The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-20

the judiciary It's powers ale specifically ment; med
They are never ota general nature The offences
atty 10 be inflicted in tae event Of their commission
stated II the legislative gu heriy has fAsd
provoe Tor certain offences that exist in c,mmu-
nifty i neglect cannot invest the vi ths right
gsns,si power Of interpreting the eonstitu DON
bbitsc tucb either the isutiun or laws Of ths
State However eesiI able II b to pupsh an indi.
fence be not be ssned ~ tie court 20 oIr = the
Legislature not n'erpose and provide BY eneetment
for the particular oercs The court would b. gArdsd
gully Of gross assumption OF power. and a. taking
into It's bsnds what belongs TO the Legislative
Of government II II would condemn ~ an ofsnce what
neither the constitution nor the laws 70 declare IT. pro-
TO interpret the constitution and laws: but In 80
don it 60 ond their literal import Il cannot
impicacn, authOitstvsy declare that 70 30 an Of
fence under any crcumstances, 70 which nsither the
constitution nof the laws Of the state make the slightest
under eons GRAFTON is obvious. 1t Will DO con-
red.d that the GtDera Assembly Of the Presbyterian
espation OF that 1t cannot make laws which are
binding upon the condolences OF the membeu OF the
Faith nowhere directly aiudes to saveholdpe e. an 81
tpce The subject not referred to In any part
hook With these Concessions. it may be asked what
ground tbs General Assembly clam the power TO pro-
nGuncs slaysho,dog, under any circumstances in the
sepse which that term is used the reoort eGsnces
Can this highest uft Of the ohusch lively pro-
nounce thing offence It peases when word d
eaid upon the subject in the Contest Of aiths The
seeord resolution OF the Assembly 1T passed. bT
ann enoors.o BY the wsjority Of the committee mo
bs' the Assembly hes THE power aud In confirmation of
this opinion it is u'gso That the Book Of Discipline
gives only gonera te6pitton ri the vord offence leAv
irg IT to the Assembly, as tbs highest court Of the
church. to determine Wat a,ts come under this dedu
decided By shs Assembly Does the word osnce include
.aveholdiDg in sLy case and if co. in whatS In reply.
Book of Dc'pDe gives only general definition Of the
word efsnce (snd how could 1t be othsrwIssf) the
TO decd. what particular acts come under this deui
tioo. 1t viii not pretended that the Confession OF
Fsh directly corfers :ucn powers upon tn. ?pdcatoriss
the Undersigned, the longer and shorter cateohsms,
which part Of our standards and obligatory
Any other were designed 10 b. OF vhst In
the judgment Of the church, constitute truth
1t The Assembly has the power to determine the
import Of the words lived in the general definition Of
offence as given the Book o. discipline But it il
tally dlsnct question whether 1t has toe to Apply
that eedniton to particular cases. The former Is .
pov given to the Assembly court. The latter it
possesses Gully far the standards OF the church Co.
senAte particular acts - offences The Book of Discl
is any thing The principles practice Of Church
member, which contrary to the word Of God AMI which,
sin or mar their spiritual edeaon II this language
is to be tai without limitation 1t Is evi ert there
no relation in life which may not be considered an Of
fence the in which the used In the Book
OF Discipline The relation OF husband and wife. Of pa
rent and cbid and of master ara servant in the free
States f1und oftf times to exist IN in
which those sustaining / are tsmpted to sin, ard are
daily nscous that II mars their spiritual eiacaion"
Are We therefore, infer that those Who these
relations such circu chaygespe with
offence IN the in which that term used In the
Book Of Disciplined does 1t belong to any court Of the
Church to determine whether these relations existing
in such circumstances oence9 SuIe,y not. And
yet, # this general ee6ni ion gives to the General
fence btcAufe in insArcs the relation may tempt
to fr, there is conceivable reason why the same
nay not Re protested of every relation in ife In
this connection however. II ia important to observe,
that In order TO ain what ere the principles and
practices of church members vhen are contrary to tbs
word Of Goo which, though not in their ON nature
sinful, TEMPT others to sin, c rected In the
section il The Book Of Discipline immeostsy following
the containing the definition of offence to look
whsre9 to the General Assembly, Not ALL But TO the
Scriptures, and the regulations and practice Of the
church. "Nothsg, thersose II is aaid' ought to 20
such from Scripture from the regulations ana prac-
tcs Of the church. founded Scripture" And wAo are
gard what be charged offences in the eens. in
which used In the Book of Dscipines Is IT left
Assembly to ssee vi q. ,hs on the SUI
ject OF o pcee: Or the Confession OF Faith ncud
s s %Sa Ds
Church regarded taught in the word OF God on this
suhjec The unsersgred considers the latter View the
only that be fsoopcied with the spirit OF our
constitution But 1t may be said that according to the
stitutiop, ''to the General Assembly belongs tho
doctrine and discipline; of reprovips warning or
ing testimony sgainst in doctrine immortality In
IN any s Or ;ns o.
g. CHI Il F. OF From this lapgusgeit inferred that
il the General Assembly regard sAvehodipg in certain
to eeclsre it be fence in the in which the
term ia used in the Book OF Discipline. Tho undersigned
csrntt ADMIT the justice O. this inference. It douo
belongs to the Assembly to decide all ntroveries
specrg doctrine and practice and OF supeIintendng the
concerns Of the whole church Bat the quet ion Is,
bow the Assembly z exeIcie its power in this respec
This section does not anfwer the question We learn,
however, from other parts of the consttutiop that the
mof in which this power TO be exercised ia distinctly
that it s not left to the Assembly to deter
mine either what is in d. ctrine immortality
in practice or BY what method it shall decide contro-
tirO and
tend the Of the whole church The Assembly,
lie every oher udicatory OF the church, in exercising
the authority With which 1t has been intrusted,
is to be guiced by the express provisions of the
constitution Its power to cecte controversies re-
TIN ony against what may consider in doctrine
or an imnta ty practice Gees not involve the right
70 regard that As heres, or an which - not con-
power beor e. to the Assembly, who secure from the
accusation q here.y immortality In pyactcss The
opinion Of the Assembly instead of the Confession Of
Faith thenlbecemes the standard Of orthodoxy and
rai,J And as the Assemo il delegated body and is
generally composed Of different members at each
sve meerg there msy be many opposite expressions
ofopinions there me ergs Of the body What one
Assembly would declare Gan error In doctrine and Inn
morality in practice" another might regard % truth,
and free from the charge Of immora ty In this age
Of progress and Wild ianstcism theories and practices
essential to truth and virtue which the greater part
of gelical Christians would consider pernicious
such power granted TO it, nothing else would be
wanting to invest the Assembly with all the attributes
of an oaarcby % supreme in MS control OF the minis
ters and members OF the church. possessed of power
tyrannical that which ever dstDgus he'd ecce
siastical council of Rome With such . power,
the Astembly might disregard the plain provision
Of the ccnsitu,icD, making II imperative send down
overtures TO the PIesby for their ADOPTION before
airy change that FMS trument be effected. Under
a general power of interpreting the constitution, It
would virtually enact law respecting errors in dec-
trne and practice, whe confessedy aluson is made
to either In the Confession Of Faith and when the Pres
byerss according to the plain Language OF the constitu
tion the only law making known to the Pres
yteian Church Surely, then, this Interpretation Of
this section Of the form Of government incorrect. The
Undersigned understands it as giving to the General As
~hat The standards Of the church expressly desas be
errors in doctrine and mmorai'ies in practice And
the Assembly tears its testimony sganst what 1t may
consider herety Elm. but TO which standards
make NO auttn, II must be virtue OF it, advisory
power. But that doctrine in morality in prAc
tice. whether real or imaginary cannot be regarded
berefy offence In the in which the term La
used in he Book OF Discipline In order 10 this We
Iest it must DO distinctly condemned such In the
standards Of the church; otherwise there is no &C.
ns~aA