The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-04-13


In the last issue of the Central Pres6yte
riaR, in an editorial reply to IF. j., )" Oc
ours the following sentence, viz: "It can
not be pretended-even F. j. does not assert
that the powers of the Assembly are made
greater by the provisions of the new Book.
A careful comparison of the two shows tha
the following additional powers have beer
conferred upon the Assembly by the new
Book. Every reader will determine for him.
self whether the 'pOwers the Assembly
are made greater thereby. liz; "TO take
care that the inferior courts C'serve the con-
stitution; to redress whatever they may
have done contrary to order; to take such
order in general in respect to them as may
be in conformity to the Word of God and
the constitutional rules; to concert measures
for promoting the prosperity and enlarge
ment of the Church; to institute the agen-
eies and superintend the general work Of
the eyangehzatiOn; to appoint Doctors and
Evangelists to such labors as fall under Its
jurisdiction; to receive under its jurisdic-
ton other ecclesiastical bodies whose doc
trine and order, &C., and to authorize Syn
DDS and Presbyteries to exercise similar
power" &c.
Now, what ecclesiastical power may moi
be claimed and exercised under these general
and comprehensive clauses? What restric
ton does the ''BOOk" impose upon the AS
sembly in eoneerting measures for promoting
the prosperity and enlargement of the
Church None whatever. Its discretion
and judgment are the only limits placed to
its power in this particular And if in its
wisdom the Assembly should come to the
conclusion that the dissolution of East Han.
over Presbytery would be measure con
elusive to the prosperity and enlargement of
the Church, could not ''forcible reasons be
given to show its power ''under the cOnsti
tutor" to carry the measure into efect! !
Again, under the unrestricted power to ''in
stitute the agencies and superintend the gen
eral work of eyangelizatiOn, who can place
a limit to the control the Assembly may
claim authority to exercise, over the congre
cations, ministers aud pastors in connection
with the Church? That this power does not
refer to the appointment of evangelists for
destitute regions or heather countries, is
shown by the fact that the power to appoint
''eyangelists," is conferred by a subsequent
clause This view of the power conferred
upon the Assembly by the iause in question,
viii not appear so exu g, when it is re-
membered that eyar plization means
preaching the Gospf and whenever a
strong temptation aris giving it an in
depreciation applicable Che pastoral rela-
ton. ''forcible reason will doubtless be
found therefor.
also wish briefly to call attention to the
extraordinary powers conferred upon the
Assembly in reference to the inferior courts,
viz: ''to take care that the inferior courts
observe the constitution; to redress whatever
they have done contrary to order; TO take
such order in general with respect to them
as may be in conformity with the Word of
God and the constitutional rules. The
varying phraseOlogy in which these clauses
are couched are not mere tautologies, but
are designed to confer real and substantial
power And they are in addition to the
power of ''review," as well as reference,
complaint, or appeal.
presume they are designed to give prac-
teal effect to the fundamental principle an
nOunced in chapter 5, section 1, par. 1, viz;
the ''sa5ordiaatioR" of the inferior to the
higher courts. 1t seems to me that author
ity might be found-in those provisions for
the exercise of almost any imaginable con-
troll over SynOds, Presbyteries aud Sessions
BY the General Assembly.
If the new "F K should be adopted
with the powers it Iers upon the Assembly
unmodifed, one result will certainly
follow 1t is Il a future "schisms" in
our Church, shot ~ unfortunately arise,
they are not Hkel be "grievOu8ly COM
plicated by quest as to the pOaoer Of the
General Assembly v DO this or that"
1t seems to me that the extraordinary
powers conferred upon the General Assem-
bly,, aud the novel principles introduced into
the new Book in reference to the absolute
''suJordmatiOR of the inferior, to the higher
courts, must, should the Book be adopted,
lead, in a few years, to the concentration of
al ecclesiastical power in that body-which
would be a consummatiOn alike dangerous to
the harmony of the Church and that ''hber-
~ wherewith Christ has made his people
free. REDEN.