treasury of the Assembly. 
 
 "Resolved, 3. That the commissioners to the Assembly, whose Pres 
 byteries have paid the amounts assigned them, are expected, within four 
 days after the opening of the Assembly, to present a bill of their neces 
 sary travelling expenses to the Permanent Committee on Mileage, to be 
 audited by them, and paid in equal proportions according to the funds 
 furnished by those Presbyteries. 
 
 "Resolved, 4. That since the question has arisen, whether this plan 
 is constitutional, it be referred to the Presbyteries for their approval ; 
 and, if approved, it shall become part of the Constitution, and all prior 
 
182 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH, 
 
 regulations of the Assembly on the subject of mileage, inconsistent with 
 these regulations, shall be rescinded." Minutes, 1856, pp. 216, 217. 
 
 cL " The Committee on the Polity of the Church reported that fifty 
 Presbyteries had taken action upon the overture on the subject of mile 
 age, thirty-one answering in the affirmative, and nineteen in the nega 
 tive; and, as a majority of all the Presbyteries had taken no action upon 
 the subject, that the overture was not adopted. The whole subject was 
 again referred to the Committee on the Polity of the Church." 
 Minutes, 1857, p. 380. 
 
 lt The Committee on the Polity of the Church, to whom was referred 
 the consideration of a permanent system of mileage, present the follow 
 ing report: 
 
 " The Constitution affirms that, i in order, as far as possible, to procure 
 a respectable and full delegation to all our judicatories, it is proper that 
 the expenses of ministers and elders, in their attendance on these judi 
 catories, be defrayed by the bodies which they respectively represent. 
 
 " The following recommendations are therefore submitted : 
 
 " That each Presbytery be earnestly requested to contribute annually 
 their full proportion towards the expenses of our General Assemblies. 
 
 a That this proportion be determined by the number of communicants 
 connected with the Presbytery. 
 
 " That the rate, per capita, for the next Assembly be five (5) cents 
 for each communicant. 
 
 " That each Presbytery be at liberty to apportion their quota among 
 their churches as they shall deem best. 
 
 " That the Standing Committee on Mileage, annually appointed, esti 
 mate and report the probable amount that will be needed to defray the 
 necessary travelling expenses of the commissioners, and the contingent 
 expenses of the next succeeding Assembly, together with the rate that 
 will be adequate. 
 
 " That, on or before the fourth day of the sessions of each Assembly, 
 the amount thus contributed be paid to the Committee on Mileage, and 
 a bill be presented by each commissioner of his necessary travelling 
 expenses and mileage. 
 
 11 That these bills, having been duly audited by the Mileage Com 
 mittee, be paid as fully as the funds will permit, after appropriating an 
 amount sufficient to defray the contingent expenses of the Assembly. 
 
 " That each minister and vacant church connected with those Pres 
 byteries who have contributed their full quota to this fund be entitled 
 to a copy of the annual Minutes. 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 183 
 
 " That, in order to avail themselves of the privileges of this plan, the 
 Presbyteries must contribute and forward to the Assembly, their full 
 proportion of this fund as thus determined. The report was adopted." 
 Minutes, 1857, pp. 399, 400. 
 
 21. Contingent Fund. 
 
 11 Resolved, That it be recommended to the congregations under 
 the care of this Assembly to make annually a collection for a contingent 
 fund to defray the incidental expenses of the Assembly, such as record 
 ing and printing the Minutes, clerks salaries, janitor s bill, stationery, 
 and expenses of delegates to corresponding bodies. 
 
 " Resolved, That this collection be reported annually by the con 
 gregations to their respective Presbyteries ; and by the Presbyteries be 
 paid over to the treasurer of the Trustees of the General Assembly, and 
 be reported in the annual report to the Assembly." Minutes, 1830, p. 
 305. [See above, p. 182.] 
 
 22. The Publication and Distribution of the Minutes. 
 
 " The committee would submit to the Assembly the following plan for 
 the publication of the Minutes in future, viz. : That each Presbytery 
 shall forward to the treasurer, for the contingent fund of the Assembly, 
 at or before the meeting of the Assembly in each year, a sum equal to 
 31| cents for each member of the Presbytery, and for any licentiate or 
 other person who shall desire the Minutes, and whose post-office address 
 shall be given. And the stated clerk shall not forward the Minutes to 
 the members of any Presbytery from which no such remittance shall be 
 made; but only to the stated clerk of such Presbytery, and to such 
 members as shall forward the sum above stated. Adopted." Minutes, 
 1836, p. 277. 
 
 " The price, either with or without postage, of a copy of the Annual 
 Minutes, with the usual appendix, is forty cents. Every Presbytery 
 that contributes to the contingent fund an amount equal to forty cents 
 for each minister, will have one copy of the Minutes forwarded by mail, 
 as soon as published, to each of its ministers whose post-office address is 
 given in the Statistical Report. The Minutes will also be sent, free of 
 postage, when ordered, to any address at the same rate. The postage 
 on all orders must be prepaid. 
 
 "Agreeably to a resolution of the Assembly, a copy of the Minutes will 
 
184 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 be sent, post-paid, to each of the stated clerks of the Presbyteries and 
 Synods, for the use of those bodies respectively." Minutes, 1854, p. 540 
 (Appendix). 
 
 23. The Charier of the Trustees of the Assembly. 
 
 An Act for incorporating the Trustees of the Ministers and Elders con 
 stituting the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United Sta tcs of Ame r ica . 
 
 " Whereas, The ministers and elders forming the General Assembly 
 of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, consisting 
 of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, and of others of the United 
 States aforesaid, have by their petition represented, that by donations, 
 bequests, or otherwise, of charitably disposed persons, they are possessed 
 of moneys for benevolent and pious purposes ; and the said ministers and 
 elders have reason to expect farther contributions for similar uses; but 
 from the scattered situation of the said ministers and elders, and other 
 causes, the said ministers and elders find it extremely difficult to manage 
 the said funds in the way best calculated to answer the intention of the 
 donors j therefore 
 
 " SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it 
 is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That John Rodgers, 
 Alexander McWhorter, Samuel Stanhope Smith, Ashbel Green, William 
 M. Tennent, Patrick Allison, Nathan Irvin, Joseph Clark, Andrew Hun 
 ter, Jared Ingersoll, Robert Ralston, Jonathan B. Smith, Andrew Bay 
 ard, Elias Boudinot, John Nelson, Ebenezer Hazard, David Jackson, 
 and Robert Smith, merchant, and their successors duly elected, and 
 appointed in manner as is hereinafter directed, be, and they are hereby 
 made, declared, and constituted a corporation and body politic and cor 
 porate, in law and in fact, to have continuance forever, by the name, 
 style, and title of Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America; and by the name, style, and 
 title aforesaid, shall, forever hereafter, be persons able and capable in 
 law as well to take, receive, and hold, all and all manner of lands, tene 
 ments, rents, annuities, franchises, and other hereditaments, which at 
 any time or times heretofore have been granted, bargained, sold, en- 
 feoffed, released, devised, or otherwise conveyed, to the said ministers 
 and elders of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 185 
 
 United States, or any other person or persons, to their use, or in trust 
 for them j and the same lands, tenements, rents, annuities, liberties, 
 franchises, and other hereditaments, are hereby vested and established 
 in the said corporation, and their successors forever, according to the 
 original use and intent for which such devises, gifts, and grants, were 
 respectively made ; and the said corporation and their successors are 
 hereby, declared to be seized and possessed of such estate and estates 
 therein as by and in the respective grants, bargains, sales, enfeoffments, 
 releases, devises, and other conveyances thereof, is or are declared limited 
 and expressed ; also, that the said corporation and their successors, at 
 all times hereafter, shall be capable and able to purchase, have, receive, 
 take, hold, and enjoy, in fee simple, or of lesser estate or estates, any 
 lands, tenements, rents, annuities, franchises, and other hereditaments, 
 by the gift, grant, bargain, sale, alienation, enfeoffment, release, con 
 firmation, or devise, of any person or persons, bodies politic and corporate, 
 capable and able to make the same : And farther, that the said ministers 
 and elders, under the corporate name aforesaid, and their successors, may 
 take and receive any sum or sums of money, and any portion of goods 
 and chattels, that have been given to the said ministers and elders, or 
 that hereafter shall be given, sold, leased, or bequeathed to the said cor 
 poration by any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, that is able 
 or capable to make a gift, sale, bequest, or other disposal of the same ; 
 such money, goods, or chattels, to be laid out and disposed of for the use 
 and benefit of the aforesaid corporation, agreeably to the intention of the 
 donors, and according to the objects, articles, and conditions of this act. 
 
 " SEC. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 no misnomer of the said corporation and their successors shall defeat or 
 annul any gift, grant, devise, or bequest, to or from the said corporation, 
 provided the intent of the party or parties shall sufficiently appear upon 
 the face of the gift, will, grant, or other writing, whereby any estate or 
 interest was intended to pass to or from the said corporation. 
 
 " SEC. 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 the said corporation and their successors shall have full power and 
 authority to make, have, and use one common seal, with such device 
 and inscription as they shall think fit and proper; and the same to break, 
 alter, and renew, at their pleasure. 
 
 "SEC. 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 the said corporation and their successors, by the name, style, and title 
 aforesaid, shall be able and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and 
 
186 V. COURTS OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 be impleaded, in any court, or before any judge or justice, in all and all 
 manner of suits, complaints, pleas, matters, and demands, of whatsoever 
 nature, kind, and form they may be ; and all and every matter and thing 
 to do, in as full and effectual a manner as any other person, bodies politic 
 or corporate, within this Commonwealth, may or can do. 
 
 " SEC. 5. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 the said corporation and their successors shall be, and hereby are author 
 ized and empowered to make, ordain, and establish by-laws and ordi 
 nances, and do everything incident and needful for the support and 
 due government of the said corporation, and managing the funds and 
 revenues thereof: provided, the said by-laws be not repugnant to the 
 Constitution and laws of the United States, to the Constitution and laws 
 of this Commonwealth, or to this act. 
 
 " SEC. 6. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 the said corporation shall not at any time consist of more than eighteen 
 persons; whereof the said General Assembly may, at their discretion, as 
 often as they shall hold their sessions in the State of Pennsylvania, 
 change one-third in such manner as to the said General Assembly shall 
 seem proper ; and the corporation aforesaid shall have power and autho 
 rity to manage and dispose of all moneys, goods, chattels, lands, tene 
 ments, and hereditaments, and other estate whatsoever, committed to 
 their care and trust by the said General Assembly; but in cases where 
 special instructions for the management and disposal thereof shall be 
 given by the said General Assembly in writing, under the hand of their 
 clerk, it shall be the duty of the said corporation to act according to 
 such instructions : provided, the said instructions shall not be repugnant 
 to the Constitution and laws of the United States, or to the Constitution 
 and laws of this Commonwealth, or to the provisions and restrictions in 
 this act contained. 
 
 "SEC. 7. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 six members of this corporation, whereof the president, or in his absence 
 the vice-president, to be one, shall be a sufficient number to transact the 
 business thereof, and to make by-laws, rules, and regulations : provided, 
 that previous to any meeting of the board or corporation, for such pur 
 poses, not appointed by adjournment, ten days notice shall be previously 
 given thereof, in at least one of the newspapers printed in the city of 
 Philadelphia. And the said corporation shall and may, as often as they 
 shall see proper, and according to the rules by them to be prescribed, 
 choose out of their number, a president and vice-president, and shall 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 187 
 
 have authority to appoint a treasurer, and such other officers and servants 
 as shall by them, the said corporation, be deemed necessary; to which 
 officers the said corporation may assign such a compensation for their 
 services, and such duties to be performed by them, to continue in office 
 for such time, and to be succeeded by others, in such way and manner 
 as the said corporation shall direct. 
 
 " SEC. 8. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 all questions before the said corporation, shall be decided by a plurality 
 of votes, whereof each member present shall have one, except the presi 
 dent, or vice-president when acting as president, who shall have only 
 the casting voice and vote, in case of an equality in the votes of the 
 other members. 
 
 "SEC. 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 the said corporation shall keep regular and fair entries of their proceed 
 ings, and a just account of their receipts and disbursements, in a book 
 or books to be provided for that purpose ; and their treasurer shall, once 
 in a year, exhibit to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the United States of America, an exact state of the accounts of the 
 corporation. 
 
 " SEC. 10. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That 
 the said corporation may take, receive, purchase, possess and enjoy, 
 messuages, houses, lands, tenements, rents, annuities, and other heredi 
 taments, real and personal estate of any amount not exceeding ten 
 thousand dollars a year value, but the said limitations not to be con 
 sidered as including the annual collections and voluntary contributions 
 made in the churches under the care of the said General Assembly. 
 
 "CADWALADER EVANS, JR., 
 " Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 "ROBERT HARE, 
 
 " Speaker of the Senate. 
 " Approved March 28, 1799. 
 
 " THOMAS MIFPLIN, 
 " Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." 
 
 Minutes, 1799, pp. 173, 175. 
 
 24. Mode of Electing the Trustees. 
 
 " Resolved, That it is expedient to adopt and recommend the follow 
 ing system : 
 
 " 1. That when this subject is called up annually, a vote shall first be 
 
188 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 taken whether for the current year the Assembly will or will not make 
 any election of members in the Board of Trustees. 
 
 "2. If an election be determined on, the day on which it shall take 
 place shall be specified, and shall not be within less than two days of the 
 time at which such election shall be decided on. 
 
 "3. When the day of election arrives, the Assembly shall ascertain 
 what vacancies in the number of the eighteen trustees incorporated, have 
 taken place, by death or otherwise, and shall first proceed to choose 
 other members in their places. When this is accomplished, they shall 
 proceed to the trial whether they will elect any, and if any, how many 
 of that third of the number of the trustees which by law they are per 
 mitted to change, in the following manner, viz. : The list of the trustees 
 shall be taken, and a vote be had for a person to fill the place of him 
 who is first on the list. In voting for a person to fill said place, the 
 vote may be given either for the person who has before filled it, or for 
 any other person. If the majority of votes shall be given for the person 
 who has before filled it, he shall continue in office. If the majority of 
 votes shall be given for another person, this person is a trustee duly 
 chosen in place of the former. In the same form the Assembly shall 
 proceed with the list, till they have either changed one-third of the 
 trustees (always including in the third those who have been elected by 
 the sitting Assembly, to supply the places become vacant by death or 
 otherwise), or by going through the list, shall determine that no farther 
 alteration shall be made." Minutes, 1801, p. 217. 
 
 Rules for Intercourse between the Trustees and the Assembly. 
 
 "The committee appointed to meet a committee of the Board of 
 Trustees of the Assembly, to digest and prepare a regular and stated 
 mode of intercourse between the Assembly and the trustees, made a 
 report, which was read and approved, as follows, viz. : 
 
 "That the management and disposal of all moneys, goods, chattels, 
 lands, tenements, hereditaments, and all other estate whatever, committed 
 to their care and trust by the General Assembly, is invested in the said 
 trustees ; unless where special instructions for the management and dis 
 posal thereof shall be given by the General Assembly in writing under 
 the hand of their clerk ; in which case, the corporation is to act according 
 to said instructions. That an exact state of the accounts of the trustees 
 is to be exhibited by their treasurer to the General Assembly, once in 
 every year ; whereupon it is recommended, 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 189 
 
 " 1. That this state of the accounts be laid before the General Assem 
 bly as early in their sessions as possible, in order that the General Assem 
 bly may know what appropriations it may be in their power to make, 
 or what instructions to give to their trustees, respecting the moneys in 
 hand. 
 
 " 2. That when any appropriations are made by the General Assembly, 
 a copy of their minute for that purpose, signed by the clerk, shall be 
 transmitted to the trustees, and shall be their warrant for the payment 
 of all moneys thus appropriated. 
 
 "3. That when any measures are taken, or any resolutions adopted 
 by the General Assembly, or the Board of Trustees, which it concerns 
 the other to be acquainted with, due information of the same shall be 
 given, as soon as possible, to the other." Minutes, 1801, p. 232. 
 
 25. Powers of the General Assembly. 
 
 [The Assembly has exercised the power Of transferring churches 
 from one Synod and Presbytery to another. Minutes, 1824, p. 105 ; 
 1827, p. 201, 202, 205; 1829, p. 260; 1831, p. 324. 
 
 Usually the record states the consent of the parties interested. 
 
 Of forming new Presbyteries. Huntingdon, Minutes, 1794, p. 89; 
 Columbia and Oneida, 1802, p. 252. In this case: "Whereas, doubts 
 arose, whether it is proper for the Assembly to interfere for the purpose 
 of making such division (of the Presbytery of Albany), the proposal 
 not having first been laid before the Synod, as it would establish a 
 precedent which might tend to confusion, and in the end to schism. 
 The Assembly think it expedient to declare, that their decision in this 
 case has been particularly influenced by the pressure of circumstances, 
 and is not to be considered a precedent for future conduct." Oneida, 
 1805, p. 324; Chenango, 1826, p. 176; Detroit, 1827, p. 206; Phila 
 delphia 2d, 1832, p. 361; Philadelphia 3d, 1836, p. 278; San Fran 
 cisco, 1849, p. 176; Milwaukie, 1851, p. 15; Sierra Nevada and San 
 Jose, 1857, p. 383. 
 
 Of dividing Presbyteries. Either to alter their bounds or to form 
 new Presbyteries. Minutes, passim. 
 
 Of dissolving Presbyteries. Philadelphia 3d. Minutes, 1837, p. 472. 
 
 Of erecting Synods. Chap, v, sec. 2. 
 
 Of dividing Synods and changing their boundaries. 
 
 Of managing the whole, business of Missions. Minutes, 1791, p. 38; 
 1802, p. 226; 1809, p. 427. See chap. ix. 
 
 Powers with reference to slavery. See chap, vii, sec. 9.] 
 
190 V. COURTS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 26. The Assembly will not ordinarily decide questions in thesi. 
 
 a. " But while the General Assembly is invested with the power of 
 deciding in all controversies, respecting doctrine and discipline; of re 
 proving, warning, or bearing testimony against error in doctrine in any 
 church, Presbytery, or Synod ; or of suppressing schisrnatical conten 
 tions and disputations, all such matters ought to be brought before the 
 Assembly in a regular and constitutional way. And it does not appear 
 that the Constitution ever designed that the General Assembly should 
 take up abstract cases, and decide on them, especially when the object 
 appears to be to bring those decisions to bear on particular individuals, 
 not judicially before the Assembly. Neither does it appear, that the 
 Constitution of the Church intended that any person or persons should 
 have the privilege of presenting for decision, remonstrances, respecting 
 points of doctrine, on the conduct of individuals, not brought up from 
 the inferior judicatories, by appeal, reference, or complaint; and this 
 especially, when such remonstrances contain no evidence whatsoever, of 
 the facts alleged, but mere statements, of the truth or justness of which 
 the Assembly have no means of judging, inasmuch as a contrary course 
 would allow of counter and contradictory remonstrances, without end/ 
 Minutes, 1822, p. 50. 
 
 b. " It is ordinarily undesirable for the General Assembly to decide 
 questions in tJiesi, which are liable to be brought before it in its judicial 
 capacity, as it may thus virtually prejudge cases of discipline; it appears 
 better that it should ordinarily follow, in this respect, the uniform prac 
 tice of civil courts, to decide legal principles only upon actual cases pre 
 sented." Minutes, 1856, p. 213. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 OF DISCIPLINE. 
 SECTION 1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 
 
 Censure, without trial, is informal; and connecting names with charges of a 
 serious nature, without evidence, disapproved of. Circulating evil reports, 
 not in the performance of indispensable duty, is slander. Ministers are not 
 to be excluded from the pulpits of the churches, nor members from communion, 
 without trial. 2. The charges must be specific. a. What must be specified 
 in a charge of heresy. 3. The rules must be observed. An appeal is sus 
 tained, because the judicature did not observe the constitutional rules. The 
 defendant is entitled to a copy of the proceedings. a. A judgment of Synod 
 reversed ; four reasons assigned. b. An appeal may not be entertained when 
 due notice has not been given; nor may the fact of an appeal be established 
 otherwise than as ordered by the book. c. A superior judicature may not try a 
 man when there is no reference or appeal before it. d. An unconstitutional act 
 ordered to be reversed ; but the order for a new trial does not restore the defen 
 dant. 4. The authority for judicial oaths. 5. Testimony in a judicial case 
 should be under oath. 6. A husband and wife may be joint witnesses, but 
 great care should be taken to guard against collusion. 7. The accused should 
 be present at his trial. Having excused himself by letter for non-attendance, he 
 is not guilty of contumacy. 8. A disproportionate censure will not be sustained ; 
 either in case the charges are not fully substantiated, or the sentence too severe. 
 On an appeal, the judicatory may not pass a new sentence. 9. Suspension 
 from the ministry, during process. For a specified time. 10. When an elder has 
 been suspended from church privileges, removal of suspension does not restore 
 him to office. He can be restored to office only by express act of the Session, 
 and acquiescence of the church. 11. A suspended minister is not to be re 
 garded as possessing the rights of a common Christian in good standing. 12. 
 Deposition and excommunication are distinct acts. 13. When deposed ministers 
 continue to perform ministerial functions, their names are to be published. 14. 
 Refusal to submit to the decision debars the right of petition. 15. Refusal to 
 submit does not invalidate the sentence. 16. A Presbytery is censured for re 
 storing a man without due evidence of penitence ; but 17. When a minister 
 has been restored he can be deprived of his office only by a new process and 
 
192 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 conviction. IS. New trial may be had on new testimony. If it seem desirable 
 for a court to review its decisions without new testimony, it should refer the 
 case to the next higher judicatory. 19. A Synod corrects its own hasty action, 
 and is sustained; but a judicatory may not call back a case after an appeal has 
 been taken. 20. The accused, on trial, has no right to introduce testimony which 
 would inculpate others not on trial. 21. The Assembly cannot reverse the 
 judicial acts of a former Assembly, unless in case of error. 22. The decisions of 
 the superior courts are binding on the inferior. 23. The judicial sentences of 
 sister churches are to be respected. 
 
 1. Censure without trial informal. 
 
 a. u Messrs. Ker and Rankin, the commissioners to this Assembly 
 from the Presbytery of Lewes, in behalf and by the order of the said 
 Presbytery, applied to the Assembly, and remonstrated against a de 
 cision of the last Assembly, in the case of Mr. Hindinan, in which they 
 conceive the Presbytery of Lewes is virtually condemned, without their 
 having had an opportunity of defending themselves, which they conceive 
 they could readily have done. 
 
 " After considerable discussion, it was 
 
 " Resolved, As the sense of this house, that no man, or body of men, 
 agreeably to the Constitution of this Church, ought to be condemned, 
 or censured, without having notice of the accusation against him or 
 them, and notice given for trial. And therefore, that if the General 
 Assembly of last year meant, by the minute in question, to pass a 
 censure on the Presbytery of Lewes, it was informal." Minutes, 1793, 
 p. 71. 
 
 b. " The committee appointed to examine the records of the Synod 
 of the Carolinas reported, and the book was approved to page 28 of the 
 twenty-third sessions of said Synod, with the exception of the resolution 
 to make a minister liable to suspension without trial, for three years 
 absence from Synod, without sending forward his reasons for absence." 
 Minutes, 1811, p. 468. 
 
 Censure upon an Absent Person, icitlwut Citation, disapproved of. 
 
 c. "The Assembly moreover cannot forbear expressing their regret that 
 the Presbytery of Washington should have passed a vote of censure upon 
 Mr. McCalla, without citing him to appear before them, or giving him 
 any opportunity of making a defence; since this mode of proceeding 
 seems to have occasioned a portion of the irregularity in the Presbytery 
 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 193 
 
 of West Lexington, of which the Presbytery of Washington have com- 
 plained." Minutes, 1821, p. 21. 
 
 Names should not be connected with serious Charges, unless in connection 
 with a Prosecution. 
 
 d. " That while it is unquestionably the privilege of individuals and 
 members of the Presbyterian Church, when they think they see the 
 peace, purity, or prosperity of the Church in danger, either from an in 
 dividual, or from an inferior court, to apply to the General Assembly, in 
 an orderly mariner, for redress or direction ; yet, in such cases, unless they 
 mean to come forward as prosecutors, with the necessary testimony, they 
 should most carefully avoid mentioning names connected with charges 
 of the most serious kind, in support of which no evidence has been or 
 derly adduced , nor have the individuals thus accused had an opportu 
 nity of replying to those charges, or of making any defence of them 
 selves. The Assembly, therefore, cannot witness a procedure of this 
 kind, without expressing their disapprobation of it." Minutes, 1824, 
 p. 113. 
 
 To circulate Evil Reports, not in the way of Duty, is Slander. 
 
 e. u Resolved, That the Assembly sustain the appeals of the Session 
 of the church of Bloomington, and of Dr. Wylie, against a decision of 
 the Synod of Indiana; and the judgment of the Presbytery and Session 
 is hereby confirmed, on the ground that Mr. Harney circulated evil 
 reports against Dr. Wylie, without showing that he did it in the due 
 performance of some indispensable duty; but it is the judgment of this 
 Assembly, that Mr. Harney shall still have the privilege, if he desire 
 it, of commencing a prosecution against Dr. Wylie, before the Presby 
 tery of Yincennes ; and in such case, said Presbytery are hereby author 
 ized and directed to hear the whole cause, and issue the same in a con 
 stitutional way." Minutes, 1834, p. 443. 
 
 Ministers may not le Excluded from the Pulpits of the Churches, nor 
 Members from Communion, without Trial. 
 
 f. " Whereas, it appears from memorials sent up to this Assembly, 
 that several of our Presbyteries have adopted resolutions excluding slave 
 holders from their pulpits, and from their communion ; and whereas, our. 
 
 13 
 
194 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 Constitution requires that no member of the Presbyterian Church shall 
 be thus disfranchised, without a regular trial and conviction and 
 whereas, this proceeding is a repetition of the exscinding acts of the 
 New Basis Assembly, against which we have taken our stand as friends 
 of the Constitution. Therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That the said Presbyteries be requested to rescind such 
 resolutions/ Minutes, 1840, p. 24. 
 
 2. Charges must be Specific. 
 
 a. "The Synod orders that all their judicatures shall, for the future, 
 be particularly careful not to receive or judge of any charges, but such 
 as shall be seasonably reduced to a specialty in the complaint laid before 
 them." Minutes, 1770, p. 406. 
 
 I. " There was a great deficiency in the charges preferred against 
 Mr. Craighead, as it relates to precision. All charges for heresy should 
 be as definite as possible. The article or articles of faith impugned 
 should be specified, and the words supposed to be heretical shown to be 
 in repugnance to these articles/ whether the reference is made directly 
 to the Scripture as a standard of orthodoxy, or to the Confession of 
 Faith, which our Church holds to be a summary of the doctrines of 
 Scripture." Minutes, 1824, p. 121. 
 
 3. The Rules must be Observed. 
 
 a. "The Assembly sustained the appeal of Mr. Arthur from the 
 sentence of the Presbytery, by which he was suspended from the Gospel 
 ministry, on the ground of contumacy, because the Presbytery appeared 
 to have been precipitate, and not to have observed the constitutional 
 rules. See Discipline, chap, iv, sees. 6, 10, and 11. They deem, too, 
 the request of Mr. Arthur, for a copy of the first sentence, to have been 
 reasonable, and that it ought to have been complied with. But the 
 appeal from the first sentence, by which the charge of slander, preferred 
 against him by the Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, was declared to be substan 
 tiated, and Mr. Arthur required to submit to a rebuke, the Assembly could 
 not sustain. For, although the Assembly noticed the omission of Pres 
 bytery to assign Mr. Arthur counsel to manage his defence (see Disci 
 pline, chap, iv, sec. 13), yet they did judge the pamphlet, of which Mr. 
 Arthur admitted himself to be the author, to contain slander against 
 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 195 
 
 Mr. Wilson, and could not but disapprove of the spirit, under the influ 
 ence of which it appeared to have been written." Minutes, 1822, p. 53. 
 
 Judgment of the Synod of Genesee Reversed. 
 
 I. On the complaint of William H. Beecher and others against the 
 Synod of Genesee, in the case of the appeal of Dr. Frank from the de 
 cision of the Presbytery of Genesee, the General Assembly sustain the 
 complaint, and reverse the judgment of the Synod on the following 
 grounds, viz. : 
 
 " 1. That the merits of the case seem to be expressly declined by the 
 Synod, as the subject-matter of adjudication. 
 
 U 2. That the Synod appear not to have adhered to the alternatives 
 prescribed by the Constitution. See Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sec. 
 3, sub-section 10. 
 
 "3. That the Synod seem to have forgotten the nature and the limits 
 of their appellate, as distinguished from the original jurisdiction in the 
 case, in that they censure at their bar the appellant, in a way compe 
 tent, in any circumstances, only to the Session of the church to which 
 the appellant was primarily amenable. 
 
 " 4. That they seem to have forgotten also, in restoring the appellant, 
 that some expression of repentance ought to have been exacted, espe 
 cially if their reprimand could, from any tribunal, have been deserved. 
 
 " The Assembly therefore rule that the Synod of Genesee should 
 review their proceedings in this case, and regarding alike the rules of 
 the Constitution and the merits of the case, that they proceed to issue 
 the same with equity and wisdom." Minutes, 1840, p. 11. 
 
 Due Notice of an Appeal must be given. 
 
 c. " The records of the Synod of Utica were approved, with the follow 
 ing exceptions : 
 
 " 1. That the Syncd issued an appeal from the inferior juditfatory, 
 when it appeared before them that an appellant had not given notice in 
 writing that he should appeal, with his reasons assigned for appealing, 
 as required by the Book of Discipline, before the riding of the judicatory 
 appealed from, or within ten days thereafter. 
 
 11 2. That the Synod violated the principles of the Constitution in 
 qualifying the members of the inferior judicatory to ascertain whether 
 an appeal had been given, when the Book of Discipline requires that 
 
196 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 the appeal shall be lodged in the hands of the moderator ; and further, 
 that the inferior judicatory shall send authentic copies of all the records, 
 and of ail the testimony relating to the matter of appeal, up to the 
 Synod, whose duty it is to issue the appeal, when found to be in order, 
 and in accordance with the Book of Discipline." Minutes, 1840, p. 12. 
 
 A Superior Judicatory may not try a Man on review of Records. 
 
 d. "In the case of the appeal of W. C. Davis, the Assembly 
 "Resolved, That although they highly approve of the zeal of the 
 
 Synod to preserve the purity and peace of the Church within their 
 bounds, yet they cannot but decide that in their proceedings in the 
 above case, in deciding that they had a right to try Mr. Davis, when 
 there was no reference nor appeal in his case before them, they have not 
 strictly adhered to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church." 
 Minutes, 1810, p. 448. 
 
 Unconstitutional Action ordered, to le reversed. 
 
 e. "The proceedings of the Synod of Cincinnati, in the institution 
 and prosecution of judicial process against William Graham, subjecting 
 him first to censure, and afterwards to suspension, under which he now 
 labors, are unconstitutional and irregular, and therefore null and void ; 
 and the Synod is hereby enjoined to take constitutional action in the 
 case, and to revise and correct its proceedings accordingly. 
 
 "While the Assembly thus speaks on the constitutionality of the 
 matter, they do it without reference to the error or truth of the senti 
 ments he advanced." Minutes, 1846, pp. 81, 32. 
 
 An Order for a New Trial does not restore the Defendant. 
 
 "It was 
 
 "Resolved, That the General Assembly do not intend by the above 
 decision to restore Mr. Graham to his ministerial standing; that action 
 being left entirely to the Synod." Ibid. p. 33. 
 
 4. The Authority for Judicial Oaths. 
 
 "The committee appointed to draft an answer to the following ques 
 tion, overtured from the Presbytery of Georgia, viz., Whence do the 
 General Assembly derive authority to empower the moderator of a 
 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 197 
 
 church, session to administer an oath ? reported the following, which was 
 adopted, viz. : An oath for confirmation (saith the Apostle), is to men 
 an end of all strife/ Heb. 6 : 16. It is a solemn affirmation, wherein 
 we appeal to God as the witness of the truth of what we say, and with 
 an imprecation of his vengeance if what we affirm is false, or what we 
 promise be not performed. Its force results from a belief that God will 
 punish false swearing with more severity than a simple lie, or breach of 
 promise; because perjury is a sin of greater deliberation, and violates 
 superior confidence. 
 
 That oaths are lawful is evident from the fact that our Lord, when 
 interrogated on certain occasions, answered upon oath. See Matt. 26 : 
 63, 64. Paul also uses several expressions which contain the nature of 
 an oath. See Rom. 1 : 9; 9 : 1; 1 Cor. 15 : 31 2 Cor. 1 : 18 ; Gal. 1 : 20. 
 They are solemn appeals to God. It is manifest that oaths are not to 
 be used on light or trivial occasions. We are expressly commanded 
 not to take God s name in vain. But as the Bible does not point out 
 the particular occasions when oaths are to be used, nor the persons who 
 are to administer them, these circumstances are left to the discretion of 
 individuals and communities. The necessity of oaths is founded in 
 expediency ; and all associations, whether civil or ecclesiastical, have a 
 right to use them for confirmation, when, in the exercise of a sound dis 
 cretion, they are deemed important. It is lawful for every community, 
 in the compact on which their union is founded, to point out the cases 
 in which oaths shall be used, and who shall administer them. The 
 authority of moderators in the Presbyterian Church to administer oaths 
 is not derived from the General Assembly, but from the Constitution, or 
 articles of compact, which our churches have adopted, and by which 
 they have agreed to be governed as a Christian community. It may be 
 proper also to add, that the oaths prescribed by ecclesiastical authority, 
 and administered by civil authority, in no respect interfere with our 
 relations to civil society. Nor can the administering of them, if rightly 
 viewed, be considered as a violation of those laws of the State which 
 prescribe the manner in which civil oaths shall be administered/ 
 Minutes, 1823, pp. 87, 88. 
 
 5. Testimony in a Judicial Case should le under Oatli. 
 
 " There is only one other thing in the proceedings on which the Gene 
 ral Assembly will remark ; which is, that statements were given as evi- 
 
198 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 dence by the members of Presbytery which are not recorded, and which 
 do not appear to have been given under the usual solemnity of an oath/ 
 [Craighead s case.] Minutes, 1824, p. 122. 
 
 6. A Husband and Wife may lie Joint Witnesses. 
 
 "The Assembly went into the consideration of the case reported 
 by the Presbytery of Ohio, which was in the following terms, viz. : ( A 
 certain married woman charges an unmarried man with immodest con 
 versation and conduct in attempts upon her chastity, of which her hus 
 band and another, or indifferent person, were at a certain time witnesses. 
 Whereas our Constitution declares that a person accused shall not be 
 convicted by a single witness, can the said woman and her husband be 
 admitted witnesses in the above case ? 
 
 " To the above question the Assembly answered, that in all such cases 
 as that submitted by the Presbytery of Ohio, it is a principle that both 
 the husband and wife are to be admitted to give testimony. But in 
 every particular case as it occurs, the judicature before whom it is tried 
 ought, in order to guard against collusion, to pay a very scrupulous re 
 gard to all the circumstances attending it, and especially to the charac 
 ters of those who are admitted as evidences, so that on the one hand the 
 necessity of the case may be consulted, and, on the other, that no injury 
 may result to an innocent person/ Minutes, 1797, p. 128. 
 
 7. The Accused must le Present at the Trial. 
 
 " In the progress of this case, the Presbytery proceeded regularly to 
 cite the accused, once and again ; and upon his not appearing, they pro 
 ceeded to the trial, and having gone through the evidence, they referred 
 the whole to the Synod to adjudicate upon it, with the expression of 
 their own opinion, that Mr. Craighead ought to be suspended. The 
 Synod met immediately after Presbytery, and took up the case, and, in 
 concurrence with the opinion of the Presbytery, suspended Mr. Craig- 
 head from the Gospel ministry. 
 
 " In this proceeding, the General Assembly are of opinion that there 
 was too much haste. Mr. Craighead was not guilty of contumacy, for 
 he wrote two letters to the Presbytery, excusing himself for non-attend 
 ance ; and if he had been guilty of contumacy, he ought to have been 
 suspended on that ground. Perhaps no man ought to be tried on 
 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 199 
 
 charges preferred, and to be supported by evidence, who is not present, 
 without his own consent. A trial, in the nature of things, cannot be 
 impartial, when there is but one party heard." Minutes, 1824, p. 121. 
 
 8. A Disproportionate Censure not sustained. 
 
 a. " It being the order of the day, the Assembly proceeded to con 
 sider the appeal of Mr. Jabez Spicer from the decision of the Synod of 
 Geneva, by which Mr. Spicer had been deposed from the Gospel minis 
 try. The documents on the subject were read, and the parties were 
 heard. After a considerable discussion, the following resolution was 
 adopted, viz. : 
 
 11 Resolved, That the appeal of Mr. Spicer be sustained, on the ground 
 that the sentence pronounced on him was disproportioned to his crime, 
 it not appearing substantiated that he was guilty of more than a single 
 act of prevarication. While, therefore, the Assembly express their 
 entire disapprobation of the conduct of Mr. Spicer, as unbecoming a 
 Christian and Christian minister, they reverse the sentence of deposition 
 passed upon him by the Presbytery, and direct that, after suitable admo 
 nitions and acknowledgments, he be restored to the ministerial office." 
 Minutes, 1821, p. 24. 
 
 5. " The discussion left unfinished yesterday afternoon was resumed, 
 viz., of the motion to reverse a decision of the Presbytery of Lexington, 
 by which decision Mr. George Bourne was deposed from the Gospel 
 ministry. This motion, after it had been amended and fully discussed, 
 was determined in the affirmative, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " The Assembly judge that the charges in the case of Mr. Bourne 
 were not fully substantiated, and that if they had been, the sentence 
 was too severe. Therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That the sentence of the Presbytery of Lexington, de 
 posing Mr. Bourne, be reversed, and it is hereby reversed; and that the 
 Presbytery commence the trial anew." Minutes, 1817, p. 646. 
 
 c. " The Assembly sustain the appeal of David Price from the de 
 cision of the Synod of Geneva, on the ground that the charge of intox 
 ication was not sufficiently supported by the testimony; although it does 
 appear, principally from his own confession, that he had made an unbe 
 coming use of ardent spirits; and that an admonition was, in the view 
 of the Assembly, deserved, and would have been sufficient." Minutes, 
 1825, p. 155. 
 
200 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 The Superior Judicature may not Pass a Neiv Censure without a New 
 
 Trial 
 
 d. "Resolved, That the General Assembly, having heard and con 
 sidered in detail the circumstances and merits of the appeal of Newton 
 Hawes, are of the opinion that in the proceedings of the Synod of 
 Genesee in the case, there appears to be nothing irregular or censurable, 
 until they come to their last decision, in which they pass a new and 
 severe censure on the appellant. In this particular, the Assembly judge 
 that the proceedings of the Synod were not regular, inasmuch as they 
 inflicted a new censure, without a new and regular trial. Had the 
 Synod contented themselves with approving the doings of the church of 
 Warsaw, in declining to restore the appellant to their communion, and 
 left him in the condition of a suspended member, they would have acted 
 with entire regularity. But not pausing at this point, the Assembly 
 consider them as acting on matters not regularly brought before them; 
 and, therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That the sentence of the Synod, requiring the appellant 
 to make a new and second confession, be reversed, and it is hereby re 
 versed ; and that the other part of their proceedings and decision be 
 affirmed, and they are hereby affirmed." Minutes, 1823, p. 79. 
 
 9. Suspension from the Ministry during Process. 
 
 a. " Overtured, that a committee be sent to Rehoboth, with full power 
 from the Synod to act in their names and by their authority, in the affair 
 between Mr. Clement and that people ; and that Mr. Clement be sus 
 pended from the exercise of his ministry, until the determination of that 
 committee. This overture was carried by a vote in the affirmative, 
 nemine contradlcentc." Minutes, 1720, p. G2. 
 
 l>. " The consideration of Mr. Alexander Miller s complaint resumed, 
 and upon full inquiry the Synod conclude that, as the Presbytery of 
 Hanover are not present, and it has not been made appear before us 
 that they were cited to be present, or informed that Mr. Alexander 
 Miller intended to lodge a complaint against them before the Synod at 
 this time, we cannot now enter upon the consideration of the merits of 
 the complaint, but order both the Presbytery and Mr. Alexander Miller 
 to attend our next Synod, prepared for a full hearing, and, in the mean 
 time, on account of Mr. Miller s unjustifiable delay for some years to 
 
I 
 
 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 201 
 
 enter his complaint before us, the irregularity of his proceedings during 
 that time, and the atrocious nature of the crimes laid to his charge, we 
 do hereby declare him suspended from the exercise of the ministerial 
 office till his complaint can be fully heard." Minutes, 1769, p. 396. 
 
 Suspension from the Ministry for a Specified Time. 
 
 c. " The affair of Mr. Robert Cross, transmitted from the interlo- 
 quitur of the Synod, came into consideration before the Synod, wherein 
 the charges of fornication laid against him, with its aggravations, were 
 fully heard and considered with great deliberation, and also charged 
 upon him by the moderator, in the face of the Synod, and before several 
 other discreet persons who were desired to be present. And the said 
 Mr. Robert Cross did, with great seriousness, humility, and signs of true 
 repentance, confess the charge laid against him, and in all respects did 
 so behave himself as was universally satisfactory to the Synod and the 
 other persons present. 
 
 "Overturedj That Mr. Cross be suspended by act of the Synod four 
 Sabbaths, and at the expiration of said time he have liberty again to 
 preach the Gospel. And that, at the desire of the congregation of New 
 Castle, or their representatives in their name, he may be again restored 
 to the exercise of his ministry in that place by a committee of the 
 Synod ; and that the said committee meet at said place at least three 
 days before the expiration of the said time." 
 
 " This overture was agreed to by Synod." Minutes, 1720, p. 63. 
 
 10. Restoration to Communion does not restore to Office. 
 
 " When an elder has been suspended from Church privileges for an 
 offence, and again restored to the privileges of the Church, is he also 
 restored to his office as a ruling elder ?" 
 
 "Answer. The two things are distinct; and since an elder, as well as 
 a minister, may be suspended from his office, and not from the com 
 munion of the Church, so there may be reasons for continuing his sus 
 pension from his office after he is restored to the privileges of the Church. 
 He cannot be restored to the functions of his office without a special and 
 express act of the Session for that purpose, with the acquiescence of the 
 church." Minutes, 1836, p. 263. 
 
202 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 11. A Suspended Minister is not a Christian in good standing. 
 
 " The committee appointed to examine the records of the Synod of 
 Geneva reported, and their report being read, was adopted, and is as 
 follows, viz. : 
 
 f( That the book be approved to page 235, with the exception of pages 
 215, 224, 229, relative to certain appeals, in which the nature of the 
 offence on which the appeals are founded is not specified; and of pages 
 227 and 228, in which the conduct of the Presbytery of Cayuga is cen 
 sured without prosecuting the subject to a proper issue; and in pages 
 270 and 271, where the conduct of the Presbytery of Ontario is censured 
 for condemning the conduct of Mr. Foreman, a suspended minister, for 
 exercising the rights of a common Christian, in illustrating Scripture and 
 delivering exhortations j because, without deciding on the rights of com 
 mon Christians in this matter, Mr. Foreman being suspended from the 
 ministry, ought by no means to be considered as occupying the ground 
 of a common Christian in good standing/ Minutes, 1821, p. 15. 
 
 * 12. Deposition and Excommunication distinct Acts. 
 
 " The records of the Synod of Geneva are approved, with the excep 
 tion of a resolution on page 28, which declares that a deposed minister 
 ought to be treated as an excommunicated person. 
 
 " In the judgment of this Assembly, the deposition and excommuni 
 cation of a minister are distinct things, not necessarily connected with 
 each other ; but when connected, ought to be inflicted by the Presbytery, 
 to whom the power of judging and censuring ministers properly belongs/ 
 Minutes, 1814, p. 549. 
 
 13. If the Deposed do not submit, his Name to be published. 
 
 u Resolved, That it be recommended to the Presbyteries under the 
 care of the General Assembly, when they shall depose any of their 
 members from the exercise of the ministerial office ; and when any person 
 so deposed shall, without having been regularly restored, assume the 
 ministerial character, or attempt to exercise any of the ministerial func 
 tions, that in such case, with a view to prevent such deposed person 
 from imposing himself on the churches, Presbyteries be careful to have 
 his name published in the Assembly s Magazine as deposed from the 
 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 203 
 
 ministry, that all the churches may be enabled to guard themselves 
 against such dangerous impositions." Minutes, 1806, p. 360. 
 
 14. Refusal to Submit debars the Right of Petition. 
 
 "The committee to which was referred the petition of Mr. Bourne 
 reported, and their report being read, was accepted ; whereupon it was 
 
 " Resolved, That, as it appears to be a fact that Mr. Bourne has not 
 submitted to the judgment of the Assembly in affirming a decision by 
 which he was deposed from the Gospel ministry, he be permitted to 
 withdraw his petition." Minutes, 1823, p. 93. 
 
 15. Does not Invalidate the Sentence. 
 
 a. " The Assembly proceeded to the consideration of the appeal of Mr. 
 Josiah B. Andrews. The roll was called, to give each member an oppor 
 tunity to express his opinion ; after which the final vote was taken, when 
 it was 
 
 u Resolved, That the decision of the Synod of New Jersey, affirming 
 the decision of the Presbytery of Elizabethtown, whereby Mr. Josiah B. 
 Andrews was suspended from the office of the Gospel ministry, be and 
 it hereby is affirmed." Minutes, 1826, p. 187. 
 
 " The following communication, dated June 2d, 1826, the day after the 
 rising of the last Assembly, and addressed to the moderator of that 
 Assembly, from Mr. Josiah B. Andrews, was laid before the Assembly, 
 viz. : 
 
 " Notice is hereby most respectfully given to the General Assembly of 
 Presbyterians in the United States, that the undersigned conscientiously 
 believes it to be his duty to continue to preach the Gospel, and to per 
 form all other ministerial services, according to the rule of God s word, 
 wherever he may be providentially called, any resolutions or decisions of 
 the Assembly, or of any other ecclesiastical body under their jurisdiction, 
 made to the contrary notwithstanding. God alone is my judge. 
 
 " JOSIAH B. ANDREWS. 
 "Philadelphia, June 2d, 1826." Minutes, 1827, p. 198. 
 
 " Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Assembly, the said letter is 
 highly contumacious; and the sentiments avowed in it, a gross infraction 
 of Mr. Andrews s ordination vows." Minutes, 1827, p. 201. 
 
 I). " Mr. Alexander Miller was called in, and the above determination 
 of the Synod [see p. 200] read in his hearing. Whereupon he gave in 
 
204 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 a paper, renouncing the authority of the Synod. Upon which the Synod 
 find, that as Mr. Miller was deposed by the Presbytery of Hanover, he 
 declined the judgment of that Presbytery, and appealed to this Synod; 
 and while we were taking measures to try and issue his complaint, he, 
 in the paper aforesaid, hath renounced our authority. The Synod, 
 therefore, declare he is not a member of this body, and forbid all their 
 Presbyteries and congregations to employ him." Minutes, 1769, p. 396. 
 c. " Resolved, That the Church of Geneva be referred to the minute 
 of the Assembly formed in the case of David Price, in the year 1825, 
 from which it will appear that, in the judgment of the Assembly, an 
 admonition was deserved by the said Price, in consequence of his un 
 christian conduct. And it is the judgment of this Assembly, that the 
 Session ought immediately to have administered such admonition; that 
 they ought still to administer it; and that if the said Price refuse to 
 submit to such admonition, or do not thereupon manifest repentance 
 and Christian temper to the satisfaction of the Church, he ought not 
 to be received into the communion of that or any other Presbyterian 
 church." [See 8, c, p. 199.] Minutes, 1827, p. 203. 
 
 16. A Presbytery is Censured for restoring a Man without due Evidence 
 
 of Penitence. 
 
 "The business left unfinished on Saturday was resumed, viz., the 
 appeal of the Presbytery of Onondaga, from a decision of the Synod 
 of Geneva, relative to the restoration of the Ilev. John Shepherd to the 
 Gospel ministry, who had been deposed by the Association of Fairfield, 
 Connecticut. After considerable discussion of the subject, the following 
 resolutions were adopted, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That the decision of the Synod of Geneva, relative to the 
 restoration of the Rev. John Shepherd to the office of the Gospel ministry, 
 so far as it censures the restoration of said Shepherd, who was deposed 
 by a judicatory of .the Church of Christ in fellowship with us, be and 
 hereby is confirmed ; because it did not appear from the records of the 
 Presbytery of Onondaga, that said restoration took place in consequence 
 of any confession of the alleged crime for which the said Shepherd was 
 deposed, or of any profession of penitence for it, or of any conference 
 with the judicatory which deposed him." Minutes, 1818, p. 687. 
 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 205 
 
 17. But the action of Presbytery in such case is final. 
 
 " That the appeal of the Presbytery of Onondaga, so far as it relates 
 to the rescinding of their vote to restore the Rev. John Shepherd, be 
 and hereby is sustained, on the second reason of appeal, and upon that 
 alone ; because the Assembly judges that a minister of the Gospel, when 
 once restored by Presbyterial authority, cannot be deprived of his office, 
 except it be by a new process and conviction." Minutes, 1818, p. 687. 
 
 18. New Trial on new Testimony being produced. 
 
 a. "The Assembly took into consideration the report of the com 
 mittee on an appeal from a decision of the Synod of New York and 
 New Jersey, in the case of Mr. Aaron C. Collins ; and, after mature 
 deliberation thereon, resolved as follows : 
 
 " 1. That the decision of the Synod, as founded on the evidence and 
 the circumstances which were presented to them at the time, was proper, 
 and is therefore confirmed. 
 
 " 2. That as new evidence, apparently of an important kind, has been 
 alleged on this case since the decision of the Synod, it is proper that a 
 new trial be instituted thereon." Minutes, 1793, p. 68. 
 
 b. " Resolved, That it is the well-known privilege of Mr. Hindman, 
 if he consider himself as having new evidence to offer in this case, to 
 apply to the Presbytery for a new trial upon that new evidence." 
 Minutes, 1811, p. 479. 
 
 c. " The Judicial Committee reported on the appeal of John "Ward, 
 from a decision of the Synod of Genesee , that having duly considered 
 the case, they recommend, that on the ground of new testimony, the 
 appellant be directed to apply to the Church of Bergen for a new trial. 
 The above raport was adopted." Minutes, 1829, p. 266. 
 
 Neiv Trial may be granted on the discovert/ of new Testimony ; but if a 
 court thinJts proper to review a case, without new testimony, it should 
 refer it to the next higher judic a tor y. 
 
 d. " The committee appointed to consider and report on Overture 
 No. 2, which is in the following words: Is it lawful and consistent 
 with the order of our Church, for a church court to reconsider and set 
 aside its own decision in a case of discipline, after a lapse of five or six 
 
206 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 years from the time the decision was made, after the court has so changed, 
 that many of its members were not members at the time of the decision, 
 and when no new testimony is proposed ? beg leave to report, that, in 
 their opinion, the proper answer to this overture, will be found included 
 in the following principles, viz. : 
 
 "1. Our Book of Discipline, chap, ix, sec. 1, provides, that if after 
 a trial before any judicatory, new testimony be discovered, which is sup 
 posed to be highly important to the exculpation of the accused, it is 
 proper for him to ask, and for the judicatory to grant, a new trial. 
 
 " 2. It is very conceivable that, after the lapse of five or six years, 
 the sentence of an ecclesiastical court, which was originally considered 
 as just and wise, although no new testimony, strictly speaking, has 
 appeared, may in the view of the Church, appear under an aspect, 
 equivalent to new testimony, and calling for reconsideration ; yet, 
 
 "8. Inasmuch as the frequent reconsideration of cases adjudged by 
 the inferior judicatories, without the appearance of new testimony, 
 admits of great and mischievous abuse, and might lead to an endless 
 recurrence of reviews and reversals of former decisions, in the absence 
 of a majority of the court pronouncing the same ; it is evidently more 
 regular, safe, and for edification, when a review of a decision, without 
 the disclosure of new testimony, is thought desirable, to refer the case 
 to the next higher judicatory." Minutes, 1833, p. 405, 406. 
 
 19. A Synod corrects its own hasty action, and is sustained. 
 
 a. u The committee to whom the records of the Synod of the Caro- 
 linas were recommitted, beg leave to report : That your committee find 
 that a judgment of the Session of Salem was confirmed by the Presby 
 tery of Abingdon, and brought by appeal before the Synod of the Caro- 
 linas, who remitted the cause to a select Session. The sentence of this 
 Session, which appears to your committee to have been irregular, was 
 affirmed by the Synod of the Carolinas, at their sessions in October, 
 1790. At the same sessions, however, they resumed the cause, and 
 rescinded the decision made by the Synod two days before. Here your 
 committee conceive, that the Synod did right as to matter, but were 
 wrong in point of form; for it does not appear from the minutes that 
 there was more than merely a majority of the members of the Synod for 
 resuming the cause." Minutes, 1791, pp. 41, 42. 
 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 207 
 
 But a Judicatory may not call lack a case after an Appeal lias been 
 
 taken. 
 
 b. (l The Synod next proceeded to consider the appeal ; but, before 
 they came to a decision, a meeting was held by the members of Abing- 
 don Presbytery, then attending on Synod, at which meeting they pro 
 fessed to reverse the former sentence of that Presbytery, and reported 
 the same to Synod, in order to preclude the farther proceedings. Here 
 your committee observe that, in their opinion, the Presbytery had no 
 right to call back the cause, after sentence by them passed, and an 
 appeal from it carried up to the superior court. The Synod having 
 agreed that they had a right to proceed, notwithstanding this information, 
 did accordingly proceed, and, in a regular way, as your committee con 
 ceive, reversed the sentence of the Session of Salem, and declared the 
 appellant restored to the privileges of the Church. 
 
 " Upon the whole, your committee conceive that the proceedings of 
 tha t Synod should be sustained in point of order by the General Assem 
 bly, and their decision confirmed. In that instance in which their pro 
 ceedings seem to be most contrary to regular discipline, and which is 
 particularly pointed at in the reasons of protest by the members of 
 Abingdon Presbytery, we mean, resuming a case during the same 
 session after a decision first had upon it, your committee judge that the 
 first decision was made in a way that was entirely informal, and therefore 
 they had a right to resume the cause, and issue it in an orderly and 
 constitutional way ; which they have accordingly done, though your 
 committee conceive that this reason should have been assigned upon 
 their minutes." Minutes, 1791, p. 42. 
 
 20. The Accused has no right to introduce Testimony which would 
 inculpate those not on Trial. 
 
 "No. 3, an overture on a case of discipline, was taken up, and is as 
 follows : 
 
 " l Suppose a member of the Church is on trial, and his accuser is 
 " common fame." One specification against him is, " Speaking evil of his 
 brethren, A. and B., while he neglects to take any Gospel steps to bring 
 them to repentance or to trial." 
 
 " The specification is abundantly sustained by testimony; but the 
 person on trial proposes to introduce testimony to prove that the reports 
 
208 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 which he circulated, and the opinions which he pronounced derogatory 
 to the brethren named, were true. Has the accused a right to introduce 
 such testimony, tending to injure the character of parties not on trial, 
 nor connected at all with the prosecution, and having no opportunity for 
 defence ? 
 
 " l Would the Session be authorized to reject such testimony, on the 
 ground that, if introduced, it would not exculpate the accused, inasmuch 
 as he had no right to circulate evil reports against his brethren, whether 
 true or false, while neglecting to bring them to trial T 
 
 " To this the following answer was given : 
 
 " The person on trial, under charges tabled on the ground of " com 
 mon fame/ has no right to introduce testimony which inculpates his 
 brethren who are not on trial, and who have no opportunity to defend 
 themselves, because it was his previous duty to take proper steps, if the 
 persons were guilty of the evils which he had alleged against them, to 
 bring them to repentance, or free the Church from the scandal/ " 
 Minutes, 1852, p. 177. 
 
 21. The Assembly cannot reverse the Judicial Acts of a former Assembly, 
 unless Error be shown. 
 
 u This Assembly has no authority to reverse the judicial acts of a 
 former General Assembly, except in cases of such palpable error as 
 would manifestly tend to interfere with the substantial administration 
 of justice." [Case of Samuel Lowry.] Minutes j 1824, p. 115. 
 
 22. The Decisions of the Superior Courts binding on tlie Inferior. 
 
 " The Assembly cannot but express their disapprobation of the con 
 cluding paragraph of the memorial of the Synod of Ohio, in which 
 they say, The Synod consider the judgments entered upon their records 
 against Samuel Lowry, in October, 1822, as remaining in full force/ &c. 
 
 a This declaration, notwithstanding the respectful expressions of the 
 Synod, is apparently wanting in the respect due from an inferior to a 
 superior judicatory; and is repugnant to the radical principles of the 
 government of the Presbyterian Church. If an inferior court has 
 authority to declare that its own decisions are in force, after they have 
 been reversed by a superior court, then all appeals are nugatory, and our 
 system, as it relates to judicial proceedings, is utterly subverted. The 
 
APPEALS. 209 
 
 Assembly are willing to believe, however, that the Synod of Ohio did 
 not mean to set themselves in opposition to the highest judicatory of the 
 Church, and that when they have reconsidered the matter, they will 
 rescind what is so manifestly inconsistent with the principles of the 
 Constitution, which they have bound themselves to support." Minutes, 
 1824, p. 116. 
 
 " On the sixth exception to the minutes of the Synod of Cincinnati, 
 viz., 6th. The vote of the Synod not to comply with the injunction 
 of the last Assembly in the case of Mr. Graham ;* in respect to which 
 vote the Synod is directed to reconsider their action, and proceed in 
 conformity with the instructions of the last Assembly/ a long discussion 
 ensued. Mr. Spear moved to amend, by inserting l ought in the place 
 of is directed/ Before the question was taken, at 6 o clock, on 
 motion of the Rev. W. H. Beecher, the whole subject was indefinitely 
 postponed." Minutes, 1849, p. 177. 
 
 23. Judicial Sentences of Sister Churches to be respected. 
 
 [See ante, sec. 16, p. 204.] 
 
 [For other cases of Discipline, see chap. vii ; sees. 1 and 2 ; also chap, 
 vi and viii, sees. 2 and 3.] 
 
 SECTION 2. OF APPEALS. 
 
 1. An appeal defined. How it differs from a "complaint/ 2. The right to ap 
 peal is limited to the original parties. 3. Limitation of time. It must be pro 
 secuted at the first ensuing meeting of the judicature appealed to, or the sen 
 tence will be made final. Personal attendance is not essential. 4. The appeal 
 must be lodged with the clerk on the first or second day of the sessions of the 
 "court appealed to. 5. Due notice must be given of the intention to appeal. See 
 Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sec. 3, 5. 6. On the failure of the inferior judi 
 catory to send up their records and copies of the testimony, the appeal was sus 
 tained. 7. An appeal postponed, where the appellant failed to give notice. 
 8. The case may be postponed at the instance of the appellant. 9. May an 
 appeal be carried over the next higher court 1 Various decisions ; general 
 principle. 10. The best evidence which the case admits of required, and in all 
 trials this is the record of the judicatory. 11. A copy made by the appellant is 
 not sufficient. 12. Neglect of the inferior judicatory shall not harm the appel 
 lant. 13. Testimony not on record may be received by agreement. 14. Leave 
 refused to introduce testimony going to show that the appellant has not submit 
 ted to the sentence of the court. 15. An appeal arrests all further process 
 
 * See p. 196, e. 
 14 
 
210 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 until it is issued ; 16. But does not arrest the sentence, where the delay is asked 
 for by the appellant. 17. Who may sit in the trial of an appeal? No one who 
 was a member of the judicature when the vote appealed from took place ; nor 
 one who is interested in the case. IS. The death of the respondent bars the 
 prosecution of an appeal by the prosecutor. 19. An express vote must be taken 
 in an appeal, and the sentence must be definite, precise, and just. 20. Irregu 
 larities of the inferior judicatures censured. 21. Appeal of George Sheldon. 
 
 22. Appeal of Lewis Tappan. Appeal sustained, and both parties censured. 
 
 23. Order for issuing an appeal. 
 
 1. " An appeal is the removal of a cause already decided, from an 
 inferior to a superior judicatory, by a party aggrieved." Form of 
 Gov., chap, vii, sec. 3. 
 
 [Prior to the revision of the Constitution (1820), no distinction was 
 made between appeals and complaints. The usual formula was, " We 
 appeal and complain/ Appeals are now limited to the " parties ag 
 grieved." " All persons who have submitted to a regular trial in an 
 inferior, may appeal to a higher judicatory." Form of Gov., chap, vii, 
 sec. 3. "A complaint is a representation made to a superior by any 
 member or members of an inferior judicatory, or by any other person or 
 persons, respecting a decision by an inferior judicatory, which, in the 
 opinion of the complainants, has been irregularly or unjustly made." 
 Form of Gov., chap, vii, sec. 4.] 
 
 2. The Right to Appeal is limited to the Original Parties. 
 
 a. " The Judicial Committee reported a paper, signed by Dr. Cath- 
 cart and others, members of the Presbytery of Carlisle, purporting to be 
 an appeal or complaint relative to a decision of the Synod of Philadel 
 phia. The committee gave it as their opinion, that the subject could 
 not be taken up on the ground of an appeal, because these persons were 
 not one of the original parties ] but that it might be taken up in the 
 character of a complaint. 
 
 11 Resolved, That the consideration of this complaint be the order of 
 the day for next Tuesday morning." Minutes, 1823, p. 69. 
 
 b. "The Judicial Committee also reported on judicial business No. 8, 
 viz., the appeal of Dr. Joshua L. Wilson and others, against a decision 
 of the Synod of Cincinnati, in the case of Dr. Beecher, that they have 
 examined the same, and are of opinion that Dr. Wilson and others were 
 not a party in the case, and consequently cannot constitutionally appeal; 
 
APPEALS. 211 
 
 and recommend that they have leave to withdraw their appeal. This 
 report was adopted." Minutes, 1834, p. 432. 
 
 3. Limitation of Time. The Appeal must be Prosecuted at the First 
 Meeting of the Superior Judicatory. 
 
 "Resolved, That in case of an appeal or complaint, entered in an in 
 ferior Judicatory to a superior, if the appellant or appellants do not 
 appear at the first meeting of the superior Judicatory, protest may be 
 admitted, at the instance of the respondents, at the last session of such 
 meeting, that the appeal is fallen from; and the sentence so appealed 
 from shall be considered as final." Minutes, 1791, p. 39. 
 
 a. " A protest was admitted in behalf of the Synod of the Carolinas, 
 that an appeal of the Presbytery of Abingdon, from a judgment of the 
 said Synod, October 7, 1790, was not prosecuted, and was therefore 
 fallen from, and the judgment became final." Minutes, 1791, p. 45. 
 
 1). " Rev. Thomas B. Craighead having appealed to the General As 
 sembly, from a decision of the Synod of Kentucky, made in the month of 
 October last, by which decision the said Synod directed the Presbytery 
 of Transylvania to depose the said Thomas B. Craighead from the Gospel 
 ministry, which was done accordingly; and whereas the said Mr. Craig- 
 head has not prosecuted his appeal to the General Assembly, and the 
 subscribers, members of the Synod of Kentucky, have waited till the 
 last day of the session of the Assembly, to afford opportunity for the 
 prosecution of said appeal, we do therefore now protest, in our own name 
 and on behalf of the Synod of Kentucky, against the future prosecu 
 tion of said appeal, and declare the sentence of the Synod to be final, 
 agreeably to a standing order of the General Assembly." 
 
 "The protest was accepted." Minutes, 1811, pp. 481, 482. 
 
 c. [In 1822 the case came up again, when the following report was 
 adopted :] 
 
 " In the year 1811, an appeal from a decision of the Synod of Ken 
 tucky, by T. B. Craighead, accompanied by a letter from the same, was 
 laid before the General Assembly; but Mr. Craighead not appearing in 
 person to prosecute his appeal, permission was given by the Assembly, 
 on the last day of their sessions, to the members of the Synod of Ken 
 tucky who were present, to enter a protest against the prosecution of the 
 aforesaid appeal at any future time. This was supposed to be required 
 by a standing rule of the Assembly. The appeal of Mr. Craighead was 
 
212 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 therefore not heard, and the sentence of the Synod of Kentucky was 
 rendered final. 
 
 " It moreover appears, that the General Assembly of the year aforesaid, 
 having adopted the protest of the members of the Synod of Kentucky 
 as their own act, did declare that Mr. Craighead had been deposed, 
 whereas the decision of the Synod was suspension ; and although the 
 Synod did direct the Presbytery to which Mr*. Craighead belonged to 
 depose him, if he did not, at their next stated meeting, retract his errors, 
 yet this sentence could not have been constitutionally inflicted, because 
 Mr. Craighead appealed from the decision of Synod, the effect of which 
 was to arrest all further proceedings in the case until the appeal should 
 be tried ; therefore the sentence of the Assembly, declaring Mr. Craig- 
 head deposed, does not accord with the sentence of the Synod, which 
 was suspension. 
 
 "From the above history of facts, your committee are of opinion that 
 Mr. Craighead has just grounds of complaint, in regard to the proceed 
 ings of the General Assembly of 1811, in his case, and that the con 
 struction put on the standing rule of the Assembly was not correct; for 
 personal attendance on the superior judicatory is not essential to the 
 regular prosecution of an appeal. Moreover, the sentence of the Assem 
 bly being founded in error, ought to be considered null and void, arid 
 Mr. Craighead ought to be considered as placed in the same situation as 
 before the decision took place, and as possessing the right to prosecute 
 his appeal before this judicatory." Minutes, 1822, pp. 52, 53. 
 
 d. " From the records of the Synod of Kentucky it appeared that 
 Guernsey G. Brown had appealed from a decision of that body in his 
 case to the General Assembly. As Mr. Brown has not appeared to 
 prosecute his appeal, and the commissioners from the Synod of Ken 
 tucky require that his absence may, according to a rule of the Assembly 
 on the subject, preclude him from a future hearing : therefore 
 
 " Resolved, That Guernsey G. Brown be considered as precluded from 
 prosecuting his appeal." Minutes, 1821, p. 30. 
 
 In the absence of the Appellant, the Appeal dismissed, but leave (/ranted 
 to renew the Appeal. 
 
 e. " The appeal of Dr. James Snodgrass against a decision of the 
 Synod of Pittsburg was called up, and the appeal was dismissed, on the 
 ground that the appellant has not appeared, either in person or by 
 proxy, to prosecute said appeal. 
 
APPEALS. 213 
 
 " The Assembly, however, give to Dr. Snodgrass the privilege of pro 
 secuting his appeal before the next General Assembly, if he can then 
 show sufficient cause for its further prosecution." Minutes, 1832, p. 
 376. 
 
 In the absence of the Appellant, the Appeal dismissed, and Sentence 
 
 affirmed. 
 
 f. " Judicial business No. 2, viz., the appeal of Benedict Hobbs from 
 a decision of the Synod of Kentucky, was taken up, and the appellant 
 not being present to prosecute his appeal, it was dismissed, and the 
 sentence of the inferior court affirmed. 
 
 " Judicial business No. 5, viz., the appeal of Chloe G-. Giles from a 
 decision of the Synod of Utica, was taken up, and the appellant not 
 being present to prosecute her appeal, it was dismissed, and the sentence 
 of the inferior court affirmed." Minutes, 1834, p. 452. 
 
 Personal attendance is not necessary. 
 
 g. "The construction put, by the Assembly of 1811, on the standing 
 rule of the Assembly (in Craighead s case), was not correct; for personal 
 attendance on the superior judicatory is not essential to the regular pro 
 secution of an appeal." Minutes, 1822, p. 52. 
 
 4. The Appeal must be lodged with the clerk in due time, i. e., " On 
 the first or second day of the meeting of the judicatory appealed to next 
 ensuing the date of his Appeal" Form of Government, Discipline, 
 chap, vii, sees. 3, 11. 
 
 a. " The Judicial Committee reported the appeal of R. Taylor against 
 the Synod of Michigan, which was not put into the hands of the clerk 
 within the constitutional time. The appeal was therefore dismissed." 
 Minutes, 1837, p. 480. 
 
 Ignorance of the Rule plead. 
 
 b. " The chairman of the Judicial Committee stated to the Assembly, 
 that an appeal had been put into his hands, from Duncan Hamilton and 
 his wife, from a decision of the Synod of Pittsburg, which appeal had 
 not been reported to the clerk of the house, and asked the direction of 
 
214 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 the Assembly in the case. On inquiry, it appeared this appeal was in 
 the house in season ; and the persons to whom it was intrusted were not 
 aware of the constitutional rule requiring that it be lodged with the 
 clerk. 
 
 " On motion, it was 
 
 "Resolved, That, in the opinion of the Assembly, the rule has vir 
 tually been complied with." Minutes, 1830, p. 302. 
 
 5. Due Notice must be given of the intention to Appeal. 
 
 a. "The records of the Synod of Utica were approved, with the fol 
 lowing exceptions : 
 
 "1. That the Synod issued an appeal from the inferior judicatory, 
 when it appeared before them that an appellant had not given notice in 
 writing that he should appeal, with his reasons assigned for appealing, as 
 required by the Book of Discipline, before the rising of the judicatory 
 appealed from, or within ten days thereafter. 
 
 " 2. That the Synod violated the principles of the Constitution in 
 qualifying the members of the inferior judicatory to ascertain whether 
 an appeal had been given, when the Book of Discipline requires that 
 the appeal shall be lodged in the hands of the moderator ; and further, 
 that the inferior judicatory shall send authentic copies of all the records, 
 and of all the testimony relating to the matter of appeal, up to the Synod, 
 whose duty it is to issue the appeal, when found to be in order, and in 
 accordance with the Book of Discipline." Minutes, 1840, p. 12. 
 
 b. " An appeal of Mr. Benjamin Bell from a decision of the Presbytery 
 of Geneva, and also an appeal of Mr. Bell from the decision of the Synod 
 of Geneva, were laid before the Assembly by the Judicial Committee. 
 These appeals were both dismissed on account of the judicatories, from 
 whose decisions they had been taken, not having received due notice 
 from Mr. Bell that he designed to prosecute them before this Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1821, p. 25. 
 
 c. a The appeal of Mr. Charles Yale from a sentence of the Presbytery 
 of Bath, deposing him from the Gospel ministry, was taken up and dis 
 missed, because it appeared that Mr. Yale gave notice to said Presbytery 
 that he should appeal to the Synod of Geneva several days before he 
 signified his desire to the moderator of Presbytery to appeal to the 
 General Assembly." Minutes, 1826, p. 187. 
 
 d. " The Judicial Committee, to whom was recommitted the appeal of 
 
APPEALS. 215 
 
 the Church of Bergen, made the following report, which was adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 " They recommend that said appeal be dismissed, on the ground that 
 the only paper which appears to be intended as an appeal, is without 
 date or signature, or evidence that it was ever before the Synod of 
 Genesee, or lodged with the moderator of said Synod/ Minutes, 
 1830, p. 292. 
 
 e. "Resolved, That the appeal [of certain pew-owners of the First 
 Presbyterian Church, in Troy] be dismissed, on the ground that the 
 Synod has not had the constitutional notice of the reasons of the appeal." 
 Minutes, 1828, p. 242. 
 
 6. On the failure of the Inferior Judicatory to send up copies of 
 Testimony, the Appeal was sustained. 
 
 u The committee appointed to prepare a minute on the decision of the 
 Assembly sustaining the appeal of Mr. Pope Bushnell, from a decision 
 of the Synod of New York, affirming the decree of the Presbytery of 
 Hudson, by which the said Mr. Bushnell had been suspended from the 
 privileges of the Church, made the following report, which was adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 " That the appellant having given due notice that he did appeal, 
 appeared regularly before the Assembly ; and that while the Presbytery 
 and Synod have sent up their records in the case, neither has forwarded 
 to this Assembly an authentic copy of the testimony taken on the trial. 
 The Assembly did therefore decide, that Mr. Bushnell s appeal be, and 
 it hereby is sustained, so that he is restored to all his rights and privi 
 leges as a member of the Church of Christ." Minutes, 1826, p. 187. 
 
 7. Postponed because of failure of Appellant to file Notice. 
 
 " The appeal of Mr. Craighead from a decision of the Synod of Ken 
 tucky was taken up, and being read, it appeared on inquiry that the 
 Synod of Kentucky was not ready for trial, because Mr. Craighead had 
 failed to give them notice that he intended to avail himself of the privi 
 lege granted by the last Assembly, by prosecuting his appeal; therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That the further consideration of this appeal be postponed, 
 and that Mr. Craighead be informed, that if he wishes to prosecute his 
 appeal before the next General Assembly, he must give notice of his 
 intention to the Synod of Kentucky. 
 
216 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Synod of Kentucky and the Presbytery of Tran 
 sylvania, be directed, and they hereby are directed, to send up to the 
 next Assembly a copy of their minutes in Mr. Craighead s case/ 
 Minutes, 1823, p. 92. 
 
 8. The Case may be Postponed at the instance of the Appellant. 
 
 a. " The Judicial Committee reported an appeal by Mr. James Taylor, 
 from a decision of the Synod of Pittsburg; and that the communication 
 of Mr. Taylor gave information that, by reason of ill health, he was 
 unable to attend, to prosecute his appeal before the present Assembly. 
 
 "Resolved, That Mr. Taylor have leave to prosecute his appeal before 
 the next General Assembly." Minutes, 1827, p. 211. 
 
 7;. " The Judicial Committee reported that a paper had been put into 
 their hands, purporting to be a request from Mr. C. H. Baldwin, to the 
 moderator of the Assembly, that his appeal from a decision of the Synod 
 of Genesee be continued to the next General Assembly, and offering 
 reasons for his failure to appear and prosecute it. It appears, from the 
 Form of Discipline, chap, vii, sec. 3, art. 2, that his case is regularly 
 before us, for reference to the next General Assembly, if his excuse for 
 now failing to appear shall be deemed sufficient/ [The request was 
 granted.] Minutes, 1858, p. 580. 
 
 9. May an Appeal l>e carried over to the next higher Court? 
 
 a. " Inasmuch as the request of Mr. Bourne, to be tried on an appeal 
 before the General Assembly, rather than the Synod, may be reasonable ; 
 and, inasmuch as the words of our Constitution, viz., The Assembly 
 shall receive and issue all appeals and references which may be regularly 
 brought before them from the inferior judicatures/ &c., have been in 
 terpreted favorably to such a request, the G encral Assembly do order that 
 a certified copy of the records of the Lexington Presbytery, in this case, be 
 duly made and transmitted to the next Assembly, unless the Synod of Vir 
 ginia, to which the Assembly can have no objection, shall have previ 
 ously received the appeal (but that this constitutional question, as well 
 as the merits of the case, shall remain open for discussion at that time)." 
 Minutes, 1816, pp. 626, 627. 
 
 1. "Resolved, That the records of the Synod of Virginia be approved, 
 except their censure of the Presbytery of Lexington, for allowing an 
 
APPEALS. 217 
 
 appeal from their decision directly to the Assembly, without noticing the 
 supposed irregularity of such appeal." Minutes, 1818, p. 688. 
 
 c. [The " appeal and complaint of Lewis Tappan from a decision of 
 the Third Presbytery of New York/ was received and issued by the 
 Assembly.] Minutes, 1839, p. 11. 
 
 d. " The Committee on Overture No. 7, viz., An overture from the 
 Presbytery of Baltimore, in relation to the practice of inferior judicatories 
 in carrying appeals and complaints directly to the General Assembly, 
 without first bringing them to their respective Synods, made the follow 
 ing report, which was adopted, viz. : That the Constitution of our Church 
 is so explicit that it requires no order of the Assembly in relation to the 
 case brought to view in this overture." Minutes, 1833, p. 396. 
 
 [The principle which has guided the Assembly seems to be, that 
 where there is no sufficient reason for passing by the next superior court, 
 the case should go there. But where good reasons are assigned for 
 carrying it directly to the Assembly, it will be entertained.] 
 
 e. " The Judicial Committee reported two appeals of Samuel Lowery, 
 the first, from a special decision of the Session of the Second Presbyterian 
 Church of Cincinnati; the second from a decision of the Presbytery of 
 Miami. These appeals were dismissed, because the appellant had not 
 prosecuted his appeals before the inferior judicatories." Minutes, 1822, 
 p. 36. 
 
 f. "The Judicial Committee made the following report on the complaint 
 of the Presbytery of Philadelphia against the Presbytery of Columbia, 
 relative to the licensure of Mr. Samuel Shaffer, which was adopted, viz. : 
 That it is a desirable thing to prevent the unnecessary accumulation of 
 business before the General Assembly; that no good reason appears 
 why the Synod of Albany, who must be entirely competent to issue the 
 complaint, should be passed by, and that, therefore, in their judgment, 
 the matter ought to go before that body." Minutes, 1828, p. 237. 
 
 </. " The Judicial Committee made a report in relation to the appeal 
 of Mr. Matthew H. Rice, from a decision of the Presbytery of East 
 Hanover, which was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " That the appellant had leave to withdraw his appeal on the follow 
 ing ground, viz. : No reasons are assigned by the appellant for making 
 this appeal to the General Assembly instead of the Synod." Minutes, 
 1830, p. 298. 
 
 h. " The Judicial Committee reported on judicial business No. 1, viz. : 
 The appeal from the decision of the Presbytery of Otsego, by the Church 
 
218 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 at Cooperstown, that it appears from the documents that the appeal is made 
 by said church immediately from Presbytery to the Assembly ; and they 
 recommend that the appellants have leave to withdraw their appeal, and 
 prosecute it before the Synod of Utica. This report was adopted." 
 Minutes, 1834, p. 432. 
 
 i. " A letter from several members of the First Presbyterian Church 
 of the town of Ovid, in the State of New York, complaining of the con 
 duct of the Presbytery of Oneida, in erecting another congregation in 
 their neighborhood; also of Mr. Chapman for preaching in said congre 
 gation, &c., was received and read. 
 
 " The Assembly having considered the same 
 
 "Resolved, That as the complainants have not stated their grievances 
 to the Presbytery, nor applied to it for redress, the petition be returned 
 to them, and that they be directed to proceed in this case as the Con 
 stitution prescribes/ Minutes, 1804, p. 309. 
 
 10. The lest Evidence which the Case admits of required. 
 
 a This Assembly are of opinion that the correct mode of proceeding 
 for the last General Assembly would have been to have suspended a de 
 cision on the appeal, until the records of the inferior judicatories should 
 have been present ; because the rules in our Form of Government pre 
 scribe, that before a judgment is given, all the proceedings of the infe 
 rior judicatories in the case should be read, and it is a sound maxim, 
 generally admitted in courts of justice, that the best evidence which the 
 case admits of should be required, which in all trials is undoubtedly the 
 record of the judicatory." Minutes, 1824, p. 115. 
 
 [Case of Samuel Lowery.] 
 
 11. A Copy made by the Appellant not sufficient. 
 
 " By the forms of process/ Mr. Bourne ought to be allowed copies 
 of the whole proceedings in his case, yet the judicatory appealed from 
 is, by the same rules, l to send authentic copies of the whole process. 
 His copy, therefore, which he says was taken by himself, but is not 
 shown to the Assembly, is not sufficient. His affidavit is not required 
 by the course of proceeding in this body, and the three papers presented 
 by him are not to be considered as the commencement of a cause, or the 
 entry of an appeal in this judicatory." Minutes, 1816, p. 627. 
 
APPEALS. 219 
 
 12. Neglect of the Inferior Court shall not work harm to the Appellant. 
 
 a. [Mr. Bourne having brought in an appeal from the Presbytery of 
 Lexington, and the record not sent up, the Assembly say that] " Mr. 
 Bourne shall not suffer any inconvenience which the Assembly can pre 
 vent, on account of any failures of the inferior judicatures ; if a default 
 should in future appear on their part, the evidence of such circumstance 
 being not as yet made clear to this Assembly." Minutes, 1816, p. 627. 
 
 b. u The appellant having given due notice that he did appeal, ap 
 peared regularly before the Assembly ; and that while the Presbytery and 
 Synod have sent up their records in the case, neither has forwarded to 
 this Assembly an authentic copy of the testimony taken on the trial. 
 The Assembly did, therefore, decide that Mr. Bushnell s appeal be, and 
 it hereby is sustained, so that he is restored to all his rights and privi 
 leges as a member of. the Church of Christ/ Minutes, 1826, p. 187. 
 
 13. Testimony not on Record may l>e received by Consent of Parties. 
 
 " The following papers were offered and ordered to be entered on the 
 Minutes, viz. : 
 
 " I offer to the Assembly the paper called An Appendix/ as the 
 records furnished by the Presbytery in my case, and request that it may 
 be read, as containing evidence which I deem important, which was 
 before the Presbytery, and which was not before the Synod. 
 
 "ALBERT BARNES. 
 
 " The prosecutor in the case of Mr. Barnes, and the committee ap 
 pointed by the Synod of Philadelphia, to defend their decision in the 
 same case, hereby agree to the introduction of the document entitled 
 An Appendix/ &c. ; not, however, as a part of the records of the in 
 ferior judicatory, but as testimony adduced by the appellant to substan 
 tiate any statements which he has made, or may yet make. 
 
 " GEORGE JUNKIN, 
 " S. G-. WINCHESTER, 
 
 " Gr. W. MUSGRAVE, 
 
 " DAVID McKiNNEY, 
 
 " Committee of Synod of Philadelphia. 
 
 " The document called the Appendix, numbered from pp. 1 to 58 in 
 clusive, containing the trial, testimony of the parties, Junkin and Barnes, 
 
220 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 and final decision of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, in the said 
 case of Junkin and Barnes, was read/ Minutes, 1836, p. 256. 
 
 14. Leave refused the Respondents to introduce Testimony going to 
 show that the Appellant has not submitted to the Sentence of the 
 Court. 
 
 " During their defence the question arose, Shall the respondents have 
 leave, the parties consenting, to introduce evidence to show that the 
 appellant has not submitted to the decision of the Presbytery ? Leave was 
 refused." [Appeal of Lewis Tappan from Third Presbytery of New 
 York.] Minutes, 1839, p. 23. 
 
 15. An Appeal arrests all further Process until it is issued. 
 
 u It moreover appears, that the General Assembly of the year afore 
 said, having adopted the protest of the members of the Synod of Ken 
 tucky as their own act, did declare that Mr. Craighead had been de 
 posed, whereas the decision of the Synod was suspension ; and although 
 the Synod did direct the Presbytery to which Mr. Craighead belonged 
 to depose him, if he did not, at their next stated meeting, retract his 
 errors ; yet this sentence could not have been constitutionally inflicted, 
 because Mr. Craighead appealed from the decision of Synod, the effect 
 of which was to arrest all further proceedings in the case until the appeal 
 should be tried. Therefore, the sentence of the Assembly declaring 
 Mr. Craighead deposed, does not accord with the sentence of the Synod, 
 which was suspension." Minutes, 1822, p. 52. 
 
 16. But does not Arrest the Sentence, where Delay is as7ced ly the 
 
 Appellant. 
 
 " The Judicial Committee reported that a paper had been put into 
 their hands, purporting to be a request from Mr. C. II. Baldwin, to the 
 moderator of the Assembly, that his appeal from a decision of the Synod 
 of Genesee be continued to the next General Assembly, and offering 
 reasons for his failure to appear and prosecute it. It appears from the 
 Form of Discipline, chap, vii, sec. 3, art. 2, that his case is regularly 
 before us for reference to the next General Assembly, if his excuse for 
 now failing to appear shall be deemed sufficient. 
 
 " The committee recommend that the Assembly, in view of the rea- 
 
APPEALS. 221 
 
 sons offered, and out of a desire to grant the appellant every reasonable 
 indulgence, continue bis case agreeably to his request; it being under 
 stood, that the sentence of the Presbytery remain in full force against 
 him till the case be finally issued, in accordance with the provisions of 
 our Form of Discipline, chap, vii, sec. 3, art. 15." Minutes, 1858, 
 p. 580. 
 
 17. Who may Sit in an Appeal. 
 
 a. "Resolved, That no minister belonging to the Synod of Philadel 
 phia, nor elder who was a member of the judicature when the vote ap 
 pealed from took place, shall vote in the decision thereof by this 
 Assembly. 
 
 " The moderator, being a member of the Synod of Philadelphia, with 
 drew, and Dr. McKnight took the chair." Minutes, 1792, p. 56. 
 
 b. " A question was raised by Mr. Cunningham, an elder from the 
 Synod of Philadelphia, who was not a member of Synod at the meeting 
 at which the case of Mr. Barnes was tried and issued, whether he has a 
 right to vote in this case in the Assembly. After some discussion, the 
 moderator decided that Mr. Cunningham, and any other members of the 
 Assembly from that Synod similarly situated, have a right to vote in 
 the Assembly. From this decision of the moderator an appeal was 
 taken, when, by a vote of the Assembly, the decision of the moderator 
 was not sustained, and it was decided that Mr. Cunningham, and others 
 similarly situated, have no right to vote on the case in the Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1836, p. 265. 
 
 " A motion was made that Dr. Skinner and Mr. Dashiell, who, at the 
 time the trial was commenced in the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, 
 were either not dismissed from that body, or had not yet connected 
 themselves with any other, though they did not meet with the Presby 
 tery, and before the meeting of the Synod were members of other Pres 
 byteries, should not sit in judgment in the case of Mr. Barnes. This 
 motion was decided in the negative." Ibid. 266. 
 
 c. " The appeal of Mr. Pope Bushnell was resumed. The moderator 
 being a member of the Synod appealed from, Mr. Jennings, the last 
 moderator present, took the chair." Minutes, 1826, p. 184. 
 
 An Interested Parti/ should not Sit on a Trial. 
 
 d. " The Records of the Synod of Genesee were, on recommendation 
 
222 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 of the committee, approved, with the following exception : Of a decision 
 of the moderator, recorded on page 151, that a member of a Synod, who 
 might be interested in a case under trial, cannot be challenged ; which 
 decision is unconstitutional, and ought to be reversed by that Synod." 
 Minutes, 1846, p. 20. 
 
 18. The Death of the Respondent bars the Prosecution of an Appeal ly 
 
 his Prosecutor. 
 
 " The records of the Synod of New York were approved, except that, 
 on p. 277, it appears that the Synod decided that the death of the Rev. 
 Mr. Griffith should be no bar in the way of the prosecution of an appeal 
 by his prosecutor from the decision of the Presbytery of Bedford, acquit 
 ting Mr. Griffith." Minutes, 1833, p. 400. 
 
 19. An express Vote must be taken in an Appeal, and the Sentence 
 must le definite, precise, and just. 
 
 "Resolved, That inasmuch as the Synod of Indiana did not take an 
 express vote on sustaining the appeal of Mr. Harney, and the sentence 
 on record is vague and inconsistent with itself, the whole case be 
 remitted to the said Synod, with an injunction to them to reconsider the 
 same, and pass a definite, precise, and just sentence." Minutes, 1837, 
 p. 480. 
 
 20. Irregularities of the Inferior Judicatory censured. 
 
 a. "The Minutes of the Synod of Genesee were approved, with the 
 exception of an irregularity, recorded on p. 170, in allowing the original 
 parties in a trial to speak after a lower Judicatory had given the reasons 
 for their decision, which was contrary to our Book of Discipline." 
 Minutes, 1846, p. 20. 
 
 b. " There is no record of calling the roll for remarks of the mem 
 bers, before taking the vote, in the case of an appeal by A. King." 
 [Exceptions to records of the Synod of Cincinnati.] Minutes, 1849, p. 
 177. 
 
 c. "On pp. 215, 224,229 (Records of the Synod of Geneva), relating 
 to certain appeals, the nature of the offence on which the appeals are 
 founded is not specified. " Minutes, 1821, p. 15. 
 
APPEALS. 223 
 
 21. Appeal of George Sheldon. Protest. Answer of the Assemlly . 
 
 [Mr. Sheldon was deposed by the Presbytery of Portage, on the ground 
 of adultery, in having married a second wife during the life of his first 
 wife, from whom he had obtained a divorce in the civil courts, in the 
 judgment of the Presbytery on other than scriptural grounds. From 
 the decision of the Presbytery he took an appeal to the Synod of the 
 Western Reserve. The Synod decided as follows, viz. : " After a full 
 and patient hearing of the whole case of appeal by George Sheldon from 
 the Presbytery of Portage, the Synod are constrained to believe that the 
 decision of the Presbytery was just ; and that the Presbytery conducted 
 the case with as much order and tenderness as the inherent difficulties 
 of the case would admit. 
 
 "In view of the whole case : Resolved, That the decision of the 
 Presbytery of Portage be sustained/] 
 
 " The Assembly resumed the consideration of the appeal of the Rev. 
 George Sheldon. 
 
 " The original parties having been fully heard, the roll was called, 
 and opportunity was- given to the members of the Assembly to express 
 their opinions on the case. After which the final vote was taken, and 
 the appeal was not sustained, nineteen voting in the affirmative, and 
 fifty-four in the negative. 
 
 " The following protest was ordered to be entered on the Minutes : 
 We, the undersigned, members of the General Assembly, feel constrained 
 to protest against the decision of the General Assembly, in not sustain 
 ing the appeal of Mr. George Sheldon, for the following reasons, viz. : 
 
 " 1. It is shown by the records in the case that Mr. Sheldon failed 
 to appear on the second citation, and that the Presbytery, instead of 
 immediately suspending him for contumacy, according to the rule of our 
 Discipline, chap, v, sec. 11, merely passed a vote of censure, and pro 
 ceeded not only to take testimony, but to issue the whole case upon its 
 merits, in the absence of the accused. In allowing a judicatory to take 
 testimony in the absence of the accused, our Book of Discipline does 
 not authorize them to try and issue a case, but only to take the testi 
 mony, in order to preserve it on record, in case the man should repent 
 of his contumacy on a third citation, and submit himself to trial 
 
 " The course of the Presbytery should have been to suspend Mr. Shel 
 don for contumacy on the second citation, and then, when he appeared 
 
224 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 on a third citation, the Presbytery could have removed the sentence of 
 suspension for contumacy, and given him a fair trial. 
 
 " But, instead of this course, the Presbytery tried the case during 
 Mr. Sheldon s absence, and found him guilty of the charge on merely 
 ex parte testimony. And then, when Mr. Sheldon appeared, prepared 
 with testimony in his defence, it was not admitted, nor put on record. 
 He was not, therefore, tried according to our Form of Government; and 
 any evidence adduced by him, touching his guilt or innocence, was en 
 tirely excluded from the record. 
 
 " All of which is contrary to the principles of our Form of Govern 
 ment, and to the past decisions of the General Assembly, especially in 
 the case of the Rev. Dr. Craighead, of Kentucky, A. D. 1806. 
 
 "2. In the evidence on record before the Presbytery, when parts of 
 several letters of Mr. Sheldon were given and allowed in evidence, the 
 Presbytery should have required the whole documents in the case ; and 
 also when part of the record of the court was admitted, the testimony, 
 on the ground of which the divorce was sought to be obtained, was ruled 
 out. And the Presbytery proceeded upon these partial extracts to form 
 a decision, when the whole document, if allowed in court, or produced 
 there, might have given an entirely different construction to the parts 
 read. 
 
 " All of which is contrary to the established legal principle, that the 
 best evidence to be had should be demanded in every case ; and that, 
 when parts of a document touching any subject are introduced in evi 
 dence, the whole document must be admitted. 
 
 "3. So many and great were the irregularities in this assumed trial 
 as to enable the General Assembly to form no proper judgment of the 
 real merits of the case. And, on account of these irregularities, the 
 case should have been remanded for a new trial. 
 
 " On these grounds, we protest against the action of the General As 
 sembly, virtually confirming the act of deposition pronounced against 
 Mr. Sheldon, as being contrary to the former decisions of the General 
 Assembly, contrary to the established practice of our judicatory, contrary 
 to the personal rights of Mr. Sheldon, and derogatory to the honor of 
 Jesus Christ, as represented by his Church in the highest judicatory. 
 And, because we are unwilling to be thought consenting to such action, 
 we here respectfully enter our solemn protest, and pray that it may be 
 admitted upon the Minutes of the Assembly/ Minutes, 1858, pp. 
 607, 608. 
 
APPEALS. 
 
 Answer of the Assembly. 
 
 " The committee appointed to answer the protest of Rev. H. A. Row 
 land, D.D., and others, presented a report, which was adopted, and is 
 as follows : 
 
 " In answer to the protest against the decision of the Assembly in the 
 case of George Sheldon, the Assembly make the following statement : 
 
 " 1. The action of the Presbytery in the case was irregular, only 
 technically, and not in such a sense as to vitiate the substantial justice 
 of the result. The case had been on trial during a period of some three 
 years, and ample opportunity had been given in this period for the 
 accused to defend himself. 
 
 " 2. Although it is asserted, that only extracts from Mr. Sheldon s 
 letters were admitted in evidence, yet it appears that one letter, and the 
 most important one, is given in full; that the extracts from the other 
 letters are undisputed, and that these fairly and clearly present the truth 
 in the case. 
 
 "3. As to the alleged new evidence, it appears that it was before the 
 Judicial Committee of the Presbytery, and read in full before the Synod, 
 and was unanimously decided by these judicatories to be no ground for 
 reopening the case ; and it also appears, that this testimony is wholly 
 irreconcilable with statements made by Mr. Sheldon in the letters above 
 referred to. 
 
 "4. Inasmuch as the Assembly, after a full hearing of the case, by a 
 vote of more than two-thirds, decided that there have been no material 
 deviations from the rules of the Book of Discipline for conducting judi 
 cial cases, it is deemed unnecessary, at this late hour of their sessions, 
 to reply further to the allegations of the protestants." Minutes, 1858, 
 p. 609. 
 
 22. An Appeal directly to the Assembly allowed. 
 
 " Dr. Fisher, from the Judicial Committee, reported the appeal and 
 complaint of Lewis Tappan against the decision of the Third Presbytery 
 of New York, as in order. The report was accepted, and the subject 
 was taken up for consideration. A motion was made to send it down to 
 the Synod, for adjudication. Minutes, 1839, p. 13. 
 
 " The consideration of Mr. Rowland s motion to refer to the Synod 
 of New York, the adjudication of the appeal of Lewis Tappan, was taken 
 
 15 
 
226 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 up. The motion to refer the case to Synod was lost. The Assembly 
 then decided to hear the case." Minutes, 1839, p. 13. 
 
 The Decision Sustaining the Appeal, and Censuring loth the Appellant 
 and the Courts below ; Case of Lewis Tappan. 
 
 li Resolved, That, in view of the whole case, the Assembly, while they 
 sustain the appeal, and cannot pass without censure some of the acts of 
 the courts below, are constrained to rule as follows, viz. : 
 
 " 1. That the act of the Session, excluding the stenographer, even if 
 it were within the ultimate prerogatives of the court, was of very 
 questionable wisdom, as well as of dangerous precedent, in reference to 
 the rights of respondents at their bar. 
 
 " 2. That there seems to have been, in the proceedings of the Session, 
 too much precipitation and absoluteness, and too little of that calm and 
 practical vindication of their own dignity, which mildness and forbear 
 ance, in the spirit of our Master, are largejy necessary to inspire ; and 
 this especially in reference to the sentence they pronounced. 
 
 "3. That the appellant seems in several respects to have manifested 
 a resolute opposition to the court of the first resort, which certainly, as 
 a whole, amounts to contumacy ; though we are not disposed to graduate 
 it as flagrant or unmingled, or in circumstances of no severe probation. 
 
 " 4. The Assembly therefore decide in the premises, that the sentence 
 of the Session, suspending the appellant, be, and it hereby is reversed, 
 as also the decision of the Presbytery confirming that of the Session. 
 
 u b. That the appellant be advised to review his conduct, in the spirit 
 of solemn and faithful self-examination; and henceforth to order his 
 way with more meekness and reverence of the . authority of the great 
 Head of the Church, as the Supreme President of all our judicatories. 
 
 " 6. That all the parties, the Session and the appellant in the first 
 instance, and after that, if necessary, the Presbytery with them, be re 
 quired solemnly and prayerfully to confer together in the whole case, 
 with the sincere purpose of preventing further proceedings and pacifi- 
 cating all concerned, according to the order and honor of the kingdom 
 of Christ ; and that they resume not their formal proceedings of trial 
 before the Session, unless or until it is demonstrated that no other 
 measures can preventively avail ; and the Assembly do solemnly and 
 affectionately exhort all persons at all connected with the case, and 
 especially the parties themselves, to seek the things that make for peace, 
 
COMPLAINTS. 227 
 
 and the things whereby one may edify another." Minutes, 1839, pp. 
 13-25. 
 
 23. An Appeal arrests all further proceedings in the case until the 
 Appeal shall Le tried. 
 
 [The Synod of Kentucky directed] " the Presbytery to which Mr. 
 Craighead belonged to depose him, if he did not at their next meeting 
 retract his errors ; yet this sentence could not have been constitutionally 
 inflicted, because Mr. Craighead appealed from the decision of the Synod, 
 the eiFect of which was to arrest all further proceedings in the case until 
 the appeal should be tried." Minutes, 1822, p. 52. 
 
 24. Order for Issuing an Appeal. 
 
 a. a The order of the day, viz., an appeal by William H. Shumway 
 from a decision of the Synod of Utica, confirming a decision by which 
 he was suspended from the church of Watertown, was taken up. 
 
 " The sentence appealed from, the reasons assigned by the appellant 
 for his appeal, the whole record of the proceedings of the inferior ju- 
 dicatories in the case, including all the testimony, and the reasons of 
 their decision, were read. The parties were then heard, and the roll 
 called, to give every member an opportunity to express his opinion; 
 after which the final vote was taken, by which the appeal of Mr. Shum 
 way was dismissed, and the sentence of the Session affirmed." Minutes, 
 1835, p. 488. 
 
 b. "The moderator read the rule, enjoining on the members to recol 
 lect and regard their high character, as judges of a court of Jesus Christ, 
 and the solemn duty in which they were about to act. 
 
 " The sentence appealed from, the reasons assigned by the appellant 
 for his appeal, and which were on record, and the proceedings of the 
 inferior judicatories in the case, including the testimony, and the rea 
 sons of the Presbytery for their decision, were read. The original par 
 ties were then heard; first Mr. Tappan, the appellant, and then the 
 Presbytery in defence. The Presbytery having finished their defence, 
 Mr. Tappan replied, and the Presbytery made some explanations. The 
 parties having been fully heard, were considered as withdrawn. The 
 roll was called, and the following adopted as the decision in the case." 
 [See ante, p. 226.] Minutes, 1839, pp. 17-25. 
 
228 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 SECTION 3. OF COMPLAINTS. 
 
 1. Distinction between a complaint and an appeal must be observed. 2. The 
 complaint should be carried to the next superior court, unless valid reason be 
 shown for a different course. 3. Complaint dismissed, for want of evidence of 
 the complaint itself; also for want of evidence that notice was given of the in 
 tent to complain. 4. Through failure of the prosecutor to appear in person, 
 or by proxy. 5. On account of informality. G. After conference with the 
 parties. 7. In the absence of the records. Postponed for the same cause. 8. 
 Complaint sustained for reasons assigned. 9. Referred back by consent of 
 parties. 10. Referred to the court below, with instructions. 11. Judgment of 
 a Synod reversed, because they decline the merits of the case ; because they do 
 not adhere to the rules ; because they do not distinguish their appellate and 
 original jurisdiction; and because they restore the appellant, without any evi 
 dence of repentance. 12. The superior court may reverse, either in whole or 
 in part, but must observe the rules of Discipline. 13. The nature of the com 
 plaint, and the grounds on which it is issued, should be stated in the record. 
 14. A complaint against a Synod for dissolving a Presbytery sustained, and the 
 Presbytery restored. 15. A complaint may be issued in the absence of the 
 complainant. 10. A complaint must be specific. 17. The record must state 
 that the minutes in the case have been read. 18. Advice given by a judicatory 
 is not a ground of complaint. 19. The discussions must not involve the cha 
 racter of a party in his absence ; regularity of proceedings only to be inquired 
 into. 20. Order of issuing a complaint. 
 
 [For the distinction between an appeal and a complaint, see under 
 " Appeal/ p. 210, as also for the limitation of time within which a 
 complaint may be laid.] 
 
 1. The Distinction between an Appeal and a Complaint should be 
 
 observed. 
 
 " The records of the Synod of Utica were, on the recommendation of 
 the committee, approved, with the exception that, on page 275, the 
 Synod recognizes a reference to them as an appeal, which should have 
 been considered and acted on merely as a complaint against, and not 
 as an appeal from the decision of Presbytery concerning the settlement 
 of a pastor." Minutes, 1843, p. 22. 
 
 2. A Complaint should be carried to the next Superior Court. 
 
 
 
 a. "The complaint of John Cochran against a decision of the Session 
 of the Eighth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, which was dismissed 
 
COMPLAINTS. 229 
 
 by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, as irrelevant. and unfounded, appears 
 to have been regularly conducted, except that it is brought directly to 
 the Assembly from the Presbytery, instead of being carried first to the 
 Synod ; and no reasons are assigned for this course. Your committee 
 would therefore recommend that this case be sent to the Synod for ad 
 judication, should Mr. Cochran choose to prosecute his complaint." 
 Adopted. Minutes, 1833, p. 409. 
 
 ~b. [Members of a church complain of the conduct of a Presbytery. 
 Complaint dismissed] because " complainants have not stated their 
 grievances to the Presbytery, nor applied to it for redress." Minutes, 
 1804, p. 309. 
 
 c. [The Session of a church present a paper, in a case acted upon and 
 decided by a Synod. Complaint dismissed] because 
 
 "1. This memorial is, in fact, a complaint against the decision of the 
 Synod of Iowa ; and it does not appear that any notice of intention to 
 complain to the Assembly was given to the Synod by the complainants. 
 
 11 2. No evidence has been presented by the complainants of the in 
 justice of the decision of the Synod. 
 
 " The committee therefore recommend that the paper be returned to 
 the complainants. 
 
 "The report was adopted." Minutes, 1855, p. 16. 
 
 3. Complaint Dismissed, for want of Evidence of the Complaint itself. 
 
 a. u The Judicial Committee reported on the paper purporting to be 
 a complaint of a minority of the Synod of Kentucky, against the pro 
 ceedings of said Synod in the case of Dr. A. Smith, and recommended 
 that the paper be returned for want of evidence of the complaint itself. 
 This report was adopted." Minutes, 1831, p. 339. 
 
 &. [Complainant had leave to withdraw] " because there is no evi 
 dence that notice of said complaint was given to Synod." Minutes, 
 1834, p. 434. 
 
 c. " The Judicial Committee reported, that the complaint of E. W. 
 Gilbert and others, in relation to the Synod of Philadelphia, for dissolv 
 ing the church at Newark; also, the complaint of E. W. Gilbert and 
 others, against the decision of the Synod of Philadelphia, dissolving the 
 Presbytery of "Wilmington ; and also, the complaint of St. George s 
 Church against the same Synod, for dissolving the Presbytery of Wil 
 mington, are informal, there being no evidence before the committee 
 
230 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 that due notice of said. complaints was given to the Synod of Philadel 
 phia. This report was laid on the table. " Minutes, 1836, p. 252. 
 
 "The Judicial Committee reported in relation to the complaint of 
 E. W. Gilbert and J. W. Pickands, on behalf of the Presbytery of 
 Wilmington, against the Synod of Philadelphia, for dissolving said 
 Presbytery, accompanied with a petition for their restoration, that since 
 their last report, which was laid on the table, they had received satis 
 factory evidence that due notice of said complaint was given to the 
 moderator of the Synod of Philadelphia, and that therefore the com 
 plaint is in order." Minutes, 1836, p. 274. 
 
 4. Dismissed through Failure of the Prosecutor, 
 
 a. li The complaint of Rev. Dr. Henry Davis, against a decision of 
 the Synod of Utica, was taken up, and dismissed on the ground that the 
 complainant has not appeared to prosecute his complaint, nor any other 
 person in his behalf." Minutes, 1834, p. 454. 
 
 b. " The complaints of Rev. G. Duffield and W. R. Dewitt were dis 
 missed on the ground that neither the complainants themselves, nor any 
 person in their behalf, are present to prosecute those complaints. "- 
 Minutes, 1835, p. 490. 
 
 5. Dismissed on account of Informality. 
 
 "The subject of the complaint of the Session of Indianapolis was 
 taken up, and after considerable discussion and mature deliberation, it 
 was 
 
 " Resolved, That this business be dismissed on account of informality, 
 and that the papers be returned to the respective parties." Minutes, 
 1829, p. 269. 
 
 6. After Conference with Complainants, leave given to withdraw. 
 
 11 The committee to whom was referred the complaint of the Second 
 Presbytery of Philadelphia against the Synod of Philadelphia, and also 
 the complaint of Robert Cathcart, George Duffield, and E. W. Gilbert, 
 against the Synod of Philadelphia; also the complaint of E. W. Gilbert, 
 in behalf of himself and the Hanover Street Church of Wilmington, 
 Delaware, against the Synod of Philadelphia ; and also the remonstrance 
 and petition of the Synod of Philadelphia; and also the remonstrance of 
 
COMPLAINTS. 231 
 
 the Presbytery of Philadelphia, both against proceedings of the last 
 General Assembly in relation to the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia ; 
 together with the complaint of the Synod of Cincinnati on the same 
 subject, reported that they have had an interview with several members 
 of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, and subsequently with the 
 Presbytery itself, on the subject of their complaint against the Synod of 
 Philadelphia ; and that they have also had an interview with thirty-one 
 members of the Synod of Philadelphia, assembled at the request of the 
 committee ; that after a free conference with both these parties, during 
 which the subject of their conference was treated with much tenderness 
 and Christian affection, the committee are enabled to recommend to the 
 Assembly the following resolution, viz. : 
 
 11 Resolved, That the complainants in these cases have leave to with 
 draw their complaints, and that the consideration of all the other papers 
 relating to the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia be indefinitely post 
 poned." Minutes, 1833, p. 399. 
 
 7- Complaint dismissed in the absence of Records. 
 
 " The Assembly took up the complaint of the Presbytery of Missouri 
 against the Presbytery of St. Charles, laid over by the last Assembly, 
 and the records of the Presbytery of St. Charles not being present 
 
 "Resolved, That the complaint be dismissed." Minutes, 1837, p. 
 429. 
 
 Postponed for the same Cause. 
 
 u The Assembly took up the appeal and complaint of the church of 
 St. Charles against the Synod of Missouri, laid over by the last Assem 
 bly. The church appeared, and was ready for trial, but the records of 
 the Synod not being present, the appeal was postponed, and it was or 
 dered that the Synod of Missouri send up their records to the next 
 General Assembly/ Minutes, 1837, p. 429. 
 
 8. Complaint sustained for Reasons assigned. 
 
 "Judicial business No. 12, viz., A complaint of Daniel Hayden and 
 others against a decision of the Synod of Cincinnati, in the case of the 
 Rev. George Beecher, was taken up. 
 
 "Resolved, That the complaint of the minority against the majority of 
 
232 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 the Synod of Cincinnati be, and the same is hereby sustained, on the 
 ground that the Synod was, and is, competent to receive and examine 
 witnesses called before them to support or to rebut the charges preferred 
 by the minority of the Presbytery of Cincinnati against the majority of 
 said Presbytery." Minutes, 1834, p. 453. 
 
 9. Referred bac7v by consent of Parties. 
 
 " Judicial business No. 9, reported by the Judicial Committee, viz., 
 the complaint of Alexander M. Cowan against the Synod of Utica, was 
 taken up and the complaint read, when, with the consent of Mr. Cowan 
 and the members of the Synod present, it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the subject be referred back to the Synod of Utica; 
 and they are hereby directed to issue the case as referred to them by 
 the Presbytery of Otsego. 7 Minutes, 1834, p. 434. 
 
 10. Referred Lack to the Court lelow with Instructions. 
 
 "Whereas, It appears that the decision of the Synod of Missouri, in 
 the case of the complaint of Franklin Knox, has been recorded in reso 
 lutions, which set forth, not the reasons for the decision in the case, but 
 which are, in fact, a compromise ; which also admit that, at most, there 
 is a strong presumption of guilt, but not evidence, agreeably to the Con 
 stitution, sufficient to convict ; therefore 
 
 "Resolved, That the complaint of Franklin Knox against the Synod 
 of Missouri be referred back to the lower judicatory, and that the Synod 
 be and hereby is instructed to reconsider said resolutions, and record 
 their decision agreeably to the evidence and the principles of justice 
 recognized in our Constitution." Minutes, 1852, p. 173. 
 
 11. Judgment of Synod reversed. 
 
 " On the complaint of Mr. William H. Eeecher and others against 
 the Synod of Genesee, in the case of the appeal of Dr. Frank from the 
 decision of the Presbytery of Genesee, the General Assembly sustain 
 the complaint and reverse the judgment of the Synod on the following 
 grounds, viz. : 
 
 " 1. That the merits of the case seem to be expressly declined by the 
 Synod as the subject-matter of adjudication. 
 
COMPLAINTS. 233 
 
 "2. That the Synod appear not to have adhered to the alternatives 
 prescribed by the Constitution. (See Book of Discipline, chap. vii, sec. 
 3, subsection 10.) 
 
 "3. That the Synod seem to have forgotten the nature and the limits 
 of their appellate, as distinguished from the original jurisdiction in the 
 case ; in that they censure at their bar the appellant in a way competent, 
 in any circumstances, only to the Session of the church to which the 
 appellant was primarily amenable. 
 
 " 4. That they seem to have forgotten also, in restoring the appellant, 
 that some expression of repentance ought to have been exacted, espe 
 cially if their reprimand could, from any tribunal, have been deserved. 
 
 " The Assembly therefore rule, that the Synod of Genesee should 
 review their proceedings in this case ; and, regarding alike the rules of 
 the Constitution and the merits of the case, that they proceed to issue 
 the same with equity and wisdom. 
 
 " In the matter of defining in what calumny consists, as connected 
 with the case, the Assembly feel it not necessary to express any opinion 
 farther than to recommend the principles of our constitutional discipline." 
 Minutes, 1840, p. 11. 
 
 12. The Superior Court has a Right to Reverse either in luhole or in 
 
 part, but must observe the Principles of Discipline. 
 
 " The Assembly having heard the complaint of the Presbytery of 
 Carlisle against the Synod of Philadelphia, in the case of William S. 
 McDowell, with the facts and arguments offered both by the Presbytery 
 and the Synod, judged that the Synod had a constitutional right to re 
 verse the decision of the Presbytery in the case, either in whole or in 
 part, as to them might seem proper ; but that in the exercise of this 
 right, the Synod have not duly regarded the principles of discipline pre 
 scribed in the Constitution ; inasmuch as it appears by their records 
 that they have removed all censure from a man whom they declare to 
 be deserving of rebuke, without directing that rebuke to be adminis 
 tered, and without receiving any evidence of his penitence." Minutes, 
 1823, p. 81. 
 
 13. The Nature of the Complaint, and the Grounds on which it is 
 sustained, when it reverses the Action of the Court below, should be 
 stated. 
 
 On p. 571 (Minutes of the Synod of Geneva), *a complaint against 
 
234 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 a decision of a Presbytery, which is not named, is there represented as 
 having been sustained, and the decision of the Presbytery reversed, 
 without stating the nature of the complaint, or the grounds of the 
 Synod s reversal. This your committee regard as a defective minute. "- 
 Minutes, 1835, p. 475. 
 
 14. A Complaint against a Synod for Dissolving a Preslytery sustained, 
 and the Act of the Synod reversed. 
 
 " The Assembly took up the complaint of Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Pick- 
 ands, in behalf of themselves and other members of the late Presbytery 
 of Wilmington, against the Synod of Philadelphia, for dissolving them, 
 and a petition to be restored to their former state, as a Presbytery. 
 
 (l The sentence complained of, the reasons assigned by the complain 
 ants for their complaint, and the whole record of the proceedings of the 
 Synod in the case, were read. The complainants were then heard by 
 Mr. Duffield, who, by their request, appeared in their behalf, and the 
 Synod, in explanation of their decision. After which, it was 
 
 " Resolved, That the complaint be sustained, and the petition 
 granted; and the Presbytery are hereby restored to the state in which 
 they were at the time of their organization by the Synod, except that 
 the church of New Castle, if they desire it, shall have the privilege of 
 uniting with the Presbytery of New Castle." Minutes, 1836, p. 279. 
 
 15. A Complaint Issued in the Absence of the Complainants. 
 
 " The Assembly took up the complaint against the Synod of Virginia, 
 by the Rev. Samuel Houston and the Rev. Samuel B. Wilson, reported 
 by the Judicial Committee. The complainants did not appear, but a 
 written communication, containing the reasons of their complaint, was 
 laid before the Assembly. At the request of the complainants, Mr. 
 Weed was appointed to manage their cause in their absence/ Minutes, 
 1827, p. 210. 
 
 16. A Complaint must be Specific. 
 
 u The committee to whom was referred the memorial from the Synod 
 of West Tennessee complaining of the Assembly of 1826, because they 
 admitted the verbal testimony of a delegate to set aside a written docu- 
 
COMPLAINTS. 235 
 
 rnent from the Synod of Tennessee, and on that account, in dividing the 
 Synod, granted them only a part of their request j complaining also of 
 the privilege granted by the Assembly to the missionaries among the 
 Cherokees, as found in the printed Minutes of 1826, pages 21, 24, and 
 27, and requesting that the privilege there referred to may be rescinded, 
 made the following report, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " That it does not appear, either from the Minutes of the Assembly, 
 or from the memorial, what part, if any, of the request of the Synod of 
 Tennessee was refused to be granted. The Assembly, therefore, can 
 grant no relief till the grievance be specified and understood." Minutes, 
 1828, p. 24G. 
 
 17. The Records must state that the Minutes in the Case have been read. 
 
 " In the case of a complaint against the decision of a Presbytery, no 
 evidence appears that the records of the Presbytery were read/ 
 
 [Exceptions to Records, Synod of Indiana.] Minutes, 1887, p. 480. 
 
 18. Advice not a Ground of Complaint. 
 
 The " complaint of members of the Park Church, Newark, New Jer 
 sey, against the Synod of New York and New Jersey," was dismissed, 
 "on the ground that the action of the Presbytery was not a subject- 
 matter of complaint, or removal of the case to a higher judicatory, their 
 proceedings having been merely advisory, upon the memorial of the 
 complainants." Minutes, 1852, p. 166. 
 
 19. The Character of the Absent not to be involved. 
 
 " The following report of the Judicial Committee, in the case of the 
 complaint of members of the Carlisle Presbytery against the decision 
 of the Synod of Philadelphia, was received, which, being read, was 
 adopted. 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That no discussion ought to be allowed which may in 
 volve the character of Mr. McDowell, in his absence. 
 
 "2. That the complaint ought to be considered by the Assembly, 
 only so far as it regards the regularity of the proceedings of the Synod 
 in reversing the judgment of Presbytery in the case." Minutes, 1823, 
 p. 74. 
 
236 VI. DISCIPLINE. 
 
 20. Mode of Issuing a Complaint. 
 
 " The Judicial Committee reported as being in order, a complaint of 
 the Rev. Thompson Bird, in behalf of the Presbytery of Des Moines, 
 against a decision of the Synod of Iowa, in the case of Rev. James H. 
 Shields, who had been deposed by the Presbytery, for marriage with a 
 woman divorced, as alleged, for insufficient grounds, and whom the 
 Synod had restored. They recommend that it be taken up, and issued ; 
 and that in doing this the following order be observed : 
 
 "1. That the action of the Synod complained of be read. 
 
 " 2. The reasons of the complaint. 
 
 "3. The action of the Synod in the case. 
 
 " 4. The doings of the Presbytery, including all the testimony on 
 which the action of the Synod was based. 
 
 "5. That the original parties then be heard; first, the complainant, 
 and then the Synod. 
 
 " 6. That any of the members of the inferior judicatory be heard in 
 explanation of the grounds of their decision, or dissent from it." 
 Minutes, 1858, p. 580. 
 
CHAPTEK VII. 
 
 MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 SECTION 1. ON MARRIAGE. 
 
 1. Marriage with a brother s widow declared incestuous, and the parties debarred 
 communion while living together. A similar case referred to the discretion of 
 the Session. 2. With a wife s sister. The offender restored, but such marriages 
 condemned. Proposal for a change of the Confession negatived. 3. Marriage 
 of the relicts of a brother and sister not incestuous. 4. With a wife s brother s 
 daughter to be censured, but the parties not to be excluded from the Church. 
 5. With a niece, referred to the lower judicatories. Declared incestuous, and 
 to demand judicial action. 6. Marriage engagements may be dissolved by con 
 sent of parties, but hasty engagements are to be censured. 7. Clandestine mar 
 riages discountenanced. 8. Publication of purpose of marriage. The Presby 
 teries to judge. 9. A bigamist not to be received to the Church. Wilful and 
 obstinate desertion a lawful cause of divorce. If just cause of divorce exist, and 
 divorce be refused him, he may be received to the Church, but only with great 
 caution. 10. Marriage with a woman divorced on grounds not recognized by 
 the Book, declared to be adultery, and the offender deposed from the ministry 
 and excommunicated. 1 1. A deposition for having obtained a divorce on other 
 than scriptural grounds, and marrying again, Sustained. 
 
 1. Marriage with a Brother s Widow declared incestuous. 
 
 a. "The affair of Andrew Yan Dyke, that was referred from the 
 Presbytery of New Castle to the Synod, came under consideration, and 
 a considerable time being spent in discoursing upon it, it was determined, 
 iicmine contradicente, that his marriage with his brother s wife or widow 
 was incestuous and unlawful, and their living together as the consequence 
 of that marriage is incestuous and unlawful ; and that so long as they 
 live together, they be debarred from all sealing ordinances." Minutes, 
 1717, p. 50. 
 
238 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 A similar Case referred to the Session, 
 
 I. " The appeal of Mr. William Adams from a decision of the Synod 
 of Pittsburg was laid before the Assembly. The minutes of the Synod 
 respecting the case being read, it appeared that the said William Adams 
 had married his brother s widow ; that his case having been brought 
 before the Presbytery of Erie, the said Presbytery had pronounced his 
 marriage unconstitutional, and that the Synod, upon an appeal, had 
 confirmed the judgment of the Presbytery. From this judgment of the 
 Synod, Mr. Adams appealed to the General Assembly. 
 
 "The Assembly, having taken the subject into consideration, were 
 informed by some of their members, who are also members of the Sjmod 
 of Pittsburg, that Mr. Adams s moral and religious character is perfectly 
 fair and exemplary, except in what respects his marriage, which was 
 contracted above fifteen years ago." Minutes, 1805, p. 338. 
 
 [The report of the committee to whom the appeal was referred] 
 " having been read and amended, was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "Whereas, Frequent decisions on marriages of a similar nature have 
 been given by the late Synod of New York and Philadelphia, and by 
 the General Assembly ; and whereas, it appeared on these occasions that 
 while such marriages are offensive to some, to others they appear lawful, 
 therefore this Assembly consider the subject doubtful and delicate, 
 and do not think it expedient to express any opinion on the decision of 
 the Synod of Pittsburg in the present case. But in conformity to a 
 decision made by last Assembly on a marriage somewhat similar, this 
 General Assembly refers the case of Mr. Adams to the Session of the 
 church of Rocky Spring, or that of any other in which he may be, and 
 leave it to their discretion to act according to their own best light, and 
 the circumstances in which they find themselves placed." Minutes, 
 1805, p. 340. See p. 243, c. 
 
 2. Marriage icith a deceased Wife s Sister. 
 
 a. " In the case of a man s marrying two sisters, one after the other s 
 death, the Synod judge, "That, as the Levitical law, enforced also by 
 the civil laws of the land, is the only rule by which we are to judge of 
 marriages, whoever marry within the degrees of consanguinity and affinity 
 forbidden therein act unlawfully, and have no right to the distinguishing 
 
MARRIAGE. 239 
 
 privileges of the Church ; and as the marriages in question appear to be 
 within the prohibited degrees, they are to be accounted unlawful, and 
 the persons suspended from special communion while they continue in 
 this relation." Minutes, 1761, p. 312. 
 
 I. " Anthony Dushane, who has married the sister of his former wife, 
 and whose case has been before the Synod for two years past, preferred 
 a petition that he might no longer be debarred the privileges of the 
 Church on the account of said marriage. 
 
 " After full and deliberate discussion, the question was put, Shall 
 Anthony Dushane and his wife be capable of Christian privileges, their 
 marriage notwithstanding? which was carried in the affirmative by a 
 considerable majority/ Minutes, 1782, p. 495. 
 
 " Remonstrances from sundry congregations were brought in by the 
 Committee of Overtures, requesting a reversing of the decision of the 
 last Synod, respecting the marriage of a man with his former wife s 
 sister. 
 
 " The Synod having again resumed the consideration of the judgment 
 which they passed last year concerning Anthony Dushane, declare their 
 dissatisfaction with all such marriages as are inconsistent with the Le- 
 vitical law, and that persons marrying within the degrees of consangui 
 nity prohibited in that law, ought to suffer the censures of the Church ; 
 and they further judge, that, although the marriage of a man to two 
 sisters successively, viz., to the one after the death of the other, may 
 not be a direct violation of the express words of that law, yet, as it is 
 contrary to the custom of the Protestant Churches in general, and an 
 evidence of great untenderness toward many serious and well-disposed 
 Christians, and may, through the prejudices or generally received opi 
 nions of the members of our Church, be productive of very disagree 
 able consequences; the persons contracting such marriages are highly 
 censurable, and the practice ought to be disallowed in express terms 
 by the Synod, and we do therefore condemn such marriages as im 
 prudent and unseasonable. Yet as some things may be done very 
 imprudently and unseasonably, which when done ought not to be an 
 nulled, we are of opinion that it is not necessary for the persons whom 
 this judgment respects, to separate from one another, yet they should 
 not be received into the communion of the Church without a solemn 
 admonition, at the discretion of the Session of the congregation to which 
 they belong j and the Synod publicly recommend it to all their members 
 
240 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 to abstain from celebrating such marriages, and to discountenance them 
 by all the proper means in their power." Minutes, 1783, p. 500. 
 
 c. " A reference from Bethel Church, South Carolina, was overtured, 
 requesting the decision of the Assembly in relation to a case in which a 
 person had married the sister of his deceased wife. 
 
 "Resolved, That this reference be answered by the following decision 
 of the Assembly of 1804." Minutes, 1810, p. 456. 
 [See case of James Gaston, p. 243, c.] 
 
 Marriage with a Deceased Wife s Sister inexpedient, unfriendly to Do 
 mestic Purity, and offensive to the Church, but not undoubtedly 
 incestuous. 
 
 d. "The following appeal was then taken up, viz., the appeal of Wil 
 liam Vance from the decision of the Presbytery of Washington, affirm 
 ing the judgment of the Session of Cross Creek, which pronounces his 
 marriage with his deceased wife s sister to be incestuous. 
 
 " The committee to which had been referred the appeal of Mr. Wil 
 liam Vance from the judgment of the church Session of Cross Creek, 
 and the judgment of the Presbytery of Washington, Pennsylvania, by 
 which judgment Mr. Vance had been excluded from Church privileges 
 on account of his being married to the sister of his deceased wife, re 
 ported, and their report was read, and the consideration and discussion 
 of it was postponed, to take into consideration the following resolutions, 
 which, after a full discussion, were adopted by the Assembly as their 
 decision in the case, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That, in the opinion of this General Assembly, the mar 
 riage of a man to the sister of his deceased wife, and all similar connec 
 tions, are highly inexpedient, unfriendly to domestic purity, and exceed 
 ingly offensive to a large portion of our churches. 
 
 "Resolved, That it be, and it hereby is earnestly enjoined upon the 
 ministers, elders, and churches of our communion, to take every proper 
 occasion to impress the sentiments contained in the foregoing resolution 
 on the public mind, and by all suitable means to discourage connections 
 so unfavorable in their influence on the peace and edification of the 
 Church. 
 
 " Resolved, That while the Assembly adopt the opinion, and would 
 enforce the injunction above expressed, they are by no means prepared 
 
MARRIAGE. 241 
 
 to decide that such marriages as that in question are so plainly prohi 
 bited in Scripture, and so undoubtedly incestuous, as necessarily to infer 
 the exclusion of those who contract them from Church privileges. They 
 therefore refer the case of Mr. Vance back again to the Session of the 
 church of Cross Creek, agreeably to former decisions of the General 
 Assembly in similar cases, to be disposed of in such manner as the said 
 Session may think most conducive to the interests of religion." Minutes, 
 1821, pp. 21, 22. 
 
 Proposal for a Change in the Confession negatived. 
 
 e. u The committee on Mr. McCrimmon s appeal from a decision of 
 the Presbytery of Fayetteville, confirming his suspension from the com 
 munion of the Church for having married his deceased wife s sister, re 
 ported, that, in their opinion, no relief can be given to the said Mc- 
 Crimmon, without an alteration of the Confession of Faith, chap, xxiv, 
 sec. 4, the last clause of which declares, that " the man may not marry 
 any of his wife s kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor 
 the woman of her husband s kindred nearer in blood than of her own;" 
 but inasmuch as a diversity of opinion and practice obtains on this very 
 important subject, your committee beg leave to submit the following 
 resolution, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That the Presbyteries be, and they are hereby directed to 
 take this matter into serious consideration, and send up in writing to the 
 next General Assembly an answer to the question, whether the above- 
 quoted clause of our confession shall be erased. 
 
 "The above report was adopted." Minutes, 1826, p. 177. 
 
 " In regard to the proposed erasure of the 4th section of the 24th 
 chapter of the Confession of Faith, sixty-eight Presbyteries have re 
 ported ; fifty of them against the erasure, and eighteen in favor of it. 
 The section, therefore, is not to be erased." Minutes, 1827, p. 218. 
 
 3. Where the Relicts of a Brother and Sister had Married. 
 
 " That such a marriage, however inexpedient it be, yet, as we cannot 
 find it prohibited by the Levitical law, is not to be condemned as inces- 
 tuous." Minutes, 1760, p. 303. 
 
 16 
 
242 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 4. With a Wife s Brother s Daughter. 
 
 a. " After mature deliberation, the Synod declare their great dissatis 
 faction with all such marriages as are inconsistent with the Levitical 
 law, which in cases matrimonial we understand is the law of our nation, 
 and that persons intermarrying in these prohibited degrees, are not only 
 punishable by the laws of the country, but ought to suffer the censures 
 of the Church ; and further judge, though the present case is not a 
 direct violation of the express words of the Levitical law, yet as it is 
 contrary to the custom of Protestant nations in general, and an evidence 
 of great untenderness, and so opposite to such precepts of the Gospel as 
 require Christians to avoid things of ill report, and all appearance of 
 evil, and what is offensive to the Church ; that the person referred to in 
 this instance, ought to be rebuked by the Church Session, and others 
 warned against such offensive conduct; and in case these persons submit 
 to such rebuke, and are in other respects regular professors, that they 
 be not debarred of Christian privilege. Minutes, 1772, p. 427. 
 
 With a Wife s Half- Brother s Daughter. 
 
 I. t{ A reference from the Synod of Virginia was received through 
 the Committee of Overtures, respecting a certain Charles Mitchel, who 
 had married his former wife s half-brother s daughter, requesting the 
 opinion of the Assembly whether such persons may be admitted to 
 Church privileges. Whereupon, 
 
 " Resolved j That though the Assembly would wish to discountenance 
 imprudent marriages, or such as tend in any way to give uneasiness to 
 serious persons, yet it is their opinion, that the marriage referred to is 
 not of such a nature as to render it necessary to exclude the parties from 
 the privileges of the Church/ Minutes, 1797, p. 127. 
 
 5. With a Deceased Wife s Sister s Daughter. 
 
 a. " Reference on the petition of John Latham, who has married his 
 deceased wife s sister s daughter, praying a reconsideration of his case, 
 which was tried and issued against him, nine years ago, in the Synod of 
 the Carolinas. 
 
 " After mature deliberation, it was 
 
 " Resolved, That the case of John Latham, referred for the decision 
 
MARRIAGE. 243 
 
 of the General Assembly, by the Synod of the Carolinas, be remitted 
 to the said Synod, and that they be directed to review the case, and if 
 they shall judge it to be consistent with the existing laws of the State 
 and the peace of the Church, they may admit the persons alluded to, to 
 its privileges." Minutes, 1799, p. 176. 
 
 Z>. " The Session of the Church of Westminster, in Jefferson County, 
 State of Tennessee, having requested the direction of this Assembly in 
 a case of discipline, viz. : Whether a man and his wife were admissible 
 to Church privileges who had been related to each other as uncle and 
 niece ; that is to say, the woman being sister s daughter to the man s 
 former wife, whereupon the Assembly 
 
 " Resolved, That such marriages as that in question have been de 
 termined both by the late Synod of New York and Philadelphia, and 
 by the General Assembly, to be on the one hand not forbidden by the 
 laws of God, and on the other hand to be contrary to the general prac 
 tice of Protestant churches, and the feelings and opinions of many 
 serious Christians among ourselves, and on that account to be discounte 
 nanced, therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That when such marriages take place, the Session of the 
 church where they happen, are carefully to consider the case, and if they 
 think it expedient, to administer such discipline, as they may judge to 
 be deserved, for that want of Christian tenderness and forbearance that 
 are incumbent on all the professors of our holy religion, or for violating 
 any municipal law, if this has been done ; and then to admit or restore 
 them to good standing in the Church. And if the Session judge that 
 the state of society is such where these marriages take place, as that 
 neither the duty of Christian tenderness and forbearance, nor the laws 
 of the State have been violated, they may admit the persons concerned 
 to Christian privileges without censure." Minutes, 1802 ; p. 248. 
 
 c. " It appeared that a Mr. James Gaston had been censured as being 
 guilty of incest for having married a woman who was sister s daughter 
 to his former wife } and had brought the cause by appeal to the Synod 
 of Pittsburg. The Synod, conceiving that the cause involved a high 
 question of discipline, chose to refer it to the General Assembly for their 
 decision. 
 
 "The Assembly having given repeated decisions on similar cases, 
 cannot advise to annul such marriages, or to pronounce them to such a 
 degree unlawful, as that the parties, if otherwise worthy, should be 
 debarred from the privileges of the Church. But as great diversity of 
 
244 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 opinion seems to exist on such questions in different parts of the Church, 
 so that no absolute rule can be enjoined with regard to them that shall 
 be universally binding, and consistent with the peace of the Church, 
 and as the cases in question are esteemed to be doubtful, the Assembly 
 is constrained to leave it to the discretion of the inferior judicatories 
 under their care, to act according to their own best lights, and the 
 circumstances in which they find themselves placed." Minutes, 1804, 
 p. 306. 
 
 d. With a Sister s DaugUter. 
 
 11 The report of the Committee on Bills and Overtures in answer to 
 the two questions, May a man, in accordance with the teachings of the 
 Scriptures, marry a daughter of his own sister ? and l When members 
 of the Church have contracted such a marriage, may they still retain 
 their standing in the Church ? was taken up for consideration. 
 
 11 A motion was made for indefinite postponement, which was lost. 
 
 "The report of the committee was postponed; and the following sub 
 stitute, proposed by Rev. S. P. M. Hastings, was adopted : 
 
 " Resolved, 1. That the first question be answered in the negative, 
 such marriages being evidently contrary to the teachings of the Scrip 
 tures, and incestuous. See Lev. 18 : 6, 12, 13. 
 
 " Resolved, 2. That the second question in the overture be answered 
 as follows, viz. : In the judgment of this Assembly, such a connection 
 as is contemplated by the overture demands the judicial action of the 
 Church, and, if not repented of, should incur Church censure/ " 
 Minutes, 1853, p. 339. 
 
 G. Marriage Engagements mat/ be dissolved, but liasty Engagements are 
 
 to l>e censured. 
 
 "An affair concerning promises of marriage between and a 
 
 young woman, being laid before the Synod by the Presbytery of New 
 
 Castle, the Synod on the consideration thereof, and because desired 
 
 on some accounts to be loosed from said obligation, and it was found the 
 young woman scrupled the lawfulness of their being loosed from said 
 obligation, the first question put in the affair was, Whether a single man 
 and woman having promised marriage to each other, may lawfully agree 
 again to release each other from the promise ; and after mature delibera- 
 
MARRIAGE. 245 
 
 tion, the Synod resolved the case, that it was lawful, nemine contradi- 
 cente. 
 
 11 being called before the Synod and asked, whether he had 
 
 promised to this young woman marriage, he acknowledged he had, and 
 that he was culpable in entering into such rash and unwarrantable 
 methods of engaging. 
 
 "The question was put, censure or not, and it was carried censure. 
 
 "Another question was put, what censure is to be inflicted upon him 
 for his misconduct in the above mentioned affair ? 
 
 " And after serious consideration and much reasoning on this head, 
 the Synod came to a resolution, that a rebuke before the Synod was 
 necessary to show our detestation of such rash proceedings in young- 
 people. And that Mr. John Thompson admonish him. 
 
 " being called, the minute in respect to his affair was read and 
 
 he censured accordingly, to which he submitted/ Minutes, 1750, p. 
 198. 
 
 7. Clandestine Marriage discouraged. 
 
 " The Synod do recommend it to all their members to use the greatest 
 caution that they do not countenance any clandestine marriages, and 
 especially that they do not marry any that they have reason to suspect 
 to go contrary to the minds of their parents and guardians in seeking 
 it." Minutes, 1735, p. 115. 
 
 8. Publication of Purpose of Marriage. 
 
 " What is a sufficient publication of the purpose of marriage according 
 to the second sentence of the sixth section of the eleventh chapter of 
 the Book of Discipline ? 
 
 "Resolved, That the following be given as an answer to this question, 
 viz. : That the Presbyteries are the best judges in the case." Minutes, 
 1820, p. 740. 
 
 9. Bigamy and Divorce. 
 
 A Bigamist to be excluded from the Communion. Wilful Desertion a 
 just cause of Divorce. If just cause exist, and Divorce lie refused, 
 lie may be admitted to Church privileges, but only with the greatest 
 
 caution. 
 
 "A married man left Ireland a number of years ago, leaving his 
 
246 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 family behind him, with hopes of providing better for them in this 
 country. He afterwards returned to Ireland three sundry times, with 
 an intention of bringing in his family. But by no arguments could his 
 wife be persuaded to come with him ; and the last time peremptorily 
 refused all further cohabitation. He afterwards returned, and remained 
 in single life ten years in this country. He is since married, and has 
 children in second marriage : his wife and he are desiring communion. 
 
 " This man ought not to be admitted to the privileges of the Church; 
 because, although wilful and obstinate desertion is a legal cause of 
 divorce, yet it does not appear that this man has actually been divorced 
 from his wife ; and it is improper and dangerous to receive to Church 
 communion such persons as, in the eye of the civil law, are living in 
 vice. And although a good man may sometimes be oppressed by power, 
 and prevented from obtaining a divorce where sufficient causes exist, yet 
 it does not appear from your representation that he has used the proper 
 means to obtain a legal divorce, nor even to authenticate the facts upon 
 which he founds his application for the privileges of the Church by suffi 
 cient evidence from Ireland, the place in which they happened, and 
 where alone they can be substantiated; and it is contrary to all just 
 rules of proceeding to take any evidence or representation ex parte. 
 But, the decision of the Assembly notwithstanding, if it shall appear 
 that this man has separated from his wife by her wilful and obstinate 
 desertion, and that he has taken all just means to obtain a divorce, to 
 which he was lawfully entitled, but was prevented and oppressed by the 
 power of antagonists or of unjust courts; and if he shall moreover pro 
 duce such evidence of these facts from the place in which they happened, 
 as would entitle him to a divorce by the laws of this land and of this 
 Church, then, in that case, it is the opinion of the General Assembly 
 that such man behaving himself otherwise as a good Christian, may be 
 admitted to Church privileges. But in such case, it is necessary that 
 the most authentic evidence be required and great caution used, both 
 that the proceedings of the Church may not be inconsistent with the 
 civil law, and that a door be not opened to laxness on this important 
 subject of morals." Minutes, 1790, p. 28. 
 
 10. Marriage icith a Divorced Woman. 
 
 " The Assembly resumed the consideration of the unfinished business 
 of the morning, viz., the complaint against the Synod of Iowa. Every 
 
MARRIAGE. 247 
 
 member having had an opportunity to express his opinion in the case, 
 the roll was called, and the complaint of the Presbytery of Des Moines 
 against the Synod of Iowa, in the case of Rev. James H. Shields, was 
 sustained by a vote of 106 to 52. Excused from voting, 1. 
 
 " The Rev. Messrs. Theodore Spencer, James Eells, and John W. 
 Dulles, with Hon. Arnold Naudain, M.D., and Thomas W. Fry, M.D., 
 were appointed a committee to prepare a minute on this case. 
 
 " The committee appointed to prepare a minute on the complaint 
 against the Synod of Iowa in the case of the Rev. James H. Shields, 
 report as follows : 
 
 " In the year 1853, Maria C. Cowles presented a petition under oath to 
 the District Court of Wayne County, Iowa, praying for a divorce from 
 her husband, William A. Cowles, in which it was stated substantially, 
 that she had been lawfully married to said Cowles in January, 1839, in 
 the State of Massachusetts j that they had lived together there until 
 August, 1851, when she separated herself from him, and proceeded to 
 Iowa, where she has since resided. That, previous to her departing 
 from him in 1851, her husband was in the habit of becoming intoxicated, 
 and when so intoxicated, was ill-natured and abusive, so much so, that 
 her situation as his wife became intolerable ; and she had been under 
 the necessity of leaving his house and of making her own living since 
 that time, the defendant having neglected to make provision for her 
 support since the period of her separation from him. No pertinent proof 
 of the truth of these allegations was made ; but the court, notwithstand 
 ing, granted her a divorce a vinculo matrimonii ; when James H. 
 Shields, then a member of the Presbytery of Des Moines, being cogni 
 zant of all the facts in the case, was married to the said Maria C. Cowles, 
 and has continued to cohabit with her as his wife. In April, 1856, the 
 Presbytery instituted proceedings against him for adultery, and finally 
 convicted him of that offence, and deposed him from the ministry and 
 excommunicated him from the Church. Thereupon the said Shields 
 appealed to the Synod of Iowa, who reversed the decision of Presbytery. 
 The case is before this General Assembly, on a complaint of the Rev. 
 Thompson Bird, on behalf of the Presbytery, against the action of Synod. 
 
 " In view of all the testimony brought before the Assembly, the com 
 plaint is sustained. 
 
 "It has not been made to appear, that the said Maria C. Cowles 
 attempted to establish the fact of adultery against her husband, William 
 A. Cowles. Neither has there been proved ( such wilful desertion on 
 
248 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 his part, as can no way be remedied by the Church or civil magistrate/ 
 as is recognized in the Confession of Faith (chap, xxiv, sec. 6) as cause 
 sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage/ 
 
 "The General Assembly do, therefore, consider that the said James 
 H. Shields was properly convicted of adultery; and the decision of the 
 Synod of Iowa in this case is hereby reversed, and the judgment of the 
 Presbytery of Des Moines therein confirmed. 
 
 " The Assembly, whilst rendering this decision, takes occasion to call 
 the attention of the churches under its care to a tendency, manifest in 
 some portions of our country, to relax the sacredness of the marriage tie. 
 Lying, as the institution of marriage does, at the very foundation of 
 order, purity, and prosperity in the State and in the Church, the 
 Assembly cannot view without abhorrence any attempt to diminish its 
 sanctity or to extend beyond the warrant of the Holy Scriptures the 
 grounds of divorce." Minutes, 1858, pp. 599, 600. 
 
 11. [A sentence of the Presbytery of Portage, suspending, and ulti 
 mately deposing, the Rev. Geo. Sheldon, on the charge of adultery, in 
 having married a second wife in tbe lifetime of his first, from whom he 
 had obtained a divorce in the civil courts, on other than scriptural 
 grounds, was sustained. Minutes, 1858, p. 607, 609. See chap, vi, 
 sec. 2, 21, p. 223.] 
 
 SECTION 2. ON THE SABBATH. 
 
 1. A postmaster officiating on the Sabbath is rightly excluded from the Church. 
 2. Ownership in stages running upon the Sabbath, inconsistent with Christian 
 character. 3. Petitions in reference to Sunday mails. 4. A deliverance on the 
 profanation of the Sabbath. Ministers enjoined to preach upon it, and Sessions 
 to enforce discipline. 5. Deliverance of the Assembly of 1S3G upon the same 
 subject. G. On Sabbath desecration. Travelling on the Sabbath specially con 
 demned. 7. Church Sessions urged to greater fidelity. 
 
 1. Officiating as Postmaster on the Sabbath excludes from Communion 
 
 of the Church. 
 
 a. "An appeal by Mr. Wiley, postmaster in "Washington, Pennsyl 
 vania, from a decision of the Synod of Pittsburg, by which it is deter 
 mined that Mr. Wiley s officiating as postmaster on the Sabbath day, in 
 existing circumstances, is a sufficient reason to exclude him from the 
 special privileges of the Church, was overtured and read. On motion, 
 
THE SABBATH. 249 
 
 "Resolved, That the above decision of the Synod of Pittsburg be 
 affirmed, and it hereby is affirmed." Minutes, 1810, p. 456. 
 
 I. "A petition, signed by a number of persons in Washington, Penn 
 sylvania, and its vicinity, praying the revision, with a view to its being 
 rescinded, of the decision of the General Assembly of 1810, respecting 
 the case of Mr. Wiley, postmaster, was overtured. 
 
 u Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners be not granted." 
 Minutes, 1812, p. 508. 
 
 2. Ownership in Stages running on tlie Sabbath inconsistent with 
 Christian Profession. 
 
 " In an overture relative to receiving a person as a member of the 
 Church, who is a proprietor in a line of stages which carries the mail 
 and runs on the Sabbath 
 
 "Resolved, That it is the decided opinion of this Assembly that all 
 attention to worldly concerns on the Lord s day, farther than the works 
 of necessity and mercy demand, is inconsistent both with the letter and 
 spirit of the fourth commandment ; and consequently all engagements 
 in regard to secular occupations on the Lord s day, with a view to secure 
 worldly advantages, are to be considered inconsistent with Christian 
 character, and that those who are concerned in such engagements ought 
 not to be admitted into the communion of the Church while they con 
 tinue in the same/ Minutes, 1819, p. 713. 
 
 [See also 5, resolution 5, p. 253, on owning stock in steamboats, canals, 
 railroads, &c., which run on the Sabbath.] 
 
 3. Petitions to Congress on Carry ing the Mails on the /Sabbath. 
 
 [In 1812, the Assembly addressed a petition to Congress, setting 
 forth the evils of Sabbath profanation, and praying] " for such an alter 
 ation in the law relative to the mails as will prevent the profanation of 
 the Sabbath which now takes place in conveying and opening the mail." 
 -Minutes, 1812, pp. -513, 514. 
 
 Again, in 1814, a petition on the same subject was prepared, and 
 " each Presbytery directed to take order that the same be circulated for 
 subscription in all the congregations under their care/ and " forwarded 
 to Congress by the first day of January next." Minutes, 1814, p. 566. 
 
250 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 [In 1815, the Assembly again considered t,he subject, and after adopt 
 ing the report of a committee (Minutes, p. 597), sent out another peti 
 tion to be signed and forwarded to Congress, viz. :] 
 
 "The undersigned, inhabitants of , and State of , beg 
 
 leave to represent to the honorable the Senate and House of Represen 
 tatives of the United States, in Congress assembled, that in the opinion 
 of your petitioners, the transportation and opening of the mail on the 
 Sabbath day is inconsistent with the proper observance of that sacred 
 day, injurious to the morals of the nation, and provokes the judgments 
 of the Ruler of nations. We perceive from the report of the Postmaster- 
 General, at your last session on this subject, that it is his opinion that 
 when peace shall arrive, the necessity of carrying and opening the mail 
 on the Sabbath day will greatly diminish. While, therefore, we con 
 gratulate you on the return of peace, we approach you with confidence, 
 and beseech you to take this subject into your serious consideration, and 
 enact such laws as you in your wisdom may deem necessary for the re 
 moval of this evil. And we, your petitioners, as in duty bound, will 
 ever pray." Minutes, 1815, p. 601. 
 
 4. Deliverance on tlie Profanation of the Sabbath. 
 
 a. " The committee to whom was referred the overture respecting the 
 profanation of the Lord s day, presented the following resolutions, which 
 were adopted, viz. : 
 
 " 1st. Resolved, That this Assembly regard with pain and deep regret 
 the profanation of the Lord s day, which exists in our country in various 
 forms, and which is calculated in an alarming degree to create a neglect 
 of public worship, a contempt of the authority of Almighty God, a cor 
 ruption of morals, and eventually to bring down the judgment of God 
 on our land. 
 
 "2d. Resolved, That the Assembly repeat the warnings which have 
 heretofore been frequently given on this subject, and do solemnly and 
 earnestly exhort the churches and individuals in their connection, to 
 avoid a participation in the guilt of profaning this holy day. 
 
 " 3d. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the ministers of 
 the Presbyterian churches who have pastoral charges, frequently and 
 solemnly to address their people on the subject of the sanctification of 
 the Lord s day, and to urge its vital importance to our moral; social, and 
 civil, as well as religious welfare. 
 
THE SABBATH. 251 
 
 "4th. Resolved, That it be solemnly enjoined on all the Presbyteries 
 and church Sessions in our connection, to exercise discipline on their 
 respective members whenever guilty of violating the sanctity of the Sab 
 bath ; and that an inquiry should be annually instituted in each Presby 
 tery relative to this subject; and that each pastor should, at the earliest 
 opportunity practicable, present this subject, in all its solemn importance, 
 to the Session of the church under his pastoral charge, and invite the 
 co-operation of its members in all proper and prudent measures for 
 the suppression of Sabbath-breaking; and further, that it be recom 
 mended to all our ministers and church members, when travelling, to 
 give preference to such livery establishments, steamboats, canal-boats, 
 and other public vehicles, as do not violate the law of God and of the 
 land, in relation to the Sabbath." Minutes, 1826, pp. 182, 183. 
 
 1. "Resolved, That this Assembly renewedly enjoin upon their Pres 
 byteries and churches the duty of enforcing the discipline of the Church 
 in every case of a violation of the Sabbath." Minutes, 1828, p. 242. 
 
 5. Another Deliverance upon the same Subject. 
 
 " The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 5, relating to the 
 Christian Sabbath, respectfully report : 
 
 " That they have given to the consideration of it all that attention 
 which circumstances would permit ; and are prepared to submit to the 
 Assembly the results of their deliberations. 
 
 " One important fact cannot be denied. The desecration of the Sab 
 bath is certainly increasing with fearful rapidity in almost every part of 
 our beloved country. A solemn and alarming crisis has already come. 
 Unless the slumbering energies of the Church are speedily aroused to 
 arrest the progress of this growing evil, the entire obliteration of the 
 Sabbath will, at no distant period, be the result. It is necessary only to 
 look into our large cities and villages on the Sabbath, or to glance the 
 eye along our navigable rivers and over our beautiful lakes, or to trace 
 the extended lines of our canals and railroads, or listen to the perpetual 
 rumbling of loaded vehicles on all our travelled routes, in order to be 
 convinced that Sabbath-breaking has already become a sin of giant 
 growth in our land. It is, indeed, a wide-spread, deep-seated, unblush 
 ing evil. It enters boldly into almost every commercial interest in the 
 country, and embraces, directly or indirectly, in its broad sweep of mis 
 chief, a vast multitude of individuals ; and, what is still worse, an alarm- 
 
252 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 ing proportion of these offenders belong to the Church of the living God. 
 Here is the root of the evil. The Church has become a deliberate 
 partaker in this great sin. In this way has her warning voice been well- 
 nigh silenced, her redeeming power over the community paralyzed, and 
 the salutary restraints of a consistent example effectually vacated. Re 
 formation, then, must begin at the house of God. If the Church alone 
 can save the Sabbath from being abolished, she must first reform her 
 own conduct. In entering upon the work, it must not be forgotten that, 
 in its failure or success are involved the best interests of the Church, of 
 our country, and the world. Hie rest of the Sabbath is the only wise 
 and adequate provision for the wants of the animal system. The influ 
 ence of the Sabbath can alone be relied on to sustain our free institutions, 
 to extend the empire of law, to preserve domestic order and happiness, 
 and to continue the bare existence of morality and religion in the world. 
 The abandonment of the Sabbath is, therefore, nothing less than resign 
 ing all that is sacred and dear to a Christian people, for time and for 
 eternity. It is certain that whatever is done to rebuke and arrest the 
 profanation of the Sabbath, must be done immediately. The work of 
 reform cannot be delayed, without hazarding the irretrievable loss of all 
 the blessings which flow from the observance of that day. The task has 
 already become formidable and difficult. It is not, however, altogether 
 hopeless. The Sabbath may yet be restored, and its blessings per 
 petuated. The Church and the ministry can, under God, do all that 
 the exigency demands. Let this Assembly do their whole duty ; let 
 them lift up a voice of strength ; let them send out a loud note of alarm ; 
 let them determine, in the strength of the Lord, to carry out, in their 
 practical relation to the Sabbath, the true principles of Christian disci 
 pline, and the whole Church may be cleansed, the Sabbath reinstated, 
 and this great and guilty nation saved. Till this is done, the power of 
 every other Christian enterprise will be circumscribed and fluctuating. 
 Nothing that is pure and holy can flourish without the Sabbath. The 
 Sabbath reform is the fundamental enterprise. It is utterly vain to 
 think of substituting any other conservative power. The question of 
 rescuing the Sabbath from general profanation is, absolutely, a question 
 of life and death to every Christian denomination in the world. Such 
 is the momentous nature of the subject under consideration. Your com 
 mittee rejoice that in this work all hearts may unite, and every minor 
 difference be forgotten. Here is common ground. The Sabbath of the 
 Lord is the inheritance of all true Christians ; and there is work enough 
 
THE SABBATH. 253 
 
 for all. The Church must revive her wholesome discipline. The 
 ministry must cry aloud and spare not. The press must be enlisted; 
 the whole community aroused. The entire instrumentality which God 
 has prepared for preserving his own institutions must be called forth, 
 and kept in untiring requisition. For the purpose of enabling the 
 General Assembly more effectually to speak their sentiments to the 
 churches and the nation, your committee recommend the adoption of 
 the following resolutions : 
 
 "1. Resolved, That the observance of the Sabbath is indispensable 
 to the preservation of civil and religious liberty, and furnishes the only 
 security for eminent and abiding prosperity, either to the Church or the 
 world. 
 
 "2. Resolved, That the growing desecration of the Sabbath in our 
 country must be speedily arrested, and the habits of the community 
 essentially reformed, or the blessings of the Sabbath, civil, social, and 
 religious, will soon be irrecoverably lost. 
 
 "3. Resolved, That inasmuch as the work of a general reformation 
 belongs, under God, to the Christian Church, it is -the duty of the 
 Church to apply the corrections of a firm and efficient discipline to all 
 known violations of the Sabbath, on the part of her members. 
 
 " 4. Resolved, That inasmuch as ministers of the Gospel must act a 
 conspicuous part in every successful effort to do away the sin of Sabbath- 
 breaking, it is their duty to observe, both in their preaching and their 
 practice, the rule of entire abstinence from all profanation of the Lord s 
 day, studiously avoiding even the appearance of evil. 
 
 "5. Resolved, That, in the judgment of this General Assembly, the 
 owners of stock in steamboats, canals, railroads, &c., which are in the 
 habit of violating the Sabbath, are lending their property and their 
 influence to one of the most wide-spread, alarming, and deplorable sys 
 tems of Sabbath desecration which now grieves the hearts of the pious, 
 and disgraces the Church of God. 
 
 "That it be respectfully recommended to the friends of the Lord s 
 day, as soon as possible, to establish such means of public conveyance as 
 shall relieve the friends of the Sabbath from the necessity under which 
 they now labor of travelling at any time in vehicles which habitually 
 violate that holy day, and thus prevent them from being in any way 
 partakers in other men s sins in this respect. 
 
 " 6. Resolved, That the power of the pulpit and the press must be 
 immediately put in requisition on behalf of a dishonored Sabbath, that 
 
254 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 the magnitude and remedy of the evils, which its violation involves, may 
 be fully understood by the whole community. 
 
 "7. Resolved, That this Assembly solemnly enjoin it upon the 
 churches under their care to adopt, without delay, all proper measures 
 for accomplishing a general and permanent reformation from the sin of 
 Sabbath-breaking, and all its attendant evils. 
 
 " 8. Resolved, That a committee of one from each Synod under the 
 care of this Assembly be now appointed, to hold correspondence with 
 ministers and churches, for the purpose of carrying out and applying 
 the leading principles of the foregoing report and resolutions. 
 
 "9. Resolved, That the foregoing report and resolutions be published 
 in such newspapers, secular and religious, as are friendly to the observ 
 ance of the Sabbath." Minutes, 1836, pp. 281-283. 
 
 6. For the better Observance of the Sabbath. 
 
 "The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 5, to wit, A 
 memorial from the Presbytery of Cleveland on the subject of Sabbath 
 mails, having been instructed to report on the general subject of Sab 
 bath desecration/ submit the following : 
 
 "In the deliberate judgment of your committee, it is an unquestiona 
 ble fact that, in despite of all which has been said and done to check it, 
 the profanation of the Lord s day is, on the whole increasing. There 
 are, indeed, some local and cheering exceptions to this remark, which 
 we are happy to acknowledge. As a national sin, however, it steadily 
 gathers strength, and puts on a more unblushing face every year. We 
 hear much of the moral machinery which lias been set in motion for the 
 salvation of our country and of the world of the blessed light of the 
 nineteenth century, and the glory of our free institutions. Too often 
 do we seem to forget that the very institution which is the chief support 
 of liberty, learning, and religion, is itself standing in fearful jeopardy. 
 All those whose lot is cast in any of the great centres of business, or on 
 any of the principal avenues of intercommunication, know that what 
 your committee assert is true. Their own eyes have seen it, their own 
 ears have heard it, and their hearts have bled over it a thousand times. 
 It is, in fact, universally conceded, that the desecration of the Sabbath 
 has become a giant evil, calling loudly for the most efficient measures of 
 reform. Your committee desire not unnecessarily to publish the faults 
 of the Christian Church. But they are compelled to confess, that in 
 many parts of the country the frequent violations of the Sabbath by 
 ministers of the Gospel, and by other professors of religion, is a serious 
 
THE SABBATH. 255 
 
 obstacle in the way of all attempts at radical and permanent reformation. 
 Till the ministry and the Church have purified themselves, all else will 
 be, as it has been, beating the air. Travelling on the Sabbath, a 
 practice to which the convocation of the highest judicatory of our Church 
 lends its guilty sanction voluntary participation in enterprises and im 
 provements which are prosecuted at the expense of the Sabbath ; the 
 legalized profanation of this holy day by the transmission of the mail on 
 all the principal routes ; and the frequent neglect of Church discipline, 
 are among the many causes of the rapid spread of this enormous evil. 
 The bare enumeration of these causes suggests the proper remedy. 
 Resolutions, addresses, conventions, and all the stirring appeals which 
 the subject has called forth, are, by themselves, utterly ineffectual. The 
 leviathan with which we are now contending is not to be so tamed. A 
 more potent corrective must be applied, or we shall become more and 
 more a nation of Sabbath-breakers. The Church undoubtedly possesses 
 the power to cleanse her own garments, and till she has done this, she 
 has no strength to put on for the reformation of others. Having done 
 this, the next step will be to lift up a united voice against all that im 
 moral legislation behind which the sin of Sabbath-breaking now stands 
 intrenched. What has been found true in the ( Temperance Reform/ 
 will be found true in the Sabbath Reform. The sanction of law must 
 be removed from every evil which you would frown upon and exter 
 minate. To do this, the public mind must be waked up, and held 
 awake till the combined energy of patriotism and piety is enlisted and 
 pledged for the protection of the Sabbath against every tangible form of 
 profanation and abuse. Your committee accordingly recommend for 
 your adoption the following resolutions, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That this Assembly regard the prosecution of a journey 
 on any part of the Sabbath, whether by ministers, elders, or church 
 members, for the sake of convenience or of avoiding expense, as deserv 
 ing of special notice and unqualified disapprobation. 
 
 " Resolved, That this Assembly affectionately urge upon all the judi- 
 catories of the Church to take suitable measures for enforcing the wise 
 discipline of the Church against all violations of the Sabbath within 
 their own cognizance and jurisdiction. 
 
 "Resolved, That it is the duty of the Christian ministry to unite in 
 more concentrated and persevering efforts to assert the claims of the 
 Christian Sabbath upon the habitual regard of the whole community. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Assembly will give its most cordial approbation 
 
256 . VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 to any and every wise plan for uniting the sympathies and strength of 
 all evangelical denominations in defence of the Christian Sabbath. 
 
 "Resolved, that a committee of nine be appointed to correspond with 
 other evangelical denominations on the subject of measures for promot 
 ing a better observance of the Lord s day. 
 
 " Resolved, That the clerks of this Assembly be requested to cause 
 these resolutions to be officially published and circulated as widely as 
 possible, through the religious press, and that all ministers within our 
 bounds be requested to present them before their respective congrega 
 tions." Minutes, 1838, pp. 658, 659. 
 
 [See also Minutes, 1840, p. 14; 1843, p. 13; 1846, p. 15, for sub 
 stantially the same action.] 
 
 7. Church Sessions enjoined to greater fidelity. 
 
 " The Committee on Bills and Overtures made a report on the subject 
 of the Sabbath, which was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The Assembly are at a loss what to say more than what they have 
 repeatedly said, by way of urging on all our churches and congregations, 
 and the community generally, a better observance of the holy Sabbath. 
 Of its Divine original and authority we have no doubt. Nor can we 
 doubt its indisputable necessity in keeping up the institutions of religion, 
 and promoting the cause of salvation and pure morality. What could 
 we do without the Sabbath ? And where, in half a century, will be our 
 glorious civil and religious liberty, if the terrible process of Sabbath 
 desecration be permitted to go on as it has done for the past ten years ? 
 Let the history of other nations answer. Let the fearful declarations of 
 God s word admonish us to anticipate the result. c For the nation and 
 kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish. 
 
 " While, therefore, we earnestly entreat our fellow-citizens of every 
 class l to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, the Assembly do 
 hereby, in a special manner, enjmn it upon the church Sessions to watch 
 over their brethren with tenderness and great fidelity in respect to the 
 observance of the Sabbath ; and to exercise wholesome discipline on 
 those who, by travelling or other ways, presume to trample upon this 
 sacred institution. And we further enjoin it upon the Presbyteries an 
 nually to institute inquiries of the eldership, as to the manner in which 
 this injunction has been attended to in their respective churches." 
 Minutes, 1853, p. 323. 
 
INTEMPERANCE. 257 
 
 SECTION 3. INTEMPERANCE. 
 
 1. Action of the Assembly. Recommendation to preach upon the sin and mis 
 chiefs of intemperate drinking. 2. Temperance societies, on the basis of total 
 abstinence from the use of ardent spirits, approved. 3. Manufacture and. 
 traffic in ardent spirits condemned. 4. Total abstinence from all that will 
 intoxicate, the only true principle of temperance. 5. Prohibitory laws com 
 mended and urged. G. An overture on temperance. Relation of the Church 
 to voluntary associations. 
 
 [1. A committee was appointed " to endeavor to devise measures 
 which, when sanctioned by the General Assembly, may have an influ 
 ence in preventing some of the numerous and threatening mischiefs 
 which are experienced throughout our country, by the excessive and in 
 temperate use of spirituous liquors," to report to the next Assembly. 
 On the report of the committee (Minutes, 1811, p. 474), it was] 
 
 " Resohcd, That it be recommended to all the ministers of the Pres 
 byterian Church in the United States to deliver public discourses, as 
 often as circumstances may render it expedient, on the sin and mischiefs 
 of intemperate drinking; in which, as well as on other suitable occasions, 
 both public and private, it will be proper pointedly and solemnly to warn 
 their hearers, and especially members of the Church, not orily against 
 actual intemperance, but against all those habits and indulgences which 
 may have a tendency to produce it. 
 
 "2. That it be enjoined on all church Sessions within the bounds of 
 the General 1 Assembly, that they exercise a special vigilance and care 
 over the conduct of all persons in the communion of their respective 
 churches, with regard to this sin, and that they sedulously endeavor, by 
 private warning and remonstrance, and by such public censures as dif 
 ferent cases may require, to purge the Church of a sin so enormous in 
 its mischiefs, and so disgraceful to the Christian name. 
 
 a o. That it be recommended to the ministers and other officers and 
 members of our Church, that they exert themselves to diffuse as exten 
 sively as possible, among their congregations, and the community at 
 large, such addresses, sermons, tracts, or other printed compositions on 
 this subject, as may have a tendency to produce a suitable impression 
 against the use of ardent spirits, and to recommend sobriety and tem 
 perance. 
 
 "4. That it be recommended to the officers and members of our 
 
 17 
 
258 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 Church to take such measures as may be judged proper and effectual for 
 reducing the number of taverns and other places of vending liquors by 
 small measure, in all those parts of our country in which either their 
 excessive numbers, or the improper character of such places, renders 
 them a public nuisance. 
 
 " It is believed that the evils arising from these sources are incalcu 
 lably great, and that by prudent management they admit, under Provi 
 dence, of very considerable diminution." Minutes, 1812, p. 511. 
 
 [In 1818 the evils of intemperance are enlarged upon in the pastoral 
 letter, and the officers and members of our Church are urged " to abstain 
 even from the common use of ardent spirits." Minutes, p. 689. In 
 1828, the Assembly commends the " American Society for the Promo 
 tion of Temperance/ Minutes, p. 214. The same year they "appoint 
 the fourth Thursday of January, 1829, a day of fasting, humiliation, and 
 prayer, with especial reference to this sin." Minutes, p. 244.] 
 
 2. Entire Abstinence from tlic Use of Ardent Spirits. 
 
 " The report of the Committee on Temperance was taken up, and 
 after mature consideration, was unanimously adopted, and is as follows, 
 viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That this Assembly regard with devout gratitude and 
 praise the great success which has attended the efforts of the friends of 
 the cause of temperance during the past year, as evinced in the increase 
 of the number and zeal of temperance societies, in the diminution of the 
 sale of ardent spirits, and in the existence of a strong and increasing 
 public sentiment against the use of it. 
 
 "2. That they cordially approve and rejoice in the formation of 
 temperance societies on the principle of entire abstinence from the use 
 of ardent spirits, as expressing disapprobation of intemperance in the 
 strongest and most efficient manner, and making the most available re 
 sistance to this destructive and wide-spreading evil. 
 
 "3. That they deeply deplore the apathy manifested by many pro 
 fessing Christians towards the cause of temperance, while many dis 
 tinguished persons who make no religious profession, are prompt and 
 powerful fellow-laborers with Christians in this worthy and divinely 
 sanctioned cause. And especially do they grieve and wonder that 
 members of our churches, in view of an evil so desolating and so awful 
 in its prospective bearings on all the interests of our country, should not 
 
INTEMPERANCE. 259 
 
 only take no part in the exertions of their brethren and fellow-citizens 
 against intemperance, but by using and trafficking in ardent spirits, be 
 actively engaged in promoting it. 
 
 "4. That they earnestly recommend, as far as is practicable, the 
 forming of temperance societies in the congregations under their care; 
 and that all members of the churches adopt the principle of entire 
 abstinence from the use of ardent spirits. 
 
 " 5. That as friends of the cause of temperance, this Assembly 
 rejoice to lend the force of their example to that cause as an ecclesi 
 astical body by an entire abstinence themselves from the use of ardent 
 spirits." Minutes, 1829, p. 262. 
 
 " The committee appointed to prepare a minute expressive of the 
 views of the Assembly on the subject of temperance, reported the follow 
 ing resolutions, which were adopted, viz. : 
 
 u Resolved y 1. That this Assembly considers itself called upon to 
 make a public acknowledgment of the goodness of God for the un 
 paralleled success with which he has crowned the efforts of those who 
 are actively concerned in the promotion of temperance. 
 
 U 2. That the experience of the past year furnishes additional and 
 most abundant evidence of the wisdom and importance of the plan 
 adopted by the American Temperance Society. 
 
 "3. That this Assembly feels bound to repeat a former recommen 
 dation to the ministers, elders, and members of the churches under its 
 care, to discountenance the use of distilled liquors, not only by abstain 
 ing themselves from the use of such liquors, but by actively promoting 
 every prudent measure devised for the purpose of furthering the cause 
 of temperance. 
 
 " 4. That this Assembly earnestly recommends to all persons for 
 whose spiritual interests it is bound to consult, that they favor the 
 formation of temperance societies on the plan of entire abstinence." 
 Minutes, 1830, p. 298. 
 
 3. Manufacture and Traffic in Ardent ^irits. 
 
 a. u 5. That while this Assembly would by no means encroach upon 
 the rights of private judgment, it cannot but express its very deep regret 
 that any members of the Church of Christ should, at the present day, and 
 under existing circumstances, feel themselves at liberty to manufacture, 
 vend, or use ardent spirits, and thus as far as their influence extends, 
 
ZbO VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 counteract the efforts now making for the promotion of temperance." 
 Minutes, 1830, p. 298. 
 
 b. "Resolved, That the traffic in ardent spirits, to be used as a drink 
 by any people, is, in our judgment, morally wrong, and ought to be 
 viewed as such, by the churches of Jesus Christ universally." Minutes, 
 1834, p. 445. 
 
 c. " It is with the utmost surprise and pain that we learn from the 
 reports of two or three Presbyteries, that some of their members, and 
 even ruling elders, still manufacture and sell ardent spirits. These 
 things ought not so to be. They are a stumbling-block to many, and 
 have a manifest tendency to bring overwhelming calamities, both tem 
 poral and spiritual, on society at large. No church can shine as a light 
 in the world, while she openly sanctions and sustains any practices, 
 which are so evidently destructive of the best interests of society." 
 Minutes, 1837, p. 510. 
 
 4. Total Abstinence from all that will Intoxicate. 
 
 11 The Assembly would also recommend to all the members of the 
 churches under its care, to be found the fast, unflinching, and active 
 friends of temperance; abstaining from all forms and fashions which 
 would countenance to any extent the sin of intemperance ; avoiding even 
 the appearance of evil; disentangling themselves from all implication 
 with the traffic and manufacture, and especially presenting in their 
 whole lives a standing and unvarying exemplification of the only true 
 principle of temperance, total abstinence from everything that will in 
 toxicate." Minutes, 1840, p. 15. 
 
 5. Prohibitory Laws. 
 
 a. "The following resolution upon the subject of temperance was 
 unanimously adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, That the General Assembly continue to view, with deep 
 interest, the progress of the temperance reformation, most intimately 
 connected with the vital interests of men for time and eternity; and 
 they do especially hail its new phase through the action of several State 
 legfslatures, by which the traffic in intoxicating liquors as a beverage is 
 entirely prohibited. They commend this new system of legislation to 
 the attention and support of all ministers and churches connected with 
 
INTEMPERANCE. 261 
 
 this body, for its blessed results, already experienced; and as able, if 
 universally adopted, to do much to seal up the great fountains of 
 drunkenness, pauperism, and crime, and relieve humanity of one of its 
 most demoralizing and distressing evils/ Minutes, 1854, p. 503. 
 
 b, " The resolutions upon the subject of temperance were taken from 
 the docket, adopted, and are as follows : 
 
 " Whereas, Intemperance is the great antagonist of domestic peace 
 and social happiness, of sound morality and pure Christianity, and at 
 war with all the dearest interests of man for this world and the future ; 
 and whereas, the experience of two hundred years proves, that this evil 
 can never be removed or effectively resisted, while the traffic in intoxi 
 cating drinks is continued, it being necessary if we would stop the effect 
 to remove the cause ; therefore 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That this Assembly, as lovers of our holy religion, of 
 our country, and our race, and as office-bearers in the church, can but 
 feel a lively interest in the progress of the temperance reform. 
 
 " Resolved, 2. That we here record our devout thanksgiving to 
 Almighty God, for the recent unparalleled progress of this reform, as 
 evinced by the action of the legislatures of thirteen States and two 
 Territories of our Union,, in the passage of laws prohibiting entirely the 
 traffic of all intoxicating beverages. 
 
 "Resolved, 3. That, in the opinion of this body, laws prohibiting the 
 sale of intoxicating drinks, can interfere with the rights of no man; 
 because no man has a right of any name or nature, inconsistent with the 
 public good, or at war with the welfare of the community; it being a 
 well-known and universally acknowledged maxim of law, that no man 
 has a right to use his own to the injury of his neighbor/ 
 
 "Resolved, 4. That we earnestly recommend to the ministers and 
 congregations in our connection, and to all others, to persevere in vigor 
 ous efforts until laws shall be enacted in every State and Territory of our 
 beloved country, prohibiting entirely a traffic which is the principal 
 cause of the drunkenness, and its consequent pauperism, crime, taxa 
 tion, lamentation, war, and ruin to the bodies and souls of men, with 
 which the country has so long been afflicted." Minutes, 1855, pp. 80, 
 31. 
 
 6. An Overture on Temperance. Relation of the Church to voluntary 
 
 Associations. 
 
 " The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported an overture from 
 AY. F. Stuart, Samuel Polkey, Robert Barry, Joseph H. Leonard, and 
 
262 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 Parker Earle, representatives of different temperance organizations in 
 Illinois, praying that this General Assembly would give the temperance 
 cause a proper prominence among the means of reform sustained by the 
 Church and especially suggesting, that it would arrange or recommend 
 that some proper temperance movement should sustain the same relation 
 to the churches, as the tract, the Bible, and the missionary causes do, 
 both morally and financially, it would be of immense advantage to the 
 cause. 
 
 " The committee report, that this overture did not come into their 
 possession until near the close of the sessions of the Assembly, affording 
 but little time for such action as the importance of the subject demands. 
 In compliance with the request of the petitioners, the Assembly are 
 willing to assign to the cause of temperance a relation to our Church not 
 dissimilar to that which has been given to the benevolent objects with 
 which it is compared. But with none of these do we maintain any other 
 connection, than that which their own moral power secures upon the 
 free affection and esteem of our members. Very cheerfully and earnestly 
 would this Assembly commend the cause of temperance to all the 
 ministers and members of our Church, and urge them heartily to co 
 operate with every judicious effort in a Christian spirit to promote it; 
 that pastors frequently preach upon the subject, and especially that no 
 countenance be given to those social usages, by which great temptations 
 to intemperance are thrown before their fellow- men. 7 Minutes, 1860, 
 p. 262. 
 
 SECTION 4. ON THE THEATRE AND DANCING. 
 
 1. Theatrical exhibitions and dancing condemned. 2. Dancing dangerous to 
 morals, and to be condemned. 3. Promiscuous dancing calls for faithful and 
 judicious discipline. 
 
 1. Theatrical Exhibitions and Dancing condemned. 
 
 " On the fashionable though, as we believe, dangerous amusements 
 of theatrical exhibitions and dancing, we deem it necessary to make a 
 few observations. The theatre we have always considered as a school of 
 immorality. If any person wishes fo r honest conviction on this subject, 
 let him attend to the character of that mass of matter which is generally 
 exhibited on the stage. We believe all will agree that comedies at least, 
 
THE THEATRE AND DANCING. 263 
 
 with a few exceptions, are of such a description, that a virtuous and 
 modest person cannot attend the representation of them, without the 
 most painful and embarrassing sensations. If indeed custom has fami 
 liarized the scene, and these painful sensations are no longer felt, it only 
 proves that the person in question has lost some of the best sensibilities 
 of our nature, that the strongest safeguard of virtue has been taken 
 down, and that the moral character has undergone a serious deprecia 
 tion." Minutes, 1818, p. 690. 
 
 2. Dancing a dangerous Amusement, and to l>e discouraged. 
 
 11 With respect to dancing, we think it necessary to observe, that 
 however plausible it may appear to some, it is perhaps not the less dan 
 gerous on account of that plausibility. It is not from those things 
 which the world acknowledges to be most wrong, that the greatest 
 danger is to be apprehended to religion, especially as it relates to the 
 young. When the practice is carried to its highest extremes, all admit 
 the consequences to be fatal ; and why not then apprehend danger, even 
 from its incipient stages ? It is certainly in all its stages a fascinating 
 and an infatuating practice. Let it once be introduced, and it is diffi 
 cult to give it limits. It steals away our precious time, dissipates reli 
 gious impressions, and hardens the heart. To guard you, beloved 
 brethren, against its wiles and its fascinations, we earnestly recommend 
 that you will consult that sobriety which the sacred pages require. We 
 also trust that you will attend, with the meekness and docility becoming 
 the Christian character, to the admonitions on this subject of those 
 whom you have chosen to watch for your souls. And now, beloved 
 brethren, that you may be guarded from the dangers we have pointed 
 out, and from all other dangers which beset the path of life, and obstruct 
 our common salvation, and that the great Head of the Church may have 
 you in his holy keeping, is our sincere and affectionate prayer. Amen." 
 Minutes, 1818, p. 690. 
 
 3. Promiscuous Dancing calls for faithful and judicious Discipline. 
 
 u Resolved, That the fashionable amusement of promiscuous dancing 
 is so entirely unscriptural, and eminently and exclusively that of ( the 
 world which lieth in wickedness, and so wholly inconsistent with the 
 spirit of Christ, and with that propriety of Christian deportment and 
 
264 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 that purity of heart which his followers are bound to maintain, as to 
 render it not only improper and injurious for professing Christians 
 either to partake in it, or to qualify their children for it, by teaching 
 them the art; but also to call for the faithful and judicious exercise of 
 discipline on the part of church Sessions, when any of the members of 
 their churches have been guilty/ Minutes, 1843, p. 14. 
 Reaffirmed, Minutes, 1853, p. 340. 
 
 SECTION 5. GAMBLING, LOTTERIES, AND BETTING. 
 
 J. These sins to be denounced and avoided. 2. Lotteries to be discountenanced, 
 and, if possible, done away. 
 
 1. These Sins to lie denounced and avoided. 
 
 " The vice of gambling has also been forced upon our attention. We 
 indeed hope that few, or perhaps none of our actual professors, have in 
 dulged themselves in the practice of what they consider as coming under 
 the denomination of gambling. But perhaps there are some addicted 
 to this practice who have evinced a predilection for our Church and 
 forms of worship, and who are not unwilling to receive the word of ad 
 monition from us. Such we would earnestly exhort to consider in the 
 most serious manner the consequences of the course they are pursuing, 
 and the awful lessons which the experience of the world is every day 
 exhibiting on this subject. But it is our duty further to testify, that all 
 encouragement of lotteries and purchasing of lottery-tickets, all attend 
 ance on horse-racing, and betting on such, or any other occasions, and 
 all attempts, of whatever kind, to acquire gain without giving an equi 
 valent, involve the gambling principle, and participate in the guilt which 
 attaches to that vice." Minutes, 1818, p. 690. 
 
 2. Lotteries discountenanced. 
 
 "The report of the Committee on the subject of Lotteries was taken 
 up and adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " That although so often sanctioned by legislative acts ; although the 
 proceeds of lotteries have not unfrequently been appropriated to benevo 
 lent and religious objects; although many wise and good men have in 
 
DUELLING. 265 
 
 periods past, by their participation or agency, given countenance to lot 
 teries, yet your committee cannot view them in any other light than that 
 of legalized gambling. 
 
 " It would require volumes to record all the evils resulting from this 
 system of predatory speculation. It adds nothing to the wealth of the 
 community. It too often takes from the uninformed poor the property 
 obtained by labor and skill, and transfers the same, without the least 
 equivalent, into the hands of the idle and unworthy. It thus becomes 
 the means of introducing and extending habits of gambling in all forms. 
 Hundreds of families yearly are reduced to dependence and beggary, and 
 not unfrequently its deluded victims terminate their miserable existence 
 in this world by suicide. Contemplating this multitude of evils to indi 
 viduals, to families, and to the community at large, your committee beg 
 leave to submit the following resolutions : 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That, in the opinion of this General Assembly, all lot 
 teries should be discountenanced by every professed member of the 
 Presbyterian Church, as immoral in their nature, and ruinous in their 
 effects upon individual character and the public welfare. 
 
 "2. That the purchase and sale of lottery-tickets should be avoided 
 by every member of our Church, even when the professed object of the 
 lottery may be praiseworthy, inasmuch as it is not allowable to do evil 
 that good may come. 
 
 "3. That all the Presbyteries under the care of this General Assem 
 bly be, and they hereby are recommended to take order on the subject 
 of lottery gambling, to press the consideration of it and its attendant 
 evils upon ministers and Sessions, and to adopt such plans of operation 
 as may free the Church from all participation in this sin, enlighten, 
 arouse, and direct public opinion, and save our country from this and 
 every other species of gambling." Minutes, 1830, p. 306. 
 
 SECTION 6. ON DUELLING. 
 
 Duellists excluded from Church Privileges, and Ministers recommended 
 to refuse attendance on the Funeral of a fallen Duellist. 
 
 " The General Assembly, having taken into serious consideration the 
 unhappy prevalence of the practice of duelling in the United States, and 
 being anxiously desirous to contribute what may be in their power, con- 
 
266 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 sistently with their character and situation, to discountenance and abolish 
 this practice 
 
 "Resolved unanimously, That they do, in the most unequivocal man 
 ner, declare their utter abhorrence of the practice of duelling and of all 
 measures tending thereto, as originating from the malevolent dispositions 
 of the human heart, and a false sense of honor; as a remnant of Gothic 
 barbarism ; as implying a presumptuous and highly criminal appeal to 
 God as the Sovereign Judge; as utterly inconsistent with every just 
 principle of moral conduct; as a direct violation of the sixth command 
 ment, and destructive of the peace and happiness of families; and the 
 Assembly do hereby recommend it to the ministers in their connection 
 to discountenance, by all proper means in their power, this scandalous 
 practice. 
 
 " Resolved also, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to all the 
 ministers under the care of the Assembly, that they scrupulously refuse 
 to attend the funeral of any person who shall have fallen in a duel ; and 
 that they admit no person, who shall have fought a duel, given or 
 accepted a challenge, or been accessary thereto, unto the distinguishing 
 privileges of the Church, until he manifest a just sense of his guilt, and 
 give satisfactory evidence of repentance." Minutes, 1805, p. 339. 
 
 SECTION 7. ON SLAVERY. 
 
 1. First notice of the matter in Synod, 1774. 2. Action of the Synod, 1787. 3. 
 Overture on communion with slaveholders, 1795, 1840. 4. Deliverance of the 
 Assembly of 1815. 5. Overture on selling a slave, a member of the Church, and 
 deliverance of the Assembly of 1818. 6. Indefinitely postponed, 1836. 7. Re 
 ferred to the lower judicatories, 1839, 1843. 8. Declaration of the Assembly, 
 1840. 9. Action of 1849. 10. Slaveholding declared to be an offence, 1850. 
 11. Information asked for from the Southern churches, 1853. 12. Committee 
 appointed to report on the constitutional powers of the Assembly on the subject 
 of slaveholding, 1855. 13. Report of the committee, 185C. 14. Deliverance of 
 the Assembly at Cleveland, 1857. 15. The Assembly refuses to instruct the 
 Church Extension Committee not to assist a church having slaveholders in its 
 communion, 1860. 
 
 1. FIRST NOTICE or THE MATTER IN SYNOD, A.D. 1774. 
 
 " A representation from the Rev. Dr. Ezra Stiles and the Rev. Samuel 
 Hopkins, respecting the sending two natives of Africa on a mission to 
 
SLAVERY. 267 
 
 propagate Christianity in their native country, and a request that the 
 Synod would countenance this undertaking by their approbation of it, 
 was brought in and read. The consideration of the above deferred." 
 Minutes, 1774, p. 456. 
 
 " The representation and request relative to sending negro mission 
 aries to Africa was taken into consideration, in consequence of which 
 the subject of negro slavery came to be considered, and, after much 
 reasoning on the matter, Dr. Rodgers, Messrs. John Miller, Caldwell, 
 and Montgomery were appointed a committee to bring in an overture on 
 Wednesday morning/ Ib. p. 456. 
 
 " The committee appointed to prepare an overture on the representa 
 tion from Dr. Stiles and the Rev. Samuel Hopkins, and also on the 
 subject of negro slavery, brought in a draught, the first part of which 
 being read and amended, was approved, and is as follows : 
 
 "The Synod is very happy to have an opportunity to express their 
 readiness to concur with and assist in a mission to the African tribes, 
 and especially where so many circumstances concur, as in the present 
 case, to intimate that it is the will of God, and to encourage us to hope 
 for success. We assure the gentlemen aforesaid that we are ready to 
 do all that is proper for us in our station for their encouragement and 
 assistance. 
 
 " But some difficulties attending the discussion of the second part of 
 that overture, the Synod agree to defer the affair to our next meeting." 
 Minutes, 1774, p. 458. 
 
 2. ACTION IN SYNOD, A.D. 1787. 
 
 " The following was brought in by the Committee of Overtures : 
 " The Creator of the world having made of one flesh all the children 
 of men, it becomes them, as members of the same family, to consult and 
 promote each other s happiness. It is more especially the duty of those 
 who maintain the rights of humanity, and who acknowledge and teach 
 the obligations of Christianity, to use such means as are in their power 
 to extend the blessings of equal freedom to every part of the human 
 race. 
 
 " From a full conviction of these truths, and sensible that the rights 
 of human nature are too well understood to admit of debate, overtured, 
 that the Synod of New York and Philadelphia recommend, in the warm 
 est terms, to every member of their body, and to all the churches and 
 
268 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 families under their care, to do everything in their power, consistent 
 with the rights of civil society, to promote the abolition of slavery, and 
 the instruction of negroes, whether bond or free. 
 
 " The Synod, taking into consideration the overture concerning slavery, 
 transmitted by the Committee of Overtures last Saturday, came to the 
 following judgment : 
 
 " The Synod of New York and Philadelphia do highly approve of the 
 general principles in favor of universal liberty that prevail in America, 
 and the interest which many of the States have taken in promoting the 
 abolition of slavery; yet, inasmuch as men introduced from a servile 
 state to a participation of all the privileges of civil society, without a 
 proper education, and without previous habits of industry, may be, in 
 many respects, dangerous to the community, therefore they earnestly 
 recommend it to all the members belonging to their communion to give 
 those persons, who are at present held in servitude, sucltgood education 
 as to prepare them for the better enjoyment of freedom ; and they more 
 over recommend that masters, wherever they find servants disposed to 
 make a just improvement of the privileges, would give them a peculium, 
 or grant them sufficient time and sufficient means of procuring their own 
 liberty at a moderate rate, that thereby they may be brought into society 
 with those habits of industry that may render them useful citizens ; and, 
 finally, they recommend it to all their people to use the most prudent 
 measures, consistent with the interest and state of civil society, in the 
 counties where they live, to procure eventually the final abolition of 
 slavery in America/ Minutes, 1787, pp. 539, 540. 
 
 "Ordered, That the records of the General Synod of the year 1787, 
 on the subject of slavery, be published among the extracts to be printed 
 of the proceedings of this Assembly." Minutes, 1793, p. 76. 
 
 3. SESSIONS AT CARLISLE, A.D. 1795. 
 
 Communion with Slaveholders. 
 
 a. " The following overture was brought in by the Committee on Bills 
 and Overtures, viz. : 
 
 u A serious and conscientious person, a member of a Presbyterian 
 congregation, who views the slavery of the negroes as a moral evil, highly 
 offensive to God and injurious to the interests of the Gospel, lives under 
 the ministry of a person, or amongst a society of people, who concur 
 
SLAVERY. 269 
 
 with him in sentiment on the subject upon general principles, yet for 
 particular reasons hold slaves and tolerate the practice in others. Over- 
 tured, Ought the former of these persons, under the impressions and 
 circumstances above described, to hold communion with the latter? 
 
 " Whereupon, after due deliberation, it was 
 
 "Resolved, That, as the same difference of opinion with respect to 
 slavery takes place in sundry other parts of the Presbyterian Church, 
 notwithstanding which they live in charity and peace according to the 
 doctrine and practice of the Apostles, it is hereby recommended to all 
 conscientious persons, and especially to those whom it immediately 
 respects, to do the same. 
 
 " At the same time, the General Assembly assure all the churches 
 under their care that they view with the deepest concern anv vestiges 
 of slavery which may exist in our country, and refer the churches to the 
 records of the General Assembly published at different times, but espe 
 cially to an overture of the late Synod of New York and Philadelphia, 
 published in 1787, and republished among the extracts from the Minutes 
 of the General Assembly of 1793, on that head, with which we trust 
 every conscientious person will be fully satisfied. 
 
 " Resolved , That Mr. Ptice and Dr. Muir, ministers, and Mr. Robert 
 Patterson, an elder, be a committee to draught a letter to the Presbytery 
 of Transylvania on the subject of the above overture, and report in the 
 afternoon. 
 
 u The committee appointed to prepare a draught of a letter to the 
 Presbytery of Transylvania reported a draught, which being read and 
 debated for some time, a motion was made, Shall this draught of a letter 
 be read and debated by paragraphs, or not ? The vote being taken, the 
 question was carried in the affirmative. The consideration of the draught 
 was resumed ; and, after a very considerable time spent therein, it was 
 amended and adopted, and ordered to be signed and sent to the Presby 
 tery of Transylvania by their commissioners. As follows : 
 
 " To our brethren, members of the Presbyterian Church under the care 
 of the Transylvania Presbytery : 
 
 "DEAR FRIENDS AND BRETHREN: The General Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church hear with concern from your commissioners that 
 differences of opinion with respect to holding Christian communion with 
 those possessed of slaves agitate the minds of some among you, and 
 threaten divisions, which may have a most ruinous tendency. The sub- 
 
270 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 ject of slavery has repeatedly claimed the attention of the General 
 Assembly, and the commissioners from the Presbytery of Transylvania 
 are furnished with attested copies of these decisions, to be read by the 
 Presbytery when it shall appear to them proper, together with a copy of 
 this letter to the several churches under their care. 
 
 " The General Assembly have taken every step which they deemed 
 expedient or wise to encourage emancipation, and to render the state of 
 those who are in slavery as mild and tolerable as possible. 
 
 " Forbearance and peace are frequently inculcated in the New Testa 
 ment. Blessed are the peacemakers. Let no one do anything through 
 strife and vain-glory. Let each esteem others better than himself. The 
 followers of Jesus ought conscientiously to walk worthy of their vocation, 
 with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering forbearing one 
 another, and endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of 
 peace. If every difference of opinion were to keep men at a distance, 
 they could subsist in no state of society, civil or religious. The General 
 Assembly would impress this upon the minds of their brethren, arid urge 
 them to follow peace and the things which make for peace. 
 
 "The General Assembly commend our dear friends and brethren to 
 the grace of God, praying that the peace of God, which passeth all 
 understanding, may possess their hearts and minds. 
 
 " Signed by order of the Assembly." Minutes, 1795, pp. 103, 104. 
 
 I). "Whereas, it appears from memorials sent up to this Assembly, 
 that several of our Presbyteries have adopted resolutions excluding 
 slaveholders from their pulpits and from their communion ; and whereas 
 our Constitution requires that no member of the Presbyterian Church 
 shall be thus disfranchised without a regular trial and conviction ; and 
 whereas this proceeding is a repetition of the exscinding acts of the New 
 13asis Assembly, against which we have taken our stand as the friends 
 of the Constitution : therefore, 
 
 "Resolved^ That the said Presbyteries be requested to rescind such 
 resolutions. 
 
 " The foregoing resolution was, with one dissenting voice, adopted." 
 Minutes, 1840, p. 24. 
 t 
 
 4. SESSIONS AT PHILADELPHIA, A.D. 1815. 
 
 "The committee to which was committed the report of the committee 
 to which the petition of some elders who entertain conscientious scruples 
 
SLAVERY. 271 
 
 on the subject of holding slaves, together with that of the Synod of Ohio 
 concerning the buying and selling of slaves, had been referred, reported; 
 and their report, being read and amended, is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " The General Assembly have repeatedly declared their cordial appro 
 bation of those principles of civil liberty which appear to be recognized 
 by the Federal and State Governments in these United States. They 
 have expressed their regret that the slavery of the Africans and of their 
 descendants still continues in so many places, and even among those 
 within the pale of the Church, and have urged the Presbyteries under 
 their care to adopt such measures as will secure, at least to the rising 
 generation of slaves within the bounds of the Church, a religious educa 
 tion, that they may be prepared for the exercise and enjoyment of liberty 
 when God in his providence may open a door for their emancipation. 
 The committee refer said petitioners to the printed extracts of the Synod 
 of New York and Philadelphia, for the year 1787, on this subject, re- 
 published by the Assembly in 1793, and also to the Extracts of the 
 Minutes of the Assembly for 1795, which last are in the following words, 
 viz. : 
 
 "A serious and conscientious person, a member of a Presbyterian 
 congregation, who views the slavery of the negroes as a moral evil, 
 highly offensive to God and injurious to the interests of the Gospel, lives 
 under the ministry of a person, or amongst a society of people, who 
 concur with him in sentiment on the subject upon general principles, 
 yet for particular reasons hold slaves and tolerate the practice in others. 
 Overtured, Ought the former of these persons, under the impressions 
 and circumstances above described, to hold communion with the latter ? 
 
 " Whereupon, after due deliberation, it was 
 
 "Resolved, That, as the same difference of opinion with respect to 
 slavery takes place in sundry other parts of the Presbyterian Church, 
 notwithstanding which they live in charity and peace according to the 
 doctrine and practice of the Apostles, it is hereby recommended to all 
 conscientious persons, and especially to those whom it immediately 
 respects, to do the same. 
 
 "This is deemed a sufficient answer to the first petition; and, with 
 regard to the second, the Assembly observe that, although in some sec 
 tions of our country, under certain circumstances, the transfer of slaves 
 may be unavoidable, yet they consider the buying and selling of slaves 
 by way of traffic, and all undue severity in the management of them, as 
 inconsistent with the spirit of the Gospel. And they recommend it to 
 
272 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 the Presbyteries and Sessions under their care to make use of all prudent 
 measures to prevent such shameful and unrighteous conduct/ 7 Minutes, 
 1815, p. 586. 
 
 5. SESSIONS AT PHILADELPHIA, A.D. 1818. 
 Overture on Selling a Slave, a Member of the Church. 
 
 " The following resolution was submitted to the Assembly, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That a person who shall sell as a slave a member of the 
 Church, who shall be at the time of sale in good standing and unwilling 
 to be sold, acts inconsistently with the spirit of Christianity, and ought 
 to be debarred from the communion of the Church. 
 
 " After considerable discussion, the subject was committed to Dr. 
 Green, Dr. Baxter, and Mr. Burgess, to prepare a report to be adopted 
 by the Assembly, embracing the object of the above resolution, and also 
 expressing the opinion of the Assembly in general as to slavery. 
 
 [The report of the committee] "being read, was unanimously 
 adopted, and referred to the same committee for publication. It is as 
 follows, viz. : 
 
 "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, having taken 
 into consideration the subject of slavery, think proper to make known 
 their sentiments upon it to the churches and people under their care. 
 
 " We consider the voluntary enslaving of one part of the human race 
 by another as a gross violation of the most precious and sacred rights 
 of human nature, as utterly inconsistent with the law of God, which re 
 quires us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and as totally irreconcilable 
 with the spirit and principles of the Gospel of Christ, which enjoin that 
 all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even 
 so to them/ Slavery creates a paradox in the moral system : it exhibits 
 rational, accountable, and immortal beings in such circumstances as 
 scarcely to leave them the power of moral action. It exhibits them as 
 dependent on the will of others whether they shall receive religious in 
 struction whether they shall know and worship the true God ; whether 
 they shall enjoy the ordinances of the Gospel ; whether they shall per 
 form the duties and cherish the endearments of husbands and wives, 
 parents and children, neighbors and friends ; whether they shall preserve 
 their chastity and purity, or regard the dictates of justice and humanity. 
 Such are some of the consequences of slavery, consequences not imagi 
 nary, but which connect themselves with its very existence. The evils to 
 
SLAVERY. 273 
 
 which the slave is always exposed often take place in fact, and in their 
 very worst degree and form : and where all of them do not take place 
 as, we rejoice to say, in many instances, through the influence of the 
 principles of humanity and religion on the mind of masters, they do 
 not still, the slave is deprived of his natural right, degraded as a human 
 being, and exposed to the danger of passing into the hands of a master 
 who may inflict upon him all the hardships and injuries which inhu 
 manity and avarice may suggest. 
 
 "From this viewof the consequences resulting from the practice into 
 which Christian people have most inconsistently fallen, of enslaving a 
 portion of their brethren of mankind, for God hath made of one 
 blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth/ it is mani 
 festly the duty of all Christians who enjoy the light of the present day, 
 when the inconsistency of slavery both with the dictates of humanity 
 and religion has been demonstrated, and is generally seen and acknow 
 ledged, to use their honest, earnest, and unwearied endeavors to correct 
 the errors of former times, and as speedily as possible to efface this blot 
 on our holy religion, and to obtain the complete abolition of slavery 
 throughout Christendom, and, if possible, throughout the world. 
 
 "We rejoice that the Church to which we belong commenced as 
 early as any other in this country the good work of endeavoring to put 
 an end to slavery, and that in the same work many of its members have 
 ever since been, and now are, among the most active, vigorous, and effi 
 cient laborers. We do, indeed, tenderly sympathize with those portions 
 of our Church and our country where the evil of slavery has been entailed 
 upon them, where a great, and the most virtuous, part of the commu 
 nity abhor slavery, and wish its extermination as sincerely as any 
 others, but where the number of slaves, their ignorance, and their 
 vicious habits generally, render an immediate and universal emancipa 
 tion inconsistent alike with the safety and happiness of the master and 
 the slave. With those who are thus circumstanced, we repeat that we 
 tenderly sympathize. At the same time, we earnestly exhort them to 
 continue, and, if possible, to increase, their exertions to effect a total 
 abolition of slavery. We exhort them to suffer no greater delay of sla 
 very. We hope that those portions of the American Union whose inha 
 bitants are by a gracious Providence more favorably circumstanced, will 
 cordially and liberally and earnestly co-operate with their brethren in 
 bringing about the great end contemplated. 
 
 " We recommend to all the members of our religious denomination, 
 
 18 
 
274 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 not only to permit, but to facilitate and encourage, the instruction of 
 their slaves in the principles and duties of the Christian religion, by 
 granting them liberty to attend on the preaching of the Gospel when 
 they have opportunity, by favoring the instruction of them in the Sab 
 bath-school, wherever those schools can be formed, and by giving them 
 all other proper advantages for acquiring the knowledge of their duty 
 both to God and to man. We are perfectly satisfied that it is incumbent 
 on all Christians to communicate religious instruction to those who are 
 under their authority; so that the doing of this, ill the case before us, 
 so far from operating, as some have apprehended that it might, as an 
 incitement to insubordination and insurrection, would, on the contrary, 
 operate as the most powerful means for the prevention of those evils. 
 
 " We enjoin it on all church Sessions and Presbyteries under the care 
 of this Assembly to discountenance and, as far as possible, to prevent 
 all cruelty, of whatever kind, in the treatment of slaves, especially the 
 cruelty of separating husband and wife, parents and children, and that 
 which consists in selling slaves to those who will either themselves de 
 prive these unhappy people of the blessings of the Gospel, or who will 
 transport them to places where the Gospel is not proclaimed, or where it 
 is forbidden to slaves to attend upon its institutions. And if it shall 
 ever happen that a Christian professor in our communion shall sell a 
 slave who is also in communion and good standing with our Church, 
 contrary to his or her will and inclination, it ought immediately to claim 
 the particular attention of the proper church judicature; and, unless 
 there be such peculiar circumstances attending the case as can but sel 
 dom happen, it ought to be followed without delay by a suspension of 
 the offender from all the privileges of the Church till he repent and 
 make all the reparation in his power to the injured party. 
 
 " Resolved, That fifteen hundred copies of this report be printed or 
 published in the newspapers." Minutes, 1818, pp. 692-694. 
 
 SESSIONS AT PITTSBURG, A.D. 1836. 
 
 6. Indefinitely Postponed. 
 
 u The Assembly resumed the subject of slavery. 
 " The following motion was made by Dr. Hoge : 
 a Inasmuch as the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church, in its 
 preliminary and fundamental principles, declares that no Church judica- 
 
SLAVERY. 275 
 
 tory ought to pretend to make laws to bind the conscience, in virtue of 
 their own authority; and as the urgency of the business of the Assem 
 bly, and the shortness of the time during which they can continue in 
 session, render it impossible to deliberate and decide judiciously on the 
 subject of slavery in its relations to the Church : therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That this whole subject be indefinitely postponed. 
 
 " Adopted. Yeas, 154; Nays, 87." Minutes, 1836, p. 272. 
 
 SESSIONS AT PHILADELPHIA, A.D. 1839. 
 
 7. Referred to the Lower Judicatories. 
 
 " Whereas, certain memorials have been sent up to this Assembly 
 from several Presbyteries desiring some action on the subject of slavery; 
 and whereas, these memorials have been read and freely discussed by 
 this body ; and whereas, this Assembly is made up of members from 
 different portions of our extended country, who honestly differ in opi 
 nion, as well in regard to the propriety as the nature of the ecclesiastical 
 action desired in the case : therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That this Assembly does most solemnly refer to the lower 
 Judicatories the subject of slavery, leaving it to them to take such order 
 thereon as in their judgment will be most judicious, and adapted to re 
 move the evil/ 7 Minutes, 1839, p. 22. 
 
 SESSIONS AT PHILADELPHIA, A.D. 1840. 
 
 In 1840, the whole subject was indefinitely postponed. Minutes, 
 pp. 18, 19. 
 
 SESSIONS AT PHILADELPHIA, A.D. 1843. 
 
 " Whereas, there is in this Assembly great diversity of opinion as to 
 the proper and best mode of action on the subject of slavery; and 
 whereas, in such circumstances, any expression of sentiment would carry 
 with it but little weight, as it would be passed by a small majority, and 
 must operate to produce alienation and division ; and whereas, the As 
 sembly of 1839, with great unanimity, referred this whole subject to the 
 
276 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 lower judicatories, to take such order as in their judgment might be 
 adapted to remove the evil : 
 
 "Resolved, That the Assembly do not think it for the edification of 
 the Church for this body to take any action on the subject. 
 
 "Passed. Yeas, 66; Nays, 33." Minutes, 1843, p. 19. 
 
 SESSIONS AT PHILADELPHIA, A.D. 1846. 
 
 8. Declaration of the General Assembly on the subject of Slavery. 
 
 "1. The S} r stem of slavery, as it exists in the United States, viewed 
 either in the laws of the several States which sanction it, or in the actual 
 operation and results in society, is intrinsically an unrighteous and op 
 pressive system, and is opposed to the prescription of the law of God, 
 to the spirit and precepts of the Gospel, and to the best interests of 
 humanity. 
 
 " 2. The testimony of the General Assembly, from A.D. 1787 to 1818 
 inclusive, has condemned it ; and it remains still the recorded testimony 
 of the Presbyterian Church of these United States- against it, from which 
 we do not recede. 
 
 " 3. We cannot, therefore, withhold the expression of our deep regret 
 that slavery should be continued and countenanced by any of the mem 
 bers of our churches; and we do earnestly exhort both them and the 
 churches among whom it exists to use all means in their power to put it 
 away from them. Its perpetuation among them cannot fail to be re 
 garded by multitudes, influenced by their example, as sanctioning the 
 system portrayed in and maintained by the statutes of the several slave- 
 holding States wherein they dwell. Nor can any mere mitigation of its 
 severity, prompted by the humanity and Christian feeling of any indi 
 viduals who continue to hold their fellow-men in such bondage, be re 
 garded either as a testimony against the system, or as in the least degree 
 changing its essential character. 
 
 " 4. But while we believe that many evils incident to the system 
 render it important and obligatory to bear testimony against it, yet would 
 we not undertake to determine the degree of moral turpitude on the part 
 of individuals involved by it. This will doubtless be found to vary in 
 the sight of God, according to the degree of light and other circum 
 stances pertaining to each. In view of all the embarrassments and ob 
 stacles in the way of emancipation interposed by the statutes of the 
 
SLAVERY. 277 
 
 slaveholding States and by the social influence affecting the views and 
 conduct of those involved in it, we cannot pronounce a judgment of 
 general and promiscuous condemnation, implying that destitution of 
 Christian principle and feeling which should exclude from the table of 
 the Lord all who stand in the legal relation of masters to slaves, or jus 
 tify us in withholding our ecclesiastical and Christian fellowship from 
 them. We rather sympathize with, ancj^vould seek to succor them in 
 their embarrassments, believing that separation and secession among the 
 churches and their members are not the methods that God approves and 
 sanctions for the reformation of his Church. 
 
 " 5. While, therefore, we feel bound to bear our testimony against 
 slavery, and to exhort our beloved brethren to remove it from them as 
 speedily as possible, by all appropriate and available means, we do at the 
 same time condemn all divisive and schismatical measures, tending to 
 destroy the unity and disturb the peace of our churches, and deprecate 
 the spirit of denunciation, and that unfeeling severity, which would cast 
 from the fold those whom we are rather bound by the spirit of the Gos 
 pel and the obligations of our covenant to instruct, to counsel, exhort, 
 and try to lead in the ways of God, and towards whom, even though 
 they may err, to exercise forbearance and brotherly love. 
 
 " 6. As a court of our Lord Jesus Christ we possess no legislative 
 authority, and as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church we 
 possess no judiciary power. We have no right to institute and prescribe 
 tests of Christian character and church membership not recognized and 
 sanctioned in the Sacred Scriptures and in our standards by which we 
 have agreed to walk. We must, therefore, leave this matter with the 
 Sessions and Presbyteries and Synods the judicatories to whom pertains 
 the right of judgment to act in the administration of discipline as they 
 may judge it to be their duty, constitutionally subject to the General 
 Assembly only in the way of general review and control. 
 
 "[Yeas, 92 ; Nays, 29; non liquet, 3.]" -Minutes, 1846, pp. 28-30. 
 
 9. SESSIONS AT PHILADELPHIA, A.D. 1849. 
 
 " The committee to whose consideration were submitted sundry papers 
 on the subject of slavery now present to the Assembly the following 
 report, consisting of preamble and resolutions : 
 
 "These documents are nineteen in number, embracing memorials 
 from four Synods, thirteen Presbyteries, one church, and one from 
 
2/0 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 certain individuals. The object of these papers is one and the same, 
 namely, to free the Presbyterian Church from all participation and con 
 nection with slaveholding. The measures proposed are various, some 
 more and some less stringent. Some ask for discipline, others for a 
 pastoral letter, a third class for separation from the evil complained of, 
 without denning the mode ; one proposes the reorganization of the Churcli 
 to which we belong into three General Assemblies ; one threatens seces 
 sion if something is not done; and others ask for nothing definite. 
 While these voluminous papers furnish a considerable variety as to tone 
 and manner and intimations as to the future, and likewise as to a know 
 ledge of the intrinsic difficulties attending this complicated evil, they 
 are sufficiently respectful in their language and grave and weighty in 
 their opinions and arguments to demand the wise and prayerful con 
 sideration of this Assembly. This consideration we believe we may say, 
 without boasting or arrogance, they have received from your committee ; 
 and we have a cheerful confidence they will now receive the same from 
 this body. 
 
 "The subject is not a new one : it has occupied the attention of the 
 Presbyterian Church from the commencement of its organization, even 
 before the General Assembly had an existence ; and your committee are 
 happy to avail themselves of the lights of former times in presenting 
 this difficult matter to you, and through you to the judicatories and 
 churches under our care. Your committee would deprecate two errors 
 into which minds of different and opposite structures, on this and all 
 similar subjects, are liable to fall. One class forget that we live in an 
 age of progress, and the other forget that the first step in progress is not 
 perfection. In relation to both of these great truths here alluded to, 
 we should, as rational beings and as Christians, be ready to obey the 
 intimations of Providence, and to follow the guidance of the torchlight 
 of truth which the hand of God holds up before us, to go forward as 
 that goes onward, and to move no faster than its blessed radiance is 
 shed upon our pathway. All theories, when they come to put on the 
 forms of experiment, must yield to the authority of uniform and uni 
 versal facts; and both progressives and conservatives might render 
 themselves much more comfortable as well as useful in our world if they 
 were more deeply imbued with this one practical truth. These remarks 
 apply with great force to all evils which are interwoven with the very 
 texture of social organization ; and slavery is by no means an exception. 
 
SLAVERY. 279 
 
 " Your committee propose to embody the sentiments of this Assembly, 
 in relation to this evil, in the following resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That we reaffirm the sentiments expressed by the Assem 
 bly of 1815, and especially in the following quotations : 
 
 " The General* Assembly have repeatedly declared their cordial 
 approbation of those principles of civil liberty which seem to be recog 
 nized by the Federal and State Governments of the United States. 
 They have expressed their regret that the slavery of the Africans and 
 of their descendants still continues in so many places, and even among 
 those within the pale of the Church, and have urged the Presbyteries 
 under their care to adopt such measures as will secure, at least to the 
 rising generation of slaves within the bounds of the Church, a religious 
 education, that they may be prepared for the exercise and enjoyment of 
 liberty when God in his providence may open a door for their emanci 
 pation/ 
 
 " Again : The General Assembly assure all the churches under their 
 care, that they view with the deepest concern any vestiges of slavery 
 which may exist in our country. 
 
 " And again : The Assembly observe that, although in some sections 
 of our country, under certain circumstances, the transfer of slaves may 
 be unavoidable, yet they consider the buying and selling of slaves by 
 way of traffic, and all undue severity in the management of them, as 
 inconsistent with the spirit of the Gospel. And they recommend it to 
 Presbyteries and Sessions under their care to make use of all prudent 
 measures to prevent such shameful and unrighteous conduct. [See 
 ante, pp. 270, 271.] 
 
 " 2. Resolved, That this General Assembly reaffirms the opinions ex 
 pressed by the General Assembly of 1818. The following extracts are 
 commended to special notice, viz. : 
 
 " We consider the voluntary enslaving of one part of the human 
 race by another as a gross violation of the most precious and sacred 
 rights of human nature, as utterly inconsistent with the law of God, 
 which requires us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and as totally irre 
 concilable with the spirit and principles of the Gospel of Christ, which 
 enjoins, that " all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, 
 do ye even so to them." Slavery creates a paradox in the. moral system: 
 it exhibits rational, accountable, and immortal beings in such circum 
 stances as scarcely to leave them the power of moral action. It exhibits 
 them as dependent on the will of others whether they shall receive 
 
280 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 religious instruction ; whether they shall know and worship the true 
 God ; whether they shall enjoy the ordinances of the Gospel ; whether 
 they shall perform the duties and cherish the endearments of husbands 
 and wives, parents and children, neighbors and friends ; whether they 
 shall preserve their chastity and purity, or regard the dictates of justice 
 and humanity. Such arc some of the consequences of slavery, conse 
 quences not imaginary, but which connect themselves with its very ex 
 istence. 
 
 "Again: From this view of the consequences resulting from the 
 practice into which Christian people have most inconsistently fallen of 
 enslaving a portion of their brethren of mankind, for "God hath made 
 of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth," it 
 is manifestly the duty of all Christians who enjoy the light of the present 
 day, when the inconsistency of slavery, both with the dictates of 
 humanity and religion, has been demonstrated and is generally seen and 
 acknowledged, to use their honest, earnest, and unwavering efforts to 
 correct the errors of former times, and as speedily as possible to efface 
 this blot on our holy religion, and to obtain the complete abolition of 
 slavery throughout Christendom, and, if possible, throughout the world/ 
 [See ante, pp. 272, 273.] 
 
 "3. Resolved, That we reaffirm the declaration of the General As 
 sembly on the subject of slavery made in the year 1846. The following 
 sentiments are particularly commended to the serious and prayerful 
 attention of our judicatories and churches, viz. : 
 
 " The system of slavery as it exists in these United States, viewed 
 either in the laws of the several States which sanction it or in its actual 
 operation and results in society, is intrinsically an unrighteous and 
 oppressive system, and is opposed to the prescriptions of the law of God, 
 to the spirit and precepts of the Gospel, and to the best interests of 
 humanity. 
 
 " Again : But, while we believe that many evils incident to the 
 system render it important and obligatory to bear testimony against it, 
 yet would we not undertake to determine the degree of moral turpitude 
 on the part of the individuals involved by it. This will doubtless be 
 found to vary in the sight of God according to the degree of light and 
 other circumstances pertaining to each. In view of all the embarrass 
 ments and obstacles in the way of emancipation interposed by the 
 statutes of the slaveholding States, and by the social influence affecting 
 the views and conduct of those involved in it ; we cannot pronounce a 
 
SLAVERY. 281 
 
 judgment of general and promiscuous condemnation, implying that desti 
 tution of Christian principle and feeling which should exclude from the 
 table of the Lord all who stand in the legal relation of master to slaves, 
 or justify us in withholding our ecclesiastical and Christian fellowship 
 from them. We rather sympathize with and would seek to succor them 
 in their embarrassments, believing that separation and secession among 
 the churches and their members are not the methods which God approves 
 and sanctions for the reformation of his Church/ [See ante, pp. 276, 277.] 
 
 " 4. Resolved, That, in the judgment of this Assembly, these declara 
 tions of former General Assemblies bear an explicit, frank, honest, and 
 honorable testimony against the evils of slavery, and they ought to be 
 < known and read of all men/ 
 
 " The following principles are clearly stated in the documents above 
 referred to and quoted : 
 
 " 1. That civil liberty is the right of man as a rational and moral 
 being. 
 
 "2. That the institution of slavery, in the language of a former 
 Assembly, is intrinsically an unrighteous and oppressive system/ and 
 injurious to the highest and best interests of all concerned in it. 
 
 "3. That it is l the duty of all Christians who enjoy the light of the 
 present day ( to use their honest and unwearied endeavors as speedily 
 as possible to efface this blot on our holy religion, and to obtain the 
 complete abolition of slavery throughout Christendom, and, if possible, 
 throughout the world. This General Assembly do most solemnly 
 exhort all under our care to perform this duty, and to be ever ready to 
 make all necessary sacrifices in order to effect a consummation so much 
 to be desired. 
 
 " 4. When circumstances over which good men have not the control 
 inevitably prevent the attainment of this ulterior and desirable purpose 
 at once, there are other and important duties which cannot be neglected 
 without great guilt, such as a watchful care for the interests of the soul, 
 direct religious instruction, and the communication of that practical 
 knowledge of life and its objects which may prepare this portion of our 
 fellow-men for the exercise and enjoyment of liberty when God in his 
 providence may open a door for their emancipation/ 
 
 " 5. There are incidental evils which belong to this system, which, 
 when they occur in the Church, should be corrected by discipline, such 
 as buying and selling of slaves by way of traffic, and all undue severity 
 in the management of them/ To these may be added the breaking up 
 
282 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 of the family relationship, and separating husbands and wives, parents 
 and children, thus rendering it impossible for rational, moral, and 
 immortal beings to perform the duties and cherish the endearments of 
 social life. 
 
 il All these things are fairly and fully presented in the declaration of 
 preceding Assemblies, and quite as explicitly before the division of the 
 Presbyterian Church as since. 
 
 " 5. Resolved, That while we bear this testimony against the system 
 of slavery as it exists in this country and elsewhere, and which testi 
 mony coincides with the almost uniform testimony of all good men in 
 every age, and especially with that borne by the fathers of the Presby 
 terian Church, to which we have herein referred, and while we commend 
 these DECLARATIONS OF SENTIMENT to the attention of all the judica- 
 tories, and all the churches under our care, we feel ourselves bound to 
 add that there has been no information before this Assembly to prove 
 that members of our Church in the slave States are not doing all that 
 they can (situated as they are in the providence of God) to bring about 
 the possession and enjoyment of liberty by the enslaved ; nor are there 
 any facts before us to show that they are living in the violation of the 
 duties growing out of their relations to slavery, as it is continued in 
 existence by the laws of their respective States ; nor do we know that 
 they tolerate any of those evils which ought to call forth the discipline 
 of the Church ; but, if there are such cases, we would direct the atten 
 tion of the proper judicatories to them in the exercise of a kind and 
 salutary discipline. 
 
 " Commending these views to the consideration of all under our care, 
 and especially of those whose lot is cast where the institution of slavery 
 exists, and which the smallness of their numbers forbids us to suppose 
 they have the power of controlling, we leave this whole matter with God 
 and the consciences of all those who love his blessed cause/ Minutes, 
 1849, pp. 185-188. 
 
 10. SESSIONS AT DETROIT, A.D. 1850. 
 
 [The committee report] " That after a careful and thorough examina 
 tion of the whole subject, they have been brought to the conclusion that, 
 in consideration of the previous action of the Assembly had at different 
 times for a series of years, and what they believe to be its present senti 
 ments, and the expectations of the churches in its connection, the cause 
 
SLAVERY. 283 
 
 of truth and righteousness, of peace and unity, will be best subserved by 
 the adoption of the following resolutions : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That we exceedingly deplore the working of the whole 
 system of slavery as it exists in our country, and is interwoven with the 
 political institutions of the slaveholding States, as fraught with many 
 and great evils to the civil, political, and moral interests of those regions 
 where it exists. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. That the holding of our fellow-men in the condition of 
 slavery, except in those cases where it is unavoidable by the laws of the 
 State, the obligations of guardianship, or the demands of humanity, is 
 an offence in the proper import of that term as used in the Book of Dis 
 cipline, chap, i, sec. 3, and should be regarded and treated in the same 
 manner as other offences. 
 
 "Resolved, 3. That the Sessions and Presbyteries are, by the Consti 
 tution of our Church, the courts of primary jurisdiction for the trial of 
 offences. 
 
 "Resolved, 4. That after this declaration of sentiment, the whole sub 
 ject of slavery, as it exists in the Church, be referred to the Sessions and 
 Presbyteries, to take such action thereon as, in their judgment, the laws 
 of Christianity require. 
 
 "Adopted. Yeas, 87; nays, 16." Minutes, 1850, p. 325. 
 
 SESSIONS AT UTICA, A.D. 1851. 
 
 " The memorials are few in number (four in all), kind in spirit, deco 
 rous in matter, and no doubt conscientious in origin. The committee 
 have carefully read and considered these documents, and unanimously 
 and cordially agree to the following result : 
 
 " That the Assembly have reason to be thankful to Divine Providence 
 for the wisdom and prudence vouchsafed to the last Assembly in coming 
 to conclusions on this vexed question which have so generally met with 
 the acquiescence of the Church at this crisis ; and that it seems obviously 
 our duty at the present session to leave the whole subject as it was placed 
 by that action, and to devote our time to other subjects which demand 
 attention, always praying that God will hasten on the day of universal 
 freedom throughout our land and the world." Minutes, 1851, p. 13. 
 
284 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 SESSIONS AT WASHINGTON, A.D. 1852. 
 
 " The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported four memorials on 
 the subject of slavery. These memorials ask of the Assembly : 
 
 "1. A further expression of opinion on the subject of slavery. 
 
 "2. That it be enjoined on the lower judicatories to bring every case 
 of slaveholding under examination for .particular condemnation or vindi 
 cation. 
 
 "8. That the several Synods be cited to appear before the next 
 General Assembly, to answer charges which it is alleged common fame 
 brings against them in connection with slavery. 
 
 " The committee are of opinion : 
 
 " 1. That the General Assembly has already so clearly and explicitly 
 defined its views on the subject that no further expression of opinion is 
 demanded at the present time. 
 
 "2. That the demand for an injunction on the lower judicatories, to 
 take action with respect to this subject, is not in accordance with the 
 provisions of our Constitution. (Vide chapter on lieview and Control.) 
 
 "3. That the several memorials which ask for the citation of the 
 Synods should be referred to the Judicial Committee. 
 
 " In view of these reasons, the committee ask to be discharged from 
 the further consideration of the subject. 
 
 " Adopted/ Minutes, 1852, pp. 160, 161. 
 
 11. SESSIONS AT BUFFALO, A.D. 1853. 
 
 " The report of the committee was adopted, and is as follows : 
 "The committee to whom was referred the subject of slavery respect 
 fully report, that twelve memorials touching this grave matter, from 
 various Synods and Presbyteries, have been put into their hands. Of 
 these, eleven are from the North, praying the Assembly for further 
 action, and asking for precise information in regard to the extent of the 
 practice of slaveholding in our body, and in regard also to certain alleged 
 aggravations of it in the unchristian and cruel treatment of slaves. One 
 is from the South, complaining of unkindness and injustice on the part 
 of many Northern brethren, in charging upon the memorialists practices 
 of which they are not guilty, and in attributing to them motives which 
 they utterly disclaim and abominate, protesting also against the con 
 tinued agitation of this subject, as tending more to rivet than to loose 
 the chains of the slave, and seriously to embarrass them in their Gospel 
 work. 
 
SLAVERY. 285 
 
 " Your committee, after much serious and prayerful consideration of 
 this whole subject, in all its complicated and perplexing relations, and 
 with a solemn sense of responsibility to God and to his Church, are of 
 one mind in recommending to the Assembly the following action : 
 
 "1. That this body reaffirm the doctrines of the second resolution 
 adopted by the Assembly in its action at Detroit in 1850. 
 
 "2. That we do earnestly exhort and beseech all those who are hap 
 pily free from any personal connection with the institution of slavery to 
 exercise patience and forbearance towards their brethren less favored in 
 this respect than themselves, remembering the embarrassments of their 
 position ] and to cherish for them that fraternal confidence and love 
 which they the more need in consequence of the peculiar trials by which 
 they are surrounded. 
 
 " 3. To correct misapprehensions which may exist in many Northern 
 minds, and allay causeless irritation, by having the real facts in relation 
 to this subject spread before the whole Church, it is recommended ear 
 nestly to request the Presbyteries in each of the slaveholding States to 
 take such measures as may seem to them most expedient and proper for 
 laying before the next Assembly, in its sessions at Philadelphia, distinct 
 and full statements touching the following points : 
 
 "1. The number of slaveholders in connection with the churches 
 under their jurisdiction, and the number of slaves held by them. 
 
 "2. The extent to which slaves are held by an unavoidable necessity 
 imposed by the laws of the States, the obligations of guardianship, and 
 the demands of humanity. 
 
 "3. Whether a practical regard, such as the word of God requires, 
 is evinced by the Southern churches for the sacredness of the conjugal 
 and parental relations as they exist among slaves ; whether baptism is 
 duly administered to the children of slaves professing Christianity ; 
 whether slaves are admitted to equal privileges and powers in the 
 church courts ; and, in general, to what extent and in what manner pro 
 vision is made for the religious well-being of the enslaved. 
 
 "Adopted. Yeas, 84; Nays. 39." Minutes, 1853, p. 333. 
 
 12. SESSIONS AT ST. Louis, A.D. 1855. 
 
 "The committee recommend 
 
 "1. That the General Assembly address a pastoral letter to all the 
 churches under their care, reaffirming the testimony of past Assemblies 
 
286 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 in regard to the sinfulness of the system of slavery as it generally exists 
 in these United States, and expressing their deep regret at the intem- 
 perateness of word and action that has too often characterized the spirit 
 of those who have conscientiously aimed at its overthrow ; and that they 
 urge upon their churches earnest efforts, by all Christian and constitu 
 tional modes, to remove the evil from the midst of us. 
 
 " 2. That a committee be appointed to report to the next Assembly 
 on the constitutional power of the Assembly over the subject of slave- 
 holding in our churches; and that we recommend that this evil be 
 removed from our Church as soon as it can be done in a Christian and 
 constitutional manner. 
 
 " Adopted." Minutes, 1855, p. 30. 
 
 SESSIONS AT NEW YORK, A.D. 1856. 
 
 13. Report of the Committee "On the Constitutional Poiccr of the General 
 Assembly over the Subject of Slaveholdimj in our Churches. 
 
 "The report of the committee was adopted, and is as follows : 
 " The committee appointed by the last General Assembly l to report to 
 the next Assembly on the constitutional power of the Assembly over the 
 subject of slaveholding in our churches/ respectfully submit the follow 
 ing report : 
 
 " It should be observed at the outset that the committee are instructed 
 to report on but a single point, that of f power/ The question before 
 them is not what it may be wise for the Assembly to do, not what in 
 a particular case, or in general (authority being presupposed), would be 
 for edification, but what is the power of the Assembly in the matter of 
 slaveholding ? This is a question which can be determined only by 
 reference to our Form of Government. The power on which we are 
 to report is fitly designated as constitutional/ We are a constitutional 
 body. No judicatory of our Church has any legitimate functions save 
 those which, either expressly or by clear implication, the Constitution 
 confers. Emphatically should this be said of our highest judicatory, in 
 view of the tendency of human nature, in ecclesiastical connections, to 
 a grasping and tyrannous centralism. The one-man power at Rome is 
 hardly more abhorrent to the genius of Presbyterianism than would be 
 a many-headed Papacy, under the name and form of a General Assem- 
 

 SLAVERY. 
 
 287 
 
 bly. It should be remembered, also, that as a visible Church or par 
 ticular denomination, our Constitution is the sole bond of our union. 
 "VVe are united, externally arid formally, only as that unites us. That, 
 of course, must measure and limit the responsibility for each other which 
 grows out of our union. No one part of our body can be held answer 
 able for the evils in another, which, by the terms of our confederation, 
 it has no power to reach. 
 
 " The committee would further remark, that they do not feel them 
 selves called on to present their views of the moral character of slavery, 
 or to reargue the question whether slaveholding is, in any case, a disci- 
 plinable offence. They do not suppose that they were appointed with 
 reference to that question. It was thoroughly discussed in the Assem 
 bly of 1850, and the conclusion reached, l that the holding of our fellow- 
 men in the condition of slavery, except in those cases where it is un 
 avoidable by the laws of the State, the obligations of guardianship, or 
 the demands of humanity, is an offence in the proper import of that 
 term, as used in the Book of Discipline, chapter i, section 3, and should 
 be regarded and treated in the same manner as other offences/ This 
 opinion has been reaffirmed, either expressly or virtually, by nearly every 
 succeeding Assembly, including the last. Nor do the committee antici 
 pate that any considerable portion of the present Assembly will either 
 stand in doubt concerning it, or incline in the least to a retrograde 
 course. The doctrine set forth at Detroit set forth simply as a doc 
 trine, and not as a law or judicial decision is yet, they judge, the set 
 tled view of our Church. Taking this for granted, their sole concern is 
 with the relations of the Assembly to the matter. To determine this 
 point, we have only to ascertain what are the constitutional powers of 
 that body in respect to disciplinable offences generally. 
 
 " Its functions in this regard, we judge, are of two kinds, advisory 
 and authoritative ; and between these there should be a careful discri 
 mination. The advisory function of the Assembly is of very wide 
 scope. According to the Form of Government, chapter xii, section 5, 
 they have the power of l reproving, warning, or bearing testimony against 
 error in doctrine or immorality in practice in any church, Presbytery, or 
 Synod/ and of recommending . . . reformation of manners . . . 
 through all the churches under their care. This function of reproof 
 may be exercised in reference to any evil grave enough to call for it. 
 Nor is it an unimportant function. The testimony of such a body as 
 the General Assembly, especially if unanimously given, must have great 
 
288 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 weight. It has, indeed, only a moral influence. It is not authoritative. 
 It binds no other body, not even a succeeding General Assembly. It 
 binds no individual ; yet cases are not unfrequent in which a moral in 
 fluence of this sort, if not the only one that could be employed, is the 
 most efficacious. It has greater power over the conscience, often, than 
 the most stringent exercise of bare authority. 
 
 "As it respects the authoritative function of the Assembly, or its 
 power of discipline, that, we judge, can only be exercised in the forms 
 and methods marked out in the Constitution. It is by no means co 
 extensive with its testifying power. As counsel or testimony has only 
 a moral force, the manner in which it shall be put forth is wisely left to 
 the discretion of the Assembly. Not so with discipline. Concerning, 
 as it does, the dearest rights and interests, it is of the highest impor 
 tance that the mode of its exercise should be particularly prescribed. 
 So we find it in our Form of Government. Every step is distinctly set 
 forth, and the greatest care taken to guard all concerned against mistake 
 and abuse. Nor is any exception made as to any particular class of 
 offences. If slaveholding is in any case to be dealt with as a discipli- 
 nable matter, it must be in some one of the ways explicitly authorized 
 in the Constitution. 
 
 " The methods in which the authoritative action of the Assembly may 
 be invoked, as appears from the seventh chapter of the Book of Disci 
 pline, are four : by reference, by appeal, by complaint, and to state 
 that last which in the Book of Discipline comes first by general review 
 and control. The three processes first named do not, of course, originate 
 in the Assembly. Their inception is in a lower judicatory. In one or 
 another of them, it is presumed, most of the matters which call for dis 
 ciplinary action on the part of the highest judicatory will, in due time, 
 come before it. There is, however, a possibility of neglect in this 
 regard ; and for such a contingency our Constitution framed with a 
 wisdom best appreciated by those who have most thoroughly studied it 
 has made a specific provision. This provision is found in the section on 
 General Review and Control/ See Book of Discipline, chap, viii, 
 sec. 1. 
 
 "Under this section, there are two methods in which any discipli- 
 nable offence and slaveholding, of course, when it assumes that cha 
 racter may be reached authoritatively by the Assembly. (1.) It may 
 appear from the records of a Synod, as submitted for inspection, that 
 there has been some wrong-doing or culpable omission in the matter. 
 
SLAVERY. 289 
 
 A case may bave been incorrectly decided, or refused a hearing. Or it 
 may be obvious tbat tbe records of some Presbytery have not, according 
 to the 2d and 3d articles of this section, been properly disposed of. Or 
 it may appear that the duty enjoined in the 6th article that of citing 
 a lower judicatory in a given contingency has beeir entirely neglected. 
 In cases of this sort there may be ( animadversion or censure/ or, ac 
 cording to article 3d, the Synod l may be required to review and correct 
 its proceedings. (2.) i Any important delinquency, or grossly uncon 
 stitutional proceedings/ not apparent from the records, may yet be 
 charged against a Synod l by common fame/ It may be reported, for 
 example, that through some neglect of the Synod heretical opinions or 
 corrupt practices are allowed to gain ground/ or that offenders of a 
 very gross character are suffered to escape/ See Articles 5 and 6 of 
 this same section. In such case, provided the rumor is of the character 
 specified in the Book of Discipline, chap. 3, sec. 5, for a process against 
 a Synod should certainly not be commenced on slighter grounds than 
 against an individual, the Assembly is to cite the judicatory alleged 7 
 to have offended to appear at a specified time and place, and to show 
 what it has done, or failed to do, in the case in question after which 
 the judicatory thus issuing the citation shall remit the whole matter to 
 the delinquent judicatory, with a direction to Hake it up and dispose of 
 it in a constitutional manner, or stay all further proceedings in the case, 
 as circumstances may require/ See Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sec. 
 1, art. 6. 
 
 " In view of the aforenamed and other provisions of our Form of Go 
 vernment touching the authority of the Assembly, two things are to be 
 carefully noted. 
 
 " 1. It has no power to commence a process of discipline with an in 
 dividual offender. That, by a just and wise arrangement, belongs,to the 
 Session in the case of a layman, to the Presbytery in the case of a mi 
 nister. The disciplinary function of the Assembly as to individuals is 
 simply appellate and re visionary. It is not the court of first, but of last 
 resort. 
 
 "2. In the way of general review and control/ it can reach directly 
 only the judicatory next below, that is, the Synod. (See Book of Dis 
 cipline, chap, vii, sec. 1, art. 6.) Indirectly, indeed, the doings of other 
 bodies may be involved. A Session may grossly neglect discipline, for 
 example, and the recorded indication or the common fame thereof may 
 not be properly heeded by the Presbytery. The fruit of this heedless-- 
 
 19 
 
290 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 ness, or the evidence of it in the Presbyterial records, may call forth no 
 appropriate action on the part of the Synod ; and this may be brought, 
 by the Synodical records, or by general rumor, to the knowledge of the 
 Assembly. On the ground of either the record or the rumor, the As 
 sembly may cite the Synod before them. Thus, mediately j may. even a 
 Session be reached, but not directly. 
 
 " Such are the metes and bounds which our Form of Government has 
 prescribed, and which the Assembly may not overpass. It is quite pos 
 sible that, in connection with them, offenders of various sorts may some 
 times escape. To a human administration, of however Divine a system, 
 imperfection always pertains. Our Book of Discipline, indeed (chap, iii, 
 sec. 3), distinctly recognizes a class of cases in which, f however grievous 
 it may be to the pious to see an unworthy member in the Church, it is 
 proper to wait until God in his righteous providence shall give further 
 light/ Waiting may be rendered necessary by a lack of fidelity on the 
 part of the lower judicatories, as well as by a lack of evidence. We 
 speak of it, of course, not as an actual, but only as a supposable case. 
 And it may seem to some a great evil that the General Assembly is not 
 invested with larger powers. Yet it would be a greater evil to allow 
 any departure from the carefully-devised processes of discipline set forth 
 in the Constitution. To permit the Assembly to adopt at its pleasure 
 new processes to suit its own powers to real or fancied exigencies 
 would not only invest it with legislative functions, but would virtually 
 annul the Constitution, and transform the highest judicatory of the 
 Church into an overshadowing ecclesiastical despotism. 
 
 " It has, indeed, been urged though we see not with what reason 
 that the advisory function of the Assembly, or its power of bearing 
 testimony, implies the authority necessary to enforce that testimony. Is 
 there then no just and salutary distinction between persuasion and com 
 pulsion ? Must the two be ever conjoined ? Are there no cases in 
 which a simple moral power may, in the nature of things, be most 
 potent ? Must the Assembly utter no counsels which are not to be in 
 terpreted as mandatory and coercive ? If they may enforce all their 
 counsels, how are they to do it ? By processes which they themselves 
 devise, extra-constitutional processes ? Or are they to be held to the 
 provisions of the Book of Discipline ? They have, it is true, the right, 
 according to the Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 5, of attempting/ 
 as well as recommending, reformation of manners/ But the attempt 
 must be made, if discipline is to be involved, only in the method pre- 
 
SLAVERY. 291 
 
 scribed in the Constitution. To all desirable ends, the committee 
 believe, that method will be found adequate; especially as connected 
 with that testifying and reproving function so often exercised in time 
 past, and which, by a body like the Assembly, can never be wisely 
 exercised but with salutary results. 
 
 " ALBERT BARNES, 
 "AsA D. SMITH, 
 "Wai. JESSUP, 
 " AUGUSTUS P. HASCALL." 
 Minutes, 1856, pp. 197-201. 
 
 14. SESSIONS AT CLEVELAND, A.D. 1857. 
 
 "The General Assembly, in view of the memorials before them and 
 of the present relations of the Church on the subject of slavery, feel 
 called upon to make the following exposition of principle and duty : 
 
 " The Presbyterian Church in these United States has from the 
 beginning maintained an attitude of decided opposition to the institution 
 of slavery. 
 
 " The Synod of New York and Philadelphia, in 1787, two years before 
 the organization of the General Assembly, declared that they did 
 highly approve of the general principles in favor of universal liberty 
 that prevail in America, and the interest which many of the States 
 have taken in promoting the abolition of slavery, and did recommend it 
 to all their people to use the most prudent measures, consistent with 
 the interest and state of civil society in the parts where they live, to 
 procure eventually the final abolition of slavery in America/ 
 
 "In 1793, while the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church was in 
 process of formation and publication, the action of the Synod just 
 referred to was approved by the General Assembly, and republished 
 by its order. 
 
 "The Assembly of 1815 declared t that, although in some sections 
 of our country, under certain circumstances, the transfer of slaves may 
 be unavoidable, yet they consider the buying and selling of slaves by 
 way of traffic, and all undue severity in the management of them, as 
 inconsistent with the spirit of the Gospel. And they recommend it to 
 the Presbyteries and Sessions under their care to make use of all 
 prudent measures to prevent such shameful and unrighteous conduct. 
 
 "The Assembly of 1815 expressed their regret that the slavery of 
 
292 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 the Africans and of their descendants still continues in so many places, 
 and even among those within the pale of the Church/ and called par 
 ticular attention to the action of 1795, with respect to the buying and 
 selling of slaves. 
 
 "In 1818, the Assembly unanimously adopted a report on this sub 
 ject, prepared by Dr. Green, of Philadelphia, Dr. Baxter, of Virginia, 
 and Mr. Burgess, of Ohio, of which the following is a part : 
 
 li We consider the voluntary enslaving of one part of the human race 
 by another as a gross violation of the most precious and sacred rights of 
 human nature, as utterly inconsistent with the law of God, which 
 requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and as totally irreconcilable 
 with the spirit and principles of the Gospel of Christ, which enjoins 
 that "all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye 
 even so to them." Slavery creates a paradox in the moral system : it 
 exhibits rational, accountable, and immortal beings in such circumstances 
 as scarcely to leave them the power of moral action. It exhibits them 
 as dependent on the will of others whether they shall receive religious 
 instruction; whether they shall know and worship the true God; 
 whether they shall enjoy the ordinances of the Gospel; whether they 
 shall perform the duties and cherish the endearments of husbands and 
 wives, parents and children, neighbors and friends; whether they shall 
 preserve their chastity and purity, or regard the dictates of justice and 
 humanity. Such are some of the consequences of slavery, consequences 
 not imaginary, but which connect themselves with its very existence. 
 The evils to which the slave is always exposed often take place in fact, 
 and in their very worst degree and form ; and, where all of them do not 
 take place, as we rejoice to say that in many instances, through the 
 influence of the principles of humanity and religion on the minds of 
 masters, they do not, still, the slave is deprived of his natural right, 
 degraded as a human being, and exposed to the danger of passing into 
 the hands of a master who may inflict upon him all the hardships and 
 injuries which inhumanity and avarice may suggest. 
 
 " ( From this view of the consequences resulting from the practice 
 into which Christian people have most inconsistently fallen of enslaving 
 a portion of their brethren of mankind, for God hath made of one blood 
 all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth, it is manifestly 
 the duty of all Christians who enjoy the light of the present day, when 
 the Inconsistency of slavery both with the dictates of humanity and 
 religion has been demonstrated and is generally seen and acknowledged, 
 to use their honest, earnest, and unwearied endeavors to correct the 
 
SLAVERY. 29o 
 
 errors of former times, and as speedily as possible to efface this blot on 
 our holy religion, and to obtain the complete abolition of slavery through 
 out Christendom, and, if possible, throughout the world. 
 
 " The Assembly also recommended l to all the members of our religious 
 denomination, not only to permit, but to facilitate and encourage the 
 instruction of their slaves in the principles and duties of the Christian 
 religion ; and added, i We enjoin it on all church Sessions and Presby 
 teries under the care of this Assembly to discountenance, and, as far 
 as possible, to prevent, all cruelty of whatever kind in the treatment of 
 slaves, especially the cruelty of separating husband and wife, parents 
 and children, and that which consists in selling slaves to those who will 
 either themselves deprive these unhappy people of the blessings of the 
 Gospel, or who will transport them to places where the Gospel is not pro 
 claimed, or where it is forbidden to slaves to attend upon its institutions/ 
 
 " The foregoing testimonials on the subject of slavery were universally 
 acquiesced in by the Presbyterian Church up to the time of the division 
 in 1838. 
 
 " In the year 1846, the General Assembly made a declaration on this 
 subject, of which the following is the introductory paragraph : 
 
 " 1 1. The system of slavery as it exists in these United States, viewed 
 either in the laws of the several States which sanction it, or in its actual 
 operation and results in society, is intrinsically an unrighteous and 
 oppressive system, and is opposed to the prescriptions of the law of God, 
 to the spirit and precepts of the Gospel, and to the best interests of 
 humanity. 
 
 "In 1849, the Assembly explicitly reaffirmed the sentiments ex 
 pressed by the Assemblies of 1815, 1818, and 1846. In the year 1850, 
 the General Assembly made the following declaration : l We exceedingly 
 deplore the working of the whole system of slavery as it exists in our 
 country and is interwoven with the political institutions of the slave- 
 holding States, as fraught with many and great evils to the civil, political, 
 and moral interests of those regions where it exists. 
 
 " The holding of our fellow-men in the condition of slavery, except 
 in those cases where it is unavoidable by the laws of the State, the obli 
 gations of guardianship, or the demands of humanity, is an offence in 
 the proper import of that term as used in the Book of Discipline, chap, 
 i, sec. 3, and should be regarded and treated in the same manner as 
 other offences. 
 
 " Occupying the position in relation to this subject which the framers 
 of our Constitution held at the first, and which our Church has always 
 
-i94 VII. MORAL QUESTIONS. 
 
 held, it is with deep grief that we now discover that a portion of the 
 Church at the South has so far departed from the established doctrine 
 of the Church in relation to slavery as to maintain that it is an ordinance 
 of God/ and that the system of slavery existing in these United States 
 is scriptural and right. Against this new doctrine we feel constrained 
 to bear our solemn testimony. It is at war with the whole spirit and 
 tenor of the Gospel of love and good-will, as well as abhorrent to the 
 conscience of the Christian world. We can have no sympathy or fellow 
 ship with it ; and we exhort all our people to eschew it as serious and 
 pernicious error. 
 
 " We are especially pained by the fact that the Presbytery of Lexing 
 ton, South, have given official notice to us that a number of ministers 
 and ruling elders, as well as many church-members, in their connection, 
 hold slaves from principle and < of choice/ ( believing it to be accord 
 ing to the Bible right/ and have, without any qualifying explanation, 
 assumed the responsibility of sustaining such ministers, elders, and 
 church-members in their position. We deem it our duty, in the exer 
 cise of our constitutional authority f to bear testimony against error in 
 doctrine or immorality in practice in any church, Presbytery, or Synod/ 
 to disapprove and earnestly condemn the position which has been thus 
 assumed by the Presbytery of Lexington, South, as one which is opposed 
 to the established convictions of the Presbyterian Church, and must 
 operate to mar its peace and seriously hinder its prosperity, as well as 
 bring reproach on our holy religion ; and we do hereby call on that 
 Presbytery to review and rectify their position. Such doctrines and 
 practice cannot be permanently tolerated in the Presbyterian Church. 
 May they speedily melt away under the illuminating and mellowing 
 influence of the Gospel and grace of God our Saviour ! 
 
 " We do not, indeed, pronounce a sentence of indiscriminate condem 
 nation upon all our brethren who are unfortunately connected with the 
 system of slavery. We tenderly sympathize with all those who deplore 
 the evil, and are honestly doing all in their power for the present well- 
 being of their slaves and for their complete emancipation. We would 
 aid and not embarrass such brethren. And yet, in the language of the 
 General Assembly of 1818, we would earnestly warn them against 
 unduly extending the plea of necessity, against making it a cover for 
 the love and practice of slavery, or a pretence for not using efforts that 
 are lawful and practicable to extinguish this evil/ 
 
 " In conclusion, the Assembly call the attention of the Publication 
 
SLAVERY. 295 
 
 Committee to this subject, and recommend the publication, in a con 
 venient form, of the testimony of the Presbyterian Church touching this 
 subject, at the earliest practicable period. 
 
 " The vote upon its adoption was by yeas and nays. 
 
 "Adopted: Yeas, 169; Nays, 26; non Uquct, 2." Minutes, 1857, 
 pp. 401-404. 
 
 15. SESSIONS AT CHICAGO, 1860. 
 
 "The Standing Committee on Church Extension, to whom was re 
 ferred the resolution proposing that the G-eneral Assembly should instruct 
 the Church Extension Committee to off3r no assistance to any church 
 that has in its communion one or more slaveholders, reported as follows : 
 
 " 1. The Permanent Committee on Church Extension is appointed to 
 act for the wljole Church, being an organ of the General Assembly, 
 which represents the whole Church, and we can see no defensible prin 
 ciple on which such a committee could make discriminations, on moral 
 grounds, between churches that are recognized as having the same eccle 
 siastical standing under our common Constitution. 
 
 " 2. The position of our Church is well understood to be one of oppo 
 sition to the spirit and the system of slavery; and we have no reason to 
 believe that any churches connected with us are using their influence to 
 sustain and fortify that institution. 
 
 "3. If it be true, that any members of churches in our connection 
 hold slaves, under mistaken views of their duty towards them, we do not 
 see that this affords any sufficient reason for withholding from them the 
 bread of life, and such enlightened teachings as we believe our ministry 
 are qualified and disposed to impart, in relation to all the great princi 
 ples of Christian duty. We sympathize with all Christian endeavors to 
 remove imperfection and sin from the Church of Christ; but we think 
 this end is to be accomplished, not by withdrawing the Gospel from 
 those who need it, but by affectionate and prayerful efforts to apply the 
 principles of our holy religion to the heart and conscience of every Chris 
 tian who is willing to receive instruction. 
 
 "4. The Church Extension Committee are fully aware of the ground 
 which our Church occupies with reference to this subject, and we have 
 confidence that they will conscientiously discharge their duty, with an 
 enlightened regard to the promotion of righteousness and holiness in the 
 Church and in the world. 
 
 "The report was adopted/ Minutes, 1860, p. 258. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 . Case of Samuel Harker. Views condemned. ?. Testimony against the doc 
 trine of universal salvation, and the finite duration of hell torments. 3. Testi 
 mony against Socinianism. 4. Case of Rev. Hezekiah Balch. Doctrines con 
 demned; acknowledgment required, and made. 5. " Gospel Plan," by W. C. 
 Davis, condemned. 6. Case of Thomas B. Craighead. 7. Case of Albert 
 Barnes. 8. Testimony against certain disorders. 9. Against errors in doc 
 trine. 10. An explication of doctrines. 
 
 1. Case of Samuel Harlcer. 
 
 " A reference was brought into the Synod from the New Brunswick 
 Presbytery, respecting Mr. Samuel Harker, one of their members, as 
 having imbibed and vented certain erroneous doctrines. The further 
 consideration of this affair deferred till the next scdenmt." Minutes, 
 1758, p. 2S3. 
 
 [The matter was continued from year to year, Synod endeavoring to 
 remove the difficulty, and bring Mr. Harker to a sense of his error. In 
 1761, Mr. Harker printed and published his views, and the Synod 
 (17G2) appointed a committee to examine the book, who reported next 
 year.] 
 
 f The Synod proceeded to consider Mr. Barker s principles, collected 
 from his book by the committee, which are in substance as follows : 
 
 " 1. That the covenant of grace is in such a sense conditional, that 
 fallen mankind in their unregenerate state, by the general assistance 
 given to all under the Gospel, have a sufficient ability to fulfil the con 
 ditions thereof, and so, by their own endeavors, to insure to themselves 
 regenerating grace and all saving blessings. 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 297 
 
 " 2. That God has bound himself by promise to give them regene 
 rating grace, upon their fulfilling what he (Mr. Harker) calls the direct 
 conditions of obtaining it ; and, upon the whole, makes a certain and an 
 infallible connection between their endeavors and the aforesaid bless 
 ings. 
 
 U 3. That God s prescience of future events is previous to, and not 
 dependent on his decrees ; that his decrees have no influence on his 
 own conduct, and that the foresight of faith was the ground of the de 
 cree of election. 
 
 " It is further observed, that he often uses inaccurate, unintelligible? 
 and dangerous modes of expression, that tend to lead people into false 
 notions in several important matters, as that Adam was the federal 
 father of his posterity in the second covenant as well as in the first ; 
 that the regenerate are not in a state of probation for heaven, and several 
 such like. 
 
 " The Synod judge that these principles are of a hurtful and danger 
 ous tendency, giving a false view of the covenant of grace, perverting it 
 into a new-modelled covenant of works, and misrepresent the doctrine 
 of the Divine decrees, as held by the best Reformed Churches, and in 
 fine, are contrary to the word of God and our approved standards of doc 
 trine." Minutes, 1763, p. 329. 
 
 2. Testimony against Universalism. 
 
 " Whereas, the doctrine of universal salvation, and of the finite dura 
 tion of hell torments, has been propagated by sundry persons who live in 
 the United States of America, and the people under our care may pos 
 sibly, from their occasional conversation with the propagators of such a 
 dangerous opinion, be infected by the doctrine, the Synod take this op 
 portunity to declare their utter abhorrence of such doctrines as they 
 apprehend to be subversive of the fundamental principles of religion 
 and morality j and therefore earnestly recommend it to all their Presby 
 teries and members to be watchful upon this subject, and to guard 
 against the introduction of such tenets among our people." [See chap, 
 i, sec. 3 : 1, p. 38.] Minutes, 1787, p. 540. 
 
 3. Against Socinianism. 
 
 a. "If there is a religion revealed by God, it is as important to have 
 correct views of its principles, to perform the duties which it enjoins in 
 
298 VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 the various relations of life, as it is to have correct views of morality, 
 that our lives may be moral. Error in principle invariably produces 
 error in practice. To be ever learning and never coining to the know 
 ledge of the truth, is characteristic of none but those who assume for 
 the human understanding the prerogative of sitting in judgment upon 
 the inspired truth of God, either condemning the whole as an imposi 
 tion, or undertaking to correct its alleged mistakes by abridging and 
 falsifying its contents. Of the former class, we rejoice that their num 
 ber and influence are diminished. Not many years past, they triumphed, 
 to the regret and anguish of the followers of Christ. With brazen front, 
 infidelity threatened the annihilation of the Church, and the ruin of her 
 Lord s authority. But the Church not merely survives its attacks ; she 
 has increased in numbers and in grace, whilst her adversaries arc com 
 pelled, though unwillingly, to pay homage to the paramount claims of 
 her God and her Saviour, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords. 
 Few are to be found, who respect themselves, openly opposing the truth 
 of God as contained in the Scriptures. There are, however, some within 
 our bounds who, whilst they profess to honor the authority of the Bible, 
 with unhallowed hands would cut out of its pages those passages which 
 command us to honor the Son as we honor the Father, and rob the trem 
 bling sinner of the only hope of acceptance with God which his soul can 
 cherish. The well-beloved and only-begotten Son of God they reduce 
 to the level of frail humanity, and his work of redemption to the mere 
 fact of furnishing us a perfect example of conversation and conduct. 
 By denying his character as a covenant-surety to bear our sins and carry 
 our sorrows, they lower his example, as a righteous and holy man, below 
 that which his Apostles and primitive followers afford us. And so far 
 as we have had the opportunity of judging from facts which have fallen 
 under our observation, their principles have introduced among all who 
 have embraced them, so great a conformity in their practice to the world 
 which lieth in wickedness, as to render it impossible to discriminate them 
 from the children of that world. 
 
 " In connection with these anti-Trinitarians, for we reject the name 
 which they have assumed, of Unitarians, holding the unity of God as 
 strictly as they do, are the Universalists, or the supporters of the doctrine 
 of universal salvation. It is a tribute, however, which we owe to truth, 
 to say, that whilst the anti-Trinitarians, for the sake of consistency, are 
 compelled to maintain the ultimate and eternal salvation of all, the 
 Universalists believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, and the atonement 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 299 
 
 of the Lord Jesus. They, however, by assuring all that they will be in 
 the end forever happy, provide for the gratification of present desires 
 and continuance in sin whilst they live. 
 
 " As these errors in principle do exist in some portion of our Church, 
 though we have good reasons to believe that they are not increasing, the 
 Assembly trust that they will be opposed, and their ruinous tendency 
 unfolded with fidelity and success." Minutes, 1818, p. 677. 
 
 l>. " In some parts of our land, attempts are made to propagate the 
 most pernicious errors. With a zeal worthy of a better cause, and under 
 lofty pretensions to superior rationality and to deeper discoveries in 
 religion, some are endeavoring to take away the crown from the Re 
 deemer s head; to degrade Him who is the mighty God and the Prince 
 of life to a level with mere men, and to rob us of all our hopes of re 
 demption through his blood. Pretending, too, a more expanded benevo 
 lence to man, and more ennobled ideas of the goodness and mercy of 
 God, they assiduously propagate the sentiment, that all men will ulti 
 mately obtain eternal happiness, however sinful their present temper and 
 conduct may be, without any regard to the cleansing of the blood, of 
 atonement, or the sanctifying influences of the Spirit of God. Believing 
 that these sentiments are utterly subversive of Gospel truth and holiness; 
 that they are alike dishonoring to God and destructive to the present and 
 eternal welfare of men, we cannot but affectionately warn you against 
 them. Beware, brethren, lest ye also, being led away with the error of 
 the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. Cherish an ardent attach 
 ment to the truth which is according to godliness, arid seek to experience 
 in your own souls its sanctifying influence." Minutes, 1822, p. 58. 
 
 4. Case of Rev. Ilezeldah Balch. 
 
 " The consideration of the references relative to Mr. Balch was 
 resumed, and after some amendments made on the draught brought in 
 by the committee, it was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " They remark upon the first article of the creed aforesaid, that Mr. 
 Balch is erroneous in making disinterested benevolence the only defini 
 tion of holiness or true religion because this may perplex the minds of 
 those not accustomed to abstract speculations, is questionable in itself, 
 and may convey the idea that an absolute God, or a God out of Christ, 
 is the object of the highest affection to the renewed mind. 
 
 " Upon the second article, they remark, that Mr. Balch has confounded 
 
300 VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 self-love with selfishness in an abstract speculation, calculated to puzzle 
 plain Christians and lead to unprofitable disputes. 
 
 "Upon the third article, they remark, that the transferring of per 
 sonal sin, or righteousness, has never been held by Calvinistic divines, 
 nor by any person in our Church, so far as is known to us, and therefore 
 that Mr. Balch s observations on that subject appear to be either nuga 
 tory or calculated to mislead. But with regard to his doctrine of original 
 sin, it is to be observed, that he is erroneous in representing personal 
 corruption as not derived from Adam ; making Adam s sin to be imputed 
 to his posterity, in consequence of a corrupt nature already possessed, 
 and derived from we know not what ; thus, in effect, setting aside the 
 idea of Adam s being the federal head or representative of his descen 
 dants, and the whole doctrine of the covenant of works. 
 
 " It is also manifest that Mr. Balch is greatly erroneous in asserting 
 that the formal cause of a believer s justification is the imputation of the 
 fruits and effects of Christ s righteousness, and not that righteousness 
 itself; because righteousness, and that alone, is the formal demand of 
 the law, and consequently the sinner s violation of the divine law can be 
 pardoned only in virtue of the Redeemer s perfect righteousness being 
 imputed to him, and reckoned as his. It is also not true, that the 
 benefits of Christ s righteousness are, with strict propriety, said to be 
 imputed at all; as these benefits flow to, and are possessed by, the 
 believer as a consequence of his justification, and having an interest in 
 the infinite merits of the Saviour. 
 
 11 On article fourth, no remark is necessary. 
 
 " With regard to the fifth article, they remark, that Mr. Balch appears 
 to confound sentiment with the mere perception of truth, whereas it 
 always partakes of the disposition of the heart, and consequently involves 
 in it either sin or holiness. The article, as stated by him, contradicts 
 the principle laid down in the introduction to our Form of Government, 
 and levels the important distinction between truth and falsehood, so as 
 to be liable to the construction that it is no matter what a man believes. 
 And though Mr. Balch may not, and probably did not, intend to insinu 
 ate anything disrespectful to the Holy Scriptures, where he asserts that 
 there are wrong sentiments in the Bible/ yet, as his expression is liable 
 to such a construction, we judge it highly censurable. 
 
 " With regard to the sixth and seventh articles, no remarks seem to 
 be necessary, except that the offence given by the reflection cast on his 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 801 
 
 brethren, the Presbyterians, in the seventh, has been sufficiently removed 
 by his candid acknowledgment before the Synod and General Assembly. 
 
 " The eighth, ninth, and tenth articles require no remark, except that 
 they appear to be unimportant. 
 
 " With regard to the twelfth article, it is remarked, that his observation 
 upon love, as exercised by the human race, so far as it may be applicable 
 to a state of infancy, is unintelligible ; and that, though a distinction 
 may be made between regeneration and conversion, yet the terms in. 
 which the article is expressed are exceptionable, as they seem to dis 
 courage the use of the means of grace. 
 
 " With regard to the thirteenth article, it is remarked, that in making 
 repentance and faith to proceed wholly from love or charity, Mr. Balch 
 has expressed an opinion unnecessary and improper. 
 
 "In regard to the subject of false doctrine, in discoursing from Psalm 
 51 : 5, and Isa. 48 : 8, nothing seems necessary to be added to the remarks 
 made on the subject of original sin, as contained in Mr. Balch s creed, 
 except that he charges Calvinistic divines with holding sentiments 
 relative to infants which they do not hold ; and that he makes posi 
 tive declarations in regard to the state of infants, when it has pleased a 
 wise and holy God to be silent on this subject in the revelation of his 
 will 
 
 " On the whole, your committee recommend that Mr. Balch be re 
 quired to acknowledge before the Assembly that he was wrong in the 
 publication of his creed , that in the particulars specified above, he 
 renounce the errors pointed out ; that he engage to teach nothing here 
 after of a similar nature; that the moderator admonish him of the 
 divisions, disorder, trouble, and inconvenience which he has occasioned 
 to the Church and its judicatories by his imprudent and unwarrantable 
 conduct, and warn him against doing anything in time to come that may 
 tend to produce such serious and lamentable evils. 
 
 " That if Mr. Balch submit to this, he be considered as in good stand 
 ing with the Church, and that the reference and queries of the Synod 
 of the Carolinas be considered as fully answered by the adoption of 
 these measures." Minutes, 1798, pp. 155, 156. 
 
 [Mr. Balch appeared before the Assembly, and acknowledged that he 
 was wrong in publishing his creed, and did "solemnly declare, as in the 
 presence of his final Judge, that he never did entertain the ideas nor 
 intend to teach the doctrines which are pointed out as errors by the 
 Assembly." He was accordingly solemnly admonished and declared to 
 be in good standing with the Church.] Minutes, 1798, p. 158. 
 
802 VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 5. Case of Rev. William C. Davis. 
 
 "The overture from the Synod of the Carolinas, which had been 
 laid on the table, referring to the Assembly an overture laid before that 
 Synod, requesting their attention to a late publication of the Rev. W. 
 C. Davis, denominated the Gospel Plan/ was read; Messrs. Robert G. 
 Wilson, Calhoun, and Anderson were appointed a committee to examine 
 said book and report to this Assembly the doctrines it contains, if any 
 such they find, that are contrary to the standards of the Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 "The report of the committee was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " The committee, presuming that a complete and perfect enumeration 
 of all the objectionable parts of said book is not expected, called the 
 attention of the Assembly only to the following doctrines, supposed to 
 be contrary to the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church : 
 
 " Doctrine I. That the active obedience of Christ constitutes no part 
 of that righteousness by which a sinner is justified, pp. 257, 261, 264, 
 3d corollary. 
 
 "Doctrine II. That obedience to the moral law was not required as 
 the condition of the covenant of works, pp. 178, 180. 
 
 " These pages being read, the Assembly resolved that they do con 
 sider these doctrines as contrary to the Confession of our Church. 
 
 " Doctrine III. God himself is as firmly bound in duty (not obedi 
 ence) to his creatures, as his creatures are bound in obedience or duty 
 to him, pp. 164, 166. Also, that God s will is not the standard of right 
 and wrong. If God s will is the primary rule of his own actions, he 
 would be : 1st. Entirely void of holiness; 2d. There could be no justice 
 in God; 3d. It would be impossible for God to be unchangeable; 4th. 
 If the will of God is the standard of right and wrong, then it would 
 be no infringement on the divine character to be unfaithful to his word 
 and promise, pp. 168-171. 
 
 " These pages were read, 
 
 "Resolved, That, without deciding on the question whether these 
 sentiments, are contrary to our Confession of Faith, the Assembly con 
 sider the mode in which they are expressed as unhappy, and calculated 
 to mislead the reader. 
 
 "Doctrine IV. God could not make Adam, or any other creature, 
 either holy or unholy. Compare page 194 with 166. 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 303 
 
 " Doctrine V. Regeneration must be a consequence of faith. Faith 
 precedes regeneration, p. 352. 
 
 " Doctrine VI. Faith, in the first act of it, is not a holy act, p. 358, 
 &c. 
 
 "These pages being read, 
 
 "Resolved, That the Assembly do consider the three last-mentioned 
 doctrines contrary to the Confession of Faith of our Church. 
 
 " Doctrine VII. Christians may sin wilfully and habitually, pp. 532, 
 534. 
 
 " These pages being read, 
 
 "Resolved, That the Assembly consider the expressions in the pages 
 referred to as very unguarded j and so far as they intimate it to be the 
 author s opinion that a person may live in an habitual and allowed sin, 
 and yet be a Christian, the Assembly considers them contrary to the 
 letter and spirit of the Confession of -Faith of our Church, and in their 
 tendency highly dangerous. 
 
 " Doctrine VIII. If God has to plant all the principal parts of salva 
 tion in a sinner s heart to enable him to believe, the Gospel Plan 5 is 
 quite out of his reach, and consequently does not suit his case ; and it 
 must be impossible for God to condemn a man for unbelief, for no just 
 law condemns or criminates any person for not doing what he cannot do, 
 p. 413. 
 
 "This page, and several others on the same subject, being read, 
 
 "Resolved, That the Assembly do consider this last-mentioned doc 
 trine contrary to the Confession of Faith of our Church. 
 
 "On the whole, 
 
 "Resolved, That this Assembly cannot but view with disapprobation, 
 various parts of the work entitled The Gospel Plan/ of which William 
 C. Davis is stated in the title-page to be the author. In several instances 
 in this work, modes of expression are adopted so different from those 
 which are sanctioned by use and by the best orthodox writers, that the 
 Assembly consider them as calculated to produce useless or mischievous 
 speculations. 
 
 " In several other instances, there are doctrines asserted and advo 
 cated, as has been already decided, contrary to the Confession of Faith 
 of our Church, and the word of God; which doctrines the Assembly 
 feel constrained to pronounce to be of very dangerous tendency; and the 
 Assembly do judge, and do hereby declare, that the preaching or pub 
 lishing of them, ought to subject the person or persons so doing to be 
 
304 VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 dealt with by their respective Presbyteries, according to the discipline 
 of the Church, relative to the propagation of errors." Minutes, 1810, 
 pp. 448, 452, 453. 
 
 6. Case of Rev. Thomas B. Craighead. 
 
 [On an appeal from the Synod of Kentucky. After speaking of 
 certain irregularities in the conduct both of the Synod and of the appel 
 lant, the committee say :] 
 
 " But from matters of form, the General Assembly will now pass to 
 the merits of the case ; and, for the sake of brevity, the first and second 
 charges only shall be brought into view. 
 
 "Charge 1. We charge him with denying and vilifying the real 
 agency of the Spirit in regeneration, and in the production of faith and 
 sanctification in general. 
 
 " And first, they would observe, that there can be no doubt, that the 
 denial of the real agency of the Spirit is a dangerous and fundamental 
 error ; and if Mr. Craighead taught such an error, he ought to have 
 been suspended. 
 
 " The question then is : Do the passages of Mr. Craighead s sermon, 
 referred to in the charge, prove that he did deny the reality of the ope 
 rations of the Spirit ? 
 
 "Here, it will be important to remark, that a man cannot fairly be 
 convicted of heresy, for using expressions which may be so interpreted 
 as to involve heretical doctrines, if they may also admit of a more 
 favorable construction : because, no one can tell in what sense an 
 ambiguous expression is used, but the speaker or writer, and he has a 
 right to explain himself; and in such cases, candor requires that a court 
 should favor the accused, by putting on his words the more favorable, 
 rather than the less favorable construction. 
 
 " Another principle is, that no man can rightly be convicted of heresy 
 by inference or implication ; that is, we must not charge an accused 
 person with holding those consequences which may legitimately flow 
 from his assertions. Many men are grossly inconsistent with themselves; 
 and while it is right, in argument, to overthrow false opinions, by tracing 
 them in their connections and consequences, it is not right to charge 
 any man with an opinion which he disavows. 
 
 " With these principles in view, the General Assembly proceed to 
 observe, that there is abundant evidence, that Mr. Craighead did deny 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 305 
 
 the immediate agency of the Spirit, but no clear evidence that he denied 
 the real agency of the Spirit. These are very different things, and the 
 proof of the one, does by no means establish the other. Immediate 
 agency or operation, is opposed to mediate. This is a well-known dis 
 tinction in theology; and a point which has been greatly controverted. 
 The Reformed Church, of which ours is a part, in all their purest times, 
 maintained the doctrine of the immediate operation of the Spirit, not 
 without the word, but distinct from it, and in the order of nature pre 
 ceding it. Other Protestant churches, never charged with fundamental 
 error, have as uniformly maintained the doctrine of a mediate agency; 
 and those commonly believe, that this operation is not occasional, but 
 uniform, and diversified in its effects, by the difference of resistance 
 with which it meets. Neither the Presbytery nor the Synod appear to 
 have attended sufficiently to this distinction. They appear to have 
 thought, that a denial of immediate agency was a denial of all real 
 agency. It deserves special regard here, that our Confession takes no 
 notice of these nice distinctions, about the mode in which the Holy 
 Spirit operates. It usually mentions the word and the Spirit together, 
 and the former as the instrument of the latter. And they who believe 
 in the immediate agency of the Spirit do not exclude the instrumentality 
 of the word ; they however explain it in a different way from those who 
 hold, that there is no agency of the Spirit, distinct from the word. But 
 this is the more favorable construction ; there is another, which if not 
 more probable, is more obvious. Mr. Craighead may be understood as 
 teaching, that the only real agency of the Spirit was in inspiring the 
 Scriptures, and confirming them by signs and miracles. There is much 
 in his discourse that has this bearing; and undoubtedly this is the 
 common impression among the people where it is best known. This 
 was the idea of the Synod of Kentucky, when they condemned him; 
 and this is, in fact, denying the reality of the operation of the Spirit, 
 in our days : and whether his expressions have been fairly interpreted 
 or not, they are dangerous, and ought to be condemned. In justice to 
 Mr. Craighead, however, it ought to be remembered, that he utterly 
 disclaims this meaning, in his defence sent up to this Assembly. And 
 would it be fair to continue to charge upon him opinions which he 
 solemnly disavows? Of the sincerity of his disavowal, God is the 
 judge. The conclusion is, that the first charge, though supported by 
 strong probabilities, is not so conclusively established as to remove all 
 
 20 
 
306 VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 doubt, because the words adduced in proof, will bear a different con 
 struction from that put on them by the Presbytery and Synod. 
 
 " The evidence in support of the second charge is still less clear and 
 conclusive. The charge is 
 
 11 i We charge him with denying, vilifying, and misrepresenting the 
 doctrine of divine foreordination, and sovereignty, and election/ 
 
 " It might, perhaps, be shown by argument, that Mr. Craighead uses 
 many expressions not consistent with these doctrines; but agreeably to 
 the principle laid down above, he must not be charged with holding 
 these consequences, unless he has avowed them. These passages of his 
 discourse, it is true, contain erroneous and offensive things, but they do 
 not establish the charge of denying, vilifying, &c. In one single in 
 stance, he seems to deny that everything should be referred to the sove 
 reignty of God s will ; but the words, in their connection, may have an 
 innocent meaning. Here again it must be observed, that Mr. Craighead 
 solemnly declares his belief in the doctrine of decrees and election, as 
 expressed in our standards. 
 
 " But whilst the General Assembly are of opinion that the charges 
 against Mr. Craighead are not clearly and fully supported by the refe 
 rences, they feel it to be their duty to say, that the impression which 
 they have received from hearing extracts from this discourse are very 
 unfavorable ; and they do believe that Mr. Craighead, by preaching and 
 printing this sermon, did subject himself justly to censure. 
 
 " Moreover, the Assembly are of opinion, that the doctrines of this 
 sermon, in the most favorable construction, are different from those of 
 the Reformed Churches, and of our Church, and are erroneous ; although 
 the error is not of fundamental importance. They have observed, also, 
 that this discourse contains many unjust and illiberal reflections on the 
 doctrines which have been the common and uniform belief of the great 
 majority of the preachers and writers of the Reformed Churches. He 
 mentions the names of a few persons as favoring the doctrine which he 
 opposes j but he might have put into the list almost every standard 
 writer of our own and sister churches, since the Reformation. 
 
 " The sermon also contains much declamation which confounds fanati 
 cism and piety; and representations of opinions which are true and im 
 portant, so associated with error and absurdity, as to exhibit them in a 
 ridiculous and odious light. 
 
 " Finally, the General Assembly are deeply impressed with the evi 
 dences of an improper spirit, and an evil tendency in this sermon, and 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 307 
 
 are of opinion that Mr. Craighead ought so to retract or to explain his 
 sentiments, as to afford reasonable satisfaction to his brethren/ 7 
 Minutes, 1824, pp. 122-124. 
 
 [The case was transmitted to the Presbytery of West Tennessee, which 
 was ordered, on satisfactory explanations and retractions, to restore him 
 to the ministry, from which he had been suspended. Mr. Craighead 
 was restored.] 
 
 7. Case of Rev. Albert Barnes. 
 
 [On an appeal from the action of the Synod of Philadelphia, suspend 
 ing him from the Gospel ministry, the appeal was sustained, Yeas, 134 ; 
 Nays, 96; and the decision of the Synod reversed, Yeas, 145; Nays, 78. 
 The following resolution was then offered by Dr. Miller, viz. :] 
 
 "Resolved, That while this General Assembly has thought proper to 
 remove the sentence of suspension under which the Rev. Mr. Barnes 
 was placed by the Synod of Philadelphia ; yet the judgment of the As 
 sembly is, that Mr. Barnes, in his notes on the Epistle to the Romans, 
 has published opinions materially at variance with the Confession of 
 Faith of the Presbyterian Church, and with the word of God, espe 
 cially with regard to original sin, the relation of man to Adam, and 
 justification by faith in the atoning sacrifice and righteousness of the 
 Redeemer. The Assembly consider the manner in which Mr. Barnes 
 has controverted the language and Doctrine of our public standards, as 
 highly reprehensible, and as adapted to pervert the minds of the rising 
 generation from the simplicity and purity of the Gospel plan. And 
 although some of the most objectionable statements and expressions 
 which appeared in the earlier editions of the work in question have been 
 either removed, or so far modified or explained as to render them more 
 in accordance with our public formularies, still the Assembly considers 
 the work, even in its present amended form, as containing representa 
 tions which cannot be reconciled with the letter or spirit of our public 
 standards, and would solemnly admonish Mr. Barnes again to review 
 this work, to modify still further the statements which have grieved his 
 brethren, and to be more careful in time to come to study the purity 
 and peace of the Church. 
 
 " After considerable discussion, the previous question was moved and 
 carried, to put the main question. 
 
 " The main question was then put, on the adoption of the above rcso- 
 
308 VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 lution, offered by Dr. Miller, and was decided in the negative, as fol 
 lows, viz. : Yeas, 109; Nays, 122." Minutes, 1836, p. 270. 
 
 [To this action two protests were offered and entered on the Minutes. 
 The following reply of the Assembly to the protests gives the only view, 
 found on the Minutes, of the merits of the case :] 
 
 " In reply to the two protests of the minority, against the decision of 
 the Assembly in refusing to censure the first edition of Barnes s Notes 
 on the Romans, the Assembly remark : 
 
 " 1. That by their decision they do not intend to, and do not, in fact, 
 make themselves responsible for all the phraseology of Mr. Barnes ; 
 some of which is not sufficiently guarded, and is liable to be misunder 
 stood; and which we doubt not Mr. Barnes, with reference to his use 
 fulness and the peace of the Church, will modify so as to prevent, as 
 far as may be, the possibility of misconception. 
 
 "2. Much less do the Assembly adopt as doctrines, consistent with 
 our standards, and to be tolerated in our Church, the errors alleged by 
 the prosecutor, as contained in the book on the Romans. It was a 
 question of fact, whether the errors alleged are contained in the book ; 
 and by the laws of exposition, in conscientious exercise of their own 
 rights and duties, the Assembly have come to the conclusion that the 
 book does not teach the errors charged. This judgment of the Assembly 
 is based on this maxim of equity and charity, adopted by the Assembly 
 of 1824, in the case of Craighead, which is as follows, namely : * A man 
 cannot be fairly convicted of heresy for using expressions which may be 
 so interpreted as to involve heretical doctrines, if they also admit of a 
 more favorable construction. It is not right to charge any man with an 
 opinion which he disavows/ The import of this is, that when language 
 claimed to be heretical admits, without violence, of an orthodox exposi 
 tion, and the accused disclaims the alleged error, and claims as his mean 
 ing the orthodox interpretation, he is entitled to it, and it is to be re 
 garded as the true intent and import of his words. But in the case of 
 the first edition of the Notes on the Romans, the language is, without 
 violence, reconcilable with an interpretation conformable to our standards; 
 and, therefore, all the changes of phraseology which he has subsequently 
 made, and all his disclaimers before the Assembly, and all his definite 
 and unequivocal declarations of the true intent and meaning of his 
 words in the first edition, are to be taken as ascertaining his true mean 
 ing, and forbid the Assembly to condemn the book as teaching great 
 and dangerous errors. 
 
VHI. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 309 
 
 " 3. When the Assembly sustained the appeal of Mr. Barnes, by a 
 majority of thirty-eight ; and by a majority of sixty-seven removed the 
 sentence of his suspension, and restored him in good standing to the 
 ministry, it is not competent for the same judicature, by the condemna 
 tion of the book, to inflict on Mr. Barnes indirectly, but really, a sen 
 tence of condemnation, as direct in its effects, and as prostrating to his 
 character and usefulness, as if it had been done directly, by refusing to 
 sustain his appeal, and by confirming the sentence of the Synod of Phi 
 ladelphia; and what this Assembly has declared that it cannot in equity 
 do directly, it cannot, in equity or consistency, attempt to do indirectly. 
 
 " 4. The proposed condemnation of Mr. Barnes s book, as containing 
 errors materially at variance with the doctrines of our standards, after 
 sustaining his appeal, and restoring him to good standing in the minis 
 try, would be a direct avowal that great and dangerous errors may be 
 published and maintained with impunity in the Church. For if the 
 book does in fact inculcate such errors, it were wrong to attempt to de 
 stroy the book and spare the man. If the charges are real, they are 
 not accidental. Therefore, should the Assembly decide the alleged 
 errors of the book to be real, it would, by its past decision, declare that 
 a man suspended for great and pernicious errors, may be released from 
 censure, and restored to an unembarrassed standing in the ministry; a 
 decision to which this Assembly can never give its sanction. 
 
 " 5. The attempt to condemn Mr. Barnes, by a condemnation of his 
 book, after he had been acquitted on a hearing on charges wholly 
 founded on the book, is a violation of the fundamental maxim of law, 
 that no man shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offence; and if 
 it were otherwise, and the man might be tried in his person, and tried 
 on his book, the same process of specification and defence is due to per 
 sonal and public justice. 
 
 il 6. So far is the Assembly from countenancing the errors alleged in 
 the charges of Dr. Jnnkin, that they do cordially and ex ammo adopt 
 the Confession of our Church, on the points of doctrine in question, 
 according to the obvious and most prevalent interpretation, and do regard 
 it, as a whole, as the best epitome of the doctrines of the Bible ever 
 formed. And this Assembly disavows any desire, and would deprecate 
 any attempt, to change the phraseology of our standards, and would 
 disapprove of any language of light estimation applied to them ; believing 
 that no denomination can prosper whose members permit themselves to 
 
310 Till. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 speak slightly of its formularies of doctrine ; and are ready to unite with 
 their brethren in contending earnestly for the faith of our standards. 
 
 " 7. The correctness of the preceding positions is confirmed, in the 
 opinion of the Assembly, by a careful analysis of the real meaning of 
 Mr. Barnes under each charge, as ascertained by the language of his 
 book, and the revisions, disclaimers, explanations, and declarations which 
 he has made. 
 
 " In respect to the first charge, that Mr. Barnes teaches that all sin is 
 voluntary, the context and his own declarations show that he refers to 
 all actual sin merely, in which he affirms the sinner acts under no com 
 pulsion. 
 
 " The second charge implies neither heresy nor errors, but relates to 
 the expression of an opinion on a matter, concerning which no definite 
 instruction is contained, either in the Bible or in the Confession of 
 Faith. 
 
 " In respect to the third charge, Mr. Barnes has not taught that un- 
 
 regenerate men are able, in the sense alleged, to keep the command 
 
 ments, and convert themselves to God. It is an inference of the pro 
 
 secutor from the doctrine of natural ability, as taught by Edwards, and 
 
 of the natural liberty of the will, as taught in the Confession of Faith, 
 
 chap, ix, sec. 1. On the contrary, he does teach in accordance with our 
 
 . standards, that man, bjrthejfkllj hath wholly lost all ability of will to 
 
 --- any spiritual good accompanying salvation. 
 
 *" / "In respect to the fourth charge, that faith is an act of the mind, 
 
 Mr. Barnes does teach it in accordance with the Confession of Faith 
 
 1/vA r i and the Bible ; but he does not deny that faith is a fruit of the special 
 
 *s Wff-^fnfluence of the Spirit, and a permanent holy habit of mind, in opposi- 
 
 - , tion to a created physical essence. That faith f is counted for righteous- 
 
 / >-p n ess/ is the language of the Bible, and, as used by Mr. Barnes, means, 
 
 not that faith is the meritorious ground of justification, but only the 
 
 ti*** instrument by which the benefit of Christ s righteousness is appro- 
 
 ?W - P riatedl 
 
 " In respect to the fifth charge, Mr. Barnes nowhere denies, much 
 
 less sneers at the idea that Adam was the covenant and federal head 
 of his posterity. On the contrary, though he employs not these terms, 
 
 in other language, teach the same truths which are taught by 
 ^s\ ex... ^this phraseology. 
 
 "In respect to the sixth and seventh charges, that the sin of Adam 
 . is not imputed to his posterity, and that mankind are not guilty or liable 
 
 /- \^lt~ ~- w- , ^ - - r / C> 
 
 wv A^, ^ c^- f~ .<? A rt^/^ 
 
 -^? ^ 
 
 /r<U <^ (X^ Vv^ A* ^ 0^7 J- 5 ^ 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 3 LJt 
 
 // $. 
 
 to punishment on account of the first sin of Adam, it is to be observed, 
 that it is not taught in the Confession of Faith that the sin of Adam is 
 imputed to his posterity. The imputation of the guilt" of Adam s sin, 
 Mr. Barnes affirms, though not as including personal identity and the 
 transfer of moral qualities, both of which are disclaimed by our standard 
 writers, and by the General Assembly. 
 
 " In respect to the eighth charge, that Christ did not suffer the 
 
 i c / . g> 
 
 penalty of the law, as the vicarious substitute of his people, Mr. Barnes >v x . 
 only denies the literal infliction of the whole curse, as including remorse v\ 
 of conscience and eternal death ; but admits and teaches, that the suffer 
 ings of Christ, owing to the union of the divine and human natures in ^ 
 the person of the Mediator, were a full equivalent. ^ 
 
 " In respect to the ninth charge, that the righteousness of Christ is ^ 
 not imputed to his people, Mr. Barnes teaches the imputation of the *~* 
 righteousness of Christ, but not as importing a transfer of Christ s per- y 
 sonal righteousness to believers, which is not the doctrine of our Church. 
 And when he says, that there is no sense in which the righteousness of 
 Christ becomes ours, the context and his own declarations show that he 
 simply means to deny a literal transfer of his obedience ; which, on the^ 
 contrary, he teaches is so imputed or set to our account as to become, ^ ^ 
 the only meritorious cause or ground of our justification. > .. 
 
 11 In respect to the tenth charge, Mr. Barnes has not taught that justi- ffc^ 
 fication consists in pardon only; but has taught clearly that it includes^,***.) ^ 
 the reception of believers into favor, and their treatment as if they hadA- &i* 
 not sinned." Minutes, 1836, pp. 287-289. 
 
 8. Testimony against certain Disorders and Irregularities. 
 
 "Whereas, It is represented to the Assembly, that the following disV4 "*~ v 
 orders and irregularities are practised in some portions of the Presby"* 
 terian Church, the Assembly, without determining the extent of them,/ 
 would solemnly warn all in our connection against them. They are as .T 
 follows, viz. : 
 
 "1. The formation of Presbyteries without defined and reasonable 
 limits, or Presbyteries covering the same territory, and especially such a 
 formation founded on doctrinal repulsions or affinities, thus introducing ; 
 schism into the very vitals of the body. 
 
 "2. The licensing of persons to preach the Gospel, and the ordaining../ , . .. 
 to the office of the ministry such as not only accept of our standards ( /M _ \ 
 
 fi 
 
 /// 
 
 fi~i J-f 
 
312 VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 merely for substance of doctrine, and others who are unfit and ought to 
 be excluded for want of qualification, but of many even who openly deny 
 fundamental principles of truth, and preach and publish radical errors, 
 as already set forth. 
 
 "3. The formation of a great multitude and variety of creeds, which 
 are often incomplete, false, and contradictory of each other, and of our 
 Confession of Faith and the Bible j but which, even if true, are needless, 
 seeing that the public and authorized standards of the Church are fully 
 sufficient for the purposes for which such formularies were introduced, 
 namely, as public testimonies of our faith and practice, as aids to the 
 teaching of the people truth and righteousness, and as instruments for 
 ascertaining and preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, 
 it being understood that we do not object to the use of a brief abstract 
 of the doctrines of our Confession of Faith in the public reception of 
 private members of the Church. 
 
 " 4. The needless ordination of a multitude of men to the office of 
 Evangelist, and the consequent tendency to a general neglect of the 
 pastoral office ; frequent and hurtful changes of pastoral relations ; to the 
 multiplication of spurious excitements, and the consequent spread of 
 heresy and fanaticism, thus weakening and bringing into contempt the 
 ordinary and stated agents and means for the conversion of sinners, and 
 the edification of the body of Christ. 
 
 " 5. The disuse of the office of Ruling Elder in portions of the Church, 
 and the consequent growth of practices and principles entirely foreign 
 to our system ; thus depriving the pastors of needful assistants in disci 
 pline, the people of proper guides in Christ, and the churches of suitable 
 representatives in the ecclesiastical tribunals. 
 
 " 6. The unlimited and irresponsible power assumed by several asso 
 ciations of men under various names, to exercise authority and influence, 
 direct and indirect, over Presbyteries, as to their field of labor, place of 
 residence, and mode of action in the difficult circumstances of our 
 Church j thus actually throwing the control of affairs, in large portions 
 of the Church, and sometimes in the General Assembly itself, out of 
 the hands of the Presbyteries into those of single individuals or small 
 committees, located at a distance/ Minutes^ 1837, p. 471. 
 
 9. Testimony against Doctrinal Errors. 
 
 " As one of the principal objects of the memorialists is to point out 
 certain errors, more or less prevalent in our Church, and to bear testi- 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 313 
 
 mony against them, your committee are of opinion, that as one great 
 object of the institution of the Church was to be a depository and guar 
 dian of the truth ; and as, by the Constitution of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States, it is made the duty of the General Assem 
 bly to testify against error, therefore 
 
 " Resolved, That the testimony of the memorialists concerning doctrine 
 be adopted as the testimony of this General Assembly (with a few verbal 
 alterations), which is as follows : 
 
 "1. That God would have prevented the existence of sin in our 
 world, but was not able without destroying the moral agency of man ; 
 or that, for aught that appears in the Bible to the contrary, sin is inci 
 dental to any wise moral system. 
 
 " 2. That election to eternal life is founded on a foresight of faith and 
 obedience. 
 
 "3. That we have no more to do with the first sin of Adam than with 
 the sins of any other parent. 
 
 "4. That infants come into the world as free from moral defilement 
 as was Adam, when he was created. 
 
 "5. That infants sustain the same relation to the moral government 
 of God in this world as brute animals, and that their sufferings and 
 death are to be accounted for, on the same principles as those of brutes, 
 and not by any means to be considered as penal. 
 
 " 6. That there is no other original sin than the fact that all the pos 
 terity of Adam, though by nature innocent, or possessed of no moral 
 character, will always begin to sin when they begin to exercise moral 
 agency ; that original sin does not include a sinful bias of the human 
 mind, and a just exposure to penal suffering; and that there is no evi 
 dence in Scripture, that infants, in order to salvation, do need redemp 
 tion by the blood of Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Ghost. 
 
 " 7. That the doctrine of imputation, whether of the guilt of Adam s 
 sin, or of the righteousness of Christ, has no foundation in the word of 
 God, and is both unjust and absurd. 
 
 "8. That the sufferings and death of Christ were not truly vicarious 
 and penal, but symbolical, governmental, and instructive only. 
 
 "9. That the impenitent sinner is, by nature, and independently of 
 the renewing influence or almighty energy of the Holy Spirit, in full 
 possession of all the ability necessary to a full compliance with all the 
 commands of God. 
 
314 VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 "10. That Christ does not intercede for the elect until after their 
 regeneration. 
 
 "11. That saving faith is not an effect of the special operation of the 
 Holy Spirit, but a mere rational belief of the truth, or assent to the word 
 of God. 
 
 " 12. That regeneration is the act of the sinner himself, arid that it 
 consists in a change of his governing purpose, which he himself must 
 produce, and which is the result, not of any direct influence of the Holy 
 Spirit on the heart, but chiefly of a persuasive exhibition of the truth, 
 analogous to the influence which one man exerts over the mind of ano 
 ther; or that regeneration is not an instantaneous act, but a progressive 
 work. 
 
 "13. That God has done all that lie can do for the salvation of all 
 men, and that man himself must do the rest. 
 
 "14. That God cannot exert such influence on the minds of men, as 
 shall make it certain that they will choose and act in a particular manner 
 without impairing their moral agency. 
 
 "15. That the righteousness of Christ is not the sole ground of the 
 sinner s acceptance with God ; and that in no sense does the righteous 
 ness of Christ become ours. 
 
 "16. That the reason why some differ from others in regard to their 
 reception of the Gospel is, that they make themselves to differ. 
 
 " Against all these errors, whenever and wherever, and by whomsoever 
 taught, the Assembly would solemnly testify ; and would warn all in 
 connection with the Presbyterian Church against them. They would 
 also enjoin it upon all the inferior judicatories to adopt all suitable 
 measures to keep their members pure from opinions so dangerous. 
 Especially does the Assembly earnestly enjoin on all the Presbyteries to 
 guard with great care the door of entrance to the sacred office. Nor 
 can the Assembly regard as consistent with ministerial ordination vows, 
 an unwillingness to disciplie according to the rules of the word of God 
 and of our standards, any person already a teacher, who may give cur 
 rency to the foregoing errors. Yeas, 109; Nays, 6; non liquct, 11." 
 Minutes, 1837, pp. 468, 470. 
 
 10. An explication of Doctrines. 
 
 [The following final article of a protest on the general action of the 
 Assembly in reference to the "Memorial," was ordered to be placed 
 upon the minutes, viz. :] 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 315 
 
 " We protest finally, because, in view of all the circumstances of the 
 case, we feel that while we were prevented from uniting in the final vote 
 with the majority in their testimony against error, for the reasons above 
 stated, we owe it to ourselves, to our brethren, to the Church, and to the 
 world, to declare and protest, that it is not because we do, directly or 
 indirectly, hold or countenance the errors stated. We are willing to 
 bear our testimony in full against them, and now do so, when, without 
 misapprehension and liability to have our vote misconstrued, we avow 
 our real sentiments, and contrast them with the errors condemned, 
 styling them, as we believe, the true doctrine, in opposition to the 
 erroneous doctrine condemned, as follows, viz. : 
 
 "First Error. That God would have prevented the existence of sin 
 in our world, but was not able, without destroying the moral agency of 
 man; or, that for aught that appears in the Bible to the contrary, sin is 
 incidental to any wise moral system/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. God permitted the introduction of sin, not because 
 he was unable to prevent it, consistently with the moral freedom of his 
 creatures, but for wise and benevolent reasons which he has not revealed. 
 
 "Second Error. That election to eternal life is founded on a fore 
 sight of faith and obedience/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. Election to eternal life is not founded on a foresight 
 of faith and obedience, but is a sovereign act of God s mercy, whereby, 
 according to the council of his own will, he hath chosen some to salva 
 tion; yet so as thereby neither is violence offered to the will of the 
 creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, 
 but rather established ; nor does this gracious purpose ever take effect 
 independently of faith and a holy life. 
 
 " Third Error. That we have no more to do with the first sin of 
 Adam than with the sins of any other parent/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. By a divine constitution, Adam was so the head 
 and representative of the race, that, as , consequence of his trans 
 gression, all mankind became morally corrupt, and liable to death, 
 temporal and eternal. 
 
 "Fourth Error. That infants come into the world as free from moral 
 defilement as was Adam when he was created/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. Adam was created in the image of God, endowed 
 with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Infants come into 
 the world, not only destitute of these, but with a nature inclined to evil, 
 and only evil. 
 
. 
 
 /& 
 
 Y ,< /. - *<0 
 
 ^. AX*^^- - f *- f " ^7 t-fc*^^ - 
 
 W- /? 2^/V V"^-~- 
 
 fr 
 
 "Fifth Error. That infants sustain the same relation to the moral 
 government of God, in this world, as brute animals, and that their 
 sufferings and death are to be accounted for on the same principles as 
 those of brutes, and not by any means to be considered as penal. 
 ** ** True Doctrine. Brute animals sustain no such relation to the moral 
 government of God as does the human family. Infants are a part of the 
 human family; and their sufferings and death are to be accounted for, 
 n the ground of their being involved in the general moral ruin of the 
 race induced by the apostacy. 
 
 " Sixth Error. l That there is no other original sin than the fact, that 
 all the posterity of Adam, though by nature innocent, will always begin 
 to sin when they begin to exercise moral agency; that original sin does 
 not include a sinful bias of the human mind, and a just exposure to 
 penal suffering; and that there is no evidence in Scripture, that infants, 
 in order to salvation, do need redemption by the blood of Christ, and 
 regeneration by the Holy Ghost. 
 
 " True Doctrine. Original sin is a natural bias to evil, resulting from 
 the first apostasy, leading invariably and certainly to actual transgression. 
 And all infants, as well as adults, in order to be saved, need redemption 
 by the blood of Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Ghost. 
 
 "Seventh Error. That the doctrine of imputation, whether of the 
 guilt of Adam s sin, or of the righteousness of Christ, has no foundation 
 in the word of God, and is both unjust and absurd/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. The sin of Adam is not imputed to his posterity in 
 the sense of a literal transfer of personal qualities, acts, and demerit; 
 but by reason of the sin of Adam, in his peculiar relation, the race are 
 treated as if they had sinned. Nor is the righteousness of Christ im 
 puted to his people in the sense of a literal transfer of personal qualities, 
 acts, and merit; but by reason of his righteousness, in his peculiar rela 
 tion, they are treated as if they were righteous. 
 
 "Eighth Error. That the sufferings and death of Christ were not 
 truly vicarious and penal, but symbolical, governmental, and instructive 
 only. 
 
 " True Doctrine. The sufferings and death of Christ were not sym 
 bolical, governmental, and instructive only, but were truly vicarious, 
 i. e., a substitute for the punishment due to transgressors. And while 
 Christ did not suffer the literal penalty of the law, involving remorse 
 of conscience and the pains of hell, he did offer a sacrifice which infinite 
 wisdom saw to be a full equivalent. And by virtue of this atonement, 
 
VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 317 
 
 overtures of mercy are sincerely made to the race, and salvation secured 
 to all who believe. 
 
 "Ninth Error. That the impenitent sinner is by nature, and inde 
 pendently of the renewing influence or almighty energy of the Holy 
 Spirit, in full possession of all the ability necessary to a full compliance 
 with all the commands of God/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. While sinners have all the faculties necessary to a 
 perfect moral agency and a just accountability, such is their love of sin 
 and opposition to God and his law, that, independently of the renewing 
 influence or almighty energy of the Holy Spirit, they never will comply 
 with the commands of God. 
 
 " Tenth Error. i That Christ does not intercede for the elect until 
 after their regeneration. 
 
 " True Doctrine. The intercession of Christ for the elect is previous 
 as well as subsequent to their regeneration, as appears from the follow 
 ing Scripture, viz. : 1 1 pray not for the world, but for them which thou 
 hast given me, for they are thine. Neither pray I for these alone, but 
 for them also which shall believe on me through their word/ 
 
 "Eleventh Error. i That saving faith is not an effect of the operations 
 of the Holy Spirit, but a mere rational belief of the truth or assent to 
 the word of God/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. Saving faith is an intelligent and cordial assent to 
 the testimony of God concerning his Son, implying reliance on Christ 
 alone for pardon and eternal life ; and in all cases it is an effect of the 
 special operations of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 " Twelfth Error. l That regeneration is the act of the sinner himself, 
 and that it consists in change of his governing purpose, which he him 
 self must produce, and which is the result, not of any direct influence 
 of the Holy Spirit on the heart, but chiefly of a persuasive exhibition 
 of the truth, analogous to the influence which one man exerts over the 
 mind of another; or that regeneration is not an instantaneous act, but 
 a progressive work/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. Regeneration is a radical change of heart, produced 
 by the special operations of the Holy Spirit, determining the sinner to 
 that which is good/ and is in all cases instantaneous. 
 
 " Thirteenth Error. That God has done all that he can do for the 
 salvation of all men, and that man himself must do the rest/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. While repentance for sin and faith in Christ are 
 indispensable to salvation, all who are saved are indebted from first to 
 
318 VIII. DELIVERANCES ON DOCTRINE. 
 
 last to the grace and Spirit of God. And the reason that God does not 
 save all, is not that he wants the power to do it, but that in his wisdom 
 he does not see fit to exert that power further than he actually does. 
 
 "Fourteenth Error. That God cannot exert such influence on the 
 minds of men, as shall make it certain that they will choose and act in 
 a particular manner, without impairing their moral agency/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. While the liberty of the will is not impaired, nor 
 the established connection betwixt means and end broken by any action 
 of God on the mind, he can influence it according to his pleasure, and 
 does effectually determine it to good in all cases of true conversion. 
 
 "Fifteenth Error. That the righteousness of Christ is not the sole 
 ground of the sinner s acceptance with God; and that in no sense does 
 the righteousness of Christ become ours/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. All believers are justified, not on the ground of 
 personal merit, but solely on the ground of the obedience and death, or, 
 in other words, the righteousness of Christ. And while that righteous 
 ness does not become theirs, in the sense of a literal transfer of personal 
 qualities and merit ; yet, from respect to it, God can and does treat 
 them as if they were righteous. 
 
 "Sixteenth Error. i That the reason why some differ from others in 
 regard to their reception of the Gospel is, that they make themselves to 
 differ/ 
 
 " True Doctrine. While all such as reject the Gospel of Christ do it, 
 not by coercion, but freely and all who embrace it do it, not by coercion, 
 but freely the reason why some differ from others is that God has made 
 them to differ. 
 
 " GEORGE DUFFIELD, F. W. GRAVES, 
 
 "E. W. GILBERT, OBADIAH WOODRUFF, 
 
 "THOMAS BROWN, N. C. CLARK, 
 
 "BLiss BURNAP, ROBERT STUART, 
 
 "N. S. S. BEMAN, NAHUM GOULD, 
 
 " E. CHEEVER, ABSALOM PETERS, 
 
 "E. SEYMOUR, ALEXANDER CAMPBELL." 
 
 "GEORGE PAINTER, 
 
 Minutes, 1837, pp. 484-486. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 SECTION 1. ON DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 
 
 I. The earliest missionary appointments temporary. 2. Missionaries appointed 
 to itinerate for some months. 3. Ministers sent out to organize churches, ordain 
 elders, administer the ordinances, and instruct the people. 4. Candidates sent 
 out on missionary duty. 5. Plan of missions adopted by the Assembly. 6. 
 Operation of the plan. 7. Leave granted in special cases to the Synods to pro 
 secute their own missionary work. 8. The work resumed by the Assembly. 
 9. Collections ordered. They may not be prohibited by a church Session. 10. 
 The Assembly refuse to exempt a Presbytery from contributing to its funds; as, 
 also, to appropriate their own funds. 11. Instructions of the missionaries. 
 Form of commission. 12. Kind of men required as missionaries, and their 
 duties. 13. "Standing Committee on Missions ; : its duties. 14. Its powers 
 enlarged, and its name changed to "The Board of Missions." 15. Recom 
 mendations to raise funds, and to furnish men. 16. Powers of the Board en 
 larged and defined. 17. Proposal to unite with the American Home Missionary 
 Society. Any change in the Assembly s mode of conducting missions inexpe 
 dient. 18. The Board is not the judge of the orthodoxy or morality of a mi 
 nister. 19. Action of the Assemblies, 1837, 1838, 1849, with regard to the 
 American Home Missionary Society. 20. A " Standing Committee on Home 
 Missions" appointed. 21. History of the subsequent relation to and intercourse 
 with the American Home Missionary Society. Committee of Conference. 
 
 1. The earliest Missionary Appointments, temporary. 
 
 " A representation being made by some of our members of the earnest 
 desire of some Protestant dissenting families in Virginia, together with 
 a comfortable prospect of the increase of our interest there, the Synod 
 have appointed that Mr. Hugh Conn, Mr. John Orme, and Mr. William 
 Stewart, do each of them severally visit said people, and preach four 
 
320 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 Sabbaths to them, between this and the next Synod/ 7 Minutes, 1722, 
 p. 74. 
 
 " Mr. Hugh Conn, John Orme, and William Stewart, fulfilled their 
 appointments with respect to Virginia." Minutes, 1723, p. 70. 
 
 [The same year the same appointments were again made. Vide 
 Minutes, passim.~\ 
 
 2. Itinerant Missionaries appointed, temporary. 
 
 " Ordered, That Messrs. McWhorter, Kirkpatrick, and Latta, take a 
 journey to Virginia and Carolina, as soon as they can, this summer or 
 ensuing fall, and spend some months in those parts. 
 
 " The Synod, further considering the destitute condition of Hanover, 
 and the uncertainty of their being supplied, if supplies are left to their 
 own discretion respecting the time of their going to Virginia, do order 
 that Mr. Kirkpatrick prepare for his journey, so as to be at Hanover the 
 third Sabbath of July, at the furthest, and supply there for some time, 
 according to the order of that Presbytery; that Mr. McWhorter be at 
 Hanover the first of September ; that Mr. Latta be there the first of 
 November, at the furthest; and that the Presbyteries of Philadelphia 
 and New Brunswick take care that these gentlemen fulfil this appoint 
 ment, and neither prescribe nor allow them employment in our bounds, 
 so as to disappoint this our good intention." Minutes, 1759, p. 293. 
 
 [Appointments of this kind are found on the Minutes of almost every 
 year.] 
 
 3. Ministers sent to organize Churches, ordain Elders, c. 
 
 " The Synod, more particularly considering the state of many congre 
 gations to the southward, and particularly North Carolina, and the great 
 importance of having those congregations properly organized, appoint 
 the Rev. Messrs. Elihu Spencer and Alexander McWhorter to go as 
 our missionaries for that purpose ; that they form societies, help them 
 in adjusting their bounds, ordain elders, administer sealing ordinances, 
 instruct the people in discipline, and finally direct them in their after- 
 conduct ; particularly in what manner they shall proceed to obtain the 
 stated ministry, and whatever else may appear useful or necessary for 
 those churches, and the future settlement of the Gospel among them. 
 And also, that they assure those people wherever they go ; that this 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 321 
 
 Synod has their interest much at heart, and will neglect no opportu 
 nities of affonding them proper candidates and supplies to the utmost of 
 our power. 
 
 " Ordered, That the clerk give said missionaries an attested copy of 
 this minute, and proper testimonials, signed by the moderator and clerk. 
 
 "And that these brethren may not suffer by so long and expensive a 
 journey, the Synod agree to defray their expenses, and make them a 
 proper acknowledgment for the damages they may sustain in their do 
 mestic affairs ; and for this purpose a collection is ordered through our 
 bounds, and each Presbytery required to see it be duly observed." 
 Minutes, 1764, p. 340. 
 
 [These gentlemen being pastors, Synod made arrangements for the 
 supply of their pulpits in their absence.] 
 
 4. Candidates sent on Missionary Service. 
 
 a. "The Synod appoint Messrs. Enoch Green and William Tennent, 
 Jr., to go as soon as they conveniently can, so as they defer it no longer 
 than next October, to supply six months under the direction of Hanover 
 Presbytery." Minutes, 1762, p. 320. 
 
 I). " The Synod find that many of their candidates do not attend their 
 meetings, and for this reason many of their appointments are not ful 
 filled. They judge that candidates should constantly attend their re 
 spective Presbyteries, and, as often as they can conveniently, they should 
 attend our Synods. 
 
 "They therefore recommend it to all our Presbyteries to propose one 
 or more of their candidates, as persons that they think proper to be sent 
 to preach to our frontier settlements ; and that they let these candidates 
 know that they intend to propose them as such to the Synod, that so our 
 Synodical appointments may be more punctually fulfilled, and that no 
 candidate, without very weighty reasons, presume to break our appoint 
 ments." Minutes, 1763, p. 325. 
 
 [Such appointments occur thenceforward with great frequency.] 
 
 [On the formation of the General Assembly, the subject of missions 
 became one of the first subjects of action.] 
 
 5. Plan of Missions adopted. 
 
 " The Committee of Bills and Overtures overture, that the state of 
 the frontier settlements should be taken into consideration, and mission- 
 
 21 
 
322 ix. ON MODES or EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 arics sent to them, to form them into congregations, ordain elders, admi 
 nister the sacraments, and direct them to the best measures,. for obtaining 
 the Gospel ministry regularly among them/ 
 
 " The committee [Drs. Allison and S. S. Smith] appointed to devise 
 measures to carry the mission to the frontiers into execution, made the 
 following report, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That each of the Synods be, and are hereby requested to 
 recommend to the Greneral Assembly, at their next meeting, two mem 
 bers, well qualified, to be employed in missions on our frontiers, for the 
 purpose of organizing churches, administering ordinances, ordaining 
 elders, collecting information concerning the religious state of those 
 parts, and proposing the best means of establishing a Gospel ministry 
 among the people. 
 
 " And in order to provide means for defraying the necessary expenses 
 of the mission, it is strictly enjoined on the several Presbyteries, to have 
 collections made during the present year, in the several congregations 
 under our care, and forwarded to Isaac Snowden, Esq., the Treasurer of 
 the General Assembly, with all convenient speed/ Minutes, 1789, 
 p. 10. 
 
 6. Operation of the Plan. 
 
 a. "Dr. Rodgers, Dr. Allison, Mr. Ker, Mr. Haima, and Mr. Cham 
 bers were appointed a committee to prepare certain directions necessary 
 for the missionaries of the Assembly, in fulfilling the design of their 
 mission, and to specify the compensation that it will be proper to make 
 them for their services, and to make report to-morrow morning." 
 Minutes, 1790, p. 23. 
 
 l>. "The Committee of Missions brought in their report, which was 
 read and approved, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " The llev. Messrs. Nathan Ker and Joshua Hart were appointed 
 missionaries on the frontier settlements of New York and Pennsylvania, 
 to the west branch of the Susquehanna, for at least three months, from 
 an early day in June, to preach the Gospel, administer other ordinances, 
 organize churches, ordain elders, collect every useful information they 
 can about the religious state of those parts, and lay before the Assembly 
 the result of their inquiries respecting the most effectual means of esta 
 blishing the Gospel ministry among the people ; together with the 
 probable proportion of the different denominations, and the number of 
 our vacancies, carefully distinguishing those who are able and willing 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 323 
 
 to support a minister from such as arc of a different description. It 
 was at the same time 
 
 " Ordered, That the Treasurer advance to the missionaries fifty dollars 
 each ; and agreed that they shall receive for their services one hundred 
 dollars each, including what may be received by them on their tour, and 
 the sum advanced before their departure, and of this they are to render 
 an account at their return." Minutes, 1790, p. 26. 
 
 7. Leave granted the Synods in special Cases, to prosecute thei 
 
 own 
 
 Missionary work. 
 
 a. [Leave was granted the Synod of the Carolinas "to manage the 
 matter of sending missionaries to places destitute of the Gospel" within 
 their bounds, they reporting annually to the Assembly, an account of 
 their proceedings, moneys raised, &c.] Minutes, 1791, p. 38; 1792, 
 p. 59.] 
 
 "Resolved, That the Synod of the Carolinas be authorized and re 
 quested to continue and conduct, with their wonted zeal and diligence, 
 the missionary business on their frontiers and elsewhere at discretion, 
 and report to next Assembly." Minutes, 1803, p. 265. 
 
 I. [The Synod of Virginia also had liberty to conduct their own 
 missions. Minutes, 1791, p. 44, 45; 1793, p. 67, &c. This right they 
 proposed to resign (Minutes, 1807, p. 377); but the Assembly de 
 clined. Minutes, 1807, p. 380.] 
 
 8. The work resumed by the Assembly. 
 
 "An overture was received from the Synod of the Carolinas, re 
 questing the General Assembly to take upon them the direction of the 
 missionary business within their bounds. This overture being read, it 
 was 
 
 "Resolved, That the request of the Synod be granted." Minutes, 
 1812, p. 508. 
 
 9. Collections ordered. They may not be prohibited by a Church Session. 
 
 a. " Ordered, That every minister, according to our former agree 
 ment, propose the collection for the fund to his congregation, and as it 
 is a synodical appointment, it is inconsistent with our Church govern- 
 
324 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 ment to be under the check or prohibition of a church session they 
 indeed may give or withhold their charity, but may not prevent a 
 minister to propose it publicly, according to our appointment. Ordered, 
 likewise, That every Presbytery take care of the conduct of their 
 members, how they observe this agreement previous to their coming to 
 the Synod, and that they gather the collection from absent members/ 
 Minutes, 1755, p. 215. 
 
 b. " Whereas, it appears that some of the congregations under the 
 care of this Assembly, though duly informed of the injunction made at 
 our last sessions respecting the raising of contributions for the support 
 of missionaries to the frontiers of the country, have not complied with 
 the same, the Assembly, therefore, thought proper to continue the 
 above-mentioned order, and do hereby enjoin it on all the Presbyteries 
 to give particular attention that every congregation raise the specified 
 contribution ; and that all the contributions be sent forward, as soon as 
 possible, to the Treasurer of the General Assembly." Minutes, 1790, 
 p. 24. 
 
 10. The Assembly refuse to exempt a Presbytery from Contributing to 
 its Funds, as also leave to Appropriate their own Funds. 
 
 a. " The Assembly took into consideration that part of the communi 
 cation from the Presbytery of Oneida, wherein they pray that the 
 churches under the care of that Presbytery may be exempted from 
 pecuniary contributions to the funds of the Assembly. On motion, it 
 was 
 
 "Resolved, That the request be not granted." Minutes, 1803, p. 279. 
 
 b. "The committee to whom was referred the request of the Presby 
 tery of Oneida, that they be permitted to appropriate their own funds 
 collected for missionary purposes, submitted the following resolution, 
 which was adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, That the Presbytery of Oneida be again referred to the 
 plan proposed by the Board of Missions, and approved by this Assembly, 
 with instructions to conform to the same on the subject of their re 
 quest." Minutes, 1820, p. 733. 
 
 11. Instructions of the Missionaries ; Form of Commission. 
 
 " The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America, now sitting at Carlisle, reposing confidence in your 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 325 
 
 piety, prudence, and abilities for the important business, do hereby 
 appoint you one of their missionaries. 
 
 " In discharge of the trust committed to you, much must be left to 
 your discretion. But the General Assembly, viewing with concern the 
 state of our frontiers and other settlements, destitute of the regular 
 administration of the worship and ordinances of God, and desirous to 
 do all in their power to extend the blessings to be derived from the 
 means of grace, confidently expect that you will faithfully preach the 
 Gospel, administer its ordinances, organize churches, and ordain elders ; 
 doing all these things according to the word of God, and the standards 
 of our Church, contained in our Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter 
 Catechisms, the Government and Discipline, and Directory for the 
 Worship of God : commending you to the grace and protection of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, we wish abundant success to your mission. 
 
 " Of your diligence wherein, of the state of religion, and of society, of 
 the most probable means of establishing the Gospel in these parts, with 
 every useful and necessary information, you will give an account to the 
 next General Assembly. 
 
 Attested, - ( Clerks of Assembly. 
 
 (.-" ~~ 3 
 
 Signed, Moderator. 
 
 Minutes, 1795, p. 103. 
 
 12. Kind of Men required as Missionaries) and their Duties. 
 
 " The Committee on Missions beg leave to report, that they ought to 
 be conducted by men of ability, piety, zeal, prudence, and popular talents. 
 That missionaries should preach the most important doctrines of grace 
 during the short period which they can afford to stay in a particular 
 place. That they organize churches where opportunity offers, and 
 administer ordinances. And that they catechize and instruct from house 
 to house, as far as practicable, when they remain for any length of time 
 in a settlement. That they refrain from all political and party discus 
 sions of any kind, and, with the self-denial of their Master, be wholly 
 devoted to their ministry, and exemplary in their lives and conversation. 
 That, in keeping their journals, they distinctly record the subjects on 
 which they preach, and the apparent effect on their hearers." Minutes, 
 1798, p. 150. [See also Minutes, 1799, pp. 183, 184.] 
 
326 ix. ON MODES or EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 13. Standing Committee of Missions appointed ; its Duties. 
 
 "1. Resolved, That a committee be chosen annually by the General 
 Assembly, to be denominated The Standing Committee of Missions. 
 That the committee shall consist of seven members, of whom four shall 
 be clergymen and three laymen ; that a majority of this committee shall 
 be a quorum to do business; that it shall be the duty of this committee 
 to collect, during the recess of the Assembly, all the information in their 
 power relative to the concerns of missions and missionaries ; to digest 
 this information, and report thereon at each meeting of the Assembly; 
 to designate the places where, and to specify the periods during which, 
 the missionaries should be employed ; to correspond with them if neces 
 sary, and with oil other persons on missionary business ; to nominate 
 missionaries to the Assembly, and report the number which the funds 
 will permit to be employed ; to hear the reports of the missionaries, and 
 make a statement thereon to the Assembly, relative to the diligence, 
 fidelity, and success of the missionaries, the sums due to each, and such 
 parts of their reports as it may be proper for the Assembly to hear in 
 detail; to ascertain annually whether any money remains with the 
 trustees of the College of New Jersey which ought to be used fur mis 
 sionary purposes, agreeably to the last will of James Leslie, deceased ; 
 that they also engage a suitable person annually to preach a missionary 
 sermon, on the Monday evening next after the opening of the General 
 Assembly, at which a collection shall be made for the support of mis 
 sions ; and superintend generally, under the direction of the Assembly, 
 the missionary business. 
 
 " 2. Resolved, That although this standing committee shall be elected 
 annually, yet each committee shall continue in office till the end of the 
 sessions of that Assembly which succeeds the one by which the said 
 committee was chosen. 
 
 " 3. Resolved, That this Standing Committee of Missions, in addition 
 to the duties above specified, shall be, and they hereby are, empowered 
 to direct the trustees of the General Assembly, during the recess of the 
 Assembly, to issue warrants for any sums of money which may become 
 due, in consequence of contracts, appropriations, or assignments of duty 
 made by the Assembly, and for which orders may not have been issued 
 by the Assembly; and on this subject the committee shall report 
 annually to the Assembly." Minutes, 1802, pp. 257, 258. 
 
 "4. Rewlved, That it be again solemnly enjoined on all the Pres- 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 327 
 
 byteries and Synods within the bounds of the General Assembly on no 
 account to interfere with the instructions given by the Committee of 
 
 Missions to missionaries/ Minutes, 1809, p. 427. 
 
 i 
 
 14. Standing Committee enlarged in its Powers, and its style changed 
 to "The Board of Missions." 
 
 u The committee appointed to consider whether the missionary busi 
 ness cannot be carried on with more efficacy, and to greater extent, 
 reported ; and their report, being amended, was adopted, and is as fol 
 lows, viz. : 
 
 ^ * * * # ^K * X< 
 
 " For the purpose of enlarging the sphere of our missionary operations, 
 then, and infusing new vigor into the cause, your committee would 
 respectfully recommend a change of the style, and enlargement of the 
 powers, of the Standing Committee of Missions. If, instead of con 
 tinuing to this body the character of a committee, bound, in all cases, to 
 act according to the instructions of the General Assembly, and under 
 the necessity of receiving its sanction to give validity to all the measures 
 which it may propose, the Committee of Missions were erected into a 
 board, with full powers to transact all the business of the missionary 
 cause, only requiring the board to report annually to the General Assem 
 bly, it would then be able to carry on the missionary business with all 
 the vigor and unity of design that would be found in a society originated 
 for that purpose, and, at the same time, would enjoy all the benefit that 
 the counsel and advice of the General Assembly could afford. With 
 these views of the subject, it is respectfully recommended 
 
 " 1. That the style of the committee be changed for that of The 
 Board of Missions, acting under the authority of the General Assembly 
 of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. 
 
 " 2. That the Board of Missions be enlarged by the addition of the 
 Rev. John B. Romeyn, D.D., Samuel Miller, D.D., and Messrs. Samuel 
 Bayard, Robert Ralston, Robert Lenox, John R. B. Rodgers, John E. 
 Caldwcll, Divie Bethune, and Zechariah Lewis. 
 
 " 3. That in addition to the powers already granted to the Committee 
 of Missions, the Board of Missions be authorized to appoint missiona 
 ries whenever they may deem it proper; to make such advances to 
 missionaries as maybe judged necessary; and to pay balances due to 
 
328 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 missionaries who have fulfilled their missions, whenever, in their judg 
 ment, the particular circumstances of the missionaries may require it. 
 
 "4. That the Board be authorized and directed to take measures for 
 establishing throughout our churches auxiliary missionary societies; and 
 that the General Assembly recommend to their people the establishment 
 of such societies, to aid the funds and extend the operations of the 
 Board. 
 
 " 5. That the members of the Board of Missions be annually chosen 
 by the Assembly, and that they continue in office until the rising of the 
 next General Assembly, when they are to be succeeded by the persons 
 chosen for the current year." Minutes, 1816, p. 633. 
 
 15. Recommendation to raise Funds, and to supply Waste Places in 
 the New States in advance. 
 
 a. "1. Resolved, That the report of the Board of Missions be ac 
 cepted and approved. 
 
 "2. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to all the congrega 
 tions under the care of the Assembly to send annual and liberal contri 
 butions to aid the Board in their future operations ; but this recommen 
 dation shall not involve in censure any congregation belonging to the 
 Synods to whom the General Assembly has given permission to manage 
 their own missionary concerns, who shall think themselves unable to 
 contribute to the funds of the Board of Missions. 
 
 "3. Resolved, That the Assembly highly approve the sentiments ex 
 pressed by the Board, with respect to the new States in the western and 
 southern parts of our country, and to the importance of supplying them 
 with the preaching of the Gospel, that their character, which is now 
 forming, may be formed under the influence of religion." Minutes, 
 1823, p. 76. 
 
 b. "Resolved, That it be recommended, and it is hereby earnestly re 
 commended to all the churches under our care, to take up and forward 
 one annual missionary collection for this purpose, and that Presbyteries 
 take order on the subject." Minutes, 1827, p. 216. 
 
 16. Enlargement of Powers. 
 
 a. "Resolved, That the Board of Missions, in addition to the powers 
 already granted to them, be authorized to manage, appoint, and direct 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 329 
 
 the whole concerns and business of the Assembly s missions definitively, 
 and report annually their doings to the Assembly. 
 
 " Resolved, That the Board be authorized to appoint, if they think 
 proper, an executive committee of their own number, to carry into effect 
 the details of their plan ; and that they also be authorized to appoint 
 and employ an agent or agents at their discretion/ Minutes, 1827, 
 p. 217. 
 
 [In 1828, an overture was brought in for the reorganization of the 
 Board.] " The committee reported as follows, viz. : The committee 
 consider the matter contained in this overture of the first importance to 
 the interests of the Church and the world, and they believe that they 
 cannot better discharge the duties intrusted to them, than to lay the 
 overture, as it now stands, before the General Assembly for their con 
 sideration." Minutes, p. 234. 
 
 [While the subject was under discussion] "a communication was re 
 ceived from the Executive Committee of the American Home Mission 
 ary Society, announcing the appointment of Rev. James M. Matthews, 
 D.I)., Rev. Absalom Peters, and Knowles Taylor, Esq., a committee of 
 that body to communicate to the Assembly the views of said Executive 
 Committee in relation to the subject of the overture, now before the 
 Assembly, for a reorganization of the Board of Missions of the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 "Dr. Herron, Mr. Hardin, and Mr. Holmes were appointed a com 
 mittee to confer with the committee from the American Home Mission 
 ary Society; and it was resolved to suspend the business of reorganizing 
 the Board of Missions until said committee shall report." Minutes, 
 1828, p. 236. 
 
 [The subject was discussed at great length, and then " indefinitely 
 postponed." Against this result a protest was offered, and a committee 
 of conference appointed.] 
 
 I. " The Committee of Conference reported, that, after mature delibe 
 ration, they recommend the following resolutions, which were adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That the Board of Missions already have the power to 
 establish missions, not only among the destitute in our own country, or 
 any other country, but also among the heathen in any part of the world; 
 to select, appoint, and commission missionaries, to determine their sala 
 ries, and to settle and pay their accounts; that they have full authority 
 to correspond with any other body on the subject of missions; to ap- 
 
330 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 point an executive committee, and an efficient agent or agents to manage 
 their missionary concerns; to take measures to form auxiliary societies, 
 on such terms as they may deem proper; to procure funds; and, in 
 general, to manage the missionary operations of the General Assembly. 
 
 " It is therefore submitted to the discretion of the Board of Missions, 
 to consider \vhether it is expedient for them to carry into effect the full 
 powers which they possess. 
 
 " Resolved, That an addition of seven laymen be made to the present 
 number of the Board of Missions." Minutes, 1828, p. 244. 
 
 17. Proposal to unite with tlie American Home Missionary Society. 
 
 a. " Agreeably to the order of the day, the Assembly took up Over 
 ture No. 10, viz., a request of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, that the 
 General Assembly would unite with the American Home Missionary 
 Society in the appointment of one Board of Agency, to manage the mis 
 sionary concerns of both Boards in the Western country. After some 
 discussion, this subject was committed to Dr. Green, Dr. McAuley, Mr. 
 Russell, Mr. Slack, and Mr. Beckwith, to confer with delegates, which 
 the Assembly are informed have been appointed by the Home Mission 
 ary Society, on the request of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, and report 
 to the Assembly as soon as practicable." Minutes, 1830, pp. 298, 299. 
 
 " The committee to whom was committed Overture No. 10, reported 
 the following resolution, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved , That it is expedient for the Board of Missions of the 
 General Assembly and the Board of the Home Missionary Society to 
 conduct their missionary operations in the West through a common 
 Board of Agency in that part of the country. 
 
 " This report was accepted, and the committee discharged. 
 
 11 A motion was then made to dismiss the whole subject; and, after 
 considerable discussion, this motion was carried in the affirmative, and 
 the subject was accordingly dismissed." Minutes, 1830, p. 301. 
 
 b. [The same subject came up next year. The Assembly having re 
 fused by yeas and nays, 87 to 109, to reappoint the committee, a com 
 promise committee was appointed, who reported as follows :] 
 
 " 1. In view of existing evils, resulting from the separate action of 
 the Board of Missions of the General Assembly, and the American 
 Home Missionary Society, the General Assembly recommend to the 
 Sjmods of Ohio ; Cincinnati, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Tennessee, In- 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 331 
 
 diana, and Illinois, and the Presbyteries connected with the same, to 
 correspond with each other, and endeavor to agree upon some plan of 
 conducting domestic missions in the "Western States, and report the 
 result of their correspondence to the next General Assembly : it being 
 understood that the brethren of the West be left to their freedom to 
 form any organization which in their judgment may best promote the 
 cause of missions in these States, and also, that all the Synods and Pres 
 byteries in the valley of the Mississippi may be embraced in this corre 
 spondence, provided they desire it. 
 
 " Resolved ly this Assembly, That the present Board of Missions be 
 reappointed." Minutes, 1831, p. 337. 
 
 Change Inexpedient. 
 
 c. "The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 1, viz., sun 
 dry documents on the subject of missions, made the following report, 
 which was unanimously adopted, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That, under existing circumstances, it is deemed inexpe 
 dient to propose any change in the Assembly s mode of conducting mis 
 sions/ 7 Mlnu tes, 1832, p. 364. 
 
 18. The Board has no Power to Judge of the Orthodoxy, or Morality 
 of a Minister ivho is in Good Standing in his own Presbytery. 
 
 " The committee to whom was recommitted the report on Overture 
 No. 9, made the following report, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " In answer to the questions propounded by the Presbyteries of Union 
 and French Broad, the Assembly would say, that though they do not 
 recognize in the Board of Missions the authority to sit in judgment upon 
 the orthodoxy or morality of any minister who is in good standing in his 
 own Presbytery, yet, from the necessity of the case, they must exercise 
 their own sound discretion upon the expediency or inexpediency of 
 appointing or withholding an appointment from any applicant, holding 
 themselves amenable to the General Assembly for all their official acts." 
 Minutes, 1830, p. 290. 
 
 19. The American Home Missionary Society. Action of the Assemblies 
 
 of 1837, 1838-1849. 
 
 a. [In 1837, the Assembly adopted a resolution, 124 to 86, declaring 
 
332 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 the operations of the American Home Missionary Society to be " ex 
 ceedingly injurious to the peace and purity of the Presbyterian Church/ 
 and "recommend accordingly that they should cease to operate within 
 any of our churches/ Minutes, 1837, p. 442. 
 
 b. The Assembly of 1838 rescinded the above resolution, and adopted 
 the following, viz. :] 
 
 (< Resolved, That the General Assembly recognize, with devout grati 
 tude to God, the eminent usefulness of those societies [the American 
 Home Missionary and Education] to the Church and the world, and 
 cordially commend them to the continued confidence and increasing 
 patronage of our churches/ Minutes, 1838, p. 649. 
 
 c. [The " Board of Missions," remaining under the control of the 
 " Old School" party, refused to report to the Assembly. Minutes, 1838, 
 p. 655. Next year the following resolution was adopted, viz. :] 
 
 "Resolved, That we recommend to all our churches the American 
 Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, the American Home 
 Missionary Society, and the American Education Society, as the most 
 suitable channels, under present circumstances, through which they can 
 dispense their charities in aiding the propagation of the Gospel among 
 the heathen, and in our own country, and for training up young men 
 for the Gospel ministry; without, however, wishing to restrict the 
 liberty of individuals to use their own discretion in this matter." 
 Minutes, 1839, p. 24. 
 
 d. [In 1840, the Assembly renewed their recommendations of these 
 and several other voluntary societies] " as every way worthy of patronage 
 and support ; and as affording safe, convenient, and, perhaps, the best 
 channels through which their contributions may reach the objects con 
 templated by those societies respectively." Minutes, 1840, p. 21. 
 
 20. A " Standing Committee on Home Missions" appointed. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of five, from the Western Synods, be 
 appointed to consult and correspond on this and the other subjects 
 embraced in this paper; and to present a detailed report to the next 
 General Assembly embodying the different plans tried by the Presby 
 teries which have proved most successful, and presenting such recom 
 mendations and suggestions as the whole subject may seem to require. 
 [See Appendix, Minutes, 1847, p. 152.] 
 
 "The Rev. Messrs. Thornton A. Mills, A. T. Norton, John M. 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 333 
 
 Dickey, Henry Little, C. P. Wing, and T. Cleland, D.D., were appointed 
 a Standing Committee on Home Missions, under the foregoing resolu 
 tion." Minutes, 1847, p. 143. 
 
 [This committee reported a series of resolutions, which, after much 
 discussion, were adopted. See Minutes, 1849, p. 178.] 
 
 21. History of , subsequent relation to, and Intercourse with the American 
 Home Missionary Society. 
 
 [See also chap, x, sec. 1, on Church Extension.] 
 
 a. "A committee, consisting of five, viz., Rev. George Duffield, D.D., 
 N. S. S. Beman, D.D., Rev. Thornton A. Mills, Robert W. Patterson, 
 and Hon. John L. Mason, is hereby appointed to confer with the Exe 
 cutive Committee of the American Home Missionary Society, expressing 
 to it the kind feelings and confidence of the General Assembly and the 
 churches it represents, and requesting its co-operation in this plan 
 (church extension), as far as its principles will admit; and also requesting 
 a statement of the principles on which its appropriations are made to 
 the churches of the several denominations of Christians who support it : 
 the results of which conference shall be reported to the next General 
 Assembly." Minutes, 1852, p. 173. 
 
 L. [The committee reported. See chap, x, sec. 1. Minutes, 1853, p. 
 340 j also, Minutes, 1854, p. 514. In 1857, a committee of nine (Drs. 
 George L. Prentiss, J. F. Stearns, Thos. Brainerd, Win. C. Wisner, D. 
 Howe Allen, Rev. H. Curtis, Timothy Hill, and Messrs. Samuel H. 
 Perkins, and Cyrus P. Smith) were appointed " to confer with the 
 Executive Committee of the American Home Missionary Society, in 
 reference to our relations with that society." Minutes, p. 409. The 
 next year, 1858, the committee reported ; their report, with other docu 
 ments, were referred to a special committee, who report as follows :] 
 
 "The special committee on the documents relating to the Committee 
 of Conference with the American Home Missionary Society, recommend 
 the adoption of the following resolutions : 
 
 " 1. That the Committee of Conference with the American Home 
 Missionary Society be continued, and consist of the following members : 
 Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, D.D., Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D.D., Rev. 
 William C. Wisner, D.D., Rev. D. Howe Allen, D.D., Rev. Harvey 
 Curtis, D.D., Rev. A. Augustus Wood, D.D. (in the place of Rev. 
 George L. Prentiss, D.D., resigned), Rev. Thompson Bird, Mr. Cyrus 
 
334 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 P. Smith, and Mr. Norman White, and that four of their number con 
 stitute a quorum. 
 
 " 2. That this committee report to the next General Assembly upon 
 our general relations with the American Home Missionary Society ; upon 
 its appointment of agents and missionaries; upon the number of our 
 churches and ministers aided by it ; upon the amount contributed by our 
 churches to its funds; and upon any other points of interest connected 
 with our home missionary work; that we may come to a more full com 
 prehension of our duties, and be aroused to greater zeal and liberality. 
 
 "3. That this committee, as far as is practicable, procure from our 
 Presbyteries information as to home evangelization ; and that our Pres 
 byteries give diligent heed to this work, as far as is practicable, raising- 
 money to be expended within their own bounds, and seeing to it that 
 annual collections for home missions be made in all their churches." 
 Minutes, 1858, p. 604. 
 
 [The report of the committee of 1858, with other papers, were referred 
 to the Standing Committee on Church Extension, who reported as follows :] 
 
 c. "The Committee on Church Extension beg leave to report on the 
 papers referred to them relating to church extension. 
 
 " The annual report of the permanent committee impresses us, more 
 deeply than ever, with the indispensableness and vast importance of the 
 work with which they are charged; and contains gratifying evidence of 
 its enlargement, and of the rapidly growing interest that is enlisted in it. 
 The contributions to their treasury are seventy per cent in advance of 
 those of the previous year, and two hundred and fifty per cent in advance 
 of those of the year prior to that ; and, while the missionaries and ex 
 ploring agents employed have been considerably multiplied, the openings 
 and calls for the service they perform, urgently demanding immediate 
 attention, far exceed the means in the hands of the committee, and 
 earnestly appeal to our churches, to place this cause on a par with the 
 most prominent objects of their pecuniary benevolence. Our own 
 country is the field for which American Christians are especially re 
 sponsible, and for which they should feel especially concerned, in ful 
 filling the command to evangelize the world; and the teaching of the 
 Gospel, by the living pastor and preacher, is the chief instrumentality 
 by which the duty is to be discharged. The denomination of Christians, 
 represented by this General Assembly, has hitherto principally employed 
 the American Home Missionary Society, as its agency for the prosecu 
 tion of domestic missions. The organization, from which that society 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 335 
 
 proceeded, was formed in the bounds, and by the members of our 
 Church ; and its origin, and the capital of various kinds which it has 
 accumulated, make it impossible, as a matter of feeling, of interest, and 
 of justice, that we should abandon it to those whom we have received 
 as partners in it. We can leave it, only on the dissolution of the firm, 
 and the setting up of its members in new establishments. But, while 
 this is true, the number and magnitude of the cases, for which the 
 American Home Missionary Society cannot or does not provide, make it 
 imperative upon us, largely to swell our contributions to the church 
 extension scheme, so that its operations may correspond to the demands 
 upon it, without the incurring of a farthing of debt. The purpose of 
 the Permanent Committee, to equalize their appropriations and receipts, 
 deserves cordial approbation ; and the Standing Committee respectfully 
 propose that the Assembly should be understood as recognizing this 
 principle, for the guidance of the Permanent Committee, in complying 
 with the recommendations made in a subsequent part of this report. 
 
 " So important are all the departments of labor assigned to the Per 
 manent Committee, that it is almost impossible to give the precedence to 
 either. The Standing Committee, however, have been particularly im 
 pressed with the necessity and value of the work of exploring new and 
 destitute fields, and organizing churches on them. It cannot be dis 
 pensed with. To neglect or inefficiently conduct it, is unfaithfulness to 
 our trust. Its results are immediate, as well as abundant and large. 
 An exploring agent, for example, entered Kansas, about six months 
 since, and during the sessions of this Assembly we have received the 
 Presbytery of Kansas into our connection. The committee recom 
 mend that this branch of the Church extension work be prosecuted 
 with quickened energy and zeal ; and they would designate Nebraska, 
 California, and Oregon, as fields for which exploring agents should be 
 commissioned forthwith, if the requisite funds can be procured. The 
 peculiar circumstances of Missouri commend it to us. The fast increas 
 ing portion of its people, in sympathy with the spirit of our Church, and 
 accordant with its position on matters of controlling movement and inte 
 rest, makes the summons irresistible to help her. The near approach of 
 the settlement of titles to land in California, the dubiousness of which 
 has thus far hindered Church extension there, by hindering church 
 erection, opens the way for our building fund, and so gives a free course 
 for the advancement of our Church j while the geographical position 
 and natural resources of Nebraska and Oregon, render certain the 
 
336 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 gathering of a vast population, the laying of the foundations of society 
 there is a work in which love to God and man requires us to take 
 part 
 
 " The Presbyteries of Alton, Bloomington, and Chicago complain of 
 the action of the American Home Missionary Society, in withholding 
 appropriations from churches connected with Presbyteries that employ 
 exploring agents without the commission of the American Home Mis 
 sionary Society; and from such as are connected with Presbyteries, the 
 churches of which do not contribute, to the full measure of their ability, 
 to the treasury of the American Home Missionary Society. The fol 
 lowing resolutions of the Executive Committee of the American Home 
 Missionary Society have been published in a letter from the pen of one 
 of the Secretaries : 
 
 " A communication having been received by the Presbytery of Alton, 
 inclosing a minute adopted by that body at its late meeting, in reference 
 to the terms of co-operation, 
 
 " Resolved, 1. That the Presbytery be informed that the following 
 principles govern the Society in co-operating with auxiliaries and eccle 
 siastical bodies, and this Committee will be happy to co-operate with the 
 Presbytery on the same terms, viz. : 
 
 " 1st. That the missionaries laboring within the bounds of an auxili 
 ary or ecclesiastical body be commissioned by this Society, and be 
 governed in their labors by its principles. 
 
 " 2d. That the funds raised on the field be applied to cancel the 
 pledges contained in the commissions, and be acknowledged by the So 
 ciety as contributed to its treasury. 
 
 " 3d. That the churches on the field co-operate cordially with the 
 Society in the raising of funds, and contribute yearly to its treasury, 
 according to the full measure of their ability. 
 
 iil Resolved, 2. That this committee continue to regard the work of 
 exploring and occupying new fields of labor, as one of great importance; 
 and, by sustaining general exploring agents and other itinerant laborers, 
 having missionary circuits more or less extensive, as circumstances may 
 require, they are enabled to reach every portion of the field, and carry 
 forward with harmony and efficiency every department of the missionary 
 work. 
 
 " The General Assembly can never approve of these resolutions, if 
 they are to be interpreted as, 
 
 "1. Denying the right of our Presbyteries, in our present relations 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 337 
 
 to the American Home Missionary Society, to appoint, solely on their 
 own authority, one or more exploring missionaries within their bounds; 
 or as, < 
 
 " 2. Asserting it as a sufficient reason why the Society should with 
 hold aid from the feeble churches of a Presbytery, that other churches 
 of such Presbytery contribute the whole, or a portion, of their home 
 missionary funds elsewhere than to the treasury of that Society. 
 
 " Churches in the condition of those just referred to, ought not to be 
 left to suifer, and perhaps to perish ; and, with a view to them, and also 
 to churches situated like those in Missouri, the powers and duties of the 
 Church Extension Committee ought to be expanded. It has hitherto 
 devolved upon them, 1. To employ agents for purposes of exploration; 
 
 2. To aid churches in the chartered limits of cities and large towns; 
 
 3. To plant Presbyterian churches in places where sister denominations 
 had not previously occupied the ground; and, 4. To answer applications 
 that require prompt and immediate replies, and that will not admit of 
 the delay incident to requests preferred in other directions. 
 
 " In view of the new classes of exceptional cases to which they have 
 referred, the committee recommend that the province of the Permanent 
 Committee be still further enlarged, so that they may be authorized to 
 provide for churches that can receive adequate aid from no other source. 
 And to meet the increased draft that must thus be made upon their 
 treasury, it is desirable that additional force should be given to their 
 agency for collecting funds. 
 
 "The report of the Committee of Conference with the American 
 Home Missionary Society has been referred to this committee, and the 
 following preamble and resolution are recommended for the adoption of 
 the General Assembly. 
 
 " Whereas, the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, 
 represented in this General Assembly, has hitherto prosecuted the work 
 of domestic missions, principally through the agency of the American 
 Home Missionary Society; and whereas, complaints have been made to 
 the General Assembly, from year to year, and with increasing earnest 
 ness, of the mode in which that agency has been conducted, particu 
 larly in the Western and Northwestern States and Territories ; there 
 fore, 
 
 "Resolved, That a commission of the General Assembly is hereby 
 raised, consisting of Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, D.D., Rev. A. Augustus 
 Wood, D.D., Rev. Philemon H. Fowler, D.D., Rev. Thos. Brainerd, D.D., 
 
 22 
 
338 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 Eev. Eobert W. Patterson, D.D., Rev. Harvey Curtis, D.D., Rev. 
 D. Howe Allen, D.D., Jesse W. Benedict, Esq., Mr. Norman White, 
 Mr. James B. Pinneo, and Hon. William Jessup (any four of them, at 
 a meeting properly called, to constitute a quorum), to ascertain, by a 
 thorough investigation, the facts in the case, and to procure such other 
 information as may be in their power, relating to the history of our con 
 nection with the work of home missions, and our present relations to it; 
 also, to learn the principles and modes of the administration of the 
 American Home Missionary Society over the entire field of its opera 
 tions ; and to submit the whole, well authenticated, to the next General 
 Assembly." Minutes, 1859, pp. 40-43. 
 
 Report of the Committee, 1860. 
 
 d. " The report of the Special Committee on Home Missions, after 
 further discussion, and prayer for Divine guidance, was adopted without 
 dissent, and is as follows : 
 
 "The committee to whom was referred the general subject of home 
 missions, together with the report of the Commission appointed by the 
 General Assembly at Wilmington, to make investigation respecting the 
 same, submit, and recommend for adoption, the following paper : 
 
 " 1. We regard the statements and representations made in the re 
 port of the commission as essentially correct and just. And we believe 
 that this lucid and faithful exposition of facts and principles, if brought 
 before our churches and the public at large, would remove many mis 
 apprehensions, arid do an important service to the cause of truth. It is 
 therefore ordered, that at least 5000 copies of the report be printed, 
 under the direction of the stated clerk of the Assembly, for general 
 circulation. 
 
 " 2. We deeply regret that our relations to the American Home Mis 
 sionary Society seem to grow more and more complicated and embarrass 
 ing. We see no prospect of any such effectual removal of the difficulties 
 which have sprung up between that society and our Church as will fully 
 re-establish the harmonious and beneficent co-operation in the Home 
 Missionary work, which was so happily maintained in former years. All 
 endeavors to effect a satisfactory adjustment of the matters of difference 
 between us and the Executive Committee of the American Home Mis 
 sionary Society have proved fruitless. And the position which has been 
 assumed in relation to our church extension operations, and the action 
 
DOMESTIC MISSIONS. 339 
 
 of the General Assembly, by the leading Congregational associations with 
 which we are in correspondence, indicates a deep and settled feeling on 
 their part which appears to foretoken a speedy dissolution of the copart 
 nership in home missions, unless we shall consent to abandon a great 
 work, which we believe Divine Providence has set before us, and shall 
 retrace steps which we have taken under a most solemn conviction of 
 our duty to God and to his Church. 
 
 "3. It is with us no longer an open question, whether we should 
 continue to prosecute our church extension work, so as to supply any 
 lack of service that may exist on our field, according to our own judg 
 ment and ability. In maintaining this position, we are guilty of no 
 breach of good faith towards the American Home Missionary Society. 
 For we have never expressly, nor by remote implication, bound our 
 selves to make that society the exclusive agency of our Church in the 
 home missionary work. 
 
 " In pursuing our church extension work, we feel that we are only 
 discharging an imperative duty which the Great Head of the Church has 
 laid upon us. The necessity for this work is becoming increasingly 
 urgent, in consequence of new circumstances over which we have no 
 control ; and we must go forward, and not backward, in the prosecution 
 of it. 
 
 "4. While we deem it incumbent on our Church to maintain firmly 
 the principles and policy regarding this subject, which have been here 
 tofore adopted and acted upon by the General Assembly, we earnestly 
 desire to effect a good understanding with our Congregational brethren. 
 We have no disposition to take any advantage of them in our co-opera 
 tion with them ; nor do we assert any right or liberty for ourselves which 
 we do not freely accord to them. 
 
 " We have earnestly desired continued co-operation with our brethren 
 in the work of home missions, provided it could be carried forward in 
 consistency with the proper liberty of our churches, Presbyteries, and 
 higher judicatories, and in fraternal confidence. But, if a separation 
 must take place, we trust that it may be effected in Christian love, and 
 solely with a. view to the greater peace and efficiency of both denomi 
 nations. 
 
 " And, that we may do all in our power to secure a wise and Christian 
 adjustment of the difficulties by which we are encompassed, in relation 
 to this subject, the General Assembly hereby appoint a committee of 
 ten, to meet, in a fraternal conference, a committee of Congregational 
 brethren (should such a committee be appointed), consisting of two 
 
340 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 members from each of the Congregational bodies with which this General 
 Assembly is in correspondence, namely : The General Association of 
 Connecticut, the General Association of Massachusetts, the General 
 Convention of Yermont, the General Association of New Hampshire, 
 and the General Conference of Maine. To carry into effect this arrange 
 ment, the Committee of Conference are hereby instructed to address a 
 communication to each of the bodies already named, inviting them to 
 appoint a like committee to meet with the committee of this General 
 Assembly. * 
 
 " 5. It shall be the duty of the committee of the Assembly, herein 
 provided for, to use their utmost endeavors to secure such an under 
 standing between us and our Congregational brethren, in regard to our 
 co-operation with them in the work of home missions, as may conduct to 
 an equitable and final settlement of this whole question. 
 
 " It shall also be the duty of this committee to make a full report to 
 the next General Assembly, and to recommend to that body such plans 
 and measures pertaining to the home missionary work as they may deem 
 wise and necessary. 
 
 " 6. "We would lay no restrictions whatever on our Presbyteries or 
 churches, as to the exercise of their liberty, in choosing for themselves, 
 through what agency they shall bestow their contributions for the pro 
 motion of the domestic missionary work. But we would earnestly urge 
 them to do all in their power for the furtherance of this great cause, 
 either through the American Home Missionary Society or the Church 
 Extension Committee, or both, or through some other agency; and to 
 suffer no feeling of suspense, as to the channels* thro ugh which they are 
 to send forth the waters of life, to dry up the fountains of their Christian 
 beneficence. 
 
 " Resolved, That four of the Committee of Conference appointed by 
 the above report be a quorum and that they be authorized to fill their 
 own vacancies." Minutes, I860, pp. 252, 254. 
 
 "The committee, appointed to nominate the Committee of Conference 
 with a similar committee to be appointed by the General Associations of 
 New England, made the following nominations : Rev. Albert Barnes, 
 Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, D.D., Rev. Robert W. Patterson, D.D., Rev. 
 Thornton A. Mills, Rev. Edwin Hall, D.D., Rev. Asa D. Smith, D.D., 
 Rev. D. Howe Allen, D.D., Rev. Samuel T. Seelye, Hon. William Jes- 
 sup, LL.D., and Walter S. Griffith. 
 
 * These bodies respectively refused to appoint committees. 
 
EDUCATION FOR THE MINISTRY. 341 
 
 " In regard to the distribution of the five thousand copies of the report 
 of the commission, the committee recommend that the stated clerk be 
 instructed to place one thousand copies at the disposal of the Committee 
 of Conference, and to send the remainder to the stated clerks of the 
 several Presbyteries, dividing them in proportion to the number of com 
 municants in each Presbytery. 
 
 "The report was adopted." Minutes, 1860, p. 260. 
 
 [On this subject, see also Church Extension.] 
 
 SECTION 2. ON EDUCATION FOR THE MINISTRY. 
 
 ]. Early efforts by the Synod and Assembly. 2. The Board of Education esta 
 blished. Passes into the hands of the " Old School party at the division. 3. 
 Other action. American Education Society commended. Action leading to the 
 establishment of the Permanent Committee on Education. 
 
 1. Early Efforts. 
 
 [The subject of education for the ministry early attracted the atten 
 tion of the General Presbytery and Synod (Minutes, 1733, p. 106 ; 1751, 
 p. 246), and the churches were urged to aid pious youth in their course 
 of study. Out of these efforts to supply the lack of candidates grew 
 Princeton College. In 1806, the Assembly adopted a report, recom 
 mending to the Presbyteries to use their utmost endeavors to increase 
 the number of candidates, and to give such assistance as they need. 
 (Minutes, 1806, p. 366.) The Presbyteries were annually called on to 
 report what they had done in the matter. In 1819, the Assembly 
 resolved to establish a General Board of Education.] 
 
 2. TJie Board of Education established ; its Constitution. 
 
 a. " The committee appointed to draught a Constitution for establish 
 ing a General Board of Education, agreeably to the resolutions adopted 
 by the Assembly on the subject, reported one, which being read and 
 amended, was adopted, and is as follows^ viz. : 
 
 " I. There shall be a General Board of Education, known by the name 
 of The. Board of Education, under the care of the General Assembly of 
 the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. 
 
 " II. The board shall consist of thirty-six members ; of whom there 
 shall be twenty ministers and sixteen elders, one minister and one elder 
 
342 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 to be chosen from each Synod, and the remainder from Philadelphia, 
 and from a distance convenient to it. Seven members, including the 
 President or "Vice-President, shall be a quorum to transact business. 
 
 "III. The whole number of members shall be divided into four 
 classes, one-fourth to be annually elected. 
 
 " IV. The election of the members of the board shall be made by 
 nomination and ballot by the General Assembly. 
 
 " Y. The officers shall be a president, three vice-presidents, a record 
 ing and a corresponding secretary, and a treasurer, to be annually elected 
 by the board. 
 
 " VI. The objects of this board shall be 
 
 " 1. To recognize such Presbyteries and other associations as may 
 form themselves into education societies, as auxiliary to the general 
 board. 
 
 "2. To assist such Presbyteries and associations in educating pious 
 youth for the Gospel ministry, both in their academical and theological 
 course. 
 
 "3. To assign according to their best discretion, to the several aux 
 iliary societies, a just proportion of the whole disposable funds under 
 their control. 
 
 "4. To concert and execute such measures as they shall judge to 
 be proper for increasing their funds, and promoting the general object. 
 
 " VII. No young man shall be patronized or assisted by any auxiliary 
 society, unless he shall produce a testimonial of his hopeful piety and 
 talents from some Presbytery under whose care he shall have been taken. 
 
 " VIII. Auxiliary societies may make such arrangements and selection 
 of a seminary for the young men under their patronage, as, in their 
 opinion, shall be most eligible for the prosecuting of their education, 
 whether classical or theological. 
 
 "IX. The auxiliary societies shall send to the board all the surplus 
 funds in their hands which shall not be necessary for the accommodation 
 of those immediately depending on them for support. 
 
 " X. Every auxiliary society shall annually forward a report of their 
 proceedings to the board, sufficiently early to enable the board, whose 
 duty it shall be, to report to the General Assembly. 
 
 "XL The board shall have power to make such by-laws to regulate 
 their own proceedings, and effectually to accomplish the great objects 
 of their appointment, as shall not be inconsistent with this Constitution. 
 
 "XII. The board may propose to the General Assembly, from time 
 
FOREIGN MISSIONS. 343 
 
 to time, such plans as they may consider useful and necessary for the 
 success of this institution, to be recommended to the several societies 
 or churches, as the Assembly may think proper. 
 
 "XIII. No addition or amendment to the provisions of this Consti 
 tution shall be made, unless by the consent of two-thirds of the members 
 of the General Assembly present at any of their sessions; of which 
 notice shall be given at least one day previous/ Minutes, 1819, pp. 
 714, 715. 
 
 [This board, in 1838, passed into the hands of the "Old School" 
 party.] 
 
 3. Other Action of tJte Assembly. American Education Society 
 commended. 
 
 [The American Education Society was recommended by the Assem 
 bly. 1838, p. 649; 1839, p. 24; 1840, p. 21. In 1852, the subject 
 came up in connection with the general matter of church extension. 
 The Assembly adopted an extended report, which ultimately led to the 
 formation of the Permanent Committee on Education for the Ministry. 
 See Minutes, 1852, p. 170. In 1853, the subject came up again, and 
 was referred to a committee of five, to digest a plan and report to the 
 next Assembly. Minutes, 1853, p. 320. See chap, x, sec. 5.] 
 
 SECTION 3. ON FOREIGN MISSIONS. 
 
 1. Earliest effort to evangelize the heathen. 2. First missionary appointment of 
 the Synod. 3. Minute on the Indian Mission. 4. The Assembly declines to 
 form a board of missions co-operative with the American Board. 5. The 
 United Missionary Society formed. Amalgamation with the American Board. 
 The American Board commended. 
 
 1. Earliest Efforts to Evangelize the Ueatlien. 
 
 " The exigencies of the great affair of propagating the Gospel among 
 the heathen being represented unto the Synod, the Synod, in order to 
 promote so important and valuable a design, do enjoin all their members 
 to appoint a collection, in their several congregations, once every year, 
 to be applied for that purpose ; and that the money raised by such col 
 lections, be yearly sent to the Synod." Minutes, 1751, p. 246. 
 
 [In 1756 (Minutes, p. 266), " Mr. Gilbert Tennent reported that he 
 
344 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 had lately received a bill for two hundred pounds sterling, generously 
 given for the propagation of the Gospel among the Indians, and to be 
 under the direction of this Synod/ A committee was appointed " to 
 draw up a plan for the application of the money contributed in Great 
 Britain for the use of the Indians/ ] 
 
 2. First Missionary Appointed. John Brainerd. 
 
 a. " Upon application made to this Synod, they agreed to allow the 
 interest of the money under their direction for the propagation of the 
 Gospel among the Indians, unto Mr. Brainerd, a missionary to the 
 Indians, in order to assist him in laboring among them for this year." 
 Minutes, 1756, p. 273. 
 
 b. u Mr. Brainerd applied to the Synod for their advice whether it 
 was his duty to leave his present charge at Newark, and resume his 
 mission to the Indians. 
 
 " Arguments on both sides were fully heard. 
 
 " Though the Synod are tenderly affected with the case of Newark 
 congregation, yet in consideration of the great importance of the Indian 
 mission, they do unanimously advise Mr. Brainerd to resume it. 
 
 " The Synod do further agree to give him the interest of the Indian 
 fund for this year, in order to his more comfortable subsistence." 
 Minutes, 1759, p. 294. 
 
 3. Minute on the Indian Mission. 
 
 " Mr. Brainerd has received the greater part of the interest of the 
 Indian fund, according to the vote of the Synod. 
 
 " It is known to many in the bounds of this Synod, that some 
 ministers, moved with an holy zeal to promote the kingdom of Christ 
 among the Indian tribes, applied to the society in Scotland for propa 
 gating Christian knowledge, and obtained a grant of a certain sum of 
 money yearly, to support two missionaries to promote the conversion of 
 the savage nations ; they employed Mr. David Brainerd, whose praise is 
 in the churches of Christ, and whose endeavors were blessed with re 
 markable success in this great work of bringing the Indians to the 
 knowledge of Christ. 
 
 " It pleased God soon to remove him from his useful labor on earth 
 to the joys of his heavenly kingdom. As the name of Brainerd was dear 
 to these poor tribes, his brother was chosen to succeed him in the 
 mission, in which station he continued for seven or eight years ; but, as 
 
FOREIGN MISSIONS. 345 
 
 the prospect of a troublesome war made the mission dangerous and dis 
 agreeable, the- commissioners who employed him dismissed him from 
 his care of the Indians, and he was employed to preach the Gospel at 
 Newark. 
 
 "At an Indian treaty, the province of New Jersey bought all the 
 small tracts of land that the Indians claimed in different parts of the 
 government; and, that they might still encourage the native inhabitants 
 to reside among them in their own country, they bought and bestowed 
 on the remnant of these people about four thousand acres of land, which 
 they gladly accepted; and, as many of them were converted to 
 Christianity, they earnestly requested that Mr. Brainerd might be 
 granted to them again as a Gospel minister. 
 
 " The annuity which the society in Scotland had allowed to the 
 missionary, was stopped upon Mr. Brainerd s dismission, though there 
 was and is hope of procuring it again. Mr. Brainerd was requested by 
 the governor and commissioners of Jersey to undertake the Indian 
 mission. He applied to the Synod for advice, and though he had a 
 very comfortable settlement at Newark, yet the Synod, through an 
 earnest desire to promote the kingdom of Christ among these poor 
 Indians, advised him to give up these temporal advantages, and settle 
 as a missionary among those poor Indians, with which advice he readily 
 and generously complied. But as there is no provision yet made to. 
 support him, and to answer many and various expenses in preaching to, 
 and settling schools among these people, the Synod think themselves 
 obliged to use all lawful endeavors to support said mission, and have 
 now at their Synodical meeting agreed to contribute themselves, and to 
 make application to the congregations in the bounds of this Synod, for 
 a general collection to promote this pious and good design ; and to order 
 that a collection for this purpose be made in every congregation under 
 the care of this Synod, and that the respective collections be sent by the 
 moderators of the Presbyteries before the beginning of September, to 
 Mr. Jonathan Sergeant, near Princeton, who is to receive it and pay it 
 to the correspondents of the Indian mission, to be by them used for 
 this purpose. 
 
 " Ordered, That a copy of this minute be taken by the moderators 
 of such Presbyteries as are present, and sent to such as are absent." 
 Minutes, 1760, p. 299. 
 
 [For other efforts, see Minutes, 1763, p. 324; 1767, p. 375; 1768, 
 p. 380; 1802, p. 238; 1806, p. 361, 365; 1805, p. 331, &c.] 
 
846 ix. ox MODES or EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 4. Answer of the Assembly to the American Board, declining to Form 
 a Board of Foreign Missions. 
 
 "The committee to which was referred a letter addressed to the mo 
 derator, by the secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for 
 Foreign Missions/ reported, and the report being read, was adopted, and 
 is as follows : 
 
 " That having had under consideration the important and interesting 
 vote of the American Board of Commissioners, by which they submit 
 to the Assembly the expediency of forming an institution similar to 
 theirs, between which and them may be such a co-operation as shall 
 promote the great object of missions amongst unevangelized nations/ it 
 appears proper to state 
 
 " 1. That it is a matter of sincere joy in their apprehension, to all who 
 love the Lord Jesus Christ and the souls of men, a joy in which the 
 committee doubt not that the Assembly has a lively participation, that 
 the brethren of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis 
 sions have, by the exertions they have used, and the success of those 
 exertions, demonstrated that the Churches of America are desirous to 
 embark with their Protestant brethren in Europe in the holy enterprise 
 of evangelizing the heathen. 
 
 "2. That as the churches under the care of the Assembly rejoice in 
 the foreign missions organized and about to be organized by the Ameri 
 can Board of Commissioners, so, as opportunity favors, they ought to aid 
 them, as they have, in a measure, already aided them, by contributions 
 to their funds, and by every other facility which they could offer to so 
 commendable an undertaking. 
 
 "3. That as the business of foreign missions may probably be best 
 managed under the direction of a single Board, so the numerous and 
 extensive engagements of the Assembly, in regard to domestic missions, 
 renders it extremely inconvenient, at this time, to take a part in foreign 
 missions. And the Assembly, it is apprehended, may rather decline 
 these missions, inasmuch as the committee are informed that missionary 
 societies have lately been instituted in several places within the bounds 
 of the Presbyterian Church, which make foreign missions a particular 
 object of their attention. " Minutes, 1812, p. 515. 
 
FOREIGN MISSIONS. 347 
 
 5. The "United Foreign Missionary Society" formed, and amalga 
 mated with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis 
 sions. 
 
 a. [In 1817, the "United Foreign Missionary Society" was formed 
 and approved by the Assembly. It embraced "the Presbyterian, Dutch 
 Keformed, Associate Reformed, and all other Churches which may choose 
 to join them." Minutes, 1817, p. 657. This society reported to the 
 Assembly, and was recommended by it from year to year, until 1826, 
 when it was united with the American Board of Commissioners for 
 Foreign Missions.] 
 
 b. " The report of the committee on a communication from a com 
 mittee of the Managers of the United Foreign Missionary Society was 
 taken up, and, after mature deliberation, it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the General Assembly do consent to the amalgama 
 tion of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and 
 the United Foreign Missionary Society. 
 
 "Resolved further, That this General Assembly recommend the Ame 
 rican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the favorable 
 notice and Christian support of the Church and people under our care." 
 Minutes, 1826, p. 175. 
 
 Committee of Conference. 
 
 a. " The committee on Overture No. 6, viz., l A memorial on the sub 
 ject of Foreign Missions/ made a report, which being read and amended, 
 was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of three be elected to attend the next 
 annual meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
 Missions, and confer with that body in respect to measures to be adopted 
 for enlisting the energies of the Presbyterian Church more extensively 
 in the cause of missions to the heathen ; and that said committee report 
 the results of this conference, and their views on the whole subject, to 
 the next General Assembly." Minutes, 1831, p. 328. 
 
 b. " The report of the committee who were appointed by the last As 
 sembly to attend the Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and 
 confer with that body, &c., was taken up, and after some discussion the 
 following resolution was adopted, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That while the Assembly would express no opinion in re 
 lation to the principles contained in the report, they cordially recommend 
 
348 IX. ON MODES OP EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the affec 
 tion and patronage of their churches." Minutes, 1832, p. 370. 
 
 c. [In 1831, the Western Foreign Missionary Society was formed by 
 the Synod of Pittsburg, and offered to the Assembly. Minutes, 1835, p. 
 488. The transfer was refused by the Assembly. Minutes, 1886, p. 
 278. In 1837, " The Board of Foreign Missions" was organized by 
 the Assembly, and is now in possession of the "Old School" Assembly. 
 Since the division, the General Assembly has continued to approve and 
 to co-operate with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
 Missions. Minutes, passim. See chap, x, sec. 6.] 
 
 SECTION 4. ON THE BIBLE. 
 
 1. Gratuitous distribution. Aitkin s edition. 2. Collins s edition. Ostervald s 
 Notes commended. 3. The American Bible Society. The Bible to be <nven to 
 every family, and to the whole world. 4. The common version commended, 
 and a "new version" deprecated. 5. Co-operation with the Society urged. 
 
 1. Gratuitous Distribution. Aitkin s Edition. 
 
 " The Synod, taking into consideration the situation of many people 
 under their care, who, through the indigence of their circumstances, are 
 not able to purchase Bibles, and are in danger of perishing for lack of 
 knowledge 
 
 " Ordered, That every member of this body shall use his utmost in 
 fluence in the congregation under his inspection, and in the vacancies 
 contiguous to them, to raise contributions for the purchasing of Bibles, 
 to be distributed among such poor persons ; and that Drs. Sproat and 
 Ewing, and Mr. Duffield, be a committee to receive such contributions, 
 to purchase Bibles therewith, d*nd send them to the several members of 
 this Synod, who, in conjunction with their respective Sessions, shall dis 
 tribute them. And as Mr. Aitkin, from laudable motives, and with 
 great expense, hath undertaken and executed an elegant impression of 
 the Holy Scriptures, which, on account of the importation of Bibles 
 from Europe, will be very injurious to his temporal circumstances, 
 Synod further agree that the above committee shall purchase Bibles of 
 the said impression and no other, and earnestly recommend it to all to 
 purchase such in preference to any other." Minutes, 1783, p. 500; 
 also, 1781, p. 503; 1785, p. 506. 
 
THE BIBLE. 849 
 
 2. Collins 1 s Edition. Ostervald s Notes recommended. 
 
 [" Mr. Collins, printer to the State of New Jersey," proposing to issue 
 an edition, the Assembly appointed a committee to procure subscrip 
 tions.] " The General Assembly also confirm the appointment made by 
 the Synod of New York and New Jersey, that Dr. John Witherspoon, 
 Dr. Samuel S. Smith, and Mr. James F. Armstrong, be a committee to 
 concur with any such committee as may be appointed, whether from any 
 other denomination, or from any other Synod of our denomination, to 
 revise and correct the proof-sheets, and, if necessary, to fix upon the 
 most correct edition of the Scriptures to be recommended to the printer, 
 from which to make his impression ; and that the said committee be or 
 dered to agree with the printer, that Ostervald s Notes, if not incon 
 sistent with the views of other denominations of Christians engaged in 
 this undertaking, be printed with it, in such manner as may best pro 
 mote the publication. 
 
 " The General Assembly, desirous to spread the knowledge of eternal 
 life contained in the Holy Scriptures, earnestly recommend to all the 
 congregations under their care to encourage this undertaking." Minutes, 
 1789, pp. 12, 13. [Also 1790, p. 25; 1791, p. 41.] 
 
 3. American Bible Society. 
 
 a. li The General Assembly record with gratification and heartfelt 
 pleasure the information they have received of the formation of an 
 American Bible Society, a few days since, in the city of New York ; 
 and from the unanimity manifested by all denominations of Christians 
 on that occasion, the fervor of zeal displayed, and eagerness manifested 
 by the numerous and highly respectable delegation which attended, to 
 combine their exertions in promoting the best interests of their fellow- 
 men, by furnishing them with the word of life, they cannot but believe 
 that it is the work of God ; that it will stand, and prove a rich blessing 
 to those who may enjoy the fruits of its exertions." Minutes, 1816, p. 
 620. 
 
 The Bible to be given to every Family in our Land. 
 
 b. " On motion, it was 
 
 "Resolved unanimously, That the General Assembly view with pecu 
 liar satisfaction the measure recently proposed by the American Bible 
 
350 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 Society, to supply every destitute family in the United States with a 
 copy of the Bible in the course of two years ; and that it be cordially 
 recommended to the Presbyteries, individual ministers, and churches, 
 connected with the Assembly, to use their endeavors to carry the above 
 measure, in reliance on the blessing of the Almighty, into full and pros 
 perous effect." Minutes, 1829, p. 269. 
 
 The Bible to be given to the whole World. 
 
 c. " The committee recommend the following resolutions for the 
 adoption of the Assembly, viz. : 
 
 " 1. It is the duty of the people of God to give the Bible to every 
 family and dweller upon earth, in the earliest period of time in which 
 it is possible to do it. 
 
 "2. Resolved, That, in the judgment of the General Assembly, the 
 Church of Christ is, under God, able to give the Word of God in a com 
 paratively short time, and much shorter than is ordinarily supposed, to 
 the whole world , and that, from the peculiar position and resources of 
 the American, and especially of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States, our responsibility in this momentous service is, beyond all other 
 people, great and pressing. 
 
 "3. Resolved, That inasmuch as the fixing of a definite period has 
 some important benefits connected with it, and as, in the judgment of 
 the General Assembly, the period agreed upon is sufficiently long, it be 
 recommended to all the churches under the care of this Assembly, and 
 respectfully proposed to all the sister churches in correspondence with 
 our own, to follow the noble example, and unite in the important 
 resolution, of the Society of Virginia, viz. : To endeavor to give . the 
 Bible to the whole world, in a period of not more than twenty years. 
 
 " Adopted." Minutes, 1835, p. 483. 
 
 Recommendation to fix a Month for Annual Collections. 
 
 d. "1. Believing, as this Assembly does, in the great Protestant 
 doctrine that the Bible is indispensable to the well-being of the State 
 and the Church, of families and individuals, therefore 
 
 "Resolved, That it becomes one of the clearest of duties to promote 
 the diffusion of this sacred volume as extensively as possible. 
 
 "2. As the history of Bible society organizations in the present cen- 
 
THE BIBLE. 351 
 
 tury shows, that, through their instrumentality, an unparalleled increase 
 of translations and distributions has been effected , that the best of all 
 books has thus become the lowest of all in price, is kept clear from 
 sectarian perversions, and is primarily and mainly furnished to the 
 destitute, therefore 
 
 "Resolved, That this mode of preparing and circulating the Word of 
 God has the hearty approbation of this General Assembly. 
 
 11 3. As the American Bible Society has co-operating branches and 
 auxiliaries in most parts of the country, designed and calculated to 
 facilitate the supply of our own population with the Scriptures, there 
 fore 
 
 "Resolved, That the churches and congregations be invited to co 
 operate with these local organizations, and render them efficient in fur 
 nishing destitute families, Sunday schools, and all who need, with Bibles 
 and Testaments. 
 
 " 4. As the parent society, by the growth of new States and Terri 
 tories, by the revolutions of Europe, and by the progress of missions in 
 Mahommedan and Pagan countries, is now called upon annually for a 
 much larger amount of means than it can furnish towards preparing and 
 circulating the Scriptures (having a deficiency of nearly $30,000 the 
 past year), therefore 
 
 " Resolved, That it be considered the duty of our respective charges, 
 where circumstances will permit, to assign a month in each year when a 
 collection shall be taken up, whether a Bible agent be present or not, in 
 furtherance of this important object. 
 
 "Adopted." MwMtes, 1849, pp. 179, 180. 
 
 4. Common Version commended, and a New Version deprecated. 
 
 " Your committee report an overture from the Synod of Missouri, 
 respecting the common version of the Bible. The said memorial sets 
 forth the fact that strenuous efforts have been made for years, and are 
 now made, especially in the West, to destroy confidence in, and set 
 aside, our common and most excellent version of the Bible, as very 
 defective and sectarian, and to introduce a new one. 
 
 "The memorial, moreover, sets forth, that we, as Presbyterians, have 
 been misrepresented, and the idea conveyed that some of our ministers 
 favor this scheme. Our silence on the subject has resulted in making 
 
352 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 the impression, among some of our people, that the common version of 
 the Bible is not worthy of confidence ; therefore 
 
 11 Resolved^ 1. That we have unshaken confidence in our common ver 
 sion, and a firm belief that a better one, on the whole, for common use 
 cannot be had. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. That we deprecate the incalculable evils that would 
 inevitably result from such an attempt, by any denomination or denomi 
 nations, to introduce a new version, destroying, as it would, confidence 
 in our common version, ejecting it from our schools, opening the way 
 for conflicting, sectarian versions, and sadly wounding and marring our 
 beautiful Protestantism. 
 
 "Resolved, 3. That, in the judgment of this Assembly, not one of our 
 judicatories, and not one minister, approves of, or sympathizes with, this 
 injudicious sectarian movement. 
 
 "Resolved, 4. That all our ministers be careful, in expounding the 
 word publicly, so to expound as to inspire and sustain confidence in our 
 excellent version as truly the Word of Grod : believing, as we do, that 
 the honest-hearted inquirer searching after the truth, with a teachable 
 spirit, will find it. 
 
 "Adopted." Minutes, 1855, p. 28. 
 
 5. Co-operation urged. 
 
 " The following preamble and resolution were unanimously adopted : 
 
 " As the American Bible Society resolved, at its late anniversary, that, 
 
 with Divine aid and the co-operation of its friends, it would endeavor, 
 
 as early as practicable, to supply every destitute family in our country 
 
 with the Bible, therefore 
 
 "Resolved, That this General Assembly, now convened, have great 
 satisfaction in expressing their warm approval of the undertaking; and 
 to secure its accomplishment, would not only pledge their own exertions, 
 but invite the pastors and churches here represented to lend their assist 
 ance in carrying it forward, particularly in their connection, respectively 
 with the local auxiliaries, the main channels through which the sacred 
 Word is to reach those who are without it." Minutes, 1856, p. 197. 
 
RELIGIOUS BOOKS AND TRACTS. 353 
 
 SECTION 5. ON RELIGIOUS BOOKS AND TRACTS. 
 
 1. Religious books and tracts distributed gratuitously. 2. Formation of tract 
 societies commended. 3. American Sunday-School Union approved. 4. The 
 " American" societies endorsed. 
 
 1. Religious JBooJcs, Tracts, &c., distributed Gratuitously. 
 
 a. " The Synod finding the money collected some years ago for defray 
 ing the expense attending the missions appointed on pur frontiers is 
 nearly expended, agree to have a collection this year through their 
 bounds upon the same plan with the former. And, as it is judged it 
 might be useful to extend this public chanty to purchase such religious 
 books as the Synod may approve of, to be given to poor congregations, 
 the following members are appointed to consider this matter, and bring 
 in an overture to be subjected to the Synod as soon as they conveniently 
 can, viz. : Messrs. McWhorter, Montgomery, and Ogden." Minutes, 
 1772, p. 428. 
 
 1. " The committee appointed last Friday to draw up an overture with 
 respect to the general collection and the distribution of books, brought 
 one in, which, after correction, is as follows : 
 
 " 1. That the Synod recommend a general collection in all the churches 
 under their care. 
 
 " 2. That the Synod write a pastoral letter, in which they shall return 
 thanks to their several congregations for their former generosity, and 
 solicit their future favors. 
 
 "3. That the Synod particularly desire the charity of the public for 
 those purposes, viz. : For defraying the expenses of sending missionaries 
 to the frontiers, and such other places as are unable to support the 
 Gospel ; for purchasing useful books to distribute in said places under 
 the direction of committees to be appointed for that purpose ; for propa 
 gating Christian knowledge among the Indians ; and for such other pious 
 uses as may occur from time to time. 
 
 " The following books were proposed and agreed to be procured and 
 distributed, viz. : Bibles, Westminster Confessions of Faith, small edition 
 of Vincent s Catechism, Doddridge s Rise and Progress of Religion, A 
 Compassionate Address to the Christian World, Allein s Alarm to the 
 Unconverted, Dr. Watt s Divine Songs for Children, and the Assembly s 
 Catechism. 
 
 23 
 
854 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 " And for the purpose of procuring and distributing those books we 
 appoint for a committee at Philadelphia, Dr. Alison, Mr. Sproat, Mr. 
 Montgomery, Mr. Bayard, and Mr. Jonathan Smith; and at New York, 
 Dr. Rodgers, Mr. Treat, Mr. McWhorter, Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Y. B. Liv 
 ingston, and Mr. Robert Ogden. And the committees are restricted not to 
 lay out this year above ten pounds proclamation currency each for the 
 purposes aforesaid. But if any well-disposed person will send the com 
 mittees books or pamphlets which they judge will answer the intention 
 of the Synod to promote Christian knowledge, they are desired to 
 distribute these also." Minutes, 1772, p. 429. 
 
 c. " For the purpose of procuring books to bestow on the poor : in 
 Philadelphia, Dr. Francis Alison, Mr. Sproat, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. 
 John Bayard, and Mr. Jonathan Smith ; and in New York, Dr. Rodgers, 
 Mr. Treat, Mr. McWhorter, Mr. Caldwell, and Mr. Noel are appointed 
 as committees, and that they do not exceed the sum of twenty pounds 
 proclamation currency, to be laid out by each committee, and that they 
 draw on the treasurer for this sum." Minutes, 1773, p. 441. 
 
 d. " The committees appointed last Synod to purchase books and dis 
 tribute them among the poor on the frontiers, report, that they have 
 complied with the order, and disposed of the whole of the sum allowed 
 at New York, and the whole also of the sum allowed at Philadelphia, 
 except one pound seven shillings and eight pence, but as the committee 
 at Philadelphia have not yet received an account of any distribution 
 made by the persons to whose care they have committed them on the 
 frontiers, the Synod direct them to inquire as soon as possible into that 
 matter, and use their best endeavors to have said distribution made (if 
 not already done), and procure what information they can, of the success 
 attending said distribution, and make report at next meeting of Synod." 
 Minutes, 1774, p. 452. See also, 1794, p. 93, &c. 
 
 e. "That there be made a purchase of as many cheap and pious books 
 as a due regard to the other objects of the Assembly s funds will admit, 
 with the view of distributing them, not only along the frontiers of these 
 States, but also among the poorer classes of people, and the blacks, or 
 wherever it is thought useful -, which books shall be given away, or lent, 
 at the discretion of the distributor. And that there be received from 
 Mr. Robert Aitken, toward the discharge of his debt, books to such 
 amount as shall appear proper to the Trustees of the Assembly, who are 
 hereby requested to take proper measures for the distribution of the 
 same." Minutes, 1801, p. 229. 
 
 [See also, 1802, p. 259 ; 1803, p. 268 j 1805, p. 346 ; 1806, p. 361, &c.] 
 
RELIGIOUS BOOKS AND TRACTS. 355 
 
 2. Formation of Tract Societies recommended. 
 
 The committee appointed to report on the establishment of a society 
 for procuring and distributing religious tracts, reported the following 
 resolution, and it was adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, That whereas it appears to this Assembly, that great and 
 increasing good has accrued to the Church of Christ, by the distribution 
 of small, cheap religious tracts ; it is hereby earnestly recommended 
 that each Synod take measures for establishing as many religious tract 
 societies within their bounds, by association of one or more Presbyteries, 
 as may be most convenient for this purpose; and that such societies may 
 adopt such plan for carrying into effect the object of this resolution, as 
 may be most conducive in their judgment to this end." Minutes, 1809, 
 p. 429. 
 
 [See chap, x, sec. 3, on Publication.] 
 
 3. American Sunday- School Union. 
 
 a. i( The committee to whom was referred the communication from the 
 American Sunday-School Union, recommended the following resolution, 
 which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That the General Assembly do cordially approve of the 
 design and operations of the American Sunday-School Union j and they 
 do earnestly recommend to all the ministers and churches under their 
 care, to employ their vigorous and continued exertions in the establish 
 ment and support of Sabbath-schools." Minutes, 1826, p. 181. 
 
 I. [On memorial of the Sunday-School Union, stating their purpose, 
 by Divine aid, to establish a Sunday-school, where practicable, in every 
 destitute place in the valley of the Mississippi, the Assembly] 
 
 " Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the pastors and 
 sessions of ail our churches and congregations, to present this subject to 
 their people, and solicit their prayers and labors, and^contributions, to 
 aid the society in the accomplishment of this important work." 
 Minutes, 1830, p. 297. 
 
 4. The "American Societies" commended. 
 
 u That the Assembly recommend to all the congregations connected 
 with this body, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
 
356 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 Missions, the American Bible Society, the American Education Society, 
 the American Home Missionary Society, the American Tract Society, 
 and the American Sunday-School Union, as institutions every way 
 worthy of patronage and support ; and as affording safe, convenient, and 
 perhaps the best channels through which their contributions may reach 
 the objects contemplated respectively by these societies." Minutes, 
 1840, p. 21. 
 
 SECTION 6. ON AFRICAN COLONIZATION. 
 
 ]. First notice of the scheme; recommended. 2. Collections on the Fourth of 
 July recommended. 3. Recognition of Liberian independence urged. 
 
 1. First Notice. 
 
 a. " The Assembly notice with pleasure the general attention and 
 exertion to alleviate the condition of the people of color in almost all 
 parts of the country. A society for the colonization of free people of 
 this description is formed, and is patronized by the first characters of 
 our nation. " Minutes, 1817, p. 651. 
 
 American Colonization /Society recommended. 
 
 I. " We recommend to all our people to patronize and encourage the 
 Society lately formed for colonizing in Africa, the land of their ancestors, 
 the free people of color in our country. We hope that much good may 
 result from the plans and efforts of this Society. And while we exceed 
 ingly rejoice to have witnessed its origin and organization among the 
 holders of slaves, as giving an unequivocal pledge of their desires to 
 deliver themselves and their country from the calamity of slavery, we 
 hope that those portions of the American Union whose inhabitants are, 
 by a gracious Providence, more favorably circumstanced, wJll cordially, 
 and liberally, and earnestly co-operate with their brethren in bringing 
 about the great end contemplated." Minutes, 1818, p. 693. 
 
 c. " The following overture was submitted to the Assembly, which 
 being read and amended, was adopted, viz. : 
 
 "The objects and plans of the American Society for colonizing the 
 free people of color of the United States, having been stated to the 
 General Assembly, and the same having been considered and discussed, 
 the Assembly 
 
AFRICAN COLONIZATION. 357 
 
 " Resolved, That, in their opinion, the plan of the society is benevolent 
 in its design, and, if properly supported, and judiciously and vigorously 
 prosecuted, calculated to be extensively useful to this country and to 
 Africa. 
 
 " The situation of the people of color in this country has frequently 
 attracted the attention of this Assembly. In the distinctive and indeli 
 ble marks of their color, and the prejudices of the people, an insuperable 
 obstacle has been placed to the execution of any plan for elevating their 
 character, and placing them on a footing with their brethren of the same 
 common family. In restoring them to the land of their fathers, the 
 Assembly hope that the way may be opened, not only for the accom 
 plishment of that object, but for introducing civilization and the Gospel 
 to the benighted nations of Africa. 
 
 " From the information and statements received, the Assembly believe 
 that the proposed colony in Africa may be made a powerful auxiliary in 
 the efforts which are making to abolish the -iniquitous traffic in slaves 
 carried on in Africa, and happily calculated to lay the foundation of a 
 gradual emancipation of slaves in our own country, in a legal and con 
 stitutional manner, and without violating the rights or injuring the 
 feelings of our Southern brethren. 
 
 " With these views, the Assembly feel it a duty to recommend the 
 American Society for colonizing the free people of color of the United 
 States to the patronage and attention of the churches under their care, 
 and to benevolent individuals throughout the Union." Minutes, 1819, 
 p. 710. 
 
 2. Collections on Fourth of July recommended. 
 
 "Resolved, That this Assembly recommend to the churches under 
 their care to patronize the objects of the American Colonization Society, 
 and particularly that they take up collections in aid of its funds on the 
 Fourth of July next, or on the Sabbath immediately preceding or suc 
 ceeding that day, and whenever such course may be thought expedient 
 to give their assistance, in such manner as may be most conducive to 
 the interests of the general cause." Minutes, 1825, p. 154. [See also 
 1826, p. 180; 1831, p. 332; 1832, p. 365; 1833, p. 411.] 
 
 3. Recognition of Liberian Independence urged. 
 " The following resolutions were presented and unanimously adopted : 
 
358 IX. ON MODES OF EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 " The committee appointed to draft a minute and resolutions relative 
 to colonization, and the desirableness of a recognition of the republic of 
 Liberia by the Government of the United States, report as follows : 
 
 " The enterprise of colonization has been before the American people 
 about forty years, and has been thoroughly discussed. Whatever diver 
 sity of views may prevail as to its capacity or incapacity, its effect or lack 
 of effect upon the subject of a final abolition of slavery, your committee 
 believe that very little diversity exists as to the fact that a great practi 
 cal blessing to Africa, and a real social and civil benefit to the emigrant 
 colonists, have resulted from the establishment of the republic of Liberia. 
 By it, the colored man, removed from those impediments which, in this 
 land, hindered the full and immediate development of his capabilities 
 for self-government, has been enabled at once, on a theatre to which the 
 eyes of the civilized world are turned, to demonstrate them beyond the 
 power of disputation, and thus to exert a mighty moral influence for the 
 benefit and elevation of his -race. By it, schools, churches, the Christian 
 Sabbath, regulated government, freedom, have been set up upon the 
 shores of a barbarous, despotic, superstitious continent, and are sending 
 abroad their benign influences from year to year in an ever-increasing 
 measure. 
 
 11 Thirty years after the organization of the first Colonization Society, 
 the colony of Liberia, yet feeble, was compelled to set forth its Declara 
 tion of Rights, and to assume the constitutional organization of an 
 independent republic. This event, which marks an era in the history 
 of Africa and her children, occurred in 1846; since which period, with 
 a rapidity which has exceeded the anticipation of the most sanguine 
 minds, this new nation has been steadily acquiring strength and re 
 spectability. 
 
 "The nations of Europe answered the appeal of this rising State, and 
 cordially encouraged it by liberal treaties and an open recognition. We 
 regret to say that our own Government has not hitherto afforded to it 
 the same moral support. A strange anomaly is seen in the fact, that 
 the great republic of the North, looked to for sympathy and support by 
 all people struggling for liberty, fails to afford sympathy or acknowledg 
 ment to a sister republic, whose origin, whose similarity of form, and 
 whose successful attempt at self-government, it should seem, would make 
 the claim almost imperative. 
 
 "In view of such facts and considerations, the committee recommend 
 the following resolutions to be adopted as the sense of this Assembly : 
 
SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. 359 
 
 "1. That the original project of colonization, so far as it proposed 
 to introduce civilization, free government, and Christianity among the 
 people of Africa, merits, as it has already received, the cordial approba 
 tion and friendly sympathy of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " 2. That, as Christians and Americans, we look with delight upon 
 the success already achieved in the rescue of more than five hundred 
 miles of seacoast from the manifold crimes and miseries which the slave 
 trade inflicted upon it, and in the successful organization and adminis 
 tration of republican government by the emigrants to Liberia, thus 
 triumphantly vindicating their capacity for the highest duties of society. 
 
 u 3. That, in view of the origin of the people of Liberia, of the entire 
 correspondence of their laws and Constitution with our own, and of their 
 rapidly growing commerce and greatness, their republic has peculiar 
 claims, both of justice and policy, for an open recognition by the Ameri 
 can Government ; and that we sincerely regret that the empires of 
 France and Brazil, and the monarchies of England, and Russia, and 
 Belgium, have been permitted to anticipate the action of our country. 
 
 " 4. That whenever colored emigrants, already free, or offered liberty 
 by their masters at the South, on the condition of their emigrating, 
 solicit aid to reach Liberia, we cordially recommend them to the sym 
 pathies and assistance of the churches under our care." Minutes, 1853, 
 pp. 329, 330. 
 
 SECTION 7. ON SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE. 
 
 1. The plan endorsed, and urged upon the churches. 2. The American System 
 atic Beneficence Society recommended. 
 
 " The report of the Committee on Benevolent Societies was adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 " 1. This Assembly would recognize, with devout gratitude to God, 
 the success that has attended the labors of most of our great national 
 societies during the last year; that notwithstanding the unprecedented 
 commercial embarrassments by which the year has been distinguished, 
 most of these societies have been enabled to prosecute their work, and, 
 with few exceptions, to meet and sustain all their responsibilities. 
 
 "The Assembly have in these facts an additional proof that some at 
 least of these contributions to this cause are made from principle, and 
 
360 IX. ON MODES OP EVANGELIZATION. 
 
 that Christians are ready, to some extent, to make sacrifices in the cause 
 of Christ. 
 
 "2. That the Assembly recognize with pain the fact, that while some 
 have done so nobly and so well, yet the number of contributors to the 
 cause, compared with the whole number in our communion, is lamenta 
 bly small, the largest portion, by far, of our communicants withhold 
 ing their contributions altogether. 
 
 "3. That it be recommended to our Synods, Presbyteries, and church 
 Sessions to devise, if possible, some method by which a more general 
 application shall be made to every member of the Church ; so that our 
 whole Church may be engaged to take a part in the glorious enterprise 
 of reclaiming the world to Christ. 
 
 " 4. That it be commended to the attention of pastors and stated 
 preachers in our Church to consider well if more cannot be done by 
 them in the advocacy of benevolent action, and in the collection of funds, 
 than has hitherto been attempted ; the Assembly being fully satisfied 
 that no person can be so well qualified to judge what are the best means 
 
 to be employed in any given case as the pastor of the congregation. 
 5 * * # * 
 
 " 6. That this Assembly are fully satisfied that neither of these enter 
 prises is in a condition at present to dispense with the employment of 
 agents, yet they are fully satisfied that a much smaller number would 
 be demanded, and those employed enabled to extend their labors, each 
 to a much larger field, if a portion of the labor in collecting funds could 
 be performed by collectors, male and female, appointed in each congre 
 gation for the purpose. They therefore recommend to pastors, Sessions, 
 and friends of the cause generally, such organizations in the respective 
 congregations as shall bring the leading enterprises of benevolence before 
 every member of the Church, without the personal application of an 
 agent every year/ Minutes, 1840, pp. 21, 22. 
 
 "American Systematic Beneficence Society" commended. 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That the subject of systematic beneficence be earnestly 
 commended to the attention and action of our churches. 
 
 "2. That The American Systematic Beneficence Society, already 
 organized in Philadelphia, be commended to the co-operation of all our 
 Synods, Presbyteries, and Sessions." Minutes, 1856, pp. 195, 196. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 "Resolved, That the committees appointed at the opening of each 
 Assembly be called Standing Committees, and those outside of the As 
 sembly, Permanent Committees." Minutes, 1856, p. 192. 
 
 SECTION 1. PRELIMINARY ACTION. 
 
 1. Reports of committees in 1849 and 1850, looking to raising up ministers, ga 
 thering and organizing churches, and building church edifices. 2. A full report 
 on Church extension. The American Home Missionary Society recommended. 
 Each Presbytery to appoint a standing committee on Church extension, and to 
 take the oversight of the work within their own bounds. The Home Missionary 
 Society requested not to require the official sanction of any of its agents to a Pres- 
 byterial application. Exploring missionaries encouraged. Committee of Con 
 ference with the American Home Missionary Society. 3. Report of the Com 
 mittee of Conference. 
 
 1. Preliminary Action. 
 
 " The committee to whom was referred the report of the committee 
 of the last Assembly on Home Missions, reported the following resolu 
 tions, which, after much discussion, were adopted : 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That the Providence of God, as indicated in the won 
 derful improvements of the age, in the commotions of the Old World, 
 the influx of foreigners, and the unparalleled increase of population in 
 our extensive and extending country, calls for the entire consecration 
 and most self-denying and efficient action of the Christian ministry. 
 
 "2. That the friends of Christ are called upon to use all wise and 
 Christian means to raise up ministers, and meet the emergencies of 
 coming years. 
 
362 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 "3. That our Presbyteries are admonished to secure, so far as possi 
 ble, a good supply for all the feeble churches under their care, and to 
 gather congregations and organize churches in the towns and settlements 
 in which it may be practicable ; either by employing a permanent mis 
 sionary agent, or by such other means as the circumstances and neces 
 sities of these destitute fields demand. 
 
 "4. That those ministers who preach to two or more congregations 
 should use their best endeavors to induce the elders of the churches to 
 hold Sabbath-schools, in connection with some form of religious wor 
 ship, at a regular hour every Sabbath-day, when their ministers cannot 
 be present. 
 
 " 5. That we should make efforts to induce the children of immigrants 
 to attend our Sabbath-schools, and the adults, our congregations; and 
 when they are converted, to join our churches, or to organize churches 
 of their own in connection with us ; that, as soon as possible, they may 
 be Americanized in their language and feelings, and become evangelical 
 in their religion. 
 
 " 6. That every congregation which has no church edifice should, 
 without unnecessary delay, build themselves a suitable house of worship; 
 that generally this should be done by their own exertions, or by such aid 
 only as can be secured in their own vicinity. 
 
 "But if, in any case, a church or churches of a district of country 
 really need assistance from abroad, then the strong ought to help bear 
 the burdens of the weak ; and, in all such cases, those asking aid should 
 bear such testimonials from the Synods to which they belong that the 
 benefactors may know that their charities will be well bestowed." 
 Minutes, 1849, p. 178. 
 
 Church Extension. 
 
 a. "The following resolutions were then adopted on the subject of 
 home missions : 
 
 "1. "Resolved, That in the last command of Christ to his disciples 
 we recognize a command obligatory on our branch of the Church, to 
 preach the Gospel and establish religious institutions throughout the 
 entire extent of our national domain, as far, and as fast, as that domain 
 becomes inhabited. 
 
 " 2. Resolved, That our Presbyteries be recommended to take such 
 action within their respective bounds that, either by themselves, or by 
 
PRELIMINARY ACTION. 363 
 
 the aid of the Home Missionary Society, new churches may be organized 
 wherever circumstances will permit, and the stated preaching of the 
 Gospel be supplied in churches now destitute, as speedily as possible/ 
 Minutes, 1850, p. 315. 
 
 Church Erection. 
 
 ~b. 3. " Resolved, That it be recommended to all our churches to strive 
 earnestly to render our religious institutions permanent, by the erection 
 of church edifices, and the settlement of pastors, whenever this can be 
 done ; and in this work the older and wealthier churches ought to co 
 operate with the younger and feebler." Ibid. 
 
 Education. 
 
 c. "4. Resolved, That the searching out and bringing forward of 
 young men, of hopeful piety arid talent, as candidates for the Gospel 
 ministry, is an integral and essential part of the missionary enterprise, 
 and, as such, demands the constant vigilance and untiring efforts of the 
 ministers and elders of our churches in all parts of the land." Ibid. 
 
 2. A full Report on the general subject of Church Extension. 
 
 "The whole subject [of Church extension] was accordingly referred 
 to a special committee, consisting of the Rev. Thornton A. Mills, Rev. 
 Nathan S. S. Beman, D.D., Rev. Frederick A. Ross, Rev. Artemas 
 Bullard, D.D., Rev. Asa D. Smith, D.D., Rev. D. Howe Allen, D.D., 
 Rev. James B. Townsend, Rev. Samuel W. Fisher, and Rev. Robert W. 
 Patterson; four of whom to form a quorum." Minutes, 1851, p. 29. 
 
 [The report of the committee was the next year presented, amended, 
 and adopted, viz. :] 
 
 "To promote more extensively the work of domestic missions, the 
 General Assembly hereby adopts the following arrangement : 
 
 " 1. The American Home Missionary Society is hereby recommended 
 to the Presbyteries as the agency through which, as heretofore, the work 
 of domestic missions shall be done; and the Presbyteries and Synods 
 are requested to adopt, as far as they may deem proper in their circum 
 stances, the following or similar arrangements : 
 
 "2. Each Presbytery shall elect a Standing Committee on Church 
 
864 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 Extension to serve one year, and continue in office till successors are 
 appointed, who shall, under its direction, attend to the general interests 
 of this work within its bounds. 
 
 "3. Each Presbytery shall see that, by its own ministers or other 
 suitable agency, the claims of home missions shall be presented annually 
 to each of its churches, and that proper efforts are made to bring their 
 liberality into free and becoming exercise towards this cause ; these 
 contributions to be paid into the treasury of the American Home Mis 
 sionary Society, or any of its auxiliaries, and to be raised with as little 
 expense to that Society as possible. 
 
 "4. Each Presbytery shall recommend all applications for aid from 
 any of its churches; and shall be careful to see that the amount asked 
 for is the lowest which will fairly answer the purpose. And it is recom 
 mended, that the appropriations sought be diminished from year to year, 
 if it can be safely done, that the churches may be brought to a self-sus 
 taining standard as soon as possible. 
 
 " 5. The American Home Missionary Society is hereby requested to 
 arrange its system of appropriations, so that applications made by any 
 Presbytery for its churches shall not require the official sanction of any 
 agent of that Society. It is not intended, however, by this recommen 
 dation, to abridge the right of the Society to obtain information as to 
 such applications, or to use its full discretion as to granting them in whole 
 or in part. 
 
 " 6. Each Presbytery, whose circumstances as to territory, churches, 
 and numbers demand it, is recommended to appoint an itinerant mis 
 sionary within its bounds. Or each Synod, where it is best that two or 
 more, or all, of its Presbyteries shall be united in this work, is recom 
 mended to appoint such a missionary, whose duty it shall be to act as a 
 travelling evangelist, after the scriptural pattern, to explore destitute 
 fields ; to prepare the way for the formation of new churches by the 
 Presbyteries; to seek for ministers to take charge of them; to assist 
 and direct in building houses of worship in destitute places; and in all 
 other suitable ways, under the direction of Presbyterial or Synodical 
 committees, promote the work of Church extension. 
 
 " 7. Each Synod shall appoint yearly a Church Extension Cemmittee, 
 whose duty it shall be to take the supervision of any agencies which 
 shall be established, to arrange and carry out some plan to aid in the 
 erection of churches in destitute places, to conduct the home missionary 
 business of the Synod generally, and make a full report at each meeting. 
 
PRELIMINARY ACTION. 365 
 
 "8. Each Synod shall require a yearly collection from its churches, 
 to assist, by loan or gift, feeble churches to erect houses of worship in 
 destitute places; which funds shall be distributed by the Synod s com 
 mittee among those churches which may apply for it, according to their 
 necessities. And the older and abler Synods of the Church are earnestly 
 recommended to contribute of their abundance to aid the feebler Synods 
 in this work. 
 
 "9. Each Synod is hereby charged with the review of the course of 
 its Presbyteries in the duties now assigned them; and is further re 
 quired to report to the General Assembly, through its Standing Com 
 mittee, its proceedings up to the first of April in each year. 
 
 " 10. Each Presbytery is further required, in addition to its statistical 
 report and narrative, to forward yearly to the General Assembly a full 
 report of its various arrangements for Church extension, stating the 
 number of its ministers, and the particular manner in which they are 
 employed; the number of its churches, and how they are supplied; the 
 gross amount of funds collected in its bounds for home missions and 
 church erection ; the amount received by its churches from the Ameri 
 can Home Missionary Society, or any similar institution; the number of 
 houses of worship, with their probable value, and whether they are free 
 from debt ; the number of new churches organized, and new houses of 
 worship erected; what itinerant arrangements have been adopted for 
 preaching the Gospel; what and how much agency has been employed; 
 together with all such other facts and suggestions as will show from year 
 to year what has been accomplished, and what may need to be under 
 taken to bring all the churches to a proper degree of effort to promote 
 the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 "11. The stated clerk is required, in due time previous to the meet 
 ing of each General Assembly, to notify the stated clerks of the Synods 
 and Presbyteries, by a circular letter, of the foregoing requirement as 
 to reports. 
 
 " 12. There shall hereafter be appointed, with the other standing com 
 mittees of the General Assembly, one on Church extension, to whom 
 shall be committed, at an early period of their sessions, the Synodical 
 and Presbyterial reports on the subject, whose duty it shall be to present 
 a condensed view of them to the Assembly, with such further proposi 
 tions to promote this work as they may deem desirable. This standing 
 committee shall be required to report as soon as a faithful discharge of 
 its duties will permit. 
 
366 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 "13. A committee, consisting of five, is hereby appointed to confer 
 with the Executive Committee of the American Home Missionary So 
 ciety, expressing to it the kind feelings and confidence of the General 
 Assembly and the churches it represents, and requesting its co-operation 
 in this plan, as far as its principles will admit ; and also requesting a 
 statement of the principles on which its appropriations are made to the 
 churches of the several denominations of Christians who support it; the 
 results of which conference shall be reported to the next General As 
 sembly. 
 
 "The Rev. George Duffield, D.D., Rev. Philemon H. Fowler, and 
 Hon. Daniel Haines were appointed a committee to nominate the com 
 mittee of five contemplated in the 13th article; and on the nomination 
 of the committee the following persons were appointed, viz.. Rev. George 
 Duffield,D.D., Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, D.D., Rev. Thornton A. Mills, 
 Rev. Robert W. Patterson, and Hon. John L. Mason." Minutes, 1852, 
 pp. 171-173. 
 
 3. Report of the Committee of Conference with the American Home 
 Missionary Society, 1853. 
 
 11 The Committee of Conference with the American Home Missionary 
 Society report as follows : 
 
 " That they have been much gratified in receiving the assurance, from 
 this correspondence, and from personal conference with the Rev. D. B. 
 Coe, one of the Secretaries of the American Home Missionary Society, 
 that said Society has no disposition to interfere in anywise with the 
 ecclesiastical functions of the Synods and Presbyteries, but rather, in 
 just so far as it can, consistent with its organization and principles as a 
 voluntary association, to blend its agency with theirs in the promotion of 
 the one great common object, the extension of the Redeemer s kingdom. 
 The Missionary Committee of each Presbytery is recognized by the So 
 ciety as the appropriate body to certify the wants of any particular 
 church seeking aid, the standing of the minister and his prospects of 
 usefulness, and to endorse and recommend the application. 
 
 " The Society utterly disclaims any purpose of permitting its agents 
 to interfere with the ecclesiastical relations of the churches, or to over 
 rule the recommendations of the Presbyterial Missionary Committees, or 
 the intention to make any discrimination in the appropriations in favor 
 of one denomination and against another. 
 
THE CHURCH EXTENSION COMMITTEE. 367 
 
 " The long connection which, has existed between our churches and 
 the American Home Missionary Society, as the receiving and disbursing 
 agent of the churches in carrying forward their domestic missionary 
 work, the efficiency with which the Society has performed its duties, 
 and the general impartiality and fidelity with which it has discharged 
 its important and sometimes difficult trust, force upon us the conviction 
 that our home missionary work can be more successfully prosecuted, in 
 existing circumstances, under our present arrangements, than by any 
 new organization. 
 
 " At the same time, we are fully satisfied that the rules of the Society, 
 well designed, and undoubtedly wise and beneficial in their general 
 working, do, nevertheless, sometimes prevent the extension of the Gospel 
 under its auspices, in many of our new and rapidly-growing cities and 
 towns of the West, in cases where the importance of the work, and the 
 incalculable good which might result therefrom, demand some aid. "We 
 are aware, also, that the recent revival of denominational zeal which has 
 occurred, will render the continued co-operation of different sister deno 
 minations in the missionary work much more delicate and difficult than 
 heretofore, and may occasion injustice to be done through subordinate 
 agents, without intention to do so on the part of the Executive Com 
 mittee of the Society. Mutual forbearance, however, and that charity 
 which the apostle commends to his Corinthian brethren, and that fear 
 of God which will lead one to suffer rather than inflict a wrong, may, we 
 believe, enable the co-operating parties to continue thus their joint 
 labors happily and successfully, cultivating, also, thereby, the most diffi 
 cult graces, by often exercising them/ Minutes, 1853, pp. 340, 341. 
 
 SECTION 2. THE CHURCH EXTENSION COMMITTEE. 
 
 1. The powers and duties of the Assembly in regard to home missions. Com 
 mittee on Church Extension established ; located in Philadelphia. Powers only 
 such as are conferred by the Assembly. The functions of the committee desig 
 nated. Intention to interfere with the American Home Missionary Society dis 
 avowed. Number of the committee, classes, and term of office. Five a quorum. 
 The committee has power to fill its vacancies in the recess of the Assembly. 
 2. Intent of the appointment of the committee, not to change the co-operative 
 policy of the Church, but to supplement existing agencies. 3. The committee 
 authorized to use their own discretion in cases where prompt action is required. 
 4. The powers and duties of the committee enumerated and enlarged. Au- 
 
368 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 thorized to provide for churches which can receive aid from no other source. 
 5. The committee instructed to prosecute their work with all energy. Feeble 
 churches to ask the least sum possible. General contributions urged in all the 
 churches not aided by the American Home Missionary Society. 6. The Board 
 of Missions has no authority to sit in judgment upon the orthodoxy or morality 
 of a minister in good standing in his own Presbytery. 7. The committee can 
 make no discrimination between churches having the same standing under the 
 Constitution. 8. Rules of the committee. 
 
 1. Tfie Report of the Standing Committee. The Church Extension 
 Committee established. 
 
 " The Assembly resumed the consideration of the report of the Com 
 mittee on Church Extension, relative to the overtures on the subject of 
 home missions, when, after full discussion, it was adopted, and is as 
 follows : 
 
 "The Committee on Church Extension, to whom was referred the 
 overtures and memorials on the subject of home missions from the Third 
 and Fourth Presbyteries of Philadelphia, the Synod of Iowa, and the 
 Presbyteries of Chicago and Iowa City, respectfully report : That their 
 attention has been especially directed to those cases of home missionary 
 effort which are excluded by the rules of the American Home Missionary 
 Society. Such are, for example, the employment of Synodical, Presby- 
 terial, and generally of exploring or itinerant Presbyterian Missionaries, 
 and the planting of Presbyterian churches in advance of all others in 
 towns and neighborhoods, and the founding of churches within the 
 chartered limits of cities and large villages. 
 
 "The Form of Government of our Church, chapter xviii, expressly 
 authorizes the inferior judicatories to apply to the General Assembly for 
 missionary assistance, and in express terms authorizes the Assembly to 
 send missionaries to any part of the Church. The principles of our 
 Presbyterianism, applicable to this subject, are, that the Church is one; 
 that, in accordance with this idea, the stronger parts of the Church must 
 assist the weaker, and that the reservoir into which the surplus shall 
 flow to be equalized and distributed, is the General Assembly. It is 
 obvious that the details of the reception and distribution of funds for 
 this object cannot be arranged by the whole body of the Assembly, but 
 that the Assembly must employ some agency for this purpose ; and our 
 opinion is, that it is entirely free to choose any agency whatever. Of 
 course, it may operate through a voluntary association like the American 
 
THE CHURCH EXTENSION COMMITTEE. 369 
 
 Home Missionary Society; but your committee do not conceive that its 
 use of that society for specific purposes either gives that society a right 
 to control the whole subject of Church extension for our denomination, 
 or releases the General Assembly from its own obligation to do so. The 
 older and richer Synods, indeed, do not feel so much the pressure of 
 this necessity, as they are able to afford the needed supplementary aid 
 from their own resources ; but it is urged upon us from the more new 
 and destitute portions of our Church, that our interests are grievously 
 suffering, because neither the American Home Missionary Society nor 
 any other agency meets their wants in certain respects, such as those 
 which have been already mentioned; and their appeal in this behalf is 
 made just where the Constitution of our Church directs that it should 
 be made, to the General Assembly itself. 
 
 " This being obviously, therefore, a case which cannot be reached so 
 effectually by any action of the inferior judicatories, your committee 
 connot see how the Assembly can refuse to exercise, in regard to it, that 
 power of superintendence of the concerns of the whole Church/ ex 
 pressly confided to it by the Constitution. They therefore recommend 
 the following action : 
 
 Name, Power?, and Functions of the Committee. 
 
 a. "Resolved, 1. That the General Assembly hereby establishes a 
 standing committee, to be called The Church Extension Committee, a 
 majority of whom shall reside in or near the city of Philadelphia. This 
 committee shall have no other powers than those conferred by the As 
 sembly; and the functions now assigned to them are those of employing 
 Presbyterial, Synodical, and other Presbyterian itinerant or exploring 
 agents, and affording aid in such exceptional cases as those already 
 mentioned, and also the receiving and disbursing of funds for these 
 objects. 
 
 Intention to interfere with the American Home Missionary Society 
 
 disavowed. 
 
 1. "2. That, in recommending this course of action, the General As 
 sembly distinctly declare that it is not their intention thus to establish 
 an ecclesiastical board, or to interfere with the proper functions of the 
 American Home Missionary Society, but, as heretofore, they recommend 
 
 24 
 
370 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 that society to the confidence and co-operation of the churches under 
 their care. 
 
 Number, Classes, and Term of Office, of tlie Committee. 
 
 c. "3. That the Standing Committee on Church Extension, now con 
 stituted, shall consist of fifteen members, to be chosen by the Assembly 
 in such manner as the Assembly may direct, and the committee shall, at 
 its first meeting, divide itself into three equal parts, to serve respectively 
 one, two, and three years ; but the same persons shall be re-eligible at 
 the pleasure of the Assembly." 
 
 Quorum; Power to Jill Vacancies in the Recess of the Assembly. 
 
 d. "4. Five members of the committee shall be a quorum; but in 
 order to elect any salaried officer of the committee, or to increase or 
 diminish the salary of the same, a majority of the committee shall be 
 necessary to constitute a quorum. The committee shall have power to 
 fill any vacancies occurring while the Assembly is not in session, and 
 they shall make an annual report to the Assembly of all their proceed 
 ings." Minutes, 1855, pp. 20-22. 
 
 2. Intent of the Appointment of the Committee. 
 
 "In establishing the Committee on Church Extension, the General 
 Assembly distinctly declared, that it was not their intention to change 
 the co-operative policy of our Church on the subject of home missions, 
 but merely to provide a supplementary agency to attend to the cases 
 needing assistance, which could not be met in consistency with the rules 
 of the American Home Missionary Society. The committee clearly 
 apprehend the object of their appointment, and correctly defined it in a 
 document put forth in August last; and this Assembly commend the 
 strict and prudent adherence of the committee to the principles therein 
 contained. There is nothing in the original appointment of the com 
 mittee, when properly understood, nor in its action, to excite the fears 
 which have been expressed by corresponding bodies, that our Church 
 has started on a crusade to propagate sectarianism." Minutes, 1856, 
 pp. 219, 220. 
 
THE CHURCH EXTENSION COMMITTEE. 371 
 
 3. The Committee to use its discretion in Cases requiring prompt Action. 
 
 "Resolved, That while this Assembly would make no change in the 
 general basis of our operations in the department of Church extension, 
 yet, in view of the fact that, as experience shows, great and perplexing 
 delays are found to result in many cases from a literal and rigid adhe 
 rence to the restrictions under which the Committee on Church Exten 
 sion have acted hitherto, they are hereby authorized to exercise their 
 discretion in relation to such applications for aid as may seem to require 
 prompt and immediate action/ Minutes, 1857, p. 409. 
 
 4. Powers of the Committee enlarged. 
 
 " Churches in the condition of those just referred to (from whom aid 
 has been withheld by the Home Missionary Society), ought not to be 
 left to suffer, and perhaps to perish ; and with a view to them, and also 
 to churches situated like those in Missouri, the powers and duties of the 
 Church Extension Committee ought to be expanded. It has hitherto 
 devolved upon them : 1. To employ agents for purposes of exploration ; 
 2. To aid churches in the chartered limits of cities and large towns; 3. 
 To plant Presbyterian churches in places where sister denominations 
 had not previously occupied the ground ; and 4. To answer applications 
 that require prompt and immediate replies, and that will not admit of 
 the delay incident to requests preferred in other directions. 
 
 " In view of the new classes of exceptional cases to which they have 
 referred, the committee recommend that the province of the Permanent 
 Committee be still further enlarged, so that they may be authorized to 
 provide for churches that can receive adequate aid from no other source. 
 And to meet the increased draught that must thus be made upon their 
 treasury, it is desirable that additional force be given to their agency for 
 collecting funds. 
 
 " Adopted." Minutes, 1859, p. 43. 
 
 5. Committee instructed to prosecute their Work with energy. 
 
 " The report of the Permanent Committee affords encouraging proof 
 of progress in the work of church extension. This work is steadily 
 growing on the hands of the committee, and is carried forward by them 
 with wisdom and efficiency. An increase of about fifty per cent, in the 
 
372 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 receipts of the committee within the past year shows that this cause is 
 taking a deep hold on the hearts of our people. The importance of the 
 exploring agencies that are employed by the committee can hardly be 
 overestimated. New and wide fields are opening, that must not be 
 neglected by our Church. The number of our feeble churches that can 
 receive aid only from this Church Extension Committee is, from special 
 causes, rapidly increasing. These churches must not be suffered to die, 
 or be driven to other denominations for support, as the condition of 
 their continued existence. The present condition of our home mission 
 ary affairs multiplies, and will multiply, the demands for the efficient 
 prosecution of our Church extension enterprise. The coming year will 
 be one of great importance in the history of this work. A large increase 
 upon the present receipts of the committee will be urgently needed. 
 
 " In view of the whole case, we recommend the adoption of the fol 
 lowing resolutions : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That the report of the Church Extension Committee 
 be approved, and that the committee are hereby instructed to prosecute 
 their work with all the energy that they can command. 
 
 "2. That we urge our feeble churches that make application to the 
 committee for aid to use their utmost endeavors to help themselves, and 
 to ask the committee for the smallest amount with which they can 
 adequately support their ministers. 
 
 " 3. That we request all the churches in our connection, that are not 
 aided by the American Home Missionary Society, to take up collections 
 at an early day for the Church extension cause." Minutes, 1860, p. 
 255. 
 
 6. The Board of Missions has no authority to sit in Judgment upon the 
 Orthodoxy or Morality of a Minister in good standing in his own 
 Presbytery. 
 
 " In answer to the questions propounded by the Presbyteries of Union 
 and French Broad, the Assembly would say, that, though they do not 
 recognize in the Board of Missions the authority to sit in judgment 
 upon the orthodoxy or morality of any minister who is in good standing 
 in his own Presbytery, yet, from the necessity of the case, they must 
 exercise their own sound discretion upon the expediency or inexpediency 
 of appointing or withholding an appointment from any applicant, holding 
 
THE CHURCU EXTENSION COMMITTEE. 373 
 
 themselves amenable to the General Assembly for all their official acts." 
 Minutes, 1830, p. 290. 
 
 7. The Committee can make no discriminations between Churches 
 having the same standing under the Constitution. 
 
 "The Standing Committee on Church Extension, to whom was re 
 ferred the resolution proposing that the General Assembly should in 
 struct the Church Extension Committee to offer no assistance to any 
 church that has in its communion one or more slaveholders, reported as 
 follows : 
 
 "1. The Permanent Committee on Church Extension is appointed to 
 act for the whole Church, being an organ of the General Assembly, 
 which represents the whole Church, and we can see no defensible prin 
 ciple on which such a committee could make discriminations, on moral 
 grounds, between churches that are recognized as having the same 
 ecclesiastical standing under our common Constitution. 
 
 " 2. The position of cur Church is well understood to be one of 
 opposition to the spirit and the system of slavery; and we have no 
 reason to believe that any churches connected with us are using their 
 influence to sustain and fortify that institution. 
 
 "3. If it be true that any members of churches in our connection 
 hold slaves under mistaken views of their duty towards them, we do not 
 see that this affords any sufficient reason for withholding from them the 
 Bread of Life, and such enlightened teachings as we believe our minis 
 try are qualified and disposed to impart, in relation to all the great prin 
 ciples of Christian duty. We sympathize with all Christian endeavors 
 to remove imperfection and sin from the Church of Christ ; but we 
 think this end is to be accomplished not by withdrawing the Gospel 
 from those who need it, but by affectionate and prayerful efforts to apply 
 the principles of our holy religion to the heart and conscience of every 
 Christian who is willing to receive instruction. 
 
 "4. The Church Extension Committee are fully aware of the ground 
 which our Church occupies with reference to this subject, and we have 
 confidence that they will conscientiously discharge their duty with an 
 enlightened regard to the promotion of righteousness and holiness in the 
 Church, and in the world. 
 
 " Adopted." Minutes, I860, p. 258. 
 
874 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 8. Rules of the Church Extension Committee. 
 
 "1. Quarterly meetings of the committee shall be held alternately in 
 the cities of Philadelphia and New York, on the third Tuesdays of April, 
 July, October, and January, at one o clock p. M., at which meetings 
 alone the more important business not requiring haste shall be trans 
 acted ; such as the appointing of officers, determining the policy of the 
 committee, adopting rules or changing them, and agreeing upon the an 
 nual report to the General Assembly. Beside the quarterly meetings, 
 there shall be held monthly meetings, excepting in those months in 
 which the quarterly meetings occur, at the Presbyterian House in Phi 
 ladelphia, at which meetings all ordinary executive business, not reserved 
 as above, may be transacted. The chairman may convene the committee 
 at any other time by causing suitable notice to be given. The necessary 
 travelling expenses of the ministerial members of the committee shall be 
 paid by the treasurer. 
 
 "2. A secretary and a treasurer shall be chosen annually, by nomina 
 tion and ballot. 
 
 " 3. While the secretary shall be careful not to interfere with the col 
 lections made for the American Home Missionary Society or its auxilia 
 ries, yet it is understood that the claims of the committee are to be so 
 presented to individuals and churches, as to secure adequate funds to 
 carry out all the objects designed by the General Assembly in its appoint 
 ment. 
 
 11 4. The ordinary mode of operation of the committee will be through 
 the Synods or Presbyteries of our Church, upon the following plan : Each 
 Synod or Presbytery which thinks proper to do so, may appoint a Com 
 mittee on Church Extension, where such a committee does not already 
 exist, composed of members so situated that they can readily meet. 
 When cases occur such as come within the range of our appointment, 
 the Synodical or Presbyterial Committee will recommend the field, or 
 church, or minister, as the case may be, and in general co-operate with 
 this committee in regard to this class of domestic missionary operations. 
 It will be understood, however, in cases where the Synod or Presbytery 
 has not acted, that churches or ministers may address the committee 
 directly. 
 
 li 5. Synods or Presbyteries co-operating with the committee will cither 
 send to it all their funds collected for the class of cases appropriate to 
 the committee, and the appointments be made by it; or they may raise 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. 375 
 
 their own funds and make appointments to be confirmed by this com 
 mittee, and pay over to it their surplus. 
 
 " 6. Applications should always be specific. They should state such 
 particulars as the following : The circumstances which make the case 
 one proper for the action of this committee, and not for that of the Ame 
 rican Home Missionary Society; the extent and location of the field; 
 the name of the agent or missionary; if a church or congregation, its 
 name and location; the number of communicants ; the average number 
 of attendants on public worship; the state of the country and population, 
 and prospects of the field ; the denominations and size of congregations 
 immediately contiguous; the total amount of salary which they can 
 raise for the given time, or which can be raised in the Synod or Presby 
 tery; and every other particular calculated to throw light upon the case. 
 
 "7. All co-operating committees will make an annual report to the 
 committee, and all agents or missionaries receiving from it the whole or 
 a part of their support, will make a quarterly report. The annual re 
 ports shall be forwarded in time to be received by the second Tuesday of 
 April in each year, and the quarterly reports by the second Tuesdays of 
 July, October, and January." 
 
 SECTION 3. COMMITTEE ox CHURCH ERECTION. 
 
 1. Initiatory measures. 2. The committee appointed; its number, classification, 
 and duties. 3. The church erection plan of the Assembly. 4. The charter 
 accepted by the Assembly. The fund transferred to the trustees. The Synods 
 enjoined to appoint committees of Church extension. 5. The fund completed. 
 G. The trustees authorized to require church edifices to be kept insured, at 
 their discretion. 7. Rigid adherence to the plan required. Amendment of art. 
 xiv, sec. 3. 8. Appropriations not to be made, when there is no organized con 
 gregation. The trustees are the sole custodians of the fund. The Assembly 
 refuse to alter the plan. 9. Act of incorporation of the Trustees of the Church 
 Erection Fund. 10. By-laws of the trustees. 11. Rules and regulations for 
 
 * the use of applicants for aid from the fund. 
 
 1. Initiatory Measures. 
 
 "Resolved, That it be recommended to our churches to strive earnestly 
 to render our religious institutions permanent, by the erection of church 
 edifices and the settlement of pastors, whenever this can be done ; and 
 in this work the older and wealthier churches ought to co-operate with 
 the younger and feebler/ Minutes, 1850, p. 315. 
 
376 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 2. Committee appointed ; its Duties, &c. 
 
 [The Committee on " Church Extension " reported, reciting certain 
 statistical facts, and recommending the following action. Adopted.] 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That the General Assembly, relying on the assisting 
 grace of God and the hearty co-operation of his people, will undertake 
 to raise, within the present year, the sum of $100,000, which shall con 
 stitute a permanent fund to aid feeble congregations in erecting houses 
 of worship. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. That, in the furtherance of this object, the Assembly 
 do now elect, by ballot, and annually hereafter, a Church Erection Com 
 mittee, to be composed of ten members, one-half of whom shall be min 
 isters, six to reside in or near the city of New York, and four in or near 
 the city of Philadelphia, including the stated and permanent clerks 
 and the treasurer of the Assembly, with power to fill their own vacan 
 cies; said committee to employ, at their discretion, a corresponding 
 secretary, who shall be paid a suitable salary, together with his travelling 
 expenses. 
 
 "Resolved, 3. This Church Erection Committee shall meet in the city 
 of New York, on the second Wednesday of June next, and thereafter, 
 on their own adjournment, in the cities of Philadelphia and New York 
 alternately, at least once in three months, their necessary travelling ex 
 penses being defrayed. 
 
 "Resolved, 4. The General Assembly hereby authorize said committee 
 to take such measures as to them may seem best to bring the claims of 
 this great object before our churches, so as to secure as soon as possible 
 the fund above named ; said committee to be authorized, also, to renew 
 the appeal annually to our churches, in order to make up any deficiency 
 which may exist in the first simultaneous subscriptions to complete the 
 fund, or which may arise thereafter ; it being the purpose of the Assem 
 bly to raise and maintain a permanent fund of $100,000, for the pur 
 poses herein specified. 
 
 " Resolved, 5. The General Assembly recommend that a collection or 
 subscription be taken in. all our churches in behalf of this object, on the 
 second Sabbath of November next; and that the money thus raised be 
 forwarded to Anthony P. Halsey, Esq., the treasurer of the General As 
 sembly, or to his successor duly appointed, to be held in trust for the 
 use, and subject to the order, of the above-named committee. 
 
 "Resolved, 6. The stated clerks of the several Presbyteries shall con 
 stitute a committee of correspondence for their respective Presbyteries, 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. 377 
 
 with the Church Erection Committee ; communicating all needed infor 
 mation in respect to the state and wants of their churches; and the 
 Church Erection Committee, thus informed, shall report to the General 
 Assembly, from year to year, the facts as they exist in respect to the 
 relative wants of the different Synods, and also, the amount and condi 
 tion of the fund under their direction, and their opinion of the proper 
 apportionment of the same ; whereupon the Assembly shall determine 
 the amount to which each Synod shall be entitled for the year next en 
 suing. And thus, at each successive Assembly, the committee shall 
 report as aforesaid ; and, further, they shall report a full statement of 
 all moneys loaned or donated from the fund, and the securities taken 
 therefor. And the Assembly shall direct, as before, the distribution of 
 said fund among the Synods in our connection. 
 
 " Resolved, 7. Each Synod, through its Committee on Church Exten 
 sion, of which the stated clerk of the Synod shall be ex-officio secretary, 
 shall draw on the Church Erection Committee for such portion of the 
 fund as has been allotted to it, in such sums as it shall, from time to 
 time, loan or donate to particular churches within its bounds. But no 
 draft shall be made by any Synod for any portion of the fund allotted to 
 it, until, where the money is loaned, each particular loan shall have been 
 definitely agreed upon, and sufficient security in bond and mortgage or 
 personal notes shall have been duly executed and placed in the hands of 
 the stated clerk of said Synod, who shall with his draft transmit a state 
 ment of the loan thus made and the security taken ; nor shall any draft 
 be made until such accompanying statement, satisfactory to the com 
 mittee, shall have been received. 
 
 " Provided, That the Church Extension Committee of each Synod, 
 when, in their estimation, the circumstances of the case demand it, may 
 also donate to feeble churches within their bounds, or remit on previous 
 loans, such sums as they shall judge proper; not to exceed, however, in 
 the aggregate, a sum equal to one-fourth part of the amount appor 
 tioned to said Synod for the current year. And the Church Erection 
 Committee shall pay the drafts for such donations in the same manner 
 as for the loans above authorized. All moneys thus donated or remitted 
 to be secured on the house, in case of a change in the ecclesiastical rela 
 tions of the church thus aided. 
 
 "Provided further, That all churches, to whom moneys are thus do 
 nated or remitted, shall take an annual collection in behalf of the Church 
 Erection Fund, at least until they shall have thus repaid the amount 
 
378 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 \ 
 
 which was granted them. No interest shall ever be demanded for any 
 moneys loaned to congregations from this fund, until by the terms of 
 the loan the principal has become due." Minutes, 1853, pp. 317, 318. 
 
 3. Church Erection Plan. 
 
 " The Church Erection Committee, appointed by the General Assembly 
 of 1853, after a full consideration of the trust committed to them, beg 
 leave to report the following plan for the proper control and manage 
 ment of the Church Erection Fund : 
 
 "PREAMBLE. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America, now holding its sessions in the city of Phila 
 delphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, having, through the liberality of 
 the congregations connected with this body, established a fund for the 
 purpose of aiding feeble congregations in erecting houses of worship, do 
 hereby adopt the following plan, under which this fund shall be held, 
 administered, and used : 
 
 " ART. 1. This fund having been committed to the General Assembly 
 as a special trust, no part of it as now established, nor any additions 
 which may hereafter be made to it, shall ever be used for any other 
 purpose, than that of aiding feeble congregations in connection with the 
 General Assembly in erecting houses of worship ; except so much as 
 may be absolutely necessary to defray the expenses incident to the 
 administration of this plan. 
 
 " ART. 2. The custody, care, and management of this fund, and of all 
 securities of every kind belonging to it, or growing out of it, together 
 with all claims, dues, and property that may at any time pertain to it, 
 and all additions that may hereafter be made to it by donations, bequests, 
 or otherwise, shall be committed to a board of trustees, to be called The 
 Trustees of the Church Erection Fund of the General Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States of America/ The board 
 shall consist of nine members, four of them being ministers and five of 
 them elders, in connection with some Presbytery or church under the 
 care of the General Assembly, who shall reside in the city of New York, 
 or its immediate vicinity, and whom the General Assembly shall elect 
 by ballot, on a nomination to be made at least one day before such elec 
 tion. The trustees shall continue in office until the election and induc 
 tion of their successors. The certificate of the stated clerk of the 
 General Assembly shall be necessary, to entitle a trustee to take his seat 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. 879 
 
 as a member of the board, which certificate it shall be his duty to furnish 
 as soon as practicable after the election. 
 
 " The trustees first elected shall arrange themselves into three equal 
 classes. The term of office of the first class shall expire in one year 
 from their election; that of the second class in two years; and that of 
 the third class in three years. After the first election, the General 
 Assembly shall annually elect three trustees, to supply the place of the 
 class whose term is about to expire, to hold their office for three years, 
 the same persons always being re-eligible ; and each General Assembly 
 shall also by election supply any vacancy in the board, caused by death, 
 resignation, or otherwise. If any trustee shall, during the term for 
 which he is elected, cease to be connected with a Presbytery or church 
 under the care of the General Assembly, he shall thereby cease to be a 
 member of the board; and the vacancy shall be reported to the next 
 General Assembly. 
 
 " ART. 3. The first meeting of the board shall be held on the second 
 Tuesday of June next, in the city of New York, at such place and hour 
 as the stated clerk of the General Assembly may appoint, who shall 
 preside until the board is organized by the choice of its president. 
 
 "ART. 4. The board shall make their own by-laws. They shall 
 annually, at their first meeting after the adjournment of the General 
 Assembly, elect one of their number president of the board ; and shall 
 appoint a secretary, and a treasurer who shall give security to the board 
 for the faithful performance of his duties. They shall keep complete 
 books of record and account, in which shall be recorded all their pro 
 ceedings, and the true state at all times of all matters relating to this 
 fund ; which records and accounts, or any part of them, shall at all times 
 be open to the inspection of any committee appointed by the General 
 Assembly for this purpose. They shall also keep full and correct copies 
 and files of all the correspondence which may be conducted or received 
 by them, or in their name; and shall annually present to the General 
 Assembly, not later than the third day of its sessions, a full written 
 report of their proceedings and of the state of the fund, together with 
 any suggestions or recommendations which they may deem necessary or 
 suitable. The General Assembly shall annually appoint a committee of 
 three of its members, to audit the accounts and to examine the securities 
 of the board, and report at the next General Assembly. 
 
 " ART. 5. The board are hereby directed, either by procuring a special 
 act of the Legislature of the State of New York, or in accordance with the 
 
380 
 
 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 existing statutes of said State, to incorporate themselves, and their suc 
 cessors in office, always to be elected as aforesaid, into a body corporate 
 and politic, invested with all such legal powers, as may be necessary to 
 enable them to hold and administer this fund, in conformity with the 
 provisions of this plan. 
 
 " ART. 6. The board are directed, as far as practicable, to keep at 
 interest, on sufficient security, payable on call or short notice, any portion 
 of the fund that may not be appropriated by the General Assembly; or, 
 if appropriated, may not be in use in the Synods. 
 
 " ART. 7. The board shall prepare blank forms of all such legal and 
 other papers as may be required in the proper distribution and manage 
 ment of the fund ; and they shall furnish a sufficient quantity of such 
 forms to the Committee on Church Extension of each Synod ; the forms 
 so prepared and furnished, and none others, shall be used in all matters 
 and transactions relating to the fund, to which they may be applicable. 
 They shall designate such legal advisers within the bounds of each 
 Synod, as by a correspondence with the Church Extension Committees 
 of the Synods may be found desirable, to examine all certificates of title, 
 and all conveyances and other documents connected with the loan or 
 donation of any part of this fund, including a careful investigation in 
 regard to the legal incorporation of the boards of trustees of the congre 
 gations concerned; and they shall further have power to appoint an 
 agent in each Synod, and to require that all payments of money that 
 may become due to this fund shall be made to such agent. 
 
 "ART. 8. The fund thus established is, in the first instance, hereby 
 appropriated to be used within the bounds of the respective Synods, in 
 the following proportions : 
 
 per ct. 
 
 Synod 
 
 of Albany, 
 
 2.5 per ct. 
 
 " Synod of Ohio, 
 
 3 r 
 
 u 
 
 Cincinnati, 
 
 3 
 
 " Pennsylvania, 
 
 3 
 
 u 
 
 Genesee, 
 
 3 " 
 
 " Peoria, 
 
 7 
 
 " 
 
 Geneva, 
 
 3 
 
 " Snsquehanna, 
 
 3 
 
 u 
 
 Illinois, 
 
 6 " 
 
 " Tennessee, 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 Indiana, 
 
 5 
 
 " Utica, 
 
 2.5 
 
 
 
 Iowa, 
 
 5 
 
 " Virginia, 
 
 3.5 
 
 " 
 
 Kentucky, 
 
 2.5 " 
 
 " Wabash, 
 
 5 
 
 " 
 
 Michigan, 
 
 8 
 
 " Western Reserve, 
 
 5 
 
 a 
 
 Mississippi, 
 
 2.5 " 
 
 " West Pennsylvania, 
 
 3 
 
 " 
 
 Missouri, 
 
 2.5 " 
 
 " West Tennessee, 
 
 3 
 
 (i 
 
 New York and 
 
 
 
 
 
 New Jersey, 
 
 15 " 
 
 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. 381 
 
 "ART. 9. Each General Assembly shall determine the proportion to 
 be appropriated within the bounds of the respective Synods, of any part 
 of the fund that the board may have received since the meeting of the 
 preceding General Assembly, by the payment of loans, gifts, legacies, 
 or otherwise; and every such appropriation, without reference to any 
 previous one, shall be made by the General Assembly in view of the 
 relative wants and necessities of the Synods at the time. 
 
 " ART. 10. If any Synod shall deem it inexpedient to aid their feeble 
 churches in accordance with the provisions of this plan ; or shall fail to 
 elect a Committee on Church Extension, to act in conjunction with the 
 board, as herein provided ; or shall notify the board that any portion of 
 the amount hereby appropriated to be used within their bounds, or of 
 any amount that may be hereafter so appropriated, is not needed ; then, 
 in each of these cases, the General Assembly may, at their discretion, 
 appropriate the portion of the fund, or any surplus amount, assigned to 
 such Synod, to other Synods in the same manner as is provided for in 
 the preceding article. 
 
 "ART. 11. In order to be entitled to the use of any portion of the 
 fund, each Synod connected with the General Assembly shall annually 
 elect a Committee on Church Extension, consisting of at least five mem 
 bers. The stated clerk of the Synod shall, immediately after the election 
 of said committee, transmit to the president or secretary of the board 
 his certificate of such election, giving the name and residence of each 
 member. 
 
 " ART. 12. All applications for aid from the fund shall be made, in 
 the first instance, to the Committee on Church Extension of the Synod 
 to which the applicants belong, or within whose bounds they are situated. 
 Every such application shall be in writing, and shall particularly state : 
 the location of the house or site for its erection ; the number of families 
 or persons attached to the congregation, or that propose to unite in build 
 ing a house of worship; the description of the house which they propose 
 to build, with its estimated and probable cost, or the description and cost 
 of the house and lot owned by the congregation ; the amount of reliable 
 subscriptions which have been obtained, and how much has been paid 
 thereon ; the amount of available means possessed by the congregation, 
 if any ; whether the congregation is in debt; and if so, to what amount, 
 and when the same becomes due ; and also any other facts which may 
 aid the committee of the Synod in judging of the application. This 
 application shall be accompanied by the certificate of one of the legal 
 
382 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 advisers of the board, that the title to the lot on which the house is built 
 or to be built is vested in said congregation, and is free from all legal 
 incumbrance and liability. 
 
 " ART. 13. If the committee of the Synod, to whom application for 
 aid has been made as above provided, shall, after a careful examination 
 into the condition and prospects of the congregation so applying, be 
 satisfied that such congregation have done all that should reasonably be 
 expected of them, and that, with the aid which can be aiforded from 
 this fund, they can build or possess a house of worship adapted to their 
 wants, and be free from other indebtedness than that to this fund; then 
 the committee shall sign a certificate addressed to the board, stating the 
 application, and that they have examined and approve of it; and also 
 stating the amount which it is proper to loan or donate to the congrega 
 tion. This certificate, together with a copy of the application made to 
 the committee of the Synod, shall be transmitted to the board. On the 
 receipt of this certificate and application, the board shall, as soon as 
 practicable, if the application is in due form, forward the necessary 
 papers, to be executed by the trustees of the congregation, and to be 
 approved by their legal adviser, or some other attorney proposed by the 
 congregation and accepted by the board. When the papers, so executed, 
 approved, and properly recorded, are returned to the board, they shall 
 authorize the treasurer of the trustees of the congregation, or any other 
 person duly appointed by them for this purpose, to draw on the treasurer 
 of the board for the amount thus provided for and secured. 
 
 "ART. 14. The Board shall not in any case loan or donate any por 
 tion of the fund to any congregation, unless such congregation own, in 
 fee simple and free from all legal incumbrance, the lot on which their 
 house of worship is situated, or on which they propose to build ; nor shall 
 any loan or donation be made for the payment of any debt, except that 
 which may have been contracted within one year previous, in erecting a 
 house of worship. 
 
 "The amount loaned to any congregation shall never be more than 
 one-third of the amount contributed for the house and lot, nor exceed 
 the sum of five hundred dollars ; nor shall the amount given to any 
 congregation as a donation be in any case more than two hundred dol 
 lars, or exceed one-fourth of the amount contributed for their house and 
 lot; nor shall a loan and a donation be made to the same congregation. 
 The donations within the boundaries of any Synod shall never be more 
 than one-fourth of the amount appropriated to that Synod. 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. 383 
 
 " All loans shall be made on the following conditions : 
 
 " 1. The principal shall be paid in four equal annual instalments, the 
 first instalment becoming due in three years from the date of the loan. 
 
 "2. If all the instalments are punctually paid, no interest will be re 
 quired on any part of the loan. 
 
 U 3. In default of the payment of any instalment, interest shall be 
 required on the whole loan unpaid, from the time of such default, until 
 such instalment, with all the interest that may thus accrue, shall be 
 paid.* 
 
 " The conditions of all donations from this fund shall be, that, in case 
 the church or con cremation shall cease to be connected with the General 
 
 O G 
 
 Assembly, or their corporate existence shall cease, or their house of wor 
 ship be alienated, except for the building or purchase of a better house 
 of worship, they shall refund to the Board the amount which they have 
 so received, with interest from the time of receiving it; and further, 
 that every congregation receiving a donation shall annually make a col 
 lection in aid of the fund, transmitting the same to the treasurer, until 
 the amount so collected and paid over shall equal the sum received as a 
 donation. 
 
 " The fulfilment of the above conditions, in respect to both loans and 
 donations, shall in all cases be secured by the bond of the trustees of 
 the congregation, and a mortgage on their house and lot, made in favor 
 of the Board ; which bond and mortgage, duly executed and recorded, 
 shall always be placed in the possession of the Board, before any money 
 is paid over to the congregation. 
 
 "ART. 15. The Board shall not make a loan or donation to any con 
 gregation, until the full sum of one hundred thousand dollars shall have 
 been actually paid to the treasurer of the General Assembly. When 
 this amount has been received, the treasurer of the General Assembly 
 is hereby directed to pay over the whole amount to the treasurer of this 
 fund, upon the written order of the Board, signed by its President and 
 Secretary. 
 
 " ART. 16. In accepting this trust and adopting this plan, the General 
 Assembly hereby declares, that the first article shall admit of no altera 
 tion or amendment ; and that no change shall be made in any other part 
 
 * " And in case any church or congregation receiving a loan shall afterwards 
 withdraw from the General Assembly, the whole amount unpaid shall at once 
 become due. Amendment, Minutes, 185S, p. 580. 
 
384 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 of the plan by any future General Assembly, except by an affirmative 
 vote of two-thirds of all the members whose names have been entered 
 upon the roll. 
 
 " The following resolutions were also adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That this General Assembly express its full approba 
 tion of the action of the last Assembly, for raising the sum of one hun 
 dred thousand dollars, as a permanent fund for church erection. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. That efficient measures should now be taken to make 
 up the deficiency of this fund, in the shortest time practicable, say, 
 by the first day of October next. 
 
 "Resolved, 3. That the trustees, who are to be appointed to take 
 charge of this whole business, be instructed to make an early and earnest 
 appeal to those churches more than one-half of our whole number 
 who have contributed nothing to this fund, asking their co-operation in 
 this labor of love; that they solicit additional assistance from those who 
 have afforded but slender aid ; and that they state our remaining wants 
 to those whose liberality has already abounded/ Minutes, 1854, pp. 
 493-498. 
 
 4. Approval of the Charter, &c. 
 
 " The committee to whom was referred the report of the trustees of 
 the Church Erection Fund, having had the matters therein contained 
 under consideration, present the following report : 
 
 "1. THE CHARTER. 
 
 " The trustees having, according to the direction of the last General 
 Assembly, obtained from the Legislature of the State of New York an 
 act of incorporation, and having accepted the same, which act they have 
 reported to this General Assembly; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That this General Assembly approve said act of incorpo 
 ration, and the acceptance thereof by the trustees. 
 
 "2. ELECTION or TRUSTEES. 
 
 " The term of service of the following trustees, Walter S. Griffith, 
 William E. Dodge, and Oliver H. Lee, having expired, the committee 
 nominate them as suitable persons for re-election for three years, accord 
 ing to the provisions of the plan for the management and distribution 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. . 385 
 
 of the Fund; and recommend that the election be held on Friday morn 
 ing, immediately after the opening of the Assembly. 
 
 "3. TRANSFER OF THE FUND, 1855. 
 
 " At the close of the last General Assembly, the Board not being in 
 corporated, or even organized, the amount of the fund then collected 
 was properly left in the custody of the treasurer of the Assembly ; but 
 the Board now being fully organized, and having a legal existence, it 
 appears to the committee desirable and proper that the custody of the 
 fund, as far as completed, should be committed to those who are respon 
 sible for its future management, and they therefore recommend the 
 adoption of the following resolution : 
 
 "Resolved, That the closing sentence of the 15th article of the Plan 
 for Distribution be altered to read as follows : The treasurer of the 
 General Assembly is hereby directed to transfer the moneys and securi 
 ties belonging to the Church Erection Fund, in his hands, to the treasurer 
 of the Board of Trustees of the General Assembly s Church Erection 
 Fund, upon the written order of the Board, signed by its president and 
 secretary/ 
 
 "4. THANKS TO THE TREASURER. 
 
 "Resolved, That the thanks of the General Assembly are hereby ten 
 dered to Anthony P. Halsey, Esq., its treasurer, for the accommodating, 
 patient, and faithful attention that he has bestowed on the reception and 
 the management of the Church Erection Fund, while it has been in his 
 hands; and that the stated clerk communicate this resolution to Mr. 
 Halsey. 
 
 " 5. AUDITING COMMITTEE. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Auditing Committee appointed by the last Gene 
 ral Assembly be reappointed for the coming year. 
 
 "6. CHANGE OF THE PLAN. 
 
 " In reply to the memorial of the Presbytery of Kalamazoo, request 
 ing a change in the conditions of the 12th and 14th sections of the 
 Plan of Distribution, the committee recommend the adoption of the fol 
 lowing resolution : 
 
 "Resolved, That, upon a careful examination, it will be found that 
 
 25 
 
386 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 the Plan contains no conditions or requirements not necessary to the 
 permanence and perpetuity of the fund ; and that essentially to modify 
 or change the conditions of distribution would jeopard its perpetuity. 
 
 "7. PREMATURE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FUND. 
 
 "In reply to the suggestion of the Presbytery of Ithaca, that the dis 
 tribution of the fund should be commenced before the amount originally 
 contemplated is paid in, the committee recommend the adoption of the 
 following resolution : 
 
 "Resolved, That good faith towards many of the contributors to the 
 fund, and a becoming regard to consistency on the part of the Assembly 
 in its reiterated declaration of its purposes and pledges on this subject, 
 alike forbid any distribution till the whole sum is completed. 
 
 "S. INJUNCTION TO THE SYNODS. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Synods be enjoined to give particular attention 
 to Article 11 of the Plan of Distribution, requiring the appointment of 
 Committees of Church Extension, and the transmission of the names 
 and residences of the members to the board of trustees." Minutes, 
 1855, pp. 23, 24. 
 
 5. The Fund completed. 
 
 " The Trustees of the Church Erection Fund made their annual report, 
 which was read and accepted. 
 
 "Resolved, That the General Assembly will now proceed to provide 
 for the deficit reported in the Church Erection Fund, by the personal 
 pledges of individuals present, to the amount of that deficit. 
 
 " In accordance with the above resolution, the Assembly received 
 pledges from several individuals, members and others, to the full amount 
 of $2900 ; and the fund of 8100,000 for church erection was thus com 
 pleted." Minutes, 1856, p. 190. 
 
 6. Trustees authorized to require the Churches mortgaged to le kept 
 
 Insured. 
 
 " To render the security for loans in all cases satisfactory, the trustees 
 are hereby authorized to require that the churches on which they take 
 mortgages shall be kept insured, whenever they may deem this precau 
 tion necessary." Minutes, 1857, p. 386. 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. 387 
 
 7. Riyid Adherence to the Plan required. Section 3, Article 14, 
 
 amended. 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That while we regard the whole course of the trustees, 
 during the past year, as worthy of our approval, we especially approve, 
 in their disbursement of the Church Erection Fund, their rigid adhe 
 rence to that portion of the Assembly s plan which restricts the board 
 from loaning or donating any portion of the fund to any congregation, 
 unless such congregation own in fee simple and free from incumbrance 
 the lot on which their house of worship is already, or is to be, erected. 
 And we would recommend a rigid adherence to this feature of the plan 
 for the future, regarding such a course as especially adapted to secure 
 an increasing confidence in the Assembly s plan, and increasing dona 
 tions from its friends. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. That the following words be added to the first para 
 graph in section third of the fourteenth article of the Plan, namely : 
 t And in case any church or congregation receiving a loan shall after 
 wards withdraw from the General Assembly, the whole amount unpaid 
 shall at once become due. ;; Minutes, 1858, p. 585. 
 
 8. Appropriations cannot be made where there is no Church organiza 
 tion. The Trustees are the sole Custodians of the Fund. 
 
 u The second special report of the trustees relates to a proposal, that 
 the trustees should appoint agents for the collection of money to assist 
 churches, in certain cases, beyond the amount allowed by the existing 
 regulations of the Fund ; and also to a proposal, that these regulations 
 should be so altered as to permit appropriations to communities, in 
 special circumstances, where no church had been organized. The terms 
 of the charter forbid a compliance with the last; and the repeated and 
 widely-published statements, while the Church Erection Fund was in 
 the process of collection, that the scheme was to check, if not arrest, 
 appeals for help in building houses of worship, dissuade us from acced 
 ing to the first. 
 
 " Various overtures have been referred to this committee. The Pres 
 bytery of Iowa City prays, that the trustees of the Church Erection 
 Fund may appoint agents for the collection of funds in the cases de 
 scribed in the second special report ; and the Presbyteries of Iowa City, 
 Keokuk, and Knox, pray that a day may be appointed for a general 
 
388 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 collection, to assist churches beyond the amount allowed by the existing 
 regulations of the Church Erection Fund. The committee recommend 
 the answer given to these petitions, in form or substance, in the second 
 special report of the trustees. 
 
 "The Presbytery of Iowa City renews the prayer, that grants may be 
 allowed, in some extraordinary cases, where no church has been yet 
 constituted ; to which the committee recommend the reply in the second 
 special report of the trustees. 
 
 "The Presbyteries of Winona, Iowa City, and Knox, pray that the 
 portions of the Church Erection Fund allotted to the different Synods, 
 may be paid over to the Synodical Committees for distribution at their 
 discretion. And the Presbytery of Kansas prays that $3000 may be 
 paid over to it, to be distributed at its discretion ; or, if this be declined, 
 that the money be remitted to the Synod to which that Presbytery may 
 be attached, for distribution at the discretion of the Synodical Com 
 mittee. 
 
 " The charter constitutes the trustees the sole custodians and managers 
 of the Church Erection Fund ; and the committee recommend this as 
 the answer to these petitions of the Presbyteries. 
 
 " The Synod of Iowa pray that the trustees of the Church Erection 
 Fund may be clothed with discretionary power to grant to congregations 
 in cities and large towns loans as large, if necessary, as $1000 ; and 
 donations as largo, if necessary, as $400. 
 
 "While it has seemed, to a majority of the committee, desirable, in 
 itself considered, that appropriations of the amount now named should 
 be allowable in certain extraordinary cases, there are too many con 
 siderations presenting the proposed alteration as of questionable expe 
 diency, and too many brethren whose experience and observation of the 
 workings of the scheme entitle their judgment to respect, clear and 
 decided in their convictions against it, to justify our venturing upon it 
 at the present time ; and the committee cordially agree in recommending 
 that the existing rates of grants be adhered to, until a further trial shall 
 make it more obvious, whether they should be retained or changed, and 
 secure greater unanimity in regard to them. 
 
 " The trustees of the Synod of Iowa pray that 8100, with interest 
 from 1855, transmitted, as they state, by mistake, to the Church Erec 
 tion Fund of the General Assembly, should be returned to them. It 
 appears, however, from the records of the Synod of Iowa, that that body 
 sanctioned the act of the chairman of its Church Erection Committee 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. 389 
 
 in transmitting the said $100 to the trustees of the Assembly s fund, in 
 payment of the assessment made upon its churches for the purposes of 
 this fund ; and the committee therefore recommend that the trustees of 
 the Synod of Iowa be referred to the Synod of Iowa, and to the churches 
 under its care for the sum they ask of the Assembly." Minutes, 1859, 
 pp. 26, 27. 
 
 9. An Act to Incorporate the Trustees of the Church Erection Fund of the 
 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States 
 of America, passed March 31, 1855. 
 
 11 The people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
 Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 " 1. Samuel T. Spear, Asa D. Smith, Edwin F. Hatfield, James W. 
 McLane, Walter S. Griffith, Oliver II. Lee, Norman White, William E. 
 Dodge, and Stephen H. Thayer (designated for the purpose by the 
 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which met in Phila 
 delphia, in May, 1854), and their successors in office, are hereby con 
 stituted a body corporate and politic, by the name of The Trustees of 
 the Church Erection Fund of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church iu the United States of America/ for the purpose of aiding 
 feeble congregations in connection with the said General Assembly in 
 erecting houses of worship, and by that name, they and their successors 
 shall and may have perpetual succession. Provided, that no money 
 shall be furnished by said corporation for the erection of any house of 
 worship in any State or Territory, in which there shall exist at the time 
 a law for the incorporation of religious societies, the title to which is not 
 held by a religious corporation under and according to the laws of the 
 respective States or Territories in which such places of worship are 
 located. Provided also, that the title shall in no instance be vested in 
 any priest, bishop, or other ecclesiastic. 
 
 " 2. The said corporation shall possess the general powers, and be 
 subject to the provisions, contained in title 3 of chapter 18 of the first 
 part of the Revised Statutes, so far as the same are applicable and have 
 not been repealed or modified. 
 
 " 3. The management and disposition of the affairs and funds of said 
 corporation shall be vested in the individuals named in the first section 
 of this act, and their successors in office, who shall remain in office for 
 such period, and be displaced and succeeded by others, to be elected at 
 
390 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 such time and in such manner as the said General Assembly shall direct 
 and appoint ; and such election shall be made, and the said fund shall 
 be held and administered, invested and disposed of, for the purposes 
 aforesaid, in conformity with the provisions of the plan adopted by the 
 said General Assembly. 
 
 "4. The said corporation shall in law be capable of taking, receiving 
 and holding any real or personal estate, which has been or may hereafter 
 be given, devised, or bequeathed to them for the purposes of their in 
 corporation, or which shall accrue from the use of said fund ; but the 
 said corporation shall not take and hold real and personal estate above 
 the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 
 
 " 5. This act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 STATE OF NEW YORK, 
 
 Secretary s Office. 
 
 I have compared the preceding with the original law on file in this 
 office, and I do hereby certify that the same is a correct trans- 
 [L. s.] cript therefrom, and of the whole of such original. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal of office, at the city of Albany, 
 this second day of April, 1855. 
 
 A. G. JOHNSON, 
 Deputy Secretary of State. 
 
 10. By-Laws adopted ~by the Trustees of the Church Erection Fund of 
 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States 
 of America, May, 1855. 
 
 "I. Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. 
 
 " II. The Board shall meet annually on the third Wednesday of June, 
 when, if a quorum is present, they shall proceed to elect from their 
 number a president and a vice-president. They shall also appoint a 
 secretary and treasurer. The Board shall also meet on the third Wednes 
 day of September, December, and March. Special meetings of the Board 
 may be called by the president, or, in his absence or inability to act, by 
 the vice-president, or by the secretary, at the written request of three 
 members of the Board. If no quorum shall be present at the time fixed 
 for the annual or other regular meeting of the Board, the members 
 present shall adjourn from time to time until a quorum shall be present. 
 
 " III. The Board, at its annual meeting, shall appoint three standing 
 committees, viz. : 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. 391 
 
 " 1st. A Committee of Finance, who shall take the oversight and 
 direction of all the financial affairs of the Board, and direct the treasurer 
 in the discharge of his duties. No money shall be paid out or invested 
 by the treasurer without the written authority of the Finance Committee. 
 The Finance Committee shall not authorize any loan or donation to be 
 made to any congregation until they have before them the certificate of 
 the Committee on Applications, as hereinafter provided for. 
 
 "2d. A Committee on Applications, to whom shall be referred all 
 applications for loans or donations from the Fund, with the securities 
 offered and the vouchers and correspondence accompanying the same. 
 It shall be their duty to certify in writing to the Finance Committee, 
 that they have carefully examined the same, and that the applications 
 and securities are according to the provisions of the Plan of the Assem 
 bly. , It shall also be the duty of the committee to recommend to the 
 Board such persons as legal advisers within the bounds of the Synods as, 
 after correspondence with the Church Extension Committees of the 
 Synods, they shall approve, to make the examinations of title provided 
 for in Art. 8 of the Plan ; and generally to secure a strict compliance 
 with the Plan of the Assembly and the Charter of the Board, with 
 respect to loans and donations from the Fund. And 
 
 "3d. A Committee on Correspondence, whose duty it shall be to take 
 the oversight and direction of all the correspondence of the Board, 
 except that pertaining to the duties of the other standing committees, 
 and to supervise the reports and all communications to the General 
 Assembly or other religious or public bodies. 
 
 " IV. The standing committees shall be subject to the direction of 
 the Board ; they shall each keep a book of minutes, in which all their 
 proceedings shall be recorded, which shall be laid before the Board at 
 each meeting. 
 
 "V. The Board, at their regular meeting in March of each year, 
 shall fix the amount of salaries to be paid the secretary and treasurer, 
 and the sums so fixed shall not be changed during the year next ensuing. 
 
 " VI. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to take the custody of the 
 funds and securities belonging to the Board, and to hold, invest, and pay 
 over the same, as he shall be directed from time to time by the Board or 
 by the Finance Committee. He shall keep complete books of account 
 of all matters pertaining to the Fund, and shall furnish to the Board at 
 each regular meeting, and at any other time when directed by the Board 
 or by the Finance Committee to do so, a full and methodical statement 
 
392 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 in writing of the amount of the Fund; the amount not in use in the 
 Synods, how invested, on what security, and at what rate of interest ; 
 the amount in use in each Synod, by what congregations and when due; 
 the amount loaned or donated since the last previous meeting of the 
 Board ; in what Synods and to what congregations. He shall have the 
 custody of the corporate seal, and shall keep all the books, securities, 
 and valuable papers, belonging to the Board, in a fireproof safe, to be 
 provided by them for the purpose. He shall be subject at all times in 
 the discharge of his duties to the direction of the Board or of the 
 Finance Committee, and shall hold his office during the pleasure of the 
 Board. 
 
 " VII. No money belonging to this Fund shall be drawn, except upon 
 the check of the treasurer, countersigned by the chairman of the Fi 
 nance Committee. 
 
 "VIII. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep the minutes of the 
 Board and of all the standing committees, to correspond in the name of 
 the Board as he shall be directed to do by the Board or by the standing 
 or special committees, and to attend to such other duties as the Board 
 shall prescribe. He shall hold his office during the pleasure of the 
 Board. 
 
 " IX. All reports made to the Board by any of its committees or offi 
 cers shall be in writing, and, unless otherwise ordered, shall be entered 
 at length on the minutes. 
 
 "X. At all meetings of the Board, the following order shall be ob 
 served : 
 
 "1. Prayer. 
 
 " 2. Reading the minutes of the last meeting. 
 
 "3. Report of the treasurer. 
 
 " 4. Reports of the standing committees. 
 
 " 5. Reports of special committees. 
 
 " 6. Unfinished business. 
 
 " 7. New business. 
 
 " 8. Concluding prayer. 
 
 " XI. In case of the absence of the president and vice-president, the 
 Board shall elect a president pro tern. 
 
 " XII. The Board at any meeting may fill any vacancy that shall 
 occur in the officers or standing committees of the Board ; provided, 
 that notice of such vacancy shall be given when the meeting is called. 
 " XIII. All elections shall be by ballot. 
 
CHURCH ERECTION. 393 
 
 "XIV. These by-laws shall not be changed, except by a vote of two- 
 thirds of all the members of the Board. Previous notice of any proposed 
 change shall be given in writing to each member of the Board." 
 
 11. Rules and Regulations for the Use of Applicants for Aid from the 
 Church Erection Fund } as required by the Assembly s Plan. 
 
 " 1. All applications for aid must first be made to the Synodical Com 
 mittee on Church Extension. 
 
 " 2. All such applications must be made in the forms prepared by the 
 trustees of the Fund, and placed by them in the hands of the chairman 
 of the Synodical Committee. 
 
 " 3. The Synodical Committee will designate to applicants for aid what 
 lawyer they shall employ to fill up and sign the certificate on the last 
 page of the form used in making the application. 
 
 "4. The expense incurred in obtaining this certificate must be borne 
 by the applicants. 
 
 " 5. The congregation applying for aid must own in fee simple, and 
 free from all legal incumbrance, the lot on which their house stands, or 
 on which it is to be erected. 
 
 u 6. Each congregation, in order to be aided from this Fund, must be 
 free from all other indebtedness than that to this Fund. 
 
 l( 1 . Each congregation must first do what they can to erect a house 
 of worship, before applying for help. 
 
 "8. As the amount apportioned by the General Assembly to each 
 Synod is not large, and as it is desirable to aid as many feeble congrega 
 tions as possible, all applicants should keep this fact in view in fixing 
 the amount asked for 
 
 "9. No congregation can receive more than one-third of the amount 
 actually paid by them for their house and lot. 
 
 " 10. No loan or donation can be made for the payment of any debt, 
 except that which may have been contracted in erecting their house, and 
 within one year previous to the time of making their application. 
 
 " 11. No donation can be made to any congregation of more than two 
 hundred dollars ; nor can it in any case exceed one-fourth of the amount 
 actually paid by them for their house and lot. 
 
 " 12. A loan and donation can not be made to the same cono-rc^ation." 
 
394 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 SECTION 4. THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. 
 
 1. Preliminary history. 2. The "Doctrinal Tract" Committee appointed. Lo 
 cated at Philadelphia. Its duties and powers. Unanimous consent required 
 before any book or tract is published. Empowered to fill its own vacancies. 
 3. The committee enlarged to eleven. Rule requiring unanimous consent 
 changed to three-fourths. 4. The committee further enlarged to fifteen, nine of 
 whom to reside at or near Philadelphia. Five a quorum. The consent of a 
 majority required to the publication of anything issued by the committee. The 
 committee divided into three classes of five each. Names. 5. Name changed 
 to " Publication Committee. 6. Negotiations respecting the Church Psalmist. 
 The committee are authorized to apply for, and accept, an act of incorpora 
 tion. 7. The committee authorized to issue works of a general evangelical 
 character, in addition to strictly doctrinal works. The trustees of the House 
 authorized and directed to act as trustees of the Publication Committee. The 
 Psalmist recommended. An appendix to be added. S. Churches permitted to 
 receive the publications of the committee to the amount of half their collections. 
 9. A working capital of twenty five thousand dollars urged. The committee 
 authorized to employ an agent. 10. Presbyterial depositories recommended. 
 
 1. Preliminary Action. 
 
 [In 1846, an overture on the subject of "Doctrinal Tracts" was re 
 ferred to a committee of two from each Synod, Rev. H. A. Rowland 
 chairman. Minutes, 1846, p. 11. "The Rev. H. A. Rowland, from 
 the Committee on Doctrinal Tracts/ presented a report, which was ac 
 cepted and put on the docket." Ib. p. 19. Subsequently, "the whole 
 subject was referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs. William Pat- 
 ton, D.D., T. H. Skinner, D.D., E. F. Hatfield, and H. A. Rowland, 
 to act in the premises, and report at the meeting of the Assembly in 
 Cincinnati." Ib. p. 38. The committee made a report, which was re 
 ferred to a new committee, Messrs. Hatfield, Cox, Mason, Stowe, and 
 Parker, with instructions to report to the next Assembly. Minutes, 1847, 
 p. 145. This committee seem to have made no report. In 1850, on an 
 overture, the subject was referred to a select committee, consisting of 
 Rev. J. C. Stiles, D.D., J. B. Townsend, J. Holmes Agnew, and F. A. 
 Ross, with Elders Abner Bryant and George Kellogg, to report to the 
 next Assembly. Minutes, 1850, p. 309. No further action appears 
 until 1852, when " the Assembly proceeded to consider the third section 
 of the report on Church extension/ viz , in relation to doctrinal tracts. 
 The report was adopted, and is as follows, viz. :] Minutes, 1852, p. 175. 
 
THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. 395 
 
 2. The Committee appointed ; its Powers and Duties. 
 
 a. " To promote the diffusion of those truths which distinguish us as 
 a Church, the General Assembly adopts the following arrangement : 
 
 " 1. There is hereby established at Philadelphia a standing committee 
 of nine persons, whose duty it shall be to superintend the publication of 
 a series of tracts explanatory of the doctrines, government, and mission 
 ary policy of the Presbyterian Church, as the General Assembly shall 
 from time to time direct. One-third of this committee shall serve for 
 one year, one-third for two years, and the remaining third for three years. 
 The election, to fill the places of those whose terms expire, to be held at 
 each meeting of the General Assembly. 
 
 " 2. This committee shall elect a secretary and treasurer, the former 
 of whom shall receive such a salary per annum, as shall be agreed upon 
 by the committee ; and shall be the editor of the tracts published ; and 
 also, as far as may be necessary, the soliciting agent for such an amount 
 of funds as may be required to carry out the objects for which this com 
 mittee is appointed. 
 
 "3. It shall be the duty of this committee to meet at Philadelphia, 
 and, after due organization, to take measures to procure the preparation 
 and publication, in cheap, neat, and substantial form, of a series of 
 Tracts for the purposes above stated. No tract io be published, which 
 does not receive the unanimous approbation of the committee. 
 
 U 4. This committee shall, if consistent with the interests of the 
 Assembly, enter into a contract with some publisher or publishers to 
 assume, for a time, the publication of such tracts as may be furnished 
 them, at certain rates, which shall be agreed upon in writing. And if 
 no such arrangement can be profitably and satisfactorily made, then the 
 said committee shall, by solicitation from the churches, proceed to pro 
 vide a sufficient fund for their publication in behalf of the Assembly. 
 
 " 5. This committee shall make a full report of its proceedings to the 
 General Assembly, at each annual meeting. 
 
 " The following persons were appointed the committee to superintend 
 the preparation and publication of doctrinal tracts, viz. : Rev. Thomas 
 Brainerd, D.D., Rev. Albert Barnes, and Mr. S. T. Bodine, for one year; 
 Rev. E. W. Gilbert, D.D., Rev. Thomas H. Skinner, D.D., and Rev. 
 George Duffield, Jr., for two years; Rev. Asa D. Smith, D.D., Rev. 
 Jonathan F. Stearns, D.D., and Hon. William Darling, for three years. 
 
396 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 " Resolved, That the committee have power to fill their own vacan 
 cies/ Minutes, 1852, p. 176. 
 
 b. " In regard to the publication of the annual reports, we would 
 state, that each permanent committee now publishes and circulates, to a 
 considerable extent, its own report, and bears the expense; that our 
 religious weeklies insert synopses of them free of charge ; and that the 
 only satisfactory change, at present practicable or desirable, seems to be, 
 that the several committees, each bearing its own expense as now, intrust 
 the printing of their reports to the Publication Committee; and that the 
 latter print them in uniform style, with their own imprimatur. The 
 reports will then be in shape, both for easy circulation, and also for 
 binding and preservation. This change in the publication of the annual 
 reports of our permanent committees we recommend." Minutes, 1859, 
 p. 37. 
 
 3. Committee enlarged. Rule modified so as to require the assent of 
 three-fourths to the Publication of any Book or Tract. 
 
 " The committee to whom was referred the report of the Standing 
 Committee for the preparation and publication of doctrinal tracts, re 
 ported the following resolutions, which were adopted : 
 
 " 1. That the Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D.D., Rev. Albert Barnes, and 
 Mr. Samuel T. Bodine, whose term of service on the committee has 
 expired, be re-elected. 
 
 " 2. That the Rev. George Chandler and Samuel H. Perkins, Esq., 
 of Philadelphia, be added to the committee. 
 
 "8. That the rule requiring the unanimous consent of the committee 
 for the publication of any book or tract, be so modified, that a majority 
 of three-fourths only shall be required. 
 
 " 4. That the committee be authorized to take such measures as they 
 may deem advisable, to secure the necessary funds for the erection of a 
 house of publication. 
 
 " 5. That it be earnestly recommended to all our churches to take up 
 collections, annually or otherwise, in aid of the publishing fund under 
 the control of this committee. 
 
 " 6. That we suggest to the Publication Committee the desirableness 
 of issuing, as soon as practicable, a few tracts which shall clearly and 
 distinctly exhibit our peculiar views of doctrine, government, and mis 
 sionary policy, with a view to answer the calumnies against us, and show 
 
THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. 397 
 
 our true position in the Church and in the world." Minutes, 1853, p. 
 330. 
 
 4. Committee enlarged. Quorum. Nothing to be Published without the 
 Assent of a Majority of the Committee. 
 
 a. "The committee to whom was referred the report on doctrinal 
 tracts, and also the overture from the Presbytery of Philadelphia 4th, 
 on the subject of a Presbyterian publication house, report, that they 
 concur cordially in the expressions of the report on the subject of the 
 press, and its great importance as an organ of usefulness ; also, on the 
 desirableness of a religious literature suitable to the wants of our de 
 nomination ; and congratulate the Assembly on the prospect that this 
 want will be supplied by the future efficiency of this committee. 
 
 a Your committee, moreover, fully concur in the views of the report, 
 as to the inexpediency of ourselves entering upon the business of print 
 ing, and the superior advantages of doing the work by the agency of 
 existing printing establishments. 
 
 " Your committee further recommend, that the Publication Committee 
 be enlarged to the number of fifteen, nine of whom shall reside in the 
 city of Philadelphia, or vicinity ; that of this number, five shall consti 
 tute a quorum for ordinary business, whose sittings shall be in the city 
 of Philadelphia ; but nothing shall be authorized for publication, issued, 
 or endorsed by said committee, except by a majority of its members. 
 All publications to issue simultaneously in the two cities of New York 
 and Philadelphia, with the imprimatur of the committee. Adopted." 
 Minutes, 1854, p. 508. 
 
 Committee divided into Three Classes, one Class to go out of Office 
 
 Yea rli/. 
 
 b. " The members of the Publication Committee, whose term of office 
 expires at this time, are the Rev. Thomas H. Skinner and George 
 Duffield, Jr. In addition to these, the committee recommend the 
 appointment of thirteen others ; and that this committee arrange them 
 selves at their first meeting into three classes, five going out of office 
 yearly. Adopted." Minutes, 1854, p. 508. 
 
 c. " The committee to nominate members of the Doctrinal Tract Com 
 mittee made the following report, which was adopted. 
 
398 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 "Publication Committee: Rev. A. Barnes, Rev. N. S. S. Beman, D.D., 
 LL.D., Rev. Wm. Eagleton, D.D., Rev. Thos. Braincrd, D.D., Rev. 
 Asa D. Smith, D.D., Rev. S. H. Gridley, Rev. A. H. H. Boyd, D.D., 
 Rev. S. T. Spear, D.D., Rev. Geo. Duffield, Jr., Rev. H. Darling, Rev. 
 J. Jenkins, and Messrs. S. H. Perkins, S. T. Bocline, C. S. Wurts, 
 and E. S. Whelen." Minutes, 1854, p. 510. 
 
 5. Name changed to " The Presbyterian Publication Committee." 
 
 "Resolved, That the name of the Doctrinal Tract Committee of the 
 General Assembly, be changed to The Presbyterian Publication Com 
 mittee. "Minutes, 1855, p. 13. 
 
 6. The Church Psalmist to le secured for the Assembly. 
 
 a. ll The Assembly took from the docket the report of the Committee 
 on Church Psalmody, and the following substitute was adopted : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That the Publication Committee confer with the pro 
 prietors of the Church Psalmist, and secure, if possible, the transfer, on 
 reasonable terms, of the copyright of said book to the General Assembly, 
 and that the committee have full powers to close arrangements binding 
 on the Assembly. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. That, in case of failure, said committee report to the 
 next General Assembly, and at the same time recommend to that body 
 the course which they deem it most advisable to pursue in the premises." 
 Minutes, 1855, p. 32. 
 
 The Committee authorized to negotiate for the Church Psalmist ; also, 
 to apply for an Act of Incorporation. 
 
 b. u The committee to whom was referred the annual reports of the 
 Publication Committee, and of the Trustees of the Presbyterian House/ 
 respectfully report : 
 
 " That they recommend the approval of these reports and the course 
 of action which has been pursued by these bodies the past year. Your 
 committee believe that there is an important field to be occupied by the 
 Publication Committee, without interference with the societies whose 
 object is to supply a more general evangelical literature. It is neces 
 sary, also, that the committee should have a house in which their ope- 
 
THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. 399 
 
 rations may be carried on, and which may be used for other purposes 
 connected with our Church. 
 
 "It appears from the reports, that three objects are now particularly 
 engaging the attention of the Publication Committee and the Board of 
 Trustees, viz. : the necessary arrangements for a uniform psalm and 
 hymn book for the whole Church; the endowment of the committee 
 with a suitable capital for carrying on its operations ; and the raising of 
 funds to complete the payment for the Presbyterian House, agreeably to 
 the plan adopted by the General Assembly in 1854. These objects 
 strike your committee as reasonable and important, and, in view of the 
 whole case, they recommend the following resolutions, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That the reports of the Presbyterian Publication Com 
 mittee, and of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian House, be ap 
 proved, and that extracts from the same be published in the Appendix to 
 the Minutes of the Assembly, at the discretion of the stated clerk. 
 
 "2. That in view of the wants of these institutions; for the purpose 
 of securing uniformity in Church psalmody; of endowing the Publica 
 tion Committee, and paying the balance of the sum required for the 
 purchase of the Presbyterian House, agreeably to the plan agreed upon 
 by the General Assembly of 1354; it be and hereby is recommended to 
 all the churches under our care, to take up a simultaneous collection on 
 the first Sabbath of December next; and that an effort be made at that 
 time to raise the sum of thirty thousand dollars for these objects; one- 
 half of which is to be appropriated to the Publication Committee, for 
 the two objects first mentioned, and the other one-half to the trustees of 
 the Presbyterian House, for the last object mentioned ; and that, in 
 case less than the sum mentioned be raised by said collection, it be 
 equally divided between the two bodies for the respective purposes men 
 tioned. 
 
 "3. In order to preserve uniformity in Church psalmody, that the 
 Publication Committee be authorized to negotiate with the compilers 
 and publishers of the Church Psalmist, and to purchase that book, if 
 this can be done on reasonable terms ; but, if such terms cannot be ob 
 tained, then that they be instructed to inquire whether a new book of 
 psalms and hymns may not be compiled, which shall meet all our wants, 
 and to report to the next General Assembly. 
 
 "4. That the Publication Committee is hereby authorized to apply to 
 the Legislature of Pennsylvania to obtain a charter to enable them 
 more perfectly to carry on their operations, and to accept the same when 
 granted. 
 
400 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 " 5. That the following persons, whose term of office in the Publica 
 tion Committee now expires, ara hereby re-elected for three years, viz. : 
 Rev. S. H. Gridley, D.D., Rev. A. H. H. Boyd, D.D., Rev. Samuel T. 
 Spear, D.D., Rev. George Duffield, Jr., Rev. Henry Darling. 
 
 " Adopted/ Minutes, 1856, pp. 214,215. 
 
 7. The Press to be employed. Works of a general Evangelical 
 Character to be published. 
 
 a. "Resolved, That the power of the press, in promoting true piety 
 and a wide-spread intelligence among our population, is an instrumen 
 tality appointed of God, and now put into our hands, to be employed for 
 the advancement of the general interests of religion, and for the pros 
 perity of our own denomination. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Publication Committee be encouraged to publish 
 not only such works as may present the peculiarities of our branch of the 
 Christian Church in doctrine and practice, but, from time to time, such 
 works of an evangelical character as may be profitable to the Church at 
 large." Minutes, 1857, p. 410. 
 
 The Trustees of the Presbyterian House authorized and directed to act 
 as Trustees of the Publication Committee. 
 
 b. " Resolved, by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the United States of America, that The Trustees of the Presbyte 
 rian House be, and they hereby are, authorized and directed to act, in 
 their corporate capacity as trustees of the Permanent Committee of this 
 Assembly, called The Presbyterian Publication Committee/ as fully, 
 and in the same manner, as if The Presbyterian Publication Committee 
 were themselves constituted a corporation by the same authority which 
 incorporated The Trustees of the Presbyterian House/ Ibid. p. 410. 
 
 Church Psalmist commended. An Appendix to be added. A Book 
 of Tunes to be prepared. 
 
 "Resolved, That we recognize, with gratitude to God, the completion 
 of the labors of the Publication Committee, by which the Assembly is 
 furnished with a book of psalmody which they can call their own, the 
 profits of which will materially aid the funds of the Church in the pub- 
 
THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. 401 
 
 lication cause ; and the Assembly hereby recommend to the pastors and 
 the churches that they use all reasonable diligence in promoting uni 
 formity, by the introduction of this book. 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Publica 
 tion Committee, to prepare a book of tunes, adapted to the Church 
 Psalmist, and that this committee be instructed to consult and corre 
 spond with pastors and leaders of choirs in the churches, as to the par 
 ticular tunes most in use and most popular in the congregations; and 
 that this committee report to the next General Assembly. 
 
 "Resolved, That the preparation of an appendix to the Church 
 Psalmist, of such hymns as may be necessary to make the work com 
 plete, be committed to N. S. S. Beman, D.D., Kev. Albert Barnes, and 
 S. W. Fisher, D.D., and that this committee report to the next General 
 Assembly." Ibid. 411. 
 
 "Resolved, That the committee appointed by the last General Assem 
 bly to prepare an arrangement of the Book of Psalms for chanting, a 
 specimen of which is presented with their report, be directed, in the 
 completion of their work, for the sake of bringing the book into as small 
 compass as possible, to leave out the titles of the psalms, and all com 
 ments upon the text, and only arrange the words to the music ; and in 
 publishing the work, the copy of an English print, accompanying the 
 report, is commended as a model." Ibid., pp. 410, 411. 
 
 Adjustment of Claims of the Publisher of the Parish Psalmody. 
 
 d. "Resolved, That, as the publisher of the Parish Psalmody/ in a 
 memorial made to the Assembly, seems to suppose that he has some 
 pecuniary claim upon the Assembly, though the Permanent Committee 
 of Publication, to whom this subject has been referred, have decided 
 that there is no just claim, yet, as a Christian method of answering the 
 memorial and settling the question in dispute, the whole subject be 
 referred to a committee, to report to the next General Assembly in 
 respect to this claim ; of which committee one shall be appointed by 
 said publisher, one by the Permanent Committee of Publication, and the 
 third by these two. 
 
 "Resolved, That the treasurer s accounts of the Publication Com 
 mittee, and of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian House, which 
 have been presented duly audited, be approved." Ibid., p. 411. 
 
 2G 
 
402 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 Collections enjoined. Sermon. 
 
 e. u Resolved, That it be enjoined upon all our churches to make an 
 annual collection for the Publication cause, in the month of October. 
 
 "Resolved, That an annual sermon be preached before the General 
 Assembly, on the subject of Publication, and that for the next year Rev. 
 Albert Barnes be the preacher, arid Rev. Henry J3. Smith, D.D., be the 
 alternate." Ibid., p. 411. 
 
 8. Churches permitted to receive Publications to the amount of one-half 
 their Collections. 
 
 " Resolved, That all churches making this annual collection be per 
 mitted, if they so elect, to order for their own use any publications of 
 the committee to the amount of one-half their respective collections." 
 Minutes, 1859, p. 39. 
 
 9. Report of the Standing Committee; a Working Capital recom 
 mended ; authorized to employ an Agent. 
 
 " The Standing Committee of Publication respectfully report : 
 
 " It is a matter of satisfaction to notice, from year to year, the indica 
 tion of advance, slow but sure, in this important department of the 
 Church s activity. 
 
 " The Presbyterian Publication Committee, in their report (which, 
 with the treasurer s account and vouchers, has been carefully considered 
 by us), furnish evidence that they have been faithful stewards of the 
 very limited resources placed at their control. 
 
 " They have added to their list of publications a number of tracts and 
 volumes which promise to be useful ; among which is the long-needed 
 Tune Book, literally, as it is named, Eclectic of the melodies widely 
 familiar in our congregations. This, with the admirable Church Psalm 
 ist, will contribute to promote a uniformity in the service of song of our 
 beloved Zion. These new publications, as their report remarks, must 
 add moral, as well as material strength to the Publication cause. 
 
 " The sales of the year furnish a grateful indication of the growth of 
 this scheme. The amount, for a period of eleven months included in 
 the report, exceeds 815,000, being an advance of 60 per cent, over that 
 of last year, and of 200 per cent, over that of the year previous. 
 
 " The donations, likewise, are represented under the respectable figure 
 
THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. 403 
 
 of $8095 81 ; though an abatement from the satisfaction of this item 
 must be had, in view of the fact that it is mainly the result of a special 
 appeal to the churches of Philadelphia, which have before done so much 
 for the cause ; and, consequently, it does not express the interest felt by 
 the body at large. 
 
 " The present capital of the Publication Committee may, perhaps, be 
 estimated as high as $15,000; which, considering the newness of the 
 scheme, and the difficulties under which it has been prosecuted, is cer 
 tainly honorable to the energy and management of the brethren who 
 have had it in hand, if not particularly creditable to the liberality of the 
 denomination at large. 
 
 " But, while we recognize this advance, we must not ignore the fact 
 that the publication enterprise is yet in its infancy and weakness, and 
 needs the fostering help of the churches. 
 
 u The Publication Committee, in discharging the trust laid upon them, 
 painfully realize the need of resources greatly beyond what have yet 
 been supplied them. Indeed, in order to sustain the scheme, to keep it 
 alive by meeting the demands of its natural growth, the brethren who 
 compose that committee are compelled to lie under a heavy personal 
 pecuniary responsibility, to which ( they ought not for one day to be sub 
 jected. 
 
 " The only relief for this weakness and inconvenience is the formation 
 of a working capital, in some measure proportioned to the aims of the 
 General Assemblies which have established and continued the Publica 
 tion Committee. And, until individuals of wealth may be inclined 
 adequately to endow this enterprise, we must look to the annual and 
 continued collections from our churches to raise it gradually to a position 
 of ability, in which it may wield the power for good that was contem 
 plated in its organization. 
 
 "This committee therefore recommend: 1. That the Publication 
 Committee be endowed with a working capital of not less than twenty- 
 five thousand dollars ; 2. That the General Assembly earnestly request 
 all their churches to make a special contribution for this object in the 
 month of October next; and 3. That the Publication Committee be 
 authorized, in their discretion, to employ an agent for the furtherance 
 of this design. 
 
 " It appears from the report before us, that less than one-half the 
 number of our churches have done anything for the publication cause ; 
 a fact which plainly and painfully suggests the want of instruction on 
 
404 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 the relations of this cause to our denominational interests, as well as the 
 promotion of sound doctrine and godliness among the people. The com 
 mittee would therefore recommend, 4. That the Assembly earnestly 
 request the pastors to preach to their congregations on this subject, in 
 connection with the call for a contribution in October. . . . 
 
 " The General Assembly last year ordered that churches making col 
 lections for the publication cause should be allowed to receive one-half 
 the amount of their contributions in publications of the committee. 
 This provision it is thought desirable should be renewed and brought to 
 the attention of the churches." . . . 
 
 10. Prcsbyterial Depositories recommended. 
 
 "The suggestion is an important one, that in Synods or Presbyteries 
 a small amount of capital might be invested in the committee s publica 
 tions ; and these put into the hands of some suitable person, in a central 
 position, for sale. The receipts from sales, being reinvested from time 
 to time, a perpetual stock would be maintained. 
 
 "The report was adopted." Minutes, 1860, pp. 246-248. 
 
 SECTION 6. TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE. 
 
 1. Preliminary action and acceptance of the House conditionally authorized. Legal 
 Position of the Assembly. 2. The trustees. 3. The charter. The Board of Trust 
 enlarged to ten, five ministers and five laymen. Duties and powers of the 
 trustees. 4. The charter. 5. The trustees under the charter. 6. The legal 
 title secured. 
 
 1. Preliminary Action. 
 
 [The first action of the General Assembly on the subject of a publica 
 tion house, appears in the minutes for 1853, under date Monday, May 
 30. A committee having been appointed to consider the report of the 
 Standing Committee for the Preparation and Publication of Doctrinal 
 Tracts (now the Presbyterian Publication Committee), report, inter alia, 
 as follows, and their report was adopted :] 
 
 " 4. That the committee [the Doctrinal Tract Committee] be author 
 ized to take such measures as they may deem advisable, to secure the 
 necessary funds for the erection of a house of publication/ 7 Minutes, 
 1853, p. 330. 
 
TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE. 405 
 
 [Under date Monday, May 22, 1854, the Committee of Bills and 
 Overtures report :] 
 
 " Overture No. 2. On a Presbyterian Publication House. The com 
 mittee recommend the acceptance of the overture, and its reference to 
 a special committee, to report to this Assembly/ 7 Adopted. 
 
 [Same date :] " The Assembly voted to hear statements from John 
 A. Brown, Esq., of this city [Philadelphia], in reference to the Presby 
 terian Publication House, when the thanks of the Assembly were ten 
 dered to Mr. Brown for the information imparted." 
 
 [Same date :] " The unfinished business of the morning, the con 
 sideration of the report of the Standing Committee on the Publication 
 of Doctrinal Tracts, was resumed ; when it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the report just read be referred to a select com 
 mittee of nine, with directions to consider the whole subject of the 
 publication of books and tracts by authority of the General Assembly, 
 and also Overture No. 2, upon the Presbyterian Publication House." 
 
 [Under date Friday, May 26 :] " The Committee on the Polity of 
 the Church, to whom was referred the report on the subject of the legal 
 powers, claims, and liabilities of the General Assembly, submitted the 
 following report : 
 
 "1. Whereas, we regard the rights of this body as complete under 
 the charter of 1799, therefore no action is required in respect to a new 
 charter. 
 
 "2. [Relates td the Trustees of the Church Erection Fund.] 
 " 3. It is recommended that, provided this General Assembly appoint 
 a Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Publication House, or for any 
 other specific purpose, in the city of Philadelphia, that that board obtain 
 a special act of incorporation under the laws of this State ; and that a 
 committee of three members of the legal profession be appointed, to 
 whom the subject shall be committed, with instructions to examine and 
 determine the question, whether a general provision in said charter or 
 act of incorporation, like that provided for in the preceding article, will, 
 in respect to all the interests of the Church, be safe and expedient; and 
 if they so judge, to secure its insertion. 
 
 " The report was adopted, and Messrs. Samuel H. Perkins, Henry J. 
 Williams, and Hon. William Darling were appointed the committee." 
 
 [The " provision" referred to in the " preceding article," is in the 
 following words : " A general provision authorizing them to hold in 
 
406 x. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 trust for this Assembly any property committed to them by donations, 
 bequests, or otherwise."] Minutes, 1854, pp. 502, 503. 
 
 [The report of the committee of three legal gentlemen is contained in 
 the First Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian 
 House to the General Assembly, May 21, 1855.] 
 
 " By the fourth section of the act of incorporation, the trustees and 
 their successors have power to execute any trusts that may be confided 
 to them. This section was submitted to the committee of three members 
 of the legal profession, appointed by the last General Assembly. They 
 thought it both safe and expedient, with respect to all the interests of 
 the Church, and its insertion was accordingly secured as recommended. " 
 Minutes, 1855, pp. 52, 53. 
 
 Acceptance of the House conditionally authorized. 
 
 " The committee finally recommend, that the Assembly take its pos 
 session of the house in Philadelphia, referred to in the overture from 
 the Presbytery of Philadelphia 4th, as a House of Publication, on the 
 terms and conditions, as to the price and payments, following, viz. : 
 
 " The General Assembly will authorize the conditional acceptance of 
 the property, so soon as $12,500 shall have been pledged by responsible 
 persons, connected with the churches of Philadelphia; and, when this 
 pledge has thus been made, suitable measures shall be authorized to 
 raise a like sum of $12,500 ; and the balance say ,20,000 shall be 
 left on mortgage, to be liquidated by a sinking-fund arising from the 
 annual proceeds of the House. When the measures to complete the 
 purchase have been perfected, the Assembly will take the property un 
 conditionally ; and, to the end that the legal measures may be taken to 
 perfect the title prior to the next meeting of the Assembly, five trustees 
 of the Plouse of Publication shall be elected, who shall be authorized to 
 obtain an act of incorporation." Minutes, 1854, p. 508. 
 
 2. Trustees. 
 
 " The committee to nominate members of the Doctrinal Tract Com 
 mittee and Trustees for the Presbyterian Publication House, made the 
 following report, which was adopted : 
 
 " Trustees of the Presbyterian Publication House : Messrs. J. A. 
 Brown, S. H. Perkins, C. S. Wurts, M. W. Baldwin, and J. C. Farr." 
 Minutes, 1854, p. 510. 
 
TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE. 407 
 
 3. The Charter accepted. Board of Trust enlarged; Duties and Powers. 
 
 "The committee to whom was referred the report of the trustees of 
 the Presbyterian House, and of the Publication Committee, have con 
 sidered the same, and report the following preamble and resolutions, for 
 the adoption of the Assembly, namely : 
 
 " Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, by an act 
 approved by the Governor, April 21, 1855, incorporated The Trustees 
 of the Presbyterian House, in Philadelphia, who are by said act to be 
 elected by this body, therefore 
 
 "Resolved, by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 
 the United States of America : 1. That the said charter be, and the 
 same is hereby accepted ; and that the trustees, created by said act of 
 incorporation, be directed to perform all the duties required by their 
 appointment. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. That the said trustees be directed to give such official 
 notification to the proper authorities of the State of Pennsylvania, as 
 may be necessary, of the acceptance of the charter by the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 " Resolved, 3. That the Assembly do now elect ten trustees, under 
 this charter, five of whom shall be ministers, and five laymen, all of 
 whom shall be connected with some Presbytery or church under the 
 care of the General Assembly. 
 
 "Resolved, 4. That the first meeting of the trustees shall be at such 
 time and place as shall be fixed by the trustee first elected, or in case of 
 his inability to act, the trustee next elected, who shall act as chairman, 
 until the board is constituted by the election of a president and secre 
 tary. 
 
 "Resolved, 5. That the trustees, at their first meeting, be directed to 
 divide themselves into two portions, and in such manner that there shall 
 always be in the board five ministers and five laymen. 
 
 "Resolved, 6. That, in electing these trustees, a nomination shall be 
 made in the Assembly, and that the election shall be by ballot on the 
 day following that on which the nomination is made. 
 
 "Resolved, 7. That these trustees be directed to keep an accurate 
 record of all their proceedings, and report the same annually to the 
 Assembly. 
 
 "Resolved, 8. That these trustees be directed to take such measures 
 
408 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 for raising the amount pledged by the last Assembly, for the purchase 
 of the Presbyterian House/ as they may deem expedient and proper. 
 
 "Resolved, 12. That the trustees of the Presbyterian House be 
 directed to report to the next Assembly a plan of rules and regulations 
 for the government of said trustees in the discharge of their duties. 
 
 " Nominations for trustees of the Presbyterian House were made; the 
 election to take place to-morrow/ Minutes, 1855, pp. 26, 27. 
 
 4. Tlie Charter. 
 
 "AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN 
 
 HOUSE. 
 
 " Whereas, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America, which held its sessions in the first Presbyte 
 rian Church, on Washington Square, in the city of Philadelphia, in 
 May, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, did ap 
 point John A. Brown, Samuel H. Perkins, Charles S. Wurts, Matthew 
 W. Baldwin, and John C. Farr, trustees of the Presbyterian Publication 
 House, and recommended that the said Board obtain an act of incorpo 
 ration under the laws of this State, and that the said act should contain 
 a general provision, authorizing the said trustees to hold in trust for said 
 Assembly any property committed to them by donations, bequests, or 
 otherwise ; 
 
 " And whereas, several gentlemen in the city of Philadelphia, feeling 
 the necessity of some suitable place for the business of the societies and 
 churches connected with the said Assembly, purchased a property for 
 that purpose, which they are desirous of conveying to the said trustees; 
 
 " And whereas, the said trustees will labor under serious disadvan 
 tages, as to receiving and holding the title of said property, as well as 
 any that may be committed to them by donations, bequests, or otherwise, 
 in trust for said Assembly ; therefore, 
 
 u SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and 
 it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That John A. Brown, 
 Samuel H. Perkins, Charles S. Wurts, Matthew W. Baldwin, and John 
 C. Farr, citizens of the United States and of this Commonwealth, and 
 their successors, are hereby constituted and declared to be a body politic 
 and corporate, by the name of f The Trustees of the Presbyterian 
 House; and as such shall have perpetual succession, and be able to 
 
TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE. 409 
 
 sue and be sued, and to purchase and receive, take and hold, to them 
 and their successors forever, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, goods, 
 money, and chattels, and all kinds of property and estate, which may be 
 devised, or bequeathed, or given to them, or to the said Assembly for 
 them, and the same to sell, alien, demise, and convey; also to make a 
 common seal, and the same to alter and renew at their pleasure ; and 
 also to make such rules, by-laws, and ordinances, as may be needful for 
 the government of said corporation, and not inconsistent with the Con 
 stitution and laws of the United States and of this State : Provided 
 always, That the clear yearly income of the real estate held by the said 
 corporation shall not at any time exceed the sum of five thousand dol 
 lars. 
 
 " SEC. 2. That the trustees above named shall hold their office till the 
 first day of June, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty- 
 five, and until their successors are duly qualified to take their places, 
 who shall be chosen by the said Assembly and their successors, who may, 
 at any annual meeting, increase the number of said trustees to ten, if in 
 their judgment the interest of the churches under their care require it. 
 
 " SEC. 3. That the said Assembly and their successors shall, at their 
 annual meeting in each and every year, wherever held, elect at least five 
 trustees, who shall hold their office for one year, and until their succes 
 sors are elected and qualified : Provided, That the said corporators shall 
 be citizens of Pennsylvania. 
 
 " SEC. 4. That the trustees hereby incorporated, and their successors, 
 shall, subject to the direction of the said Assembly and their successors, 
 have full power to manage all funds, property, and effects committed to 
 their care by gift, purchase, bequest, or otherwise, and to execute any 
 trusts confided to them by the said General Assembly or their successors, 
 in such manner as shall be deemed most advantageous, and not contrary 
 to law, or the intention of the donor or testator. 
 
 "SEC. 5. That the act, entitled An act to incorporate the trustees 
 of the Constitutional Presbyterian Publication House/ approved the 
 thirteenth day of April, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and 
 fifty -five, be, and the same is, hereby repealed. 
 
 "HENRY K. STRONG, 
 " Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 "\yM. M.*HlESTER, 
 
 * Speaker of the Senate. 
 
410 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 " Approved the twenty-first day of April, Anno Domini one thousand 
 eight hundred and fifty -five. 
 
 "JAMES POLLOCK." 
 Minutes, 1855, pp. 53, 54. 
 
 5. The Trustees. 
 
 " As trustees of the Presbyterian House, the following individuals 
 were elected : John A. Brown, M. W. Baldwin, Charles S. Wurts, 
 Samuel H. Perkins, John C. Fan, Rev. Albert Barnes, Rev. Thomas 
 Brainerd, D.D., Rev. Benjamin J. Wallace, Rev. Henry Darling, and 
 Rev. David H. Riddle, D.D." Minutes, 1855, p. 29. 
 
 6. The Legal Title secured through the Liberality of John A. Brown, Esq. 
 
 "Resolved, That the General Assembly notice with pleasure the 
 manifestation of promptness and liberality in the president of the Board 
 of Trustees of the Presbyterian House, John A. Brown, Esq., of Phila 
 delphia, who, by a munificent donation, has secured to the trustees the 
 legal title of the Presbyterian House." Minutes, 1857, p. 410. 
 
 SECTION 6. THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. 
 
 ]. Formation of the Permanent Committee. Located in New York. Consisting 
 of lifteen, seven of whom must reside in or near New York. Five constitute a 
 quorum. Classes and term of office. Duties of the committee. The Synods 
 and Presbyteries urged to co-operate. Plans of co-operation. 2. Organization 
 and report of the committee. Plan for aiding beneficiaries, adopted. 3. The 
 plan of the committee endorsed and commended. The charter approved and 
 accepted. Candidates to retain thei r Church and Presbyterial relations unchanged 
 during their studies. The act of incorporation. 4. The plan again commended. 
 No student ought to receive from educational funds a larger appropriation than 
 is contemplated by the plan of the Assembly. The endowment of scholarships 
 urged. 5. The committee instructed to continue their work, and to revise the 
 plan and submit it to the Presbyteries. 
 
 1. Formation of the Permanent Committee. 
 
 [In 1854, the committee reported a plan, which was adopted, and 
 which will be found substantially merged in the following action of 1856. 
 See Minutes, 1854, pp. 506, 507.] 
 
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. 411 
 
 " The special committee, to whom was referred the report of the Per 
 manent Committee on the education of young men for the Gospel minis 
 try, presented a report, which was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The committee to whom was referred the reports of the Committee 
 on Education, and of the several education societies co-operating with 
 this Assembly, respectfully report, that, having carefully considered the 
 resolutions proposed by the Committee on Education, they would recom 
 mend their adoption by the Assembly, with divers alterations and addi 
 tions, in the following form : 
 
 lt Resolved } 1. That a committee of fifteen ministers and members of 
 the Presbyterian Church, of whom five shall be laymen, shall be ap 
 pointed by the General Assembly, to be called The Permanent Com 
 mittee on Education for the Ministry; seven at least of whom shall 
 reside in or near the city of New York, which shall be the seat of its 
 operations. Five members of this committee shall constitute a quorum; 
 but for the election of a secretary of education, or for action upon his 
 salary, a majority shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. This committee, as thus constituted, shall divide itself 
 into three equal classes, the first, second, and third, whose terms of 
 office shall expire respectively in one, two, and three years. The Gene 
 ral Assembly shall annually elect, after its first organization, five members 
 of this committee for three years, to fill such vacancies. It shall also fill 
 any vacancy which may have occurred in the other classes. The com 
 mittee shall have power to fill any vacancies occurring in the interval 
 between the sessions of two Assemblies, for such an interval. 
 
 "Resolved, 3. The duties of the Assembly s committee shall be, to 
 superintend the whole cause of education in behalf of the Assembly ; to 
 appoint a general secretary; to determine his salary and direct his move 
 ments; and also a treasurer, to take charge of the funds which may be 
 collected and paid into the treasury, for the purposes of education ; to 
 devise and adopt such principles, rules, and regulations, in reference to 
 aiding candidates for the ministry, as they shall deem proper and feasi 
 ble ; to receive and disburse funds raised within the bounds of the Pres 
 byterian Church or elsewhere, and, when so directed by the donors, to 
 invest funds for the purposes of ministerial education ; to take the general 
 oversight of such beneficiaries as receive assistance directly from the 
 treasury of the committee; to make a full annual report of all that has 
 been done, so far as they can learn, throughout the Church in behalf of 
 education for the ministry; in a word, to do all that is proper and neces- 
 
412 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 sary to the development of an educational spirit and activity throughout 
 the Church, and the successful prosecution of this great and important 
 cause of Christian benevolence. 
 
 "Resolved, 4. It shall be the duty of the secretary of Education to 
 visit, as far as may be, the Synods, Presbyteries, and churches throughout 
 our bounds, for the purpose of awakening the interest and concentrating 
 the energies of the whole Church ; to visit the colleges and seminaries 
 where young men, aided by the Permanent Committee, are pursuing 
 their studies, for the purpose of counsel and encouragement, and for the 
 purpose of presenting to young men the claims of the ministry upon 
 them to present the cause to the churches and collect funds as directed 
 by the Assembly s committee; and to make a quarterly report, in writing, 
 of his labors to the said committee. 
 
 " Resolved, 5. The treasurer of the committee shall render quarterly 
 accounts of all moneys received and disbursed ; and he shall pay out no 
 moneys, unless thus directed by a written order of the committee, which 
 order or orders shall constitute his vouchers. 
 
 " Resolved, G. The Synods, Presbyteries, and churches are earnestly 
 requested to co-operate with the Assembly s committee in a work of 
 such urgent and inestimable importance; to correspond with them on all 
 points, where mutual sympathy and action are necessary to bring up the 
 cause to its legitimate position in the prayers and efforts of God s people; 
 to search out candidates for the ministry within their respective bounds, 
 and to raise funds necessary for their support while in a course of pre 
 paration for the sacred office. It is particularly urged upon them to 
 take up an annual collection in behalf of the education cause, which, if 
 not required within their own bounds, may be transmitted to the trea 
 sury of the Assembly s committee, to be used for the support of such 
 beneficiaries as may be under their patronage. 
 
 " Resolved, 7. Synods, Presbyteries, and churches may, at their own 
 election, carry forward educational operations within their bounds, 
 through their own agencies and local organizations, and assist their 
 young men directly from their own funds, and according to their own 
 rules and regulations, or operate through the Assembly s committee, con 
 tributing their funds to the general treasury, and placing their candidates 
 under the patronage and supervision of the said committee. Where the 
 former of these methods is adopted, it is very desirable that a yearly 
 report be made to the Permanent Committee, in order that the combined 
 
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. 413 
 
 results of the whole cause may appear in the committee s annual report 
 to the General Assembly. 
 
 "Resolved, 8. The Permanent Committee shall be empowered to 
 make such arrangements with the Central American Education Society 
 at New York, and the Philadelphia Education Society at Philadelphia, 
 as shall insure, if possible, the harmonious co-operation of these societies 
 in the work of educating men for the Gospel ministry. 
 
 "Resolved, 9. It is recommended that the young men aided by the 
 Assembly s committee, be ordinarily placed as soon as possible under the 
 care of Presbyteries ; and that in all ordinary cases they be licensed, if 
 convenient, by the Presbyteries to which they naturally belong. [See 
 Form of Government, chap, xiv, sec. 2.] 
 
 "Resolved, 10. That it be recommended that the annual collection in 
 aid of education for the ministry be taken up on the Sabbath succeed 
 ing the day of prayer for colleges ; and it is also recommended that an 
 appropriate sermon be preached on the occasion of that collection. 
 
 "Resolved, 11. That the Presbyteries be directed to report to the 
 General Assembly the amounts contributed by the several churches 
 under their care, in aid of the education of young men for the ministry, 
 and that the said sums be placed in a separate column in the statistical 
 minutes of the Assembly. 
 
 " The following were sfppointed the Education Committee, in accord 
 ance with the above resolutions : Rev. John J. Owen, D.D., Rev. George 
 L. Prentiss, D.D., Rev. Asa D. Smith, D.D., Mr. Jesse W. Benedict, 
 Mr. Anson G. Phelps, Mr. Joseph B. Sheffield, Mr. Walter S. Griffith, 
 Mr. William A. Booth, Rev. John Jenkins, Rev. George Duffield, Jr., 
 Hon. William Darling, Rev. Jonathan F. Stearns, D.D., Rev. Henry 
 Smith, D.D., Rev. Harvey Curtis, and Hon. William Jessup, LL.D." 
 Minutes, 1856, pp. 222-224. 
 
 2. Organization and Report of Committee. Plan for aiding 
 J3 en eji claries. 
 
 "The Standing Committee, to whom was referred the report of the 
 Permanent Committee on Education for the Ministry, respectfully report, 
 recommending the adoption of the following resolutions : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. The General Assembly recognizes, with gratitude to 
 God, the organization of the Permanent Committee on Education for the 
 Ministry, and the appointment of a General Secretary, Rev. Thornton A. 
 
414 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 Mills, D.D., who has entered on the duties of his office; also, the fact 
 that the report of the committee presents and enforces the foundation 
 principles of this work, especially in its relation to churches and Pres 
 byteries. 
 
 "Resolvedj 2. The Assembly, deeply impressed with the importance 
 of a plan of action which shall develop the resources of the whole Church, 
 and bring each section of the Church to the work of training its own 
 ministry, adopts the arrangement recommended in the report of the 
 Permanent Committee, with some additions and alterations, in the fol 
 lowing form : 
 
 " 1. It is the duty of the Church, in obedience to the Saviour s last 
 command to preach the Gospel to every creature, to give constant and 
 becoming attention to the increase of the ministry. 
 
 cl 2. The Presbyterian Church, in its congregations, Sessions, Presby 
 teries, Synods, and General Assembly, possesses a superior system of 
 means for conducting this work in a most successful manner. 
 
 "8. It is particularly desirable that each Presbytery should make the 
 subject of the ministry a topic of serious consideration in its stated meet 
 ings, at least once every year, and adopt arrangements to have presented 
 to the churches, through their own ministers as far as possible, the wants 
 of our Church, our country, and the world, in this respect ; to press on 
 young men their duty to give themselves to this work ; on parents their 
 obligation to dedicate their children to it, and train them for it; and on 
 individual churches their privilege and duty to see that all their sons, 
 who give promise of suitable qualifications for the ministry, are sought 
 out and encouraged to enter it; to make adequate provision for the 
 education of all such as are in circumstances to need their aid, and who 
 show by their characters and improvement that they are worthy of it ; 
 and to see that in each church an annual collection is made in behalf of 
 this cause. 
 
 "4. It is important that the claims of the Christian ministry on pious 
 young men, in a course of education, should be publicly presented once 
 every year in all the colleges within our bounds ; and it is recommended 
 that the general secretary, in connection with the officers in these insti 
 tutions, secure the performance of this service. 
 
 " 5. While the General Assembly does not design to interfere with 
 the action of separate churches and Presbyteries, or the combined action 
 of a number of them in their synodical capacity, it decidedly recom 
 mends its Permanent Committee as the bond of union and medium of 
 
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. 415 
 
 co-operation in this work; and it is hereby urged upon each Presbytery 
 and Synod, whether co-operating or not with that committee, to forward, 
 through its stated clerk, to said Permanent Committee, at some time in 
 the month of April in each year, a full report of its doings, in reply to 
 such questions as may be proposed to it ; and the information so given 
 shall be embodied in the annual report of the committee to the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 " 6. Each Presbytery, designing to co-operate with the Permanent 
 Committee, shall appoint annually a Standing Committee on Education 
 for the Ministry, whose duty it shall be to examine and recommend, in 
 the vacation of the Presbytery, such young men as require assistance 
 from the funds at the disposal of the Permanent Committee; and to 
 exercise over them such pastoral supervision as may be possible, while 
 they are prosecuting their studies. And all such committees are hereby 
 enjoined, to give strict attention to the rules prescribed by the Perma 
 nent Committee, in any recommendation which they may make, so as to 
 avert dishonor from this enterprise of the Church, and avoid the waste 
 and misapplication of its funds. 
 
 " 7. Every Presbytery, co-operating with the Permanent Committee 
 by presenting the subject to its churches annually, and taking collections 
 to be paid to the general treasury, shall be entitled, as far as the means 
 placed at the disposal of that committee will allow, to receive aid for all 
 candidates for the ministry under its care, however much the appropria 
 tions to them may exceed the contributions of such Presbytery. 
 
 "8. It is recommended to all the churches so to arrange their contri 
 butions to benevolent operations, that the uniform time for that in behalf 
 of education for the ministry shall be the Sabbath preceding, or succeed 
 ing the last Thursday in February of each year, the day of the Annual 
 Concert of Prayer for Colleges. 
 
 "9. As it is desirable that this cause should assume a prominent and 
 permanent place in the contributions of the churches, it is recommended, 
 to those whom Providence has favored with means, to endow temporary 
 scholarships, by the contribution of the requisite sum each year to assist 
 a student through his theological course ; or the contribution of such a 
 sum each year to assist one through his literary and theological course ; 
 or by the establishment of permanent scholarships by donations or lega 
 cies, under the management of the Permanent Committee ; and, to afford 
 facility and security in doing this, the Permanent Committee are hereby 
 directed to apply to the Legislature of the State of New York for a suitable 
 
416 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 act of incorporation. And, until such act is obtained, individuals 
 designing permanent gifts or legacies, are requested to place them in 
 the legal charge of the trustees of the Presbyterian House in Phila 
 delphia, for the use of the Permanent Committee on Education for the 
 Ministry. 
 
 " 10. The General Assembly would not claim any authority over the 
 institutions where our ministry are educated ; but it is hereby requested 
 of the Faculties of the Union and Auburn Theological Seminaries in 
 New York, of Lane Seminary near Cincinnati, and Maryville Seminary 
 in Tennessee, and of any other similar institutions hereafter established, 
 to furnish the General Assembly each year, through its Permanent Com 
 mittee on Education for the Ministry, with a written statement of their 
 condition, advantages, and prospects, the* names of their professors, the 
 ordinary yearly expenses, and any other matters of general interest to 
 the Church, to be read to the Assembly, and published as an appendix 
 to the annual report of the said committee ; and the general secretary 
 is hereby charged with the duty of presenting this request annually 
 to said Faculties, in time to receive their written reports before the meet- 
 , ing of the General Assembly. 
 
 " Resolved, 3. This General Assembly approves the rules adopted by 
 the Permanent Committee, for aiding young men in their preparatory 
 studies for the ministry, with some alterations, as fitted to prevent the 
 introduction of incompetent and unworthy men to this office, and at the 
 same time to afford suitable encouragement to those whose piety and 
 talents give promise of usefulness. When any alterations are made in 
 these rules, the Permanent Committee are requested to report the same 
 to the General Assembly. 
 
 "PLAN FOR AIDING BENEFICIARIES. 
 
 " 1. Each applicant for assistance shall present a certificate of recom 
 mendation from a Presbytery (or its Standing Committee on Education), 
 stating that he has been in the communion of the Church at least one 
 year, and that he has been carefully examined as to his experimental 
 piety, his motives for desiring the sacred office, his attachment to the 
 doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, his general habits, his prudence, 
 his talents, his studies, his gifts for public speaking, his need of assist 
 ance, his disposition to do all in his power to sustain himself, and his 
 willingness to observe the rules of the committee. Such certificate must 
 also state, whether the candidate is in his academic, collegiate, or theo- 
 
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. 417 
 
 logical course, and the amount requisite to carry him through the first 
 year. 
 
 " 2. While it is highly desirable, that all who receive assistance should 
 be under the supervision of the Presbyteries to which they would natu 
 rally belong, and should be recommended by them, yet if, owing to the 
 present position of the education cause, or other important reasons, a 
 Presbyterial certificate cannot be obtained, it may, at the option of the 
 Permanent Committee, be substituted by a certificate of the same import, 
 from any examining committee, appointed by them for such purposes, 
 at any educational institution where the student is pursuing his course. 
 
 "3. The amount granted to any applicant shall not, unless in very 
 peculiar circumstances, exceed one hundred dollars for the academic, 
 one hundred and twenty dollars for the collegiate, and one hundred and 
 forty for the theological course per annum, to be paid in quarterly in 
 stalments upon the return of schedules to be filled up by the student 
 and his instructors, and the approbation of the same by the Permanent 
 Committee. 
 
 " 4. Each applicant shall give a receipt or acknowledgment to the 
 treasurer, for the amount which from time to time he may receive, 
 promising to repay the same with interest, if he fail to enter upon the 
 work of the ministry within a reasonable time, or turn aside to any secular 
 pursuit ; unless the Presbytery to which he belongs shall certify, that 
 there are good reasons for his relinquishing the active duties of the 
 office, and recommend the cancelling of the obligation. 
 
 " 5. Individuals receiving aid shall be under the pastoral supervision 
 of the Presbyteries recommending them, and also of the general secretary 
 of the Permanent Committee ; and will be expected to undergo renewed 
 examinations on passing from one grade of their general course to another. 
 
 (( 6. No payment shall be made in advance. 
 
 " 7. As the appropriations of the committee are made on the principle 
 of helping those who help themselves, and are insufficient for the entire 
 support of a student, it is expected, that the student and his friends will 
 make all proper exertions to assist in defraying the expenses of his edu 
 cation. 
 
 " 8. Each student aided is required to pursue a thorough course of 
 study preparatory to a three years course of theological studies, unless 
 the Permanent Committee, and the Presbytery under whose care he is, 
 in the exercise of a wise discretion, shall decide that his circumstances 
 require that his studies shall be abbreviated. 
 
 27 
 
418 X. THE PER3IANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 "9. When any student shall find it necessary to relinquish study for 
 a time, to teach, or otherwise increase his means of support, he shall first 
 obtain the consent of the Permanent Committee ; and, if he shall not be 
 absent from study more than three months, his appropriations will be 
 continued ; but if longer, they will be discontinued, or continued in part, 
 according to circumstances. 
 
 "10. When a student has ceased, for a period longer than a year, to 
 receive assistance from the committee, he shall be required to produce 
 new testimonials before his name can be restored to the roll. 
 
 " 11. When the official relation between a student and the committee 
 ceases, or is about to cease, he is required to notify the general secretary 
 of the fact, stating the reason. 
 
 " 12. The reception of an appropriation, by a student, shall be con 
 sidered as expressing a promise, to comply with all the rules and regu 
 lations of the committee. 
 
 "13. If at any time there be discovered in any student such defect 
 in capacity, diligence, prudence, and especially in piety, as would render 
 his introduction into the ministry a doubtful measure, it shall be con 
 sidered the sacred duty of the committee to withdraw their appropria 
 tions. Students shall also cease to receive assistance, when their health 
 shall become such as to unfit them for study, and for the work of the 
 ministry ; when they are manifestly improvident, and contract debts 
 without reasonable prospects of payment ; when they marry ; when they 
 receive the assistance of any other educational committee j when they 
 fail to make the regular returns; or cease, by change of circumstances, 
 to need aid. 
 
 "14. As -all intellectual acquisitions are comparatively of little value 
 without the cultivation of piety, it is expected and required of every 
 candidate, to pay special attention to the practical duties of religion ; 
 such as reading the Scriptures, secret prayer and meditation ; to attend 
 upon religious meetings on the Sabbath, and during the week; to 
 endeavor to promote the salvation of others ; and to exhibit at all times 
 a pious and consistent example. 
 
 "Resolved, 4. While the Assembly feels the importance of a thorough 
 organization of the Church, for the accomplishment of the work of 
 ministerial education, it is at the same time deeply convinced that suc 
 cess will not attend the enterprise, unless the earnest efforts of its friends 
 are united with prayer to God ? that, by the abundant outpouring of the 
 
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. 419 
 
 Spirit, the life of the Church may be made more vigorous, and large 
 numbers of the youth of our land be converted to Christ. 
 
 "Resolved, 5. The General Assembly recommends the observance of 
 the last Thursday in February as a day of prayer for the blessing of God 
 on our various institutions of learning. 
 
 "Resolved, 6. That the election to fill the vacancies in the Permanent 
 Committee be the first order of the day for Friday morning, and that 
 the election be by ballot. 
 
 "Resolved, 7. That the report of the Permanent Committee be pub 
 lished under their direction, and circulated through all the churches. 
 
 " The same committee reported the following resolution, which was 
 adopted : 
 
 " Resolved, That the memorial of the Presbytery of Iowa City, on the 
 subject of Christian education, asking the General Assembly, through 
 its Permanent Committee on Education for the Ministry, to aid in erect 
 ing academies and collegiate institutions, be referred to that committee, 
 with instructions to consider and extend aid at their discretion during 
 the year; and to report to the next General Assembly." Minutes, 1857, 
 pp. 388-392. 
 
 3. Injunctions of the Assembly 0/1858. The Charter approved and 
 
 accepted. 
 
 " Resolved, That this Assembly find, in the practical workings of the 
 plan for ministerial education inaugurated by the last General Assembly, 
 reason to regard it with increasing confidence, and consider it eminently 
 wise, and admirably adapted to develop the zeal and activity of the whole 
 Church in this department of her duty. 
 
 "Resolved, That in laying the foundation for this work in a living 
 Christianity of the body, and devolving the execution of it on individual 
 churches and Presbyteries, the Assembly has proposed the most evan 
 gelical and effective method of accomplishing the enterprise. 
 
 ti Resolved, That while the responsibility of performing this part of 
 her mission rests on Christian parents, and the individual members and 
 elders of the Church, it also presses with peculiar weight on ministers ; 
 and from a becoming spirit and example in their daily labor, and a 
 faithful and frequent presentation to Christian parents and youth of their 
 obligations of covenanted consecration, the happiest results may be rea 
 sonably expected. 
 
420 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 " Resolved, That it is deeply to be lamented that the Saviour s com 
 mand; f Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth la 
 borers into his harvest/ has so extensively passed from the minds and 
 hearts of his people, and that this Assembly admonish all its ministers 
 and churches of this neglect, and earnestly exhort them to give atten 
 tion to it in their private, domestic, social, and public devotions, and that 
 they especially remember it at the monthly concert, as well as at the 
 annual concert of prayer for educational institutions, on the last Thurs 
 day of February. 
 
 "Resolved, That inasmuch as a large number of Presbyteries have dis 
 regarded the urgent recommendation of the last Assembly to forward full 
 reports of their action in reference to ministerial education, this Assem 
 bly readopts that recommendation, considering a faithful compliance with 
 it essential to a successful enlistment of the whole Church in this im 
 portant enterprise. 
 
 "Resolved, That it is highly desirable that the subject of the increase 
 of the ministry should be annually presented to the churches on the Sab 
 bath preceding or succeeding the annual concert of prayer for colleges, 
 and that contributions be made on one of the Sabbaths above named, 
 when it will not interfere with or disturb systematic arrangements already 
 adopted. 
 
 "Resolved, That it is the conviction of this Assembly that a large 
 and useful increase of the ministry cannot be secured without constant 
 vigilance on the part of the Presbyteries in the introduction of men into 
 the sacred office, in arrangements to direct their efforts and facilitate 
 their settlement, and in holding them to a just responsibility in the dis 
 charge of their work, and also without a disposition on the part of the 
 churches to furnish it with an adequate and equitable support. . 
 
 "Resolved, That the Assembly recommend, as a general principle, 
 that candidates for the ministry, especially those who are connected with 
 churches under the care of our newer and smaller Presbyteries, retain 
 their church and Presbyterial relations unchanged during the progress 
 of their studies. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Permanent Committee be directed to publish 
 this annual report, or such portions of it as they may deem advisable." 
 
 "Ad OF INCORPORATION. 
 
 "An Act to incorporate the Permanent Committee on Education for 
 the Ministry, of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 
 the United States of America. 
 
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. 421 
 
 " The people of the State of New York, as represented in Senate and 
 Assembly, do enact as follows : 
 
 "SEC. 1. John J. Owen, Asa D. Smith, George L. Prentiss, William 
 A. Booth. Joseph B. Sheffield, Jesse W. Benedict, Walter S. Griffith, 
 Anson G. Phelps, William Hogarth, Jonathan F. Stearns, Henry Smith, 
 Harvey Curtis, John Jenkins, William Darling, and William Jessup 
 (designated for the purpose by the General Assembly of the Presbyte 
 rian Church, which met in Cleveland, Ohio, in May, eighteen hundred 
 and fifty-seven), and their successors in office, are hereby constituted a 
 body corporate and politic, by the name of t The Permanent Committee 
 on Education for the Ministry of the General Assembly of the Presby 
 terian Church in the United States of America; whose duty it shall be 
 to superintend the whole cause of education in behalf of the said General 
 Assembly, as said General Assembly may from time to time direct; also 
 to receive, take charge of, and disburse any property or funds which at 
 any time, and from time to time, may be intrusted to said General As 
 sembly, or said Permanent Committee, for educational purposes. 
 
 " SEC. 2. The said corporation shall possess the general powers, and 
 be subject to the provisions contained in title three, of chapter eighteen 
 of the first part of the Revised Statutes, so far as the same are applica 
 ble, and have not been repealed or modified. 
 
 "Ssc. 3. The management and disposition of the aifairs and funds of 
 said corporation shall be vested in the individuals named in the first sec 
 tion of this act, and their successors in office, who shall remain in office 
 for such period, and be displaced and succeeded by others, to be elected 
 at such time and in such manner as the said General Assembly shall 
 direct and appoint. 
 
 " SEC. 4. The said corporation shall in law be capable of taking, re 
 ceiving, and holding any real or personal estate which has been or may 
 hereafter be given, devised, or bequeathed to it, or to said General As 
 sembly, for the purposes aforesaid, or which may accrue from the use of 
 the same ; but the said corporation shall not take and hold real and 
 personal estate above the sum of two hundred thousand dollars. 
 
 " SEC. 5. This act shall take effect immediately. 
 
 " Passed April 17, 1858." 
 
 "APPROVAL BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Assembly approve of the act of incorporation 
 obtained by the Permanent Committee of Education, from the Legisla- 
 
422 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 ture of New York, and of its acceptance by that committee ; and that 
 said committee thus incorporated, is hereby cordially and confidently 
 recommended to such persons as may be disposed to devote property to 
 ministerial education, as a safe and responsible agency for its investment 
 and disbursement." Minutes, 1858, pp. 597, 598. 
 
 4. Report and Resolutions of 1859. Endowment of Scholarships urged. 
 
 u The committee, therefore, recommend to the General Assembly the 
 adoption of the following resolutions : 
 
 " 1. That the Assembly has undiminished confidence in the plan for 
 promoting the increase of the ministry, adopted by the Assembly of 1857 ; 
 the more it is examined, and the better it is understood, the more worthy 
 of confidence does it appear. 
 
 "2. That, though the Permanent Committee and their secretary have 
 encountered many embarrassments, in the incipiency of their enterprise, 
 yet, in the judgment of the Assembly, they are doing a great work; and 
 we heartily concur with the two Assemblies last past, in commending 
 them to the favor of the churches. 
 
 "3. That the ultimate result towards which we should aim, is the 
 universal adoption of this plan, as soon as practicable, and that it be 
 commended to the favorable notice of all our Presbyteries; and further, 
 that all local societies within our bounds, whose existence seems neces 
 sary for the time being, be requested, as far as possible, to adjust them 
 selves to it. 
 
 "4. That, in the judgment of this Assembly, no student ought to 
 receive from educational funds a larger appropriation than is contem 
 plated in the plan of the General Assembly; and that ministers, and 
 professors in colleges and seminaries, be requested to discountenance all 
 partiality, and scrupulously adhere to the Assembly s plan in this regard. 
 
 "5. That, for this purpose, all Presbyteries and colleges and theolo 
 gical seminaries be requested to send to the Permanent Committee the 
 names of all students under their care who receive aid, with the amount 
 apportioned by them. 
 
 11 6. That, in order to facilitate the connection of the Permanent Com 
 mittee with every part of the Church, every Synod be requested to ap 
 point a corresponding member, as a medium of communication between 
 the Committee and the Presbyteries, pastors, and churches. 
 
 " 7. That the common mode of raising funds for this cause is, at pre- 
 
THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. 423 
 
 sent, a necessity; but that the perfection of the work, in the judgment 
 of the Assembly, is the endowment of scholarships, held in trust by the 
 Assembly s Committee under its charter; and that anything short of this 
 is liable to affect injuriously the churches and the young men who receive 
 their benefactions. 
 
 tl 8. That we cannot disguise the fact, that no plans or rules can com 
 pensate for the want of a livelier interest on this subject in all our 
 churches; which interest would obviate all our difficulties, and silence 
 all complaints in all parts of the Church. 
 
 "9. That the Permanent Committee be requested to appeal to the 
 churches to make immediate and special efforts to replenish the general 
 treasury for education ; and that they be urged to contribute both for 
 present exigencies and wants, and also for a permanent endowment, that 
 the support of applicants may not depend upon the scanty and uncertain 
 contributions of the Church. 
 
 " 10. That it is the opinion of this Assembly, that $35,000, which is 
 but little more than twenty-five cents for each member in our churches, 
 is the very least amount that our Church, or its members, ought to be 
 content to raise for this cause during the coming year/ . . . Minutes, 
 1859, p. 34-36. 
 
 5. Committee to revise the Plan, and submit it to tJte Presbyteries. 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That the Permanent Committee continue their work as 
 heretofore ; and that they be instructed, at an early clay, to revise the 
 present plan of the Assembly, and submit the revised plan to the Pres 
 byteries, with the earnest request that they express their views and 
 wishes concerning it to the Permanent Committee previous to the meet 
 ing of the next Assembly; and that Rev. Albert Barnes, D. Howe 
 Allen, D.D., Ezra A. Huntington, D.D., and Henry B. Smith, D.D., 
 be appointed to confer with said committee concerning the revision of 
 the plan. 
 
 " Resolved, 2. That this Assembly are gratified to learn that the Per 
 manent Committee have begun to aid students from their own treasury; 
 and that the churches be earnestly requested to replenish that treasury, 
 that the work may go on in a manner worthy of the cause and of the 
 Church at large/ - Minutes, 1860, p. 246. 
 
424 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 SECTION 7. THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS. 
 
 1. Origin of the committee. The Permanent Committee established. 2. The 
 committee enlarged to twelve, and divided into three classes. 3. Duties of the 
 committee. 4. Formation of Foreign Presbyteries encouraged. The Synod of 
 New York and New Jersey empowered to form and receive such Presbyteries. 
 5. Report of I860. The jubilee year. 
 
 1. Origin of the Committee, Permanent Committee established. 
 
 [In 1850, the subject of " erection of Presbyteries in foreign lands/ 7 
 was referred to a select committee, to report next year. Minutes, 1850, 
 p. 820. This committee having failed to report, was discharged, and 
 the subject recommitted to a new committee. Minutes, 1851, p. 10. 
 Committee continued, 1852, p. 173; 1853, p. 342. In 1854, the com 
 mittee reported, viz. :] 
 
 " The correspondence with ministers in connection with our Church 
 on foreign missionary ground, laboring under the direction of the Ame 
 rican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, has been carried out 
 according to the instructions of the General Assembly. 
 
 " More than twenty responses have been received, in answer to the 
 committee s circular. These communications are characterized by a 
 thoughtful discrimination, a spirit of sincere regard for our Church, and 
 a desire to secure harmonious and successful action in the prosecution 
 of the missionary work. 
 
 " From a careful review of this correspondence, and a consideration 
 of the whole subject, your committee would recommend, 
 
 " 1. That this Assembly regard it as inexpedient to take any measures, 
 at present, for organizing Presbyteries or churches on foreign missionary 
 ground. 
 
 "2. That an annual correspondence be recommended to be kept up 
 between our foreign missionaries and the Presbyteries to which they 
 respectively belong. 
 
 a 3. That, inasmuch as it has hitherto been found to be impracticable 
 to form distinctive Presbyterian organizations among the converted 
 heathen, and inasmuch as the obstacles which have hitherto existed may 
 possibly be removed by further conference with our foreign missionaries 
 and with the Prudential Committee of the A. B. C. F. M., a Standing 
 Committee of five ministers shall be appointed, who shall take charge of 
 
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS. 425 
 
 this whole subject, correspond further with our missionaries and the 
 Prudential Committee above referred to, and report to the Assembly 
 from year to year. 
 
 "The report was adopted; and Rev. Joel Parker, D.D., Rev. James 
 W. McLane, D.D., Rev. David 0. Allen, D.D., Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, 
 D.D., and Rev. Henry Darling, were appointed the Standing Committee 
 provided for in this report." Minutes, 1854, p. 511. 
 
 2. The Committee Enlarged and Divided into TJiree Classes. 
 
 "Resolved, That Rev. Albert Barnes, and Messrs. John A. Brown, 
 "VY. E. Dodge, Treadwell Ketch um, Jesse W. Benedict, David Hoadley, 
 and Walter S. Griffith, be added to the Permanent Committee on 
 Foreign Missions, and that they be requested to divide the committee 
 into three classes, one of which shall be elected annually by the Assem 
 bly." Minutes, 1856, p. 212. 
 
 3. Duties of the Committee. 
 
 "The committee to whom was referred the report of the Permanent 
 Committee on Foreign Missions, together with a resolution and memorial 
 on the same subject, recommend the following : 
 
 " 1. That the report of the Permanent Committee be approved. And 
 we are grateful to God for the efficiency and harmony with which we 
 have been enabled to prosecute the great work of foreign missions 
 through the medium of the American Board of Commissioners for 
 Foreign Missions. 
 
 "2. That, in addition to the duties already devolved upon this com 
 mittee, it be made their further duty to ascertain, as far as possible, to 
 what extent the churches in connection with the General Assembly are 
 engaged in the work of foreign missions, and report the same to the 
 next General Assembly. And that these missionary operations in which 
 our churches are engaged, be made the subject of an annual report to 
 the Assembly by this committee. 
 
 " In which reports, they shall spread before the Assembly such in 
 formation as is calculated to excite and deepen an interest in this subject, 
 and foster and develop the spirit of missions ; giving the number of 
 foreign missionaries of our Church who are in the field, the number of 
 candidates for this work, the amount of annual contributions, so far as 
 
426 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 practicable, and the degree of interest which is manifested in this cause 
 throughout our churches ; together with the measure of success that lias 
 attended missionary effort; and communicate any information which 
 they can gain, that may stimulate and develop foreign missionary enter 
 prise. 
 
 " 3. That the Presbyteries, through their stated clerks, or a committee 
 appointed for that purpose, furnish to the Permanent Committee on 
 Foreign Missions all the information on this subject that may be sought 
 or they be able to furnish. And further, that the Presbyteries and 
 Synods give special attention to this subject, adopting such measures 
 as may rouse the spirit of missions among the churches/ Minutes, 
 1858, pp. 595, 596. 
 
 4. Report and Resolutions of the Assembly. Formation of Foreign 
 Presbyteries encouraged. The Synod of New York and New Jersey 
 empowered to form and receive such Presbyteries. 
 
 " The unfinished business of the last session was then taken up, being 
 the consideration of the report on Foreign Missions; which, having been 
 amended, was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " Your committee having taken into consideration the report of the 
 Permanent Committee on Foreign Missions, and the overtures, Synodical 
 and Presbyterial, bearing upon this part of our ecclesiastical work, which 
 have been referred to your committee, respectfully submit the following 
 report, and recommend its adoption by the General Assembly : 
 
 "1. The Assembly owe it to the Permanent Committee, to record 
 their thanks for the lucid and deeply interesting narrative which they 
 have furnished, in the report now submitted, of the past and present 
 connection of our Church with the great Christian work of Foreign 
 Missions : 
 
 "2. It is highly desirable that said report be printed and widely cir 
 culated among the members of our churches ; and also that our pastors 
 present to their congregations, at the monthly concert of prayer for 
 Foreign Missions, the facts contained therein, as eminently calculated 
 to induce thankfulness for that part which, in the providence of God, 
 we have been permitted to take in this work in the past, as well as to 
 incite us to more earnest zeal and labor as to the share which we may 
 be hereafter called to assume in carrying the Gospel to the ends of the 
 earth. 
 
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS. 427 
 
 " 3. It is desirable, also, that said report be printed in the Appendix 
 to the Minutes of the General Assembly, so that, there may exist, in an 
 official form, a permanent record of the interesting facts which have 
 been thus brought under the notice of this body. 
 
 "The following overtures or memorials on the subject of Foreign 
 Missions have been forwarded to this Assembly : 
 
 " 1st. From the Synod of Minnesota, praying the Assembly to decide 
 such measures as, in their wisdom, may seem fit, for the purpose of 
 securing a closer ecclesiastical relation of our Foreign Missionaries with 
 the General Assembly, and of securing also direct reports from these 
 brethren to our Assemblies, Synods, and Presbyteries; as tending, in 
 the estimation of the memorialists, to a larger development of the mis 
 sionary spirit in our beloved Church. 
 
 " 2d. From the Presbytery of Newark, expressing their unanimous 
 conviction of the expediency of instructing the Permanent Committee 
 on Foreign Missions to concert measures with the Prudential Committee 
 of the A. B. C. F. M., for the formation of Presbyteries on its foreign 
 field, whenever such a step may be deemed practicable. 
 
 "3d. From the Presbytery of Philadelphia Third, stating that one 
 of their members, a missionary in the foreign field, having been recom 
 mended by his Presbytery to propose to his Presbyterian brethren in 
 the same mission, that they should form themselves into a Presbytery, 
 declined, with his brethren, to do so, upon the understanding that it 
 was the business of the Prudential Committee of the Board to arrange 
 the ecclesiastical organizations of missionaries and mission churches in 
 foreign lands; thereupon praying the Assembly to consider this subject; 
 and expressing the conviction, that our churches are deficient in mis 
 sionary spirit; that our young men are not coming forward to offer them 
 selves as missionaries; and that, though actuated by no sectarian feeling, 
 they are convinced that a proper missionary spirit cannot be created, 
 or kept alive, without our having, in some way, a closer relation to our 
 missionaries, and without, in some way, bringing home to our churches 
 the feeling that this is our own work. 
 
 "This overture further reminds the General Assembly, that, after 
 contributing millions of money, we have not a solitary mission church, 
 or but one, in the entire foreign field ; and respectfully suggests, without 
 venturing to dictate, that a portion of the foreign field be set apart, to 
 be occupied exclusively by missionaries of our Church, that every diffi 
 culty in the way of a homogeneous ecclesiastical organization may be 
 removed. 
 
428 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 "4th. From the Presbytery of Greencastle, recommending to the 
 General Assembly to secure to our churches the direct control of our 
 ministers laboring in foreign lands, as to their ecclesiastical relations. 
 
 " The Assembly, having considered these overtures and memorials, 
 further resolve : 
 
 "1. That the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States have reason to rejoice in God that they have been per 
 mitted to share, with their brethren of other denominations, the high 
 privilege of bringing into efficiency the noblest of all the missionary 
 institutions of our country; and that, in both funds and men, our 
 churches have supplied so considerable a proportion of the expenditure 
 which has been incurred in founding and sustaining, in the Turkish 
 Empire, in Hindostan, in Ceylon, and elsewhere, missions and labors 
 which have reflected so bright an honor upon American Christianity. 
 
 "2. That we rejoice in the successes which the Great Head of the 
 Church continues to vouchsafe to the operations of the American Board 
 in the varied and difficult fields which, in the providence of God, it is 
 called to occupy; and fervently desire that its future career may be as 
 the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day/ 
 
 " 3. That we deeply sympathize with the Board in its present pecu 
 niary embarrassments, and commend the cause of missions, as conducted 
 by it, to enlarged self-denying liberalities on the part of our churches. 
 
 "4. That the time has now come when, in order to a more thorough 
 development of that missionary spirit which should pervade every portion 
 of the Christian Church, the prayers of the memorialists, now enume 
 rated, demand not only consideration, but action. These prayers ask 
 not, in any instance, for a cessation from the co-operative principle in 
 conducting this work, but simply for a closer connection with it, by 
 means of the formation of Presbyteries in foreign lands, wherever num 
 bers and circumstances will allow of such a course. In the judgment of 
 this body, this request consists, not only with the highest reason, but 
 with the broadest charity ; for the Assembly cannot forget the fact, that, 
 after long years of connection with the foreign missionary department of 
 evangelistic labor, we have at this time but one Presbyterian church of 
 our connection in the foreign field. 
 
 " The Presbyterian Church have had too great a share in laying the 
 foundations of the American Board, and in building up its noble super 
 structure, to be willing, except for the most imperative reasons, to sever 
 the tie which binds them, the one to the other. If they can do so with 
 
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS. 429 
 
 fidelity to their brethren abroad and to their churches at home, the 
 Assembly will joyfully perpetuate their co-operation with brethren with 
 whom it has been so long, so honorably, and so successfully associated, 
 in advancing throughout the world the interests of the Redeemer s 
 kingdom. They will sacrifice everything for this but the salvation of 
 souls, and the edification and general prosperity of that portion of the 
 Church over which the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers. But 
 the General Assembly record it as their deliberate judgment, that it is 
 due to the interests of our Church, and to its vital connection with our 
 foreign work, 
 
 "1. That it should be distinctly understood, here and abroad, that 
 the Board, its Prudential Committee, and officers, interpose no obstacles 
 in the way of the formation of foreign Presbyteries. 
 
 " 2. That the appointments of missionaries should be so disposed, 
 wherever it is wise and practicable, as to facilitate the formation of such 
 Presbyteries. 
 
 "3. That there should be a free correspondence of our missionaries 
 with the Permanent Committee of the General Assembly. 
 
 " 4. That less than this the Assembly cannot declare ; because less 
 than this would not lead our churches to identify themselves with the 
 operations and successes of the Board, and to manifest that interest and 
 zeal in its welfare and prosperity which are requisite for the perpetuity 
 among ourselves of the true missionary spirit. 
 
 li 5. That, in recording this their judgment, the General Assembly 
 feel encouraged by the fact, that the Prudential Committee of the 
 American Board have frequently professed their desire and purpose not 
 to interfere with the ecclesiastical bias of the missionaries, or with the 
 attempt of any one or more of them to form Presbyteries and Presby 
 terian churches on their fields of labor. Accepting these professions in 
 good faith, the Assembly desire such an understanding with the Board 
 as shall lead to the realization of all which is sought for by the before- 
 mentioned Synod and Presbyteries, and demanded by the convictions of 
 our whole Church. 
 
 " 6. That this General Assembly are further encouraged, by informa 
 tion which has reached them from reliable sources, that our missionary 
 brethren, in some portions of the work, are directing their thoughts and 
 aims towards the perpetuation, in foreign countries, of our excellent 
 Presbyterian polity. 
 
 " 7. That it is regarded by the General Assembly as both desirable 
 
430 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 and important, that our brethren who are laboring in the foreign field 
 correspond with the Permanent Committee on the subject of their labors; 
 and that said committee be requested to prepare, from year to year, such 
 a report of our foreign work as shall be calculated to quicken the zeal of 
 our people in prayers and labors for the conversion of the whole world to 
 Christ; such report to be submitted to the General Assembly. 
 
 " 8. The General Assembly hereby appoint Rev. Albert Barnes, Rev. 
 Jonathan F. Stearns, D.D., Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, D.D., Rev. John 
 Jenkins, Mr. Matthew W. Baldwin, and Hon. William Strong, a special 
 committee to attend the next meeting of the A. B. C. F. M., to be held 
 in Philadelphia, on the first Tuesday of October next, for the purpose of 
 conveying to the Board the Assembly s views as herein expressed, and of 
 conferring with it, or with any committee which it may appoint, as to 
 the best mode by which these results may be most wisely and prudently 
 secured ; as well as to confer in regard to the localities where our mis 
 sionaries can be most conveniently and speedily concentrated. 
 
 "9. That this report be printed in circular form, and transmitted to 
 each of our foreign missionaries, with the recommendation to such mis 
 sionaries that they proceed to form themselves into Presbyteries when 
 ever and wherever, in their judgment, it is practicable and expedient. 
 
 " 10. That the candidates for the missionary work, going out from 
 our body, be recommended to give their attention to those fields where 
 Presbyteries are or may be formed. 
 
 "11. The General Assembly hereby empower the Synod of New York 
 and New Jersey to form and receive foreign Presbyteries whenever con 
 stitutionally requested so to do by our foreign missionaries. 
 
 "The committee have also had under consideration the report of the 
 General Assembly s Permanent Committee on Foreign Missions, respect 
 ing a certain memorial referred to them by the last General Assembly, 
 signed by Rev. George Duffield, D.D., and others, on the desirableness 
 of our instituting missionary operations in Mexico and in Central and 
 Southern America ; also a second memorial, forwarded to this General 
 Assembly by the same parties, on the same subject; in respect to 
 which 
 
 " The committee respectfully submit the following report, and recom 
 mend its adoption by the General Assembly : 
 
 " 1. That the Assembly regard the proposal of the memorialists as 
 entitled to both consideration and respect. 
 
 " 2. That, in the present attitude of our work abroad, it is inexpedient 
 
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS. 431 
 
 for this General Assembly to initiate any new and independent foreign 
 missionary undertaking. 
 
 " Because it is due to our missionary brethren in fields already occu 
 pied, that all our available men be commissioned to those parts of the 
 world, in which it is deemed important to facilitate the formation of 
 Presbyteries, and thus to increase the efficiency of particular missions. 
 
 "3. That it is yet due to the memorialists, and to the important sub 
 ject which they thus bring to the notice of the Assembly, that it be 
 held over for advisement for another year ; and, for this purpose, the 
 report of the Permanent Committee is referred back, together with the 
 present memorial, to said committee j who are hereby requested to re 
 consider their report, to make further inquiries respecting the field indi 
 cated, and to report to the next General Assembly." Minutes, 1859, 
 pp. 21-25. 
 
 5. Report of Standing Committee, 1860. The Jubilee Year. 
 
 "The command, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to 
 every creature/ is not surpassed for distinctness and impressiveness by 
 any saying of our Lord Jesus Christ. No one, that pretends to love the 
 Master, can be indifferent to this direction. Nor does it pertain alone 
 to individual believers. It embraces every church in its organic 
 character. Every denomination of Christians must see to it that its 
 name is identified with the cause of foreign missions. It would be fatal 
 to the hope of any professed disciple of the Son of God, to have no 
 sympathy with the suffering Redeemer in his desire to save a perishing 
 world. It is disgraceful to any company of believers not to recognize, 
 somewhere in their system, the obligation resting upon them to take 
 part, at whatever cost and sacrifice, in the conquest of the world to the 
 dominion of the Cross. It may not be necessary that there should be 
 as many distinct organizations, for sending out and sustaining mission 
 aries upon the foreign field, as there are separate denominations ; but if, 
 upon careful investigation, it be thought that in this way the strength 
 and efficiency of any portion of the people of God can thus be more 
 completely developed, then no considerations of a worldly policy should 
 be allowed, for a moment, to hinder the formation of a new missionary 
 society. We are not called upon to convert the heathen, but we are 
 bound, as individuals, as churches, and as a distinct branch of the 
 Church of Jesus Christ, to do all in our power to preach the Gospel to 
 
432 X. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEES. 
 
 every creature. We are debtors, made so by the command of Jesus, 
 ( both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the 
 unwise ; so, as much as in us is, we must be ready to preach the Gospel, 
 not only to them that are at Rome, but to the crowded population of 
 China and India, to the scattered inhabitants of Polynesia, and to the 
 roving hordes in our own wilderness. 
 
 " The practical question at present is, whether, as a denomination, we 
 can continue to work with the American Board, or whether the time has 
 come to initiate a system, under which we can more rapidly and fully 
 develop the strength and spirit of our people. 
 
 "The General Assembly finds an answer to this question in the report 
 of its Permanent Committee, just presented, and that of the Committee 
 of Conference with the American Board ; which reports are to be printed 
 in the Appendix to the Minutes, after so much of the first report as 
 relates to the Presbyterial character of the churches of the Ahmednuggur 
 Mission be modified, as the Permanent Committee now desire, to corre 
 spond to the facts in the case ; and, after the paragraph be stricken out, 
 relating to the communication of a missionary to a Presbytery, and the 
 memorial of the Presbytery to the Assembly. 
 
 "The attention of the churches is called to certain particulars in this 
 elaborate and excellent report of the Permanent Committee : 
 
 "1. The urging upon Presbyteries of the importance of securing a 
 more perfect system, in respect to contributions for missionary purposes, 
 and especially the necessity of reporting such collections, not in a spirit 
 of boasting, but in order that full and correct statistics of our benevolent 
 operations may be secured. 
 
 "2. The correspondence from the Dacotah, the Madura, and the 
 African missions is worthy of notice, from the excellence of these com 
 munications and the important information which they convey; but 
 more especially as constituting the beginning of an interchange of letters 
 between the General Assembly and its absent and distant members, who 
 are preaching the Gospel among the heathen. 
 
 "3. That portion of the report which is in reply to the memorial 
 for the establishment of missions in Mexico, and Central or Southern 
 America, may be accepted as the proper reply to the resolution of the 
 Presbytery of Detroit, and a memorial signed by George Dufneld and H. 
 Kendall, submitted to the Standing Committee ; as it argues at length 
 the impracticability of attempting to establish separate and independent 
 missions at the present time. 
 
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS. 433 
 
 "It is only necessary to say, in respect to the report of the Special 
 Committee of Conference with the American Board, that everything 
 sought by our committee, or desired by the General Assembly, was 
 cordially assented to ; and we rely upon the good faith of the Prudential 
 Committee to carry out their own declaration, f that both " reason" and 
 11 charity" demand the facilitation of such organizations (that is, foreign 
 Presbyteries), whenever circumstances and a due regard to the great 
 objects of this board will allow; and, in view of the offer of the Pru 
 dential Committee, it is resolved, that the General Assembly will gladly 
 welcome the annual delegation sent to confer with them by the American 
 Board. 
 
 " The Assembly wish to be understood, as expressing their undimin- 
 ished confidence in the noble institution with which they have been so 
 long associated in the work of evangelizing the world, and their desire 
 still to co-operate with their brethren of another denomination in spread 
 ing the news of salvation to the ends of the earth. Especially on this 
 Jubilee year, would the Assembly enjoin upon all its churches to lend 
 most liberal aid, in furthering a result so desirable as that which is 
 sought, viz., to bring the board to its next anniversary free from debt, 
 and prepared to begin with increased ardor and energy its second half 
 century, in the glorious work of bringing all mankind into subjection to 
 Christ." Minutes, 1860, pp. 256-258. 
 
 28 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 1. To correspond with foreign churches, belongs to the Assembly. 2. The Assem 
 bly grants permission to correspond with local bodies. 3. Proposals to correspond 
 with the New England churches. 4. Plan of correspondence with the General 
 Association of Connecticut. 5. The right to vote asked by the Assembly and 
 conceded. 6. Conference on complaint of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. 
 7. For either body to receive a candidate, licentiate, or minister from the other, 
 without regular testimonials and dismission, is irregular. 8. Correspondence 
 with the General Convention of Vermont. Regulations same as with the 
 General Association of Connecticut. 9. With the General Association of New 
 Hampshire. 10. With the General Association of Massachusetts. 11. With 
 the General Conference of Maine. 12. With the Evangelical Consociation of 
 Rhode Island. The correspondence discontinued by the Consociation. 13. The 
 Assembly requests that the right to vote be given up. 14. Replies of the Asso 
 ciations. New Hampshire agrees; Vermont refers the matter to a committee; 
 Massachusetts declines. 15. The rule as to receiving candidates, licentiates, 
 and ministers urged upon the Associations of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 
 and Vermont. 16. Reply of the Association of Massachusetts. The right to 
 vote given up. The rule referred to the district associations. 17. Minute on 
 correspondence with the New England churches. 18. Correspondence with 
 the German Reformed Synod of North America. 19. With the General Synod 
 of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 20. With the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church. 21. With the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wiscon 
 sin. 22. With the General Association of New York. Further proceedings. 
 The correspondence continued. The Association requested to couch its com 
 munications in courteous language. The right to review proceedings, rebuke or 
 reprove, disavowed and denied. 23. The terms of correspondence defined. 24. 
 Correspondence with the Union of the Evangelical Churches of France. 25. 
 With the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America, and with the General 
 Synod of the Associate Reformed Church. Terms of correspondence. 2G. Com 
 pensation of delegates to corresponding bodies. 
 
 1. To correspond with Foreign Churches belongs to the Assembly. 
 " The committee appointed to examine the Records of the Synod of 
 
XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 435 
 
 Tennessee reported, and the Kecords were approved, with, the exception 
 of a proposal to establish a plan of intercourse between said Synod and 
 the Cumberland Presbyterians ; of which proposal the Assembly disap 
 prove, on the ground that it belongs to the Assembly to correspond with 
 foreign churches, on such terms as may be agreed upon by the Assembly 
 and the corresponding body." Minutes, 1827, p. 219. 
 
 2. The Assembly grants Permission to correspond witli Local Bodies. 
 
 a. " Resolved, That while this Assembly would not interfere authori 
 tatively with the lower judicatories in the exercise of their prerogative, 
 they would recommend that no ministers should be invited to sit as cor 
 respondents who do not belong to some body in correspondence with this 
 Assembly." Minutes, 1843, p. 23. 
 
 b. " The report of the committee in reference to correspondence with 
 the Methodist Episcopal Conferences, which had been put upon the 
 docket, was taken up, and the following resolution was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " Whereas, the communication of the Oneida Annual Conference of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church solicits only a correspondence between 
 themselves and the Synod of New York and New Jersey, and not with 
 the Presbyterian Church generally; and whereas the Synod has referred 
 the matter to the Assembly, without submitting any specific proposition 
 or plan for such correspondence : therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That the communication be referred back to the Synod, 
 to adopt such measures as they may deem proper, in pursuance of the 
 request for a correspondence of the local bodies." Minutes, 1850, pp. 
 323, 324. 
 
 c. " Overture, Is it orderly for our Presbyteries and Synods to in 
 vite ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church to sit as corresponding 
 members T which was answered by the Assembly unanimously in the 
 affirmative." Minutes, 1849, p. 174. 
 
 3. Proposals for Correspondence with the New England Churches. 
 
 [In 1766, the General Synod adopted an overture " to endeavor to 
 obtain some correspondence between this Synod and the Consociated 
 Churches of Connecticut." A committee was appointed to meet the 
 delegates from Connecticut. Minutes, 1766, p. 364. A convention of 
 the delegates was held at Elizabethtown, November 5, 1766. Its min- 
 
436 XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 utes were laid before the Synod, " seriously considered, and amended. " 
 Delegates were appointed to attend at New Haven September 10, 
 "there finally, on the part of this body, to complete the plan of union." 
 Minutes, 1767, p. 374. Under this plan, the Convention met alter 
 nately in New Jersey and Connecticut, until 1776, when the war inter 
 rupted it. In 1790, the General Assembly invited a renewal of the 
 intercourse ; " Resolved, that the ministers of the Congregational 
 churches of New England be invited to renew their annual Convention 
 with the clergy of the Presbyterian Church." Minutes, 1790, p. 29. 
 A committee was appointed under the above resolution, and on their 
 report, the next year, another committee was appointed, to meet at New 
 Haven " such ministers of the New England churches as may be there 
 present." Minutes, 1791, p. 33.] 
 
 4. Plan of Correspondence with the General Association of Connecticut. 
 
 " The minutes of the Convention of the Committees of the General 
 Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and of the 
 General Association of the State of Connecticut, were taken into con 
 sideration, an extract of which is as follows, viz. : 
 
 11 Considering the importance of union and harmony in the Christian 
 Church, and the duty incumbent on all its pastors and members to assist 
 each other in promoting, as far as possible, the general interests of the 
 Redeemer s kingdom and considering, further, that Divine Providence 
 appears to be now opening the door for pursuing these valuable objects 
 with a happy prospect of success ; this Convention are of opinion that it 
 will be conducive to these important purposes that a standing committee 
 of correspondence be appointed in each body, whose duty it shall be, by 
 frequent letters, to communicate to each other whatever, may be mutually 
 useful to the churches under their care, and to the general interests of 
 the Redeemer s kingdom. That each body should, from time to time, 
 appoint a committee, consisting of three members, who shall have a right 
 to sit in the other s general meeting, and make such communications as 
 shall be directed by their respective constituents, and deliberate on such 
 matters as shall come before the body, but shall have no right to vote. 
 That effectual measures be mutually taken to prevent injuries to the re 
 spective churches from irregular and unauthorized preachers. To pro 
 mote this end ; the Convention judge it expedient that every preacher 
 travelling from the limits of one of these churches into those of the 
 
XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 437 
 
 other, shall be furnished with recent testimonials of his regular standing 
 and good character as a preacher, signed by the moderator of the Pres 
 bytery or Association in which he received his license; or, if a minister, 
 of his good standing and character, as such, from the moderator of 
 the Presbytery or Association where he last resided ; and that he shall, 
 previously to his travelling as a preacher into distant parts, further re 
 ceive a recommendation from one member at least of a standing com 
 mittee, to be hereafter appointed by each body, certifying his good 
 qualifications as a preacher. Also, that the names of this standing com 
 mittee shall be mutually communicated. And also, that every preacher, 
 travelling and recommended as above, and submitting to the stated rules 
 of the respective churches, shall be received as an authorized preacher 
 of the Gospel, and cheerfully taken under the patronage of the Presby 
 tery or Association within whose bounds he shall find employment as a 
 preacher. And that the proceedings of the respective bodies on this 
 report be communicated to our brethren of the Congregational and Pres 
 byterian Churches throughout the States. 
 
 li Upon mature deliberation, the Assembly unanimously and cordially 
 approved of the said plan ; and to carry the same into effect, appointed 
 the Rev. Drs. John Rodgers, John Witherspoon, and Ashbel Green, to 
 be a committee of correspondence, agreeably to the said plan. And it 
 is moreover agreed, that this Assembly will send delegates to sit and 
 consult with the General Association of Connecticut, and receive their 
 delegates to sit in this Assembly, agreeably to another article of the 
 plan, as soon as due information shall be received that it is adopted on 
 the part of the General Association of Connecticut." 
 
 [A standing committee was appointed] " to certify the good qualifica 
 tions of the preachers travelling to officiate in the bounds of the Associa 
 tion of the State of Connecticut. 
 
 " And it was moreover agreed, that any preacher travelling as afore 
 said, shall have at least the name of one of the committee who shall 
 belong to the Synod from whose bounds he came." Minutes, 1792, pp. 
 52, 53. 
 
 ["The convention was ratified by the General Association of Connec 
 ticut, and Dr. Jonathan Edwards and Rev. Matthias Burnet took their 
 seats in the Assembly."] Minutes, 1793, p. 64. 
 
 5. The right to Vote asked and conceded. 
 "The Assembly proposed to the Association, That the delegates 
 
438 XI CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 from these bodies respectively shall have a right, not only to sit and 
 deliberate, but also to vote, in all questions which may be determined 
 by either of them/ ?; Minutes, 1794, p. 80. The proposition was 
 acceded to by the Association. Minutes, 1795, p. 98. 
 
 6. Conference on Complaint of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. 
 
 "Overture No. 10 was taken up, viz. : A reference from the Presby 
 tery of Philadelphia, relative to the ordination of Mr. John Chambers 
 by the Association of the Western District of New Haven county, Con 
 necticut. The papers on this business were read ; after which the sub 
 ject was discussed at considerable length. Minutes, 1826, p. 172. 
 
 " The Assembly resumed the consideration of the reference from the 
 Presbytery of Philadelphia in relation to the ordination of Mr. Chambers. 
 After further discussion of the subject at considerable length, the follow 
 ing resolution was adopted, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That a committee of this Assembly, consisting of three, be 
 appointed to attend at the meeting of the General Association of Con 
 necticut, to be convened at Stamford in June next, to meet a similar 
 committee of that Association, if said Association shall be pleased to 
 appoint one, for the purpose of conferring on the grievance of which the 
 Presbytery of Philadelphia complain ; and of inquiring whether any, and 
 if any, what further articles, or alteration of the present terms of inter 
 course between the Presbyterian Church in the United States and the 
 members of the Congregational Churches in Connecticut, may be expe 
 dient for the better promotion of the purity, peace, and Christian 
 discipline of the churches connected with the two bodies; which further 
 articles or alterations of the present terms of intercourse, if any shall be 
 proposed by the joint committee, shall be submitted to the General 
 Association of Connecticut, and to the General Assembly of 1827, for 
 adoption or rejection." Minutes, 1826, p. 175. 
 
 [The Commission met in New York, August 1, 1826.] 
 
 7. For either Body to receive a Candidate, Licentiate, or Minister, from 
 the other, without regular Testimonials and Dismission, an infraction 
 of the Plan. 
 
 " Prom the commission and instructions of the committee from the 
 General Association of Connecticut, it appeared that they had no power 
 
XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 489 
 
 to do anything in relation to the case of the ordination of Mr. Chambers ; 
 but that they were appointed only on that part of the communication 
 which respects the terms of intercourse between the General Assembly 
 and the General Association of Connecticut. 
 
 " After mature deliberation, it was unanimously 
 
 u Resolved , That the two following rules be proposed to the General 
 Assembly and the General Association of Connecticut, for the future 
 regulation of their intercourse with each other, viz. : 
 
 " 1. That it shall be deemed irregular and unfriendly for any Presby 
 tery or Association within the bounds of the corresponding churches, to 
 receive any candidate for licensure, licentiate, or ordained minister, into 
 connection with either, without regular testimonials, and a regular dis 
 mission from the Presbytery or Association from which the said candi 
 date, licentiate, or minister may come. 
 
 "2. That the delegates commissioned respectively by the correspond 
 ing churches to attend the highest body of each be hereafter empow 
 ered, agreeably to the original plan of correspondence between the two 
 churches, to sit and deliberate only, but not to vote. 
 
 "The above report was accepted; and the two resolutions recom 
 mended by the joint committee were adopted by the Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1827, pp. 199, 200. 
 
 8. With the General Convention of Vermont. 
 
 a. " A communication to this General Assembly from the General 
 Convention of the regular ministers of the Gospel in the State of Ver 
 mont, proposing the formation of a plan of ministerial intercourse 
 between them and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 
 the United States of America, was brought in and read." Minutes, 
 1802, p. 238. 
 
 I). " The committee appointed on the communication from the Con 
 vention of the regular ministers of the Gospel of the State of Vermont, 
 reported. The report being considered and amended, was adopted, and 
 is as follows : 
 
 " Your committee are of opinion that, although this Assembly have 
 not received any answer to the request of last Assembly, proposed to the 
 Convention of Vermont, yet the Assembly have received satisfactory 
 information on the subjects alluded to, both from their own delegates to 
 the General Association of Connecticut of last year, and also from the 
 
440 XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 representatives of that body in the present Assembly. The committee 
 therefore submit the following plan of union and intercourse between 
 the said Convention and the General Assembly, viz. : 
 
 "1. Each body shall send one or two delegates to meet and sit with 
 the other at the stated sessions of each body respectively. 
 
 "2. The delegate or delegates from each respectively shall have the 
 privilege of joining in the discussions and deliberations of the body as 
 freely and fully as their own members. 
 
 " 3. That the union and intercourse may be full and complete between 
 the said bodies, the delegate or delegates from each respectively, shall 
 not only sit and deliberate, but also act and vote ; which articles comprise 
 the great principles of the union between the General Assembly and the 
 General Association of Connecticut." Minutes, 1803, p. 279. 
 
 " Ratified by the Convention." Minutes, 1804, p. 297. 
 
 Regulations same as with the Association of Connecticut. 
 
 c. " Resolved, That the delegate appointed to represent this Assembly 
 at the next meeting of the Convention of Vermont be, and he hereby is 
 authorized to propose and agree upon the same regulations which have 
 been agreed to be observed by this Assembly and the General Associa 
 tion of Connecticut, in relation to the credentials requisite for such 
 ministers as may come within the bounds of this Assembly or the Con 
 vention of Vermont, for the purpose of preaching the Gospel." Minutes, 
 1809, p. 422. [See pp. 436, 437.] 
 
 [The proposal "was agreed to with great unanimity" by the Conven 
 tion.] Minutes, 1810, p. 436. 
 
 9. With the General Association of New Hampshire. 
 
 "A proposal from the General Association of New Hampshire was 
 made by the Rev. William F. Rowland and the Rev. John H. Church, 
 commissioners appointed for that purpose, for a union between them and 
 this Assembly similar to that subsisting between the General Associa 
 tion of Connecticut and this Assembly. The certificate of their appoint 
 ment, and the papers accompanying it, were read. 
 
 "Resolved, That said union be formed. 
 
 "And it accordingly was formed." Minutes, 1810, p. 435. 
 
XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 441 
 
 10. With the General Association of Massachusetts. 
 
 t( A proposal from the General Association of Massachusetts proper, 
 was made by the Rev. Joseph Lyman, D.D., and the Rev. Samuel 
 Worcester, delegates appointed for that purpose, for the establishment 
 of a union between them and this Assembly, similar to that subsisting 
 between the Association of Massachusetts proper and the Associations 
 of Connecticut and New Hampshire. The certificate of their appoint 
 ment, and the articles of union with said Association were read. 
 
 "The articles of said union are as follows : 
 
 " 1. The General Association of Connecticut and the General Associa 
 tion of Massachusetts proper, shall annually appoint each two delegates 
 to the other. 
 
 " 2. The delegates shall be admitted in each body to the same rights 
 of sitting, debating, and voting with their own members respectively. 
 
 " 3. It shall be understood that the articles of agreement and con 
 nection between the two bodies, may be at any time varied by their own 
 consent. 
 
 " The same articles were adopted in their connection with the Associa 
 tion of New Hampshire. 
 
 " The delegates stated that the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster 
 Assembly was adopted as the basis of their union, and by answering 
 several questions proposed to them, fully satisfied the Assembly relative 
 to the standard of their faith, and the object of their Association; 
 whereupon, 
 
 "Resolved, unanimously, That said Union be formed/ Minutes, 
 1811, p. 462. 
 
 11. With the General Conference of Maine. 
 
 " The Rev. Benjamin Tappan, and William Ladd, Esq., appeared in 
 the Assembly, and produced commissions as delegates from the General 
 Conference of the State of Maine. 
 
 "The committee appointed to confer with the delegates from the 
 General Conference of the State of Maine, made the following report, 
 which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " That after obtaining all the information which they deemed requi 
 site, respecting the body proposing this connection, they have agreed to 
 recommend to the General Assembly the adoption of the following 
 
442 XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 articles of correspondence, -which the above named delegates doubt not 
 will be readily accede d to on the part of the General Conference. 
 
 "1. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and the 
 General Conference of Maine, shall each appoint one or two delegates 
 to attend these bodies respectively; and in case two are appointed, one 
 may be a layman; for the purpose of communicating to each other 
 whatever may be mutually useful to the churches under their care, and 
 conducive to Christian harmony and co-operation, and to the general 
 interest of the Redeemer s kingdom. 
 
 "2. These delegates shall have the privilege of proposing such 
 measures as they may deem important or desirable, and of delivering 
 their opinions on any questions under discussion, but shall have no vote 
 in the decisions of the bodies respectively to which they shall be 
 delegated. 
 
 "3. It shall be deemed irregular for any Presbytery, Conference, or 
 Association within the bounds of the corresponding churches, to receive 
 any candidate for licensure, licentiate, or ordained minister, into connec 
 tion with either, without regular testimonials, and a regular dismission 
 from the Presbytery, Conference, or Association from which the said 
 candidate, licentiate, or minister may come. 
 
 "4. Each of the bodies forming these articles of correspondence shall 
 appoint a committee for certifying the good standing of ministers travel 
 ling from the one to the other. The names of the persons composing 
 these committees respectively, shall be mutually communicated by the 
 two bodies ; and it shall not be considered as a matter of offence if a 
 licentiate or ordained minister, from either body, travelling without a 
 certificate of regular standing, from one or more members of said com 
 mittee, shall not be received or treated as such. 
 
 " 5. It shall be understood that these articles of agreement and cor 
 respondence between the two bodies may be, at any time, modified by 
 mutual consent, or terminated, when either body shall decide and 
 announce that they are no longer considered as answering the great 
 purposes intended to be promoted by them, and that their termination 
 is desired." Minutes, 1828, pp. 227, 228. 
 
 " The delegate from the General Conference of Maine, reported that 
 said Conference has adopted the articles of union and correspondence 
 proposed by the last General Assembly, with the exception of the third 
 article, in place of which, they propose the following, viz. : While the 
 General Conference of Maine has not, nor does it claim any ecclesiastical 
 
XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHE?, CHURCHES. 443 
 
 t 
 
 jurisdiction over the particular Conferences, Associations, Councils, or 
 churches in its connection, it cheerfully unites *vith the General Assem 
 bly in the expression of the opinion, that it is irregular for any ordained 
 minister, licentiate, candidate for licensure, or church member, to be 
 received into ecclesiastical connection within the limits of one of the 
 corresponding bodies, from the other, without due testimonials." [Ac 
 cepted.] Minutes, 1829, p. 255. 
 
 12. With the Evangelical Consociation of Rhode Island. 
 
 " The Rev. Isaac Lewis appeared in the General Assembly, and made 
 application on behalf of the Evangelical Consociation of Rhode Island, 
 for a correspondence with the General Assembly on the same terms with 
 the other Congregational bodies of New England, in correspondence with 
 this body. This subject was referred to Dr. Miller, Mr. Squier, and 
 Mr. Armstrong. 
 
 " The committee reported that, after making careful inquiry of the 
 delegate concerning the faith, order, and present state of the churches 
 forming the body which he represents, they would respectfully recom 
 mend to the Assembly the adoption of the following resolutions, viz. : 
 
 "1. That the proposal of the Evangelical Consociation of Rhode 
 Island be complied with; and that a plan of correspondence between 
 that body and the General Assembly be, and the same hereby is adopted, 
 on the same terms which regulate the correspondence between the 
 General Assembly and the other Congregational bodies of New England. 
 
 "2. That there be an annual interchange of one delegate from each 
 to the other respectively. 
 
 "3. That the Rev. Isaac Lewis, the bearer of this proposal from the 
 Consociation of Rhode Island, be invited to take his seat in the General 
 Assembly as the representative of that body. 
 
 "The report was adopted." Minutes, 1831, pp. 319, 320. 
 
 [In 1856, the Consociation resolved to discontinue the correspondence. 
 See Minutes, 1857, p. 426, Appendix.] 
 
 13. Alteration ashed for as to the Right to Vote. 
 
 "The committee appointed to draught a memorial to the General 
 Associations of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and the General 
 Convention of Vermont, in regard to some changes which the Assembly 
 
444 XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 have deemed necessary to be made in the plan of correspondence and 
 intercourse between the said ecclesiastical bodies and the Assembly, 
 reported the following memorial in the form of an address to the afore 
 said ecclesiastical bodies, which was adopted, and ordered to be signed 
 by the moderator, viz. : 
 
 " The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, to the General 
 Associations of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and the General 
 Convention of Vermont. 
 
 " Christian brethren, beloved in the Lord. 
 
 " It appears that, in the plan of intercourse between the Congregational 
 churches of New England, and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church, an article was adopted, which is now believed to be inconsistent 
 with a sound construction of the Constitution of the latter church. This 
 article, it is due to truth and candor to remark, was proposed by the 
 Presbyterian Church, without any overture from the Congregational 
 churches, and in regard to which, they did nothing more than accede 
 to the proposition submitted to them. The article to which we allude, 
 relates to the powers granted to the delegates of the corresponding 
 churches, to vote as well as to deliberate on the various subjects that 
 may come before the representatives of these churches respectively. 
 The right of voting in the General Assembly, cannot, it is believed, be 
 constitutionally granted to any, but to the commissioners appointed by 
 the Presbyteries, whose representatives compose that Assembly. 
 
 " We have therefore respectfully to request, that the plan of inter 
 course between you and us may be so modified, as that the delegates to 
 each body may hereafter be empowered to sit and deliberate only, but 
 not to vote. It is believed that the modification here contemplated, if 
 it shall be consented to on your part, will not only place the Assembly 
 on constitutional ground, but, by placing your Association on the same 
 footing with other religious communities with which we hold a friendly 
 correspondence, will destroy the appearance of an invidious distinction 
 which now exists, and thus be calculated to promote extensively that 
 mutual friendship and harmony which it is desirable to maintain and 
 perpetuate, among all who love the truth as it is in Jesus. 
 
 " With Christian salutations. 
 
 " Signed in behalf of the General Assembly, 
 
 " FRANCIS HERRON, Moderator." 
 Minutes, 1827, p. 213. 
 
XI. - CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 445 
 
 14. Replies of the Associations. 
 
 " From the report of the delegate to New Hampshire and Vermont, 
 it appeared that the memorial of the last Assembly to these bodies was 
 laid before each of them ; and that the General Association of New 
 Hampshire have adopted the proposition in the memorial, viz., that the 
 delegates from each body to the other should hereafter sit and deliberate 
 only, but not vote ; and that the General Convention of Vermont had 
 committed the subject to a committee, which are to report to the next 
 Convention. 
 
 " From the Minutes of the General Association of Massachusetts, 
 presented to the Assembly, it appears that that body have respectfully 
 declined adopting the alteration proposed in the memorial of the Assem 
 bly." Minutes, 1828, p. 229. 
 
 15. Adoption of the Rule as to receiving Candidates urged upon the 
 Associations. 
 
 a. "The committee appointed to consider and report on the pro 
 priety of proposing to the General Associations of Massachusetts and New 
 Hampshire, and the General Convention of Vermont, the adoption of the 
 first of the two rules proposed by the last Assembly to the General Associa 
 tion of Connecticut, reported, that they view the adoption of said rule as 
 necessary to the peaceful and harmonious correspondence of the bodies 
 concerned ; arid would therefore recommend that the delegates appointed 
 this year to the Associations and Conventions above named be instructed 
 to present the rule referred to to their consideration. 
 
 " The above report was adopted. 
 
 " The rule referred to is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " That it shall be deemed irregular and unfriendly for any Presbytery 
 or Association, within the bounds of the corresponding churches, to 
 receive any candidate for licensure, licentiate, or ordained minister, into 
 connection with either, without regular testimonials, and a regular dis 
 mission from the Presbytery or Association from which the said candidate, 
 licentiate, or minister, may come." Minutes, 1828, p. 233. 
 
 Z>. " The committee to whom was referred a motion on the subject of 
 correspondence with the General Association of Massachusetts, made a 
 report, which, being read and amended, was adopted, and is as follows, 
 viz. : 
 
446 XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 "Resolved, That the delegates to the General Association of Massa 
 chusetts be instructed to inform that Association, that while this G eneral 
 Assembly do most cordially accept and approve the expression of their 
 sentiments, with regard to candidates, licentiates, and ministers under 
 censure for heresy or immorality, they do also most respectfully and 
 affectionately represent to the Association, that they deem it highly im 
 portant that it should be considered irregular that any candidate, licen 
 tiate, or minister, whose credentials are withheld on account of the 
 violation of ecclesiastical order, should be received by either of the cor 
 responding bodies." Minutes, 1829, p. 274. 
 
 16. Reply of the Association of Massachusetts. 
 
 " The two following resolutions, adopted by the General Association 
 of Massachusetts, and contained in the report of the delegates to that 
 body, were approved by this Assembly, and ordered to be entered on the 
 Minutes, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That this Association, having learned that the existing 
 rule of intercourse with the General Assembly, so far as it respects the 
 right of voting in the legislative and judicial proceedings of that body, 
 transcends the power vested in it, do waive their accustomed privilege 
 of voting by their delegates in said body in such proceedings ; desiring 
 that as much of the same reciprocal intercourse, which has for a series 
 of years so pleasantly existed between said bodies, may continue, as shall 
 not conflict with the fundamental principles of their organization. 
 
 "2. That this Association regret that their proceedings, on the sub 
 ject of receiving licentiates and candidates, &c., at the last meeting of 
 the General Association, were not entirely satisfactory to the General 
 Assembly. On the broad ground of heresy and immorality, they have 
 no hesitancy in expressing their opinion, that it would be irregular for 
 either body to receive licentiates, candidates, and ministers, without the 
 usual certificates and recommendations; but as views of Christian minis 
 ters on the subject of ecclesiastical order may honestly differ, and as this 
 Association has no control, either legislative or judicial, over the respec 
 tive Associations of which it is composed, they can only refer the resolu 
 tions of the Assembly on this subject to the particular consideration of 
 their district Associations, with the fullest confidence that on questions 
 of l ecclesiastical order/ as well as on every other subject, they will be 
 disposed to meet the views and promote the interests of our highly re- 
 
XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 447 
 
 spected and beloved brethren of the Presbyterian Church." Minutes, 
 
 1830, p. 283. 
 
 17. Minute on the Correspondence with the New England Churches. 
 
 "Resolved, That this General Assembly see no cause either to termi 
 nate or modify the plan of correspondence with the Associations of 
 our Congregational brethren in New England. That correspondence 
 has been long established. It is believed to have been productive of 
 mutual benefit. It is now divested of the voting power, which alone 
 could be considered as infringing the Constitution of our Church, by in 
 troducing persons clothed with the character of plenary members of the 
 Assembly. It stands at present substantially on the same footing with 
 the visits Of our brethren from the Congregational Union of England 
 and Wales; and in the present age of enlarged counsel and of combined 
 effort for the conversion of the world, ought by no means to be abolished. 
 Besides, the Assembly are persuaded, that amidst the unceasing and 
 growing intercourse between the Presbyterian and Congregational 
 Churches, it is desirable to have that intercourse regulated by compact, 
 and, of course, that it would be desirable to introduce terms of corre 
 spondence, even if they did not already exist/ Minutes, 1835, p. 487. 
 
 18. With the German Reformed Church. 
 
 "Resolved, That Dr. Ely, Rev. Timothy Alden, and the Rev. John 
 M. Duncan, be a committee to confer with a committee from the General 
 Synod of the Reformed German Church of North America, if such a 
 committee should be appointed by that body, on the subject of a connec 
 tion by correspondence between the two Churches, and to make a report 
 to the next General Assembly." Minutes, 1823, p. 87. 
 
 " The consideration of the report on a correspondence with the Ger 
 man Reformed Synod was resumed. 
 
 "After mature deliberation, it was 
 
 " Resolved, That the General Assembly will agree to an ecclesiastical 
 correspondence with the German Reformed Synod of North America, on 
 the following principles, viz. : 
 
 " First. The Churches are to remain separate and independent. 
 
 " Second. The German Reformed Synod, and the General Assembly 
 of the Presbyterian Church, shall each appoint one minister and one 
 
448 XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 elder, with an alternate of each, or two ministers, with their alternates, 
 as either may wish, to sit in these judicatories respectively, with the 
 privilege of deliberating on all subjects that may come before them. 
 
 "The Rev. Robert Cathcart, D.D., and the Rev. Alexander Boyd 
 were appointed a committee to lay the above articles of correspondence 
 before the German Reformed Synod at their next meeting, and when 
 adopted by that body, the correspondence shall be considered as estab 
 lished/ Minutes, 1824, p. 102. 
 
 " Adopted by the Synod." Minutes, 1825, p. 135. 
 
 19. With the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 
 
 "The Committee on Correspondence with Foreign Bodies made a 
 report on the subject of correspondence with the Evangelical Lutheran 
 Church, recommending that a delegate be appointed to attend their next 
 meeting, and also to open a correspondence with them." 
 
 [Adopted, page 22.] Minutes, 1843, pp. 20, 22. 
 
 " The Committee on Church Polity presented the following report, 
 which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 " The Assembly have received with great pleasure the Rev. H. N. 
 Pohlman, D.D., a delegate from the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and 
 fully reciprocate the kind sentiments contained in the minutes of the last 
 meeting of their Synod ] and do, on the principles of action between the 
 Assembly and other corresponding bodies, cordially adopt, and recom 
 mend for adoption by our inferior judicatories, the plan of correspond 
 ence proposed by the delegate, and unanimously adopted by the General 
 Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church." Minutes, 1846, pp. 
 16, 17. 
 
 20. With the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " The committee appointed by the last Assembly, on the subject of a 
 correspondence with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, presented a 
 report, which was accepted, and the following article, agreed upon by 
 the committee of the two bodies, was unanimously adopted : 
 
 " The General Assembly of each church shall appoint and receive 
 delegates from the General Assembly of the other church, who shall be 
 possessed of all the powers and privileges of other members of such 
 Assemblies, except that of voting." Minutes, 1849 ; p. 184. 
 
XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 449 
 
 21. With the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of 
 Wisconsin. 
 
 " On recommendation of the Committee of Correspondence with 
 Foreign Bodies, it was 
 
 "Resolved, That delegates be appointed to attend the Presbyterian 
 and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin." Minutes, 1843, p. 22. 
 
 22. With the General Association of Ncio YorJc. 
 
 a. " It was unanimously 
 
 "Resolved, That a delegate be appointed to attend the next meeting 
 of the General Association of New York." Minutes, 1849, p. 171. 
 
 b. " The Committee on the Polity of the Church made a report on 
 the subject of correspondence with the General Association of New 
 York, as follows : 
 
 " That, from the position in which that body, and a large portion of 
 the Presbyterian Church, are placed, in respect to each other, it is natural 
 that a spirit of rivalry should exist between them ; and that this should 
 engender a spirit of proselytism, which appears to have been manifested, 
 in a degree, in some of the past action of the Association, which, we 
 hope, will not be persisted in on their part, and which, we trust, will 
 never characterize the action of our Church. We are brethren of the 
 same family, have the same Lord, the same faith, the same baptism, and 
 the same great ends in view, and should live together in the strictest 
 bonds of holy fellowship and union ; striving together for the advance 
 ment of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Whether 
 an individual church chooses to administer the discipline in the Presby 
 terian or Congregational way, is comparatively a matter of minor concern. 
 Let each be persuaded in his own mind, and not interfere with the 
 rights of his brother. 
 
 " We recommend that the correspondence be continued, and hope 
 that it may be so conducted as to prove mutually satisfactory, and pro- 
 motive of the interests of the kingdom of our dear Redeemer.. 
 
 "The report was adopted/ Minutes, 1851, p. 22. 
 
 c. " The committee upon the communication from the delegate of tie- 
 New York Association made their report, which, after amendment, was 
 adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " Whereas, The General Association of New York, at their meeting 
 
 29 
 
450 XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 in Madrid, held August 23d, 1854, by resolution forwarded to this 
 body, have addressed us in a discourteous and objectionable manner; 
 therefore 
 
 "Resolved, That the Assembly would respectfully request that the 
 future communications of the Association to us be couched in courteous 
 language/ Minutes, 1855, p. 35. 
 
 The Right to Review Proceedings, Reprove, or Relulcc, disavoiued and 
 
 denied. 
 
 d. "The Committee on the Correspondence between the General As 
 sembly and the General Association of New York presented a report, 
 which, having been read, was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The committee, to whom was referred the question of the ecclesias 
 tical relations of this Assembly with the General Association of New 
 York, report : 
 
 " That they understand that our Congregational brethren of New 
 York, by their resolution communicated to the General Assembly at 
 St. Louis, and by the statements of their delegate on the floor of this 
 Assembly, affirm, that one of the reasons for continuing their correspon 
 dence with this Assembly is, that they may reprove and rebuke them 
 for not doing what is deemed a proper duty, or for doing what may by 
 the Association be deemed improper. 
 
 " To such a position the committee can give no assent. The frater 
 nal intercourse and interchange of delegates are for entirely different 
 purposes. They have not been, and cannot be, maintained upon such 
 grounds. We correspond for the purpose of co-operating in the great 
 work in which we are mutually engaged. The modus operandi belongs 
 exclusively to each. What may or may not be done by either body, in 
 the prosecution of its legitimate business, and in carrying forward its own 
 work, not affecting the rights and interests of the others, is not a subject 
 of censure or rebuke; and the holding of such correspondence, with a 
 view to the exercise of such censure, is a manifest breach of that comity 
 which is indispensable to the proper intercourse of two ecclesiastical 
 bodies of equal standing. 
 
 " Your committee therefore recommend the adoption of the following 
 resolution : 
 
 "Resolved, That our delegate to that Association, while expressing 
 the wishes of this Assembly to maintain Christian and fraternal fellow- 
 
XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 451 
 
 ship, and the free interchange of a correspondence with our Congrega 
 tional brethren, be instructed to state to our brethren that we can admit 
 no right of theirs, by virtue of that correspondence, to review our pro 
 ceedings, or to reprove or rebuke us for what we may or may not do. 
 
 " We do not claim or propose the exercise of any such right on the 
 part of this Assembly/ Minutes, 1856, p. 212. 
 
 [Since 1855, no delegate has been appointed by the Assembly.] 
 
 23. The Terms of Correspondence. 
 
 " Whereas, Several of the Associations in correspondence with this 
 body, have requested the views of this Assembly on the terms of cor 
 respondence, especially in regard to the right of reproof and rebuke, 
 therefore 
 
 "Resolved, That the General Assembly have never intended to refuse 
 to corresponding bodies any rights or privileges which are compatible 
 with true delicacy, courtesy, and Christian charity j in the light of which, 
 this body respectfully requests all corresponding bodies to interpret all 
 past acts of the Assembly." Minutes, 1857, p. 408. 
 
 24. With the Union of the Evangelical Churches of f ranee. 
 
 " The committee, to whom was referred the communication from the 
 Union of the Evangelical Churches of France, presented a report, recom 
 mending the draft of a reply to their letter, and several resolutions, 
 which were adopted, and are as follows : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That this General Assembly do hereby cordially assent 
 to the request of the brethren of the Union of the Evangelical Churches 
 of France, to enter into correspondence with them/ Minutes, 1854, 
 p. 510. 
 
 25. With the "Reformed" and "Associate Reformed" Churches. 
 
 a. "The Rev. Andrew W. Black, D.D., presented his credentials as 
 a delegate from the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church 
 in North America ; his name was entered on the roll, and the Assembly 
 proceeded to hear his statements, and the terms of correspondence pro 
 posed by the General Synod ; which were referred to the Committee on 
 the Polity of the Church. 
 
452 XI. CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER CHURCHES. 
 
 " The same committee were directed to inquire into the expediency 
 of entering into correspondence with the General Synod of the Associate 
 Reformed Presbyterian Church." Minutes, 1857, p. 386. 
 
 Z>. " The Committee on the Polity of the Church, to whom was re 
 ferred the terms of correspondence with the General Synod of the Re 
 formed Presbyterian Church in North America, made a report, which 
 was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America, and the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian 
 Church in North America, shall each appoint a minister with an alter 
 nate, to sit in the highest judicatories respectively, with the privilege of 
 deliberating on all subjects coming before them, and of making sugges 
 tions on matters affecting the interests of both bodies mutually, or per 
 taining to the several interests of religion, but not of voting. 
 
 " The ministers, members, and judicatories of these churches, treating 
 each other with Christian respect, shall always recognize the validity of 
 each other s acts and ordinances consonant to the word of God ; it being 
 understood, that any ecclesiastical judicatory belonging to either body 
 may examine persons, or review cases of discipline, on points at present 
 peculiar or distinctive to themselves respectively. 
 
 "The same committee also recommended that a correspondence on 
 the same terms be opened with the General Synod of the Associate Re 
 formed Presbyterian Church in the United States, and that a delegate 
 and alternate be appointed to attend their next meeting. 
 
 " Their report was adopted/ Minutes, 1857, p. 394. 
 
 26. Expenses of Delegates to Corresponding Bodies. 
 
 a. " Resolved, That the delegates to the General Association of Con 
 necticut be allowed two dollars per day, during their attendance with 
 the Association, and at the rate of two dollars for every forty miles in 
 going and returning ; which sums the treasurer is hereby ordered to 
 pay out of the funds of the Assembly." Minutes, 1796, p. 108. 
 
 [This was made general as correspondence was opened with other 
 churches. Minutes, 1811, p. 470, &c.] 
 
 b. " The rule on the compensation of delegates to corresponding bodies 
 (see Digest of 1820, p. 308, as above) was amended, by adding to it the 
 words, not exceeding their necessary travelling expenses." Minutes, 
 1849, p. 172. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE PLAN OF UNION AND THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 SECTION 1. THE PLAN OF UNION. 
 
 1. Original proposition by the General Association of Connecticut. 2. Plan di 
 gested and adopted by the General Assembly. 3. Resolution declaring any 
 change inexpedient and undesirable. 4. Resolutions to request the Association 
 to consent to annul the Plan of Union. 5. The Plan of Union declared to be 
 abrogated. 
 
 1. Original Proposition by the Association of Connecticut. 
 
 " A communication was read from the General Association of the 
 State of Connecticut, appointing a committee to confer with a committee 
 of the Presbyterian Church, to consider the measures proper to be 
 adopted by the General Association and the General Assembly, for 
 establishing an uniform system of Church government, between the 
 inhabitants of the new settlements, who are attached to the Presbyterian 
 form of government, and those who prefer the Congregational form. 
 
 il Ordered, That said communication lie on the table." 
 
 [It was as follows :] 
 
 " The Rev. John Smalley, Levi Hart, and Samuel Blatchford, are 
 hereby appointed a committee of this General Association, to confer with 
 a committee to be appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyte 
 rian Church, if they see cause to appoint such committee, to consider 
 the measures proper to be adopted both by this Association and the said 
 Assembly, to prevent alienation, to promote harmony, and to establish, 
 as far as possible, an uniform system of Church government, between 
 those inhabitants of the new settlements who are attached to the Pres 
 byterian form of Church government, and those who are attached to the 
 Congregational form, and to make report to this Association. Any two 
 of the said committee are hereby empowered to act. 
 
454 XII. PLAN OF UNION. 
 
 "Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing proposals be transmitted to 
 the said General Assembly, and that they be respectfully requested by 
 the moderator of this General Association to concur in the measure now 
 proposed. 
 
 " By order of the committee. 
 
 "NATHAN WILLIAMS, Chairman. 
 " A true copy. 
 
 " Attest : WM. LYMAN, Assistant Scribe." 
 
 Minutes, 1801, p. 212. 
 
 2. Plan adopted l>y the General Assembly. 
 
 " The Rev. Drs. Edwards, McKnight, and Woodtmll, the Rev. Mr. 
 Blatchford, and Mr. Hutton, were appointed a committee to consider and 
 digest a plan of government for the churches in the new settlements, 
 agreeably to the proposals of the General Association of Connecticut, and 
 report the same as soon as convenient." 
 
 " The report of the committee appointed to consider and digest a plan 
 of government for the churches in the new settlements was taken up 
 and considered, and, after mature deliberation on the same, approved, as 
 follows : 
 
 li Regulations adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in America, and by the General Association of the State of 
 Connecticut (provided said Association agree to them), with a view to 
 prevent alienation, and to promote union and harmony in those new 
 settlements which are composed of inhabitants from these bodies : 
 
 " 1. It is strictly enjoined on all their missionaries to the new settle 
 ments, to endeavor, by all proper means, to promote mutual forbearance 
 and a spirit of accommodation between those inhabitants of the new set 
 tlements who hold the Presbyterian, and those who hold the Congrega 
 tional form of Church government. 
 
 " 2. If in the new settlements any church of the Congregational 
 order shall settle a minister of the Presbyterian order, that church may, 
 if they choose, still conduct their discipline according to Congregational 
 principles, settling their difficulties among themselves, or by a council 
 mutually agreed upon for that purpose. But if any difficulty shall exist 
 between the minister and the church, or any member of it, it shall be 
 referred to the Presbytery to which the minister shall belong, provided 
 both parties agree to it; if not, to a council, consistingof an equal 
 number of Presbyterians and Congregationalists, agreed upon by both 
 parties. 
 
XII. PLAN OF UNION. 455 
 
 "3. If a Presbyterian church shall settle a minister of Congregational 
 principles, that church may still conduct their discipline according to 
 Presbyterian principles, excepting that if a difficulty arise between him 
 and his church, or any member of it, the cause shall be tried by the 
 Association to which the said minister shall belong, provided both parties 
 agree to it ; otherwise by a council, one-half Congregationalists and the 
 other Presbyterians, mutually agreed upon by the parties. 
 
 " 4. If any congregation consist partly of those who hold the Congre 
 gational form of discipline, and partly of those who hold the Presbyte 
 rian form, we recommend to both parties that this be no obstruction to 
 their uniting in one church and settling a minister; and that in this 
 case the church choose a standing committee from the communicants of 
 said church, whose business it shall be to call to account every member 
 of the church who shall conduct himself inconsistently with the laws of 
 Christianity, and to give judgment on such conduct. That if the per 
 son condemned by their judgment be a Presbyterian, he shall have 
 liberty to appeal to the Presbytery ; if he be a Congregationalist, he 
 shall have liberty to appeal to the body of the male communicants of the 
 church. In the former case, the determination of the Presbytery shall 
 be final, unless the church shall consent to a further appeal to the Synod, 
 or to the General Assembly ; and in the latter case, if the party con 
 demned shall wish for a trial by a mutual council, the cause shall be 
 referred to such a council. And provided the said standing committee 
 of any church shall depute one of themselves to attend the Presbytery, 
 he may have the same right to sit and act in the Presbytery as a ruling- 
 elder in the Presbyterian Church." Minutes, 1801, pp. 221, 224, 225. 
 
 " Unanimously adopted by the Association." Minutes, 1802, p. 237. 
 
 3. Inexpedient and undesirable to interfere with the Plan. 
 
 "Resolved, That it is deemed inexpedient and undesirable to abrogate 
 or interfere with the Plan of Union between Presbyterians and Congre 
 gationalists in the new settlements, adopted in 1801." Minutes, 1834, 
 p. 440. 
 
 4. Resolutions to request the Association to consent to annul the "Plan 
 
 of Union. " 
 
 - " Resolved j That this Assembly deem it no longer desirable that 
 churches should be formed in our Presbyterian connection agreeably to 
 
456 xn. PLAN OF UNION 
 
 the Plan adopted by the Assembly and the General Association of Con 
 necticut, in 1801. Therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That our brethren of the General Association of Connec 
 ticut be, and they hereby are, respectfully requested to consent that said 
 Plan shall be, from and after the next meeting of that Association, de 
 clared to be annulled. And 
 
 "Resolved, That the annulling of said Plan shall not in anywise inter 
 fere with the existence and lawful operations of churches which have 
 been already formed on this Plan." Minutes, 1835, p. 486. 
 
 5. The Plan of Union declared to be Abrogated. 
 [See Sec. 2, 1, below.] 
 
 SECTION 2. THE EXSCINDING ACTS or 1837. 
 
 1. The "Plan of Union" declared to be abrogated, on the ground of its unconstitu- 
 tionality. 2. Protest against the abrogation of the Plan. 3. Answer to the 
 protest. 4. Resolutions to cite to the bar of the Assembly such inferior judica 
 tures as are charged by common fame with irregularities. 5. Protest against 
 the foregoing resolutions. 6. Answer to the protest. 7. Proposal to inquire into 
 the expediency of a voluntary division of the Presbyterian Church. 8. Com 
 mittee of ten appointed. 9. Report of the committee of the majority. 10. 
 Report of the committee of the minority. 11. The Synod of the Western Re 
 serve declared to be no longer a part of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States. 12. The Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee declared out of the 
 ecclesiastical connection with the Presbyterian Church. 13. Protest of the 
 commissioners of the Synod of the Western Reserve. 14. Answer to the pro 
 test. 15. Protest of the commissioners of the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and 
 Genesee. 16. Answer to the protest. 17. Dissolution of the Third Presbytery 
 of Philadelphia. ] 8. Protest against the dissolution. 19. Answer to the protest. 
 
 1. Plan of Union declared to be Abrogated. 
 
 "The Assembly proceeded to the order of the day, viz., that part of 
 the report of the Committee on Overture No. 1, which relates to the 
 Plan of Union/ adopted in 1801. 
 
 " The report was read and adopted, in part, as follows, viz. : 
 
 "In regard to the relation existing between the Presbyterian and 
 Congregational Churches, the committee recommend the adoption of the 
 following resolutions : 
 
 " 1. That between these two branches of the American Church, there 
 
ABROGATED. 457 
 
 ought, in the judgment of this Assembly, to be maintained sentiments 
 of mutual respect and esteem, and for that purpose no reasonable efforts 
 should be omitted to preserve a perfectly good understanding between 
 these branches of the Church of Christ. 
 
 " 2. That it is expedient to continue the plan of friendly intercourse, 
 between this Church and the Congregational Churches of New England, 
 as it now exists/ Minutes, 1837, p. 419. 
 
 "3. But as the Plan of Union adopted for the new settlements, in 
 1801, was originally an unconstitutional act on the part of that Assem 
 bly these important standing rules having never been submitted to the 
 Presbyteries and as they were totally destitute of authority as proceed 
 ing from the General Association of Connecticut, which is invested with 
 no power to legislate in such cases, and especially to enact laws to regu 
 late churches not within her limits ; and as much confusion and irregu 
 larity have arisen from this unnatural and unconstitutional system of 
 union, therefore it is resolved, that the Act of the Assembly of 1801, 
 entitled i A Plan of Union, be, and the same is hereby abrogated." 
 [Yeas, 143; nays, 110.] Ibid. p. 421. 
 
 2. Protest against the Abrogation. 
 
 " The undersigned, members of the General Assembly, respectfully 
 present the following protest against the resolution of said Assembly, 
 adopted on the 23d ult., abrogating the Act of the General Assembly 
 of 1801, entitled t A Plan of Union, &c., and for the following reasons, 
 viz. : 
 
 "1. Because the said act is declared, in the resolution complained of, 
 to have been unconstitutional. The utmost that can be said on this 
 subject is, that it is an act neither specifically provided for, nor pro 
 hibited, in the Constitution. It cannot, therefore, be affirmed to be 
 contrary to the Constitution. 
 
 " The Constitution provides, that before any constitutional rules pro 
 posed by the General Assembly to be established, shall be obligatory on 
 all the churches, the approval of them by a majority of Presbyteries must 
 be first obtained. (Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 6.) The act 
 of the Assembly adopting the Plan of Union, it is admitted, was not 
 previously transmitted to the Presbyteries for their approval. It does not 
 therefore follow, however, that that act was unconstitutional ; because 
 the provisions of the Plan of Union were, neither in fact, nor ever re 
 garded by any of the Presbyteries as constitutional rules, to be obliga 
 tory on all the churches. They were the mere terms of an agreement, 
 or treaty, between the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
 
458 XII. PLAN OF UNION 
 
 and the General Association of Connecticut, and through that Associa 
 tion with all the churches which have been formed according to the 
 terms of that treaty. 
 
 "In the act of the Assembly adopting that Plan of Union, the General 
 Assembly being constitutionally * the bond of union, peace, correspon 
 dence, and mutual confidence, among all our churches (Form of Govern 
 ment, chap, xii, sec. 4), merely exercised its legitimate functions, 
 agreeably to the Constitution (Form of Government, chap, i, sec. 2), in 
 declaring the terms of admission into the communion of the Presby 
 terian Church, proper to be required on the frontier settlements, and in 
 this light the entire Presbyterian Church has so regarded this Plan of 
 Union from its adoption up to the present time, when the abrogation of 
 it is publicly declared by the advocates of the measure to be necessary 
 for the acquisition and perpetuation of power to accomplish the ends 
 avowed and sought by the minority of the last General Assembly, and 
 prosecuted by means of a convention, called at their instance, and holding 
 its sessions cotemporaneously with those of the Assembly. For the 
 following facts are undeniable, viz. : 1. That the Plan of Union now de 
 clared to be unconstitutional was formed TWENTY YEARS before the 
 adoption of the present Constitution of the Presbyterian Church. 2. 
 That this Plan, at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, was in 
 full and efficient operation, and of acknowledged authority as common 
 law in the Church. 3. That it had been recognized and respected in 
 numerous precedents, in the doings of the General Assembly, from year 
 to year; and 4. That for SIXTEEN YEARS since the adoption of this 
 Constitution, it has been regarded of equal authority with any act what 
 ever to which the General Assembly is constitutionally competent. 
 
 " Had the Plan of Union, and the act of the General Assembly 
 adopting it, been regarded as unconstitutional and null, as being either 
 an assumption of power not granted, or a trespass on the rights of Pres 
 byteries, some remonstrance or objection to the imposition of constitu 
 tional rules for the government of all the churches, not legitimately 
 enacted, would have been heard from some quarter before the lapse of 
 one-third of a century. Had the Plan of Union been thought illegal, 
 or had it been designed or desired by the Presbyteries in 1821, when 
 the Constitution was revised, amended, and adopted by them a second 
 time, to frustrate or resist the operation of this Plan, unquestionably 
 either the revised and amended Constitution would have embodied in it 
 some provision against it, or some attempt at least would have been made 
 to that effect. The truth is that the Plan of Union adopted by the 
 General Assembly was felt to be morally binding, as a solemn agreement 
 or treaty duly ratified by the power constitutionally competent to do so, 
 and by no means the enactment of constitutional rules, to be obligatory 
 on all the churches for their government. 
 
 " It is to no purpose, in our opinion, to allege the unconstitutionally 
 of the Plan of Union, by pleading, that for a church to be regarded as a 
 Presbyterian church, it must, according to our Constitution, be organ- 
 
ABROGATED. 459 
 
 ized with ruling elders, while that Plan provides for the organization of 
 churches, in certain cases, without such officers ; because the Plan of 
 Union designedly contemplates a process which the Assembly was con 
 stitutionally competent to prescribe, and which the entire Church had 
 approved, by which churches on the frontier settlements may be organ 
 ized, partially, at first, on the Presbyterian ground, and be gradually 
 brought fully on to it ; and because, if the provisions of the Constitution, 
 prescribing the full form of organization proper for a Presbyterian 
 church, must in every case be minutely and completely observed, and 
 any deviation from it should vitiate the organization, then must those 
 numerous churches among us in which there are no deacons be, for the 
 same reason, pronounced unconstitutional. 
 
 " The attempt, too, to prove the unconstitutionally of the act of the 
 Assembly adopting the Plan of Union, by attributing to the provisions 
 of that Plan the character of constitutional rules obligatory on all the 
 churches, and by objecting that the Presbyteries had not been previously 
 consulted, strikes as directly, and is as conclusive, against the plans 
 adopted for the organization and government of the Theological Semi 
 naries at Princeton and Alleghany, of the Boards of Education and of 
 Missions, and for the union and perpetuated existence of the Presby 
 teries belonging to the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Church, 
 who were admitted into communion with the Presbyterian Church by 
 the terms of a Plan of Union agreed upon between that Synod and the 
 General Assembly; for the provisions of these plans have never been 
 transmitted to the Presbyteries for their approval. If, therefore, the 
 Plan of Union with the General Association of Connecticut is to be 
 abrogated because of alleged unconstitutionally on these grounds, so 
 must be the rules and regulations and the whole organization and 
 government of the theological seminaries of the General Assembly, and 
 also the act of the Assembly by which the Presbyteries of the Associate 
 Reformed Synod were united with the Presbyterian Church of these 
 United States, and by which the General Assembly became possessed of 
 the valuable theological library known as the Mason library, now in 
 Princeton, and formerly belonging to the Associate Reformed Synod. 
 
 " 2. We protest against the resolution referred to, because the Plan 
 of Union adopted by the General Assembly of 1801, was designed to 
 suppress and prevent schismatical contentions y ,and for the promotion of 
 charity, or, in the language of the Plan itself, with a view to prevent 
 alienation and promote union and harmony/ which, through a long 
 series of years, it has been efficient in doing, and has proved both itself 
 efficacious to do and the wisdom of the Assembly in its projection and 
 adoption; both which ends the General Assembly is constitutionally 
 competent to design, and for which it is invested with ample authority 
 by the Constitution (Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 5), and held 
 responsible by the great Head of the Church. 
 
 " o. "We protest against the resolution referred to, because it declares 
 the said Plan of Union to have been l totally destitute of authority as 
 
460 xii. PLAN or UNION 
 
 proceeding from the General Association of Connecticut, which is in 
 vested with no power to legislate in such cases/ Even on the assump 
 tion that the said Association was invested with no such power which, 
 it seems to us, both indecorous and irrelevant for this General Assembly 
 to assert as a reason for the resolution adopted we cannot doubt that 
 that Association had full power to agree to the stipulations of a treaty 
 or contract proposed by the General Assembly, and urged on the accep 
 tance of the General Association ; and especially when it is considered, 
 that, by acceding to the said stipulations, the said Association relin 
 quished whatever right it had to the direction and regulation of the 
 members of its own churches in the new settlements, and allowed and 
 influenced them to increase, both the numbers and the pecuniary and 
 spiritual strength of the Presbyterian Church. And even if the Plan 
 referred to had not authority in so far as it emanated from the General 
 Association of Connecticut, which we by no means admit, it was unques 
 tionably binding on the General Assembly, by virtue of its own engage 
 ment, to fulfil its own obligations; and after numerous churches had 
 been formed under their own care, the obligations of the Plan appear to 
 us to have been common to the General Assembly, the General Associa 
 tion of Connecticut, and the churches, Presbyteries, and Synods formed 
 in pursuance and in the faith of it, and that no one of these bodies could 
 lawfully abrogate it without the consent of all the others. Our opinion 
 therefore is, that the resolution of this General Assembly, abrogating the 
 said Plan of Union, so far as it was intended to affect churches already 
 formed under its provisions, is a breach of faith, and wholly void and of 
 no effect ; that all such churches have a right to continue their organiza 
 tion on the conditions of the said Plan ; and that it is the duty of the 
 Presbyteries, the Synods, and all future General Assemblies, to protect 
 them in that right, until they shall voluntarily, under the kind and 
 conciliatory influence of the aforesaid bodies, adopt the Presbyterian 
 organization in full, as many of them have already done, and others, we 
 are happy to learn, will probably soon do, if allowed to exercise their 
 choice, unrestrained by the attempted exercise of assumed authority. 
 
 " 4. We protest against the said resolution, because it denominates 
 the Plan of Union unnatural, as well as unconstitutional, and attributes 
 to it much confusion and irregularity ; whereas, it appears to us to have 
 been a most natural, wise, and benevolent plan for promoting the unity, 
 increase, arid purity of the Church in our new settlements, and that its 
 operation for thirty-six years, with but such occasional irregularities as 
 may occur under any system of government, has, on the whole, been pro 
 ductive of benign and happy effects ; in view of which, this General 
 Assembly and the whole Church ought to cherish sincere and devout 
 gratitude to God. 
 
 " 5. We protest against the said resolution, because the mode in 
 which it was brought before the Assembly appears to us to have been 
 exceedingly exceptionable, it having been in substance proposed in the 
 memorial of a convention, of whose alleged cause and objects, and of 
 
ABROGATED. 461 
 
 most of whose declarations, because unaccompanied with satisfactory 
 proof, we wholly disapprove, and which memorial, as corning from such 
 a body, we think this Assembly ought not to have received and enter 
 tained, especially when it was found to contain representations of the 
 state of the Church, in our opinion not justified by fact, and of very 
 injurious tendency. Another objection to the mode in which the said 
 resolution was brought before the Assembly is, that a majority of the 
 committee to whom the memorial was referred, and who reported the 
 resolution against which we protest, were members of the convention 
 presenting the memorial. 
 
 11 6. We protest, because, against the earnest remonstrances of many 
 who are best acquainted with the happy effects of the Plan of Union, 
 the debate on the subject was arrested by an impatient call for the pre 
 vious question, more than eighty of the members voting for it having 
 been members of the convention in whose name the said memorial was 
 presented. The Assembly was thus forced to a decision without any 
 proper evidence of the existence of the alleged irregularities, and before 
 the subject of errors in doctrine had been discussed in the Assembly, 
 notwithstanding the memorialists had declared that they i complain and 
 testify against said Plan of Union i chiefly because of their sincere 
 belief, that the doctrinal purity of our ancient Confession of Faith is 
 endangered, and not because of any preference for a particular system of 
 mere Church government and discipline/ 
 
 " For these reasons, the undersigned enter this their solemn protest. 
 
 "PHILADELPHIA, June 1st, 1837. 
 
 " John P. Cleaveland, William Jessup, Baxter Dickinson, Absalom 
 Peters, Henry Brown, Horace Bushnell, Harmon Kingsbury, 
 Timothy Stillman, David Porter, E. W. Gilbert, Darius 0. Gris- 
 wold, John B. Richardson, James B. Shaw, Washington Thatcher, 
 Thomas Brown, Thomas Lounsbury, Nahum Gould, Abner Hoi- 
 lister, Ephraim Cutler, William Fuller, Gardner Hayden, Robert 
 Stuart, Silas West, Marcus Smith, John L. Grant, John Gridley, 
 Nathaniel C. Clark, Varnum Noyes, Dudley Williams, George 
 Spaulding, John Seward, Edwin Holt, Alanson Saunders, Jona 
 than Cone, J. M. Rowland, J. W. McCullough, Dewey Whitney, 
 H. S. Walbridge, Horace Hunt, Samuel Reed, Rufus Nutting, 
 Zina Whittlesey, James R. Gibson, Bennet Roberts, Joseph H. 
 Breck, Enoch Kingsbury, James Boyd, Eldad Barber, David 
 Schenck, Ira Pettibone, Lewis H. Loss, Jonathan Hovey, J. B. 
 Preston, Ambrose White, Wilfred Hall, John S. Martin, George 
 Painter, Benjamin Woodbury, Burr Bradley, Ira M. Wead, P. 
 W. Warriner, T. D. Southworth, Adam Miller, Jacob Faris, 
 Alexander Campbell, N. S. S. Beman, H. H. Hayes, Henry 
 Brewster, N. E. Johnson, Solomon Stevens, Daniel Sayre, Wil 
 liam C. Wisner, Isaac J. Rice, Felix Tracy, Bliss Burnap, E. 
 Cheever, E. Seymour, Obadiah Woodruff, Frederick W. Graves, 
 James I. Ostrom, Philip C. Hay, Jacob Gideon, David B. Ayres, 
 
462 XII. PLAN OF UNION 
 
 S. W. May, Ammi Doubleday, Robert Aikman, William Hoy, 
 Thomas McAuley, John Leonard, Calvin Cutler, Merit Harmon, 
 F. A. McCorkle, James W. Phillips, George E. Delavan, James 
 A. Carnahan, Obadiah N. Bush, John McSween, George Duffield, 
 S. Benjamin, John Crawford, Fayette Shipherd, Thomas Wil 
 liams, II. Campbell." Minutes, 1837, pp. 454-458. 
 
 3. Answer to this Protest. 
 / 
 
 tc The committee to whom that subject was referred, beg leave to 
 present the following answer to the protest against the resolution abro 
 gating the Plan of Union/ and request that both be placed on your 
 minutes : 
 
 " The reasons of protest are numbered from one to six. No. 1 is the 
 principal, and therefore we prefer leaving it to the last, and commencing 
 with No. 2. We protest/ say the minority, against the resolution 
 referred to, because the Plan of Union adopted by the General Assembly 
 of 1801, was designed to suppress and prevent schismatical contentions, 
 and for the promotion of charity, or, in the language of the Plan itself, 
 with a view to prevent alienation and promote union and harmony. 
 
 " To this a sufficient answer is found in the broad and undeniable fact, 
 that the Plan of Union has been a principal means of dividing the 
 Church and this General Assembly into two parties, and been the main 
 source of those schisms which for many years have distracted our Zion. 
 Whilst it is admitted, that in some instances it may have beneficially 
 affected certain localities, it has laid the deep foundation of lasting con 
 fusion, and opened wide the flood-gates of error and fanaticism. For 
 proof of this, we have only to refer to the recorded votes of the last and 
 the present General Assemblies, from which it abundantly appears, that 
 the representatives of churches formed on this Plan have always opposed 
 the Boards of Education and Missions, and the efforts toward reform, 
 and the suppression of errors and of schismatical contentions. 
 
 "No. 3. Because it declares the said Plan of Union to have been 
 totally destitute of authority, as proceeding from the General Association 
 of Connecticut, which is invested with no power to legislate in such 
 cases/ 
 
 "In reply to this, let it be remarked, 1st, that the protesters seeming 
 to admit that the General Association of Connecticut had no power and 
 authority to bind their churches, yet insist that the General Assembly 
 could make a treaty or covenant that should be binding on the other 
 side ; and the brethren, in arguing the case, did insist on the Plan 
 being of the nature of a covenant (although no such term is contained 
 in it), and yet one of the parties to this covenant had no authority to 
 make a contract and to make it obligatory on their churches. That is, a 
 contract, treaty, or covenant can exist and be and continue forever, 
 binding in right and in law upon one party, whilst the other party, 
 
ABROGATED. 463 
 
 having no power or authority to bind themselves and those for whom 
 they plead its benefits, never could be bound. That is, a treaty or cove 
 nant may exist without a mutual obligation ! 
 
 " 2dly. The protesters, without distinctly affirming it again, seem 
 willing that the reader of their protest should believe that the General 
 Association of Connecticut had power to bind their churches that their 
 acts participate of the nature of ecclesiastical authority. By acceding 
 to said stipulations (say they), t the said Association relinquished what 
 ever right it had to the direction and regulation of the members of its 
 own churches in the new settlements/ Now these remonstrants know 
 perfectly well, that the General Association of Connecticut never had, 
 never claimed, and never exercised any right at all l to the direction and 
 regulation of the members of its own churches, even in Connecticut 
 itself, much less in the new settlements/ The right of counsel and 
 advice is the utmost stretch of their power and authority. And this 
 General Assembly might give counsel and advice to the churches of 
 Connecticut, and, should it be founded in truth, it is just as binding upon 
 those churches as the counsels of their own General Association, i. e., 
 it comes divested entirely of all ecclesiastical authority. 
 
 " odly. The resolution of abrogation is alleged to be l a breach of faith, 
 and wholly void and of no effect/ This is begging the question : it goes 
 on the assumption, that faith was plighted of right, and the treaty, so 
 called, lawfully constituted; which we have supposed to be the very 
 point in question. 
 
 " No. 4. t Because it denominates the Plan of Union unnatural as 
 well as unconstitutional, arid attributes to it much confusion and irregu 
 larity/ A sufficient answer to this is found in the preceding; to which 
 may be added a single remark as to the irregularity, viz., that upon 
 inquiry of brethren who came in upon this Plan/ it appeared from 
 their own showing, to the abundant conviction of this General Assembly, 
 that there were some members on this floor, deliberating and voting on 
 the very resolutions in question, who had never adopted the Confession 
 of Faith of this Church. 
 
 il No. 5. The fifth reason of protest is, that the resolution was con 
 cocted and brought before the Assembly by members of this body who 
 had previously consulted, in the form of a convention, and memorialized 
 this body on the subject : and that a majority of the committee to whom 
 the memorial was referred were members of the convention. 
 
 " As to the former, let it suffice to say, that it is the right of every 
 freeman and the duty of every Christian, before entering upon any great 
 and important measure, to ( ponder the path of his feet/ because l in 
 the multitude of counsellors there is safety/ How the name conven 
 tion/ any more than the name caucus/ should utterly vitiate their 
 counsel, it may be difficult to discern. 
 
 " As to the latter, it may be remarked, that in all deliberative bodies, 
 the principle is settled, that large committees ought to be selected in 
 proportion to the respective party views that may be entertained on the 
 
464 XII. PLAN OF UNION 
 
 subject committed. The wisdom of the rule is obvious to common 
 sense, and the moderator of this Assembly simply carried out the rule 
 in this case. 
 
 " No. 6. The sixth reason of protest is, because the debate on the 
 subject was arrested by an impatient call for the previous question. The 
 Assembly was thus forced to a decision without any proper evidence of 
 the existence of the alleged irregularities, and before the subject of 
 errors in doctrine had been decided on in the Assembly/ 
 
 11 Here remark, first, the call for the previous question was not im 
 patient, it was asked for and seconded by a majority of the house, not 
 in the spirit of violence and unjust oppression of the minority j and, 
 secondly, there was no unreasonable curtailment of debate. The resolu 
 tion was discussed two whole days, a period of time perhaps more ex 
 tended than was ever before allotted or allowed by any General Assembly 
 to any single naked resolution. And, thirdly, the brethren of the 
 minority occupied the floor more than one-half of the time. And on 
 another resolution, where the discussion was arrested by the previous 
 question, it was just at the close of two long speeches by the minority, 
 and after they had consumed more than five hours in debate ; whereas, 
 the majority had not occupied the floor two hours and a half. So utterly 
 groundless is the insinuation that a cruel and unjust use has been made 
 of the previous question. 
 
 " The Assembly was thus forced/ say the protesters the Assembly 
 was forced ! Forced by whom? Undoubtedly, by itself forced to 
 do just as it wished to do forced to decide by a strong vote on a 
 subject which had been discussed two whole davs ! Strange coercion 
 this ! ! 
 
 "But, fourthly, the resolution in question was passed before the 
 doctrinal errors were condemned. This is true. But it is also true, 
 that the Assembly was thus forced, by the opposition of the minority, 
 to pass by the doctrinal discussion, because they could not have it in 
 the order recommended by their committee. Certain alleged errors were 
 offered by the minority, which they refused to have put in their proper 
 place, but insisted on having first of all a decision upon them as amend 
 ments; which attempt, had it been successful, would have precluded 
 their discussion, except upon a vote of reconsideration, which requires 
 two-thirds : and thus the majority would have been completely, as to 
 these alleged errors, in the power of the minority. Hence they were 
 laid on the table, to be taken up at a future time. We now proceed to 
 
 "No. 1. The principal reason of protest is in these words, viz. : "Be 
 cause the said act is declared, in the resolution complained of, to have 
 been unconstitutional. 
 
 " In opposition to the resolution declaring the Plan of Union uncon 
 stitutional, it would appear most reasonable that the protesters should 
 affirm its constitutionality, i. e., that the Constitution covers and provides 
 for it. This ground, however, the protesters have not ventured to take. 
 On the contrary, they explicitly admit, that the Constitution makes no 
 
ABROGATED. 465 
 
 provision for said act f it is/ say they, l neither specifically provided 
 for, nor prohibited in the Constitution/ 
 
 " A remark or two will show that in this they have abandoned the 
 ground. For, 1. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church, like 
 that of our National Union, is a constitution of specific powers, granted 
 by the Presbyteries, the fountains of power, to the Synods and the 
 General Assembly. 2. No powers, not specifically granted, can lawfully 
 be inferred and assumed by the General Assembly, but only such as are 
 indispensably necessary to carry into effect those which are specifically 
 granted. 3. Therefore the burden of proof lies upon those who affirm 
 that the Assembly had power to enact this Plan of Union. They admit 
 that there is no specific grant of such power; they are bound then to 
 prove that its exercise was indispensably necessary, in order to carry out 
 some other power specifically granted. Now we search in vain for any 
 such proof in the protest. There is, we believe, but a single effort of the 
 kind. This effort is made in view of two distinct and distant clauses in 
 our book. (Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 4.) The General 
 Assembly shall constitute the bond of union, peace, correspondence, 
 and mutual confidence among all our churches/ But surely here is no 
 power granted to constitute a bond of union with churches of another 
 denomination. It has exclusive reference to all our churches/ and yet 
 the protesters refer to this as authority for forming a union with a de 
 nomination not holding the same form of government. 
 
 " An equally unsuccessful attempt is made upon chap, i, sec. 2, where 
 the book affirms, that any Christian Church, or union or association of 
 churches, is entitled to declare the terms of admission into its com 
 munion. And the protesters assert here, that the General Assembly 
 exercised this power in forming the Plan of Union/ and so declared 
 the terms of admission into the communion of the Presbyterian Church, 
 proper to be required in the frontier settlements/ 
 
 " On this statement two remarks seem requisite : first, the settling of 
 the terms of communion, we had thought, was the highest act of power 
 an act beyond the reach of the General Assembly itself an act which 
 the Constitution itself provides, shall be done only by a majority of the 
 Presbyteries. When, we ask, did the Presbyterian Church i declare the 
 terms of admission into its communion ? Most assuredly, when the 
 Constitution was adopted. And yet the protesters in this case aver, that 
 the ( Plan of Union is a declaration of the terms of admission into our 
 communion ! Could they affirm more directly its unconstitutionally ? 
 
 " The other remark is, that the Plan of Union itself does not prescribe 
 the terms of admission into the communion of the Presbyterian Church. 
 It prescribes the manner in which Congregationalists may remain out of 
 this Church, and yet exercise .a controlling and governing influence over 
 its ecclesiastical judicatories. 
 
 " In the entire absence of all proof, that the power exercised in form 
 ing the Plan of Union, was indispensably necessary to carry out a power 
 specifically granted, and in the face of their own admission, that such 
 
 30 
 
466 XII. PLAN OF UNION 
 
 power is not specifically given to the General Assembly, we conclude, 
 that the act in question was without any authority, and must be null and 
 void. 
 
 " The next thing worthy of notice, is the criticism on the phrases 
 1 constitutional rules/ and obligatory on all the churches/ This Plan of 
 Union, it is argued, is not of the nature of constitutional rules, obligatory 
 on all the churches, and therefore it was not necessary that it should 
 have been sent down, and have received the sanction of a majority of 
 the Presbyteries. In presenting this argument, the protesters admit, 
 that if the Plan did embrace constitutional rules, the Assembly had no 
 power to enact it. The book (Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 6) 
 declares : l Before any overtures or regulations proposed by the Assembly 
 to be established as constitutional rules, shall be obligatory on the 
 churches, it shall be necessary to transmit them to all the Presbyteries, 
 and to receive the returns of at least a majority of them in writing, 
 approving thereof. 
 
 " This was not done with the Plan j and the only question before us 
 is, whether it is an alteration of the Constitution ? This Assembly 
 affirms that it is a radical and thorough change of the entire system. 
 On which remark 
 
 " 1. Our book describes four church courts, viz., the Church Session, 
 the Presbytery, the Synod, and the General Assembly. And (chap, ix) 
 it defines the Church Session to consist of the pastor or pastors and 
 ruling elders of a particular congregation/ and intrusts to these, as 
 permanent officers, the government of that church. But the Plan of 
 Union provides for no such thing. It expressly dispenses with the 
 Church Session, and leaves the government in the hands of the people, 
 or of a temporary committee. 
 
 " Again, chap, x, sec. 2 : A Presbytery consists of all the ministers 
 and one ruling elder from each congregation within a certain district/ 
 But the Plan of Union abrogates this provision. It does not merely pass 
 it by, but absolutely repeals and nullifies it. According to the Plan, a 
 Presbytery may have committee-men less or more in it, and may have 
 not a single elder. The book farther states, that Every congregation 
 (i. e. of Presbyterians as before described) which has a stated pastor, 
 has a right to be represented by one elder } and every collegiate church 
 (i. e. a church with two or more ministers) by two or more elders, in 
 proportion to the number of pastors/ Here it is perfectly obvious, that 
 the principle of equal representation in Presbytery is aimed at. The 
 same is true of a Synod (chapter xi) : The ratio of the representation 
 of elders in the Synod is the same as in the Presbytery/ That is, every 
 congregation, governed by its own Session, shall be represented in Pres 
 bytery and Synod. But the Plan provides for Congregational committee- 
 men, sitting and acting and voting in Presbytery, although it also pro 
 vides that the congregation he represents shall not be under the govern 
 ment of the Presbytery, and no appeal can be taken from it to the 
 Presbytery, even by a minister ; unless the church agree to it. Thus 
 
ABROGATED. 467 
 
 the power of government is in the hands of men over whom that govern 
 ment does not extend. It is surely not necessary to proceed farther, to 
 show that the Plan is an abrogation of the fundamental principles of the 
 Presbyterian system. And yet the protesters say it does not contain 
 constitutional rules. No, verily, but it is a mass of unconstitutional 
 usurpations, resulting from an overstretch of power. By the criticism 
 of the protest, it is denied that the Plan contains constitutional rules ; 
 whereas, in the first sentence of the instrument itself, it is called { A 
 plan of government for the churches in the new settlements/ And the 
 second sentence runs thus : * Regulations adopted by the General As 
 sembly/ &c. Now, if regulations are not rules, language has lost its 
 meaning; and if regulations containing a plan of government for the 
 churches/ are not intended to be binding, and do not touch the Consti 
 tution, we are utterly at a loss to see how rules and regulations could be 
 expressed. The article in question has been called { a Plan of Union/ a 
 contract/ a covenant/ none of which phrases is found in the document 
 itself. It declares itself to be regulations/ containing a plan of go 
 vernment for the churches. Now the General Assembly never had the 
 power to establish regulations and a new plan of government/ the 
 Plan is therefore null and void. 
 
 " But, we are told, these governmental regulations were not binding 
 on all the churches. Were they not, indeed ? Have they not given 
 rise to heterogeneous bodies, who have come up here and bound us al 
 most to our undoing ? Have they not bound with green withes and 
 new cords this body and its Boards of Education and Missions ? Have 
 they not well-nigh shorn us of the locks of our strength, and forbidden 
 us to go forth into the field of missionary conflict against the foes of our 
 God and King ? Surely, these protesters will not say the regulations are 
 not binding upon all the churches. 
 
 " But, again, we are told in the protest, they are of long standing and 
 have acquired the force of common law. Does long use constitute law? 
 Then it would follow that concubinage and polygamy exist of moral 
 right. 
 
 "Again, we are told, that this plan of government was in existence 
 twenty years prior to the last adoption of our Constitution ; and the in 
 ference is, that therefore it is binding, and was viewed as a contract to 
 be kept in good faith. The fair inferences, however, from the fact, ought 
 to be, that this plan of government was not submitted to our Presby 
 teries by the General Assembly, and is therefore not binding; and that 
 this neglect was owing to the circumstance that it was then little known,, 
 and its evils were not all developed. 
 
 " Again, we are told in the protest, in reference to this new plan of 
 government/ that its omission of elders, being expressly provided for 
 and designed, does not vitiate the organization ; for then must nume 
 rous churches among us, in which there are no deacons, be for the same 
 reason pronounced unconstitutional. And we are free to confess that, 
 if the Constitution made the deacon a ruling officer in the Church, he 
 
468 XII. PLAN OF UNION 
 
 must be found in our ecclesiastical courts, and his absence would nullify 
 their constitutional existence. This, however, is not the case. The 
 deacon s office in the New Testament, and in our book, is limited to 
 serving tables. The argument, therefore, is lame, and shows its east 
 ern birth. 
 
 "Again, the protest affirms that the argument against this plan of 
 government for the churches/ because it was not submitted to the Pres 
 byteries, strikes equally against the Theological Seminaries, the Boards 
 of Education and of Missions, and also against the admission of the 
 Presbyteries of the Associate Reformed Synod into this Church. 
 
 "Let us touch these in their order; and first, the Theological Semi 
 naries. Here, again, if our protesters can show that these Seminaries 
 are, in the language of our book, l constitutional rules, obligatory on the 
 churches, or even, in the language of their favorite Plan, l regulations/ 
 and a plan of government for the churches in the new settlements/ we 
 will give up the argument, and Princeton and the Western seminaries 
 and all. But if, as every one knows, the constitutions and regulations 
 of these seminaries have nothing to do with the government of the 
 churches, any more than the private regulations of a private clergyman 
 for his private class of students, then is this argument null and void 
 from the beginning. As to the power in the Assembly to organize a 
 seminary, it may be found in the book (Form of Government, chap, xii, 
 sec. 5), under the general power of superintending the concerns of the 
 whole Church/ none of which concerns is of more vital importance than 
 that of providing an efficient ministry. Also to them belongs the power 
 of t promoting charity, truth, and holiness, through all the churches 
 under their care/ Now, the training of a pious and orthodox ministry 
 is the most effectual mode of accomplishing this work, and clearly places 
 Theological Seminaries within the Assembly s power. 
 
 " The same remarks are relevant and true, in reference to the Board 
 of Education. 
 
 " As to the Board of Missions, the superintending of the concerns of 
 the whole Church cannot be carried out without missions; and the 
 Form of Government, chap, xviii, expressly provides for them, and 
 grants to the Assembly power over this very business. It reads thus : 
 The General Assembly may, of their own knowledge, send missions to 
 any part to plant churches or to supply vacancies : and, for this purpose, 
 may direct any Presbytery to ordain evangelists or ministers, without 
 relation to any particular churches. How utterly unreasonable, then, 
 for the protesters to deny the Assembly s power to institute a Board of 
 Missions ! 
 
 " As to the Mason Library and the Associate Reformed Churches, it 
 may be necessary only to remark, that the two Presbyteries of New York 
 and of Philadelphia the only parts which came into this Presbyterian 
 Church were, from their beginning, Presbyterian, according to the 
 strictest order ; holding the same identical Westminster Confession of 
 Faith and Presbyterian Form of Church Government. It is therefore 
 
ABROGATED. 469 
 
 difficult to perceive how the admission, by the General Assembly, of 
 strict and rigid Presbyterians into their connection could be either 
 extra or unconstitutional. The act of their admission did not create 
 1 regulations/ and a plan of government for the churches/ as did the 
 Plan ; in question. It was not ( an overture or regulation for establish 
 ing constitutional rules, obligatory on the churches/ and therefore its 
 transmission to all the Presbyteries was not necessary. 
 
 " Finally, the unconstitutionally of the plan of government for the 
 churches in the new settlements/ abrogated by this resolution, is fur 
 ther demonstrated by reference to Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 
 1, which says, The General Assembly is the highest judicatory of the 
 Presbyterian Church. It shall represent, in one body, all the particular 
 churches of this denomination / and, subsequently, it defines the ratio 
 of representation. Now, it has been proved, on the open floor of this 
 General Assembly, by the protesters themselves, that the Synod of the 
 Western Reserve, which was formed on this plan of government/ and 
 which contains one hundred and thirty-nine particular churches, has only 
 from twenty-four to thirty Presbyterian churches in it ; and yet that 
 Synod claims a right to twenty representatives here ! Whom do these 
 twenty represent? Certainly not particular churches of this denomina 
 tion/ as our book says. No, but Congregational churches, which, by 
 the terms of our book, and the whole representative spirit of our system, 
 have no right to be represented here, and to judge and vote here, under 
 a Constitution which they deny to be binding upon themselves. With 
 no greater impropriety would unnaturalized foreigners claim the right 
 of franchise in our country, and of eligibility to office in our legislatures, 
 our supreme judicial tribunals, and the executive departments of our 
 States and the nation. Besides, it has been shown by themselves here, 
 that this ( plan of government has been here violated, by those claiming 
 privileges under it, sending men to the Assembly who had never adopted 
 our Constitution. 
 
 " We therefore conclude that the reasonings of the protesters is falla 
 cious; the plan of government adopted in 1801 is, and ever has been, 
 unconstitutional; and therefore this General Assembly ought to declare, 
 as it has done in the resolution protested against, that it is, from the be 
 ginning, null and void." Minutes, 1837, pp. 453-464. 
 
 4. Resolutions to cite to the Bar of the Assembly such Inferior Judica- 
 tories as are charged by Common Fame with Irregularities. 
 
 "1. Resolved, That the proper steps be now taken to cite to the bar 
 of the next Assembly such inferior judicatories as are charged by com 
 mon fame with irregularities. 
 
 "2. That a special committee be now appointed to ascertain what 
 inferior judicatories are thus charged by common fame, prepare charges 
 
470 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 and specifications against them, and to digest a suitable plan of procedure 
 in the matter ; and that said committee be requested to report as soon as 
 practicable. 
 
 "3. That as citations on the foregoing Plan is the commencement of 
 a process involving the right of membership in the Assembly, there 
 fore 
 
 "Resolved, That, agreeably to a principle laid down, chap, v, sec. 9, of 
 the Form of Government, the members of said judicatories be excluded 
 from a seat in the next Assembly until their case shall be decided. 
 
 "Adopted by yeas 128, nays 122." Minutes, 1837, p. 425. 
 
 li 5. Mr. Hay for himself, and others, gave notice of a protest against 
 the foregoing resolutions. The protest and answer were ordered to be 
 entered on the minutes, viz. : 
 
 5. Protest. 
 
 "The undersigned, members of the General Assembly, beg leave 
 respectfully to enter their solemn protest to the act of the Assembly, 
 adopting the three resolutions relative to the citation of inferior judi 
 catories; and likewise to the resolution of the Assembly, declaring the 
 Synod of the Western Keserve not a part of the Presbyterian Church.* 
 In support of our protest, we subjoin the following reasons: 
 
 "1. We object to the mode of investigation adopted, in the first- 
 named resolutions, by the Assembly. They resolve, in the first place, 
 1 to cite to the bar of the next Assembly such inferior judicatories as are 
 charged, by common fame, with irregularities/ The first step, in our 
 estimation, should have been to appoint a committee to inquire into the 
 nature of the various rumors which are said to be afloat, and to report to 
 the Assembly whether there was any cause for citation. 
 
 "2. The committee was empowered, by the second resolution, merely 
 to ascertain what judicatories were charged by common fame; whereas, 
 they ought to have been instructed, in this stage of the investigation, to 
 ascertain whether there was or was not any foundation for existing 
 rumors. It seems to be made imperative by the resolution, that all 
 judicatories shall be reported by that committee for citation against 
 which any unfavorable rumors are in circulation. 
 
 "3. The majority of the committee recommending these measures 
 were members of the convention which originated all this business, and 
 brought it into the Assembly. They acted upon it first in the conven 
 tion, then in the Assembly; after that in the committee, and then are 
 to pass a final vote in the Assembly. They petition themselves, con 
 sider their own petition, and then grant to themselves what they them 
 selves ask. 
 
 * Pp. 483, 11. 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 471 
 
 "4. The investigation ought to have been expressly limited to Synods, 
 because the Book of Discipline makes provision for the Assembly, in cer 
 tain cases, to cite Synods, but no other judicatories. (See Gen. Rev. and 
 Con., VI.) 
 
 " 5. The resolution to deprive the judicatories to be cited, of a seat in 
 the next Assembly is, in every respect, unconstitutional and void, <a?> 
 initio. This Assembly has no power, by their vote, to deprive com 
 missioners, duly elected, from a seat in the next Assembly, because that 
 Assembly has the exclusive right of judging of the qualifications of its 
 own members, and because to do so would be to inflict a penalty before 
 trial or investigation. Besides, the Assembly has power to cite Synods 
 only ; and Presbyteries, and not Synods, are represented on this flooi^ 
 To deprive every Presbytery in a whole Synod of a seat in the General 
 Assembly, because a Synod, in its collective capacity, may have been 
 irregular, is unprecedented in ecclesiastical proceedings. 
 
 "6. The provision in the Book of Discipline referred to in the third 
 resolution, to justify the exclusion of members from seats in the next 
 Assembly, has no application to this case. It applies only to a minister 
 of the Gospel when on trial before his own Presbytery, and cannot 
 justify the unconstitutional bearing of this resolution. Besides, the 
 Book of Discipline expressly provides for those cases in which an infe 
 rior judicatory is to be excluded from a seat in the superior judicatory ; 
 and these cases are trials of appeals and complaints in which they are 
 interested." Minutes, 1837, pp. 473, 474. 
 
 6. Ansiuer to the Protest. 
 
 " The signers to the protest object to the mode of investigation 
 adopted in the first-named resolution, and contend that the first step 
 should have been to appoint a committee to inquire into the nature of 
 the rumors which are said to be afloat, and to report to the Assembly 
 whether there was any cause for citation. The resolutions as to cita 
 tion refer to supposed cases, and the committee were to cite, and 
 designate, and report to the Assembly for its approval and further 
 action. In this aspect of the case, the objections urged lose their force. 
 No wrong was done to any Presbytery, nor any irregular process author 
 ized, nor, indeed, any final step to be taken without action in the 
 General Assembly. Upon the report of the committee to cite, the 
 house would decide upon the foundation for existing irregularities, and 
 a wholesome control as to the details of the whole subject would be 
 exercised by the Assembly before the final disposition of the several 
 cases ; and the signers of the protest themselves affirm, in a subsequent 
 part of the paper, and with the design of sustaining another position, 
 that the citation contemplated by these resolutions was according to the 
 book. Your committee deem it, therefore, unnecessary to dwell upon 
 this part of the subject, it being evident, from the nature of the resolu 
 tions and the admission of the signers to the protest, that the steps con- 
 
472 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 templated by these resolutions were according to the book, and within 
 the constitutional power of this Assembly. 
 
 " It is difficult to conceive how this regular constitutional action could 
 be impaired or destroyed by the suggestion, whether true or untrue, that 
 the committee recommending these measures were members of the con 
 vention ; that they acted upon it first in the convention, then in the 
 Assembly; after that in the committee, and then were to pass a final 
 vote in the Assembly. It is even gravely charged as a ground of objec 
 tion, that they petition themselves, consider their own petition, and 
 then grant to themselves what they themselves ask/ It is a sufficient 
 answer to this objection, that the majority of the duly-constituted mem- 
 fyers of this Assembly adopted and sanctioned the incipient as well as 
 final steps in the case; and the acts of the Assembly are valid until it 
 be shown that the provisions of the Constitution have been invaded, or 
 that the majority consisted of persons who were not duly qualified com 
 missioners. The fact of a majority or any number of members of the 
 Assembly having been members of the convention cannot invalidate the 
 acts of the Assembly. The right of petition is guaranteed by every well- 
 regulated government, whether civil, political, or ecclesiastical, and it is 
 just as competent for any number of the individuals composing the 
 Assembly to meet publicly for consultation, as it would be for any num 
 ber to meet privately for the same object. In neither case could the 
 action of those members in the Assembly be supposed to be purified or 
 contaminated by such consultations. 
 
 a The investigation contemplated by these resolutions was designed 
 to apply to inferior judicatories, which includes Synods, and may not 
 necessarily mean Presbyteries. The specification of such inferior judi- 
 catory was to be reported by the committee, and the fourth objection, as 
 urged by the signers of the protest, could only be appropriate when a 
 Presbytery should be cited. Any supposed restriction of the right of 
 the General Assembly to cite any other inferior judicatories but Synods 
 (which is regarded by the signers of the protest as being derived from 
 the sixth part of the section of General Review and Control) is explained 
 by the comprehensive character of the fifth part, which assigns. to the 
 superior judicatory power to examine, deliberate, and judge in the 
 whole matter as completely as if it had been recorded, and thus brought 
 up by the review of the records/ The General Assembly, by its very 
 Constitution, is regarded as having a general control of the whole 
 Church, and, in its conservative character, shall superintend all of its 
 concerns. It is believed that the initiatory steps contemplated by the 
 resolutions authorizing a committee to designate inferior judicatories who 
 may have been guilty of irregularities, to cite them, and report as soon 
 as practicable to this Assembly, do not infringe the spirit or letter of 
 the inherent powers of the General Assembly. And the great principles 
 of analogy would obviously dictate that the members of the inferior 
 judicatories upon whom these preparatory measures are supposed to 
 operate, should not be permitted to sit in the next General Assembly 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 473 
 
 until their cases should be decided. If there be any sound principle 
 contained in the clause, and the uniform practice which excludes an 
 interested judicatory from voting, that principle and that practice should 
 be applied to the members of such inferior judicatories as may be 
 affected by these resolutions. This view of the subject is exceedingly 
 strengthened by the fact that express power is vested in our judicatories 
 to exclude at will their own members when on trial before them." 
 Minutes, 1837, pp. 476, 477. 
 
 7. Proposal to inquire into the Expediency of a Voluntary Division of 
 the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " Mr. Breckenridge gave notice that he would to-morrow morning 
 offer a resolution to appoint a committee, to consist of equal numbers 
 from the majority and minority on the vote to cite inferior judicatories, 
 to inquire into the expediency of a voluntary division of the Presbyterian 
 Church/ 7 Minutes, 1837, p. 426. 
 
 " Agreeably to notice given last evening, Mr. Breckenridge moved 
 that a committee of ten members, of whom an equal number shall be 
 from the majority and minority of the vote on the resolutions to cite in 
 ferior judicatories, be appointed on the state of the Church. 
 
 " Dr. Junkin and Mr. Ewing, on the part of the majority, and Messrs. 
 A. Campbell and Jessup, on the part of the minority, were appointed to 
 nominate each five members of the committee on the foregoing resolu 
 tions." Ibid. p. 427. 
 
 8. Committee of Ten appointed. 
 
 " Dr. Junkin and Mr. Campbell, from the committees to nominate the 
 Committee of Ten on the State of the Church, respectively reported the 
 following nominations, viz. : Mr. Breckenridge, Dr. Alexander, Dr. 
 Cuyler, Dr. Witherspoon, and Mr. Ewing, on the part of the majority; 
 and Dr. McAuley, Dr. Beman, Dr. Peters, Mr. Dickinson, and Mr. 
 Jessup, on the part of the minority. The report was adopted; arid the 
 committee was directed to meet in this house, at the rising of the As 
 sembly this morning, and afterwards on their own adjournments. 
 
 " On motion, the Assembly engaged in prayer, on behalf of this com 
 mittee, and of the subject referred to them/ 7 Minutes, 1837, p. 427. 
 
 " The Committee on the State of the Church reported, by their chair 
 man, Dr. Alexander, that they had not been able to agree, and asked to 
 be discharged. 
 
474 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " Both portions of the committee then made separate reports, accom 
 panied by various papers, which reports and papers were ordered to be 
 entered on the Minutes of the Assembly, and are as follows, viz. : 
 
 9. Report of the Committee of the Majority. 
 
 " The committee of the majority, from the united Committee on the 
 State of the Church, beg leave to report : 
 
 "That having been unable to agree with the minority s committee on 
 any plan for the immediate and voluntary separation of the New and 
 Old School parties in the Presbyterian Church, they lay before the 
 General Assembly the papers which passed between the committees, and 
 which contain all the important proceedings of both bodies. 
 
 " These papers are marked 1 to 5 of the majority, and 1 to 4 of the 
 minority. A careful examination of them will show that the two com 
 mittees were agreed in the following matters, namely : 
 
 " 1. The propriety of a voluntary separation of the parties in our 
 Church, and their separate organization. 
 
 "2. As to the corporate funds, the names to be held by each denomi 
 nation, the records of the Church, and its boards and institutions. 
 
 " It will further appear, that the committees were entirely unable to 
 agree on the following points, namely : 
 
 " 1. As to the propriety of entering at once, by the Assembly, upon 
 the division, or the sending down of the question to the Presbyteries. 
 
 "2. As to the power of the Assembly to take effectual initiative steps, 
 as proposed by the majority, or the necessity of obtaining a change in 
 the Constitution of the Church. 
 
 " 3. As to the breaking up of the succession of this General Assem 
 bly, so that neither of the new Assemblies proposed, to be considered 
 this -proper body continued ; or that the body which should retain the* 
 name and institutions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America, should be held in fact and law 
 to be the true successors of this body. While the committee of the 
 majority were perfectly disposed to do all that the utmost liberality could 
 demand, and to use in all cases such expressions as should be wholly 
 unexceptionable, yet it appeared to us indispensable to take our final 
 stand on these grounds. 
 
 " For, first, we are convinced that if anything tending towards a vo- 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 475 
 
 luntary separation is done, it is absolutely necessary to do it effectually, 
 and at once. 
 
 " Secondly. As neither party professes any desire to alter any consti 
 tutional rule whatever, it seems to us not only needless, but absurd, to 
 send down an overture to the Presbyteries on this subject. We believe, 
 moreover, that full power exists in the Assembly, either by consent of 
 parties, or in the way of discipline, to settle this and all such cases; and 
 that its speedy settlement is greatly to be desired. 
 
 " Thirdly. In regard to the succession of the General Assembly, this 
 committee could not, in present circumstances, consent to anything that 
 should even imply the final dissolution of the Presbyterian Church, as 
 now organized in this country ; which idea, it will be observed, is at the 
 basis of the plan of the minority, insomuch that even the body retaining 
 the name and institutions should not be considered the successor of this 
 body. 
 
 11 Finally. It will be observed from our fifth paper, as compared with 
 the fourth paper of the minority s committee, that the final shape which 
 their proposal assumed was such that it was impossible for the majority 
 of the house to carry out its views and wishes, let the vote be as it might; 
 for if the house should vote for the plan of the committee of the ma 
 jority, the other committee would not consider itself or its friends bound 
 thereby; and voluntary division would therefore be impossible, in that 
 case. But if the house should vote for the minority s plan, then the 
 foregoing insuperable objections to that plan being supposed to be sur 
 mounted still the whole case would be put off, perhaps indefinitely. 
 
 " A. ALEXANDER, 
 " C. C. CUYLER, 
 
 "J. WlTHERSPOON, 
 
 "N. EWING, 
 
 " R. J. BRECKENRIDGE." 
 Ibid. pp. 430, 431. 
 
 10. Report of the Committee of the Minority. 
 
 " The subscribers, appointed members of the Committee of Ten on 
 the State of the Church, respectfully ask leave to report, as follows: 
 
 " It being understood that one object of the appointment of said com 
 mittee was to consider the expediency of a voluntary division of the 
 
476 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Presbyterian Church, and to devise a plan for the same, they, in connec 
 tion with the other members of the committee, have had the subject 
 under deliberation. 
 
 " The subscribers had believed that no such imperious necessity for a 
 division of the Church existed, as some of their brethren supposed, and 
 that the consequences of division would be greatly to be deprecated. 
 Such necessity, however, being urged by many of our brethren, we have 
 been induced to yield to their wishes, and to admit the expediency of a 
 division, provided the same could be accomplished in an amicable, equi 
 table, and proper manner. We have accordingly submitted the follow 
 ing propositions to our brethren on the other part of the same committee, 
 who at the same time submitted to us their proposition, which is annexed 
 to this report. 
 
 "[Here read the proposition marked Minority No. 1, and Majority 
 No. 1.] 
 
 " Being informed by the other members of the committee that they 
 had concluded not to discuss in committee the propositions which should 
 be submitted, and that all propositions on both sides were to be in writing, 
 and to be answered in writing, the following papers passed between the 
 two parts of the committee : 
 
 " Here read No. 2, Minority paper. 
 
 2, Majority " 
 
 3, Majority " 
 
 3, Minority " 
 
 4, Majority " 
 
 4, Minority " 
 
 5, Majority " 
 
 " From these papers it will be seen, that the only question of any im 
 portance upon which the committee differed, was that proposed to be 
 submitted to the decision of the Assembly, as preliminary to any action 
 upon the details of either plan. Therefore, believing that the members 
 of this Assembly have neither a constitutional nor moral right to adopt 
 a plan for a division of the Church, in relation to which they are en 
 tirely uninstructed by the Presbyteries \ believing that the course pro 
 posed by their brethren of the committee to be entirely inefficacious, and 
 calculated to introduce confusion and discord into the whole Church, and 
 instead of mitigating, to enhance the evils which it proposes to remove ; 
 and regarding the plan proposed by themselves, with the modifications 
 thereof, as before stated, as presenting in general the only safe, certain, 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 477 
 
 and constitutional mode of division, the subscribers do respectfully pre 
 sent the same to the Assembly for their adoption or rejection. 
 
 "THOMAS McAuLEY, 
 " N. S. S. BEMAN, 
 " ABSALOM PETERS, 
 "B. DICKINSON, 
 " WILLIAM JESSUP." 
 
 JVb. 1, of the Majority. 
 
 " The portion of the committee which represents the majority, submit 
 for consideration : 
 
 "1. That the peace and prosperity of the Presbyterian Church in 
 the United States require a separation of the portions called respectively 
 the Old and New School parties, and represented by the majority and 
 minority in the present Assembly. 
 
 "2. That the portion of the Church represented by the majority in 
 the present General Assembly, ought to retain the name and the corpo 
 rate property of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 
 the United States of America. 
 
 " 3. That the two parties ought to form separate denominations, under 
 separate organizations ; that to effect this with the least delay, the Com 
 missioners in the present General Assembly shall elect which body they 
 will adhere to, and this election shall decide the position of their Presby 
 teries respectively, for the present ; that every Presbytery may reverse 
 the decision of its present commissioners, and unite with the opposite 
 body by the permission of that body properly expressed ; that minorities 
 of Presbyteries, if large enough, or if not, then in connection with 
 neighboring minorities, may form new Presbyteries, or attach themselves 
 to existing Presbyteries, in union with either body, as shall be agreed 
 on ; that Synods ought to take order and make election on the general 
 principles already stated j and minorities of Synods should follow out 
 the rule suggested for minorities of Presbyteries, as far as they are 
 applicable/ 
 
 A b. 1, of the Minority. 
 
 " Whereas, the experience of many years has proved that this body 
 is too large to answer the purposes contemplated by the Constitution, 
 and there appear to be insuperable obstacles in the way of reducing the 
 representation : 
 
 "And whereas, in the extension of the Church over so great a terri 
 tory, embracing such a variety of people, difference of view in relation 
 to important points of church policy and action, as well as theological 
 opinion, are found to exist : 
 
478 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " Now, it is believed, a divisioD of this body into two separate bodies, 
 which shall act independently of each other, will be of vital importance 
 to the best interests of the Redeemer s kingdom. Therefore, 
 
 u Resolved, That the following rules be sent down to the Presbyteries 
 for their adoption or rejection as constitutional rules, to wit : 
 
 " 1. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America shall be, and it hereby is divided into two bodies; 
 the one thereof to be called the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America, and the other, the General 
 Assembly of the American Presbyterian Church. 
 
 "2. That the Confession of Faith arid Form of Government of the 
 Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, as it now exists, 
 shall continue to be the Confession of Faith and Form of Government 
 of both bodies, until it shall be constitutionally changed and altered by 
 either, in the manner prescribed therein. 
 
 "8. That in sending up their commissioners to the next General 
 Assembly, each Presbytery, after having, in making out their com 
 missions, followed the form now prescribed, shall add thereto as follows: 
 1 That in case a majority of the Presbyteries shall have voted to adopt 
 the plan for organizing two General Assemblies, we direct our said com 
 missioners to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the u Pres 
 byterian Church of the United States of America," or the " American 
 Presbyterian Church/ as the case may be. 7 And after the opening of 
 the next General Assembly, and before proceeding to other business 
 than the usual preliminary organization, the said Assembly shall ascertan 
 what is the vote of the Presbyteries, and in case a majority of said 
 Presbyteries shall have adopted these rules, then the two General 
 Assemblies shall be constituted and organized in the manner now pointed 
 out in the Form of Government, by the election of their respective 
 moderators, stated clerks, and other officers. 
 
 "4. The several Presbyteries shall be deemed and taken to belong to 
 that Assembly with which they shall direct their commissioners to meet, 
 as stated in the preceding rule. And each General Assembly shall, at 
 their first meeting as aforesaid, organize the Presbyteries belonging to 
 each into Synods. And in case any Presbytery shall fail to decide as 
 aforesaid at that time, they may attach themselves within one year 
 thereafter to the Assembly they shall prefer. 
 
 " 5. Churches and members of churches, as well as Presbyteries, shall 
 b at full liberty to decide to which of said Assemblies they will be 
 attached, and in case the majority of male members in any church shall 
 decide to belong to a Presbytery connected with the Assembly to which 
 their Presbytery is not attached, they shall certify the same to the stated 
 clerk of the Presbytery which they wish to leave and the one with 
 which they wish to unite, and they shall, ipso facto , be attached to such 
 Presbytery. 
 
 " 6. It shall be the duty of Presbyteries, at their first meeting after 
 the adoption of these rules, or within one year thereafter, to grant cer- 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 479 
 
 tificates of dismission to such ministers, licentiates, and students, as may 
 wish to unite with a Presbytery attached to the other General Assembly. 
 
 " 7. It shall be the duty of Church Sessions to grant letters of dis 
 mission to such of their members, being in regular standing, as may 
 apply for the same within one year after the organization of said Assem 
 blies under these rules, for the purpose of uniting with any church 
 attached to a Presbytery under the care of the other General Assembly ; 
 and if such Session refuse so to dismiss, it shall be lawful for such mem 
 bers to unite with such other church in the same manner as if a certifi 
 cate were given. 
 
 "8. The Boards of Education and Missions shall continue their 
 organizations as heretofore, until the next meeting of the Assembly; 
 and in case the rules for the division of the Assembly be adopted, those 
 boards shall be, and hereby are, transferred to the General Assembly of 
 the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, if that 
 Assembly at its first meeting shall adopt the boards as their organiza 
 tions; and the seats of any ministers or elders in those boards, not 
 belonging to that General Assembly, shall be deemed to be vacant. 
 
 "9. The records of the Assembly shall remain in the hands of the 
 present stated clerk, for the mutual use and benefit of both General 
 Assemblies, until, by such an arrangement as they may adopt, they shall 
 appoint some other person to take charge of the same. And either 
 Assembly, at their own expense, may cause such extracts and copies to 
 be made thereof, as they may desire and direct. 
 
 " 10. The Princeton Seminary funds to be transferred to the Board 
 of Trustees of the Seminary, if it can be so done legally and without 
 forfeiting the trusts upon which the grants were made ; and if it cannot 
 be done legally, and according to the intention of the donors, then to 
 remain with the present Board of Trustees until legislative authority be 
 given for such transfer. The supervision of said seminary, in the same 
 manner in which it is now exercised by the General Assembly, to be 
 transferred to and vested in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States to be constituted. The other funds of the 
 Church to be divided equally between the two Assemblies. 
 
 " Pass a resolution suspending the operation of the controverted votes 
 until after the next Assembly/ 
 
 N~o. 2, of the Majority. 
 
 u The Committee of the Majority having considered the paper sub 
 mitted by that of the minority, observe : 
 
 " 1. That they suppose the propriety and necessity of a division of the 
 Church may be considered as agreed on by both committees ; but we 
 think it not expedient to attempt giving reasons in a preamble; the 
 preamble is therefore not agreed to. 
 
 " 2. So much of No. 1 ; of the plan of the Committee of the Minority, 
 
480 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 as relates to the proposed names of the new General Assemblies, is 
 agreed to. 
 
 "3. Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, except as above, are not agreed to, but 
 our proposition, No. 3, in our first paper, is insisted on. But we agree 
 to the proposal in regard to single churches, individual ministers, licen 
 tiates, students, and private members. 
 
 " 4. In lieu of No. 9, we propose that the present stated clerk be 
 directed to make out a complete copy of all our records, at the joint 
 expense of both the new bodies, and after causing the copy to be ex 
 amined and certified, deliver it to the written order of the moderator 
 and stated clerk of the General Assembly of the American Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 " 5. We agree, in substance, to the proposal in No. 10, and offer the 
 following as the form in which the proposition shall stand : that the 
 corporate funds and property of the Church, so far as they appertain to 
 the Theological Seminary at Princeton, or relate to the professor s sup 
 port, or the education of beneficiaries there, shall remain the property 
 of the body retaining the name of the General Assembly of the Presby 
 terian Church in the United States of America ; that all other funds 
 shall be equally divided between the new bodies, so far as it can be done 
 in conformity with the intentions of the donors; and that all liabilities 
 of the present Assembly shall be discharged in equal portions by them ; 
 that all questions relating to the future adjustment of this whole subject 
 upon the principles now agreed on, shall be settled by committees 
 appointed by the new Assemblies at their first meeting respectively; 
 and if these committees cannot agree, then each committee shall select 
 one arbitrator, and these two, a third, which arbitrators shall have full 
 power to settle finally the whole case in all its parts ; and that no person 
 shall be appointed an arbitrator, who is a member of either Church; it 
 being distinctly understood that whatever difficulties may arise in the 
 construction of trusts, and all other questions of power, as well as right, 
 legal and equitable, shall be finally decided by the committees or arbi 
 trators, so as in all cases to prevent an appeal by either party to the legal 
 tribunals of the country/ 
 
 A^b. 2, of the Minority. 
 
 "The Committee of the Minority, &c., make the following objections 
 to the proposition of the majority. 
 
 " 1. To any recognition of the terms Old and New Schools/ or Ma 
 jority and Minority/ of the present Assembly; in any action upon the 
 subject of division, the minority expect the division in every respect to 
 be equal ; no other would be satisfactory. 
 
 " 2. Insisting upon an equal division, we are willing that that portion 
 of the Church which shall choose to retain the present Boards, shall 
 have the present name of the Assembly. The corporate property which 
 is susceptible of division to be divided", as the only fair and just course. 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 481 
 
 " 3. We object to the power of the commissioners to make any division 
 at this time, and as individuals we cannot assume the responsibility. 
 
 No. 3 of the Majority. 
 
 
 
 "The Committee of the Majority, &c., in relation to paper No. 2, 
 observe : 
 
 "1. That the terms Old and New School, Majority and Minority/ 
 are meant as descriptive, and some description being necessary, we see 
 neither impropriety nor unsuitableness in them. 
 
 " 2. Our previous paper, No. 2, having, as we suppose, substantially 
 acceded to the proposal of the minority in relation to the funds in their 
 first paper, we deem any further statement on that subject unnecessary. 
 
 "3. That we see no difficulty in the way of settling the matter at 
 present, subject to the revision of the Presbyteries, as provided in our 
 first paper, under the third head ; and as no constitutional rules are 
 proposed in the way of altering any principles of our system, we see no 
 constitutional obstacle to the execution of the proposal already made. 
 We therefore adhere to that plan as our final proposal. But if the com 
 missioners of any Presbytery should refuse to elect, or be equally 
 divided, then the Presbytery which they represent shall make such 
 election at its first meeting after the adjournment of the present General 
 Assembly. 
 
 No. 3 of the Minority. 
 
 " 1. We accede to the proposition to have no preamble. 
 
 " 2. We accede to the proposition No. 4, modifying our proposition 
 No. 9, in relation to the records and copies of the records. The copy to 
 be made within one year after the division. 
 
 " 3. We assent to the modification of No. 10, by No. 5 of the propo 
 sitions submitted, with a trifling alteration in the phraseology, striking 
 out the words, f shall remain the property of the body retaining the name 
 of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America/ and inserting the words, f shall be transferred and 
 belong to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the 
 United States of America, hereby constituted/ 
 
 "4. We cannot assent to any division by the present commissioners 
 of the Assembly, as it would in no wise be obligatory on any of the judi- 
 catories of the Church, or any members of the churches. The only 
 effect would be a disorderly dissolution of the present Assembly, and be 
 of no binding force or effect upon any member who did not assent to it. 
 
 " 5. We propose a resolution to be appended to the llules, and which 
 we believe, if adopted by the committee, would pass with great una 
 nimity, urging in strong terms the adoption of the llules by the Presby 
 teries; and the members of the minority side of the committee pledge 
 
 31 
 
482 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 themselves to use their influence to procure the adoption of the same by 
 the Presbyteries." 
 
 JVb. 4 of the Majority. 
 
 " The* committee of the majority, &c., in reply to paper No. 3 of the 
 minority s committee, simply refer to their own preceding papers, as con 
 taining their final propositions." 
 
 No. 4 of the Minority. 
 
 " The committee of the minority, in reply to Paper No. 3 of the ma 
 jority, observe : 
 
 " That they will unite in a report to the Assembly, stating that the 
 committee have agreed that it is expedient that a division of the Church 
 be effected, and in general upon the principles upon which it is to be 
 carried out; but they differ as to the manner of effecting it. On the 
 one hand, it is asked that a division be made by the present Assembly 
 at their present meeting; and, on the other hand, that the plan of di 
 vision, with the subsequent arrangement and organization, shall be sub 
 mitted to the Presbyteries for their adoption or rejection. They will 
 unite in asking the General Assembly to decide the above points previous 
 to reporting the details, and, in case the Assembly decide in favor of 
 immediate division, then the Paper No. 1 of the majorit}^ with the 
 modifications agreed on, be taken as the basis of the report in detail. 
 
 " If the Assembly decide to send to the Presbyteries, then No. 1 of 
 the minority s papers, with the modifications agreed on, shall be the 
 basis of the report in detail. 
 
 " The committee of the minority cannot agree to any other proposi 
 tions than those already submitted, until the above be settled by the 
 Assembly. 
 
 " If the above proposition be not agreed to, or be modified, and then 
 agreed to, they desire that each side may make a report to the Assembly 
 
 to-morrow morning." 
 
 No. 5 of the Majority. 
 
 "The committee of the majority, &c., in answer to No. 4, &c., reply, 
 that, understanding from the verbal explanations of the committee of the 
 minority, that the said committee would not consider eith3r side bound 
 by the vote of the Assembly, if it were against their views and wishes 
 respectively on the point proposed to be submitted to its decision in said 
 paper, to carry out in good faith a scheme which, in that case, could not 
 be approved by them ; and under such circumstances a voluntary sepa 
 ration being manifestly impossible, this committee consider No. 4 of the 
 minority as virtually a waiver of the whole subject. If nothing farther 
 remains to be proposed, they submit that the papers be laid before the 
 Assembly, and that the united committee be dissolved." 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 483 
 
 " The Committee on the State of the Church was discharged. 
 " The whole subject was laid on the table for the present. Yeas, 138; 
 Nays, 107." Minutes, 1837, pp. 430-437. 
 
 11. The Synod of the Western Reserve declared to be no longer a Part 
 of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. 
 
 "Resolved, That, by the operation of the abrogation of the Plan of 
 Union of 1801, the Synod of the Western Reserve is, and is hereby 
 declared to be no longer a part of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America. Yeas, 132 ; Nays, 105." Minutes, 1837, p. 440. 
 
 12. Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee exscinded. 
 
 il Be it resolved, by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the United States of America 
 
 "1. That in consequence of the abrogation by this Assembly of the 
 Plan of Union of 1801, between it and the General Association of Con 
 necticut, as utterly unconstitutional, and therefore null and void from 
 the beginning, the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee, which were 
 formed and attached to this body under and in execution of said Plan 
 of Union, be, and are hereby declared to be out of the ecclesiastical con 
 nection of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, 
 and that they are not in form or in fact an integral portion of said 
 Church. 
 
 " 2. That the solicitude of this Assembly on the whole subject, and 
 its urgency for the immediate decision of it, are greatly increased by 
 reason of the gross disorders which are ascertained to have prevailed in 
 those Synods (as well as that of the Western Reserve, against which a 
 declarative resolution, similar to the first of these, has been passed during 
 our present sessions), it being made clear to us that even the Plan of 
 Union itself was never consistently carried into effect by those professing 
 to act under it. 
 
 " 3. That the General Assembly has no intention by these resolutions, 
 or by that passed in the case of the Synod of the Western Reserve, to 
 affect in any way the ministerial standing of any members of either of 
 said Synods ; nor to disturb the pastoral relation in any church ; nor to 
 interfere with the duties or relations of private Christians in their re 
 spective congregations ; but only to declare and determine, according to 
 
484 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 the truth and necessity of the case, and by virtue of the full authority 
 existing in it for that purpose, the relation of all said Synods and all 
 their constituent parts to this body, and to the Presbyterian Church in 
 the United States. 
 
 "4. That inasmuch as there are reported to be several churches and 
 ministers, if not one or two Presbyteries, now in connection with one or 
 more of said Synods, which are strictly Presbyterian in doctrine and 
 order, be it therefore further resolved, that all such churches and minis 
 ters as wish to unite with us, are hereby directed to apply for admission 
 into those Presbyteries belonging to our connection which are most con 
 venient to their respective locations ; and that any such Presbytery as 
 aforesaid, being strictly Presbyterian in doctrine and order, and now in 
 connection with either of said Synods, as may desire to unite with us, 
 are hereby directed to make application, with a full statement of their 
 cases, to the next General Assembly, which will take proper order 
 thereon." 
 
 " Yeas on resolution 1, 115; Nays, 88 ; on resolutions 2, 3, 4, Yeas, 
 113 ; Nays, W." Minutes, 1837, pp. 444, 445. 
 
 13. Protest of the Commissioners from the Synod of Western Reserve. 
 
 "We, the subscribers, commissioners to this General Assembly from 
 the Presbyteries of Grand River, Trumbull, Portage, Cleveland, Lorain, 
 Medina, Huron, and Maumee, feel it our duty to enter our solemn pro 
 test and remonstrance against what we regard the unconstitutional and 
 unjust act of the Assembly, by which we are interrupted in the dis 
 charge of the duties assigned us by our respective Presbyteries, and 
 excluded from the floor of this house, and from the Presbyterian 
 Church of these United States of America; and by which the General 
 Assembly of the said Church is actually dismembered ; and for the fol 
 lowing reasons, viz. : 
 
 "1. We were regularly appointed by our Presbyteries, commissioned 
 in due form, and admitted to our seats in this Assembly, and exercised 
 our undisputed rights as members for two weeks. 
 
 "2. The Presbyteries represented by us all have a regular Presby 
 terian existence, according to the Constitution of the Presbyterian 
 Church, as interpreted and administered by all the courts of the 
 Church ; and some of these Presbyteries existed prior to the adoption of 
 the Constitution in 1821, and participated in that act. 
 
 " 3. If there was anything wrong in the original organization of our 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 485 
 
 Presbyteries (which we do not admit or believe), this wrong was charge 
 able, not upon us, but upon the Synod of Pittsburg, from whose act our 
 original Presbyteries received their existence, and which act has been 
 sanctioned by twenty-two General Assemblies, up to the present time. 
 
 " 4. But if, after an administration of the Constitution for thirty-six 
 years, on the assumption that the Plan of Union with the Association 
 of Connecticut was constitutional, a different conclusion is now arrived 
 at, we can see no reason why this new discovery, which legally concerns 
 the l accommodation churches only, should be made a reason why Pres 
 byteries, ministers, and elders, regularly introduced into the Presbyterian 
 Church, according to its known and common forms, should be driven, 
 without a constitutional trial, from the rights and privileges secured to 
 them by our Constitution. 
 
 "5. If it be assumed that the existence of churches on the accom 
 modation plan rightfully annihilates the existence of all Presbyteries 
 and Synods where such churches have been formed, we see not why this 
 principle should be confined in its severe application to the Synod of the 
 Western Reserve, when it is known that the same system has prevailed 
 in the Synods of Albany, New Jersey, and South Carolina and Georgia, 
 and extensively in other Synods under the care of the General Assembly. 
 And, if the toleration of the accommodation plan proves so fatal to the 
 existence of inferior courts, we see not why the originating and the fos 
 tering of this plan for thirty-six years should not render nugatory all the 
 acts of the Assembly itself, and even destroy its charter. 
 
 " A principle which leads to results so disastrous and suicidal to the 
 Presbyterian Church, we cannot regard as constitutional. 
 
 " 6. Once admit that regularly appointed commissioners may be ex 
 cluded instanter, without a charge of discourtesy to the House, and 
 without trial, and the way is open to drive from the General Assembly, 
 under some pretext or other, any member, or any number of members, 
 who, for the time being, may be obnoxious to the majority. This prin 
 ciple annihilates at once arid forever the rights of Presbyteries on this 
 floor, and renders the Constitution itself a dead letter. 
 
 "We complain not so much that we were denied a patient hearing; 
 that it was professed we were not on trial, on the ground that we were 
 already out of the House by the passage of a previous resolution ; and 
 that still testimony was elicited from us catechetically, which, we think, 
 was abused to our condemnation that the whole case on which hung 
 the destiny of the Synod was hurried through, and finally closed bv the 
 previous question, which shut up the mouths of ourselves and our 
 friends; that, finally, we were furnished with no communication dis 
 missing us from the House in a courteous manner. All this we have felt 
 to be unkind and unjust treatment; but we have passed it over, to select 
 our reasons for protest from the great principles of Presbyterianism, 
 which, in our case, have been violated. We, therefore, wish to leave 
 this our solemn protest on the records of a court of which we still regard 
 
486 XII. THE DIVISION OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 ourselves as rightful members. Having done this, we commit our case 
 to the calm decision of the Church at large, of posterity, of God. 
 
 "Rufus Nutting, Alanson Sauriders, Henry Brown, Eldad Barber,, 
 John Seward, William Fuller, Joseph H. Breck, James Boyd, 
 Harmon Kingsbury, Isaac J. Rice, Varnum Noyes, Benjamin 
 Woodbury, Dudley Williams." Minutes, 1837, pp. 449, 450. 
 
 14. Answer to the Protest. 
 
 u The General Assembly might not only decline to reply to the pro 
 test signed by the commissioners from the Presbyteries composing the 
 Synod of the Western Reserve, but even refuse to admit it to record. 
 For if the Plan of Union was unconstitutional, and therefore void, from 
 the beginning, and the existence of these Presbyteries was founded on 
 that Plan of Union, then they never had a constitutional existence, and 
 their commissioners never had a constitutional right to a seat in the 
 General Assembly. The Assembly, therefore, do not exclude those who 
 they admit once had a right to seats here, but they simply declare that, 
 from the unconstitutional organization of these Presbyteries, their com 
 missioners never had, and of course now have not a right to seats in 
 this Assembly. They, therefore, had no f right to vote/ and conse 
 quently had no right to join in a protest against any decision of this 
 House, or to have their protest admitted to record. They did vote, 
 however, in the decision against which they protest; but if they did 
 that in one case which the Constitution did not authorize, that certainly 
 gives them no right to do another thing which depended on their right 
 to do the first act. 
 
 " But the Assembly desire to treat those brethren with all courtesy, 
 and therefore allow their protest a place in the records. 
 
 " To their reasons for protesting, the following answers are given : 
 
 u It seems, however, to be proper in the first place to state the great 
 principle on which the Assembly decided. 
 
 " W r e believe that our powers, as a judicatory, are limited and pre 
 scribed by the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church. Whatever any 
 Assembly may do which it is not authorized by the Constitution to do, 
 is not binding on any inferior judicatory, nor on any subsequent Assem 
 bly. 
 
 " The Constitution provides that all our judicatories shall be composed 
 of bishops or ministers and ruling elders of the Presbyterian Church, 
 and the General Assembly have no right to introduce into any of the 
 judicatories any other persons claiming to hold any other offices, either 
 in the Presbyterian Church or any other Church. And should they 
 attempt to do this, no one is bound by it. But the General Assembly 
 of 1801 did permit members of standing committees in churches not 
 Presbyterian t to sit and act in our Presbyteries, and under this pro 
 vision they have sat in the higher judicatories of the Church. 
 
 U 0n a thorough investigation, it is now fully ascertained that they 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 487 
 
 had no authority from the Constitution to admit officers from any other 
 denomination of Christians to sit and act in our judicatories ; and there 
 fore no Presbytery or Synod thus constituted is recognized by the Con 
 stitution of our Church, and no subsequent General Assembly is bound 
 to recognize them. 
 
 "The Presbyteries of the Synod of the Western Reserve are thus 
 constituted, for committee-men are permitted to sit and act in all these 
 Presbyteries; therefore this General Assembly cannot recognize the 
 constitutional existence of these Presbyteries. 
 
 " The fact that they have been recognized by former Assemblies 
 cannot bind this Assembly, when it is fully convinced of the unconstitu 
 tionally of the organization. 
 
 " In reply to the first reason in the protest, viz., that they were 
 regularly appointed by their Presbyteries, &c., we say they were not 
 ^regularly appointed, for it is admitted that these committee-men are 
 allowed to vote for commissioners to the Assembly, and these illegal 
 votes, of which there may have been a majority, render the appoint 
 ment illegal. They held their seats in this Assembly for some time, it 
 is true, but this gives them no right to continue to hold them after it is 
 ascertained that they had no constitutional right to seats. 
 
 "As to the second reason, that their Presbyteries have a regular 
 Presbyterian existence, it is denied by this Assembly, and on this 
 ground they are denied seats. The existence of Presbyteries thus con 
 stituted is recognized neither in the former nor the amended Constitution 
 of the Church. 
 
 "3. If the Synod of Pittsburg constituted Presbyteries in part of 
 materials not allowed by the Constitution, this Assembly is not bound 
 to recognize them. 
 
 " 4. It is well known to those acquainted with the history of this 
 General Assembly, that the Plan of Union, as an unconstitutional com 
 pact, has long been a subject of complaint, and as long ago as the year 
 1831, the Assembly resolved that the appointment of members of stand 
 ing committees to be members of the General Assembly, was of ques 
 tionable constitutionality, and therefore ought not in future to be made ; 
 and since that time none have been received in the Assembly known to 
 be such. But their right to seats here is just as constitutional as in the 
 Presbytery. 
 
 "The protestants still assume that their Presbyteries are regularly 
 constituted, while we consider it a fundamental departure from our 
 system to organize a Presbytery with one or two Presbyterian churches 
 and ten or twelve of another denomination of Christians. And had none 
 but Presbyterian churches been allowed to belong to the Presbyteries, 
 some of these Presbyteries never would have existed. The representa 
 tives of these churches, on the accommodation plan, form a constituent 
 part of these Presbyteries as really as the pastors or elders, and this 
 Assembly can recognize no Presbytery thus constituted as belonging to 
 the Presbyterian Church. 
 
488 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " 5. The Assembly has extended the operation of this principle to 
 other Synods which they find similarly constituted. But even if they 
 did not, this injures not the Synod of the Western Reserve. 
 
 a 6. l Once admit that regularly appointed commissioners may be 
 excluded/ &c. This is assuming what we deny. Many of those who 
 voted for these commissioners, and, for aught we know, a majority, were 
 neither bishops nor ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church, and there 
 fore had no right to vote for those commissioners. 
 
 " The Constitution says expressly, it (the General Assembly) shall 
 represent in one body all the particular churches of this denomination j 
 but these commissioners were voted for by the delegates of churches of 
 another denomination ; therefore they represent churches of another 
 denomination. According to their own showing, there is one Presbytery 
 with only one Presbyterian church, another with two, and in the whole 
 Synod, containing one hundred and thirty-nine churches, there are only. 
 twenty-five, or, at most, thirty Presbyterian churches, and one hundred 
 and nine Congregational churches, or churches of a mixed character. 
 It cannot, therefore, be a Presbyterian body where more than three- 
 fourths of the churches are not Presbyterian. It is perfectly manifest 
 that in a body thus constituted it would often occur that the commis 
 sioners elected would be chosen by those who had no right to vote, and 
 so they would be the representatives not of the Presbyterian, but of the 
 Congregational denomination. 
 
 " We would observe, in reference to the conclusion of the protest, that 
 the members of the Synod of the Western Reserve, and their friends, 
 occupied a larger space in the discussion than the majority of the 
 Assembly; and the previous question was not called for until it was 
 manifest that the minds of members were made up. As the Assembly 
 has already made provision for the organization into Presbyteries and 
 annexation to this body of all the ministers and churches who are 
 thoroughly Presbyterian, it is not necessary to reply to the closing 
 remarks of the protest." Ibid., pp. 450, 452. 
 
 15. Protest of the Commissioners from the Synods of Utica, Geneva, 
 
 and Genesee. 
 
 u Whereas, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America, now in session, has declared the Synods of 
 Utica, Geneva, and Genesee, no longer constituent parts of the Presby 
 terian Church ; and whereas, the commissioners from the Presbyteries 
 constituting those Synods have been deprived of the right of deliberating 
 and voting in this House, therefore 
 
 " The undersigned, commissioners from the Synods of Utica, Geneva, 
 and Genesee, claim their right to enter their protest and remonstrance 
 against these acts, for the reasons following, viz. : 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 489 
 
 "1. Because we deem such acts utterly unconstitutional and unpre 
 cedented. In our Form of Government (chap, xii, sees. 4 and 5), the 
 powers of the General Assembly are specifically defined, but no authority 
 to exercise such summary process and excision is there granted. In our 
 Book of Discipline (chapters iv and v), the mode of procedure in the 
 trial and punishment of ministers of the Gospel is expressly and speci 
 fically prescribed, yet no one point of these laws of discipline has been 
 conformed to in the excision and virtual excommunication of four or five 
 hundred ministers, in good and regular standing in the Presbyterian 
 Church ; no citations have been issued or served ; no charges have been 
 specified or preferred, and no opportunity has been afforded for justifica 
 tion or defence. 
 
 "2. Because, when the regular and constitutional method of trial was 
 proposed to this house, the majority rejected this plan, and proceeded, 
 .without trial in any form, and, in our judgment, in the face of all the 
 regulations and provisions of our Constitution and rules of discipline, to 
 declare the aforesaid Synods to be l out of the ecclesiastical connection 
 of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and not in form or fact 
 an integral portion of said Church/ 
 
 " 3. Because the act of exclusion is professedly based on the previous 
 act of the Assembly, purporting to abrogate the Plan of Union formed 
 by the Assembly of 1801, with the Connecticut Association, and acted 
 upon for thirty-six years; whereas, in our estimation, that ancient com 
 pact could not, in good faith, be abrogated without previous conference 
 with said Association ; and even if it could be so abrogated, that abro 
 gation would not destroy or invalidate the institutions established, and 
 the rights vested under its operation. Besides, the majority of the 
 churches within the bounds of said Synods are strictly Presbyterian in 
 their structure, and, with few exceptions, even the small number of 
 churches originally Congregational were not organized under the stipu 
 lations of the said Plan of Union, but came in under a different 
 arrangement, and posssessed rights on this subject, separate from and 
 independent of the Plan of Union of 1801, secured to them by the 
 Assembly of 1808, by which the Synod of Albany was authorized to 
 take the Middle Association under its care; in virtue of which ar 
 rangement commissioners from said Association were admitted to the 
 floor of the General Assembly up to the period when the Association 
 was dissolved and erected into two Presbyteries, regularly organized out 
 of its materials. 
 
 "4. Because all our Synods and Presbyteries have been regularly and 
 constitutionally formed and recognized, and, as such, have no necessary 
 dependence whatever upon the Plan of Union, or any other plan of 
 accommodation, and, consequently, could not be affected either by the 
 existence or abrogation of such plan. 
 
 " 5. Because no proof was exhibited on the floor of the Assembly, that 
 a single minister in these Synods was irregularly inducted into the office 
 of the ministry, and we know of none such ; and in every Presbytery 
 
490 XII. THE DIVISION OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 belonging to these Synods there are churches formed on strict Presbyte 
 rian principles, and in most of our Presbyteries such churches compose 
 a large majority. 
 
 " 6. Because, while the resolution for the exclusion of these Synods 
 was under discussion, members were permitted to read and refer to let 
 ters and publications containing what we consider unfounded statements, 
 and to utter vague and injurious reports, and when requested, refused to 
 give names, places, and dates; and, although the right was insisted 
 upon, not a single commissioner from any one of the three Synods could 
 obtain the floor to address the Assembly on the resolution, being put 
 down by the motion for the previous question. 
 
 " 7. Because no notice whatever was given to the Synods in question 
 of the intention to sever them from the Presbyterian Church, nor the 
 least opportunity afforded them for vindicating themselves from the vague 
 and informal charges uttered against them on the floor of the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 " 8. Because there has been no definite or authentic evidence what 
 ever regularly before this Assembly, of the existence within the bounds 
 of the said Synods of those errors in doctrine, or those gross irregularities 
 in practice which they are alleged to be guilty of tolerating. 
 
 "9. Because, in our view, these acts of the Assembly are not only 
 unconstitutional and unwarrantable, but tend to disturb the peace of our 
 churches, to injure our ministerial character and standing, and to impair 
 our usefulness, and thus to retard the progress of truth and righteousness 
 in one of the most populous and important sections of our country. 
 
 " 10. Because, finally, while in the accompanying resolutions it is de 
 clared that these acts are not intended to affect our ministerial character, 
 or to interfere with the organization and peace of our Synods or Presby 
 teries, the last resolution in the category directs Presbyteries, ministers, 
 and churches, to detach themselves from the bodies with which they are 
 now connected, and apply for admission into the nearest Presbyteries of 
 the Presbyterian Church. Thus attempting to exercise authority over 
 bodies already declared not to be constituent portions of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States, and to disturb their order and peace. 
 
 " For these reasons, we do hereby enter our solemn protest and re 
 monstrance against the proceedings in question. 
 
 " John W. McCullough, George Spalding, S. Benjamin, Philip 
 C. Hay, Thomas Lounsbury, Merit Harmon, Solomon Ste 
 vens, Ira Pettibone, John Gridley, J. B. Richardson, Marcus 
 Smith, Horace Hunt, Henry Brewster, Samuel W. May, 
 Fayette Shipherd, Washington Thatcher, J. B. Preston." 
 Minutes, 1837, pp. 464-466. 
 
 16. Answer to tli-is Protest. 
 
 u In reply to the protest of the commissioners from the Presbyteries 
 composing the Synods of Utica, Geneva, and Genesee, against the act of 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 491 
 
 this Assembly declaring them no longer a constituent portion of the 
 Presbyterian Church, the Assembly remark : 
 
 "1. That the above-named Synods became connected with the Pres 
 byterian Church by the Plan of Union of 1801, which Plan the Assem 
 bly had no constitutional power to adopt, and was accordingly null and 
 void from the beginning. So it has been declared by this Assembly. 
 And as these Synods became connected with the General Assembly by 
 an unconstitutional Plan of Union, they never have been a constitu 
 tional part of it. And this is all the act in reference to them declares. 
 
 "Nor is there, as the protestants declare, an excommunication of four 
 or five hundred ministers. The act itself asserts the contrary. As there 
 was no judicial process instituted against them, no citations were neces 
 sary. Without impeaching the character or standing of the brethren 
 composing these Synods, this Assembly, by a legislative act, merely de 
 clares them, in consequence of the abrogation of the Plan of Union of 
 1801, no longer a constituent part of the General Assembly of the Pres 
 byterian Church in the United States. 
 
 "2. When resolutions were before the house for the citation of judi 
 catures to the bar of the next Assembly, charged by common fame with 
 sanctioning errors in doctrine and irregularities in practice, the protest- 
 ants unanimously opposed them. And now they complain that they were 
 not thus cited. 
 
 " 8. The compact of the Assembly of 1808 with the Synod of Albany, 
 in reference to the Middle Association/ is as unconstitutional as the 
 Plan of Union of 1801 ; and the fact stated by the protestants, that two 
 large Presbyteries were made out of that Middle Association, and that 
 commissioners from said Association were admitted to the floor of the 
 Assembly as members, only proves the constitutionality of the act against 
 which they complain. So that their third specification of grievance con 
 tains its own answer. 
 
 " 4. The contrary of their fourth specification of grievance is believed 
 and proved to be the fact. The great majority of the churches of these 
 Synods were formerly Congregational; and the great majority of those 
 of them now Presbyterian retain much of their Congregational pecu 
 liarities and prejudices. They almost unanimously prefer the institu 
 tions of the Church they have abandoned, to those of the Church of their 
 adoption. They are in form Presbyterian, but in prejudice, and in fact, 
 Congregational. 
 
 11 5. As no charge was brought against any minister or ministers, that 
 they were irregularly inducted into the office of the ministry, no proof 
 was needed to sustain it. The charge is, not that they were irregularly 
 inducted into the Christian ministry, but that they were unconstitution 
 ally connected with the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " 6. The papers complained of were official papers, published over the 
 signatures of stated clerks of Presbyteries, and committees of Synods 
 and Associations. The resolutions complained of were thirty-six hours 
 under debate, and more than one-half of the time was occupied by those 
 
492 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 opposed to their adoption. A brother, in the midst of an argument, 
 yielded the floor, that the protestants might make what statements they 
 thought proper ; but none were made. The previous question was once 
 withdrawn, for the same purpose; and they were yet silent. And yet 
 they complain because no time was given that they were put down by 
 the previous question ! ! 
 
 11 7. This is founded on the supposition that they were constitutional 
 parts of the Presbyterian Church, and that the act by which they were 
 declared to be no longer a constitutional part of it, is not a legislative, 
 but a judicial act. Both of which suppositions are incorrect. 
 
 "8. The evidence of great errors in doctrine and gross irregularities 
 in practice prevailing to an alarming extent within the bounds of said 
 Synods, and if not countenanced, certainly unsuppressed by them, is 
 before the Church and the world. 
 
 " 9. This is a mere expression of opinion by the protestants, to which, 
 in this free country, every man has an undoubted right. 
 
 " 10. In the resolution complained of, this Assembly merely tenders 
 its advice to the ministers and churches sincerely Presbyterian, and 
 points them to the constitutional door, by which they may speedily return 
 to the Church of their preference and affection." Minutes. 1837, pp. 
 466, 467. 
 
 17. Dissolution of the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia. 
 
 " Be it resolved, by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the United States of America : 
 
 " 1. That the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia be, and is hereby 
 dissolved. 
 
 " 2. That the territory embraced in this Presbytery is reannexed to 
 those to which it respectively appertained before its creation. Its stated 
 clerk is directed to deposit all the records and other papers in the hands 
 of the stated clerk of the Synod of Philadelphia, on or before the first 
 day of the sessions of that Synod, at its first meeting after this Assembly 
 adjourns. 
 
 " 3. The candidates and foreign missionaries of the Third Presbytery 
 of Philadelphia are hereby attached to the Presbytery of Philadelphia. 
 
 "4. The ministers, churches, arid licentiates in the Presbytery hereby 
 dissolved, are directed to apply, without delay, to the Presbyteries to 
 which they most naturally belong, for admission into them. And upon 
 application being so made by any duly organized Presbyterian Church, 
 it shall be received. 
 
 " 5. These resolutions shall be in force from and after the final adjourn- 
 
THE EXSCINDING ACTS. 493 
 
 ment of the present sessions of the General Assembly." [Yeas, 75 ; 
 nays, GO.] Minutes, 1837, p. 472. 
 
 18. Protest against the foregoing Action. 
 
 " The undersigned, members of the General Assembly, present the 
 following protest against the resolutions of the General Assembly, by 
 which the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia has been dissolved, and 
 for the following reasons : 
 
 " 1. Because the said resolutions are contrary to the acts of several 
 successive General Assemblies, by which said Presbytery was, as we 
 believe, constitutionally created, and has been sustained. This Presbytery 
 was formed by the General Assembly of 1832, justly said to have been 
 one of the ablest Assemblies that ever sat in this city; and that too 
 after long, full, and able discussion as to the constitutionality of creating 
 it, the Assembly having deemed it the only effectual and constitutional 
 way of suppressing the protracted and painful disputes among the 
 brethren in the Presbytery of Philadelphia. 
 
 "Nor was this done until the Synod had refused to take steps for the 
 division of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, as directed by the Assembly 
 of 1831, and the case had been brought up before the Assembly by 
 complaint and petition, and by the reference of the Synod. Subsequently 
 this Presbytery having been dissolved by the Synod of Philadelphia, was 
 restored by the Assembly in 1834. In 1836, the Assembly assigned 
 geographical limits to this Presbytery, in the belief and with the general 
 understanding, that it was to terminate the dispute in relation to its 
 alleged un constitutional existence, on the ground of elective affinity. 
 Here it was hoped this Presbytery would have been permitted to pursue 
 their labors without further molestation. We therefore regard it as not 
 only doing injury to the Presbytery, but as being contrary to the re 
 peatedly expressed decisions of the collected wisdom of the whole Church, 
 and utterly subversive of all stability in our government, when the case 
 had been fairly before them and fully discussed, again to disturb the 
 organization of this Presbytery and agitate the churches of this city. 
 
 "2. We protest against the dissolution of this Presbytery, on the 
 ground of its having been originally a mere elective affinity body, for this 
 principle has been recognized and acted upon by the Presbyterian Church 
 in this country for nearly a century, as a means of terminating painful 
 disputes among brethren of the same Presbytery. It is a thing of frequent 
 occurrence, to allow a minister unpleasantly situated, either from local 
 circumstances or otherwise, to withdraw and connect himself with another 
 Presbytery. 
 
 " 3. Because the objections urged against the existence of this Pres 
 bytery, on the ground of its alleged defective geographical limits, are 
 wholly without foundation, inasmuch as the geographical boundaries are 
 completely and throughout its whole extent accurately defined, so that its 
 
494 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 future operations are restricted within limits much more distinctly defined 
 than either of the two other Presbyteries in this city. 
 
 " 4. We protest against the resolution, because of its unconstitution- 
 ality, inasmuch as the Presbytery has been dissolved without being 
 accused, cited, tried, or condemned, and that too without any opportunity 
 of defence, and in a manner as sudden and unexpected, as it has been 
 in our apprehension contrary to justice and right ; and inasmuch as it 
 may have the effect to exclude from the Presbyterian Church some of 
 its ministers in good standing, without the benefit of those forms of 
 justice which our Book of Discipline provides shall be respected in all 
 processes affecting the reputation of ministers, and guarantees to all. 
 
 " 5. Because the resolution was passed after four Synods had been 
 cut off, thus taking fifty-one commissioners from the floor of the Assem 
 bly, and thus dismembering the body, which we feel to be the more 
 grievous, because, had the thing been attempted before such dismember 
 ment, it could not have been carried. 
 
 " 6. We protest, finally, because of the contentions which we fear it 
 will excite again in this city, and which we had hoped had happily 
 ceased. The Presbytery was at peace and peacefully pursuing its course. 
 Its plans of usefulness have thus been broken up. Its way is embarrassed. 
 The churches under its care are thrown into perplexity and confusion, 
 and in our apprehension serious injury will be inflicted on the interests 
 of religion in this city. 
 
 " John P. Cleaveland, William Jessup, Robert Stuart, Frederick 
 W. Graves, James I. Ostrom, E. W. Gilbert, E. Seymour, Am 
 brose White, George Painter, John L. Grant, N. C. Clork, E. 
 Cheever, Bliss Burnap, George Duffield. T. D. Southworth, 
 Thomas Brown, Burr Bradley, N. S. S. Beman, Alexander 
 Campbell, John Mines, Absalom Peters, Jacob Faris, Samuel 
 Reed, Wilfred Hall, Adam Wilier. "Minutes, 1837, pp. 486- 
 488. 
 
 19. Answer to the Protest. 
 
 "Resolved, That the protest respecting the dissolution of the Third 
 Presbytery of Philadelphia, is sufficiently answered by stating that the 
 reasonings which it contains are foreign from the grounds on which the 
 question was decided ; that the evidence before this Assembly, establish 
 ing the evil effects of the existence of this Presbytery, is ample j that 
 the principle on which it was formed, and on which it has existed up to 
 this time, viz., that of elective affinity, is now on all hands admitted to 
 be unconstitutional; and lastly, that being originally formed by the 
 Assembly, none can question the right of that body to dissolve it, when 
 ever its continued existence is found to be injurious to truth and 
 charity." Minutes, 1837, p. 488. 
 
PERTAINING TO THE DIVISION. 495 
 
 SECTION 3. PERTAINING TO THE DIVISION. 
 
 1. Pastoral letter to the churches under the care of the General Assembly, 1837. 
 2. Circular letter to the Churches of Christ. 3. Assembly of 1838. Organization 
 of the Assembly. 4. Demand for the records, books, papers, &c. of the General 
 Assembly. The demand refused. 5. Trustees elected. 6. Committee of Twelve 
 appointed -with power to advise and direct. 7. The Assembly willing to agree 
 to any reasonable measure for the amicable adjustment of difficulties. 8. Pas 
 toral letter to the churches under the care of the General Assembly, 1838. 9. 
 Report of the Committee of Twelve. Articles of agreement proposed. Result 
 of the trial at law. Charge of the court. 10. A declaration of the General 
 Assembly, setting forth its present position and its causes. 11. Withdrawal of 
 the suits at law. 12. The roll of the Assembly rectified. 13. Proposal to unite 
 in communion ; refused. 14. Committee of Correspondence appointed. The 
 result. 15. Detail of efforts for a harmonious understanding. 
 
 1. Pastoral Letter to the Churches wider the Care of the General 
 Assembly, 1837. 
 
 [Adopted by the majority of the Assembly of 1837, after the pas 
 sage of the Exscinding Acts. Minutes, 1837, p. 479.] 
 
 " DEAR BRETHREN : As the doings of the present General Assembly 
 have been of unusual character, and such as may produce important 
 consequences, we think it proper to lay an abstract of our decisions and 
 the reasons of them before the churches under our care. Discerning 
 men have perceived for a number of years, that the affairs of our beloved 
 Church were hastening to a crisis ; and when the members of the present 
 Assembly came together, the state of parties was such as to make it 
 manifest, that a division of the Church was the most desirable object 
 that could be effected. What are called the Old School and New School 
 parties are already separated in fact; in almost every part of our country 
 where those parties exist, they have less ministerial or Christian com 
 munion with one another than either of those parties have with Christians 
 of other denominations; and they are so equally balanced in point of 
 power, that for years past it has been uncertain, until the General 
 Assembly was fully organized, which of those parties would predominate 
 in that body. 
 
 " From these circumstances, as well as from other things not necessary 
 to mention, it is known to our brethren, that the floor of our highest 
 judicatory, as well as of our Synods and Presbyteries, has, for years, 
 presented scenes of contention and strife such as many of us never 
 expected to witness in the Presbyterian Church, and such as are highly 
 disgraceful to our Christian character. This spirit of contention deprives 
 the Church of all power for maintaining the purity of her standards, and 
 securing that wholesome instruction, either in our pulpits or presses, 
 
496 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 which would conduce to the edification of the body of Christ; and until 
 the parties are separated and formed into different denominations, there 
 is no ground of hope that these contentions can be terminated. 
 
 " So fully was this Assembly convinced, that a separation of the 
 parties was the only cure for the evils under which we labor, that a com 
 mittee was appointed by common consent, composed of equal numbers 
 from the different sides of the house, to adjust if possible the terms of 
 an amicable division of the Church into two separate and independent 
 denominations. This joint committee agreed upon the principles of the 
 division, but could not agree upon the form. It was admitted on all 
 hands, that the Old School party should retain the name and the funds 
 of the Church, and especially all the funds and property connected with 
 the Theological Seminaries at Princeton and Pittsburg. But on the 
 mode of separation the committee could not agree. The New School 
 party would consent to no other plan than that of referring it to the 
 Presbyteries, in order to have the division made by the next General 
 Assembly. To this plan the other party thought there were insuperable 
 objections. It was believed that, our Presbyteries being so widely dis 
 persed, the returns from them would be uncertain; that many things 
 might occur to defeat the arrangement ; and that, as the probable result, 
 the parties would come to the next Assembly, with more determination 
 to contend for the power and government of the whole Church than on 
 any former occasion. 
 
 "On reviewing the causes from which our troubles have arisen, 
 another plan presented itself to the view of the majority, which appeared 
 better calculated to effect, in a peaceable manner, that division of the 
 Church which all seemed to consider as a matter of indispensable neces 
 sity. The contentions which distract the Church evidently arose from 
 the Plan of Union formed in 1801, between the General Assembly and 
 the Association of Connecticut. This Plan was indeed projected and 
 brought into operation by some of the wisest and best men the Presby 
 terian Church has ever known, and it evidently originated from the 
 purest and most benevolent motives. It has, however, been disastrous 
 in its effects. We mean no disrespect to the Congregationalists of New 
 England, as such ; indeed there is no denomination of Christians beyond 
 the pale of our own Church whom we esteem and love more sincerely; 
 and yet we believe that the attempt, by this Plan of Union, to bring 
 Congregationalists and Presbyterians into the same denomination, has 
 been the principal cause of those dissensions which now distract and 
 rend the Church to pieces. 
 
 " We allude to these circumstances, merely for the purpose of ex 
 plaining the only remedy which appears applicable to our present 
 troubles. The Plan of Union adopted in 1801, was evidently unconsti 
 tutional in its nature, and of a tendency to subvert the institutions and 
 distinctive character of the Presbyterian Church; and such being the 
 fact, it was certainly the duty of the present Assembly to abrogate said 
 Plan, and to declare it void from the beginning. From this act of abro 
 gation, and from the declaration that it was void from the beginning, it 
 
PASTORAL LETTER. 497 
 
 would necessarily follow, that the churches, Presbyteries, and Synods 
 formed under said Plan, were of course not to be considered as parts of 
 the Presbyterian Church. From this view of the subject it appears, 
 that the separation, so necessary for the well-being of the Presbyterian 
 Church, exists already, and that we have nothing to do but to act on the 
 facts of the case to secure our tranquillity. 
 
 "In the first place, we have said that the act of Union of 1801 was 
 unconstitutional. It will be admitted that the most fundamental and 
 sound parts of the constitution of any community, are those parts which 
 form the legislative and judicial councils of the community, and desig 
 nate the qualifications of the members of said councils. These are parts 
 of the government, in all societies, deemed too sacred to be touched by 
 any authority, excepting that which can make and unmake the consti 
 tution at its pleasure. Should any authority in the United States assume 
 to introduce into the State legislatures or Congress, men not constitu 
 tionally qualified, and who were subjects of another political power, the 
 alarm would be given at once that a most violent outrage had been in 
 flicted on our governments and our rights. And although we would say 
 it with respect, yet we must say, that this was the very thing which the 
 act of 1801 effected in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church. 
 By that act, committee-men belonging to the Congregational Church, 
 and under its government, were introduced into our Presbyteries, and 
 by the subsequent execution of the act, into our Synods and our General 
 Assembly. Men who were under the authority of a body without our 
 Church, exercised the highest power of the Church. This was a^ most 
 palpable infraction of our Constitution. 
 
 " In the next place, all the churches formed and constituted under 
 the operation of this act, were at least as much trained in doctrine and 
 church order on the Congregational as on the Presbyterian plan, and 
 had just as much preparation for becoming members of a Congregational 
 as of a Presbyterian church ; and therefore any subsequent acts of any 
 of our judicatories, forming such churches into Presbyteries or Synods, 
 and connecting them with us as constituent parts of our body, were un 
 constitutional. This has been the source of all our present evils : the 
 raising up of Presbyteries and Synods out of men who had at least as 
 much of the Congregational as Presbyterian character, has scattered the 
 elements of discord through all our regions, and torn our afflicted Church 
 to pieces. These indeed were consequences not perceived from the 
 beginning; it required the light of experience to teach us, that the 
 amalgamation of such bodies as the Congregational and Presbyterian 
 would produce a ferment sufficient to agitate the whole American nation. 
 
 " Having traced thus far the unconstitutional and pernicious tendency 
 of this act, it only remains to say, that when this act is abrogated by the 
 proper authority, as a matter of course everything which arose under its 
 influence and training is abrogated with it. This we presume is the 
 ground on which all the jurisprudence of our country stands, and upon 
 which all our political courts and legislatures act. It has indeed been 
 
 32 
 
498 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 said, that when an unconstitutional law forms a contract, the abrogation 
 of the law cannot set the contract aside, as this would suppose that a, 
 person might take the advantage of his own wrong to relieve himself 
 from a just obligation. But to this it may be answered, that an uncon 
 stitutional law can give rise to no binding contract. The unconstitu- 
 tionality supposes that the organ of government is granting what it has 
 no right to grant, and therefore no obligation can be imposed. But in 
 the present case, the act in question goes to the subversion of the Pres 
 byterian Church, and therefore any contract which could arise under it, 
 calculated to destroy that Church, would be of such an immoral tendency 
 as could impose no obligation. It is -one of the first principles of morals, 
 that an unlawful contract is not to be fulfilled. 
 
 " It then appears plain to us, that, by the abrogation of the act of 
 1801, the Synods of the Western Reserve, Utica, Genesee, and Geneva, 
 are independent bodies, standing on their own ground, and free to choose 
 their future connections, and that thus far a separation exists between 
 us and them, which may greatly conduce to the peace and comfort of 
 both parties } and as both the majority and minority agree in expressing 
 the opinion, that a division of the Church in conformity with the sym 
 pathies of the present parties, was both desirable and expedient, we were 
 much surprised to find, that the minority would not agree with us in 
 carrying out the existing separation, so as to form the Church into two 
 distinct bodies, either of which would be sufficiently large to form a 
 General Assembly, and which might act peaceably in promoting the 
 common interests of our Redeemer s kingdom. In our present connec 
 tion, there is no hope of peace. The controversy threatens to become 
 more fierce, more extensive, and more destructive of all the vital prin 
 ciples of religion, the longer we continue together. Indeed, the great 
 motives for all the measures of separation to which we have resorted on 
 the present occasion, are the peace, prosperity, and holiness of our beloved 
 Church; and these objects, we believe, can never be obtained until this 
 separation is effected. 
 
 " Our brethren of the minority seemed to consider it as an insult, when 
 we urged the fact, that the abrogation of an unconstitutional law left us 
 as distinct and separate bodies : we intended no insult ; the ground we 
 took and the language we used implied none ; we only said that they 
 were separate from us, and we from them : if this implied disgrace on 
 them, it implied the same on ourselves; we wished both parties to con 
 sider themselves as on equal ground ; and as to the unconstitutional law 
 from which all our misapprehensions had arisen, we were willing that 
 the greater blame should lie on us. In fact, our wish was and is to part 
 as brethren, and as in certain important points of doctrine and church 
 order we cannot agree, let each party take the word of God as their rule 
 of faith and practice, and pursue their course as those who must give 
 account to the great Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. 
 
 " We have now, dear brethren, briefly explained the reasons for the 
 course we have taken on the present occasion, and we believe it would 
 
CIRCULAR LETTER. 499 
 
 have been a blessing to our Church, if the measures now adopted had 
 been resorted to at an earlier period. The progress of controversy has 
 greatly destroyed brotherly confidence. Indeed, the union between the 
 parties, for several years, has only existed in name ; in fact they have 
 been two separate bodies, and we believe the sooner they are brought to 
 consider themselves as forming distinct denominations, the sooner will 
 they return to the spirit and principles of the Gospel of Christ. 
 
 "We must observe, in conclusion, that on whatever side the principal 
 fault of our present disturbances may lie, the whole Church has abundant 
 cause of deep humiliation and repentance before Almighty God. Our 
 calamities have not arisen from the dust; our Heavenly Father has 
 stretched forth his hand over us, and let us acknowledge the rod and 
 him that hath appointed it. ; Let us return to him that he may return 
 to us ; if he has wounded, it is he alone that can heal ; if he hatb 
 broken down, he can build us up. 
 
 " By order of the General Assembly. " , 
 
 " DAVID ELLIOTT, Moderator. 
 
 "JOHN McDowELL, Stated Clerlt. 
 "PHILADELPHIA, June 8th, 1837." 
 
 Minutes, pp. 499, 502.. 
 
 2. Circular Letter to the Churches of Christ. 
 
 " Mr. Breckinridge, from the committee to prepare a letter to be- 
 addressed to all the Churches of Christ Jesus throughout the earth, 
 made a report, which was read, accepted, and adopted" [by the majority 
 of the Assembly of 1837, after the passage of the Exscinding Acts, as 
 follows :] Minutes, 1837, p. 494. 
 "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 
 States of America, to all the Churches of Jesus Christ, wish grace, 
 
 mercy, and peace from God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ,. 
 
 through the Eternal Spirit : 
 
 " VERY DEAR BRETHREN : Assembled by the good providence of God, as the 
 supreme judicatory of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of Ame 
 rica, constituting by our ecclesiastical organization, not only the bond of 
 union, peace, correspondence, and mutual confidence among all our churches/ 
 but also the only organ of correspondence with foreign Churches, we cannot 
 consent to separate, after the unusually long, interesting, and important session 
 which we are about to close, without pouring out the fulness of our hearts in 
 reference to the weighty matters concerning which we have been called to act 
 since we came together, into the ears and bosoms of all other Christian 
 Churches, and especially those with which we are in friendly correspondence.. 
 
 " You cannot be ignorant, clear brethren, that for a number of years past,. 
 the friends of truth and of regular Presbyterian order in our beloved Zion 
 have been filled with painful apprehension at the manifest departure from our 
 ecclesiastical standards which appeared to be gaining ground in a number of 
 our judicatories. Firmly believing that the great purpose for which the Church) 
 was founded was, that she might maintain in their purity the doctrines and 
 discipline of Christ, and hold them forth to a dark world j we have thought 
 
500 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 ourselves called upon to make inquiry respecting the errors and disorders 
 alleged to exist, and, as far as possible, to banish them from that portion, of 
 the professing family of Christ with which we are connected. You have wit 
 nessed for a number of successive years our struggles for the attainment of 
 this object. You have witnessed the mortifying disappointments which, from 
 time to time, have attended our efforts to obtain, by constitutional means, a 
 redress of the grievances of which we complained. You have seen what we 
 regard as error becoming more extensive in its prevalence, and more bold and 
 overbearing in its claims. You have seen certain voluntary societies, under 
 the cover of professed zeal for the doctrines and order of our Church, in fact if 
 not in intention, gradually subverting both. You have heard the motives of 
 the friends of truth reproached 5 their name cast out as evil ; their zeal for 
 maintaining the purity of the Gospel represented as a mere struggle for power ; 
 and all their attempts to detect and censure heresy held up to public vieAV as 
 the efforts of restless and ambitious men to gain the pre-eminence for them 
 selves. Amidst these ineffectual attempts to banish error and to restore order, 
 vital piety has languished ; mutual confidence has disappeared ; the reviving 
 and converting influences of the Holy Spirit have been withheld ; and our time 
 and strength have been painfully occupied with strife and debate, instead of 
 being wholly given to the spread of the Gospel and the conversion of the world. 
 
 " We shall not stop to inquire by whose agency or by what steps this state 
 of things has been produced. The adjustment of the proper award in regard 
 to this question might be deemed an invidious task, and fail of commanding 
 universal assent. But on the deplorable character of the situation in which we 
 were placed, there can be but one opinion. Over our conflicts every friend of 
 religion has mourned ; every intelligent member of the Presbyterian Church 
 has felt grieved and humbled ; and we were becoming a reproach among all 
 surrounding denominations. To every enlightened beholder it has been long 
 manifest that parties so heterogeneous and discordant could no longer act 
 together in the same body, either with comfort to themselves, or with honor 
 and edification to the cause of our common Christianity. 
 
 " Such has been our melancholy history, especially for the last six years, 
 and such were the discouraging and distressing circumstances in which this 
 Assembly convened. On coming together, it was found to contain such a 
 decided majority of the friends of truth and order as to place within our reach 
 the most thorough measures of reform. And it is worthy of special notice, 
 that this majority was created and brought together in full view of the mea 
 sures adopted by the orthodox Assembly of 18H5, and of all the conflicts and 
 painful disclosures which characterized the Assembly of 1836. It was after 
 the attention of the whole Church had been strongly called to these measures 
 and disclosures, that our Presbyteries sent a delegation, the major part of 
 whom declared in favor of the doctrines and order of our body. We felt our 
 selves, therefore, distinctly and solemnly called upon by the voice of the 
 Church to go forward and rescue her struggling and bleeding interests from 
 that humiliating and degrading perversion to which they had been so long 
 exposed. This painful duty we have endeavored to perform in the fear of 
 God, and although we do not claim that our manner of discharging it has been 
 wholly free from the manifestation of human infirmity, we do hope and believe 
 that our measures have been accompanied with much sincere and humble 
 seeking for divine direction ; and that they are such as the enlightened and 
 impartial friends of our ecclesiastical Constitution will ultimately approve. 
 
 " As the great truths of the Gospel lie at the foundation of all Christian 
 hope, as well as of the purity and prosperity of the Church, we feel ourselves 
 bound to direct early and peculiarly solemn attention to those doctrinal errors 
 
CIRCULAR LETTER. 501 
 
 which, there was but too much evidence, had gained an alarming prevalence 
 in some of our judicatories. The advocates of these errors, on their first 
 appearance, were cautious and reserved, alleging that they differed in words 
 only from the doctrines as stated in our public standards. Very soon, how 
 ever, they began to contend that their opinions were really new, and were a 
 substantial and important improvement on the old creed of the Church ; and, 
 at length, that revivals of religion could not be hoped for, and that the souls 
 of men must be destroyed, if the old doctrines continued to be preached. The 
 errors thus promulged were, by no means, of that doubtful or unimportant 
 character which seems to be assigned to them even by some of the professed 
 friends of orthodoxy. You will see, by our published acts, that some of them 
 affect the very foundation of the system of Gospel truth, and that they all bear 
 relations to the Gospel plan of very serious and ominous import. Surely, 
 doctrines which go to the formal or virtual denial of our covenant relation to 
 Adam ; the native and total depravity of man ; the entire inability of the sinner 
 to recover himself from rebellion and corruption 5 the nature and source of 
 regeneration ; and our justification solely on account of the imputed righteous 
 ness of the Redeemer, cannot, upon any just principle, be regarded as minor 
 errors. They form, in fact, l another Gospel ; and it is impossible for those 
 who faithfully adhere to our public standards to walk with those who adopt 
 such opinions, with either comfort or confidence. 
 
 " It cannot be denied, indeed, that those who adopted and preached these 
 opinions, at the same time declared their readiness to subscribe our Confession 
 of Faith, and actually professed their assent to it, in the usual form, without 
 apparent scruple. This, in fact-, was one of the most revolting and alarming 
 characteristics of their position. They declared that in doing this, they only 
 adopted the Confession for substance, and by no means intended to receive 
 the whole system which it contained. Upon this principle, we had good 
 evidence that a number of Presbyteries, in the ordination and reception of 
 ministers and other church officers, avowedly and habitually acted ; and hence 
 it has not been uncommon for the members of such Presbyteries publicly and 
 formally to repudiate some of the important doctrines of the formulary which 
 they had thus subscribed ; and even, in a few extraordinary cases, to hold up 
 the system of truth which it contains as an abomination ; as a system which 
 it were to be wished had never had an existence. No wonder that men feel 
 ing and acting thus should have been found, in some instances, substituting 
 entirely different Confessions of Faith in place of that which is contained in 
 our Constitution. Who can doubt that such a method of subscribing to articles 
 of faith is immoral in principle 5 that it is adapted to defeat the great purpose 
 of adopting confessions ; and that, if persisted in, it could not fail to open the 
 door of our Church wider and wider to the introduction of the most radical and 
 pestiferous heresies, which would speedily destroy her character as an evan 
 gelical body ? 
 
 " Was it possible for us to doubt or hesitate as to our duty when such errors 
 were evidently gaining ground among us, and when it was in our power 
 judicially to condemn them errors which, ever since the days of the apostles, 
 have been pronounced by the true Church to be dangerous corruptions of 
 Gospel truth ? We are conscious that in pronouncing the errors in question 
 to be unscriptural, radical, and highly dangerous, we are actuated by no feel 
 ings of narrow party zeal, but by a firm and growing persuasion that such 
 errors cannot fail, in their ultimate effect, to subvert the foundation of Christian 
 hope, and destroy the souls of men. As watchmen on the walls of Zion, we 
 should be unfaithful to the trust reposed in us were we not to cry aloud and 
 proclaim a solemn warning against opinions so corrupt and delusive. 
 
502 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " In the course of our attempt at reform, we have thought it our duty to 
 annul the Plan of Union between Presbyterian and Congregational Churches 
 in the new settlements formed in 1801, and evidently intended as a temporary 
 system to meet a temporary exigency. By that Plan, Congregational Churches 
 were brought into complete union with the Presbyterian Church, and their 
 delegates, without having adopted our public standards, were introduced into 
 our judicatories, and vested with the power of giving authoritative, and, in 
 some cases, decisive votes on the most important questions of doctrine and 
 discipline; and thus, in reality, of governing our Church. And it has hap 
 pened, in fact, in a number of instances, that some of the most important 
 decisions, in their bearing on the truth and order of our body, have been 
 decided by the votes of those who had not subscribed to our ecclesiastical 
 Constitution, and stood aloof themselves from its authority. Thus Corigrega- 
 tionalists were found, in effect, to control the Presbyterian Church, and to 
 prohibit her carrying into execution our appropriate system, while we had no 
 more authority over them than they chose to recognize. 
 
 "It is impossible to contemplate this Plan of Union now without perceiving 
 that it is most unnatural in its character; that it has not a shadow of founda 
 tion in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church, and that it is adapted to 
 be deeply injurious in its influence on us. It is but just, indeed, to say, that 
 it was first proposed and commenced on our part, and that it was dictated by 
 that spirit of unsuspecting simplicity and fraternal confidence which foresaw 
 no evil. Its mischiefs gradually disclosed themselves, and it was not until 
 they had taken wide and deep root, that they began to attract the attention 
 and awaken the fears of the friends of truth and of Presbyterial order. It was 
 more and more perceived, not only that this system, as before remarked, was 
 most unequal, as it, in fact, conceded the right of governing us to those over 
 whom we could exercise no controlling power, but that its effect must be, 
 slowly, but inevitably, to subvert the order and discipline of the Presbyterian 
 Church. Surely no impartial judge can blame us for wishing this mischievous 
 system rescinded, or for annulling it when we had the power. It is due to 
 ourselves, however, to say, that this measure was not either hastily conceived 
 nor abruptly executed. The union in question has been for many years re 
 garded by the great body of the Presbyterian Church as perhaps the most 
 fertile source of the difficulties existing among us, especially when viewed, not 
 merely as a violation of our Constitution and an invasion of our order, but as 
 grievously abused by those who have taken advantage of it, in a manner not 
 intended by its original framers, to disseminate their pernicious errors. View 
 ing the subject in this light, the General Assembly of 1835 respectfully re 
 quested the General Association of Connecticut to consent that the Plan of 
 Union in question should be annulled. Having now waited two additional 
 years in vain for any favorable action in the case on the part of our brethren 
 of Connecticut, and having witnessed with the deepest sorrow the ever-growing 
 evils of this relation, we have felt at this time solemnly called upon to abrogate 
 the whole Plan, and to put an end, as far as in us lay, to the destructive effects 
 which have so long resulted from its operation. 
 
 " If it were obviously equitable and important that the Plan of Union alluded 
 to should be annulled, it was, in our view, no less equitable and important that 
 the ecclesiastical bodies to which that Plan had given existence, and which 
 were animated and governed by its spirit, should be declared to be no longer 
 connected with our Church. It has been indeed painful to the Assembly to 
 declare bodies, in which were brethren whose piety we cannot question, and 
 whose activity in extending the visible Church we must regard with approba 
 tion, to be no longer connected with our body. But we were shut up to this 
 
CIRCULAR LETTER. 503 
 
 painful duty. Being irregularly brought into our Church, and retaining all the 
 feelings and habits growing out of the circumstances of their original introduc 
 tion, we could not hope that they would walk together in peace with us, so long 
 as the points of difference between us were so many and so serious. Although 
 the creation of more churches on the Plan of Union was made to cease by the 
 previous act of abrogation, still, as all must grant that the act which brought 
 them in was wholly unconstitutional, arid as, if this were the case, the act itself 
 was, of course, void from the beginning, and all the acts and bodies growing 
 out cf it equally void, we have deemed it necessary to declare the brethren 
 connected with those judicatories no longer connected with the Presbyterian 
 Church. Fully aware of the painfulness of this decision to both parties, in 
 order to avoid it, we made overtures to the brethren who were opposed to us 
 in sentiment and in policy, which had for their object an amicable separation ; 
 offering them, in order to bring about such a separation, what we deemed 
 equitable and even indulgent terms. These terms will be learned from the 
 correspondence of the joint committee appointed to negotiate on the subject, 
 which has been already made public. Our brethren saw fit to decline our 
 prcposal, and chose rather to abide the enforcing of the Constitution. They 
 cannot complain of our course, when the only alternative was the ruin of the 
 Church, or the restoration of our form of government to its legitimate and 
 uniform reign. 
 
 " We are aware that some have called in question the constitutionality of our 
 proceedings. On this subject, the more maturely we reflect, the more firmly 
 are we persuaded that we have taken the most eligible and even the only prac 
 ticable course. To have attempted to separate from us the brethren with whom 
 we could no longer walk in peace, by personal process in each case, would ob 
 viously have been impossible, and even if possible, tedious, agitating, and 
 troublesome in the highest degree. The General Assembly is vested by the 
 Constitution of our Church with plenary power to decide in all controversies 
 respecting doctrine and discipline ; to reprove, warn, or bear testimony against 
 error in doctrine or immorality in practice, in any church, Presbytery or Synod; 
 to superintend the concerns of the whole Church; to suppress schismatical 
 contentions and disputations; and, in general, to recommend and attempt 
 reformation of manners, and the promotion of charity, truth, and holiness, 
 through all the churches under their care. It is manifest that no other body 
 but the General Assembly is competent to sit in judgment on a Synod ; and it 
 is equally manifest that no other body can be vested with power to abolish a 
 system which the General Assembly itself had formed, without consulting any 
 of the Presbyteries. We have, therefore, not hesitated to apply the constitu 
 tional remedy in its fullest extent. And now, reposing on the high ground of 
 our truly primitive and apostolical system of order, we appeal with unshaken 
 confidence to the sympathy of all evangelical Churches, to the approval of the 
 American people, and, above all, to the sanction of Him who sits as King 
 upon the holy hill of Zion. 
 
 " In the adoption of these measures, we are earnestly desirous that our views 
 and feelings in regard to our Congregational brethren of New England should 
 be correctly understood. We have no controversy with them, nor do we desire 
 to have any, with respect to the Congregational form of Church government as 
 it exists among themselves, nor with any other form of Church polity. Toward 
 the excellent brethren, beloved in the Lord, in those and all other Churches, 
 who are now testifying against the errors which are troubling them, as they are 
 troubling us, we entertain the most cordial esteem and fraternal affection. 
 They are engaged in the same hallowed cause with ourselves, and we cordially 
 bid them God speed. Let there be no strife between us. There ought to be 
 
504 XII. THE DIVISION OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 none, and there will be none, so long as there is no effort made by any party 
 to intrude on the domestic concerns of any other. We cannot wisely attempt, 
 with our different views and feelings, to inhabit the same house; but, as neigh 
 bors, we niay be on the most amicable and even affectionate terms. We wish 
 for no more than to be allowed the fair and unimpeded action of our own eccle 
 siastical principles. We desire to stand on our own responsibility, and not to 
 be made involuntary sharers in the responsibility of other bodies arid systems 
 of action, with which we cannot entirely harmonize. AVe desire to perform our 
 Master s work upon the principles which we conscientiously prefer, because we 
 believe those principles to be found in the word of God ; and we cannot con 
 sent to an alliance with any individuals or bodies of men in their system of 
 action, without reserving to ourselves the right of review, of control, an3, if 
 necessary, of correction. 
 
 " It is our earnest hope, with respect to the brethren thus severed from us. 
 that both parties will be essentially benefited by the separation. We trust 
 that both will henceforth proceed in the conscientious discharge of duty, with 
 out being crippled or embarrassed by each other ; and that hereafter there vill 
 be no other strife between us, than who shall love the Redeemer most, and who 
 shall serve him with the warmest zeal. 
 
 " We have already adverted to the unhappy influence which has been exerted 
 for a number of years past, by certain voluntary societies, which, though not 
 responsible to any Church, and of course, therefore, not to us, were pursuing a, 
 train of measures adapted covertly, but effectually, to weaken her energies and 
 govern her proceedings. We believe that if there- be any department of Chris 
 tian effort to which the Church of Christ is bound, in her appropriate character, 
 to direct her attention and her unwearied labors, they are those which relate 
 to the training of her sons for the holy ministry, and sending the Gospel to 
 those who have it not, and planting churches in the dark and destitute portions 
 of the earth. To be willing to commit either of these branches of her pecu 
 liar work to foreign and irresponsible hands, we are more and more persuaded 
 is unfaithfulness to the best interests of Zion, and adapted fatally to injure the 
 cause of Gospel truth and of Presbyterial order. Surely, if the Church is 
 under obligations, not only to maintain in her own bosom, but also to impart 
 as far as possible to the whole world, all such religious knowledge, worship, 
 and ordinances as God hath revealed in his word, she is bound to see to it, that 
 no persons shall be either educated or sent forth as ministers, who are not well 
 instructed in her doctrine and order, and, as far as can be ascertained, firmly 
 attached to both. This is equally a dictate of duty to our Master in heaven 
 and to our own beloved institutions. To suffer boards constituted by ourselves, 
 pledged to adhere to our own standards, and responsible to our own judicato- 
 ries, to languish while we sustain and strengthen societies over which we have 
 no control, and which are gradually undermining at once our purity, and, of 
 course, our real strength, while professing to add to our numbers, would be 
 manifestly as unwise as it would be criminal, in those who profess to love the 
 Presbyterian Church, and to consider her as conformed, in her doctrine and 
 order, to the apostolic model. 
 
 " One of the most formidable evils of the present crisis is the wide-spread 
 and ever restless spirit of radicalism, manifest both in the Church and in the 
 State. Its leading principle everywhere seems to be to level all order to the 
 dust. Mighty only in the power to destroy, it has driven its deep agitations 
 through the bosom of our beloved Church. Amidst the multiplied and revolt 
 ing forms in which it has appeared, it is always animated by one principle. 
 It is ever the same levelling revolutionary spirit, and tends to the same ruinous 
 results. It has, in succession, driven to extreme fanaticism the great cause of 
 
CIRCULAR LETTER. 505 
 
 revivals of religion, of temperance, and of the rights of man. It has aimed to 
 transmute our pure faith into destructive heresy, our scriptural order into con 
 fusion and misrule. It has crowded many of our churches with ignorant 
 zealots and unholy members, driven our pastors from their flocks, and with 
 strange fire consumed the heritage of the Lord, filling our churches with con 
 fusion, and our judicatories with conflict; making our venerated name and 
 beloved institutions, so far as its fearful influence extends, a hissing and a by 
 word before the American people, and even threatening the dissolution of our 
 national Union, as well as the dismemberment of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " While we have endeavored to take, as our Master enabled us, decisive 
 measures for securing, under the Divine blessing, the future purity and peace 
 of our body, we would openly admit, dear brethren, that mere orthodoxy and 
 regular scriptural government ought not to be considered by any Church as 
 the only, or even as the chief, objects of her regard. Let it never be forgotten 
 that truth, whether in respect to doctrine or discipline, is in order to godliness, 
 and that the real prosperity and glory of any Church consists in the presence 
 and power of the Holy Spirit, enlightening, reviving, and sanctifying her mem 
 bers, and adding to their numbers daily of such as shall be saved. We would, 
 therefore, now that the adorable Head of the Church has enabled us in some 
 measure to remove from our body the rnpst prominent sources of division and 
 strife, humble ourselves before God, and call upon all our brethren, of every 
 name, with us to seek and pray without ceasing for those reviving and convert 
 ing influences of the Holy Spirit, which alone can render any Church what it 
 ought to be, a real blessing to the world and a nursery for heaven. And while 
 we earnestly desire and implore this blessing, let us remember the great im 
 portance of distinguishing between genuine revivals of religion, and those 
 which are spurious and fanatical. The former are the product of Gospel truth, 
 impressed on the heart and conscience by the Holy Spirit of God. The latter are 
 mere excitements of natural feeling, produced either by error or by some other 
 form of human machinery. In proportion as the former prevail, the Church 
 is prosperous and happy. The latter, however arrogant in claim or plausible 
 in appearance, are only fitted to send a blight on the garden of the Lord, and 
 to deceive and destroy the souls of men. We fear that not a little of that which 
 has assumed the precious name of revivals, in various parts of our bounds, is 
 of this latter description. This lamentable fact, however, creates no prejudice 
 in our minds against genuine revivals of religion. It rather excites us to desire 
 and long for them with more ardor; to pray for them with more importunity; 
 to promote them with more care by an edifying example; and to guard against 
 all counterfeits with more enlightened vigilance. 
 
 " Brethren, farewell. May the God of Israel bless you all every one. We 
 love, with tenderness which we cannot utter, our own portion of the Church of 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. But we love also every other portion of the inheritance 
 of that dear Saviour, and rejoicing in the confident hope that heaven will ring 
 with praises of the redeemed from amongst every Christian denomination, our 
 ardent and constant desire is to draw the bonds of union between us and all 
 the rest as close as possible here below. Hence the present epistle to our 
 brethren. Hence our earnest desire to explain clearly to them our posture, 
 our action, and the solemn crisis which, having first overtaken several of our 
 sister Churches, has at length fallen upon us, and will unquestionably overtake 
 in succession all denominations of Christians. 
 
 " And now may God, of his infinite mercy, set the seal of his visible appro 
 bation upon what his providence and grace have enabled us to do. And may 
 you, brethren, be preserved from the evils which we have endured, or be ena 
 bled to meet them, with more promptitude and fidelity than we have done. 
 
506 XII. THE DIVISION OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 " And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ abide richly on all who love 
 his holy name. 
 
 " By order of the General Assembly. 
 
 " DAVID ELLIOTT, Moderator. 
 " JOHN McDowELL, Stated Clerk. 
 " PHILADELPHIA, June 8th, 1837." 
 
 Minutes, 1837, pp. 502-508. 
 
 3. Assembly of 1838. Organization of the Assembly. 
 
 " The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America met, agreeably to appointment, in the 7th Presbyte 
 rian Church in the city of Philadelphia, on the third Thursday of May, 
 1838, at 11 o clock A.M., and was opened with a sermon by the Rev. 
 David Elliott, D.D., moderator of the last Assembly, from Isa. 60 : 1 : 
 Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen 
 upon thee. 
 
 "After public worship, the moderator of the last Assembly announced 
 from the desk, that immediately after the benediction the moderator 
 would take the chair on the floor of the church, and the Assembly 
 would then be constituted. 
 
 "After the benediction, the moderator of the last Assembly took the 
 chair, and opened the meeting with prayer. 
 
 "The Rev. William Patton, D.D., from the Third Presbytery of New 
 York, then rose ; and asked leave to offer the following preamble and 
 resolutions : 
 
 " Whereas, the General Assembly of 1837 adopted certain resolutions 
 intended to deprive certain Presbyteries of the right to be represented 
 in the General Assembly. And whereas, the more fully to accomplish 
 their purpose, the said Assembly of 1837 did require and receive from 
 their clerks a pledge or promise that they would, in making out the roll 
 of commissioners to constitute the General Assembly of 1838, omit to 
 insert therein the names of commissioners from said Presbyteries. And 
 whereas, the said clerks, having been requested by commissioners from 
 the said Presbyteries to receive their commissions and enter their 
 names on the roll of the General Assembly of 1838, now about to be 
 organized, have refused to receive and enter the same ; therefore 
 
 "1. Resolved, That such attempts on the part of the General As 
 sembly of 1837 and their clerks, to direct and control the organization 
 of the General Assembly of 1.838, are unconstitutional, and in deroga 
 tion of its just rights as the general representative judicatory of the 
 whole Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. 
 
ASSEMBLY OF 1838. 507 
 
 " 2. Resolved, That the General Assembly cannot be legally consti 
 tuted except by admitting to seats and to equality of powers, in the first 
 instance, all commissioners who present the usual evidences of their ap 
 pointment. And that it is the duty of the clerks, and they are hereby 
 directed, to form the roll of the General Assembly of 1838, by includ 
 ing therein the names of all commissioners from Presbyteries belonging 
 to the said Presbyterian Church, not omitting the commissioners from 
 the several Presbyteries within the bounds of the Synods of Utica, Ge 
 neva, Genesee, and the Western Reserve ; and in all things to form the 
 said roll according to the known practice and established usage of pre 
 vious General Assemblies." 
 
 " The moderator declared him to be out of order, and refused to allow 
 them to be read. Dr. Patton then stated that he was very desirous to 
 have them put and passed upon without remark or debate. The mode 
 rator again declared them out of order, as the next business was the re 
 port of the clerks upon the roll. Dr. Patton then appealed from the de 
 cision of the chair. The appeal was seconded, and the moderator 
 declared the appeal to be out of order, and refused to put it, and directed 
 the clerk to make his report upon the roll. Dr. Patton then declared 
 to the moderator that the paper he wished read had relation to forming 
 the roll. The moderator then stated that he was out of order, as the 
 clerk was on the floor ; whereupon the moderator was reminded by Dr. 
 Patton that he had the floor before the clerk. The moderator directed 
 the clerk to proceed with the report on the roll, and Dr. Patton there 
 upon took his seat. 
 
 " The Report of the clerks of the last Assembly upon the roll was then 
 read by the Rev. John M. Krebs, one of the clerks of the last Assembly, 
 and was as follows : 
 
 I. SYNOD OP ALBANY. 
 
 PRESBYTERIES. MINISTERS. ELDERS. 
 
 Londonderry, . . John H. Church, D.D. 
 Newburyport, . . D. T. Smith. 
 
 Cham-plain, . . . Phineas Bailey, John Boy n ton. 
 
 Troy, . . . . . N. S. S. Beman, D.D. 
 
 Samuel Speer, Nicholas M Masters. 
 
 Albany, .... Eliphalet Nott, D.D. . . . Isaac N. Beach. 
 
 E. D. McMasters. 
 Columbia, . . . J. B. Waterbnry, Lawrence Vandyke. 
 
 Augustus L. Chapin, . . . Frederick Tyler. 
 St. Lawrence, 
 
508 
 
 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 II. SYNOD OF NEW YORK. 
 PRESBYTERIES. MINISTERS. ELDERS. 
 
 Hudson, .... William Blain, William L. Mapes. 
 
 Samuel Pelton, Norman Judson. 
 
 North River, . . Eliphalet Price, Aaron Raymond. 
 
 Bedford, John Owen. 
 
 New York, 1st, . . William W. Phillips, D.D. . Hugh Auchincloss. 
 
 Elias W. Crane, A. G. Blauvelt. 
 
 New York, 2d, . . Ebenezer K. Maxwell, . . Henry Rankin. 
 
 New York, 3d, . . William Patton, D.D. . . . Daniel Pierson. 
 
 Erskine Mason, D.D. . . . R. M. Hartley. 
 Long Island, . . Ralph Smith. 
 
 Long Island, 2d, . James McDougall, .... John Everett. 
 
 III. SYNOD OF NEW JERSEY. 
 
 Newark, 
 
 Samuel Fisher, D.D. ... 0. Woodruff. 
 
 William R. Weeks, D.D. . . Israel Crane. 
 
 James M. Hunting, .... James Bower. 
 
 Lewis Bond, Robert Anderson. 
 
 Eli F. Cooley, D. W. Vail. 
 
 John McLean, William Wilson. 
 
 John Gray, Peter Thomson. 
 
 J. Campbell, D.D William Long. 
 
 E. H. Snowden, H. C. Anhauser. 
 
 Montrose, Isaac P. Foster. 
 
 Elizabethtoivn, . 
 New Brunswick, 
 Newton, . 
 Susguehanna, 
 
 IV. SYNOD OF PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 Alexander Symington. 
 A. W. Mitchell. 
 Robert Wallace. 
 
 Philadelphia, . . Ashbel Green, D.D. . . . 
 
 William Latta, .... 
 
 Philadelphia, 2d, . William J. Gibson. . . . 
 Newcastle, . . . William Finney. 
 
 Lindley C. Rutter, .... John Robinson. 
 
 Wilmington, . . E. W. Gilbert, Willard Hall. 
 
 Lewes, S. K. Wilson. 
 
 Baltimore, . . . Robert J. Breckinridge, . . George Morris. 
 
 Carlisle, .... John Moody, John Clendenin. 
 
 N. G. White, Alexander McCoy. 
 
 Huntingdon, . . . Joshua Moore, William Smyth. 
 
 Northumberland, . S. S. Sheddan, Richard Matchin. 
 
 Blairsville, 
 Redstone, . . 
 Washington, . 
 Ohio, . . 
 
 Alleghany, . 
 Steubenville, 
 Beaver, 
 Erie, . . 
 
 V. SYNOD OF PITTSBURG. 
 
 Samuel Swan, Smith Agnew. 
 
 C. B. Bristol, Dr. H. Campbell. 
 
 John Stockton, James Lee. 
 
 David Elliot, D.D Hon. H. Denny. 
 
 Thomas D. Baird, . . . . W. H. Lowrie. 
 
 S. Caldwell, Benjamin Junkin. 
 
 C. C. Beattie, H. H. Leavitt. 
 
 A. 0. Patterson, John Clarke. 
 
 Pierce Chamberlain, . . . George Kellogg. 
 
ASSEMBLY OP 1838. 
 
 509 
 
 VI. SYNOD OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 PRESBYTERIES. 
 
 Detroit, . . . 
 Monroe, . . . 
 St. Joseph, . . 
 
 Athens, . . . 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 . John P. Cleaveland. 
 . Erastns N. Nichols, .... 
 . Silas Woodbury, 
 
 VII. SYNOD OF OHIO. 
 
 Luther G. Bingham, 
 James Hoge D D . . . . 
 
 ELDERS. 
 
 Samuel G. Conklin. 
 A. G. Hammond. 
 
 Marcus Bos worth. 
 John Entrekin 
 
 Lancaster, 
 Wooster, . 
 Richland, . . 
 Marion, . . . 
 
 Chilicothe, , . 
 Miami, 
 
 . James Culbertson, D.D. . . 
 . Joseph S. Wylie, 
 . Henry Hervey. 
 . Henry Van Deman, . . . 
 
 VIII. SYNOD OF CINCINNATI 
 
 . Samuel Crothers, .... 
 . John L. Bellville. 
 
 John C. Stockton. 
 John Elliot. 
 
 S. G. Strong. 
 Richard Long. 
 
 Cincinnati, . . 
 
 Lyman Beecher, D.D. . 
 
 Dr. George L. Weed. 
 John Q. A. Bassett. 
 
 Oxford 
 
 Robert Irwin ... . 
 
 John Molyneaux 
 
 
 Samuel Cleland 
 
 John Ewing 
 
 Vincennes, . . 
 Madison, . 
 Crawfordsville, . 
 Indianapolis, 
 Logansport, . . 
 
 Illinois . . 
 
 IX. SYNOD OF INDIANA. 
 
 . Matthew G. Wallace, . . . 
 . William G. Matthews, . . . 
 . Samuel G. Lowry, .... 
 . William Sickels, 
 . Alexander T. Rankin. 
 
 X. SYNOD OF ILLINOIS. 
 Edward Beecher, .... 
 
 John Lagow. 
 Victor King. 
 John S. Jennings. 
 William M. Tate. 
 
 A. H. Burritt. 
 
 Kaskaskia, . 
 Sangamon, . 
 Ottawa, . . . 
 Schuylcr, . . . 
 
 . Benjamin F. Spillman, . . . 
 Cyrus L. Watson, .... 
 . John Blatchford. 
 . Samuel Wilson. 
 Flavel Ba^com ... . 
 
 W. A. G. Posey. 
 Joseph Young. 
 
 Alton 
 
 . AlbertHa 1. 
 
 
 
 XI. SYNOD OF MISSOURI. 
 
 James M Covington 
 
 St Charles 
 
 
 Alexander J. Dallas. 
 
 Louisville, 
 Muhlenburg, . 
 Transylvania. 
 West Lexington, 
 Ebenezer. . . . 
 
 XII. SYNOD OF KENTUCKY. 
 
 James Hawthorn, .... 
 John Lyle. 
 
 . Robert Davidson, .... 
 . R. C. Grundy, 
 
 John Bemiss, M.D. 
 
 Samuel M. Wallace. 
 Thomas H. Poage. 
 
510 
 
 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 PRESBYTERIES. 
 
 Lexington, . . . 
 
 Winchester, . . . 
 Dist. of Columbia, 
 West Hanover, . . 
 
 East Hanover, . . 
 
 XIII. SYNOD OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 John D. Ewing, 
 
 James C. Wilson, .... 
 S. B. Wilson, D.D., .... 
 
 William Hill, D.D 
 
 George A. Baxter, D.D. . . 
 
 Andrew Hart, 
 
 William S. Plumer, .... 
 
 ELDERS. 
 
 James McNutt. 
 William A. Bell. 
 James H. Fitzgerald. 
 Robert Jamieson. 
 Samuel McCorkle. 
 P. C. Venable, M.D. 
 William Maxwell. 
 
 XIV. SYNOD OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Roanoke, .... William McPheeters, D.D. . Thomas H. Willie. 
 
 Orange, . . . . N. H. Harding, Richard J. Smith. 
 
 Fayetteville, . . . William N. Peacock, . . . Alexander Martin. 
 
 Concord, .... Samuel Williamson, . . . W. L. Davidson. 
 
 John Williamson, .... William King. 
 Morgantown, . . Albertus L. Watts. 
 
 Abingdon, . . 
 
 Union, . . . 
 
 French JSroad, . 
 
 Holston, . . . 
 
 XV. SYNOD OF TENNESSEE. 
 
 Daniel H. Hoge. 
 
 J. E. Montgomery, . . , 
 
 Levi R. Morrison, . . , 
 
 Gideon S. White, . . , 
 
 Daniel Rogan, . . . 
 
 Walter M. McGill. 
 Andrew Early. 
 William Dick. 
 John Patton. 
 
 XVI. SYNOD OF WEST TENNESSEE. 
 
 West Tennessee, 
 Nashville, . . 
 Shiloh, . . . 
 North Alabama, 
 
 Thomas F. Scott. 
 Robert A. Lapsley, . 
 William Eagleton. 
 James 0. Stedman, . 
 
 James C. Robinson. 
 Thomas Childress. 
 
 Western District, . Samuel Hodge, John Ingram, M.D. 
 
 XVII. SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA. 
 
 South Carolina, . Hugh Dickson, Alex. Chambers. 
 
 JSethel, . . . . J. L. R. Davies, John M. Doley. 
 
 Harmony, . . . J. Witherspoon, D.D. . . . Lawrence Prince. 
 Charleston Union, . Elipha White. 
 
 Thomas Magruder. 
 
 Georgia Horace S. Pratt, Ebenezer S. Reese. 
 
 Hopewell, . . . Samuel S. Davis, .... William Shear. 
 
 Flint River, . . . John S. Wilson, David C. Campbell. 
 
 XVIII. SYNOD OF ALABAMA. 
 
 South Alabama, . Robert Nail. 
 
 Tuscaloosa, . . . Joseph B. Adams, .... James Knox. 
 
 Tombeckbee, . . . Samuel Hind. Eli Neely. 
 
ASSEMBLY OF 1838. 511 
 
 XIX. SYNOD OF MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 PRESBYTERIES. MINISTERS. ELDERS. 
 
 Mississippi, . . . Samuel B. Jones, .... John Chamberlain. 
 
 Clinton, . . . . A. C. Dickerson, .... Wm. M. Murdoch. 
 
 Arkansas. 
 
 Louisiana, . . . John L. Montgomery, . . . James Cooper. 
 
 " The reading of the report being finished, the moderator announced 
 that if there were commissioners from any Presbyteries of the Presby 
 terian Church who had not been enrolled, then was the proper time to 
 make application to have their names put upon the roll. 
 
 " Thereupon the Rev. Erskine Mason, D.D., from the Third Presby 
 tery of New York, rose, and offered the following resoluti.on : 
 
 " Resolved, That the roll be now completed by adding the names of 
 all commissioners now present from the several Presbyteries within the 
 bounds of the Synods of Utica, Geneva, Genesee, and the Western 
 Reserve, 
 
 "And stated that the commissioners from the Presbyteries therein 
 named had offered their commissions to the clerks, who had refused to 
 receive them. The moderator asked Dr. Mason if they were from 
 Presbyteries connected with the Assembly of 1837, at the close of its 
 session. Dr. Mason replied that they were from Presbyteries within 
 the bounds of the Synods of Utica, Geneva, Genesee, and the Western 
 Reserve. The moderator then stated that they could not be received. 
 Dr. Mason then formally tendered the commissions of commissioners 
 from 
 
 THE PRESBYTERIES OF MINISTERS. ELDERS. 
 
 Lorain, .... Daniel W. Lathrop, . . . Henry Brown. 
 
 Geneva, .... Wm. L. Strong, Zenas Wheeler. 
 
 Miles P. Squier, Wm. B. Cook. 
 
 Genesse, .... Erastua J. Gillett, .... Augustus P. Hascall. 
 
 Wm. Bridgman. 
 Oneida, .... Horace P. Bogue. 
 
 Joseph Myers. 
 
 Angelica, .... Asa J. Allen, Thomson Bell. 
 
 Maumee, . . . . J. H. Francis Levi Beebe. 
 
 Watertown, . . . Isaac Brayton, Jason Clark. 
 
 Portage, .... George E. Pierce. 
 
 Sherman B. Canfield. 
 
 Cayuga, Salem Town. 
 
 Joseph Esty. 
 
 Ontario, .... Silas C. Brown, Hiram Ashley. 
 
 Rochester, . . . Tryon Edwards, .... George A. A very. 
 
 A. G. Hall. 
 
 Delaware, . . . Daniel Waterbury, . . . . D. Penfield. 
 
512 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Otsego, .... Joseph W. Paddock, . . . David H. Little. 
 Trumbull, . Selden Haynes, M. Messer. 
 
 Onondaga, 
 Chemung, 
 Huron, . . 
 Buffalo, . . 
 
 Grand River, 
 Niagara, . . 
 Cortland, 
 
 Hutchins Taylor. 
 
 John Frost. 
 
 E. P. Salmon. 
 
 Asa T. Hopkins, .... Jabez Goodell. 
 
 George R. Rudd, .... Horace Allen. 
 
 Ferris Fitch. 
 
 Herman Halsey. 
 
 Joseph R. Johnson. 
 
 Chenango, . John B. Hoyt, Frederick Hotchkiss. 
 
 Cleveland, . Samuel C. Aikin, .... Stephen Whitaker. 
 
 Bath, E. Everett, Daniel S. Benton. 
 
 Tioga, J. A. Nash, Elias Hawley. 
 
 " And demanded that they be put upon the roll. The resolution was 
 seconded. The moderator declared it out of order. Dr. Mason then 
 said, that with the greatest respect for the chair, he must appeal from 
 that decision. The appeal was seconded. The moderator declared the 
 appeal out of order, and refused to put it. 
 
 " The Rev. Miles P. Squier, from the Presbytery of Geneva, then rose 
 and addressed the chair, stating that he had a commission from the 
 Presbytery of Geneva, which he had presented to the clerks, who re 
 fused to receive it, and he demanded his right to his seat, and required 
 his name to be enrolled. The moderator asked him if the Presbytery 
 of Geneva was within the Synod of Geneva. Mr. Squier replied that 
 it was within the bounds of the Synod of Geneva. The moderator then 
 said, We do not know you, and refused the demand, declaring it out 
 of order. 
 
 " These repeated refusals of the moderator and clerks of the General 
 Assembly of 1837 to perform the duties of their respective offices in the 
 organization of the General Assembly of 1838, till its own officers should 
 be appointed, thus impeding the constitutional progress of business, the 
 Rev. John P. Cleaveland, of the Presbytery of Detroit, rose, and stated 
 in substance as follows : That as the commissioners to the General As 
 sembly for 1838, from a large number of Presbyteries, had been refused 
 their seats, and as we had been advised by counsel learned in the law, 
 that a constitutional organization of the Assembly must be secured at 
 this time and in this place, he trusted it would not be considered as an 
 act of discourtesy, but merely as a matter of necessity, if we now pro 
 ceed to organize the General Assembly for 1838, in the fewest words, 
 the shortest time, and with the least interruption practicable. He 
 therefore moved that Dr. Beman, from the Presbytery of Troy, be 
 moderator, to preside till a new moderator be chosen. The motion was 
 
ASSEMBLY OF 1838. 513 
 
 seconded by the Rev. Baxter Dickinson, from the Presbytery of Cin 
 cinnati, and no other person being nominated, the Rev. Dr. Beman 
 was unanimously appointed such moderator. 
 
 11 It was then moved and seconded that the Rev. Erskine Mason, 
 D.D., from the 3d Presbytery of New York, and the Rev. E. W. Gil 
 bert, from the Presbytery of Wilmington, be clerks pro tcmpore, and 
 no other person being put in nomination, they were unanimously ap 
 pointed. 
 
 " The following is the roll of the General Assembly as completed by 
 the clerks. 
 
 I. SYNOD OF ALBANY. 
 PRESBYTERIES. MINISTERS. ELDERS. 
 
 Londonderry, . . John H. Church, D.D. 
 
 E. P. Bradford. 
 
 Newburyport. . . D. T. Smith. 
 Champlain, . . . Phineas Bailey. 
 Troy, N. S. S. Beman, D.D. 
 
 Samuel Speer, Nicholas M. Masters. 
 
 Albany, .... Eliphalet Nott, D.D. . . . Isaac N. Beach. 
 
 E. D. McMasters. 
 Columbia, . . . J. B. Waterbury, .... Lawrence Vandyke; 
 
 Augustus L. Chapin, . . . Frederick Tyler. 
 
 II. SYNOD OF UTICA. 
 
 St. Lawrence. 
 
 Watertoivn, . . . Isaac Brayton, Jason Clark. 
 
 Oswego, 
 
 Oneida, .... Horace P. Bogue. 
 
 Joseph Myers. 
 Otseffo, .... Joseph W. Paddock, . . . D. H. Little. 
 
 III. SYNOD OF GENEVA. 
 
 Geneva, .... Miles P. Squier, Wm. D. Cook. 
 
 Wm. L. Strong, Zenas Wheeler. 
 
 Chcnanao, . . . John B. Hoyt, Frederick Hotchkiss. 
 
 Onondaga, . . . Hutchins Taylor. 
 
 Cayuaa, Joseph Esty. 
 
 Salem Town. 
 
 Tioaa, J. A. Nash, Elias Hawley. 
 
 Cortland, . . . . J. R. Johnson. 
 
 Bath, E. Everett, Daniel S. Benton.. 
 
 Delaware, . . . D. Waterbury, D. Penfield. 
 
 Chemuna, . . . John Frost. 
 
 33 
 
514 
 
 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 PRESBYTERIES. 
 
 Gcnesee, . 
 
 Ontario, . . . 
 
 Rochester, . . 
 
 Niagara, . . . 
 
 Buffalo, . . . 
 
 Angelica, . 
 
 IV. SYNOD OF GENESEE. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Wrn. Bridgeman, 
 E. J. Gillett. 
 Silas C. Brown, . 
 Try on Edwards, 
 A. G. Hall. 
 Herman Halsey. 
 A. T. Hopkins, . 
 George R. Rudd, 
 Asa S. Allen, 
 
 ELDERS. 
 
 Augustus P. Hascall. 
 
 Hiram Ashley. 
 George A. Avery. 
 
 Jabez Goodell. 
 Horace Allen. 
 Thorn son Bell. 
 
 Hudson, . . . 
 
 North River, 
 Bedford, . . . 
 New York, 1st, . 
 
 New York, 2d, . 
 New York, 3d, . 
 
 Long Island, 
 Long Island, 2(7, 
 
 V. SYNOD OF NEW YORK. 
 
 William Blain, 
 Samuel Pelton, 
 Elipbalet Price, 
 
 Wm. W. Phillips, D.D. 
 Elias W. Crane, . . 
 Ebenezer K. Maxwell, 
 William Patton, D.D. . 
 Erskine Mason, D.D. . 
 Ralph Smith. 
 James McDougall, . . 
 
 William L. Mapes. 
 Norman Judson. 
 Aaron Raymond. 
 John Owen. 
 Hugh Auchincloss. 
 A. G. Blauvelt. 
 Henry Rankin. 
 Daniel Pierson. 
 R. M. Hartley. 
 
 John Everett. 
 
 VI. SYNOD OF NEW JERSEY. 
 
 Newark, .... Samuel Fisher, D.D. . . . 0. Woodruff. 
 
 Wm. R. Weeks, D.D. . . . Israel Crane. 
 
 Elizabethtown, . . James M. Hunting, .... James Bower. 
 
 Lewis Bond, Robert Anderson. 
 
 New Brunswick, . Eli F. Cooley, D. W. Vail. 
 
 John McLean, Wm. Wilson. 
 
 Newton, .... John Gray, Peter Thomson. 
 
 J. Campbell, D.D Wm. Long. 
 
 Susguehanna, . . E. H. Snowden, . . . . H. C. Anhauser. 
 
 Montrose, Isaac P. Foster. 
 
 VII. SYNOD OF PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 Philadelphia, . . Ashbel Green, D.D. . . . Alex. Symington. 
 
 William Latta, A. W. Mitchell, M.D. 
 
 Philadelphia, Id, . William J. Gibson, .... Robert Wallace. 
 New Castle, . . . William Finney. 
 
 Lindley C. Rutter, .... John Robinson. 
 
 Wilmington, . . . E. W. Gilbert, Willard Hall. 
 
 Lewes, S. K. Wilson. 
 
 Baltimore, . . . Robert S. Breckinridge, . . George Morris. 
 
 Carlisle, .... John Moody, John Clendenin. 
 
 N. G. White, Alex. McCoy. 
 
 Huntingdon, . . . Joshua Moore, Wm. Smyth. 
 
 Northumberland, . S. S. Sheddan, Richard Matchin. 
 
ASSEMBLY OF 1838. 
 
 515 
 
 VIII. SYNOD OF PITTSBURG. 
 
 PRESBYTERIES. MINISTERS. ELDERS. 
 
 JBlairsviUe, . , . Samuel Swan, Smith Agnew. 
 
 Redstone, . . . C. B. Bristol, Dr. H. Campbell, 
 
 Washington, . . John Stockton, James Lee. 
 
 Ohio, David Elliot, D.D Hon. H. Denny. 
 
 Thomas D. Baird, .... W. H. Lowrie. 
 
 Alleghany, . . . S. Caldwell, Benj. Junkin. 
 
 Sleubenville, , . . C. C. Beattie, H. H. Leavitt. 
 
 Beaver, .... A. O. Patterson, .... John Clarke. 
 
 Erie, Pierce Chamberlain, . . . George Kellogg. 
 
 IX. WESTERN RESERVE. 
 
 Grand River, . . Ferris Fitch. 
 
 Portage, .... George E. Pierce. 
 
 Sherman B. Canfield, 
 
 Huron, .... E. P. Salmon. 
 
 Maumee, J. II. Francis, .... 
 
 Trumbull, . . . S. Haynes, 
 
 Lorain, .... Daniel W. Lathrop, . . 
 
 Cleveland, . . . S. C. Aikin, 
 
 Levi Beebe. 
 Moses Messer. 
 Henry Brown. 
 Stephen Whitaker, 
 
 X. SYNOD OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 Detroit, .... John P. Cleveland. 
 
 Monroe, .... Erastus N. Nichols, . . . , 
 
 St. Joseph s, . . Silas Woodbury, .... 
 
 Henry Disbrow. 
 A. G. Hammond. 
 
 XI. SYNOD OF OHIO. 
 
 Athens, .... Luther G. Bingham, 
 
 Columbus, . . . James Hoge, D.D. . . . 
 
 Lancaster, . . . James Culbertson, D.D. 
 
 Wooster, .... Joseph S. Wiley, . . . 
 
 Richland, . . . Henry Hervey. 
 
 Marion, .... Henry Vandeman, . . . 
 
 Marcus Bosworth. 
 John Entrekin. 
 John C. Stockton. 
 John Elliott. 
 
 S. G. Strong. 
 
 XII. SYNOD OF CINCINNATI. 
 
 Cincinnati, . . . Lyman Beecher, D.D. . . . 
 Baxter Dickinson, .... 
 
 Chilicothe, . . . Samuel Crothers, .... 
 Miami, .... John L. Bellville. 
 
 Oxford, .... Robert Irwin, John Molyneaux. 
 
 Sidney, .... Samuel Cleland, John Ewing. 
 
 Dr. George L. Weed. 
 John Q. A. Bassett. 
 Richard Long. 
 
 XIII. SYNOD OF INDIANA. 
 
 Salem, .... William W. Martin, . . . Henry L. Fabrigue. 
 
 Vincenncs, . . . Matthew G. Wallace, . . . John Lagow. 
 
 Madison, .... William C. Matthews, . . . Victor King. 
 
516 
 
 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 PRESBYTERIES. 
 
 Crawfordsville, . 
 Indianapolis, 
 Logansport, . . 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Samuel G. Lowry, 
 William Sickels, 
 Alex. T. Rankin. 
 
 John S. Jennings. 
 Dr. Wm. M. Tate, 
 
 Illinois, . 
 Kaskaskia, 
 Sangamon, 
 Ottaiva, . 
 Schuyler, , 
 Palestine. 
 Peoria, 
 Alton, . . 
 
 XIV. SYNOD OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 Edward Beecher, .... A. H. Burritt. 
 Benjamin F. Spillman, . . . W. A. G. Posey. 
 Cyrus L. Watson, .... Joseph Young. 
 John Blatchford. 
 Samuel Wilson. 
 
 Flavel Bascom, 
 Albert Hall. 
 
 Charles Barrows, 
 
 Missouri. 
 St. Louis, 
 St. Charles, 
 
 XV. SYNOD OF MISSOURI. 
 
 James M. Covington. 
 Alex. J. Dallas. 
 
 Louisville, . . 
 Muhlcnbura, . . 
 Transylvania. 
 West Lexington, 
 Ebenezer, . 
 
 XVI. SYNOD OF KENTUCKY. 
 
 James Hawthorn, 
 John Lysle. 
 
 John Bemis, M.D. 
 
 Robert Davidson, .... Samuel M. Wallace. 
 R. C. Grundy, Thomas H. Poage. 
 
 XVII. SYNOD OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 Lexington, . . . John D. Ewing, James McNutt. 
 
 James C. Wilson, .... Wm. A. Bell. 
 
 Winchester, . . . S. B. Wilson, D.D James H. Fitzgerald. 
 
 Dist. of Columbia, . William Hill, D.D Robert Jamieson. 
 
 West Hanover, . . George A. Baxter, D.D. . . Samuel McCorkle. 
 
 Andrew Hart, P. C. Venable, M.D. 
 
 East Hanover, . . Wm. S. Plumer, Wm. Maxwell. 
 
 XVIII. SYNOD OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Roanolce, . . 
 Orange, . 
 Fayetteville, . 
 Concord, . 
 
 Morgantoiun, 
 
 Wm. McPheeters, D.D. 
 N. H. Harding, . . . 
 Wm. N. Peacock, . . 
 Samuel Williamson, 
 John Williamson, 
 Albertus L. Watts. 
 
 Thomas H. Willie. 
 Richard J. Smith. 
 Alex. Martin. 
 W. L. Davidson. 
 Wm. King. 
 
ASSEMBLY OF 1838. 
 
 517 
 
 XIX. SYNOD OF TENNESSEE. 
 PRESBYTERIES. MINISTERS. ELDERS. 
 
 Abinadon, . . . Daniel H. Hoge. 
 
 Union, . . . . J. E. Montgomery, .... Walter M. McGill. 
 
 Levi R. Morrison, .... Andrew Early. 
 
 French Broad, . . Gideon S. White, .... William Dick. 
 
 Hohton, .... Daniel Rogan, John Patton. 
 
 XX. SYNOD OF WEST TENNESSEE. 
 
 West Tennessee, . Thomas F. Scott. 
 
 Nashville, . . . Robert A. Lapsley, .... James C. Robinson. 
 
 Shiloh, .... Wm. Eagleton. 
 
 North Alabama, . James 0. Stedman, .... Thomas Childress. 
 
 Western District, . Samuel Hodge, John Ingram, M.D. 
 
 XXI. SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA. 
 
 South Carolina, . Hugh Dickson, Alex. Chambers. 
 
 Bethel, . . . . J. Le Roy Davies, .... John M. Doby. 
 
 Harmony, J. Witherspoon, D.D. . . . Lawrence Prince. 
 
 Charleston Union, . Elipha White, S. Glover. 
 
 Thomas Magruder, .... Robert L. Stewart. 
 
 Georgia, .... Horace S. Pratt, Ebenezer S. Reese. 
 
 Hopeivdl, . . . Samuel S. Davis, .... William Shear. 
 
 Flint River, . . . John S. Wilson, David C. Campbell. 
 
 XXII. SYNOD OF ALABAMA. 
 
 South Alabama, . Robert Nail. 
 
 Tuscaloosa, . . . Joseph B. Adams, .... James Knox. 
 
 Tombcckbcc, . , . Samuel Kurd, Eli Neely. 
 
 Mississippi, 
 Clinton, . 
 Arkansas. 
 Louisiana, 
 
 XXIII. SYNOD OF MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Samuel B. Jones, 
 A. C. Dickerson, 
 
 John Chamberlain. 
 Wm. M. Murdock. 
 
 John L. Montgomery, . . . James Cooper. 
 
 CORRESPONDING BODIES. 
 
 Evangelical Consociation of Rhode Island, 
 General Association of Connecticut, . . 
 General Convention of Vermont, 
 General Association of New Hampshire, . 
 
 Rev. Orin Fowler. 
 
 Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor, D.D. 
 
 Rev. Harvey Curtis. 
 
 Rev. Henry Wood. 
 
 " The Rev. Samuel Fisher, D.D., of the Presbytery of Newark, was 
 nominated as Moderator of the General Assembly, and no other person 
 
518 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 being put in nomination, he was chosen by a very large majority. The 
 Rev. Dr. Beman thereupon announced to Dr. Fisher that he was duly 
 elected the Moderator of the General Assembly; and on leaving the 
 chair, informed him that he was to be governed in his office by the rules 
 of the General Assembly hereafter to be adopted. 
 
 "The Rev. Erskine Mason, D.D., was then chosen Stated Clerk, and 
 the Rev. E. W. Gilbert Permanent Clerk of the General Assembly. 
 
 " The following notice had been previously delivered to the Rev. Dr. 
 Beman : 
 
 "Resolution of the trustees of the Seventh Presbyterian Church, 
 adopted May 7th, 1838. 
 
 "Resolvedj That the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, 
 which is to convene in Philadelphia on the 17th inst., and which shall 
 be organized under the direction of the moderator and clerks officiating 
 during the meeting of the last Assembly, shall have the use of the 
 Seventh Presbyterian Church during their sessions, to the exclusion of 
 every other assembly or convention which may be organized during the 
 same period of time. 
 
 (Signed) "JAMES SCHOTT, 
 
 " President of the Board of Trustees. 
 
 "It was moved and seconded that the General Assembly now adjourn 
 to meet forthwith in the lecture room of the First Presbyterian Church 
 in this city. The motion to adjourn was carried unanimously. 
 
 " The moderator then audibly announced that the General Assembly 
 was so adjourned, and gave notice that any commissioners who had not 
 presented their commissions should do so at the First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " The Assembly being again met at the lecture room of the First Pres 
 byterian Church, Dr. Patton again offered his preamble and resolutions, 
 as follows, which were unanimously adopted : 
 
 " Whereas the General Assembly of 1837 adopted certain resolutions 
 intended to deprive certain Presbyteries of the right to be represented 
 in the General Assembly ; and whereas, the more fully to accomplish 
 their purpose, the said Assembly of 1837 did require and receive from 
 their clerks a pledge or promise, that they would, in making out the roll 
 of commissioners to constitute the General Assembly of 1838, omit to 
 insert therein the names of commissioners from said Presbyteries; and 
 whereas the said clerks, having been requested by commissioners from 
 the said Presbyteries to receive their commissions and enter their names 
 
ASSEMBLY OF 1838. 519 
 
 on the roll of the General Assembly of 1838, now about to be organized, 
 have refused to receive and enter the same. Therefore, 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That such attempts on the part of the General Assem 
 bly of 1837 and their clerks, to direct and control the organization of 
 the General Assembly of 1838, are unconstitutional, and in derogation 
 of its just rights as the general representative judicatory of the whole 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. 
 
 U 1. Resolved, That the General Assembly cannot be legally consti 
 tuted except by admitting to seats and to equality of powers, in the first 
 instance, all commissioners, who present the usual evidences of their 
 appointment ; and that it is the duty of the clerks, and they are hereby 
 directed, to form the roll of the General Assembly of 1838, by including 
 therein the names of all commissioners from Presbyteries belonging to 
 the said Presbyterian Church, not omitting the commissioners from the 
 several Presbyteries within the bounds of the Synods of Utica, Geneva, 
 Genesee, and the Western Reserve ; and in all things to form the said 
 roll according to the known practice and established usage of previous 
 General Assemblies. 
 
 " Commissions were called for, and committed to the hands of the 
 stated and permanent clerks. 
 
 " Adjourned to meet in this place at 4 o clock, P.M. 
 
 " Concluded with prayer." Minutes, 1838, pp. 635-646. 
 
 4. Demand for the Records, Books, Papers, &c., of the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 a. " The following resolution was offered and adopted : 
 "Resolved, That the Rev. Erskine Mason, D.D., clerk of this Assem 
 bly, be directed to demand of the Rev. John McDowell, D.D., and Rev. 
 John M. Krebs, clerks of the last General Assembly, all the commis 
 sions of the commissioners to the Assembly of 1838, which have been 
 put into their hands ; also the Records of the General Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and all the books 
 and papers belonging to the Assembly that may be in their possession." 
 Minutes, 1838, p. 647. 
 
 The Demand Refused. 
 
 b. u The stated clerk presented the following report, which was ac 
 cepted, and ordered to be entered on the Minutes : 
 
520 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " The stated clerk reports that he transmitted to the Rev. John Mc 
 Dowell, D.D., stated clerk, and the Rev. John M. Krebs, the permanent 
 clerk of the last Assembly, a certified copy of the resolution of May 17th, 
 demanding of the said clerks the commissions of commissioners to the 
 Assembly of 1838, and all the records, papers, and documents belonging 
 to the General Assembly, and which may now be in the possession of the 
 said clerks; that the Rev. John McDowell, D.D., formally declined, in 
 the presence of the Rev. Samuel H. Cox, D.D., to deliver any record or 
 document whatsoever belonging to the General Assembly, and now in 
 his possession and that the Rev. John M. Krebs, in answer to the de 
 mand of your clerk, returned a written communication, of which the 
 following is an extract : 
 
 "In reply to your favor, I would respectfully inform you that I am 
 the permanent clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America; that the Minutes of the As 
 sembly for May 17th are now before me ; and that there is no record on 
 the Minutes either of such a resolution as you have communicated, or of 
 your appointment as stated clerk in the place of Dr. John McDowell ; 
 and consequently I have no authority to comply with your demand. 
 (Signed) " JOHN M. KREBS." 
 
 Minutes, 1838, p. 653. 
 
 5. Trustees Elected. 
 
 "At 10 o clock the Assembly proceeded to the order of the day, viz., 
 the election of six trustees of the General Assembly. Messrs. Bogue, 
 Brown, and Chapin were appointed to receive the ballots and report the 
 result. The Assembly ascertained that no vacancies in the Board of 
 Trustees have occurred by death or otherwise. They then proceeded to 
 try whether they could elect any of that third of the number of trustees 
 which they are permitted by law to change, by voting for a person to fill 
 the place of the Rev. Ashbel Green, D.D., the first on the list. On 
 counting the votes, it was ascertained that all the votes given were for 
 James Todd, who was accordingly declared by the moderator to be a 
 trustee duly chosen in the place of Ashbel Green. In the same manner 
 the Assembly proceeded to vote, and unanimously elected John R. Neff 
 in the place of George C. Potts, Frederick A. Ilaybold in the place of 
 William Latta, George W. McClelland in the place of Thomas Brad 
 ford, William Darling in the place of Solomon Allen, and Thomas 
 
ASSEMBLY OF 1838. 521 
 
 Fleming in the place of Cornelius C. Cuyler ; thus changing as many of 
 the trustees as they are permitted by law to change. Whereupon James 
 Todd, John R. Neff, Frederick A. Raybold, George W. McClelland, 
 William Darling, and Thomas Fleming, were declared to be duly elected 
 trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America. 7 Minutes, 1838, pp. 654, 655. 
 
 6. Committee of Twelve appointed, with Powers. 
 
 a. " Overture No. 13 was reported and adopted, and is as follows : 
 " In view of the peculiar attitude of the Presbyterian Church 
 "Resolved, That a, committee of twelve be appointed, with power to 
 
 advise and direct in respect to any legal questions and pecuniary inte 
 rests that may require attention during the ensuing year. 
 
 11 The following persons were appointed that committee, viz., Hon. 
 William Darling, Rev. John L. Grant, Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, D.D., 
 Ambrose White, Esq., Thomas Fleming, Esq., George W. McClelland, 
 Esq., Rev. Albert Barnes, Rev. Thomas Brainerd, Rev. Absalom Peters, 
 D.D., Rev. Wiiliam Patton, D.D., Rev. Erskine Mason, D.D., and Rev. 
 E. W. Gilbert. 
 
 " Ordered, That the committee meet immediately after the dissolu 
 tion of this Assembly, and afterwards on their own adjournment/ 7 
 Minutes, 1838, p. 657. 
 
 b. " Overture 15 was presented and adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 " Resolved, That the Committee of Twelve/ appointed on the 24th 
 
 instant, be, and they are hereby authorized to adopt all such measures 
 as they in their judgment may deem proper to preserve and maintain in 
 violate the rights and privileges of the General Assembly and of the 
 churches under, their jurisdiction. " Minutes, 1838, p. 660. 
 
 7. The Assembly willing to agree to any reasonable Measures for the 
 amicable Adjustment of Difficulties. 
 
 " Overture No. 8 was presented, and, after discussion, unanimously 
 adopted, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That this body are willing to agree to any reasonable mea 
 sures, tending to an amicable adjustment of the difficulties existing in 
 the Presbyterian Church, and will receive and respectfully consider any 
 proposition which may be made for that purpose." Minutes, 1838, 
 p. 654. 
 
522 XII. THE DIVISION OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 8. Pastoral Letter to the Churches under the care of the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 " BELOVED IN THE LORD : It is well known as a matter of history, 
 that the Presbyterian Church in our nation commenced in the union of 
 pious natives and foreigners of Congregational and Presbyterian origin. 
 These differences, in her early and feeble state, occasioned no interrup 
 tion of her peace and efficiency. But as her numbers increased, they 
 produced contentions, which resulted in the violent expulsion of one 
 Synod by another, and a separation of seventeen years. 
 
 " The terms of reunion were, a subscription to the Confession of Faith, 
 as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures/ 
 notwithstanding any such scruples with respect to any article or articles 
 of said Confession as the Presbytery or Synod shall judge not essential 
 or necessary in doctrine, worship, or discipline / and the Synod do 
 solemnly agree that none of us will traduce or use any opprobrious terms 
 of those who differ from us in those extra essential and not necessary 
 points of doctrine, but treat them with the same friendship, kindness, 
 and brotherly love as if they had not differed from us in such senti 
 ments. 
 
 " By this Plan of Union the peace of the Church was restored and 
 her prosperity augmented, though, from some circumstances, the admin 
 istration of her policy was continued without envy in the hands of the 
 immigrant Presbyterian portion of the Church. 
 
 11 When the tide of population began to roll westward, and the terri 
 tories of our Church were fast filling up with pious emigrants from the 
 East, a proposal was made by the General Assembly of our Church to 
 the Association of Connecticut, to permit the union in the same church 
 of Presbyterians and Congregationalists, in the new settlements, for the 
 greater facility of supporting and extending the institutions of religion. 
 This union, so congenial with the spirit of the Gospel, exerted for a long 
 time an auspicious influence in the extension of Presbyterian churches 
 from the Hudson to the Mississippi. 
 
 " But at length, in the mysterious providence of God, jt came to pass 
 that the very causes of our prosperity became the occasions of disaster* 
 For, in the rapid multiplication of new States and Presbyterian churches, 
 it soon became apparent that native American Presbyterians must un 
 avoidably become a majority of the Church ; and though the slight 
 variations of doctrine and policy created no alarm while the helm of 
 power was supposed to be safe, the prospect of its passing to other hands 
 created a strong sensation. 
 
 " About this time, a Plan of Union was formed with the Associate 
 Reformed Church, and a considerable accession was made to our Church 
 from that body ; and soon after, the system of ecclesiastical organization 
 commenced for the administration of the charities of the Church, with 
 increasing unfriendliness to voluntary associations, till the one was esta 
 blished and the others were disclaimed and opposed. 
 
ASSEMBLY OF 1838. 523 
 
 " During the progress of these movements, the slight shades of doc 
 trinal difference always known and permitted to exist in the Church, 
 before and since the Adopting Act, and recognized in every form as 
 consistent with the Confession of Faith and the unity of the Spirit in 
 the bonds of peace, became the occasions of alarm, and whisperings, and 
 accusations, and at length of ecclesiastical trials for heresy, while doc 
 trines and measures unknown to the Confession were selected as tests of 
 orthodoxy. 
 
 u As the result of these efforts to change the terms of subscription 
 and union, the General Assembly of 1837, convinced that a separation 
 of the parties was the only cure/ and that a separation by personal 
 process was impossible, or, if possible, tedious, agitating, and trouble 
 some in the highest degree/ proceeded without charges, citation, wit 
 nesses, or a judicial trial, to separate four Synods and one Presbytery 
 from the Presbyterian Church. In these circumstances, apprised by 
 counsel of the unconstitutionally of the disfranchising act, and advised 
 of a constitutional mode of organization, we did, in a meeting for con 
 sultation and prayer, on the 15th day of May, 1838, send the following 
 proposal to a large number of commissioners to the Assembly, met in 
 another place, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved, That while we regard with deep sorrow the existing diffi 
 culties in our beloved Church, we would fondly hope that there are no 
 insurmountable obstacles in the way of averting the calamities of a 
 violent dismemberment, and of securing such an organization as may- 
 avoid collisions, and secure the blessings of a perpetuated harmonious 
 action. 
 
 "Resolved, That we are ready to co-operate in any efforts for pacifica 
 tion which are constitutional, and which shall recognize the regular 
 standing, and secure the rights of the entire Church, including those 
 portions which the acts of the last General Assembly were intended to 
 exclude. 
 
 " Resolved, That a committee of three be now appointed, respectfully 
 to communicate the foregoing resolutions to those commissioners now in 
 session in this city, who are at present inclined to sustain the acts of the 
 last General Assembly, and inquire whether they will open a friendly 
 conference for the purpose of ascertaining if some constitutional terms 
 of pacification may not be agreed upon. 
 
 " While this proposal was under consideration, it was resolved by the 
 meeting, 
 
 " That, should a portion of the commissioners to the next General 
 Assembly attempt to organize the Assembly without admitting to their 
 seats commissioners from all the Presbyteries recognized in the organiza 
 tion of the General Assembly of 1837, it will then be the duty of the 
 commissioners present to organize the General Assembly of 1838, in all 
 respects according to the Constitution, and to transact all other necessary 
 business consequent upon such organization. 
 
 " To our communication, we received the following answer ; 
 
524 XII. THE DIVISION OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 "The committee on the communication from ( the meeting of com 
 missioners/ now in session in the lecture-room of the First Church, 
 presented the following preamble and resolutions, which were adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 l{ Whereas, the resolutions of ( the meeting/ whilst they profess a 
 readiness t to co-operate in any efforts for pacification which are consti 
 tutional/ manifestly proceed upon the erroneous supposition that the 
 acts of the last General Assembly, declaring the four Synods of the 
 Western Reserve, Utica, Geneva, Genesee, out of the ecclesiastical con 
 nection of our Church, were unconstitutional and invalid, and the con 
 vention cannot for a moment consent to consider them in this light ; 
 therefore 
 
 "Resolved unanimously. That the convention regard the said overture 
 of the meeting/ however intended, as founded upon a basis which is 
 wholly inadmissible, and as calculated only to disturb that peace of our 
 Church which a calm and firm adherence to those constitutional, just, 
 and necessary acts of the last General Assembly can alone, by the 
 blessing of Divine Providence, establish and secure. 
 
 "Resolved, That, in the judgment of the convention, the resolution 
 of the last General Assembly which provides, in substance, that all 
 churches and ministers within the said four Synods which are strictly 
 Presbyterian in doctrine and order, and wish to unite with us, may 
 apply for admission into those Presbyteries belonging to our connection 
 which are most convenient to their respective locations ; and that any 
 such Presbyteries as aforesaid, being strictly Presbyterian in doctrine 
 and order, and now in connection with either of the said Synods, as may 
 desire to unite with us, are directed to make application, with a full 
 statement of their case, to the next General Assembly, which will take 
 order therein/ furnishes a fair and easy mode of proceeding, by which 
 all such ministers, churches, and Presbyteries, within the said Synods, as 
 are really desirous to be recognized as in regular standing with us, and 
 as proper parts of our ( entire Church/ may obtain their object without 
 trouble and without delay. 
 
 " I3y this answer, all prospect of conciliation or an amicable division 
 being foreclosed, we did, after mature consideration and fervent prayer, 
 proceed, at a proper time and place, to organize, in a constitutional 
 manner, the General Assembly of 1838 j which being accomplished on 
 our part without violence or tumult, the Assembly adjourned to the 
 First Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " During the session of the Assembly on Wednesday, May 24th, the 
 following resolution was passed, viz. : 
 
 " Resolved , That this body is willing to agree to any reasonable mea 
 sures tending to an amicable adjustment of the difficulties existing in 
 the Presbyterian Church, and will receive and respectfully consider any 
 propositions which may be made for that purpose. 
 
 " Beside these overtures for peace, influential members of the Assem 
 bly held personal conference with members of the other body, till it was 
 
ASSEMBLY OF 1838. 525 
 
 ascertained that there was no hope of an amicable settlement of differ 
 ences. 
 
 " In the retrospect of this mournful history, we are compelled to 
 regard the excision of the four Synods and the Third Presbytery of 
 Philadelphia, with the setting up a new test of doctrine and measures, 
 as an exercise of power by the Assembly unknown to the Constitution, 
 and dangerous to the purity and liberty of the Church, perpetuating to 
 an accidental majority unlimited and irresponsible power, and affording 
 to minorities only such protection as may be found in passive obedience 
 and non-resistance. 
 
 " We could not fail to perceive, in a General Assembly concentrating 
 in itself legislative, judicial, and executive power, and dispensing the 
 discipline, the honors, and the copious revenues of the Church, the 
 elements of an ecclesiastical organization, which, with less pretension in 
 the beginning, had once, for more than ten centuries, subverted the 
 liberties and rolled back the civilization of the world. 
 
 " To have acquiesced in such concentration of irresponsible ecclesias 
 tical power and patronage, would have been to abandon the Constitution 
 of the Church, which we had solemnly engaged to defend ; to expose 
 large amounts of property to diversion from its intended use; to subject 
 the churches to a wide-spread, vexatious litigation ; to abandon to aggres 
 sion and division a large and efficient body of concordant churches with 
 their pastors ; to surrender the rights of conscience, and free inquiry, 
 and charitable enterprise, to an organization never recognized by Heaven 
 as their keeper, or clothed by our Constitution with their power j and, 
 finally, to throw apparently the example of an extended and powerful 
 Church the patron, hitherto, of constitutional liberty on the side of 
 those elements of strife and violence which already so powerfully agitate 
 the nation. 
 
 " We love and honor the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian 
 Church, as containing more well-defined fundamental truth, with less 
 defect, than appertains to any other human formula of doctrine, and as 
 calculated to hold, in intelligent concord, a greater number of sanctified 
 minds than any which could now be formed ; and we disclaim all design, 
 past, present, or future, to change it. But it is not the Bible, nor a 
 substitute for the Bible, nor a stereotyped page, to be merely committed 
 to memory by unreflecting, confiding minds, without energy of thought, 
 and a prayerful, faithful searching of the Scriptures. It is itself an 
 illustrious monument of the independent investigation of the most gifted 
 minds, and breathes and inspires the spirit which formed it. 
 
 " We impute to our brethren no intention of producing the results 
 which we anticipate from their measures, but good intentions do not 
 change the nature or avert the mischiefs of erroneous principles and 
 injurious actions. It is a matter of history, that some of the greatest 
 calamities of the Church have flowed from principles and innovations 
 introduced by good men, and with the best intentions. 
 
 "And now, beloved brethren, we beseech you to unite with us in 
 
526 XII. THE DIVISION OP THE CHURCH. 
 
 thanksgiving to God for the harmony, and kind feeling, and decision 
 which have pervaded our deliberations and action, and for those wide 
 spread arid exuberant effusions of the Spirit the past year which, amid 
 unusual sorrows and fears of deserved judgments, have caused the tide 
 of spiritual prosperity to flow deep and broad ; the expression of sovereign 
 mercy and the pledge of future love. 
 
 " It is our desire and expectation that ye will persevere in well doing, 
 and not be seized with any sudden amazement, through manifold tempta 
 tions and trials of your faith and patience, and that you will not be 
 moved away from the Gospel which ye have heard, and the form of 
 sound words and salutary discipline, so influential in our past prosperity. 
 
 11 We exhort that fervent charity be maintained among you, and a 
 spirit of prayer for the continued presence and power of the Holy Spirit, 
 and devotedness to those labors which God especially employs for the 
 promotion of revivals of religion, the great end of all means, and the 
 comprehension of all spiritual good. 
 
 " But while these things are faithfully done, we pray you that other 
 duties of imperious obligation and urgent necessity be not neglected; 
 particularly that your charity for home and foreign missions, and the 
 education of a holy ministry, and for all our long-cherished voluntary 
 associations, be not suffered to decline, but rather to flow on with aug 
 mented power, and faith, and prayer. 
 
 " That especial care be taken to send and sustain a full representation 
 of the Church, as a mean of a mutual communication of knowledge, the 
 culture of confidence, and the production of wise counsels. 
 
 " And now, brethren, we commend you to Him who is able to keep 
 you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His 
 glory with exceeding joy/ praying that ye might be filled with the 
 knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that 
 ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in 
 every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God j strengthened 
 with all might according to His glorious power, unto all patience and 
 long-suffering with joyfulness. 
 
 " Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our . Father, 
 which have loved us, and given us everlasting consolation and good hope 
 through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word 
 and work/ 
 
 "SAM L FISHER, Moderator. 
 
 " ERSKINB MASON, Stated Clerk. 
 
 "PHILADELPHIA, May 25th, 1838." 
 
 Minutes, 1838, pp. 663-66T. 
 
 9. Report of the Committee of Twelve to the General Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 a. "In the General Assembly, May 20, 1839, Judge Darling, from 
 the Committee of Twelve, made the following report in part : 
 
COMMITTEE OF TWELVE. 527 
 
 "The committee appointed on the 21st May, 1838, to advise and 
 direct in respect to any legal questions and pecuniary interests that might 
 require attention during the ensuing year/ and who were authorized to 
 adopt all such measures as they in their judgment might deem proper, to 
 preserve and maintain inviolate the rights and privileges of the General 
 Assembly and of the churches under its jurisdiction, entered upon the 
 discharge of their duties immediately after the adjournment of the last 
 General Assembly, deeply impressed with the importance of the interests 
 intrusted to them, with their responsibilities to the Presbyterian Church, 
 and with a determination to exert their influence to bring the contro 
 versy in the Presbyterian Church to a speedy termination, on just and 
 equitable terms, which would restore peace and harmony to our beloved 
 Zion. They resolved not to resort to the civil courts for redress, until 
 every reasonable hope of an amicable adjustment should be abandoned, 
 and unless it became necessary so to do to protect and preserve the rights 
 and privileges of the Church which they represented. The trustees 
 elected by the General Assembly of 1838, having been denied the right 
 to take their seats at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees, as then 
 constituted, and our opponents manifesting a determination to persist in 
 their acts of injustice and oppression, the committee, with the notice 
 and under the direction of their counsel, Josiah Randall and William 
 Meredith, Esqs., of Philadelphia, and George Wood, Esq., of New York, 
 caused a writ of quo warranto to be issued, in the name of the Common 
 wealth of Pennsylvania, at the relation of the Hon. James Todd et al. 
 vs. the Rev. Ashbel Green, D.D., et al., to show cause by what authority 
 they continue to usurp and hold the office of trustees, &c. The com 
 mittee adopted this mode of proceeding at the suggestion of their legal 
 advisers, believing that, in this form of action, they would be enabled to 
 obtain a more speedy trial and decision on the merits of the controversy 
 between the Reformed and Constitutional General Assemblies, and on 
 the various points of law involved in the same, and with less expense and 
 excitement than in any other form of action which could be devised. 
 While this cause was pending, and previous to the trial before Judge 
 Rogers, at Nisi Prius, the committee were informed by one of their 
 counsel, that John K. Kane, Esq., one of the trustees of the General 
 Assembly, and who was of counsel for the respondents, had stated to 
 him that those he represented were disposed to adjust, amicably and 
 equitably, all matters in controversy in this cause, and had requested 
 him to ascertain what terms the committee would propose, as a basis for 
 an amicable division of the Presbyterian Church, and the final adjust 
 ment of all the matters in dispute between the Reformed and Constitu 
 tional General Assemblies. Upon inquiry, the committee ascertained 
 that neither Mr. Kane, nor any other person, was authorized to enter 
 into a negotiation with the committee on the subject of a compromise; 
 that Mr. Kane was probably acting on his own responsibility, influenced 
 by a most laudable desire to promote union and peace among the pro 
 fessed friends of the Redeemer. The committee duly appreciated the 
 
528 XII THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 motives which prompted the efforts of Mr. Kane, and keeping in view 
 the resolution of the General Assembly of 1838, viz., That this body 
 is willing to agree to any reasonable measures, tending to an amicable 
 adjustment of the difficulties in the Presbyterian Church, and will re 
 ceive, and respectfully consider, any propositions made for that purpose/ 
 they waived all exceptions which might have been taken to enter into 
 any negotiation with, or to making any propositions to, one irresponsible 
 individual, and promptly requested their counsel to furnish Mr. Kane 
 with a copy of the following articles of agreement : 
 
 b. " ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT PROPOSED. 
 
 " In order to secure an amicable and equitable adjustment of the diffi 
 culties existing in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of Ame 
 rica, it is hereby agreed by the respective parties, that the following 
 shall be articles on which a division shall be made and continued : 
 
 "ART. I. The successors of the body which held its sessions in Ran- 
 stead Court shall hereafter be known by the name and style of The 
 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of 
 America/ The successors of the body which held its sessions in the 
 First Presbyterian Church shall hereafter be known by the name and 
 style of The General Assembly of the American Presbyterian Church/ 
 
 " ART. II. Joint application shall be made by the parties to this 
 agreement to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, for a charter to incorpo 
 rate trustees of each of the respective bodies, securing to each the im 
 munities and privileges now secured by the existing charter to the 
 trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America, subject, nevertheless, to the limitations and 
 articles herein agreed on ; and when so obtained, the existing charter 
 shall be surrendered to the State. 
 
 "ART. III. Churches, ministers, and members of churches as well as 
 Presbyteries, shall be at full liberty to decide to which of the said As 
 semblies they will be attached; and in case the majority of legal voters 
 of any congregation shall prefer to be connected with any Presbytery 
 connected with the Assembly to which their Presbytery is not attached, 
 they shall certify the same to the stated clerk of the Presbytery which 
 they wish to leave, and their connection with said Presbytery shall 
 thenceforth cease. 
 
 "ART. IV. The Theological Seminary of Princeton, the Western 
 Theological Seminary, the Board of Foreign Missions, the Board of 
 Domestic Missions, the Board of Education, with the funds appertain 
 ing to each, shall be the property and subject to the exclusive control of 
 the body which, according to this agreement, shall be chartered under 
 the title of The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America/ 
 
COMMITTEE OF TWELVE. 529 
 
 " This agreement shall not be considered a secession on the part of 
 either body from the Presbyterian Church in the United States of Ame 
 rica, but a voluntary and amicable division of this Church into two de 
 nominations, each retaining all the ecclesiastical and pecuniary rights of 
 the whole body, with the limitations and qualifications in the above arti 
 cles specified. 
 
 "The only reply which the committee received to these propositions 
 was, that they could not be accepted, but that the Old School party 
 would agree that the members of the Constitutional General Assembly, 
 and all who adhered to this General Assembly, should be at liberty to 
 leave the Presbyterian Church without molestation from them, and that 
 they should not be called seceders. This reply, in the opinion of the 
 committee, cut off all hope of an amicable and just settlement, and closed 
 the door of reconciliation. They, therefore, formally resolved that it 
 was inexpedient to make any further attempt to effect a compromise, and 
 that the necessary preparations be made for the trial of the cause now 
 pending. 
 
 c. " The result of the trial of this cause before Judge Rogers, at Nisi 
 Prius, and of the subsequent motion to set aside the verdict of the jury 
 in this cause, is known to all the members of the General Assembly. 
 But the committee forbear entering into the history of this trial, or of 
 the causes which probably influenced the court in bank to award a new 
 trial; believing that this will be done in due time by another committee. 
 
 " The committee cannot close this report without bearing their testi 
 mony to the zeal and distinguished ability which the counsel for the 
 relators displayed, in the preparation, trial, and argument of this cause; 
 and although we have not obtained all which the justice of our cause 
 warranted us to hope for and expect, yet much has been gained. The 
 true history of the proceedings of the Assemblies of 1837 and 1838, at 
 Ranstead s Court, has been extensively circulated. The nature of the 
 difficulties in the Presbyterian Church is now better understood. The 
 public mind has been, in a great measure, disabused of the misrepre 
 sentations industriously circulated by certain presses, respecting the 
 motives, views, and intentions of the friends and adherents of the Con 
 stitutional Presbyterian Church ; while the manifest injustice which has 
 been inflicted upon us will lead to the development of Christian charac 
 ter, which will be of incalculable value to the Church. It is true, we 
 have been disappointed, but not defeated; cast down, but not destroyed. 
 Our cause, the committee believe, is not lost; but we trust the judgment 
 
 34 
 
530 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 on a just and righteous verdict of a jury of our country, is suspended 
 only for a season. 
 
 " The committee view with pain and regret the scene of protracted 
 litigation which lies in prospect before them, but they believe that the 
 path of duty is the only path of safety, and that they are bound to main 
 tain and defend the great principles of civil and religious rights involved 
 in this case, and to preserve and protect inviolate the rights and privileges 
 of the Church under the care of this General Assembly. The committee, 
 therefore, recommend a firm adherence to the standards and Constitution 
 of the Presbyterian Church to cultivate union, that all may act in har 
 monious concert, guided by the immutable principles of truth and jus 
 tice ] leaving our cause, with explicit trust and confidence, with the great 
 Head of the Church, believing that He will send us deliverance, and 
 cause truth and righteousness to prevail." 
 
 Presbyterian Church Case. Charge of the Court. 
 
 d. u Rogers, J. Gentlemen of the Jur} r , Before the year 1758, the Presbyte 
 rian churches in this country were under the care of two separate Synods and 
 their Presbyteries, the Synod of New York and the Synod of Philadelphia. 
 
 "In the year 1758 these Synods were united, and were called The Synod 
 of New York and Philadelphia. This continued until the year 1788, when 
 the General Assembly was formed. The Synod was then divided into four 
 Synods, the Synod of New York and New Jersey, Philadelphia, Virginia, and 
 the Carolinas ; of these four Synods the General Assembly was constituted. 
 
 "In 1803, the Synod of Albany was erected. This Synod has been from 
 time to time subdivided, and the Synods of Genesee, Geneva, and Utica, have 
 been formed. 
 
 " The Synod of Pittsburg has been also erected, out of which the Synod of 
 the Western Reserve has been formed. 
 
 " These constitute the four exscinded Synods, viz., the Synods of Genesee, 
 Geneva, Utica, and the Western Reserve. 
 
 " The General Assembly was constituted by every Presbytery, at their last 
 stated meeting preceding the meeting of the General Assembly, deputing to 
 the General Assembly commissioners, in certain specific proportions. 
 
 " The Westminster Confession of Faith is part of the Constitution of the 
 Church. The Constitution could not be altered, unless two-thirds of the Pres 
 byteries under the care of the General Assembly prepare alterations or amend 
 ments, and such alterations or amendments were agreed to by the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 "The form of government was amended in 1821. The General Assembly 
 now consists of an equal delegation of bishops and elders from each Presby 
 tery, in certain proportions. 
 
 " The judicatories of the Church consist of the Session, of the Presbyteries, 
 of Synods, and the General Assembly. 
 
 " The church Session consists of the pastor, or pastors, and ruling elders of 
 a particular congregation. A Presbytery, of all the ministers and one ruling 
 elder from each congregation within a certain district. A Synod is a conven- 
 
CHARGE OF THE COURT. 531 
 
 tion of bishops and elders, including at least three Presbyteries ; and the 
 General Assembly, of an equal delegation of bishops and elders from each 
 Presbytery, 7 in the following proportions, viz. : Each Presbytery consisting of 
 not more than twenty-four ministers, sends one minister and one elder ; and 
 each Presbytery consisting of more than twenty-four ministers, sends two min 
 isters and two elders ; and in the like proportion for every twenty-four ministers 
 in any Presbytery. The delegates so appointed are styled Commissioners to 
 the General Assembly. 
 
 u The General Assembly is the highest judicatory of the Presbyterian Church. 
 It represents, in one body, all the particular churches of this denomination of 
 Christians. 
 
 " In relation to this body, the most important undoubtedly are the various 
 Presbyteries ; for, as was before said, the General Assembly consists of an 
 equal delegation of bishops and elders from each of the Presbyteries. If the 
 Presbyteries are destroyed, the General Assembly falls, as a matter of course, 
 as there would no longer be any constituent bodies in existence from which 
 delegates could be sent to the General Assembly. 
 
 " The Presbyteries are essential features in the form of government in ano 
 ther particular, for before any overtures or regulations proposed by the General 
 Assembly to be established as constitutional rules, can be obligatory on the 
 churches, it is necessary to transmit them to all the Presbyteries, and to receive 
 the returns of at least a majority of them in writing, approving thereof. 
 
 " A Synod, as has been before observed, is a convention of bishops and elders 
 within a district, including at least three Presbyteries. The Synods have a 
 supervisory power over Presbyteries, but unlike Presbyteries, as such they are 
 not essential to the existence of the General Assembly. If every Synod in the 
 United States were exscinded and destroyed, still the General Assembly would 
 remain as the highest tribunal in the Church. In this particular there is a vital 
 difference between Presbyteries and Synods. The only connection between 
 the General Assembly and the Synods is, that the former has a supervisory 
 power over the latter. 
 
 " Having thus given you an account of such parts of the form of church 
 government as may in some aspects of the cause, be material, I shall now call 
 your attention to the matter in issue. 
 
 "This proceeding is what is called a quo warranto? It is issued by the 
 commonwealth, at the suggestion of James Todd and others, against Ashbel 
 Green and others, to show by what authority they claim to exercise the office 
 of Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America. I must here remark, that it is not only an appropriate, 
 but the best method of trying the issue in this case. 
 
 "It is admitted that, until the 24th of May, 18H8, the respondents were the 
 rightful trustees ; but it is contended by the relators, that on that day, the 24th 
 of May, 1838, in pursuance of the act of incorporation, the General Assembly 
 of the Presbyterian Church changed one-third of the trustees, by the election 
 of the relators in the place and stead of the respondents. 
 
 "The 28th March, 1799, the Legislature of Pennsylvania declared Ashbel 
 Green and seventeen others (naming them), a body politic and corporate, by 
 the name and style of Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America. 
 
 " The sixth section provides that the corporation shall not, at any time, 
 consist of more than eighteen persons ; whereof, the General Assembly may, 
 at their discretion, as often as they shall hold their sessions in the State of 
 Pennsylvania, change one-third in such a manner as to the General Assembly 
 may seem proper. 
 
532 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " It was the intention of the legislature, by the act of incorporation, to pro 
 vide for the election of competent persons, who as an incorporated body, might, 
 with more ease and in a better manner, manage the temporal affairs of the 
 Church. It is only in this aspect that we have cognizance of the case. 
 
 " In this country, for the mutual advantage of Church and State, we have 
 wisely separated the ecclesiastical from the civil power. The court has as little 
 inclination as authority to interfere with the Church and its government farther 
 than may be necessary for its protection and security. It is only as it bears 
 upon the corporation, which is the creature of the civil power, that we have 
 any right to determine the validity, or to construe the acts and resolutions of 
 the General Assembly. 
 
 Although neither the members of the General Assembly, as such, nor the 
 General Assembly itself, are individually or aggregately members of the corpo 
 ration, yet the Assembly has power, from time to time, as they may deem 
 proper, to change the trustees, and to give special instructions for their govern 
 ment. They stand in the relation of electors, and have been properly denomi 
 nated, in the argument, quasi corporate. The trustees only are the corpo 
 ration by express words of the act of the Assembly. 
 
 "Unhappily, differences have arisen in the Church (the nature of which it is 
 not necessary for vis to inquire into), which have caused a division of its 
 members into two parties, called and known as the Old and New School. 
 These appellations we may adopt for the sake of designating the respective 
 parties, the existence of which will have an important bearing on some of the 
 questions involved in this important cause. It gives a key to conduct, which 
 it would be otherwise difficult to explain. 
 
 "The division continued to increase in strength and virulence until the 
 Session of 1837, when certain decisive measures, which will be hereafter stated, 
 were taken by the General Assembly, which at this time was under the control 
 of members who sympathize (as the phrase is) with the principles of the Old 
 School. 
 
 " At an early period the Presbyterian Church, at their own suggestion. 
 formed unions with cognate churches, that is, with churches whose faith, prin 
 ciples, and practice assimilated with their own, and between whom there was 
 no essential difference in doctrine. 
 
 li On this principle a Plan of Union and correspondence was adopted by the 
 Assembly in 1792, with the General Association of Connecticut, with Vermont 
 in 1803, with that of New Hampshire in 1810, with Massachusetts in 1811, 
 with the Northern Associate Presbytery of Albany in 1802, and with the Re 
 formed Dutch Church and the Associate Reformed Church in 1798. 
 
 " These conventions, as is stated, originated in the measures adopted by the 
 General Assembly in 1790 and 1791. The delegates from each of the associ 
 ated churches not only sat and deliberated with each other, but also acted and 
 voted by virtue of the express terms of the Union. 
 
 "In further pursuance of the settled policy of the Church to extend its 
 sphere of usefulness, in the year 1801, a Plan of Union between the Presby 
 terians and Congregationalists was formed. 
 
 "The Plan, which was devised by the fathers of the Church to prevent aliena 
 tion and to promote harmony, was observed by the General Assembly, without 
 question by them, until the year 1835, a period of thirty-four years. 
 
 "At that time it was resolved by the General Assembly, that they deemed 
 it no longer desirable that churches should be formed in their Presbyterian 
 connection, agreeably to the Plan adopted by the Assembly and General Asso 
 ciation of Connecticut, in 1801. They, therefore, resolved that their brethren 
 of the General Association of Connecticut be, and they hereby are, respectfully 
 
CHARGE OF THE COURT. 533 
 
 requested to consent that the said Plan shall be, from and after the next meet 
 ing of that Association, declared to be annulled. And also resolved that the 
 annulling of said Plan shall not in anywise interfere with the existence and 
 lawful association of churches which have been already formed on this Plan. 
 
 " To this resolution no reasonable objection can be made, and if the matter 
 had been permitted to rest here, we should not have been troubled with this 
 controversy. It had not then occurred to the Assembly that the Plan of Union 
 was unconstitutional. The resolutions are predicated on the belief that the 
 agreement or compact was constitutional. They request that the Association 
 of Connecticut would consent to rescind it. It docs not seem to have been 
 thought, that this could be done without their consent. And moreover, the 
 resolution expressly saves the right of existing churches which had been formed 
 on that Plan. 
 
 " I must be permitted to regret, for the sake of peace and harmony, that this 
 business was not permitted to rest on the basis of resolutions which breathe 
 the spirit of peace and good feeling. But unfortunately the General Assembly, 
 in 18H7, which was then under another influence, took a different view of the 
 question. 
 
 " As the "Plan of Union" adopted for the new settlements, in 1801, was 
 originally an unconstitutional act on the part of that Assembly, these im 
 portant standing rules having never been submitted to the Presbyteries, and 
 as they were totally destitute of authority as proceeding from the General 
 Association of Connecticut, which is invested with no power to legislate in 
 such cases, and especially to enact laws to regulate churches not within their 
 limits ; and as much confusion and irregularity have arisen from this unnatural 
 unconstitutional system of union, therefore it is 
 
 111 Resolved, Tliat the Act of the Assembly of 1801, entitled a "Plan of 
 Union, Jr be, and the same is hereby abrogated. See Digest, pp. 2 < J7 299. 
 
 "The resolution declares the Flan of Union to be unconstitutional: 1st, 
 because those important standing rules, as they call them, were not submitted 
 to the Presbyteries ; and secondly, because the General Association of Con 
 necticut was invested with no power to legislate in such cases, and especially 
 to enact laws to regulate churches not within their limits. 
 
 " The court is not satisfied with the force of these reasons, and do not think 
 the agreement or Plan of Union, comes within the words or spirit of that 
 clause in the Constitution which provides, that before any overture or regula 
 tions shall be proposed by the General Assembly, to be established as constitu 
 tional rules, shall be obligatory on the churches, it shall be necessary to 
 transmit them to all the Presbyteries, and to receive the returns of at least a 
 majority of them approving thereof. Nor is it in the opinion of the court, in 
 conflict with the Constitution before its amendment in 1821, which provides 
 that no alteration shall be made in the Constitution, unless two-thirds of the 
 Presbyteries under the care of the General Assembly propose alterations or 
 amendments, and such alterations or amendments are agreed to by the As 
 sembly. 
 
 " It was a regulation made by competent parties, and not intended by either 
 as a constitutional rule ; nor was it obligatory on any of the Presbyterian 
 churches within their connection. Those who were competent to make it, 
 were competent to dissolve it without the assent of the Presbyteries, as such, 
 which could not be done were it a constitutional rule, within the meaning of 
 the Constitution. Whether one party may dissolve it without the consent of 
 the other, it might be unnecessary to decide. My opinion is that they can. 
 The Plan of Union is intended to prevent alienation, and to promote union 
 and harmony in the new settlements. 
 
534 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " It is not the union of a Presbyterian church with a Congregational church 
 or churches, but it purports to be, and is a Plan of Union between individual 
 members of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches, in that portion of 
 the country which was then denominated the new settlements. It is advisory 
 and recommendatory in its character has nothing obligatory about it. A 
 Congregational church as such, is not by force of the agreement incorporated 
 with the Presbyterian Church. It has no necessary connection with it : for it 
 is only when the congregation consists partly of those who hold the Congre 
 gational form of discipline, and partly of those who hold the Presbyterian 
 form, and there is an appeal to the Presbytery (as there may be in certain 
 cases), that the Standing Committee of the Congregational Church, consisting 
 partly of Presbyterians arid partly of Congregationalists, may or shall attend 
 the Presbytery, and may have the same right to sit and act in the Presbytery 
 as a ruling elder. And whatever may have been occasionally the instances to 
 the contrary, this I conceive to be the obvious construction of the regulation. 
 That part of the agreement was intended as a safeguard, or protection of the 
 rights of all the parties to be affected by it, without any design to confer upon 
 the Standing Committee all the rights of a ruling elder. 
 
 " I view it as a matter of discipline and not of doctrine, the effect of which 
 is to exempt those members of the different communions who adopted it, from 
 the censures of the church to which they belong, and particularly the clerical 
 portion of them. 
 
 " The court is also of the opinion, that after an acquiescence of nearly forty 
 years, and particularly after the adoption by the Presbyteries of the amended 
 Constitution of 1821, the Plan of Union is not now open to objection. The 
 Plan has been recognized by the Presbyteries, at various times and different 
 manners, under the old and amended Constitution. It has been acted on by 
 them and the Genera! Assembly in repeated instances, and is equally as obliga 
 tory as if it had received the express sanction of the Presbyteries, in all the 
 forms known to the Constitution. 
 
 " That acquiescence gives right, is a principle which we must admit. The 
 constitutionality of the purchase and admission of Louisiana as a member of 
 the Union, was doubted by some of the wisest heads and purest hearts in the 
 country, but he would be a very bold man, indeed, who would now deny that 
 State, and Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri to be members of the Con 
 federation. In the memorable struggle for the admission of Missouri into the 
 Union, this objection was never taken. 
 
 11 Nor am I satisfied with the second reason, that the General Association 
 of Connecticut was invested with no power to legislate in such cases, and 
 especially to enact. laws to regulate churches not within their limits. Although 
 the General Assembly had the right to annul the Plan of Union without the 
 assent of the General Association of Connecticut, yet I must be permitted to 
 say, that after having acted on the Plan, and reaped all the advantages of it, 
 it is rather discourteous, to say the least of it, to attempt to abrogate it without 
 the consent of the other party. Although the Association may be an advisory 
 body, yet it does not appear that any difficulty has been started by them, or by 
 the churches under their control. All parties acquiesced in it for thirty-six 
 years, and it would be too late for either now to object to its validity. Nor is 
 there anything in the idea that they have no power to regulate churches not 
 within their limits. This is a matter of consent, arid there is nothing to pre 
 vent the churches in one State, from submitting themselves to the ecclesiastical 
 government of churches located in another State. The Presbyterian Church 
 has furnished us with repeated examples of this kind. 
 
 " So far from believing the Plan of Union to be unconstitutional, I concur 
 
CHARGE OF THE COURT. 535 
 
 fully with one of the counsel, that confined within its legitimate limits, it is an 
 agreement or regulation, which the General Assembly not only had power to 
 make, but that it is one which is well calculated to promote the best interests 
 of religion. 
 
 "If as is stated, the Standing Committee of Congregational Churches have 
 claimed and exercised the same rights as ruling elders in Presbyteries, and in 
 the General Assembly itself, it is an abuse which may be corrected by the 
 proper tribunals, but surely that is no argument, or one of but little weight, to 
 show that the Plan of Union is unconstitutional and void. 
 
 "Although in the opinion of the court, the Assembly have the right to repeal 
 the Plan of Union without the consent of the General Association of Connecti 
 cut, yet it was unjust to repeal it, without saving the rights of existing ministers 
 and churches. 
 
 "But whether the Plan of Union be constitutional or not, is only material 
 so far as it is made the basis of some subsequent resolutions, to which your 
 attention will now be directed. 
 
 " At the same session, and after failure of an attempt at compromise, the 
 character of which has been the subject of much comment, the General As 
 sembly resolved, that by the abrogation of the Plan of Union of 1801, the 
 Synod of the Western Reserve is, and is hereby declared to be no longer a 
 part of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " Resolved, That in consequence of the abrogation by this General Assembly 
 of the Plan of Union of 1801, between it and the General Association of Con 
 necticut, as utterly unconstitutional, and therefore null and void from the 
 beginning, the Synods of Utica. Geneva, and Genesee, which were formed and 
 attached to this body, under and in execution of said Plan of Union, be, and 
 are hereby declared to be out of the connection of the Presbyterian Church in 
 the United States of America, and that they are not, in form or in fact, an 
 integral portion of said church. 
 
 These resolutions refer only in name to the four Synods, and if we were 
 called on for the construction alone, it might be well doubted whether they 
 were intended, or could be made to include the Presbyteries within their 
 limits, the constituents or electoral bodies of the General Assembly itself. I 
 should be inclined, for the purpose of protecting their rights from a resolution 
 so penal in its character, to say that they were not included, neither in the 
 spirit nor the words of the resolution. But this construction we are prevented 
 from giving by their declarative resolution. It is there in effect said, that it is 
 the purpose of the General Assembly to destroy the relations of all such Synods, 
 and all their constituent parts, to the General Assembly, and to the Presby- 
 terian Church in the United States. In the fourth resolution it is declared, 
 that any Presbytery within the four Synods, being strictly Presbyterian in doc 
 trine and order, who may desire to be united with them, are hereby directed 
 to make application, with a full statement of their case, to the next General 
 Assembly, which will take proper order thereon. 
 
 " There is no mistaking the character of these resolutions. It is an imme 
 diate dissolution of all connection between the four Synods and all their con 
 stituent parts, and the General Assembly. They are destructive of the rights 
 of electors of the General Assembly. The connection might be renewed, it is 
 true, by each of the Presbyteries making application to the next General As 
 sembly, but they are at liberty to accept or refuse them, provided they, the 
 General Assembly, deem them strictly Presbyterian in doctrine and order. 
 As they had the right to admit them, they had the right also to refuse them, 
 unless in their opinion, they were strictly Presbyterian in doctrine and order. 
 
 " By these resolutions, the commissioners, who had acted with the General 
 
536 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Assembly up to that time, were deprived of their seats. At the same time, 
 four Synods, with twenty-eight Presbyteries, were cut off from all connection 
 with the Presbyterian Church. The General Assembly resolved, that because 
 the Plan of 1801 was unconstitutional, those Synods and their constituent parts 
 are no longer integral parts of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " You will observe, that I have already said the Plan of Union is constitu 
 tional. That reason therefore fails. They have resolved that it is not only un 
 constitutional, but that it is null and void from the beginning. Instead of a 
 prospective, they have given their resolutions a retrospective effect, the injustice 
 of which is most manifest. 
 
 " But admitting that the Plan of Union is unconstitutional, null and void, 
 from the beginning, I cannot perceive what justification that furnishes for the 
 exscinding resolutions. The infusion of Congregationalists with the Presby 
 teries, or the General Assembly itself, does not invalidate the acts of the Gene 
 ral Assembly. They had a right, notwithstanding the charter which recognizes 
 elders and ministers as composing the Presbyterian Church, to perform the 
 functions committed to them by the Constitution. And among them to esta 
 blish and divide Synods, to create Presbyteries, as in their judgment the exigen 
 cies of the Church might demand. 
 
 Accordingly, we find that the four Synods, and all the Presbyteries attached 
 to them, have been formed since the year 1801. The Assembly creates the 
 Synods, and the Synods the Presbyteries. Sometimes the Assembly creates 
 the Presbyteries a course pursued with some of the Presbyteries which have 
 been exscinded. They have been established since, but this is no evidence that 
 the four exscinded Synods were formed and attached to the General Assembly 
 under, and in execution of, the Plan of Union. The compact, as has been be 
 fore observed, was intended for a different purpose, and imposed on the Pres 
 byterian Churi h no obligation to admit churches formed on the Plan as 
 members. It was a voluntary act, and not the necessary result of the agree 
 ment ; nor does it appear that the Presbyteries were formed and incorporated 
 with the Church on any other terms or conditions than other Presbyteries, 
 who were in regular course taken into the Presbyterian connection. 
 
 " But, gentlemen, when resolutions of so unusual a character, so condemna 
 tory, and so destructive of the rights of electors, the constituents of the As 
 sembly itself, are passed, we have a right to require that the substantial forms 
 of justice be observed. But so far from this, the General Assembly, in the 
 plenitude of its power, has undertaken to exclude from all their rights and 
 privileges twenty-eight Presbyteries, who are its constituents, without notice, and 
 without even the form of trial. By the resolutions, the commissioners, who 
 had acted as members of the General Assembly for two weeks, were at once 
 deprived of their seats. Four Synods, 28 Presbyteries, 509 ministers, 599 
 churches, and 00,000 communicants, were at once disfranchised and de 
 prived of their privileges in this Church. 
 
 " This proceeding is not only contrary to the eternal principles of justice, 
 the principles of the common law, but it is at variance with the Constitution 
 of the Church. 
 
 a This proceeding is not in the nature of a legislative, but it is a judicial 
 proceeding to all intents and purposes. It is idle to deny that the Presbyte 
 ries within the infected districts, as they are called, were treated as enemies 
 and offenders against the rules, regulations, and doctrines of the Church. If 
 there is anything that a man values, it is his religious rights. 
 
 "And of this opinion were the General Assembly themselves, for, only a 
 few days before, they came to the following resolutions : 
 
 u l Resolved, 1. That the proper steps be now taken to cite to the bar of the 
 
CHARGE OF THE COURT. 537 
 
 next Assembly, such inferior judicatories as are charged by common fame with 
 irregularities. 
 
 " 2. That a special committee be now appointed to ascertain what inferior 
 judicatories are thus charged by common fame, prepare charges and specifica 
 tions against them, and to digest a suitable plan of procedure in the matter, 
 and that said committee be requested to report as soon as practicable/ 
 
 " Nothing further appears to have been done in this matter in the General 
 Assembly, for, after failure of the attempt at compromise, they appear to have 
 discovered a much more expeditious, if not a more agreeable, method of effect 
 ing their object. 
 
 " I have said that exscinding the Presbyteries without notice and without 
 trial, was not only contrary to the common law, but it was contrary to the Con 
 stitution of the Church. And it is only necessary to open the Book of Disci 
 pline to see how very careful the fathers of the Church have been to secure to 
 the accused a full, fair, and impartial trial. 
 
 " Notice is given to the parties concerned at least ten days before the meet 
 ing of the judicatory. The accused are informed of the names of all the wit 
 nesses to be adduced against them. When the charges are exhibited, the time, 
 places, and circumstances are stated, if by possibility they can be ascertained, 
 citations are issued, signed by the moderator or clerk by order, and in the 
 name of the judicatory. 
 
 "Judicatories are enjoined to ascertain, before proceeding to trial, that their 
 citations have been duly served. And, to secure a fair and impartial trial, the 
 witnesses are to be examined in the presence of the accused, who is permitted 
 to ask any question tending to his own exculpation. The judgment, when 
 rendered, is regularly entered on the records of the judicatory. 
 
 "If these proceedings, before judgment, are requisite in the case of the mean 
 est member of the Church (the omission of which, by any of the inferior judica 
 tories, would call down on the offenders the severest censure of the General 
 Assembly), it is inconceivable that similar precautions are not necessary to 
 protect the rights of Presbyteries, which consist of many individuals, from the 
 injustice, violence, and party spirit of the General Assembly itself. Constitu 
 tions are intended to protect the weak, the minority, from the injustice of the 
 majority. 
 
 " The majority, for the most part, are able to protect themselves. It is the 
 minority that need protection ; and for this purpose it is necessary to encircle 
 them with at least all the forms of justice. 
 
 " This, as has been before observed, is a judicial act ; and if a regular trial 
 had been had and judgment rendered, the sentence would have been conclusive. 
 We should not have attempted to examine the justice of the proceeding, but 
 inasmuch as there have been no citations and no trial, I instruct you that the 
 resolution of the General Assembly exscinding the four Synods of Utica, Ge 
 neva, Genesee, and the Western Reserve, are unconstitutional, null, and void. 
 
 " The judgments of all courts, whether ecclesiastical or civil, whether of 
 inferior or superior judicatories, are absolutely void when rendered without 
 citations and without trial, and without the opportunity of a hearing. 
 
 " But admitting this to be in the nature of a legislative proceeding, still it is 
 void ; for I deny the right of any legislature to deprive an elector of his right 
 to vote, either with or without trial. 
 
 " This is a power which can only be exercised by a judicial tribunal who act 
 under the sanction of an oath, who examine witnesses on oath, and who con 
 form to all the rules of evidence established by the sages of the law. 
 
 " If the legislature of Pennsylvania should dare, by resolution or otherwise, 
 to deprive one of you, gentlemen, of your rights as an elector, it would be the 
 
538 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 duty of the court to declare such an act null and void. I am unable to distin 
 guish the difference between the two cases. 
 
 " Whether the General Assembly is the proper tribunal, in the first instance, 
 for the trial of offence, or whether the Presbyteries are amenable to their judi- 
 catories in this or any other mode, it is unnecessary to decide, as the court are 
 clearly of the opinion, that if they have the right, it must be exercised with 
 the same rules and regulations which are applicable to the inferior judicatories. 
 
 Personal process in such case may be tedious, agitating, and troublesome in 
 the highest degree, but it is obviously not impossible. Nor does it strike me as 
 impossible to devise a plan under the Constitution to correct heresy and schism 
 without resort to personal process in such case. But if it were so, this is an 
 excuse, but it is no justification of the exscinding resolutions. 
 
 " Offenders, according to the rules of the Church, may be brought before a 
 judicatory by common fame. But I perceive no power given to convict on 
 common fame. 
 
 " You will remark, gentlemen, that the Presbyteries, by the Constitution of 
 the Church, are the electors of the General Assembly. Their right of repre 
 sentation has been taken away without trial, without the examination (as far 
 as we know) of a single witness. 
 
 " Whether these Presbyteries have Congregational churches in their connec 
 tion, is not now material. It is possible that, had a trial been had, that point, 
 which is deemed so important, may have been disproved. At any rate, it 
 would seem a singular reason for dissolving a whole Presbytery, that one 
 church was contaminated with false and heretical doctrines, or doctrines not 
 strictly Presbyterian ; that a whole Presbytery should be ejected, because a 
 single church was governed without the benefit of ruling elders. It would be 
 a reason, perhaps a good one, for cutting off that church from the Presbyterian 
 connection, but none for casting out the whole Presbytery. And this, gentle 
 men, would be particularly severe on the members and congregations, when 
 the fact was known, at the time the Presbytery was created, such connection 
 did exist. 
 
 "If, however, after having condemned this (as it is called) unnatural con 
 nection, the Presbyteries should obstinately continue to adhere to it, then they 
 would justly expose themselves to the severest censures of the Church. But 
 whether there is any mode known to the Constitution by which a Presbytery 
 can be deprived of the right of representation on the floor of the General As 
 sembly, is a point which is not necessary to the case, and which I shall not 
 undertake to decide. 
 
 "I have been requested by the respondents counsel to instruct you that the 
 introduction of lay delegates from Congregational establishments into the 
 judicatories of the Presbyterian Church was a violation of the fundamental 
 principle of Presbyterianism, and a contradiction of the act of the Legislature 
 of Pennsylvania, incorporating the trustees of the Church. But any act per 
 mitting such introduction would therefore have been void, although submitted 
 to the Presbyteries. As an abstract question on this point, I give an affirma 
 tive answer, although, gentlemen, I am unable to see the bearing it has on the 
 matter at issue in this case. 
 
 " You have already seen that the court is of the opinion, that the exscinding 
 resolutions are unconstitutional, null, and void ; yet this did not of itself dis 
 solve the General Assembly. The Assembly was dissolved at the termination 
 of its session. You will perceive in the course of the remarks which I shall 
 have to make to you, that the acts of this Assembly will have an important 
 influence on the proceedings of the Assembly of 1838. 
 
 " The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church is entitled to decide 
 
CHARGE OF THE COURT. 539 
 
 upon the right claimed by any one to a seat in that body, but unlike legislative 
 bodies, their decision is the subject of revision. Ecclesiastical judicatories are 
 subject to the control of the law. 
 
 " J also instruct you that a mandamus would not reach the case, for before 
 the remedy could be applied, the General Assembly would be dissolved, and it 
 would be impossible to foresee whether the next Assembly would persist in 
 their illegal and unconstitutional course of conduct. You will recollect that 
 the commissioners are elected a short time before the meeting of the General 
 Assembly, and that that body, which sits but a few weeks for the transaction 
 of business, is dissolved, and a new General Assembly is called at the termina 
 tion of the sessions. 
 
 " Having thus disposed of the proceedings of the General Assembly of 1 837, 
 we will now proceed to the acts of 1838. Jt will perhaps conduce to a proper 
 understanding of the somewhat extraordinary proceedings which then took 
 place, to advert to the practice of the General Assembly in times of less excite 
 ment and interest than existed on that occasion. 
 
 After the business of the Assembly is finished, the General Assembly is 
 dissolved, and another General Assembly is directed to be chosen in the same 
 manner, to meet at a time and place designated by the Assembly. 
 
 " The moderator, or, in case of his absence, another member appointed for 
 the purpose, opens the next meeting with a sermon ; he is directed to hold the 
 chair till a new moderator be chosen. As this is for the purpose of organiza 
 tion, it is not necessary that he be a member, nor is it necessary that the clerks 
 should be members who are requested to attend for the same purpose. 
 
 "By the practice of the Assembly, in pursuance of a regulation for that 
 purpose, the stated and permanent clerks are a standing committee on com 
 missions. To them are submitted the commissions of members; they decide 
 on them in the first place, and if unexceptionable in form or substance, they 
 are enrolled as members of the house ; if exceptionable, they report them as 
 such in a separate list. The moderator, after divine service, opens the session 
 with prayer. He takes his seat as moderator, and proceeds to organize the 
 house. The first business in order is the report of the clerks, who are the 
 Committee on Commissions, who make a report, stating on the roll those who 
 are members, and designating, either in the roll or in a separate list, those 
 whose commissions have been examined and found defective, either in form or 
 in substance. 
 
 a The next business in order is to appoint a Committee on Elections from the 
 list of members who have been enrolled. 
 
 " To that committee are referred the commissions of such persons as may 
 claim seats whose commissions have been examined and rejected. 
 
 " It is usual to appoint the Committee on Elections on the morning of the 
 first day of the session, and they, unless in cases of difficulty, report to the 
 house in the afternoon, and the house decides upon the propriety of the report. 
 Jt would seem also to be the practice, that when a commissioner has omitted 
 to hand in his commission to the clerks before the meeting of the Assembly, 
 he may do so in the Assembly, and the Committee of Commissions may add 
 his name to the roll of members. 
 
 " After the house is organized, they proceed to the choice of a moderator 
 and stated and permanent clerks to preside over their deliberations, and to 
 keep their records daring their session. 
 
 u You will observe that I am speaking of the rules of practice in the sessions 
 of 1 S3 7 and 1838. 
 
 "As the Church increased in numbers, and, I may add, without giving 
 offence, after the spirit of contention increased also in the same or greater 
 
540 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 * 
 
 ratio, the simplicity of the ancient practice gradually changed. The changes 
 have been stated with great clearness by one of our venerable fathers, but as 
 we have to do with existing rather than ancient rules, it is not necessary ibr 
 me to notice them. 
 
 "The jury will recollect that the court has decided that the exscinding 
 resolutions of the General Assembly of 183V were unconstitutional, null, and 
 void. 
 
 "It results from this opinion, that the commissioners from the Presbyteries 
 within the bounds of these Synods had the same right to seats in the General 
 Assembly as the members from other Presbyteries within the jurisdiction of 
 the Assembly, liable to be dealt with by them in the same manner as commis 
 sioners from other Presbyteries. 
 
 "It was under these circum stances they presented themselves with commis 
 sions, in proper form, to Mr. Krebs and Dr. McDowell, the clerks of the former 
 Assembly. They not only rejected their commissions, but refused to put their 
 names on the roll at all. 
 
 "I shall not now stop to inquire whether these gentlemen were or were not 
 pledged to the course they thought proper to pursue, nor into the question, 
 whether they were the judges of the constitutionality of an act of a former As 
 sembly, as I am clearly of the opinion, and so I instruct you, that they grossly 
 erred in refusing to place their names on the list of rejected applicants. They 
 were the Committee on Commissions to whom such questions are in the first 
 place referred. It was their duty to decide on the propriety of the application, 
 and to refer the decision to the further action of the house, by adding their 
 names to the roll of members whose commissions had been examined and 
 rejected. 
 
 " They cannot consider commissions, in other respects regular, as alien and 
 outlawed, merely because they proceeded from Presbyteries that had been un 
 constitutionally put out of the pale of the Church without citation and without 
 trial. 
 
 "It is. therefore, the opinion of the court, that in this there was a palpable 
 violation of the rights of the proscribed commissioners. -And this, gentlemen, 
 was the second error committed, and which led to the scene of disorder which 
 ensued, so little creditable to a Christian assembly. 
 
 " After the moderator, Dr. Elliott, had taken the chair, Dr. Patton addressed 
 the chair, and stated that he had certain resolutions to offer. The moderator 
 decided that he was out of order; that the first business was the report of the 
 clerks, who, you will recollect, were the Committee on Commissions. 
 
 11 Dr. Patton stated that his motion or resolution had reference to the forma 
 tion of the roll; that it was his intention to make his motion, and have the 
 question taken without debate. The moderator said the clerks were proceed 
 ing with their report. Dr. Patton reminded the moderator that he had the 
 floor before the clerks. The moderator still decided that he was out of order; 
 whereupon Dr. Patton respectfully appealed from the decision of the chair. 
 The moderator decided that the appeal was out of order, and stated as a reason 
 for the decision, that there was no house to which the appeal could be taken. 
 
 " The Court is of the opinion that the decision of the moderator was correct, 
 for the reason given by him. It is a rule of the Assembly, that no persons 
 shall be permitted to vote, unless they are enrolled, and until the report of the 
 Committee on Commissions, it cannot be judicially known who are members 
 of the house, and as such, privileged to take part in the organization. If, how 
 ever, there was a majority for it, arising from the absence of the moderator, or 
 the refusal of the clerks to report the roll, there would be no difficulty in or- 
 
CHARGE OF THE COURT. 541 
 
 ganizing the Assembly. The decision of the moderator was correct, if the 
 reason assigned was the true reason. 
 
 " After this disposition of Dr. Patton s motion, the clerks made a report, 
 omitting, improperly, as has been before stated, the names of the commissioners 
 from the exscinded Presbyteries; and the moderator announced to those who 
 had not presented their commissions, that now was the time to present them, 
 and have themselves enrolled. Some of the witnesses say that the moderator 
 announced that, if there were any names omitted, this was the time to present 
 their commissions. The one side say that this was a distinct intimation from 
 the moderator himself, that now was the time to present the commissions of 
 the commissioners from the exscinded Presbyteries. The other say it included 
 those only who had not presented their commissions to the clerks-, that the 
 only course to be pursued, as to those who had presented their commissions, 
 and had their claim to be enrolled refused, was to have their case referred to 
 the Committee on Elections, on whose report only would it come properly be 
 fore the Assembly. 
 
 " However the fact may be, and this of course you will decide, at this 
 time Dr. Mason, a member whose seat was uncontested, and who had been re 
 ported by the clerks to the house as a member, moved that the names of the 
 commissioners from the exscinded Synods should be added to the roll. He 
 had the commissions in his hand, and at the time of the motion, stated that 
 they were the commissions of commissioners, which had been rejected by the 
 clerks. The moderator inquired from what Presbyteries those commissioners 
 came. Dr. Mason replied, they came from the Synods of Utica, Geneva, Gen- 
 esee, and the Western Reserve. The moderator declared Dr. Mason out of 
 order, or said that he was out of order at that time. The witnesses differ as 
 to the precise expression ; but, whatever may have been the reason assigned, 
 they all concur that the moderator declared Dr. Mason out of order. Dr. 
 Mason said that, with great respect to the chair, he must appeal from the de 
 cision. The appeal was seconded. The moderator refused to put the appeal, 
 declaring the appeal to be out of order. 
 
 "In this stage of the cause, it is unnecessary to decide whether the original 
 motion was or was not out of order. I shall put this part of the case on the 
 refusal of the moderator to put the question on the appeal. The question is 
 not, whether an appeal may not be out of order, but it is, whether this appeal 
 was out of order. If the moderator had put the question on the appeal, it is 
 possible that the house would have decided that the original motion was out 
 of order. They might have thought that the matter was properly referable to 
 the Committee of Elections that it was a privileged question ; or the Assem 
 bly might by possibility have taken a different view of the question. And what 
 ever they might have thought and decided would have been conclusive. 
 
 " But, by refusing to put the question, the moderator took all power to him 
 self over this question. No reason was given by the moderator. Jt rested 
 simply upon his will. In the opinion of the court, it was a dereliction of duty, 
 a usurpation of authority, which called for the censure of the house. He 
 could not then allege, as he had done on a former occasion, that there was no 
 house to which the appeal could be taken. At that time, you will recollect, 
 that the clerks had made their report, and it was then ascertained what mem 
 bers had a right to vote. 
 
 u Had the question on the appeal been allowed, it could then have been as 
 certained whether a motion had been made for the appointment of the Com 
 mittee on Elections. As it is, it is doubtful whether the motion was made 
 before or after the motion made by Dr. Mason. 
 
 " And here let me remark, that I look upon the refusal of the clerks to put 
 
542 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 the names of the commissioners on the roll, and this refusal of the moderator 
 to put the question on the appeal to the house, as most unfortunate. 
 
 " If the excitement did not then commence, yet it, with the uproar and con 
 fusion which ensued, from this time greatly increased. After the refusal of 
 the moderator to allow an appeal, the Rev. Miles Squier arose and said, that 
 lie had presented his commission to the clerks, which they had refused to re 
 ceive. The moderator asked from what Presbytery lie came. He said from 
 the Presbytery of Geneva. The moderator asked if it was within the bounds 
 of the Synod of Geneva. He said it was. The moderator then replied, We 
 do not know you- The precise meaning and import of these words has been 
 the subject of comment. It will be for you to give them such weight as you 
 think them entitled to, in another part of this cause. 
 
 " And here, let me remark, that the witness had not a right, whatever injus 
 tice he may have suffered, either to speak or vote on any question before the 
 house. He had not been reported as a member by the clerks ; and the rules 
 of the General Assembly required, that before a member speak or vote he 
 must be enrolled. 
 
 " To this time the witnesses substantially agree in their statement. There 
 was but little noise, and but little confusion. Every person saw, and every 
 person heard, all the transactions in the Assembly. 
 
 " And here, gentlemen, it will be your solemn duty respectfully, but firmly, 
 to decide upon the conduct of the moderator. 
 
 " Was he performing his duty, as the presiding officer of the house, in its 
 organization ? or was he carrying out the unconstitutional and void proceeding 
 of the General Assembly of 1837, which cut off from the body of the Presby 
 terian Church four Synods, twenty-eight Presbyteries, five hundred and nine 
 ministers, and near sixty thousand communicants, without citation, and with 
 out trial ? 
 
 " I put the question to you, because it is the opinion of the court that the 
 General Assembly has a right to depose its moderator, upon sufficient cause. 
 
 " This power is necessary for the protection of the house, otherwise the 
 moderator, instead of being the servant would be the master of the house. 
 There is nothing in the Constitution of the Church that restricts or impairs 
 the right. 
 
 "It applies to all moderators, whether moderators for the session, or mode 
 rators for organization. The right is, perhaps, less questionable in the latter 
 than in the former case. He is a ministerial as well as a judicial officer. 
 
 " Nor do I think that they are restrained in their choice to a moderator of a 
 former year, who may be present. That rule applies only to ordin-ary cases, 
 when the moderator of the last year is not in attendance, or is unable, from 
 some physical reason, to discharge the duties of the office. It does not apply 
 to the peculiar and extraordinary circumstances of this case. 
 
 " The deposition of a moderator, and the election of another in his place, it 
 appears, is not without precedent in the history of the Church. 
 
 " There is one thing certain, that the deposition of a moderator, and the 
 election of another, if in other respects regular, will not of itself vitiate the 
 organization. 
 
 " After Mr. Squier had taken his seat, upon the emphatic declaration of the 
 moderator, we do not know you, Mr. Cleveland arose. 
 
 a Mr. Cleveland held in his hand a paper, from which he read, at the same 
 time accompanying it with remarks not on the paper. It is not distinctly in 
 evidence what he did say, but in substance it was perhaps this : 
 
 " That as the commissioners to the General Assembly of 1838, from a large 
 
CHARGE OF THE COURT. 543 
 
 number of Presbyteries, had been refused their seats, and as we have been 
 advised by counsel, learned in the law, that a constitutional organization of the 
 Assembly must be secured at this time and in this place, he trusted it would 
 not be considered as an act of discourtesy, but merely a matter of necessity, if 
 we now proceed to organize the General Assembly of 1838, in the fewest 
 words, the shortest time, and with the least interruption practicable. 
 
 u Mr. Cleveland then moved that Dr. Beman, of the Presbytery of Troy, be 
 moderator, or, as some of the witnesses say, that he take the chair. The 
 motion being seconded, the question was put by Mr. Cleveland, and was 
 carried, as the witnesses for the relators say, by a large majority, and by this 
 they mean that a large majority of voices voted in the affirmative. The 
 question was reversed, and, as the same witnesses say, there were some voices 
 coming from the southwest corner of the church, who voted in the negative. 
 This is denied by the respondents. 
 
 " Dr. Beman, who was sitting in a pew, the locality of which has been 
 described to you, stepped into the aisle and called the house to order. A motion 
 was then made that Dr. Mason and Mr. Gilbert be appointed clerks. There 
 being no others put in nomination, the question was put by the moderator, Dr. 
 Beman, in the affirmative and negative, and there was a majority of voices in 
 their favor. 
 
 " Dr. Beman then stated that the next business in order was the election of 
 a moderator. A member nominated Dr. Fisher, and no other person being in 
 nomination, the question was put affirmatively and negatively, and Dr. Fisher 
 was elected by a large majority of voices. There were no negative votes on 
 this nomination ; several of the witnesses say he was unanimously elected. 
 
 " Dr. Beman then announced the election of Dr. Fisher as moderator, and 
 said he should govern himself by the rules which might be hereafter adopted. 
 
 " Dr. Fisher stepped into the aisle, moved towards the north end of the 
 church, and called for business ; and Dr. Mason and Mr. Gilbert were chosen 
 clerks, no others being put in nomination. 
 
 " Dr. Beman stated that some difficulties had been made by the trustees 
 about the occupation of the church in which they were then sitting. To avoid 
 difficulty, a motion was made to adjourn to meet forthwith at the lecture-room 
 of the First Presbyterian Church. The question was taken on the motion, 
 and was decided in the affirmative, there being no votes in the negative. The 
 result of the vote was announced by Dr. Fisher, who then stated if there were 
 any commissioners who had not presented their commissions, they might then 
 and there attend for that purpose. The members of the house then repaired 
 to the lecture-room of the First Presbyterian Church, proceeded with their 
 business, and on the 24th of May, 1838, elected the relators trustees, in the 
 place and stead of the respondents. 
 
 " This is the relators case, and here I will direct your attention to some of 
 the points which have been raised by the respondents counsel. 
 
 " The respondents contend that Mr. Cleveland had no right to put the ques 
 tion. They object, also, to the time and manner of putting the question. Under 
 one or other of these points I will endeavor to include the question which has 
 been raised, and which has been argued with such force and with such a 
 variety of illustrations. 
 
 " Had Mr. Cleveland a right to put this question ? It must be conceded, 
 that unless he was authorized to take the sense of the house, the members were 
 not bound to vote against it. In ordinary cases, it is usual for a member who 
 moves a question, to put it in writing, and deliver it to the speaker, who, when 
 it has been seconded, propcses it to the house, and the house are then said to 
 be in possession of the question. But this, the relators say, is not an ordinary 
 
544 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 question, but one of a peculiar nature. They allege, that the moderator had 
 shown gross partiality and injustice in the chair; that he was engaged in a 
 plan or scheme to carry out the unconstitutional and void Act of 1837, which 
 deprived certain commissioners of their seats ; that this authorized the house 
 to displace him, and to elect another to discharge the duties which he failed or 
 was unwilling to perform. If this were so, of which you are the judges, Mr. 
 Cleveland had a right to take the sense of the house on the propriety of the 
 moderator s conduct. It would be worse than useless to require him to put the 
 question on his own deposition, for this the house were authorized to believe he 
 would refuse to perform, as he had failed in the performance of his duty before. 
 The law compels no person to do a vain or nugatory thing. The law maxim 
 is, i Lex neminem cogit ad vann : seu impossibile? Nor, gentlemen, was it 
 necessary that it should be taken by clerks, if they, as well as the moderator, 
 were engaged in the same plan, to deprive members of their seats, to which 
 they were justly and constitutionally entitled. It is the opinion of the court, 
 that a member, although not an officer, is entitled to put a question to the house 
 in such circumstances. 
 
 " The motion which Mr. Cleveland made, after explaining his object, was 
 either that Dr. Beman be moderator, or that Dr. Beman be called to the chair. 
 It is of no consequence in which form the motion was made. They are sub 
 stantially the same. The motion amounted to this : that Dr. Elliott, who 
 occupied the chair, should be deposed, and that Dr. Beman should be elected 
 chairman and moderator in his stead. It was a pertinent question, easily under 
 stood, and not calculated to mislead the dullest member of the Assembly. It 
 was in proper form, and in proper time ; for, gentlemen, it was not necessary 
 to precede it by a motion that the house should now proceed to the choice of a 
 moderator. All these requisites are substantially comprised in the motion 
 which was made. There was nothing in the question, or in the manner of 
 putting, which was disorderly, or which might have led to disorder. Mr. Cleve 
 land put the question to the house, which, under certain circumstances, of 
 which I have already said you are the judges, he had a right to do. In the 
 course of his remarks, he turned himself partly round from the moderator ; 
 but this, so far as any point of law is involved, is of no sort of consequence. 
 It is also contended by the respondents, that the claim of members to seats, 
 according to the standing order of the house, was referable to the Committee 
 on Elections, and further that the house cannot enter into business until the 
 organization is complete. The latter point the court answers in the negative. 
 There is no doubt the house may elect a moderator, although the seats of some 
 of the members are contested. In general, they would prefer to await the 
 report of the Committee on Elections ; but this would be a matter of discretion. 
 The right to seats would be as well, if not better decided, after the house was 
 organized by the election of a moderator, as when it was in its inchoate or 
 incipient state. Such an objection would not vitiate the organization, whatever 
 cause there might be on the part of those who had been deprived of seats, to 
 complain of the precipitation of the Assembly in proceeding to business, par 
 ticularly if done with a view of preventing them from partaking in the business. 
 
 "In deciding on the first point, and others which have been raised by the 
 respondents, it is necessary to advert to the nature of the questions themselves. 
 
 " Dr. Mason moved that the names of certain members who had been uncon 
 stitutionally and unjustly deprived of seats in the Assembly, should be added 
 to the roll. The motion of Mr. Cleveland, and the subsequent resolutions or 
 motions, were the consequences of the decision of the moderator, that Dr. 
 Mason s motion was out of order, and the refusal of the moderator to allow an 
 appeal to the house. The right of members was unjustly invaded, and from 
 
CHARGE OF THE COURT. 545 
 
 this moment it became a question of privilege, which overrides all other 
 questions whatever. A question of privilege is always in order, to which 
 privileged questions, such as the appointment of a committee of elections, 
 must give way. The cry, therefore, of order from the moderator, or from 
 any member whatever, under such circumstances, would be disorderly. Two 
 inconsistent rights cannot exist at the same time, and it is obvious that if a 
 member, or the moderator, may put a stop to a proceeding which involves in 
 it the conduct of the moderator himself in the discharge of his high functions, 
 and a question of privilege, by the cry of order, it would be an easy and 
 effectual mode of destroying the rights of members in any deliberative assem 
 bly. It is usual, when it is intended to prevent a member from proceeding 
 with a motion, to rise to order, and a requisition is then made by the moderator 
 that the member take his seat. It is the opinion of the court that Dr. Mason 
 had the right to make his motion before the appointment of the committee on 
 elections. Indeed, I know of no other mode of getting this question before 
 the committee on elections, except by bringing it before the house, who might 
 either decide it for themselves, or, if they thought proper, refer it to that com 
 mittee, in whose report it would again come before the house. In this point, 
 I wish you distinctly to understand, that it is the opinion of the court, and that 
 I so instruct you, that if you believe that the conduct of the moderator and 
 clerks was the result of a preconcerted plan with a portion of the members, 
 to carry out the unconstitutional and void Act of 1837, which deprived the 
 members from, certain Presbyteries of seats in the Assembly, then, in this 
 particular, the requisitions of the law have been substantially complied with. 
 
 " The fact that Mr. Cleveland put the question instead of the moderator, 
 the cries of order when this was in progress, the omission of some of the 
 formulas usually observed when there is no contest and no excitement, such as 
 standing in the aisle, instead of taking the chair occupied by the moderator, 
 not using the usual insignia of office, putting the question in an unusual place, 
 and the short time consumed in the organization of the house, and three or 
 more members standing at the same time, will not vitiate the organization, if 
 you should be of the opinion that this became necessary from the illegal and 
 improper conduct of the adverse party. 
 
 " It is a singular point, gentlemen, that this part of the respondents case 
 rests upon standing rules which were not then in existence. You will recol 
 lect, that each Assembly adopted its own rules ; indeed, both the relators and 
 respondents have appealed to these rules. I will remark, that the roll of mem 
 bers reported by Mr. Krebs and Dr. McDowell, was the roll of the house. As 
 such, it was virtually in the possession of the clerks afterwards chosen, pro 
 vided they were regularly and duly elected. It is the opinion of the court, that 
 the existence of a house competent to perform all the functions of a General 
 Assembly, does not depend on the observance or non-observance of the stand 
 ing order of the house. You, however, must take this opinion with the qualifi 
 cation that you believe that the house had been substantially organized for the 
 transaction of business ; that you should believe that the deviation from the 
 accustomed course was the necessary result of a preconcerted plan unconsti 
 tutionally to exclude the members from the exscinded Presbyteries from their 
 seats in the Assembly. And here, gentlemen, let me request your particular 
 attention to the point in issue. The relators say that they are trustees regu 
 larly appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. In 
 other words, they affirm that the house which assembled in the lecture-room o 
 the First Presbyterian Church was the General Assembly of the Presbyterian. 
 Church. This is an affirmative proposition, which the relators are bound to 
 support. 
 
 35 
 
546 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " The question is not which is the General Assembly, but whether they are 
 the General Assembly, and as such had a right to elect the relators trustees. 
 This allegation the relators must sustain to your satisfaction, otherwise your 
 verdict must be in favor of the respondents. 
 
 u The respondents strenuously deny that the portion of brethren who 
 assembled in the First Presbyterian Church, are the General Assembly. On 
 this point, both parties, the relators and respondents, have put themselves 
 upon the country, and you, gentlemen, are that country. 
 
 u Let me now briefly call your attention to the relators case. The moderator, 
 Dr. Elliott, proceeded to organize the house. The clerks, Mr. Krebs and Dr. 
 McDowell, reported to the house the roll of members, omitting those who were 
 not entitled to seats. Dr. Patton offered a resolution on the formation of the 
 roll. This motion was declared by the moderator to be out of order. Dr. 
 Mason then moved that the names of the members from the Presbyteries 
 within the exscinded Synods should be added to the roll. This motion was 
 declared by the moderator to be out of order. An appeal from the decision 
 was demanded, which was also declared to be out of order. On motion of Mr. 
 Cleveland, the former moderator was deposed for sufficient cause, and Dr. 
 Beman was elected moderator, and Mr. Gilbert and Dr. Mason were elected 
 clerks. After organization, Dr. Fisher was elected moderator, and Mr. Gilbert 
 and Dr. Mason elected clerks for the Assembly. The Assembly being thus 
 organized by the appointment of officers, adjourned to meet forthwith at the 
 lecture-room of the First Presbyterian Church, and accordingly met in pursu 
 ance of the adjournment, and on the 24th of May, 183S, in due form, elected 
 the relators trustees. This, gentlemen, is a summary of the plaintiffs case ; 
 and if the facts are as stated, your verdict should be rendered in favor of the 
 relators. 
 
 " The respondents deny that the portion of brethren who assembled in the 
 First Presbyterian Church are the General Assembly. 
 
 " Their objection, in addition to the points which have been already stated, 
 is that there was not a full and free expression of the opinion of the house. 
 
 " They allege that the various motions for the appointment of moderator 
 and clerks, and for the adjournment, were not carried by a majority of the 
 house. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to observe that spectators had no right to vote, nor 
 had members not enrolled by the clerks, although entitled to seats, a ri^ht to 
 vote. But notwithstanding this, it is the opinion of the court, that if after 
 deducting those who voted and were not entitled to vote, there was a clear 
 majority in favor of several motions, irregularity, or, if you please, something 
 worse, would not vitiate the organization. The presumption is, that none but 
 qualified persons voted ; but there is a proof that some voted who were not 
 enrolled, yet this itself will not destroy the relators right of action. You, 
 gentlemen, will, in the first place, inquire whether there was a majority of 
 affirmative voices of members entitled to vote. 
 
 il If there was not, there is an end of the question, and your verdict must 
 be in favor of the respondents. 
 
 " But if there was a majority, you will further inquire whether the questions 
 on the several motions were reversed. 
 
 " If they were not reversed, your verdict must be in favor of the respondents, 
 for in that case it is very clear the members had no opportunity of showing 
 their dissent to several motions or propositions which were submitted to them. 
 
 " These, gentlemen, are questions of fact for your decision. I will content 
 myself with referring to the evidence and arguments of the counsel, and at the 
 same time observing to you that it is your duty to reconcile the testimony of 
 
CHARGE OF THE COURT. 547 
 
 the case, and with one other observation, that affirmative testimony is more to 
 be relied on than negative testimony. 
 
 " And here, gentlemen, I wish you distinctly to understand that it is the ma 
 jority of those who were entitled to vote, and who actually voted, that is to be 
 counted on the various questions which were submitted to the house. I wish 
 you also to understand that it is the majority of members that had been enrolled 
 that must determine this question. When there is a quorum of members 
 present, the moderator can only notice those who actually vote, and not those 
 who do not choose to exercise their privilege of voting. Whenever, says Lord 
 Mansfield, electors are present and don t vote at al ; , they virtually acquiesce 
 in the decision of those that do. 
 
 " And with this principle agrees one of the rules of the General Assembly 
 itself, which must be familiar to every member. 
 
 " Members (30th rule) ought not, without weighty reasons, to decline voting, 
 as this practice might leave the decision of very interesting questions to a small 
 portion of the judicatory. Silent members, unless excused from voting, must 
 be considered as acquiescing with the majority. 
 
 " This is not only the doctrine of the common law, of the written law as you 
 have seen, but it is the doctrine of common sense, for without the benefit of 
 this rule, it would be almost impossible, certainly very inconvenient, to transact 
 business in a large deliberative assembly. 
 
 " Of this rule, gentlemen, we have had very lately a most memorable 
 instance. The fundamental principles of your government have been altered; 
 a new Constitution has been established by a plurality of votes ; forty thousand 
 electors, who deposited their votes for one, or other, of the candidates for 
 governor, did not cast them at all on that most interesting and important of all 
 questions. But notwithstanding this the amended Constitution has been pro 
 claimed by your executive, and recognized by your legislature, and by the 
 people, as the supreme law of the land. This, gentlemen, has been stigmatized 
 as a technical rule of law, a fiction and intendment in law. It is sufficient for 
 us, gentlemen, that it is a rule of law. We must not be wiser than the law 5 
 for if we attempt this, we endanger everything we hold dear, our life, our 
 liberty, our property. 
 
 " Nor, gentlemen, can we know anything of any fancied equity as contra 
 distinguished from the law. The law is the equity of the case, and it must be 
 so considered under the most awful responsibility, by this court, and this jury. 
 In my opinion, a court and jury can never be better employed than when they 
 are vindicating the safe and salutary principles of common law. 
 
 i! But the respondents further object that the design of the New School 
 brethren was not to organize a General Assembly according to the forms pre 
 scribed by the Constitution, but that they intended, and it was so understood 
 by them, to effect an ex parte organization, with a view to a peaceable separa 
 tion of the Church. If this was the intention, and was so understood at the 
 time, the house which assembled in the First Presbyterian Church, cannot be 
 recognized as the General Assembly, competent to appoint trustees under the 
 charter. Having chosen voluntarily to leave the Church, they can no longer 
 be permitted to participate in its advantages and privileges. If a member, or 
 a number of individuals choose to abandon their Church, they must at the same 
 time be content to relinquish all its benefits. 
 
 " But this is a question of fact, which you must decide. In this part of the 
 case, the burden of proof is thrown upon the respondents. They must satisfy 
 you that such was the intention of the New School party in organizing the 
 house and adjourning to the First Presbyterian Church. But, granting that 
 the motion of Mr. Cleveland was in order j that Drs. Beman and Fisher, and 
 
548 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 the clerks, had a majority of votes; that the intention was to organize the 
 General Assembly, and that they did not intend an ex parte organization ; the 
 respondents say that such was the precipitation and haste of these proceed 
 ings, their extraordinary and novel character, the noise, tumult, and confusion, 
 that they and the other members of the house had no opportunity of hearing 
 and voting, if they had wished to do so, and that therefore this is an attempt 
 at organization, which is null and void. 
 
 "It is very certain, that if individual members of a deliberative assembly, 
 by trick or artifice, by surprise, noise, tumult, or confusion, carry such a ques 
 tion as this, it ought not, it cannot be regarded. The members must have an 
 opportunity to debate, to vote, if they desire it; and for this reason it is, the 
 negative question must be put, and that the several questions must be reversed. 
 
 " It will be for you to say whether the members had this opportunity. To 
 this part of the case I request your particular attention. 
 
 " If you believe that the several motions were made and reversed, that they 
 were carried by a majority of affirmative voices, whatever maybe your opinion 
 of the relative strength of two parties in the Assembly, your verdict must be 
 for the relators. I hold it to be a most clear proposition, that silent members 
 acquiesce in the decision of the majority. It is of no sort of consequence for 
 what reason they were silent ; whether from a previous determination or other 
 wise. The effect is the same, provided they had an opportunity of hearing 
 and voting on the question. It is not necessary that all should hear or vote. 
 
 " If persons who are members of an assembly, by surprise, by noise, or vio 
 lence, carry such a question, such a vote cannot be considered as the delibe 
 rate sense of the Assembly; but when the members are aware of the nature of 
 the proceedings, and choose to treat them with contempt, or to interrupt the 
 business themselves by stamping, noise, talking, cries of order, shame ! shame! 
 or requesting silence with a view to interruption, or attending to other busi 
 ness when they ought to be attending to this, they cannot be permitted after 
 wards to allege that they had no opportunity to vote. They cannot take ad 
 vantage of their own wrong, or their own folly. In such a case, their silence, 
 or, if you choose, noise, shall be viewed as an acquiescence in the vote of the 
 majority. But when members are prevented from hearing and understanding 
 the question by the noise and confusion, or by the indecent haste with which 
 the business is conducted, the organization is not such as can give it any legal 
 validity. It is of no consequence whether the members are prevented from 
 voting understandingly on the question by the persons engaged in conducting 
 the business, or by the spectators. But when it comes from the members of 
 the other party, they shall not be permitted to object, when they themselves 
 are the causes of the difficulty. 
 
 "If the facts be so, they (the members of the Old School) did not hear, be 
 cause they would not hear. They caused* the disorder, and let them reap the 
 bitter fruits of their injustice. The court and you, gentlemen of the jury, 
 have nothing to do with consequences, with fancied majorities and minorities, 
 but with majorities legally ascertained. We are placed at this bar under an 
 awful responsibility to do justice, without regard to the numerical strength of 
 the contending parties. 
 
 " If you, gentlemen, believe that the questions were not reversed, that they 
 were not carried, that the members of the Assembly had not an opportunity of 
 hearing and voting upon them, your verdict should be in favor of the respon 
 dents. But if, on the other hand, you believe they intended to organize the 
 Assembly ; that the questions were severally put ; that the noise, tumult, and 
 confusion which prevailed in the Assembly were the result of a preconcerted 
 plan or combination, or conspiracy between the clerks, the moderator, and the 
 members of the Old School party, to sustain the unconstitutional and void 
 
DECLARATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 549 
 
 resolutions of 1837, which deprived members of seats to which they were justly 
 entitled, your verdict should be in favor of the relators. 
 
 " And here I do not wish to be understood as having expressed, or even in 
 timated, an opinion as to the facts of the case. The facts are for you, the law 
 is for the court. 
 
 "And now, gentlemen, I intreat you, as you shall answer to God at the 
 great day, that you discard from your minds all partiality, if any you have, 
 fear, favor, and affection ; that you decide this interesting cause according to 
 the evidence; and that you remember that the law is part of your evidence. 
 
 " [After the delivery of the charge, the jury retired, arid in about an hour 
 returned a verdict for the plaintiffs.]" Minutes, 1839, pp. 40-56. 
 
 [The decision of the court in bane granting a new trial, with other decisions 
 needful to an understanding of the legal status of the Assembly, not printed 
 in the Minutes, will be found in the Appendix at the close of the Digest.] 
 
 10. u A Declaration of the General Assembly ^ setting forth the Present 
 Position of our beloved Zion, and the Causes which have brought us 
 into our Peculiar Condition. 1839. 
 
 " It is manifest to the Christian world, that a great and grievous 
 schism has taken place in the Presbyterian Church in the United States 
 of America, insomuch that brethren who used to walk together in the 
 fellowship of the Gospel, now meet in separate ecclesiastical bodies, and 
 have no organic relation to each other. 
 
 " We, therefore, the commissioners of that portion of our once united 
 Church, which was separated from their brethren by the acts of the As 
 sembly of 1837, wishing to free ourselves and our churches from the 
 imputation of the sin of causing division and oifences in the Church of 
 the living God, do hereby set forth and declare to our brethren through 
 out the Christian world, the present attitude of that portion of the 
 Church which we represent, and the causes which have produced the 
 existing difficulties. 
 
 " llightly to understand the present posture of our affairs, and pro 
 perly to appreciate the causes which have resulted in the rending of the 
 American Presbyterian Church, it will be necessary to take a retrospec 
 tive view of the introduction of Presbyterianism in our land, and of its 
 history from the period of its introduction to the present time. 
 
 " It will be found, upon a reference to the history of bygone days, 
 that on the 6th day of April, 1691, the Presbyterian and Congregational 
 denominations of Christians in Great Britain met at Stepney, and there, 
 by the blessing of Almighty God, after talking over their differences 
 and their agreements, consummated a union of the two denominations, 
 by adopting what was then culled the l Heads of Agreement/ em- 
 
550 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 bracing a few cardinal principles which were to govern them in their 
 fraternal intercourse. 
 
 "This Presbyterian and Congregational Union sent over one of their 
 number, by the name of McKemie, as a missionary to the new settle 
 ments in America, who, in connection with Messrs. McNish, Andrews, 
 Hampton, Taylor, Wilson, and Davis, in 1704, formed the fiist Presby 
 tery which ever existed in America, by the name of the Presbytery of 
 Philadelphia. This mother Presbytery was formed upon the liberal 
 Christian principles which governed the London Association, by which 
 Mr. McKemie was sent to this country, and was composed partly of 
 Presbyterian and partly of Congregational ministers and churches. Mr. 
 Andrews, the first pastor of the Metropolitan or First Church in Phila 
 delphia, was a decided Congregational Presbyterian ; and the church 
 over which he was placed was under the care of the Presbytery sixty- 
 four years, before they elected any ruling ciders. This state of things 
 continued until 1716, when the Synod of Philadelphia was formed out 
 of the Presbyteries of Philadelphia, New Castle, Snow Hill, and Long 
 Island, the last three having grown up after the formation of the first, 
 in 1704. 
 
 "In 1730, fourteen years after the formation of the Synod of Phila 
 delphia, the Rev. Mr. Andrews, in a letter to Mr. Prince, says that, in 
 the then existing state of things, We all call ourselves Presbyterians, 
 none pretending to be called Congregationalists, and our ministers are 
 all Presbyterians, though most of them are from New England. 
 
 "During all this period, the Church of Scotland, instead of imbibing 
 the liberal principles of the age, which had resulted in the fraternal 
 union of 1691, in London, and in the establishing of a modified Pres- 
 byterianism in America, still adhered to her arbitrary principles, as will 
 appear from the fact that during the reign of Queen Anne, in 1712, only 
 four years before the formation of the Synod of Philadelphia, they so 
 lemnly bore their testimony against religious toleration. 
 
 " In 1724, those ministers from Scotland who came over to this 
 country, and who, in the language of the Rev. Dr. Miller, { were de 
 sirous to carry into effect the system to which they had been accustomed 
 in all its extent and strictness/ began to insist that the entire system 
 of the Scottish Church be received in this country. This demand led 
 to the Adopting Act of 1729, which was a return to the liberal principles 
 of 1691, upon which the Presbyterian Church in America was based, 
 and is as follows : l Although the Synod do not claim or pretend to any 
 authority of imposing our faith on other men s consciences, but do pro- 
 
DECLARATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 551 
 
 fess our just dissatisfaction with, and abhorrence of, such impositions, 
 and do not only disclaim all legislative power and authority in the Church, 
 being willing to receive one another as Christ has received us to the 
 glory of God, and admit to fellowship in Church ordinances all such as 
 we have grounds to believe that Christ will at last admit to the kingdom 
 of heaven, yet we are undoubtedly obliged to take care that the faith 
 once delivered to the saints be kept pure and uncorrupt among us, and 
 so handed down to our posterity ; and do therefore agree, that all the 
 ministers of this Synod, or that shall hereafter be admitted to this Synod, 
 shall declare their agreement in, and approbation of the Confession of 
 Faith, with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Assembly of 
 Divines at Westminster, as being in all essential and necessary articles, 
 good forms and sound words and systems of Christian doctrine ; and do 
 also adopt the said Confession of Faith and Catechisms as the confession 
 of our faith. And we do also agree that the Presbyteries within our 
 bounds shall always take care not to admit any candidate for the min 
 istry into the exercise of the sacred functions, but what declares his 
 agreement in opinion with all the essential and necessary articles of said 
 Confession, either by subscribing the said Confession of Faith and Cate 
 chisms, or by a verbal declaration of his assent thereto, as such minister 
 or candidate shall think best. And in case any minister of this Synod, 
 or any candidate for the ministry, shall have any scruples with regard 
 to any article or articles of said Confession of Faith or Catechisms, he 
 shall, at the time of his making such declaration, declare his sentiments 
 to the Presbytery or Synod, who shall, notwithstanding, admit him to 
 the exercise of the ministry within our bounds, and to ministerial com 
 munion, if either the Presbytery or Synod shall judge his scruples or 
 mistakes to be only about articles not essential and necessary in doctrine, 
 worship, or government. But if the Synod or Presbytery shall judge 
 such minister or candidate erroneous in essential and necessary articles 
 of faith, the Synod or Presbytery shall declare him incapable of commu 
 nion with them. And the Synod do solemnly agree, that none of us 
 will traduce or use any opprobrious terms towards those who differ from 
 us in those extra essential and not necessary points of doctrine, but treat 
 them with the same friendship, kindness, and brotherly love as if no 
 thing had happened/ 
 
 " In 1730, we find the Presbytery of New Castle, in the face of these 
 conciliatory measures of the Synod, adopting the Confession of Faith 
 and Catechisms, as being in all things agreeable to the word of God ; 
 
552 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 and, in 1732, the new Presbytery of Donegal followed their example, 
 and promised forever thereafter to adhere thereto/ 
 
 "In 1736, that party who were in favor of the strong measures of 
 the Scottish Church, had gained so much ascendency that they brought 
 a majority of the Synod to follow the example of the two Presbyte 
 ries of New Castle and Donegal, and adopt the Confession, Catechisms, 
 and Directory of the Westminster divines, without alteration or excep 
 tion ; thus establishing the power of the civil magistrate to control 
 Synods and persecute the Church. 
 
 " This rash departure from the tolerant and fraternal principles of 
 1691 in England, and of 1704 and 1729 in America, led to the painful 
 schism of 1741, which resulted in the organization of the Synod of New 
 York in 1745. 
 
 " In 1758, the Synods of New York and Philadelphia came together 
 in one body, and took the name of the Synod of New York and Phila 
 delphia ; and in the sixth article of their union, they agreed to adopt 
 the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Directory as they had been 
 adopted in 1728. 
 
 "In 1766, eight years after the union of the Synods under the name 
 of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, that body proposed an 
 Annual Convention of delegates of the pastors of the Congregational, 
 Consociated, and Presbyterian Churches in North America, which re 
 commendation was complied with, and the convention was held annually 
 for ten years, when it was interrupted by the American Revolution. In 
 1788, the General Assembly was organized, and, in 1790, the Assembly, 
 to use their own language, l being peculiarly desirous to renew and 
 strengthen every bond of union between brethren so nearly agreed in 
 doctrine and forms of worship as the Presbyterian and Congregational 
 Churches evidently are, and remembering with much satisfaction the 
 mutual pleasure and advantage produced and received by their former 
 intercourse, do resolve that the Congregational Churches in New England 
 be invited to renew their annual convention with the clergy of the Pres 
 byterian Church. 7 This resolution resulted in the plan of correspond 
 ence with the Congregational bodies of New England, which exists to 
 this day. This plan provides that i every preacher travelling from one 
 body to the other, and properly recommended, shall be received as an 
 authorized preacher of the Gospel, and cheerfully taken under the pa 
 tronage of the Presbytery or Association within whose limits he shall find 
 employment as a preacher/ 
 
DECLARATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 553 
 
 "In 1801, the enlightened piety of the two denominations produced 
 another Plan of Union, designed to promote the interests of religion in 
 our new settlements, which strictly enjoined on all their missionaries to 
 endeavor by all proper means to promote mutual forbearance and accom 
 modation between those inhabitants who hold the Presbyterian and those 
 who hold the Congregational form of government, and provided a plan 
 for establishing a uniform system of government among them, when as 
 sociated in the same church. 
 
 " These Plans of Union between the two denominations were a virtual 
 recognition of the benign principles established in 1691, in England, 
 and afterwards adopted in America, and made the basis of Presbyte- 
 rianism in the original Presbytery and Synod of Philadelphia. 
 
 " These fundamental principles continued to be recognized and acted 
 upon by the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church and the subordinate 
 judicatories, with few exceptions, until 1837, when a majority of the 
 commissioners abrogated the Plan of Union of 1801, and cut off from 
 the Presbyterian Church, 4 Synods, 28 Presbyteries, 509 ministers, 599 
 churches, and 60,000 communicants, more than one-fifth of the whole 
 denomination, alleging that as they were brought into the Church under 
 the Plan of Union of 1801, they necessarily fell with it. 
 
 " As an alleged consequence of this act, they next proceeded to expel 
 from the house all the commissioners who were present from the Presby 
 teries composing the exscinded Synods, and dissolved the Third Presby 
 tery of Philadelphia. 
 
 "In 1838, the commissioners from the exscinded Synods came up to 
 the General Assembly, and offered their commissions to the clerks, who 
 refused to receive them or enrol the names of the said commissioners. 
 After the moderator, Rev. David Elliot, D.D., had taken his chair, and 
 the names of the enrolled members had been reported, Rev. Erskine 
 Mason, D.D., one of the enrolled members, presented the commissions 
 of the commissioners from the exscinded Presbyteries, and moved that 
 their names should then be enrolled. The moderator decided that the 
 motion was out of order. Dr. Mason then appealed to the house, and 
 the moderator refused to put the appeal. By this refusal, the rights of 
 Dr. Mason and the rights of the house were invaded, and a question of 
 privilege, which takes the precedence of all other questions, and is always 
 in order, was raised. Hereupon Rev. John P. Cleveland, another en 
 rolled member, moved that Rev. N. S. S. Beman, D.D., should be ap 
 pointed moderator in the room of Rev. David Elliot, D.D., who had in- 
 
554 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 vaded the rights of the Assembly, and put the question to the house, 
 which was carried, as has since been proved in a civil court, by a majo 
 rity of those who voted from the enrolled members. Rev. E. Mason, 
 D.D., and Rev. E. W. Gilbert were then elected clerks, and Dr. Fisher 
 was chosen moderator; and having been notified that they must leave the 
 place where they were assembled, they forthwith adjourned to the First 
 Presbyterian Church, and invited all the commissioners to meet with 
 them. 
 
 " After this organization of what we consider the constitutional As 
 sembly, the commissioners who adhered to the acts of 1837 organized 
 themselves into an Assembly, and have subsequently taken measures to 
 divide the Presbyterian Church, by organizing into separate Synods, 
 Presbyteries, and churches, such minorities in different parts of the 
 country as adhered to them, and when they had the majority, casting 
 out such minorities as adhered to this Assembly. 
 
 " After the proceedings of that portion of our brethren who had cast 
 out and cut off the four Synods, and formed themselves into an As 
 sembly, were published and known, the constitutional Assembly did, by 
 its committee, issue a quo warranto out of the Supreme Court of Penn 
 sylvania, to test the legality of the Exscinding Acts of 1837, and of the 
 subsequent proceedings founded upon them, and if possible, to restore 
 the unity of the Church and secure religious liberty. This cause was 
 tried in March last, at Philadelphia, before the Hon. Molton C. Rogers, 
 one of the justices of said Supreme Court, when it was ruled by the 
 said judge, and decided by the verdict of an enlightened jury, that the 
 Plan of Union of 1801, was not only a regulation which the General 
 Assembly had power to make, but that it was one which was well calcu 
 lated to promote the best interests of religion; and that the acts of the 
 Assembly of 1837, exscinding the four Synods, were ( not only contrary 
 to the eternal principles of justice, the principles of common law, but at 
 variance with the Constitution of the Church ; and that the Assembly, 
 of which we are the successors, was the constitutional Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 " The counsel for that Assembly, which was formed after the consti 
 tutional one which we represent, not satisfied with this decision, moved 
 the court in bane for a new trial, and the said court in bane, the Hon. 
 Molton C. Rogers dissenting, and the Hon. Judge Sergeant being 
 absent, did award a new trial, upon the ground that the Exscinding Acts 
 of 1837 were legislative and not judicial, expressly declaring that if 
 
DECLARATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 555 
 
 they had been judicial, they l would have been contrary to the cardinal 
 principles of natural justice, and consequently void/ The court in 
 bane did, moreover, decide and declare that the Assembly of 1887 did, 
 at first, resolve to proceed judicially, but that the measure was aban 
 doned, probably because it came to be perceived that the Synods had 
 committed no offence/ Now the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the 
 very tribunal which granted a new trial, have made a solemn decision, 
 that the Assembly of 1837, determined at all events to get rid of 
 60,000 of their brethren, * first resolved to proceed judicially against 
 them, but perceiving that they had committed no offence, changed their 
 purpose, and by a legislative act, cut them off from the Church, disfran 
 chised them of their privileges, and deprived them of their share of the 
 property and funds, which had been contributed in part by themselves/ 
 
 11 While we would submit to the decision of the court in bane, and 
 recognize it as the law of Pennsylvania, till it shall be reversed, still we 
 may lawfully appeal to the Christian public, as to the morality of those 
 ecclesiastical proceedings of the Assemblies of 1837 and 1838, which 
 are the basis of such opinion. 
 
 "What must be thought of Christian ministers and elders, convened 
 as a General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, who were so intent 
 upon depriving 60,000 of their brethren of their religious privileges 
 and church property, that they did, as the Supreme Court has decided 
 was the case, first resolve to proceed judicially against them, and when 
 they perceived that this would not answer their purpose, because they 
 had been guilty of no offence, resolved to expel them by a legislative act. 
 
 "From whence did the Assembly derive this legislative power? By 
 the Adopting Act of 1729, which was made the basis of the union of the 
 Synods of New York and Philadelphia in 1758, all legislative powers 
 are expressly disclaimed, and in book 1, chapter i, section 7, of the 
 Form of Government, as amended and ratified by the Assembly of 1821, 
 we arc told that the Assembly l were unanimously of the opinion, that 
 all church power, whether exercised by the body in general, or in the 
 way of representation by delegated authority, is only ministerial and 
 declarative/ The General Assembly acts by delegated authority, and 
 yet after a unanimous decision in their constitutional Form of Govern 
 ment in 1821, that their power is only ministerial and declarative, in 
 1837, they, by what the court say can only be sustained as a legislative 
 act, disfranchise 60,000 of the members of the Presbyterian Church. If 
 they had no legislative powers, then, according to the decision of the 
 
556 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 court in bane, as well as of Judge Rogers at Nisi Prius, the act of ex 
 cision in 1837 was contrary to the cardinal principles of natural 
 justice, and consequently void/ 
 
 "But if we should, for one moment, grant what the whole Presby 
 terian Church in 1758 and 1821 especially disclaimed, that the As 
 sembly possessed legislative power, could they either legally or right 
 eously legislate 60,000 of their brethren out of the Church ? We ask, 
 in the language of Judge Rogers, what would be thought of a State 
 that should legislate one of its members out of his elective franchise? 
 It is a well-known principle of law, as that learned judge well remarks, 
 that no man can be deprived of his elective franchise by a legislative 
 act, this being a power which can only be exercised by a judicial 
 tribunal. 
 
 " But it is said, that as the four Synods came in under the Plan of 
 Union, they must fall with that Plan. If by the Synods coming in 
 under this Plan, we are to understand that they were organized in any 
 different manner from all other Synods, the allegation is not true j and 
 if it be meant that they were formed during its existence, the same is 
 true of every Presbytery and Synod formed since 1801. How, then, 
 would we ask, are the Synods or Presbyteries affected by the Plan of 
 Union ? No minister was ever received into any Presbytery according 
 to any provision in that Plan, for it contains no such provision. But 
 it is alleged by the exscinding brethren of 1837, that the Plan of Union 
 of 1801 was unconstitutional and void from the beginning; but this, 
 both Judge Rogers and the court in bane declare to be incorrect, so 
 that we have the anomaly of an ecclesiastical court justifying their acts 
 on the ground that the Union of 1801 was unconstitutional, and a civil 
 court sustaining this same decision, upon the ground that the Union was 
 constitutional. 
 
 " But there is another important fact which ought to be noticed, and 
 that is, that in 1821, twenty years after the Plan of Union had been 
 adopted, a new and amended Constitution was framed and solemnly 
 adopted by the Presbyteries which have been exscinded, as well as their 
 brethren of other Presbjteries, and that the whole Church, after living 
 and acting together for sixteen years under this new Constitution, is 
 rent asunder by this act of excision, and 60,000 of its members attempted 
 to be cut off from all participation in the privileges of that Church. 
 
 " In view of these facts, we, the General Assembly, convened in the 
 First Presbyterian Church at Philadelphia, on the 16th day of May, 
 
ROLL OF THE ASSEMBLY RECTIFIED. 557 
 
 1839, appealing to Almighty God for the purity of our motives and 
 the rectitude of our measures, and professing a deep regret for this 
 grievous breach in the professed body of Christ, and solemnly protesting 
 that the sin of this schism does not lie at our door, throw ourselves upon 
 the candor and wisdom of the Christian world, for the rectitude of our 
 proceedings in the painful circumstances in which we have been placed. 
 (Signed) " BAXTER DICKINSON, Moderator. 
 
 " ERSKINE MASON, Stated Clerk." 
 Minutes, 1839, pp. 56-60. 
 
 11. Withdrawal of the Suit at Law. 
 
 a. "In relation to the case at law of the Commonwealth v. Green and 
 others, the committee came deliberately and unanimously to the result, 
 on the 15th of November, 1841, to instruct their counsel to withdraw 
 the suit, and thus for the present/ and they hope forever, to end the 
 legal controversy." Letter of the Committee ad interim, 1842, p. 19. 
 
 b. "Resolved, That this Assembly would commend the zeal and 
 fidelity manifested by the committee ad interim, in the novel circum 
 stances in which, by the Providence of God, they have been placed; 
 and their proceedings are hereby approved. 
 
 " This Assembly further declares, that the withdrawing the suit 
 against Ashbel Green and others, in the nature of a quo warranto, and 
 the ceasing, for the present, of this Assembly to prosecute its claims 
 for property belonging to it, in law and in equity, shall not be considered 
 as any waiving or relinquishment of any of its legal and equitable rights 
 in and to any property which did, now does, or hereafter may, belong to 
 the trustees of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of Ame 
 rica." Minutes, 1843, p. 21. 
 
 12. The Roll of the Assembly rectified. 
 
 " The Assembly, on the motion of Dr. Cox, took up the report of the 
 Committee on the Polity of the Church ; which, after being amended, 
 was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " Whereas, it appears, by abundant evidence, to this Assembly, that 
 another body, claiming to be the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America, at present exists, organized 
 expressly on a ( new basis/ wholly unknown to the Constitution of our 
 
553 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Church, and now holding their sessions in Ranstead Court, in this city; 
 and, 
 
 " Whereas, it is also ascertained that a considerable number of the 
 Presbyteries formerly in connection with us have, within the space of 
 two years, withdrawn in fact from us, and are now in connection with 
 the other body, to which we refer above ; and, 
 
 " Whereas, in times so extraordinary and so distressing to those who 
 love the unity of the Church, and stand alone on the old basis of the 
 Constitution of the same, rejecting every idea of any new basis; the 
 conduct of our withdrawing brethren having made the exigency in which 
 we are under the necessity of acting without a precedent and without a 
 parallel ; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That, having waited a sufficient time, sincerely desir 
 ing the return of our withdrawing brethren to the old basis, which we 
 have never deserted, it is now the duty of this Assembly to declare their 
 disunion, by their own act, from us ; and to rectify the roll of the Pres 
 byteries that are the constituents of this Assembly accordingly. 
 
 "2. That the following sixteen Synods be recognized as constitution 
 ally remaining with us on the old and the true basis of the Presbyterian 
 Church, viz. : Albany, Utica, Geneva, Genesee, New York, Newark, 
 Pennsylvania, Western Reserve, Michigan, Ohio, Cincinnati, Indiana, 
 Illinois, Missouri, Virginia, and Tennessee/ 7 Minutes, 1840, p. 16. 
 
 13. Proposal to Unite in the Communion. 
 
 a. " Rev. A. W. Campbell moved that the Committee on Devotional 
 Exercises be authorized to confer with a similar committee of the Gene 
 ral Assembly, meeting in the Tenth Presbyterian Church of this city, 
 in reference to a united celebration of the Lord s Supper. 
 
 "The motion was carried unanimously." Minutes, 1846, p. 11. 
 
 The Result. 
 
 b. " The Committee on Devotional Exercises presented a report as to 
 the result of a conference with a similar committee of the other Assem 
 bly, in reference to a united celebration of the Lord s Supper, which 
 was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The Committee on Devotional Exercises, to whom was referred the 
 resolution authorizing them to confer with a similar committee of the 
 Assembly meeting in the Tenth Presbyterian Church, in reference to a 
 united celebration of the Lord s Supper, report : 
 
PROPOSAL TO UNITE IN THE COMMUNION. 559 
 
 "That they presented to the committee of the Annual Assembly a 
 certified copy of the resolution passed by this body, accompanied by the 
 following letter, addressed to the chairman of said committee : 
 
 " DEAR BROTHER : It devolves upon us, as chairman and secretary 
 of the Committee on Devotional Exercises of the Triennial General 
 Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, convened in the First Presby 
 terian Church in this city, to present for your consideration the above 
 resolution. 
 
 " Should the foregoing proposal meet the approval of yourself and of 
 your Assembly, it would afford us great pleasure, as a committee, to con 
 fer with you at such time and place as you may designate. 
 
 " Wishing you, and the Assembly with whom you are associated, 
 grace, mercy, and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ, we are yours, 
 affectionately^ 
 
 " ALFRED E. CAMPBELL, Chairman, 
 " CHARLES H. READ, Secretary. 
 
 " To our proposal we have received the following answer, through the 
 Rev. Daniel Baker, one of the Committee on Devotional Exercises : 
 
 " Extract from the Minutes of the General Assembly, in session at 
 Philadelphia, May 28th, 1846. 
 
 " The committee to whom were referred the papers relating to the 
 joint celebration of the Lord s Supper by the two Assembles, with in 
 structions to bring in a minute expressive of the views of the Assembly, 
 presented a report, which was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "The Committee on Devotional Exercises, having reported to the 
 General Assembly a communication from a similar committee of the 
 General Assembly in session at the First Presbyterian Church, repre 
 senting that the said Assembly has authorized its committee to confer 
 with the committee of this Assembly in relation to a joint celebration 
 of the Lord s Supper by the two bodies ; it was ordered, that the com 
 mittee respectfully acknowledge and reciprocate the courtesy of the com 
 munication, and say in reply, that, while this Assembly recognize the 
 above-mentioned body as a branch of the Church of our common Lord, 
 and for this reason would, as individuals, under appropriate circum 
 stances, unite with our brethren in the celebration of divine ordinances, 
 yet, as this Assembly has never, in its corporate and official capacity, 
 united with any other ecclesiastical body in celebrating the Lord s Sup 
 per, it judges it inexpedient to institute a new usage at this time. 
 
560 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 " On motion, the Committee on Devotional Exercises were directed 
 to communicate a copy of the above minute to the committee of the 
 other Assembly. 
 
 " Attest, WILLIS LORD, 
 
 11 Stated Cleric of the General Asseinbli/. 
 
 (< We can only regret that the proposal, made in the most fraternal 
 manner, and passed by a unanimous vote, did not meet with a cordial 
 response in the other Assembly. We have long seen that while the two 
 Assemblies were holding correspondence with many of the same eccle 
 siastical bodies, and in their respective Synods and Presbyteries main 
 taining the usual courtesies of correspondence, and freely exchanging 
 pulpits with each other, nothing has been done, in our official capacity, 
 to show the world that we recognized each other as brethren. And as 
 the world had seen the jarring and contention that existed in former 
 years between the two Assemblies, it seemed to be demanded from both 
 to manifest, by some public act, like that of the united celebration of 
 the Lord s Supper, that, though we were separated, we were one in 
 Christ, and would love and treat each other as brethren j and, though 
 we are the injured party, our motives and our ministerial character 
 having been impeached, and some of us belonging to Presbyteries and 
 churches which were exscinded by the acts of 1837, still it was our 
 earnest wish to extend to them the hand of Christian charity to forgive 
 and forget, as we pray to be forgiven of our God. 
 
 " It is, therefore, to us a source of deep regret, that our brethren of 
 the other Assembly did not manifest a disposition to unite with us, and 
 by their influence and example, aid us in doing away the reproach and 
 the odium which have been heaped upon the Presbyterian Church. But 
 though we may not, as an Assembly, under existing circumstances, unite 
 with our brethren of the other Assembly in a joint celebration of the 
 Lord s Supper, still, it is our sincere prayer that we may meet with them 
 in the General Assembly and Church of the First Born in Heaven, and 
 sit down with them at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb." Minutes, 
 1846, pp. 21, 22. 
 
 14. Commit fee of Correspondence Appointed. 
 
 a. tf The Committee on Bills and Overtures reported an overture in 
 these words : 
 
 " Resolved, That a proposal be made to the General Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian Church, now holding its sessions in the city of Pittsburg, 
 
ft t 
 
 EFFORTS FOR A HARMONIOUS UNDERSTANDING. 
 
 to institute fraternal correspondence by the interchange of delegat 
 Minutes, 1849, p. 174. 
 
 " The unfinished business of yesterday, viz., the indefinite postponement 
 of the notice to send delegates to the Assembly at Pittsburg, was resumed. 
 
 " The motion to postpone was lost. 
 
 " The Rev. G. R. H. Shumway then moved to refer the whole subject 
 to a special committee of five, to report to the next General Assembly, 
 which was carried, and Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D.D., Rev. James G. 
 Hamner, D.D., Rev. Henry G. Ludlow, and Messrs. Ambrose White 
 and Frederick A. Raybold were appointed." Minutes, 1849, p. 175. 
 
 The Result. 
 
 b. "A letter was received from the Rev. Thomas Brainerd, D.D., 
 chairman of the committee appointed by the last Assembly, to correspond 
 with a committee of the other General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church, if such should be appointed, stating that as no corresponding 
 committee was appointed by our brethren of the Assembly which met 
 in Pittsburg last year, no opportunity has been had to carry out the 
 fraternal and Christian spirit of our Assembly. 
 
 " The committee were thereupon discharged." Minutes, 1850, p. 306. 
 
 15. Detail of our Efforts for a Harmonious Understanding. 
 
 " A communication was received, and read, from the Presbytery of 
 Rochester, in reference to a reunion of the two branches of the Presby 
 terian Church." [It was referred to a committee (Minutes, 1850, p. 310), 
 who report, viz. :] 
 
 " Rev. E. Mason, D.D., from the committee to whom was referred the 
 subject of correspondence with the other General Assembly, made a report, 
 which, after being amended, was unanimously adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The committee, to whom was referred the subject of the letter from 
 the Presbytery of Rochester, report, 
 
 "That this Assembly has always deplored, and continues to deplore, 
 the unhappy division in the Presbyterian Church, as well as the causes 
 which produced it. For this sundering of the body of Christ they do 
 not feel themselves at all responsible, as, in everything they have done, 
 they have stood upon the defensive, to protect their dearest rights, secured 
 to them under the Constitution of the Church. 
 
 " They have always, moreover, been ready to meet their brethren in 
 
 36 
 
562 XII. THE DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 any plan consistent with principle, to heal the breach, and restore the 
 Church to its former integrity; and have even taken the first step towards 
 such a result. 
 
 " Feeling that a separation between brethren of a common faith, com 
 mon sympathies, and a common creed, could not be without sin, they 
 did, immediately after the separation in 1838 (see Minutes, p. 634), 
 publish to the world their willingness to l agree to any reasonable 
 measures tending to an amicable adjustment of the difficulties existing 
 in the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 u In 1839, to avert all unpleasant controversy, and prevent all un 
 happy litigation, they proposed a plan of amicable settlement, designed 
 only to secure our constitutional privileges as Presbyterians, while 
 it relinquished to our brethren of the other body all the chartered rights, 
 institutions, and funds of the Presbyterian Church. (See Minutes of 
 1839, p. 21.) 
 
 "The idea of an amicable settlement, and even of reunion, was 
 cherished for some time by this body ; and it was not until 1840, three 
 years after the separation, that they relinquished it ; and coming reluc 
 tantly to the conclusion that union was impracticable, they corrected their 
 roll, and dropped from it the names of these brethren, in deference to 
 their feelings. (See Minutes of 1840, p. 16.) 
 
 " Again, in 1846, they expressed the desire for union with their 
 brethren and, pained by the unseemly exhibition of two such bodies at 
 apparent strife with each other, they proposed to their brethren of the 
 other Assembly, a mutual recognition of each other, by communing 
 together at the Table of our Master. 
 
 O 
 
 " These propositions and overtures were all made in good faith, and 
 with an earnest desire and hope that they might be met in the spirit 
 which prompted them. 
 
 " The result is a matter of history, and is now before the world. We 
 do not pretend to question the motives of our brethren in rejecting 
 them ; we yield to them what we claim for ourselves, honesty of purpose, 
 and sincere convictions of duty. We stated only the facts, and do so, 
 to show that we cannot, as a body, at the present time, take any farther 
 action in this matter. 
 
 " While we are constrained to come to this conclusion, we should be 
 untrue to ourselves before God and the world, did we not frankly avow 
 our readiness to meet in a spirit of fraternal kindness and Christian love 
 any overture which may be made to us by the other body." Minutes, 
 1850, pp. 322, 323. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 SECTION 1. SECESSION OF THE SOUTHERN CHURCHES. 
 
 1. The protest against the action of the Assembly at Cleveland, and the answer. 
 2. Withdrawal of the Synods of Missouri, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, West 
 Tennessee, and Mississippi. Claims of the United Synod. 3. Report of the 
 Trustees of the Church Erection Fund on these claims. 4. Adjustment of the 
 roll. The Synods of Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Tennessee 
 stricken from the roll. 5. The Synod of Virginia stricken from the roll, and 
 the bounds of the Synod of Pennsylvania enlarged. 
 
 1. Protest against the Action of the Assembly at Cleveland. 
 
 [In 1857, the General Assembly, in sessions at Cleveland, adopted a 
 paper on slavery (see ante, pp. 291-295), to which the following protest 
 was offered, and ordered to be put upon the Minutes, viz. :] 
 
 " We, the undersigned Southern ministers and ruling elders, protest 
 against the present decision of the General Assembly. 
 
 " We protest, because, while past General Assemblies have asserted 
 that the system of slavery is wrong, they have heretofore affirmed, that 
 the slaveholder was so controlled by State laws, obligations of guardian 
 ship and humanity, that he was, as thus situated, without censure or 
 odium as the master. This averment in the testimony of past Assemblies 
 has so far satisfied the South, as to make it unnecessary to do more than 
 protest against the mere anti-slavery part of such testimony. 
 
 " We protest then, now, that the present act of the Assembly is such 
 an assertion of the sin of slavery, as degrades the whole Southern 
 
564 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Church, an assertion without authority from the word of God, or the 
 organic law of the Presbyterian body. 
 
 " We protest, that such action is, under present conditions, the virtual 
 exscinding of the South, whatever be the motives of those who vote the 
 deed. 
 
 " We protest, that such indirect excision is unrighteous, oppressive, 
 uncalled for, the exercise of usurped power, destructive of the unity 
 of our branch of the Church, hurtful to the North and the South, 
 and adding to the peril of the union of these United States. 
 
 "FRED. A. Ross, ROBT. P. RHEA, 
 
 "JAS. G. HAMNER, F. R. GRAY, 
 
 "ISAAC W. K. HANDY, M. S. SHUCK, 
 
 " GIDEON S. WHITE, W. E. CALDWELL, 
 
 " GEORGE W. HUTCHINS, E. A. CARSON, 
 
 "GEORGE PAINTER, R. M. MORRISON, 
 
 " HENRY MATIIEWS, ROBERT McLAiN, 
 
 "JOHN F. CHESTER, A. J. MODIE, 
 
 "J. V. BARKS, PEACHY R. GRATTAN, 
 
 "J. B. LOGAN, THOMAS H. CLELAND, 
 
 " C. M. ATKINSON, ARCHER C. DICKERSON." 
 Minutes, 1857, p. 406. 
 
 [To this protest the Assembly record the following answer :] 
 
 " In reply to the protest against the action taken by the Assembly on 
 the subject of slavery, the Assembly make the following remarks : 
 
 "1. The present action of the Assembly on this subject is in perfect 
 harmony with the testimonies of former Assemblies, and consists chiefly 
 in a reaffirmation of those testimonies. The General Assembly has 
 never affirmed that the slaveholder was so controlled by State laws, 
 obligations of guardianship and humanity, that he was, as thus situated, 
 without censure or odium as the master. It has only conceded, that 
 certain exceptional cases may exist, such as are defined in the resolutions 
 of the Assembly of 1850, and approved by this Assembly. 
 
 " 2. We see nothing in the present action which is unconstitutional, 
 or which < degrades/ or even reflects upon, any portion of the Southern 
 Church, which still abides by the old doctrine of the Presbyterian 
 Church in relation to this subject. 
 
 " 3. With respect to the complaint, l that such action is, under present 
 conditions, the virtual exscinding of the South/ the Assembly observe, 
 
SECESSION OF THE SOUTHERN CHURCHES. 565 
 
 that no such excision is intended, and we cannot perceive that it is in 
 anywise involved even by remote implication. We have simply re 
 affirmed the established views of the Presbyterian Church on the subject 
 of slavery, and distinctly condemned the new and counter doctrines 
 which have been declared and defended by some within our bounds. 
 
 "4. With regard to the allegation, that our action in this case is 
 { unrighteous, oppressive, uncalled for/ usurpatory, and destructive of 
 great interests, we need only say, that it rests on the groundless assump 
 tion, that this action is an indirect excision of the South. If our 
 Southern brethren shall break the unity of the Church, because we stand 
 by our former position, as in duty bound, the responsibility for the con 
 sequences will not rest on the Assembly." Minutes, 1857, pp. 408, 409. 
 
 2. Withdrawal of the Synods. Claims of the United Synod. 
 
 [In the Assembly of 1858, the Synods of Missouri, Virginia, Ken 
 tucky, Tennessee, West Tennessee, and Mississippi were not repre 
 sented, "The United Synod" having been formed in the meantime by 
 portions of each of these Synods ; no notice, however, of withdrawal 
 was given by any of the Presbyteries and Synods.] 
 
 " Communications were received from the Presbytery of Harmony. 
 They were read and referred to a committee, consisting of Rev. S. H. 
 Gridley, D.D., Hon. Robert Denniston, and Samuel M. Blatchford." 
 Minutes, 1858, p. 575. 
 
 " A communication was received, and read, from Rev. A. H. H. 
 Boyd, D.D., in behalf of the United Synod of the Presbyterian Church. 
 It was referred to the special committee already appointed upon the com 
 munication from the Presbytery of Harmony, which, by order of the 
 Assembly, was increased by the addition of Rev. George W. Gale, D.D., 
 Rev. Elias J. Richards, Rev. James Eels, and Hon. John Porter." 
 Minutes, 1858, p. 579. 
 
 "The Assembly proceeded to the consideration of the report of the 
 special Committee on the Communications of the Presbytery of Har 
 mony, and of the commissioner from the United Synod of the Presby 
 terian Church/ 
 
 " The report was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " The committee to whom were referred the communications from the 
 Presbytery of Harmony, and from the l United Synod of the Presbyte- 
 
566 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 rian Church/ beg leave to recommend the following resolutions as the 
 action of the Assembly in relation to these communications : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That this Assembly recognize and reciprocate the 
 friendly greetings and fraternal spirit evinced in these communications, 
 as well as in the Christian bearing and courtesy of the Ilev. A. H. H. 
 Boyd, D.D., the accredited representative of the United Synod. 
 
 "Resolved, 2. That this Assembly regret the unnatural separation 
 which these bodies have felt themselves constrained to create, by the 
 action which they have taken, both because of our family affinities and 
 sympathies, and because it weakens our ability, and diminishes our op 
 portunities, for mutual aid and encouragement, in the great work for 
 which the Church exists. We had hoped that, by perpetuating our re 
 lations, by kind interchange of views, and mutual prayers, and by that 
 light which time and patient inquiry secure, we should ultimately be of 
 one mind touching the subject of slavery, as we now are in relation to 
 other moral questions. 
 
 "Resolved, 3. That the consideration and adjustment of the claims to 
 the funds of the Assembly preferred by the Presbytery of Harmony 
 and the United Synod be postponed to the next General Assembly, for 
 the following reasons : 1. That suitable time may be given for a full 
 examination of questions bearing on the equitable character, and of the 
 legal consequences, of granting the claims preferred. 2. That the As 
 sembly may be able to ascertain what and how many churches under the 
 care of the Presbyteries and Synods which have withdrawn and may 
 withdraw from our connection, may desire to retain their relations to the 
 Assembly, and whose claims to a share in the distribution of the Church 
 Erection Fund will consequently remain undisputed. 3. That the final 
 adjustment of these claims, made as the result of due deliberation, mu 
 tual conference of the parties, and prayer to Him who giveth wisdom to 
 his servants, may be satisfactory, if possible, to all concerned. 
 
 "Resolved, 4. That the whole subject of these claims be referred to 
 the board of trustees of the Church Erection Fund, to consider and 
 report thereon to the next General Assembly/ 7 Ibid. pp. 588, 589. 
 
 3. Report of the Trustees. 
 
 " The trustees of the Church Erection Fund have presented two spe 
 cial reports, on subjects referred to them by the last General Assembly, 
 the adoption of both which is recommended by this committee. 
 
SECESSION OF THE SOUTHERN CHURCHES. 567 
 
 " The first of these special reports relates to three papers : one from 
 the Presbytery of Harmony, discussing the action of the General As 
 sembly of 1857, on slavery, and assigning the reasons for the withdrawal 
 of that body from our ecclesiastical connection ; a second paper from 
 the same Presbytery, asking for a payment, to it and to the Synod of 
 Kentucky, of what it calls its l proportional share of the Church Erec 
 tion Fund; and a third paper, signed by A. H. H. Boyd, in behalf of a 
 body styled The United Synod of the Presbyterian Church/ and repre 
 sented as consisting of the Synods of Virginia, Tennessee, West Ten 
 nessee, and Mississippi, which it is stated have withdrawn from our con 
 nection ; asking for the payment to that body of the sums allotted to 
 those Synods in the first apportionment of the Church Erection Fund. 
 
 "The trustees of the Church Erection Fund justly remark, in their 
 special report, that the first paper calls for no action on our part ; and. 
 the charter by which they are incorporated explicitly defines feeble 
 congregations in connection with the General Assembly/ as the only 
 bodies to which their grants can be made, and these trustees as the only 
 persons by whom the fund, or any portion of it, can be held." Minutes, 
 1859, p. 26. 
 
 4. Adjustment of the Rolf. 
 
 " On the adjustment of the roll, the committee recommend that the 
 Synod of Mississippi, having notified the Assembly of their withdrawal 
 from our connection, be stricken from the roll. 
 
 "The committee further state, that they have information that the 
 Synod of Kentucky has been dissolved ; and that the Synods of East 
 and West Tennessee have abjured the jurisdiction of the Assembly, and 
 formally connected themselves with another ecclesiastical body; and we 
 would therefore recommend that these Synods be stricken from the roll. 
 
 " The committee further state, that though the Synod of Virginia has 
 formally withdrawn, and the Synod of Missouri assumed an independent 
 position in reference to this Assembly, still there is evidence to believe 
 that there are many brethren, and even Presbyteries, in the bounds of 
 these Synods who sympathize with us. We therefore advise that the 
 names of these Synods be retained until these brethren have determined 
 upon the relation they desire to occupy. Adopted." Minutes, 1859, 
 p. 44. 
 
568 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 5. Synod of Virginia stricken from the Roll. Bounds of the Synod of 
 Pen n sylva nia en la rged. 
 
 "The Committee on Church Polity beg leave to report on the adjust 
 ment of the roll : 
 
 " Whereas, the Presbyteries of Winchester, Piedmont, and Hanover, 
 constituent portions of the Synod of Virginia, have followed up their 
 previous vote of withdrawal from the Assembly by a positive connection 
 with another ecclesiastical body; therefore, the committee recommend 
 that the bounds of the Synod of Pennsylvania be so extended as to em 
 brace the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia; that the 
 Presbytery of the District of Columbia be transferred to the said Synod ; 
 and that the Synod of Virginia be stricken from the roll. Adopted." 
 Minutes, 1860, p. 240. 
 
 SECTION 2. BIBLE-CLASSES AND SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 
 
 1. The forming of Bible-classes recommended. Plan of instruction not to super 
 sede the Catechism. 2. Sabbath-schools and the instruction of the young. 
 American Sunday-School Union indorsed. 3. Catechetical instruction urged on 
 pastors, parents, and teachers. 
 
 1. The forming of B title-classes recommended. 
 
 "The committee to which was referred the overture from the Synod of 
 New York and New Jersey, on forming classes of young people, for 
 studying and reciting the Bible, reported ; and their report, being read 
 and amended, was adopted, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That it be recommended, and it is hereby recom 
 mended earnestly, to the Ministers and Sessions which are in connection 
 with the General Assembly, to pay especial attention to this subject, 
 and provide, without delay, for the stated instruction of the children 
 and youth in the sacred Scriptures within their respective congregations. 
 
 " 2. That although the particular manner of instruction and recitation 
 in the congregations ought to be left to the discretion of their Ministers 
 and Sessions respectively ; yet as some degree of uniformity is desirable 
 in a business of so much magnitude, it is recommended as the most 
 effectual means of promoting the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, 
 that in all our churches, classes be formed of the youth, to recite the 
 
BIBLE-CLASSES AND SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 569 
 
 Scriptures in regular order; that the recitations, if convenient, be as 
 often as once a week, and from two to five chapters appointed for each 
 recitation ; that the youth be examined on, 
 
 " 1. The history of the world, but more especially of the Church of 
 God, and of the heathen nations who were God s agents in accomplish 
 ing his purposes towards his Church. 
 
 " 2. Persons noted for their piety or ungodliness, and the effects of 
 their example in promoting or injuring the best interests of mankind. 
 
 "3. Doctrines and precepts, or what man is to believe concerning 
 God, and what duty God requires of man/ 
 
 " 4. Positive ordinances, or the directions which God has given as to 
 the way in which he is to be worshipped acceptably. 
 
 " 5. The particular features of character of which the Spirit of God 
 has given notice, both in wicked and good persons; in the last particu 
 larly regarding those who were types of Christ, and in what the typical 
 resemblance consisted. 
 
 " 6. The gradual increase from time to time of information concern 
 ing the doctrines contained in the Scriptures; noting the admirable 
 adaptation of every new revelation of doctrine to the increased maturity 
 of the Church. The nature of God s law, its immutability as consti 
 tuting an everlasting rule of right and wrong, the full and perfect illus 
 tration of its precepts given by Christ. 
 
 " 7. The change which God has made from time to time in the 
 positive ordinances, together with the reasons of that change. The dif 
 ference between the moral law, and those laws which are positive. 
 
 "8. The illustrations of the divine perfections in the history, bio 
 graphy, doctrines and precepts, together with the positive ordinances of 
 the Scriptures. 
 
 "9. The practical lessons to regulate our conduct in the various rela 
 tions of life. 
 
 " On all these particulars the meaning of the words used in Scripture 
 must be ascertained, that thus we may understand what we read. 
 
 " Resolved, 3. That the Presbyteries under the care of the Assembly 
 be directed to take order on this subject; and they are hereby informed 
 that this is not to come into the place of learning the Catechism of our 
 Church, but to be added to it as an important branch of religious edu 
 cation." Minu tes, 1816, pp. 627, 628. 
 
570 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 2. On Salbath- Schools and Instruction of the Young. 
 
 a. "In all parts of the Church, Sunday-schools are established, and 
 there is but one sentiment respecting them. The Assembly consider 
 them as among the most useful and blessed institutions of the present 
 day. They have a most extensive reforming influence. They apply a 
 powerful corrective to the most inaccessible portions of the community. 
 They begin moral education at the right time, in the best manner, and 
 under the most promising circumstances. They act indirectly, but most 
 powerfully, upon teachers and parents, and frequently become the 
 means of bringing them to the church, and to the knowledge and love 
 of the truth. Sunday-schools are highly useful everywhere; but they 
 are peculiarly adapted to new and destitute regions of the Church. The 
 plan is simple, and easily accomplished. It requires comparatively little 
 knowledge and experience to conduct them with ability. Very much 
 good has been accomplished by the instrumentality of young ladies and 
 gentlemen. The pleasing scene is often witnessed in some of our 
 new settlements, of large meetings of children on the Lord s day, in 
 schoolhouseSj or beneath the shade of the original forest. The voice of 
 praise and prayer is heard, and the word of the living God is pro 
 claimed, amid the most beautiful works of his hand." Minutes, 1824, 
 p. 129. 
 
 b. " Resolved, That the General Assembly do cordially approve of the 
 design and operations of the American Sunday-School Union ; and they 
 do earnestly recommend to all ministers and churches under their care 
 to employ their vigorous and continued exertions in the establishment 
 and support of Sabbath-schools." Minutes, 1826, p. 181. 
 
 c. " After the recess the Assembly met. The committee to whom 
 was recommitted the report of the committee on the religious education 
 of the rising generation, made the following report, which was adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That the Assembly regard the religious education of 
 youth as a subject of vital importance, identified with the most precious 
 interests and hopes of the Christian Church. 
 
 "2. That the present indications of Divine Providence are such as 
 imperiously to demand of the Christian community unusual effort to 
 train up the rising generation in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord. 
 
 "3. That the Board of Missions be and hereby are instructed to en- 
 
BIBLE-CLASSES AND SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 571 
 
 join it on their missionaries sedulously to attend to the religious educa 
 tion of t\\Q young ; and particularly that they use all practicable effort 
 to establish Sail a ih- schools, and to extend and perpetuate the blessings 
 of Sabbath-school instruction. 
 
 " 4. That the system of Sabbath-school instruction, now in prevalent 
 and cheering operation, be and hereby is most earnestly recommended 
 to the attention of the pastors and sessions of all our churches. 
 
 " 5. That the Presbyteries be and hereby are enjoined to make the 
 progress of the Sabbath-school cause within their bounds the subject of 
 special inquiry, and annually to transmit the results of such inquiry to 
 the General Assembly. 
 
 " 6. That inasmuch as the advantages of the Sabbath-school may, in 
 some cases, be the occasion of remissness in the important duty of 
 fami/i/ instruction, it be and hereby is earnestly recommended to heads 
 of families not to relax in their personal religious efforts at home, and 
 in the domestic circle ; but that they abound more and more in the use 
 of all appropriate means, to promote sound knowledge and experimental 
 piety, in every member of their households. 
 
 " 7. That as there is reason to apprehend that the Catechisms of this 
 Church have not, in some parts of our Zion, received that measure of 
 attention to which their excellence entitles them, it be and hereby is 
 recommended to pastors, sessions, heads of families, superintendents of 
 Sabbath-schools, and all charged with the education of youth in our 
 connection, to give these admirable summaries of Christian truth and 
 duty a prominent place in their instructions to the youth and children 
 under their care. 
 
 " 8. That it be and hereby is recommended to the pastors and sessions 
 of our churches to make themselves acquainted with the system of In 
 fant School instruction, now in happy progress in many places, and if 
 practicable, to establish such schools in their congregations/ Minutes, 
 1830, pp. 303, 304. 
 
 d. " Resolved, That the General Assembly regard with an increased 
 and lively interest the efforts of the American Sunday-school Union, 
 especially in their endeavors to open, in the destitute portions of the 
 land, Sabbath-schools for the instruction and training- of the young; 
 that we acknowledge them in many instances to have formed the nucleus 
 of a Christian congregation; and we desire renewedly to commend this 
 noble cause to the sympathy, prayers, and benefactions of the Church." 
 Minutes, 1853, p. 314. 
 
572 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 3. Catechetical Instruction. 
 
 a. " The Synod, considering the education of youth, and their being 
 early instructed in just principles of religion, as one of the most useful 
 means of promoting the influence of the Gospel in our churches, 
 
 " Resolved, That it be enjoined on every Presbytery, in appointing 
 supplies to their vacant congregations, to take order that every vacant 
 congregation within their limits be carefully catechized at least once in 
 the year, in the same manner as is required by the order of our Church 
 in congregations supplied with regular pastors, and that the ministers 
 appointed to this duty be required at the next meeting of the Presbytery 
 to render an account of their fidelity in this respect, and that the Pres 
 byteries be required to render an account of their attention to this order 
 at the next meeting of Synod." Minutes, 1785, p. 513. 
 
 b. "Resolved, That as there is reason to apprehend that the Cate 
 chisms of this Church have not in some parts of our Zion received that 
 measure of attention to which their excellence entitles them, it be, and 
 hereby is recommended to pastors, sessions, heads of families, superin 
 tendents of Sabbath-schools, and all charged with the education of youth, 
 in our connection, to give these admirable summaries of Christian truth 
 and duty a prominent place in their instructions to the youth and chil 
 dren under their care." Minutes, 1830, p. 304. 
 
 c. " Resolved, That the use of the Catechism in the religious instruc 
 tion of the young, and of the children under the care of the Church, be 
 aifectionately and earnestly recommended to the Sessions in connection 
 with the General Assembly, as the most effectual means under God of 
 preserving the purity, peace, and unity of our Church/ Minutes, 1832, 
 p. 372. 
 
 cl. " The following resolutions, on the subject of Catechetical Instruc 
 tion, were offered by the Rev. W. H. Smith, and unanimously adopted, 
 viz. : 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That this General Assembly considers the practice of 
 Catechetical Instruction as well adapted to the prosperity and purity of 
 our Zion. 
 
 "2. Resolved, That this Assembly view also with deep regret the 
 neglect, on the part of many of our churches, of this good old practice 
 of our fathers a practice which has been attended with such blessed 
 results to the cause of pure and undefiled religion. 
 
 "3. Resolved) That the institution of Sabbath-schools does not exon- 
 
SUPPORT OP THE MINISTRY. 573 
 
 erate ministers and parents from the duty of teaching the Shorter Cate 
 chism to the children of the Church. 
 
 " 4. Resolved, That this Assembly earnestly and affectionately re 
 commend to all the ministers and ruling elders in its connection, to teach 
 diligently the young of their respective congregations, the Assembly s 
 Shorter Catechism/ Minutes, 1849, p. 181. 
 
 SECTION 3. ON THE SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY. 
 
 1. Support of the Ministry. Early action. Glebe and parsonage recommended. 
 2. Adequate provision urged. Presbyteries to inquire into the fulfilment of 
 contracts. 3. Congregational libraries for the use of ministers. 4. Liberality 
 in the support of the ministry urged. 
 
 1. Early Action. Glebe and Parsonage recommended. 
 
 a. " That in every congregation a committee be appointed, who shall 
 twice in every year collect the minister s stipend, and lay his receipts 
 before the Presbytery preceding the Synod } and at the same time, that 
 ministers give an account of their diligence in visiting and catechizing 
 their people. 
 
 " The Synod recommends that a glebe, with a convenient house and 
 necessary improvements, be provided for every minister." Minutes, 
 1766, p. 359. 
 
 b. "As it appears the interest of religion is in danger of suffering 
 greatly at present, from the many discouragements under which the 
 ministers of the Gospel labor from the want of a sufficient support and 
 liberal maintenance from the congregations they serve, the Synod appoint 
 a committee to take this matter into consideration, and report thereon to 
 the next Synod. 
 
 " Ordered, That Drs. Witherspoon, Ewing, and Spencer, be a com 
 mittee for this purpose." Minutes, 1782, p. 495. 
 
 " Said committee brought in their report, which was read and con 
 sidered. Whereupon, 
 
 " Ordered, That Drs. Witherspoon and Spencer, with Mr. S. Smith, 
 be a committee to prepare a draught of a pastoral letter to the congrega 
 tions under the inspection of Synod, as also to prepare some resolves to 
 be passed by Synod, and accompany said letter; the whole to be brought 
 in to-morrow morning." Minutes, 1783, p. 499. 
 
 [The letter was brought in, amended, and ordered to be published.] 
 
574 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 2. Adequate Provision to be urged. 
 
 [The Assembly enjoins it upon all the Presbyteries] "that they will 
 endeavor, as far as the state of society in different parts of our Church 
 will permit, to withdraw the ministers of the Gospel from every worldly 
 avocation for the maintenance of themselves and families, that they may 
 devote themselves entirely to the work of the ministry ; and that, for 
 this end, they labor to convince the people of the advantage that will 
 accrue to themselves from making such adequate provision for the sup 
 port of their teachers and pastors, that they may be employed wholly in 
 their sacred calling; and, in those places where it may be found prudent 
 and practicable, that they devise means to have the contracts between 
 congregations and pastors examined in the Presbyteries at stated periods, 
 inquiries instituted with regard to the reciprocal fulfilment of duties and 
 engagements, and endeavors used to promote punctuality and fidelity in 
 both parties, before distress on one side, or complaint on the other, grow 
 to a height unfavorable to the interests of religion." Minutes, 1799, 
 p. 181. 
 
 3. Congregational Libraries. 
 
 " That inasmuch as the clergy, in many situations in the country, have 
 it not in their power to furnish themselves with libraries so various and 
 extensive as to enable them to discharge their office in the manner most 
 useful to the people, most dignified for the puipit, and most honorable 
 for religion, it be recommended to the Presbyteries to take measures to 
 promote the establishment of congregational libraries, under such regu 
 lations that the Presbyteries shall have the principal direction in the 
 choice of the books with which those libraries shall be furnished. The 
 ministers of the respective churches shall have the immediate care and 
 the constant use of them, and that means be used to make annual aug 
 mentations to them." Minutes, 1799, p. 182. 
 
 4. Liberality in the Support of the Ministry urged. 
 
 " The following preamble and resolution, proposed by Elder Walter S. 
 Griffith, were unanimously adopted : 
 
 " Whereas, it is highly important to our churches that they be served 
 by competent ministers, who shall be free from worldly cares and avoca 
 tions ; whereas, the law of Christ expressly declares, < that they which 
 
ON FASTING AND PRAYER. 575 
 
 preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel/ and that he that is taught 
 in the word should communicate unto him that teacheth in all good 
 
 D 
 
 things/ thus making it the solemn duty, as it is clearly the interest, of 
 Christian churches to provide for their ministers a competent and liberal 
 support; whereas, the cost of the necessities of life has advanced so 
 greatly as to render the salaries heretofore paid to many of our ministers 
 entirely inadequate, causing to them and to their families great anxiety 
 and distress ; and whereas, this subject demands at this time, and should 
 not fail to attract, the special attention of every Christian ; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That the General Assembly earnestly exhort all the 
 churches under their care to consider this question in the spirit of 
 Christian fidelity and liberality, and to make ample provision for those 
 who minister to them in word and doctrine; stipulating so to increase 
 their compensation, when necessary, as to make their salaries fully ade 
 quate to their comfortable support, in view of the enhanced expenses of 
 living, and paying the amount agreed upon with honorable and Christian 
 promptitude/ Minutes, 1854, pp. 499, 500. 
 
 SECTION 4. ON FASTING AND PRAYER. 
 
 1. Prayer for the General Assembly. 2. Special seasons for prayer recommended. 
 3. Revivals consequent on special prayer. 4. The monthly concert. Time 
 of observing it. 5. Appointment of a day of fasting and prayer for the conver 
 sion of the world, first Monday in January. Standing custom. G. Prayer for 
 magistrates. 
 
 ]. Prayer for the General Assembly. 
 
 u An overture from the Synod of North Carolina was received and 
 read, and is as follows : 
 
 " Whereas, the General Assembly is the highest and most important 
 judicatory of the Presbyterian Church; and whereas, to obtain the Di 
 vine blessing on that judicatory must appear, to every Christian of our 
 denomination, to be a matter of the utmost moment ; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That this Synod do respectfully suggest to the General 
 Assembly the propriety of recommending to all the churches under their 
 care to observe the afternoon or evening previous to the meeting of that 
 body, as a season of special prayer to Almighty God for his blessing; 
 that he would, of his infinite mercy, condescend to superintend and 
 
576 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 direct all their measures, deliberations and decisions, so that all may re 
 dound to the promotion of his own glory, and the general prosperity of 
 that particular Church to which we belong. 
 
 " After some discussion, the above overture was adopted." Minutes, 
 1821, p. 10. 
 
 2. Special Seasons for Prayer recommended. 
 
 11 The General Assembly, taking into serious consideration the general 
 aspect of religion, the great decay of vital piety, and the prevalence of 
 infidelity and immorality, and being deeply affected thereby (especially 
 considering the many blessings which, as a nation and a people, we 
 enjoy), agreed to urge, in the most earnest manner, upon all their mem 
 bers, the utmost diligence, perseverance, arid zeal, in the discharge of 
 the duties of their offices and stations ; and that they prosecute those 
 measures, agreeably to the word of God, which they may judge most 
 conducive to counteract the existing evils, and most effectually serve the 
 interests of evangelical principles, and of true and undefiled religion ; 
 and would recommend that some particular times be set apart as special 
 seasons of prayer with respect to those objects, as may be found most 
 convenient in their respective circumstances." Minutes, 1796, p. 116. 
 
 3. Revivals in connection with Special Prayer. 
 
 "The Assembly consider it as worthy of particular attention, that 
 most of the accounts of revivals communicated to them stated that the 
 institution of praying societies, or seasons of special prayer to God for 
 the outpouring of the Spirit, generally preceded the remarkable displays 
 of Divine grace with which our land has been recently favored. In most 
 cases, preparatory to the signal effusions of the Holy Ghost, the pious 
 have been stirred up to cry fervently and importunately that God would 
 appear and vindicate his own cause. The Assembly see in this a con 
 firmation of the word of God, and an ample encouragement of the 
 prayers and hopes of the pious for future and more extensive manifesta 
 tions of Divine power ; and they trust that the churches under their 
 care, while they see cause of abundant thankfulness for this dispensa 
 tion, will also perceive that it presents new motives to zeal and fervor in 
 applications to that throne of grace from which every good and perfect 
 gift cometh." Minutes, 1803, p. 275. 
 
FASTING AND PRAYER. 577 
 
 4. The Monthly Concert. 
 
 a. " Whereas, the King and Head of the Church has during the 
 last year poured out his Spirit in a remarkable and glorious manner on 
 many of the churches within our bounds, and has manifestly succeeded 
 the efforts of Christians in past years, in their endeavors to diffuse the 
 light of revealed truth among the heathen ] and has hereby encouraged 
 and urged the pious to united and importunate wrestling at the throne 
 of grace ; and whereas many Christians in Asia, Africa, and Europe, 
 have agreed to set apart the first Monday evening of every month, that 
 they may meet together, and say with one heart, to the prayer-hearing 
 God, l Thy kingdom come ; come, Lord Jesus, and fill the world with 
 thy glory/ Therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That this General Assembly do approve of concerts of 
 prayer for the advancement of the Redeemer s kingdom, and do recom 
 mend it to the friends of Zion in their connection, as far as may be 
 convenient, to spend the first Monday in every month in special prayer 
 to God, for the coming and glorious reign of Christ on earth. " Minutes, 
 1815, p. 601, 602. 
 
 b. " In reference to the time of observing the Monthly Concert, on 
 motion of Dr. Cox, the Assembly agreed to recommend, that it be con 
 tinued permanently on the first Monday evening of every month, without 
 change ; since it is now to be considered as a concert of Protestant 
 Christendom throughout the world, urging the petition Thy kingdom 
 come, in the same spirit, and, as nearly as may be, according to the 
 different meridians of their habitation, at the same time." Minutes,, 
 1839, p. 26. 
 
 5. Appointment of a Day of Prayer for the Conversion of the World. 
 
 a. "The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 11, viz., <on 
 the appointment of a day of prayer for the conversion o*f the world/ 
 made the following report, which was unanimously adopted, viz. : 
 
 "It being understood, that Christians and churches, both in this 
 country and in Europe, have at different times desired the public desig 
 nation of a day to be observed by all Christians throughout the world,. 
 as a day of fasting and prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on. 
 the whole family of man, and this Assembly being deeply impressed! 
 with the importance and high privilege of such an observance, and 
 
 37 
 
578 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 feeling urged and encouraged to more importunate supplications in view 
 of the recent revivals of religion in this land, as well as the signs of the 
 present time in relation to the prospects of the Church in other nations, 
 therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That it be recommended to the ministers and churches 
 under the supervision of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America, and the churches in correspon 
 dence with the same, to observe the first Monday in January, 1833, as 
 a day of fasting and prayer, for the divine blessing on the ministry of 
 the Gospel throughout the world, for the revival of religion in the whole 
 of Christendom, and for the entire success of those benevolent enterprises 
 which have for their object the world s conversion to God. 
 
 " Resolved , That other denominations of Christians in the United 
 States, and the Christian churches in all other countries, be, and they 
 hereby are affectionately, and with Christian salutations, invited to con 
 cur in the observance of the day above specified. 
 
 "Resolved, That these resolutions be published with the signature of 
 the Moderator and Clerk of the General Assembly, for the information 
 of such Synods, Assemblies, Associations, Conferences, Conventions, 
 and other ecclesiastical bodies as may choose to recommend the above 
 observance to the churches under their care. And may grace, mercy, 
 and peace be multiplied to all throughout the world who love our Lord 
 Jesus Christ." Minutes, 1832, p. 365. 
 
 b. " At the meeting of the General Assembly of the last year, an 
 additional measure was adopted, in compliance with overtures from 
 various quarters, calling for the public designation of a day to be 
 observed by all Christians throughout the world, as a day of fasting and 
 prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the whole family of man. 
 For this purpose, the first Monday of January last was accordingly 
 designated ; and it is understood that the day was observed, both in the 
 Old World and the New, with much solemnity, and in many instances 
 with a sacred pleasure and humble hope in God, the recollection of 
 which is still delightful and animating. This General Assembly, there 
 fore, do earnestly recommend to all the churches and people under their 
 pastoral superintendence, to continue the observance of the same day 
 of the coming year, and for the same purpose as that to which the speci 
 fied day of the present year was set apart. Let the whole of the first 
 Monday of January, 1834, be observed as a season of special prayer 
 of united, fervent, believing prayer, for the conversion of the world to 
 
FASTING AND PRAYER. 579 
 
 God. And if it be thus observed, prayer will of course be accompanied 
 with deep humiliation with a sincere prostration of soul before the 
 holy and all-seeing God, in view of personal guilt, and of the sin of the 
 Christian world in so long neglecting to obey, as they ought to have 
 done, one of the last commands of their redeeming God, before he 
 ascended to his throne in the heavens, to disciple all nations, and to 
 preach the Gospel to every creature to send the messages of salvation 
 to the perishing millions of the unevangelized world. And the Assembly 
 would earnestly recommend that this observance be connected with 
 fasting, and abstinence from secular labor. The great spiritual object 
 is a union of hearts, and of unfeigned, ardent, and repeated aspirations, 
 supplications, and intercessions at the throne of eternal mercy, through 
 the prevalent intercession of the great Mediator and Advocate of his 
 people there, that the Holy Spirit may come down in a copious effusion 
 of his special, new-creating, soul-saving influence, for the conversion of 
 the world to God for the consolation, encouragement, and abundant 
 success of the missionaries who are now in the field of labor; for raising 
 up, qualifying, sending forth, and blessing the labors of additional mis 
 sionaries a host of apostolic, devoted, self-sacrificing men, into all 
 heathen lands, and all destitute portions of lands already partially Gospel- 
 ized ; for enlightening, directing, and animating all missionary associa 
 tions, and for a special benediction on all theological seminaries, colleges, 
 academies, common and Sabbath-schools ; for the translators of the Holy 
 Scriptures, and for all Bible and tract societies and distributors ; for 
 inclining the minds of the whole Christian community to devote a liberal 
 portion of the worldly substance which God has given them, for the 
 promotion of his cause, and the building up of his kingdom on the ruins 
 of Satan s empire ; and generally for a rich divine blessing on all the 
 benevolent and Christian associations, plans, and exertions which char 
 acterize and are the glory of the day in which we have our lot in life." 
 Minutes, 1833, p. 398. 
 
 [It has become a standing custom of the Assembly to designate the 
 first Monday in January as a day of fasting and prayer for the conversion 
 of the world, and also to recommend the observance of the last Thursday 
 in February as a day of prayer for colleges, theological seminaries, and 
 other institutions of learning. See Minutes, passim. ] 
 
 6. Prayer for Magistrates. 
 "It is the duty of the people to pray for magistrates; to honor their 
 
580 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 persons, to pay them tribute and other dues, to obey their lawful com 
 mands, and to be subject to their authority for conscience sake. In 
 fidelity, or differences in religion doth not make void the magistrate s 
 just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience 
 to him." [Confession of Faith, chap, xxiii, sec. 4.] Minutes, 1830, p. 
 300. 
 
 SECTION 5. ON PSALMODY. 
 
 1. Narrative of early action. A new collection to be prepared, and a committee 
 appointed. The Book approved. 2. Movement for a new Book of Psalmody: 
 referred to the committee ad interim. 3. The Church Psalmist recommended. 
 4. The Church Psalmist purchased for the Assembly ; a supplement added. 
 5. Book of Tunes prepared and published. 
 
 1. The Assemlli/ s Narrative of ivhat lias hitherto been done. A new 
 Collection to be prepared, and a Committee appointed. 
 
 " The committee to which the resolution on the subject of Psalmody 
 was committed, the consideration of which was deferred by the last 
 Assembly, to be taken up by this Assembly, reported, and their report 
 being read and amended, was adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "That the subject of the resolution, in their opinion, is of such mag 
 nitude as to demand the serious attention of this Assembly. 
 
 " Psalmody has in all ages been considered a most important part of 
 the worship of God. The Church, therefore, has ever been careful to 
 preserve its purity for the edification of her members ; whilst they who 
 have departed from the faith once delivered to the saints, have availed 
 themselves of it to accomplish their divisive plans with the best success. 
 Mindful of their duty in this matter, the General Assembly have, from 
 time to time, authorized the use of House s version of the Book of 
 Psalms, Watts s Imitation of the Psalms of David with his three books 
 of Hymns, Barlow s alterations of, and addition to Watts s Imitation, 
 and Dwight s revision of Watts, with his additional versifications and 
 collection of hymns, in the churches under their care. 
 
 " Whilst the committee grant that each of these systems of psalmody 
 has its excellencies, they respectfully recommend that one uniform sys 
 tem of psalmody be prepared, under the direction of the Assembly, for 
 the use of the churches under their care. They believe that the time 
 
PSALMODY. 581 
 
 has come when such a measure may be adopted without offending any 
 of our churches, and with the prospect of complete success. 
 
 " If they are correct in this belief, of which the Assembly must judge, 
 it appears to them that uniformity in this matter will furnish a strong 
 bond of peace and harmony between the different sections of our Church. 
 
 11 The committee further recommend that this uniform system of 
 psalmody consist of two parts, viz. : 
 
 " 1. A compilation of metrical versions of the Book of Psalms, adher 
 ing to tli3 order and connection of the same as far as practicable. 
 
 " In this compilation the preference ought to be given to the author 
 ized versions now in use, so far as the poetry and conformity to "the text 
 allow. The committee, in recommending this compilation, disavow any 
 design of committing the Assembly on the difference of opinion which 
 exists about the Book of Psalms. They also wish it to be distinctly 
 understood that they do not disapprove of Watts. But they think that 
 a compilation, such as is recommended, if judiciously executed, will 
 satisfy the friends of Dr. Watts s Imitation, and the advocates of the 
 exclusive authority of the Book of Psalms. 
 
 li 2. A copious collection of hymns and spiritual songs from various 
 authors, giving the preference to those now authorized, so far as good 
 taste, sound sense, and enlightened piety admit. 
 
 "Such a system of psalmody, the committee think, besides producing 
 harmony among ourselves in this part of public worship, will tend to 
 enlarge that growing disposition among Christians of different denomina 
 tions, to union of exertions for promoting the kingdom of Christ. 
 
 " They therefore submit the following resolutions, viz. : 
 
 "1. That a committee be appointed to digest and prepare a uniform 
 system of psalmody, as recommended in this report; the whole, when 
 prepared agreeably to the views of the committee, to be submitted to the 
 General Assembly for their adoption. 
 
 "2. That the committee appointed to carry this resolution into effect 
 be authorized to procure, at the expense of the Assembly, such versions 
 of the Book of Psalms, and such collections of hymns and sacred songs, 
 as they may deem necessary. 
 
 " The Assembly appointed Drs. Romeyn, Alexander, Nott, Blatchford, 
 and Spring, a committee to prepare and digest a system of psalmody, as 
 recommended in the foregoing report." Minutes, 1820, p. 7-40. 
 
 [The book was finally laid before the Assembly in 1830, and approved.] 
 
582 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 " The report of the Committee on Psalmody, which was laid on the 
 table, was taken up, when it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the Book of Psalms and Hymns, with the alterations 
 and additions submitted by the committee, be approved by the Assembly, 
 and its use in the worship of God be authorized in all the churches 
 under its care/ Minutes, 1830, p. 306. 
 
 2. Movement for a new JBook of Psalmody. 
 
 a. " On motion of Dr. Cox, the whole subject of psalmody, with the 
 procuring and furnishing an edition of psalms and hymns for our gene 
 ral use in a way involving no pecuniary responsibility to the Assembly, 
 was referred to the Consulting Committee for their deliberation and 
 action, as they may deem proper and practicable." Minutes, 1840, 
 p. 24. 
 
 3. The Church Psalmist recommended. 
 
 a. " Whereas, the General Assembly of 1840, for the purpose of 
 bringing about a greater degree of uniformity in the psalmody used in 
 our churches, appointed a committee on this subject, and after much 
 consultation and reports in part, committed ( the whole subject, with the 
 procuring and furnishing an edition of psalms and hymns for our general 
 use, in a way involving no pecuniary responsibility to the Assembly/ to 
 the Consulting Committee, or committee ad interim; 
 
 " And whereas, that committee, agreeably to the powers intrusted to 
 them, have, after much time and labor devoted to the subject, procured 
 and furnished such a Book of Psalms and Hymns as they deem suited 
 to general use in our Church ; 
 
 " And whereas, so far as we are enabled to judge, the said book, 
 entitled the l Church Psalmist/ fully merits the recommendation the 
 committee have given it; 
 
 tl Therefore, that this General Assembly recommend the collection of 
 psalms and hymns entitled the l Church Psalmist/ to the churches under 
 our care, leaving them at the same time free to continue the books now 
 in use if they deem it most for edification. 
 
 " Ordered, that the stated clerk pay to Dr. Beman $400, the amount 
 of his claim, out of the first funds which may come into his hands after 
 discharging the debt due to the counsel engaged in the late lawsuit." 
 Minutes, 1843, p. 20-21. 
 
PSALMODY. 583 
 
 I. " The unfinished business of the morning, viz., the consideration of 
 the report on Psalmody, was resumed, and after long discussion, the re 
 port was amended and adopted, and is as follows, viz. : 
 
 "Whereas, the subject of Psalmody is one of great importance, and 
 it is highly desirable that there should be uniformity in respect to the 
 book used for this purpose ; 
 
 " And, whereas, the Assembly of 1840, after repeated discussions, 
 referred the whole subject of Psalmody, with the procuring and furnish 
 ing an edition of psalms and hymns for general use/ to the Consulting 
 Committee ; 
 
 " And, whereas, this committee, agreeably to the powers intrusted to 
 them, after a patient and thorough examination of different books sub 
 mitted to them, unanimously adopted and recommended to the churches 
 the book entitled l The Church Psalmist/ as in their judgment possessing 
 greater excellencies than any other known to them. 
 
 " -And, whereas, the Assembly of 1843 adopted the report of the com 
 mittee, thereby adopting < The Church Psalmist as the authorized 
 psalmody of the Presbyterian Church in these United States, and giving 
 their approbation to the arrangement entered into with the editor and pub 
 lisher, in accordance with which ten per cent, of the proceeds of all sales 
 of fifty copies and over was received into the treasury of the Assembly, 
 therefore be it 
 
 " Resolved, 1. That it is earnestly recommended to the churches in 
 connection with this Assembly, for the purpose of carrying out the ma 
 tured action of our highest ecclesiastical judicatories, and thus securing 
 uniformity, an increasing revenue, and the possession of a work of high 
 intrinsic merit, whenever they deem it best to make a change in their 
 psalmody, to adopt the book of the Assembly. 
 
 "Resohefl, 2. That by the permission of the editor, the second part 
 of the 51st Psalm in L. M. of Dr. Watts s version be substituted for the 
 third part of the 51st Psalm in C. M. of the Church Psalmist." Mi 
 nutes, 1846, p. 19. 
 
 4. TJte Church Psalmist purchased. The Supplement added. 
 
 "In 1855, Minutes, p. 32, and again in 1856, Minutes, p. 215, the 
 Publication Committee were authorized and directed to ( negotiate with 
 the compilers and publishers of the Church Psalmist, and to purchase 
 that book if this can be done on reasonable terms/ In 1857, the com- 
 
584 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 raittee report to the Assembly that the} 7 have purchased the Psalmist, 
 upon which the Assembly 
 
 (( Resolved y That we recognize with gratitude to God the completion 
 of the labors of the Publication Committee, by which the Assembly is 
 furnished with a book of psalmody which they can call their own the 
 profits of which will materially aid the funds of the Church in the Pub 
 lication cause ; and the Assembly hereby recommend to the pastors and 
 the churches that they use all reasonable diligence in promoting unifor 
 mity by the introduction of this book. 
 
 " Resolved, That the preparation of an appendix to the Church 
 Psalmist of such hymns as may be necessary to make the work complete 
 be committed to N. S. S. Bcman, D.D., Ptev. Albert Barnes, and 
 S. W. Fisher, D.D., and that this Committee report to the next General 
 Assembly." Minutes, 1857, pp. 410, 411. 
 
 [The committee were directed to report to the Publication Committee 
 (Minutes, 1858, p. 585), by whom the supplement was published; and 
 the book thus completed.] Minutes, 1859, p. 38. 
 
 5. The Book of Tunes. 
 
 a. " Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Publi 
 cation Committee to prepare a Book of Tunes adapted to the Church 
 Psalmist, and that this committee be instructed to consult and corre 
 spond with pastors and leaders of choirs in the churches, as to the par 
 ticular tunes most in use and most popular in the congregations, and that 
 this committee report to the next General Assembly." Minutes, 1857, 
 p. 410. 
 
 I). " The committee appointed to prepare a Book of Tunes adapted to 
 the Church Psalmist, presented the following report : 
 
 " The Committee on the preparation of a Book of Tunes respectfully 
 report to the General Assembly that the work intrusted to them is in 
 progress, and will shortly be completed. It was not until near the close 
 of the last year that they received notice of their appointment by the 
 Publication Committee. Shortly after, they addressed a circular letter 
 to the ministers in connection with the Assembly, requesting them to 
 confer with the leader of music in their respective congregations and 
 forward such information and suggestions on the whole subject as oc 
 curred to them. Numerous responses have been received, some of them 
 of great value, and the most of them giving assurance of hearty coope- 
 
AMENDMENTS TO FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 585 
 
 ration in the work. From every part of the Church, almost without ex 
 ception, the call has been made for congregational singing. e Give us 
 the good old tunes that our fathers sung, the tunes that our children 
 love, the tunes that all can use in the worship of God. Such is the 
 demand j and the committee will endeavor to comply with it, fully per 
 suaded as they themselves are that it is both Scriptural and reasonable. 
 The work will be carefully prepared under the supervision of a compe 
 tent professor of sacred music. 
 
 " If the Assembly desire, as some have suggested, a hymn book with 
 tunes incorporated after the manner of the l Temple Melodies/ it will be 
 necessary for them to give the committee specific instructions to that 
 effect. 
 
 " The report was adopted/ Minutes, 1858, p. 585. 
 
 " The book was published and laid before the Assembly in 1860." 
 Minutes, pp. 246, 295. 
 
 SECTION 6. AMENDMENTS TO FORM OF GOVERNMENT, BOOK OF 
 DISCIPLINE, AND DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP, ADOPTED OR PRO 
 POSED. 
 
 1. Amended in 1821, and adopted substantially as at present. 2. Proposal to 
 amend chap, x, Form of Government, refused. 3. Amendment of chap, xiii, sec. 
 2, Form of Government, refused. 4. Proposals to amend Form of Government, 
 chap, xii, sec. 4 ; Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sec. 1, art. iv, sees. 2, 3, 4, On 
 Appeals, Complaints, and References ; Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 7, and 
 chap, xiv, sec. G. 5. Answers of the Presbyteries. Form of Government, chap, 
 xii, sec. 7, altered. Five of the six proposed amendments agreed to, but the 
 sixth being rejected, the Assembly refuse to make the alterations proposed. G. 
 Proposal to alter the ratio of representation in the Assembly ; also to make it 
 Synodical and not Presbyterial. 7. Proposal of an overture in reference to calling 
 special meetings of Synod. Not adopted. 8. Reports of the Presbyteries. The 
 ratio of representation altered. Form of Government, chap, xii, sec, 2. 9. Pro 
 posal to limit the appellate jurisdiction of the Assembly to charges against a 
 minister, and to processes originating in a Synod. 10. Proposal to make the 
 Synods, in all cases, the courts of final jurisdiction, to hold the Assembly 
 trienriially, and to authorize the calling of the Assembly pro re nata. 11. 
 Answers of the Presbyteries, affirming the proposed amendments. Alterations 
 of the Constitution made in accordance. Form of Government, chap, xii, sees. 2, 
 7, 8. 12. Proposal to return to Annual Assemblies. Form of Government, chap, 
 xii, sec. 7, and to restore appellate jurisdiction to the Assembly. 13. The pro- 
 
586 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 posal more clearly defined. Revision of the Standards committed to a com 
 mittee. 14. The Overtures 1 and 2, respecting Annual Assemblies, chap, xi, 
 sec. 7, and chap, xii, sec. 7, Form of Government, adopted. Overture 3, 4, and 
 5, pertaining to appeals in the case of ministers, Book of Discipline, chap. 7, par. 
 
 2, sec. iii, par. 2, and sec. iv, par. 4, not adopted. 15. Report on changes of the 
 Constitution. Proposal to restore it as in 18-40, or before the division. Overtures 
 sent down, Book of Discipline, chap. xii. sec. 4, chap, vii, sec. 2, chap, vii, sec. 
 
 3, sub sec. 2, chap, vii, sec. 4, sub sec. 1 ; Form of Government, chap, xii, a 
 new section after sec. 7, and xii, sec. 2. 10. These overtures rejected. The 
 Book restored as before the division. 
 
 1. The Form of Government, Book of Discipline, and Directory for 
 Worship, amended, 1821. 
 
 "In 1820, a paper containing proposed amendments to the Form of 
 Government was sent down to the Presbyteries with the following result. 
 
 " The committee appointed to ascertain the decisions of the several 
 Presbyteries, on the subject of the revised Form of Government and 
 forms of process, and the amendments to the Directory, sent down by the 
 last Assembly, reported, and their report being read, was adopted, and 
 is as follows, viz. : 
 
 " That there are connected with this Assembly sixty-two Presby 
 teries ; that, therefore, the affirmative vote of thirty-two Presbyteries is 
 necessary to make any one article binding; that forty-five Presbyteries 
 have reported to the Assembly their decisions on each chapter, section, 
 and article that from these reports it appears that the most of the 
 articles have been adopted unanimously, and that every chapter, section, 
 and article has been adopted by a majority of the whole number of 
 Presbyteries ; that the smallest number of votes given for any one article 
 is thirty-seven ; that, therefore, the icliole of the proposed amendments 
 sent down by the last Assembly to the Presbyteries is ratified, and 
 becomes a part of the Constitution." Minutes, 1821, p. 9. 
 
 [This brings the Constitution substantially to its present form. Other 
 amendments, since proposed or adopted, are given below as a matter of 
 history, and in some cases as defining the true meaning of the Constitu 
 tion.] 
 
 2. Proposal to amend Chap. X, Form of Government, refused. 
 
 " The following overture from the Presbytery of Baltimore was re 
 ceived and read, viz., That after the 12th article of the 10th chapter 
 
AMENDMENTS TO FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 587 
 
 of the revised Form of Government, the following be added : ( 13. Every 
 Presbytery shall judge of the qualifications of its own members/ 
 
 "Resolved, 1 hat it is inexpedient to grant the request contained in 
 this overture, or to make any new alterations at present in the Book of 
 Discipline." Minutes, 1821, p. 10. 
 
 3. Proposal to amend Chap. XIII, Sec. 2, Form of Government, 
 
 refused. 
 
 "The Committee on Overture No. 9, relating to an amendment 
 in the Form of Government, chap, xiii, sec. 2 (on the election of 
 elders), reported, and their report was adopted, and is as follows : see 
 chap, ii, sec. 2, p. 50." Minutes, 1826, p. 187. 
 
 4. Proposal to amend Form of Government, Chap. XII, Sect. 4; J3oo7c 
 of Discipline, Chap. VII, Sect. 1, 2, 3, 4, On Appeals, Complaints, 
 and References; Form of Government, Chap. Xll, Seel. 7, and 
 Chap. XIV, Sect. 6. 
 
 " The committee to whom was recommitted the report on the propriety 
 of making certain alterations in the existing rules which govern the 
 proceedings of the General Assembly, and, if necessary, alterations in 
 the Constitution of our Church, recommended, 
 
 " 1st. That the Form of Government, chap, xii, sect. 4, be so altered 
 as to read thus : The General Assembly shall act upon all cases relating 
 to complaints and appeals, which may be regularly brought before them 
 from inferior judicatories. 
 
 "2dly. That the Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sect 1, art. 4, be 
 made to read thus : t No judicial decision, however, of a judicatory shall 
 be revised, unless it be regularly brought up by appeal, or complaint, or 
 order of the General Assembly. 
 
 " odly. That the Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sect. 1, receive two 
 new articles, to be numbered vii and viii, the first of which shall read 
 thus : Should it appear to the General Assembly, in reviewing the 
 records of a Synod, that a Synod has, in the case of a complaint or appeal, 
 acted unconstitutionally, or done something manifestly unjust or oppres 
 sive, the General Assembly may pass a censure on its proceedings; but 
 no judicial decision of a Synod shall be reversed by the General Assem 
 bly until due notice has been given to the original parties to appear 
 
588 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 before the next General Assembly, and to the inferior courts to send up 
 all the documents, papers, and testimony relative to the case, duly 
 authenticated : and the second of which shall read thus, viz. : When 
 a case shall be brought up, in the manner prescribed in the foregoing 
 article, the Assembly shall be governed in their proceedings by the rules 
 which regulate appeals before a lower judicature. 
 
 "4thly. That to the Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sect. 2, shall be 
 added a new article, to be numbered x, in these words, viz. : References 
 made by Presbyteries or Synods to the General Assembly shall not be 
 for the trial of any cause, but only for advice/ 
 
 "5thly. That the Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sect. 3, receive an 
 additional article, to be numbered xviii, in the following words, viz. : 
 All appeals from any Session or Presbytery shall terminate in the Synod 
 to which those inferior courts belong. 
 
 " 6thly. That to the Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sect. 4, shall be 
 added an article, to be numbered viii, in these words, viz. : Complaints, 
 like appeals, shall terminate in the Synods within whose jurisdiction 
 they shall have originated. 
 
 " In support of the foregoing propositions for alteration and amend 
 ment, the committee remark, that the time which is now consumed by 
 the Assembly in the consideration of complaints and appeals is such as 
 greatly to interfere with a due attention to other important and more 
 general concerns of the Church j and this demand of time for complaints 
 and appeals will, if the existing system remains unaltered, speedily 
 become so great, that the very limited period during which the Assem 
 bly can sit will scarcely suffice for attending to this single object. The 
 foresight of this had, it is believed, a principal influence in the appoint 
 ment of your committee ; and after considering a variety of suggestions, 
 insurmountable objections occurred to the adoption of any one, except 
 that which has now been submitted. But to this, every objection, when 
 closely and candidly examined, seemed to your committee to vanish. 
 
 " The right of complaint and appeal is indeed one of great importance, 
 and the security of it fully is known to be regarded as among the most 
 attractive features of the whole system of Presbyterian Church govern 
 ment. I3ut this right, it is believed, may be provided for in all its 
 extent, although the change in the Form of Government now contem 
 plated should be made. It will be recollected, that before the formation 
 of the General Assembly all appeals were terminated in a Synod the 
 Synod of New York and Philadelphia not then more numerous than 
 
AMENDMENTS TO FORM OP GOVERNMENT. 589 
 
 several of our local Synods now are; and with the final decisions of that 
 Synod the churches were satisfied ; quite as much so as they have ever 
 been with the decisions of the General Assembly. Indeed, it is believed 
 by your committee, that from the greater advantages possessed by Synods 
 for obtaining an accurate knowledge of the true state and circumstances 
 of the controversies which arise within their bounds, and from having 
 more time for a careful investigation and a full hearing of everything 
 relating to complaints and appeals that are brought before them, they 
 are more likely than the Assembly to make an equitable and satisfactory 
 award. Nor should it be forgotten, that if an inequitable and unsatisfac 
 tory award is ever made by the Assembly, the evil consequences are 
 extensive and numerous; the authority and respect of subordinate judi 
 catures are diminished ; litigious individuals are encouraged to persist 
 in an evil course ; erroneous principles are established by the supreme 
 tribunal of our Church, and eventually attachment to, and respect for, 
 the General Assembly are enfeebled, and the bond of union among our 
 churches is weakened, and its dissolution threatened. 
 
 " Experience has taught us that a considerable part of the complaints 
 and appeals on which the General Assembly has ultimately decided, had 
 their origin from church Sessions. In all such cases, if the proposed 
 amendments to the Constitution should be adopted, two appeals will still 
 remain, one to the Presbytery and the other to the Synod. If local 
 feelings may be supposed in some cases to influence a Presbytery, they 
 seldom if ever extend to a whole Synod ; and as the placing of the last 
 appeal here will bring controversies to a more speedy issue than if carried 
 further, the most formidable objection ever made to the discipline of our 
 Church that it occasions delay in settling disputes and ending discord 
 will, in no inconsiderable degree, be removed. 
 
 "If, after all, a decision, manifestly unconstitutional or unjust, should 
 be made by a Synod in the case of a complaint or an appeal, this will 
 of course appear on the records, will probably be accompanied by a 
 protest or dissent, will thus attract the notice of the committee of the 
 Assembly appointed to review the book, will by that committee be re 
 ported to the house, and thus a full opportunity will be given to correct 
 the error. 
 
 u The committee moreover recommend, 
 
 " Tthly. That in the Form of Government, chap, xii, sect. 7, the 
 words publicly read, should be exchanged for the word examined. 
 In favor of this amendment, the committee stated, that probably much 
 
590 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 time, which is now occupied by the whole Assembly in having the com 
 missions publicly read, might be saved, and stricter order be observed, 
 by the adoption of rules of the following import : that immediately after 
 the opening of the General Assembly and the constituting of the house, a 
 Committee of Commissions be appointed, with instructions ; and that the 
 house adjourn till the usual hour in the afternoon. That the Committee 
 of Commissions be instructed to examine the commissions, and report 
 to the Assembly, immediately after its opening in the afternoon, on those 
 commissions which are unobjectionable, and on those, if such there be, 
 which are materially incorrect, or that are otherwise objectionable. That 
 those whose commissions are unobjectionable, immediately take their 
 seats as members, and proceed to business ; and that the first act be the 
 appointment of a Committee of Elections, to which shall be referred all 
 the informal, or otherwise objectionable commissions, with instructions 
 to report thereon as soon as practicable. 
 
 "The committee finally recommend, 
 
 " Sthly. That the Form of Government, chap, xiv, sect. 6, be so 
 altered as to read three years instead of two years. 
 
 " It is believed by the committee, that since the formation of the Con 
 stitution of the Presbyterian Church, in the year 1788, a change has 
 taken place in the state of this Church and society in our country at 
 large, which may render proper a change in the period during which 
 candidates for the Gospel ministry should be required to study, previously 
 to their licensure to preach the Gospel. Candidates for the Gospel 
 ministry now are in general younger than such candidates were thirty 
 years ago j there are more facilities for education ; and the diffusion of 
 knowledge and increase of mental improvement, seem to demand a 
 correspondent increase of ministerial furniture, in those who preach the 
 Gospel. For these reasons the committee submit that in their appre 
 hension the article of the Constitution which directs that the period of 
 two years of previous study shall be indispensable to license, may 
 advantageously be increased to the period of three years, except in 
 extraordinary cases. 
 
 " Having considered and approved of the foregoing eight propositions, 
 the Assembly resolved that they be transmitted to the Presbyteries, and 
 said Presbyteries hereby are instructed to report in writing, to the next 
 General Assembly, their adoption or rejection of the alterations and 
 additions, thus proposed to be made in the Constitution of the Presby 
 terian Church/ Minutes, 1826 ; pp. 188-190. 
 
AMENDMENTS TO FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 591 
 
 5. Answers of the Presbyteries. Chop. XII, Sect. 7, of Form of Govern 
 ment altered, five of the Six Amendments proposed agreed to j but 
 the alteration is not made bi/ the Assembly. 
 
 u The committee to whom was referred the report of the Committee 
 on the Returns of the Presbyteries, in relation to the proposed alterations 
 and amendments of the Constitution, that they might report what ought 
 to be done in consequence of the state of these returns, made the follow 
 ing report, viz. : That there are connected with the Assembly, eighty- 
 eight Presbyteries; forty-five, therefore, are necessary to make any 
 alteration in the Constitution of the Church. 
 
 "In regard to the proposed erasure of the 4th section of the 24th 
 chapter of the Confession of .Faith, sixty-eight Presbyteries have re 
 ported : fifty of them against the erasure, and eighteen in favor of it. 
 The section, therefore, is not to be erased. [See chap, vii, p. 241, e, for 
 the overture alluded to.] 
 
 " In relation to No. 7 of the proposed amendments to the Form of 
 Government, it appears that jiffy-three Presbyteries have voted in favor 
 of the alteration and thirteen against it ; wherefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That the proposed amendment, viz. : That in the Form of 
 Government, chap, xii, sect. 7, the words- publicly read, should be 
 exchanged for the word examined, be, and the same is hereby adopted 
 as a part of the Constitution of this Church. 
 
 " In relation to No. 8, thirty Presbyteries have voted in favor of it, 
 and thirty-seven against it. This amendment, therefore, cannot be 
 adopted, a majority of the Presbyteries not having approved of it. 
 
 " In relation to the first six of the proposed amendments to the Form 
 of Government,* the committee made the following report, which was 
 adopted, viz. : 
 
 " That, on examining the proposed amendments to the Constitution, 
 sent down to the Presbyteries by the last General Assembly, as they 
 stand on the printed Minutes, page 37, it appears that the whole of 
 them, from Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, were framed with such reference to 
 each other, and to their common object, as that they ought to have 
 been either adopted or rejected altogether; and further, that the Presby 
 teries, by rejecting the sixthj have in effect defeated the very end which 
 they must have intended to secure by the adoption of the rest; and have 
 otherwise involved the whole subject in difficulties, which, from the 
 
 * Of these. No. 1 is an amendment to the Form of Government, and Nos. "2 : 3. 
 4, 5, 6, are amendments to the Book of Discipline. Digest, p. 087. 
 
592 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 peculiar nature of the case, it is but fair and reasonable to suppose they 
 could not have distinctly designed or foreseen. In this state of things 
 your committee beg leave to submit the following resolution, MS in their 
 judgment proper to be adopted by the General Assembly, viz. : 
 
 "Whereas, the Presbyteries having failed to report their decisions upon 
 the subject of the proposed amendments, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, as re 
 corded in page 37 of the printed Minutes of the Assembly of last year, 
 in the full and distinct manner contemplated in the overture submitted 
 by that Assembly, the General Assembly do not deem it desirable to re 
 new the said overture at the present time : Therefore, Resolved, That 
 the consideration of the said proposed amendment be and the same is 
 hereby indefinitely postponed." Minutes, 1827, pp. 217, 218. 
 
 6. Proposal to reduce the ratio of Representation; also, to make 
 Representation Si/nodical, and not Presbyter iaL 
 
 " The report of the committee on Overture No. 3, viz., on reducing 
 the ratio of representation to the General Assembly, was taken up, and 
 after mature deliberation and amendment was adopted, and is as follows, 
 viz. : 
 
 "That } T our committee, having attended to the business confided to 
 them, and read the various documents put into their hands from several 
 ecclesiastical bodies and ministers of our Church on the subject, and 
 considered at large the different methods of change and ratios of repre 
 sentation proposed, have come with great unanimity to the following 
 result, viz. : 
 
 " 1. That a change materially reducing the present representation, by 
 increasing its ratio, is expected and required by all, and proper to be 
 attempted at the present Assembly. 
 
 "2. That in view of the growing number of our members and minis 
 ters, amounting already to more than twenty Synods and a hundred 
 Presbyteries, it has become a question whether the form of representa 
 tion, as well as the ratio, ought not to be changed, and the Si/nodical 
 form substituted for the Presbyter ial ; that is to say, that hereafter the 
 election of commissioners to the General Assembly should be by Synods 
 and not by Presbyteries. 
 
 " 3. That both questions be overtured by the present Assembly to the 
 Presbyteries, for their consideration and votes on each distinctly, so as 
 to secure, if possible, a constitutional result at the next Assembly, fixing 
 the proper changes ; and hence the committee recommend to the As 
 sembly, for their adoption, the following form of overture to the Pres- 
 
AMENDMENTS TO FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 593 
 
 byteries, viz. : That every Presbytery be required to decide on the fol 
 lowing questions : 
 
 "1. Shall the form of representation be changed from Presbyterial to 
 Synodical ? 
 
 " 2. If so changed, shall the ratio of Synodical representation, omitting 
 fractions, be one minister and one elder for every twenty-five ministers 
 belonging to the Synod, with the privilege of nomination in the Pres 
 byteries in such ratio and mode as each Synod may adopt ? 
 
 "3. If not changed in form, shall the second section of the twelfth 
 chapter of the Form of Government be so altered as to read as follows, 
 viz. : 
 
 " The General Assembly shall consist of an equal delegation of bishops 
 and elders from each Presbytery in the following proportion, viz. : each 
 Presbytery consisting of riot more than twenty-four ministers shall send 
 one minister and one elder, and each Presbytery consisting of more than 
 twenty-four ministers shall send two ministers and two elders, and in 
 the like proportion for every twenty-four ministers in every Presbytery; 
 and these delegates so appointed shall be styled Commissioners to the 
 General Assembly." Minutes, 1832, p. 370. 
 
 [For action on these proposals, see 8, on next page.] 
 
 7. Proposal of an Overture in reference to calling Special Meetings 
 
 of Synod. 
 
 Resolved, That the following rule be sent down to the Presbyteries 
 for their consideration and decision ; and they are hereby required to 
 send up their decision respectively in writing to the next General As 
 sembly, whether the same shall become a constitutional rule or not, viz. : 
 
 " When any emergency shall require a meeting of the Synod sooner 
 than the time to which it stands adjourned, the Moderator, or, in 
 case of his absence, death, or inability to act, the Stated Clerk shall, 
 with the concurrence or at the request of three ministers and three 
 elders, the ministers and elders being of at least two different Presby 
 teries, call a special meeting. For this purpose, he shall send a circular 
 letter, specifying the particular business of the intended meeting, to 
 every minister belonging to the Synod, and to the Session (if practicable) 
 of every vacant congregation ; and between the time of issuing the 
 letters of convocation and the time of meeting shall elapse at least 
 twenty days ; and nothing shall be transacted at such special meetings 
 
 38 
 
594 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 besides the particular business for which the judicatory has been con 
 vened. It shall also be the duty of the Moderator to cause notice to be 
 given in the public prints of the time and place of such intended meet 
 ing of the Synod/ Minutes, 1832, p. 372. 
 
 8. Reports of the Presbyteries on these Alterations. The Ratio of 
 Representation altered. 
 
 " The committee appointed to receive the returns from the Presbyte 
 ries, on the proposed alterations in the Constitution, and to state the 
 results, made the following report, which was adopted, viz. : 
 
 "There are one hundred and eleven Presbyteries, of which fifty-six are 
 requisite to authorize any alteration of the Constitution , forty-six appear 
 to have voted for, and seventeen against, the proposed article relative to 
 the calling of special meetings of Synod, which proposed amendment 
 is of course not adopted.* 
 
 " That twenty Presbyteries have voted in favor of a Synodical repre 
 sentation, in the General Assembly ; and that sixty-seven Presbyteries 
 have voted in favor of the proposed increase in the ratio of Presbyterial 
 representation. Three Presbyteries have voted against any change, and 
 one for such an alteration as the Assembly has never proposed. 
 
 " The committee therefore recommend that the Assembly, in con 
 formity with the authority thus constitutionally intrusted to them, should 
 adopt the following minute, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, that the 2d section of the 12th chapter of the Form of 
 Government be, and the same is hereby so amended as to read thus : 
 "The General Assembly shall consist of an equal delegation of bishops 
 and elders from each Presbytery, in the following proportion, viz.: each 
 Presbytery consisting of not more than twenty-four ministers shall send 
 one minister and one elder; and each Presbytery consisting of more than 
 twenty-four ministers shall send two ministers and two elders, and in like 
 proportion for every twenty-four ministers in every Presbytery; and these 
 delegates so appointed shall be styled Commissioners to the General As 
 sembly." Minutes, 1833, pp. 400, 401. 
 
 [In 1826, the ratio had been increased from nine and eighteen, as 
 fixed in 1821, to twelve and twenty-four. Minutes, p. 168. See chap, 
 v, sec. 4, p. 158.] 
 
 * This overture was again sent down, but a majority failed, to report, and it 
 was dropped. Minutes, 1831, p. 429. 
 
AMENDMENTS TO FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 595 
 
 9. Proposal to limit the appellate Jurisdiction -of the Assembly. 
 
 a. "The Assembly took up the report of the Committee to examine 
 the reports of the Presbyteries respecting certain changes of the Con 
 stitution overtured by the last two General Assemblies." [See Minutes, 
 1835, p. 475 ; 1836, pp. 247, 274.] And it was 
 
 "Resolved, That the following overture be sent down to ajl the Pres 
 byteries, for their adoption or rejection, viz. : 
 
 "Resolved, That so much of the Constitution of the Church as em 
 powers the General Assembly to issue appeals, complaints, and refe 
 rences, brought before them from the lower judicatories, except in cases 
 of charges against a minister of the Gospel for error or heresy, and of 
 procGSs commencing in the Synods, be, and the same is hereby so 
 amended, that hereafter the Synods, except in the cases above men 
 tioned, be the judicatories of the last resort." Minutes, 1837, p. 497. 
 
 b. " The committee to whom was referred the reports of the Presby 
 teries in relation to an overture sent down by the last Assembly (p. 497, 
 Minutes), proposing a change of the Constitution, so as to make Synods, 
 in the cases proposed, the judicatories of last resort, reported that the 
 following twenty Presbyteries, viz., Newark, Marion, Peoria, Third New 
 York, Athens, Columbia, Oneida, Cayuga, Delaware, Crawfordsville, 
 Wilmington, Onondaga, Portage, Newburyport, Detroit, Monroe, Cin 
 cinnati, St. Louis, Otsego, and Sangamon have reported in favor of the 
 proposed change; and that two Presbyteries, viz., St. Charles and Clinton, 
 have reported against the proposed change. 
 
 "As only a minority of the Presbjteries had sent up their answer to 
 this Assembly, it was ordered that the same overture be again sent down 
 to all the Presbyteries, and that they be earnestly requested to send their 
 answers to the next Assembly." Minutes, 1838, p. 656. 
 
 c. " The answers of Presbyteries to the overture sent down by the last 
 Assembly (Minutes, p. 656), in reference to stopping appeals, in ordi 
 nary cases, at the Synods, were called for, and referred to the Committee 
 on the State of the Church." Minutes, 1839, p. 12. 
 
 10. Proposals to stop Appeals at the Synod ; to hold the Assembly Tri- 
 ennially ; and to authorize pro re nata Meetings of the Assembly. 
 
 "The Committee on the State of the Church having had before them 
 sundry petitions and memorials requesting a modification of our present 
 
596 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 ecclesiastical organization, recommend that the following overtures be 
 sent down to the Presbyteries for their action : 
 
 " 1. Shall the Constitution be so amended as to limit the power of the 
 General Assembly, arid make the Synods in all cases the courts of ulti 
 mate appeal and final authoritative jurisdiction, and the General Assem 
 bly an advisory council for all the churches ? 
 
 " 2. Shall the Constitution be so amended as to require the General 
 Assembly to hold its sessions triennially, as a bond of union between the 
 churches, retaining its present functions, with the exceptions specified 
 in the first overture ? 
 
 "3. Shall the last moderator and the stated and permanent clerks be 
 empowered to call a pro re nata meeting of the General Assembly, in 
 case of any emergency which, in their opinion, solemnly demands such 
 meeting: providing that four full months shall intervene between the 
 call and the time of holding such meeting? 
 
 " The committee further recommend that, should the Presbyteries 
 agree to the amendments above proposed, the next General Assembly 
 make the arrangement of Synods, and fix the ratio of representation best 
 adapted to the organization of the Church, as thus modified. The plan 
 which best commends itself to the minds of the committee is substan 
 tially that proposed, in the year 1832, by the Rev. Dr. Alexander, and 
 published in the Princeton Biblical Piepertory, vol. iv, of the New Series, 
 pp. 28-47." Minutes, 1839, p. 27. 
 
 11. Answers of the Presbyteries, affirming the proposed Amendments 
 Alterations in the Constitution made in accordance. 
 
 " The Committee [on Polity] report : 
 
 " 1. That the overtures sent down to the Presbyteries by the Assem 
 bly of 1839 have been affirmed in the responses, all three of them : 
 there being 59 affirmatives for the first overture; 57 for the second; 
 and for the third, 44. 
 
 "The whole number of our Presbyteries last year was 85 ; of which, 
 consequently, the lowest majority is 43 ; and this number the committee 
 have therefore assumed as their criterion of the majority, according to 
 the words of the Constitution. See Form of Government, chap, xii, 
 sec. 0. 
 
 "2. That the paragraph appended to the overtures having been also 
 affirmed by 49 votes, the committee have digested their results accord- 
 
AMENDMENTS TO FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 597 
 
 ingly, and recommend that the Assembly now rule and ordain the fol 
 lowing changes in the polity of the Presbyterian Church in these United 
 States, viz. : 
 
 "(1.) That the ratio of Presbyterial representation be reduced to its 
 minimum, altering our Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 2, so that 
 said section shall be hereafter alone and in all, and read as follows, viz. : 
 The General Assembly shall consist of an equal delegation of bishops 
 and ruling elders from the Presbyteries, in the simple proportion of one 
 minister and one elder from each Presbytery; and these commissioners 
 so appointed shall be styled, Commissioners to the General Assembly. " 
 [See chap, v, sec. 4, p. 159.] 
 
 "(2.) That Section 7 of the same chapter (xii) be so altered in its 
 first sentence as to reed as follows, viz. : l The General Assembly shall 
 meet triennially, or once in three years, and ordinarily on the third 
 Thursday of the month of May in every third year. 
 
 "(3.) That Section 8 of the same be so practically modified, and 
 every other part and provision of the Constitution with it conformably, 
 that the present changes, as hereinabove specified, shall be maintained 
 inviolate, and shall go into full force and operation as the Constitution 
 of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America." 
 Minutes, 1840, pp. 16, 17. 
 
 12. Pi-oposal to return to Annual Assemblies, and to restore Appellate 
 Power to the Assembly, so far as it respects Ministers. 
 
 a. " Ordered, on motion of the Rev. S. Haynes, that the following 
 overture be sent down to the several Presbyteries for their action, and 
 that they report to the meeting of this Assembly in 1847 : Shall the 
 Form of Government, chap, xii, sec. 7, be so altered as to require the 
 General Assembly to hold its sessions annually instead of triennial!!/, 
 retaining its present functions/ Minutes, 1846, p. 30. 
 
 "The Committee on Church Polity presented a report recommending 
 that the following overture be sent down to the Presbyteries for their 
 action : l Shall appellate power be restored to the Assembly, so far as 
 respects ministers? And the report was adopted." Minutes, 184G, 
 p. 85. 
 
 13. The Proposals more clearly defined. Revision of the Standards 
 committed to a Committee. 
 
 " The following resolution was adopted : 
 
 "Whereas, there is a doubt about the propriety of the forms of over- 
 
598 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 tures submitted to the Presbyteries by this Assembly, at its sessions in 
 Philadelphia ; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That the Presbyteries be requested to forward their reply 
 to them in the following form : 
 
 " 1. Shall Section 7th of Chapter xi, Form of Government, be altered 
 so as to read annually/ instead of < triennially ? 
 
 " 2. Shall the first sentence of Section 7th of Chapter xii, Form of 
 Government, be altered so as to read, The General Assembly shall 
 meet at least once in every year/ or shall it read, f The General Assem 
 bly shall meet at least once in every third year ? 
 
 " 3. Shall paragraph 2d of Chapter vii, Book of Discipline, be altered 
 so as, after the word f Synod/ to insert the words, except in cases af 
 fecting the character of ministers of the Gospel ? 
 
 "4. Shall paragraph 2d of Section 3 of Chapter vii, Book of Disci 
 pline, be altered so as to prefix to it the words, l All appeals, except in 
 cases affecting the character of ministers of the Gospel, shall terminate 
 with the Synod V and 
 
 " 5. Shall paragraph 4th, of Section 4 of Chapter vii, Book of Disci 
 pline, be altered so as to annex to it the words, And all complaints shall 
 terminate with the Synods, except in cases affecting the character of 
 ministers of the Gospel ? 
 
 lt On motion of Rev. I. In graham, it was 
 
 "Resolved, unanimously, That in the judgment of this Assembly, tlie 
 Constitution, as contained in the book which is now authenticated to the 
 churches, is authoritative and binding, until it shall be regularly amended 
 by proper overtures submitted to the Presbyteries. 
 
 " The remainder of the report on the revision of the standards was 
 recommitted, with instructions to report to the next Assembly." 
 Minutes, 1847, pp. 148, 149. 
 
 14. The Overtures 1 and 2 respecting Annual Assemblies adopted. 
 Overtures 3, 4, and 5 on Appeals negatived, 
 
 "The Committee on the Polity of the Church reported on the subject 
 of the overtures sent down by the last Assembly : 
 
 "That it appears from the roll that there are one hundred and four 
 Presbyteries connected with the Assembly; of which fifty-three are a 
 majority; that eighty -one Presbyteries have sent in their answers to the 
 overtures, and twenty-three have not. 
 
AMENDMENTS TO FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 599 
 
 " That to the first and second overtures, which respect the return to 
 Annual Assemblies, sixty-three Presbyteries have answered in the affir 
 mative, and twenty-six have answered in the negative. 
 
 " These overtures are affirmed, and the Constitution is changed ac 
 cordingly, viz. : 
 
 li 1. Section 7 of Chapter xi,* Form of Government, is altered, so 
 as to read annually instead of { triennially. 
 
 " 2. The first sentence of Section 7 of Chapter xii, Form of Go 
 vernment, is so altered as to read: The General Assembly shall meet 
 at least once in every year/ instead of The General Assembly shall 
 meet at least triennially, or once in every third year/ 
 
 " To the overtures Nos. 8, 4, and 5, pertaining to appeals in the case 
 of ministers, forty Presbyteries have answered in the affirmative, and 
 forty-seven Presbyteries have answered in the negative. 
 
 " The changes proposed by these overtures are, therefore, not 
 adopted." Minutes, 1849, p. 175. 
 
 15. Report on Changes of tlie Constitution. Proposal to Restore it, as 
 in 1840. Overtures sent down. 
 
 In 1849, the following paper was adopted in reference to the changes 
 made in the Constitution : 
 
 " Whereas, this General Assembly has ascertained, as is fully set 
 forth in the report of the Committee on the Revision of the Standards 
 (which is hereby directed to be published in the Appendix to the Mi 
 nutes), that the alterations made in the Constitutional Rules, by a Com 
 mittee of the Assembly of 1840, were made in a manner so irregular 
 and unconstitutional as to occasion great doubt and perplexity as to their 
 authenticity ; 
 
 "And whereas, one of the three overtures on which these alterations 
 were based, relating to the frequency of the meetings of the General. 
 Assembly, has now been constitutionally reversed : 
 
 "And whereas, serious doubt has been expressed as to the passage of 
 the third overture of the Assembly of 1839 ; and the occasion for its 
 passage has now been taken away by the restoration of annual assem 
 blies : 
 
 "And whereas, a change in the basis of representation in General 
 Assembly, as established in a constitutional manner by the Assembly of 
 
 * This refers to the Book as altered in 1840. Section 7 is Section 6 of the pre 
 sent Book. 
 
600 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 1833, has never been submitted to the Presbyteries and constitutionally 
 adopted : 
 
 " Therefore, in order to ascertain the wishes of the Presbyteries more 
 clearly and fully, as to the expediency of restoring the Constitution to 
 its condition previous to 1840, and, if this be thought inexpedient, in 
 order to incorporate the principles then introduced in a perfectly regular 
 and constitutional manner : 
 
 " Resolved, That the Book be restored to the form in which it was 
 published previous to the year 1840, and that the following overtures 
 be submitted to the Presbyteries : 
 
 " I. LIMITATION OF APPEAL. 
 
 " 1. Shall Form of Government, chapter xii, section 4, be altered so 
 as to omit the words appeals and/ before the word references? 
 
 "2. Shall Book of Discipline, chapter vii, section 2, be altered so as 
 to insert the words l the General Assembly and the Synod in judicial 
 cases/ instead of the words the highest ? 
 
 " 3. Shall Book of Discipline, chapter vii, section 3, subsec. 2, be 
 altered so as to read, ( any judicatory not higher than a Synod/ instead 
 of f a higher judicatory ? 
 
 "4. Shall Book of Discipline, chapter vii, section 4, subsec. 1, be 
 altered so as to read, any judicatory inferior to a Synod/ instead of 
 an inferior judicatory ? 
 
 "II. PRO RE NATA ASSEMBLIES. 
 
 "5. In Form of Government, chapter xii, shall a new section be in 
 troduced after section 7, as follows : VIII. The last moderator and the 
 stated and permanent clerks are empowered to call & pro re nata meet 
 ing of the General Assembly, in case of any emergency, which, in their 
 opinion, demands such a meeting, by circular letter, addressed to each 
 of the Presbyteries, at least four months before the time of holding such 
 meeting ? and the subsequent section be numbered ix instead of viii ? 
 
 " III. REPRESENTATION IN ASSEMBLY. 
 
 " 6. Shall Form of Government, chapter xii, section 2, be altered so 
 as to read : The General Assembly shall consist of an equal delegation 
 of bishops and elders, one from each Presbytery; and these delegates so 
 appointed, shall be styled Commissioners to the General Assembly. 
 
AMENDMENTS TO FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 601 
 
 " Resolved further, That till an expression of the will of the Presby 
 teries in regard to these overtures be obtained, it be understood that all 
 appeals and complaints shall terminate with the Synods, and that the 
 basis of representation in the Assembly shall be the same as at present." 
 Minutes, 1849, pp. 183, 184. 
 
 [See Appendix to Minutes, pp. 195-212.] 
 
 16. These Overtures rejected and the Constitution restored as before the 
 
 Division. 
 
 " The Committee on the Polity of the Church made a report in refer 
 ence to the l Answers of Presbyteries to the overtures sent down by the 
 last Assembly, which was adopted, and is as follows : 
 
 " It appears from the roll, that there are one hundred and two Pres 
 byteries connected with the Assembly; that eighty-seven Presbyteries 
 have sent up their answers to the first three overtures, on the subject 
 of the t Limitation of Appeals, and fifteen have not ; and that of these, 
 thirty Presbyteries have answered in the affirmative, and fifty-seven 
 Presbyteries have answered in the negative. 
 
 " That to the fourth overture, on the subject of Complaints, the 
 answers vary only by the addition of the Presbytery of Pataskala to the 
 number of those answering in the negative ; thus making the number 
 of Presbyteries replying in the affirmative to this overture, twenty-nine; 
 and in the negative, fifty-eight. 
 
 "That to the fifth overture, on the subject of Pro re nata Meetings 
 of the Assembly/ eighty-six Presbyteries have sent answers, the same as 
 have replied to the other overtures, with the exception of the Presbytery 
 of Newark ; and that of these only three Presbyteries have answered in 
 the affirmative, viz., Champlain, Erie, and Hanover; the remaining 
 eighty-three having answered in the negative. 
 
 "That to the sixth overture, on the subject of the Ratio of Repre 
 sentation in the Assembly, answers have been returned by eighty-four 
 Presbyteries, the same as before, with the exception of the Presbyteries 
 of Newark, Grand River, and Huron ; and that of these, twenty-eight 
 Presbyteries have answered in the affirmative, and fifty-six Presbyteries 
 have answered the same overture in the negative. The Assembly there 
 fore declares that a majority of the whole number of Presbyteries has 
 decided against each and all of the proposed changes in the Constitution. 
 
602 XIIT. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 The Book therefore remains as in 1840 ; or, as it was before the divi 
 sion of the church/ Minutes, 1850, pp. 317, 318. 
 
 NOTE. The amendments made or proposed have never affected the 
 Confession of Faith proper, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, or the 
 Directory for Worship. These remain, word for word and letter for 
 letter, as they were adopted at the formation of the Assembly in 1788. 
 
 SECTION 7. RULES FOR JUDICATORIES.* 
 
 [See page 172 for Amendments.] 
 
 1. The moderator shall take the chair precisely at the hour to which 
 the judicatory stands adjourned ; shall immediately call the members to 
 order \ and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall open the session with 
 prayer. 
 
 2. If a quorum be assembled at the hour appointed, and the mode 
 rator be absent, the last moderator present shall be requested to take his 
 place without delay. 
 
 3. If a quorum be not assembled at the hour appointed, any two 
 members shall be competent to adjourn, from time to time, that an oppor 
 tunity may be given for a quorum to assemble. 
 
 4. After calling the roll, and marking the absentees, the minutes of 
 the last sitting shall be read, and, if requisite, corrected. 
 
 5. It shall be the duty of the moderator at all times to preserve order, 
 and to endeavor to conduct all business before the judicatory to a speedy 
 and proper result. 
 
 6. It shall be the duty of the clerk, as soon as possible after the com 
 mencement of the sessions of every judicatory, to form a complete roll 
 of the members present, and put the same into the hands of the mode 
 rator. And it shall also be the duty of the clerk, whenever any addi 
 tional members take their seats, to add their names, in their proper 
 places, to the said roll. 
 
 ~ k The following rules not having been submitted to the Presbyteries, make no 
 part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church. Yet the General Assembly of 
 IS 21, considering uniformity in proceedings in all the subordinate judicatories as 
 greatly conducive to order and dispatch of business, and having revised and ap 
 proved these rules, recommend them to the Synods, Presbyteries, and Sessions as 
 a system of regulations which, if they think proper, may be advantageously adopted 
 by them. 
 
RULES FOR JUDICATORIES. 603 
 
 7. It shall be the duty of the clerk immediately to file all papers in 
 the order in which they have been read, with proper indorsements, and 
 to keep them in perfect order. 
 
 8. It shall be the duty of the moderator carefully to keep notes of the 
 several articles of business which may be assigned to particular days, and 
 to call them up at the time appointed. 
 
 9. The moderator may speak to points of order in preference to other 
 members, rising from his seat for that purpose; and shall decide ques 
 tions of order, subject to an appeal to the judicatory by any two mem 
 bers. 
 
 10. Business left unfinished at the last sitting is, ordinarily, to be 
 taken up first. 
 
 11. A motion made must be seconded, and afterwards repeated by the 
 moderator, or read aloud before it is debated ; and every motion shall be 
 reduced to writing, if the moderator or any member require it. 
 
 12. Any member who shall have made a motion, shall have liberty to 
 withdraw it, with the consent of his second, before any debate has taken 
 place thereon, but not afterwards, without the leave of the judicatory. 
 
 13. On questions of order, adjournment, postponement, or commit 
 ment, no member shall speak more than once. On all other questions, 
 each member may speak twice, but not oftener, without express leave of 
 the judicatory. 
 
 14. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received 
 unless to amend it, to commit it, to postpone it for the previous ques 
 tion, or to adjourn. 
 
 15. An amendment may be moved on any motion, and shall be decided 
 before the original motion. 
 
 16. If a motion under debate contains several parts, any two members 
 may have it divided, and a question taken on each part. 
 
 IT. The previous question shall be put in this form : Shall the main 
 question be now put ? It shall only be admitted when demanded by a 
 majority of the members present; and its effect shall be to put an end 
 to all debate, and bring the body to a direct vote ; first, on a motion to 
 commit the subject under consideration (if such motion shall have 
 been made); secondly (if the motion to commit does not prevail), on 
 pending amendments ; and, lastly, upon the main question. 
 
 18. The call for the previous question shall not be debatable. 
 
 19. A question shall not be again called up or reconsidered at the 
 same sessions of the judicatory at which it has been decided, unless by 
 
604 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 the consent of two-thirds of the members who were present at the de 
 cision ; and unless the motion to reconsider be made and seconded by 
 persons who voted with the majority. 
 
 20. A subject which has been indefinitely postponed, either by the 
 operation of the previous question or by a direct motion for indefinite 
 postponement, shall not be again called up during the same sessions of 
 the judicatory, unless by the consent of three-fourths of the members 
 who were present at the decision. 
 
 21. Every member, when speaking, shall address himself to the mo 
 derator, and shall treat his fellow-members, and especially the moderator, 
 with decorum and respect. Nor shall members address one another, 
 nor any person present, but through the moderator. 
 
 22. Without express permission, no member of a judicatory, while 
 business is going on, shall engage in private conversation. 
 
 23. No speaker shall be interrupted unless he be out of order, or for 
 the purpose of correcting mistakes or misrepresentations. 
 
 24. It is indispensable that members of ecclesiastical judicatories 
 maintain great gravity and dignity while judicially convened; that they 
 attend closely in their speeches to the subject under consideration, and 
 avoid prolix and desultory harangues ; and, when they deviate from the 
 subject, it is the privilege of any member and the duty of the mode 
 rator to call them to order. 
 
 25. No member in the course of debate shall be allowed to indulge in 
 personal reflections. 
 
 26. If more than one member rise to speak at the same time, the 
 member who is most distant from the moderator s chair shall speak first. 
 
 27. When more than three members of the judicatory shall be stand 
 ing at the same time, the moderator shall require all to take their seats, 
 the person only excepted who may be speaking. 
 
 28. If any member act in any respect in a disorderly manner, it shall 
 be the privilege of any member and the duty of the moderator to call 
 him to order. 
 
 29. If any member consider himself as aggrieved by a decision of 
 the moderator, it shall be his privilege to appeal to the judicatory; and 
 the question on such appeal shall be taken without debate. 
 
 30. Members ought not, without weighty reasons, to decline voting, as 
 this practice might leave the decision of very interesting questions to a 
 small proportion of the judicatory. Silent members, unless excused 
 from voting, must be considered as acquiescing with the majority. 
 
RULES FOR JUDICATORIES. 605 
 
 31. It is the duty of the moderator to appoint all committees, except 
 in those cases in which the judicatory shall decide otherwise. 
 
 32. The person first named on any committee shall be considered as 
 the chairman thereof, whose duty it shall be to convene the committee; 
 and, in case of his absence or inability to act, the second named member 
 shall take his place and perform his duties. 
 
 33. When various motions are made, with respect to the filling of 
 blanks with particular numbers or times, the question shall always be 
 first taken on the highest number and the longest time. 
 
 34. When the moderator has commenced taking the vote, no further 
 debate or remark shall be admitted, unless there has evidently been a 
 mistake; in which case, the mistake shall be rectified, and the moderator 
 shall recommence taking the vote. 
 
 35. When a vote is taken by ballot in any judicatory, the moderator 
 shall vote with the other members; but he shall not vote in any other 
 case unless the judicatory be equally divided ; when, if he do not choose 
 to vote, the question shall be lost. 
 
 36. The yeas and nays on any question shall not be recorded, unless 
 it be required by one-third of the members present. 
 
 37. All judicatories have a right to sit in private on business which, 
 in their judgment, ought not to be matter of public speculation. 
 
 38. Besides the right to sit judicially in private, whenever they think 
 it right to do so, all judicatories have a right to hold what are commonly 
 called " interlocutory meetings," or a sort of committees of the whole 
 judicatory, in which members may freely converse together without the 
 formalities which are usually necessary in judicial proceedings. 
 
 39. Whenever a judicatory is about to sit in a judicial capacity, it 
 shall be the duty of the moderator solemnly to announce from the chair 
 that the body is about to pass to the consideration of the business as 
 signed for trial ; and to enjoin on the members to recollect and regard 
 their high character, as judges of a court of Jesus Christ, and the so 
 lemn duty in which they are about to act. 
 
 40. In all process before a judicatory, where there is an accuser or 
 prosecutor, it is expedient that there be a committee of the judicatory 
 appointed (provided the number of members be sufficient to admit of it 
 without inconvenience), who shall be called the Judicial Committee ; 
 and whose duty it shall be to digest and arrange all the papers, and to 
 prescribe, under the direction of the judicatory, the whole order of the 
 proceedings. The members of this committee shall be entitled, not- 
 
606 XIII. MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 withstanding their performance of this duty, to sit and vote in the cause 
 as members of the judicatory. 
 
 41. But in cases of process on the ground of general rumor, where 
 there is, of course, no particular accuser, there may be a committee ap 
 pointed (if convenient) who shall be called the Committee of Prosecu 
 tion, and who shall conduct the whole cause on the part of the prosecu 
 tion. The members of this committee shall not be permitted to sit in 
 judgment in the case. 
 
 42. No member shall retire from any judicatory without the leave of 
 the moderator, nor withdraw from it to return home without the consent 
 of the judicatory. 
 
 43. The moderator of every judicatory above the church Session, in 
 finally closing its sessions, in addition to prayer may cause to be sung an 
 appropriate psalm or hymn, and shall pronounce the apostolic benediction. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 LEGAL DECISIONS. 
 
 New Trial Accorded. 
 
 After the verdict of the jury in favor of the plaintiffs (given in con 
 nection with the charge of Judge Rogers, upon page 530) a motion 
 for a new trial was made on the behalf of the defendants (the " Old 
 School" body), before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in bane, and 
 on May 8th, 1839, Chief Justice Gibson delivered the opinion of the 
 Court, awarding a new trial. Although this decision is not upon the 
 Minutes of the General Assembly, it is needful to a fair and full pre 
 sentation of the legal history of the case. It was as follows : 
 
 Opinion of the Court. 
 
 "GIBSON, C. J. To extricate the question from the multifarious mass of 
 irrelevant matter in which it is enclosed, we must, in the first place, ascertain 
 the specific character of the General Assembly, and the relation it bears to the 
 corporation which is the immediate subject of our cognizance. This Assembly 
 has been called a quasi corporation ; of which it has not a feature. A quasi 
 corporation has capacity to sue and to be sued as an artificial person ; which 
 the Assembly has not. It is also established by law 5 which the Assembly is 
 not. Neither is the Assembly a particular order or rank in the corporation, 
 though the latter was created for its convenience ; such, for instance, as the 
 shareholders of a bank or joint-stock company, who are an integrant part of 
 the body. It is a segregated association, which, though it is the reproductive 
 organ of corporated successions, is not itself a member of the body ; and in 
 that respect it is anomalous. Having no corporate quality in itself, it is not a 
 subject of our corrective jurisdiction, or of our scrutiny, further than to ascer 
 tain how far its organic structure may bear on the question of its personal 
 identity or individuality. By the charter of the corporation, of which it is the 
 handmaid and nurse, it has a limited capacity to create vacancies in it, and an 
 unlimited power over the form and manner of choice in filling them. It would 
 be sufficient for the civil tribunals, therefore, that the Assembled Commission 
 ers had constituted an actual body: and that it had made its appointment in 
 its own way, without regard to its fairness in respect to its members ; with this 
 
608 APPENDIX. 
 
 limitation, however, that it had the assent of the constitutional majority, of 
 which the official act of authentication would be, at least, prima facie evidence. 
 It would be immaterial to the legality of the choice that the majority had ex 
 pelled the minority, provided a majority of the whole body concurred in the 
 choice. This may be safely predicated of an undivided Assembly, and it would 
 be an unerring test in the case of a division, could a quorum not be consti 
 tuted of less than such a majority; but unfortunately, a quorum of the General 
 Assembly may be constituted of a very small minority, so that two, or even 
 more, distinct parts may have all the external organs of legitimate existence. 
 Hence, where, as in this instance, the members have formed ihemselves into 
 separate bodies, numerically sufficient for corporate capacity and organic ac 
 tion, it becomes necessary to ascertain how far either of them was formed in 
 obedience to the conventional law of the Association, which, for that purpose 
 only, is to be treated as a rule of civil obligation. 
 
 " The division which, for purposes of designation, it is convenient to call the 
 Old School party, was certainly organized in obedience to the established 
 order; and, to legitimate the separate organization of its rival, in contraven 
 tion, as it certainly was, of everything like precedent, would require the pre 
 sentation of a very urgent emergency. At the stated time and place for the 
 opening of the session, the parties assembled, without any ostensible division ; 
 and, when the organization of the whole had proceeded to a certain point, by 
 the instrumentality of the Moderator of the preceding session, who, for that 
 purpose, was the constitutional organ, a provisional Moderator was suddenly 
 chosen, by a minority of those who could be entitled to vote, including the ex 
 scinded Commissioners. The question on the motion to elect, was put, not by 
 the Chair, but by the mover himself; after which, the seceding party elected a 
 permanent Moderator, and immediately withdrew, leaving the other party to 
 finish its process of organization, by the choice of its Moderator for the session. 
 
 "In justification of this apparent irregularity, it is urged that the constitu 
 tional Moderator had refused an appeal to the Commissioners in attendance, 
 from his decision, which had excluded from the roll the names of certain Com 
 missioners who had been unconstitutionally severed, as it is alleged, from the 
 Presbyterian connection by a vote of the preceding session. It is conceded by 
 the argument, that if the Synods with the dependent Presbyteries by which 
 those Commissioners were sent, had been constitutionally dissolved, the motion 
 was one which the Moderator was not bound to put, or the Commissioners to 
 notice ; and that whatever implication of assent to the decision which ensued, 
 might otherwise be deduced from the silence of those who refused to speak 
 out, about which it will be necessary to say something in the sequel, there was 
 no room for any such implication in the particular instance. It would follow 
 also, that there was no pretence for the deposal of the Moderator, if indeed 
 such a thing could be legitimated by any circumstances, for refusing an appeal 
 from his exclusion of those who had not color of title, and consequently, that 
 what else might be reform, would be revolution. And this leads to an inquiry 
 into the constitutionality of the act of excision. 
 
 "The sentence of excision, as it has been called, was nothing else than an 
 ordinance of dissolution. It bore that the Synods in question, having been 
 formed and attached to the body of the Presbyterian Church under, and in 
 execution of, the Plan of Union, be, and are hereby declared to be, out of the 
 ecclesiastical connection of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of 
 America; and that they are not, in form or in fact, an integral portion of said 
 Church. Now, it will not be said that if the dissolved Synods had no other 
 basis than the Plan of Union, they did not necessarily fall along with it, and 
 it is not pretended that the Assembly was incompetent to repeal the union pro- 
 
OPINION OF JUDGE GIBSON. 609 
 
 spectively, but it is contended that the repeal could not impair rights of mem 
 bership which had grown up under it. On the other hand, it is contended that 
 the Plan of Union was unconstitutional and void from the beginning, because 
 it was not submitted to the Presbyteries for their sanction ; and that no right 
 of membership could spring from it. But viewed, not as a constitutional regu 
 lation which implies permanency of duration, but as a temporary expedient, it 
 acquired the force of a law without the ratification of those bodies. It was 
 evidently not intended to be permanent, and it consequently was constitution 
 ally enacted arid constitutionally repealed by an ordinary act of legislation ; 
 and those Synods which had their root in it, could not be expected to survive 
 it. There never was a design to attempt an amalgamation of ecclesiastical 
 principles which are as immiscible as water and oil; much less to effect a com 
 mixture of them only at particular geographical points. Such an attempt 
 would have compromised a principle at the very root of Presbyterial govern 
 ment, which requires that the officers of the Church be set apart by special 
 ordination for the work. Now, the character of the Plan is palpable, not only 
 in its title and provisions, but in the minute of its introduction into the As 
 sembly. We find in the proceedings of 1801, page 256, that a committee 
 was raised to consider and digest a Plan of Government for the Churches in 
 the new settlements, agreeably to the proposal of the General Association of 
 Connecticut; and that the plan adopted in conformity to its report, is called A 
 Plan of Union for the new settlements. The avowed object of it was to pre 
 vent alienation, in other words, the affiliation of Presbyterians in other 
 churches, by suffering those who were yet too few and too poor for the mainte 
 nance of a minister, temporarily to call to their assistance the members of a 
 sect who differed from them in principles, not of faith, but of ecclesiastical 
 government. To that end, Presbyterian ministers were suffered to preach to 
 Congregational churches, while Presbyterian churches were suffered to settle 
 Congregational ministers ; and mixed congregations were allowed to settle a 
 Presbyterian or a Congregational minister at their election, but under a Plan 
 of Government and discipline adapted to the circumstances. Surely this was 
 not intended to outlast the inability of the respective sects to provide sepa 
 rately for themselves, or to perpetuate the innovations on Presbyterial govern 
 ment which it was calculated to produce. It was obviously a missionary 
 arrangement from the first; and they who built up Presbyteries and Synods on 
 the basis of it, had no reason to expect that their structures would survive it, 
 or that Congregationalists might, by force of it, gain a foothold in the Presby 
 terian Church, despite of Presbyterial discipline. They embraced it with all its 
 defeasible properties plainly put before them ; and the power which constituted 
 it might fairly repeal it, and dissolve the bodies that had grown out of it, when 
 ever the good of the Church should seem to require it. 
 
 Could the Synods, however, be dissolved by a legislative act? I know not 
 how they could have been legitimately dissolved by any other. The Assembly 
 is a homogeneous body, uniting in itself, without separation of parts, the legis 
 lative, executive, and judicial functions of the government; and its acts are 
 referable to the one or the other of them, according to the capacity in which it 
 sat when they were performed Now, had the exscinded Synods been cut off 
 by a judicial sentence without hearing or notice, the act would have been con 
 trary to the cardinal principles of natural justice, and consequently void. But 
 though it was at first resolved to proceed judicially, the measure was aban 
 doned ; probably because it came to be perceived that the Synods had com 
 mitted no offence. 
 
 "A glance at the Plan of Union is enough to convince us that the disorder 
 had come in with the sanction of the Assembly itself. The first article directed 
 
 39 
 
610 APPENDIX. 
 
 missionaries (the word is significant), to the new settlements to promote a 
 good understanding betwixt the kindred sects. The second and third per 
 mitted a Presbyterian congregation to settle a Congregational minister, or a 
 Presbyterian minister to be settled by a Congregational church ; but these 
 provided for no recognition of the people in charge as a part of the Presbyte 
 rian body at least they gave them no representation in its government. But 
 the fourth allowed a mixed congregation to settle a minister of either denomi 
 nation ; and it committed the government of it to a standing committee, but 
 with a right to appeal to the body of male communicants if the appellant were 
 a Congregationalist, or to the Presbytery if he were a Presbyterian. Now, it 
 is evident the Assembly designed that every such congregation should be 
 long to a Presbytery as an integrant part of it, for if its minister were a Con 
 gregationalist, in no way connected with the Presbyterian Church, it would be 
 impossible to refer the appellate jurisdiction to any Presbytery in particular. 
 This alone would show that it was designed to place such a congregation in 
 ecclesiastical connection with the Presbytery of the district; but this is not all. 
 It was expressly provided in conclusion, that if the t said standing committee 
 of any church shall depute one of themselves to attend the Presbytery, he may 
 have the same right to sit and act in the Presbytery as a ruling elder of the 
 Presbyterian Church. For what purpose if the congregation were not in 
 Presbyterial fellowship ? 
 
 " It is said that this jus representationis was predicated of the appeal prece- 
 dently mentioned ; and that the exercise of it was to be restrained to the trial 
 of it. The words, however, were predicated without restriction ; and an im 
 plied limitation of their meaning would impute to the Assembly the injustice of 
 allowing a party to sit in his own cause, by introducing into the composition of 
 the appellate court a part of the subordinate one. That such an implication would 
 be inconsistent with the temper displayed by the Assembly on other occasions, 
 is proved by the order which it took as early as 1791, in the case of an appeal 
 from the sentence of the Synod of Philadelphia, whose members it prevented 
 from voting on the question (Assembly s Digest, p. 332), as well as by its 
 general provision, that members of a judicatory may not vote in the superior 
 judicatory on a question of approving or disapproving their records. (Id. 
 page 333.) 
 
 " The principle has since become a rule of the Constitution, as appears by 
 the Book of Discipline, chap, vii, sec. 3, paragraph 12. As the representa 
 tives of those anomalous congregations therefore could not sit in judgment on 
 their own controversies, it is pretty clear that it was intended they should be 
 represented generally, else they would not be represented at all in the councils 
 of the Church, by those who might not be Presbyterians ; and that to effect it, 
 the principle of Presbyterial ordination was to be relaxed, as regards both the 
 ministry and eldership; and it is equally clear that had the Synods been cited 
 to answer for the consequent relaxation as an offence, they might have triumph 
 antly appeared at the bar of the Assembly with the Plan of Union in their 
 hand. That body, however, resorted to the only constitutional remedy in its 
 power; it fell back, so to speak, on its legislative jurisdiction, in the exercise 
 of which the Synods were completely represented and heard by their commis 
 sioners. 
 
 " Now the apparent injustice of the measure arises from the contemplation 
 of it as a judicial sentence pronounced against parties who were neither cited 
 nor heard ; which it evidently was not. Even as a legislative act, it may have 
 been a hard one, though certainly constitutional, and strictly just. It was im 
 possible to eradicate the disorder by anything less than a dissolution of those 
 bodies with whose existence its roots were so intertwined as to be inseparable 
 
OPINION OF JUDGE GIBSON. 611 
 
 from it, leaving their elements to form new and less heterogeneous combina 
 tions. Though deprived of Presbyterial organization, the Presbyterian parts 
 were not excluded from the Church, provision being made for them, by allow 
 ing them to attach themselves to the nearest Presbytery. 
 
 u It is said there is not sufficient evidence to establish the fact that the 
 exscinded Synods had actually been constituted on the Plan of Union, in order 
 to have given the Assembly even legislative jurisdiction. The testimony of the 
 Rev. Mr. Squier, however, shows that in some of the three which were within 
 the State ot New York, congregations were sometimes constituted without 
 elders ; and the Synod of the Western Reserve, when charged with delinquency 
 on that head, instead of denying the fact, promptly pointed to the Plan of Union 
 for its justification. But what matters it whether the fact were actually what 
 the Assembly supposed it to be? If that body proceeded in good faith, the 
 validity of its enactment cannot depend on the justness of its conclusion. "We 
 have, as already remarked, no authority to rejudge its judgments on their 
 merits ; and this principle was asserted with conclusive force by the presiding 
 judge who tried the cause. Upon an objection made to an inquiry into the 
 composition of the Presbytery of Medina, it was ruled that with the reasons 
 for the proceedings of 1837 (the act of excision), we have nothing to do. We 
 are to determine only what was done : the reasons of those who did it are im 
 material. If the acts complained of were within the jurisdiction of the Assem 
 bly, their decision must be final, though they decided wrong. This was predi 
 cated of a judicial jurisdiction, but the principle is necessarily as applicable to 
 jurisdiction for purposes of legislation. I cite the passage, however, to show 
 that after a successful resistance to the introduction of evidence of the fact, it 
 lies not with the relators to allege the want of it. 
 
 "If, then, the Synods in question were constitutionally dissolved, the Pres 
 byteries of which they had been composed were, at least for purposes of repre 
 sentation, dissolved along with them; for no Presbytery can be in connection 
 with the General Assembly, unless it be at the same time subordinate to a 
 Synod also in connection with it, because an appeal from its judgment can 
 reach the tribunal of the last resort only through that channel. It is immate 
 rial that the Presbyteries are the electors: a Synod is a part of the machinery 
 which is indispensable to the existence of every branch of the Church. It 
 appears, therefore, that the commissioners from the exscinded Synods were not 
 entitled to seats in the Assembly, and that their names were properly excluded 
 from the roll. 
 
 "The inquiry might be rested here: for if there were no color of right in 
 them, there was no color of right in the adversary proceedings which were 
 founded on their exclusion. But even if their title were clear, the refusal of 
 an appeal from the decision of the Moderator, would be no ground for the de 
 gradation of the officer at the call of a minority ; nor could it impose on the 
 majority an obligation to vote on a question put unofficially, and out of the 
 usual course. To all questions put by the established organ, it is the duty of 
 every member to respond, or be counted with the greater number, because he 
 is supposed to have assented beforehand to the result of the process pre-estab 
 lished to ascertain the general will ; but the rule of implied assent is certainly 
 inapplicable to a measure which, when justifiable even by extreme necessity, 
 is essentially revolutionary, and based on no pre-established process of ascer 
 tainment whatever. 
 
 " To apply it to an extreme case of inorganic action, as was done here, 
 might work the degradation of any presiding officer in our legislative halls, by 
 the motion and actual vote of a single member, sustained by the constructive 
 votes of all the rest; and though such an enterprise may never be attempted, 
 
612 APPENDIX. 
 
 it shows the danger of resorting to a conventional rule, when the body is to be 
 resolved into its original elements, and its rules and conventions to be super 
 seded, by the very motion. For this reason, the choice of a Moderator, to sup 
 plant the officer in the chair, even if he were removable at the pleasure of the 
 commissioners, would seem to have been unconstitutional. 
 
 "But he was not removable by them, because he had not derived his office 
 from them ; nor was he answerable to them for the use of his power. He was 
 not their Moderator. He was the mechanical instrument of their organization ; 
 and till that was accomplished, they were subject to his rule not he to theirs. 
 They were chosen by the authority of his mandate, and with the power of self- 
 organization, only in the event of his absence at the opening of the session. 
 Corporeally present, but refusing to perform his function, he might be deemed 
 constructively absent, for constitutional purposes, insomuch that the commis 
 sioners might proceed to the choice of a substitute without him ; but not if he 
 had entered on the performance of his task; and the reason is that the decision 
 of such questions as were prematurely passed here, is proper for the decision 
 of the body when prepared for organic action, which it cannot be before it is 
 fully constituted and under the presidency of its own Moderator, the Moderator of 
 the preceding session being fnnctiis officio. There can be no occasion for its 
 action sooner; for though the commissioners are necessarily called upon to 
 vote for their Moderator, their action is not organic, but individual. Dr. 
 Mason s motion and appeal, though the clerks had reported the roll, were pre 
 mature ; for though it is declared in the twelfth chapter of the Form of Govern 
 ment, that no commissioner shall deliberate or vote before his name shall have 
 been enrolled, it follows not that the capacity, consummated by enrolment, was 
 expected to be exercised during any part of the process of organization, but 
 the choice of a Moderator; and moreover, the provision may have been in 
 tended for the case of a commissioner appearing for the first time, when the 
 House was constituted. 
 
 u Many instances may doubtless be found among the minutes, of motions 
 entertained previously, for our public bodies, whether legislative or judicial, 
 secular or ecclesiastical, are too prone to forget the golden precept Let all 
 things be done decently and in order. But these are merely instances of irre 
 gularity which have passed, sub silentio, and which cannot change a rule of 
 positive enactment. It seems, then, that an appeal from the decision of the 
 Moderator did not lie ; and that he incurred no penalty by the disallowance of 
 it. The title of the exscinded commissioners could be determined only by the 
 action of the House, which could not be had before its organization was com 
 plete ; and in the meantime he was bound, as the executive instrument of the 
 preceding Assembly, to put its ordinance into execution : for to the actual 
 Assembly, and not to the Moderator of the preceding one, it belonged to 
 repeal it. 
 
 " It would l)e decisive, however, that the motion, as it was proposed, pur 
 ported not to be in fact a question of degradation for the disallowance of an 
 appeal, but one of new and independent organization. It was, ostensibly as 
 well as actually, a measure of transcendental power, whose purpose was to 
 treat the ordinance of the preceding Assembly as a nullity, and its Moderator 
 as a nonentity. It had been prepared for the event avowedly before the meet 
 ing. The witnesses concur that it was propounded as a measure of original 
 organization transcending the customary order; and not as a recourse to the 
 ultima ratio for a specific violation of it. The ground of the motion as it was 
 opened by the mover, was not the disallowance of an appeal, which alone could 
 afford a pretext of forfeiture, but the fact of exclusion. To affect silent mem 
 bers with an implication of assent, however, the ground of the motion and 
 
YORK CHURCH CASE. 613 
 
 nature of the question must be so explicitly put before them as to prevent 
 misconception or mistake; and the remarks that heralded the question in this 
 instance, pointed at, not a removal of the presiding incumbent, but a separate 
 organization to be accomplished with the least practicable interruption of the 
 business in hand ; and if they indicated anything else they were deceptive. 
 The measure was proposed not as that of the body, but as the measure of a 
 party ; and the cause assigned for not having proposed it elsewhere, was that 
 individuals of the party had been instructed by counsel that the purpose of it 
 could not be legally accomplished in any other place. No witness speaks of a 
 motion to degrade ; and the rapidity of the process by which the choice of a 
 substitute, not a successor, was affected, left no space for reflection or debate. 
 Now before the passive commissioners could be affected by acquiescence im 
 plied from their silence, it ought to have appeared that they were apprised of 
 what was going on ; but it appears that even an attentive ear-witness was 
 unable to understand what was done. The whole scene was one of unprece 
 dented haste, insomuch that it is still a matter of doubt how the questions were 
 put. Now, though these facts were fairly put to the jury, it is impossible not 
 to see that the verdict is, in this respect, manifestly against the current of the 
 evidence. 
 
 "Other corroborative views have been suggested ; but it is difficult to com 
 press a decision of the leading points in this case into the old-fashioned limits 
 of a judicial opinion. The preceding observations, however, are deemed 
 enough to show the grounds on which we hold that the Assembly which met in 
 the First Presbyterian Church was not the legitimate successor of the Asernbly 
 of 1837; and that the defendants are not guilty of the usurpation with which 
 they are charged. 
 
 " Rule for a new trial made absolute. 
 
 "ROGERS, J. After the patient and impartial investigation, by me, of this 
 cause, at Nisi Prius, and in bank, I have nothing at this time to add, except 
 that my opinion remains unchanged on all the points ruled at the trial. This 
 explanation is deemed requisite, in justice to myself, and because it has become 
 necessary (in a case, in some respects without precedent, and presenting some 
 extraordinary features) to prevent misapprehension and misrepresentation." 
 
 York Church Case. 
 
 [The first case that was tried, after the delivering of the foregoing 
 Opinion, was that of the Presbyterian Church, at York, Pa. A minority 
 of that church, adhering to that body which, had been pronounced by this 
 Opinion of the Court to be "the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America/ seceded from the congrega 
 tion, and, worshipping in another place, claimed to be "The English 
 Presbyterian Congregation in the Borough of York/ its chartered 
 name, and as such elected trustees, and sued for the church property.. 
 
 The case came on for trial* in the court below, and was decided in 
 favor of the Congregation (the majority). The minority appealed to the 
 Supreme Court, and the Opinion of that court was delivered by Chief 
 
614 APPENDIX. 
 
 Justice Gibson. It materially modifies his former Opinion, and is as 
 follows (see 1 Watts & Sergeant s Reports, p. 35) : 
 
 " This ejectment is brought in the name of the corporation by a minority 
 of the congregation, who, having withdrawn from its stated worship in the 
 church building, insist that the majority have forfeited their corporate rights 
 by dissolving the connection of the congregation with the Presbytery of Car 
 lisle, and the primitive General Assembly ; and to understand the grounds on 
 which they have placed the controversy, it is necessary to state the case with 
 its circumstances. 
 
 " The congregation was formed in 1Y62 ; for it was proved at the trial that 
 ministerial supplies were furnished in that year by the Presbytery of Donegal, 
 and subsequently by the Presbytery of Carlisle, under whose care it remained 
 until the late convulsion of the Presbyterian body induced it, while disclaiming 
 all intention to become an independent church, to decline for the present the 
 jurisdiction of the conflicting judicatories. Its pulpit seems not to have been 
 regularly filled till the installation of the Rev. Dr. Cathcart, in 1793. Such 
 were its origin and ecclesiastical relations. The property in contest was con 
 veyed by John Penn, Sr., and John Perm, Jr., late proprietaries of the province 
 of Pennsylvania, to George Irwin, William Scott, and Archibald McLean, in 
 trust for, and as a site for a house of religious icorship, and a burial place for 
 the use of the said religious society of English Presbyterians and their suc 
 cessors, in and near the said town of York, in the county of York ; and in 
 confidence that they, the said George Irwin, William Scott, and Archibald 
 McLean, and the survivor of them, their and his heirs and assigns, shall and 
 Avill permit and suffer the said lot or piece of ground and premises and the 
 buildings thereon hereafter to be erected, to be from time to time, and at all 
 times hereafter, at the disposal and under the care, regulation, and manage 
 ment of the said religious society and their successors in and near the town 
 of York aforesaid 5 and to and for no other use, intent, or purpose whatsoever. 
 The church seems to have been built shortly afterwards, but it was not finished 
 before the installation of Dr. Cathcart. The congregation obtained a patent 
 of incorporation, in 1813, by the style of The Trustees of the English Presby 
 terian Congregation in the borough of York ; but the legal title of the original 
 trustees has not been conveyed to it, and the corporation is now, what the 
 congregation were before, the party beneficially entitled. It will be perceived, 
 therefore, that the minority attempt to use the corporate name in order to oust 
 the majority for an alleged forfeiture of the corporate rights, incurred, as it is 
 supposed, by an application of the property to uses differing from those which 
 the founders prescribed. 
 
 " By the common law he who gives the first possessions to a corporation is 
 the founder of it, and entitled to the rights which the foundership gives. 
 Viner s Abr. Tit. Corporations H. 1. These consist in visitation, and correc 
 tion of any misapplication of his bounty to purposes foreign to its original 
 destination. What then was the purpose prescribed by the Messrs. Penn? 
 It was no more than to carry out the generous policy of their ancestor, the 
 founder of the province, who, though rigidly attached to the principles of the 
 Society of Friends, was bigoted to no particular sect, but munificent to all ; 
 and who left each to apply his gifts to such pious uses as it might think fit. 
 That his descendants followed his example in this instance, is shown by the 
 terms of the trust, which prescribed no form of doctrine or discipline, the 
 beneficiary being described as the English Presbyterian Congregation, evi 
 dently to individuate it; and that subjection to a particular Assembly, was not 
 
YORK CHURCH CASE. 615 
 
 a condition of the grant, is proved by the fact that there was at that time no such 
 Assembly in America. The conveyance was executed in 1785 ; and the General 
 Assembly of the American Presbyterian Church was constituted by the Synod 
 of New York and Philadelphia, in 1788. It may be said that this congregation 
 was connected with the elements of which the General Assembly was formed, 
 and that it is bound to conform to those subsequent changes to which its 
 representatives in the Synod assented. But were the founders, or the subject 
 of their bounty bound by terms to which the founders did not originally assent? 
 The original terms could not be altered even with their own consent; for that 
 they are as incompetent as any one else to add to, or take away from them, 
 was ruled in Philips v. Bury, Skin. 513, in which it was agreed that the founder 
 having given statutes to a college, cannot alter them unless he has reserved a 
 right to do so. As tests of sectarian denomination and character, therefore, 
 the divisions that have since taken place about the Constitution of the General 
 Assembly must be laid out of the case. The founders foresaw them not ; and 
 had they foreseen them, they would have left them to be dealt with by the 
 congregation at its pleasure. The members of the congregation who erected 
 the building may be thought to have had a separate interest of their own in 
 the purpose to which it was to be dedicated ; but even they cannot be said to 
 have erected it with a view to a particular union, for though it was not finished 
 till after the Assembly was constituted, it was begun, and the pecuniary re 
 sponsibilities incident to the plan were contracted previously. But by the com 
 mon law, even subsequent contributors have no other right of direction than 
 that which the founder has prescribed ; for they come in and give their money 
 on a basis already established, and they can neither add to it nor take anything 
 from it. If then the Messrs. Penn necessarily gave the ground in contest, 
 subject to the direction of a majority bearing the name of Presbyterians, 
 subsequent contributors with particular views, could not change the destina 
 tion of it. But though no standard of discipline or faith be prescribed in the 
 conveyance or charter of incorporation, I entirely concur in what Lord Eldon 
 said in The Attorney General v. Pearson, 8 Meriv. Rep. 353, that when a 
 house is created for religious worship, and it cannot be discovered what was 
 the nature of the worship intended by it, it must be implied from the usage 
 of the congregation ; and that it is the duty of the court to administer the 
 trust in such a manner as best to establish the usage, considering it as a matter 
 of implied contract with the congregation. I understand by this, that con 
 temporaneous usage is evidence of an implied contract betwixt the founder 
 and the congregation, and consequently of the purpose intended by him ; but 
 when, as here, neither the usage nor the purpose could possibly have existed 
 at the time material to the question, subsequent usage cannot add to that which 
 he intended. I agree with him also, * that when the members of a congregation 
 become dissentient among themselves, it is not in the power of individuals to 
 say, we have changed our opinions, and you who assemble in this place for the 
 purpose of hearing the doctrines and joining in the worship prescribed by the 
 founder, shall no longer enjoy the benefit he intended for you unless you con 
 form to the alterations which have taken place in our opinions. With all this 
 and much more, I promptly agree when predicated of a congregation adhering 
 as nearly as it can to the principles of its original faith, and not, as in that 
 case, swerving from the tenets of trinitarianism and embracing the hostile 
 tenets of unitarianism. I concede also that subjection to a particular judi- 
 catory may be made a fundamental condition of a grant, as it expressly was 
 in Duncan v. The Ninth Presbyterian Congregation, in which the trust was 
 declared to be for such congregation of persons as shall belong to the present 
 reformed Synod to which the Rev. Robert Annan s church in Spruce Street 
 
616 APPENDIX. 
 
 belongs, a case which was ultimately settled by the parties, but in which 
 I differed from some of my brethren who thought the congregation had not 
 lost its property in the trust by putting off its distinctive character and 
 merging itself in the mass of the Presbyterian Church. That was a strong 
 case ; but it is altogether unlike the present, in which no such condition was 
 expressed or implied. Even without an express condition, it might be a breach 
 of the compact of association for the majority of a congregation to go over 
 to a sect of a different denomination, though it were different only in name. 
 For instance, the majority of a congregation of Seceders could not carry the 
 church property into the Presbyterian connection, though these two sects have 
 the same standards and plan of government. But this principle is inapplicable 
 to a change of connection as regards different parts of the same denomination 
 or sect. 
 
 " Now, since the foundation of this congregation, an event has happened 
 which the founders did not contemplate, and which would not have been pro 
 vided for, had it been foreseen. This was no less than a dismemberment of 
 the Presbyterian body, not indeed by disorganization of it, or an entire reduc 
 tion of it to its primitive elements, but by an excision, constitutional though 
 it was, of whole Synods with their Presbyteries and congregations. There 
 was not merely a secession of particles, leaving the original mass entire, but 
 the original mass was split into two fragments of nearly equal magnitude ; and 
 though it was held by this court, in The Commonwealth v. Green, 5 Whart. 
 Rep. 531, that the party which happened to be in office by means of its 
 numerical superiority at the time of the division, was that which was entitled 
 to represent it, and perform the functions of the original body, it was not 
 because the minority were thought to be anything else than Presbyterians, but 
 because a popular body is known only by its government or head. That they 
 differed from the majority in doctrine or discipline, was not pretended, though 
 it was alleged that they did not maintain the scriptural warrant of ruling elders. 
 But the difference in this respect had been tolerated if not sanctioned by the 
 Assembly itself, which, with full knowledge of it, had allowed the heterodox 
 Synods to grow up as part of the Church; and it could not, therefore, have 
 been viewed as radical or essential. We were called on, however, to pass, not 
 on a question of heresy, for we would have been incompetent to decide it, but 
 on the regularity of the meeting at which the trustees were chosen. I mention 
 this to show that we did not determine that the excision was expurgation and 
 not division. Indeed, the measure would seem to have been as decisively 
 revolutionary, as would be an exclusion of particular States from the federal 
 Union for the adoption of an anti-republican form of government. The ex 
 cluded Synods, gathering to themselves the disaffected in other quarters of the 
 Church, formed themselves into a distinct body, governed by a supreme judi- 
 catory, so like its fellow as to pass for its twin brother, and even to lay claim 
 to the succession. That the Old School party succeeded to the privileges and 
 property of the Assembly, was not because it was more Presbyterian than the 
 other, but because it was stronger ; for had it been the weaker, it would have 
 been the party excluded, and the New School party, exercising the government 
 as it then had done, would have succeeded in its stead, and thus the doctrine 
 pressed upon us, would have made title to church property the sport of accident. 
 In that event, an attempt to deprive the Old School congregations of their 
 churches, for an act of the majority, in withdrawing from the jurisdiction of 
 the Assembly, would have loaded the New School party with such a weight of 
 popular odium as would have sunk it. Here then was the original mass divided 
 into two parts of nearly equal magnitude and similar structure ; and what was 
 a congregation in the predicament of the one before us to do ? It surely was 
 
YORK CHURCH CASE. 617 
 
 not bound to follow the party which was successful in the conflict, merely 
 because superiority of numbers had given it the victory. 
 
 " Before the American Revolution, the Church of England in America, as it 
 was called, was annexed to the diocese of the Bishop of London ; and it will 
 scarce be pretended that, after its separation from it as a natural, but not in 
 evitable consequence of our political independence, a single American parish 
 ioner might have recovered the church with its parsonage and glebe, when 
 there was any. from his dissentient brethren, by insisting on a continuance of 
 the ancient connection. Public opinion would not have borne it. Yet every 
 Episcopal congregation in America had been founded on the basis of that 
 connection, and our independence in other matters had raised no unanswerable 
 objection to its permanence, especially, after the Bishop of London had pro 
 cured an act of Parliament to dispense with engagements by the American 
 Episcopal clergy that would have interfered with their political allegiance. It 
 is true that the separation was effected with the assent of the mother Church ; 
 but it was the parishioner here, and not the Church abroad, whose consent was 
 necessary to a dissolution of his ecclesiastical relation, in order to impair his 
 civil rights. Besides, the consent of the mother Church was only formal, and 
 given to the separation as to a measure which she could not prevent. She 
 indeed conferred the Episcopate, and thus secured a continuance of the apos 
 tolic succession to the American Episcopal Church; but that might have been 
 had from the nonjuring bishops in Scotland, as it was by Dr. Seabury, or from 
 the Danish Episcopal Church, which indeed offered it on terms of signing the 
 thirty-nine articles of the Church of England, with the exception of their 
 political parts. Had the offer been accepted, there would have been an adverse 
 withdrawal of ecclesiastical allegiance in principle the very case before us 
 and it will not be pretended that the majority of an Episcopal congregation 
 here would not have been at liberty, in that event, to form a connection with 
 an independent Episcopal Church government, without forfeiting the interest 
 of each in the Church property. 
 
 " The revolution led to no severance of the Presbyterian Church in America 
 from the Church of Scotland, for there had been neither connection nor corres 
 pondence between them, and no illustration of the principle proposed, can be 
 had from that quarter ; but might not one of these very congregations which were 
 severed from the primitive General Assembly here, have formed a new connec 
 tion when driven from the old one, without forfeiting its interest in the Church 
 property? or could a strictly orthodox minority strip them of it by organizing 
 themselves as a congregation, on strictly Presbyterian principles, and regaining 
 the former connection? To cut off the dissenters in the first instance, and to 
 confiscate their property for what was declared to be a heresy for the first time, 
 would be an act of power, not of justice. It will not be denied that they were 
 Presbyterian in doctrine and discipline, or that if they were not, they had been 
 received as such into the bosom of the Church ; and what is the difference 
 betwixt such a congregation and the one before us ? It is, that the one was 
 turned out of the connection, and that the other withdrew from it voluntarily; 
 but the minority of the one has as much right as the minority of the other to 
 seize the Church property for a violation of conditions supposed to be implied 
 by the act of association. It will not do to say the Assembly sanctioned the 
 separation in the one case and not in the other; for the Assembly had no 
 power over the civil rights of the parties, and could not impair them. Nor did 
 it mean to impair them. On the contrary, it allowed what it considered to be 
 the sound parts of those congregations to attach themselves to the nearest 
 orthodox Presbytery. This was done, most assuredly, not to enable them to 
 despoil their congregational brethren ; but had they attempted to do so, it is 
 hazarding little to say they would have been disappointed. 
 
618 APPENDIX. 
 
 " In a case like the present, it may be demanded, to what is the minority of 
 a dissentient congregation to appeal? It might be replied, that for the con 
 tingency of revolution, it made no provision in its articles of association, and 
 the law makes none ; but that to the justice and forbearance of the majority of 
 association, whose very object is to deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly, 
 it is to be supposed that the minority cannot appeal in vain. Nor has such 
 an appeal in any instance been unsuccessful. The schism which a few years 
 since shook the Methodist Church to its centre, is heard of no more ; and per 
 haps this happy termination of it has been effected in a great measure by the 
 good sense of the parties in following the advice of this court in The Methodist 
 Church v. Remington, 1 Watts, 227, to part in peace, having settled their 
 claims to the property on the basis of mutual and liberal concession. And 
 the same thing has been done with like effect by the original Presbyterian 
 congregation in Carlisle. 
 
 a In conclusion, we are of opinion that no particular Presbyterian connection 
 was prescribed by the founders, or established by the charter; and that if such 
 connection had been prescribed, there has been no adhesion to a connection 
 essentially different, and that the breaking up of the original Presbyterian con 
 federation, has released this congregation from the duty of adhering to any 
 particular part of it in exclusion of another. Instead of examining each 
 specific error, it has been thought better to examine the principles on which 
 the title depends; and though the jury were inaccurately instructed that an 
 action could not be maintained by the corporation on its equitable title, yet as 
 other principles in the cause are decisive against its right to recover, the record 
 is free from any error which could do the party an injury." 
 
 Case of Lane Seminary. 
 
 Near the close of the year 1845, two suits at law were brought against 
 Lane Seminary by David li. Kemper, one of the donors of the land on 
 which the Seminary is built. The first was instituted in the Supreme 
 Court of Ohio, in the form technically denominated " quo warranto" 
 calling upon the faculty to show why they hold their offices contrary to 
 the charter, which requires that they be "members of (he Presbyterian 
 Church, under the General Assembly of that Church in the United States 
 of America." This suit was decided at the December term of the court 
 in bane, December, 1847, in favor of the faculty, on the ground that 
 the action was barred by the Statute of Limitation, which provides that 
 such action must be commenced within three years of the alleged for 
 feiture of office. 16 Ohio Reports, 358. 
 
 The other was a suit in chancery, brought in the Court at Cincinnati, 
 in the form of a petition, by Mr. Kemper as a donor, that the court 
 would require the trustees to conform to their charter, which, he alleged, 
 had been violated by the neglect of manual labor, and by putting men 
 into the offices of instruction, who are not " members of the Presbyterian 
 Church under the General Assembly. 7 
 
LANE SEMINARY CASE. 619 
 
 On this suit, the defendants demurred to the right of the plaintiff to 
 institute the suit, and the court sustained the demurrer. 
 
 From this decision, the plaintiff then appealed to the Supreme Court. 
 
 On his appeal the plaintiff, having obtained leave to amend his plea, 
 substituted for " D. R. Kemper, a donor," " D. R. Kemper, a Presby 
 terian, in behalf of himself and other Presbyterians." The defendants 
 still demurred, and their demurrer was sustained by the higher court. 
 17 Ohio Reports, 293. 
 
 A third suit was then instituted in the Court of Common Pleas, in 
 the name of the State of Ohio, on the relation of D. R. Kemper. This 
 suit was abated by the death of the relator, in 1849. In 1850, the suit 
 was renewed, on the relation of Samuel B. Findlay, the means of 
 carrying it on being furnished by subscription among those interested 
 in changing the ownership of the Seminary. 
 
 This suit was decided in favor of the trustees of the Seminary, at 
 the November term of the court, 1854. The following is the language 
 of the court : 
 
 " The court finds and decrees that the trustees of said institution, the officers 
 and members of the executive committee of said institution, the professors and 
 teachers in said institution or seminary are, and always have been, while in 
 such connections with said institution or seminary, members of the Presby 
 terian Church, in good standing, under the care of the General Assembly of 
 the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America; and in their re 
 ligious character and professions have always conformed to the requirements 
 of the laws incorporating said institution or seminary, and of the deed of James 
 Kemper and others to the trustees of said seminary, &c. 
 
 "The court further finds and decrees, that the trustees and officers of the 
 Lane Seminary have not, in any respect or at any time, disregarded or broken 
 the trusts confided to, or imposed upon them by the various donors and con 
 tributors to the funds, real and personal, of the said institution, and by the 
 said deed from James Kemper and others. On the contrary, the court finds 
 and decrees that they have, in all respects and always, fully and faithfully kept 
 and performed each and all of the trusts of every kind confided and imposed 
 upon them by the various donors and contributors to the funds, real and per 
 sonal, and all trusts of every kind imposed by deed, statute law, or otherwise." 
 
 From this decision no appeal was taken. Hence no report of this 
 decision appears in the Reports of the State of Ohio. 
 
 The time for taking an appeal having expired, this decision is final, 
 and fixes the standing of the General Assembly in the State of Ohio. 
 
ADDENDUM. 
 
 Synod of Minnesota Erected 1858. 
 
 The committee also reported, that a memorial from the Presbytery of Blue 
 Earth has been placed in their hands, praying that a new Synod may be cre 
 ated, to consist of the Presbyteries of Blue Earth, Minnesota, and Dacotah, 
 which last Presbytery is not now in connection with any higher ecclesiastical 
 body. There has also been placed in the hands of the committee a certified 
 copy of a resolution by the Presbytery of Minnesota, concurring with said me 
 morial from the Presbytery of Blue Earth. They have further received verbal 
 information, from the commissioner of the Presbytery of Minnesota, that it is 
 believed that the members of the Presbytery of Dacotah are favorable towards 
 the arrangement, though no definite communication has been received from 
 the Presbytery itself. 
 
 The said Presbytery of Dacotah not being now under the jurisdiction of the 
 Assembly, it is not competent for this body absolutely to create the proposed 
 Synod according to the prayer of the memorialist. But inasmuch as it is urged 
 upon the committee that a strong necessity exists for the immediate construc 
 tion of such a Synod, they recommend to the Assembly the following action: 
 
 Resolved, 1. That the Presbyteries of Blue Earth arid Minnesota be directed 
 to meet at St. Paul, Minnesota, in the First Presbyterian Church, on the second 
 Wednesday of September, 1858, at 7 o clock P.M., with the view of uniting, if 
 the way be prepared, with the Presbytery of Dacotah, in the organization of a 
 Synod. 
 
 Resolved, 2. That the stated clerk of the Assembly address a letter to the 
 Presbytery of Dacotah, inviting them to meet with the Presbyteries of Blue 
 Earth and Minnesota, at the above time and place, and, if the way be prepared, 
 to become incorporated with them in a Synod under the care of this General 
 Assembly. 
 
 Resolved, 3. That, in the event of compliance with this invitation by the 
 Presbytery of Dacotah, the Presbyteries of Blue Earth, Minnesota, and Daco 
 tah, shall then and there become a Synod under the name of the Synod of 
 Minnesota; and that the Rev. Thomas S. Williams, or in case of his absence, 
 the oldest minister present, shall preach a sermon, and preside until a new 
 moderator be chosen. 
 
 The report Avas adopted. Minutes, 1858, pp. 591, 592. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 50, line 7. For " sec. 20," read " sec. 2." 
 " 210, lines 12, 17, 22. For "Form of Government," read "Book of 
 
 Discipline." 
 
 " 216, line 21. For "over to," read "over." 
 " 295, line 7. For " CHICAGO," read " PITTSBURG." 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Ability and inability, 
 
 natural, 296, 303, 310, 313, 317, 501. 
 
 moral, 24, 296 ? 313. 
 Absence, 
 
 committee on leave of, 179. 
 
 of the accused, 198, 223, 224, 235. 
 
 of the prosecutor, 212, 213, 230. 
 
 of records, 215, 218, 231. 
 Absentees, 
 
 from church courts, 141, 142, 175, 179. 
 
 from communion, 41-45. 
 Abstinence, 
 
 from ardent spirits, 258, 259. 
 
 total, 260. 
 Abstract cases, 190. 
 Accused, 
 
 absence of, 198, 223, 224, 235. 
 
 rights of, 193, 194, 198, 205, 207, 220, 
 226, 304, 470. 
 
 counsel for, 107, 194. 
 Active obedience of Christ, 302. 
 Adam, 297, 302. 
 
 sin of, 300, 310, 313. 
 
 man s relation to, 307, 310, 313. 
 Adams, William, 238. 
 Admonition, 199, 204, 239, 301. 
 Adopting Act, 18, 19, 20, 25. 
 Adoption of the Westminster Standards, 17. 
 Adults, baptism of, 103. 
 Adultery, 223, 247, 248. 
 Affinity, elective, 128, 129, 494. 
 
 marriage. 238. 
 Africa, missionaries to, 267. 
 
 colonization of, 356-359. 
 Age of infancy, 96. 
 Agency of the Spirit, 304, 305. 
 
 moral, 314, 315. 
 Alexander, Alexander, 108. 
 Alternates, 161-163. 
 AMENDMENTS, 
 
 of the Constitution, 26, 113. 
 
 proposed, 585-602. 
 
 of a question, 169, 603. 
 American Board, 332, 346, 347, 356, 426, 
 427, 431 
 
 Home Missionary Society, 329-341, 
 356, 363-370. 
 
 American Education Society, 332, 343, 
 356. 
 
 Bible Society, 349-352, 356. 
 
 Temperance Society, 258, 259. 
 
 Sunday-School Union, 355, 356, 570, 
 571. 
 
 Tract Society, 356. 
 
 Colonization Society, 356, 357. 
 Andrews, Edward, 124. 
 
 Josiah B., 203. 
 Anti-trinitarians, 298, 299. 
 Appeal from the chair, 170, 512, 541, 604. 
 
 distinguished from complaint, 210, 
 
 . 2 . 28 
 limited to original parties, 210. 
 
 limitation of time, 211. 
 effect of an, 212, 220, 227. 
 must be in time, 213, 214. 
 notice of intention, 195, 214, 215 
 dismissed, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 
 
 215, 217. 
 
 postponed, 215, 216. 
 arrests process, 212, 220, 227. 
 does not arrest sentence, 221. 
 barred by death of respondent, 222 
 allowed, 216, 217, 225. 
 refused, 217, 218. 
 principle in the case, 217. 
 who may sit on, 221, 222. 
 order of issuing, 227. 
 under the Plan of Union, 455, 466. 
 of Thomas L. Birch, 112. 
 of Presbytery of Abingdon, 113. 
 of Joseph E. Bell, 128. 
 of William C. Davis, 137. 
 of Session of Bloomington, 193. 
 of Dr. Wylie, 193. 
 of William Arthur, 194. 
 of Dr. Frank, 195. 
 of Jabez Spicer, 199. 
 of Favid Price, 199, 204. 
 of Newton Hawes, 200. 
 of Josiah B. Andrews, 203. 
 of Presbytery of Onondaga, 204. 
 of Aaron C. Collins, 205. 
 of John Ward, 205. 
 of T. B. Craighead, 211, 212, 215, 304. 
 
622 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Appeal of Dr. James Snodgrass, 212. 
 
 of Guernsey G. Brown, 212. 
 
 of Benedict Hobbs, 213. 
 
 of Chloe G. Giles, 213. 
 
 of R. Taylor, 213. 
 
 of Benjamin Bell, 214. 
 
 of Charles Yale, 214. 
 
 of Church of Bergen, 215. 
 
 of Pope Bushnell, 215, 219, 221. 
 
 of James Taylor, 216. 
 
 of C. H. Baldwin, 216, 220. 
 
 of George Bourne, 216. 
 
 of Samuel Lowry, 217, 218. 
 
 of Matthew H. Rice, 217. 
 
 of Church at Cooperstown, 218. 
 
 of Albert Barnes, 221, 307. 
 
 of Mr. Harney, 222. 
 
 of A. King, 222. 
 
 of George Sheldon, 223, 248. 
 
 of Lewis Tappan, 217, 225, 226. 
 
 of William Adams, 238. 
 
 of William Vance, 239. 
 APPEALS, 210-227, 587-592, 595-602. 
 Appellant, right of, 198, 212, 215, 218, 
 219, 220, 226. 
 
 must appear at the next Session, 211- 
 213. 
 
 personal attendance not necessary, 
 212, 213. 
 
 must give notice in writing, 195, 214. 
 215. 
 
 leave to withdraw, 211, 217, 218. 
 Appendix, 607-619. 
 
 to Church Psalmist, 401. 
 Approval of minutes, who vote, 138. 
 Ardent spirits, 
 
 use of, discouraged, 257, 258. 
 
 total abstinence from, 258, 259. 
 
 manufacture and traffic, 259, 260. 
 Arthur, William, 194. 
 Associate Reformed Church, 451, 452, 468. 
 Atonement of Christ, 307, 316. 
 Austin, David, 125. 
 
 Balch, Hezekiah, 299, 300, 301. 
 Baldwin, C. II., 216, 220. 
 BAPTISM, 94-103. 
 
 infant, 39, 98, 99. 
 
 children of slaves, 99. 
 
 by an impostor, 95. 
 
 by a Unitarian, 95. 
 
 by a suspended or deposed minister, 
 95 ; 96. 
 
 Romish baptism, 97. 
 
 qualification of parents, 97. 
 
 obligations of parents, 97. 
 
 mode of, 102. 
 
 on a general profession, 103. 
 Baptized children, 
 
 care over, 99, 100. 
 
 discipline of, 100-102. 
 
 instruction of, 62, 100, 568, 569. 
 Barnes, Albert, 219, 307-311. 
 
 Beecher, W. H., 195, 232. 
 Bell, Joseph E., 128. 
 
 Benjamin, 214. 
 Benediction, 606. 
 Beneficence, systematic, 359, 360. 
 Benevolence, disinterested, 299. 
 Bergen, Church of, 215. 
 Betting, 264. 
 BIBLE, 348-352. 
 
 distribution of, 348-352. 
 Society, 349, 352, 356. 
 common version, 351, 352. 
 classes, 568, 569. 
 Bigamy, 245. 
 
 Bills and overtures. 168, 176. 
 Birch, Thomas L , 112, 113. 
 Bissell, Josiah, 164, 165. 
 Blanks, how filled, 605. 
 Board of Missions, 327-332. 
 of Foreign Missions, 348. 
 of Education, 341-343. 
 Book, condemnation of, 302, 309. 
 Book of Tunes, 400-402, 584, 585. 
 Book of Discipline, 26. 
 
 amendments of, 585, 602. 
 chapter i, sec. 3, 283, 287, 293. 
 " iii, sec. 3, 290. 
 " iii, sec. 5, 289. 
 " iv, sees. 6, 10, 11, 13, 194. 
 " iv, sec. 21, 107. 
 " v, sees. 2, 3, 4, 123, 126. 
 " v, sec. 11, 223. 
 
 vii, sec. 1, art. 3, 139. 
 " vii, sec. 1, art. 4, 587, 592. 
 " vii, sec. 1, 587, 51)2. 
 " vii, sec. 1, art. 6, 289. 
 " vii, sec. 2, 588, 592,598, 600. 
 " vii, sec. 3, 210, 588. 592. 
 
 vii, sec. 3, art. 2, 216, 220, 
 
 598, 600. 
 
 " vii, sec. 3, art. 10, 195, 233. 
 " vii, sec. 3, art. 11, 213. 
 " vii, sec. 3, art. 15, 221. 
 " vii, sec. 4, 210, 588, 592, 600. 
 " vii, sec. 4, art. 4, 598. 
 " viii, sec. 1, 288. 
 " viii, sees. 2, 3, 5, 6, 289. 
 " ix, sec. 1, 206. 
 " xi, 45. 
 " xi, sec, 6, 245. 
 Books and tracts, 353-356. 
 
 gratuitous distribution of, 353, 354. 
 Boundaries of Presbytery, 128-132, 
 should be defined, 128. 
 exceptions, 129-131. 
 Bourne, George, 123, 199, 203. 
 Brainerd, David, 344. 
 
 John, 345. 
 Brown, Guernsey G., 212. 
 
 John A., 405, 410. 
 Bushnell, Pope, 215, 221. 
 
 Calvinistic divines, views of, 300, 301. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 623 
 
 CANDIDATES, 73-85. 
 
 examination of, 23, 115, 416. 
 
 must adopt the standards, 18, 32. 
 
 liberally educated, 73, 74, 75, 93, 417. 
 
 time of study, 75, 76, 417, 590, 591. 
 
 under the care of Session, 77, 420. 
 
 are of the laity, 77. 
 
 by whom to be disciplined, 78. 
 
 arrest of trials, 78. 
 
 to what Presbytery they belong, 78, 
 79, 82, 420. 
 
 by whom licensed, 79, 413, 439. 
 
 when under care of Presbytery, 79, 
 85, 413. 
 
 rejected by a Presbytery, 120. 
 
 ordered to attend Presbytery, 321. 
 
 sent on missions, 321. 
 
 ordained as missionaries, 88. 
 
 of the Permanent Committee, 412, 
 416-418. 
 
 plan for aiding, 416418. 
 
 amount of aid, 417. 
 
 from corresponding churches, 439, 
 
 442, 445. 
 
 Casting vote, 171, 172, 605. 
 Catechisms adopted, 18, 20, 22, 33. 
 
 ratified and approved, 26. 
 
 an integral part of the standard, 32, 
 33, 34. 
 
 instruction in, 62, 100, 133, 325, 569, 
 
 571, 572, 573. 
 
 Censure without trial, 112, 113, 192-194, 
 233. 
 
 without citation, 45, 192. 
 
 disproportionate, 199, 200. 
 
 removal of, 233. 
 
 unconstitutional, 196, 200, 212, 233. 
 
 indirect, 309. 
 Certificates of dismission, 41, 116. 
 
 of good standing, 45. 
 Chambers, John, 438, 439. 
 Chairman of committee, 171, 605. 
 Chaplains in the army, 71, 72. 
 
 in the navy, 72. 
 
 ordination of, 72. 
 Charges must be specific, 194. 
 
 what specified, 194. 
 Charter of the trustees, 
 
 of the Assembly, 184-187. 
 
 of the Presbyterian House, 408, 409. 
 
 of the Church Erection Fund, 384, 
 389, 390. 
 
 of the Education Committee, 420, 421. 
 Children, 
 
 of slaves to be baptized, 98, 99. 
 
 baptized, care of, 99, 100. 
 
 instruction of, 62, 99, 100, 566, 570, 
 573. 
 
 discipline of, 100, 101, 102. 
 
 catechizing of, 99, 133, 325, 569, 571, 
 
 572. 
 
 Christ, righteousness of, 24, 300, 302, 310, 
 311, 313, 314, 318. 
 
 Christ, vicarious sufferings of, 311, 313,316. 
 
 intercession of, 314, 317. 
 
 atonement of, 307, 316. 
 CHURCH, THE, 17-46. 
 
 a particular, 35-38. 
 
 how and by whom organized, 36, 37, 
 
 OQ 
 
 members of, 38-48. 
 
 who may be received, 38-40. 
 
 by whom admitted. 40, 41. 
 
 absent, 41-45. 
 
 covenants, 134. 
 
 having a stated supply, 55, 63. 
 
 officers of, 47-72. 
 
 COURTS OF THE, 105-190. 
 Church, Bethuel, Esq., 39. 
 CHURCH ERECTION, 375-393. 
 
 Fund, 385, 386, 566, 567. 
 
 trustees of, 375-393. 
 
 duties and powers, 376, 567. 
 
 Plan, 378-384. 
 
 charter, 389-390. 
 
 by-laws, 390-392. 
 
 rules and regulations, 393. 
 CHURCH EXTENSION, 
 
 Standing Committee on, 177. 
 
 Permanent Committee on, 361375. 
 
 powers of, 295, 337, 369, 371, 372, 373. 
 
 number and term of office, 370. 
 
 quorum, 370. 
 
 powers enlarged, 371. 
 
 rules, 374, 375. 
 
 Committee of Synod, 364, 374, 377, 
 381, 386. 
 
 Committee of Presbytery, 364, 374. 
 Church Psalmist, 398-400, 582-584. 
 
 appendix to, 400, 401. 
 Circular letter, 1837, 499-506. 
 Citation, 44, 45, 192, 223, 289. 
 
 of the four Synods, 469-473. 
 
 in dissolving a pastorate, 60. 
 Clapp, Theodore, 62. 
 Clergy and laitv, 77. 
 
 Clerk, stated, 167, 174, 175, 176, 181, 183, 
 365, 379. 
 
 permanent, 167, 175, 176. 
 
 temporary, 176. 
 Cochran, John, 228. 
 Collins, Aaron C., 205. 
 Colonization, African, 356-359. 
 
 Society, 356, 357. 
 
 Commencement of process, 289, 470. 
 Commission of missionaries, 325. 
 Commissions, Committee on, 156, 157, 161, 
 590. 
 
 absence or defect of, 159, 160. 
 Commissioners to the General Assembly, 
 156-166. 
 
 when elected, 158. 
 
 from new Presbyteries, 157. 
 
 ratio of, 158, 159, 593, 594. 
 
 principals and alternates, 161, 162, 
 163. 
 
624 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Commissioners under the Plan of Union, 
 164-166. 
 
 compensation of, 175, 179, 180-183. 
 Commissioners Fund, 180-183. 
 Committee, Standing, 176. 
 
 of Commissions, 155, 157, 161. 
 
 of Bills and Overtures, 168, 176, 177. 
 
 of Prosecution, 606. 
 
 Judicial, 168, 177, 605. 
 
 on the Polity of the Church, 177. 
 
 on Church Extension, 177, 365. 
 
 on Education, 177. 
 
 on Publication, 177. 
 
 on Devotional Exercises, 178. 
 
 on the Narrative, 178. 
 
 on Leave of Absence, 179. 
 
 on Mileage, 179, 180, 181, 182. 
 
 on Foreign Missions, 179. 
 
 of Missions, 326. 
 Committees, Permanent, 176, 361-433. 
 
 Church Extension, 368-375. 
 
 Church Erection, 375-393. 
 
 Publication, 394-404. 
 
 Presbyterian House, 404-410. 
 
 Education, 410-423. 
 
 Foreign Missions, 424-433. 
 Committee of Conference, 
 
 with the American Home Missionary 
 Society, 333, 337, 366, 367. 
 
 with the New England Churches, 340. 
 
 with the American Board of Commis 
 sioners for Foreign Missions, 347, 
 430. 
 
 with the Old School, 558, 561. 
 
 on Amicable Separation, 473-483. 
 
 of Twelve. 521, 526--530. 
 "Committee men," 164, 165. 
 Communications to the Assembly, 173. 
 Communion, admission to, 39, 40, 41, 243, 
 249. 
 
 exclusion from, 39, 40, 45, 134, 193. 
 COMPLAINT, 228-236. 
 
 how it differs from appeal, 228. 
 
 should go to the next court, 229. 
 
 notice of intention, 229, 230. 
 
 dismissed for informality, 230. 
 
 absence of prosecutor, 230. 
 
 absence of records, 231. 
 
 referred back, 232. 
 
 issued in the absence of complainant, 
 234. 
 
 must be specific, 234. 
 
 leave to withdraw, 231. 
 
 mode of issuing, 236. 
 
 will lie against a Session, 50, 58. 
 
 against a committee, 176. 
 
 of Presbytery of Philadelphia, 217. 
 
 of John Cochran, 228. 
 
 of E. W. Gilbert et al., 229, 234. 
 
 of St. George s Church, 230. 
 
 of Daniel Hayden, 231. 
 
 of Alexander M. Cowan, 232. 
 
 of Franklin Knox, 232 
 
 Complaint of William II. Beecher,195, 232. 
 
 of Presbytery of Carlisle, 233, 235. 
 
 of S. Houston, 234. 
 
 of Park Church, 235. 
 
 of Presbytery of Des Moines, 247- 
 
 of Ashbel Green, 54. 
 
 of George Duffield, 113. 
 
 of Alexander Miller, 200. 
 Confession of Faith, 
 
 adopted, 18, 20, 22, 26. 
 
 subscription to, 17, 18, 20, 31. 
 
 to traduce, censurable, 31, 310. 
 
 use and obligation, 30, 31, 312. 
 
 Chapter ix, sec. 1, 310. 
 
 xxiv, sec. 4, 241, 591. 
 " xxiv, sec. 6, 248. 
 " xxviii, sec. 3, 102. 
 " xxviii, sec. 4, 103. 
 Congregation, New, 
 
 how organized, 36. 
 
 without elders, 37. 
 
 transferred only by Synod, 132. 
 Connecticut, Association of, 340, 436, 453- 
 
 469. 
 
 Constitution, amended and adopted, 25, 
 586. 
 
 notes no part of, 29, 30. 
 
 amendments of, 585, 602. 
 Contingent Fund, 182, 183. 
 Contumacy, 194, 198, 223, 226. 
 COURTS OF THE CHURCH, 105-190. 
 Conversion, agency of the Spirit, 301, 318. 
 CORRESPONDENCE WITH OTHER 
 CHURCHES, 434-452. 
 
 belongs to the Assembly, 435. 
 
 with local bodies. 435. 
 
 with the Congregational Churches. 
 435-447. 
 
 right of voting, 437-440, 441, 444, 
 446. 
 
 withdrawn, 439, 442-444. 
 
 minute on, 447. 
 
 design of, 450, 451. 
 
 terms of, 451. 
 Corresponding Churches, 
 
 ministers received from, 115. 
 Corresponding members, 
 
 of Session. 107. 
 
 of Synod, 139. 140. 
 
 of General Assembly, 166, 167. 
 Counsel for the accused, 107, 194. 
 
 for complainant, 234. 
 
 none but a member may act, 107. 
 
 in the suit at law. 527. 
 Covenant of grace, 296. 
 
 of works, 300, 302. 
 Covenants, Church, 134. 
 Craighead, Thomas B., 194, 198, 211, 212, 
 
 215, 220. 
 Cross, John, 60. 
 Cross, Robert, 201. 
 Cumberland Presbyterians, 95. 
 
 correspondence with, 448. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 625 
 
 Dancing, 262. 
 
 promiscuous, 262, 263. 
 
 discipline for, 264. 
 Davis, Wm. C., 196, 302-304. 
 DEACONS, 47, 48. 
 
 powers and duties of, 47, 48, 468. 
 
 how ordained, 36, 48. 
 
 election of, 36, 49, 50. 
 
 electors of, 50, 51. 
 Decision, judicial, 208, 209. 
 
 reversed, 233, 234. 
 Decrees, divine, 297, 306. 
 Delegates to corresponding Churches, 434 
 to 452. 
 
 expenses of, 452. 
 
 right of voting, 167, 437, 439, 440. 
 Delinquent Church members, 45, 46. 
 Demission of the ministry, 65, 66, 67-70. 
 Deposition and excommunication, 202. 
 Deposition from the ministry, 123, 214. 
 
 for worldliness, 65, 67. 
 
 prevarication, 199. 
 
 heresy, 211, 220. 
 
 adultery, 223, 247, 248. 
 Deposed minister, 
 
 ministrations of, 93, 96. 
 
 name to be published, 202. 
 
 jurisdiction over, 126. 
 Depravity, total, 24. 
 Desecration of the Sabbath, 249-253. 
 Devotional exercises, committee on, 178. 
 Directory for worship, 19, 22. 
 
 amended and adopted, 28, 586. 
 
 Chap, vii, sec. 1, 96. 
 " vii, sec. 4, 98. 
 DISCIPLINE, 191-236. 
 
 general principles of, 191-209. 
 
 of absent Church members, 41-45. 
 
 of candidates, 77, 78. 
 
 of baptized children, 100, 101, 102. 
 
 of elders, 106, 124. 
 
 of non-residents, 122, 123. 
 
 of ministers, 112, 122. 
 
 without trial, 112, 113, 134, 142, 192, 
 193, 200, 205. 
 
 irregular, 198, 200, 212. 
 
 for Sabbath-breaking, 248, 249, 255. 
 
 for dancing, 264. 
 
 for duelling, 266. 
 Dismission, letter of, 127. 
 
 of members of Presbytery, 114, 115, 
 127, 128. 
 
 not by a committee, 127, 128. 
 
 when it takes effect, 126, 127, 221. 
 Dissent, right of, 171. 
 Dissent of Wm. Holmes et al., 43. 
 Dissolution of pastoral relation, 60. 
 
 of the 3d Presbytery, 492. 
 Divinity, time of study, 75, 76, 417. 
 DIVISION OP THE CHURCH, 469-562. 
 
 plan of voluntary, 473-483. 
 
 excision of the Synods, 483-484. 
 
 dissolution of 3d Presbytery, 492. 
 
 DIVISION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 pastoral letter, 1837, 495-499. 
 
 circular letter, 499-506. 
 
 Assembly of 1838, 506-519. 
 
 records demanded and refused, 519, 
 520. 
 
 committee of twelve, 521. 
 
 pastoral letter of 1838, 522-526. 
 
 Committee of Twelve, 526-530. 
 
 articles of agreement proposed, 528- 
 529. 
 
 charge of the court, 530-549. 
 
 declaration of 1839, 549-557. 
 
 suits withdrawn, 557. 
 
 roll rectified, 557. 
 
 proposal to commune, 558-560. 
 
 committee of correspondence, 561. 
 
 detail of efforts, 561, 562. 
 
 appendix, legal decisions, 607-619. 
 Divorce, 223, 245, 248. 
 
 what is just ground, 246, 247. 
 DOCTRINES, DELIVERANCES ON, 296-31-8. 
 Doctrinal tracts, 353-355. 
 
 committee on, 394-398. 
 DOMESTIC MISSIONS,. 319-341. 
 Duelling, 266. 
 Duellists, 266. 
 Dushane, Anthony, 239. 
 Duffield, George, 113. 
 
 EDUCATION FOR THE MINISTRY, 341-343. 
 
 liberal required, 73-75, 93, 417. 
 
 .waived, 74, 75. 
 
 Board of, 341-343. 
 
 American, Society, 332, 343. 
 EDUCATION COMMITTEE, 410-423. 
 
 name and quorum, 410. 
 
 powers and functions, 411, 413, 414. 
 
 plan, 413-416, 419, 422, 423. 
 
 rules, 416-418. 
 
 beneficiaries of, 411, 416-418, 420, 
 423. 
 
 rate of aid, 417, 422. 
 
 charter of, 420, 421. 
 
 scholarships, 415, 423. 
 Education Committee, standing, 177. 
 ELDERS, RULING, 48-57. 
 
 must be duly elected, 49. 
 
 mode of election, 49, 50. 
 
 mode of ordination, 48. 
 
 electors of, 50, 51. 
 
 office of, perpetual, 52, 53. 
 
 may cease to act, 53, 54. 
 
 without charge, 54, 112. 
 
 hold office in but one Church, 54. 
 
 right of, to sit in Synod, 55. 
 
 suspended, 56, 201. 
 
 restoration to office, 56, 201. 
 
 part of, in ordination, 56, 57. 
 
 jurisdiction of, 107. 
 
 may not be dismissed, 109. 
 
 jurisdiction over, 124, 289. 
 
 -10 
 
626 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Eldership essential, 49. 
 
 disuse of, 312. 
 Elect, the, 317. 
 
 Election, Divine, 297, 306, 313, 315. 
 Election of deacons, 36, 49, 50. 
 of elders, 36, 49, 50, 52. 
 of pastors, 58, 59. 
 
 of moderator of Assembly, 167, 168. 
 of trustees of Assembly, 187, 188. 
 of Church Extension, 370. 
 Election of trustees, 
 
 of Church Erection, 378, 379, 384. 
 of Presbyterian House, 407. 
 of Education Committee, 411. 
 Elective affinity, 128, 129, 311. 
 Electors of elders and deacons, 50, 51. 
 
 of pastors, 59. 
 
 Enrolment of members, 602. 
 Evangelical Consociation of R. I., 443. 
 Lutheran Church, 448. 
 Churches of France, 451. 
 Evangelists, 312, 321. 
 
 duties of, 38, 320, 322, 364. 
 EVANGELIZATION, MODES OF, 319-360. 
 Evidence under oath, 197. 
 
 the best required, 214, 215, 216, 218. 
 of a complaint, 229. 
 of an appeal, 195. 
 Evil speaking, 193, 207. 
 Examination, 
 
 of ministers, 113, 116, 117, 118. 
 of candidates, 23, 114, 116, 118. 
 Exceptions to records, 
 
 Synod of New York and New Jersey, 
 
 42. 
 
 Western Reserve, 49. 
 Illinois, 90, 137, 140, 141. 
 Albany, 121, 139. 
 Genesee, 135, 222. 
 Michigan, 137. 
 Kentucky, 138, 140, 141. 
 Pittsburg, 139. 
 Ohio, 126, 139. 
 Pennsylvania, 139, 140, 141. 
 Indiana, 139, 235. 
 North Carolina, 139. 
 . Peoria, 139, 140, 141. 
 Tennessee, 140, 141. 
 Minnesota, 140. 
 Cincinnati. 140, 222. 
 Wabash, 140. 
 Virginia, 141, 216. 
 Carolinas, 142. 
 South Carolina and Georgia, 
 
 166. 
 
 Utica, 195, 214, 228. 
 Geneva, 202, 222, 234. 
 New York, 222. 
 Exclusion from communion, 
 without trial, 134, 193. 
 for unlawful marriages, 237, 241, 244. 
 for violation of the Sabbath, 248, 249. 
 Excommunication, 202. 
 
 Expenses attending Synods, 55. 
 Experimental religion, 
 
 examination on, 113, 116, 117, 118. 
 EXSCINDING ACTS, 471-494. 
 
 Faith and election, 297, 313, 315. 
 and regeneration, 303, 313. 
 a holy act, 303. 
 an act of the mind, 310, 314. 
 saving, 314, 317. 
 the work of the Spirit, 310, 317. 
 Family visitation, 61. 
 worship, 61. 
 instruction, 571. 
 
 FASTING AND PRAYER, 258, 575-580. 
 Federal head, 297, 300, 310, 315. 
 Foreign ministers, 117-122. 
 FOREIGN MISSIONS, 343-348, 424-433. 
 committee, standing, 179, 180. 
 permanent, 424-433. 
 Foreign Presbyteries, 427, 429, 430, 433. 
 Foreknowledge and election, 297, 313, 315. 
 Form of Government, adopted, 26. 
 amendments, 585-602. 
 chapter i, sec. 2, 458. 
 
 ii, sec. 4, 35, 49. 
 " iii, sec. 5, 49. 
 iv, 38. 
 v, 49, 51. 
 v, sees. 3, 4, 123. 
 v, sec. 9, 470. 
 vi, 47. 
 
 ix, sees. 1, 2, 49, 57. 
 ix, sees. 1, 2, 4, 57. 
 ix, sec. 2, 56, 63, 105,112,128. 
 x, 587. 
 
 x, sees. 1, 2, 126, 466. 
 x, sees. 2-7, 57. 
 x, sec. 4, 55, 63. 
 x, sec. 5, 56, 63. 
 x, sec. 8, 38, 65. 109. 
 x, sec. 12, 113, 586. 
 xi, sees. 1, 2, 57, 135. 
 xi, sec. 7, 598, 599. 
 xii, sec. 1, 469. 
 xii, sec. 2, 57, 158, 594, 597, 
 
 600. 
 
 xii, sec. 4, 458, 587,592, 600. 
 xii, sec. 5, 287, 290, 468. 
 xii, sec. 6, 457, 466, 596. 
 xii, sec. 7, 589, 591, 597, 598, 
 
 599, 600. 
 xii, sec. 8, 597. 
 xiii, sec. 2, 49, 50, 587. 
 xiii, sec. 4, 48. 
 xiii sees. 6, 7, 52, 53. 
 32, 115. 
 sec. 1, 58. 
 sec. 2, 79, 413. 
 sec. 6, 76, 590, 591. 
 xv, 32, 115. 
 xv, sec. 4, 60. 
 xv, sec. 14, 57. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 627 
 
 Form of Government, 
 
 chapter xv, sec. 15, 38. 
 xvi, sec. 2, 60. 
 xvii, 60. 
 4 xviii, 368, 468. 
 
 xxii, sec. 1, 162, 163. 
 xxii, sec. 3, 180. 
 Fund, commissioners, 180-183. 
 
 contingent, 182, 183. 
 Funeral of duellists, 266. 
 
 Gambling and lotteries, 264, 265. 
 Gaston, James, 240, 243. 
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 155-190. 
 
 formation of, 155, 156. 
 
 organization, 156. 
 
 commissioners to, 157-166, 593. 
 
 corresponding members, 166, 167. 
 
 delegates to, 167, 437, 440-443, 452. 
 
 moderator of, 156, 167, 172, 173. 
 
 clerks of, 174-176. 
 
 committees of, 176-180. 
 
 commissioners fund, 180-183. 
 
 contingent fund, 183. 
 
 minutes, 183, 184. 
 
 charter, 184-187. 
 
 trustees, 187-189. 
 
 powers, 18, 34, 113, 189, 190, 286-291. 
 
 of 1838, organization, 506-519. 
 
 triennial, 595-599. 
 General Association, 
 
 of Connecticut, 340, 436-439. 
 
 plan of correspjjjidence, 436, 437. 
 
 conference with, 438, 439. 
 
 "Plan of Union," 452-469. 
 
 of Massachusetts, 340, 441, 444-446. 
 
 of New Hampshire, 340, 440, 444, 445. 
 
 of New York, 449, 450. 
 General Conference 
 
 of Maine, 340, 441-443. 
 General Convention 
 
 of Vermont, 340, 439, 444, 445. 
 
 plan of correspondence, 440. 
 Genesee, Synod of, 145, 483. 
 Geneva, Synod of, 144, 483. 
 German Reformed Synod, 447. 
 
 plan of correspondence, 447, 448. 
 Gibson, Judge, opinion of, in Church case, 
 
 605-613. 
 " charge of, in York Church 
 
 case, 614-618. 
 
 Gilbert, E. W., complaint of, 229, 234. 
 Giles, Chloe G., 213. 
 Glebe, 573. 
 Glenn, Robert, 113. 
 Gloucester, John. 75. 
 Good standing, 116, 128. 
 
 forfeiture of, 45, 116, 202. 
 " Gospel plan," 302, 303. 
 Grace, work of, 24. 
 Graham, William, 196. 
 Griffith, John. 74. 
 Guilt, imputation of, 311, 313. 
 
 Harker, Samuel, 296, 297. 
 
 Harney, . 222. 
 
 Hayden, Daniel, 231. 
 Hawes, Newton, 200. 
 Heathen, missions to, 343-346. 
 Hell torments, 297, 299. 
 Heresy, charges of, 126, 194. 
 
 conviction of, 304, 308. 
 Hindman, Francis, 80, 81, 192, 205. 
 Hobbs, Benedict, 213. 
 Holy Spirit, 
 
 agency in regeneration, 24, 304, 305, 
 317. 
 
 mode of operation, 305. 
 Home missions, 319-341. 
 Horse racing, 264. 
 Hymns, 580, 582, 584. 
 
 Ignorance of rules, effect of, 213. 
 Immediate agency, 304. 
 Imposition of hands, 48, 56, 57, 85. 
 Impostor, ministrations of, 94, 96. 
 Imputation, 
 
 of Christ s righteousness, 24, 310, 311, 
 313, 314, 316. 
 
 of sin, 300, 311, 313. 316. 
 
 of the benefits of Christ s righteous 
 ness, 300. 
 
 of guilt, 311. 
 Incestuous marriages, 237, 239, 240, 241, 
 
 243, 244. 
 
 Indefinite postponement, 231, 604. 
 Indians, mission to, 344, 345. 
 Infancy, period of, 99. 
 Infant baptism, 94-101. 
 
 scruples concerning, 39. 
 
 schools, 571. 
 Infants, salvation of, 301. 
 
 moral character, 313, 315. 
 
 relation to moral government, 313. 
 316. 
 
 need redemption, 316. 
 Infidelity. 298, 299. 
 INTEMPERANCE, 257-262. 
 Intercession of Christ, 314, 317. 
 Interlocutory meetings, 605. 
 Intoxication, 199. 
 Irregularity, technical, 225. 
 
 does not invalidate, 52, 60, 81, 96 
 
 112, 205, 206. 
 Irregularities censured, 192, 194, 195 196 
 
 198, 200, 222, 226, 233, 311, 312. 
 Itinerant missionaries, 320, 364. 
 
 JUDICATORIES, RULES FOR, 602, 606. 
 
 Judicial Committee, 168, 177, 605. 
 
 testimony, 197. 
 
 sessions, 605. 
 Jurisdiction of the Assembly, see Powers. 
 
 appellate, 587-592. 595. 
 
 of the Synod, 132. 
 
 over members of Presbytery, 114, 137. 
 
628 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Jurisdiction, appellate and original, 138, 
 
 195, 196, 200. 
 
 of the Presbytery, 122-127, 289. 
 over candidates, 77, 78. 
 over members, non-resident, 122, 123, 
 
 131. 
 
 over ministers, W. C., 64, 125. 
 over elders, 124. 
 over ministers of other Presbyteries, 
 
 125, 126. 
 
 over a disciplined minister, 126, 128. 
 over one withdrawn, 125. 
 over one dismissed, 126, 127. 
 Jurisdiction of the Session, 
 over candidates, 77, 78. 
 over Church members, 195, 233, 283, 
 
 289. 
 Jurisdiction, renunciation of, 124, 125, 
 
 203. 
 
 transfer of,. 123. 
 Justification by faith, 24, 300, 302, 307, 
 
 311. 
 grounds of, 310, 311, 318. 
 
 Kelso, appeal of, 50. 
 
 Kentucky, Synod of, 143, 565, 567. 
 
 King, A., 222. 
 
 Knox, Franklin, 232. 
 
 Laing, Robert, 65, 67. 
 
 Laity, candidates and licentiates, 77. 
 
 Lane Seminary case, 618, 619. 
 
 Larger Catechism, 18, 19, 21, 22, 26, 32, 
 
 33, 34. 
 
 Latham, John, 242. 
 Lay.agency, 83, 84. 
 
 preaching, 82, 83. 
 
 ordination, 93. 
 
 Laying on of hands, 48, 56, 57, 85. 
 Leave of absence, 175, 179. 
 Lecturing, 61. 
 Legislative power, 18, 609. 
 Levitical law, 238, 239, 241, 242, 244. 
 Liberia, 358, 359. 
 Liberty of the will, 314, 315, 317. 
 Libraries, congregational, 574. 
 Licensure by another Presbytery, 79, 80. 
 
 irregularities in, 81, 311. 
 
 preaching before, 83. 
 
 by a committee, 84. 
 
 irregular, not invalid, 81. 
 Licentiates belong to the laity, 77. 
 
 amenable to the Session, 77, 289. 
 
 license withdrawn, 78. 
 
 how received, 32, 115. 
 
 foreign, 117-122. 
 
 of corresponding Churches, 437, 439, 
 
 442, 445. 
 Limitation of time. 
 
 of prosecuting an appeal, 211, 212. 
 
 of lodging notice, 195, 214. 
 
 of lodging the appeal, 213. 
 Lord s supper, 103. 104. 
 
 Lotteries, 264, 265. 
 
 Lowry, Samuel, 106, 217, 218. 
 
 Lutheran Church, 448. 
 
 Magistrates power over the Church, 19 
 
 prayer for, 580. 
 Mail, Sunday, 249, 254. 
 
 stages, owners of, 249. 
 Maine, Conference of, 340, 441, 443. 
 MARRIAGE, 223, 237, 248. 
 
 with a brother s widow, 237, 238. 
 
 with a wife s sister, 238, 239, 240. 
 
 with a niece by marriage, 242, 243. 
 
 with a sister s daughter, 244. 
 
 with a divorced woman, 247. 
 
 engagements of, 244, 245. 
 
 publication of purpose, 245. 
 
 sacredness of, 248. 
 Massachusetts, 
 
 Association of, 340. 441, 444-446. 
 McCalla, William L., 82, 83, 104, 192. 
 McCoy, James, 80. 
 McDowell, Wm. S., 233, 235. 
 McLean, John, 79, 80. 
 Mediate agency, 305. 
 MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, 38-46. 
 
 received by certificate, 41, 80, 443. 
 
 absent, 41, 42, 45. 
 
 responsibility of, 42. 
 
 who wish to be released, 45. 
 
 who withdraw, 125. 
 Methodist ministers, 91, 92. 
 Mileage, Committee on, 179-182. 
 Miller, Alexander, 200, 203. 
 MINISTERS WITHOUT CHARGE, 63-72. 
 
 rights of in Church courts, 63, 64, 112. 
 
 under inspection of Presbytery, 65, 69. 
 
 who withdraw from the work, 64, 65, 
 125. 
 
 demission of office, 6570. 
 
 holding civil office, 70. 
 Ministers deposed, 
 
 ministrations of, 93, 96. 
 
 jurisdiction over, 126. 
 
 dismissed by an extinct Presbytery, 
 114. 
 
 dismissed in good standing, 116. 
 
 dismissed, jurisdiction over, 126, 127. 
 
 received from other Churches, 92, 93, 
 115, 439, 443. 
 
 foreign, rule as to, 117-122. 
 
 suspended, standing of, 95, 202. 
 
 decease of, 178. 
 Ministry, demission of, 65-70. 
 
 support of, 573575. 
 Minors, right to vote, 51. 
 Minutes of the Assembly, 174, 182, 183. 
 
 publication and price, 183. 
 
 to whom sent, 182, 183, 184. 
 
 of Synod, 138-141. 
 Missionaries, domestic, 319-341. 
 
 duties of, 320-322, 325. 
 
 compensation of, 321, 322, 323. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 629 
 
 Missionaries, instructions of, 324. 
 
 commission, 325. 
 
 kind required, 325. 
 
 to the Indians, 344, 345. 
 
 foreign, 344, 345. 
 MISSIONS, DOMESTIC, 319-341. 
 
 Plan of, 321, 322. 
 
 Standing Committee on, 326. 
 
 enlarged, 327. 
 
 Board of, 327, 329-331. 
 MISSIONS, FOREIGN, 343-348. 
 
 Committee on, 424-433. 
 Mitchell, Charles, 242. 
 Mode of baptism, 102. 
 MODES OF EVANGELIZATION, 319-360. 
 Moderator, powers and duties, 136, 137, 
 168-171, 539-544, 602-606, 608- 
 612. 
 
 right to vote, 171, 172, 605. 
 
 to administer an oath, 196, 197. 
 
 when he may not preside, 221. 
 
 of the Assembly, mode of election, 
 167. 
 
 mode of induction, 167-172. 
 
 "last present," 173. 
 Montgomery, Joseph, 66, 68. 
 Monthly concert, 577. 
 Moral agency, 314, 315. 
 MORAL QUESTIONS, 237-295. 
 Motions, rules regarding, 169, 603. 
 
 Names of absentees recorded, 141. 
 Narrative of the state of religion, 141. 
 
 Committee on, 178. 
 Newcastle, Church of, 234. 
 New Hampshire, 
 
 Association of, 340, 440, 444, 445. 
 New trial, 193, 196, 199, 200, 205. 
 New York, Association of, 449, 450. 
 Non-resident members, 
 
 of churches, 41-45. 
 
 of Presbytery, 122, 123, 131. 
 Notes on the Constitution, 29, 30. 
 Notice of appeal, 195, 214, 215. 
 
 of complaint, 229, 230. 
 
 Oath, judicial, 196, 197. 
 
 testimony under, 197, 198. 
 Obedience of Christ, 302, 318. 
 
 to the moral law, 302. 
 OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH, 47-72. 
 Ordinances, sealing, 
 
 administration, 96, 97, 104, 320, 322. 
 
 admission to, 57, 93, 98, 243. 
 ORDINATION, 69, 85-94. 
 
 of deacons, 36, 48. 
 
 of elders, 36, 48, 320, 322. 
 
 of candidates, 81, 88. 
 
 by a committee, 85, 86. 
 
 irregular not invalid, 81, 92. 
 
 by foreign bodies, 86, 87, 438, 439. 
 
 sine titulo, 72, 87, 88, 89, 90. 
 
 part of elders in, 57. 
 
 ORDINATION. 
 
 on the Sabbath, 91. 
 
 lay, invalid, 93. 
 
 Organization of churches, 36, 37, 38, 320, 
 322. 
 
 of General Assembly, 156. 
 
 of Assembly of 1838, 506-519. 
 Original parties, who? 210. 
 
 when to be heard, 222, 236. 
 Original sin, 300, 301, 307, 313, 315, 316. 
 Orthodoxy, who to judge of, 331. 
 Overtures, Committee on, 168, 176. 
 
 Parents, duties of, 62, 100, 571, 572. 
 
 engagement of, in baptism, 97, 98. 
 Parish Psalmody, 401. 
 Parsonage, 573. 
 PASTOR, 58-63. 
 
 order of election, 58, 59. 
 
 translation of, 60. 
 
 removal, 60, 61. 
 
 duties of, 61, 62, 99, 100, 132, 570-573. 
 
 support of, 573-575. 
 Pastoral office, 62, 63. 
 
 neglect of, 312. 
 
 frequent change, 312. 
 
 relation, dissolution of, 60. 
 
 letters, 495-499, 522-526. 
 Pastorate without instalment, 60. 
 Penalty of the law, 311, 316. 
 Permanent clerk, 161, 167. 
 
 appointment and duties, 169, 175. 
 
 salary, 176. 
 PERMANENT COMMITTEES, 361-433. 
 
 preliminary, 361-367. 
 
 Church Extension. 368-375. 
 
 Church Erection, 375-393. 
 
 Publication, 394-404. 
 
 Presbyterian House, 404-409. 
 
 Education, 410-423. 
 
 Foreign Missions, 424-433. 
 Plan of Union of 1758, 21-25. 
 PLAN OF UNION OF 1801, 453-469. 
 
 first proposition, 453, 454. 
 
 plan, 454, 455. 
 
 request to annul, 456. 
 
 abrogated, 456-457. 
 
 protest against, 457-461. 
 
 answer, 462-469. 
 
 commissioners under, 164, 165, 166. 
 Polity, Committee on, 177. 
 Poor, 47, 48. 
 
 Postmasters and the Sabbath, 40, 248, 249. 
 Postponement, indefinite, 170, 231, 604. 
 
 of an appeal, 215, 216. 
 
 of a complaint, 231. 
 Powers of the Assembly, 189. 
 
 to make standing rules, 34, 466. 
 
 in receiving foreign ministers, 119, 
 120. 
 
 to transfer jurisdiction, 123, 189. 
 
 over Presbyteries, 158, 189, 194. 
 
 over Synods 189, 483, 484. 
 
630 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Powers of the Assembly, 
 
 over missions, 189, 317-340. 
 to decide in controversy, 190. 
 to bear testimony, 190, 287, 313. 
 over judgments of former Assemblies, 
 
 208. 
 
 as to slavery, 286-291. 
 to reprove and warn, 287. 
 in discipline, 288, 289. 
 to condemn books, 303, 308, 309. 
 over the raising of funds, 324. 
 Powers of the Synod, 
 
 to censure a Presbytery, 112. 
 in receiving foreign ministers, 119, 120. 
 in transferring churches, 132. 
 over church covenants, 134. 
 in discipline, 195, 196, 227. 
 to dissolve a Presbytery, 234. 
 Powers of the Presbytery, 
 in settling a pastor, 59. 
 to judge of its members, 112-114, 116, 
 
 165, 202. 
 
 to reject an applicant, 113, 116. 
 to examine witnesses, 123. 
 to try elders, 124. 
 to organize churches, 38. 
 to inspect its members, 65, 66, 125, 
 
 132. 
 
 to visit churches, 109. 
 to commence process, 289. 
 to remove a stated supply, 63. 
 Powers of the- Session, 
 
 in restoring an elder, 56, 201. 
 
 in reference to Psalmody, 108. 
 
 in discipline, 44, 106, 195, 204, 226, 
 
 242, 264. 
 in restoring to church privileges, 238, 
 
 241. 
 
 to commence process, 289. 
 over collections ordered, 323. 
 Powers of Church Extension Committee, 
 
 337, 369, 371. 
 of Church Erection Committee, 378- 
 
 384, 388, 389. 
 of Publication Committee, 395, 396, 
 
 398, 400. 
 
 of Trustees of the House, 400, 407. 
 of Education Committee, 413. 
 of Foreign Missions Committee, 424, 
 
 425. 
 Prayer at the opening and close of sessions, 
 
 140, 602, 606. 
 
 for the Assembly, 178, 575. 
 for colleges, 419. 579. 
 for magistrates, 580. 
 special seasons of, 576. 
 concert of, 577. 
 for the conversion of the world, 577- 
 
 579. 
 
 and fasting, 85, 575-580. 
 Preaching without license, 82, 83. 
 Presbyterian Church case, 527-549, 557, 
 
 607--619. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE, 396. 404-409. 
 
 trustees of, 405-408. 
 
 charter of, 408, 409. 
 PRESBYTERY, THE, 110-134. 
 
 duties of, in settling pastors, 59. 
 
 as to ministers Avithout charge, 64, 65, 
 66, 69, 125. 
 
 as to candidates, 77, 78, 85. 
 
 to review session books, 107, 108. 
 
 as to non-residents, 131. 
 
 as to missions, 364. 
 
 in the instruction of youth, 571-573. 
 
 members of, 111-122. 
 
 elders, 111, 112. 
 
 ministers without charge, 112. 
 
 of an extinct Presbytery, 114. 
 
 who withdraw, 124, 125. 
 
 dismission of members, 127-128. 
 
 must specify, 127. 
 
 not by committee, 127, 128. 
 
 boundaries of, 128-132. 
 
 dissolution of, 234, 492. 
 
 see " Powers of." 
 Prevarication, 199. 
 Previous question, 169, 172, 603. 
 Price, David, 199, 204. 
 Priestley, Dr. Joseph, 95. 
 Principals and alternates, 161-163. 
 Process commencement of, 289, 470. 
 
 delay of, 128. 
 Profession of religion, 41. 
 Prohibitory laws, 260, 261. 
 Proof texts, 27, 28, 29. 
 Prosecution, Committee of, 606. 
 Protest, right of, 22, 171. 
 
 against an appeal, 211, 212. 
 
 in Sheldon s case, 223, 224. 
 
 against the "memorial," 314-318. 
 
 on abrogating the Plan of Union, 457- 
 461. 
 
 of Synod of Western Reserve, 484-485. 
 
 of Synods of Utica, &c., 488-490. 
 
 on the dissolution of 3d Presbytery. 
 493-494. 
 
 on the action at Cleveland, 563, 564. 
 Protestation of 1741, 23. 
 PSALMODY, 580-585. 
 
 parish, 401. 
 
 power of Sessions over, 108. 
 
 narrative of, 580, 581. 
 
 psalms and hymns, 582. 
 
 Church Psalmist, 398, 582, 583. 
 
 Book of Tunes, 584, 585. 
 PUBLICATION COMMITTEE, 394-404. 
 
 standing, 177. 
 
 appointment, 395. 
 
 powers and duties, 395, 396, 399, 400. 
 
 enlarged, 396, 397. 
 
 name changed, 398. 
 
 publication of, 402-404. 
 
 depositories, 404. 
 
 Questions in thesi, 190. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 631 
 
 Quorum, less than, may adjourn, 136, 602. 
 of Session, 56, 105. 
 of Presbytery, 135. 
 of Synod, 136. 
 of the Assembly, 158, 168. 
 of Church Extension Committee, 370. 
 of Church Erection Committee, 390. 
 of Publication Committee, 397. 
 of Education Committee, 411. 
 
 Ratio of commissioners to Assembly, 158, 
 
 159, 593, 594. 
 Re-baptism, 96. 
 Reconsideration of a vote, 170, 603. 
 
 of judicial action, 205. 206, 207. 
 
 barred by an appeal, 207. 
 Records of Session, 107, 108. 
 
 of Synod, review of, 138. 
 
 who vote on approval, 138. 
 
 must be specific, 139-142. 
 
 see "Exceptions to," 626. 
 
 to be sent up in judicial cases, 214- 
 216, 218. 
 
 effect of, neglect, 215, 219, 231. 
 
 a copy, not sufficient, 218. 
 Reformed Presbyterian Church, 452. 
 Regeneration and conversion, 301. 
 
 the work of the Spirit, 304, 305, 314, 
 317. 
 
 instantaneous, 317. 
 
 nature of, 317. 
 
 and faith, 304. 
 Re-ordination, 91, 93. 
 Repentance and faith, 301. 
 
 evidence of, required, 123, 204, 238. 
 Representation in church courts, 110. 
 Restoration to the ministry, 123, 196, 199, 
 201, 204, 205, 301. 
 
 to the eldership, 56, 201. 
 
 to communion, 56, 201, 207, 215, 219, 
 239. 
 
 evidence of repentance required, 123, 
 
 204, 233. 
 Revivals, 24, 576. 
 Rice, Matthew II., 217, 
 Righteousness of Christ, 24, 300, 302, 310, 
 
 311, 313, 314, 318. 
 Rodgers, Judge, charge in Church case, 
 
 530-549. 
 
 Roll, striking from, 66, 69, 124, 125, 137, 
 568 
 
 must be called on trial, 222, 223, 227. 
 
 adjustment of, 557, 558, 567. 
 Romans, Barnes on, 307, 308. 
 Romish baptism, 97. 
 Rotary eldership, 53. 
 Rules, standing, 34, 35. 
 Rules of the General Assembly, 168-171. 
 
 modification of, 172. 
 
 for judicatories, 172, 602-606. 
 
 of the Church Extension Committee, 
 374, 375. 
 
 of the Church Erection Committee, 
 
 RULING ELDERS, 48-57. 
 
 SABBATH, 248-256. 
 
 violations of, 40, 248, 249, 251. 
 
 ordinations on, 91 . 
 
 sessions of Synod on, 139. 
 
 postmasters officiating on, 40, 248. 
 
 mail stages, 40, 249, 253. 
 
 profanation of, 249-256. 
 
 travelling on, 251. 
 
 discipline enjoined, 251, 255, 256. 
 
 observance of. 253, 254. 
 SACRAMENTS, 94-104. 
 
 where there is no church, 103. 
 
 without consent of the Session, 104. 
 
 by missionaries, 320, 322. 
 Scholarships, 423. 
 Scripture proofs, 27-29. 
 Scruples, 18, 19, 39. 
 
 SECESSION OF SOUTHERN CHURCHES, 563- 
 568. 
 
 protest of, 563, 564. 
 
 withdrawal of, 565. 
 
 roll corrected, 567. 
 Secreta.-y of Permanent Committees, 167. 
 
 of Education Committee, 411, 412. 
 
 of Church Erection, 392. 
 Sentence, copy of, 194. 
 
 disproportioned, 199, 226. 
 
 unconstitutional, 200. 
 
 must be precise, 222. 
 
 in force till the case is issued, 196, 220. 
 
 insubordination does not invalidate, 
 203. 
 
 of other bodies respected, 209. 
 SESSION, 105-110. 
 
 quorum, 56, 105. 
 
 special, unconstitutional, 106, 206. 
 
 corresponding members of, 107. 
 
 moderator of, 108. 
 duties of, 
 
 in admitting to membership, 39, 40. 
 
 to take oversight of the Church, 41. 
 
 as to absent members, 41, 42-45. 
 
 in the election of elders, 50. 
 
 in the election of pastors, 58. 
 
 in restoring an elder, 56, 204. 
 
 in restoring to Church privileges, 238, 
 241. 
 
 when the church is vacant, 58, 108. 
 
 as to candidates, 77, 78, 85. 
 
 in admitting to sealing ordinances, 57, 
 93, 96, 97, 98, 99, 243. 
 
 as to baptized children, 100, 568. 
 
 in administering ordinances, 104. 
 
 in the discipline of Church members, 
 44, 106, 204, 226, 242, 264. 
 
 to be represented in Church courts, 
 106, 109. 
 
 in improper marriages, 241, 242, 243. 
 
 in suppressing Sabbath-breaking, 251, 
 256. 
 
 as to slavery, 272, 274, 293. 
 
 in raising funds, 360. 
 
632 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 SESSION. 
 
 duties of, in catechizing, 571, 572, 573. 
 Sheldon, George, 223, 248. 
 Shepherd, John, 204, 205. 
 Shields, James H., 126, 247. 
 Sin, original, 300, 301, 307, 313, 315, 316. 
 
 of Adam, 300, 310, 313, 315. 
 
 imputation of, 300, 311, 313, 316. 
 
 existence of, 303. 
 
 wilful and habitual, 313, 315. 
 Sine t it-it lo ordination, 72, 87-90. 
 Slander, 193, 194. 
 Slaveholding, 271, 283, 285, 287, 293. 
 
 holder, 134, 295. 
 
 communion with, 268, 270, 271. 
 
 trade, 359. 
 
 selling one, a Church member, 272, 
 
 274. 
 
 SLAVERY, 266-295, 358, 563-565. 
 Slaves, baptism of, 98, 99. 
 Snodgrass, Dr. James, 212. 
 Socinianism, 95, 297. 
 Spicer, Jabez, 199. 
 Standard of right and wrong, 302. 
 STANDARDS OF THE CHURCH, 17-35. 
 
 subscription to, 17, 18, 20, 32. 
 
 how to be adopted, 311, 312. 
 Standing Committee, 165, 166, 176-180. 
 
 rules, 34, 35, 167. 
 Stated clerk of Assembly, 
 
 appointment, 174. 
 
 duties, 157, 160, 161, 174, 175, 181, 
 183, 365, 379. 
 
 privileges, 167. 
 
 salary, 175. 
 Stated clerk of Synod, duties, 141, 377, 
 
 381. 
 Stated supply, 55, 89. 
 
 has no pastoral relation, 62. 
 Stenographer, exclusion of, 226. 
 Striking from the roll, 66, 69, 137. 
 
 for irregular withdrawing, 124, 125. 
 Study, time of, 75, 76, 417. 
 
 refusal to alter, 590, 591. 
 Subscription to the standards, 18, 20, 32. 
 Sufferings of Christ, 311, 313. 
 
 vicarious, 316. 
 Sunday mails, 249, 254. 
 
 Schools, 62, 355, 362, 568-573. 
 Sunday-School Union, 355, 356, 570, 571. 
 SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY, 573-575. 
 Suspended minister, services of, 95. 
 
 standing, 202. 
 Suspension from Church privileges, 56. 
 
 for wilful absence, 42, 43. 
 
 not without trial, 45, 194. 
 
 for unlawful marriage, 237, 239, 241. 
 from the ministry, 248. 
 
 without trial, 45, 192. 
 
 for contumacy, 194, 198, 223. 
 
 during process, 200. 
 
 for a specified time, 201. 
 from office. 56. 
 
 SYNOD, THE, 135-154. 
 
 meetings, special, 136, 593. 
 
 time of, 137. 
 
 records to be sent up annually, 138. 
 
 report to General Assembly, 138. 
 
 must record reasons of censure, 139, 
 236. 
 
 meetings to open and close with 
 prayer, 140, 602, 606. 
 
 minutes to be read and approved. 
 140, 141. 
 
 absentees called to answer, 141, 142. 
 
 power to examine witnesses, 232. 
 Synod of German Reformed Church, 447. 
 
 of Evangelical Lutheran Church, 448. 
 
 of Associate Reformed Church, 451. 
 
 of Reformed Church, 452. 
 Synods, erection of, 
 
 Albany, 143, 144. 
 
 Alabama, 149. 
 
 Alta California, 154. 
 
 Carolinas, 142. 
 
 Chesapeake, 148. 
 
 Cincinnati, 147. 
 
 Delaware, 148, 149. 
 
 Genesee, 145. 
 
 Geneva, 144. 
 
 Illinois, 148. 
 
 Indiana, 146. 
 
 Iowa, 152. 
 
 Kentucky, 143. 
 
 Michigan, 148. 
 
 Minnesota, 634. 
 
 Mississippi and South Alabama, 147. 
 
 Missouri, 148. 
 
 Newark, 149, 150. 
 
 New Jersey, 146. 
 
 New York and New Jersey, 142, 151. 
 
 New York, 145. 
 
 North Carolina, 144. 
 
 Ohio, 144. 
 
 Onondaga, 153. 
 
 Pennsylvania, 149. 
 
 Peoria, 151. 
 
 Philadelphia, 142. 
 
 Pittsburg, 143. 
 
 South Carolina and Georgia, 144. 
 
 Susquehanna, 152. 
 
 Tennessee, 145. 
 
 Utica, 147. 
 
 Virginia, 142. 
 
 Wabash, 152. 
 
 Western Reserve, 146. 
 
 West Pennsylvania, 151. 
 
 West Tennessee, 146. 
 
 Wisconsin, 154. 
 SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE, 359, 360. 
 
 Tappan, Lewis, 217, 225, 226. 
 Taylor, R., 213. 
 
 James, 216. 
 Temperance, 257-262. 
 
 societies, 258, 259. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Temperance laws, 260. 
 
 total abstinence, 259, 260, 261. 
 Temporalities of the Church, 47. 
 Temporary clerks, 176. 
 Testimony, verbal, 130, 165, 195. 
 
 in judicial cases, 197. 
 
 of husband and wife, 198. 
 
 new, 205, 206, 225. 
 
 in the absence of the accused, 223. 
 
 what rejected, 207, 208, 220. 
 
 to be sent up on appeal, 215-219. 
 
 effect of failure to send up, 215-219. 
 
 copy made by appellant, 218. 
 
 not of record, 219. 
 
 against doctrinal errors, 312-314. 
 THEATRE, 262, 263. 
 Time, limitation of, 195, 211-214. 
 
 of study, 75, 76, 417. 
 Total abstinence, 258, 259, 260. 
 Tracts, distribution of, 353, 354. 
 
 societies, 355, 356. 
 Transfer of jurisdiction, 123. 
 
 of ministers, 131, 132. 
 
 of churches, 132. 
 
 of sin or righteousness, 300, 311, 316, 
 318. 
 
 of moral qualities, 311, 316. 
 Translation of a pastor, 60, 61. 
 Travelling on the Sabbath, 251, 255. 
 Trial, who may act as counsel, 107. 
 
 censure without, 192, 193. 
 
 charges must be specific, 194. 
 
 rules must be observed, 194-196, 226, 
 233. 
 
 notice must be given, 192, 195, 214, 
 215, 229. 
 
 evidence of notice, 195, 214, 215. 
 
 may not be on review, 196. 
 
 must be orderly, 196. 
 
 new, 193, 196, 205, 206, 226. 
 
 unreasonably deferred, 128. 
 
 presence of the accused, 198. 
 
 personal attendance, 213. 
 
 best evidence required, 218. 
 
 testimony not of record, 219. 
 
 who may sit, 107, 221, 222. 
 
 death of respondent bars, 222. 
 
 Trial, an express vote required, 222. 
 
 the records must be read, 235. 
 
 characters of the absent protected, 
 235. 
 
 when a minister should preside, 109. 
 
 postponed, 215. 
 Trustees of a church, 48. 
 
 of the General Assembly, 184-189. 
 
 of the Church Erection Fund, 378. 
 379. 
 
 of the Presbyterian House, 405-408. 
 
 Unitarians baptism, 95. 
 
 doctrine, 298, 299. 
 
 United Foreign Missionary Society, 347. 
 United Synod, 565, 567. 
 Universalists, 38, 39, 298. 
 Universal salvation, 38, 39, 297. 
 Utica, Synod of, exscinded, 483. 
 
 Vandyke, Andrew, 237. 
 
 Vance, William, 240, 241. 
 
 Vermont, Convention of, 340, 439, 440, 
 
 444, 445. 
 
 Visitation, family, 61. 
 Voluntary associations, 
 
 relation of, to the Church, 262, 369. 
 
 abuse of powers, 312. 
 Vote, casting, 171, 172, 605. 
 
 excludes debate, 171, 605. 
 
 Ward, John, 205. 
 
 Wells, Shipley, 112. 
 
 Western Reserve Synod exscinded, 483. 
 
 Wiley, Postmaster, 40. 
 
 Wilful desertion ground of divorce, 247. 
 
 Witnesses, husband and wife, 198. 
 
 Woodhull, William, 65, 68. 
 
 Work of grace, 24. 
 
 Worship, family, 61. 
 
 secret, 61. 
 Wylie, Dr., 193. 
 
 Yeas and nays, 605. 
 
 York Church case, 613-618. 
 
 Young, instruction of, 34, 568, 570-573. 
 
 41 
 
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