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A DIGEST 
 
 OF THB 
 
 ACTS OF THE SUPREME JUDICATORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 IN TIIE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 COMPILED FR03I THE RECORDS OF THE ORIGINAL SYNOD^ 
 
 OF NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA, AND OP 
 
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM ITS 
 
 ORGANIZATION. 
 
 ARRANGED TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONSTITCnONAL RULES OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 BT ORDER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION, 
 
 265 Chestnut Street. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Page 18. Omit "I." at head of last sentence. 
 " 20. Insert VIII. before " Presbytery has a right.'* 
 " 21. Ovaiiyill.'bGiore^' Judicial power." 
 " 36. Under the caption " Form of GoTernment," insert 
 
 For warrant drawn from this section for carrying judicial business di- 
 rectly to the highest court. See page 99: 
 " " Insert V. before " Being requested by a Synod." 
 " 40. Insert IV. before " TFTio may preach." 
 " 55. " IV. before "The Rev. David Rice." 
 " 66. " XV. before " Ought ministers." 
 
 " 82. After " Overture No. 2," add a * with this note—* See page 218, 
 " 91. For " civil" at end of 6th line from bottom, read " ecclesiastical." . 
 
PREFACE, 
 
 The General Assemloly of 1818 appointed Dr. Jane- 
 way, Dr. Neill, and Dr. Ely *'to extract from the Re- 
 cords of the General Assembly, and of the late Synod 
 of New York and Philadelphia, 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 min- 
 isters and people in our churches." 
 
 They reported the Digest the next year, and an 
 edition of four thousand copies was printed. A new 
 Digest has been in contemplation for nearly twenty 
 years, and several committees have successively been 
 charged with the duty of preparing one. The task 
 was assigned to the Board of Publication by the As- 
 sembly of 1849. 
 
 The plan adopted in this work is to arrange the de- 
 cisions of the Assembly in judicial cases, and on other 
 important points, under the heads in the Form of Gov- 
 ernment and the Discipline which they serve to illus- 
 trate. Reference is thus made easy. In every case 
 the exact words of the record are used, except in the 
 preliminary statements, which for distinction are en- 
 closed in brackets. 
 
 Various miscellaneous items are arranged alphabetic 
 
XU PREFACE. 
 
 cally; and are followed by a chapter containing the 
 rules and decisions, respecting the reception of minis- 
 ters from foreign countries, corresponding bodies, and 
 our own Presbyteries ; and also respecting demission 
 of the office, or withdrawing from our communion. 
 Brief notices of the history of the Boards of the 
 Church are added. 
 
 The Adopting Act of 1729 is inserted; the cases of 
 prosecution for errors of doctrine are given at length, 
 with whatever has a bearing on the momentous concern 
 of "the faith of God's elect." 
 
 The work has required much labour, thought, and 
 patience. Frequent and careful reviews of the Minutes 
 and Records of proceedings, stretching almost through 
 a century and a half, have secured according to the 
 original design, "all such matters as seem to be of 
 permanent authority and interest." Simplicity of 
 plan, accuracy of detail, fulness in all things necessary, 
 and convenience in use, have been the steady aim in 
 the compilation. 
 
 The Presbyterian Board of Publication, in presenting 
 this new Digest to the churches, as a matter of justice 
 state, that the preparation of it was entrusted to the 
 Rev. Richard Webster, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., who has 
 expended much time and labour in bringing it to its 
 present degree of perfection. 
 
 Editor of the Board of Publication. 
 
DIGEST, &c. 
 
 OF DEACONS. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter VI.] 
 
 The Committee on Overture No. 4, viz. A refer- 
 ence from the Presbytery of West Tennessee, request- 
 ing an answer to the following question, viz. What 
 are the nature and duties of the office of Deacon ? — 
 made the following report, which was adopted, viz. 
 
 ^' We reply — the answer we conceive to be explicitly 
 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 tem- 
 poralities of the Church generally may be committed 
 to their care." — Minutes, 1833, p. 490. 
 
 OF THE CHURCH SESSION. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter IX.] 
 
 II. Can a 3Iinister with one Elder form a session 
 cajpahle of transacting judicial business? 
 
 [The inquiry " is sufiiciently answered in the Con- 
 stitution, Form of Gov., Ch. ix.. Sec. 2, where it seems 
 
 2 
 
14 OP THE CHURCH SESSION. 
 
 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 minis- 
 ter are necessary to form a session."] — Minutes^ 
 1836, p. 263. 
 
 III. " On motion, Overture No. 8, was taken up, viz. 
 From the Presbytery of Tombeckbee, the question : 
 Is it orderly that a member of one Presbytery 
 moderate a church session of another Presbytery ? — 
 which question the Assembly answered in the affirm- 
 ative."— ilifmw^es, 1843, p. 198. 
 
 The same Committee reported on Overture No. 10, 
 from the Presbytery of Columbus, inquiring : 
 
 1st. Is it orderly for a session under the care of 
 one Presbytery, to request a minister of another Pres- 
 bytery to moderate them, without first obtaining leave 
 from their Presbytery? 
 
 2d. Is it constitutional for a minister to moderate 
 a session under the care of a difi"erent Presbytery 
 from his own, without first asking and obtaining leave 
 of the Presbytery having jurisdiction over said ses- 
 sion? 
 
 Reconamending the following minute, which was 
 adopted, viz. 
 
 '■'Resolved^ That the last Assembly in deciding that 
 a session may invite a minister of another Presbytery 
 to sit as their Moderator, did not include any of those 
 cases in which it is required either in express terms, 
 or by plain implication, (Form of Gov. Ch. ix. Sec. 3 
 and 4,) that the moderator shall be of the same Pres- 
 bytery as the congregation ; but are of the opinion 
 that in cases of a different kind, for which no provi- 
 sion is made, a member of another Presbytery may be 
 invited to act as moderator, if it be found to be qx^q- 
 diiQut:'— Minutes, 1844, p. 359. 
 
 VI. The Docket was taken up, and Overture No. 8, 
 from the Synod of Cincinnati, on Instrumental Music, 
 
OF THE CnURCII SESSION. 15 
 
 was read, and the following, minute, recommended by 
 the Committee of Bills and Overtures, was adopted, 
 viz. 
 
 " Whej'cas, By our Constitution (Form of Gov., Ch. 
 ix. Sec. 6, and Directory for Worship,' Ch. iv. Sec. 
 4,) the whole internal arrangement of a church, as to 
 worship and order, is committed to the minister and 
 session, therefore 
 
 '''•Resolved^ That this Assembly do not feel them- 
 selves called upon and obliged to take any further 
 order on this subject, but leave to each session the 
 delicate and important matter of arranging and con- 
 ducting the music as to them shall seem most for edifi- 
 cation, recommending great caution, prudence, and 
 forbearance in regard to it." — Ilinutes, 1845, pp. 
 21, 22. 
 
 YIII. Examination of Sessional Records, 
 
 The following resolution was submitted to the As- 
 sembly, and after a long discussion, was adopted, y'vL, 
 
 ''Wliereas, It appeared in the course of the free 
 conversation on religion, that in one of the Presby- 
 teries 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 Presbytery, and there is reason to believe 
 that other Presbyteries had conducted in the same 
 manner, therefore 
 
 '^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 ses- 
 sional records of the several churches under their care, 
 as directed in the Book of Discipline." — Minutes^ 
 1809, p. 429. 
 
 The Committee appointed to consider the order of 
 the last Assembly, respecting the examination of 
 session books ; and also, the remonstrance of the 
 Presbytery of Philadelphia, requesting the Assembly to 
 review said order, brought in their report, which was 
 read and adopted, and is as follows, viz. 
 
16 OF THE CHURCH SESSION. 
 
 " The Assembly, after seriously reviewing the order 
 of the last Assembly, 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 Consti- 
 tution 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 ses- 
 sions, would not be for edification, the Assembly are 
 by no means disposed to urge any Presbytery to pro- 
 ceed, under this order, beyond what they may con- 
 sider prudent and useful." — Minutes, 1810, p. 453. 
 
 IX. Overture No. 7, from the Presbytery of Miami, 
 the question, Whether ordained ministers of the gospel 
 ought not to be considered church members, and to 
 have their names enrolled on the sessional records of 
 the churches where they are settled as pastors or 
 stated supplies? — which question the Committee 
 recommended to be answered in the negative. After 
 debate the recommendation was adopted. — Minutes, 
 1843, p. 176. 
 
 The Judicial Committee reported that, by permis- 
 sion of the General Assembly, a complaint was pre- 
 sented 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 
 \ov the same individual to hold the office of ruling 
 elder in two different churches at the same time?" 
 
 [The Synod of Philadelphia having, by a vote of 
 30 to 27, refused to adopt the following resolution, 
 offered by Dr. Green, twenty-five ministers and two 
 elders dissented and complained :] 
 
 "It is not contrary to the Constitution of this 
 
OF TUE PUESBYTERY. 17 
 
 Church that the same person should exercise the office 
 of ruling elder in two different congregations ; they 
 are far from thinking such a measure generally expe- 
 dient, but judge it may lawfully take place in the 
 formation of new congregations, and in some cases 
 where it may manifestly subserve the interests of 
 religion."* 
 
 The complainants were heard in support of their 
 complaint ; th-c Synod was heard in defence of their 
 decision, and the complainants concluded with a reply, 
 when it was 
 
 Resolved^ By the x\ssembly, that the decision of 
 the Synod be affirmed and the complaint dismissed. 
 3Iinutes, 1827, p. 118. 
 
 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. — 3Imutes, 1831, p. 175. 
 
 ^ OF THE PRESBYTERY. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter X.] 
 
 II. The Committee to which was referred the Over- 
 ture from the Presbytery of Baltimore, in the follow- 
 ing words, viz. " Are ministers without charges, con- 
 stituent members of our Church judicatures, and have 
 they an equal vote 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 affirmatively, Ch. ix. Sec. 2, of the Form 
 of Government of the Presbyterian Church, in these 
 words : — 'A Presbytery consists of all the ministers 
 and of one ruling elder from each congregation in a 
 certain district.' " — Minutes, 1816, p. G15. 
 
 * See MSS. Record of Synod of Philadelphia. 
 
 2* 
 
18 OF THE PRESBYTERY. 
 
 The duty of Preshyteries to their members residing 
 out of their bounds. 
 
 The same Committee, to whom was referred also an 
 Overture from the Synod of Albany, in regard to 
 non-resident members of Presbyteries, made the fol- 
 lowing 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 following resolution, 
 viz. ""Resolved, That it be enjoined on the Presbyteries 
 to inquire carefully in regard to any of their mem- 
 bers, who may be residing without the bounds of their 
 respective Presbyteries, whether there be sufficient 
 cause for such non-residence ; and if not, that mea- 
 sures be taken to transfer the relation of such minis- 
 ters to the Presbyteries, in the bounds of which they 
 VQ^idiQr— Minutes, 1836, p. 2T2. 
 
 " Permanent ministerial connection with any Presby- 
 tery, except that in whose bounds the individual lives, 
 is irregular and disorderly, and ought not to be 
 allowed; but where the residence is not in the bounds 
 of any of our Presbyteries, (as in the case of foreign 
 missionaries,) the connection may be with either of 
 i\iQm:'— Minutes, 1842, p. 29. 
 
 When in defining bounds, a congregation is placed 
 under the jurisdiction of a Presbytery on account of 
 convenience of intercourse, though lying out of its 
 bounds, but adjacent thereto; the district in which 
 such congregation is situated remains, unless expressly 
 transferred, under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery, 
 to which the congregation originally belonged. 
 
 Complaint being made that a member of Winchester 
 Presbytery had organized a second church in Alex- 
 andria, without the consent or countenance of Balti- 
 more Presbytery. 
 
 I. Inasmuch as the order of the General Assembly 
 of 1792, respecting the bounds of the Synods of Phi- 
 ladelphia and Virginia, placed the congregation of 
 Alexandria, and no other, on the south side of the 
 
OF THE PRESBYTERY. 19 
 
 Potomac, within the bounds of the Synod of Phila- 
 delphia ; therefore, 
 
 '''Resolved^ That the second congregation of Alex- 
 andria properly belongs to the Presbytery of Winches- 
 ter, and that the said Presbytery, in receiving the 
 second congregation under their care, are guilty of 
 no infringement of the jurisdiction of the Presbytery 
 Qili^liimovQ:'— Minutes, 1819, p. 704. 
 
 Ill, Right of Elders in Presbytery, 
 
 " Mr. Edmundson being present as a representa- 
 tive 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.'" — 3Iinutes, 1716, p. 40. 
 
 IV. Overture No. 4. An overture from the Pres- 
 bytery of Miami, inquiring, "Where one minister is 
 supplying two congregations, in one of which he 
 labours as installed pastor, and in the other as stated 
 supply, has each of these congregations a right to be 
 represented by a ruling elder at the same meeting of 
 Presbytery?" The committee recommended the fol- 
 lowing resolution, which was adopted, viz. 
 
 '^Resolved, That the question be answered in the 
 affirmative." — Minutes, 1847, p. 377. 
 
 Overture No. 5. An overture from the Synod of 
 Mississippi, asking, " When two or more congrega- 
 tions have separately called one and the same minister 
 to become the pastor of each church, and he accepts 
 these calls, and is installed over these congregations 
 as pastor, are these churches entitled to one or more 
 elders to represent them in Presbytery ?" The com- 
 mittee recommended the following resolution, which 
 was adopted, viz. 
 
 '''Resolved, That the question be answered in the 
 negative." — Minutes, 1847, p. 377. 
 
20 OF THE TRESBYTERY. 
 
 V. Every vacmit church entitled to a lay representa- 
 tive in Presbytery. 
 
 " Should every congregation be considered as vacant 
 "which is not united to any minister in the pastoral 
 relation, and if it should, is not every such congrega- 
 tion entitled to be represented by a ruling elder in 
 Presbytery?" 
 
 Resolved, That from a comparison of Sections 3 
 and 5 of Chap. x. Form of Government, it is evident 
 that every congregation without a pastor is to be 
 regarded as a vacant congregation, and consequently 
 if regularly organized, is entitled to be represented 
 by a ruling elder in a Presbytery. — Minutes, 1843, 
 pp. 190, 196. 
 
 VII. Quorum of Preshytery. 
 
 The Committee of Bills and Overtures, reported 
 Overture No. 20, from Alexander Smith, a question : 
 " Is it the opinion of the General Assembly, that it is 
 implied in Sec. 7, Chap. x. of the Form of Govern- 
 ment, that Presbyterial business cannot be transacted 
 •without the presence of one ruling elder at least?" 
 
 Overture No. 20, was taken up, and after debate, 
 the resolutions, submitted by the Committee of Bills 
 and Overtures, were adopted as follows, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That any three ministers of a Presbytery, 
 being regularly convened, are a quorum competent to 
 the transaction of all business, agreeably to the pro- 
 vision contained in the Form of Government, Chap. 
 X, Sec. Ir—Minutesy 184-3, pp. 190. 196. 
 
 Preshytery has a right to Judge of the qualifications 
 of their otvn memhers. 
 
 "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 
 
OF TUE PRESBYTERY. 21 
 
 not appealed from, appears to have given rise to the 
 protest in question. 
 
 The Synod of Geneva ^Yere beyond doubt, in tlic 
 opinion of your committee, competent to censure the 
 Presbytery of Geneva, for admitting hastily or 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 deci- 
 ding on the fitness of admitting Mr. Wells, a consti- 
 tuent member of the Presbytery of Geneva, belonged 
 to the Presbytery itself; and that having admitted 
 him, no matter how improvidently, 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." 
 
 [The report was adopted, and the Records of the 
 Synod of Geneva, were approved, with the exception 
 of the above order.] — Minutes^ 1816, pp. 611, 612. 
 
 VIII. Judicial 2^ower cannot he delegated to a special 
 Session or Committee. 
 
 [The Presbytery of Miami appointed a special ses- 
 sion composed of elders belonging to different congre- 
 gations, for the purpose of trying Mr. Lowry, an 
 elder, and the decision of the special session was 
 alfirmed by the Synod of Ohio.] "All the proceedings 
 in the case are reversed on the ground that the 
 appointment of such a special session is unconstitu- 
 tional."— ilf2?2wfes, 1823, p. 149. 
 
 "Having heard the memorial of the Synod of Ohio, 
 complaining of the decision of the last Assembly, after 
 mature deliberation, this Assembly concurs in opinion 
 with the last General Assembly, that the special session 
 appointed by the Presbytery of Miami, for the trial of 
 S. Lowry, w^as an unconstitutional court, and that all 
 the proceedings of that body in this case, and of the 
 Presbytery of Miami, and of the Synod of Ohio, sane- 
 
•22 OF THE rHESBYTERY. 
 
 tioning the acts of that body, are irregular. And the 
 allegation of the 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 on a member of the church, and 
 an elder, and condemned and suspended him ; but no 
 Presbytery has authority, according to the Constitu- 
 tion of our Church, to delegate to a committee, a 
 power to perform such acts as these." — Minutes, 
 1824, p. 213. 
 
 Subject of Commissions regarded as an open ques- 
 tion. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Records of the Synod of Yir- 
 ginia be approved ; while in so doing the Assembly 
 would be understood as expressing no opinion on the 
 question, decided by the Synod, in reference to the 
 authority of the Presbyteries of Winchester and Lex- 
 ington, to appoint Commissions in the cases alluded 
 to, in the Records of the Synod. — Minutes, 1846, 
 p. 210. 
 
 Overture No. 16. An inquiry from Zion church, 
 Pontotoc county, Mississippi, 
 
 " Has a Presbytery the constitutional right to divide 
 a church, where a majority of the members of said 
 church are opposed to its division?" 
 
 The committee recommended the following resolu- 
 tion, which was adopted, viz. 
 
 ^'Resolved, That where the minority request it, and 
 the Presbytery has reason to believe that the interests 
 of religion will be promoted by it, the Presbytery has 
 the right to form the minority into a new congrega- 
 tion."— i)[/tn2^^es, 1848, p. 29. 
 
 The following question was overtured : 
 *' Is a Presbytery constitutionally censurable at the 
 bar of a Synod for receiving under their care a con- 
 
OF THE PRESBYTERY. 23 
 
 gregatlon wliicli has been dismissed by the Presbytery 
 to which it formerly belonged?" 
 
 ^''Besolvcd, That it is unconstitutional for a Presby- 
 tery 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." — 
 3Iinutes, 1823, p. 149. 
 
 The committee to whom was referred Overture No. 
 
 14, viz. "Is a minister of the gospel, in our connec- 
 tion, ex officio authorized to organize churches in the 
 bounds of Presbyteries, without any previous order of 
 Presbytery directing such organization?" — made a 
 report recommending the following resolution, which 
 was adopted, accordingly, viz. 
 
 '^Resolved, That except in frontier and destitute 
 settlements, where by Form of Gov. Chap. xv. Sec. 
 
 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 w^ithout 
 the previous action of some Presbytery, directing or 
 permitting it; since in Form of Gov. Chap. x. Sec. 
 8, to form new congregations, is enumerated among 
 the powers of a 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. 49G. 
 
 X. Only the 3Ioderator of the last stated meeting is 
 authorized to call a special meeting. 
 
 The Records of the Synod of Mississippi are 
 approved, "with the exception that the Synod ac- 
 knowledges the constitutionality of a meeting of the 
 Presbytery of Clinton, that had been called by a 
 moderator chosen pro tempore at a previous ^^ro re nata 
 meeting, instead of being called by the moderator 
 
24 OF THE PRESBYTERY. 
 
 appointed at the last stated meeting of the Presby- 
 tery."— if mw^^es, 1842, p. 28. 
 
 Overture No. 13. An Overture from members of 
 the Presbytery of Missouri, asking the Assembly to 
 appoint the time and place of their next regular meet- 
 ing, inasmuch as they failed to meet according to 
 adjournment. 
 
 The committee recommended the following answer, 
 viz. 
 
 " That while they are competent themselves to secure 
 this object, by calling a pro re nata meeting, in order 
 to fix the time for a regular meeting, as well as for 
 any other specified business; yet, for their conve- 
 nience at this time, the Assembly fix the time speci- 
 fied by the memorialists, viz. the third Tuesday of 
 June next ensuing, for their next regular meeting at 
 the town of Columbia. The recommendation was 
 adopted."— IfzVm^es, 1849, p. 246. 
 
 Presbyteries may meet out of their geographical 
 limits. 
 
 ^'Hesolved, That whilst it would be inexpedient and 
 wrong for the Synod to order a Presbytery to meet 
 beyond its own bounds, without the express consent 
 of its members, we see no constitutional or valid 
 objection against a Presbytery agreeing to meet with- 
 out its own geographical limits." — Minutes, 1848, 
 p. 60. 
 
 XI. A minister of another Presbytery may preach 
 the opening serjnon. 
 
 The Presbytery of Madison, at a certain meeting 
 in the absence of the Moderator, invited a minister 
 from another Presbytery to preach the opening ser- 
 mon. This act the Synod of Indiana condemns as 
 unconstitutional; the Assembly is of "opinion that 
 the Presbytery by so doing, violated no principle of 
 the Constitution."— Jfmw^^.s, 1849, p. 250. 
 
OF THE SYNOD. 25 
 
 XII. The Record shoukl state the ecclesiastical 
 body to which the persons belong who arc invited 
 to sit as correspondents. 
 
 The neglect has frequently been noticed and disap- 
 proved by the Assembly. — Minutes^ 1815, p. 578. — 
 Minutes, 1840, p. 29G. 
 
 OF THE SYNOD. 
 
 [Form of Government, Cliaptcr XL] 
 
 I. [The section originally stood : "A Synod is a con- 
 vention of several Presbyteries ;" it was held that the 
 members could not proceed to business as a Synod 
 unless there were present several Presbyteries ; i. e. 
 unless there were present at least three ministers from 
 one Presbytery and three from another. — Minutes^ 
 1804. note p. 304. 
 
 In 1795, two ministers of Philadelphia Presbytery, 
 one minister and one elder of New Castle Presbytery, 
 two ministers and one elder of Baltimore Presbytery, 
 and thirteen ministers and three elders of Carlisle 
 Presbytery, met according to adjournment and decided 
 that the members present were not sufficient to form a 
 quorum of Synod, agreably to the Constitution. 
 
 The Assembly determined that the members who 
 met at York, were not competent to form a Synod, 
 because there were not present three ministers from 
 any two Presbyteries distinctly considered. — Minutes, 
 1796, p. 110. 
 
 An amendment was sent to the Presbyteries in 1804, 
 making a Synod consist, not of Presbyteries, but 
 of Bishops and Elders; and was adopted in 1805.] 
 —Minutes, 1804, p. 304 ; Minutes, 1805. p. 333. 
 
 " Has an elder whom the discipline of our church 
 authorizes to sit as a member in Presbytery from a 
 3 
 
26 OF THE SYNOD. 
 
 vacant congregation, or united congregations, a riglifc 
 by that discipline to sit in Synod as a representative 
 of such congregation or congregations ? " 
 
 "The vote being taken, it was decided in the affirm- 
 ative."— M'wi^^^s, 1808, p. 403. 
 
 IV. A Synod has no right to try a minister whose 
 case has not come before them on reference or ap- 
 peal, 
 
 " The Assembly having maturely considered the 
 appeal of Mr. Davis, from the proceeding of the Synod 
 of the Carolinas in his case. Resolved^ That although 
 they highly approve of the zeal of the Synod to pre- 
 serve the purity and peace of the Church within their 
 bounds, yet they cannot but decide that in their pro- 
 ceedings 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 
 Q\imQ\\r— Minutes, 1810, p. 448. 
 
 A Synod may condemn the errors of a hooJc pub- 
 lished by one of its members, in the absence of the 
 author. 
 
 [Dr. Alexander, Dr. Hill and Mr. William Gray, of 
 Miami Presbytery, brought in a minute which was 
 adopted as expressive of the Assembly's opinion on 
 the appeal of the Rev. Thomas B. Craighead. The 
 Presbytery proceeded regularly to cite him, and he 
 having written to excuse himself for not attending, they 
 proceeded to the trial, and having gone through the 
 evidence, referred the case to the Synod. The Synod 
 met immediately after the Presbytery and took up the 
 case and suspended Mr. Craighead, though he was not 
 present nor informed of the transfer of his cause to a 
 higher tribunal.] This was disapproved, especially as 
 "No injury would have been sustained by delay, for 
 the Synod might have proceeded instantly to condemn 
 the errors of his book, as the General Assembly did 
 in the c xse of the Gospel Plan of W. C. Davis ; the 
 
OF THE SYNOD. 27 
 
 process against the author did not commence till some 
 time afterwards."— J/mw^es,' 1824. p. 219. 
 
 A Synod having received a Preshytery, adjoining 
 its bounds, which had been organized by direction of 
 the Assembly, and attached to another Synod, the 
 Assembly approved its action, and transferred the 
 Presbytery. 
 
 ''Resolved, Whereas the last General Assembly 
 directed the formation of the Presbytery of the Creek 
 Nation, and attached the said Presbytery to the Synod 
 of Mississippi; and whereas the said Presbytery is 
 adjoining the Synod of Memphis, w^hich has received 
 it under its care ; that the proceedings of the said Synod 
 in the premises be approved, and that the said Presby- 
 tery be attached to the Synod of Memphis." — Minutes, 
 1849, p. 248. 
 
 Presbyteries without geograyliical limits are not to 
 * he erected, 
 
 " Resolved, That except in very extraordinary cases, 
 this Assembly are of the opinion that Presbyteries 
 ought to be formed with geographical limits." — Min- 
 utes, 1834, p. 27. 
 
 " Resolved, That the erection of Church courts, 
 and especially of Presbyteries and Synods, on the 
 principle of 'Elective Affinity,' — that is, judicatories 
 not bounded by geographical limits, but having a chief 
 regard in their erection to diversities of doctrinal belief 
 and of ecclesiastical policy, is contrary both to the 
 letter and the spirit of our Constitution ; 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 se- 
 cure 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 
 
28 OF THE SYNOD. 
 
 whicli it might think proper to intrude ; and thus di- 
 vide churches, stir up strife, and promote party spirit 
 and schism with all their deplorable consequence*" — 
 Minutes, 1835, p. 28. 
 
 A Presbytery may not vote in Synod on the question 
 of the approval of their records. 
 
 [The records of the Synod of Geneva contain a pro- 
 test against a decision of the Synod excluding Geneva 
 Presbytery from voting on the question, whether their 
 own Records should be attested by the Moderator as 
 approved.] " The Assembly is of the opinion that the 
 decision of the Synod was consonant 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 ap- 
 proved." — Minutes, 1816, p. 611. 
 
 The Records of the Synod of Kentucky are ap- 
 proved except " that the members of the West Lexing- 
 ton Presbytery voted in approbation of their own pro- 
 ceedings, which is deemed to be irregular." — Minutes, 
 1821, p. 16. 
 
 A Presbytery may not vote on the adoption of the 
 report of the Judicial Qommittee on a complaint or 
 ap)peal from its decision. 
 
 " That the Synod [of Mississippi] acted unconstitu- 
 tionally in permitting the Presbytery of Louisiana to 
 vote on the adoption of the report of the Judicial 
 Committee on the complaint of Rev. Mr. Smylie." — 
 Minutes, 1850, p. 481. 
 
 A Synod may censure a Presbytery for receiviny a 
 minister but may not order them to reconsider their 
 proceedings in the case. — Minutes, 1816, p. 611. 
 (See p. 20.) 
 
 The Synod of Philadelphia rebuked for urging its 
 Presbyteries to guard against the introduction of 
 Hopkinsian and other errors. 
 
 In reviewing the Records of the Synod, certain 
 
OF THE SYNOD. 29 
 
 parts of a pastoral letter were.excepted to, and a reso- 
 lution "which enjoins on the several Presbyteries be- 
 longing to the Synod to call to an account all such 
 ministers as may be suspected to embrace any of the 
 opinions usually called Hopkinsian." Against tliis 
 decision two protests were entered. — 3Iinutes, 1817, 
 p. 653. 
 
 A Synod may not order a Presbytery to rescind 
 their vote restoring a 'person under censure to the 
 ministry. 
 
 The Records of the Synod of Geneva are approved, 
 " except that part in which the Synod ordered the 
 Presbytery of Onondaga to rescind their votes relative 
 to the restoration of the Rev. John Shepherd to the 
 gospel ministry." — 3Iinutes, 1818, p. 688. 
 
 Wheii a Presbytery is ordered to reconsider any pro- 
 ceediny, reasons for the order must be assigned. 
 
 The Records of the Synod of Ohio are approvcdj_ 
 " with the exception of a minute disapproving of a de- 
 cision of a Presbytery and ordering said Presbytery 
 to reconsider that decision, without any reasons being 
 assigned." — Minutes, 1827, p. 115. 
 
 A Synod is competent to receive and examine wit- 
 nesses in support or disproof of a complaint against 
 a Presbytery, 
 
 [The complaint of the minority of the Synod of Cin- 
 cinnati against the Synod's decision in the case of the 
 Rev. George Beccher, is] " 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."— ilt/znitf^s, 1834. p. 40. 
 
 A Synod may order a Presbytery to meet to trans- 
 act specified business at a certain place and time; but 
 may not order a Presbytery to meet out of its geo- 
 graphical bounds, without the express consent of its 
 members. 
 3* 
 
30 OF THE SYNOD. 
 
 " The report of the Rev. Wm. M. Cunningham, on 
 behalf of the Committee appointed by the last Assem- 
 bly to report to this, on certain amendments in the 
 Book of Discipline, was taken up and read and the 
 accompanying resolutions adopted as follows : 
 
 1. Resolvedy That Synod has power to order a 
 Presbytery to meet and to transact such business as 
 in the judgment of Synod is intimately connected 
 with the good order and well being of the Church. 
 
 2. Resolved^ That as such meetings are of the na- 
 ture 0^ pro re nata meetings, the rules that are laid 
 down in our book for the regulation of such called 
 meetings ought to regulate and govern in all cases 
 these meetings ordered by Synod, except when or- 
 dered to meet during the sessions of Synod, on 
 business immediately connected with the proceedings 
 of that body. In such cases, the Presbytery may be 
 required to meet at once by order of the Synod. 
 
 3. Resolved^ That whilst it would be inexpedient 
 and wrong for the Synod to order a Presbytery to 
 meet beyond its own bounds without the express con- 
 sent of its members, we see no constitutional or valid 
 objection against a Presbytery agreeing to meet with- 
 out its own geographical limits. — 3Iznutes, 1848, 
 p. 60. 
 
 A Synod may transcend its powers in dissolving a 
 church. 
 
 [The Assembly deeming it inexpedient to dissolve 
 the second Church of Peoria, directed the Synod of 
 Illinois, in order to bring matters to a state of har- 
 mony and order, to appoint at its first meeting a Com- 
 mittee of men known to be of sound judgment, pacific 
 in their character and not obnoxious to either of the 
 churches in Peoria, to visit those churches and use 
 their best endeavours to bring them together in one 
 harmonious body. The Synod appointed a Commit- 
 tee and confirmed its proceedings in dissolving both 
 the churches and organizing a new one, in opposition 
 to the wishes of the First Church and the remon- 
 strance of the Presbytery.] 
 
OF THE SYNOD. 31 
 
 ^^Besolved, (1) That the ^ynocl of Illinois and its 
 Commission erred by transcending their powers and 
 the directions of the General Assembly ofl8-i0, when 
 they dissolved the First Church of Peoria. 
 
 (2.) That the Presbytery of Peoria be and is here- 
 by directed to restore the name of the aforesaid First 
 Church of Peoria to its roll, the same being, and it is 
 hereby declared to be, a constituent part of the Pres- 
 bytery of Peoria and of the Synod of Illinois. 
 
 (3.) That to prevent all future misconstruction, the 
 Church of Peoria created by the Commission as ap- 
 proved by the Synod of Illinois, be and it is hereby re- 
 cognized and declared to be the Second Church of 
 Peoria." — Minutes, 1842, p. 33. 
 
 TJie Commission of Si/nod. 
 
 " Overtured that a Commission of Synod be ap- 
 pointed to act in the name and with the whole author- 
 ity of the Syuod, in all affairs that shall come before 
 them, and particularly that the whole affair of the 
 fund be left to their conduct, and that they be account- 
 able to the Synod, which overture was approved by 
 the Synod and Masters George McNish, Jedediah 
 Andrews, James Anderson, Samuel Pumry, Malachi 
 Jones and Robert Cross were appointed for said Com- 
 missioners, any three of them to be a quorum." — 
 Records, 1721. p. QQ. 
 
 A member of the Committee appointed to prepare 
 an overture respecting a Commission, brought in a 
 draught which being read and amended, was put to 
 vote and carried by a large majority, and is as follows : 
 
 Whereas there have arisen doubts in the minds of 
 some members respecting the utility and powers of 
 what is called by us the Commission, the Synod pro- 
 ceeded to take this matter into consideration, and after 
 due deliberation, in order to remove any scruples upon 
 this head and prevent all future difficulties in this 
 matter, do determine that the Commission shall con- 
 tinue and meet whensoever called by the Moderator 
 at the request of the first nine on the roll of the Com- 
 
32 OF THE SYNOD. 
 
 mission, or a major part of the first nine ministers ; and 
 when met, that it shall be invested with all the powers 
 of the Synod, to sit by their own adjournments from 
 time to time ; and let it also be duly attended to, that 
 there can lie no appeal from the judgment of the Com- 
 mission, as there can be none from the judgment of the 
 Synod ; but there may be a review of their proceed- 
 ings and judgments by the Synod ; and whensoever 
 this is done, those who were members of the Commis- 
 sion shall be present and assist in forming all such 
 judgments as the Synod may think proper to make 
 upon any such review. — Records^ 1774, p. 459. 
 
 [A judgment of the Session of Salem was confirmed 
 by Abingdon Presbytery and brought by appeal be- 
 fore the Synod of the Carolinas, who remitted the case 
 to a select Session,] " which appears to have been ir- 
 regular." — 3Imutes, 1791, p. 42. 
 
 [The Kev. Edward Crawford] " ought to have re- 
 turned with the other Independent Brethren at the 
 meeting of the Commission of Synod [of the Carolinas,] 
 that he might have been restored to orderly stand- 
 ing."— if ww^es, 1798, p. 157. 
 
 [The whole subject of the power of ecclesiastical 
 bodies to appoint Judicial Commissions was, after be- 
 ing under consideration two years, indefinitely post- 
 poned.]— iH/z'/iti^es, 1847, p. 384. 
 
 V. Where a Synod has failed to meet on adjourn- 
 ment^ the Moderator may call a meeting. 
 
 "As it appeared from the representation of Ministers 
 and Elders, assembled at Yorktown October 20, 1795, 
 and signed Robert Davidson, that the Synod of Phila- 
 delphia did not meet according to its last adjourn- 
 ment, nor since the time to which it was adjourned, 
 on motion 
 
 Resolved, That the Moderator of the Synod of Phi- 
 ladelphia 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 3d Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, on the 
 
OF THE SYNOD. 33 
 
 4th Wednesday of October next; and that lie give 
 due notice thereof by a circular letter to the Modera- 
 tors 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 
 convening the body." — MinuteSy 1796, p. 113. 
 
 The Assemhly heing requested, appointed the time 
 and place of meeting in such case, 
 
 *^An overture from the Synod of Mississippi, re- 
 questing the Assembly to order the next annual meet- 
 ing of that Synod to be held at Natchez on the second 
 Wednesday of December next at 7 P. M., inasmuch as 
 the Synod failed to meet at their appointed time and 
 place for the last meeting, in consequence of cholera 
 prevailing at the place, New Orleans. Also a me- 
 morial from the Presbytery of Louisiana, praying for 
 the same thing. The committee recommended that 
 the request be granted. The recommendation was 
 adopted."— ITinw^es, 1849, p. 247; also, 1850, p. 
 466. 
 
 Tlie Assemlly at tlie request of a Presbytery may 
 change the place of the next meeting of Synod, 
 
 " A request from the Presbytery of Missouri, that 
 the Assembly will change the place of the next stated 
 meeting of the Synod of Missouri. The committee 
 recommended that the request be granted, and that the 
 next stated meeting of the Synod of Missouri be held 
 at Boonville instead of Jefierson City, to which place 
 it now stands adjourned, which was adopted." 
 
34 OF THE SYNOD. 
 
 ^'Has the Moderator of a Synod a right to call a 
 meeting of the Synod during the intervals of its 
 stated sessions f'' 
 *' Resolved by the Assembly, that this question be 
 
 answered in the affirmative." — Minutes^ 1829, p. 383. 
 
 " Your Committee observe, moreover, in pages 42, • 
 43 [of the records of the Synod of Kentucky,] the record 
 of a meeting of Synod, which was convened pursuant 
 to a call of the Moderator, without a specij&cation of 
 the object for which they were convened." — Ifinutes, 
 1823, p. 120. 
 
 " The Assembly took up the protest and complaint 
 of a minority of the Synod of Virginia, against a de- 
 cision of said Synod in favour of called meetings of 
 Synod ; the complainants and Synod were heard, after 
 which it was resolved that the complaint be not sus- 
 tained.— M'?zwfes, 1832, p. 328. 
 
 There may he adjourned meetings of Synod, 
 
 " As there is an adjourned meeting of said Synod 
 with a view to issue the business, the Assembly ought 
 not judicially to interfere until it shall be decided upon 
 by the Synod, and they hereby recommend to the 
 Synod of the Carolinas, to continue their laudable and 
 prudent endeavors, to bring the present dispute to a 
 speedy issue." — Minutes, 1797, p. 127. 
 
 The records of the Synod of the Carolinas "were ap- 
 proved as far as the end of the extraordinary session 
 held at Little Britain, N. C, Feb. 7, 1799."— IZ^Vi- 
 utes, 1799, p. 176. 
 
 The Moderator may not postpone a regular meeting 
 of Synod. 
 
 " Resolved, That the records of the Synod of North 
 Carolina be approved with the exception of the post- 
 ponement of the regular meeting of Synod by the 
 moderator, which this Assembly consider irregular." 
 -—Minutes, 1848, p. 36. 
 
OP THE SYNOD. 35 
 
 Neglect to have a sermon preached at the opening of 
 the Synod, is censurable. 
 
 [The records of the Synod of Plttsbiigh are ap- 
 proved with the exception] " that at the opening of 
 the Synod, no sermon was delivered as the Constitu- 
 tion requires, but on the following evening." — dlinutes, 
 1827, p. 118. 
 
 VI. Sy nodical Records. 
 
 [The records of the Synod of Albany were approved 
 with the exception that] '' the Synod was opened with- 
 out a sermon, whereas the Form of Government, Chap, 
 xi. Sec. 5, requires that a sermon shall be preached." 
 —Minutes, 1843, p. 181. 
 
 " It is recommended to the Synods of Virginia and 
 the Carolinas, to send attested copies of their minutes 
 by their delegates to the Assembly yearly, whenever, 
 they find it inconvenient to send their books." — 3Iin- 
 utes, 1790, p. 23. 
 
 " Resolved, That the dispensation allowed to the 
 Synods of Virginia and the Carolinas by the Assembly 
 of 1790, to send up attested copies of their records 
 instead of the records, be and it is hereby rescinded." 
 —3Iiniites, 1811, p. 423. 
 
 A trayiscript of the Records cannot he received. 
 
 [The Synod of West Tennessee having sent up a 
 document] " which purports to be a true copy from 
 the original record under the hand of the Stated Clerk ; 
 your Committee are of opinion that the document pro- 
 duced does not come up to the requirement of the Con- 
 stitution, and they recommend that the Synod of West 
 Tennessee be required to produce their original book 
 of records for examination at the next General Assem- 
 bly." [The Report was adopted.]— il[f^V^^^^g5, 1847, 
 p. 381. 
 
OP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 Defects in the Records, 
 
 The Records must describe the ecclesiastical body 
 to which the ministers invited to sit as correspondents 
 belong. — Minutes, 1815, p. 578; 31inutes, 1840, p. 
 296. 
 
 The Presbyterial Reports must be recorded fully so 
 as to exhibit in detail the changes which from time to 
 time take place in the Presbyteries. — 3Iinutes, 1811, 
 p. 479. 
 
 OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter XII.] 
 
 Being requested by a Synod, the Assembly divided 
 a Presbytery. 
 
 [An Overture was laid through the Synod of Phi- 
 ladelphia, before the Assembly, requesting a division 
 of Carlisle Presbytery; and the Presbytery was divi- 
 ded by a line along the Juniata river from its mouth 
 to the Tuscarora mountain, thence along that moun- 
 tain to the head of Path Valley ; thence westwardly 
 to the eastern boundary of Redstone Presbytery, so 
 as to leave Bedford congregation to the south ; Car- 
 lisle Presbytery to lie south of the line, and Hunting- 
 don Presbytery to lie north.] — Minutes, 1794, p. 89. 
 
 The Assembly on dividing a Presbytery at its 
 request, the proposal not having been first laid before 
 the Synod, gives reasons for its action, and declares 
 that it shall not be used as a precedent. 
 
 [In investigating the application of Albany Pres- 
 bytery for a division,] "circumstances were stated to 
 exist which led the Assembly to^ judge such division 
 proper, and perhaps necessary, at this time; and 
 
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 37 
 
 "whereas, doubts arose whether it was proper for the 
 Assembly to interfere for the purpose of making such 
 division, the proposal not having been first 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 as forming a precedent for future con- 
 duct r—3Ii7iutes, 1802, p. 252. 
 
 "The Committee of Overtures laid before the 
 Assembly a copy of a record of the Presbytery of 
 Oneida, earnestly praying this Assembly to divide 
 that Presbytery into two Presbyteries, to consist 
 respectively of certain ministers and churches men- 
 tioned in said record. 
 
 "On motion, Besolved, That the request of the 
 Presbytery be granted, and that Messrs. Romeyn, 
 Chapman, Lewis, and Savage, be a committee to pres- 
 cribe the limits of the Presbyteries to be formed, and. 
 direct the time and manner of their organization." — 
 Minutes, 1805, p. 320. 
 
 Onli/ in frontier settlements has the Assembly exer- 
 cised this i^ower. 
 The Presbytery of Huntingdon having applied for 
 a division of their Presbytery, "Resolved, That the 
 Presbytery make their application to the Synod to 
 which they belong, being the most proper judicature 
 to decide in the case." — Minutes, 1808, p. 899. 
 
 The Assembly has erected Presbyteries out of minis- 
 ters and congregations lying in the bounds of con- 
 tiguous Synods. 
 In the case of Chenango Presbytery. — Minutes, 
 
 1826, p. 21. 
 
 In the case of Luzerne Presbytery. — Minutes, 
 1843, p. 195. 
 
 Also in neiv Territories. 
 In the case of Michigan Presbytery, — Minutes. 
 
 1827, p. 120. 
 4 
 
38 OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 In the case of Wisconsin Presbytery. — Minutes, 
 1846, p. 194. 
 
 In the case of Creek Nation Presbytery. — Minutes, 
 1848, p. 21. 
 
 A Presbytery was erected, in opposition to the wishes 
 of the Synod, and of the Presbytery which was 
 dismembered, no territorial limits being assigned 
 to it. 
 
 In the case of the Second Presbytery of Philadel- 
 phia.— ilfmw^es, 1832, p. 321. 
 
 A Synod having remodeled its Presbyteries, the As- 
 sembly restored one which had been merged in 
 another by the arrangement, 
 
 " The Committee appointed to form a minute ex- 
 pressive of the vote of the Assembly on the appeal 
 and complaint of the second Presbytery of Phila- 
 delphia, reported the following resolution, which was 
 adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, 1. That the appeal and complaint of the 
 second Presbytery of Philadelphia, against the Synod 
 of Philadelphia, be and the same are hereby sus- 
 tained; and the act of said Synod, so far as it was 
 intended to unite the said Second Presbytery with 
 the Presbytery of Philadelphia, is hereby declared 
 void. 
 
 2. That this resolution shall not be so construed as 
 to affect the integrity of the Presbytery which was 
 constituted under the order of the Synod of Philadel- 
 phia, by the name of the Second Presbytery of Phi- 
 ladelphia, in November last ; but the same is hereby 
 recognized as a constituent part of the Synod of 
 Philadelphia. The Assembly, however, recommend 
 to the Synod to change the name of said Presbytery." 
 —Minutes, 1834, p. 17. 
 
 [The Assembly changed its name, and assigned 
 territorial limits to it.] — Minutes, 1836, p. 278. 
 
 [The Assembly dissolved the third Presbytery of 
 Philadelphia.]— i^fww^es, 1837, p. 472. 
 
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 30 
 
 A Synod having dissolved ona, of its Presbyteries, the 
 Assembly restored it, 
 
 " The Assembly took up the complaint of Mr. Gil- 
 bert, and Mr. Pickands, 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." 
 
 [After hearing the parties,] 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. 
 
 In erecting Synods, the wishes of the Synods out of 
 which they are to be formed, are regarded. 
 
 [The Assembly] " are of the opinion that the divi- 
 sion of the Presbytery [of Albany,] ought to take 
 place ; but that the Presbyteries [to be formed] ought 
 not to be constituted a Synod, until the Synod of 
 New York and New Jersey shall be consulted on the 
 subject."— ilfmwte^, 1802, p. 251. 
 
 "The Committee to which the petitions from the 
 Presbyteries of New Lancaster, Washington, and 
 Miami, were referred, reported, and their report 
 being read, and the subject discussed at considerable 
 length, was adopted, and is as follows, viz. 
 
 That although their knowledge of the circumstances 
 of these Presbyteries, and of the vast extent of the 
 bounds of the Synod of Kentucky, and their appre- 
 hensions of the interests and convenience of the 
 churches in that region, would strongly recommend 
 that the prayer of the petitioners be granted ; yet, as 
 the Synod of Kentucky is acknowledged by the peti- 
 tioners to have decided against their request, and as 
 this Assembly does not possess any official informa- 
 tion from said Synod on this subject, the Assembly, 
 in present circumstances, do not feel themselves at 
 
40 OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 liberty to make an immediate division of the Synod ; 
 therefore, 
 
 Resolved^ That the Assembly recommend to the 
 Synod of Kentucky to reconsider their proceedings 
 in this case, and if consistent with their views of the 
 interests of the churches within their bounds, to take 
 at their next meeting, the order necessary to open the 
 way for a division of said Synod, by the General 
 Assembly, or otherwise to exhibit to the next Assem- 
 bly their reasons against the division." — Minutes^ 
 1813, p. 532. 
 
 Who may preacJi and preside at the opening of the 
 session of Assembly in the last Moderator s absence. 
 
 [The Moderator of the last Assembly being absent, 
 the Assembly was opened at the request of the last 
 Moderator present, with a sermon by Dr. Miller, a 
 Commissioner.] "After sermon, the Stated Clerk 
 called the house to order, and informed them that the 
 Rev. Dr. Lindsley, the Moderator of the last Assem- 
 bly, being absent, the duties of the chair devolved on 
 the last Moderator, who is present, and has a Com- 
 mission to sit in this Assembly ; and, therefore, 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 voted in the apprehension that Dr. 
 W. 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 commission, 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. 
 
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 41 
 
 Whereupon Dr. Ely put the question — *A11 who 
 are in favour of sustaining the resolution passed in 
 the morning, by which Dr. Beman was called to the 
 chair, will signify it by saying aye.' This motion 
 was lost. 
 
 It was then moved that the Rev. William A. 
 McDowell, D. D., being the last Moderator present, 
 be requested to take the chair. This motion prevailed, 
 and Dr. McDowell took the chair accordingly." — 
 3Imut€s, 1835, p. 3—7. 
 
 [The Moderator of the last Assembly, being absent, 
 the Assembly was opened at his request with a ser- 
 mon by Dr. R. J. Breckinridge, who being the last 
 Moderator present, but not a member of the Assem- 
 bly, took the chair after the sermon, and opened the 
 session with prayer.] 
 
 "The Committee of Bills and Overtures, reported 
 Overture No. 26, viz., the question, Whether any 
 other person than the Moderator of the General 
 Assembly immediately preceding, or a commissioner 
 to the General Assembly about to convene, can preach 
 and preside at the opening of the sessions of the As- 
 sembly ? 
 
 On which subject the Committee submitted the fol- 
 lowing preamble and resolutions, which were adopted, 
 viz. 
 
 Whereas, there exists a difference of opinion as to 
 the proper person to open the sessions of the General 
 Assembly, in case the Moderator of the Assembly 
 immediately preceding be not present ; therefore 
 
 Resolved, That it is the deliberate judgment of 
 this General Assembly, that by the Constitution of 
 our Church no person is authorized to open the ses- 
 isons of the General Assembly, or to preside at the 
 opening of said sessions, except the Moderator of the 
 Assembly immediately preceding, or in case of his 
 absence a Commissioner to the Assembly, selected 
 for the purpose by the other Commissioners, met at 
 the time and place fixed for said meeting." — Minutes, 
 1843, p. 194. 
 4* 
 
42 OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 The Committee of Commissions. 
 
 ^^Mesolved, That the Permanent and Stated Clerks 
 be and they hereby are appointed a standing Com- 
 mittee of Commissions; and that the Commissioners 
 to future Assemblies hand their commissions to 
 said Committee, in the room in which the Assem- 
 bly 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 pre- 
 sented during the sessions of the Assembly, instead 
 of being read in the house, shall be examined by said 
 Committee and reported to the Assembly." — dlinutes, 
 1829, p. 384. 
 
 The Committee of Elections, 
 
 "The first act of the Assembly, when ready for 
 business, shall be the appointment of a Committee of 
 Elections, whose duty it shall be to examine all in- 
 formal and unconstitutional commissions, and report 
 on the same as soon as practicable." — Minutes, 1826, 
 p. 40. 
 
 Commissioners from new Presbyteries, 
 
 '^Resolved 1. That no Commissioner from a newly 
 formed Presbytery shall be permitted to take his seat, 
 nor shall such Commissioner be reported by the Com- 
 mittee on Commissions, until the Presbytery shall 
 have been duly reported by the Synod, and recog- 
 nized as such by the Assembly ; and that the same 
 rule shall apply when the name of any Presbytery 
 has been changed. 
 
 2. When it shall appear to the satisfaction of the 
 General Assembly that any new Presbytery has been 
 formed for the purpose of unduly increasing the repre- 
 sentation, the General Assembly will by a vote of the 
 majority refuse to receive the delegates of Presbyte- 
 ries so formed, and may direct the Synod to which 
 such Presbytery belongs to reunite it to the Presby- 
 tery or Presbyteries to which the members were 
 before attached." — 3Iinutes, 1837, p. 446. 
 
RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS. 43 
 
 OF ELECTING AND ORDAINING RULING 
 ELDERS AND DEACONS. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter XIII.] 
 
 II. The Constitution designedly leaves the mode 
 to be regulated by the usage of each congregation. 
 
 The Assembly in sustaining the complaint No. 4, 
 a complaint of the Presbytery of Blairsville against 
 the Synod of Pittsburgh, in reference to the conclemn- 
 ation or non-approval of the decision of said Pres- 
 bytery, made October 2d, 1839, on an overture in 
 the following words: "To whom belongs the right of 
 deciding when an addition to the session is necessary, 
 and how many are to be added?" 
 
 "The Committee appointed to draft a minute in 
 relation to the decision of the complaint of the Pres- 
 bytery of Blairsville, reported the following, which 
 was adopted, viz. 
 
 The Assembly deem it proper, in sustaining the 
 complaint of the Presbytery of Blairsville, to declare 
 that they do it on the ground that the decision of the 
 Synod of Pittsburgh, disapproving of the act of the 
 Presbytery, if carried into effect, would render it 
 necessary for the churches in that Presbytery, and 
 any other within the bounds of that Synod whose 
 practice may be the same, to change their usage as to 
 the manner of electing ruling elders, which by the 
 Constitution is left to be regulated by "the mode 
 most approved and in use in each church." At the 
 same time, the Assembly, in coming to this result, 
 have no design to establish a uniform mode of elect- 
 ing elders throughout the Church, which is designedly 
 left by the Constitution to be regulated by the usage 
 of each particular church. 
 
 And it may be added, that in those churches in 
 which the usage has prevailed, for the existing elder- 
 ship to determine when and how large an addition 
 shall be made to the session, the Church has an effec- 
 tual security against the abuse of that power, in the 
 
44 RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS. 
 
 right of appeal or complaint secured by the Constitu- 
 tion."— ilf^•7^^^^es, 1840, p. 288, 305. 
 
 Wliere there is dissatisfaction with the usage, the 
 congregation should be promptly convened to coti- 
 sider the expediency of changing it, 
 
 "While the Assembly would recognize the undoubt- 
 ed 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 
 dissatisfaction appears to exist, the congregation be 
 promptly convened to decide on their future mode of 
 election." — Minutes, 1827, p. 130. 
 
 The Assembly recommends that a direct vote of the 
 congregation be taken in the election of elders. 
 
 " 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 
 appointment of elders." — Minutes, 1827, p. 130. 
 
 The custom of alloiving persons not being communi- 
 cants to vote, does not invalidate the election, 
 
 "The business left unfinished in the morning, viz., 
 the consideration of the report of the committee to 
 which was referred the appeal of Messrs. Lowrie 
 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 Rice to the office 
 of ruling elders in the Second Presbyterian 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. Lowrie 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, 
 
RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS. 45 
 
 according to the letter of the Constitution of the 
 Presbyterian Church, and in the spirit and temper 
 of the gospel; 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 Presbyterian connection, to allow this 
 privilege to others, they see no reason why the elec- 
 tion be considered void, nor any reason why the de- 
 cision 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." — 3Iinute8, 
 1822, p. 21. 
 
 " The Committee on Overture No. 1, viz., the fol- 
 lowing reference from the Presbytery of Steubenville : 
 Ought an unbaptized person, who yet pays his propor- 
 tion for the support of a congregation, to be permit- 
 ted 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 the Confession 
 of Faith, Book I. on Government, Chap. v. are "the 
 representatives of those by whom they are chosen, 
 for the purpose of exercising government and dis- 
 cipline," in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ; 
 that the discipline lawfully exercised by them is the 
 discipline exercised through them by their constitu- 
 ents, in whose name and by whose authority they act 
 in all that they do. To suppose, therefore, 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 representa- 
 tives exercise discipline in the Church of God ; which 
 is manifestly unscriptural and contrary to the stand- 
 ards of our Church; and your committee would 
 therefore recommend that the question in the said 
 overture be answered in the negative." — Minutes, 
 1830, p. 9. 
 
46 RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS. 
 
 Persons having been ordained to the office of elders 
 without being duly elected, are to be regarded as 
 having never been invested with the office, 
 
 [The Synod of the Carolinas inquire:] "In what 
 point of light are the elders nominated and ordained 
 by Mr. Balch to be viewed hereafter in Mount Bethel 
 congregation?" 
 
 The Assembly answer : They are to be " henceforth 
 viewed as private church members only, unless they 
 be duly elected and set apart as church ofl&cers \\qxq- 
 Siher:'— Minutes, 1798, p. 158. 
 
 The session has power to convene the congregation for 
 the election of elders ; a remedy for their neglect or 
 refusal is found in a complaint to the Presbytery, 
 
 " The Assembly gave their opinion that the session 
 of a Church has the authority to convene the congre- 
 gation for all such purposes, but should the session 
 neglect or refuse to convene the congregation, the 
 party feeling aggrieved has its remedy by applica- 
 tion to Presbytery in the form of a complaint." — 
 Minutes, 1822, p. 21. 
 
 IV. The scriptural and appropriate mode of ordain- 
 ing elders and deacons, 
 
 " Our Form of Government, Chap. xiii. Sec. 4, de- 
 clares that such, whether elder or deacon, shall be set 
 apart to their respective oflfices 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 Assembly 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. 490. 
 
 VI. Elders may resign their office, 
 
 [The Synod having forwarded to the Rev. George 
 Duffield a call from the Third Church in Philadelphia, 
 
RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS. 47 
 
 •without any concurrence of the eldership, and against 
 their solemn caution, the elders asked advice of the 
 Synod in respect to the execution of their office.] 
 
 The Synod answer: "In case they cannot, consist- 
 ently with what they apprehend to be their duty, 
 continue as such, and act upon the decisions of 
 Synod, that they may resign their office." — Minutes, 
 1TT2, p. 435. 
 
 After ceasing to he acting elders, they cannot he mem- 
 hers of any church judicature. 
 
 Resolved, That no ruling elder who has retired 
 from the active exercise of his office in the church to 
 which he belongs, can be admitted as a member of a 
 Presbytery, Synod, or General Assembly." — Min- 
 utes, 1835, p. 32. 
 
 " When a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church, 
 by removal or otherwise, terminates his connection 
 with the session by whom he was ordained, does he 
 require installation before he can regularly exercise 
 again the office in the same church or in any other 
 one?" 
 
 The overture was answered in the affirmative. — 
 Minutes, 1849, p. 265. 
 
 Overture No. II. An overture from the Presbytery 
 of Erie, asking " whether the answer of the General 
 Assembly of 1849 to the second part of Overture 36, 
 on page 265 of the printed Minutes, in relation to the 
 installation of ruling elders who have removed from 
 one church to another, has a retrospective, or only a 
 prospective bearing. 
 
 The committee recommended the following answer 
 to the question : That it has a prospective bearing. 
 
 The recommendation was adopted. — Minutes, 1850, 
 p. 454. 
 
 "Common fame accuses two ruling elders of a 
 church (they being the only acting elders) with un- 
 christian conduct which took place several years ago, 
 but which has lately been made known to the Pres- 
 
48 RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS. 
 
 bytery with which said church is connected. What 
 is the duty of Presbytery in this case ? 
 
 The Committee to whom was referred the overture 
 from the Presbytery of Genesee, made a report, which 
 being read and amended, was adopted, and is as 
 follows, viz: 
 
 ''Resolved, That the Presbytery is the competent 
 court to try these two elders, and it is their duty to 
 cite the offending persons before them, and proceed 
 to issue the case." — Minutes^ 1825, pp. 260, 262. 
 
 "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 communion of the 
 church; so there maybe 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. 
 
 "Is it lawful for the same person to hold at the 
 same time the two distinct offices of ruling elder 
 and of deacon in the Presbyterian Church?" 
 
 ''Resolved, That while it is important and desirable 
 that the several offices in the Christian church should 
 be kept distinct, and be sustained by different indi- 
 viduals wherever a sufficient number of competent 
 men can be found ; yet in the opinion of this Assem- 
 bly, it is not inconsistent with the Constitution of the 
 Presbyterian Church, nor with the precedent fur- 
 nished in filling the office of deacon at its first insti- 
 tution, that where a necessity exists, the same indi- 
 vidual should sustain both offices." — Minutes, 1840, 
 p. 306. 
 
OF LICENSING CANDIDATES. 49 
 
 OF LICENSING CANDIDATES TO PREACH THE 
 GOSPEL. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter XIV.] 
 
 IL " AYhether 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 suffi- 
 cient recommendations? 
 
 " 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 im- 
 provement under the direction of any divine of repu- 
 tation 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 conveni- 
 ency, or from any circumstances that make it necessary, 
 desire to enter upon 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 or 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 neighbouring minis- 
 ters 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." — Records, pp. 305 and 
 33T. 
 
 "The Presbytery of New Castle expressing some 
 uneasiness at the conduct of the Second Philadelphia 
 Presbytery, for having received and licensed a certain 
 5 
 
50 OF LICENSING CANDIDATES. 
 
 Mr. John Mc Clean, who, they apprehend, most pro- 
 perly belonged to the Presbytery of New Castle, and 
 had applied to 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." — Records^ 
 1772, p. 435. 
 
 The case of Mr. Hindman, 
 
 The consideration of the report of the committee 
 to examine the Records 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 Presby- 
 tery of New Castle that a certain Mr. Hindman 
 had put himself under the care of the Presbytery 
 of Donegal for trials, and afterwards, without certifi- 
 cate or dismission offered himself 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 Donegal, 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 can- 
 didate, without any decision upon the matters referred 
 to them." Whereupon the Assembly '^ Resolved, That 
 
OF LICENSING CANDIDATES. 51 
 
 the Synod be informed that the Assembly disapprove 
 of the proceedings as represented in their llecords, in 
 recommending a candidate to be received as in full 
 standing, before they had given a decision upon the 
 allegations against him." — Minutes, 1791, p. 37. 
 
 " The following question was brought in and read, 
 viz: If any congregation under the care of this Gene- 
 ral Assembly desire leave to prepare and present a 
 call to Mr. Hindman, will the Presbytery under 
 whose care he is be regular in granting such liberty 
 to any of their congregations? 
 
 In answer to which the General Assembly observe, 
 that as the merits of Mr. Hindman's case and charac- 
 ter have never been brought before this body for their 
 decision, they cannot in consistency with any regular 
 proceeding determine any thing about the case. On 
 the whole, the General Assembly consider Mr. Hind- 
 man as occupying the same situation in which he was 
 placed by the Synod of Philadelphia, without being 
 affected in any respect by the proceedings of this^ 
 Assembly."— ilfmw^es. 1791, p. 43. 
 
 "The committee appointed to draught a minute 
 respecting the appeal from 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 con- 
 duct of the Presbytery 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 be- 
 fore 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 grounds of uneasiness to the appellants, 
 and to deserve the disapprobation of the Assembly. 
 But inasmuch as acts which have been performed in 
 an informal manner must often when done be sus- 
 tained, the Assembly do hereby sustain the licensure 
 
52 OF LICENSING CANDIDATES. 
 
 and ordination of Mr. Hindman, while at the same 
 time tliey 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:" [this 
 minute is inserted before, see page 49.1 — Minutes^ 
 1792, p. ^Q, ^ 
 
 The Committee of Bills and Overtures tendered to 
 the General Assembly the following overture, viz. 
 
 "A Presbytery having proceeded for some time in 
 the trials of a candidate for the gospel ministry, stop 
 his trials, and he being also otherwise laid under cen- 
 sure by their direction and under their cognizance, he 
 some time afterward, without acquittal or recommenda- 
 tion from the Presbytery which had stopped his trials, 
 applies to another Presbytery, from which he obtains 
 licensure to preach. He then applies to a third Pres- 
 bytery, or others apply for him, for liberty to preach 
 and settle in their bounds. Quere — Ought that third 
 Presbytery to receive him as a regular licentiate, and 
 permit him to preach in their bounds, or any of 
 their vacancies to prosecute a call for him, before he 
 shall have produced an acquittance and recommenda- 
 tion from the Presbytery that had put a stop to his 
 trials, and under whose cognizance he was otherwise 
 censured ? 
 
 After mature consideration of the said question, 
 the General Assembly determine that it is fully an- 
 swered by the existing rules of this body." — Minutes^ 
 1791, p. 37. 
 
 The case of Mr. James McCoy. 
 
 A case was referred to the General Assembly for 
 counsel from the Presbytery of New Castle, which is 
 as follows, viz. 
 
 "At a meeting of the Presbytery of New Castle in 
 Wilmington, upon the first Tuesday of January, 1791, 
 and continued by adjournments, the Rev. James 
 McCoy of Morris county Presbytery, with a commis- 
 sioner from Queen Ann's congregation, applied to be 
 
OF LICENSING CANDIDATES. 53 
 
 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 or- 
 dained by the Presbytery of Morris, this Presbytery 
 agreed not to receive him as*a member, until his 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 
 or 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." — 3Imutes, 1791, p. 38. 
 
 The case of 3Ir. 3IcCalla, 
 
 "The consideration of the business left unfinished 
 yesterday afternoon, was resumed, viz., the complaint 
 of the Presbytery of Washington, Ohio, against the 
 Presbytery of West Lexington, for licensing and^ 
 ordaining the Rev. 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 con- 
 sequence of a reference on the subject from the session 
 of the church of Chilicothe. 
 
 After a long discussion of the subject, the Assem- 
 bly adopted the following resolution and decision in 
 the case, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That while the Assembly disapprove of 
 the conduct of Mr. McCalla in preaching the gospel 
 before he was regularly licensed; and while they re- 
 gret 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 preach- 
 ing as just mentioned, or to the proceedings in the ses- 
 sion of the church of Chilicothe, and of the Presby- 
 tery of Washington in his case, they nevertheless 
 judge that the proceedings of the Presbytery of West 
 Lexington in licensing and ordaining Mr. McCalla be 
 
54 OP LICENSING CANDIDATES. 
 
 sustained, and that Mr. McCalla be considered as a 
 minister in good and regular standing in the Presby- 
 terian Church. 
 
 The Assembly, moreover, cannot forbear expressing 
 their regret that the Presbytery of Washington should 
 have passed a vote of censure on Mr. McCalla, with- 
 out 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 of West Lexington, 
 of which the Presbytery of Washington have com- 
 plained. 
 
 Nor can the Assembly forbear to regret that the 
 session of the church 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 be- 
 fore they received him." — Minutes^ 1821, p. 14. 
 
 Whether it is regular for students of divinity ivho 
 intend to return and officiate in the Presbyterian 
 Church to go into New England or elsewhere to he 
 licensed ? 
 
 [A candidate, having done so, presented himself 
 to Philadelphia Presbytery; they declined to receive 
 him until they had taken the advice of the Synod.] 
 
 " Voted that Mr. Hugh Williamson, a probationer 
 in the ministry, who was licensed in Connecticut, 
 should be received under the care of the Synod." — 
 Records, 1760, p. 306. 
 
 "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 Pres- 
 byteries, as we are hereby deprived of the right of 
 trying and approving the qualifications of our own 
 candidates ; yet if any case may happen wherein 
 such conduct may in some circumstances be thought 
 
OP LICENSINQ CANDIDATES. 55 
 
 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." — 
 Records, 1764, p. 337. 
 
 III. "No student shall, be received to enter upon 
 trials in order to his licensing to preach, until he shall 
 repair unto the dwellings or lodgings of at least most 
 of the ministers of the Presbytery to which he offers 
 himself, and thereby give them an opportunity to 
 take a view of his parts and behaviour." — Records, 
 1735, p. 117. 
 
 [The Rev. David Rice proposed in the name of 
 Transylvania Presbytery an inquiry concerning the 
 propriety in their present circumstances (during the 
 great awakening) of licensing and ordaining men to 
 the work of the gospel ministry without a liberal edu- 
 cation. The Assembly replied in full to the query, 
 from which this is an extract.] 
 
 " We do not say that a liberal education is abso- 
 lutely essential to a man's usefulness in the ministry 
 of the gospel; but reason and experience both demon- 
 strate its high importance and utility. And where 
 ignorant men are permitted to explain the Holy 
 Scriptures, it ought to be subject to the direction and 
 control of others of greater knowledge. But this is 
 an order which it has not been thought proper to 
 adopt in the Presbyterian Church. And the superior 
 comparative prosperity and usefulness of our Church, 
 and that of our eastern brethren Avhich is similarly 
 constituted, is a demonstration by no means equivocal 
 of the approbation and smiles of Heaven upon us, in 
 the exercise of our present form of government and 
 discipline. But were our opinion on this subject dif- 
 ferent from what it is, we cannot lawfully and con- 
 scientiously depart from our present standards till 
 they be changed in an orderly manner by the consent 
 of a majority of the Presbyteries which compose the 
 body of the General Assembly." — 3Iinutes, 1804, 
 p. 300. 
 
66 OF LICENSING CANDIDATES. 
 
 Case of Dispensation. 
 
 [Union Presbytery having had under their care 
 John Gloucester, (a coloured man,) and he being in 
 their judgment of promising talents and eminent 
 piety, and though engaged for several years in the 
 study of literature and divinity, has not yet obtained 
 all the qualifications usually required in candidates 
 for the ministry, they asked advice. The Assembly 
 highly approved their caution and prudence, and con- 
 sidering the circumstances of this particular case, 
 viz., the evidence of unusual talents, discretion, and 
 piety; the good reason there is to believe that he 
 may be highly useful in preaching the gospel among 
 those of his own colour, and the various difficulties 
 likely to attend a further delay in proceeding in this 
 case, do authorize Philadelphia Presbytery to consider 
 the case, and if they think proper, to license John 
 Gloucester.]— ilfmw^es, 1807, p. 387. 
 
 License for a limited time, 
 
 [The Presbytery book of Suffolk was approved since 
 the union of the two Synods, except that they licensed 
 for a certain time, of which the Synod highly disap- 
 proved.] — Records^ 1764, p. 338. 
 
 VL The pJtrases ^^ Approved Divine, or Professor of 
 Theology" defined. 
 "Whereas, our Form of Government, Chap. xiv. 
 Sec. 6, requires that candidates for the ministry, be- 
 fore they are licensed, " shall have studied divinity 
 under some approved divine or professor of theolo- 
 gy;" evidently meaning thereby such divine or pro- 
 fessor of theology as is approved by the Presbyterian 
 Church in some of her regularly organized forms ; 
 therefore, in order to secure a ministry who shall be 
 sound in the faith, and well instructed in the doc- 
 trines, order, and discipline of the Church, and in 
 order to the thorough instruction of the people in the 
 cardinal doctrines and duties of our holy religion, it is 
 
OF LICENSING CANDIDATES. 57 
 
 Resolved, That the Presbyteries be, and they here- 
 by are enjoined to see that their candidates for the 
 ministry prosecute their studies only at such Theo- 
 logical Seminaries, or with such divines as are thus 
 approved, and recognized by the Presbyterian Church 
 as sound in the faith and attached to our ecclesiasti- 
 cal order and forms of worship as laid down in the 
 accredited standards of our Church." — J/i?m^6's, 1838, 
 p. 39. 
 
 Is it constitutional for a Synod to enact that in future^ 
 candidates for the gosj^el ministiy shall he reqidi-ed 
 to attend to the study of divinity at least three 
 years ? 
 
 [The Records of the Synod of New York and New 
 Jersey are approved,] *' 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 determined by the Assem- 
 bly to be unconstitutional." — Minutes^, 1792, p. 59. 
 
 A remonstrance was presented by the Synod of 
 New York and New Jersey against the foregoing de- 
 cision, and it was reconsidered the next year, and 
 the following resolution was adopted, viz. 
 
 ''Resolved, As the sense of this house, that the 
 decision of the last General Assembly, which is the 
 subject of complaint, ought not to be altered." — 
 3Imutes, 1793, p. 73. 
 
 The 2'>l<^dge given to the Board of Education hy bene- 
 ficiaries, to study divinity at least three years^ is 
 constitutional. 
 
 ''Resolved, That the General Assembly are deeply 
 impressed with the importance of a thorough course 
 of theological study, and would earnestly recommend 
 to their Presbyteries to elevate the standard of educa- 
 tion, and that the rule of the Board of Education does 
 not conflict with the Constitution, when it prescribes 
 
68 OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 
 
 the time of study, inasmuch as the Constitution makes 
 two years the shortest time allowed to complete the 
 course of theological study, but does not prescribe the 
 maximum." — Minutes , 1844, p. 375. 
 
 OF THE ELECTION AND ORDINATION OF 
 PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter XV.] 
 
 I. The proper mode of proceeding to elect a Pastor, 
 
 " 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 deci- 
 sion of the Synod of Philadelphia, affirming a decision 
 of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, by which the Pres- 
 bytery directed the said Session, within twenty days 
 from the date of their decision, or after the final 
 determination of the case, to convene the congrega- 
 tion for the purpose of electing a pastor, was deter- 
 mined 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 Assem- 
 bly sustained the appeal of the session 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 session of each congregation are to 
 determine, under their responsibility to the higher 
 
OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 59 
 
 jfidicatures, when the congregation are prepared to 
 elect a pastor, as directed in 'the Form of Govern- 
 ment of this Church, Chap. xiv. Sec. 1. 
 
 II. That it is the duty of the session when a con- 
 gregation is vacant, to use their best endeavours 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 por- 
 tion of them, to complain to the Presbytery when 
 they think that the session, after being suitably 
 requested, neglect, or refuse to convene the congrega- 
 tion to elect a pastor. 
 
 III. That it belongs to the Presbyteries to take 
 cognizance of the proceedings of sessions and congre- 
 gations 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 precipi- 
 tancy in the settlement of any minister, or the adop- 
 tion of any system of proceedings in the congregation 
 inconsistent 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 congregation 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 indefinite length 
 of time, the rights of the people will be most effec- 
 tually secured, and their precious and inalienable 
 privilege of choosing their own pastor will be exer- 
 cised by them in the shortest period which their 
 own real benefit will permit. 
 
 V. That the conviction of this Assembly that the 
 foregoing obvious and constitutional principles had not 
 been duly adhered to in the case before them ; that the 
 congregation had not proceeded with a suitable respect 
 for the session, and that the Presbytery did not adopt 
 the most suitable measure when they advised and 
 
60 OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 
 
 directed the session to convene the congregation in 
 twenty days, has led the Assembly to sustain this 
 appeal as the measure most constitutional, best calcu- 
 lated on the whole to do justice to all the parties 
 concerned, and to point the way to the most speedy 
 settlement of the unhappy diiFerences and disorders 
 which have so long existed in the particular congre- 
 gation immediately concerned." — Minutes, 1814, pp. 
 559, 560. 
 
 XII. Persons traducing the Confession of Faith can- 
 not he admitted into the ministry. 
 
 The Committee to which was referred the petition 
 of certain individuals, members of the congregation in 
 Tammany street, Baltimore, reported, and their report 
 being read and amended was adopted, and is as fol- 
 lows, viz. 
 
 That while it is unquestionably the privilege of 
 individuals and members of the Presbyterian Church 
 when they think they see the peace, purity, or pros- 
 perity of the church in danger, either from an indi- 
 vidual or from an inferior court, to apply to the Gen- 
 eral Assembly in mi orderly manner 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 orderly ad- 
 duced; nor have the individuals thus accused had 
 an opportunity of replying to those charges, or of 
 making any defence of themselves. The Assembly 
 therefore cannot witness a procedure of this kind 
 without expressing their disapprobation of it. 
 
 But inasmuch as this step may have arisen from 
 inadvertency or a want of information respecting the 
 course proper to be taken in such a case; and as the 
 petitioners declared that it was not their design or 
 intention to exhibit charges against the persons whose 
 names were mentioned in this petition, but that their 
 only object was to bring the subject of this petition 
 before the Assembly that they might obtain an ex- 
 
OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 61 
 
 pression of the sentiments of , the Assembly on the 
 importance and binding character of the Confession 
 of Faith as recognized by the Presbyterian Church ; 
 the committee beg leave to report the following, viz. 
 
 1. That in the opinion of this Assembly confes- 
 sions of faith, containing formulas of doctrine and 
 rules for conducting the discipline and 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 exist- 
 ence of Christian communion. Within the limits of 
 Christendom few are to be found in the attitude of 
 avowed hostility to Christianity. The name of Chris- 
 tian is claimed by all, and all are ready to profess 
 their belief in the Holy Scriptures ; too many reserv- 
 ing to themselves the right of putting 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 dis- 
 order of the Corinthian Church, condemned by the 
 Apostle, would be realized: "I am of Paul, and I of 
 Apollos." 
 
 2. That though the Confession of Faith and stand- 
 ards 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 opin- 
 ion, 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 ex- 
 hibited 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 derived from the 
 
 6 
 
62 OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 
 
 oracles of the living God. It should never he forgot- 
 ten that the Church is solemnly cautioned against the 
 danger of being carried about by every wind of doc- 
 trine. 
 
 3. This Confession of Faith, adopted by our 
 Church, contains a system 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 
 has for its object the maintenance of the peace and 
 the purity of the Church under the government of 
 her Great Master. 
 
 Finally, the General Assembly recommend to all 
 who are under their care, steadfastly to resist every 
 temptation, however presented, which may have for 
 its object the relaxation of those bonds of Christian 
 fellowship which have hitherto been so eminently 
 blessed of God, for the order, edification and exten- 
 sion of the Presbyterian Church, and conclude with 
 the words of the holy apostle : ^' Now we beseech you, 
 brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that 
 ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no 
 divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined 
 together in the same mind and in the same jvidg- 
 ment:'—31inutesy 1824, p. 211. 
 
 "The Committee appointed on an overture respect- 
 ing the consistency of admitting into this church 
 ministers who manifest a decided hostility to ecclesi- 
 astical creeds, confessions, and formularies, made 
 the following report, which was adopted, viz. 
 
 1. That the Constitution, as is well known, expressly 
 requires of all candidates for admission, a solemn de- 
 claration that they sincerely receive and adopt the 
 Confession of Faith of this Church, as containing the 
 system of doctrines taught in the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 2. That the last Assembly, in a report of their 
 Committee, to be seen on their Minutes, have so expli- 
 citly and fully declared the sentiments of this Church 
 
OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 63 
 
 in regard to her ecclessiastical standards, and all 
 within her communion who may traduce them, tliat 
 no further expression of our views on this subject is 
 deemed necessary." — MiniUes, 1825, p. 274. 
 
 " 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. that in their judgment every licentiate coming 
 by certificate to any Presbytery in connection with 
 the General Assembly, from any portion of a corres- 
 ponding ecclesiastical body, should be required to 
 answer in the affirmative the constitutional questions 
 directed by Chapter xiv. of our Form of Grovernment, 
 to be put to our candidates before they are licensed ; 
 and that in like manner every ordained minister of 
 the gospel coming from any church in correspondence 
 with the General Assembly, by certificate of dismis- 
 sion and recommendation, should be required to answer 
 affirmatively the first seven questions, directed by 
 Chapter xv. of our Form of Government, to be put 
 to one of our own licentiates when about to be 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 con- 
 sidered as a portion of the standards of our Church, 
 and are comprehended in the words, ^ Confession of 
 Faith of this Church?' " the Committee feel no hesi- 
 tation in answering that question in the affirmative. 
 It does not appear that any doubts on that subject 
 have ever been entertained until very recently. The 
 Committee find in the Minutes of the old Synod, at 
 the union of the Synod of Philadelphia with the 
 
64 or PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 
 
 Synod of Kew York, in 1758, that the first Article of 
 the Plan of Union contains the following words, 
 viz» "Both Synods having always approved and 
 received the Westminster Confession of Faith, and 
 the 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 
 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." In the reci- 
 tal of the manner in which a Presbytery was received 
 by the Synod of New York, in 1763, we have the 
 following record; "It was agreed to grant their 
 request, provided that they agree to adopt our West- 
 minster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, and 
 engage to observe the Directory as a plan of worship, 
 discipline, and government, according to the agree- 
 ment of this Synod." 
 
 In 1788, in the Adopting Act of our Confession, 
 the Catechisms are distinctly mentioned as a part 
 of our standards. " They also took into conside- 
 ration the Westminster Larger and Shorter Cate- 
 chisms, and having made a small amendment of 
 the Larger, did approve, and do hereby approve 
 and ratify the said Catechisms 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, government, discipline, and worship, 
 agreeably to the resolutions of the Synod at their pre- 
 sent sessions;" one of which resolutions was that the 
 Form of Government, and Discipline, and the Con- 
 fession of Faith, as now ratified, is to continue to be 
 our Constitution, and the Confession of our Faith, and 
 
OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 65 
 
 practice, unalterably, unless two-thirds of the Pres- 
 byteries under the care of the General Assembly, 
 shall propose alterations, or amendments, and that 
 such alterations, or amendments, shall be agreed to 
 and enacted by the General Assembly." Accord- 
 ingly, in the Directory for the administration of Bap- 
 tism, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the 
 Westminster Assembly are mentioned in connection 
 with the Confession of Faith, as adopted by this 
 church, and are to be recommended as a summary of 
 the principles of our holy religion, taught in the 
 Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. 
 
 The Committee therefore recommend to the Assem- 
 bly the adoption of the following resolutions, viz. 
 
 1. Resolved^ By the Assembly, That in receiving 
 and adopting the Confession of Faith, as containing 
 the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, 
 the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westmin- 
 ster Assembly of Divines are included, and do con- 
 stitute an integral part of the standards of this 
 Church. 
 
 2. Resolved, That the use of the Catechisms in the 
 religious instruction 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." — 3Iinutes, 1832, p. 331. 
 
 " Overture No. I. The following inquiry from mem- 
 bers of the Presbytery of Nashville : 
 
 'AVhen ministers and other officers are ordained in 
 the Presbyterian Church, and give an affirmative an- 
 swer to the question : Do you sincerely receive and 
 adopt the Confession of this Church as containing the 
 system of doctrines taught in the Holy Scriptures ? 
 are such ministers and officers to be understood as 
 embracing and assenting to the doctrines, principles, 
 precepts, and statements contained in the Larger and 
 Shorter Catechisms, in the same unqualified sense in 
 6* 
 
66 OF PASTOKS AND EVANGELISTS. 
 
 ■whicli they are understood to embrace and assent to 
 the doctrines, principles, precepts, and statements 
 contained in other parts of the Confession of Faith ?'* 
 The Committee recommended that the question be 
 answered in the affirmative, and the recommendation 
 was adopted." — Minutes, 1848, p. 18. 
 
 Ought ministers to he ordained sine titulo ? i. e. with- 
 out relation, or frohable view had to a 'particular 
 charge f 
 
 "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 titulo, imme- 
 diately before they come over hither, thereby depriv- 
 ing us of our just rights, viz. that we, unto whom they 
 are designed to be co-presbyters, and among whom 
 they design to bestow their labours, should have just 
 and fair inspecting into their qualifications ; we say, 
 it seems necessary 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 their ordaining any 
 such to the ministry, sine titulo, before their sending 
 them hither for the future, will be very disagreeable 
 and disobliging to us." — Records, 1735, p. IIT. 
 
 " The question. Ought ministers to be ordained sine 
 titulo, i. e., without relation or probable view had to 
 a particular charge, resumed; and after further de- 
 liberation, we judge as follows : 
 
 That in ordinary cases, where churches are proper- 
 ly regulated and organized, it is a practice highly 
 inexpedient and of dangerous consequences; not to 
 
OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 67 
 
 be allowed in our body except m some special cases, 
 as missions to the Indians, and some distant places, 
 that regularly apply for ministers. But as the 
 honour and reputation of the Synod is much interest- 
 ed 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 Presbyte- 
 ries shall report to the next Synod the state of the 
 cases and the reasons of their conduct." — Records, 
 1764, p. 336. 
 
 Ordination to a cliai^laincy in the army is not to he 
 considered as ordination sine titulo. 
 
 [By the report of Newcastle Presbytery it appears 
 that Mr. James F. Armstrong was] '^not ordained 
 sine titulo, but in consequence of his having accepted 
 a chaplaincy in the army." — Minutes, 1779, p. 484. 
 
 [The Synod of the Carolinas, having censured 
 Harmony Presbytery for ordaining a candidate sine 
 titulo, without asking leave of a higher judicatory, 
 the Assembly] ''-Resolved, That as a considerable and 
 evident diversity of opinion has for a length of time 
 existed among the judicatures and ministers of our 
 communion on the question, whether Presbyteries can 
 regularly proceed to ordination sine titulo^ without 
 consulting a higher judicature, and it is hereby expe- 
 dient for the peace and order of the Church that this 
 question should be decided, this Assembly therefore 
 repeal the act of the last Assembly, by which a far- 
 ther attention to this subject was dismissed, and this 
 Assembly do farther direct that all the Presbyteries 
 under the care of the Assembly, as well those which 
 have heretofore voted on this subject, as those which 
 have not, do send up in writing the expression of their 
 opinion on the subject to the next General Assembly, 
 in order that there may be a constitutional and final 
 decision on the point in controversy, and that the 
 
bS OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 
 
 practice relative thereto may be uniform in all parts 
 of our Church. 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 the General Assembly, before they pro- 
 ceed to such ordination." — Minutes^ 1813, p. 523, 4. 
 
 [The rule was negatived by the Presbyteries, four 
 only sending reports in the affirmative.] — Minutes, 
 1814, p. 558. 
 
 Leave granted to ordain a person proposing to remain 
 a teacher. 
 
 " 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 
 sessions had requested that the Presbytery would take 
 measures to ordain him sine titxdo. 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 ordained might render him more exten- 
 sively 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. 
 
 "Overture No. 1. An overture from the Presby- 
 tery of Transylvania, asking ' Is it, or is it not in 
 accordance with the principles and practice of the 
 Presbyterian Church to ordain evangelists to labour 
 in fields having feeble churches which are not able to 
 support a pastor, and are too remote conveniently to 
 secure the services of an ordained minister?' 
 
OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 69 
 
 The committee recommended the following answer 
 to the question: 
 
 To ordain evangelists under the specified circum- 
 stances is in accordance with the practice of the 
 Church, and is no infraction of any of its laws. The 
 recommendation was adopted." — Minutes^ 1850, p. 
 454. 
 
 The Assembly took up the report of the committee 
 on Overture No. 3, which was laid on the table, [viz. 
 An application from the Synod of Ohio, requesting 
 that the young men who are sent within their bounds 
 as missionaries, with a view to settlement, may have 
 their ordination deferred until they come within their 
 bounds,] 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 be educated in the older 
 sections 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 useful 
 settlement of these ministers in their several fields 
 of labour that they should enjoy the full con- 
 fidence 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 labour is calculated to endear them very 
 much to their flocks, while it gives their fathers and 
 brethren in the ministry an opportunity of knowing 
 their opinions 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^ 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 
 
70 OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 
 
 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 correspondence 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 pur- 
 sue 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 resolution." — Minutes^ 1834, 
 p. 12. 
 
 Hasty Ordinations, 
 
 The Committee on the subject of hasty ordina- 
 tions reported, and their report was considered, 
 amended, and adopted, as follows, viz. 
 
 "I. That as persons are liable to mistake their 
 calling, and as the office of the ministry is, by God's 
 institution, a permanent one, which cannot be laid 
 aside at pleasure. Presbyteries ought to exercise great 
 caution in ordaining ministers of the gospel. And 
 they are hereby enjoined not to ordain any one to the 
 pastoral office until full proof has been made of him 
 as a licentiate by the Presbytery that ordains him. 
 
 II. That as one great evidence of a divine call to 
 the work of the ministry, is the call of a particular 
 congregation, it is especially necessary to use great 
 caution in ordinations, sine titulo, and the Presby- 
 teries are enjoined not to proceed to such ordinations, 
 except in the cases provided for in our Form of Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 III. And that the Presbyteries are specially en- 
 joined not to ordain their licentiates when they are 
 about to remove into the bounds of other Presby- 
 teries, but to dismiss them as licentiates." — Minutes, 
 1842, p. 28. 
 
OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 71 
 
 The Synods of Virginia and the Carolinas asked 
 " liberty to direct their Presbyteries to ordain such 
 candidates as they may judge necessary to appoint 
 on missions to preach the gospel." 
 
 ^'Rewlvedj That the above request be granted, the 
 Synods being careful to restrict the permission to the 
 ordination of such candidates only as are engaged to 
 be sent on missions." — Minutes^ 1795, p. 98. 
 
 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 Assembly, agreed 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 attend- 
 ing circumstances, shall think it expedient. — Min- 
 utes, 1805, p. 337. 
 
 "The Presbytery of Baltimore directed their Com- 
 missioners to solicit the permission of the General 
 Assembly to ordain Mr. AVilliam Mafiit, a licentiate 
 under their care, to the ofiice of the gospel ministry, 
 if upon examination he should appear qualified. The 
 reqirest was made at the particular instance of the 
 
72 OF PASTORS AND EVANGELISTS. 
 
 church of Bladensburg, where Mr. Maffit officiates as 
 a stated supply, whereupon, 
 
 Resolved J That said request be granted." — Min- 
 utesy 1798, p. 146. 
 
 "An overture was inclosed to the Assembly, through 
 the Committee of Overtures, in the words following, 
 viz. 
 
 " That Mr. Samuel Donnel, a licentiate of the 
 Presbytery of Ohio, be, for reasons stated in a letter 
 accompanying this overture, ordained by that Presby- 
 tery, in order to his settlement in a remote part of 
 Tennessee." 
 
 Whereupon, the Assembly considering the necessi- 
 ties of the churches in that part of our country, and 
 their great distance from any Presbytery, 
 
 Resolved, That the Presbytery of Ohio, if they see 
 their way clear, do ordain Mr. Samuel Donnel ; and 
 the Clerks were ordered to furnish the Presbytery of 
 Ohio with an attested copy of this minute." — Min- 
 utes, 1799, p. 172. 
 
 [Leave was given to the Presbytery of Hartford 
 to ordain Mr. Joshua Beer, a licentiate under their 
 care, under appointment on a mission by the Mis- 
 sionary Society of Connecticut.] — Minutes, 1809, 
 p. 415. 
 
 " The Presbytery of Hartford stated to the Assem- 
 bly, that in their opinion it would be advantageous to 
 the cause of religion to ordain Mr. Robert Sample, 
 sine titulo, and requested leave thus to ordain him, 
 whereupon, 
 
 Resolved, That said Presbytery be permitted to 
 ordain Mr. Sample, provided they judge it ex-pe- 
 dient:'— Minutes, 1810, p. 459. 
 
OF MODERATORS. 73 
 
 OF MODERATORS. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter XIX.] 
 
 II. Tlte 3Ioderator of the General Assembly lias no 
 
 vote distinct from the casting vote. 
 
 "On the question being taken, the Moderator, 
 [Dr. John Blair Smith,] claimed a right to vote as 
 a commissioner from the Presbytery of Albany, dis- 
 tinct 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. 
 
 III. The mode of choosing the 3Ioderator of the As- 
 
 semhly. 
 
 " On motion agreed, that it be the standing rule of 
 the General Assembly, in choosing a Moderator, that 
 any commissioner may nominate a candidate for the 
 chair. The candidates so pointed out shall then 
 severally give their votes for some one of their num- 
 ber, and withdraw ; when the remaining commission- 
 ers shall proceed viva voce, to choose by a plurality 
 of voices one of the said candidates for Moderator." 
 —Minutes, 1791, p. 39. 
 
 On motion it was ''Resolved, That a majority of 
 all the votes given for Moderator be necessary for a 
 c\io\QQr—3Iinutes, 1846, p. 189. 
 
 The mode of inducting the 3Ioderator of the Assembly. 
 
 A Moderator having been duly chosen, the former 
 Moderator, before he resigns his seat, addresses him 
 and the Assembly thus: 
 
 " Sir — It is my duty to inform you and announce to 
 this house that you are duly elected to the office of 
 
74 OF MODERATORS. 
 
 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." 
 
 [Here the Rules, which are generally published as 
 an appendix to the Confession of Faith, are read, or 
 as is sometimes the case, the attention of the Mode- 
 rator elect, and of the house is specially directed to 
 them, without their being read. Afterwards the 
 Moderator adds :] 
 
 "Having now read these rules, according to order, 
 for your instruction as Moderator and for the direc- 
 tion of all the members, in the management of busi- 
 ness, 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, 1791, p. 34, and 1822, pp. 15, 16. 
 
 Respecting Communications to the Assembly. 
 
 " On motion, Resolved, That every letter or com- 
 munication addressed to the Moderator, be opened 
 and read by him, and at his discretion be either com- 
 municated 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. 
 
OF COMMISSIONERS. 75 
 
 OF VACANT CONGREGATIONS ASSEMBLING 
 FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter XXL] 
 
 " Whether ruling elders representing such [vacant] 
 congregations [in Jpresbytery,] should be interrogated 
 concerning the observance of the recommendations 
 contained in Chapter xxi. of the Form of Govern- 
 ment?" 
 
 [The Assembly] *^ answered in the affirmative." — 
 Minutes, 1847, p. 401. 
 
 OF COMMISSIONERS TO THE GENERAL 
 ASSEMBLY. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter XXII.] 
 
 L Tlie requirement that the election he not more than 
 seven months before the meeting of the Assembly, 
 dispensed with in the case of missionaries m foreign 
 lands. 
 
 " A reference to the Minutes of the General As- 
 sembly of 1844, will show that the Rev. Wm. S. 
 Rogers, a commissioner from the Presbytery of Lodi- 
 ana, in Northern India, was admitted without scruple 
 to a seat in that body, though it is evident that his 
 appointment must have been made beyond the limits 
 of time prescribed by the Constitution. The peculiar 
 circumstances of the case no doubt influenced, and 
 we believe authorized that Assembly to act as they 
 did in the premises." — Minutes, 1846, p. 214. 
 
 A Presbytery not having had time to convene after 
 learning the organization of the Assembly^ one of 
 its members informally deputed was admitted to a 
 
 ' seat, with the declaration that it was not to be 
 regarded as a precedent. 
 " Mr. Adam Rankin, a member of the Presbytery 
 
76 OP COMMISSIONERS. 
 
 of Transylvania, appeared in the General Assembly 
 and acquainted them that the information of the con- 
 stitution of this body did not arrive time enough to 
 make a constitutional appointment of members from 
 that Presbytery ; and some of his brethren having 
 recommended it to him to come to the General Assem- 
 bly, he desires to be admitted to the privileges of a 
 member. 
 
 " On motion, Resolved, That the General Assembly, 
 wishing to promote the union of the churches under their 
 care, do admit him to sit as a member, but declare 
 that it shall not be drawn into a precedent, after the 
 Constitution of this Church shall have been published, 
 agreeably to the order of the late Synod of New 
 York and Philadelphia." — Minutes^ 1789, p. 5. 
 
 Where a Presbytery has failed to meet on its last 
 adjournment, the member appointed by those pre- 
 sent at the time fixed for the regular meeting, is 
 not entitled to a seat in the Assembly. 
 
 " The Committee of Elections further reported in the 
 case of Mr. David M. Smith, that it appeared to their 
 satisfaction that the Presbytery of Columbia failed to 
 form a quorum at the time at which their stated spring 
 meeting should have been held according to adjourn- 
 ment ; that there were present two ministers and 
 ruling elders from a majority of the churches, the 
 Presbytery consisting only of five ministers ; that 
 those present requested that the Assembly would 
 receive Mr. Smith as a commissioner from their Pres- 
 bytery, in which request two of the absent members 
 have expressed their concurrence in writing, and that 
 it is believed that the appointment of Mr. Smith 
 would have been unanimous, had the Presbytery 
 formed a quorum ; and further, that the Committee 
 are divided upon the question, whether, under these 
 circumstances, Mr. Smith ought, or ought not, to be 
 admitted to a seat. It was moved that Mr. Smith be 
 admitted to a seat. After debate, the question was 
 decided in the negative." — Minutes, 1843, p. 171. 
 
OF COMMISSIONERS. 77 
 
 A Presbytery having nominated a Commissioner in 
 the fall, failed^ by reason of high waters, to hold 
 their spring meeting; the 2?erson nominated teas 
 admitted to a seat. 
 
 " The Committee on Elections reported that the Rev. 
 James W. Moore had been nominated, or selected, by 
 the Presbytery of Arkansas, at their meeting in last 
 September, but that the Presbytery had been prevented 
 by high waters from meeting since, and consequently 
 there could be no election. On motion, Mr. Moore 
 was admitted to a seat." — 3Iinutes, 1846, p. 197. 
 
 Rule respecting Principals and Alternates. 
 
 The Committee recommended the adoption of the 
 following resolution : 
 
 ''''Resolved, That in the judgment of this General 
 Assembly, the construction of the Constitution, Form 
 of Government, Chap. xxii. Sec. 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 prac- 
 tice growing out of this construction is inexpedient ; 
 and that it ought to be discontinued." [The resolu- 
 tion was adopted.] —Minutes, 1827, p. 124. 
 
 [The alternate having taken his seat, had leave to 
 resign it to the principal, who, having been providen- 
 tially detained, appeared on the third day, the standing 
 rule being dispensed with under the peculiar circum- 
 stances of the case.] — Minutes, 1836, p. 245 ; do. 
 1844, p. 368 ; do. 1847, p. 382. 
 
 [The principal having obtained leave of absence, 
 his alternate was permitted to take his seat.] — Min- 
 utes, 1850, p. 459. 
 
 7* 
 
78 
 
 BOOK II.— OF DISCIPLINE. 
 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF DISCIPLINE. 
 
 [Book of Discipline, Chapter I.] 
 
 Baptized Children. 
 
 VI. " 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 spe- 
 cifies 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 hereby directed to inquire of the dif- 
 ferent sessions, whether a proper pastoral care be 
 exercised over the baptized children in their congre- 
 gations, that they learn the principles of religion, 
 and walk in newness of life before God, and that said 
 Presbyteries do direct all sessions delinquent in this 
 respect, to attend to it carefully and without delay." 
 —Minutes, 1809, p. 431. 
 
 A recommendation as to the mode of exercising a 
 pastoral care over them. 
 
 '^Resolved, That the General Assembly recommend, 
 and they do hereby recommend to the pastors and 
 sessions of the difterent churches under their care, to 
 
OF ACTUAL PROCESS. 79 
 
 assemble, as often as they may deem necessary during 
 the year, the baptized children^ with their parents, to 
 recommend said children to God in prayer, explain to 
 them the nature and obligations of their baptism, and 
 the relation they sustain to the Church." — Minutes, 
 1818, p. C91. 
 
 OF ACTUAL PROCESS. 
 
 [Book of Discipline, Chapter IV.] 
 
 yill. The Rule of the Synod of New York and 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 " 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 season- 
 ably reduced to a specialty in the complaint laid 
 before i\iQm:'—3Iinittes, 1770, p. 406. 
 
 XIII. Omission to assign counsel is not a sufficient 
 reaso7i for sustaining an appeal. 
 
 " The Committee appointed to prepare a minute 
 proper to be made respecting Mr. Arthur's appeal, 
 reported the following, which was adopted, viz. The 
 Assembly sustained the appeal of Mr. Arthur from 
 the sentence of the Presbytery, by which he was sus- 
 pended from the gospel ministry on the ground of 
 contumacy. ***** -^^^ ^]^q appeal from 
 the first sentence, by which the charge of slan- 
 der, preferred against him by the Rev. Joshua L. 
 Wilson, was declared to be substantiated, and Mr. 
 Arthur required to submit to a rebuke, the Assembly 
 could not sustain. For although the Assembly noticed 
 the omission of Presbytery to assign Mr. Arthur 
 counsel to manage his defence, (see Discipline, Chap. 
 iv. Sec. 13,) yet they did judge the pamphlet of which 
 Mr. Arthur admitted himself to be the author, to con- 
 
80 OF ACTUAL PROCESS. 
 
 tain slander against Mr. Wilson, and could not but 
 disapprove of the spirit under the influence of which 
 it appeared to have been written." — Minutes^ 1822, 
 
 p. 25. 
 
 XYI. A copy of the proceedings made hy the appel- 
 lant is 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 ' to send up authentic copies of the whole pro- 
 cess;' 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 pre- 
 sented by him are not to be considered as the com- 
 mencement of a cause, or the entry of an appeal in 
 this judicatory. Nevertheless Mr. Bourne shall not 
 suffer any inconvenience which the Assembly can 
 prevent, on the account of any failures of the inferior 
 judicatures, if a default should in future appear on 
 their part ; the evidence of such a circumstance being 
 not as yet made clear to this Assembly." — Minutes^ 
 1816, p. 627. 
 
 Where the lower judicatoiHes sent up their Records, 
 hut not authentic copies of the process, the appeal 
 was sustained. 
 
 " 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, 
 
OF PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 81 
 
 decide that Mr. Buslmell's appeal be and it hereby is 
 sustained, so that he is restored to all his rights and 
 privileges as a member of the Church of Christ." — 
 Minutes, 1826, p. 35. 
 
 XXIII. The distribution among members of a judi- 
 catory of papers bearing on a cause, is illegal, 
 
 "A number of copies of a book containing a his- 
 tory of the former proceedings in this case, and 
 strictures upon them, having been distributed through 
 the pews of the church, it was Resolved, That in the 
 opinion of the Assembly, the distribution of books, 
 letters, or pamphlets, among the members of the 
 house, relative to a cause pending before them, or 
 which is expected to be submitted to their decision, is 
 an infringement upon the prerogatives of this house, 
 and ought to be discountenanced as an illegal and 
 improper attempt to bias the judgment of the mem- 
 bers."— il[/2'nw^es, 1814, p. 552. 
 
 OF PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 
 
 [Book of Discipline, Chapter V.] 
 
 II. Where the moral character of a minister residing 
 out of the bounds of his Presbytery is impeached, 
 it is the duty of the Presbytery to luhich he belongs 
 to make inquiry. 
 
 "The Presbytery of New York represented to 
 Synod that one of their members now resided in the 
 bounds of New Brunswick Presbytery, whose moral 
 character laboured under some imputations, and re- 
 quested the advice of Synod as to which of the Presby- 
 teries should make inquiry into that matter ; where- 
 upon the Synod judged it to be the duty of the 
 Presbytery of New York." — Minutes, 1782, p. 495. 
 
 II. "Overture No. 21. An inquiry from J. A. 
 Clayton. Whereas our Book of Discipline, Chap. 
 V. Sec. 2, says, ' the same general method, substituting 
 
82 OF PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 
 
 the Presbytery for the Session,' is to be observed in 
 investigating charges against a minister as are pre- 
 scribed in the case of private members : 
 
 Does this authorize the Presbytery to apply the 
 principle contained in Chap. iv. Sec. 18, to ministers 
 against whom charges exist that cannot be seasonably 
 tried, so far as to suspend them from the functions of 
 the gospel ministry until they can be tried? 
 
 P. S. If the above will not apply, what should the 
 Presbytery do in the case? 
 
 The Committee recommended the following resolu- 
 tion, which was adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved^ That when charges are tabled against a 
 minister, and it is impracticable at once to issue the 
 case, the Presbytery has the right, if the interests of 
 religion seem to demand the measure, to suspend him 
 from the exercise of his ministerial functions until the 
 case shall have been issued." — Minutes, 1848, p. 34. 
 
 III. IV. " The Judicial Committee also made a 
 statement in the case of the Rev. Horace Belknap, and 
 recommended the adoption of the following resolu- 
 tions, which were adopted accordingly, viz. 
 
 1. Resolved, 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. 
 
 2. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Assembly, 
 the Presbyteries, both of Harmony and Steubenville, 
 appear to have misconceived the directions as laid down 
 in Chap. v. Sects. 3 and 4 of the Book of Discipline; 
 inasmuch as those rules do not transfer jurisdiction 
 from a Presbytery 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, 
 
 3. Resolved, That the Presbytery of Harmony is at 
 liberty to pursue such course in the case of Mr. 
 
OF PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 83 
 
 Belknap as the circumstance* of the case and the 
 good of religion shall in their opinion require." — 
 31inutes, 1831, p. 191. 
 
 XVI. A deposed minister may^ tvith the j^ermission 
 of the Assembly, be restored by a Presbytery ivithin 
 whose bou7ids he resides, if, on inquiry, they are 
 satisfied of his penitence, and that the interests of 
 religion will be promoted by his restoration. The 
 Presbytery which deposed him shall send a cer- 
 tified copy of all their proceedings in his case to 
 the Presbytery, ivhen it enters on the inquiry. 
 
 Petitions from the churches at Mount Pleasant and 
 Greensburg, in New York, and from five ministers of 
 the gospel residing in the vicinity of Mr. George 
 Bourne, requesting that Mr. Bourne might be re- 
 stored to the ofiice of the gospel ministry, were over- 
 tured ; and application on behalf of Mr. Bourne, was 
 made by Dr. Ely, that, on the profession of his peni- 
 tence, 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 deposition of Mr. Bourne, that they 
 receive testimony as to the character and deportment 
 of Mr. Bourne since his deposition, and also the evi- 
 dences of repentance Mr. Bourne may furnish ; and 
 it is ordered moreover, that the said Presbytery of New 
 York do proceed to issue the case, and continue the 
 sentence of deposition, or restore him, the said 
 Bourne, to the gospel ministry as they may judge 
 ^vo^Qvr— Minutes, 1824, p. 222. 
 
 A deposed minister who has only p>artially submitted 
 to the sentence, is not to be restored. 
 
 "An extract from the records of the Presbytery of 
 New York was laid before the Assembly and read. 
 From this and the explanations given, it appeared that 
 a certain Aaron C. Collins, formerly a member of that 
 
84 OP PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 
 
 Presbytery, had been deposed by them from the 
 office of the gospel ministry; that the crimes for 
 which he was deposed were scandalous and highly 
 aggravated ; that his submission to the sentence of 
 deposition had been only partial, he having exercised 
 the functions of a gospel minister during a part of the 
 time he lay under the sentence; that Mr. Collins had 
 lately applied to that Presbytery to restore him to 
 his office, and certain circumstances were stated as 
 evidences of his penitence. The Presbytery, there- 
 fore, requested the advice of the General Assembly 
 in the premises. And as the principal crime for which 
 Mr. Collins had been deposed, was committed within 
 the limits of the General Association of Connecticut, 
 which had formerly taken cognizance of the offence, 
 the Presbytery requested the co-operation of the 
 Assembly for bringing the case before the Association 
 for their advice. 
 
 The Assembly having taken this subject into con- 
 sideration, and obtained the necessary information. 
 
 Resolved^ 1st. That they cannot advise the Pres- 
 bytery of New York to restore Mr. Collins under 
 existing circumstances. 
 
 2d. That this Assembly comply with the latter 
 request made by the Presbytery of New York ; they 
 accordingly did and hereby do enjoin it on their dele- 
 gates to the next General Association, to take the 
 necessary measures for bringing this subject before 
 that body for their advice." — 3Iinutes, 1805, p. 335. 
 
 The letter [of the General Association of Connec- 
 ticut] was read, ordered to be recorded, and is as 
 follows : 
 
 " The General Association of Connecticut having 
 taken into consideration the case of Mr. Aaron C. 
 Collins, who has been deposed from the office of the 
 gospel ministry, on account of an aggravated sin, by 
 which he has brought scandal on himself and the 
 ministry, and having attended to documents and 
 vouchers, presented by the delegates from the Gen- 
 eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, were 
 
OF PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 85 
 
 liappy to hear the profession of penitence made by 
 Mr. Collins, and the testimony by which it was ac- 
 companied to prove it sincere. 
 
 But as it appeared that he had only partially sub- 
 mitted to the sentence of deposition, and continued, 
 during part of the time he lay under censure, to 
 exercise the functions of a gospel minister, and that 
 he had made no retraction for such disorderly con- 
 duct, therefore they agree with the General Assembly 
 of the Presbyterian Church, that under existing cir- 
 cumstances, it would not be conducive to the interests 
 of religicm for the Presbytery of New York to restore 
 Mr. Collins to the office of the gospel ministry. 
 
 Extracts from the doings of the General Associa- 
 tion at their annual session in Guildford, Connecticut, 
 June 18, 1805. 
 
 Calvin Ciiapin, \ Scribes of 
 Samuel GooDRicn, J Association." 
 . —Minutes, 1806, p. 349. 
 
 A suspended minister may^ hy the direction of the 
 Assemhly^ he restored, on the ground that the ends 
 of discij^line have been answered in his case hy his 
 lying under the sentence several years. 
 
 " The second order of the day was taken up, viz. 
 the complaint and memorial of Archibald McQueen, 
 against the Presbytery of Fayetteville. The Mode- 
 rator having reminded the members that they were 
 about to sit in a judicial capacity, the papers in the 
 case were read in due order, and the original parties 
 were fully heard. 
 
 After which, the following resolution was, on mo- 
 tion, adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That the prayer of the memorialist be 
 granted so far as that this General Assembly recom- 
 mend to the Presbytery of Fayetteville to re-con- 
 sider their decision in the case of the Rev. Archi- 
 bald McQueen; and if, in their judgment, it should 
 appear conducive to the peace of the church, and 
 the promotion of religion in the region around 
 them, to restore Mr. McQueen to the communion of 
 
86 OP PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 
 
 the clmrch, and to the exercise of the functions of 
 the gospel ministry, on the ground that in his case 
 the ends of discipline are attained by the operation of 
 the sentence under which Mr. McQueen has been 
 lying for a period of three years." — Minutes, 1845, 
 p. 32. 
 
 A deposed minister irregularly restored cannot he 
 deprived of his office, except by a new process and 
 conviction. 
 
 " The business left unfinished on Saturda;y- was re- 
 sumed, viz. the appeal of the Presbytery of Onondaga, 
 from a decision of the Synod of Geneva, relative to 
 the restoration of the Rev. John Shepherd to the 
 gospel ministry, who had been deposed by the Asso- 
 ciation of Fairfield, Connecticut. After considerable 
 discussion of the subject, the following resolutions 
 were adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That the decisron 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 confer- 
 ence with the judicatory which deposed him. 
 
 2. 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 Pres- 
 byterial authority, cannot be deprived of his oflfice, 
 except it be by a new process and conviction." — 
 Minutes, 1818, p. 687. 
 
OF PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 87 
 
 " The Committee to which -svas recommitted the let- 
 ter from the Presbytery of Harmony, relative to the 
 restoration of Dr. Kollock, reported, and their report 
 being read and amended, was adopted, and is as 
 follows, viz. 
 
 The General Assembly sympathize with you in 
 the painful business detailed to them, and lament the 
 unpleasant events which have taken place relative to 
 Dr. Kollock. And it would afford the Assembly no 
 small degree of pleasure fully to comply with the 
 request of the Presbytery, and in such manner as to 
 remove their difficulties and heal the wounds which 
 have been inflicted. It will be admitted by all that 
 the decisions of the Assembly should be marked with 
 correctness and wisdom, and it will be as generally 
 admitted that it is highly needful to enable them to 
 do this, that they have a correct and clear view of 
 the cases or facts on which they are to decide. The 
 Presbytery of Harmony request the Assembly to 
 examine their conduct, and to censure or support 
 them, as they shall appear to have done right or 
 "wrong. The Assembly are ready to do this, and it is 
 believed will cheerfully do it as soon as the records 
 of the Presbytery of Harmony, which relate to this 
 subject, shall be fully before them. In the mean- 
 time, it is with pleasure that the Assembly reflect 
 that the Presbytery of Harmony, by carrying this 
 subject to the Synod of which they are a constituent 
 part, may probably obtain a more speedy relief than 
 they could receive in the event of waiting for the de- 
 cision of the next General Assembly." — MinuteSy 
 1816, p. 615. 
 
 A Presbytery may refuse to restore a minister after 
 the Synod has reversed their decision in suspend- 
 ing him from the ministry , and from the commu- 
 nion of the Church. 
 
 " The order of the day was taken up, and the Assem- 
 bly sat in a judicial capacity on the complaint of F. 
 H. Porter, against the Synod of Alabama, for sus- 
 
88 OF PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 
 
 taining the Presbytery of Tombeckbee, in refusing to 
 restore the Rev. Thomas Davis after the Synod had 
 sustained his appeal against the Presbytery, and 
 reversed the decision of the Presbytery suspending 
 him from the ministry and from the communion of 
 the Church. 
 
 The complaint was read, and Mr. Alexander Smith 
 was heard on behalf of Mr. Porter. The Synod was 
 then heard, and after debate, the question was put. 
 Shall the complaint be sustained? and decided in 
 the negative." — llinutes, 1843, p. 176. 
 
 The name of a suspended minister should he retained 
 on the roll of the Presbytery till they proceed to the 
 higher censure. 
 
 The Records of the Synod of Northern Indiana are 
 approved except that " on page 54 the Synod cen- 
 sure the Presbytery of Michigan for retaining the 
 name of Mr. Nicoll on the roll, after suspending him 
 from the gospel ministry. Your Committee are of 
 the opinion that the name of a suspended minister 
 should be retained on the roll of Presbytery till they 
 proceed to the higher censure, though he be deprived 
 of the exercise of his ministerial functions." — Minutes, 
 184T, p. 398. 
 
 A suspeiided minister ought not to he regarded as 
 occupying the ground of a common Christian in 
 good standing. 
 
 The Records of the Synod of Geneva are approved, 
 except "in pages 270 and 271, where the conduct of 
 the Presbytery of Ontario is censured for condemn- 
 ing the conduct of Mr. Foreman, a suspended minis- 
 ter, for exercising the rights of a common Christian 
 in illustrating Scripture and delivering exhortations, 
 because, without deciding on the rights of common 
 Christians in this matter, Mr. Foreman being sus- 
 pended from the ministry, ought by no means to be 
 considered as occupying the ground of a common 
 Christian in good standing." — Minutes, 1821, p. 10. 
 
OF PROCESS AGAINST A MINISTER. 89 
 
 Tlie names of deposed ministers in certain cases to he 
 'published, 
 
 '^Resolved, That it be recommended to the Presby- 
 teries 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 per- 
 son so deposed shall, without having been regularly 
 restored, assume the ministerial character, or attempt 
 to exercise any of the ministerial functions, that in 
 such case, with a view to prevent such deposed per- 
 son from imposing himself on the churches. Presby- 
 teries be careful to have his name published in the 
 Assembly's Magazine, as deposed from the ministry, 
 that all the churches may be enabled to guard them- 
 selves against such dangerous impositions." — 3Iin~ 
 utes, 1806, p. 360. 
 
 Deposition from the ministry^ and excommunication^ 
 to he regarded as distinct things. 
 
 " The Records of the Synod of Geneva are approved, 
 with the exception of a resolution, which declares that 
 a deposed minister ought to be treated as an excom- 
 municated person. In the judgment of this Assem- 
 bly, the deposition and excommunication 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. 
 
 " Overture No. 20. A question submitted by John 
 "VYarnock, of Alabama, Does deposition from the min- 
 istry exclude from church 2?7'ivileges ? The Commit- 
 tee recommended the following resolution, which was 
 adopted, viz. 
 
 ^'Resolved, That though the causes which provoke 
 deposition, are almost always such as to involve the 
 propriety of exclusion from the sacraments, yet the 
 two sentences are not essentially the same, the one 
 having reference to office, and the other to the rights 
 of membership j and, therefore, Presbyteries should 
 8* 
 
90 OF WITNESSES. 
 
 be explicit in stating both, when they mean both. 
 When, however, a Presbytery interpret deposition to 
 involve suspension from the sacraments, and pronounce 
 the censure in that sense, the sentence obviously 
 includes hoih.' '—3Iinutes, 1848, p. 34. 
 
 OF WITNESSES. 
 
 [Book of DisciplinOj Chapter VI.J 
 
 II. Where a married ivoman is the accuser^ can she 
 and her husband he admitted as ivitnesses? 
 
 "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 husband and another, or indifferent per- 
 son, 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 Pres- 
 bytery 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 regard to 
 all the circumstances attending it, and especially to 
 the characters 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. 
 
OF WITNESSES. 91 
 
 "The following question, signed by Wm. C. Davis, 
 Whether, testimony taken before a session and sent 
 up to the Presbytery under the signature of Modera- 
 tor and Clerk, will not be sufficient in references as 
 well as appeals, to render the case thus referred both 
 orderly and cognizable by Presbytery? was answered 
 in the affirmative." — Minutes, 1797, p. 128. 
 
 Administering Oaths. 
 
 IX. The Committee appointed to draught an answer 
 to the following question, overtured from the Presby- 
 tery of Georgia, viz. Whence do the General Assem- 
 bly derive authority to empower Moderators to admin- 
 ister an oath? — reported the following, which was 
 adopted, viz. "As the Bible does not point out the 
 particular occasions when oaths are to be used, nor 
 the persons wdio are to administer them, these cir- 
 cumstances are left to the discretion of individuals 
 and communities. The necessity of oaths is founded 
 in expediency, and all associations, whether civil of 
 ecclesiastical, have a right to use them for confirma- 
 tion when, in the exercise of a sound discretion, they 
 are deemed important. It is lawful for every commu- 
 nity 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." — 3Iinutes, 1823, 
 p. 145. 
 
92 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 OF THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH A CAUSE 
 MAY BE CARRIED FROM A LOWER TO A 
 HIGHER JUDICATORY. 
 
 [Book of Discipline, Chapter VII.] 
 
 Can a Gf-eneral Assemhly reverse a decision of a for- 
 mer General Assemble/, 
 
 11. "This Assembly has no authority to reverse 
 the judicial acts of a former General Assembly, ex- 
 cept in cases of such palpable error as would mani- 
 festly tend to interfere with the substantial adminis- 
 tration of justice." — Minutes, 1824, p. 213. 
 
 The inferior judicatories may send up remonstrances 
 against decisions of the Qeneral Assemhly. 
 
 "A remonstrance was presented by the Synod of 
 New York and New Jersey, against a decision of the 
 Assembly of last year, by which they determine that 
 'it is unconstitutional for the Synod of New Y^ork 
 and New Jersey to enact that 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.' 
 
 Whereupon it was moved that this Assembly re- 
 consider the above decision, which was agreed to. 
 And whereas, it appeared that there was no appoint- 
 ment made by the Synod of New York and New 
 Jersey of any particular persons to advocate their 
 cause, the Assembly desirous to receive all the light 
 they can on the subject. Resolved, That every mem- 
 ber of that Synod who may be present, shall have 
 liberty to offer what he may think necessary for 
 or against the remonstrance ; at the same time it 
 was. Resolved, That this act of the Assembly ought 
 not to be used as a precedent." — Minutes, 1793, 
 p. 72. 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 93 
 
 Section III. — Of Appeals. 
 
 II. A minister being refused admission to membership 
 on certificate, by a Presbytery^ may appeal, 
 
 " Neverthelesss it is the privilege of every Presby- 
 tery 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, in which case the rejected applicant 
 may appeal to the Synod or the General Assembly." 
 —3Iinutes, 1825, p. 265. 
 
 A Synod having refused to review, at the request of a 
 Presbytery, a minute adopted by them at their 
 last meeting, an appeal ivas taken and entertained, 
 
 [The Synod of Philadelphia having been overtured^ 
 by New Castle Presbytery to review the minute of 
 their last meeting in Mr. Hindman's case, and to 
 take into consideration the conduct of Lewes Presby- 
 tery, in reference to his licensure, refused to grant 
 the request. Dr. Robert Smith, Dr. Green, Dr. 
 Nathan Grier, and others, complained and appealed, 
 and gave information that "we will bring this affair 
 in all its merits before the Assembly." The appeal 
 was entertained by the Assembly.] — 3Iinutes, 1792, 
 p. 53. 
 
 A Session may app)eal from an order of Sy^iod and 
 Presbytery, directing them to convene the congre- 
 gation for an election of a pastor. 
 
 *' An appeal of the session of the Third Presbyte- 
 rian Church of this city, from the decision of the 
 Synod of Philadelphia, affirming a decision of the 
 Presbytery of Philadelphia, in which decision the 
 Presbytery required the session to convene the con- 
 gregations for the purpose of electing a pastor, was 
 
94 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 overtured and made the order of the day for the 
 afternoon." The appeal was afterwards sustained. — 
 Minutes, 1814, pp. 551, 559. 
 
 An appeal may he taJcen from a decision, deter- 
 mining that in a certain case there were grounds 
 of appeal, 
 
 " An overture was brought in containing an appeal 
 taken by the Presbytery of Philadelphia from a 
 decision of the Synod of Philadelphia, in which the 
 Synod had determined there was ground for an 
 appeal, taken by persons styling themselves Commis- 
 sioners from the Third Presbyterian Church, from a 
 decision of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, [dismis- 
 sing a protest and remonstrance of certain members 
 of said church, and relative to certain positions 
 adopted by said Presbytery.] This overture being 
 read, was made the order of the day for to-morrow 
 morning." — Minutes, 1814, p. 550. 
 
 Where a Presbytery has refused to put a call into the 
 hands of a minister, or to give leave to prosecute a 
 call, an appeal will lie, 
 
 [An appeal from a decision of the Synod of Phila- 
 delphia, affirming a decision of Carlisle Presbytery, 
 by which they refused to place a call from the con- 
 gregation of Carlisle in the hands of the Rev. Henry 
 R. Wilson, was taken up and not sustained.] — Min- 
 utes, 1814, pp. 547, 548. 
 
 " The Assembly proceeded to consider the appeal 
 of the Presbytery of Hudson, from a decision of the 
 Synod of New York and New Jersey, reversing a de- 
 cision of said Presbytery, by which the Presbytery 
 determined not to give leave to the congregation of 
 Goodwill, to prosecute, before the Presbytery of New 
 York, a call which they had prepared for the Rev. 
 William Gray, a member of that Presbytery." The 
 appeal was sustained. — 3finutes, 1817, pp. 643, 
 644. 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 95 
 
 A Synod having dissolved a ^Preshytery^ erected hy 
 the Assembly ivithin its hounds^ an appeal hy the 
 Presbytery tvas received and sustained. 
 
 " The Committee appointed to form a minute expres- 
 sive of the vote of the Assembly on the appeal and 
 complaint of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, 
 reported the following resolution, which was adopted, 
 viz. 
 
 Resolved, 1. That the appeal and complaint of the 
 Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, against the Sy- 
 nod of Philadelphia, be and the same are hereby sus- 
 tained, and the act of said Synod, so far as it was 
 intended to unite the said Second Presbytery with 
 the Presbytery of Philadelphia, is hereby declared 
 void. 
 
 2. That this resolution shall not be so construed 
 as to affect the integrity of the Presbytery which 
 was constituted under the order of the Synod of 
 Philadelphia, by the name of the Second Presbytery 
 of Philadelphia, in November last, but the same is 
 hereby recognized as a constituent part of the Synod 
 of Philadelphia. The Assembly, however, recom- 
 mend to the Synod to change the name of said Pres- 
 bytery." — 3Iimites, 1834, p. 17. 
 
 A Synod having refused to give geographical limits 
 to a Presbytery erected hy the Assembly within 
 its hounds, an appeal ivas received and sustained. 
 
 [The appeal and complaint of the Second Presby- 
 tery of Philadelphia, against the Synod of Philadel- 
 phia, for rejecting their petition, and refusing to 
 consider their request to have geographical limits 
 assigned them, were sustained, and boundaries set 
 according to their petitions.] — 3Iinutes, 1836, pp. 
 242, 276, 277. 
 
 Appeal from the decision of a Presbytery dividing a 
 Qliurch, 
 
 " The unfinished business of the morning was re- 
 sumed, viz. The appeal and complaint of Thomas 
 
96 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 Bradford, Esq., and others, against a decision of the 
 Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, dividing the 
 Fifth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia into two 
 churches. 
 
 The calling of the roll was finished when the final 
 vote was taken. The question w^as put. Shall the 
 appeal and complaint be sustained ? and was carried 
 in the affirmative. Whereupon it is ordered and 
 decreed by this General Assembly, that the act and 
 decision of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, 
 which divides the Fifth Presbyterian Church of the 
 city of Philadelphia into two distinct churches, be 
 and the same is hereby reversed, and the said Pres- 
 bytery is hereby directed to restore to the session of 
 said church, the book of minutes of said session." — 
 Minutes, 1835, p. 19. 
 
 An appeal tvill lie from a decision relative to a call 
 and installation. 
 
 " The appeal and complaint of Thomas Bradford, 
 and others, from a decision of the Second Presbytery 
 of Philadelphia, relative to the installation of Mr. 
 Duffield, were taken up. The appeal, with the reasons 
 of it, and all the documents in the case were read. 
 The parties were heard, and were then considered 
 as withdrawn from the house. The roll was called 
 to give the members an opportunity of expressing 
 their opinion. After which, the final vote was taken, 
 and the appeal and complaint were sustained. 
 
 The following resolution was then adopted as ex- 
 planatory of the above decision, viz. 
 
 That the appeal be sustained, and the acts of the 
 Presbytery in relation to the call and installation of 
 Mr. Duffield, be and they hereby are reversed." — 
 Minutes, 1835, p. 33. 
 
 Appeals may not lie in cases not judicial. 
 
 " On motion, Judicial Business No. 2, viz. the 
 complaint of A. D. Metcalf, &c. against the Synod 
 of Virginia, for deciding that appeals may lie in cases 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 97 
 
 not judicial, was taken up. The decision complained 
 of, the reasons of complaint assigned by the com- 
 plainants, and the whole record of the Synod in the 
 case were read. The complainants were heard in 
 support of their complaint. The Synod were heard 
 in defence of their decision. The roll was called, 
 that each member of the Assembly might have an 
 opportunity of expressing his opinion. After which, 
 the vote was taken, and the complaint was sustained." 
 ^Minutes, 1839, p. 160. 
 
 A Synod having refused to adopt an overture and 
 send it to the Assembly^ an appeal ivill not lie. 
 
 [Two papers were offered by Dr. Breckinridge, for 
 the adoption of the Synod of Philadelphia ; the one 
 relating to the constitution of a quorum in Presby- 
 tery, and the other to the imposition of hands by 
 ruling elders in the ordination of ministers of the 
 gospel. In relation to each paper, the question on 
 which the Synod voted, was: Shall this paper be 
 adopted? The Synod, by a large majority, refused 
 to adopt these papers.] 
 
 " The Judicial Committee having had under con- 
 sideration No. 1, the appeal and complaint of the 
 Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, D.D., and others, 
 against a decision of the Synod of Philadelphia, on 
 the quorum question ; and No. 2, The appeal and 
 complaint of the Rev. R. J. Breckinridge, D.D., 
 and others, against a decision of the Synod of Phila- 
 delphia, on the question of the imposition of hands 
 in ordination, report, that in their opinion the Form 
 of Government and Discipline of the Presbyterian 
 Church, do not authorize the appellants and com- 
 plainants to bring before the General Assembly, either 
 an appeal or complaint in the cases referred to." 
 The report was adopted. — Minutes, 1844, p. 3G6. 
 
 A minister may not appeal from the act of Presby- 
 tery dissolving his pastoral relation. 
 
 "Judicial Case, No. 4, was, on motion, taken up, 
 Yiz. The appeal of Dr. John Skinner, against the 
 9 
 
98 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 Synod of Virginia, for deciding that his appeal from 
 the Presbytery of Lexington could not lie, and pray- 
 ing that it may be remanded to said Synod for trial." 
 The appeal was not sustained. — Minutes, 1848, 
 p. 53. 
 
 V. Wliere an appellant having given notice of Mg 
 appealing to the Synod, subsequently declares his 
 intention of appealing to the Assembly, the Assem- 
 bly dismisses the appeal. \ 
 
 " The appeal of Mr. Charles Yale, from a sentence 
 of the Presbytery of Bath, deposing him from the 
 gospel ministry, was taken up and dismissed, because 
 it appeared that Mr. Yale gave notice to said Pres- 
 bytery 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 
 M^emhlyr— Minutes, 1826, p. 36. 
 
 WJiere notice was given to the Presbytery the day 
 after sentence luas passed, of an appeal to the As- 
 sembly, and the reasons of appeal were subsequently 
 sent by mail to the Stated Qlerk of Presbytery, 
 complaint ivas made to the Assembly of the Pres- 
 bytery's neglect to comply ivith the constitutional 
 rules, it was held that the papers presented, from 
 their insufficiency and want of form, are not to be 
 considered as the commencement of a cause, or the 
 entry of an appeal before the Assembly. 
 
 The enlarged Committee in the case of Mr. Bourne, 
 presented their report, and their report being read 
 was adopted, and is as follows, viz. "Mr. Bourne's 
 petition states a decision to have passed against him in 
 Lexington Presbytery, which, by a supplementary 
 paper, he says was on the 27th of December last, 
 and contained a sentence of deposition, from which, 
 on the next day, he gave notice to the Presbytery 
 that he claimed an appeal to the General Assem- 
 bly; by his afiidavit, taken before an Alderman of 
 this city, he further declares, he, by the permission 
 
OF ArrEALS, COMrLAIXTS, «S:c. 'JU 
 
 of the Presbytery, transcribeil the minutes of their 
 proceedings; that he afterwards wrote in- form what 
 he denominates an appeal, (meaning it is presumed 
 his causes of appeal,) and transmitted it to the 
 clerk of the Presbytery, with a demand of the copy 
 of the records and of that paper ; but that he had 
 received a letter from the clerk, refusing to remove 
 them from the post-office. By his petition, he asks 
 to prosecute his cause before the Assembly without 
 having first brought his case before the Synod of 
 Virginia ; and that if such hearing cannot be granted 
 to him at present, the Assembly will assign him 
 a day." [The general decision of the Assembly was 
 that the three papers presented by Mr. Bourne, arc 
 not to be considered as the commencement of a cause, 
 or the entry of an appeal in this judicatory.] — ^lin- 
 uteSy 1816, p. 626. 
 
 VI. Appeals may he carried directly to the highest 
 
 court. 
 
 "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 Assem- 
 bly shall receive and issue all appeals and references 
 which may be regularly brought before them from 
 the inferior judicatories, &c." have been interpreted 
 favourably to such a request ; the General 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 Virginia, to which the Assembly can have no 
 objection, shall have previously 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, p. 626. 
 
 ^^Besolvedy That the records of the Synod of Vir- 
 ginia be approved, except their censure of the Pres- 
 byter}^ of Lexington, for allowing an appeal from 
 their decision directly to the Assembly, without no- 
 
100 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 tlcing the supposed irregularity of such appeal." — 
 llinutes, 1818, p. 688. 
 
 The Assemhly ivill not entertain appeals from decis- 
 ions of Presbyteries, where no reasons are assigned 
 for not carrying the case to the Synod. 
 Mr. Matthew H. Rice having appealed from a de- 
 cision of East Hanover Presbytery, it was Resolved, 
 " That the appellant have leave to withdraw his appeal 
 on the following ground, viz. — no reasons are assigned 
 by the appellant for making this appeal to the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, instead of the Synod." — Minutes, 
 1830, p. 24. 
 
 VII. The rule is virtually complied ivith when, 
 through ignorance, the appeal is lodged in due time 
 with the Chairman of the Judicial Committee. — 
 Minutes, 1830, p. 28. 
 
 VIII. By consent of both parties, a paper may he 
 read, not as part of the record, hut as containing 
 matter important to the ap>pellant. 
 
 " 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 Presby- 
 tery 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 appointed by the Synod of Philadelphia, 
 to defend their decision in the same case, hereby 
 agree to the introduction of a document entitled "An 
 Appendix," &c. Not, however, as a part of the 
 records of the inferior judicatory, but as testimony 
 adduced by the appellant to substantiate any state- 
 ments he has made, or may yet make. 
 George Junkin, "^ 
 S. G. Winchester, ! Committee of 
 G. W. Musgrave, [Synod of Phila'a. 
 David McKinney. 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, Lc. 101 
 
 The document called the" Appendix, numbered 
 from pp. 1 to 58 inclusive, containing the trial, testi- 
 mony of the parties, Junkin and Barnes, and final 
 decision of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, in 
 the said case of Junkin and Barnes, was read." — 
 Minutes, 1836, p. 256. 
 
 Tlie yeas mid nays and matters foreign to the issue 
 may be passed over in reading the proceedings of 
 the body appealed from, unless called for by one 
 of the parties. 
 
 ^'Resolved, That in reading the Minutes of Lex- 
 ington Presbytery, the names of the voters in calling 
 the yeas and nays be omitted, unless called for by one 
 or other of the parties litigant; and that the pro- 
 ceedings of Presbytery, in reference to other matters 
 foreign to the issue before us, be also omitted, unless 
 called for specially by one of the parties." — Minutes, 
 1848, p. 30. 
 
 The calliyig of the roll being completed, an elder, who 
 ivas not a meviber of Synod at the time of trial, 
 and loho u)as not heard when the members of the 
 inferior judicatory were called on, cannot be 
 allowed to speak, as the p>roper time has p)assed. 
 
 "Judicial case No. 2, was resumed, and the calling 
 of the roll completed. John F. Phifer, ruling elder 
 of the Presbytery of Concord, and Synod of North 
 Carolina, not having been a member of the Synod 
 on the trial of Mr. Davies, and not having been 
 heard in the Assembly when the members of the 
 inferior judicatory were called on, desired to be heard 
 now. On motion. Resolved, That the request be not 
 granted, as the proper time had passed by, and the 
 refusal be entered on the Minutes." — Minutes, 1849, 
 p. 262. 
 
 IX. The withdrawing is to be taken in the obvious 
 and literal sense. 
 
 " The Moderator having decided that the rule re- 
 quiring the parties to withdraw, should bo understood 
 9* 
 
102 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 in the obvious and literal sense, an appeal was taken 
 from his decision, and the decision was sustained bj a 
 large majority." — Minutes, 1848, p. 40. 
 
 The roll being called^ they are to give their opinions 
 without reasons. 
 
 '^Eesolved, That during the remaining sessions of 
 this Assembly, it shall be understood, that when the 
 roll is called, in the trial of any case, the members shall 
 be confined to the giving of their opinion without 
 reasons, according to the letter of the constitutional 
 rules." — Minutes, 1836, p. 276. 
 
 X. Sentence of suspensio7i will be reversed where 
 there has been precipita7icy and neglect of the rules 
 by the Presbytery. 
 
 " The Assembly sustained the appeal of Mr. Ar- 
 thur, from the sentence of the Presbytery by which 
 he was suspended from the gospel ministry, on the 
 ground of contumacy, because the Presbytery ap- 
 peared to have been precipitate, and not to have 
 observed the constitutional rules. (See Discipline, 
 Chap. iv. Sects. 6, 10, 11.) They deem, too, the 
 request of Mr. Arthur for a copy of the first sen- 
 tence, to have been reasonable, and that it ought to 
 have been complied with." — 31inutes, 1822, p. 25. 
 
 A disproportionate sentence ivill be reversed, and the 
 Presbytery directed to restore the appellant after 
 admonition and suitable acknowledgment. 
 
 "It being the order of the day, the Assembly pro- 
 ceeded to consider 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 discus- 
 sion, the following resolution was adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That the appeal of Mr. Spicer be sus- 
 tained, on the ground that the sentence pronounced 
 on him was disproportioned to his crime^ it not ap- 
 
&iG. 103 
 
 pcarlng 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 Chris- 
 tian and a Christian minister, they reverse the sen- 
 tence of deposition passed upon him by the Presby- 
 tery, and direct that, after suitable admonitions and 
 acknowledgments, he be restored to the ministerial 
 office." — Minutes J 1821, p. 16. 
 
 Where the charges are not fully substaritiafed, and 
 the sentence is too severe, the sentence will be re- 
 versed, and a netv trial he ordered. 
 
 "The discussion left unfinished yesterday afternoon 
 was resumed, viz. of the motion to reverse a decis- 
 ion 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 affirma- 
 tive, 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. There- 
 fore, Resolved, That the sentence of the Presbytery 
 of Lexington, deposing Mr. Bourne, be reversed, and 
 it is hereby reversed, and that the Presbytery com- 
 mence the trial anew." — Minutes, 1817, p. 646. 
 
 WJiere a minister has been suspended for certain 
 opinions expressed hy him, and there has been 
 irregularity in the nature of the testimony, and 
 misunderstanding as to his opinions, [the Presby- 
 tery must reconsider the case, to give the appellant 
 another op>portunity of explaining his opinions. 
 
 "The business left unfinished yesterday, viz. the 
 consideration of the appeal of Mr. Todd from the 
 decision of the Synod of Kentucky, affirming a de- 
 cision of the Presbytery of Transylvania, by which 
 decision Mr. Todd was deposed from the gospel min- 
 istry, and after considerable discussion of the subject 
 of the appeal, the following resolution was adopted, viz. 
 
104 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 The Assembly having heard the documents in this 
 case, were of opinion that the way is not clear at 
 present for a reversal of the sentence of suspension ; 
 but as it appears to the Assembly that Mr. Todd's 
 opinions have not been perfectly understood; and 
 whereas, there appears to have been some irregu- 
 larity as to the nature of the testimony admitted on 
 the trial before the Presbytery ; therefore. Resolved^ 
 That the Presbytery of Transylvania be directed to 
 reconsider the case of Mr. Todd, to afford him 
 another opportunity of explaining himself, and if they 
 should be satisfied, to restore him to his former stand- 
 ing, "—ilfrnw^es, 1817, p. Qm. 
 
 Where a sentence of suspension has been reversed for 
 exceptionable irregulai^ity, the Presbytery may in- 
 stitute a new trials or the appellant may demand 
 one. JVo process being commeficed within a certain 
 time, he 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 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, delibera- 
 tion, 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 honour 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 meantime, Mr. Bell's ministerial 
 standing shall be considered regular, and if no pro- 
 cess shall be commenced by either party within the 
 space of six months from the first of June next, then 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 105 
 
 Mr. Bell may claim from the 'Presbytery of Concord 
 a dismission, declaring him to be in regular stand- 
 ing."— iUfmw^es, 1828, p. 238. 
 
 In reversing a sentence of suspension^ the Assemhlij 
 suggests what would have been a sufficient censure. 
 
 " The Committee appointed to prepare a minute 
 to be adopted on the subject of the appeal of David 
 Price, from the decision of the Synod of Geneva, made 
 a report, which being read and amended, was adopted, 
 and is as follows, viz. 
 
 The Assembly sustain the appeal of David Price, 
 from the decision of the Synod of Geneva, on the 
 ground that the charge of intoxication was not suf- 
 ficiently supported by the testimony; although it 
 does appear, principally from his own confession, that 
 he had made an unbecoming use of ardent spirits, 
 and that an admonition w^as, in the view of the 
 Assembly, deserved, and would have been sufficient." 
 — 3IinuteSj 1825, p. 274. 
 
 " The Committee appointed to draw a minute on 
 the subject of the memorial, from the session of the 
 First Church in Genoa, reported the following, which 
 was adopted, viz. 
 
 Mesohed, That the Church of Genoa 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 conse- 
 quence of his unchristian conduct. And it is the 
 judgment of this Assembly, that the session ought 
 immediately to have admhiistered 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 of 
 any other Presbyterian church." — Minutes^ 1827, 
 p. 116. 
 
106 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 The Assembly sets aside the entire loroceedings in an 
 a'p^eal case, 
 
 " The Assembly resumed the unfinished business 
 of this morning, viz. the appeal of persons claiming 
 to be the church of St. Charles. The calling of the 
 roll was concluded. 
 
 Hesolved, That the Assembly herein sustain the 
 appeal pro forma, and orders the entire setting aside 
 of all the proceedings in the whole case in all its stages, 
 from the time that notice was first given to call a meet- 
 ing of the congregation for the election of the three 
 elders, and directs all the parties to stand precisely 
 where they did before any step was taken in it." — 
 3£inutes, 1838, p. 19. 
 
 " The Committee to whom was referred Overture 
 No. 3, in relation to difiiculties in the Church of St. 
 Charles, made a report of a minute, which was 
 adopted, as follows, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That this Assembly understands the act 
 of the Assembly of 1838, as sustaining the appeal of 
 Rev. Hiram Chamberlain, not upon the merits of the 
 case but on account of informality of the courts be- 
 low, and that " in the entire setting aside of all the 
 proceedings in the whole case," they intended not 
 only to annul the past, but also to forbid all subse- 
 quent action contrary to the will of the regularly 
 constituted authorities of that church, and they hereby 
 declare any such unconstitutional action that may 
 have been had by any person, or persons, in connec- 
 tion with that church, to be null and void." — Minutes, 
 1840, p. 302. 
 
 It is irregular in sustaining a judgment of the court 
 below, to pass a netv censure on the appellant. 
 
 "The business left unfinished yesterday was resumed, 
 viz. the consideration of the following motion in the 
 case of Newton Hawes' appeal, from a decision of the 
 Synod of Genessee, affirming a decision of the church 
 of Warsaw, by which Mr. Hawes was suspended from 
 the ordinances of the church, viz. that in relation to 
 
OF. APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, <!fcC. 107 
 
 tlie petition of Newton Ilawee, the Assembly order 
 that the Synod of Gencssee be directed, at their next 
 session, to hear and issue his complaint. 
 
 The consideration of this motion was postponed, 
 and the following resolution was submitted to the 
 Assembly, and adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That the General Assembly having heard 
 and considered in detail the circumstances and merits 
 of the appeal of Newton Ilawes, are of the opinion 
 that in the proceedings of the Synod of Genessee in 
 the case, there appears to be nothing irregular or cen- 
 surable until they come to their last decision, in which 
 they pass a new and severe censure on the appel- 
 lant. In this particular, the Assembly judge that 
 the proceedings of the Synod were not regular, inas- 
 much as they inflicted a new censure without a new 
 and regular trial. Had the Synod contented them- 
 selves 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 sus- 
 pended member, they would have acted with entire 
 regularity ; but not pausing at this point, the Assem- 
 bly consider them as acting on matters not regularly 
 brought before them ; and, therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That the sentence of the Synod, requir- 
 ing the appellant to make a new and second confes- 
 sion, be reversed, and it is hereby reversed, and that 
 the other part of their proceedings and decision be 
 affirmed, and they are hereby affirmed." — Minutes^ 
 1823, p. 124. 
 
 Judgment against circulating evil reports when it is 
 not slioivn that it was done in the due performance 
 of some indispensable duty. 
 
 " The Assembly resumed the unfinished business of 
 the morning, viz. the appeals of the session of the 
 church of Bloomington, and of Dr. Wylie. Calling 
 the roll was finished. After which, the final vote 
 was taken, when it was 
 
 Resolved, That the Assembly sustain the appeals 
 of the session of the church of Bloomington, and of 
 
108 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &,C. 
 
 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 cir- 
 culated evil reports against Dr. Wylie, without showing 
 that he did it in the due performance of some indis- 
 pensable duty; but it is the judgment of this Assem- 
 bly, that Mr. Harney shall still have the privilege, if 
 he desire it, of commencing a prosecution against 
 Dr. Wylie before the Presbytery of Vincennes, and 
 in such case, said Presbytery are hereby authorized 
 and directed to hear the whole cause and issue the 
 same in a constitutional way." — Minutes, 1834, p. 29. 
 
 TJie case ivill he sent haclc for reconsideration tvliere 
 no express vote was taken in the Synod on sustain- 
 ing the appeal, and where the sentence was vague 
 and inconsistent with itself, 
 
 " On motion, the Assembly took up the unfinished 
 business of may 29th. viz. the appeal of Dr. Wylie 
 against the Synod of Indiana. * * After having 
 heard part of the documents read, the further reading 
 was arrested and the following resolution was adopted, 
 viz. 
 
 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 recon- 
 sider the same and pass a definite, precise and just 
 sentence."— ifmw^es, 1837, p. 479. 
 
 XI. Wliere there is a failure to prosecute an ap)peal, 
 the respondents may enter their protest against the 
 further prosecution of it, 
 
 '' On motion. Resolved, That in case of an appeal 
 or complaint, entered in an inferior 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 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 109 
 
 fallen from, and the sentence so appealed from sliall 
 be considered as final." — 3Iinutes, 1791, p. 39. 
 
 [A protest was admitted in behalf of the Synod of 
 the Carolinas, that an appeal of Abingdon Presby- 
 tery from their judgment, was not prosecuted, and 
 the judgment became final.] — Minutes, 1791, p. 45. 
 
 " The Committee to which was referred the letter and 
 appeal of the Rev. Thomas B. Craighead, reported, 
 that after having carefully attended to the duty 
 assigned them, they did not discover any sufficient 
 reason why he has not come forward to prosecute his 
 appeal before the Assembly, nor why his case should not 
 now be brought to issue ; and, therefore, recommended 
 that the representation from the Synod of Kentucky, 
 be permitted, if so disposed, to enter their protest in 
 proper time against a future prosecution of his appeal, 
 and thus give effect to a standing order of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, that the sentence of the Synod be 
 considered as final. 
 
 Resolved, That the foregoing report be accepted, 
 and that Mr. Craighead be furnished with an attested 
 copy of this decision in his case. 
 
 The members of the Synod of Kentucky brought 
 forward their protest, which being read was accepted, 
 and is as follows, viz. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas B. Craighead having appealed to 
 the General Assembly from a decision of the Synod 
 of Kentucky, made in the month of October last, by 
 which decision the said Synod directed the Presby- 
 tery of Transylvania to depose the said Thomas B. 
 Craighead from the gospel ministry, which was done 
 accordingly; and whereas, the said Mr. Craighead 
 has not prosecuted his appeal to the General Assem- 
 bly, and the subscribers, members of the Synod of 
 Kentucky, have waited till the last day of the ses- 
 sions of the Assembly, to afford opportunity for the 
 prosecution of said appeal, we do, therefore, now pro- 
 test, in our own name, and on behalf of the Synod 
 10 
 
110 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 of Kentucky, against tlie future prosecution of said 
 appeal, and declare the sentence of the Synod to be 
 final, agreeably to a standing order of the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 [Signed] James Hoge, 
 
 M. G. Wallace, 
 J. P. Campbell." 
 ^Minutes, 1811, p. 481. 
 
 ^^Personal attendance on the superior judicatory is 
 not essential to the regular prosecution of an ap- 
 peal"— Minutes, 1822, p. 25. 
 
 A protest having been admitted through an erronoous 
 
 construction of the words, "fail to prosecute,'' 
 
 leave was given to appeal after a lapse of eleven 
 
 years, 
 
 " The business left unfinished in the morning, viz. 
 the consideration of the report of the Committee to 
 which had been referred the Rev. T. B. Craighead's 
 letter, was resumed, and the report was adopted, and 
 is as follows, viz. 
 
 In the year 1811, an appeal from a decision of the 
 Synod of Kentucky, 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 Kentucky, 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 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 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. Ill 
 
 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 Assem- 
 bly declaring Mr. Craighead deposed, does not accord 
 with the sentence of the Synod, which was suspen- 
 sion. 
 
 From the above history of facts, your Committee, 
 while they entirely dissent from many of the opinions 
 contained in Mr. Craighead's letter, and consider its 
 publication, before it was presented to the Assembly, 
 indecorous and improper, are of opinion that he 
 has just ground of complaint in regard to the pro- 
 ceedings of the General Assembly of 1811, in his 
 case, and that the construction put on the standing 
 rule of the Assembly was not correct ; for personal 
 attendance on the superior judicatory is not essen- 
 tial to the regular prosecution of an appeal. More- 
 over, the sentence of the Assembly being founded in 
 error, ought to be considered null and void, and 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. 
 
 Ordered, that the stated clerk forward to Mr. 
 Craighead a copy of the foregoing minute." — Min- 
 utesy 1822, p. 24. 
 
 An appellant failing to appear personally may pre- 
 sent his case tvith reasons for previous failure, at 
 the next meeting of the Judicatory to which he has 
 appealed. 
 
 " The Judicial Committee reported that they have 
 had under consideration the letter of the Rev. A. 
 Gr- Fraser to this General Assembly. That Mr. 
 Fraser states that he has been unavoidably prevented 
 from personally prosecuting an appeal from the decis- 
 ion of the Synod of New Jersey, of which due notice 
 was given that Synod, and requesting the General 
 
112 or APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 Assembly to appoint a Committee of ministers and 
 elders to hear and adjudicate the whole matter, or if 
 such a plan is not within the jurisdiction of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, that then this matter of appeal stand 
 over to their next stated meeting. 
 
 The Committee recommended that the following 
 answer be given, viz. According to the Book of Dis- 
 cipline of our Church, there are but four ways in 
 which the General Assembly can have cognizance of 
 a judicial case. As neither of these ways is contem- 
 plated in the request of Mr. Eraser, the Assembly 
 cannot, without a violation of constitutional rules, 
 take any action in the premises. In regard to a 
 future prosecution of his appeal, the appellant must 
 present his case, with reasons for previous failure, 
 before the next General Assembly, whose province it 
 will then be to decide upon the whole subject. The re- 
 commendation was adopted." — Minutes,lS50, p. 463. 
 
 TJie death of a respondent is a bar to the further pro- 
 secution of an appeal, 
 
 [The Records of the Synod of New York are ap- 
 proved with exceptions.] " And on page 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, acquitting 
 Mr. Grimthr— Minutes, 1833, p. 485. 
 
 Right of Voting in Appeals, 
 
 XII. ''Resolved^ That no minister belonging to the 
 Synod of Philadelphia, nor elder, who was a member 
 of the judicature when the vote appealed from took 
 place, shall vote in the decision thereof by this As- 
 sembly." — Minutes, 1792, p. ^Q. 
 
 An elder who was not a member of the Judicature at 
 the time the sentence tvas passed, cannot vote. 
 
 " 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 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 113 
 
 Mr. Barnes was tried and isstied, 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 Assem- 
 bly 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 minister helonging to a Presbytery at the time of a 
 trial, but not present at the trial, and ivho became 
 a member of another Presbytery before the case 
 was carried to the Synod^ may vote on the appeal 
 in the Assembly. 
 
 "A motion was then made that Dr. Skinner and 
 Mr. Dashiell, who, at the time the trial was com- 
 menced 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 Presbytery, and before the 
 meeting of Synod were members of other Presby- 
 teries, should not sit in judgment in the case of Mr. 
 Barnes. This motion was decided in the negative." 
 —Minutes, 1836, p. 266. 
 
 JSfo judicatory, after sentence by them passed, and an 
 appeal from it carried up to a higher court, have a 
 right to call the cause back. 
 
 The report of the committee on the minutes of the 
 Synod of the Carolinas was brought in and approved, 
 and is as follows, viz. 
 
 The committee to whom the records of the Synod 
 of the Carolinas were recommitted, beg leave to re- 
 port: That your committee find that a judgment of 
 the session of Salem was confirmed by the Presbytery 
 of Abingdon, and brought by appeal before the Synod 
 of the Carolinas, who remitted the cause to a select 
 10* 
 
114 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &0. 
 
 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. 
 
 The Synod next proceeded to consider the appeal 
 but before they came to a decision, a meeting was 
 held by the members of Abingdon Presbytery, then 
 attending on Synod, at which meeting they professed 
 to reverse the former sentence of that Presbytery, 
 and reported the same to Synod in order to preclude 
 the farther proceedings. Here your committee ob- 
 serve 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 supe- 
 rior 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 conceive, 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 that Synod should be sustained in 
 point of order by the General Assembly, and their 
 decision confirmed. In that instance in which their 
 proceedings seem to be most contrary to regular dis- 
 cipline, and which is particularly pointed at in the 
 reasons of protest by the members of Abingdon Pres- 
 bytery — we mean, resuming a case during the same ses- 
 sion 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 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 115 
 
 should have been assigned on their minutes." — il/m- 
 utes, 1791, p. 42. 
 
 XVI. WJiere the Presbytery and Synod sent up their 
 records, hut not copies of the testimony taken on the 
 trial, the appeal ivas sustained. 
 
 " The appellant having given due notice that he did 
 appeal, appeared regularly before the Assembly, 
 and that while the Presbytery and Synod 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 privileges as a member of the Church of Christ." 
 — Minutes, 1826, p. 35. 
 
 Wliere important documents tvere before the session, 
 ivhich were not sent up to the higher judicatories, 
 the case tuill be remanded to the Presbytery for a 
 neiu trial, and the session ordered to amend its 
 record. 
 
 ^'It appearing from the official certificates of the 
 Stated Clerks of all the courts below, that important 
 documents in evidence before the session which first 
 tried the case of Beck and McMahon, were not sent 
 up to the Presbytery and Synod; it is therefore 
 ordered that this case be sent back to the Presbytery 
 of Charleston for a new trial, and that the session of 
 the church of Columbia be directed to correct their 
 record, and to send to Presbytery an authentic copy 
 of all the evidence and all the documents before them. 
 It is recommended, however, that the parties, if 
 practicable, make an amicable and Christian settle- 
 ment, without again submitting the same for decision 
 to the judicatories of the Church." — Minutes, 1843, 
 p. 186. 
 
 XVII. An ajJj^eal having been entered by persons not 
 of the original parties, ivas taken up as a complaint. 
 "The Judicial Committee reported a paper, signed 
 
 by Dr. Cathcart and others, members of the Presbytery 
 
116 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 of Carlisle, purporting to be an appeal or complaint 
 relative to a decision of the Synod of Philadelphia. 
 The committee gave it as their opinion that the sub- 
 ject 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. Resolved^ That the consideration of 
 this complaint be the order of the day for next Tues- 
 day morning." — Minutes^ 1823, p. 115. 
 
 Section IV. — Of Complamts. 
 
 In the ease of the complaint of members of Carlisle 
 Presbytery against the decision of the Synod of 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 " 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 Phi- 
 ladelphia, was received, which being read, was 
 adopted. 
 
 Resolved, 1. That no discussion ought to be al- 
 lowed which may involve 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." 
 
 The motion was that the complaint be sustained. 
 After some discussion this motion was postponed, and 
 the following was adopted, viz. 
 
 " The Assembly having heard the complaint of the 
 Presbytery of Carlisle against the Synod of Philadel- 
 phia in the case of William S. McDowell, with the 
 facts and arguments offered both by the Presbytery 
 and the Synod, judge that the Synod had a constitu- 
 tional right to reverse 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 princi- 
 
OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 117 
 
 pies of discipline prescribed in- the Constitution ; in- 
 asmuch 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 administered, and without receiving 
 any evidence of his penitence." — Minutes, 1823, 
 pp. 123, 126. 
 
 A complainant appearing hy Ms counsel. 
 
 *'0n motion, the complainant being prevented from 
 appearing in person, was permitted to appear by his 
 counsel, Dr. K. J. BrecKinridge, whom he has re- 
 quested to act for him." — Minutes, 1850, p. 469. 
 
 A complaint may he made ivhen a Synod dissolves 
 a Presbytery. 
 
 [The complaint of the members of the late Presby- 
 tery of Wilmington against the Synod of Philadelphia 
 for dissolving them was heard and sustained, and the 
 Presbytery was restored to the state in which they 
 "were at the time of their organization by the Synod, 
 ■with the exception that the church of New Castle 
 shall have the privilege, if they desire it, of uniting 
 with New Castle Presbytery.] — Minutes, 1836, p. 
 279. 
 
 A complaint may he made against a decision estab- 
 lishing a second church in a town. 
 
 " The Committee to whom was referred the complaint 
 of Samuel Lowry against the Synod of Illinois, made 
 the following report of a minute as expressive of their 
 judgment in the case, which was adopted, viz. 
 
 The Assembly after hearing the documents and 
 the parties in the case of the complaint of Mr. Samuel 
 Lowry against the decision of the Synod of Illinois, 
 by which they affirmed the decision of the Presbytery 
 of Peoria, establishing a second Presbyterian church 
 in the town of Peoria, do judge that the complaint of 
 Mr. Samuel Lowry be, and it is hereby sustained pro 
 forma, it having been regularly conducted, and there 
 appearing just grounds of complaint on account of 
 
118 OF APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 
 
 irregularity, and also on the ground of allegations 
 made against Mr. Lowry, some of "which have been 
 disproved, and others not sustained by evidence. 
 But it is not intended by this manner of sustaining 
 the complaint, to reverse the decision of the Synod, 
 inasmuch as the Assembly believes the better way of 
 redressing the evils which have arisen there, is not to 
 dissolve the said second church, but to adopt some 
 mode of pacification, and prevent, if possible, the 
 recurrence of similar disorders. 
 
 The Assembly therefore fix the seal of their dis- 
 approbation upon the following irregularities, viz. 
 
 1st. The conduct of the Rev. Mr. Kellar in dividing 
 the church in Peoria, by which he did not make a sepa- 
 ration from the great body of the Presbyterian Church, 
 but a schism in the body contrary to the word of God 
 and the government of the church, which allow of the 
 division of the church universal into separate congre- 
 gations only when the people of God are too nume- 
 rous or too remote from each other to assemble in one 
 place to worship God. 
 
 This procedure of Mr. Kellar was the more culpa- 
 ble, as the party he organized into a church endea- 
 voured to assume the name and take the place of the 
 regular church in Peoria. 
 
 2d. The Presbytery of Peoria are censurable for 
 not calling Mr. Kellar to order, when he disregarded 
 their advice to desist from preaching in the town of 
 Peoria. 
 
 3d. The Synod of Illinois have not discharged 
 their duty. They ought to have spread upon their 
 record every thing which influenced their judgment 
 in the case, and also to have sent to this Assembly 
 authentic copies of the whole proceedings, with all 
 the documents which had been regularly before them. 
 
 They also seem to have overlooked the irregularity 
 of the Presbytery in dividing a congregation when 
 there was no request from the people on the subject. 
 
 It is manifestly lawful but deemed by the Assem- 
 bly inexpedient, to dissolve the second Church in 
 Peoria J but in order to bring matters back to a state 
 
OP APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, &C. 119 
 
 of order and harmony, the General Assembly hereby 
 direct the Synod of Illinois, at its first meeting, to 
 appoint a Committee composed of men known to be 
 of sound judgment, and pacific in their characters, 
 and not obnoxious to either of the churches now 
 established in that town, to visit said churches as 
 soon as practicable and use their best endeavours to 
 bring them together in one harmonious body, that 
 they may be able to select and support a pastor, and 
 not as separate and feeble sections of the same body, 
 remain a reproach among their adversaries. In the 
 meantime, the Assembly enjoin it upon the members 
 and officers of the said churches to exercise mutual 
 forbearance and Christian kindness, that they may be 
 prepared to profit from a visit by the Committee of 
 Synod."— Jimw^es, 1840, p. 302. 
 
 A complaint may he made against a Synod for 
 refusing to divide a Presbytery. 
 
 [The complaint of certain members of the Presby- 
 tery of Philadelphia against the Synod of Philadel- 
 phia, for refusing to divide that Presbytery, was sus- 
 tained and their petition for a division granted.] — 
 Minutes, 1832, pp. 319, 320. 
 
 A complaint tvill not lie against a decision of Pres- 
 bytery previously authorized by the General As- 
 sembly. 
 
 The unfinished business [being Judicial case No. 1, 
 a complaint against a decision of the Synod of North 
 Carolina confirming a decision of the Presbytery of 
 Fayetteville, restoring the Rev. Archibald McQueen, 
 to the functions of the gospel ministry] was resumed 
 and the following was the decision of the Assembly 
 in the case, viz. 
 
 AYhereas the Rev. Archibald McQueen prosecuted a 
 complaint before the Assembly of 1845, against the 
 Presbytery of Fayetteville for refusing to restore him 
 to the exercise of the gospel ministry ; and did at the 
 same time memorialize that Assembly to decree his 
 
120 OF NEW TESTIMONY. 
 
 restoration; and whereas that Assembly did take up and 
 judicially entertain the said complaint, and pronounced 
 judgment in the case by authorizing and recommending 
 the Presbytery to restore the said Archibald McQueen 
 to the gospel ministry, provided that in the judgment 
 of the Presbytery it was wise so to do ; and whereas 
 the Presbytery in the exercise of the discretion thus 
 confided to them did restore Mr. McQueen, therefore 
 
 Resolved^ That the complaint of the Rev. Colin 
 Mclver and others against the Synod of North Caro- 
 lina, for having sustained the action of the Presbytery 
 of Fayetteville in restoring the said Archibald 
 McQueen, in accordance with the judicial decision of 
 the Assembly of 1845, cannot be entertained by this 
 house, and is hereby dismissed. 
 
 In making this disposition of the above mentioned 
 complaint, this General Assembly wishes it to be dis- 
 tinctly understood that they do not mean either to 
 retract or modify any judgment hitherto expressed by 
 any Assembly respecting the ofi"ence for which Mr. 
 McQueen was suspended from the exercise of the 
 gospel ministry. They simply declare that his case 
 cannot be regularly brought before them by this com- 
 plaint."— ilt/z/iw^es, 1847, p. 395. 
 
 OF NEW TESTIMONY. 
 
 [Book of Discipline, Chapter IX.] 
 
 I. Neiu testimony^ apparently of an important hind 
 being alleged, a new trial was granted and the case 
 referred to the General Association of Connecticut 
 for adjudication. 
 
 " The Assembly took into consideration the report 
 of the Committee 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 ou 
 
OF NEW TESTIMONY. 121 
 
 the evidence and the circumstances which were pre- 
 sented to them at the time, was proper and is there- 
 fore 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 insti- 
 tuted thereon. 
 
 3. That as the present case originated within the 
 bounds of the consociated churches of the State of 
 Connecticut, the Assembly do refer the whole case 
 of Mr. Collins to the General Association of the said 
 State, that they may direct to a full investigation ; 
 and it is 
 
 Ordered, That all the proceedings had upon this 
 affair both before the Presbytery of New York and 
 the Synod of New York and New Jersey, together 
 with all evidence and other documents that can be 
 obtained, relating thereto, be sent by the delegates 
 from the General Assembly to the General Associa- 
 tion. And 
 
 4. That the Stated Clerk furnish to the said dele- 
 gates an authentic extract from the records of this 
 house, of all the proceedings had upon this case be- 
 fore the General Assembly. — 3Imutes, 1793, p. 68. 
 
 III. Complaint being made that a new trial had 
 been refused, though new testimony was alleged to 
 exist, the Assembly appointed a Committee to 
 inquire into the truth of the allegation. 
 
 "A complaint from Mr. Francis Hindman against 
 the Presbytery of New Castle, for not granting him 
 a new trial in his case, agreeably to the resolution of 
 last Assembly, was read, together with several papers 
 accompanying it," [and was referred to a Committee,] 
 " who were authorized to call for other papers and to 
 cite witnesses if they deem it necessary, and were 
 directed to report to the Assembly the result of their 
 attention to the subject." 
 
 [The following report of the Committee was adopted:] 
 "That having carefully examined the papers com- 
 mitted to them, and having heard Mr. Hindman in 
 11 
 
122 OP NEW TESTIMONY. 
 
 his own case, as also a member of the Presbytery of 
 New Castle, in explanation of their conduct, they find 
 no cause of complaint against said Presbytery in their 
 treatment of Mr. Hindman." — Minutes, 1812, pp. 
 496, 504. 
 
 " Is it lawful and consistent with the order of our 
 Church for a church court to reconsider and set 
 aside its own decision, after a la^ose of five or six 
 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 f 
 
 1. " Our Book of Discipline, Chap. ix. Sec 1, pro- 
 vides that if after a trial before any judicatory, new 
 testimony be discovered which is supposed 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 a 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 
 
 3. 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 decis- 
 ions, in the absence of a majority of the court pro- 
 nouncing 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 judica- 
 tory."— i)[fmw^es, 1833, p. 491. 
 
OP JURISDICTION. 123 
 
 JURISDICTION. 
 
 [Book of Discipline, Chapter X.] 
 
 ** The Committee to whom was recommitted Overture 
 No. 1, viz. the question *At what period of their 
 pre'paratory course are candidates for the Christian 
 ministry to be considered as dismissed from the juris- 
 diction 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 pre- 
 serve 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 con- 
 cerned, it becomes the judicatories 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 ministry. 
 
 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 be- 
 
124 OF JURISDICTION. 
 
 long ; and that when licentiates are found unworthy 
 to be permitted further to preach the gospel, it shall 
 be the duty of the Presbytery 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 performance of the duties which 
 severally belong to sessions and Presbyteries, it will 
 be incumbent on church sessions, when they shall see 
 cause to commence process against candidates or 
 licentiates, before the Presbytery has arrested the 
 trials of the one, or taken away the licensure of the 
 other, to give immediate notice to the Moderator of 
 the Presbytery 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 licen- 
 tiate, the session to which such candidates, or licen- 
 tiates are amenable, shall be immediately informed 
 of what the Presbytery is doing, that the session 
 may, if requisite, commence process, and inflict the 
 discipline, which it is their province to administer." 
 —Minutes, 1829, p. 377. 
 
 " The Committee to which was referred the state- 
 ment of the Commissioner from the Presbytery of 
 Fayetteville, respecting a licentiate of the Presby- 
 tery of Hopewell, who had been suspended both from 
 the privilege of preaching the gospel, and from the 
 enjoyment of the sealing ordinances of God's house, 
 reported the following resolution, which being read, 
 was adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That the only correct mode to be pur- 
 sued bj the licentiate in order to obtain restoration 
 
OF JURISDICTION. 125 
 
 to his former standing, is to rtiake direct application 
 to the Presbytery of Hopewell ; and that the Pres- 
 bytery of Fayetteville may, with propriety, collect 
 and transmit to the Presbytery of Hopewell, any tes- 
 timony touching the moral character of said licen- 
 tiate while living within the bounds of the Presby- 
 tery of Fayetteville, whenever requested by either 
 the licentiate or the Presbytery of Hopewell." — Min- 
 utes, 1822, p. 11. 
 
 Though there may have been haste and confusion in 
 the dismission of memhers, their actual connection 
 with the church to which they are dismissed is valid 
 and regular. 
 
 "Overture No. 40. A memorial from individuals in 
 the Presbytery of Concord, formerly under the pastoral 
 care of the Rev. Mr. Davies, asking the Assembly to de- 
 termine whether they are to be considered members of 
 the Prospect Church, or whether their dismission 
 from the Church of Centre is to be considered null and 
 void. The Committee recommended that the Assem- 
 bly, while not approving of the haste and confusion with 
 which their dismission was given, declare their actual 
 connection with the Church of Prospect now to be 
 valid and regular. The recommendation was adopted." 
 —Minutes, 1849, p. 266. 
 
 " Overture No. 9. An overture from the Presby- 
 tery of Indianapolis, on several subjects: 1. "Is it 
 orderly in any case to dismiss to another church a 
 suspended member, stating the case, and submitting 
 it to the session to which he has removed?" 
 
 The Committee recommended the following answer, 
 viz. 
 
 It may be orderly in circumstances of necessity 
 arising from removal to an inconvenient distance ; 
 provided that in no instance the session to which he 
 is dismissed, be allowed to review or rejudge the case. 
 The recommendation was adopted." — Minutes, 1849, 
 p. 239. 
 11* 
 
126 OF JURISDICTION. 
 
 "On motion, Overture No. 16, was taken up, and it 
 was ''^Resolved, That in all cases where members of 
 any of our churches apply for dismission to unite 
 with a church of another denomination, the proper 
 course is to give a certificate of Christian character 
 only r— Minutes, 1839, p. 177. 
 
 Overture No. 12. A request from the Presbytery 
 of Hudson, that this General Assembly rescind the 
 above resolution was refused, because, "It is neither 
 a censure on the individuals, nor the churches to 
 which they seek to be dismissed, but sets forth the 
 only fact which it is important that those churches 
 should know."— iffmit^es, 1848, p. 22. 
 
 II. Where a Presbytery, having dismissed a minister 
 becomes extinct, and he is refused admission by the 
 Presbytery to ivhich he has been dismissed, he is to 
 be considered under the jurisdiction of the Synod. 
 
 "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." — Min- 
 utes, 1825, p. 265. 
 
 IV. A Presbytery cannot delegate to a Committee 
 the power to dismiss ministers, licentiates, and can- 
 didates. 
 
 " The report of the Committee on the reference from 
 the Presbytery of Cayuga, relative to the constitu- 
 tionality of a rule of that body, which had been laid 
 on the table, was taken up. The rule of the Presby- 
 tery of Cayuga, referred to the Assembly, is as fol- 
 lows, viz. 
 
 " The Moderator for the time being, and the Stated 
 Clerk, ex officio, were appointed a committee 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 the next stated meeting." 
 
OF LIMITATION OF TIME. 127 
 
 In relation to this rule, the following resolution, 
 reported by the Committee, was adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That the rule hitherto acted upon by the 
 Presbytery of Cayuga, is inexpedient and unconstitu- 
 tional."— ilfzww^^s, 1830, p. 27. 
 
 "iVb judicatory or private member shall certify any 
 person s character as good, for a space of time, with- 
 out mentioning whether he has been under process 
 of scandal during that time, and the issue of it.'' — 
 Minutes, 1791, p. 42. 
 
 " Overture No. 18. Asking the answer of the As- 
 sembly to the following question : 
 
 Pending the issuing of a judicial case regularly 
 before a Synod on any appeal from the decision of 
 a Presbytery, if the General Assembly set off the 
 Presbytery to another Synod, to ivliich of the Synods 
 does it belong to issue the case? 
 
 The committee recommend that the question be 
 answered as follows : 
 
 The issuing of the case belongs to the Synod to 
 which an appeal was first taken, or it may be trans- 
 ferred for adjudication to the Synod to which the 
 Presbytery was transferred, by consent of parties. 
 
 The overture was laid on the table." — 3Iinutes, 
 1850, p. 466. 
 
 LIMITATION OF TIME. 
 
 [Book of Discipline, Chapter XL] 
 
 III. The Committee appointed on the overture 
 from the Synod of New Jersey, inquiring What a 
 church session ought to do with members in commu- 
 nion ivho have been absent for years, ivithout having 
 taken a certificate of dismission, and whose place of 
 residence is unknoivn, made a report, which being 
 
128 OF LIMITATION OF TIME. 
 
 read and amended, was adopted, and is as follows, 
 viz. 
 
 That although this particular case is not provided 
 for by a specific regulation in our Book of Discip- 
 line, yet it is embraced bj certain general principles 
 which are recognized in that book, and interwoven 
 with many of its provisions. These principles, to- 
 gether with the result bearing on the case in question, 
 the committee beg leave most respectfully to state. 
 
 1. Every church member is amenable to some ap- 
 propriate tribunal, by the wisdom and fidelity of 
 which, in case of his falling into any error, immorali- 
 ty, 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 dismis- 
 sion, or an orderly withdrawing to join some other 
 Christian denomination; and must of necessity con- 
 tinue 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 con- 
 necting himself with another denomination, 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 session, and asking a certificate, either 
 of good standing, for the purpose of enjoying occa- 
 sional communion elsewhere, or of dismission to join 
 some other church, is itself a censurable violation of 
 the principles of church fellowship, and may infer sus- 
 pension from its privileges. 
 
 4. Church members, therefore, who have been ab- 
 sent 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 
 towards those whose withdrawing from Christian pri- 
 
OF BAPTISM. 129 
 
 vileges may he occasioned by the unavoidable dis- 
 pensations 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 in- 
 spection 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 suspen- 
 sion." — 3Iinutes, 1825, p. 255. 
 
 IV. Where a Si/nod, on complaint made^ refers a 
 case to a Presbytery for a full investigation, the 
 Statute of Limitations cannot he 2)leaded as a rea- 
 son for nan compliance. 
 
 "The Presbytery of Louisiana erred in pleading 
 the limitation of time for their non compliance with 
 the resolution of Synod, referring this whole case to 
 them for a full investigation." — Minutes, 1850, p. 
 481. 
 
 OF BAPTISM. 
 
 [Confession of Faith, Chapter XXVIII.] 
 
 IV. Persons presenting their children for baptism, 
 are to be carefully examined as to their life and 
 knowledge. 
 
 [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 
 ac(|uaintancc with the principles of the Chriatiun rcli- 
 
130 OP BAPTISM. 
 
 gion; that that seal be not set to a blank, and that 
 such be not admitted to a visible church relation as 
 are manifestly unfit for it." — Records, 1735, p. 113. 
 
 Each session must decide what constitutes the visible 
 and credible profession required. 
 
 "The following reference from the Synod of Phila- 
 delphia was laid before the Assembly: '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 pro- 
 fession of Christianity vague and indefinite, it is 
 humbly proposed to the Assembly to give some pre- 
 cise direction and definition of such a profession for 
 the information of its ministers.' In answer to the 
 above reference, the Assembly judged it unnecessary 
 and perhaps impracticable, to deliver rules more ex- 
 plicit 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. 
 
 " 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 Chris- 
 tian Church ? Upon this overture, the 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 con- 
 trary."— i^ecort^s, 1786, p. 527. 
 
 " The Committee to which was referred the following 
 question, viz. '' Ought baptism on the profession and 
 proiuise of the master to be administered to the child- 
 
OF THE ADMINISTRATION OP BAPTISM. 131 
 
 rcn of slaves ? reported, and their report being amend- 
 ed 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 baptism, 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. 
 
 ^' It was overtured whether Christian slaves, having 
 children at the entire direction of unchristian mas- 
 ters, 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 ques- 
 tion in the affirmative." — Records, 1786, p. 527. 
 
 OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 
 
 [Directory for Worship, Chapter VII.] 
 
 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. Priest- 
 ley, 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^ Unita- 
 
132 OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 
 
 rian errors in various forms are making their in- 
 sidious 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 to be 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 ministrations are wholly 
 invalid." — Ifinutes, 1814, p. 549. 
 
 " The following overture was presented by the Com- 
 mittee of overtures, viz. " Can a Presbytery con- 
 sistently achnoivledge as valid the ordinance of bap- 
 tism as administered by those who are regularly sus- 
 pended 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 Committee 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 Presbyterian Church when regularly suspended 
 by the competent judicatories, have no right to exer- 
 cise the functions of a minister during that suspen- 
 sion. 
 
 2. That while those persons styling themselves the 
 Cumberland Presbytery were under suspension, their 
 administrations are to be considered as invalid ; but 
 after the General Assembly have declared them to be 
 no longer connected with our church, their adminis- 
 trations 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 
 
OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 133 
 
 deposition, or any other process in the case." — 3Iin~ 
 utes, 1825, p. 275. 
 
 " 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?' re- 
 ported the following answer, which being read, was 
 adopted, viz. 
 
 The precise time of life when the state of infancy 
 ceases, is not determined 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 uni- 
 form rule; but should be left to the judgment of min- 
 isters and sessions, to be determined according to the 
 particular circumstances of each case. The Assem- 
 bly, therefore, deem it inexpedient to attempt to fix 
 the precise time at which children ought to be consid- 
 ered too old to be baptized on the faith of their 
 parents." — Minutes, 1822, p. 25. 
 
 I. Are all orphan children of heathen parents, com- 
 mitted to the care of our missions, entitled to the 
 benefit of the ordinance of baptism, ivithout respect 
 to their ages? 
 
 "The Committee of Bills and Overtures on the me- 
 morial from the Presbytery of Lodiana, in relation to 
 the baptism of orphan children of heathen parents, 
 recommend that the following answer be returned, 
 viz. 
 
 The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the United States of America to the Presbytery of 
 Lodiana: 
 
 Dear Brethren — You have submitted to us ques- 
 tions respecting a subject which we have no doubt is 
 one of very great importance in regard to the pro- 
 gress of religion among the heathen. "We have se- 
 riously considered it, and give you here the result of 
 our deliberations. 
 
 You present to us three questions, to which we 
 reply in the order in which the same are presented. 
 12 
 
134 OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 
 
 1. *Are all orphan cliildren of heathen parents 
 committed to the care of our missions, entitled to the 
 benefit of the ordinance of baptism, without respect 
 to their ages?' 
 
 We reply, certainly they are not. 
 
 You must make the same distinction that you "would 
 make if their parents were alive and members of the 
 Christian Church, and desiring to have them baptized, 
 the same distinction which is made in Christian coun- 
 tries. We add, let those children only be baptized in 
 every case who are so committed to the missions, or 
 other Christian tuition, as to secure effectually their 
 entire religious education. On this point great cau- 
 tion is necessary. 
 
 2. You ask, (on the presumption that the prece- 
 ding question is answered in the negative,) 'Are 
 those only to be baptized who have not attained to 
 years of discretion?' 
 
 This question w^e answer in the affirmative. 
 
 3. Your third question is in substance as follows : 
 'If those only who have not attained to years of dis- 
 cretion are to be baptized, at what age shall the 
 federal right be supposed to cease and personal re- 
 sponsibility to commence ?' 
 
 Although it is not difficult to answer this question 
 in accordance with the standards and the practice of 
 the Presbyterian Church, yet the rule may frequently 
 be found difficult of application. Our answer to the 
 question however is: 
 
 The officers of the church must judge in each par- 
 ticular case whether the proposed subject of baptism 
 has arrived at years of discretion or not. We can 
 adopt no other rule in our own practice, and we can 
 recommend no other to you. We refer you to Chap- 
 ter ix.. Section 2, of our Directory for Worship. If 
 the person proposed to be baptized has acquired that 
 maturity of mind which renders him capable of mak- 
 ing an intelligent profession of religion, himself, he 
 ought not to be baptized on the faith of another. Our 
 Confession of Faith recognizes the right to baptism 
 
OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 135 
 
 of tlie infant children only of sucli parents as are 
 members of the church. We do not doubt that in 
 heathen countries children of heathen parents ordi- 
 narily arrive at what are called years of discretion, 
 later than those who enjoy the advantages of Chris- 
 tian instruction in early life ; but in a country where 
 the religion of all consists in forms and ceremonies, 
 great care should be taken that the Christian reli- 
 gion does not even appear to partake of the formality 
 and emptiness of Mohammedanism and Paganism." — 
 3Iinutes, 1843, p. 179. 
 
 Ought such persons to he re-haptized as have been 
 offered in baptism by notoriously j^rojliyate ijarents, 
 and baptized by ministers of the same description ? 
 
 ''Resolved, That it is a principle of this Church that 
 the unworthiness 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, notwithstanding the unworthi- 
 ness of particular ministers. Yet, inasmuch as no 
 general rule can be made to embrace all circum- 
 stances, there may be irregularities in particular 
 administrations by men not yet divested of their 
 office, either in this or in other churches, -svhich may 
 render them null and void. But as these irregulari- 
 ties must often result from circumstances and situa- 
 tions 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 referred. 
 In such cases, it may be advisable to administer the 
 ordinance of baptism in a regular manner, where a 
 profane exhibition of the ceremony may have been 
 attempted. These cases and circumstances, however, 
 are to be inquired into by the church sessions, and 
 referred to a Presbytery before a final decision." — 
 Minutes, 1790, p. 26. 
 
136 OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 
 
 "Zs the haj^tism of childreyi of non-professing parents 
 to he regarded as valid baptism?" 
 
 [In reference to this question, the Assembly re- 
 ferred to the action recorded in the preceding para- 
 graph as a sufficient answer.] — Minutes, 1831, p. 18. 
 
 Is Baptism in the Church of Home valid f 
 
 [The Assembly, by a vote of 173 to 8, decided 
 that baptism in the Church of Rome is not valid, and 
 gave their views of the subject as follows :] — Minutes^ 
 1845, pp. 15, 34. 
 
 The Committee appointed to draw up a minute 
 expressive of the views of the Assembly, presented a 
 report, which was read and adopted, and is as follows, 
 viz. 
 
 "The Committee appointed to prepare a minute 
 expressive of the views of this Assembly, in return- 
 ing a negative to Overture No. 6, beg leave to report. 
 
 The question presented to this Assembly by over- 
 ture from the Presbytery of Ohio, " Is Bap>tism in 
 the Church of Rome valid f is one of a very grave 
 character, and of deep practical importance. The 
 answer to it must involve principles vital to the peace, 
 the purity, and the stability of the Church of God. 
 
 After a full discussion carried through several days, 
 this Assembly has decided, by a nearly unanimous 
 vote, that baptism so administered is not valid. 
 
 Because, since baptism is an ordinance established 
 by "Christ in his Church, (Form. Gov. Chap, vii., Matt, 
 xxviii. 19, 20,) and is to be administered only by a 
 minister of Christ, duly called and ordained to be a 
 steward of the mysteries of God, (Directory, Chap, 
 vii. Sec. 1,) it follows that no rite administered by one 
 who is not himself a duly ordained minister of the 
 true Church of God visible, can be regarded as an 
 ordinance of Christ, whatever be the name by which 
 it is called, whatever the form employed in its admin- 
 istration. The so-called priests of the Romish com- 
 munion are not ministers of Christ, for they are com- 
 missioned as agents of the papal hierarchy, which is 
 
OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 137 
 
 not a church of Christ, but the Man of Sin, apostate 
 from the truth, the enemy of righteousness and of 
 God. She has long lain under the curse of God, who 
 has called his people to come out from her, that they 
 be not partakers of her plagues. 
 
 It is the unanimous opinion of all the Reformed 
 churches, that the whole papal .body, though once a 
 branch of the visible church, has long since become 
 utterly corrupt, and hopelessly apostate. It was a 
 conviction of this which led to the Reformation, and 
 the complete separation of the reformed body from 
 the papal communion. Luther and his coadjutors, 
 being duly ordained presbyters at the time when they 
 left the Romish communion, which then, though 
 fearfully corrupt, was the only visible church in the 
 countries of their abode, were fully authorized by the 
 w^ord of God, to ordain successors in the ministry, 
 and so to extend and perpetuate the Reformed 
 churches as true churches of Christ: while the contu- 
 macious adherence of Rome to her corruptions, as 
 shown in the decisions of the Council of Trent, (which 
 she adopts as authoritative,) cuts her off from the visi- 
 ble Church of Christ, as heretical and unsound. 
 This was the opinion of the Reformers, and it is the 
 doctrine of the Reformed churches to this day. In 
 entire accordance to this is the decision of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly of our Church, passed in 1835, (see 
 Minutes of General Assembly, vol. 8. p. 33,) declar- 
 ing the Church of Rome to be an apostate body. 
 
 The decision by the Assembly of 1835, renders the 
 return of a negative to the inquiry proposed by the 
 Presbytery of Ohio, indispensahle on the ground of 
 consistency; unless we be prepared to admit, in direct 
 contradiction to the standards of the Presbyterian 
 Church, that baptism is not an ordinance established 
 by Christ in his Church exclusively, and that it may 
 be administered by an agent of the Man of Sin, an 
 emissary of the prince of darkness ; that it may be 
 administered in sport or in blasphemy, and yet be 
 valid as though administered by a duly commissioned 
 steward of the mysteries of God. 
 12* 
 
138 OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 
 
 Nor can it be urged that the papal hierarchy is im- 
 proving in her character, and gradually approxima- 
 ting to the scriptural standard. She claims to he 
 infallible: her dogmas she promulgates as the doc- 
 trines of heaven; and she pronounces her heaviest 
 anathema against any and every man who questions 
 her authority, and refuses to bow to her decisions. 
 She cannot recede from the ground she has assumed. 
 She has adopted as her own, the decisions of the 
 Council of Trent, which degrade the word of God : 
 which claim equal authority for the Apocrypha as for 
 the New Testament; and which declare the sense held 
 and taught by holy mother church, on the authority 
 of- tradition and of the Fathers, to be the true and 
 only sense of Scripture. All who deny this position, 
 or who question her authority, she denounces with 
 the bitterest curses. 
 
 She thus perverts the truth of God; she rejects 
 the doctrine of justification by faith ; she substitutes 
 human merit for the righteousness of Christ; and 
 self-inflicted punishment for gospel repentance: she 
 proclaims her so-called baptism to be regeneration, 
 and the reception of the consecrated wafer in the 
 eucharist, to be the receiving of Christ himself, the 
 source and fountain of grace, and with him all the 
 grace he can impart. Is this the truth ? Is reliance 
 on this system, true religion ? Can, then, the papal 
 body be a Church ? 
 
 The Church, (i. e. the church visible,) as defined in 
 our standards, is the whole body of those persoiis, 
 together with their children, who make profession of 
 the holy religion of Christ, and of submission to his 
 laws. (Form Gov. Chap. ii. Sec. 2.) As certainly 
 then, as the dogmas and practices of papal Rome are 
 not the holy religion of Christ, must it be conceded, 
 that the papal body is not a Church of Christ at all ; 
 and if not, then her agents, be they styled priests, 
 bishops, archbishops, cardinals or pope, are not min- 
 isters of Christ in any sense ; for they have no con- 
 nection with his true visible Church ; and not being 
 true ministers of Christ, they have no power to ad- 
 
OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 139 
 
 minister Christian ordinances, and the rite they call 
 baptism, is not, in any sense, to be regarded as valid 
 Christian Baptism. 
 
 Further, by the perverted meaning they affix, and 
 the superstitious rites they have superadded to the 
 ceremonies they perform under the name of baptism 
 and the eucharist, the symbolical nature and true de- 
 sign of both the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's 
 supper are lost sight of and utterly destroyed — so 
 that, could we by any possibility assign to her the 
 nnmc of a churchy she would still be a church without 
 the two grand ordinances of the gospel ; she neither 
 administers Christian baptism, nor celebrates the sup- 
 per of our Lord. 
 
 More:)ver, since, by the 11th canon of the Council 
 of Trent, she declares the efficacy of her ordinances 
 to depend upon the intention of the administrator, 
 no man can know with certainty that her form of ad- 
 ministration in any ordinance is not a mere mockery: 
 no consistent papist can be certain that he has been 
 duly baptized, or that he has received the veritable 
 eucharist: he cannot knoiv^ that the priest who 
 officiates at his altar is a true priest, nor that there is 
 actually any one true priest, or any one prelate rightly 
 consecrated in the whole papal communion. The 
 papal hierarchy has by her own solemn act shrouded 
 all her doings in uncertainty, and enveloped all her 
 rites in hopeless obscurity. Even on this ground 
 alone, the validity of her baptism might safely be 
 denied. 
 
 Nor is the fact that instances now and then occur 
 of apparent piety in the members of her communion, 
 and of intelligence, zeal, and conscientiousness in 
 some of her priests, any ground of objection against 
 the position here taken by this Assembly. The vir- 
 tues of individuals do not purify the body of which 
 they are members. We are to judge of the character 
 of a body claiming to be a church of Christ — not by 
 the opinions or practices of its individual members, 
 but by its standards and its allowed practices. Bound 
 as he is by the authority of his church — and that on 
 
140 OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF BAPTISM. 
 
 pain of her heaviest malediction — ^to understand the 
 Scriptures only in the sense in which his church un- 
 derstands and explains them, a consistent papist can- 
 not receive or hold the true religion, or the doctrines 
 of grace. If he does, he must either renounce the 
 papacy, or hypocritically conceal his true sentiments, 
 or he must prepare to brave the thunders of her wrath. 
 True religion and an intelligent adherence to papal 
 Rome are utterly incompatible and impossible. The 
 Church and the papacy are the repelling poles of the 
 moral system. 
 
 Difficulties may possibly arise in individual cases. 
 It may not be easy at all times to say whether an 
 applicant for admission into the Church of Christ has, 
 or has not been baptized : whether he has been chris- 
 tened by a popish pastor or not. In all such doubt- 
 ful cases the session of a church must act according 
 to the light before them. But it is safer and more 
 conducive to peace and edification, to embrace a well 
 established principle for our guidance, and act upon 
 it firmly in the fear of God, leaving all consequences 
 with him, than to sufi'er ourselves, without any fixed 
 principles, to be at the mercy of circumstances. 
 
 While some other churches may hesitate to carry 
 out fully the principles of the Reformation, in wholly 
 repudiating popish baptism, as well as the popish 
 mass, we, as Presbyterians, feel bound to act on the 
 principle laid down by our Assembly so long ago as 
 1790, that, so long as a body is by us recognized as a 
 true church, are her ordinances to be deemed valid, 
 and no longer. 
 
 In 1835 the Assembly declared the papacy to be 
 apostate from Christ, and no true church. As we do 
 not recognize her as a portion of the visible Church 
 of Christ, we cannot, consistently, view her priest- 
 hood as other than usurpers of the sacred functions 
 of the ministry, her ordinances as unscriptural, and 
 her baptism as totally invalid." 
 
 "Whether besides requiring of parents, dedica- 
 ting their children to God in baptism, an express 
 
ADMISSION TO SEALING ORDINANCES. 141 
 
 acknowledgment of the dutiefe of parents, and recom- 
 mending to them the observance thereof, it should be 
 considered as essential, to require that they come 
 under an explicit vow or solemn engagement also, to 
 perform those duties ? 
 
 The Assembly 
 
 Resolved^ That an answer to this question is con- 
 tained in the Directory for Public Worship of this 
 Church, under the head of the "Administration of 
 Baptism," which requires an express engagement on 
 the part of the parents." — Alinutes, 1794, p. 89. 
 
 OF THE ADMISSION OF PERSONS TO SEAL- 
 ING ORDINANCES. 
 
 [Directory for Worship, Chapter IX.] 
 
 "The Committee to w^hom 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 conside- 
 ration, and recommend the adoption of the following 
 resolutions, viz. 
 
 1. Resolved, That the order of the churches re- 
 quires that all persons making a public profession of 
 religion, be introduced to the communion of the 
 church only by an individual session regularly con- 
 stituted. 
 
 2. Resolved, That it is the right and duty of ses- 
 sions to take the exclusive oversight of their respec- 
 tive congregations, and the practice of one session 
 admitting to a Christian profession, persons belong- 
 ing or intending to belong to a congregation under 
 the care of another session, is irregular, and ought 
 not to be countenanced. 
 
 3. Resolved, That the purity and prosperity of the 
 
142 ADMISSION TO SEALING ORDINANCES. 
 
 Church, as well as the best interests of those imme- 
 diately concerned, demand great circumspection 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 reconcili- 
 ation 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. 334. 
 
 Postmasters officiating on the Sabbath are not to be 
 admitted. 
 
 "An appeal by Mr. Wiley, postmaster in Wash- 
 ington, Pa., from a decision of the Synod of Pitts- 
 burgh, by which it is determined that Mr. Wiley's 
 officiating as postmaster on the Sabbath day, in ex- 
 isting 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 Pittsburgh be affirmed. And it is hereby 
 affirmed."— Jfmttfes, 1810, p. 456. 
 
 "A petition signed by a number of persons in Wash- 
 ington, Pa. and 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. 
 
 Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners be not 
 granted."— i!iw2^ies, 1812, p. 508. 
 
 May a person be received as a member of the Church 
 who is a proprietor in a line of stages which car- 
 ries 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, further than the works of necessity 
 and mercy demand, is inconsistent both with the letter 
 and spirit of the fourth commandment; and conse- 
 quently all engagements in regard to secular occupa- 
 tions on the Lord's day, with a view to secure worldly 
 
ADMISSION TO SEALING ORDINANCES. 143 
 
 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 continue in 
 the same." — 3Iinutes, 1819, p. 713. 
 
 Duellists excluded from sealing ordinances, 
 
 " The Committee to whom was referred the proposi- 
 tion from the Presbytery of Baltimore, and the reso- 
 lution moved in this Assembly on Thursday last, re- 
 specting duelling, exhibited their report. The report 
 being read and amended was adopted, and is as fol- 
 lows, viz. 
 
 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, 
 consistently with their character and situation to dis- 
 countenance and abolish this practice; 
 
 Resolved unanimously, That they do in the most 
 unequivocal manner declare their utter abhorrence of 
 the practice of duelling and of all measures tending 
 thereto, as originating from the malevolent disposi- 
 tions of the human heart, and a false sense of honour; 
 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 commandment, and destructive 
 of the peace and happiness of families; and the As- 
 sembly 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 recom- 
 mended 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 
 
144 ADMISSION TO SEALING ORDINANCES. 
 
 the Qhurcli^ until he manifest a just sense of his guilty 
 and give satisfactory evidence of 7'epentance." — 3Iin- 
 utes, 1805, p. 339. 
 
 May a person while he has scruples concerning infant 
 haptisrriy he admitted to occasional communion f 
 
 " The letter from Betlmel Church, Esq., as over- 
 tured was read, and the motion formerly made thus 
 amended: That the Session of the Church of Cam- 
 bridge be permitted to receive Mr. Church upon 
 satisfactory evidence of his good character, his scru- 
 ples notwithstanding — was taken up and agreed to." — 
 Minutes, 1798, p. 149. 
 
 "Zs it the duty of church sessions to admit to mem- 
 bership persons ivho refuse to 'present their children 
 to Grod in the ordinance of baptism ? 
 
 " What is the duty of the Session in the case of parents, 
 members of the church, who from conscientious 
 scruples, refuse to present their children for bap- 
 tism f 
 
 [The Assembly in reply refer to the decision in the 
 case of Bethuel Church, in the preceding paragraph, 
 as settling the principle involved, and subjoin,] 
 
 *'But while it is clear that persons otherwise of 
 good Christian character, 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 ques- 
 tion as to the expediency of receiving them, upon 
 which the session of the church must decide." — Min- 
 utes, 1834, p. 35. 
 
 Universalists excluded from sealing ordinances. 
 
 "A question from the Synod of the Carolinas was 
 introduced through the Committee on Bills and Over- 
 tures, which was as follows, viz. 
 
ADMISSION TO SEALING ORDINANCES. 145 
 
 Are they ivlio fublicly profess a belief in the doctrine 
 of the universal and actual salvation of the tuhole 
 human race^ or of the fallen angels^ or both, through 
 the mediation of Christ, to be admitted to the seal- 
 ing ordinances of the gospel? 
 
 " The Assembly determined that such persons should 
 not be admitted." — MinuteSy 1792, p. 60. 
 
 Bethel Presbytery have not leave to recognize the body 
 ivithin their bounds, hnoivn as Independent Presby- 
 terians, and commune ivith them, 
 
 " The Committee on Overture No. 3, viz. a ques- 
 tion from the Presbytery of Bethel respecting hold- 
 ing communion with the followers of William 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 therefore would 
 recommend the adoption of the following resolution, 
 viz. 
 
 Resolved, That while this Assembly readily ac- 
 knowledges the right of the Session to determine 
 according to the Scriptures and the constitution 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, or of those who have 
 been deposed from the gospel ministry, are unscrip- 
 tural and unwarrantable ; and therefore an attend- 
 dance on their ministrations cannot be in the order of 
 the gospel, and ought to be discouraged and discoun- 
 tenanced by every friend of the Ptcdeemer's kingdom. 
 
 The above report was adopted." — Blinutes, 1833, 
 p. 493. 
 
 The above decision modified under a change of circum- 
 stances. 
 " Overture No. 12. The request of the Presbytery of 
 Bethel to permit them to recognize the body known 
 as Independent Presbyterians within their bounds 
 and commune with them. The Committee submitted 
 13 
 
146 OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MAKRIAGE. 
 
 the following report upon this subject, which was 
 adopted, viz. The Committee having had the Com- 
 missioner from the Bethel Presbytery before them, 
 and being informed that the body of Independent 
 Presbyterians referred to, consist only of about twenty 
 churches and a small number of ministers, mostly 
 within the bounds of the Bethel Presbytery, who are 
 the best judges of their soundness in the faith, and it 
 being further represented that the errors for which 
 in the year 1833, the General Assembly prohibited 
 intercommunication, have been abandoned by the afore- 
 said Independent Presbyterians, the Committee do 
 therefore recommend that the Bethel Presbytery have 
 leave to establish such friendly relations as they may 
 deem proper under the present circumstances, notwith- 
 standing the resolutions of the General Assembly of 
 1833, which were passed at the request and upon the 
 representation of the Bethel Presbytery, as appears 
 from the printed minutes of the General Assembly, 
 Vol 7, page ^^^r—3Iinutes, 1843, p. 177. 
 
 Are persons engaged in tlie sale of intoxicating drinJcs 
 incapable of church memhership ? 
 
 "On motion, it was Resolved, that the Records [of 
 the Synod of Pittsburgh] be approved, except so far 
 as they seem to establish a general rule in regard to 
 the use and sale of ardent spirit as beverage, which 
 use and sale are generally to be decidedly disapproved, 
 but each case must be decided in view of all the attend- 
 ant circumstances that go to modify and give character 
 to the same." — Minutes, 1843, p. 189. 
 
 OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 
 
 [Directory for Worship, Chapter XI.] 
 
 II, " Whether licentiates of our Church can solemn- 
 ize marriages where they are authorized to do so 
 by the laius of the States.'' 
 
 Resolved, That while our Form of Government does 
 
OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 147 
 
 not recognize licentiates as ministers of the gospel, 
 yet this Assembly do not consider them as violating 
 any rules of the Church by solemnizing marriages in 
 those States where the civil laws expressly authorize 
 them to do it.— 3Iinutes, 1844, p. 377. 
 
 II. On the onarriage of Professing Christians with 
 the heathen. 
 
 "In performing the work of missions among the 
 heathen many difficulties will arise requiring great 
 wisdom and forbearance, and which can be overcome 
 only by a wise application of scriptural rules. Of 
 this kind are the cases respecting marriage which will 
 frequently occur so long as the great majority of the 
 people are heathen. That the apostolical direction, 
 'be ye not unequally yoked together with unbe- 
 lievers,' is the advice of the Lord by the Apostle, 
 and is to be observed carefully in all cases as far as 
 practicable, is true. But like other divine injunctions 
 it must be applied in all cases with due consideration 
 of circumstances. It is not therefore to be regarded 
 as sinful universally and necessarily for a Christian 
 to marry a heathen ; nor is a Christian to be subject- 
 ed to discipline on this account, unless the circum- 
 stances show criminality and require the infliction of 
 censure ; of which circumstances, the missionaries are 
 the best judges. The overture was put on the 
 docket:'— 3Iinutes, 1850, p. 458. 
 
 Marriage ivith a brother s luidoiu. 
 
 III. "The affair of Andrew Van 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 deter- 
 mined, nemine contradieente, that his marriage with 
 his brother's wife or widow was incestuous and unlaw- 
 ful, 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." — Records, 1717, p. 48. 
 
148 OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 
 
 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 incestuous." — Re- 
 cords, 1760, p. 303. 
 
 Marriage with a half brother s widow and with the 
 sister of a deceased wife. 
 
 " 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 there- 
 in, act unlawfully, and have no right to the distin- 
 guishing privileges of the churches ; and as the mar- 
 riages 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." — Records, 1761, p. 312. 
 
 JPlan for preventing irregular marriages considered, 
 
 *^The committee appointed to prepare a minute re- 
 specting the irregularities that occur in marriages, 
 brought in the same, which being read and maturely 
 examined, it appears that the difficulties that will pro- 
 bably attend the execution of any general plan for the 
 prevention of said irregularities are so great and so 
 numerous that they may be expected to render it 
 abortive ; it was therefore concluded by a great ma- 
 jority, to dismiss the whole affair." — Records, 1770, 
 p. 403. 
 
 May a man lawfully marry his wifes brother's 
 daughter? 
 
 " The Committee appointed yesterday upon the case 
 respecting marriage, brought in a minute, which after 
 being corrected, was approved, and is as follows : 
 
 After mature deliberation the Synod declare their 
 great dissatisfaction with all such marriages as are 
 inconsistent with the Levitical law, which in cases 
 matrimonial we understand is the laAv of our nation, 
 and that persons intermarrying in these prohibited 
 
OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 149 
 
 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 untender- 
 ness, 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 persons 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 privileges. And Mr. Hunter is ordered 
 to read this minute publicly in his congregation, 
 where the persons live, referred to in the above case." 
 — Records^ 1772, p. 427. 
 
 Shall a man wlio has married the sister of his former 
 ivife, and been debarred from church j^^'ivileges, 
 more than two years, he capable of church privi- 
 leges, their marriage notwithstanding ? 
 
 "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 account of said marriage. After full and 
 deliberate discussion the question was put. Shall 
 Anthony Dushane and his wife be capable of Chris- 
 tian privileges, their marriage notwithstanding ? which 
 was carried in the affirmative by a considerable ma- 
 jority." — Records, 1782, p. 495. 
 
 [Remonstrances from sundry congregations were 
 brought in by the Committee of Overtures requesting 
 a reversal of the above decision, respecting the mar- 
 riage of a man with his former wife's sister, and the 
 Synod adopted the following:] 
 
 " The Synod having again resumed the consideration 
 of the judgment which they passed last year concern- 
 18^ 
 
150 OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 
 
 ing Anthony Dusbane, declare their dissatisfaction 
 with all such marriages as are inconsistent with the 
 Levitical law, and persons marrying within the de- 
 grees of consanguinity 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 dis- 
 posed Christians, and may through the prejudices or 
 generally received opinions of the members of our 
 church, be productive of very disagreeable conse- 
 quences; the persons contracting such marriages are 
 highly censurable, and tbe practice ought to be dis- 
 allowed in express terms by the Synod, and we do 
 therefore condemn such marriages as imprudent and 
 unseasonable. Yet as some things may be done very 
 imprudently and unseasonably, which when done 
 ought not to be annulled, we are of the opinion that 
 it is not necessary for the persons whom this judg- 
 ment respects, to separate from one another, yet they 
 should not be received into the communion of the 
 church without a solemn admonition, at the discre- 
 tion of the session of the congregation to which they 
 belong ; and the Synod publicly recommend it to all 
 their members to abstain from celebrating such mar- 
 riages, and to discountenance them by all the proper 
 means in their power." — Records^ 1783, p. 500. 
 
 May a i^eTBon who has married Ms former wifes half 
 brother s daughter^ he admitted to church privileges ? 
 
 "A reference from the Synod of Virginia was re- 
 ceived through the Committee of Overtures, respect- 
 ing a certain Charles Mitchel, wlio 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, That though the Assembly would wish 
 to discountenance imprudent marriages or such as 
 
OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OP MARRIAGE. 151 
 
 tend in any way to give unea'siness 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 ex- 
 clude the parties from the privileges of the church." 
 —3Iinutes, 1797, p. 127. 
 
 Case of marrying a deceased wifes sister's daughter. 
 
 [A reference was reported from the Synod of the 
 Carolinas] " 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 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 con- 
 sistent with the existing laws of the State and the 
 peace of the church, they may admit the parties 
 alluded to, to its privileges." — Minutes, 1799, p. 176. 
 
 Are a man and his zvife admissible to church i^ri- 
 vileges, where the zvoman is sister s daughter to the 
 man's former luife ? 
 
 " The session of the church of Westminster, in Jef- 
 ferson county. State of Tennessee, having requested 
 the direction of this Assembly in a case of discipline, 
 viz. AYhether 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 determined both by the late Synod of New 
 York and Philadelphia, and by the General Assem- 
 bly, to be on the one hand not forbidden by the laws 
 of God, and on the other hand to be contrary to the 
 general practice of Protestant churches, and the feel- 
 ings and opinions of many serious Christians among 
 
152 OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 
 
 ourselves, and on that account to be discountenanced, 
 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 so- 
 ciety is such where these marriages take place, as that 
 neither the duty of Christian tenderness and forbear- 
 ance, nor the laws of the State have been violated, 
 they may admit the persons concerned to Christian 
 privileges without censure." — Minutes^ 1802, p. 248. 
 
 A similar case, 
 
 " The Assembly agreeably to the order of the day 
 proceeded to consider the reference from the Synod 
 of Pittsburgh, relating to a certain marriage. 
 
 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 Pittsburgh. 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 discussed the subject at some 
 length, a motion was made and seconded, that the 
 decision given by the General Assembly in the year 
 1802, in a case precisely similar, be adopted as the 
 decision on the present occasion. 
 
 After some consideration a motion was made and 
 carried, to postpone the motion before the house in 
 order to introduce the following as a substitute, viz. 
 
 The Assembly having given repeated decisions on 
 similar cases, cannot advise to annul such marriages, 
 or pronounce them to such a degree unlawful, as that 
 the parties if otherwise worthy, should be debarred 
 
OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 153 
 
 from the privileges of the. church. But as great 
 diversity of 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. 
 
 A question was then taken to agree to the substi- 
 tute and determined in the affirmative." — Minutes^ 
 1804, p. 306. 
 
 A man marrying Ms brother s widow. 
 
 "The appeal of Mr. William Adams from a decision 
 of the Synod of Pittsburg was laid before the Assem- 
 bly. 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 hav- 
 ing been brought before the Presbytery of Erie, the 
 said Presbytery had pronounced his marriage uncon- 
 stitutional, and that the Synod upon appeal had con- 
 firmed 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 con- 
 sideration were informed by some of their members, 
 who are also members of the Synod of Pittsburgh, that 
 Mr. Adams's moral and religious character is per- 
 fectly fair and exemplary, except in what respects his 
 marriage, which was contracted above fifteen years 
 ago." 
 
 [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 simi- 
 lar nature have been given by the late Synod of New 
 York and Philadelphia, and by the General Assem- 
 bly ; and whereas it appeared ou these occasions that 
 
154 OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 
 
 "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 Pittsburgh 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 circum- 
 stances in which they find themselves placed.' " — Min- 
 utes, 1805, p. 338, 340. 
 
 Marrying a deceased wife's sister. 
 
 "A reference from Bethel church. South Carolina, 
 was overtured, requesting the decision of the As- 
 sembly in relation to a case in which a person had 
 married the sister of his deceased wife. On motion, 
 
 Resolved^ That this reference be answered by the 
 decision of the Assembly of 1804." (See decision on 
 the case of Mr. Gaston, on page 152.) — Minutes, 
 1810, p. 456. 
 
 Marrying a deceased wife's sister. 
 
 " The Committee to which had been referred the 
 appeal of Mr. William Vance from the judgment of 
 the church session of Cross Creek, and the judgment 
 of the Presbytery of AVashington, Pa. by which 
 judgment Mr. Vance has been excluded from church 
 privileges on account of his being married to the sis- 
 ter of his deceased wife, reported, 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 1. That in the opinion of this General 
 Assembly, the marriage of a man to the sister of his 
 deceased wife and all similar connections are highly 
 inexpedient, unfriendly to domestic purity, and ex- 
 ceedingly offensive to a large portion of our churches. 
 
OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 155 
 
 2. That it be and it hereby is earnestly enjoined 
 upon the ministers, elders, and churches of our com- 
 munion, to take every proper occasion to impress the 
 sentiments contained in the foregoing resolution on 
 the public mind, and by all suitable means to dis- 
 courage connections so unfavourable in their influ- 
 ence on the peace and edification of the church. 
 
 3. That while the Assembly adopt the opinion and 
 would enforce the injunction above expressed, they 
 are by no means prepared to decide that such mar- 
 riages as that in question are so plainly prohibited in 
 Scripture, and so undoubtedly incestuous, as neces- 
 sarily 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 dis- 
 posed of in such manner as the said session may think 
 most conducive to the interests of religion." — Min- 
 utes, 1821, p. 15. 
 
 " The Committee to which had been referred the me- 
 morial of the session of Cross Creek, on the subject 
 of incestuous marriage in the case of a Mr. Vance, 
 who had married his deceased wife's sister, reported; 
 and their report being read was adopted, and is as fol- 
 lows, viz. 
 
 That after the most mature deliberation, they are 
 of opinion that there is no good reason why the reso- 
 lutions of the last Assembly on this case should l^e 
 altered." — Minutes, 1822, p. 17. 
 
 Case of marriage with a deceased wife's sister, and 
 overture to the Presbyteries on the subject of alter- 
 ing the constitutional rule on marriage. 
 
 " The Committee on Mr. McCrimmon's appeal from 
 a decision of the Presbytery of Fayetteville, confirm- 
 ing his suspension from the communion of the church, 
 for having married his deceased wife's sister, reported 
 that in their opinion no relief can be given to the 
 said McCrimmon without an alteration of the Con- 
 
156 OF THE SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE. 
 
 fession 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 inas- 
 much 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 con- 
 sideration, and send up in writing to the next Gene- 
 ral 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. 22. 
 
 Result of foregoing Overture, 
 
 " 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 sec- 
 tion of the 24th chapter of the Confession of Faith, 
 sixty-eight Presbyteries have reported ; fifty of them 
 against the erasure, and eighteen in favour of it. 
 The section therefore is not to be erased." — Min- 
 utes, 1827, p. 132. 
 
 A minister being suspended from the ministry and 
 
 ■ from Church privileges for marrying a sister of his 
 
 deceased wife, and his Presbytery having refused 
 
 to restore him, lie memorializes the General As- 
 
 semhly, 
 
 ^'Resolved, That the prayer of the memorialist be 
 granted so far as that this General Assembly recom- 
 mend to the Presbytery of Fayetteville to reconsider 
 their decision in the case of the Rev. Archibald 
 McQueen ; and if in their judgment it should appear 
 conducive to the peace of the church and the promo- 
 tion of religion in the region around them, to restore 
 Mr. McQueen to the communion of the church and to 
 
GENERAL RULES FOR JUDICATORIES. 157 
 
 tlic exercise of the functions of the gospel ministry, 
 on the ground that in his case the ends of discipline 
 are attained by the operation of the sentence under 
 ■which Mr. McQueen has been lying for a period of 
 three years." — Minutes, 1845, p. 32. 
 
 VL " 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. 
 
 GENERAL RULES FOR JUDICATORIES. 
 
 [Appendix.] 
 
 3. '^Resolved, As the opinion of the Assembly, 
 that from the nature of the thing, two or more mem- 
 bers of any judicatory, meeting according to adjourn- 
 ment, may adjourn from day to day until a sufficient 
 number attend for the transacting of business ; and 
 in case a quorum should not attend within a reason- 
 able time, that the Moderator shall be considered 
 as competent to fix any time and place he may judge 
 proper for convening the body; and if he be absent, 
 that the members assembled shall represent the mat- 
 ter speedily to him, that he may act accordingly." — 
 Minutes, 1796, p. 113. 
 
 [A pro re nata meeting may be called to fix the time 
 for a regular meeting, as well as for any other speci- 
 fied purpose. — Minutes, 1849, p. 247.] 
 
 "An overture from Lake Presbytery, inquiring 
 whether a p)ro re nata meeting for an ordination, ad- 
 journed for six weeks, by two members, for want of a 
 quorum, was unconstitutional and the ordination void," 
 14 
 
158 GENERAL RULES FOR JUDICATORIES. 
 
 was answered in the negative. — Minutes. 1849, p. 
 246. 
 
 When there is not a quorum present, all proceedings 
 and acts of the members assembled are unconstitu- 
 tional and invalid, except so far as relates to the 
 appointment of the time and place for the next 
 meeting. 
 
 " The Committee to whom was referred the Record of 
 the Synod of West Tennessee, beg leave to report, 
 That it appears from the Record, that certain mem- 
 bers of the Synod of West Tennessee, met at Knox- 
 ville, Tennessee, Oct. 12, 1848, and constituted them- 
 selves the Synod of West Tennessee, contrary to the 
 Form of Government, Chap, xi., Sec. 2, there being 
 seven ministers present, but four of them were from 
 one Presbytery. 
 
 The Committee, therefore, recommend: 
 
 1st. That the Assembly declare all proceedings 
 and acts of those members of the Synod of West 
 Tennessee, found recorded on pp. 214-230, unconsti- 
 tutional and invalid, except so far as relates to the 
 appointment of the time and place for the next meet- 
 ing of Synod. 
 
 2d. That the Synod be directed to review, at its 
 first regular meeting hereafter, the proceedings and 
 acts of said members of the Synod, and that they 
 adopt or reject the same in whole, or in part, as they 
 may see fit. 
 
 8d. That the Records not having had the sanction 
 of the Synod of West Tennessee, this Assembly does 
 not pronounce any further opinion upon them." — Min- 
 utes, 1849, p. 248. 
 
 4. [The Records of the Synod of Virginia, are ap- 
 proved, with the exception of a resolution] " to dis- 
 continue the practice of calling upon their members 
 for the reasons of their absence from its meetings." — 
 
 Minutes, 1825, p. 257. 
 
GENERAL RULES FOR JUDICATORIES. 159 " 
 
 [The Records of the Sjnbd of the Carolinas, were 
 approved,] " with the exception of the resolution to 
 make a minister liable to suspension without trial, for 
 three years' absence from Synod without sending for- 
 w^ard his reasons for absence." — Minutes^ 1811, 
 p. 468. 
 
 A minute recording a fact cannot he amended hut 
 hy a unanimous vote of the house ; it may however 
 he reached hy a vote to reconsider the vote adopt- 
 ing it, 
 
 " The minutes of the last session were read. It was 
 moved to strike out the minute of the exceptions taken to 
 the Records of the Synod of New Jersey. The Mode- 
 rator suggested that the motion was out of order, but 
 he would put it to the house; which having been done, 
 the motion was sustained, with the exception of one 
 no. The Moderator then declared the motion lost, 
 as a minute recording a fact could not be amended 
 but by a unanimous vote of the house, and he sug- 
 gested that the case could be reached only by a mo- 
 tion to reconsider the vote of yesterday, by which 
 the house refused to reconsider the vote adopting the 
 report of the Committee on the Records of the Synod 
 of New Jersey. An appeal was taken from this de- 
 cision, and the decision was sustained." — Minutes, 
 1841, p. 424. 
 
 38. "The Presbytery of Louisiana should have 
 recorded the results of the interlocutory meeting 
 referred to in the complaint." — Minutes, 1850, p. 
 
 481. 
 
 40. "That the Synod [of Mississippi] acted uncon- 
 stitutionally in permitting the Presbytery of Louisiana 
 to vote on the adoption of the report of the Judicial 
 Committee on the complaint of Rev. Mr. Smylie. 
 That the Synod should have placed on its records the 
 above-mentioned report" [of the Judicial Committee.] 
 —3linutcs, 1850, p. 481. 
 
160 MISCELLANEOUS MATTEKS. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 Absence. 
 
 ^'Resolved, That as a standing rule of the Assem- 
 bly, a committee of five shall 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 commence- 
 ment 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. 474. 
 
 "A memorial was received from the Presbytery of 
 Sydney, requesting the Assembly to take order against 
 granting its members leave of absence. Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved^ That the Committee on Leave of Absence, 
 be instructed to give leave to members of the Assembly 
 to be absent from the sessions only for manifestly suffi- 
 cient reasons; and in general, for such reasons as 
 have arisen since the Assembly has convened." — 
 Minutes, 1843, p. 173. 
 
 [The Committee on Leave of Absence] "wish to 
 be instructed as to the degree of strictness which they 
 shall observe in refusing leave of absence to mem- 
 bers." The Committee, on motion, " were instructed 
 to apply the rule rigidly." — Minutes, 1847, p. 394. 
 
 Accused, Rights of the. 
 
 "Messrs. Ker and Rankin, the Commissioners to 
 this Assembly, from the Presbytery of Lewes, in be- 
 half and by the order of the said Presbytery, applied to 
 the Assembly, and remonstrated against a decision 
 of the last Assembly, in the case of Mr. Hindman, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. IGl " 
 
 in which they conceive the' Presbytery of Lewes is 
 virtually condemned, without their having had an op- 
 portunity of defending themselves, which they con- 
 ceive they could readily have done. 
 
 After considerable discussion, it was 
 
 Besolved, 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. 
 
 Agencies. 
 
 '^Resolved, That it is the deliberate conviction of 
 this Assembly, formed as the result of much expe- 
 rience, that an efficient system of agencies, by which 
 the churches of our connection may be visited from 
 year to year, is in the present condition of Christian 
 feeling and knowledge on the subject of benevolent ope- 
 rations, absolutely indispensable." — 3Iinutes, 1840, 
 p. 305. 
 
 Amusements. 
 
 "On the fashionable, though, as we believe, dan- 
 gerous amusements of theatrical exhibitions and dan- 
 cing, we deem it necessary to make a few observa- 
 tions. The theatre we have always considered as a 
 school of immorality. If any person wishes for honest 
 conviction on this subject, let him attend to the char- 
 acter of that mass of matter which is generally ex- 
 hibited on the stage. AYe believe all will agree, that 
 comedies at least, with a few exceptions, are of such 
 a description that a virtuous and modest person can- 
 not attend the representation of them, without the 
 most painful and embarrassing sensations. If indeed 
 custom has familiarized the scene, and these painful 
 sensations are no longer felt, it only proves that the 
 person in question has lost some of the best sensi- 
 1^^ 
 
162 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 bilitles of our nature, that the strongest safeguard of 
 virtue has been taken down, and that the moral cha- 
 racter has undergone a serious depreciation. 
 
 With respect to dancing, we think it necessary to 
 observe, that however plausible it may appear to 
 some, it is perhaps not the less dangerous 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, espe- 
 cially as it relates to the young. When the practice 
 is carried to its highest extremes, all admit the con- 
 sequences 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 prac- 
 tice. Let it once be introduced, and it is difficult to 
 give it limits. It steals away our precious time, dis- 
 sipates religious 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 sal- 
 vation, and that the Great Head of the Church may 
 have you in his holy keeping, is our sincere and affec- 
 tionate prayer. Amen." — Pastoral Letter, Minutes, 
 1818, p. 690. 
 
 Oatechists. 
 
 " The Committee to whom was referred the letter of 
 Mr. Rice, containing a plan for catechetical instruc- 
 tion, and the letter of the Presbytery of West Lex- 
 ington on the same subject, reported 
 
 That the Assembly ought not to sanction the plan, 
 as it would be dangerous to the Church to employ 
 illiterate men as exhorters or catechetical instruc- 
 tors. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 163 
 
 The Assembly having read and duly considered 
 this report, 
 
 Resolved^ That it be and it hereby is adopted." — 
 Minutes, 1806, p. 363. 
 
 Bishop. 
 
 ^'On motion, it was 
 
 Resolved, That the word ' minister' be substituted 
 for the word ' bishop,' in preparing the Minutes." 
 —Minutes, 1846, p. 189. 
 
 Bigamy. 
 
 [A married man left Ireland in the hope of better 
 providing for his family here ; he returned three times 
 to bring his family, but his wife refused, and at the 
 last time, refused all further cohabitation with him. 
 After ten years of separation, he married, and has 
 several children in second marriage. He and his wife 
 desire 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." * * * "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 produce 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 oth- 
 erwise 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 
 
164 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 not be inconsistent with the civil law, and that a door 
 be not opened to laxness on this important sub- 
 ject of morah.''— Minutes, 1790, p. 28. 
 
 Chartej^s. 
 
 " Overture No. 8 was taken up and adopted, and is 
 as follows, viz. 
 
 Considering that it is necessary to the due and or- 
 derly maintenance of the Constitution of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church, in its various provisions, that care be taken 
 in obtaining legal enactments of a secular kind, that 
 they be so formed as not to come in conflict with any 
 such provisions ; and whereas, it is known that in- 
 stances have existed, and probably do still exist, in which 
 the charters of churches and perhaps other legal in- 
 struments, are so framed that the laws of the Church 
 and the laws of the land are not reconcilable with 
 each other: therefore 
 
 Resolved, that the General Assembly earnestly re- 
 commend it to all the congregations under their supervi- 
 sion, that in resorting to the legislatures or tribunals 
 of our country, they use the utmost care to ask nothing 
 which if granted, will, in any respect, contravene the 
 principles or order of our Church ; and in any cases 
 in which civil enactments, heretofore obtained, do 
 militate with any of the principles or order of our 
 Church, they endeavour, as soon as possible, to obtain 
 the repeal or modification of such enactments, so as to 
 make them consistent with the ecclesiastical order 
 and principles of the Presbyterian Church." — Min- 
 utes, 1838, p. 26. 
 
 Commissioners returning home without leave, or before 
 the close of the sessions. 
 
 " Whereas, it has frequently happened that members 
 of this Assembly, neglecting their duty and inattentive 
 to the rules of decorum, have abruptly left the Assem- 
 bly 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 Presbyteries to 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 165 ' 
 
 which such delinquent mem'bers may belong ; and it 
 be recommended to the said Presbyteries, in their set- 
 tlements with such delinquents, not to allow them any 
 compensation for services as members of the Assem- 
 bly."— J/mi^^es, 1801, p. 233. 
 
 " The Committee to whom was referred the resolution 
 oifered respecting the Commissioners' Fund, made the 
 following report which was adopted, viz. 
 
 1. It is, in the opinion of this General Assembly, 
 highly important that Commissioners should not be ap- 
 pointed unless it shall satisfactorily appear to the 
 several Presbyteries that they design to remain 
 throughout the sessions. 
 
 2. That in order to procure, as far as possible, this 
 desirable object, it be and 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 
 receive any thing from the Commissioners' fund, unless 
 the Assembly shall order otherwise when the reasons 
 of the application are given." — dlinutes, 1827, p. 121. 
 
 "The Committee [on Leave of Absence] would pre- 
 sent to the consideration of the General Assembly as 
 a serious evil, the frequent applications on the part of 
 Commissioners, especially of Elders, for permission to 
 return home, within a few days after the coming together 
 of the Assembly. We believe that according to the 
 Constitution of our Church, the Ruling Elders are es- 
 sential parts of our church judicatories ; and if so, it is 
 as important that they be present during the whole ses- 
 sions of the judicatory, as at its opening. Many of 
 them have their travelling expenses paid by their 
 Presbyteries with a view to secure their attendance, 
 and yet comparatively few are willing to remain till 
 the Assembly is dissolved. The Committee have re- 
 marked that these applications for leave most com- 
 monly are made, not by those whose residence is far 
 off from our place of meeting, but by those who can 
 reach their homes in a few hours. Under these views 
 the Committee are often embarrassed in regard to 
 their proper course of duty. They would be kind and 
 
166 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 indulgent, but they desire too to be true to the trust 
 committed to them ; and thej respectfully suggest to 
 the Assembly, the adoption of the following resolu- 
 tion, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That the Presbyteries, in the appoint- 
 ment of Commissioners to the General Assembly, 
 be directed to use great care and diligence in the 
 selection of such Ministers and Ruling Elders as will 
 be willing and able to remain during the entire ses- 
 sions of this body." — Minutes, 1842, p. 21. 
 
 Clerks. 
 ^^ Resolved, That the Stated Clerk have printed 
 and distributed among the members, a list of the 
 names of members, and also of the names of the mem- 
 bers of the several Committees appointed by the As- 
 sembly." — Minutes, 1834, p. 7. 
 
 '^Resolved, That the Stated Clerk of each Synod 
 be required to mention in his report to the General 
 Assembly, the time and place of the next meeting of 
 his Synod, and that the Stated Clerk of the General 
 Assembly cause the time and place of such meetings 
 to be published in the Appendix to the Minutes of 
 the Assembly." — Minutes, 1841, p. 425. 
 
 Churches, mode of organizing, 
 " The Committee to whom was re-committed 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, professing to walk 
 together as the disciples of Jesus Christ, on the prin- 
 ciples of the Confession of Faith, and Form of Gov- 
 ernment of the Presbyterian 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. 
 
 This organization ought always to be made by ap- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 167 
 
 plication to tlie 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 neighbour- 
 ing minister of the gospel. 
 
 At the time appointed for the purpose, after prayer 
 for divine direction and blessing, the presiding min- 
 ister, or committee appointed by the Presbytery, 
 should first receive from those persons to be organ- 
 ized into the new church, if they have been communi- 
 cants in other churches, letters of dismission and re- 
 commendation ; and in the next place, examine and 
 admit to a profession of faith, such persons as may 
 offer themselves, 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 busi- 
 ness, be made the subjects of Christian baptism. 
 
 The individuals ascertained in the foregoing man- 
 ner 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. 
 
 The next step is to proceed to the election and or- 
 dination of ruling elders, in conformity with the direc- 
 tions given on this subject in the Form of Government 
 of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Deacons are to be elected and ordained in like man- 
 ner as in the case of ruling elders. 
 
 When a church has been organized in the manner 
 already described, report of the same should be made 
 as soon as practicable, to the Presbytery 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 natu- 
 
168 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 rally and conveniently connected, the time and man- 
 ner of its organization, and desire to be received 
 under the care 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 Presbytery 
 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 pur- 
 pose of forming a Presbyterian congregation, 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 commendable. And such 
 associations when formed, should, as speedily as pos- 
 sible, take measures for obtaining the preaching of 
 the gospel, and for becoming organized as regular 
 churches. 
 
 Oases 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 
 eWers. 
 
 Such people may, and ought to obtain a preacher 
 of the gospel to labour among them, and occasionally 
 to administer ordinances, under the direction of some 
 Presbytery, till they shall find themselves in circum- 
 stances to make a proper choice of ruling elders, and 
 to have them regularly set apart to their office." — 
 Minutes, 1831, p. 177. 
 
 Beacons, 
 
 " No. 2, was further considered, and the resolution 
 was amended and adopted as follows, viz. 
 
 That it be enjoined upon all the Presbyteries under 
 the care of the General Assembly, to take such order 
 on this subject as shall secure the appointment of dea- 
 cons in all the churches, with the exception of those 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 1G9 
 
 in wliicli it is impracticable from the paucity of male 
 members." — Minutes, 1840, p. 286. 
 
 Elders. 
 
 [Where the ruling elders cease to act, with a view 
 to promote the peace of the Church, it is recommended 
 that no persons accept the office, unless they shall ob- 
 tain the suffrages of at least two-thirds of the electors 
 participating in the election.] 
 
 "The Assembly earnestly recommend to the whole 
 session, including the majority and the minority, in 
 view of the state of the Fifth Church, to take the con- 
 stitutional 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 
 secure the permanent settlement of the gospel minis- 
 try among them. And further, that it be recom- 
 mended to the persons so elected not to accept the 
 office, unless they shall obtain the suffrages of at least 
 two-thirds of the electors participating in the elec- 
 tion."— J/mwfes, 1834, p. 39. 
 
 First-horn. 
 
 "The Committee of Overtures laid before the As- 
 sembly the following question: 
 
 If a living child is born in five months and twenty 
 days after the marriage of its parents, shall the 
 parents be dealt with as guilty of ante-nuptial forni- 
 cation? 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That as said overture is in 
 tJtesi, and decisions on questions of this nature must 
 in most instances depend on attendant circumstances, 
 the Assembly do not judge it proper to decide on the 
 abstract question." — Minutes, 1808, p. 403. 
 
 Jjottei'ies. 
 
 " It is our duty further to testify that all encour- 
 agement of lotteries, and purchasing of lottery tick- 
 ets; all attendance on horse-racing, and betting on 
 such, or any other occasions; and all attempts of 
 15 
 
170 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 whatever kind to acquire gain, -without giving an 
 equivalent, involve the gambling principle, and par- 
 ticipate in the guilt that attaches to that vice." — 
 Pastoral Letter^ Minutes, 1818, p. 690. 
 
 Mileage, 
 
 ^'Resolved, That the members entitled to mileage, 
 shall give to the Committee on the Commissioners' 
 Fund, within three days after the appointment 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 portion of said 
 fund ; and that no member may be ignorant of this 
 resolution, the Moderator shall read it as soon as the 
 Committee on said fund is appointed each year." — 
 Minutes, 1818, p. 687. 
 
 Notes appended to the Constitution, 
 
 [These notes are no part of the Constitution. 
 When a second edition of the Standards of our Church 
 was thought desirable, a committee was appointed by 
 the Assembly to select the Scripture proofs. The 
 notes were reported along with the proofs, and were 
 approved by the Assembly, and directed to be printed 
 in the form in which they now appear. The notes 
 then are expositions of some of the principles of the 
 Presbyterian Church, given by the highest judicature, 
 and are of the same force with the other acts of that 
 judicature, and subject to alteration, amendment, or 
 total erasure.] 
 
 " This Assembly express it as their opinion, that in 
 printing future editions of the Constitution of this 
 Church, the parenthesis on the note on the part of 
 the Form of Government, 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 forbid- 
 den in the eighth commandment?' in which the na- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 171 
 
 ture 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 favour slavery, or retard the extinction of 
 that mournful evil, as speedily as may consist with 
 the happiness of all concerned." — Minutes, 1816, p. 
 630. 
 
 ^^Besolved, That as the notes which have been ex- 
 punged from our public formularies, and which some 
 of the memorials referred to the Committee request to 
 have restored, were introduced irregularly, never had 
 the sanction of the Church, and therefore never pos- 
 sessed 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 
 restoration." — 3Imutes,lSS6, p. 248. 
 
 Narrative of Religion, 
 
 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 among them, and the 
 most probable expedients for reviving and promoting 
 the essential interests of Christ's kingdom in the 
 world ; whereupon, 
 
 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 respec- 
 tive churches to be laid before the General Assembly 
 at its stated meetings." — Minutes, 1792, p. 59. 
 
 '^ Resolved, As a standing order, that a written state- 
 ment shall annually be required from the representa- 
 tives of each Presbytery or Association in the General 
 
172 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 Assembly, which written statement shall first be read 
 by one of such representatives ; after which, each of 
 the other representatives shall be permitted to add 
 verbally all the information not contained in the writ- 
 ten statement which he may judge worthy of the 
 attention of the Assembly." — Minutes, 1811, p. 468. 
 '''Resolved, That the Narrative on the State of Re- 
 ligion 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 As- 
 sembly, the case of every such removal within their 
 louwdisr— Minutes, 1822, p. 10. 
 
 Prayer for the Greneral Assembly. 
 
 " 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 Divine blessing on that 
 judicatory, must appear to every Christian of our 
 denomination to be a matter of the utmost moment ; 
 therefore 
 
 " Besohed, That this Synod do respectfully suggest 
 to the General Assembly, the propriety of recom- 
 mending to all the churches under their care, to ob- 
 serve, annually, 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 
 direct all their measures, deliberations, and decisions, 
 so that all may redound to the promotion of his own 
 glory, and the general prosperity of that particular 
 Church to which we belong." — Minutes, 1821, p. 6. 
 
 Parsonages, 
 
 " Overture No. 23. Which was adopted, as fol- 
 lows, viz. 
 
 For the purpose of facilitating the settlement and 
 support of pastors, and to guard more efi'ectually 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 173 
 
 against the temptation, or almost necessity, as in some 
 cases seems to exist, for ministers to involve them- 
 selves, to the injury of their usefulness, in procuring 
 accommodations for themselves and families ; 
 
 1. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to 
 our churches wherever it is expedient and practicable, 
 to provide suitable parsonages for the accommodation 
 of their pastors. 
 
 2. Resolved, That great care be taken to have 
 these parsonages so guarded by legal arrangements, 
 as most effectually to prevent controversy and secure 
 their perpetual enjoyment by the churches providing 
 them, for the continued support of the gospel through 
 coming generations." — Minutes, 1843, p. 193. 
 
 Proofs. 
 
 [Another impression of the Confession of Faith 
 appearing 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, it is 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." — Minutes, 1792, p. 58. 
 
 [Dr. Smith undertook to adduce Scripture testi- 
 mony in proof of the Larger Catechism, Mr. Grier of 
 the Shorter Catechism, and Mr. Mitchell of the Con- 
 fession of Faith and Church Government. Dr. Smith 
 dying and leaving his part unfinished. Dr. Latta was 
 in 1793, appointed in his place. The work was sub- 
 mitted to the Assembly in 1794, approved and refer- 
 red to a Committee to compare the proofs with those 
 annexed to the Westminster Confession, Catechisms, 
 and Directory, revise the whole and prepare it for 
 press.] — Minutes, 1794, p. 88. 
 
 Reading Sermons, 
 
 [' It is further enjoined that all our ministers and 
 15* 
 
174 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 probationers forbear reading their sermons from the 
 pulpit, if thej can conveniently." — Records, 1761, 
 p. 310. 
 
 " The General Assembly has reason to believe that 
 the practice of reading sermons in the pulpit is greatly 
 on the increase amongst our ministers, and being de- 
 cidedly of the opinion that it is not the best method 
 of preaching the gospel, it hereby recommends the 
 discontinuance of the practice as far as possible, and 
 earnestly exhorts our younger ministers to adopt a 
 different method, as more scriptural and effective." — 
 Minutes, 1841, p. 448. 
 
 ''^Resolved, That we do earnestly repeat the recom- 
 mendation of the Assembly of 1841, that this practice 
 be discontinued as far as practicable ; and affection- 
 ately exhort our younger ministers and candidates for 
 the ministry to adopt a different method as more 
 scriptural and effective, and more generally accept- 
 able to God's people." — 3£inutes, 1849, p. 271. 
 
 Reports Statistical. 
 
 "As the reports made to the different judicatures 
 of our Church are intimately connected with, and 
 depend on, each other, your committee judged it pro- 
 per to submit to the Assembly a complete system on 
 this subject, as follows, viz. 
 
 1. The Presbyteries shall direct the session of each 
 congregation, whether supplied with a pastor, or va- 
 cant, to make an annual report to the Presbytery to 
 which it belongs, stating the number of communicants, 
 and the number of persons baptized the preceding 
 year, and whether in infancy or adult years. 
 
 2. Presbyteries shall make annual reports to their 
 Synods, stating a list of pastors in the order of senior- 
 ity, with their churches annexed; of ministers with- 
 out pastoral charges in the same order; of licen- 
 tiates, and vacancies, distinguishing those vacancies 
 which are able to support a pastor from those which 
 are not. These reports should be closed by an his- 
 torical account of licensures, ordinations, instalments, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 175 
 
 suspensions, depositions, translations, deaths ; and 
 also of members or licentiates received or dismissed 
 in the usual form. 
 
 3. Synods shall report to each General Assembly, 
 and detail the whole Presbyterial report, except the 
 historical account above mentioned, which may be 
 omitted at their discretion. 
 
 4. Presbyteries shall send to each General Assem- 
 bly duplicates of their reports to Synod, omitting the 
 historical details aforesaid, if they think proper, and 
 adding the amount of the collection made by each 
 church for the funds of the Assembly the preceding 
 year; with such information on the missionary busi- 
 ness as shall seem useful ; provided they have not 
 previously forwarded this information (which we 
 earnestly recommend,) to the Committee of Missions. 
 
 5. Every fifth year, beginning with the year 1805, 
 Presbyteries shall add to their reports to the General 
 Assembly, and to their reports to the next preceding 
 sessions of Synod, a detail of baptisms, communi- 
 cants, &c., received from their churches at a recent 
 date; making the same as full and correct as possible, 
 to the end that the same may be printed with the ex- 
 tracts of the year, if the Assembly shall think proper. 
 
 All reports should bear date and signature, and if 
 by any means they fail of being sent to the proper 
 judicatory, should be forwarded to the Stated Clerk 
 by mail or otherwise." — 3Iinutes, 1803, p. 283. 
 
 " Hereafter Presbyteries are required to make no 
 other reports to Synods than those required by Chap. 
 X., Sec. 9, in the Form of Government, and these in 
 as general terms as that article of the Constitution 
 will allow."— i^f^?^w^es, 1833, p. 485. 
 
 Recommendation of Boohs. 
 
 " Mr. Henry Sherman presented a number of copies 
 of a book entitled Dr. Ilaweis's Communicant's Com- 
 panion, and requested the recommendation of the 
 Assembly to the work ; on motion, 
 
 Mesolvedj That as the precedent of recommending 
 
176 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 books would involve the Assembly in much trouble by 
 numerous similar applications, the motion for recom- 
 mending be postponed, and that the thanks of the 
 Assembly be presented to Mr. Sherman for the dona- 
 tion:'— 3Iinutes, 1811, p. 475. 
 
 Romanism, 
 
 " 1. Resolved, That it is the deliberate and decided 
 judgment of this Assembly, that the Roman Catholic 
 Church has essentially apostatized from the religion 
 of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and therefore 
 cannot be recognized as a Christian Church. 
 
 2. Resolved, That it be recommended to all in our 
 communion, to endeavour, by the diffusion of light, 
 by means of the pulpit and the press, and all other 
 proper and Christian means, to resist the extension 
 of Romanism, and lead its subjects to the knowledge 
 of the truth, as it is taught in the word of God. 
 
 3. Resolved, That it is utterly inconsistent with 
 the strongest obligations of Christian parents to place 
 their children for education in Roman Catholic Semi- 
 naries." — Mmutes, 1835, p. 33. 
 
 *' What course ought church sessions to pursue with 
 members of the church ivho send their children to 
 Catholic boardi7ig-schools, where they are entirely 
 deprived of the evangelical means of grace, and are 
 obliged to attend upon papistical servicesT' 
 
 "1. Resolved, That this Assembly deem such con- 
 duct on the part of any Protestant parents, whether 
 church members or not, as highly injudicious, fraught 
 with great danger to their children, and utterly incon- 
 sistent with every principle of Protestantism. 
 
 2. Resolved, That we deem such conduct in church 
 members, whose children have been dedicated to God 
 in baptism, as a violation of their vows made in that 
 ordinance, and a great hinderance to the training up 
 of their children in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord. 
 
 3. Resolved, That it be recommended to all minis- 
 ters in our connection where such a practice exists, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 177 
 
 to present this subject frorh the pulpit, and in other 
 suitable ways to admonish those who oftend."- — Min- 
 utes, 1849, p. 2G5. 
 
 Sacraments. 
 
 " It was moved that the restriction laid by the last 
 General Assembly on our missionaries, which con- 
 fines them to administer the ordinance of the Lord's 
 Supper in such places only where there are church 
 oflficers regularly appointed, be repealed, and it is 
 hereby repealed accordingly." — Minutes, 1798, p. 
 146. 
 
 "The Committee to which was referred the appeal 
 of the Rev. R. B. Dobbins, from the decision of the 
 Synod of Kentucky, affirming a decision of the Pres- 
 bytery of Ebenezer, in the case of the Rev. William 
 L. McCalla, and the session of the church of Augus- 
 ta, reported, and the report being read, was adopted, 
 and is as follows, viz. 
 
 While the Assembly, as a general principle, disap- 
 prove of the administration of the sacraments by one 
 of their ministers within the bounds of a congrega- 
 tion with which he is not connected, without the con- 
 sent of the minister and session of said congrega- 
 tion; yet under the peculiar local circumstances of 
 the people, among which Mr. McCalla occasionally 
 administered ordinances, the Assembly cannot decide 
 that he deserves censure, therefore. 
 
 Resolved^ That the decision of the Synod of Ken- 
 tucky, affirming a decision of the Presbytery of Ebe- 
 nezer in regard to the complaint of the Rev. Mr. 
 Dobbins, against the Rev. Mr. McCalla, be, and it 
 hereby is affirmed."— i!iz'72M^6?s, 1824, p. 222. 
 
 Scruples. 
 
 *' The following case was overtured by the Committee 
 of Overtures: 
 
 ^ Whether the General Assembly, out of their 
 liberality, charity, and candour, will admit to their 
 communion in the ecclesiastic assemblies, as far as 
 they can consistently with the scrupulosity of their con- 
 
178 MISCELLANEOUS MATTEES. 
 
 sciences, a Presbytery who are totally averse to the 
 doctrine of receiving, hearing, or judging of any ap- 
 peals from Presbyteries to Synods, and from Synods 
 to General Assemblies, because, in their judgment, it 
 is inconsistent with Scripture and the practice of the 
 primitive churches ?' 
 
 In answer to which, the General Assembly reply : 
 That although they consider the right of appeal from 
 the decision of an inferior judicature to a superior, an 
 important privilege, which no member of their body 
 ought to be deprived of, yet they at the same time de- 
 clare that they do not desire any member to be active 
 in any case which may be inconsistent with the dic- 
 tates of his conscience." — Minutes^ 1789, p. 11. 
 
 Supplies. 
 
 " The Committee to whom was referred the com- 
 plaint of the minority of the session of the 1st Pres- 
 byterian Church in New Orleans, reported the follow- 
 ing minute, which was adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That since the Rev. Theodore Clapp has 
 neither been dismissed, nor suspended by the Presby- 
 tery of Mississippi, he ought to be regarded as a mem- 
 ber of that body ; and that in the opinion of this As- 
 sembly, they have sufficient reasons for proceeding to 
 try him upon the charge of error in doctrine. 
 
 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 their duty, un- 
 der existing circumstances, to adopt measures to 
 detach him from said congregation." — Minutes, 1831, 
 p. 192. 
 
 *' On motion. Overture No. 14, was taken up, and it 
 ■was 
 
 Resolved, That it be enjoined on all the Presby- 
 teries to take early and efficient measures for termi- 
 nating, as far as possible, the growing evil of the 
 system of stated supplies, and for leaving all our 
 churches to seek the regular installation of their 
 stated teachers as pastors, in the full sense of the 
 
MISCELLANEOUS? ^MATTERS. 179 
 
 term, as used in our Form of Government." — Minutes, 
 1839, p. 177. 
 
 " That the relation of stated supply, which has 
 grown up between many of our churches and minis- 
 ters, is unknown to our system, and tends to disorder 
 and injury in many ways. The Presbyteries are, 
 therefore, directed to supplant it as far as possible, in 
 all cases, by the regular pastoral relation, and to dis- 
 countenance it as a permanent relation." — Minutes^ 
 1842, p. 29. 
 
 Temperance. 
 
 " Overture No. 4, viz. An extract from the Minutes 
 of the Presbytery of New York, on the subject of 
 intemperance, was read. 
 
 Resolved, That the Commissioners from the several 
 Presbyteries be directed to communicate to the Com- 
 mittee appointed to prepare the Narrative what the 
 Presbyteries have severally done since the last As- 
 sembly, to suppress the vice of intemperance within 
 their bounds, that the information may be incorpor- 
 ated in the Narrative." — 3Iinutes, 1828, p. 226. 
 
 Territory, 
 
 [The Synod of the Carolinas in 1804 dissolved 
 Greenville Presbytery, and directed two of the mem- 
 bers to join Concord Presbytery, and two to join 
 Union ; making no provision for placing under the 
 care of any Presbytery the territory over which 
 Greenville Presbytery had jurisdiction. The As- 
 sembly direct that the boundary between Abingdon 
 and Union Presbyteries be the same as it was in 
 1799, before the erection of Greenville Presby- 
 tery ;] *' leaving any congregations now established 
 within the former bounds of the Presbytery of Green- 
 ville, the liberty of attaching themselves to the Pres- 
 bytery of Abingdon, if, in their judgment, they shall 
 deem such a measure conducive to their edification 
 and the peace and unity of the Church." — Minutes, 
 1822, p. 22. 
 
180 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 Transfer. 
 
 [A representation and petition of the congregation 
 of Pittsburgh, requesting to be separated from the 
 Presbytery of Redstone and to be annexed to the 
 Presbytery of Carlisle, was taken under consideration. 
 A motion having been made that the prayer of the 
 petition should be granted, after a full discussion of 
 the subject, it was decided in the negative.] — Min- 
 tites, 1794, p. 86. 
 
 Ti^ustees of the General Assembly. 
 
 Act of Incorporation, Minutes, 1799, p. 173. 
 
 [The Act of Incorporation provides that the Gene- 
 ral 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 General 
 Assembly shall seem proper :] 
 
 1. That when this subject is called up annually, a 
 vote shall first be 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 accom- 
 plished, 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 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 181" 
 
 filled it, he shall continue in office. If the majority 
 of votes shall be given for another person, this per- 
 son 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. 
 
 Unemployed Ministers. 
 
 [It is enjoined on all Presbyteries to report] " the 
 names and localities of their vacant churches and un- 
 employed ministers, to the Executive Committee of 
 the Board of Missions, who are hereby appointed and 
 authorized to act as a Committee of Supplies for the 
 wdiole Church, by and with the concurrence of the 
 Presbyteries."— 3/i?z?^^es, 1842, p. 21. 
 
 The Standards. — The Adopting Act. 
 
 " The committee brought in an overture upon the 
 affair of the confession, which, after long debating 
 upon it, was agreed upon m hxc verba: 
 
 Although the Synod do not claim or pretend to any 
 authority of imposing our faith upon other men's con- 
 sciences, 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 fel- 
 lowship 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 iiereafter 
 be admitted into this Synod, shall declare their agree- 
 ment in, and approbation of, the Confession of Faith, 
 16 
 
182 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 •with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the As- 
 sembly of Divines at Westminster, 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 con- 
 fession 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 gov- 
 ernment. But if the Synod or Presbytery shall judge 
 such ministers or candidates erroneous in essential 
 and necessary articles of faith, the Synod or Presby- 
 tery shall declare them incapable of communion with 
 them. And the Synod do solemnly agree, that none 
 of us will traduce or use any opprobrious 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. 
 
 All the ministers of this Synod now present, except 
 one that declared himself not prepared, viz. Masters 
 Jedediah Andrews, Thomas Craighead, John Thom- 
 son, James Anderson, John Pierson, Samuel Gelston, 
 Joseph Houston, Gilbert Tennent, Adam Boyd, Jon- 
 athan Dickinson, John Bradner, Alexander Hutchin- 
 Bon, Thomas Evans, Hugh Stevenson, William Ten- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 183 
 
 nent, Hugh Conn, G eorge Gfillespie, 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 Cate- 
 chisms 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, except- 
 ing 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 exercise 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 appeared 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." — Records^ 1729, pp. 92, 3. 
 
 The Plan of Union between the Synods of New York 
 and Philadelphia, 
 
 *' The plan of union agreed upon between the Synods 
 of New York and Philadelphia, at their meeting at 
 Philadelphia, May 29th, 1758. 
 
 The Synods of New York and Philadelphia, taking 
 into serious consideration 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 dishonour religion, and conse- 
 quently 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 estab- 
 lishment and edification of his people, do judge it to 
 be our indispensable duty to study the things that 
 make for peace, and to endeavour the healing of that 
 breach which has for some time subsisted amongst us, 
 
184 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 that so its hurtful consequences 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 state; and since both Synods 
 continue to profess the same principles of faith, and 
 adhere to the same form of worship, government, and 
 discipline, there is the greater reason to endeavour 
 the compromising those differences which were agitated. 
 many years ago with too great warmth and animosity, 
 and unite in one body. 
 
 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 re- 
 ceived 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 con- 
 fession of our faith, and also adhere to the plan of 
 worship, government, and discipline, contained 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 op- 
 pose all errors contrary thereto. 
 
 II. That when any matter is determined by a ma- 
 jor vote, every member shall either actively concur 
 w^ith, or passively submit to such determination ; or, 
 if his conscience permit him to do neither, he shall, 
 after sufficient liberty modestly to reason and remon- 
 strate, 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 indis- 
 pensable in doctrine or Presbyterian government. 
 
 III. That any* member or members, for the exon- 
 eration of his or their conscience before God, have a 
 right to protest against any act or procedure of our 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 185' 
 
 highest judicature, because there is no further appeal 
 to another for redress ; and to require that such pro- 
 testation be recorded in their minutes. And as such 
 a protest is a solemn appeal from the bar of said ju- 
 dicature, 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 ju- 
 dicature. And it is agreed, that pi'otestations are 
 only to be entered against the public acts, judgments, 
 or determinations of the judicature with which the 
 protester's conscience is offended. 
 
 IV. As the protestation entered in the Synod of 
 Philadelphia, Ann, Dom. 1T41, 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 consider- 
 ing 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 cen- 
 surable evil, to accuse any member of heterodoxy, in- 
 sufficiency, or immorality, in a calumniating 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 ap- 
 point supplies within the bounds of another Presby- 
 tery without their concurrence; or if any member 
 officiate in another's congregation, without asking and 
 obtaining his consent, or the session's, in case the min- 
 ister 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. 
 
 16* 
 
186 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 VI. That no Presbytery shall license or ordain to 
 tlie 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 Westminster Confession and Cate- 
 chisms as the confession of his faith, and promise sub- 
 jection to the Presbyterian plan of government in the 
 Westminster Directory. 
 
 yil. 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 ap- 
 pear to them most expedient. Provided nevertheless, 
 that Presbyteries, where an alteration does not ap- 
 pear to be for edification, continue in their present 
 form. As tg divided congregations it is agreed, that 
 such as have settled ministers on both sides be al- 
 lowed to continue as they are ; that where those of 
 one side have a settled minister, the other being va- 
 cant 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. 
 
 VIII. As the late religious appearances occasioned 
 much speculation and debate, the members of the New 
 York Synod, in order to prevent any misapprehen- 
 sions, declare their adherence to their former senti- 
 ments in favour of them, that a blessed work of God's 
 Holy Spirit in the conversion of numbers was then 
 carried on ; and for the satisfaction of all concerned, 
 this united Synod agree in declaring, that as all man- 
 kind are naturally dead in trespasses and sins, an en- 
 tire change of heart and life is necessary to make 
 them meet for the service and enjoyment of God ; 
 that such a change can only be effected by the power- 
 ful operations of the Divine Spirit ; that when sin- 
 ners are made sensible of their lost condition and ab- 
 solute inability to recover themselves, are enlightened 
 in the knowledge of Christ and convinced of his 
 ability and willingness to save, and upon gospel en- 
 couragements do choose him for their Saviour, and 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 187 
 
 renouncing their own righteousness in point of merit, 
 depend upon his imputed righteousness for their jus- 
 tification before God, and on his wisdom and strength 
 for guidance and support ; when upon these appre- 
 hensions and exercises their souls are comforted, not- 
 withstanding 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 remaining cor- 
 ruptions; 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 he 
 tinder a religious 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 dan- 
 gerous delusion. And we testify our utter disappro- 
 bation 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 de- 
 clare their desire and purpose to promote it, different 
 judgments respecting particular matters of fact, ought 
 not to prevent their union; eapecially 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 ministerial function 
 is the principal appointed mean for that glorious end, 
 
188 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 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 our- 
 selves that our hearts be upright, our discourse edify- 
 ing, and our lives exemplary for purity and godliness ; 
 to take heed to our doctrine, that it be not only ortho- 
 dox but evangelical and spiritual, tending to awaken 
 the secure to a suitable concern for their salvation, 
 and to instruct and encourage sincere Christians ; 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 dif- 
 fusing the savour of piety among our people. 
 
 Finally, we earnestly recommend it to all under our 
 care, that instead of indulging a contentious disposi- 
 tion, 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 entertain the same hope of glory. 
 And we desire that they would improve the pre- 
 sent 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 efi"ect, 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 con- 
 cerning these things ; but if any member seek a Sy- 
 nodical inquiry, or declaration about any of the mat- 
 ters of our past differences, it shall be deemed a cen- 
 surable breach of this agreement, and be refused, and 
 he be rebuked accordingly. — Records, 1755, p. 286; 
 
 The {mportanoe and binding cJiaracter of the Confes- 
 sion of Faith. 
 " The Committee to which was referred the petition 
 of certain individuals, members of the congrega-tion 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 189. 
 
 in Tammany street, Baltliliore, reported, and their 
 report being read and amended, was adopted, and is 
 as follows, viz. 
 
 That while it is unquestionably the privilege of in- 
 dividuals and members of the Presbyterian Church, 
 when they think they see the peace, purity, or pros- 
 perity of the Church in danger, either from an indi- 
 vidual, or from an inferior court, to apply to the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, in an orderly manner, for redress or 
 direction; yet, in such cases, unless they mean to 
 come forward as prosecutors, with the necessary testi- 
 mony, they should most carefully avoid mentioning 
 names connected with charges of the most serious 
 kind, in support of which no evidence has been orderly 
 adduced, nor have the individuals thus accused, had 
 an opportunity of replying to those charges, or of 
 making any defence of themselves : — The Assembly, 
 therefore, cannot witness a procedure of this kind, 
 without expressing their disapprobation of it. But, 
 inasmuch as this step may have arisen from inadver- 
 tency, or a want of information respecting the course 
 proper to be taken in such a case; and as the peti- 
 tioners declared that it was not their design or inten- 
 tion to exhibit charges against the persons whose 
 names were mentioned in the petition, but that their 
 only object was to bring the subject of this petition 
 before the Assembly, that they might obtain an ex- 
 pression of the sentiments of the Assembly on the 
 importance and binding character of the Confession 
 of Faith, as recognized by the Presbyterian Church, 
 the committee beg leave to report the following, viz. 
 
 1. That, in the opinion of this Assembly, confes- 
 sions of faith, containing formulas of doctrine, and 
 rules for conducting the discipline and 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 Christen- 
 dom, few are to be found in the attitude of avowed 
 
190 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 hostility to Christianity. The name of Christian is 
 claimed by all, and all are ready to profess their be- 
 lief in the Holy Scriptures ; too many reserving to 
 themselves the right of putting upon them what con- 
 struction they please. In such a state of things, with- 
 out 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: 'I am of Paul^ and I of Ap olios.' 
 
 2. That though the Confession of Faith, and stand- 
 ards of our Church, are of no original authority, in- 
 dependent 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 instruc- 
 tor, 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 system of doctrines professedly believed by 
 the people and the pastors under the care of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, nor can it be traduced by any in the 
 communion of our Church, without subjecting the err- 
 ing 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. 
 
 Finally, the General Assembly recommend to all 
 who are under their care, steadfastly to resist every 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 191 
 
 temptation, however preseiited, which may have for 
 its object the relaxation of those bonds of Christian 
 fellowship, which have hitherto been so eminently 
 blessed of God, for the order, edification, and exten- 
 sion of the Presbyterian Church, and conclude with 
 the words of the holy apostle: — '' Noiu we beseech 
 you^ h'ethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christy 
 that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no 
 divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined 
 together in the same mind and in the same judgment.' " 
 ^Minutes, 1824, p. 211. 
 
 "The Committee appointed on an overture respect- 
 ing the consistency of admitting into this Church min- 
 isters who manifest a decided hostility to ecclesiasti- 
 cal creeds, confessions, and formularies, made the 
 following report, which was adopted, viz. 
 
 1. That the Constitution, as is well known, ex- 
 pressly requires of all candidates for admission, a 
 solemn declaration that they sincerely receive and 
 adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as con- 
 taining 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 expli- 
 citly and fully declared the sentiments of this Church 
 in regard to her ecclesiastical standards, and all with- 
 in her communion who may traduce them, that no 
 further expression of our views on this subject is 
 deemed necessary." — Minutes, 1825, p. 274. 
 
 " 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 
 this subject, by the Assembly, would be unnecessary 
 and inexpedient. They consider the formula con- 
 tained in our Book, and the rule adopted by the As- 
 sembly in 1830, viz. *that in their judgment every 
 
192 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS, 
 
 licentiate coming by certificate to any Presbytery iii 
 connexion with the General Assembly, from any por- 
 tion of a corresponding ecclesiastical body, should be 
 required to answer in the affirmative, the constitu- 
 tional 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 coming from any 
 church in correspondence with the General 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 be ordained to the sacred 
 office,' sufficiently explicit; and would earnestly re- 
 commend 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 con- 
 sidered 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 question in the affirmative. It does 
 not appear, that any doubts on that subject have ever 
 been entertained, until very recently. The commit- 
 tee find in the minutes of the old Synod, at the 
 union of the Synod of Philadelphia with the Synod 
 of New York, in 1758, that the first article of 
 the Plan of Union contains the following words, 
 viz. ' Both Synods, having always approved and re- 
 ceived 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 Con- 
 fession of our Faith ; and also the plan of worship, 
 government, and discipline, contained in the West- 
 minster 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 reci- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 193 
 
 tal of tlie manner in which' a Presbytery was received 
 by the Synod of New York, 17G3, we have the fol- 
 lowing record — ' It was agreed to grant their request, 
 provided that they agree to adopt our Westminster 
 Confession of Faith and Catechisms, and engage to 
 observe 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, 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 ap- 
 prove, 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, government, discipline, 
 and worship, agreeably to the resolutions of the 
 Synod at their present sessions' — one of which 
 resolutions was, Hhat the Form of Government and 
 Discipline and the Confession of Faith, as now rati- 
 fied, is to continue to be our Constitution and the 
 Confession of our Faith, and practice unalterably, 
 unless two-thirds ,of the Presbyteries 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 connexion 
 with the Confession 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 Assem- 
 bly the adoption of the following resolutions, viz. 
 
 1. Resolved by the Assembly, That in receiving 
 
194 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 and adopting the Confession of Faith, as containing 
 the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, 
 the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the Westmin- 
 ster Assembly of Divines are included, and do con- 
 stitute an integral part of the standards of this 
 Church. 
 
 2. Resolved, That the use of the Catechisms in the 
 religious instruction of the young and of the children 
 under the care of the Church, be affectionately and 
 earnestly recommended to the sessions in connexion 
 with the General Assembly, as the most effectual 
 means, under God, of preserving the purity, peace, 
 and unity of our Church." — Minutes, 1832, p. 331. 
 
 The Board of Ifissions, 
 
 [The Assembly, at its first meeting, took into con- 
 sideration the state of the frontier settlements, and 
 sent missionaries to them to form congregations, or- 
 dain elders, administer the sacraments, and direct 
 them to the best measures for obtaining the gospel 
 ministry regularly among them. The general manage- 
 ment of the missionary business was committed in 
 1802, to a Standing Committee, and in 1816, the 
 style was changed for that of "the Board of Missions, 
 acting under the authority of the General Assembly 
 of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of 
 America." 
 
 In lb05, the prospects of the school established 
 among the Cherokees in Tennessee, by the Rev. 
 Gideon Blackburn, were highly flattering. The school 
 among the Catawbas established by the Synod of the 
 Carolmas, was still continued, and several young men 
 of different tribes had received, and were then receiv- 
 ing their education under the care of the Synod of 
 Pittsburgh.] 
 
 The Committee to whom was recommitted the Re- 
 port on Overture No. 9, made the following report, 
 which was adopted, viz. 
 
 In answer to the questions propounded by the Pres- 
 byteries of Union and French Broad, the Assembly 
 would say, that though they do not recognize in the 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 196' 
 
 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 inexpe- 
 diency of appointing, or withholding an appointment 
 from any applicant, holding themselves amenable to 
 the General Assembly for all their official acts. — 
 Minutes, 1830, p. 16. 
 
 Tlie Board of Education, 
 
 [The provision of a fund for the more complete in- 
 struction of candidates for the ministry, previous to 
 their licensure, was declared, in 1800, to be worthy 
 of consideration. The want of this having been a 
 subject of general inconvenience, it deserves consider- 
 ation whether it would not be both easy and practi- 
 cable to appoint a number of professors of theology, 
 (perhaps one in each Synod,) to whom the candidates 
 might resort as a matter of choice, though not of lie- 
 cessity, which professors might immediately be pro- 
 vided with a suitable library, the property of the cor- 
 poration, and who might receive a small salary, to be 
 augmented as their labours increased, and the funds 
 are extended. It will be a most desirable extension 
 of this plan, if the funds can be rendered adequate, 
 to furnish partly, or wholly, the means of subsistence 
 to those candidates w^ho may need it during their at- 
 tendance on the professors.] 
 
 In 1819, it was Resolved, " Whereas, the General 
 Assembly forms the bond of union of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church in the United States, and affords the 
 acknowledged means of combining the intelligence and 
 concentrating the eftorts of that denomination; and 
 "whereas, the present state of our country most loudly 
 calls for increasing energy and zeal in training young 
 men for the ministry of the gospel, and it has become 
 necessary to originate new and more efficient mea- 
 sures for carrying on this great and most important 
 work, to systematize and unite the efforts that are 
 now making within our bounds j and whereas, it is 
 
196 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 desirable that a fund should be established under the 
 direction of the General Assembly, which, among 
 other objects, might afford assistance, in educating 
 indigent youth, to those Presbyteries and parts of the 
 Church that may require the same; therefore, Re- 
 solved, That the General Assembly establish a general 
 Board of Education."— il/mi^f^s, 1819, pp. 712, 714. 
 
 The Board of I^oreign Missions, 
 
 [In 1816 a committee was appointed to correspond 
 with the Dutch and the Associate Reformed Churches 
 and other churches holding the same creed, and ascer- 
 tain whether those churches will unite with us in the 
 formation of a Society for Foreign Missions, and if 
 possible report to the next General Assembly a plan 
 of a society to be established for this purpose. In 
 1817 the three denominations united in forming the 
 United Foreign Missionary Society, which it was 
 merged in 1827 in the American Board of Foreign 
 Missions, with the Assembly's consent.] 
 
 The Assembly in 1835, ''Resolved, 1. That it is 
 the solemn conviction of this General Assembly, 
 that the Presbyterian Church owes it as a sacred 
 duty to her glorified Head, to yield a far more 
 exemplary obedience, and that in her distinctive 
 character as a church, to the command which he 
 gave at his ascension into heaven : ** Go ye into all 
 the world and preach the gospel to every creature." 
 It is believed to be among the causes of the frowns of 
 the great Head of the Church, which are now resting 
 on our beloved Zion, in the declension of vital piety 
 and the disorders and divisions that distract us, that 
 we have done so little, comparatively nothing, in our 
 distinctive character as a church of Christ, to send 
 the gospel to the heathen, the Jews and the Mahome- 
 dans. It is regarded as of vital importance to the 
 welfare of our Church that Foreign as well as Domes- 
 tic Missions should be more zealously prosecuted and 
 more liberally patronized; and that as a nucleus of 
 Foreign Missionary effort and operation, the Western 
 Foreign Missionary Society should receive the coua- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 107 
 
 tenance, as it appears to us to merit the confidence of 
 those who cherish an attachment to the doctrines and 
 order of the Church to which we belong. 
 
 2. Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to con- 
 fer with the Synod of Pittsburgh on the subject of a 
 transfer of a supervision of the Western Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Society now under the direction of that Synod, 
 to ascertain the terras on whicli such transfer can be 
 made ; to devise and digest a plan for conducting 
 Foreign Missions under the direction of the General 
 Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and report the 
 whole to the next Assembly." — Minutes, 1835, p. 31. 
 
 [The General xissembly of 1836 did not carry into 
 effect the stipulation touching the receiving that So- 
 ciety under their care ; but m 1887 it was resolved 
 that the General Assembly will superintend and con- 
 duct by its own proper authority, the work of Foreign 
 Missions of the Presbyterian Church, by a Board 
 appointed for that purpose and directly amenable to 
 the Assembly.] 
 
 The Board of Puhlication. 
 
 In 1838, the Assembly resolved, that *' whereas Sub- 
 bath School and Tract publications cannot fail to 
 exert a very great influence upon the growth of our 
 Church and country, and whereas it is the duty of the 
 highest judicatory of the Church to exercise such a 
 supervision over this subject as will secure the diff'u- 
 sion of sound and scriptural principles, for the pro- 
 motion of charity, truth and holiness through all the 
 churches under our care ; the Assembly will superin- 
 tend and conduct by its own proper authority the 
 work of furnishing the church under its care with 
 suitable Tract and Sabbath School publications, by a 
 Board appointed for that purpose and directly amena- 
 ble to the Assembly." 
 
 [In 1839, the name of the Board for the Publication 
 of Tracts and Sabbath School Books was changed to 
 the name of '' the Presbyterian Board of Publication," 
 and its constitution so altered as to require the Board 
 to publish approved works in support of the great 
 17* 
 
198 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 principles of the Reformation as exhibited in the doc- 
 trines and order of the Presbyterian Church and what- 
 ever else the Assembly may direct.] 
 
 Theological Seminaries. 
 
 [In 1809 an overture for the establishment of a theo- 
 logical school was presented from Philadelphia Pres- 
 bytery, and was read and referred to a committee 
 with President Dwight for Chairman. Three modes 
 of compassing this desirable object w^ere submitted to 
 the Presbyteries : 
 
 I. To establish one great school in some convenient 
 and central place. 
 
 II. To establish two schools in such places as may 
 best accommodate the northern and southern divi- 
 sions of the Church. 
 
 III. To leave each Synod to establish a school of 
 its own, and to direct the mode of forming it and the 
 place, of its location. 
 
 Ten Presbyteries reported in favour of the first 
 mode, ten in favour of the third, one in favour of the 
 second ; six against the expediency of establishing 
 any school, and six sent no report.] 
 
 The Seminary Ustablished, 
 
 " The committee appointed farther to consider the 
 subject of Theological Schools, reported, and the re- 
 port being read and amended, was adopted, and is as 
 follows, viz. 
 
 ''That after maturely deliberating on the subject 
 committed to them, they submit to the Assembly the 
 following results : 
 
 1. It is evident that not only a majority of the 
 Presbyteries, which have reported on this subject, but 
 also a majority of all the Presbyteries under the care 
 of this Assembly, have expressed a decided opinion in 
 favour of the establishment of a Theological School 
 or Schools in our Church. 
 
 2. It appears to the committee, that although ac- 
 cording to the statement already reported to the As- 
 sembly, there is an equal number of Presbyteries in 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 190 
 
 favour of the first plan, -which contemplates a single 
 school for the whole Church ; and in favour of the 
 third plan, which contemplates the erection of a school 
 in each Synod ; yet as several of the objections made 
 to the first plan are founded entirely on misconcep- 
 tion, and will be completely obviated by developing 
 the details of that plan, it seems fairly to follow, that 
 there is a greater amount of Prcsbyterial suffrage in 
 favour of a single school, than of any other plan. 
 
 3. Under these circumstances the committee are of 
 opinion, that as much light has been obtained from 
 the reports of the Presbyteries on this subject, as 
 would be likely to result from a renewal of the refer- 
 ence, that no advantage will probably arise from far- 
 ther delay in this important concern ; but, on the 
 contrary, much serious inconvenience and evil; that 
 the present Assembly is bound to attempt to carry 
 into execution some one of the plans proposed, and 
 that the first plan appearing to have on the whole, the 
 greatest share of public sentiment in its favour, oug'ht 
 of course to be adopted. 
 
 4. Your committee therefore recommend, that the 
 present General Assembly declare its approbation and 
 adoption of this plan, and immediately commence 
 a course of measures for carrying it into execution, as 
 promptly and extensively as possible ; and for this 
 purpose they recommend to the Assembly the adop- 
 tion of the following resolutions. 
 
 1. Resolved^ That the state of our churches, the 
 loud and affecting calls of destitute frontier settle- 
 ments, and the laudable exertions of various Christian 
 denominations around us, all demand that the collected 
 wisdom, piety, and zeal of the Presbyterian Church 
 be, without delay, called into action, for furnishing 
 the Church with a large supply of able and faithful 
 ministers. 
 
 2. That the General Assembly will, in the name of 
 the great Head of the Church, immediately attempt 
 to establish a seminary for securing to candidates for 
 the ministry, more extensive and efficient theological 
 instruction than they have heretofore enjoyed. The 
 
200 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 local situation of this seminary is hereafter to be de- 
 termined. 
 
 3. That in this seminary when completely organized, 
 there shall be at least three Professors, who shall be 
 elected by, and hold their offices during the pleasure 
 of the General Assembly, and who shall give a regu- 
 lar course of instruction in Divinity, Oriental and 
 Biblical Literature, and in Ecclesiastical History and 
 Church Government, and on such other subjects as 
 may be deemed necessary. It -being however under- 
 stood, that until sufficient funds can be obtained for 
 the complete organization and support of the proposed 
 seminary, a smaller number of Professors than three 
 may be appointed to commence the system of instruc- 
 tion. 
 
 4. That exertion may be made to provide such an 
 amount of funds for this seminary, as will enable its 
 conductors to afford gratuitous instruction, and when 
 it is necessary, gratuitous support, to all such students 
 as may not themselves possess adequate pecuniary 
 means. 
 
 5. That the Rev. Drs. Green, Woodhull, Romeyn, 
 and Miller, the Rev. Messrs. Archibald Alexander, 
 James Richards, and Amzi Armstrong, be a committee 
 to digest and prepare a plan of a Theological Semi- 
 nary, embracing in detail the fundamental principles 
 of the institution, together with regulations for guid- 
 ing the conduct of the instructors and the students, 
 and prescribing the best mode of visiting, of control- 
 ling, and supporting the whole system. This plan is 
 to be reported to the next General Assembly. 
 
 6. That the Rev. Messrs. Jedediah Chapman, Jo- 
 nas Coe, William Morrison, James Carnahan, and Mr. 
 Isaac Ilutton, of the Synod of Albany; Rev. Drs. 
 Saml. Miller, Philip Milledoler, John B. Romeyn, and 
 Aaron Wool worth, the Rev. Messrs. James Richards, 
 David Comfort, and Isaac Vandoren, and Col. Henry 
 Rutgers, of the Synod of New York and New Jersey ; 
 Rev. Drs. Ashbel Green, John McKnight, and James 
 Muir, the Rev. Messrs. Nathaniel Irwin, John Glen- 
 dy, Archibald Alexander, John E. Latta, John B. 
 
MISCELLANEOT/S MATTERS. 201 
 
 Slommons, John B. Patterson, and James Inglls, and 
 Mr. Robert Ralston, of the Synod of Philadelphia; 
 the Rev. John D. Blair, William Williamson, Samuel 
 Houston, Samuel Doake, and Benjamin Grigsby, of 
 the Synod of Virs^inia; the Rev. Samuel Ralston, 
 James Guthrie, William Speer, and James Hughes, of 
 the Synod of Pittsburgh ; the Rev. Robert G. Wil- 
 son, James Blythe, Archibald Cameron, and Joshua 
 L. Wilson, of the Synod of Kentucky ; the Rev. Drs. 
 James Hall, and Henry Kollock, and the Rev. Messrs. 
 •Malcom McNair, James Mcllhenny, and Andrew 
 Flinn, of the Synod of the Carolinas, be, and they 
 hereby are, appointed agents, to solicit donations in 
 the course of the current year, within the bounds of 
 their respective Synods, for the establishment and 
 support of the proposed seminary ; and if any of said 
 agents should be unable or unwilling to act in this 
 case, it will be his or their duty to inform the Mode- 
 rator of his or their Synod, for the time being, who is 
 hereby authorized, if he think proper, to appoint a 
 substitute or substitutes, as the case may require. 
 These agents are t-o report to the next General As- 
 sembly. 
 
 Resolved, That the members of this Assembly gen- 
 erally, and all the clergy of our denomination within 
 our bounds, do aid the exertions of those who shall go 
 on this business. 
 
 7. That, as filling the Church with a learned and 
 able ministry, without a corresponding portion of real 
 piety, would be a curse to the world, and an offence 
 to God and his people, so the General Assembly think 
 it their duty to state that, in establishing a seminary 
 for training up ministers, it is their earnest desire to 
 guard, as far as possible, against so great an evil ; 
 and they do hereby solemnly pledge themselves to the 
 churches under their care, that in forming and carry- 
 ing into execution the plan of the proposed seminary, 
 it will be their endeavour to make it, under the bless- 
 ing of God, a nursery of vital piety, as well as of 
 sound theological learning, and to train up persons 
 for the ministry who shall be lovers as well as defend- 
 
202 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 ers of the truth as it is in Jesus, friends of revivals 
 of religion, and a blessing to the Church of God. 
 
 8. That as the constitution of our Church guaran- 
 tees to every Presbytery the right of judging of its own 
 candidates for licensure and ordination, so the As- 
 sembly think it proper to state most explicitly, that 
 every Presbytery and Synod, will, of course, be left 
 at full liberty to countenance the proposed plan, or 
 not, at pleasure ; and to send their students to the 
 projected seminary, or keep them as heretofore, within 
 their own bounds as they think most conducive to the' 
 prosperity of the Church. 
 
 9. That the Professors in the Seminary shall not 
 in any case be considered as having a right to license 
 candidates to preach the gospel ; but that all such 
 candidates shall be remitted to their respective Pres- 
 byteries, to be examined and licensed as heretofore. 
 
 10. Resolved finally, That Dr. Samuel Miller and 
 Rev. James Richards, be a committee to prepare a 
 draught of an address from this Assembly to the 
 churches under our care, calling their attention to the 
 subject of a Theological School, and earnestly solicit- 
 ing their patronage and support in the execution of 
 the plan now proposed." — Minutes^ 1810, p. 453-5. 
 
 [In 1812, Princeton was made the site of the Semi- 
 nary, leaving the subject open as to its permanency, 
 agreeably to the stipulations jointly agreed on by the 
 Committees of the last Assembly and the Trustees of 
 the College of New Jersey.] 
 
 The agreement with the Trustees of the College. 
 
 "The following plan of an agreement between a 
 committee appointed by the last General Assembly, 
 and a committee of the Trustees of the College of New 
 Jersey, for the location and establishment of a Theo- 
 logical Seminary, was submitted to this Assembly, and 
 was adopted, and is as follows, viz. 
 
 1. That the Theological Seminary, about to be 
 erected by the General Assembly, shall have its loca- 
 tion in Princeton or its immediate vicinity, in thq 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 203 
 
 state of New Jersey ; and in such connection witli the 
 College of New Jersey, as is implied in the following 
 articles. 
 
 2. That the Trustees of the College engage, that 
 the General Assembly and directors to be by them 
 appointed, shall carry into full and complete effect, 
 without any interposition, interference, let or hinder- 
 ance from them the Trustees or their successors, the 
 whole plan of a Theological Seminary as laid down 
 and agreed upon at a meeting of the Assembly in the 
 present year of our Lord 1811. That is to say, that 
 the said General Assembly shall appoint their direc- 
 tors, choose their professors, carry on their instruc- 
 tion, govern their pupils, and manage their funds as 
 to them shall appear best. 
 
 3. That the Trustees of the College engage to the 
 General Assembly freely to allow them to erect, at 
 their own expense, on the grounds belonging to the 
 College, such buildings for the accommodation of 
 pupils and professors as they may judge proper, and 
 which may not interfere with the buildings and their 
 conveniences already erected by the Trustees ; and to 
 prevent all future dissatisfaction on this subject, that 
 it be agreed that when the General Assembly or the 
 directors of the Theological Seminary may- wish to 
 erect any building on the College grounds, and there 
 shall be any discordance of views relative to the 
 same, then the General Assembly or the directors 
 aforesaid, shall appoint three men, and the Board of 
 Trustees the same number, and these six shall choose 
 one man not belonging to either body; and these 
 seven men by a majority of votes, shall determine 
 Avhether said building can be properly erected on said 
 grounds, and if so, what shall be the site and size of 
 the same ; and that this determination shall be con- 
 clusive and final with both parties. Provided nothing 
 contained in this article shall be understood to pro- 
 hibit the General Assembly, or the directors of the 
 Theological Seminary, from making use of any other 
 ground within the limits prescribed in article first for 
 the purposes aforesaid. 
 
204 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 4. That tlie Trustees engage to the General Assem- 
 bly to grant them every practical accommodation in 
 the buildings now existing, not only till others may 
 be erected by the Assembly, but afterwards, so long 
 as the same may be desirable. 
 
 5. That the Trustees engage to endeavour to re- 
 ceive into the College all the youth whom the Assem- 
 bly, or the directors by them appointed, may send to 
 it for the purpose of education, subject to such exa- 
 mination at entrance, and to such discipline during 
 their residence in College, as the other pupils of the 
 college are subjected to ; the Trustees to receive for 
 the expenses of board, tuition, and room-rent, the 
 same as for others; and giving to the Assembly the 
 assurance that as pupils increase, and the funds of 
 the College will permit, they will reduce as low as 
 possible all the expenses of the pupils under their care. 
 
 6. That the Trustees agree to receive and hold, for 
 the use of the Assembly, such sums of money as they 
 may voluntarily choose to deposit in the hands of the 
 Trustees for improvement, so as to incur no inconve- 
 nience to such Trustees from the limitation of their 
 charter ; and that such sums of money be accordingly 
 invested in such funds as the Assembly shall direct ; 
 that the Trustees pay the interest thereof when re- 
 ceived, to the order of the Assembly; keep it wholly 
 separate from the funds of the college, and pay over 
 or transfer to the order of the Assembly, the princi- 
 pal sum whenever they shall so direct. 
 
 7. That the Trustees grant to the professors and 
 pupils of the Theological Seminary the free use of 
 the college library, subject to such rules as may be 
 adopted for the preservation of the books, and the 
 good order of the same. 
 
 8. That if the General Assembly shall wish to 
 establish at Princeton an elementary school, for the 
 instruction of youth in such learning as usually pre- 
 cedes their entrance into College, the Trustees agree 
 to aid them in this undertaking, by every accommo- 
 dation, and all the patronage in their power ; so, how- 
 ever, as not to engage to make drafts on the funds of 
 the College for that purpose. 
 
Miscellaneous matters. 205 " 
 
 9. That, if at any time, the General Assembly shall 
 find that the connection between their seminary and 
 the college does not conduce sufficiently to the great 
 purposes contemplated to be answered by the said 
 seminary, they shall be at liberty to remove it to some 
 other place. And the Trustees engage that, while 
 the Theological Seminary shall remain at Princeton, 
 no professorship of theology shall be established in the 
 College. 
 
 10. That, whereas the Trustees of the College have 
 in their hands a fund, the annual income of which is 
 nearly eighteen hundred dollars, appropriated by the 
 donors to the education of poor and pious youth for 
 the gospel ministry of the Presbyterian denomination; 
 the Trustees give an assurance to the Assembly, that 
 if the first of these articles take efi'ect, they will pay 
 a high regard to the recommendation of the Assembly, 
 or of their directors, as to the youth who shall receive 
 the benefit of this fund. 
 
 AsHBEL Green, 
 Richard Stocktox, 
 John Wooduull, 
 
 Committee of the Trustees of New Jersey College. 
 
 Archibald Alexander, 
 Jacob J. Janeway, 
 Robert Ralston, 
 John McDowell, 
 
 Committee of the General Assembly. 
 Princeton, June 26, ISll." 
 
 Ordered, That the Stated Clerk furnish the Trus- 
 tees with an attested copy of the above plan of agree- 
 ment. 
 
 The Western Theological Seminary. 
 
 The General Assembly in 1825 taking into con- 
 sideration the numerous and rapidly increasing popu- 
 lation in the great valley of the Mississippi, and 
 believing that the interests of the Presbyterian Church 
 imperatively require it, and that the Redeemer's king- 
 dom will be thereby promoted, do resolve that it is 
 expedient forthwith to establish a theological seminary 
 in the West, under the supervision of the General 
 Assembly. 
 18 
 
206 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS* 
 
 The following persons were appointed Commis- 
 sioners in regard to the location of the seminary: 
 General Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee, Hon. Ben- 
 jamin Mills, of Paris, Kentucky, Hon. John Thomp- 
 son, of Chillicothe, Ohio, and the Rev. Obadiah Jen- 
 nings and Andrew Wylie of Pennsylvania. 
 
 A Board of Directors was also appointed, and they 
 by a vote of 8 to 5, recommended Allegheny Town as 
 the site. The Assembly left it to be decided by the 
 Assembly of 1827, whether the seminary shall be 
 located at Allegheny Town, Walnut Hills, or Charles- 
 ton, Indiana. Against this postponment, the Rev. 
 Joshua C. Wilson protested because it was virtually 
 setting up the site to the highest bidder and may 
 locate the seminary on the spot which will neither 
 meet the wants or wishes of a majority of the western 
 churches; and because it must prevent the city of 
 Cincinnati from making any proposals for itself, and 
 the churches in the west from making any effort in its 
 favour, though all things considered, it is believed by 
 many to be the most eligible site for a seminary in 
 the western country. 
 
 It was decided in 1827 that Allegheny Town should 
 be the site of the Western Theological Seminary. 
 
 Admission of Ecclesiastical Bodies into Union. 
 
 "A request was brought in from a Presbytery in 
 New York government to the east of North River, 
 desiring to be incorporated with this Synod, and that 
 some members of the Presbyteries of New York and 
 Suffolk, which are contiguous, may be allowed to be 
 joined with them in a Presbyterial capacity. After 
 several members of this body had given full satisfac- 
 tion concerning their characters, their good standing 
 in the churches, and that it was not from any un- 
 brotherly or unfriendly views, nor from any disaffec- 
 tion to the neighbouring churches that they desired to 
 unite with us, it is agreed to grant their request, 
 provided that they agree to adopt our Westminster 
 Confession of Faith, and Catechisms, and engage to 
 observe the Directory as a plan of worship, discipline, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 207" 
 
 and government, according to the agreement of this 
 Synod, * * * * and that they be called by the 
 name of Dutchess County Presbytery." — Records^ 
 1763, p. 380. 
 
 [They complied with the stipulations.] 
 
 Case of the Presbytery of South Carolina. 
 
 [The Presbytery of South Carolina sent a letter by 
 the Rev. James Caldwell, of Elizabethtown, signifying 
 their desire to unite with this Synod.] *' The condi- 
 tions which we require, said the Synod, are only what 
 we suppose you are already agreed in, viz. that all 
 your ministers acknowledge and adopt as the standard 
 of doctrine, the Westminster Confession of Faith, and 
 Catechisms, and the Directory, as the plan of your 
 worship and discipline." — Records, 1770, p. 408. 
 
 [No answer was returned.] 
 
 Case of the Presbytery of Charleston, 
 The prayer of the Presbytery of Charleston was 
 granted, "• and retaining their name and charter of in- 
 corporation, they are hereby taken into connection 
 with the General Assembly; provided, however, that 
 the members of said Presbytery shall have adopted 
 the Confession of Faith and the Constitution of the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States, and shall 
 also eflfect a compromise or union with Harmony Pres- 
 bytery, which transaction shall be subject to the re- 
 view and control of the Synod of the Carolinas." — 
 llimites, 1811, p. 475. 
 
 [The Presbytery of Charleston Union came into 
 connection in 1824.] 
 
 Case of the Associate Reformed Church. 
 
 "Whereas the Associate Reformed Church and the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, 
 are one in their Confession of Faith and Form of 
 Government, and whereas this Assembly knows of no 
 reason why these two ecclesiastical bodies should not 
 become visibly one church, as we trust we are one in 
 Christ Jesus to the glory of God ; Therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That Dr. Green, Dr. Blatchford, Dr. 
 
208 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 McDowell, Mr. B. Strong, and Mr. Henry Southard 
 be a Committee to confer on this subject with a simi- 
 lar committee from the Associate Reformed Synod, 
 now in session in this city, if they shall see fit to 
 appoint one, and that said Committee report the 
 result of their conference as soon as convenient." 
 
 The following plan was ratified by the Synod and 
 the Assembly : 
 
 1. The different Presbyteries of the Associate Re- 
 formed Church shall either retain their separate orga- 
 nization or shall be amalgamated with those of the 
 General Assembly, at their own choice. In the former 
 case they shall have as full powers and privileges as 
 any other Presbyteries in the united body and shall 
 attach themselves to the Synods most convenient. 
 
 2. The Theological Seminary at Princeton, under 
 the care of the General Assembly, and the Theolo- 
 gical Seminary of the Associate Reformed Church, 
 shall be consolidated. 
 
 3. Whereas moneys to the amount of between nine 
 and ten thousand dollars, which were given to the 
 General Synod of the Associate Reformed Church, 
 and of which the interest or product only was to be 
 applied to the support of a theological seminary, were 
 necessarily used in the current expenses thereof; 
 which moneys so expended were assumed by the 
 Synod as its own debt, at an interest of seven per 
 cent. ; the united body agree to make a joint effort 
 to repay the same, and will apply the interest accru- 
 ing thereon to the maintenance of a Professorship of 
 Biblical Literature, in the Seminary at Princeton, 
 analogous to that which now exists in the Associate 
 Reformed Church; and until such professorship shall 
 be established, the said interest or product shall be 
 used for the general purposes of the Seminary. 
 
 4. The Theological Library and Funds belonging 
 to the Associate Reformed Church, shall be trans- 
 ferred, and belong to the Seminary at Princeton. — 
 Minutes, 1821, pp. 7. 9; 1822, p. 11. 
 
 Of the Associate Reformed Synod, only the Pres- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 209 " 
 
 byteries of New York and Philadelphia came into our 
 connection. 
 
 3Iinisters. — Of the right of examining them before 
 reception. 
 
 [On the complaint and appeal of the Rev. Thomas 
 Ledlie Birch, against certain proceedings of the Pres- 
 bytery of Ohio in his case, particularly for their re- 
 fusing to receive him as a member of their body on 
 the ground of a supposed want of acquaintance with 
 experimental religion,] 
 
 " Resolved^ That no evidence of censurable proce- 
 dure in tlie 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 experi- 
 mental religion." — Minutes, 1801, p. 218. 
 
 Tlie right of examination affirmed. 
 
 " 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 ofi'ence, subsequently to the date of that certifi- 
 cate, 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 join- 
 ing 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 Overture, however, as the dis- 
 missing Presbytery had become extinct, it was physi- 
 cally impossible to act according to the letter of this 
 18* 
 
210 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 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 Presby- 
 tery 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; in which case, the rejected applicant 
 may appeal to the Synod or the General Assembly. 
 
 3. When any minister, dismissed in good standing 
 by an extinct Presbytery, is charged with an offence 
 subsequently to the date of his dismission, the Pres- 
 bytery to which he applies for admission, not only 
 may, if they see cause, decline receiving him, but if 
 their own situation be such that there is no prospect 
 of their being able to conduct process against him in 
 an impartial and efficient manner, ought to decline 
 admitting 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:'— Mmutes, 1825, p. 264. 
 
 Right of examination affirmed. 
 
 "The Committee appointed by the General Assem- 
 bly of 1829, to consider and report to the Assembly 
 of 1830, on the manner in which ministers and licen- 
 tiates are to be received into any of our Presbyteries 
 from ecclesiastical bodies in the United States, which 
 correspond with this General Assembly, made the fol- 
 lowing 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 cor- 
 responding ecclesiastical body, should be required 
 to answer in the affirmative, the constitutional 
 questions, directed by Chapter xiv. of our Form of 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 211 
 
 Government, to be put to our own candidates be- 
 fore they are licensed : and that in like manner every 
 ordained minister of the gospel, 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 Chapter 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 Com- 
 mittee, 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 ecclesias- 
 tical connection." — Minutes^ 1830, p. 12. 
 
 The right of Presbyteries to examine api^licants, 
 
 '^ Hesolvecl, That in the judgment of this Gene- 
 ral 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 doubts of 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 beinor satisfied in re^^^ard to their suit- 
 able character, as may be judged proper; and if such 
 satisfaction be not obtained, to decline receiving them. 
 In such case, it shall be the duty of the Presbytery 
 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 Pres- 
 
212 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 bytery is in this concern as in all others, respon- 
 sible for its acts to the higher judicatories." — Min- 
 utes, 1835, p. 2T. 
 
 The duty of Presbyteries to examine all applying for 
 
 admission rendered imperative. 
 
 " The report of the Committee on the right of Pres- 
 byteries 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.) This Assembly now render it imperative 
 on Presbyteries, to examine all who make application 
 for admission into their bodies, at least on experimen- 
 tal religion, didactic and polemic theology, and church 
 government."— iifmttfes, 1837, p. 429. 
 
 Where a Synod directed a Presbytery to receive a 
 3Iinister. 
 
 ^^ Resolved, That the appeal of the Presbytery of 
 Abingdon, from the decision of the Synod of Vir- 
 ginia in the case of the Rev. Robert Glenn be dis- 
 missed, on the ground that the substantial cause of 
 appeal has been removed by the act of that Presby- 
 tery in their receiving Mr. Glenn, in conformity with 
 the decision of the Synod. The appeal was accord- 
 ingly dismissed." — Minutes, 1822, p. 27. 
 
 Where a Presbytery has received a minister, the ac- 
 tion is valid and final; the Synod 7nay censure 
 their action but not reverse it, nor direct a reconsider- 
 ation of it. 
 
 The Assembly doubt " 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. * * * * ^j^g ijj(ji_ 
 vidual became a member in full standing, nor could 
 the Presbytery, though it should reconsider, reverse 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 213 
 
 its own decision or in any way sever the member so 
 admitted from tlieir body, except by a regular pro- 
 cess." — 3IinuteSy 1816, p. Gil. 
 
 " The Committee to whom was referred the com- 
 plaints of the minority of the Synod of Illinois and 
 and also of Rev. William J. Frazer against the de- 
 cisions of the Synod of Illinois in 1836, 1837; by 
 which they censure the Presbytery of Kaskaskia for 
 receiving the said "William J. Frazer to membership, 
 and refused him a seat in the Synod, made a report 
 recommending that the papers be read and that the 
 following resolutions be adopted, viz. 
 
 1. Resolved, That the complaint be sustained, and 
 the act of the Synod in refusing a seat to Mr. Frazer 
 be reversed. 
 
 2. That the Rev. W. J. Frazer is a member in 
 good and regular standing of the Presbytery of Kas- 
 kaskia." 
 
 The report was accepted and adopted. — 3ImuteSy 
 1838, p. 22. 
 
 Ministers. — Of demitting their office. — Struck from 
 the Boll for incompetency. 
 
 " There being from time to time complaints of the 
 weakness and deficiency of Mr. Robert Laing, render- 
 ing his exercises of the ministerial function a detri- 
 ment 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 approbation of at least 
 three ministers of the Presbytery wherein he may 
 reside ; the said Mr. Laing did quietly and humbly 
 acquiesce in the aforesaid advice." — Records, 1726, 
 p. 82. 
 
 Struck from the Roll for neglect of his office. 
 
 " Inasmuch as Mr. Stevenson has from time to 
 time, and for years past, neglected attending on our 
 judicatures, and also omitted his ministry without 
 giving us any reasons for his said conduct, it is there- 
 
214 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 fore agreed that his name shall be struck out of our 
 records till he come before us and give an account of 
 his proceedings." — Records^ 1741, p. 154. 
 
 A minister not to he struck from the Roll because of 
 physical inability to attend to the duties of his min- 
 istry. 
 
 "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 exer- 
 cising 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 meetings or dis- 
 charging any of the great duties of his ministry, and 
 therefore submits to them the propriety of their con- 
 tinuing and considering him 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 should 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 there- 
 fore direct the Presbytery to insert his name in their 
 xoW— Records, 1783, p. 497. 
 
 [The Presbytery of New York report,] "that they 
 had omitted in their records, agreeably to a direction 
 of the Synod, the name of the Rev. William Wood- 
 hull, at his request, October 11, 1797." — Miiiutes, 
 1798, p. 136. [No action of Assembly on this.] 
 
 A similar case to the preceding. 
 
 [The Presbytery of New Castle reported] " that in 
 consequence of Mr. Joseph Montgomery's having 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. . 215 
 
 informed them that through bodily indisposition, he 
 was incapable of officiating in the ministry, and hav- 
 ing 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 Pres- 
 bytery of New Castle, in striking the name of Mr. 
 Montgomery off their roll for the reasons given in the 
 report, neither of which, nor both together, seem to be 
 sufficient; and in future recommend to all Presbyte- 
 ries, 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 use- 
 fulness." — Records, 1785, pp. 507, 510. 
 
 [The Presbytery of New Castle reported] "that 
 they discontinued Mr. Joseph Montgomery in their 
 roll." — Records, 1786, p. 516. [There appears to 
 have been no action of the Synod on this seeming 
 disregard to their order as above given.] 
 
 May a man Jiold the office of an Associate Judge and 
 the office of the gospel Ministry at the same time, or 
 is it expedient for a Presbytery to continue a per- 
 son in the gospel Ministry in such circumstances? 
 
 " The Committee to whom were referred the commu- 
 nication 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, viz. 
 
 " With respect to the abstract question, whether 
 the tenure of a civil office be or be not incompatible 
 with that of the holy ministry ; the Assembly is 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. 
 
21G MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 With respect to the particular case referred to 
 their consideration, as Mr. Mercer, in his letter, ex- 
 pressly 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, 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 coun- 
 tenance a covetous, ambitious spirit, your committee 
 further beg leave to suggest the propriety of caution- 
 ing your clergy against worldly-mindedness ; of ex- 
 horting them not to aspire after places of emolument 
 or civil distinction ; of reminding them that the carev 
 of souls is their peculiar business, and that they who 
 serve at the altar ought, as far as possible, to avoid 
 temporal avocations." — llinutes, 1806, p. 363. 
 
 In cases of sus2:)ension of ministerial duties through 
 providential circumstances. 
 
 "By a report from the Presbytery of Lewes, it 
 appeared that a minister, heretofore a member of that 
 Presbytery, had been declared to be no longer a mem- 
 ber thereof; and, as the Assembly were informed, is 
 considered by them as divested of the ministerial 
 office, and this without deposition, suspension, or 
 censure. 
 
 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 providen- 
 tial circumstances, become incapable of exercising his 
 ministerial 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 inspect his conduct ; and while they treat him with 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 217 
 
 due tenderness and sympathy, they are to he careful 
 that he do not neglect his ministerial duties beyond 
 what his circumstances render unavoidable." — Min- 
 utes, 1802, p. 258. 
 
 Wliat is to he done in cases where ministers tvithdraia 
 from the exercise of their ministry ? 
 " When ministers have withdrawn, or may hereafter 
 withdraw, wholly or in part, from the work of the 
 ministry, it is enjoined 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 appro- 
 bation or disapprobation of the same." — Minutes^ 
 1834, p. 36. 
 
 In the case of ministers withdrawing to join other 
 
 denominations. 
 *" [In the case of the Rev. Edward Andrews, a mem- 
 ber of Chenango Presbytery,] "who has recently 
 withdrawn, and received Episcopal ordination." 
 
 " The Committee on the reference from 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 is recommended to the Presbytery to do nothing 
 further than simply to strike his name from the list 
 of their members."— Jfmi^^es, 1828, p. 237. 
 
 When ministers, without giving notice to the Preshy- 
 tery, ajjply to another denomination, and their re- 
 quest to he received as ministers is refused, the 
 Presbytery is still to consider them as memhers of 
 their body. 
 
 [The Synod of New Jersey referred to the Assem- 
 bly the case of the Rev. Garner A. Hunt, a member 
 of Newton Presbytery, who, without the knowledge 
 or consent of Presbytery, made application to the 
 German Lutheran Synod, to be received as a member 
 of that body, and his application was rejected.] 
 '•'llesolved. That the Rev. Garner A. Hunt be con- 
 19 
 
218 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 sidered as still a member of Newton Presbytery, and 
 amenable to that hodj."—3Imutes, 1828, p. 227. 
 
 A similar case. 
 
 " The Committee on Overture No. 2, viz. a reference 
 for advice from the Presbytery of St. Lawrence, re- 
 ported 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 judicatories, 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 
 its members; 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 still under the care of Presbytery, 
 unless they give evidence that they also have been 
 withdrawn, in which case, their name ought also to be 
 struck from the list of congregations belonging to the 
 Vresh jtGYjr—lIinutes, 1830, p. 30. 
 
 When they desire to return, they must apply to the 
 Presbytery from which they withdrew, 
 
 "Mr. David Austin, who had been formerly a mem- 
 ber of the Presbytery of New York, and had with- 
 drawn 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, withdrew ; when the Assembly, after ma- 
 turely 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 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 219' 
 
 Presbytery of New York, against wliom he makes no 
 complaint, and to -vvhom of course lie 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 judi- 
 cature of this Ch\iYc\i."—3Imutes, 1802, p. 238. 
 
 Of Foreign Ministers. — \_The original Rule.'] 
 
 " That seeing we are likely to have the most of our 
 supply of ministers to fill our vacancies from the north 
 of Ireland, and seeing it is too evident to be denied 
 and called in question, that we are in great danger of 
 being imposed on by ministers and preachers from 
 thence, though sufficiently furnished with all formali- 
 ties of Presbyterial credentials, as in the case of Mr. 
 Hemphill ; and seeing also what was done last year, 
 may be done this year and the year following, viz. 
 we are still liable to be imposed upon by such creden- 
 tials ; upon these and the like considerations, we 
 humbly overture to this reverend Synod, to make an 
 order to the following purpose : 
 
 1st. That no minister or probationer coming in 
 among us from Europe be allowed to preach in vacant 
 congregations until first his credentials and recom- 
 mendations be seen and approven by the Presbytery 
 to which such congregation doth most properly belong, 
 and until he preach with approbation before said 
 Presbytery, and subscribe or adopt the Westminster 
 Confession of Faith and Catechisms, before said Pres- 
 bytery, in manner and form as they have done ; and 
 that no minister employ such to preach in his pulpit 
 until he see his credentials and be satisfied, as far as 
 may be, of his firm attachment to said Confession, &c., 
 in opposition to the new upstart doctrines and schemes, 
 particularly such as we condemned in Mr. Hemphill's 
 sermons. And lest some strangers'^" might suffer by 
 
 * " At the same time it was agreed that it should be put upon record 
 that the word 'strangers' should not Iw extended to any persons from 
 any part of the continent of America." — Rccwds, 1773, p. 446. 
 
220 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 the rigorous observation of this order, let it be thus 
 qualified: viz. that the Moderator and two of the 
 members of each Presbytery be appointed a Standing 
 Committee to act Presbyterially in that affair as there 
 may be occasion, and to be accountable to their respec- 
 tive Presbyteries. 
 
 2d. That no congregation be allowed to present a 
 call to any such minister or probationer coming in 
 among us, though never so well certified, until he have 
 preached at least one full half year within the bounds 
 of this ^ynodir— Records, 1736, p. 116. 
 
 The Rule of the Synod of New York and Phila- 
 delphia, 
 
 " The Committee appointed yesterday to prepare an 
 overture of an act or regulation respecting the admis- 
 sion of ministers and candidates from foreign parts, 
 brought in a draught, which being read a first and 
 second time was unanimously approved, and is as 
 follows, viz. 
 
 Whereas, it is of the highest importance to the in- 
 terests of the Redeemer's kingdom, that the greatest 
 care be observed by church judicatures to maintain 
 orthodoxy in doctrine and purity in practice in all 
 their members; this Synod, in addition to the agree- 
 ment upon this head of the year 1764, and further 
 explained in the year 1765, do most earnestly recom- 
 mend it to all their Presbyteries to be very strict and 
 careful respecting these matters, especially in examin- 
 ing the certificates and testimonials of ministers or 
 probationers who come from foreign churches ; and 
 that they be very cautious about receiving them 
 unless the authenticity of these testimonials and cer- 
 tificates be supported by private letters or other cre- 
 dible and sufficient evidence; and in order more 
 efi'ectually to preserve this Synod, our Presbyteries 
 and congregations from imposition and abuse, every 
 year, when any Presbytery may report that they have 
 received any ministers or probationers from foreign 
 churches, that Presbytery shall lay before the Synod 
 the testimonials and all other certificates on which 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 221" 
 
 they received such ministers or probationers, for the 
 satisfaction of the Synod, before such foreign minis- 
 ters or probationers shall be enrolled as members of 
 our body ; and if the Synod shall find the testimo- 
 nials false or insufficient, the whole proceedings had 
 by the Presbytery in the admission, shall be held to 
 be void; and the Presbytery shall not from that time 
 receive or acknowledge him as a member of this body, 
 or in ministerial communion with us. 
 
 On the other hand, whensoever any gentlemen from 
 abroad shall come duly recommended as above, we 
 will gladly receive them as brethren, and give them 
 every encouragement in our power." — Hecorch, 1774, 
 p. 455. 
 
 The present Rule. 
 
 The draught of certain regulations respecting the 
 admission of foreign 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. 
 
 When any minister or licentiate from Europe shall 
 come into this country, and desire to become con- 
 nected with the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States, he may apply to any Committee appointed to 
 direct the services of travelling ministers and candi- 
 dates ; which committee shall inspect his credentials, 
 and by examination or otherwise, endeavour to ascer- 
 tain his soundness in the faith and his experimental 
 acquaintance with religion ; his attainments in divinity 
 and literature ; his moral and religious character, and 
 approbation of our public standards of doctrine and dis- 
 cipline. If the result shall be such as to encourage fur- 
 ther trial, said committer, may give him appointments 
 to supply and recommend him to the churches till 
 the next meeting of the Presbytery to which such com- 
 mittee belongs. It shall then become the duty of 
 such minister or licentiate to apply to that Presby- 
 tery or to any other, in whose bounds he may incline 
 to labour; provided always that he make his applica- 
 19* 
 
222 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 tion to the Presbytery at their first meeting after his 
 coming within their bounds; and also that immedi- 
 ately 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 Presbytery 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 satify 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 satis- 
 faction 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 encour- 
 agement and who promises usefulness in the Church, 
 they shall receive him as a minister or a candidate on 
 probation, he first adopting our standards of doctrine 
 and discipline, and promising subjection to the Pres- 
 bytery in the Lord. During this state of probation 
 he may preach the gospel where regularly called, 
 either as astated or occasional supply; and if an 
 ordained minister, perform every part of the ministe- 
 rial functions, except that he may not vote in any 
 judicatory, or accept a call for settlement. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 223 
 
 If the foreigner who shall apply to any Presbytery 
 or committee as aforesaid, be an ordained minister, 
 such committee and Presbytery may, at their discre- 
 tion, dispense Tvith the special examination on litera- 
 ture in this Act prescribed, provided he shall exhibit 
 satisfactory evidence that he has received such edu- 
 cation, and made such progress in languages, arts, 
 and sciences, as are required by the constitution of 
 our Church, as qualifications for the gospel ministry. 
 But in all other respects, the examination shall be the 
 same as in the case of a licentiate. 
 
 If from prospects of settlement, or greater useful- 
 ness, a minister or licentiate under probation in any 
 Presbytery, shall wish to move into the bounds of ano- 
 ther, he shall receive a dismission containing a certi- 
 ficate of his standing and character, from the Pres- 
 bytery 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 respect- 
 ing 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 expedient,) and taking into considera- 
 tion, 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 conver- 
 sation, and from the combined evidence of the whole, 
 determine either to receive or to reject him, or to hold 
 him under further probation. In case of receiving 
 him at that, or any subse([ucnt period, the Presbytery 
 shall report the same to their Synod at its next meet- 
 inor, ton;ether with all the certificates and other testi- 
 mony on which they received them ; or if it shall be more 
 convenient, this report may be made to the General 
 Assembly. The said Assembly or Synod, as the case 
 
224 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 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 Presbytery, in order to a more regular and perfect 
 process. But if the proceedings 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 credi- 
 bility and sufficiency, come to a final judgment, 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 or- 
 dained that if the proper Synod or the General As- 
 sembly are not to meet within three months, after 
 that meeting of a Presbytery at which a foreign min- 
 ister on probation is expected to be received, the 
 Presbytery may, if they see cause, lay his testimonials 
 before that meeting of the Assembly or Synod, which 
 shall be held next before said meeting of the Presby- 
 tery. 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 min- 
 ister 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 
 General Assembly, giving notice thereof to the Pres- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 225 
 
 bytery during the meeting at which the sentence was 
 pronounced, or at the meeting next following. 
 
 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 As- 
 sembly are to regard them accordingly." — Minutes, 
 1800, p. 200. 
 
 It is not enough that the credentials he approved hj 
 the members present, zohen a Synod failed to meet 
 for 2vant of a quorum, 
 
 "It was determined not to receive Mr. Elliot on 
 the recommendation of the ministers assembled at 
 Yorktown, in October last, until he has laid his testi- 
 monials before the Synod of Philadelphia, or the 
 General Assembly, according to the rules for receiv- 
 ing foreign ministers into our connection." — 3IinuteSy 
 1796, p. 110. 
 
 It is irregular for a Synod to countenance a Presby- 
 tery in receiving a foreign licentiate without hav- 
 ing laid their proceedings before a superior judi- 
 catory. 
 
 [The records of the Synod of Albany are approved] 
 "excepting the case of receiving a foreign licen- 
 tiate, by the Presbytery of St. Lawrence, without 
 laying their proceedings in the case before the Synod, 
 or General Assembly." — Minutes, 1822, p. 10. 
 
 The whole period of p)rohation must be spent in one 
 Presbytery. 
 
 "Overture No. 4 was taken up, viz. 
 
 An application from the Presbytery of ^Yatertown, 
 for leave to receive Mr. William Lockhead, a foreign 
 licentiate, who, after being under the care of the Presby- 
 tery 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 Feb- 
 
226 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 ruary 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 he spent on trials 
 in the 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 not dispensed 
 with."— ilfmw^es, 1830, p. 24. 
 
 A decision contrary to the former, 
 ** The Committee appointed on Overture No. 14, 
 from the Presbytery 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 was 
 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 re- 
 commend that the request of the Presbytery of Eliza- 
 bethtown be granted. This report was accepted and 
 adopted. — Ifinutes, 1835, p. 12. 
 
 A minister once having passed his period of probation 
 and been received, becomes a foreign minister, sub- 
 ject to the same rules of probation, by a subsequent 
 residence and settlement in a foreign country, 
 
 '•'' Overture No. 13. An application from the Pres- 
 bytery of Philadelphia for advice and direction in the 
 case of Rev. James T. Irvine. The facts of the case 
 are these: 
 
 In the year 1825, Mr. Irvine was received as a 
 foreign licentiate on probation by the Presbytery of 
 Philadelphia ; after the term of probation had expired, 
 he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Huntingdon, 
 and by that Presbytery ordained and installed in one 
 of their churches. In the year 1834, he returned to 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 227 
 
 Ireland, where he became tKe pastor of a church, and 
 remained until the present year. 
 
 The question to which the Presbytery wish an 
 answer from the General Assembly is, 
 
 Does Mr. Irvine come under the denomination of 
 a foreign minister, and is he subject to the rules in 
 such cases provided? And if he be liable to the 
 usual probation, may his probation be considered as 
 commencing from the time in which he has made his 
 present application to Presbytery ? viz. from the 4th 
 of April, 1848? 
 
 The Committee recommend that both questions be 
 answered in the affirmative. 
 
 The recommendation was adopted." — 3Iinutes, 
 1848, p. 22. 
 
 A minister retiring from the Presbyterian ministry 
 in Ireland, from conscientious scruples, noiv tvishes 
 to return to the Presbyterian ministry. 
 
 " Overture No. 7. A reference from the Presbytery 
 of St. Clairsville, of the case of the Rev. Samuel 
 Boyd, who having retired in good standing from the 
 Presbyterian ministry in Ireland in 1842, on account 
 of a change in his views of Infant Baptism, now seeks 
 a restoration to the exercise of the ministry among 
 us, inasmuch as he adopts again, with full conviction, 
 the whole Confession of our Faith. 
 
 The Committee recommended that the Presbytery 
 of St. Clairsville be instructed to proceed according 
 to the rule relating to foreign ministers, the proba- 
 tion of one year commencing at the time of their next 
 stated meeting. The recommendation was adopted." 
 —Minutes, 1849, p. 239. 
 
 " Overture No. 33. An Overture from the mem- 
 bers of the Presbytery of Michigan, asking if 
 
 The rule of the General Assembly in relation to foreign 
 ministers coming from Europe, should apply to 
 ministers coming from Canada ? 
 
 The Committee recommended that the Assembly 
 
228 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 answer in the affirmative, excepting only when siTch 
 ministers have been ordained in the United States, 
 and by any Presbytery of our communion. The 
 recommendation was adopted." — Minutes^ 1849, p. 
 256. 
 
 Intercourse ivitJi bodies not in correspondence ivith us. 
 Case of a Metliodist minister. 
 
 [The Presbytery of Baltimore asked for direction, 
 having received a request from the Presbyterian 
 Church in the Island of Bermuda, for the settlement 
 of Mr. Enoch Mattson, an elder, formerly connected 
 with the Methodist Church, and now willing to sub- 
 scribe the doctrine, discipline, and government of the 
 Presbyterian Church.] 
 
 "The Assembly recommend to the Presbytery of 
 Baltimore, to proceed in receiving Mr. Mattson 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. 
 
 Another and similar case, 
 
 " The following question from the Commissioners of 
 Hudson Presbytery was brought in through the Com- 
 mittee 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 standards, 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 Presby- 
 tery in a similar situation, to proceed as though no 
 ordination had taken place." — Minutes, 1800, p. 199. 
 
 A modification of the foregoing action in relation to 
 the reception of Methodist ministers. 
 
 " The Committee of Overtures brought in the follow- 
 ing resolution, which having been read and amended, 
 was adopted, and is as follows, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That in the opinion of this Assembly, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 229 
 
 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 
 Methodist Episcopal Church, and desiring to connect 
 themselves with the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America, however expedient at the 
 time of its formation, ought not to be considered as a 
 precedent to guide the future decisions of the judica- 
 tories 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 denomination, be careful to record the circum- 
 stances of the case and the reasons which induced 
 them to receive such ordained minister." — Minutes^ 
 1810, p. 441. 
 
 Are ministers from the Baiotist denomination apply- 
 ing for admission to he re-ordained f 
 
 " 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 re- 
 sumed, 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 exercise any apparent liberality, in- 
 20 
 
230 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 consistent 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 Baptist or any other Protestant deno- 
 mination, to be connected with the Presbyterian 
 Church, the Presbytery to which the applications are 
 made shall require all the qualifications, both in regard 
 to piety and learning, which are required of candi- 
 dates for licensure or ordination of those who have 
 originally belonged to the Presbyterian Church ; and 
 shall require the applicants from other denomina- 
 tions to continue their study and preparation till 
 they are found on trial and examination to be quali- 
 fied in learning and ability to teach in the manner 
 required by our standards; but that when found thus 
 to be qualified, it shall not be necessary to reordain 
 the said applicants, but only to install them when 
 they are called to settle in Presbyterian congrega- 
 tions."— ifmw^e.^, 1821, pp. 15, 16. 
 
 Intercourse with corresponding bodies, 
 
 "An overture was brought in, to endeavour to ob- 
 tain some correspondence between this Synod and 
 the Consociated Churches in Connecticut. A copy of 
 a letter from this Synod to them was also read and 
 approved, and the Rev. Messrs. John Ewing, Patrick 
 Alison and the Moderator [Mr. Spencer] are desired to 
 present this letter, and confer with our brethren on 
 this aifair. And in case it shall seem meet to our 
 Reverend brethren to attend to this our proposal, so 
 far as to appoint commissioners from their body to 
 meet with commissioners from ours, we appoint the 
 Rev. Dr. Alison, and the Rev. Messrs. Timothy 
 Jones, William Tennent, John Rodgers, Elisha Kent, 
 John Smith, John Blair, and Samuel Buel, to meet 
 with them at such time and place as the Rev. Breth- 
 ren of Connecticut shall agree,"— i^ecorc^s, 1766, P. 
 M. 363. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 231" 
 
 *' The mkiiites of a Convention held at Elizabeth- 
 town, Nov. 5, 1766, by delegates from the consociated 
 churches in Connecticut, and from this Synod were 
 read, and a plan of union proposed between the con- 
 gregational, consociated and Presbyterian churches, 
 formed at that Convention, was seriously considered 
 and amended;" [and delegates were appointed to 
 attend at New Haven, on the 10th of Septem- 
 ber, and] "there finally on the part of this body, 
 complete the plan of union, and transact all." — Re- 
 cords, 1767, p. 373. 
 
 [The plan was accepted, and the Convention met 
 alternately in New Jersey and Connecticut, till inter- 
 rupted by the war in 1776. In 1790, the Assembly 
 invited the ministers of the Congregational churches 
 of New England to renew their annual Convention 
 with us ; and it was agreed with the General Associa- 
 tion of Connecticut in 1792, that three delegates from 
 each body should annually sit in each other's general 
 meeting and deliberate, but not vote ; and that 
 standing committees be appointed to certify the cha- 
 racters of travelling preachers, to prevent injuries 
 from irregular and unauthorized persons. At the 
 suggestion of the Assembly in 1794, the right of 
 voting was conceded by both bodies to the delegates. 
 A similar plan of correspondence was agreed on in 
 1803, with the General Association of Vermont ; in 
 1810, with the General Association of New Hamp- 
 shire ; and in 1811, with the General Association of 
 Massachusetts; and in 1828, with the General Con- 
 ference of Maine. 
 
 The right of voting was given up in 1830. In 
 1827, it was agreed that ministers, licentiates, and 
 candidates should not be received by either body with- 
 out regular testimonials and dismission. This was 
 violated in 1837, by the Western Association of New 
 Haven in licensing a candidate of New York Presby- 
 tery. 
 
 In 1838, the General Association of Massachusetts 
 declared themselves unable to redress the grievance 
 
232 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 complained of by the 2d Philadelphia JPresbjtery ; 
 the Berkshire Association having suffered one of their 
 members to remain in a congregation under their 
 care, after the Presbytery had decided that they could 
 not admit him to their body. 
 
 A plan of correspondence with the Associate Re- 
 formed Church "was adopted in 1820 ; and by the 
 action of the General Assembly and the General 
 Synod of the Associate Reformed Church, the two 
 bodies were, in 1821, united. 
 
 In 1823, a plan of correspondence was proposed by 
 the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, 
 and adopted ; the right of voting was not conceded, 
 and it was' provided that the ministers of neither 
 body shall intrude on the office of ministers of the 
 other. 
 
 In 1824, correspondence was agreed on with the 
 German Reformed Church. 
 
 In 1828, the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch 
 Church complained to the General Assembly of the 
 Presbytery of Columbia, for having taken on trials 
 and licensed Mr. Leonard B. Van Dyke, a member of 
 a church under the care of Albany Classis; he having, 
 while a student in the Seminary of the General 
 Synod, been refused the usual certificate on account 
 of his doubts on certain standing articles of faith, and 
 having left the Seminary, though advised to remain 
 till his doubts were removed. The Assembly saw in 
 this no violation of the plan of correspondence, but in 
 compliance with the proposal of the General Synod, 
 the following article was mutually agreed on : 
 
 " That none of the inferior judicatories under the 
 care of the corresponding churches, shall be at liberty 
 to admit into their respective bodies, or under their 
 care, any student, or licentiate, from their sister 
 church, without a regular dismission from the ecclesi- 
 astical body or theological seminary to which he is 
 considered as attached,"] — MinuteSj 1830, p. 13, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 233" 
 
 Plan of Union. 
 
 "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 settlements, to endeavour, bj all proper 
 means, to promote mutual forbearance, and a spirit 
 of accommodation between those inhabitants of the 
 new settlements who hold the Presbyterian, and those 
 who hold the Congregational form of church govern- 
 ment. 
 
 2. If in the new settlements any church of the Con- 
 gregational order shall settle a minister of the Pres- 
 byterian 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 pur- 
 pose. 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 consisting of an equal number of Presby- 
 terians and Congregationalists, agreed upon by both 
 parties. 
 
 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 Congregation- 
 alists and the other Presbyterians, mutually agreed 
 upon by the parties. 
 
 4. If any congregation consist partly of those who 
 hold the Congregational form of discipline, and partly 
 of those who hold the Presbyterian form, we recom- 
 
 *20 
 
284 MISCELLAKEOUS MATTEKS. 
 
 mend 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 com- 
 mittee 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 person condemned by their 
 judgment be a Presbyterian, he shall have liberty to 
 appeal to the Presbytery ; if he be a Congregation- 
 alist, 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 condemned 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 of the Presbyterian Church." — Min- 
 utes, 1801, p. 224. 
 
 Some results of the Plan of Union. — The case of D, 
 W. Lathrop. 
 
 '^ The Committee to which was referred the case of 
 Mr. Lathrop, reported, and their report being read, 
 was, without opposition, adopted, and is as follows, 
 viz. 
 
 Whereas, a conventional agreement was entered 
 into with the General Association of Connecticut, by 
 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in 
 the year 1801, for the purpose of preventing aliena= 
 tion 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 Congregation- 
 alists and in part of Presbyterians, the church may 
 choose a standing committee for the exercise of discip- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 235 ' 
 
 line ; and moreover, that the standing committee of 
 any church may depute one of their body to attend 
 the Presbytery, and that the person so deputed, may 
 have the same right to sit and act in Presbytery as 
 a ruling ekler of the Presbyterian Church ; and more- 
 over, as in the mixed state of Christian society, con- 
 templated in the agreement aforesaid. Presbyteries 
 have sometimes appointed members of standing com- 
 mittees so admitted into their body as commissioners 
 to represent them in General Assembly ; therefore. 
 
 Resolved^ In order to carry into efiect the friendly 
 object of the above agreement, that Daniel W. La- 
 throp, [a member of the Standing Committee of the 
 Church of Ellsworth,] be admitted as a member of 
 this Assembly. 
 
 Resolved^ That it be affectionately recommended to 
 the brethren who compose mixed societies of this kind, 
 as far as expediency will allow, to conform to the let- 
 ter of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church, in 
 making their appointments and organizing their con- 
 gregations." — Minutes, 1820, p. 724. 
 
 [In 1822, Mr. John Dorrance sat as an elder from 
 the Presbytery of Susquehanna ; in 1823, Mr. Joseph 
 H. Jones; in 1824, Mr. Zebulon Butler; all private 
 church members.] 
 
 The case of Josiali Bissell. 
 
 " Mr. Josiah Bissell, from the Presbytery of Roches- 
 ter, appeared in the Assembly, and produced a com- 
 mission as an elder from that Presbytery. A mem- 
 ber of that Presbytery informed the Assembly that 
 Mr. Bissell had not been set apart as an elder ; but 
 that he was appointed, as was supposed by the Pres- 
 bytery, in conformity with the conventional agree- 
 ment between the General Assembly and the General 
 Association of Connecticut. After considerable dis- 
 cussion, it was 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. Bissell be admitted as a mem- 
 ber of the Assembly." 
 
 The Moderator, Dr. McAuley, and forty-one others, 
 
236 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 
 
 protested, alleging that "he was not even a committee- 
 man, on which ground some might, in existing cir- 
 cumstances, have been disposed to advocate his admis- 
 sion as a member." In the answer it is said he was 
 regularly commissioned. "It would be a dangerous 
 precedent, and would lead to the destruction of all order 
 in the Church of Christ, to permit unauthorized ver- 
 bal testimony to set aside an authenticated written 
 document." " Every Presbytery has a right to judge 
 of the qualifications of its own members, and is amena- 
 ble to Synod, and not to the Assembly, except by 
 way of appeal, reference, or complaint." — Minutes, 
 1826, p. 6, 23, 28. 
 
 The case of Clement Tuttle. 
 
 [The Committee of Elections reported] — " With re- 
 spect 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 denominated 'standing committee' in the 
 commission; and after considerable discussion, it was 
 
 Resolved, That the member be received and en- 
 rolled among the list of members." — Minutes 1831, 
 p. 158. 
 
 The inexjpediency of admitting Committee-men to the 
 Assembly, decided. 
 
 "The report of the Committee on Overture No. 12, 
 viz. 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 As- 
 sembly, the appointment by some Presbyteries, as 
 has occurred in a few cases, of members of standing 
 committees to be members of General Assembly, is 
 inexpedient and of questionable constitutionality, and, 
 therefore, ought not in future to be made." — Min- 
 utes, 1831, p. 190. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 237 " 
 
 Such Committee-men refused. 
 
 [In 1832, two persons presented commissions as 
 standing committee-men from Grand River Presby- 
 tery, and withdrew them on the third day.] 
 
 [In 1833, the Assembly refused to rigfer the case 
 of Mr. Erastus Upson, a standing committee-man, 
 from Oswego Presbytery, to the Committee on Elec- 
 tions, and gave him leave to withdraw his applica- 
 tion.] 
 
 Abrogation of the Plan of Union. 
 
 "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 fol- 
 lows, viz. 
 
 In regard to the relation existing between the 
 Presbyterian and Congregational Churches, the com- 
 mittee recommend the adoption of the following reso- 
 lutions : 
 
 1. That between these two branches of the Ameri- 
 can Church, there ought, in the judgment of this As- 
 sembly, to be maintained sentiments of mutual respect 
 and esteem, and for that purpose no reasonable efforts 
 should be omitted to preserve a perfectly good under- 
 standing 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 Con- 
 gregational Churches of New England, as it now 
 exists. 
 
 3. But as the 'Plan of Union' adopted for the new 
 settlements, in 1801, was originally an unconstitu- 
 tional act on the part of that Assembly — these im- 
 portant standing rules having never been submitted 
 to the Presbyteries — and as they were totally desti- 
 tute of authority as proceeding from the General 
 Association of Connecticut, which is invested with no 
 power to legislate in such cases, and especially to 
 
238 OF ERROES IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 enact laws to regulate churclies not within her limits; 
 and as much confusion and irregularity have arisen 
 from this unnatural and unconstitutional system of 
 union, therefore, it is 
 
 Resolved^ That the Act of the Assembly of 1801, 
 entitled a 'Plan of Union,' be, and the same is hereby 
 abrogated."— il/mw^es, 1837, pp. 419, 421. 
 
 OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter XII., Section V.] 
 
 To the General Assembly also belongs the power of 
 deciding in all controversies of doctrine and discipline ; 
 of reproving, warning, and bearing testimony against 
 error in doctrine, or immorality in practice, in any 
 church. Presbytery, or Synod. 
 
 Jn reference to the Creed published by the Rev. Heze- 
 kiah Balch, of Tennessee. 
 
 The Assembly having considered certain references 
 and inquiries relative to the publication and the im- 
 port of a creed by the Rev. Hezekiah Balch, remark 
 
 On the first Article of the creed, 
 
 " That Mr. Balch is erroneous in making disinterested 
 benevolence the only definition of holiness, or true 
 religion ; because this may perplex the minds of those 
 not accustomed to abstract speculations, is question- 
 able in itself, and may convey the idea that an abso- 
 lute God, or a God out of Christ, is the object of the 
 highest affection to the renewed mind." 
 
 On the second Article, they remark, 
 
 " That he has confounded self-love with selfishness in 
 an abstract speculation, calculated to puzzle plain 
 Christians, and lead to unprofitable disputes." 
 
 On the third Article, they remark, 
 
 " That the transferring of personal sin, or righteous- 
 ness, has never been held by Calvinistic divines, nor 
 by any person in our Church, so far as is known to 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 239 
 
 US, and therefore that Mr. Balch's observations on that 
 subject appear to be either nugatory or calculated to 
 mislead. With regard to his doctrine of original sin, 
 it is to be observed that he is erroneous in represent- 
 ing 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 descendants, and the 
 whole doctrine of the covenant of works. 
 
 It is also manifest that Mr. Balch is greatly erro- 
 neous in asserting that the formal cause of a believ- 
 er's justification, is the imputation of the fruits and 
 effects of Christ's righteousness, and not that right- 
 eousness 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. 
 
 On the fourth Article no remark is necessary. 
 
 On the fifth, 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 intro- 
 duction 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 insinuate anything dis- 
 respectful 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. 
 
240 OP ERKORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 " On tlie sixth and seventli Articles, no remarks seem 
 to be necessary, except that the offence given by the 
 reflection cast on his brethren, the Presbyterians, in 
 the seventh, has been sufficiently removed by his can- 
 did acknowledgment before the Synod and General 
 Assembly." 
 
 *' The eighth, ninth, and tenth Articles require no 
 remark, except that they appear to be unimportant." 
 
 On the twelfth Article, they remark, 
 
 " 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 distinc- 
 tion may be made between regeneration and conver- 
 sion, yet the terms in which the article is expressed 
 are exceptionable, as they seem to discourage the use 
 of the means of grace." 
 
 On the thirteenth Article, they remark, 
 
 "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 dis- 
 coursing from Psalm li. 5, and Isa. xlviii. 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 positive 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 required 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 admon- 
 ish him of the divisions, disorder, trouble and incon- 
 venience which he has occasioned to the Church and 
 its judicatories, by his imprudent and unwarrantable 
 conduct, and warn him against doing anything in time 
 
OP ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 241 
 
 to como that may tend to produce such serious and 
 lamentable evils. 
 
 That if Mr. Balch submit to this, he be considered 
 as in good standing with the Church, and that 
 the reference and the queries of the Synod of the 
 Carolinas be considered as fully answered by the 
 adoption of these measures." 
 
 Time for consideration was granted to Mr. Balch. 
 
 The following afternoon, May 29, Mr. Balch ap- 
 peared before the General Assembly and made the 
 following declaration, viz. 
 
 " ' I do fully acknowledge that I was wrong in pub- 
 lishing my creed. I do solemnly declare, however, 
 as in the presence of my final Judge, that I never did 
 entertain the ideas, nor intend to teach the doctrines 
 which are pointed out as errors in the statement of 
 the Assembly ; but as I cannot so well judge as the 
 Assembly what ideas my language actually conveys, 
 and the Assembly declares that my language has con- 
 veyed these ideas and doctrines to their minds, I do 
 fully and cheerfully renounce them as wrong and im- 
 proper ; and I do solemnly and sincerely engage, in a 
 reliance on divine grace, never hereafter to teach or 
 preach what the Assembly have stated as erroneous; 
 and I do finally and cheerfully submit myself to the 
 admonition which the Assembly may see meet to give 
 for my irregularities, which I acknowledge to deserve 
 censure, and for which I am sincerely sorry.' 
 
 Whereupon the Moderator, [Dr. John B. Smith,] 
 gave to Mr. Balch the solemn admonition agreed to ; 
 and then the Assembly declared themselves fully satis- 
 fied in the case of Mr. Balch, and that he is, and 
 ought to be considered as in good standing with the 
 Church. 
 
 The whole transaction was concluded with prayer." 
 — Minutes, 1T98, pp. 155-158. 
 
 In reference to the Gospel Plan of the Rev. William 
 Q. Davis. 
 "The overture from the Synod of the Carolinas 
 •which had been laid on the table, referring to the 
 21 
 
242 OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 Assembly an overture laid before that Synod, request- 
 ing their attention to a late publication of the Rev. 
 W. C. Davis, denominated the Gospel Plan; Messrs. 
 Robert G. Wilson, Calhoun, and Anderson were 
 appointed 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 Pres- 
 byterian Church. 
 
 The report of the Committee was adopted, viz. 
 
 " The Committee presuming that a complete and per- 
 fect enumeration of all the objectionable parts of said 
 book is not expected, called the attention of the As- 
 sembly only to the following doctrines, supposed to be 
 contrary to the Confession of Eaith of the Presbyte- 
 rian 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 consider these doctrines as contrary to 
 the Confession of our Church. 
 
 Doctrine III. God himself is as firmly bound in 
 duty (not obedience) 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 promises, pp. 168-171. 
 
 These pages were read, 
 
 Resolved^ That without deciding on the question 
 whether these sentiments are contrary to our Confes- 
 sion of Faith, the Assembly consider the mode in 
 which they are expressed as unhappy, and calculated 
 to mislead the reader. 
 
 Doctrine IV. God could not make Adam or any 
 
OP ERHORS IN DOCTRINE. 243 
 
 Other creature either holy or unholy. Compare page 
 194 with 166. 
 
 Doctrine V. Regeneration must be a conserjuence 
 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 expres- 
 sions very unguarded; 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 princi- 
 pal parts of salvation in a sinner's heart to enable him 
 to believe, the gospel plan 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 doctrine as 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 dif- 
 ferent 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. 
 
244 OP ERROES IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 In several other instances, there are doctrines 
 asserted and advocated, as has been ah-eadj de- 
 cided, 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 publishing of themj ought to subject the person or 
 persons so doing to be dealt with by their respective 
 Presbyteries, according to the discipline of the Church 
 relative to the propagation of errors." — Minutes, 
 1810, pp. 448, 452. 
 
 A petition from the Presbytery of South Carolina 
 requesting a reconsideration of a decision of last 
 Assembly, relative to the appeal of the Rev. W. C. 
 Davis, was read: whereupon, 
 
 ^'Resolved, That though the General Assembly re- 
 gret the dissatisfaction of the Presbytery of South Ca- 
 rolina in the case of Mr. Davis, yet they cannot see it 
 to be expedient or proper to reconsider the judgment 
 of the General Assembly of last year on the case ia 
 question." — Mmutes, 1811, p. 468. 
 
 In the case of the Rev. Albert Barnes. 
 
 [The Assembly took up the complaint of the mi- 
 nority of Philadelphia Presbytery: after prayer for 
 direction, the whole proceedings of the Presbytery 
 were read, and the sermon, entitled the Way of Sal- 
 vation, which led to the proceedings. The parties 
 submitted the case without argument, and it was 
 referred to Dr. Miller, Dr. Matthews, Dr. Lansing, 
 Dr. Pisk, Dr. Spring, Dr. John McDowell, Mr. Ba- 
 con, Mr. Ross, Mr. Elipha White, and the Elders, 
 Mr. Jessup and Mr. Napier.] 
 
 Their report was adopted as follows : 
 
 " That after bestowing on the case the most deliber- 
 ate and serious consideration, the committee are of 
 opinion that it is neither necessary nor for edification, 
 to go into the discussion of all the various and minute 
 details which are comprehended in the documents 
 relating to this case. For the purpose, however, of 
 
OF EimOrtS IN DOCTRINE. 245 
 
 bringing the matter in controversy, as far as possible, 
 to a regular and satisfactory issue, they would re- 
 commend to the Assembly the adoption of the follow- 
 ing resolutions : 
 
 1. Resolved^ That the General Assembly, while it 
 appreciates the conscientious zeal for the purity of the 
 Church, by which the Presbytery of Philadelphia is 
 believed to have been actuated in its proceedings in 
 the case of Mr. Barnes; and while it judges that the 
 sermon by Mr. Barnes, entitled the Way of Salvation, 
 contains a number of unguarded and objectionable pas- 
 sages ; yet it is of the opinion that, especially after the 
 explanations which were given by him of those passages, 
 the Presbytery ought to have suffered the whole to 
 pass without further notice. 
 
 2. Resolved^ That in the judgment of this Assem- 
 bly, the Presbytery of Philadelphia ought to suspend 
 all further proceedings in the case of Mr. Barnes. 
 
 3. Resolved^ That it will be expedient, as soon as 
 the regular steps can be taken, to divide the Presby- 
 tery in such way as will be best calculated to promote 
 the peace of the ministers and churches belonging to 
 the Presbytery. 
 
 With respect to the abstract points proposed to the 
 Assembly for their decision, in the reference of the 
 Presbytery, the committee are of the opinion that if 
 they be answered, they had better be discussed and 
 decided in thesi, separate from the case of Mr. Barnes." 
 —Minutes, 1831, pp. 176, 180. 
 
 [On the 6th of June, 1836, the Assembly, by a vote 
 of 134 to 96, sustained the appeal of the Rev. Albert 
 Barnes from the decision of the Synod of Philadel- 
 phia, suspending him from the work of the gospel 
 ministry for erroneous opinions published in his Notes 
 on the Romans.] 
 
 The following resolution, offered by Dr. Miller was 
 rejected by a vote of 109 to 122. 
 
 " 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 
 21* 
 
^46 OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 Synod of Philadelpliia ; yet tlie judgment of the 
 Assembly is, that Mr. Barnes, in his notes on the 
 Epistle to the Romans, has published opinions, ma- 
 terially at variance with the Confession of Faith of 
 the Presbyterian Church, and with the word of God ; 
 especially with regard to original sin, the relation of 
 man to Adam, and justification by faith, in the aton- 
 ing 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 state- 
 ments 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 pre- 
 sent amended form, as containing representations 
 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 bre- 
 thren; and to be more careful in time to come, to 
 study the purity and peace of the Church." — Min- 
 utes, 1836, p. 270. 
 
 The following protests were read and entered on 
 the minutes : 
 
 "Whereas, the General Assembly of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church did, by their vote on the 7th inst., reject 
 a resolution disapproving some of the doctrinal state- 
 ments contained in Barnes' Notes on the Romans — 
 which resolution, especially under the peculiar cir- 
 cumstances of the case, the -undersigned considered 
 of high importance to the church with which we are 
 connected, to the cause of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 Christ, and to the just exhibition of his grace and 
 truth; we whose names are subscribed, feel con- 
 strained, in the name of the great Head of the Church, 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 247" 
 
 Bolemnly to protest against' said decision, for the fol- 
 lowing reasons; viz. 
 
 1. Because we believe that the constitutional stan- 
 dards of the Church, in their plain and obvious mean- 
 ing, and in the sense in which they have always been 
 received, are the rule of judgment by which all doc- 
 trinal controversies are to be decided. That it is the 
 duty of the Church to maintain inviolate her doctrine 
 and order, agreeably to those standards; to bear her 
 decided testimony against all deviations from them, 
 and not to countenance them, even by implication. 
 Yet in the above decision, there was, as we believe, a 
 departure from our constitutional rule, a refusal to 
 bear testimony against errors, with an implied appro- 
 bation of them, and a constructive denial that minis- 
 ters of the gospel in the Presbyterian Church are 
 under solemn obligations to conform in their doctrinal 
 sentiments to our Confession of Faith and Cate- 
 chisms. 
 
 2. Because the errors contemplated in the afoi-e- 
 said resolution, do not consist merely, nor chiefly, in 
 inaccurate or ambiguous expressions and mistaken 
 illustrations, but in sentiments and opinions, respect- 
 ing the great and important doctrines of the gospel, 
 which are utterly inconsistent with the statement of 
 those doctrines, made in the Confession of Faith, and 
 revealed in the word of God. We sincerely and 
 firmly believe that Mr. Barnes has denied, and that 
 in a sneering manner, that Adam was the covenant 
 head of the human race ; that all mankind sinned in 
 him as such, and were thus brought under the penalty 
 of transgression; that Christ suff'ered the penalty of 
 the law when he died for sin; and that the righteous- 
 ness of Christ is imputed to believers for justification. 
 These and similar doctrinal views we regard as mate- 
 rial variations from our standards, as dangerous in 
 themselves, and as contravening some of the leading 
 principles of our system, such as man's complete 
 dependence, and the perfect harmony of justice and 
 grace in the salvation of the sinner. 
 
 3. Because this expression of approbation of his 
 
248 OF EEHORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 opinions was passed after, as we believe, it had been 
 clearly and sufficiently proved to the Assembly, that 
 Mr. Barnes had denied these important truths, and 
 had expressed opinions respecting original sin, the 
 nature of faith, and the nature of justification, which 
 cannot be reconciled with our standards ; and after, 
 instead of retracting any of his doctrinal opinions, he 
 had declared expressly before the Assembly, and pub- 
 lished in the preface to the last edition of his Notes 
 on the Romans, that he had not changed, but held 
 them still, and was determined to preach them until 
 he died. 
 
 For these reasons, and for the glory of God, that 
 we may preserve a conscience void of offence, we re- 
 quest that this our solemn protest may be entered on 
 the minutes of the Assembly. 
 
 W. W. Phillips, J. McElroy, James Hoge, Samuel 
 S. Davis, Francis McFarland, Joseph Smith, James 
 McCurdy, Jacob F. Price, W. L. Breckinridge, H. 
 M. Koontz, P. J. Sparrow, Robert Johnston, Joseph 
 Harbeson, John H. Culbertson, W. P. Alrich, J. S. 
 Wilson, T. C. Stuart, J. McGlintock, Nathaniel Todd, 
 Alexander R. Curry, George Anderson, Jas. McFar- 
 ran, John Bemiss, John M. C. Bartley, Samuel 
 McQuestin, William James, Ananias Piatt, Duncan 
 McMartin, Edwin Downer, H. M. Hopkins, James V. 
 Henry, Russell J. Minor, William Marshall, James 
 Lenox, Samuel Boyd, William Wallace, (N. Y.) Sam- 
 uel Miller, B. Ogden, James Seabrook, Jacob Castner, 
 Joseph Campbell, James Kennedy, John Stinson, 
 Samuel Henderson, J. Coulter, Joel Stoneroad, N. 
 Ewing, James Alexander, Joseph D. Ray, Robert 
 Highlands, John Miller, J. Eaton, Robert Porter, 
 Joseph McFarren, C. Velandingham, Alex. Write, R. 
 Johnston, James Wilson, James Rowland, Archibald 
 Hanna, John Elliot, William Wallace, (Lan.) Robert 
 Smith, J. S. Galloway, S. Scovel, B. C. Swan, G. 
 Bishop, William Dunn, M. G. Wallace, J. S. Weaver, 
 Samuel Donnell, B. F. Spillman, W. A. G. Posey, J. 
 S. Berryman, D. S. Todd, Lewis Collins, William 
 Williamson, James Wharey, John McElhenny, Thos. 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 249" 
 
 Baird, E. W. Cariithers, Archibald McCallum, R. II. 
 Kilpatrick, John S. McCutchan, T. A. Ogden, A. A. 
 Campbell, John Ingram, S. B. Lewers, J. Le Roy 
 Davies, Thomas L. Dimlap, Eugenius A. Nesbit, Gil- 
 bert T. Snowden, Horace S. Pratt, John H. Van 
 Court, F. H. Porter, Thomas R. Borden, T. C. 
 Stuart, John R. Hutchison, David Morrow, J. II. 
 Gray. 
 
 The following protest was also offered, and being 
 read, was ordered to be entered on the minutes, viz. 
 
 The undersigned, members of the General Assem- 
 bly, who were of the opinion that the appeal of the 
 Rev. Albert Barnes should be sustained only in part, 
 and that a modified decision should be made, beg leave 
 to present to the Assembly this brief explanation of 
 their views, and desire that it may be entered on the 
 minutes, as their protest against the course which has 
 been pursued in this case. 
 
 1. They explicitly declare, that in their opinion the 
 refusal of the Presbytery to bring their records before 
 the Synod, and of Mr. Barnes to. appear and plead in 
 defence when their objections had been overruled, 
 was irregular and censurable ; and that although the 
 Synod acted in a manner that was questionable, and 
 perhaps injudicious, in trying the appeal of Dr. Junkin, 
 without the records of the Presbytery, and in the 
 absence of Mr. Barnes, who had declined making any 
 defence, yet this irregularity was not of such a nature 
 as to annul their proceedings. 
 
 2. They were of the opinion that the charges 
 brought against Mr. Barnes by Dr. Junkin, were at 
 least partly substantiated, and that on very important 
 topics of the system of doctrine contained in the 
 Confession of Faith, and the Word of God ; and that, 
 therefore, the appeal could be sustained only in a 
 modified sense, if at all on this ground, without an 
 implied approbation of his doctrinal views. 
 
 3. Further, they were of the opinion, that inas- 
 much as some of the charges were not fully, if at all 
 sustained; and it may be doubted whether the S^'nod 
 ought, as the circumstances of the case appeared to 
 
250 OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 be, to have inflicted the censure of suspension ; and 
 Mr. Barnes, during the progress of this trial, exhibited 
 some important alterations of his book, and made 
 such explanations and disavowals of the sentiments 
 ascribed to him, as were satisfactory in a consider- 
 able degree; the removal of his suspension might be 
 deemed proper and safe; they were therefore willing, 
 on this account, to concur in this measure; but did 
 not desire to sustain the appeal in an unqualified 
 sense. 
 
 The undersigned, therefore, desire to place them- 
 selves aright, in the discharge of their official duty, 
 before this Assembly, and the Church with which 
 they are connected, and the whole Christian Church, 
 so far as these transactions may be known; and can- 
 not consent to be understood as giving countenance 
 to irregular proceedings in the judicatories of the 
 Church, or those who are amenable to them; or as 
 overlooking erroneous doctrinal sentiments; or as 
 desiring to exercise undue severity towards the appel- 
 lant. And they cannot withhold the expression of 
 their regret, that all their efforts to procure a justly 
 modified decision, were defeated by the positions oc- 
 cupied by different and opposite portions of the 
 Assembly, in regard to this case ; nor will they con- 
 ceal that they have painful apprehensions that these 
 things will lead to extended and increased dissension, 
 and endanger the disruption of the holy bonds which 
 hold us together as one Church. 
 
 Pittsburgh, June 1th, 1836. 
 
 James Hoge, Samuel Miller, N. Ewing, John McEl- 
 henny, John H. Van Court, Benjamin Ogden, Thomas 
 A. Ogden, Francis McFarland, John M. C. Bartley, 
 James Wharey, Samuel S. Davis, D. McMartin, Jr., 
 Samuel L. Graham, Evander McNair, John S. Gallo- 
 way, Samuel Henderson. — Minutes, 1836, pp. 283- 
 286. 
 
 The Assembly adopted the following answer: 
 ^'The Committee appointed to answer the protests 
 Nos. 2 and 3, brought in the following answer, which 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 251 
 
 ■was adopted, and ordered to be entered on the min- 
 utes. 
 
 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 usefulness, 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 con- 
 tained in the book; and by the laws of exposition, m 
 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 judg- 
 ment 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 
 favourable 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 
 exposition, and the accused disclaims the alleged error, 
 and claims as his meaning the orthodox interpreta- 
 tion, he is entitled to it, and it is to be regarded 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 
 
252 OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 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 ascer- 
 taining his true meaning; and forbid the Assembly to 
 condemn the book as teaching great and dangerous 
 errors. 
 
 3. When the Assembly sustained the appeal of 
 Mr. Barnes, by a majority of 38; and by a majority 
 of 67, 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 con- 
 demnation of the book, to infiict on Mr. Barnes indi- 
 rectly, but really, a sentence of condemnation, as 
 direct in its effects, and as prostrating to his charac- 
 ter and usefulness, as if it had been done directly, by 
 refusing to sustain his appeal, and by confirming the 
 sentence of the Synod of Philadelphia : — 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' 
 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 
 ministry, 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 destroy 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 con- 
 demnation 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 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 253 
 
 no man shall be twice put in jeopardy for tlie 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 personal 
 and public justice. 
 
 6. So far is the Assembly from countenancing the 
 errors alleged in the charges of Dr. Junkin, that they 
 do cordially and ex animo adopt the Confession of our 
 Church, on the points of doctrine in question, accord- 
 ing 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 stand- 
 ards, and would disapprove of any language of light 
 estimation applied to them; believing that no deno- 
 mination can prosper whose members permit them- 
 selves to speak slightly of its formularies of doctrine ; 
 and are ready to unite with their brethren, in con- 
 tending earnestly for the faith of our standards. 
 
 7. The correctness of the preceding positions is 
 confirmed, in the opinion of the Assembly, by a care- 
 ful 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 afiirms the sinner acts under 
 no compulsion. 
 
 The second charge implies neither heresy nor errors, 
 but relates to the expression of an opinion on a mat- 
 ter, concerning which, no definite instruction is con- 
 tained, either in the Bible, or in the Confession of Faith. 
 
 In respect to the third charge, Mr. Barnes has not 
 taught that unregenerate men are able, in the sense 
 alleged, to keep the commandments, and convert 
 themselves to God. It is an inference of the prose- 
 cutor from the doctrine of natural ability, as taught 
 by Edwards, and of the natural liberty of the will as 
 22 
 
254 OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 taught in the Confession of Faith, Chap. ix. Sec. 1. 
 On the contrary, he does teach in accordance with 
 our standards, that man, by the fall, hath wholly lost 
 all ahility 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, and the Bible ; but he 
 does not deny that faith is a fruit of the special influ- 
 ence of the Spirit, and a permanent holy habit of 
 mind, in opposition to a created physical essence. 
 That faith "is counted for righteousness," is the lan- 
 guage of the Bible, and as used by Mr. Barnes, means, 
 not that faith is the meritorious ground of justifica- 
 tion, but only the instrument by which the benefit of 
 Christ's righteousness is appropriated. 
 
 In respect to the fifth charge, Mr. Barnes no where 
 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, 
 he does, in other language, teach the same truths 
 which are taught by 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 to punishment, 
 on account of the first sin of Adam ; it is to be ob- 
 served, that it is not taught in the Confession of 
 Faith, that the sin of Adam is imputed to his pos- 
 terity : — The imputation of the guilt of Adam's sin, 
 Mr. Barnes afiirms, 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 
 sufi'er the penalty of the law, as the vicarious substi- 
 tute of his people ; Mr. Barnes only denies the literal 
 infliction of the whole curse, as including remorse of 
 conscience and eternal death ; but admits and teaches, 
 that the sufl'erings of Christ, owing to the union of 
 the divine and human natures in the person of the 
 Mediator, were a full equivalent. 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 25d" 
 
 In respect to the ninth charge, that the righteous- 
 ness 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 personal 
 righteousness to believers, which is not the doctrine 
 of our Church : — And when he sajs 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 obe- 
 dience; which, on the contrary, he teaches is so im- 
 puted or set to our account, as to become the only 
 meritorious cause or ground of our justification. 
 
 In respect to the tenth charge, Mr. Barnes has not 
 taught that justification consists in pardon only; but 
 has taught clearly that it includes the reception of 
 believers into favour, and their treatment as if they 
 had not sinned." — Minutes, 1836, p. 287. 
 
 Testimony against Errors, 
 
 The following was adopted by a vote of 109 to 6 — 
 non liquet 11. 
 
 *'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 testimony against them, 
 your committee are of opinion, that as one great ob- 
 ject of the institution of the church was to be a depo- 
 sitory and guardian of the truth ; and as, by the con- 
 stitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States, it is made the duty of the General Assembly 
 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, s Z2 is incidental 
 to any wise moral system. 
 
 2. That election to eternal life is founded on a fore- 
 sight of faith and obedience. 
 
256 OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 8. 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 ani- 
 mals, and that their sufi"erings 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 posterity of Adam, though by nature inno- 
 cent, or possesssd 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 sufi'ering; 
 and that there is no evidence in Scripture, that in- 
 fants, in order to salvation, do need redemption 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 sufi'erings and death of Christ were not 
 truly vicarious and penal, but symbolical, govern- 
 mental, and instructive only. 
 
 9. That the impenitent sinner is by nature, and in- 
 dependently 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 com- 
 mands of God. 
 
 10. That Christ does not intercede for the elect 
 until after their regeneration. 
 
 11. That saving faith is not an efi"ect of the special 
 operation of the Holy Spirit, but a mere rational be- 
 lief of the truth, or assent to the word of God. 
 
 12. That regeneration is the act of the sinner him- 
 self, and 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 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. %S9 
 
 Spirit on the heart, but chiefly of a persuasive exhi- 
 bition of the truth, analogous to the influence which 
 one man exerts over the mind of another ; or that re- 
 generation is not an instantaneous act, but a pro- 
 gressive work. 
 
 13. That God has done all that 7ie 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 im- 
 pairing 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 righteousness of Christ become 
 ours. 
 
 16. That the reason why some diflfer from others 
 in regard to their reception of the gospel is, that they 
 make themselves to differ. 
 
 Against all these errors, whenever, wherever, and 
 by whomsoever taught, the Assembly would solemnly 
 testify ; and would warn all in connection with the 
 Presbyterian Church against them. They w^ould 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 Assem- 
 bly 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 
 discipline according to the rules of the word of God 
 and of our standards, any person already a teacher, 
 who may give currency to the foregoing errors." — 
 Minutes, 1837, p. 468. 
 
 The General Assemhly does not recognize the right of 
 individuals to present for decision remonstrances 
 respecting points of doctrine, not brought up from 
 the inferior judicatories by appeal, reference, or 
 complaint. 
 
 [A paper signed by a number of ministers and 
 
258 OF ERKOKS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 elders, complaining of the prevalence of errors in doc- 
 trine, and requesting the opinion and advice of the 
 Assembly, was overtured and being read, was com- 
 mitted to Drs. Kice, Hill, and Coe, Mr. Lansing and 
 Dr. Bates.] 
 
 " The Committee to which was referred a paper pur- 
 porting to be a remonstrance from John M. Rankin 
 and others, who allege that they are members of the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States, having 
 had the same under serious consideration, submitted 
 the following report which was adopted, viz. 
 
 The General Assembly can never hesitate on any 
 proper occasion to recommend to those who both at their 
 licensure and ordination, professed sincerely to receive 
 and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church as 
 containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy 
 Scriptures, and to all other members of our Church, 
 steadfastly to adhere to that "form of sound words.'* 
 
 But while the General Assembly is invested with 
 the power of deciding in all controversies respecting 
 doctrine and discipline, of reproving, warning, or 
 bearing testimony against error in doctrine, in any 
 Church, Presbytery or Synod, or of suppressing schis- 
 matical contentions and disputations; all such matters 
 ought to be brought before the Assembly in a regular 
 and constitutional way; audit does not appear that 
 the Constitution ever designed that the General As- 
 sembly 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 remon- 
 strances respecting points of doctrine or the conduct 
 of individuals not brought up from the inferior judi- 
 catories by appeal, reference or complaint, and this 
 especially when such remonstrances contain no evi- 
 dence 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 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 259 
 
 contrary course would allow of counter and contra- 
 dictory remonstrances without end." — 3Iinute8, 1822, 
 p. 22. 
 
 The case of Mr, Craighead^ charged with errors in 
 doctrine. 
 
 Dr. Alexander, Dr. Hill, and Mr. William Gray of 
 Miami Presbytery brought in a minute, expressive 
 of the Assembly's opinion on the appeal of Mr. Craig- 
 head. 
 
 " The consideration of the report of the committee 
 appointed to prepare a minute on the subject of Mr. 
 Craighead's appeal from a decision of the Synod of 
 Kentucky, suspending him from the gospel ministry 
 on certain charges of heresy, founded on a sermon 
 preached before the Synod, was resumed, and after 
 some discussion, the report was adopted, and is as 
 follows, viz. 
 
 1. The General Assembly are of opinion, that the 
 conduct of Mr. Craighead in preaching such a sermon, 
 and in such circumstances, before the Synod of Ken- 
 tucky, especially as he had been suspected by his 
 brethren of holding erroneous opinions, was highly 
 reprehensible. 
 
 2. The General Assembly approve the conduct of 
 the Synod in relation to this matter. While they 
 were firm and zealous in maintaining what they be- 
 lieved to be truth, they were, to an uncommon degree, 
 respectful and affectionate in their manner of dealing 
 with Mr. Craighead. As the sermon was delivered in 
 their hearing, believing as they did, that it contained 
 dangerous error, they were bound to take notice of it, 
 and express their opinion, to the preacher. 
 
 3. But they cannot approve the conduct of Mr. 
 Craighead when before the Synod. He indeed mani- 
 fested a lofty and independent spirit, that would not 
 be controlled by authority, and there was not exhibi- 
 ted a due respect for the Synod, as an acknoAvledged 
 judicatory of the Church of Christ. His conduct was 
 not respectful and conciliatory ; which certainly was 
 a return that their tenderness to him called for j but 
 
260 OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 it was that of a bold and confident controvertlst, 
 ■who sets his opponents at defiance. 
 
 4. The publication of this sermon and defence, by 
 Mr. Craighead, after he had been so earnestly entreat- 
 ed by the Synod, ^not to ofi"end against the doctrines 
 of the Confession and the feelings of his Christian 
 brethren,' was even more reprehensible, as far as evi- 
 dence is before us, than the first preaching of it. 
 
 5. The Presbytery of Transylvania, to which Mr. 
 Craighead belonged, in the faithful discharge of their 
 duty, could not have connived at such conduct. They 
 acted properly, therefore, in calling upon Mr. Craig- 
 head to answer for this publication. Indeed, they 
 deserve much commendation for their watchfulness, 
 zeal, and firmness, in promptly meeting an evil which 
 threatened greatly to injure the welfare of the Church. 
 And when it is considered, that the man with whom 
 they had to deal, was distinguished for his learning 
 and eloquence, reputable in his character and stand- 
 ing in society, and venerable for his age, it was a duty 
 of no small difficulty and self-denial, which they were 
 called to perform. But they did not shrink from it. 
 Therefore, whatever may have been their errors in 
 the manner of conducting this business, or the errors 
 of the Synod, it is the opinion of the General Assem- 
 bly, that they performed their duty in difiicult cir- 
 cumstances; and that their whole proceedings were 
 prompted by pure and conscientious motives. 
 
 6. It is not surprising, that in a case so new and 
 difiicult, some considerable errors in point of form 
 should have occurred; the principal of these, the 
 General Assembly will now briefly point out. 
 
 There was a great deficiency in the charges pre- 
 ferred against Mr. Craighead as it relates to precision. 
 All charges for heresy should be as definite as possi- 
 ble. 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 Scriptures, as a 
 standard of orthodoxy ; or to the Confession of Faith, 
 which our Church holds to be a summary of the doc- 
 
OP ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 261 
 
 trines of Scripture. But in none of the charges 
 against Mr. Craighead is this done; and in two of 
 them, (third and fourth,) it would be very diflScult to 
 say, w^hat articles of faith are supposed to be contra- 
 vened in the errors charged on Mr. Craighead. And 
 the last two charges appear to be so vague and inde- 
 finite, as to be incapable of proof. In the fifth, Mr. 
 Craighead is charged with perverting, &c. the senti- 
 ments of the preachers and writers in our connexion. 
 Now, in our connexion, there are a multitude of 
 preachers and writers difi*ering by many shades of 
 opinion from each other. How then can this be a 
 just ground of accusation ? In the sixth, he is charged 
 with the false colouring of facts, &c. But no facts 
 are established by evidence; none are specified in the 
 charge ; and to make it a just ground of accusation, 
 it ought to have been a designed and malicious dis- 
 colouring of the facts, &c. 
 
 In the progress of this case, the Presbytery pro- 
 ceeded regularly to cite the accused, once and again, 
 and upon his not appearing, they proceeded 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 Presby- 
 tery, suspended Mr. Craighead from the gospel min- 
 istry. 
 
 In this proceeding, the General Assembly are of 
 opinion, that there was too much haste. Mr. Craig- 
 head -was not guilty of contumacy, for he wrote two 
 letters to the Presbytery, excusing himself for non- 
 attendance ; 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 charges pre- 
 ferred, 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. And in this case, no injury 
 would have been sustained by delay, for the Synod 
 
262 OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 might have proceeded Instantly to condemn tlie errors 
 of Mr. Craighead's book, as the General Assembly 
 did in the case of The Gospel Plan of W. C. Davis ; 
 the process against the author, however, did not com- 
 mence till some time afterwards. But, however this 
 may be, the General Assembly think that the Synod 
 were in too much haste. It was reasonable that Mr. 
 Craighead should have been informed of this transfer 
 of the cause to a higher tribunal. 
 
 There is only one other thing in the proceedings 
 on which the General Assembly will remark ; which 
 is, that statements were given as evidence, 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. 
 
 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 operations of the 
 Spirit ? 
 
 Here it will be important to remark, that a man 
 cannot fairly be convicted of heresy, for using expres- 
 sions which may be so interpreted as to Involve here- 
 tical doctrines, if they may also admit of a more 
 favourable 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, candour requires, that a 
 court should favour the accused, by putting on his 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 203 
 
 -words tlie more favouraLle, rather tlian tlie less 
 favourable 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 hold- 
 ing those consequences which may legitimately flow 
 from his assertions. Many men are grossly incon- 
 sistent with themselves ; and while it is right, in ar- 
 gument, to overthrow false opinions, by tracing them 
 in their connexions and consequences, it is not right 
 to charge any man with an opinion which he disavows. 
 
 With these principles in view, the General Assem- 
 bly proceed to observe, that there is abundant evi- 
 dence that Mr. Craighead did deny 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 distinction 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 preceding 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 dis- 
 tinction. 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 
 
264 OP ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 
 
 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 favourable con- 
 struction; there is another, which if not more proba- 
 ble, is more obvious, Mr. Craighead may be under- 
 stood as teaching, that the only real agency of the 
 Spirit was in inspiring the Scriptures, and confirm- 
 ing 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 Sy- 
 nod 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 expres- 
 sions have been fairly interpreted or not, they are 
 dangerous, and ought to be condemned. In justice 
 to Mr. Craighead, however, it ought to be remem- 
 bered, 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 doubt, 
 because the words adduced in proof will bear a dif- 
 ferent construction 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, 
 
 "We charge him with denying, vilifying, and mis- 
 representing 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 every thing should be 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 26"5 
 
 referred to the sovereigntj of God's will ; but the 
 words in tlicir 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 clear- 
 ly and fully supported by the references, they feel it 
 to be their duty to say, that the impression which 
 they have received from hearing extracts from this 
 discourse, are very unfavourable; and they do be- 
 lieve, 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 favourable con- 
 struction, 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 doctrine 
 which has 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 favouring the doctrine which he op- 
 poses; but he might have put into the list almost 
 every standard writer of our own and sister churches, 
 since the Reformation. 
 
 This sermon also contains much declamation which 
 confounds fanaticism and piety; and representations 
 of opinions which are true and important, so associa- 
 ted with error and absurdity, as to exhibit them in a 
 ridiculous and odious light. 
 
 Finally, the General Assembly are deeply im- 
 pressed with the evidences of an improper spirit, and 
 an evil tendency in this sermon, and are of opinion 
 that Mr. Craighead ought so to retract or explain his 
 sentiments, as to afford reasonable satisfaction to his 
 brethren. 
 
 Whereupon, Resolved^ That as the proceedings in 
 the case of Mr. Craighead, have been, in many re- 
 spects, irregular, and he has suffered much injury 
 23 
 
2()Q OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE., 
 
 from the delay produced bj these irregularities : And 
 "whereas also, the charges are not so conclusively 
 established as to remove all doubt, the General Assem- 
 bly cannot see their way clear finally to confirm the 
 sentence of the Synod of Kentucky, although they 
 are of opinion, that Mr. Craighead has subjected him- 
 self, by preaching and printing this sermon, to just 
 censure. But as Mr. Craighead has had no fair op- 
 portunity of vindicating himself, or of making satis- 
 factory explanations or retractions, therefore, 
 
 Besolved, That the whole cause be transmitted to 
 the Presbytery of West Tennessee, in the bounds of 
 which Mr. Craighead resides ; and that they be direct- 
 ed to give him an early opportunity of offering that 
 satisfaction which the Church expects, for the offence 
 received: and that upon receiving such explanations 
 or retractions as to them shall be satisfactory, Mr. 
 Craighead be restored to the gospel ministry from 
 which he had been suspended." — Minutes, 1824, pp. 
 218—222. 
 
 Heretical books condemned. 
 
 [The contradictory action of the Assemblies of 1834 and 1835 on this 
 subject, recorded below, is to be accounted for by the fact that the 
 first of these Assemblies had a majority of New-school, and the last 
 of Old-school commissioners. The Church was at that time on the 
 verge of the disruption which soon after took place.] 
 
 "In the opinion of this Assembly, to take up and 
 try and condemn any printed publication as heretical 
 and dangerous, is equivalent to condemning the 
 author as heretical; that to condemn heresy in the 
 abstract cannot be understood as the purpose of such 
 trial ; that the results of such trial are to bear upon, 
 and seriously to affect the standing of the author; and 
 that the fair and unquestionable mode of procedure is, 
 if the author be alive and known to be of our commu- 
 nion, to institute process against him, and give him a 
 fair and constitutional trial." — Minutes, 1834, p. 26. 
 
 ^ In the judgment of this General Assembly, it is the 
 right, and may be the duty of any judicatory of our 
 Church to take up, and if it see cause, to bear testi- 
 
OF ERRORS IN DOCTRINE. 207 
 
 mony against any printed publication which may be 
 circulating within its bounds, and which, in the judg- 
 ment of that judicatory, may be adapted to inculcate 
 injurious opinions, and this whether the author be 
 living or dead, whether he be in the communion of 
 our Church or not, whether he be a member of the 
 judicatory expressing the opinion or not." — 3Iinutes, 
 1835, p. 28. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 OF LICENSING CANDIDATES. 
 
 [Form of Government, Chapter XIV.] 
 
 II. Resolved, That this Assembly prefer that young 
 men within their bounds who are looking forward to 
 the work of the ministry, should be officially recog- 
 nized as candidates under the care of Presbyteries, 
 only when they are prepared to enter upon their theo- 
 logical studies ; and that until that time they be re- 
 garded simply as students on probation, under the 
 general watch and patronage of the Presbyteries. — 
 Minutes, 1851, p. 29. 
 
 Discipline. — Chapter X. — Jurisdiction, 
 
 I. Shall members of our churches, who may wish 
 to join chui'ches not in correspondence with the Gene- 
 ral Assembly receive certificates in the same form as 
 if they wished to join another church in our com- 
 munion, or in correspondence with the Assembly ? or 
 has the church session done all it ought to do, when 
 in such cases the good and regular standing of the 
 persons so applying, is certified ? 
 
 The following answer was adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That this whole subject is one that ought 
 to be left to the sound discretion of the various church 
 sessions, according to the Constitution of the Presby- 
 terian Church. — Minutes, 1851, p. 28. 
 23* 
 
270 APPENDIX. 
 
 Where a communicant desires Ms connection with the 
 church to cease^ on account of his belief that he is 
 not a Christian, 
 
 No. 23. From the Presbytery of Baltimore, sub- 
 mitting the action of a session, by which the name of 
 a member was stricken from the roll at his own re- 
 quest, and for the reason that he did not feel himself 
 actuated in his life by Christian principles. 
 
 At the recommendation of the Committee the follow- 
 ing resolution was adopted, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That in the opinion of this Assembly 
 there is no constitutional or scriptural mode of sepa- 
 rating members from the communion of the Church, 
 except by death, by dismission to join another Church, 
 or by discipline; consequently the action of this ses- 
 sion is regarded as irregular. — Minutes, 1851, p. 82. 
 
 A Similar Case, 
 
 Mr. Burch, from the Committee on the minute in 
 Judicial Case No. 1, made the following report, which 
 was adopted as the final action of the house in the 
 whole case, viz : 
 
 The Committee appointed to bring in a minute in 
 reference to "Judicial Case No. 1," report, first, the 
 facts in the case. A communicant, by the name of 
 Ambrose Stone, in the Irish Grove church, for a long 
 time abstained from partaking of the communion of 
 the Lord's supper. He also, for a long time, ceased 
 to worship God in his family. He repeatedly request- 
 ed the session to dissolve his connection with the 
 Church of Christ, assigning as the only reason for 
 this course of conduct, that he believed he had never 
 been born again, and that he had no love to Christ. 
 The session did eventually comply with his request, 
 and resolved that his connection with the church be 
 dissolved. 
 
 This church was under the care of Sangamon Pres- 
 bytery. The Presbytery upon reviewing the records 
 of the session of Irish Grove church, considered this 
 
APPENDIX. 271 
 
 a case of excommunication, and declared the action of 
 the session not only unconstitutional, but also null and 
 void ; and that Mr. Stone Avas still a member of the 
 Irish Grove church. The Moderator and Elder from 
 that session claimed the right to vote in this disap- 
 proval of their records, which was refused by Presby- 
 tery. The session then complained to the Synod of 
 Illinois, of the whole action of the Presbytery in the 
 case. The Synod sustained and approved the action 
 of the Presbytery. 
 
 This case was then brought before the General As- 
 sembly by the Irish Grove church session, in the form 
 of a complaint against the Synod of Illinois, because 
 it sustained the action of the Presbytery. The As- 
 sembly having fully heard the parties in the case, 
 adopted the following resolutions, viz. 
 
 1st. Resolved, That no church session has authority 
 to dissolve the connection of a communicant with the 
 Church of Christ, except by excommunication, and 
 that the sessions of our Church are bound to proceed 
 according to the directions given in our Book of Dis- 
 cipline, when they do excommunicate a member. The 
 Assembly does, therefore, condemn the action of the 
 Irish Grove session in dissolving the connection of 
 Mr. Stone w^ith the Church of Christ, in the manner 
 in which it did, as irregular and unconstitutional. 
 
 2d. Resolved, That the Presbytery of Sangamon 
 acted correctly in not permitting the members of the 
 Irish Grove session to vote for approving or disap- 
 proving their own records ; that the Presbytery acted 
 correctly in declaring the action of the session, in Mr. 
 Stone's case, to be irregular and unconstitutional; 
 and that then the Presbytery, without proceeding for 
 that, ought to have required the session to review and 
 correct its proceedings, in this case, according to the 
 directions given in our Book of Discipline. 
 
 3d. Resolved, That the Synod ought to have 
 directed the Presb}' tery to require the session to re- 
 view and correct its proceedings, according to the 
 directions given in oui' Book of Discipline. — 3ImuieSy 
 1851, p. 33. 
 
272 ^ APPENDIX. 
 
 Slavery, 
 
 The Committee [Rev. Samuel Osgood of Massa- 
 chusetts, R. G. Wilson of Ohio, I. V. Brown of New 
 Jersey, and Hugh Dickson of South Carolina, with 
 Mr. John Connelly, elder from Philadelphia] to which 
 was committed the report of the committee to which 
 the petition of some elders, who entertain conscientious 
 scruples 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 approbation 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 education, 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, republished by the Assembly in 1793, 
 and also to the extracts of the Minutes of the Assem- 
 bly 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 interest of the gospel, lives under 
 the ministry of a person, or amongst a society of peo- 
 ple, who concur with him in sentiment on the subject 
 upon general principles, yet for particular reasons 
 hold slaves, and tolerate the practice in others. Ought 
 the former of these persons, under the impression and 
 
APPENDIX. 273 
 
 circumstances above described, to hold Cbristlan com- 
 munion with the latter?' 
 
 AYhereupon, 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 re- 
 commended 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 any vestiges of slavery which may 
 exist in our country, and refer the churches to the 
 records of the General Assembly, published at differ- 
 ent times, but especially 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, w^ith which, they trust, every conscientious per- 
 son will be fully satisfied." 
 
 This is deemed a sufficient answer to the first 
 petition, and with regard to the second, 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 seve- 
 rity 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. — Minutes, 1815, 
 p. 585. 
 
 The following resolution was submitted to the As- 
 sembly, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That a person who shall sell as a slave, a 
 member of the Church, who shall be at the time in 
 good standing in the Church and unwilling to be sold, 
 acts inconsistently with the spirit of Christianity, and 
 ought to be debarred from the communion of the 
 Church. 
 
274 APPENDIX. 
 
 After considerable discussion, the subject was com- 
 mitted to Dr. Green, Dr. Baxter and Mr. Burgess [of 
 Ohio,] to prepare a report to be adopted by the Assem- 
 bly, 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 unani- 
 mously 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 neighbour 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 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 endear- 
 ments of husbands and wives, parents and children, 
 neighbours and friends ; whether they shall preserve 
 their chastity and purity, or regard the dictates of 
 justice and humanity. Such are some of the conse- 
 quences 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 in many instances, through the 
 influence of the principles of humanity and religion on 
 
APPENDIX. 275 
 
 » 
 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 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 incon- 
 sistency 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 endeavours, 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 endeavouring 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 efficient labourers. 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 vir- 
 tuous part of the community 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 emancipation 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. Wc exhort them to suffer no greater delay 
 
276 APPENDIX, 
 
 to take place In tliis most interesting concern, than a 
 regard to the public welfare truly and indispensably 
 demands. 
 
 As our country has inflicted a most grievous injury 
 on the unhappy Africans, by bringing them into 
 slavery, we cannot indeed urge that we should add a 
 second injury to the first, by emancipating them in 
 such manner as that they will be likely to destroy 
 themselves or others. But we do think, that our 
 country ought to be governed in this matter by no 
 other consideration than an honest and impartial re- 
 gard to the happiness of the injured party, uninflu- 
 enced by the expense or inconvenience which such a 
 regard may involve. We, therefore, warn all who be- 
 long to our denomination of Christians against unduly 
 extending this plea of necessity ; against making it a 
 cover for the love and practice of slavery, or a pre- 
 tence for not using efi'orts that are lawful and practi- 
 cable, to extinguish this evil. 
 
 And we, at the same time , exhort others to forbear 
 harsh censures, and uncharitable reflections on their 
 brethren, who unhappily live among slaves whom 
 they cannot immediately set free; but who, at the 
 same time, are really using all their influence, and all 
 their endeavours, to bring them into a state of free- 
 dom, as soon as a door for it can be safely opened. 
 
 Having thus expressed our views of slavery, and of 
 the duty indispensably incumbent on all Christians to 
 labour for its complete extinction, we proceed to re- 
 commend, and we do it with all the earnestness and 
 solemnity which this momentous subject demands, a 
 particular attention to the following points. 
 
 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 
 colour in our country. We hope that much good may 
 result from the plans and efi'orts of this Society. And 
 while we exceedingly rejoice to have witnessed its 
 origin and organization among the holders of slaves, 
 as giving an unequivocal pledge of their desires to de- 
 liver themselves and their country from the calamity 
 
APPENDIX. 277 
 
 of slavery ; we hope that those portions of the Ame- 
 rican union, whose inhabitants are by a gracious pro- 
 vidence more favourably circumstanced, will cordially, 
 and liberally, and earnestly co-operate with their bre- 
 thren, in bringing about the great end contemplated. 
 
 We recommend to all the members of oui- religious 
 denomination, not only to permit, but to facilitate and 
 encourage the instruction of their slaves in the prin- 
 ciples and duties of the Christian religion ; by grant- 
 ing them liberty to attend on the preaching of the 
 gospel, when they have opportunity ; by favouring the 
 instruction of them in the Sabbath 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 per- 
 fectly 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 in the 
 case before us, so far from operating, as some have 
 apprehended that it might, as an incitement to insub- 
 ordination 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 Presby- 
 teries, under the care of this Assembly, to discounte- 
 nance, 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 un- 
 happy 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 in- 
 clination, 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 seldom happen, it ought to be followed, 
 24 
 
278 APPENDIX. 
 
 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. 688, 691. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Absence, Committee on leave of, 160. 
 
 Absentees, to be called on for reasons, 158. 
 
 Accused, rights of, 160. 
 
 Adjourned meetings of Synod, 34. 
 
 Adjournment, when there is no quorum, may be till any 
 
 convenient time, 157. 
 Admission to membership, not affected by rescinding the 
 
 vote to admit, 20. 
 Admission to sealing ordinances, general rule, 141. 
 
 " " act of single session, 141. 
 
 " " in what cases to be de- 
 
 layed, 141. 
 " " to whom to be refused, 142. 
 
 " of ecclesiastical bodies into union, 206. 
 Admonition, when not submitted to, ground of suspen- 
 sion, 105. 
 Adopting act of 1729,181. 
 
 Advice, not to be given without full view of the case, 87. 
 Agencies, 161. 
 
 Albany Presbytery divided, 36. 
 Alexandria, 2d church in, 18. 
 Alternates, 77. 
 Amendment of Record, 115. 
 
 " minute recording a fact, 159. 
 
 Amusements, 161. 
 Anderson, Rev. John, 226. 
 Andrews, Rev. Edward, 217. 
 Appeal, cases of, 93. 
 
 " will not lie in cases not judicial, 96. 
 " cannot be carried to Assembly after notice given of 
 appeal to Synod, 98. 
 - " may be carried directly to a higher court, 99. 
 " but not without sufficient reasons, 100. 
 " may be lodged with chairman of Judicial Commit- 
 tee, 100. 
 " personal attendance not necessary to prosecution 
 of, 110. 
 
280 INDEX. 
 
 Appeal, protest in bar of further prosecution of, 108. 
 " what is not an entry of, 98. 
 " judicatory appealed from cannot call back the 
 
 case, 113. 
 ♦' right of ministers to vote on appeals, who were 
 members of Presbytery, but absent from the 
 trial, 113. 
 " did not lie from commission of the Synod of New 
 
 York and Philadelphia, 31. 
 ** scruples concerning, 177. 
 Appellant failing to appear, may present reasons for his 
 
 failure at the next meeting. 111. 
 Aspect, presentation of new, in a case, equivalent to new 
 
 testimony, 122. 
 Assembly, instances of Presbyteries erected and divided 
 
 by, 36. 
 Assembly gave reasons for dividing Albany Presbytery, 36. 
 " action of, in case of 2d and 3d Philadelphia Pres- 
 
 teries, 38. 
 " action of, in case of Wilmington Presbytery, 39. 
 " in erecting a Synod, consults the Synods out of 
 
 which it is to be formed, 39. 
 " in case of absence at the opening, of Moderator 
 
 of, 40. 
 " may change the place of regular meeting of 
 
 Synod, 33. 
 *' power of Assembly in relation to judicial acts 
 
 of a former, 92. 
 " sentence of, founded in error, is null, 111. 
 Associate Reformed Church, 207. 
 Austin, Rev. David, 218. 
 
 Balch, Rev. Hezekiah, 238. 
 
 Baptism, inquiry to be made into life and knowledge of ap- 
 plicants for themselves or their children, 129. 
 Baptism, each case to be decided on its own merits, 138. 
 
 '* of children born in slavery, 130. 
 
 " right of slaves to present their children for, 131. 
 
 " of orphans of heathen parents, in mission 
 schools, 133. 
 
 " of children of non-professing parents, 136. 
 
 " when profanely performed, 135. 
 
 •* by Cumberland Presbyterians, acknowledged, 132# 
 
 " by Unitarians, void, 131. 
 
 " by Romanists, void, 136. 
 
IJM)EX. 281 
 
 Baptism, tne Directory requires an express engagement of 
 parents in, 140. 
 " scruples concerning infant, 144. 
 
 Baptist minister, applying for admission to a Presby- 
 tery, 229. 
 
 Baptized children. Sessions to be interrogated concerning 
 pastoral care of, 78. 
 
 Baptized children, mode of exercising pastoral care over, 78. 
 
 Barnes, Rev. Albert, 244. 
 
 Belknap, Rev. Horace, 82. 
 
 Bell, Rev. Joseph E., 104. 
 
 Bigamy, 163. 
 
 Birch, Rev. Thomas Ledlie,209. 
 
 *' Bishop," not to be used in the Minutes, 163. 
 
 Bissel, Mr. Josiah, 235. 
 
 Book, errors of may be condemned, 26, 241, 262,266. 
 " irregular to distribute books bearing on a case, 81. 
 " Assembly's reasons for not recommending any, 175. 
 
 Boundaries, 18, 24, 179. 
 
 Bourne, Rev. George, 80, 83, 99. 
 
 Boyd, Rev. Samuel, 227. 
 
 Bushnell, Mr. Pope, 80. 
 
 Call, mode of proceeding to make out a, 58. 
 
 " appeal from refusal to put into the hands of a minis* 
 
 ter, 94. 
 " appeal from refusal to permit prosecution of a, 94. 
 " decision in relation to, 96. 
 Called meetings of Synod, 34. 
 Canada, a foreign country, 227. 
 Candidates, to whom amenable, 123. 
 
 " to what Presbytery they naturally belong, 49. 
 " not to be taken on trials on short acquaint- 
 ance, 55 : till about to commence theological 
 studies, Appendix. 
 " irregularities in, 49. 
 
 " liberal education not to be dispensed with, 55. 
 " not constitutional to require three years' study 
 
 of divinity before licensing, 57. 
 " pledge required by Board of Education, not 
 unconstitutional, 57. 
 Carlisle Presbytery divided, 36. 
 Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, an integral portion of our 
 
 standards, 63,192. 
 Catechisms, use of them recommended, 64. 
 24* 
 
282 INDEX* 
 
 Catechists, not to be allowed, 162. 
 
 Censure, irregular in sustaining a sentence^ to inflict a new, 
 
 106. 
 Certificate of Church membership, not sufficient to entitle a 
 Presbytery to take on trials, a student not 
 naturally belonging to them, 49, 
 " to persons who have been under process, 127 . 
 " of good standing to be given to communicants 
 about to join other denominations, 126. 
 Chaplaincy in army, ordination to, 67. 
 Charges must be reduced to specialty, 79. 
 
 '^ new trial will be ordered where there was not full 
 proof of, 103. 
 Charleston, Presbytery of, 207. 
 Charters, 164. 
 
 Christian, suspended minister not to be regarded as occupy- 
 ing the same ground as a common, 88. 
 Church, mode of organizing a, 166. 
 
 " right to organize not lodged ex officio in a minister, 
 
 23. 
 " right of Presbytery to divide a church without con- 
 sent of a majority of the members, 22. 
 " a request of the people must precede the division of 
 
 a, 118. 
 *' appeal will lie from act of Presbytery dividing a, 95. 
 *^ Synod may transcend its powers in dissolving a, 30. 
 *^ members long absent in places unknown, 127. 
 " " about to join other denominations, 126. 
 
 Appendix. 
 " " under suspension, when they may be dis- 
 
 missed, 125. 
 " " desirous to dissolve their connection with 
 
 the Church, Appendix. 
 " privileges, restoration to office does not follow on 
 
 restoration to, 48. 
 " " Presbytery must specify it in sentence 
 
 when they intend with suspension or 
 deposition to inflict exclusion from, 89, 
 " Third in Philadelphia, 58. 
 " Fifth in Philadelphia, 95, 96. 
 " of St. Charles, 106. Of Peoria, 30, 117. 
 " Second in Alexandria, 18. 
 Civil office, tenure of, not necessarily incompatible with the 
 
 ministry, 215. 
 Clapp, Rev. Theodore, 178. 
 
INDEX. 283 
 
 Collins, Mr. Aaron C, 83. 120. 
 Clerk, Stated, of Assembly, 166. 
 
 '<■ « " Synod, 166. 
 
 Commission of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, 31. 
 " with judicial powers, not constitutional, 31. 
 
 " " " " an open question, 22, 32. 
 
 Commissioners to General Assembly, anomalous cases, 75. 
 " may not resign their seats to others named in 
 
 the commission, 77. 
 " instances of leave given to resign, 77. 
 
 *' departing without leave, 164. 
 
 '* care enjoined in selection of, 165. 
 
 " from new Presbyteries, 42. 
 
 " Fund, 165, 170. 
 
 Commissions, Committee on, 42. 
 Committee men, 234, 236. 
 " on Elections, 42. 
 " Leave of absence, 160. 
 
 " Judicial, 159. 
 Common fame, 47. 
 
 Complainant may appear by Counsel, 117. 
 Complaint, grounds of, 116. 
 
 ^< will not lie from refusal to adopt an overture, 
 
 97. 
 " exercise of discretion confided to a judicatory 
 
 no ground of, 119. 
 Confession of Faith, 60, 181. 
 Congregation, when to be regarded as vacant, 20. 
 
 ^' right of vacant, to be represented, 19, 25. 
 
 '* duty of Presbytery to vacant, 75. 
 
 " to be convened, if there is dissatisfaction with 
 
 existing usage in election of Elders, 44. 
 " in election of Elders, it is best to have a di- 
 
 rect vote of, 44. 
 Connecticut, General Association of, 83, 120. 
 Contumacy, mistakes concerning, 102, 261. 
 Copy of sentence, to be given to the condemned, 102. 
 ^' ofjproceedings, made by appellant not sufficient, 80. 
 '^ " " appeal sustained on failure to send up 
 
 authenticated, 80. 
 " " " neglect to send up, censured. 118. 
 
 " " ^' when the Assembly directs a Presby- 
 
 tery to restore if they judge proper a 
 deposed minister residing in their 
 bounds, the Presbytery which de- 
 
284 INDEX. 
 
 posed liim must send an authentica- 
 ted copy of their proceedings in the 
 case to that Presbytery when it en- 
 ters on the inquiry, 83. 
 Corresponding bodies, intercourse with, 230. 
 
 " members, their ecclesiastical relation to be 
 
 recorded, 25. 
 Counsel, omission to assign, not sufficient ground to sustain 
 
 an appeal, 79. 
 Craighead, Rev. Thomas B., 109, 259. 
 Crawford, Rev. Edward, 32. 
 < Credible profession,' 130. 
 Cumberland Presbyterians, 132. 
 
 Dancing, 161. 
 Davis, Rev. Thomas, 87. 
 Davis, Rev. W. C, 26, 145, 241, 262. 
 Deacons, nature and duties of office, 13. 
 " mode of ordination, 46. 
 " order to be taken to secure election of in. every 
 
 congregation, 168. 
 " ruling elder may hold office of, 48. 
 Death of respondent, bar to prosecution of appeal, 112. 
 
 " of ministers to be mentioned in the narrative, 172. 
 Demission of ministerial office, when recommended, 213. 
 " " " to be followed by striking 
 
 name from the roll, 213. 
 " virtual, not to be followed by striking off of name, 
 
 214. 
 '' tenure of civil office, not necessarily a, 215. 
 " duty of Presbytery to members on, 216. 
 ^^ causes of, to be inquired into, 217. 
 Deposition and suspension from church privileges distinct, 
 89. 
 " does not subject to the same treatment as if 
 
 excommunicated, 89. 
 " if irregularly reversed, is taken off till new trial 
 
 and conviction, 86. 
 " notice of, when to be published, 89. 
 Discretion of Board of Missions in relation to applicants, 194. 
 Dismission, Presbytery cannot delegate power of, 126. 
 
 '^ of church members, not invalidated by haste of 
 
 giving, 125. 
 " of church members under suspension, when 
 
 regular, 125. 
 
lijDEX. 285 
 
 Dismission, when it may be demanded, 104. 
 Dismission to join other denominations, 126. 
 Dispensation in case of Synodical records, 34. 
 
 '^ " a candidate, 56. 
 
 '^Divine, approved," defined, 56. 
 Divinity, time to be spent in study of, 57. 
 
 " students not to be taken on trials till about to 
 
 begin the study of. Appendix. 
 Documents, where judicatory appealed from did not send 
 
 important, 115. 
 Duellists, not to be admitted to church privileges until they 
 
 manifest just sense of guilt and give satisfactory 
 
 evidence of repentance, 143. 
 " funerals of, 143. 
 Duels, accessaries to, 143. 
 Duffield, Rev. G-eorge, 96. 
 Dutchess County Presbytery, 206. 
 Dutch Reformed Church, 232. 
 
 Education, Board of, 195. 
 
 " Pledge as to time of study, required by, 57. 
 
 Elder, when a minister with one elder may form a session 
 for judicial business, 13. 
 
 " may not hold office in two congregations at once, 16. 
 
 " cannot adjudicate in another session, 17. 
 
 '^ office of deacon may be held by, 48. 
 
 " mode of election not prescribed, 43. 
 
 " where dissatisfaction with the usage exists, 44. 
 
 ^^ the best mode of electing, 44. 
 
 " who may vote in election of, 44. 
 
 " where not elected, ordination to office of, is invalid, 
 46. 
 
 " restoration to church privileges does not remove sus- 
 pension from office of, 48. 
 
 '^ no elder from judicatory appealed from, can vote on 
 appeal, 112. 
 
 '' may resign, 46. 
 
 ^' ceasing to act, cannot sit in any judicatory, 47. 
 
 '' on joining another congregation, must be installed 
 before he can serve as an, 47. 
 
 " advice to a divided congregation as to choice of, 169. 
 
 ^' mode of ordaining, 46. 
 
 " presence of, not essential to quorum 6f Presbytery, 20. 
 Election of Trustees of General Assembly, 180. 
 " of Moderator of General Assembly, 73. 
 
286 INDEX. 
 
 Election of Commissioners to General Assembly, 75. 
 " of elders, 43. 
 " of Pastor, 58. 
 " of Deacon, 168. 
 Elections, Committee on, 42. 
 Errors, testimony against, 255. 
 
 right of individuals to demand testimony against, 
 60,257. 
 Examination of Sessional Records, 15. 
 
 " of ministers applying for admission, 209. 
 
 (I u u u impera- 
 
 tive in every instance, 212. 
 Excommunication, not necessarily connected with deposi- 
 tion, 89. 
 
 Fact, amendment of minute recording a, 159. 
 Failure of a quorum of Synod, 32, 158. 
 " ^' Presbytery, 24. 
 
 " " the only business to be transacted on, 
 
 158, 225. 
 Failure to prosecute, a bar to further proceeding on ap- 
 peal, 108. 
 Failure to prosecute, what is not a, 110. 
 
 ^' of appellant to appear, reasons for may be presented 
 at next meeting, 111. 
 First born, 169. 
 Foreign ministers, 219. 
 
 " Missions, Board of, 196. 
 Eraser, Rev. A. G., 111. 
 Frazer, Rev. W. J., 213. 
 Fund, Commissioners, 165, 170. 
 
 German Reformed Church, 232. 
 
 '' Gospel Plan'^ of W. C. Davis, 26, 241. 
 
 Griffith, Rev. Mr., 112. 
 
 Harney, Mr., 107. 
 
 Hawes, Mr. Newton, 106. 
 
 Heresy, general principles in relation to prosecutions for, 
 
 260. 
 Hindman, Rev. Francis, 50, 121. 
 Hopkinsianism, 28. 
 Hunt, Rev. Garner A., 217. 
 
 '^Improvement" used in the sense of employment, 49. 
 
INDEX. 287 
 
 ''Independent Brethren,," 32. 
 
 ^'Independent Presbyterians/' 145. 
 
 Infancy, no precise rule as to when it ceases, 133. 
 
 Installation set aside on sustaining an appeal, 96. 
 
 " of Elder necessary on his removing to another 
 
 congregation, 47. 
 Interlocutory meeting, results of, to be recorded, 159. 
 Intoxicating drinks, persons engaged in sale of, 146. 
 Irregularity, sentence reversed for exceptionable, 104. 
 Irvine, Rev. James T., 226. 
 
 Judicial Committee, report of, to be recorded, 159. 
 
 '< " " who may vote on adoption 
 
 of, 159. 
 " power cannot be delegated to a select session, 21. 
 " " intrusted to a Commission, 31. 
 
 " '^ delegation of, an open question, 22, 32. 
 
 " acts of one Assembly, when they may be reversed 
 
 by another, 92. 
 " appeals lie only in cases, 96. 
 
 KoUock, Rev. Dr. Henry, 87. 
 Kellar, Rev. Mr., 118. 
 
 Lathrop, Mr. Daniel W., 234. 
 License for limited time, irregular, 56. 
 " going to New England for, 54. 
 " Presbytery's irregularity in licensing does not in- 
 validate, 53. 
 Licentiates, to whom amenable, 123. 
 
 " non-resident, course in order to be relieved from 
 
 suspension, 124. 
 " when they may solemnize marriage, 146. 
 
 " standing of, not affected by censure on the judi- 
 
 catories for irregularities in their case, 51. 
 Limitation of time, not to be pleaded where Synod orders 
 
 investigation, 129. 
 Limitation of time, in election of Commissioners from 
 
 Presbyteries in foreign lands, 75. 
 Loekhead, Rev. Wm., 225. 
 Lotteries, 169. 
 Lowry's appeal from Synod of Ohio, 21. 
 
 " '' " Illinois, 117. 
 
 Marriage, decisions concerning, 147. 
 
288 INDEX. 
 
 Marriage, publication of purpose of, 157. 
 
 " when licentiates may solemnize, 
 
 Massachusetts, Greneral Association of, 231. 
 McCalla, Rev. W. L., 53. 
 McClean, Mr. John, 49. 
 McCoy, Rev. James, 52. 
 McQueen, Rev. Archibald, 85, 119, 156. 
 Mercer, Rev. Boyd, 215. 
 Meeting, in case of failure of, stated, 24. 
 Methodist minister, applying for admission to Presbytery, 
 
 228. 
 Mileage, 170. 
 Ministers not to be enrolled as church members, 16. 
 
 ^^ without charge, constituent members of Presby- 
 tery, 17. 
 " " " to be reported to Board of Mis- 
 
 sions, 181. 
 ^' non-resident, duty of Presbytery to, 18. 
 " '^ accused, 81. 
 
 " suspended, not in same situation as common Chris- 
 tian, 88. 
 " " baptism administered by, invalid, 132. 
 
 " " names of, to be retained on the roll, 88. 
 
 " when they may be suspended on the tabling of 
 
 charges, 81. 
 ^^ deposed, not to be treated as if excommunicated, 
 
 89. 
 '^ " in certain cases to be published, 89. 
 
 " " instances of restoration, 83. 
 
 " '^ irregular restoration of, 86. 
 
 ^^ '^ partially submitting to sentence, 83. 
 
 ^' not authorized ex ojjicio to organize churches, 23. 
 " demitting their office, 213. 
 
 " withdrawing from the church, 218. 
 
 " returning after withdrawal, 218. ^ 
 
 ^' joining other denominations, 217. 
 " foreign, 219. 
 
 " may appeal from refusal of Presbytery to admit 
 
 them, 93. 
 " dismissed by extinct Presbytery, and supposed to 
 
 be chargeable with some offence, 209. 
 " right of, when sentence is set aside for irregulari- 
 ty, 104. 
 Missionaries, may administer the sacraments where no church 
 exists, 177. 
 
INDEX. 289 
 
 Missions, Board of, 181, 194. 
 
 " " discretion lodged with, 194. 
 
 Moderator of Session, 14. 
 
 " Presbytery, in case of failure of stated meet- 
 ings, 23. 
 " Synod, when there is no quorum, 32. 
 " " may call meetings of Synod, 34. 
 
 '' " may not postpone regular meeting, 34. 
 
 " General Assembly, no vote distinct from the 
 
 casting vote, 73. 
 " " " mode of choosing, 73. 
 
 " " " majority of all the votes 
 
 necessary to a choice, 73. 
 in case of absence of, 40. 
 communications to, 74. 
 
 (C (( 
 
 Moore, Rev. James W., 77. 
 Montgomery, Rev. Joseph, 214. 
 Music, instrumental, 14. 
 
 Narrative of Religion, 171. 
 
 " " to contain notice of ministers deceased 
 
 within the year, 171. 
 " " what has been done for promotion of 
 
 temperance, 179. 
 New England, students not to go for license to, 54. 
 Nicoll, Rev. Mr., 88. 
 Non-resident ministers, 18. 
 
 " " case of Mr. Belknap, 82. 
 
 Notes, how introduced into editions of the Constitution, 170. 
 
 ^' why not to be restored, 171. 
 Notice of appeal, 98. 
 
 Oath, irregular to receive as evidence statements not made 
 
 under solemnity of an, 262. 
 Oaths, right of Moderators to administer, 91. 
 
 " prescribed and administered by ecclesiastical authori- 
 ties do not conflict with statutes prescribing man- 
 ner of administering oaths by magistrates, 91. 
 Oneida Presbytery divided, 37. 
 
 Opinions, without reasons to be given on calling the roll, 102. 
 " case sent back to give appellant opportunity of 
 stating correctly, certain, 103. 
 Ordination, sine titulo, 66. 
 
 Ordination sine titulo, not necessary to consult superior 
 judicatory before proceeding to, 69. 
 
 " " when allowable, 06, 08, 71. 
 
 25 - 
 
290 INDEX. 
 
 Ordination, sine titulo, not allowable where the person is to 
 labour in the bounds of another 
 Presbytery, 69. 
 " hasty, 70. 
 
 Original parties, 115. 
 
 Orphans, baptism of in mission schools, 133. 
 Overture, refusal to adopt, no ground of appeal or complaint, 
 97. 
 
 Papers bearing on a case, distribution of, 81. 
 Parsonages, 172. 
 Pastor, election of, 58. 
 
 Pastoral relation, no appeal lies from dissolution of, 97. 
 Personal attendance of appellant or complainant not essen- 
 tial, 110, 117. 
 Pennsylvania, election of trustees to be made only when the 
 
 Geg.eral Assembly meets in, 180. 
 Peoria, churches of 30, 117. 
 Philadelphia, Synod of, rebuked, 28. 
 
 " Presbytery of, divided, 38. 
 
 " Second and Third Presbytery of, 38. 
 
 « Third church, 58; Fifth church, 96, 97, 169. 
 
 Plan of Union of 1758, 183. 
 " " of 1801, 233. 
 
 « " '' results of, 234. 
 
 " '^ " abrogated, 237. 
 
 Pledge to Board of Education, 57. 
 Prayer for Greneral Assembly, 172. 
 Precipitancy, ground of sustaining an appeal, 102. 
 Presbyter cannot be excluded except by regular process, 20, 
 
 86, 213. 
 Presbytery, constituent members of, 17. 
 '' quorum of, 20. 
 
 ^^ duty of, in the matter of sessional records, 15. 
 '^ " to non-resident members, 18, 81. 
 
 " " to examine all applicants for admission, 
 
 212. 
 " " in relation to candidates, 57. 
 
 " " where common fame accuses all the 
 
 acting members of a session, 47. 
 " right of, to divide a church against the wishes 
 
 of a majority of its members, 22. 
 " " to judge of qualifications of members, 
 
 20, 209. 
 " " to refuse admission, 209. 
 
INDEX. 291 
 
 Presbytery, right of, to appeal or complain of act of Synod 
 dissolving it, 95, 117. 
 " not to be erected without geographical limits, 27. 
 " may meet out of geographical limits, 21. 
 
 " Synod may order meeting of, 29. 
 
 " who may call special meetings of, 23. 
 " right of elders in, 19. 
 " in relation to bounds of, 18. 
 
 " where members of other Presbyteries reside in 
 
 bounds of, 82. 
 ^* action of in receiving a minister, valid and final, 
 
 28, 212. 
 « a a irregularly restoring a deposed min- 
 
 ister, 86. 
 " the delegation of judicial power of, 21, 22. 
 " may not dismiss or receive congregations, 22. 
 " cannot exclude a member without process, 20. 
 " may not vote in Synod on approval of their re- 
 cords, 28 ; on adoption of report of Judicial 
 Committee in relation to them, 28. 
 " Commissioners from new, 42. 
 " Philadelphia, 15, 91, 211; Second and Third 
 Philadelphia, 38, 95; Huntingdon, 36; Car- 
 lisle, 36; Albany, 36; Oneida, 37; Wil- 
 mington, 39, 117; Lewes, 51, 160; Charles- 
 ton, 207; South Carolina, 207; Dutchess 
 county, '206; Cumberland, 132. 
 Postmaster ofiiciating on the Sabbath, 112. 
 Postponement of meeting of Synod, 31. 
 Price, Mr. David, 105. 
 Principal and alternate, 77. 
 Process of scandal, 127. 
 Proofs, Scripture, 173. 
 
 Proprietor of stage, carrying mails on the Sabbath, 112. 
 Pro re nata meetings, 23, 21, 157. 
 Publication, Board of, 197. 
 Publication of sentence of deposition, when to be made, 89. 
 
 Qualifications of members. Presbytery the judge of, 20, 209. 
 Quorum of Session, 13. 
 
 " of Presbytery, 20. 
 
 " " on failure of, 24, 157. 
 
 " of Synod, 25, 32. 
 
 " only business to be transacted on failure of, 158, 225. 
 
 Rankin, Rev. Adam, 75. 
 
292 INDEX. 
 
 Reading sermons in the pulpit, 173. 
 
 Keasons must be assigned with order to reconsider, 29. 
 
 " for their judgment, to be entered on record, 118. 
 Rebuke, irregular in reversing a sentence, to leave the 
 
 guilty without, 116. 
 Recommendation of books, 175. 
 Reconsider, reasons to be given with order to, 29. 
 
 " when it is better to make a reference of a case 
 
 than to, 122. 
 Record, amendment of, 115. 
 
 ** by consent of parties, papers may be read not of 
 
 the, 100. 
 " what may be omitted in reading the, 101. 
 Records, annual examination of Sessional, 15. 
 
 " transcript of Sy nodical, 35. 
 
 Reference of judicial case to Greneral Association of Con- 
 necticut, 120. 
 Reference to superior judicatory of a case, when advisable, 122. 
 Remonstrances, 15, 92. 
 Reports, Statistical, 174. 
 
 " Presbyterial, to be entered on Sy nodical Re- 
 cords, 36. 
 " evil, when not shown to have been circulated in 
 
 performance of indispensable duty, 107. 
 '^ evil, privilege of person censured for circulation 
 of, 107. 
 Request of people, necessary preliminary to division of a 
 
 church, 118. 
 Restoration, irregular, not annulled by rescinding the vote 
 to restore, 86. 
 " will not advise it till the Synod has been con- 
 
 sulted, 87. 
 " of deposed minister left to Presbytery in whose 
 
 bounds he resides, 83. 
 " Synod having on appeal reversed the sentence 
 
 of suspension. Presbytery may refuse to de- 
 cree, 87. 
 " partial submission to sentence, a bar to, 83. 
 
 " may take place when ends of discipline are 
 
 supposed to be attained, 88. 
 " of Elder to church privileges does not rein- 
 
 state him in office, 48. 
 Review of a minute, appeal will lie from refusal of a, 93. 
 " of proceedings must be ordered when they are de- 
 clared unconstitutional and irregular, A2^;pendix. 
 
n^DEX. 293 
 
 Kogcrs, Rev. Wm. S., 75. 
 
 lioU of communicants, not to embrace name of pastor or 
 supply, 16. 
 i( " names of members, long absent in 
 
 places unknown, to remain on, 127. 
 " Presbytery, name of suspended minister to remain 
 on, 88. 
 Roll, in calling the, opinions without reasons arc to be 
 given, 102. 
 " members of judicatory appealed from, not heard be- 
 fore, cannot speak after completing the calling of 
 the, 101. 
 Romans, Barnes's Notes on, 245. 
 Romish Baptism, invalid, 136. 
 
 '' Schools, 176. 
 Rules, neglect of, ground for sustaining an appeal, 102, 104. 
 
 Sabbath, 142. 
 
 Sacraments, liberty to missionaries in dispensing, 177. 
 
 " caution as to invading bounds in dispensing, 177. 
 
 Sale of intoxicating drinks, 146. 
 Scruples about appeals, 177. 
 
 " " Infant baptism, 144. 
 
 Sealing ordinances, admission to, 141. 
 
 " " exclusion from, to be specified where it 
 
 is intended to inflict it on deposed or 
 suspended persons, 89. 
 Sentence, if disproportionate, to be reversed, 102. 
 
 " duty of judicatory appealed from, on reversal of 
 
 disproportionate, 105. 
 " if vague and inconsistent, to be reversed, 108. 
 " irregular in sustaining a judgment, to pronounce 
 " a new and severe, 106. 
 
 " irregular in reversing a sentence, to leave the 
 
 guilty without rebuke, 116. 
 " copy of, to be given to those on whom it is passed, 
 102. 
 Sermon, Synod censurable for opening its sessions without 
 
 a, 35. 
 Sermon, at opening of Presbytery may be preached by a 
 
 member of another Presbytery, 24. 
 Session, quorum of, 13. 
 " • Moderator of, 14. 
 
 " Presbytery to call annually for records of, 15. 
 " may convene the congregation for election of ciders, 
 46. 
 
294 INDEX. 
 
 Session, Presbytery must commence process, wlien common 
 fame accuses all the acting members of, 47. 
 " on receiving a member certified to be under sus- 
 pension, may not review the case, 125. 
 '^ may exercise discretion in relation to persons 
 applying for admission and having doubts of 
 infant baptism, 144. 
 " has no right to grant the request of a member for 
 
 a dissolution of his connection. Appendix. 
 " special with judicial powers, 21. 
 Sessions, to be interrogated concerning pastoral care of bap- 
 tized children, 78, 
 '^Setting aside of proceedings," how to be understood, 106. 
 Shepherd, Rev. John, 86. 
 
 Sine titulo, rule respecting ordinations in Ireland, 66. 
 " when allowable to ordain, 66, 68. 
 
 " leave of a superior judicatory not necessary 
 
 before proceeding to ordain, 67. 
 " injunctions to Presbytery in regard to ordina- 
 
 tions, 69, 70. 
 " cases of leave given by the Assembly to ordain, 
 
 ^68,71. 
 Slavery, baptism of children held in, 130. 
 
 " advice to persons having scruples concerning, 
 
 Appendix. 
 " Minute of 1818, Appendix. 
 Slaves, right of, to present their children for baptism, 131. 
 Skinner, Rev. Dr. John, 97. 
 Smith, Rev. David M., 76. 
 Specialty in charges, 79. 
 Special session, 21, 32. 
 
 " meetings of Presbytery, who may call, 23, 29. 
 ^^ ^' ^^ to be called when Presby- 
 
 tery fails to meet on ad- 
 journment, 24. 
 " " " may be ordered by Synod, 29. 
 
 Spicer, Rev. Jabez, 102. 
 Standards, 60, 181. 
 
 Stated meeting of Presbytery, failure of, 24. 
 Students in divinity, 49. 
 
 under whom they may study, 49, 56. 
 under what Presbytery they must put 
 
 themselves, 49. 
 preliminary before taking on trials, 55. 
 duty of Presbytery to, 56. 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 li 
 
INJ)EX. 295 
 
 Supplies, ITS. 
 
 Suspended members, when they may be dismissed, 125. 
 Suspension from office not removed by restoration to church 
 privileges, 48. 
 " when it may be inflicted on ministers as soon as 
 
 charges are tabled, 81. 
 " may be removed when it is supposed the ends 
 
 of discipline are attained, 85. 
 Synod, definition of, 25. 
 
 " right of vacant congregations to be represented in, 25. 
 " may condemn errors of a book in the author's ab- 
 sence, 26. 
 " may receive a Presbytery in certain case, 27. 
 " may censure a Presbytery for receiving a minis- 
 ter, 28. 
 " may call witnesses in hearing a complaint against a 
 
 Presbytery, 29. 
 " may order a Presbytery to meet for specified busi- 
 ness, 29. 
 '^ may not try a minister whose case has not conje up 
 
 on reference or appeal, 26. 
 " may not order a Presbytery to rescind a vote restor- 
 ing a person under censure to the ministry, 28. 
 " may not erect Presbyteries without geographical 
 
 limits, 27. 
 " instance of transcending its powers, 26, 30. 
 " commissions of, 31. 
 '' called meetings of, 34. 
 ^^ adjourned meetings of, 34. 
 Synodical Records, 35. 
 
 Tammany street congregation, Baltimore, (Rev. John M. 
 
 Duncan's,) 60. 
 Teacher, leave to ordain sine titulo, a person intending to 
 
 remain a, 68. 
 Temperance, 179. 
 
 Territory, unassigned, disposed of, 179. 
 Testimony, committee to inquire into alleged new, 121. 
 
 '^ where change of aspect in the case is equivalent 
 
 to new, 122. 
 " authenticated by Moderator and Clerk of Ses- 
 
 sion, sufficient in all cases, 91. 
 " reconsideration ordered where there was irregu- 
 
 larity in nature of the, 103. 
 " appeal sustained where the judicatory appealed 
 
296 INDEX. 
 
 from did not send up authenticated copy of 
 tlie, 115. 
 Theatre, 161. 
 
 Theological Seminary, 198. 
 Transfer of cause, notice to be given to accused of, 262. 
 
 " of congregation, 180. 
 Trial, new, when ordered, 103. 
 
 " where sentence is reversed for exceptionable 
 
 irregularity the appellant may demand a, 104. 
 Trustees of the G-eneral Assembly, 180. 
 
 Unemployed ministers, to be reported to Board of Mis- 
 sions, 181. 
 
 Unitarianism, 131. 
 
 Universalism, professors of belief in, not to be admitted to 
 sealing ordinances, 144. 
 
 Vacant, when a congregation is to be considered, 20. 
 " congregations, rights of, 20, 25. 
 " Presbytery must interrogate representatives of con- 
 gregations, 75. 
 Vote, who may vote in election of Elders, 44. 
 " " appeals, 113. 
 
 " appeal sustained where no direct vote was taken in 
 
 the Court below on the case, 108. 
 " judicatories may not vote on question of approval of 
 their records, 28. Appendix. 
 
 "Way of Salvation,'' 244. 
 
 Wells, Rev. Shipley, 20. 
 
 Western Theological Seminary, 205. 
 
 Withdrawing of parties to be taken literally, 101. 
 
 " from exercise of the ministry, 217, 218. 
 
 " to join other denominations, 217. 
 
 " returning after, 218. 
 
 Without charge, ministers, their rights, 17. 
 
 " " to be reported to the Board of 
 
 Missions, 181. 
 Witnesses, 90. 
 
 " Synod has power, in hearing a case, to call, 29. 
 Woodhull, Rev. Wm., 214. 
 Wylie, Rev. Dr. Andrew, 107. 
 
 Yale, Mr. Charles, 98. 
 
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