BX 9190 .S8 1907 Stephens, John Vant, 1857-1946 Presbyterian government PRESBYTERIAN GOVERNMENT John \. Stephens, D. 1). Professor of Church History and Church Polity in ihe Presbyterian Theological Seminary Lebanon, Tennessee NASHVILLE, TENN. THE CUMBERLAND PRESS 1907 eoPTRroHT, IQOT, John V. Stbphbns. A PRELIMINARY WORD. The publication of tliis little book has been occasioned (1) by experience acquired in the lecture room, in reviewing theological students in the outlines of Presbyterian polity, and (2) in answering questions propounded by presby- ters from the field of practical work. It has been the purpose to condense into a "Vest- Pocket" size, the main points in Presbyterian law and usage, constantly arising in adminis- tering the affairs of the Church. It is not the purpose, however, that this un- pretentious little volume should be substituted for exhaustive treatises on Presbyterian polity ; but, on the other hand, it is hoped that the use of these pages may stimulate a desire to con- sult other books, in which the various subjects are treated at greater length. Special mention should be made of the following books, all of -which are earnestly recommended. 1. "The Presbyterian Digest of 1907." This book is indispensable to the student of our Presbyterian polity. Price, $3.50, net, postpaid. 2. "What Is Presbyterian Law as Defined by the Church Courts?" This book, by Dr. J. A. Hodge, is a very able and clear treatise on the ♦•ntire subject. Price, $1.75, postpaid. 3. "Manual of Presbyterian Law and Usage." Dr. B. F. Bittinger has condensed a surprising amount of well-classified information into a very small compass. Price, 75 cents, postpaid. 4. "A Manual for Ruling Elders." Dr. Wm. H. Roberts, Stated Clerk of the General Assem- (iii) IV A PRELIMINARY WORD bly, has prepared this book, a copy of which should be in the hands of the clerk of every Session for use in that body. With a copy of this excellent volume at hand, no Session need blunder in the performance of their duty. Price, $1.10, postpaid. 5. "The Book of Common Worship." This book, prepared "for voluntary use" by a com- mittee under appointment by the General As- sembly, will be found very helpful in forms for various purposes. Price, 35 cents, postpaid. 6. "Laws Relating to Religious Corporations." This large volume was prepared under the direc- tion of the General Assembly, by Dr. Wm. H. Roberts, "being a collection of the general stat- utes of the several states and territories for the incorporation and management of churches, religious societies. Presbyteries, Synods, etc." In this work the answers will be found to many questions of a legal nature, which are constantly arising. Price, $.3.00, net postpaid. JoHX V. Stephens. Theological Seminary, Lebanon, Tcnii., Se]}t. 16, 1907. CONTENTS. Abbreviations vi CHAPTER I. Ppesbytk;rian Government '. 1 CHAPTER II. The Particular Church '( CHAPTER III. The Church Session 31 CHAPTER IV. The Presbytery 51 CHAPTER V. The Synod O.S CHAPTER VI. The General Assembly 107 CHAPTER VII. General Rules for Judicatories 125 CHAPTER VIII. Additional Rules 1.35 CHAPTER IX. Classification of Rules 141 Order of Business 154 Index 157 (V) ABBREVIATIONS. A. G. A. designates the "Acts of the G eral Assembly," A. R. Additional Rules < Judicatories). I Bittinger •Presbyterian Law 1 Usage." B. D. Book of Discipline. C. F. Confession of Faitl C. R. Constitutional Rule Digest Presbyterian Digest 1907. Digest, 188(J Presbyterian Diges; 1886. D. W. Directory for Wors F. G. Form of Governm G. A. General Assembly. G. R. J. General Rules for: dlcatories. Hodge "What is Presbyten Law?" L. C. Larger Catechism. M. G. A. Manual of the Gem Assembly. Min. G. A. Minutes of the Gec! Assembly. N. S. New School. 0. S. Old School. Roberts "Manual for Rvis Elders." S. C. Shorter Catechism (vi) CHAPTER I. Presbyterian Government. "It is absolutely necessary that the gov- ernment of the Church be exercised under some certain and definite form. And we hold it to be expedient, and agreeable to Scripture and the practice of the primi- tive Christians, that the Church be gov- erned by congregational, presbyterial, and synodical assemblies. In full consistency with this belief, we embrace, in the spirit of charity, those Christians who differ from us, in opinion, or in practice, on these subjects."— F. a, Ch. VIII, Sec. 1. There are four grades of courts in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. These are the Session, the Presbytery, the Synod, and the General Assembly. In the operation of these Church courts, the following regulations, for the most part, are common to all. I. MODERATOR. — "It is equally neces- sary in the judicatories of the Church, as in other assemblies, that there should be a moderator or president; that the busi- ness may be conducted with order and dis- patch."— F. G., Ch. XIX, Sec. 1. Read also section 2, which shows that the moderator possesses his "authority" to preside "by delegation from the whole body." See General Rules for Judicatories, IV- VIII, this work. Chapter VII. (1) 2 PRESBYTERIAN "In appointing the standing- committees, the moderator may appoint a vice-modera- tor, who may occupy the chair at his re- quest, and otherwise assist him in the dis- charge of his duties." — G. R. J., VII. The Moderator does not have a double vote, i. e., one as a member of the judica- tory, and another as Moderator. — Digest, p. 262. II. CLERK. — "Every judicatory shall choose a clerk, to record their transac- tions, whose continuance shall be during pleasure." — F. G., Ch. XX. "The Constitu- tion knows nothing of the Temporary Clerk as distinguished from the Stated Clerk. As far as any provision of the 'Book' is involved, it is plain that a judi- catory may select any convenient person, though not a member, to record its trans- actions, and discharge all other duties per- taining to a clerk." — Digest, p. 188. ^ In answering a memorial, in 1893, the Assembly refused to fix "a time limit" for the service of clerks of the various judi- catories. — Digest, p. 586; in 1900, it refused "to make any change in the tenure of the offices of [its] Stated and Permanent Clerks."— Digest, p. 985. III. RECORDS. — "It shall be the duty of the clerk, besides recording the transac- tions, to preserve the records carefully; and to grant extracts from them, when- ever properly required: and such extracts, under the hand of the clerk, shall be con- sidered as authentic vouchers of the fact which they declare, in any ecclesiastical judicatory, and to every part of the Church."— F. G., Ch. XX. 1. Subject to review. — "All proceedings GOVERNMENT. 3 of the Session, the Presbytery, and the Synod (except as limited by chapter xi, section 4, of the Form of Government), are subject to review by, and may be taken to, a superior judicatory, by general review and control, reference, complaint or appeal." — B. D., Sec. 70. Read also B. D.. Sees. 71-76. 2. Approved.^"A record, once approved by a higher court, cannot be altered or annulled by a lower one. If there be an error in the record, the remedy is to be sought by an application to the highest judicatory that has endorsed such mis- take." — Digest, p. 174, IV. A Q,UORUM. — "The law of a quorum is not a mere rule of procedure, a pro- vision of order, but a matter respecting the very being of the judicatory. Any number of members less than a constitu- tional quorum do not make a judicatory, and are not competent to any organic act." — Digest, p. 160. "If a quorum be assembled at the time appointed, and the moderator be absent, the last moderator present, being a com- missioner, or, if there be none, the senior member present, shall be requested to take his place without delay, until a new elec- tion." — G. R. J., II.* "If a quorum be not assembled at the ♦While this rule is especially applicable to the Assembly, it has been recommended "to all the lower judicatories." So by analogy, in the absence of the moderator of the Synod or Presbytery, the last mod- erator present, being a member, would preside, or if there be none, then the oldest member present, until an election, unless the judicatory order otherwise. 4 PRESBYTERIAN hour appointed, any two members shall be competent to adjourn from time to time, that an opportunity may be given for a quorum to assemble." — G. R. J., III. V. PRAYER.-x-It is provided that each "session" of the Presbytery, the Synod, and the Assembly "shall be opened and closed with prayer." "A single session of a judicatory is understood to be a single sitting, or the sitting of a single day when continued, even though interrupted by a recess or recesses." — Digest, p. 971. (See A. R., 21.) If "an ecclesiastical court has been opened by devotional exercises this shall be a sufficient substitute for an open- ing prayer." — Digest, p. 977. VI. PRIVATE SESSIONS "All judica- tories have a right to sit in private, on business, which in their judgment ought not to be matter of public speculation." — G. R. J., XXXVIII. "In all cases of judicial process, the judicatory may, at any stage of the case, determine, by a vote of two-thirds, to sit with closed doors." — B. D., Sec. 31. VII. INTERLOCUTORY MEETINGS. — "Besides the right to sit judicially in pri- vate, whenever they think proper to do so, all judicatories have a right to hold what are commonly called 'interlocutory meetings,' in which members may freely converse together, without the formalities which are usually necessary in judicial proceedings." — G. R. J., XXXIX. See this work. Chapter VIII, 5, "Committee of the Whole." VIII. FINAL. CLOSING OF SESSIONS. — "The moderator of every judicatory above the church Session, in finally closing its GOVERNMENT. 5 sessions, in addition to prayer, may cause to be sung an appropriate psalm or liymn, and shall pronounce the apostolical bene- diction." — G. R. J., XLIII. IX. WARNING. — "A judicatory may be solemnly called upon to warn the churches under its care, and especially the rising generation, against an erroneous book Avhile the author may not be within their bounds, or immediately responsible at their bar, and while, even if he were thus responsible and within their reach, they might not think it necessary to arraign him as a heretic. To deny our judica- tories, as guardians of the churches, this right would be to deny them one of the most precious and powerful means of bearing testimony against dangerous sen- timents, and guarding the children of the Church against 'that instruction which causeth to err.' " — Digest, p. 156. CHAPTER II. The Particular Church. "A particular church consists of a num- ber of professing Christians, with their offspring, voluntarily associated together, for divine worship and godly living, agree- ably to the Holy Scriptures; and submit- ting to a certain form of government." — F. G., Ch. II, Sec. 4. "The Church being divided into many separate congregations, these need mutual counsel and assistance, in order to pre- serve soundness of doctrine, and regular- ity of discipline, and to enter into com- mon measures for promoting knowledge and religion, and for preventing infidelity, error, and immorality." — F. G., Ch. X, Sec. 1. "The particular church is the primary organic unit in that system of church government which has been adopted by Presbyterians. Its organization, by the voluntary association of a number of be- lievers, is the first step in the efficient extension and practical operation of the Presbyterian polity. Though governed by the Session, it elects both pastor, elders and deacons. It is the reason why Pres- bytery as a judicatory exists." — Roberts, p. 314. Church versus congrregation. — "In our 'Form of Government' the word 'congrega- (7) 8 THE PARTICULAR tion' is sometimes used for an organized church, but often a distinction is mad© between the church and the congregation. The former is composed of believers and their children under regularly-ordained officers. Tlie congregation is sometimes used, as in the 'Directory for Worship/ ch. i, to designate those who assemble in one place for public worship; and some- times, as in the 'Form of Government/ ch. ^ XV, the church, together with those who contribute to the support of the work of the church, and, according to the cus- tom, or the charter of the particular church, or the laws of the State, form a recognized body, with certain powers, chiefly in relation to the holding of prop- erty. By our 'Form of Government' every communicant of the church is a member of the congregation, and has a voice in everything that comes before it; but the usage or charter of the particular church may determine who else may be mem- bers of the congregation — sometimes the heads of families, or all male contributors, or all persons who do anything for the support of the church, and in some cases only those males who are admitted by vote and who sign articles of association. The congregation, thus composed, can, of course, have no spiritual jurisdiction, but can consider questions of property and such matters as the 'Form of Government' may refer to it, as the choice of a pastor." — Hodge, p. 35. See Digest, p. 878. . I. ORGANIZATION.— "A particular Pres- byterian church, so far as adults are con- cerned, is constituted and organized as auch, by a number of individuals, profess- CHURCH. 9 ing to walk tog-ether as the disciples of Jesus Christ, on the principles of the Con-? fession of Faith and Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church, and the elec- tion and ordination of one or more ruling elders, who, by the ordination servico, be- come the spiritual rulers of the persons voluntarily submitting themselves to their authority in the Lord."— A. G. A., VIII, 3. See also A. G. A., VIII, 4 (1). 1. Application to Presbytery. — "This or- ganization ought always to be made by application to the Presbytery, within the bounds of which the church to be organ- ized is found."— A. G. A., VIII, 3. "It is not the prerogative of a minister of the gospel to organize churches without the previous ac<^ion of some Presbytery directing or permitting it; since in Form of Govern- ment, ch. X, sec. 8, to form new congre- gations is enumerated among the powers of a Presbytery, and since in ch. iv, 'Of Bishops or Pastors,' no mention is made of any such power being lodged in the hands of an individual minister." — Digest, p. 217. Yet in "exceedingly inconvenient" cases "a duly authorized missionary" may effect organizations of new churches. — ^A. G. A., VIII, 3. But in well organized Presby- teries, the Presbytery should reserve this right to itself. "No church shall be organized by a mis- sionary within the limits of any Presby- tery, unless authority has been previously obtained from the Presbytery." — Digest, p. 217. 2. Elders and deacons. — "The first act of the newly organized church should be the 13 THE PARTICULAB election, under the supervision of the committee of Presbytery, of ruling elders and deacons. The committee should at once appoint a minister of the Presbytery as moderator of the Session, until the church shall elect a pastor, and the Pres- bytery takes further action. The Com- mittee of Presbytery should carefully con- sider the character and other qualifica- tions of every candidate for ruling elder or deacon, and should discountenance the election or ordination of those who appear unsuitable. When, however, proper per- sons cannot be found among the communi- cants for church officers, all the facts should be reported to Presbytery, which should regard the organization as poten- tially a church, and therefore entitled to enrollment and supervision; but as imper- fect in its condition, being disqualified, lacking the proper officers, from exercis- ing government and discipline, and from representation in the judicatories of the Church. The Presbytery should therefore appoint a Special Committee to take the oversight of the church." — A. G. A., VIII, 4. II, OFFICERS. — "The ordinary and per- petual officers in the Church are bishops or pastors; the representatives of the peo- ple, usually styled ruling elders; and dea- cons." — F. G., Ch. Ill, Sec. 2. "That though the character, qualifica- tions, and authority of church officers, are laid down in the Holy Scriptures, as well as the proper method of their investiture and institution; yet the election of the persons to the exercise of this authority, in any particular society, is in that so- ciety."— F. G., Ch. I, Sec. 6. CHURCH. 11 1. The Pastor. — "The pastoral office is the first in the Church, both for dignity and usefulness. The person who fills this office, hath, in Scripture, obtained different names expressive of his various duties." — F. G., Ch. IV. "The General Assembly deems it important to reiterate and en- force the doctrine of our Standards in regard to the pastoral relation, as the scriptural, apostolic, and permanent order for the edifying of the body of Christ and the extension of saving influences througli out the world." — Digest, p. 144. (1) Choosing a pastor. — "It is the cus- tom in some congregations, when they are vacant, for the Session to call a meeting of the congregation, and to request the appointment of a committee to have charge of the matter of securing a pastor." Or the Session may "conduct all the pre- liminary proceedings which have in view the call of a minister to the pastorate. While the power of the Seosion in this respect cannot be questioned, it is advisa- ble for its members to seek counsel of other persons in the congregation; for the reason that the congregation, and not the Session, have the power of final decision in the election of pastor." — Roberts, pp. 329, 330. (2) Calling a pastor — "Any church, de- siring to call a settled minister from his present charge, shall, by commissioners properly authorized, represent to the Pres- bytery the ground on which they plead his removal. The Presbytery, having ma- turely considered their plea, may, accord- ing as it appears more or less reason- able, either recommend to them to desist 12 THE PARTICULAR from prosecuting- the call, or may order it to be delivered to the minister to whom it is directed." — F. G., Ch. XVI, Sec. 2. Read the entire section carefully. "When the congreg-ation calling- any settled min- ister is within the limits of another Pres- bytery, that cong-reg-ation shall obtain leave from the Presbytery to which they belong-, to apply to the Presbytery of which he is a member; and that Presby- tery, having cited him and his congreg-a- tion as before directed, shall proceed to hear and issue the cause." — P. G., Ch. XVI, Sec. 3. Read the whole section. If a licentiate is called, attention should be g-iven to the instructions contained in the Form of Government, Ch. XV, Sees. 9 or 10, as the case may be. But before a call is prosecuted for any one, the law should be followed, carefully, according- to which the congregation Is called upon to express itself on the sub- ject, found in the Form of Government, Ch. XV, Sees, 1-5. Hodge, pp. 359-368, and Roberts, pp. 329-340. (3) Method of subscribing the call. — The call may be "subscribed by the elect- ors."— F. G., Ch. XV, Sec. 5. "But if any congregation shall choose to subscribe their call by their eldera and deacons, or by their trustees, or by a select commit- tee, they shall be at liberty to do so. But it shall, in such case, be fully certified to the Presbytery, by the minister, or other person who presided, that the per- sons signing have been appointed, for that purpose, by a public vote of the con- gregation; and that the call has been, in all other respects, prepared as above CHURCH. 13 directed." — F. G., Ch. XV, Sec. 7. "If a committee is appointed to sign the call, some of its members may be women, if the congregation so choose." — Roberts, p. 338. (4) Installation is necessary to complete the pastoral relation. — See the Form of Government, Ch. XV, Sec. 12, question 8, and Sec. 13. The minister on the one hand and the people on the other, in these .sections, publicly confirm their willingness to enter into the pastoral relation. Rob- erts, p. 347; Hodge, p. 48; Bittinger, Sec. 632; Digest, p. 148. (5) The installation service. — "When any minister is to be settled in a con- gregation, the installment, which consists in constituting a pastoral relation between him and the people of that particular church, may be performed either by the Presbytery, or by a committee appointed for that purpose, as may appear most ex- pedient."— F. G., Ch. XVI, Sec. 4. For the order of the service of the ordi- nation and the installation of a pastor,, see F. G., Ch. XV, Sees. 12-14. For the order of the service of the in- stallation of a pastor who has been pre- viously ordained, see F. G., Ch. XVI, Sees. 4-6; Ch. XV, Sees. 13, 14. For full beautiful orders for such services see "The Book of Common Wor- ship." (6) Resigning a pastoral charge. — "The Session has no power to require the resig- nation of a pastor. It may counsel him that it is best for him to resign, and may call a congregational meeting to consider the subject. The resignation must be ta 14 THE PARTICULAR the Presbytery, and only the Presbytery can accept it." — Roberts, p. 355. "When any minister shall labor under such griev- ances in his congregation, as that he shall desire leave to resign his pastoral charge, the Presbytery shall cite the congregation to appear, by their commissioners, at their next meeting, to show cause, if any they have, why the Presbytery should not ac- cept the resignation. If the congregation fail to appear, or if their reasons for re- taining their pastor be deemed by the Presbytery insufficient, he shall have leave granted to resign his pastoral charge, of which due record shall be made; and that church shall be held to be vacant, till sup- plied again, in an orderly manner, with another minister: and if any congrega- tion shall desire to be released from their pastor, a similar process, mutatis mutandis [the necessary changes being made], shall be observed." — F. G., Ch. XVII, Sec. 1. Ch. xvi, Sec. 2, of the Form of Gov- ernment, "provides that where the par- ties are prepared for the dissolution of a pastoral relation, it may be dissolved at the first meeting of Presbytery.' " — Digest, p. 578. "When no other time for its termination is explicitly fixed by the Presbytery" the pastoral relation ceases with "the action , of Presbytery dissolving such relations." — Digest, p. 578. "The custom of appointing a member of the Presbytery to declare the pulpit va- cant upon the dissolution of a pastoral relation is to be commended, in that it magnifies the sacredness and importance CHURCH, 15 Of the pastoral relation, but there is no reason why Presbyteries may not exercise their own judgment in each case, as pro- vided in Form of Government, ch. x, sec. 8, 'to order whatever pertains to the spiritual welfare of the churches under their care,' " — Digest, p. 968. (7) A vacant church. — "Every congrega- tion or church is vacant which has not a pastor duly installed." — Min. G. A., 1895, p. 102. Digest, p. 148. In 1903, the Assembly affirmed that "every church or congregation is vacant which has not a pastor duly installed or a regular supply appointed by the Pres- bytery." — Digest, p. 1075. "It may have a stated supply, who may have served them for several years (an evil to be discountenanced, and terminated as soon as practicable), or it may, with other churches, be statedly ministered unto by a domestic missionary without installation. In either case the church is vacant." — Hodge, p. 187. "When a church becomes vacant, the Session should apply through its represen- tative to Presbytery, for permission to supply the pulpit until the next stated meeting of that body. 'Under our Consti- tution, the Presbytery is officially the pas- tor of every vacant church within its bounds.' Min. G. A., 1891, p. 176."— Rob- erts, p. 225. 1^8) A stated supply. "A stated supply is a minister employed by a church, with the authority of Presbytery, for a definite time or period of service." — Digest, p. 148. "It is sometimes permitted in feeble churches in hopes of uniting the churches. 16 THE PABTICULAE or that the stated supply may be called as pastor, or in case of the prolonged sick- ness or absence of the pastor. The stated supply, as such, has no authority in the church, nor a seat or vote in the Session. When the relation of a stated supply to a church is continued beyond the emergency, it is an irregularity, an evil, and is incon- sistent with our polity." — Hodge, p. 48. If the stated supply holds his membership in the Presbytery having jurisdiction over the church he serves, he may be appointed by the Presbytery or invited by the Ses- sion to act as moderator. 2. The ruling elders.— "Ruling elders are properly the representatives of the people, chosen by them for the purpose of exercising government and discipline, in conjunction with pastors or ministers. This office has been understood, by a great part of the Protestant Reformed Churches, to be designated in the Holy Scriptures, by the title of governments; and of those who rule well, but do not labor in the word and doctrine." — F. G., Ch. V. (1) The election of ruling elders. — "Every congregation shall elect persons to the office of ruling elder, and to the office of deacon, or either of them, in the mode most approved and in use in that congre- gation."— P. G., Ch. Xin, Sec. 2. (2) Constitutional qualifications. — "But in all cases the persons elected must be male members in full communion in the church in which they are to exercise their office."— F. G., Ch. XHI, Sec. 2. (3) For what length of time are they to be elected? — "The offices of ruling elder and deacon are both perpetual, and cannot CHURCH. 17 be laid aside at pleasure." — P. G., Ch. XIII, Sec. 6. "If any particular church, by a vote of members in full communion, shall prefer to elect ruling elders or deacons for a limited time in the exercise of their functions, this may be done; provided, the full time be not less than three years, and the Session or board of deacons be made to consist of three classes, one of which only shall be elected every year; and provided, that elders, once ordained, shall not be divested of the office when they are not re-elected, but shall be entitled to repre- sent that particular church in the higher judicatories, when appointed by the Ses- sion or the Presbytery."— F. G., Ch. XIII, Sec. 8. (4) An election retires acting elders. — • "So soon, therefore, as any particu- lar church, under this new provision of the Constitution, shall determine, by a vote of its members, in full communiony to elect elders for a limited time, and they shall be elected and set apart to their office, elders in office by virtue of an earlier appointment cease to be acting elders, in that particular church." — Digest, p. 541, (a) In term service the elders should be elected for a term of three years. — Digest, p. 543. (b) But "if, in introducing the system of term service, it is found neces- sary to elect one or more classes for less than three years, so as ultimately to make the classes three, and the term of service three years, it is lawful to do so." — Digest, p. 543. (c) "When from necessity there can be but one elder, for the time being, he may be elected for three years, as pro- 2 18 THE PARTICULAB vided in ch. xiii, sec. S, and re-elected at the end of that term; and the division into classes as provided in that section should take place as the Session can be increased in number." — Digest, p. 542. (d) Term-service elders not re-elected on the expiration of their terms of service, so long as they remain members of the churches which they served, "may become members Of any of the courts of the Church above the Session." — Digest, p. 543. This ruling does not apply to life-service elders who may have retired from the exercise of their official functions in the particular churches, in such cases, the Assembly holding "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 Presby- tery, Synod or General Assembly." — Digest, p. 537. (5) Who may vote in the election of ruling elders? — "Commvinicants in good standing are qualified voters at the elec- tion of ruling elders and deacons." — Digest, p. 531. "The rolls of communi- cant members in good standing in the possession of the clerks of Sessions shall be the authoritative lists of voters at church meetings." — Digest, p. 531. Hodge, p. 307, and Roberts, p. 83. (6) Who determines the time of an elec- tion? — "The Session of a church should always be consulted with reference to call- ing a meeting for the election of addi- tional ruling elders; and it is irregular to call a meeting for such a purpose, and proceed to an election, unless the meeting is called through and by authority of the CHURCH. 19 Session or some higher court." — Digest, p. 526. (7) Who is to preside at a congrega- tional meeting, held for the purpose of electing elders? — "The officers of the Ses- sion are ex-officio the officers of the con- gregational meeting." — Hodge, p. 306. "Is the pastor of a church, by virtue of his office, the moderator of a meeting of the communicants of his church called to elect ruling elders and deacons, and will the answer to this question also apply to regu- larly appointed moderators of Sessions who are not pastors? It is recommended that these questions be answered in the affirmative." — Digest, p. 526. (8) The mode of election. — The Form of Government, ch. xiii, sec. 2, provides that the election shall be held "in the mode most approved and in use in that con- gregation." This phrase "refers histori- cally to (1) nominations by the Session, (2) additions to the existing eldership, (3) qualifications of voters, and (4) length of service by the elder." — Roberts, p. 79. But "the mode most approved" may be changed by the church. — Digest, p. 529. In calling a meeting for the election of elders, neither "the manner of election" nor "the parties to be elected" can be specified; for the congregation must be left to "its constitutional right to elect such parties as to it may seem best." — Digest, p. 1068. (9) Elders must be ordained. — The As- sembly has held that an elder-elect is not competent to sit in the Session before ordination. — Digest, p. 534. (10) Mode of ordination. — The Form of 20 THE PAETICULAB Government, ch. xiii, sec. 4, provides Ihat "the candidate" shall be set apart "by prayer." Nothing is said about the laying on of hands. Some churches practice the laying on of hands (which is approved by the Assembly), and some do not. It is left "to the discretion of each church Session to determine the mode of ordination in as circumstances may determine." — B. D., Sec. 71. "Resolved, That it be and it hereby is required of all the Presbyteries within the bounds of the General Assembly an- nually to call up and examine the ses-- sional records of the several churches un- der their care, as directed in the Book of Discipline." — Digest, p. 213. 5. To resolve questions of doctrine or- discipline — P. G., Ch. X, Sec. 8. "It can- S2 THE PRESBYTERY. not change the forms of doctrine or of discipline, but it can declare the meaning and application of the standards of our Church in reply to overtures from the Session. These deliverances, however, are l^inding- only over the churches under the care of that Presbytery, and may be re- versed by the higher courts on review or on complaint." — Hodge, p. 231. ^ To condemn erroneous opinions.— F. G., Ch. X, Sec. S. See this work. Chapter I, Section IX. 7. To visit churches. — F. G., Ch. X, Sec. 8, It has been held that the Presbytery ^has the right to exercise this power "without being requested by the Session" so to do. — Digest, p. 214. "This may be done (1) on the petition of the Session or of any person or persons in the church; (2) or without any such request, the Pres- bytery having reason to believe that there may be evils that need its influence to T«€lress; or (3) in the exercise of its duty of oversight of the churches." — Hodge, v. 231. This visitation may be made by the Presbytery as a body, or by a committee. It cannot be made by a commission, since the Assembly has held that a Presbytery -cannot act by a commission "in other than .judicial business." "The evils are to be removed by the Presbytery through the Session, to which body the members of the church are pri- marily responsible. An elder may be, by ■ advice of Presbytery, with or without his consent, retired from the active duties of his office. If the visit is by a committee, the power of the committee depends upon THE PRESBYTERY. 83 the will of the Presbytery.' — Hodg-e, p. 232. (1) The dissolution of a church is in the discretion of Presbytery. — "A Presbytery, in the exercise of the powers given it by section 8, chapter x, of our Form of Government, must be its own judg-e as to the causes that are sufficient to justify it in dissolving any church in its connection. If any wrong is done to a church by such a presbyterial act its remedy is to be found in an appeal to a higher judica- tory."— Digest, p. 216. "The action of the Synod of Philadelphia and of the Pres- bytery of Philadelphia, North, in the prem- ises, was by the General Assembly re- versed, for the reason that Hermon church had no previous notice of the contemplated action of the Presbytery in dissolving the church." See full account of this case in the Digest, p. 217. (2) A church may not withdraw from Presbytery without the latter's consent. — "So far as it is ecclesiastically concerned, it cannot withdraw regularly without first asking- consent and leave of the Presby- tery under whose care and jurisdiction it voluntarily places itself. Questions of property must be determined by the courts of the State." — Digest, p. 215. 8. To unite or divi<1e oongregations at the request of the people, or to form or receive new congrregations, and in general to order whatever pertains to the spiritual welfare of the churches under their care.— F. G., Ch. X, Sec. S. (1) Unite churches. — The General As- sembly in 1896 held that Presbytery has power to unite churches. — Dig-est, p. 220. 84 THE PRESBYTERY. (2) Divide churches. — The General As- sembly in 1S96, also held that "the Pres- bytery are competent to divide a church on the petition of a portion of its mem- bers, and especially of a majority of its members." — Digest, p. 219. (3) Sole power. — The General Assembly of 1896 resolved that "Presbytery, under our form of government, has the sole power, within its jurisdiction, to form, unite, and divide churches." — Digest, p. 218. For presbyterial authority in the organization of churches, see this book, Chapter II, Section I. (4) The location of a new church. — "Overture proposing the following ques- tion: 'Does chapter x, section 8, of the Form of Government, defining the powers of the Presbytery, give the Presbytery the right to exercise control over the erection of church buildings within its bounds, both in the case of new organizations expecting to build and of old congrega- tions proposing a change of location?' An- swered in the affirmative." — Digest, p. 219. (5) Spiritual welfare. — Presbytery may order whatever pertains to the spiritual welfare of the churches under its care. — F. G., Ch. X, Sec. 8. (a) A Presbytery dissolves a pastoral relation on its own discretion, for the peace and welfare of the church. — Digest, p. 220. (b) The Presbytery exercises power over tlie pulpits of its vacant churches. "Every church or congregation is vacant which has not a pastor duly installed or a regu- lar supply appointed by the Presbytery." ■ — Digest, p. 1075. "Stated supplies should THE PRESBYTERY. 85 not preach in the pulpits of any Presby- tery without its consent; and when the consent is refused, the Presbytery to which such minister serving as stated sup- ply belongs, being- notified, should recall him within its own bounds. The Presby- tery has power to determine who shall statedly preach in the pulpits of its churches." — Digest, p. 222. (c) "In order that every member of the congregation may be trained to give of his substance systematically, and as the Lord has prospered him, to promote the preach- ing of the gospel in all the world and to every creature, according to the com- mand of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is proper and very desirable that an opportunity be given for offerings by the congregations in this behalf every Lord's Day, and that, in accordance with the Scriptures, the bringing of such offerings be performed as a solemn act of worship to almighty God."— D. W., Ch. VI, Sec. 1. Read also Sees. 2-5. The Assembly has enacted "that each Presbytery be charged to encourage in all its churches some plan of systematic giv- ing to every Board, according to ch. vi. Directory for Worship, and to this end that it be made an item of regular busi- ness at one of the stated meetings of Presbytery each year to call the roll of the churches and hear their responses on this matter; and their reasons for not con- tributing shall not be sustained unless they are special and satisfactory." — Di- gest, p. 1117. (6) The Presbytery must see that pul- pits are supplied, where there are no pas- 86 THE PRESBYTERY. tors. — "Every Presbytery shall arxang-e for the supply of the vacant pulpits with- in its bounds either by direct action at a meeting or through a committee. The Session of a vacant church may receive leave to supply the pulpit for a period to be fixed by Presbytery, subject to the limitation contained in the fourth section of this chapter. Ministers, licentiates, and local evangelists connected with the Pres- byteries of this church shall be the only persons to be employed as regular sup- plies in vacant churches. It shall be the duty of ministers not engaged in regular church work to render service in vacant congregations within the bounds of their respective Presbyteries, unless excused by act of Presbytery. Ministers of other denominations in correspondence with this General Assembly may be employed as occasional supplies. When the pulpit of any congregation has been vacant for a longer period than twelve months, the appointment of ministers for the pulpit shall be made by the Presbytery, and shall continue to be so made until a pastor has been elected by the congregation and duly installed by the Presbytery." — F. G., Ch. XXI, Sees. 2-4. (7) Plan of vacancy and supply. — In 1905 the Assembly adopted the following: "Each Presbytery shall appoint a commit- tee, either an existing Standing Commit- tee or a new one, under the provisions of chapter xxi, of the Form of Govern- ment, as amended in 1901, to have super- vision of all vacant churches within its bounds, except as otherwise aranged for by the Presbytery; the term of service T1;K rUESBYTEKY. 87 of members to be not loss than threa yearj. "It shall be the duty of this Committee to prepare and keep a list of the vacant churches In the Presbytery, and of such of its unemployed ministers as are com- petent for service and not relieved from the active work of the ministry; and also to endeavor to arrange for the supply of these churches from its list of available ministers, and from such other sources as may be suggested by correspondence; all details of adjustment, such as the amount to be paid supplies, the sum to be con- tributed by the churches, and the dura- tion of assignments to particular churches^ being left to each Presbytery. "It shall be the persistent aim of the Presbytery and its Committee to bring- the vacant churches to the full support of this arrangement for temporary sup- ply. But if, in the judgment of the Pres- bytery, pecuniary aid is needed beyond the amounts contributed by the vacant churches themselves, the Presbytery, through its Committee, may apply for aid to the Board of Home Missions, or in the case of churches belonging to self-sup- porting Synods, to the home mission and sustentation committees of such Synods. "In each Synod there shall be a com- mittee on vacancv and supply, preferably to be composed of the chairmen or other representatives of the presbyterial com- mittees within the bounds of the Synod, whose duty it shall be to report annually to the Synod on the work in its charge, to unify the work within the Sjmod's bounds, to bring about better relations of supply 88 THE PRESBYTERY. and demand, and to furnish such informa- tion to the presbyterial committees as may contribute to their knowledge and effi- ciency. "When a Synod has a synodical mission- ary or superintendent of home missions, he shall be the medium of correspondence on vacancy and supply, under the direction of the synodical cominittee, and shall per- form such other duties as the committee shall require. In all other cases the synodical committee shall appoint one of its own members to perform the duties above mentioned. "For the purpose of establishing a me- dium of communication between the sev- eral Presbyteries and the Synods, the gen- eral care of the work of vacancy and sup- ply shall be assigned to the Board of Home Missions, with this proviso, that the Tjoard shall act only in an advisory ca- pacity, except in the matter of applica- tions for pecuniary aid. The board shall appoint one of its assistant secretaries to have charge of the work under the direc- tion of the board, who shall be the me- dium of correspondence between the Board and the committees and officers of Pres- byteries and Synods having in charge va- cancy and supply. Any additional expenses incurred by the board in the discharge of this particular duty shall be paid out of its funds. "The Board of Home Missions, and each of the self-supporting Synods through the Board, shall present an annual report to the General Assembly on vacancy and sup- ply, and these reports shall be referred to the standing committee on home mis- sions." — Digest, pp. 107.5, 1076. THE PRESBYTERY. 89 In 1907, the Assembly adopted the fol- lowing-: "That the chairman of the com- mittee on vacancy and supply in each Presbytery forward to the officer of the Board of Home Missions in charge of the department a list of the churches becom- ing vacant as soon as this knowledge comes to him. He shall also give for private use (not for publication) all neces- sary information regarding salary, the condition of the church, etc. "That the officer of the Board of Home Missions having in charge the matter shall send to said chairman of said pres- byterial committee the names of minis- ters seeking a settlement, with such recommendation as such minister may fur- nish." — Min., p. 94. In 1S91, the Assembly said: "Under our Constitution, the Presbylery is officially the pastor of every vacant church within its bounds. The question whether any such church shall continue to exist is one which the Presbytery alone can solve; and if such continued existence is deemed desirable, it is directly incumbent upon the Presbytery to provide, in some way, for the spiritual necessities of every such organization. It may group these small churches together in a joint pastorate, or in a wider circuit; it may associate some weak church with some stronger one as a single charge; it may appoint an adja- cent pastor to be for the time the minister and shepherd to the little flock; it may bring in the service of intelligent elders, competent to teach and counsel, and will- ing to be engaged in such oversight. The General Assembly judges that by presby- 90 THE PRESBYTERY. terial diligence and faithfulness in these directions, much of the evil resulting from these numerous vacancies would be avoided, and many of these feeble churches might speedily be nourished into vigor and usefulness. It therefore lays the obligation to such faithfulness and dili- gence directly on the conscience of eacli Presbytery, and of every minister in eacli Presbytery, whether engaged in the pas- toral care or in some other form of ministerial service, as one which true loyalty to the Church and to Christ will permit no one to neglect. In adopting this resolution, the General Assembly recognizes with special satisfaction the allusion to the ruling elders as possible agents and instruments in providing for the special needs of these feeble churches." —Digest, p. 588. IX. CLOSING THE PRESBYTERY. — See this work, Chapter I, Section VIII. CHAPTER V. The Synod. I. MEMBERSHIP. — "As a Presbytery is a convention of the bisliops and elders witliin a certain district; so a Synod is a convention of the bishops and elders within a larger district, includingr at least three Presbyteries." — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 1. In exceptional cases a Synod may be or- ganized within the boundaries of existing- Synods, "in the interests of ministers and churches speaking other than the English language, or of those of a particu- lar race."— F. G., Ch. X, Sec. 2. See this work. Chapter IV, Sec. I. "The Synod may be composed, at its own option, with the consent of a majority of its Presbyteries, either of all the bishops and an elder from each congregation in its district, with the same modifications as in the Presbytery, or of equal delegations of bishops and elders, elected by the Pres- byteries on a basis and in a ratio deter- mined in like manner by the Synod itself and ifs Presbyteries." — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 1. "Should any Synod vote to become a delegated body, its decision shall be sub- mitted to its Presbyteries, and shall take effect when ratified by a majority thereof. This result shall be ascertained at a sub- sequent meeting of the Synod; or, if the (83) 04 THE SYNOD. Synod so provide, the result shall be certified to the moderator and clerks of the Synod, and by them be communicated to the several Presbyteries as a basis for electing delegates to the ensuing or second meeting." — Digest, p. 229. "If the members neglect its meetings or fail in their duty, they must be reported to the courts to which they are responsible. But the Synod, as the General Assembly, may expel a member for contempt or dis- orderly conduct." — Hodge, p. 252. 1. Ministers.— "According to the Consti- tution of our Church, ministers, as such, whether with or without charge, are of equal power and privilege." — Digest, p. 209. It has been held that ministers with- out charge are "constituent members of our church judicatures" and have "an equal voice with settled pastors and ruling elders of congregations in ecclesiastical government." — Digest, p. 181. Presbyteries may elect ministers who are "without pastoral charge" to represent them in delegated Synods. — Digest, p. 971. 2. Ruling elders. — In non -delegated Synods the churches in the bounds of the Synod are entitled to representation under the same regulations that churches are entitled to representation in the Pres- bytery. See this work. Chapter IV, Sec- tion I, 2. In delegated Synods the Presbyteries, and not the Sessions, choose the elders, as well as the ministers, who are to com- pose the Synod. II. MEETINGS OF SYNOD.— 1. Stated meeting^s. — "The Synod shall convene at least once in each year." — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 5. THE SYNOD. do 2. ^Vhen it fails to meet on its own adjournment. — The Synod of Philadelphia failed to meet, "according to its last ad- journment," whereupon the General As- sembly resolved that the moderator of the Synod "ought to be considered as compe- tent to call a meeting of the same, and that he do accordingly call a meeting," etc. — Digest, p. 241. "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 matter speedily to him, that he may act accord- ingly." — Digest, p. 242. 3. Pro re nata meetings.— "There is no such special provision in the 'Form of Government.' But the General Assembly determined (in 1796) that special meetings are constitutional, and confirmed this in 1829 and 1832, and the N. S. Assembly in 1855, Judging from 'Form of Government,' ch. X, sees. 7 and 10, and the change in the Constitution proposed in 1832, it would seem that the moderator of Synod should call a pro re nata meeting at the request of three ministers and three elders, and that these ministers should not be all from the same Presbytery. The notice should be sent to all the ministers and churches of the Synod. The notice must specify the object of the meeting, and nothing can be done which is not specified in the call, as the Synod is a larger Pres- bytery, the provision of Form of Govern- ment, chapter x, for the calling of pro re nata meetings of Presbytery, would seem to authorize those of the Synod. And the 9G THE SYNOD. powers g-iven to moderators include that of calling- such meetings." — Hodge, p. 249. In 1878 the Assembly held that the mod- erator of the Synod of Cincinnati had acted within the law, in calling a pro re nata meeting of the Synod for the purpose of approving- the minutes. — Digest, p. 241. 4. Changriug the place of meeting:. — "Whenever from any cause it shall be necessary to change the place of the regu- larly appointed meeting of a Synod, its stated clerk shall, at the request of the stated clerks of at least three-fourths of its Presbyteries, be authorized to secure another place of meeting, and to issue his official call for the meeting- of the Synod accordingly." — A. G. A., VII, 4 5. Private sessions. — See this book, Chapter I, Section VI. 6. Interlocutory sessions. — See this book. Chapter I, Section VII. III. A Q,UORUM. — "Any seven ministers, belonging- to the Synod, who shall convene at the time and place of meeting, with as many elders as may be present, shall be a quorum to transact synodical business; provided not more than tliree of the said ministers belong- to one Presbytery." — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 2. "Judging from the decisions of the Gen- eral Assembly in regard to the quorum of Presbyteries, seven ministers would form a quorum of Synod." — Hodge, p. 24G. "According- to the decision of the Assem- bly that 'ministers are not only preachers and administrators of sealing ordinances, but also ruling elders in the very nature of their office,' a quorum may consist wholly of ministers." — O. S., 1848. Bittin- ger, Sec. 870. THE SYNOD. 07 IV. SERMOX AND PRAYER. — At the opening- of Synod "a sermon shall be de- livered by the moderator, or, in case of his absence, by some other member; and every particular session shall be opened and closed with prayer." — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 5. It is mandatory that a sermon be delivered "at the opening" of the Synod. The Assembly not only holds that a ser- mon is necessary, but that it must be de- livered at the opening and not at some subsequent time. See Digest, p. 246. The Assembly criticised a Synod whicli "was opened with a popular meeting, when two addresses were delivered, instead of a sermon by the moderator or his substi- tute, as prescribed in the Form of Gov- ernment." — Digest, p. 977. V. THE MODERATOR. — See this book. Chapter I, Section I. VI. THE CLERK. — See this book. Chap- ter I, Section II. All. CORRE.SPOXDING MEMHERS. — "The permanent officers of a judicatory shall have the rights of coresponding- members in matters touching their sev- eral offices."— G. R. J., XLII. "The same rule, as to corresponding mem- bers, which was laid down with respect to the Presbytery, shall apply to the Synod."— F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 3. See this book. Chapter IV, Section VII. VIII. THE POW ERS OP THE SYNOD. — The Synod is charged with certain duties and powers. Among the latter, mention may be made of the following: 1. To receive and issue all appeal.^, ooni- plaint.s, and references.— "The Synod has power to receive and issue all appeals, 7 08 THE SYNOD. complaints, and references, that are regu- larly brought before it from the Presby- teries, and to decide finally in such cases all questions that do not affect the doc- trine or Constitution of the Church, pro- vided, that cases may be transmitted to judicial commissions as prescribed in the Book of Discipline." — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 4. For a discussion of "appeals, complaints, and references," see this work. Chapter IV, Section VIII, 1. (1) A judicial commission. — The Synod may elect from the ministers and ruling- elders subject to its jurisdiction a judi- cial commission, which shall be composed of not less than eleven members, a ma- jority of whom shall be ministers, and transmit to such commission any judicial case for hearing. — Book of Discipline, Sec. lis. Read also sections 119-124. (2) Final court of appeal. — Except in cases involving doctrinal and constitu- tional questions, the Synod is the final court of appeal. The Synod has power "to decide finally in such cases all ques- tions that do not affect the doctrine or Constitution of the Church." — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 4. "A careful examination of the instruc- tions of the last General Assembly, of the action of the Synod of Minnesota, and of the complaint of Dr. West, fails to dis- cover any question of doctrine or any con- stitutional question involved in the de- cision of the Synod of Minnesota, or pre- sented in the complaint of Dr. West, wlileh would justify the consideration of thl.s complaint by the General Assembly. In the judgment of your committee, the THE SYNOD. 99 action of the Synod being- final, accordingr to our law, the complaint of Dr. West cannot come properly before the Assem- bly. We recommend, therefore, that the complaint of Rev. Dr. West be dismissed. ' — Dig-est, p. 245. (3) Synod has no original jurisdiction. — The Synod "has no original jurisdiction, either over ministers, as the Presbytery has, or over the elders and communicants, as the Session has. It cannot institute judicial process, and can consider such only on review, reference or complaint, or appeal from the Presbyteries." — Hodge, p. 251. The Assembly, in considering the appeal of Mr. Davis from "the proceedings of the Synod of the Carolinas," affirmed that the said Synod "in deciding that they had a right to try Mr. Davis, when there was no reference nor appeal in his case before them, they have not strictly adhered to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church." — Digest, p. 244. (4) The effect of the decision of Synod in an appeal case. — "If no one of the specifications be sustained, and no error be found by the judicatory in the record, the judgment of the inferior judicatory shall be affirmed. If one or more errors be found, the judicatory shall determine, whether the judgment of the inferior ju- dicatory shall be reversed or modified, or the case remanded for a new trial." — B. D., Sec. 99. (5) Judicial cases described. — Judicial cases must be described; their character defined and the significance of and rea- 100 THE SYNOD. sons for the judgment set forth. — Dig-est, p. 249. (6) A special record must be sent up of all judicial decisions. — "In view of the importance of the judicial decisions made by Synods and synodical commissions, the Synods are enjoined to send up to the Assembly, in special communications, all records of such decisions." — Digest, p. 251. (7) Record must be kept. — The subject matter of complaints and the disposal made of them must be recorded. — Digest, p. 247, and p. 250. 2. To revie^v the reoorrt.s of Presby- teries, and approve or eeiisure them. — P. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 4. But a judicial de- cision cannot be reversed by review of records. — Digest, p. 1091. 3. To redress whatever has been done by Presbyteries contrary to order. — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 4. "All proceedings of the Session, the T'resbytery, and the Synod (except as lim- ited by chapter xi, section 4, of the Form of Government), are subject to review by, and may be taken to, a superior judica- tory'', by general review and control, ref- erence, complaint, or appeal." — B. D., Sec. 70. 4. To take effectual oare tliat Presby- teries observe the Constitution of the Church. — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 4. "If a judicatory is, at any time, well advised of any unconstitutional proceed- ings of a lower judicatory, the latter shall be cited to appear, at a specified time and place, to produce the records, and to show what it has done in the matter in ques- tion; after which, if the charge is sus- THE SYXOD. 101 tained, the whole matter shall be con- cluded by the judicatory itself, or be re- mitted to the lower judicatory, with direc- tions as to its disposition." — B. D., Sec. 7.5. 5. To erect new Presbyteries, and to unite or divide those which were before erected — F. G., Ch. XI, Sec. 4. "The bounds of Presbytery can be changed by Synod after approval by the Presbyteries interested. If the proposed change affects the boundaries of Synods, those Synods must be consulted and the matter referred to the General Assem- bly." — Hodge, p. 184. 6. To take sucli order with respect to the Presbyteries, Sessions, and people un- iiou.-^'It would be a dangerous precedent, and would lead to the destruction of all order in the Church of Christ, to permit unau- thorized verbal testimony to set aside an authenticated written document." — Di- 110 THE GENERAL gest, p. 597. But in a case where neither the principal nor alternate could attend, the Assembly, on a petition sig-ned by a majority of the members of the interested Presbytery, seated another minister as a commissioner. — Digest, p. 107 7. 9. A comniissioner expelled.— In 186(>, the Assembly expelled a member because he had written and published "'a gross, abu- sive, scandalous and slande^ious lim-l against the members of this Assembly." — Digest, p. 299. 10. Coiuiuis»iouer8 should reiiuiin. — "Tlie General Assembly earnestly recommended to its Presbyteries, as far as possible, tlie appointment as commissioners of those only who are able and willing to remain to the close of its sessions." — Digest, p. 592. Each Presbytery sliould "require their commissioners to report wliether they attended the sessions of the Assem- bly the whole time, and that the report of the commissioners on this subject be recorded on the minutes of the Presby- tery." — Digest, p. 591. 11. licave of absence. — "Resolved, That, as a Standing Rule of the Assembly, a committee 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 to report to the house, at the commencement of every session, the members so dismissed." — M. G. A., p. 54. 12. Absentees may not participate in the commissioners* fund. — "It hereby is or- dered that no commissioner who shall ob- ASSEMBLY. Ill tain leave of absence within the first six days of the sessions shall be entitled to i-eceive anything from the commissioners' fund, unless the General Assembly shall order otherwise, when the reasons for the application are given." — M. G. A., p. 54. II. MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL AS- SE3IBLY. 1. Stated uieeting:^. — "The General As- sembly shall meet at least once in every year." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 7. "Usage has fixed the third Thursday of May, at 11 a. m., as the time for the annual meet- ing of the Assembly." — Digest, p. 260. In 1898, the Assembly, after mature de- liberation, answered some overtures, ask- ing that the General Assembly hold either biennial or triennial meetings, in the nega- tive. — Digest, p. 1066. 2. Adjourned meetings.— Can such meet- ings be held, according to the law? *'In 1846 the opinion of 'Chancellor Kent, of New York, was obtained, who says: 'I consider the power to be necessarily inci- dent to every deliberative assembly, un- less specially prohibited by its charter.' 'The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church leaves silently the same power of adjournment, precisely on the same foot- ing of discretion.' In 1869 both Assem- blies [Old School and New School] met in May in New York, and they adjourned to meet in the city of Pittsburg in November of the same year." — Hodge, p. 299. 3. Pro re nata meetings. — "In the N. S. Assembly, when meeting once in three years, the moderator, with the concur- rence of the stated and permanent clerks, could call a pro re nata meeting in any 112 THE GENERAL emergency, with four months' notice. After ten years trial this plan was abol- ished. The Assembly adjourns sine die, the moderator dissolving the Assembly, and requiring another General Assembly to be chosen and to meet at such a time and place." — Hodge, p. 300. "It is not a permanent body; it adjourns sine die, calling a new Assembly to meet the next year." — Hodge, p. 267. 4. Private se.ssions. — See this work. Chapter I, Section VI. 5. Interlocutory .ses.sionM. — See this work, Chapter I, Section VII. 6. Place of meetiug:. — "The General As- sembly appointed in 18S1 a permanent committee on the next place of meeting, which consists of the moderator for the time being, with the stated and perma- nent clerks. To this committee all invita- tions to the General Assembly are re- ferred for consideration and report." — M. G. A., p. 79. III. A QUORUM. — "Any fourteen or more of these commissioners, one-half of whom shall be ministers, being met on the day, and at the place appointed, shall be a quorum for the transaction of business." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 3. IV. OPEIVING SERMOIV. — "On the day appointed for that purpose, the moderator of the last Assembly, if present, or in case of his absence, some other minister, shall open the meeting with a sermon, and pre- side until a new moderator be chosen." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 7. See this work, Chapter VII, Section 11. ASSEMBLY. 113 A'. OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL AS- SE3IBLY. 1. The moderator. — See this work, Chap- ter I, Section I. 2. The stated clerk. — See this work. Chapter I, Sections II, III. "At the present time, the stated clerk is required to transcribe for the press the minutes ordered to be published from year to year; to superintend the printing^ of the minutes, and papers ordered to be printed; to distribute the minutes to per- sons entitled to them; to have charge of all the books and papers of the General Assembly; to give attested copies of all minutes and other documents; to receive all memorials, overtures and other papers addressed to the Assembly; to distribute the bound volumes of the reports of the boards; to have charge of the entire rail- road arrangements for the transportation of commissioners; to transmit all over- tures to the Presbyteries and receive the answers; under the direction of the mod- erator, to prepare and carry forward the business of the Assembly, including the. printing of the roll, etc., during its ses- sions; to carry on the correspondence of' the Assembly; to report to the Assembly- upon the statistics of the Church; to per- form all the duties of the treasurer, and to transact such other business directly pertaining to his office, as the Assembly- may from time to time appoint." He is also the "secretary, and custodian of the cor- respondence, of the ad interim commit- tees," without membership therein. — Digest, p. 271. M. G. A., pp. 28-31. 99. The salary of the stated clerk is $5,000 per annum. 114 THE GENERAL 3. The permanent clerk.— "Resolved, That a permanent recording clerk be chosen, whose duty it shall be from year to ycjr to draft the minutes of the Assem- bly during- their sessions, and afterward to perform such services respecting the transcribing, printing and distributing the extracts as shall be assigned to him from time to time." — Digest, p. 272. The salary of the permanent clerk is $500 per an- num. 4. The temporary clerk."*. — "The number of temporary clerks is at present four, ^vho are nominated to the Assembly by the stated and permanent clerks, and who serve without compensation." — M. G. A., p. 32. 5. The treasurer. — "Resolved, That the office of treasurer of the General Assem- bly, as a separate ofRce be discontinued, and the duties thereof imposed upon the ••stated clerk." — Digest, p. 270. The stated »clerk, as treasurer, is required to give bonds in the sum of $5,000, signed by him- self and two sureties. — M. G. A., p. 29. VI. FUNDS OF THE GENERAL, AS- SEMBLY "The funds of the General As- sembly are three in number; the mileage fund, the contingent fund, and the enter- tainment fund. Each Assembly deter- mines what the apportionment shall be for these funds respectively." — M. G. A., p. 74. See the "Assembly Funds," in the Acts •of the General Assembly, III. 1. The Mileage fund. — This fund is de- signed to meet "the traveling expenses of the commissioners in coming to and returning from the Assembly." "In order ASSEMBLY. 115 to avail themselves of the proceeds of this fund, the Presbyteries must contribute tiieir full proportion to it according to the per capita rate." — Digest, p. 599. 2. The entertainment fund. — "The enter- tainment fund was established as a 'sup- plemental contingent expense fund' to 'be used for the purpose of meeting the ex- pense of entertaining such commissioners as are not otherwise provided for.' Each Presbytery is requested to contribute to this fund." — M. G. A., p. 74. 3. The contingent fund. — "The contin- gent fund is used to meet the expenses of printing and mailing the annual min- utes, payment of salaries, expenses of committees, and any other purpose direct- ly connected with the business of the Assembly." — M. G. A., p. 75. VII. CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.— "The corresponding members of the Gen- eral Assembly are of three classes. "1. The officer!* of the A.ssembly. — 'The permanent officers of a judicatory shall have the rights of corresponding members in matters touching their several offices." "3. Secretaries of the boards. — All the secretaries of the boards of the Church have the privilege of corresponding mem- bers of the General Assembly, in discus- sions bearing upon the interests of the boards which they severally represent. ''3. Delegrates from corresponding bodies, — Delegates regularly appointed by cor- responding ecclesiastical bodies of equal rank with the Assembly, are entitled to the privilege of corresponding members, and may deliberate and advise, but not A-ote, upon matters which concern tho 110 THE GENERAL bodies which they represent." — M. G. A., p. 41. VIII. THE POAVERS OF THE GEN- ERAL ASSEMBLY. 1. Appeals and complaints. — "The Gen- eral Assembly shall receive and issue all appeals, complaints, and references, that affect the doctrine or Constitution of the Church, and are regularly brought before it from the inferior judicatories; provided, J that cases may be transmitted to the Per- I manent Judicial Commission of the Gen- ' eral Assembly as prescribed in the Book ,' of Discipline." — P. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 4. ; For a discussion of "appeals, complaints, and references," see this work. Chapter IV, Section VIII, 1. "The General Assembly shall elect a commission, which shall be called 'The Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly,' and shall be composed of eight ministers and seven ruling elders, of whom not more than two shall belong to the same Synod. . . . The General Assembly may transmit to this commission any judicial case for hearing and de- cision." — B. D., Sec. 125. Read sections 126-133. "This Assembly has no authority to re- verse the judicial acts of a former Gen- eral Assembly, except in cases of such palpable error as would manifestly tend to Interfere with the substantial administra- tion of justice." "It is not competent for this Assembly to revise the proceed- ings of a previous Assembly in a judicial case." — Digest, p. 6S9. 2. Review synoclieal records. — "The Gen- eral Assembly shall review the records ASSEMBLY. 117 of every Synod and approve or censure them."— F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 4. 3. Advice and instruction.— The General Assembly "shall give its advice and in- struction, in all cases submitted to it, in conformity with the Constitution of the Church."— P. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 4. But "it does not appear that the Constitution ever designed that the General Assembly should take up abstract cases and decide on them, especiallj'- when the object appears to be to bring those decisions to bear on par- ticular individuals not judicially before the Assembly." — Digest, p. 279. 4. The bond of union. — The General As- sembly "shall constitute the bond of union, peace, correspondence and mutual confidence among all our churches." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 4. 5. Decisions in controversies.— "To the General Assembly also belongs the power of deciding in all controversies respect- ing doctrine and discipline." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 5. See Digest, pp. 281-2S8. "The General Assembly has no right to remit the final decision of any matter af- fecting the doctrine of the Church to an inferior judicatory." — Digest, p. 281. The Assembly's "testimony on doctrine and morality is the Church's declaration of the meaning of the 'Confession of Faith,' and its application. And its judicial decisions are final and obligatory in all similar cases." — Hodge, p. 271. Hence, from the decision of the Assembly there can be no appeal. Its decision is final. The United States Supreme Court, in the case of Watson vs. Jones, announced a very important rule, by which the civil 118 THE GENERAL courts are usually governed, when called upon to pass on questions of doctrine or government, arising under the Presbyte- rian form of church government. The court said: "There are in the Presbyte- rian system of ecclesiastical government, in regular succession, the Presbytery over the Session or local church, the Synod over the Presbytery, and the General Assembly over all. These are called, in the language of the church organs, judi- catories, and they entertain appeals from the decisions of those below, and pre- scribe corrective measures in other cases. "In this class of cases we think the rule of action which should govern the civil courts, founded in a broad and sound view of the relations of Church and State under our system of laws, and supported by a preponderating weight of judicial au- thority, is that, whenever the questions of discipline or faith or ecclesiastical rule, custom or law, have been decided by the highest of these church judicatories to which the matter has been carried, the legal tribunals must accept such decisions as final, and as binding on them in their application to the case before them.'" — ■ Digest, p. 137. In 1906, union between tlie Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was consummated. But in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a number refused to acknowledge the authority of the Church in effecting the union, and set up a claim for the prop- erty, local and general. This resulted in an appeal to the civil courts, in various states, to test property rights. The Su- ASSEMBLY. 110 preme Court of the State of Georgia handed down a decision in harmony wilhi that of the United States Supreme Court, in the case of Watson vs. Jones, cited above. At the time this book goes to press, the Supreme Court in no other State has had an opportunity to pass on the question; though several inferior courts, in different states, have handed down decisions in harmony with that of the Supreme Court of Georgia. 6. Testimony against error. — To the Gen- eral Assembly belongs the power "of re- proving, warning, or bearing testimonjr against error in doctrine, or immorality in practice, in any church, Presbytery, or Synod."— F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 5. See this work, Chapter I, Section IX. 7. Over synods.-^To the General Assem- bly belongs the power "of erecting new Synods when it may be judged necessary."" — F. G, Ch. XII, Sec. 5. "It determines their formation and boundaries. At the reunion the Assembly erected fifty-one Synods. In 1881 the Synods were consoli- dated and reduced in number to twenty- three. Others have since been added. . . . New Synods are organized by the Assembly on petition of the Presbyteries. If the Presbyteries interested have not been consulted, the petition is rejected. If they belong to different Synods, both must be consulted. The Assembly may dissolve- a Synod and distribute its Presbyteries. It may order a Synod to meet or to change its time and place of meeting. It may re- quire a Synod to examine the state of religion in Its bounds, and report the next year. It must examine and review 120 THE GENERAL the records of Synod. It may cite Synods to appear and answer charges of irregu- larities in doctrine, government or disci- pline, and disown those wliich have de- parted from the Standards of the Church." —Hodge, p. 272. Digest, p. 299. The Assembly, of 1907, adjusted the boundaries of the Synods occupying the territory which had been occupied by the Synods of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, previous to the union of the two Churches. See Min. G. A., 1907, p. 141. 8. Superiutendingr the work of the church. — To the General Assembly belongs the power "of superintending the con- cerns of the whole church." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 5. Digest, p. 340. 9. Corresponding T»-ith foreign Churches. ' — To the General Assembly belongs the power "of corresponding with foreign Churches, on such terms as may be agreed upon by the Assembly and the correspond- ing body." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 5. Digest, p. 311. The General Assembly has formed the following organic unions: in 1811 with the Presbytery of Charleston; in 1822 with the Associate Reformed Synod; in 1852 ■with Charleston Union Presbytery; in 1869 the O. S. Assembly with the N. S. Assem- bly; in 1885 with the Philadelphia Pres- l)5'^tery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church; and in 1906 with the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 10. Schisniatical contentions. — To the General Assembly belongs the power "of suppressing schismatical contentions and disputations." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 5. 11. Reformation of manners. — To the ASSEMBLY. 121 General Assembly belongs the power "of recommending and attempting reforma- tion of manners, and the promotion of charitj', truth, and holiness, through all the churches under their care." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 5. 12. Organization of new Presbyteries.— The General Assembly "may erect, modify, change and dissolve Presbyteries. In 1802 it divided the Presbytery of Albany into three new Presbyteries without the pro- posal being first brought before the Synod, but simply on the petition of the Presby- tery. It declared, however, that this act was 'not to be considered as forming a precedent for future conduct.' In 1805, 1826 and 1827 Presbyteries were formed by the Assembly on petition of ministers and churches. In 1834 it was done against the decision of the Synod, the General Assembly claiming the right under the Constitution to determine the bounds of Presbyteries (1) when the question was brought by complaint or appeal; (2) under extraordinary circumstances; (3) as being the highest judicatory of the Church. This power was exercised both by the O. S. and N. S. Assemblies several times, and by the reunited Church. The Assembly may legalize the act of less than a quo- rum of Presbytery. It can define the suc- cession of Presbyteries. It can appoint a committee to inquire into reported irreg- ularities." — Hodge, p. 273. The Assembly of 1907 adjusted the boundaries of the various Presbyteries oc- cupying the territory which had been oc- cupied by the Presbyteries of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, previous to 122 THE GENERAL the union of the two Churches. See Min, G. A., 1907, p. 141. 13. On Sabbath observance "The Sab- bath is to be sanctified by a holy resting- all that day, even from such worldly em- ployments and recreations as are lawful on other days." — S. C, Q. 60. "The General Assembly reiterates its strong- and emphatic disapproval of all secular uses of the day, all games and sports, all traveling for pleasure and all excursions, and urges upon all employ- ers of labor and captains of industry tq recognize the need of the laboring man for his weekly rest day, and thereby in- sure his greater efficiency and happiness and the greater prosperity of both capi- tal and labor. "The General Assembly urges on all families not to buy anything on the Sab- bath, to plan for their servants on the Sabbath and help them to fulfill their religious duties, and to pay laborers, so that they may have Saturday afternoon to make provision for the Sabbath. "The General Assembly hereby reiter- ates its emphatic condemnation of the Sunday newspaper, and urges the mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. to refuse to subscribe for it or read it or advertise in it." — Min. G. A., 1907, p. 46. 14. On Divorce. — "Nothing but adultery, or such willful desertion as can no way be remedied by the Church or civil mag- istrate, is cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage."— C. P., Ch. XXIV. Sec. 6. Ministers are required to exercise "due aSkSEMulv. 123 diligence before tlie celebration of a mar- riage to ascertain that there exist no im- pediments thereto, as defined in our Con- fession of Faith." — Digest, p. 954. "Presbyteries are hereby enjoined to en- force the Standards of our Church, to hold to strict account all ministers under their care, and urge all ministers to regard the comity that should refrain from giving the sanction of our Church to members of another Church, whose marriage is in violation of the laws of the Church whose communion they have chosen." — Min. G. A., 1907, p. 199. IX. DISSOLVING THE ASSEMBLY. — "The whole business of the Assembly be- ing finished, and the vote taken for dis- solving the present Assembly, the mod- erator shall say from the chair — "By virtue of the authority delegated to me, by th6 Church, let this General Assembly be dis- solved, and I do hereby dissolve it, and require another General Assembly, chosen in the same manner, to meet at on the day of A. D. "—after which he shall pray and return thanks, and pronounce on those present the apos- tolic benediction." — F. G., Ch. XII, Sec. 8. CHAPTER VII. General Rules for Judicatories. Adopted by the General Assembly in 1S71 and Amended in 1885 and 1887.* I. The Moderator shall take the chair precisely at the hour to which the judica- tory stands adjourned; and shall imme- diately call the members to order; and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall open the session with prayer. II. If a quorum be assembled at the time appointed, and the Moderator be absent, the last Moderator present, being- a Com- missioner, or if there be none, the senior member present, shall be requested to take his place without delay, until a new election. III. If a quorum be not assembled at the hour appointed, any two members shall be competent to adjourn from time to time, that an opportunity may be given for a quorum to assemble. *The following "General Rules for Judi- catories," not having been submitted to the Presbyteries, make no part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church. Yet the General Assembly of 1871, consid- ering uniformity in proceedings in all the subordinate judicatories as greatly conducive to order and dispatch in busi- ness, having revised and approved these rules, recommended them to all the lower judicatories of the Church for adoption. (125) 126 GENERAL RULES IV. It shall be the duty of the Moderator, at all times, to preserve order, and to endeavor to conduct all business before the Judicatory to a speedy and proper result. V. It shall be the duty of the Moderator. ( cxrefully to keep notes of the several arti- cles of business which may be assigned for particular days, and to call them up at the time appointed. VI. The Moderator may speak to points of order, in preference to other members, rising from his seat for that purpose; and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the judicatory by any two members. VII. The Moderator shall appoint all committees, except in those cases in which the judicatory shall decide otherwise. In appointing the standing committees, the Moderator may appoint a Vice-Moderator, who may occupy the chair at his request, and otherwise assist him in the discharge of his duties. VIII. When a vote is taken by ballot in any judicatory, the Moderator shall vote with the other members; but he shall not vote in any other case, unless the judica- tory be equally divided; when, if he do not choose to vote, the question shall be lost. IX. The person first named on any com- mittee shall be considered as the chairman thereof, whose duty it shall be to convene the committee; and, in case of his absence or inability to act, the second named member shall take his place and perform his duties. X. It shall be the duty of the clerk, as FOR JUDICATORIES. 127 soon as possible after the commenceraent of the sessions of every judicatory, to form a complete roll of the members present, and put the same into the hands of the Moderator. And it shall also be the duty of the clerk, whenever any additional members take their seats, to add their names, in their proper places, to the said roll. XI. It shall be the duty of the clerk immediately to file all papers, in the order in which they have been read, with proper indorsements, and to keep them in perfect order. The Stated Clerk shall receive all overtures, memorials and miscellaneous papers addressed to the judicatory; shall make record of the same and deliver them to the Committee on Bills and Overtures for appropriate disposition or reference. This committee shall have the floor on the reassembling of the judicatory after each adjournment, to report its recommenda- tions as to reference of papers, and this right of the committee shall take prece- dence of the Orders of the Day. This committee shall report the papers retained by it as well as those recommended for reference to other committees, and no com- mittee shall report on matters which have not been referred to it by the judicatory. XII. The minutes of the last meeting- of the judicatory shall be presented at the commencement of its session, and, if requisite, read and corrected. XIII. Business left unfinished at the last sitting is ordinarily to be taken up first. XIV. A motion made must be seconded, and afterwards repeated by the Moderator, or read aloud, before it is debated; and 128 GENERAL RULES every motion shall be reduced to writing-, if the Moderator or any member require it, XV. Any member who shall have made a motion, shall have liberty to withdraw it, with the consent of his second, before any debate has taken place thereon; but not afterwards, without the leave of the judicatory. XVI. If a motion under debate contain several parts, any two members may have it divided, and a question taken on each part. XVII. When various motions are made with respect to the filling- of blanks, with particular numbers or times, the question shall always be first taken on the highest number and the longest time. XVIII. Motions to lay on the table, to take up business, to adjourn, and the call for the previous question, shall be put without debate. On questions of order, postponement, or commitment, no mem- ber shall speak more than once. On all other questions, each member may speak twice, but not oftener, without express leave of the judicatory. XIX. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, unless to adjourn, to lay on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or to amend; which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are herein arranged; and the motion for adjournment shall always be in order. XX. An amendment, and also an amend- ment to an amendment, may be moved on any motion; but a motion, to amend an amendment to an amendment, shall not FOR JUDICATORTEvS. 120 be in order. Action on amendments shall precede action on the original motion. A substitute shall be treated as an amend- ment. XXI. A distinction shall be observed be- tween a motion to lay on the table for the present, and a motion to lay on the table unconditionally, viz.: A motion to lay on the table, for the present, shall be taken without debate; and, if carried in the affirmative, the effect shall be to place the subject on the docket, and it may be taken up and considered at any subse- quent time. But a motion to lay on the table, unconditionally, shall be taken with- out debate; and, if carried in the affirma- tive, it shall not be in order to take up the subject during the same meeting of the judicatory, without a vote of recon- sideration. XXII. The previous question shall be put in this form, namely, Shall the main question be now put? It shall only be admitted when demanded by a majority of the members present; and the effect shall be to put an end to all debate and bring the body to a direct vote: First, on a motion to commit the subject under consideration (if such motion shall have been made); secondly, if the motion for commitment does not prevail, on pending amendments; and lastly, on the main ques- tion. XXIII. A question shall not be again called up or reconsidered at the same ses- sions of the judicatory at which it has been decided, unless by the consent of two-thirds of the members who were present at the decision; and unless the 130 GENERAL RULES motion to reconsider be made and seconded "by persons wlio voted witli tlie majority. XXIV. A subject which has been in- definitely postponed, either by the opera- tion of the previous question, or by a mo- tion for indefinite postponement, shall not be again called up during- the same ses- sions of the judicatory, unless by the con- sent of three-fourths of the members who were present at the decision. XXV. Members ought not, without weighty reasons, to decline voting, as this practice might leave the decision of very Interesting questions to a small propor- tion of the judicatory. Silent members, unless excused from voting, must be con- sidered as acquiescing with the majority. XXVI. When the Moderator has com- menced taking the vote, no further debate or remark shall be admitted, unless there has evidently been a mistake, in which case the mistake shall be rectified, and the Moderator shall recommence taking the vote. If the House shall pass the mo- tion to "vote on a given subject at a time named," speeches shall thereafter be lim- ited to ten minutes. Should the hour for adjournment or recess arrive during the voting, it shall be postponed to finish the vote, unless the majority shall vote to adjourn; In which case the voting shall, on tile reassembling of the house, take precedence of all other business till it is finished. Under this rule the "yeas and nays" shall not be called except on a final motion to adopt as a whole. This motion to fix a time for voting shall be put without debate. XXVII. The yeas and nays on any ques- FOR JUDICATORIES. 131 tion shall not be recorded, unless required by one-third of the members present. If division is called for on any vote, it shall be by a rising vote without a count. If on such a rising vote the Moderator is unable to decide, or a quorum rise to second a call for "tellers," then the vote shall be taken by rising, and the count made by tellers, who shall pass through the aisles and report to the Moderator the number voting on each side. XXVIII. No member, in the course of debate, shall be allowed to indulge In personal reflections. XXIX. If more than one member rise to speak at the same time, the member who is most distant from the Moderator's chair shall speak first. In the discussion of all matters where the sentiment of the house is divided, it is proper that the floor should be occupied alternately by those representing the different sides of the question. XXX. When more than three members of the judicatory shall be standing at the Scime time, the Moderator shall require all to take their seats, the person only ex- cepted who may be speaking. XXXI. Every member, when speaking, shall address himself to the Moderator, and shall treat his fellow-members, and especially the Moderator, with decorum and respect. XXXII. No speaker shall be interrupted, unless he be out of order; or for the pur- pose of correcting mistakes, or misrepre- sentations. XXXIII. Without express permission, no member of a judicatory, while business is 132 GENERAL RULES going on, shall eng'age in private conver- sation; nor shall members address one another, nor any person present, but through the Moderator. XXXIV. It is indispensable, that mem- bers of ecclesiastical judicatories maintain great gravity and dignity while judicially convened; that they attend closely in their speeches to the subject under considera- tion, and avoid prolix and desultory ha- rangues; and, w^hen they deviate from the subject, it is the privilege of any mem- ber, and the duty of the Moderator, to call them to order. XXXV. If any member act, in any re- spect, in a disorderly manner, it shall be the privilege of any member, and the duty of the Moderator, to call him to order. XXXVI. If any member consider himself aggrieved by a decision of the Moderator, it shall be his privilege to appeal to the judicatory, and the question on the appeal shall be taken without debate. XXXVII. No member shall retire from any judicatory without the leave of the Moderator, nor withdraw from it to return home without the consent of the judi- catory. XXXVIII. All judicatories have a right to sit in private, on business, which in their judgment ought not to be matter of public speculation. XXXIX. Besides the right to sit judi- cially in private, whenever they think proper to do so, all judicatories have a right to hold what are commonly called "interlocutory meetings," in which mem- bers may freely converse together, with- FOR JUDICATORIES. 133 out the formalities wliich are usually nec- essary in judicial proceedings. XL. Whenever a judicatory is about to sit in a judicial capacity, it shall be the duty of the Moderator solemnly to an- nounce, from the chair, that the body is about to pass to the consideration of the business assigned for trial, and to enjoin on the members to recollect and regard their high character as judges of a court of Jesus Christ, and the solemn duty in which they are about to act. XLI. In all cases before a judicatory, where there is an accuser or prosecutor, it is expedient that there be a committee of the judicatory appointed (provided the number of members be sufficient to admit it without inconvenience), wlio shall be called the "Judicial Committee," and whose duty it shall be to digest and ar- range all the papers, and to prescribe, under the direction of the judicatory, the whole order of proceedings. The members of this committee shall be entitled, not- withstanding their performance of this duty, to sit and vote in the cause, as mem- bers of the judicatory. XLII. The permanent officers of a judi- catory shall have the rights of cor- responding members in matters touching their several offices. XLIII. The Moderator of every judi- catory above the Church Session, in finally closing its sessions, in addition to prayer, may cause to be sung an appropriate psalm or hymn, and shall pronounce the apostolical benediction. XLIV. Whenever a case is to be taken from an inferior judicatory to the General 134 GENERAL RULES. Assembly, the Stated Clerk of such infe- rior judicatory shall, at least twenty days before the meeting of the General Assem- bly, send a notice concerning such case to the Stated Clerk of the Assembly, who shall forthwith notify the Chairman of the Permanent Judicial Commission, unless the General Assembly shall have ordered otherwise, that the services of the Commission will be needed at the approaching Assembly; but if no such notice shall be received by the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, he shall ^forthwith notify the Chairman of the Permanent Judicial Commission that the services of the Commission will not be needed at the approaching Assembly. CHAPTER VIII. Additional Rules. In Connection with Legislative Business, Drawn from the Assembly's and from General Practice.* 1. Adjournment. The motion to adjourn is not in order when a member has the floor. The motion to adjourn when made at the last sitting upon each day, should always include the time on the day fol- lowing to which the body adjourns. The business interrupted by adjourn- ment or recess is the first in order after the body reassembles, unless there be a special order on the Docket. See, also. Recess. 2. Amendment. An amendment may be laid on the table without affecting another- amendment or the original motion. This; has been for years the practice in the General Assembly. 3. Appeal from the Chair. This appeal is ordinarily put in the following manner, "Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the decision of the Assembly?" A tie vote sustains the Chair. *The "Additional Rules," taken from the- Manual of the General Assembly for 1907,. are reproduced, for the benefit of the in- ferior judicatories. (135) 136 ADDITIONAL 4. Committees. Appointment. When a Committee is appointed to deliberate upon a subject, it is the rule to appoint thereon members holding different views. When a Committee is appointed to carry- out a decision of the house, it is customary to appoint thereon only those who can support the action taken. When a special Committee is appointed, it is customary to place on it the mover and seconder of the motion by which it was appointed. This custom, however, is not oblig-atory. (1) Chairman. The chairman of a Com- mittee may debate and vote, and may also act as clerk. (2) Discharge. Committees in legisla- 1tive bodies are discharged by the reception of their report. In the General Assembly, however, the Standing Committees are dis- «charged at the final session by vote of the house, and special Committees are not regarded as discharged until the close of the Assembly. (3) Excuse from Service. When persons are competent to serve, the appointing- body only can excuse from service. (4) Minority reports. The minority of a Committee may submit their views in writing, either together, or each member separately, but minority reports can be considered and acted upon, only by mov- ing them as substitutes for the report of the Committee. (5) Quorum. The quorum of a Commit- tee is, in legislative practice, a majority of the members. (6) Reception of reports. The word ac- RULES. 137 cept used for the reception of reports does not imply adoption. (7) Reports. The report of a Commit- tee, when received or accepted by the Assembly, is the property of the Assem- bly, and should be handed to the clerk, with all accompanying- papers. See, also, Minority reports. (8) Sub-committees. Committees may appoint Sub-committees. (9) Vacancies. Committees cannot fill vacancies in their membership. Only the Assembly or the Moderator can act. (10) Withdrawal. Committees must re- ceive permission from the house to with- draw. 5. Committee of the Whole. Committees of the Whole are substantially what are designated in G. R. J., XXXIX, as "in- terlocutory meetings." The following- per- tinent rule has bee'h approved in church courts: "Every court has a right to re- solve itself into a Committee of the Whole, or to hold what are commonly called in- terlocutory meetings, in which members may freely converse tog-ether without the formalities necessary in their ordinary proceedings. In all such cases the Mod- erator shall name the member who is to preside as Chairman. If the Committee be unable to ag-ree, a motion may be made that the Committee rise, and upon the adoption of such motion the Moderator shall resume the Chair, and the Chair- man of the Committee shall report what has been done and ask that the Com- mittee be discharged, which being allowed, the matter shall be dropped. If the Com- mittee shall agree upon the report to 138 ADDITIOXAL be made, or have made progress in the same without coming to a conclusion, the Committee may rise, report what has been done, and if the case require, may ask leave to sit again; or the Committee of the Whole may be dissolved, and the question considered by the court in the usual order of business." 6. Debate. The member presenting a motion or submitting a report has a right to close the debate. Debate is not in order on debatable motions, after the Moderator has com- menced taking the vote. See G. R. J., XXVI. 7. Elections. In all elections it requires a majority of the votes cast to elect. 8. Explanation. A personal explanation is not a question of privilege unless it affects the rights of a member. See, also, Privilege. 9. Floor. A member who j'ields the floor for any purpose is entitled thereto upon the resumption of the business in connec- tion with which he was speaking. The mover of a motion is, by courtesy, entitled to the floor, if he so desire, after the Moderator has stated the question. 10. Jurisdiction over 3Ieinbers. Every legislative body has the right to call to 'account its members for objectionable conduct, and to inflict adequate penalties. 11. Minority Reports. See Committees. 12. Minutes. Minutes are to be approved by a motion duly adopted. Minutes may be expunged by a unani- mous vote. Minutes may be corrected by a majority vote. RULES. 139 13. ^lotiouM. See Floor. 14. Xuiiiiuatious. A motion may be made to close nominations for any office, when- ever time sufficient has been g-iven for the presentation of names. It is competent for the Assembly after a vote has been taken for an office with- out result, to reopen nominations, plac- ing additional candidates before the house. 15. Order. A member called to order does not yield his right to the floor, but should take his seat until the question of order is decided, when he can resume the floor. A second question of order cannot be raised until the first is decided. 16. Per.sonal Interests. Members may not vote on questions affecting tlieir per- sonal interests. 17. Privilege, Ctuestions of. These are questions on subjects which affect the rights of the Assembly or of individual members, and demand immediate atten- tion. They have priority over all ques- tions except those to fix the time for the next sitting and to adjourn. The Chair may decide what questions of this kind to entertain and their priority, subject to appeal. 18. Privileged Motions. In ordinary legislative business the privileged motions are (1) to fix the time for next sitting, (2) to adjourn, (3) questions of privilege, (4) to take up special orders. 19. Recess. At the close of a session, provided another session is to follow on the same day, it is customary to move that a recess be taken. 20. Reports. See Committees. 140 ADDITIONAL RULES. 21. Session. This term is used for a sitting- of the Assembly for a portion of a day. The motion to fix time for the next ses- sion is not debatable. S3. Vote. Should be re-taken if there is evident error. Should be re-taken when the tellers disagree. A member cannot be excused from vot- ing after the negative of a question is put. The proper time to make the request is immediately at the close of debate, or, •when the name of a member is called on a yea and nay vote. See, also, Personal interests. CHAPTER IX. Classification of Rules. The letters "G. R. J." refer to the "General Rules for Judicatories," consti- tuting Chapter VII, of this book; the let- ters "A. R." refer to "Additional Rules," constituting- Chapter VIII, of this book. I, ADJOURNMENT. "The business interrupted by adjourn- ment or recess is the first in order after the body reassembles, unless there be a special order on the Docket." (A. R., 1.) II. A3IENDMENTS. "An amendment, and also an amend- ment to an amendment, may be moved on any motion; but a motion, to amend an amendment to an amendment, shall not be in order. Action on amendments shall precede action on the original motion. A substitute shall be treated as an amend- ment." (G. R. J., XX.) "An amendment may be laid on the table without affecting another amend- ment or the original motion." (A. R., 2.) III. BLANKS, FILLING OF. "When various motions are made with respect to the filling of blanks, with par- ticular numbers or times, the question shall always be first taken on the highest (141) 142 CLASSIFICATION number and the longest time.'' (G. R. J., xvir.) IV. COMMITTEE OF THE AVHOLE. See G. R. J., XXXIX, for "Interlocutory Meetings," and A. R., 5, which treats the same subject under the caption of the "Committee of the Whole." V. COMMITTEES. "The Moderator shall appoint all com- mittees, except in those cases in which tlie judicatory shall determine otherwise." (G. R. J., VII.) 1. Chairman.— "The person first named on any committee shall be considered a-s the chairman thereof." (G. R. J., IX.) But "in case of his absence or inability to act, the second named member shall take his place and perform his duties." (G. R. J., IX.) 3. Different views. — "When a committee is appointed to delibeiate upon a sub- ject, it is the rule to appoint thereon members holding- different views." (A. R., 4.) 3. Disoliars-e 6. Interruptions. — 'Xo speaker shall b*^ interrupted, unless he be out of order; or for the purpose of correcting mistakes, or misrepresentations." (G. R. J., XXXII.) 7. Limited. — "If the house shall pass the motion to 'vote on a given subject at a time named,' speeches shall thereafter be limited to ten minutes." (G. R. J., XXVI. ) 8. More than three.— "When more than three members of the judicatory shall be standing at the same time, the Moderator shall require all to take their seats, the person only excepted who may be speak- ing." (G. R. J., XXX.) 9. Most distant. — "If more than one member rise to speak at the same time, the member who is most distant from the Moderator's chair shall speak first." (G. R. J., XXIX.) i 10. Mover of a motion.— "Is, by courtesy, entitled to the floor, if he so desire, after the Moderator has stated the question." (A. R., 9.) 11. Not in Order. — "Debate is not in- order on debatable motions, after the Moderator has commenced taking the vote." (A. R., 6.) "When the Moderator has commenced taking the vote, no further debate or re- mark shall be admitted, unless there has evidently been a mistake, in which cas^^ the mistake shall be rectified, and the Moderator shall recommence taking the vote." (G. R. J., XXVI.) VIII. INTERLOCUTORY MEETINGS. See Section IV, "Committee of the Whole." 10 146 CLASSIFICATION IX. MODERATOR, APPEAL FROM DECI- SIOX OF. 1. Aj^grievcd. — "If any member consider liimself ag-grieved by a decision of the Moderator, it shall be his privilege to ap- peal to the judicatory, and the question on the appeal shall be taken without de- bate." (G. R. J., XXXVI.) 2. How put.— "This appeal is ordinarily put in the following- manner, 'Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the decision of the Assembly?'" (A. R., 3.) 3. Questions of order. — The Moderator "shall decide questions of order, sub- ject to an appeal to the judicatory by any two members." (G. R. J., VI.) -4. Tie vote.— "A tie vote sustains the ^Chalr/' (A. R., 3.) X. MODERATOR, DUTIES OF. 1. To preserve order. (G. R. J., IV, XXXV.) 2. To conduct business "to a speedy and proper result." (G. R. J. IV.) 3. To keep notes of business assigned, for particular hours, and call up the items "at the time appointed." (G. R. J., V.) 4. To decide questions of order. (G. R J.. VI.) 5. To appoint all committees, except when "the judicatory shall decide other- wise." (G. R. J., VII.) 6. To vote Tvhen a vote is taken by ballot. (G. R. J., VIII.) But he does not have a double vote — one as a member of the judicatory and one ^s Moderator. — Digest, p. 262. OF RULES. 14 XI. MODERATOR, PRIVILEGES OF. 1. May speak to points of or 2. Ob other questions, each member max speak twice. (G. R. J., XVIII.) 3. Not more than twice, without ex- press leave of the judicatory. (G. R. J., XVIII.) 4. Limited as to time. — "If the house- shall pass the motion to 'vote on a given subject at a time named," speeches shall thereafter be limited to ten minutes.'" (G. R. J., XXVI.) XXIII. VOTING. 1. Adjournment. — "Should the hour for adjournment or recess arrive during- the voting, it shall be postponed to finish the vote, unless the majority shall vote to adjourn; in which case the voting shall, on the reassembling of the house, take precedence of all other business till it ij?- finished." (G. R. J., XXVI.) 2. Division. — "If division is called for on any vote, it shall be by a rising vote without a count. If on such a rising: vote the Moderator is unable to decide., or a quorum rise to second a call for 'tellers,' then the vote shall be taken by rising, and the count made by tellers, wha l.')2 CLASSIFICATION shall pass through the aisles and report to the Moderator the number voting on each side." (G. R. J., XXVII.) 3. Excused.-— Members may be excused from voting. (G. R. J., XXV.) But not after the negative of a ques- tion has been put. (A. R., 22.) 4. Judicial Committee.— ."The members of this committee shall be entitled, notwith- standing their performance of this duty, to sit and vote in the cause." (G. R. J., XLI.) 5. Members should vote. — "Members ought not, without weighty reasons, to decline voting." (G. R. J., XXV.) 6. Members silent. — "Silent members, unless excused from voting, must be con- sidered as acquiescing with the majority." (G. R. J., XXV.) 7. Speeches limited. — "If the house shall pass the motion to 'vote on a given sub- ject at a time named,* speeches shall there- after be limited to ten minutes." (G. R. J., XXVI.) 7. Taking the vote. — "When the Moder- ator has commenced taking the vote, no further debate or remark shall be ad- mitted, unless there has evidently been a inistake, in which case the mistake shnll be rectified." (G. R. J.. XXVI.) 8. Vote, cannot: (1) Complainant. — "Neither the com- plainant nor the members of the judica- tory complained of shall sit, deliberate, or vote in the case." (B. D., Sec. 90.) (2) Personal interests. — "Members may not vote on questions affecting their per- .v(inal interests." (A. R.. 16.) (3) Prosecuting committee. — This com- OF RULES. 153 luiltee cannot vote in the case in which-it is interested. (B. D., Sees. 10. 11, 23.) (4) Records. — "Members of a judicatory, the records of which are under review, shall not be allowed to vote thereon." (B. D., Sec. 73.) (5) Trial. — "No member of a judicatory who has not been present during the whole of a trial, shall be allowed to vote on any question arising therein, except by unanimous consent of the judicatory and of the parties." (B. D., Sec. 28.) (6) Under charge. — "If a judicatory so decides, a member shall not be allowed, while charges are pending against him. to deliberate or vote on any question." (B. D.. Sec. 39.) 9. Vote retaken: (1) "If there is evident error." (A. R.. 22.) (2) "When the tellers disagree." (A. R.. 22.) 10. Yeas and nays. — "Under this rule the 'yeas' and 'nays' shall not be called ex- cept on a final motion to adopt as a whole.'* (G. R. J., XXVI.) "The yeas and nays on any question .shall not be recorded, unless required bx 4»ne-thirfl of the members present." (G. R. J., XVII.) XXIV. WITHDRAWAL OF A MOTION. 1. Before debate has begrun. — "Any mem- ber who shall have made a motion, shall have liberty to withdraw it, with the con- sent of his second, before any debate has taken place thereon." (G. R. J., XV.) 2. After debate has begnn.— "But not afterward, without the leave of the judica- tory." (G. R. J., XV.) 154 ORDER OF ORDBR OP BUSIIVESS.* I. Organization of tlie Body. 1. Calling the body to order 2. The constituting^ prayer. 3. The opening sermon. 4. Making up the roll. 5. Election of Moderator. 6. Appointment of committees. II. The Order for Each Day. 1. Calling the body to order. 2. The opening prayer, or devotional exercises, which inay be substituted for the opening prayer. — Digest, p. 977. 3. Roll call in the morning. 4. Minutes read and approved. 5. Communications read and referred. 6. Reports of Standing Committees. 7. Reports of Special Committees. 8. The Docket. 9. Resolutions. 10. Reading and approving the minutes and roll call at the close of the last ses- sion. 11. Prayer and benediction. ♦This "Order of Business" is suggested as a guide for the transaction of the busi- ness of Presbyteries and Synods. IJUSINKS.S. 155 ORDER OF BUSINESS. (For a Session Meeting.) 1. Calling the Session to order. 2. The constituting prayer. 3. Calling the roll. 4. Minutes of last meeting read. 5. Communications read, and acted on. 6. Reports of Committees. 7. Unfinished business. 8. New business. 9. Closing prayer, and adjournment. INDEX Adjournment, business interrupted by 141 Administrative or non-judicial case 63 Amendments 141 Appeal from Moderator's decision .... 146, 150 Appeal from Moderator's decision in Session 34 Appeal from Moderator's decision in church meeting 28 Appeal : (Defined) 64 Limited to judicial cases 65 Judicial case defined 64 Judicial case modified only by an 65 Taken by an original party 64 Original parties (appellant and appellee) defined 64 To court immediately superior, usually. 65 Effect of an, on judgment 65 Written notice of an 66 Papers filed in an 66 May be referred to judicial commission . . 66 Appellant, the party who takes an appeal . . 64 Appellee, the party against whom an appeal is taken 64 Baptized children, roll of 35 Blanks, filling of 141 Boards, collections for. See "Contribu- tions." Business interrupted by adjournment 141 Business, order of, for Presbytery and Synod 154 Business, order of, for Session 155 Candidate for the Ministry: (Defined.) 66 Taken by what Presbytery ? 67 Must file application 67 Recommended by Session 67 (157) 158 INDEX. Candidate for the Ministry — Continued : Taken on trials 67 Church membership, where 67 Examined annually 68 Responsible to Session for conduct 68 Responsible to Presbytery for studies ... 68 Thorough course of study 68 In approved institutions 69 How long before licensure? 74 Belongs to laity 76 Card-playing condemned 39 Certificate : (Defined.) 37, 56 To a minister — Takes effect immediately 55 One receiving is in transitu 55 Must name Presbytery to which he is dismissed 56 No other than one named can receive him . . 56 Reception of, reported 56 Moderator, clerk or committee cannot grant a 57 Should he return the 56 To an elder — Takes effect immediately 45 Returning the, does not restore to office 45 To a deacon — Takes effect immediately 45 Returning the, does not restore to office 23, 45 To a private member- — • Takes effect immediately 45 Responsible to Session granting 45 To a particular church 45 Includes names of baptized children . . 35 Moderator or clerk of Session may issue 44 Modified 44 May return, to Session granting 45 Reception of, reported 45 To join another denomination 46 INDEX. 159 Ckrtificatk — Continued : To a suspended member? 46 Of credence (Letter of Credence). ... 46 Christian liberality. See "Contributions." Church buildings under control of Session. 43 Church, particular. See "Particular Church." Church, renouncing the 46 Church Session : (Defined.) 31 Quorum of the 31 Moderator of the 32 Prayer in, discretionary, as to circum- stances 32 Who may convene the 34 Appeal from Moderator's decision in ... . 34 Clerk of the — An elder should act as 34 Records accurately kept 34 Roll of members of church 35 Roll of baptized children 3.5 Powers of the — To receive members 36 To inquire into conduct of members . . 38 To exercise discipline 42 To concert best measures 42 To give warning 42 To exercise authority over worship 42 To dismiss members 44 To appoint delegates to judicatories .... 47 Must account for failure to appoint. 47 Term of service of 47 Expenses of 47 Church, vacant, meets for worship 44 Church versus congregation 7 Clerks of Judicatories : Shall form rolls 127 Shall receive overtures 127 No time limit of service 2 Temporary versus stated 2 Commission. See 'Judicial Commission." 160 INDEX. Complainant. The party who enters a com- plaint. Complaint : (Defined.) 63 Parties to (complainant & respondent) . . 63 Written notice of 63 Records in the case 63 In administrative cases only 63 Committee of the Whole 137 See "Interlocutory Meetings" 132 Committee on Bills and Overtures 127 Committees 142 Congregation versus church 7 Constitutional Rule, force of 75 Contributions : Christians under obligation to make 4S To be systematically made 48 Definite portion 48 Not less than tenth 48 • Training in systematic 85 Presbytery to encourage 8.'5 To church in which membership is held. 49 Roll of churches to be called by Pres. .. 8.5 Responsibility of Session in 48 Session cannot prevent 47 Pastors to preach on systematic 48 Credence, letters of 46 Dancing condemned 39 Deacons : Election of 22 Term of service of 23 May demit office 23, 21 Laws regulating 23 Must act as a Board.- 23 Report to church meeting 24 Records submitted to Session 24 Duties of 23 Not members of Session 25 Meet with Session at times 24 May serve as elders 25 May assist in Lord's Supper 24 Resignation of. to Session 23, 21 INDEX. 101 Deaconesses cannot be elected 22 Dealing, unjust 'H Debate 1^4^ Demission of Office : By a minister — After a year's probation 5T Cannot be required to seek 57 How he may reenter ministry 5T By an elder 2 1 By a deacon 23. 21 Deposition from Office : Of a minister 5T Reordained to be restored 5S Presbytery deposing, only, restores ... 58 Of an elder 21 Reordained to reenter eldership 21 Of a deacon 23, 21 Reordained to reenter diaconate. . .. 23, 21 Discipline. See "Members of a Church." Divorce, deliverance on 122 Elders. See "Ruling Elders." Extraordinary cases (candidates) 73 Gambling condemned -tO General Assembly : (Defined.) lOT Basis of representation in lOS Commissioners elected when? lOS Full number must be sent 10& Commissions supplied 108 Will not go behind commission 109 Commissioners should remain 110 Leave of absence from 110 Meetings of Ill Stated Ill Adjourned Ill Pro re nata Ill Private sessions of 4, 112 Interlocutory sessions of 4, 112 Place of 112 Quorum of 112 Opening sermon of 112 11 162 INDEX. General Assembly — Continued : Officers of the 113 Moderator 11?. Stated Clerk 113 Permanent Clerk 114 Temporary Clerks 114 Treasurer 114 Funds of the 114 Mileage 114 Entertainment 115 Contingent 115 Corresponding Members 115 Officers of the Assembly 115 Secretaries of Boards 115 Delegates from corresponding bodies. . 115 Powers of the — To receive and issue appeals, com- plaints, and references 116 To review synodical records 116 To give advice and instruction 117 To decide in controversies 117 To bear testimony against error 119 To erect new Synods 119 To superintend the work of the Church 120 To correspond with foreign bodies.... 120 To suppress schismatical contention . 120 To promote charity, truth, etc 121 To erect new Presbyteries 121 To modify and dissolve Presbyteries. . . 121 Dissolving of the 123 Giving. See "Contributions." Home Mission committee. See "Vacancy and Supply." Installation of Ministers defined 79 In transitu, minister with letter 55 Judicatories : Private sessions of 4 Interlocutory meetings of 4 See "Committee of the Whole" 137 Final closing of 4 Judicial case defined 04 INDEX. 163 JuDiciAJL Commission : In the Presbytery 66 In the Synod 98 In the Assembly 116 Latin exegesis 72 Letter. See "Certificate." Letters of Credence 46 Liberality. See "Contributions." Licentiate : Belongs to laity 76 Candidate a year before licensure 74 From another denomination, how re- ceived ? 54 May solemnize marriage where State law permits 76 License limited to four years 74 May be extended a year 74 Trials for ordination 77 Name erased from church roll at ordina- tion 70 Liquor traffic condemned ". 40 Lives, unclean, condemned 41 Local Evangelists : Presbytery may license 7;" Character of examination 7.") License for one year IT, May be withdrawn at any time 75 May enter ministry — After four years' service 75 Licensed in usual way 76 Examination for ordination 75 Members of a Church : Received on profession of faith 36 Examined by Session 37 Conditioned on baptism 37 From other denominations, without certificates 37 Received on certificate 37 Irregular to receive without 38 104 INDEX. Members of a Church — Continued : Members immediately after vote of Session 38 Limit of one year for certificate 37 Public recognition of 38 Roll of 35 Suspended roll 35 Suspended by process 35 Suspended without process 35 Non-residents for two years 35 Dismission of — ■ On certificate. See "Certificate." Renouncing the Church 46 Discipline of — Ends of 42 Affection in 42 Application of 42 Warning . 42 Conduct of, condemned, as follows : Dancing 30 Theatre and opera 39 Card-playing 39 Progressive euchre 40 Gambling 40 Liquor trafllc 4o Unclean lives 41 Unjust dealing 41 Meetings of a Church : Held by order of Session 25 Officers of 25 Records of, incorporated in Session's records 25 Rules governing 2fi Voters in, for elders and deacons 20 Voters in. for pastor 2f) Voters in, for trustees 27 Purposes of 27 Appeal from decision of Moderator in. .. 28 "Meeting" of a judicatory defined 148 Meetings, interlocutory 137 IxNDEX. 165 MiXISTEKS : Of equal power 53 Ruling elders in nature of their oflace. . 96 Without charge to unite where? 53 Become members of Presbytery — By ordination 54 By transfer from another Presbytery. 54 By transfer from another denomination 54, 55 Removed from charge by Presbytery .... 79 •Judged by Presbytery 80 Original jurisdiction over 80 Church membership of, in Presbytery. . . 80 Not members of local churches 81 Unemployed, list of to be kept 87 Unemployed to serve in vacant churches 86 In transitu 55 Reserved roll of 56 Missions, collections for. See "Contribu- tions." Moderator, appeal from decision of . . . .146, 150 Moderator, appeal from decision of in Ses- sion 34 Moderator, appeal from decision of in church meeting 28 Moderator, duties of 146 Moderator, privileges of I47 Motion, withdrawal of a I53 Motions, order of precedence I47 Motions, not debatable I47 Motions, privileged I49 Non-judicial case defined 64 Order of business for Presbytery and Synod 154 Order of business for Session I55 Ordixation to the Ministry: (Defined.) 77 Presbyterial act 77 Cannot be performed by a commission . . 77 Trials for 77 Ouganizations : For benevolent purposes 29 166 INDEX. Organizations — Continued : For special purposes 2U For missionary work 2U "Original parties" defined Gi Outside of bounds, Presbytery may meet . . . (>0 Particulak Church : (Defined.) 7 Officers of 10 Vacant, defined 15 Vacant, how supplied 15, 8G Meetings of. See "Meetings of a Church." Members of. See "Members of a Church." Organizations of, for work 2S Represented in Presbytery 58 Visited by Presbytery 82 Dissolved by Presbytery So May withdraw from Presbytery 8o Location of a New 84 Spiritual welfare of 84 Pastor : (Defined. ) 11 Choosing a 11 Calling a 11 Subscribing the call 12 Installation necessary 13 Installation service, order of 13 Resignation of a, to Presbytery 13 When resignation takes effect? 14 Presbytery : (Defined.) 51 Membership of a 51 For separate races 51, 52 Speaking other than English language.. . 51 Ministers in. See "Ministers." Churches represented in 5S Meetings of 59 Stated 59 Adjourned 59 Pro re nata 59 Private sessions of 4, 60 Interlocutory sessions 4, 61 Changing the place of 60 Outside its bounds <»0 INDKX. IQi Presbyteky — Continued : Quorum of 61 Sermon and prayer in 61 Moderator of 1, 62 Clerk of 2. 62 Corresponding members in 62 Powers of the — To receive and issue appeals, com- plaints and references 62 See "Appeals," "Complaints" and "References." To examine and license candidates. ... 66 See "Candidate." To ordain, install, remove and judge ministers 76 See "Ordination to the Ministry." To examine records of Sessions 81 To condemn erroneous opinions 82 To visit churches 82 To unite or divide churches 83 To care for the churches 83 Should encourage systematic giving.... 85 Enquire after contributions 85 Is pastor of vacant churches 89 Vacancy and supply in 86; See "Vacancy and Supply." > Privilege of one member 149 Privilege of tvro members ^ 150- Privileged motions 240, Question, previous 148 Questions of privilege 14ft Quorum of a committee 14;; Quorum, \a.w of a t; Recess, business after 150 Reconsideration 150 Records : Every court must keep 2 I Extracts from, when required 2 1 Of church meeting incorporated in Ses- sion's record 25 Subject to review 2. 168 INDEX. Rkference : (Defined. ) 62 Representation in writing 62 From inferior to superior court 62 Of a judicial case, undecided 63 See "Judicial Case." REINSTALLATION : Of an elder resuming office 21 Of a deacon resuming office 23, 21 Removal, notice of 46 Renouncing the Church 46 Reports 151 Resignation : Of a pastor to Presbytery 13 Of an elder to Session 21 Of a deacon to Session 23, 21 Respondent, party against whom a "com- plaint" is made 63 Roll. See "Members of a Church." Rule, Constitutional, force of 75 Ruling Elders : Representatives of the people 16 Election of 16 Qualifications of 16 Life-service 16 Term-service 17 Adoption of term-service retires life- service 17 Who may vote in election for 18 Who determines time for election 18 Who presides at meeting for election. ... 19 Mode of election 19 Mode may be changed 19 Must be ordained 19 Order of ordination service 19 How cease to act? 20 Return of letter does not reinstate in office 45 Restoration to church privileges does not restore to office 22 Resignation of, to the Session 21 INDEX. 169 Ruling Elders — Continued : Preside over worship in vacant churches 44 May be used to care for vacant churches 90 Ministers are, in '"nature of their office" 96 Sabbath observance 122 Seminaries. See "Theological Seminaries." Session. See "Church Session." Session of a judicatory defined 4, 147 Speeches 151 Synod : (Defined.) 93 Meetings of 94 Stated 94 If it fail to meet 95 Pro re nata 95 Change in place of 96 Private sessions of 4, 96 Interlocutory sessions of 4, 96 Quorum of 96 Sermon and prayer 97 Moderator of 1, 97 Clerk of 2, 97 What record shall be kept? 101 Corresponding members in 97 Powers of the — To receive and issue appeals, com- plaints and references 97 See "Appeals," "Complaints" and "References" To review records of Presbyteries .... 100 To redress anything contrary to order. 100 To see that the Constitution is ob- served 100 To erect new Presbyteries 101 To unite or divide Presbyteries 101 To promote edification of the church . . 101 Report of, to the Assembly 103 Minutes of, printed 103 Closing of the 104 Systematic beneficence. See "Contribu- tions." 170 IXUEX. THKOLOGICAI4 Seminaries : Insist on college graduation 70 Enforce rule about diplomas 70 A requirement in English Bible 70 Instruction in English Bible 71 Instruction in Sabbath-school work 71 Examination in Confession of Faith. ... 71 Examination in Form of Government. .. 71 Course for Sabbath-school missionaries. 72 Tithes 48 Trustees 28 Unclean lives condemned 41 Unjust dealing condemned 41 Vacancy and Supply : Committee on SG List of vacant churches 87 List of unemployed ministers 87 Board of Home Missions 87 Vacant Churches : (Defined.) 15 To meet for worship 44 Officers to conduct worship in 44 Elders used to care for 90 Presbytery the pastor of 15, 89 Withdrawal of a motion 153 Worship, authority over : Music 4;; Prayer 43 Preaching 43 Sabbath-schools 43 Societies 43 Vice-Moderator 126, 146 Voting 151 y Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library 1 1012 01017 2528