davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
THE CANYONS OF DISCIPLINE.
CHAPTER 1
OF DISCIPLINE, ITS NATURE, OBJECT, AM
THE PERSONS SUBJECT TO IT.

OF DISCIPLINE, ITS NATURE, OBJECT, AND
THE PERSONS SUBJECT TO IT.
1. Discipline is the exercise of that
authority, and the application of that
system of laws, which the Lord Jesus
Christ hath appointed in his Church.
The term has two senses, the one wider
and more general, referring to the whole
government, inspection, training, guardi-
anship, and control, which the Church
exercises over either her members, her
Office bearers or her courts; the other a
restricted and technical sense, signifying
judicial prosecution.
Ii. Using the term in its wide sense,
all baptized persons being members of
the church, are subject to her discipline,
and entitled to tho benefits thereof; but
in its narrow sense, it refers only to those
who have made profession of their
faith in Christ. In this sense, the ends
of it are the rebuke of offences, the re-
moval of scandal, the vindication of the
honor of Christ, the promotion of the
purity and general edi6cation of the
church, and the spiritual good of offenders
themselves.
III. An offence, the proper object of
judicial process, is anything in the prin-
eiples or practice of church member,
protesting faith in Christ, which is con-
trary to the Word of God. The Confess
sion of Faith and the Larger and Short
er Catechisms of the Westminster As
sembly, together with the principles of
church order contained in the formularies
of Government, Discipline, and Worship,
are accepted by the Presbyterian Church
in the United States, as standard EXPOSE
tons of the teachings of Scripture in re-
lation both to faith and practice. Moth
ing, therefore, ought to be considered by
any court as an offence, or admitted as
matter of accusation, which cannot be
proved to be such from Scripture as in
terpreted in these standards.
". The power which Christ hath Civ
en- to the rulers of his Church is for edi-
fcation and not FOR destruction, as a dis
pensation of mercy and not of wrath.
As in the preaching of the Word, the
wicked are dOctrinally separated from the
good, so by discipline the Church author
itatively separates between the holy and
the profane. In this she acts the part of
tender mother correcting her children
only for their good, that every one of
them may be presented faultless in the
day of the Lord Jesus.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
CHAPTER ".
OF CHURCH CENsUREs.

l. The eensures which may be infict-
ed by church courts are admonition, suS-
pension, accommodation, and deposi-
ton. When a lower censure fails to
reclaim the delinquent, it may become
the duty of the court to proceed to the
infiction of higher censure-but the
censures of accommodation and deposi-
ton shall not be inflicted by a church
session without the advice of the presby-
terry.
II. Admonition is the formal reproof
of an offender by church court, warn
ing him of his guilt and danger, and ex-
horting him to be more circumspect and
watchful in the future. This censure
ought to be administered in private, by
one or more members on behalf of the
court, when the offence is not aggravated
and is known only to few, When the
scandal is more widely known, and it
shall seem for edifcation, the admonition
ought to be administered by the modera-
tor in the presence of the court.
III. Suspension with respect to church
members, is the temporary exclusion
from sealing ordinances; with respect
to church officers, it is the temporary
exclusion from the exercise of their of
fee. 1t may be either definite or indef-
mite, as to its duration. Definite sus-
pension is administered as an exemplary
censure, when the credit of religion, the
honor of Christ, and the good of the
delinquent demand it, even though he
may have given satisfaction to the court.
Indefinite suspension is the exclusion of
an offender from sealing ordinances or
from his office until he exhibit signs of
repentance, or until by his conduct the
necessity of the higher censure is made
manifest. A minister may be suspended
from his teaching functions, or from his
ruling functions, or from both.
". Accommodation is the excision
of an offender from the communion of
the saints. This dreadful censure is only
to be inflicted on account of such gross
and Aagitious crimes or heresies as are
accompanied with peculiar aggravations,
when incorrigible offenders treat the au-
thority of the courts of Christ's church
with contempt. The design of this CEN
sure is to operate on the offender as a
means of retaining him, to deliver the
church from the scandal of his offence,
and to inspire all with fear by the exam
pie of his discipline.
V. Deposition is the degradation of
an ofice-bearer from his Office, and may
be accompanied with or without the in
Fiction of other censure
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
CHAPTER VII.
SPECIAL RULES PERTAINING TO PROCESS
BEFORE SESSIONS.

DEfOhE SESSlONSs
l. Process against all church members,
except ministers of the gospel, shall or
dinarily be entered before the session
of the church to which such members
belong.
II. When an accused person, having
been twice duly cited, shall refuse to ap-
pear before the session, or appearing,
shall refuse to plead, he shall be sus-
pended from the communion OF the
church for his contumacy. And this
sentence shall in no case be removed un-
til he has not only repented of his con-
tumacy, but given satisfaction in relation
to the charges against him.
III. The sentence which a session may
pronounce, if it is thought expedient to
publish it, shall be published only in the
church or churches which have been Of
fended otherwise it shall pass only in
the court.
". AS cases may arise in which 1T
may be impracticabIe Immediately to
commence process against an accused
church member, the session may, in such
cases, if they think the edifcation Of the
church requires it, prevent the accused
from approaching the Lords table, until
the charges against him can be examined.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17

conducted, has ever been considered by
the most experienced ministers, and best
friends Of reyiyals, to be a great calami
ty. Without close discrimination, an at
tempt to raise the tone of religious feel
ING, will do infinite mischief This was
the manner of false teachers. They
zealously affect you, but not WE'LL 1t
will be like that of Paul before his con-
version, and like that of the Jews who
were never converted, "a zeal of God,
but not according to knowledge. The
driving will become like the driving of
Jehu, come see my zeal for the Lord.
The storm, and earthquake, and fire, are
dreadful; but God is not there. The de-
sign of these remarks is to show the in
finite Importance of distinguishing be-
tween true and false zeal-true and false
affections.
1t is an important part of a preachers
duty in a season of powerful revival, to
discriminate between true and false con-
version. Without this, every discerning
Christian knows that the work will rapid
" degenerate. The most flaming spirit
ual pride will be taken for the highest
moral excellence, and will rise up and
take the lead. Preachers who have not
guarded we'll this avenue, in seasons Of
powerful excitement, have always done
more to arrest, and disgrace, and run out
revivals, than all the cold hearted pro-
fessors and open enemies of religion to-
gether. 1t was this neglect in some zeal
Gus preachers, that run out the revival
in the days of Edwards, and which led
him to write his treatise on the Religious
affections.
/ have seen churches run down by re-
peated excitements in which there was
emotion merely, without obstruction. In
the first stage of arevival, while depravi-
ty is yet ascendant, and conscience asleep,
l would preach the Law, with It's awful
sanctions and solemn claims on sinners
to be holy and that Immediately. But
when the first moments of revival are
past, and sinners are settling down on
presumptuous condolences, would preach
Election. Conscience is then reused
enough to make a cord which sinners
cannot break. Their own convictions
are on my side, so that they cannot es-
cape; and 1 would hold them fast, and
repeat my strokes under the fire and
hammer of divine truth. -
P. 7. P.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
CHAPTER VI.
OF GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE To
ALL CASES OF PROCESS.

OF GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO
ALL CASES OF PROCESS.
l. 1t is incumbent on every member
of court of Jesus Christ, engaged in
the prosecution of offenders, constantly
and prayerfully to bear in mind the in
spired injunction, off a man be over
taken in fault, ye which are spiritual
restore such an one, in the spirit of meek
ness, considering thyself, lest thou also
be tempted
II. Process against an offender shall
not be commenced unless some person or
persons undertake to make out the charge;
or unless the court find it necessary for
the honor of religion, itself to investigate
the charge.
III. When a charge is laid before the
session Or presbytery, it must be reduced
to writing, and nothing further is to be
done at this first meeting of the court,
unless by consent of parties, than to give
to the accused full copy of the charges
with the names of the witnesses then
known to support them, and to cite all
parties and their witnesses to appear and
be heard at another meeting, which shall
not be sooner than ten days after such
citation; at which meeting of the court,
the charges shall be read to the accused,
if present, and he shall be called upon to
say whether he be guilty or not. If he
confess, the court may deal with him ac-
cording to its discretion; if he plead and
take issue, the trial shall proceed. Ac-
cused parties may plead in writing, when
they cannot be personally present.
". The citation shall be issued and
signed by the moderator Or clerk, by or
der and in the name of the court; he shall
also issue citations to such witnesses as
the accused shall nominate to appear on
his behalf.
V. In exhibiting charges, the times,
places, and circumstances, should, if pos
sible, be particularly stated, that the &C
cused may have an opportunity to prove
an aH5i, or to extenuate or alleviate his
offence.
VI. When an accused person refuses
to obey citation; he shall be cited
second time, and this second citation
shall be accompanied with a notice that
if he do not appear at the time appointed,
(unless providentially hindered, which he
must notify to the court, or that if he
appear and refuse to plead, he shall be
dealt with for his contumacy, as herein
after provided.
VII. The time which must elapse be-
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17

book, calculated to poison and deprave
the young mind. His father approach
ing, at glance discovered the character
of the book.
George what have you there?''
The little fellow, looking up with a
confused air, promptly gave the name of
the author. The father gently remon-
strated, pointed out to him the danger
of reading such books, and left him with
the book closed by his side.
In few moments the father discoy
cred light, and on inquiring the cause
it was ascertained that the little fellow
had consigned the pernicious book to the
flames
"My son, what have you done?"
"Burnt that book, papa.
Glow came you to do that, GeOrge?'
Because, papa, | believed you knew
better than | what was for my good"
"But would it not have been better to
have kept the leaves for other purposes,
rather than destroy them?"
Papa, might not others nave READ
and been injured by them?'
Here is "threefold act of faith
trust in his fathers word, eyincing
Glove" and " obedience and scare for
the good of others" If this child cxer-
cised such faith in his earthly parent,
how much more should we, like little
children, exercise simple, true-hearted,
implicit faith in our Heavenly Father,
whose word is always to be thoroughly
confded in.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17

ticable, to adopt such methods as shall
secure the same end.
". When baptized youth arrive at
years of discretion, they are bound to
discharge all the duties of members. If
they exhibit knowledge to discern the
Lords body, together with a correct
walk and conversation, they are to be in
formed that it is their duty to make a
profession of faith in Christ and to come
to his table. If they exhibit hayward
disposition and associate themselves with
the profaue, the church must still cherish
them in faith, and look after them as a
parent yearning over straying children,
and ought to use all suitable means, such
as the word of God warrants and the
Christian prudence of church officers
shall dictate, for retaining them, and
bringing them to appreciate their cove
nant privileges and to discharge their
bounden duties
V. Those adult non-communlcatlng
members who submit with meekness and
gratitude to the government and instrdc-
ton of the church, are entitled to spe-
cial attention. 1t is the duty of every
minister, in connexion with every occa-
sion of the administration of the Lords
Supper, or at the least once every year,
to preach a sermon to them, and in con-
nexion With the session, to appoint a
a special meeting with them, for prayer,
exhortation, and conference; on which
occasion their right and duties under the
covenant shall be enforced on their con-
sciences, they shall be warned of the sin
and danger of neglecting them, and shall
be urged by the mercies of Christ to
come up to their full discharge.
VI. 1t is the right of all such mem
bers to demand and to enjoy the protec-
ton of the church. They have the
common right to arraign before the ses-
sion any communicating member for
personal ofenses, and when slandered,
they have right to ask, and it may be
the duty of the session to grant, an in
vestigation, in order to their excul patton.
VII. In dismissing heads of families
from one church to connect themselves
with another, the names of their baptized
children must be included, and every
church shall keep roll of non-commu-
nicating, as well as of communicating
members. All non-communicating mem
bers shall be deemed under the govern
ment of the church to which their
parents belong, if they live under the
parental roof and are minors; or other
wise, under that of the church where
they reside, or with which they ordinari-
ly worship.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
Nnmsehnla Mtnrds.
Weighing the Baby.
BY ETHEL LYNN.

How many pounds does the baby weigh
Baby who came but month ago2
How many pounds from the browning curl
To the rosy point of the restless toeY'
Grandfather ties the 'kerchiefs knot,
Tenderly guides the swinging weight,
And carefully over his glasses peers
To read the record '0nly eight"
Softly the echo goes around
The father laughs at the tiny girl;
The fair young mother sings the words,
golden curl.
And STOPPING above the precious thing,
Nestles kiss within prayer,
Murmuring softly, Little one,
Grandfather did not weigh you fair.
Nobody weighed the baby's smile,
Or the love that came with the helpless one
Nobody weighed the threads OF care
From which woman's life is spun.
No index tells the mighty worth
OF little baby's quiet breath
A soft, unceasing metronome,
Patient and faithful unto death.
Nobody weighed the babys soul,
For here on earth no weights there be
That could avail; God only knows
Its value in eternity.
Only eight pounds to hold SOU,
That seeks no angels silver wing,
But shrines it in this human guise,
Within so fair and small thing.
Oh, mother, laugh your merry note
Be gay and glad, but don't forget
From baby's eyes looks out soul
That claims home In Eden yet.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
CHAPTER VIII.
SPECIAL RULES PERTAINING TO PROCESS;
AGAINST A MINISTER.

SPECIAL RULES PERTAINING TO PROCESS
AGAINST A MINISTER.
/. As, on the one hand, no minister
ought, on account of his Office, to be
screened from the hand of justice, nor
his offences to be slightly censured, SO
neither ought scandalous charges to be
received against him by any court on
slight grounds.
II. If any man knows a minister to be
guilty of private censurable fault, he
should warn him in private. But if the
guilty person persist in his fault, or it
become public, he who knows it should
apply to some other minister of the pres
bytery for his advice in the case.
III. In all ordinary cases, process
against gospel minister shall be entered
before the presbytery of which he is a
member.
~ If a minister accused Of an OF
fence, being twice duly cited, shall refuse
to attend the presbytery, he shall be im-
mediately suspended. And if, after an
other citation, he still refuse to attend.
he shall be deposed as contumacious, and
suspended or accommodated from the
church. And the record of the judg-
ment shall also recite the charges under
which he was arraigned.
V. Heresy and schism may be of such
nature as to infer deposition; but err
rors ought to be carefully considered,
whether they strike at the vitals of re-
ligion, and are industriously spread, OF
whether they arise from the weakness Of
the human understanding, and are not
likely to do much injury.
VI. If the presbytery find on trial that
the matter complained of amounts to no
more than such acts of infrmity as may
be amended, and the religious public sat
isfed, so that little or nothing remains to
hinder the ministers usefulness, they
shall take all prudent measures toremove
the scandal.
VII. When The presbytery is about to
proceed to the trial of a minister, and he
rises and makes confession, if the matter
is base and hagitious, such as drunken
ness, uncleanness, or crimes of higher
nature, however penitent he may appear
to the satisfaction of all, the court must
without delay, suspend him from the ex-
ercise of his Office or depose him from the
ministry.
VIII. A minister suspended or de,
posed for scandalous conduct, shall not
be restored, even on the deepest sorrow
for his sin, until sitter some time of emf
nent and exemplary, humble and edifying
conversation, to heal the wound made by
his scandal And a deposed minister
shall in no case be restored until it shall
appear that the sentiments of the reli-
gious public are strongly in his favor and
demand his restoration, and then only by
the court inAicting the censure, or with
its consent.
TX. As soon as minister is deposed
his congregation shall be declared vacant;
but when he is suspended, it shall be left
to the discretion of the presbytery
whether his congregation shall be de,
clared vacant.
TO BE CONTINUED.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
CHAPTER II.
OF TIE DISCIPLINE OF NoN-COdMUNT-
eating MEMBERS.

OF TIE DISCIPLINE OF NON COMMUNE
eating MEMBERS.
|. All baptized persons, although they
may have made no profession of faith in
Christ, are federally members of the
church, are under its care, and subject
to its government, inspection, and train
ing but they are not subject to those
forms of discipline which involve judi
cial process.
II. The oversight of baptized youth
in the first instance, is committed by
God to believing parents, who are res
ponsible to the church for the faithful
discharge of their covenanted engage
ments. This responsibility of parents
continues during the minority of their
children, and so long thereafter as they
remain inmates of the family, and ex-
tends to all such conduct, contrary to
the purity and sobriety of the gospel 'as
parents may and ought to restrain and
control.
III. 1t is the duty of the church to cher
ish her non-communicating members, as a
nursingparent. They are titledtopasto-
raj visitation and guardianship, and are to
be had in special remembrance in the in
structions and devotions of the sanctuary,
and in social and family worship. More
over, the church is bound to make special
provision for the instruction of her youth
in the doctrines of the Bible and in the
Catechisms. Hence, church sessions
ought to establish under their own au-
thority, Bible classes and Sabbath schools
for this object, or where this is imprac-
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
CHAPTER Y.

OF THE PARTIES IN CASES OF PROCESS.
I. In ordinary cases, original jurisdic-
ton in relation to ministers of the Cos
pei, pertains exclusively to the presbyte-
ry, and in relation to other church
members, to the session. But any court
may take immediate cognizance of offen-
ces committed in its presence, and the
higher courts may institute process in
cases in which the courts below having
been enjoined to do so, have refused to
obey.
II. In the case of personal offences,
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
CHAPTER III.
OF OFFENCES.

1. Offences are either personal or
general private or public.
II. Personal offences are violations of
the divine law considered in the special
relation of wrongs or injuries to particu-
lar individuals. General offences are
heresies or immoralities, having no
such relation, or considered apart from
it.
III. Private offences are those which
are known only to one or few persons.
Public offences are those which are noto-
rious..
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
Burning the Book.

An intelligent and sparkling-eyed
boy, of ten summers, sat upon the steps
of his fathers dwelling, deeply absorbed
in a highly embellished but pernicious
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17
TERMITAGE NURSERIES.
ALLAN 81 JOHNSON,
NURSERYMEN, SEEDSMEN AND
FLORISTS,
Post Office box 49,

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.
FRUIT AND ORNAMENTAL TREES,
EVERGREENS, ROSES AND FLOWERS,
GARDEN, FIELD AND FLOWER SEEDS
WHOLESALE and RETAIL.
ORDERS for trees for Fall planting, should
be sent soon to insure their delivery in proper
time.
Catalogues furnished upon application.
y 1S-tf
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-17

TO BE CONTINUED.
The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-11

dom Of those who were forherlv
s.aves-suCh is the diifeult and deli,
cate work before the EXecuLTs and the
Legislature of the Natiua "a tbev
may nightly claim OF Us al suea sn~,
preclatioa Of their task as shall make
Us mos, kind ana charitable Judges OF
Their differences from iavo-te measures
Of our own We have, indeed. reascn
10 be devoUtly thankful that the work
aas fallen upon men in whose patriot-
lsm and wisdom We have 50 great
cause for condolences, and that the pro-
gress they hsTe slpesdy MADE promises
conclusion which shaU be reasonably
speedy and generally satisfactory to
the country.
The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-11

rIlHIRD NATIONAL BANR OF NAsHNILLsl-
i Deals IN Exchange; GOVemmeut securities
and Cola. Collections promptly agiended 70
Gold Stocks and Bonds stiu on Commission.
~ W. BrART, President. EDGAK JosEs, Cashier
The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-11
a Gard.

NTH ne visU of retiring from BUSINESS. on -.
" csgct q ds-iiniug heslih / haVe dauo..d 81
ny -eu.lre aack o. bruEs, AsSiscsnes, ETC.. to
bus.ness . the old sEal No a. MsrEst ssrsat !
tzEe tt's opucr u1lfT % returu u J tha1ka 70 the
ucsl1 far the Feiy lhera - roosRs Vhich has
5ssu s1hended % - or number q years. nd
bsspssg couli1lE1eso - .I % ny suecessors. sh1nl
uosl heafs,f recotn1oenc e. buz1ees zlsl q az
Psrence, spp-rsr11. s1erEy, md iHiezrsy.
sdsaEl-lfa T. EEIIA
The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-11

The Original and Beet I'M ths Waraf
The eniy trao uud psr.sct Ha.r uye. Haru-
lcsa, Aeliaaiu aud iusiallaus.as prsIr.-.
immediately sp.g4lll Slack .r natu-sf
Brown, Nlthout Iuuur Jla BAR sr sll5.
arulrdics thc M clyc,, d, tsl iyes. e.II
oy an uruggats. lhe Aeuauaa s.. s.rr-.f
Williau A. uaIcael0g. Also.
hrrtHcaaHg E-cra-t aI n tH-s. .5-
hfs,lri.r a.l ls4lf. ....I ... I|...
tHAl-LEs BAftHELuA. NEa Iuas.
seul.-Iy
The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-11

sInAs X. FOOT. STATE Agent for Ten