Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-15
REPORTED FOR THE STAR.1
REV. MR.. SUNDERLAND'S DISCOURSE

On Sunday evening, the religious cere-
mony of ordaining Messrs. John Doug
las, Otis c. White and Thomas J. John
son, Deacons of the Presbyterian Church
on 4 j street, was performed by the offici-
ating minister, the Rev. Mr.. Sunderland,
in the presence of large congregation,
the ceremony being preceded by an elo-
quent and learned discourse upon The
Polity Of tie Presbyterian Church, the
text taken from Acts, ch. IA. V. 23.-
The reverend gentleman began by obser-
wing, that from the above passage in
scripture was derived the Politv of the
Presbyterian Church, but that they did
not assume to themselves the right of
being the only Catholic Church of Christ,
nor did they condemn as heretics, to eter-
nal damnation, all who did not profess
to follow their peculiar tenets. The word
church, the Latin of which was ecclesio,
and hence our term, ecclesiastical, was de-
rived from the Saxon, and also from the
Greek word kw1akon. 1t meant body
of people congregated together, and devo-
ted to the service of God. 1t was accor-
dinghy their belief that there might be
different forms of polity, and that they
had not the right to unchristianize those
who formed their doctrines upon the au-
thority Of the word of ,iod. In like
manner, they denied the right of others,
to unchrlstlanlze them. In this respect
the Catholic Church of Christ here upon
earth, might be compared to the Federal
tjn1nn horn No Sto{o 10 s.,
intermeddle with, the others, because they
have not adopted it's peculiar form of
government, the internal polity of each
may be adjusted to their own liking, pro-
vided it is not incompatible with the or
ganic laws Of the Federal Constitution.
Thus, the Bible is the organic law of the
church, and therefore any church NAV
legislate for itself, provided it does not
introduce anything, contrary to what
is there laid down.
The word Presbyterian was from the
Greek prcsbyter, signifying an Elder, orlit-
orally, Older, more ancient; twas adopted
thenbecause it was Scriptural title and
more used in the Bibethan any other; see
LIST Epistle of Timothy, 5th chapter, Goth
and ODD chapters of Acts, and 1st Epis-
tie of Peter, as well as a hundred other
places that might be quoted in proof of
this. Indeed, it was scarcely possible
to read any part Of the Scriptures where
the word did not occur.
With regard to their ecclesiastical GOV
ernment, the Presbyterian Church was
organized under covenant, to observe
the principles of the Christian religion,
with all its consequent demands, and
those forming the Church are therefore
called covenant members. These latter
delegated their authority to an assembly
composed of three classes, Deacons, Ell
ders or Prcsbyters, and Bishops or Pas
tors: the first named class are frequently
mentioned in the New Testament, their
office was to diaconi1e, or literally, to
wait about the table, and to look after
the poor; tie candidates for this office
were set apart, as woulG be done in the
present instance, by the imposition of
hands. They held a high and responsible
position, forming as it were, a connecting
link between those, who were members
of the church, and those who did not
belong to it. The Elders were divided
into two classes, ruling Elders, and FL
ders who were also empowered to preach
the Gospel. These together with the
Pastor, form the Session, or first Court, or
Judicatory, deriving their authority from
the Bible, and are charged to maintain
the profession of faith Of the Church.
They have, therefore, the right to enquire
into the conduct of its members, to ad-
moniSh, rebuke, suspend, and exclude
those who are deserving of censure, and
also to send delegates to the higher Judi
catory.
The last Office is that of Presbyter, or
Elder of the second class, who is also
called Episcopus or Bishop, which last is
Saxon word, meaning he who oyerlooks.
He is also called Shepherd or Pastor, An
gel or Evangelist, Ambassador, Legate or
Deputy, likewise Servant Or Minister. A
candidate for the Office must be coven-
ant member, give satisfactory evidence
for his fitness, and then be licensed and
ordained for the duties, by the laying on
of hands.
\ Pastor means one who is placed over
single congregation, and when installed,
he becomes member of Session of the
Church, and by virtue of his Office, it's
Moderator or President. Besides the
Church Session, there are three other leg
islative assemblies whose functions are
clearly defined in the Presbyterian form
otChurch government, and are to be found
in the Westminster confession Of faith.
There is no provision for the Apostolic
succession, because that Office expired in
the first age of Christianity. This form
of government proceeds on the grounds
that larger portion should govern a
smaller, thata representation of the whole
should govern; in short, that the MAORI
ty should rule. This is the polity of the
Presbyterian Church, and there is claimed
for it divine right, not so divine, how
ever, as to unchristianize all other church.
eS or to he anita To tho tr,,a l;rbt