The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-04-06
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
The Book of Church Order.
Reu. William Broom, d. d.:


approaching meetings of our Presbyteries, con-
corning the Book of Church Order. And in imi-
tation of the example set me by several distin-
guished brethren, do so under my own signature.
In asking the attention of my brethren, will be
as brief as | can
l. 1t is important to remember what is the exact
subject before the Church at this stage of the
question. Some brethren, see from their arti-
ces in the journals of the Church, are fearful the
next Assembly may be pressed to adopt the BOOK
as it now is. 1t is very evident that that Assem-
bly, will not have power to do any such thing, and
[ have never heard any such purpose avowed by
any one. What the last Assembly did was to re-
quest the Presbyteres to state their objections and
give their suggestions, SO as to enable the next
Assembly still further to amend and improve the
Book. That body may possibly submit it to the
Presbyteries for their consideration, with reference
to adoption or rejection, at the Assembly OF 1871,
but it has no power to take any more advanced
action than that.
| Ill. | consider it matter of far more Importance
that the Church should move safely in this bust
ness, than that it should move rapidly. The con
viction that our forms of polity needed amendment
has been growing in the Church for many years /;
especially in view of the fact that the antiquities
and generalities Of our present Form of Govern
ment have bad so large a share in producing the
various divisions in the Church, beginning with
the Cumberland schism in 1907: including the
disruption of 1888; the Southern secession from
the New School in 1857 and that from the Old
School in 1861 and ending with the rupture be-
tween the Old School Assembly and the Declare
ton and Testimony Synods, in 1861 The Old
School Assembly of 1857, appointed Com
mittee to revise the Book of Discipline, and we're
making progress therein when those events hap
pened which led to the organization of our Church.
At the first meeting of our General Assembly,
without opposition, so far as the debates show, the
whole of our forms of order were referred to a
Committee. The work of that Committee went to
the Memphis Assembly 1t was never expected
by the Church nor by the Committee that that
Committee we're to do the whole work, to be sim
ply adopted or rejected by the Church. Their
work was only preparatory; and whatever is final
ly done in this business, must be the result of a
comparison of the views of brethren throughout
the Church, and the Book, when completed if it
is ever brought to completion, must be the work
of the whole Church. 1t is not possible that it
can be adopted until its provisions are made to
conform to the settled views of the Church at
large; for even its warmest friends, | am per-
suaded, would vote against it, if they did not sup
pose its adoption would be promotive of the har-
mony and efficiency of the Church. l should be
rejoced to see it adopted at the earliest day. con-
can be induced to vote to fasten it on the Church,
as partizan measure, or to aid in adopting it by
bare majority. 1t is just to add, know of no
purpose on the part Of any friend of the New Book
inconsistent with these sentiments.
III. The Presbyteries now have the matter be-
fore Them just to see what changes are requisite
to make it acceptable to the Church. What kinds
of changes may then properly be suggested? In
my opinion, every kind of amendment, by which
the Book can be rendered more perfect. Ofcourse
there is kind of criticism which is unsuitable, be-
cause undgni6ed and unfraternal But in the
midst of that uninterrupted harmony and fraternal
confidence which peryades our Church, have no
fears that that kind of criticism will be carried to
an extent to damage any others than those who
may perchance fall into it, Every kind of criticism
is proper and advantageous, and is dignifed, if
done with right motives and for the object which
we all have in view. In the Memphis Assembly,
brother arose and moved change of punctua
zion, viz to insert a comma, and to substitute
semi-colon for another comma; and it was done
reverently, because the mover was right and
honored that venerable court for its just apprecia
ton of the importance of its work, and the minute
| fidelity with which the brethren were aiming to
discharge their duties. Let our Preshyteries and
the approaching Assembly be equally faithful.
|. Let the criticisms as to STYLE which have been
limited at, be made, and such changes adopted as
will free it from objection as far as possible As
| the Form of Government is, for the most part, a
compilation, it has preserved some forms of ex.
preston and some terms which have almost be.
come obsolete. Nearly all of them were erased at
Mobile. Let the rest be removed, if necessary.
| 2. Some of the statements of doctrine seem not
| to be wholly satisfactory. Let the Presbyteres
propose such phraseology as will better express
their views. 1t is no easy matter to write such
statements clearly tersey, and COMPREHENSIVE.
| would rather undertake to write a treatise on
those subjects. Much progress was made at Mo
| bile in removing difficulties from the minds of
brethren, by making a more satisfactory statement
than there had been previously of some of the
disputed points. Let US try it again; and every
time the trial is made until the work is done, it
will be found that the differences among brethren,
which at first seemed very wide, by degrees be-
come more narrow.
3. Some things can be omitted About six
pages in amount was struck out at Mobile in defer
ence to the views of Presbyteries as expressed
when the subject was first before them. 1t may
be that there are paragraphs or clauses which
ought still to be omitted, in order to satisfy the
mind of the Church, without any attempt at their
amendment
Let us take as an illustration, the following clause
from Chap. ", Sec. 2, paragraph 8. Speaking
"Of the Minister of the Word" it is said "As
he is commissioned and sent forth by the Church,
on his errand of love and mercy, he is termed
Apostle or Missionary" This statement is based
on Acts xiii: l-3 where we read of Barnabas and
Saul being sent forth on their mission to the Gen
tiles by the Presbytery of Antioch; and on Acts
xiv: II, where they are called the Apostles Bar
nabas and Paul" Here this title is not used in
its original sense, as the title of 1.-THE eleven"
who were Apostles of our Lord, and sent forth by
him, as extraordinary officers, endued with mirac-
uous gifts; but in the sense in which it is used in
the clause under consideration. am not able to
see why the use of this title as one of those given
to ordinary minister's taking it in its proper Scrip
tural sense as in Acts xiv: IA, should open any
discussion as to the nature of the apostolic Office
There does not arise any difficulty from the fact
that the Bible uses the word in two, and some sup