The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-05-03
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
OVERTURE FROM THE PRESBYTERY OF
AUGUSTA, GA, to the G. ASSEMBLY.

OVERTURE FhUm LIE fhEob IIERY OF
AUGUSTA, GA, to the G. ASSEMBLY.
At the meeting of Augusta Presbytery, at
Eatonton, Ga, April 18th, the following pa
per was adopted:
The Augusta Presbytery respectfully pre-.
sents to the General Assembly The following
Overture, with the reasons annexed, viz:
That the Act of the General Assembly of
1887, by which it is made imperative on Pres
byteries to examine ministers from other
Presbyteries of our Church, who make ap-
plication to them for membership; and all
other legislation of the same purport, be re-
scindea.
The reasons that move the Presbytery
thus to overture the General Assembly, are
these:
1st. They believe this rule to be uncon-
stitutional
The Constitution of our Church, in chap.
16, sec. 3, treating of the translation of a
minister from the pastoral charge of one
church to that of another in different Pres
bytery, requires that "the Presbytery to
which the congregation calling the minister)
belongs, having received an authenticated
copy of his release, under the hand of the
clerk of that Presbytery from which he
comes,) shall proceed to install him as soon
as convenient
The implication of this article, as it ap-
pears to the Presbytery, is that all our min
listers, however separated into Presbyteries,
are members Of one and the same body, on
an equal footing; and that all that IS requi-
SITE for minister to obtain membership in
any Presbytery into the bounds of which he
is called, is to present his testimonials from
the Presbytery from which he is dismissed.
No reference is made to an examination, or
to anything but testimonials as the basis of
a ministers reception; but it is imperatively
required that on his testimonials, the Pres
bytery shall receive him.
1t may be supposed, however, that the in
junction of 1887, has acquired the force of a
Constitutional rule, by the fact that the
Presbyteries have universally acquiesced in
it; that thus the provision of the Constitu-
ton, chap. 12, sec. 6, has been complied with.
The memorialists of your venerable body
think not. The rule has never been submit
ted by the Assembly to the Presbyteries; it
has been authoritatively imposed upon them.
In fact, the Assembly of 1S49, on petition
being presented to them that they submit
The matter to the Presbyteries, expressly de-
clined to do SO, claiming authority to impose
the rule, under their right to enjoin on Pres
byteries the observance Of any duty thus
assuming the matter of this rule to be duty,
and at the same time ignoring the article in
chap. 16.
Your memorialists readily yield that the
Assembly have the right to enjoin the OBJ
servance of duty in accordance with the Con-
stitution; and likewise to interpret the Con-
stitution in accordance with the spirit of the
Constitution; but they may not, as in this
case, alter or subvert the Constitution. For
if the Assembly have the right authoritative
ly and absolutely to require an examination
as an additional test of membership, they
have equal authority to prescribe any test that
fancy may suggest. 1t will be admitted by
all, that they have authority neither to add
to the Constitution, nor to subtract from it,
zone jot, or one title" If they may add
or subtract little, they may add or subtract
much, or wholly subvert it.
That the simple acquiescence in, or sub
mission of the Presbyteries to this rule does
not give it the force of Constitutional law,
is further manifest from this, that the Con.
stitution requires for the establishment of a
Constitutional rule, that the assent of the
Presbyteries be sent up IN writing. This
provision was designed to meet just such g
case as this,-to secure, that mere usage
however widespread, or however induced
should not have effect in altering the Const
tuition.
Still, it may be said that all communities
whether civil, social or ecclesiastical have
the right inherent in them, to Judge the quail
fcations of their members; that this is es
sential to their very existence; that there
fore the Presbyteries have the right, a6OUe
the Constitution, to examine candidates fol-
admission, at pleasure. This principle ii
correct; but it is not applicable to Presbyte
ries. A Presbytery is not an Independent
body; it is only portion of larger body
set off for convenience. The Church by {
rule of universal application must determine
the character of its. members, whether pri
vate or official; and members after they ART
admitted by this rule, may justly claim tt
be recognized fully by any portion OF th'
Church where Providence calls them
Hence, in 1921, the General Assembly il
response to an overture from the Baltimor'
Presbytery, that CATER the 18th article o
the 10th chap. of Form of Government, th'
following be added, XIII. Every Presby
terry shall judge of the qualifications of it
own members, adopted the following
ResOzved, that it is inexpedient to gran
the request contained in this overture, or Il