, 1865-06-02

smrpe thfn On all subjects which seriously affect
>he see, pnr't. snh unity OF tue church.
IL, Inc exercise or hlR ri .ht bee cumes An In
refaftse dn!J, in the pFescut clfcum3ratccs Of
country. when. sitter the erus1tuf ny D,litsrv
force OF an strocious r.heIop agat 4st tue Uattel
StAf.F, for tho peTpe tua,ion oI al2yery, usauy
z nistets who hnse a.de1 and abe led rcis revolt,
r ~ aeek sam'sslon into PresJj tes,es, ocated ID
1hr loyal statse. Therefore,
III. 1t te herr bv order: that ill our Psesbytc-
r1es exam ne eTerJ minister applrlng for adnts.
slth f,om en1 freabitery or other ecs!e.t asttcat
hnry IN the Southern oiate., ON the following
polnts:
I. Whtther he has IN any vsy, dsr,cuy or In,
oIecuy, Of nis own fkFc VIII aud consent or
aIy time IN stdfng and eounenancsue The rebel
lion aud lhe war WHICH has teen W7Eed aee,nss
ffe United Sta'ss; and Il It ne fuu.d by hia own
confession OF from eatactcnt testimony, thar he
has beeu 70 cerned, that be be requied TO con.
i.ss nd forrske biz atn in this regard befofe he
shall be received
,. Whether he holds thst tbs system Of negro
slavery in the so1h Is Divine Institution aud
that It te 1.-THE peculiar mission Of the Southern
shnrc6 To- conte.T: the Institution Of slavery as
tasrs n.iSa,oea e and II Z BE- found that he ho!d
without renouncing and lotsaktnR these er.o,s.
". This inJnnet1an to p1esoyteEles Ia in nke
manner applicable TO synodss who arc hereey Or
teTJ to b resoIv.d inso my sJnod Waers such
PrtshyttEy is or hsa been connected With tho
Sou'heEn General Atsemhiy, such SJnod ehall
E4AAl1e ell LEE AtU0e1A Qt 343G ffEAhyt&FY on
The point above named. and the reception Of "a CD
l PIeseyteE or any OF 'he mtn,stern thereof by
Enth SYNOD, eht!i depend upon their compliance
With the conditions aforementioned.
v. Church teasions are also ordcEt d To examine
~ applicant. Tor chuseh membership by pereops
rom the Southern States or who hare been liv-
Ing IN Inc South alncc the rebellion, concernfug 2
their conduct aud principles On the points above
specified, snd 70 take eogu,zance si.o Of members
Of thelr own churches VINO have Offended In II 60
manner. And II It be found Of their own fec
NIL fRf f1 1E-nt7T
STATES, Or that they hold t!aveTy 10 10 an osdi.
uante Of God, as above stated, such peFsors shall
not @ ae admitted 70 The communion or the church
u ~ my giye esiaenee Of repentcnce for their
VI. The General Assembly eIye counsel to the
several cnutch t1urts epecIned IN these orders.
due regard be Patd to tie circam.taness ti of tas
case, aLd that Justice be tempered with mercy.
Especially II ibis couneef given to churches in the
ootder Statet, Whete many tmpu,atva and ardent
away by their superi1ts, or seduetd from their
loyalty ~ their erroneous interpretations of the
doctrine Of States ztehta. Such persons, though
highly CRIMINAL, are fsr lcss 30 than thrit upp.in
ctpled and ambitious leaders. While iu the treat
melt even nt these, tha hocor Of religion ought
to be fully vlndlcated, more tenderness may be
properly e1ttctsrd than uuty require. or admits
IN uea''pg With their gutdes and drceivcrs. R7
Kind and faithful instruction and hdmonltlnu, anl
y he presence , Of T. The ao,y spf1t. mest of them
ther ways, and become loyal citizens and valuable
church members.
. VII. It further ordered thel II any miula,er
or miDtsters belonging to any PrrsbJtesy or Pres.
bJttnss under The care Of tbe Genera! AstLmoly,
hare fed or been sent by vtt or military au,hor-
tty htyond the jurisdiction OF ths UotteA Sate. m
A:coant Of 1heis dta1oyalty, who may hsve gone
ior feason 10 any Of lhe Southern ST .tet,
ind have aidtu IN The II etellton, sach P1rsbJtery
or Pressyserlts shall take action on the subject
and unless they cbtain satisfactory evidence nt he
repentance ofsEch ministers they al all declare and
abtst upou their reeutcs that they 1henceforth
suspended from the fupctions nf the Gospel min.
tstsF until 'heir cascs can be resn'sr.y tssued.
And u after two years they sh ~ su1! remain he
tbe names OF such min'eters sb III be erased from
the roll and they sh.il ,hereupon no lQnRer be
considered ministers OF the Pfesbyter:au church.