The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-17
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
REMOVING TO A NEW CHARGE.

The session is of course the most impor-
tant organization in each particular church.
The efficiency of its working depends main
ly upon the pastor. The theory Of the ses-
sion is clear enough 1t is the primary
iudicatory of the series of judicatories be-
longing to the Presbyterian polity. 10 1t,
as such, are applicable all the rules estab'
lshed for the government of the other judi
catories. These rules are given in our book,
not very minutely, nor very exactly, nor
always perhaps very wisely, but SO as in the
main to answer sufficiently well, the purpose
intended. With the practical working OF
these rules, your experience in Presbytery,
Synod, and General Assembly has made you
somewhat familiar You will be best guild
ed, therefore, in the general management OF
.the session, By keeping steadily in view the
idea that it is church judicatory, of which
you are the permanent Moderator. This
will keep you in mind that each member OF
the body has precisely equal rights and
privileges, yourself no greater than any other
1t will also prevent you from forgetting that
forms are of Importance, and will supply
YOU with the best forms. But just here
YOUR common sense must be put into requl-
sition. Many of the forms which are indis
pensable for the orderly conducting of busl-
ness in Presbytcry or Synod would here be
burdcnsome and hindersome, ifnot ridiculous.
The more numerous the body, the greater
the rigor of forms must be. The session is
like Presbytery, but with difference.
What and how great this difference is to be,
must be left to common sense. You will
of course open and close your sessions with
prayer, Oet me suggest that the closing
prayer be made by one of your elders, have.
the record of the previous meeting read by
the clerk before you enter upon the business
of the current one, require that each topic
should be disposed of before another is in
troduced. see that unfinished business is
taken up, and for new business, go through
with your own little docket previously pre-
pared, before you call upon the other mem
bers of the session to know if they have any
! thing to propose. A simple routine, judi
cously marked out, and in general adhered
| to, will expedite business. On the other
land, motions reduced to writing you will
not require, nor worry yourself about the
technicalities of amendments to amendments,
or the precise parliamentary force of substi-
tutes, or what motions have precedence, or
which are to be put without debate, nor en-
courage the previous question, nor the record
of the ayes and noes.
All things are lawful, but all things are
not expedient. A man need not keep his
household expenses by double entry. 80 as
to your department in the Moderator S
chair. You will not lounge, nor yawn, nor
cut sticks, nor read in the Hymn-book, nor
chew tobacco, if you can help it, nor get up
and walk about. Nor on the other hand will
YOU think it necessary to be always nursing
your dignity, call the elders to order tor
talking, and require each one when ne cx'
presses his opinion, to rise and address Mr.
Moderator. Do my suggestions seem trivial
Perhaps they are, but know by experience
that it is great comfort to session to have
Moderator who drives his team with an
easy hand, and yet so as never to drop the
rcins-who is prompt without being prag
matical, and whose geniality never degcner
ates into levity. A nice point for pastor
is to determine when he shall announce hl'
opinion, and how strongly he shall press it
Ought he to do it before proposition ha
been discussed, or hold it in reserve for tn
close? If he does the first, it may have th'
appearance of dctation, and is entirely a
, variance with the customary etiquette of tn
chairmans s position. If he does the latter
! he may fail to exercise legitimate infuenc
e upon those who may have committed them
4 selves in discussion. IF the matter is one o
4 Importance, think that he ought, at tn
e first, to give some indication of his genera
views. He is expected to be better informe
upon church matters than the other mem
bers of the session, and he is so in fact if h
does his duty. and this gives to his opinion
weight which is acknowledged withou
o. Judging. But if the matter be small one
bv all means let the argument over it, b
am ong the elders presently they will az
pe;,l to you, and then you can express your
sell in way so moderate that most likel
all will agree, especially if some apparento
real compromise is suggested, which in mos
case $ wi in fact be the best course. Br
guard against the appearance at any time {
arguing for victory, and if the vote is again'
YOU, whether in small matter or great on
never show any temper. This leads me
caution you to the most uteimpartallt
in the exercise of your functions as Moder'
J tor of the session. 1t may be that you ma
have in your session some member who b
y reason of his age, ability, or standing, h'
e more influence than the others. If SO, an
P his influence is good, it is very well. L
e him do all that he can. But do not add
y his personal prestige an iota of your infi
n cnce as Moderator. Shew him just the san
e respect, and no more that you do to tt
g Youngest or the humblest member of tt
bodv. Good men are ready to acknowleds