The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1846-12-31

ton there is conferred upon the priests any
special elevated dignity above the laity, and
that, by virtue Of the same, authority is given
them over faith and doctrine, over the con-
sciences and the opinions ofmen.
8. We reject the constrained celibacy of
the clergy, as an ordinance not founded up
on the Holy scriptures, but rather contri
vance devised by the Popes for their domi-
neering purposes.
4. We reject auricular confession.
5. We renounce the invocation of Saints,
the worship OF relics and images.
6. We reject indulgences, feasts, pilgrim
ages, and all such hitherto appointed church
regulations, which can only lead 10 an empty
self-righteousness. 'i''' ''F'+
T. We reject the doctrine of purgatory.
But we freely profess the following we'll
established tenets OF the Gospel. argsa
~ IL. asss wfaim
- CONFESSION OF FAITH. sa G9.i
l.. As the general subsistence of our belief
| we adopt the following creed: raa
We believe in God the Father, who thro'
His Almighty Word created the world, and
rules il in wisd ON, righteourness, and love.
We believe in Jesus Christ our Savior. We
believe in the Holy Spirit, holy christian
church, the forgiveness of sins, and life ever
lasting. Amen s .gv5 sasaa ssai
2, We assign TO the church individually
the duty of bringing the import of our faith to
living christian development adapted tothe
times. sHd asalaaQ7
3. We allow entire freedom of conscience,
the free investigation and interpretation of
the holy Scriptures, with no recognized ex-
terna authority we abominate especially all
coercion, all hypocrisy and all lying, and
and therefore find in the diversity of views
and readings of our doctrinal basis no ground
for division and denuncaiion. We hold our
creed subject to deeper scrutiny of Holy
Scripture founded on the development and
influence of the Holy Spirit.
4. We acknowledge on the authority of
Holy Scripture only two sacramens institute
ed by Christ, Baptism and Supper; but as
church institutions in the spirit of the Gospel;
Confirmation (receplon into the congregation
| by confession of faith on arriving at years
of discretion; 1.-THE laying on of hands with
prayer die BusSe. Repenianeel prayer for
the forgiveness of sins;) der PriestertOiehe
Ordination; laying on OF hands with player9
Marriage and preparation Tor death with
prayer.) tt lrtst
| s. Baptism shall be administered TO child
rem, with the expectation thati will be fol-
lowed by ratification of the Confession of
Faith Confirmation on their arriving at
years of discretion.
g. The Lords Supper shall be partaken of
| by the congregation as it was instructed by
Christ, in both kinds.
We recognize marriage as holy, binding
rite, and retain for it for il the chuToh's bles-
sing; yet we acknowledge other condition
and limitations than such as are affixed by
the law of the State.
| 8. We believe and declare that it is the
! first duty of the Christian 10 manifest bis
faith by works of christian love. boosters
Iii. e uH
| In fixing the outward form of worship and
the church order in The congregation, we fol-
low substantially the DEGREES of the Council
of Leipsc. gI5a
| l. Public worship consists principally of
instruction and edfication. 3 liz
2. The Liturgy of that part of public wor-
| ship which should serve Tor edi6cation will,
according TO the usage of The Apostles and
primitive christians, be made comfortable 10
existing circumstances. The participation
Liturgical exercises) and the alienation be-
tween them and the ministers will he regard
ed as an essential matter. - aH sea
/ 3. Public worship shall be conducted in
the German language. E bstH
4. Public worship shall be conducted in
the following order: eas3
al Invocation; in the name of God the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. b. In
troductory hymn. g the Confteor, d. The
Kyrie, q the Gloria IN E1celsis, f. the Col
lect for the day, g the Epislle, h) the Gospel,
| y the Sermon, together with extemperaneous
prayer and singing before and after, ~ the
Creed, y the hymn, Holy, Holy Holy, (Sanc-
| tus,) ny instead of the canons selected pas
sages from Passion with the words of institu-
ton of the holy Supper, read by minister, NJ
during the Communion, the Agnes Del, o.
the Lords Prayer, p,) closing hymn, q
| Benediction. co 9f
5. After the solemn public worship in the
afternoon there shall be a catechistical ex-
ercse or instructive lecture. The latter may
be by layman who shall have been approx
ed for this purpose by the officers OF the con-
gregation. o
6. No festivals shall be observed but such
as such as are appointed by the civil author
ty. -s,s es-s3 sr
7. All church rites, such as Baptism, mar
riages, funerals, &C., shall be solemnized by
1 the minister without fee, for all classes in the
congregation alike. ae s 1903
w. oa ae z9ne Sc
ORGANIZATION AND CONSTITUTION OF THE
| CONGREGATION. fass 58i
/. The Congregation regard it as a first