Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-05-14

not universally III tue ieS Suia9ioho 0o"e'iou
ed by these Resolutions, this Presbytery in
such case maintains, that such action vio-
lates an essential and fundamental principle
of Presbyterianism or in other words, if
the Resolutions were passed with view to
enable each congregation through its repre-
sentative organ, the Session, to enforce or
not enforce according to its own will and
pleasure, the regulations established by the
resolutions, Cougregatioualism to q degree
not warranted by our standards and ancient
landmarks is instituted in the Church, and
"the form of Presbyterial church govern
ment," which you and we have solemnly
vowed "to maintain and observe, as agreea-
BILE to, and founded on the word of Coz" is
infracted and so far abolished.
Rev. DR. Miller, on Presbyterianism, a
work published by the Presbyterian Board
of Publication of the General Assembly
Presbyterians, distinguishes Presbyterianism
from all other forms of church government
in three particulars. One of these peculiar
tiles is given, as follows.
"Presbyteriaus believe, that the whole
visible church Catholic, so far as their de-
nomination is concerned, is not only one in
name, but so united by series of assem-
blies of these representatives, acting in the
name, and by authority of the whole, as to
bind the whole body together as one Church,
palking by the same principles Of taah and
order, and voluntarily, yet authoritatively
governed by the same system Of rute and
regulation. Presbyterianism, then, is a
term which primarily refers to the form of
Church government, That is Prcsbyte-
rian Church, (omitting the first two pecu-
liarities) in which, by series of judicato-
ries, rising one above another, each individ-
ual church is under the watch and care of
its appropriate judicatory, and the whole
body, by system of review and control, is
bound together as onehomogeneous commit
nity::" PIP. S,9.
Referring to the history Of the Mosaic
economy on this subject, DR.. Miller says {:
"Nothing like the independency Of particgu-
lar synagogues was admitted or thought Of"
p. IL.
"The Presbyterian Church." this author
remarks, "is persuaded that the New Testa-
ment most distinctly presents, as existing in
the Apostolic Church, all the three features
which constitute the peculiarities of her &C.
clesiastical polity, viz: the parity of her
ministers the government of the Church
by Ruling Elders; and the attainment Of
untty and cooperation by courts of review
and control" p. 45.
"But parity among her minister's" also
observes DR.. Miller, ''is not the on y feature
which distinguishes the government of the
Presbyterian Church. Her mode of con-
ducting discipline in each church by a bench
of Elders, acting as the representatives of
the members at large; and by courts of re-
view and control, admitting of appeals where
parties feel aggrieved, and binding all the
particular churches together as one body,
pazhing by the same rules Of truth and or
dcr, and subject to the same unJorm con-
stitutional authority, are among her peculiar
advantages" p. So.
"This form of church government" fur
ther remarks the authority we quote, "can-
not indeed, of itself, infuse life and activity
into an ecclesiastical body; but where vital
ity, and zeal, and resources exist, there is
undoubtedly no form of ecclesiastical organ
zation so we'll adapted to bind together a
body consisting of many parts; to unite
counsels; to invigorate efforts; and to cause
a large and extended mass of protesting
christians to acalh by the same rules; to
mind the same things; to speak the same
language, and TO FEEL that they are IN FACT,
as veN as in name, one body IN Christ, and
every "one members one Of another" p. 63.
If then the design, in passing the Reso-
lutions, and establishing the regulations re-
ferred to, was to arrange for partial enforce
ment, or partial obedience, or for any pur-
pose other'than universally, or, particularly
if, for that discriminating condition by which
member of the Church, entitled to church
privileges in one congregation, is liable to be
deprived of them in neighboring congre-
CATION, and be made thus "to feel that he
was not in fact, as we'll as in name," free Of
the earthly city of his God, the conclusion
is inevitable, such resolutions, regulations,
decress, determinations-call them by what
name you may-contravene, subvert, and
abolish an essential and fundamental princi
pie and popularity of Presbyterian church
government.
For condensed view of the opinion Of
Ftbis Presbytery on the matters embraced in
this memorial, we submit the following reso
lutions.
First: That Chap. 6, Sec. 2, Art. 6, is 6
component part of the Constitution of the
4. r. Church.
Secondly: That the passage of the Reso
lutions relating to Secret Societies by the las
Synod, was effected in disregard of that por
tion of the Constitution, quoted in the sec
ond paragraph of this memorial.
Thirdly: That regulations, to be consti
tutional, must be passed in accordance with
. the Constitution.
Fourthly: That said Resolutions, viz: a:
to Secret Societies, are unconstitutional, anc
should be expunged from the records o
Synod.
Filthy: That the A. R. Church of tht