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

Ways exp icitly authorized in the cona .utiou. The
BY may be invoked a. appears from the seventh
OF the Book Of Discipline four by reference BY sp-
peal BY cemp.int, and-.o state that last, which,
the Book OF Discipline 6rst-by gsnsrA sisw
ct ntrol fhs three processes Hrst named do not of
course originate In the Assembly. Their inception u
It is presumed, most OF the matters which call for dis
cPf AIRY action the of the highest juoicatory viii
bhiiy of neglect in tn. regard ana for such condu-
gercy our constituton-rnmsd with wisdom best ap-
prseaied BY ,hese who have most thoroughly studied
-has made specific provision This provision is found
IN Inc section ON General review and control" [5es
BOOK OF Discipline chapter T. sectionl Under this
tic there are two methods In which any osa pnaois
otter ce-And slAvehoding Of oourss when il assumes
that chsIactsr-may be reached suthorstvely By the
Synod submitted for n that there has been
some wrong dong or Die o0isson In the matter
nave ostp 1scasu OF ~ sea-
Presbyey have not according TO the I'd and 80 articles
OF thi, sec ion ben properly disposed or Grit may ar
pear hst TIE duly epjoned In the 9th article that Of
citing lower udIcatory In given contingency has been
entiey neglected In Of this sort there may b
the cd may be required to review and correct s
proceecinss" e. Any inp,r.snt delinquency or
be recerds, may yet be charged against s,nod BY
CON mon lane" II may b. reported for example, that
through some nsg.c; Of tn: . hsretic. opoions
lat offenders Ct very gross charae:eI suffered
escape" (see article ana 0, Of his ssston) In
fec IN he Boz OF Discipline, chap s. ses 5-for pro-
cess against Synod shou1 certainly not commenced
sbahter grounds against an naividua-ths As
temby s TO cite the judicatory alleged have osAdsd
to sppcar at specified time snd place. and to SHOW
las done or fAec to do in the in afs
which the judicatory thus issuing the citation shA
remit the whole matter to the ceinq uent judca ory
with direction to take II up and dispose OF it in
T. rec l. art. 81 In view Of the aforenamed and her
provisions OF our form of government, toushins the
fully noted
II has no power to commence process of discipline
with sn iDeiyidnal ole nSs- That y just and wise
man 10 The Pre'oyteIy in tina case of minister. The
dsciplI function Of the Assembly rs TO individuals
is simply appellate revsionAry Is Ia not court
OF hrst bat Of last resort
in tie wsy OF general review and control, it
reach directly only the judiciary mex. belsw-thst is the
syros. (S.e Book OF pi.cpiss chapter 7 secion l.
article 6 Indirectly indeed the doirgs Of other BODIES
may &c involved session may grossly neglect disci
pine for exsmps, the ed Indication, the
ccEmou SINE thereof may rot be properly heed BY the
Presbyiey The fruit of this he ediessness the evil
appropriate action the part OF the s,n9d and this
may be brought by the SYNOD zeal records py
ground ether The recor the rumor the Assembly
may cite tie Synod be ore them. Taus mediassy may
ev.n a session BE- reachec, but not directly.
such are the metes and bounds which our form of 60
emit has prescribed, and which the ASSEMBLY may
not overpsss is quite stole that 10 connection with
them osneers Of varions may sometimes escape
To human inistiation. or however civ eystem
inpertectioa always pertains. Our Book Of Discipline
OF in wbicr, 'h ,wever gevons il msy be t. the
pieus to unworthy member in the church. it is
proper to wait until Coo in his righteous providence
shah give further light" Waiting may be rendered
c.ssaiy By lack OF fidelity the part Of the lower judi
catoriss well by lack of evidence We speAk Of it.
Ard n ~ to . great evil that the General
Assem- bly, is invested With larger powers. Yet IL
would Re greater evil TO alo. any departure from the
Institution. To permit the Assembly to ADOPT ct tts
pleasure new suit Its own powers to real
or far ciec not only invtstt With egs
Atve fun ciols; IL would virtually annul the
tor and transform the highest judcatory Of the church
INTO ever shadowinx ecclesiastical despoesm II mas
indeed, been srgu ed-though not with what
son the advisory function of he Assembly Its
power OF bearing testimony implies the authority neces
saTy to enforce that testimony. there, thon, just
and sautary dscnsion between persuasion and conpul
,ionf Nus, the tso be conjoned, Are there
OF tniIes, be posntS Must the Assembly utter
coupsels which not TO be interpreted mandatory
hex ase they to By processes which thsy shsm
selves cevise-txtiA constitutional processes Or
they re held to tns provisions ef the Book of Dsca
plke They have il true the right xccordisg to the
form OF government, chapter H. section s. Of attempt
ing" As we'll as Recommending reformation Of man
ners" Blu. the attempt must De made, If discipline is
TO be involved, only in the ms,hed prescribed
in ,be constitution. To ali desirable ends, the
auas especially as saA. oonnsosa With tS.
and reprtving functions go often exercised in time
past, and which, BY body like the Assembly
At the cluson Of the foregoing, the following mno
rity ,erort Jon the sams question. read BY Rev.
DR.. Boyd
MINORITY REPORT
The undersigped member OF Committee appointed
by the last General Assembly to report to this Assem-
BY the unconstitutional power Of the Assembly ever
stsips to cr from the ority Of the committee begs
leave to submit the fol owing report-rhs
in jorty report his concur renee. Toe prin-
cpes erein stated by which the General Assembly is
to be governed in its action with reference 10 what are
recognized offences by the CT the church,
clearly represented In the Book Of ipne The
process he 10 regard all offences satei to be
uch il the col fessicn OF faith of the Presbyterian
Church. The General Assembly has the power. ad
vmoy body of ref rniDg warning or bearing testimony
against any 10 doctrine immortality practice
peases whether that immortality is referred to
10 nfes ion not; but that reprooi and testimony
can have authoritative or birding effect upon the
lower juecaoiies. As judicial body, the General As
semby has the power 10 decide al cases Of offence
brought before for cudcaon either BY reference
court Of review Il require mods to review and cor
proceedings In regard TO offences that have
been irregular or not in with the constltu-
ton In the same pactty IL cite before its bar
sJned to answer to the charge Of allowing heretical
opinions corrupt p,sctees to gain ground provided
such ia specified In chap 8, sec. s. Of
the Book G. Discipline charges the synod with sueh &C.
linlIepcy. The Assembly cannot originate discipline
ner can y act erscsy upon any oner JUDICIARY snso the
10 zee that the session takes ccgnzance Of alleged here
teal MONS corrupt practices then the Assembly
charge Of delinquency In duty; after which the whole
matter Is be referred to synod with direction to
stay AL further proceedings in the case, ~ cir
eums'snces may require" Chapter T. section article
g. The lower juoicatory would be bound TO consider
the subject ordered BY the Assembly to be investi-
gated but the issue Of the case is tl left with the
Jude a.ory. If the synod should juoge after
sicelrg the SUBJECT, that further seton on the
part ef the prescyery or session Is called for 1t has
the uonal right to stay all further procee dngs 1t
has discharged its obligation to the Assembly when it
has taken the subjsct for confederation the Assem-.
bly, gone TO ,be exent Of its power when has di-
rected toe lower udcstoy to consider it. The final
OF the matter according TO the constitution of the
Church is left to the lower These constitu
tona principles in regard 10 offences are in substance
gnzed in the report Of the msjory Of the commit
tee. In the vsss Expressed BY the majority on this
bsnch CT the subject the signed cordially concurs
The undersigned likewise In the sentiment which
he ur ders,ands is implied IN the second resolution
adopted BY TIE Assembly in Detroit and which he has
the the ooinion of the majority OF the con-
miuee that avehoIcpg not Gin pr SCI and cannot,
therefore on this ground be made subject OF disci-
plins Ibe unoeragned also readily admis that slave
holding ike every other relation la e, Is sin in the
sight Of God when It Inconsistent with the demands
Of humanity In Eis view Of the suejsc' the exceptions