The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-07

examination in some form or other, and [ would
inquire if any one felt any disparagement from It,
Those who object to the rule should indicate III
what form it has damaged the cause of Christ be-
fore they insist upon changing that which has done
so much for that cause. Also, IN view OF the lar
more important considerations on the border line
presented by DIR. Hill, l trust there will be no
modification.
Mr. Tappe,-Most of the brethren remember
that we lost many good position during our last
war for want Of vigilance; and l submit to my
brother elders, as these watchmen on the walls OF
Zion desire that this precautlon should be retained
in order to watch our churches more carefully,
why not allow this rule to stand as heretofore? [
do not see why we should not If they choose to
be cautious, or as some may think over-cautious,
we ought to allow that privilege. | do not see
why we as elders should oppose 1t. If they pro-
posed to tie the hands of the elders, we might rise
in rebellion but the question is between the min
listers, and [ am willing to leave it to them.
4. DGUidSon-I am not in the habit of public
speaking, but | feel it due to the Presbytery Of
which am a representative, to say that the Pres
bytery of Louisville does not wish this rule changed
We conceive it docs no harm to any man; 1t has
never worked harm in any case, and we prefer that
it should stand as it is.
Mr.. Cater-I wish to relate an incident ustra
! tive of the amendment offered by DR.. Burgett.-
A clergyman connected with aud ordained by the
Presbytery of South Carolina, moved away and
was gone for several years. lie returned with pa
pers from Presbytcry in Texas. 1t was under
stood that he had become unsound upon some
points. The examination by the Presbytery (Chan-
cellor Job johnson was PRESENT. was extremely
unsatisfactory, and the Presbytery determined not
to receive him. But he was very old man, ven
cradle father who had done a great deal of good,
aud Chancellor johnson was extremely reluctant
to vote he thought there ought to be further
examination, and he moved that the examination
should be resumed by committee of the Presby-
terry. Three Of us were appointed on the COMMIT
tee, Chancellor johnson being chairman. 1t was
the hardest examination [ ever witnessed. We
were nearly six hours of the night engaged in it.
And | was never in my life more satisfied that
that rule was sautary and safe, than was at that
time
W. H. Craoctord-I simply rise to make an in
quiry. Has an applicant from one Presbytery ever
been rejected by another? If so, what is the eff
feet? A minister in good standing in one Presby-
terry is dismissed to another He is minister of
the Gospel in the Presbyterian Church. The
Presbyterian Church is one. A Presbytery is not
particular Church. All are constituent parts Of
one Church. Now, what is the effect of the re-
lection of an applicant? Is he to 90 back to his
Presbytery and say: " am sound in the
faith; | am minister in good standing In this
Presbytery, but over yonder in Arkansas, | am not
i
ton. With due Difference to the brethren who
have spoken in advocacy Of the report and say
there is no good reason for resembling the rule,
say that have never heard a reason why the rule
should ever have been established If man is
sound in the faith in one Presbytery, he ought to
be sound in another. No PreSbytery should ordain
man to preach unless he is fit to preach every
where Your rule involves the palpable absurdi-
| ty of Church which is one Church, in which
/ min Or0oinad hu ho1u ic oopcidarad
fit to be minister in another body of the same
power and authority in the same Church.
Whether the rule be constitutional or not it is an
absurd one. Ninety-nine times out of hundred
an applicant is asked if he believes the Confession
of Faith and is taken without examination.
| DR.. Burgett's amendment was not agreed to, and
the report was adopted.
| COLLEGIATE CHURCHES.
DR.. Dabney presented the following report:
The Committee on Bills aud Overtures would re-
spectfuly report Overture No. from four ministers
and eighteen ruling elders within the bounds of
Wilmington PreSbytery, praying the Assembly to
take the constitutional steps to amend the Book of
Government, Chapter 8, section four, in such mode
that each of two more churches united under one
pastor, shall have representation by ruling elder
at the same time, in Presbytery or Synod.
| The committee recommend the following answer.
That the Assembly of 1868, did duly propose such
an amendment to the Presbyteres Of which only
nine made any response, that the Assembly OF 1869,
did thereupon urgently request of the Presbyteries
decision concerning the amendment, and yet, in
1870, returns were obtained from only tweny-eight
Presbyteries out OF ffty-fve, (See minutes p So
This Assembly, therefore, presuming that majority
Of the Presbvteries not in favor of the amend
ment, declines, at this time, to proposals to
them.
DR.. Mller-I would prefer to give the Presby
teries another trial on this important subject. In
my own Presbytery, there was no decision one way
or the other-but pure neglect. | suppose the
case was the same in Others
The report was adopted.
LICENTIATEs.
DR.. Dabney presented the following report:
! The Committee on Bills and 0vertures report
Overture No. 8, from the Nashville Presbytery, pray
ing the Assembly to ordain general rule requiring
all hcentates to spend two years in missionary la
Dor before becoming settled pastors or supplies
Your Committee respectfully recommend the follow
ing reply:
! The Book of Government, chapter 10, section l
and section g. gives to any congregation the right to
extend their pastoral call to any probatoner, when
he shall have preached much to their satisfaction
that the people appear prepared to elect pastor
and authorizes the Presbytery having Jurisdiction
of the case "if they think it expedient to present
the call to him. While this Assembly highly com
mend these missionary abors tor testing and
training the gifts of practitioners, and of spreading
the gospel it does not deem itself competent to take
away the above right from the churches the dis
erection of the Presbyteries.
Adopted.
! JUDICIAL CASE.
Dr. Miller stated that by conference in the North
Carolina delegation there appeared reasonable
prospect of the adjustment of the complaint of the
Presbytery of Mecklenburg against the Synod of
| North Carolina, and therefore he asked leave to
withdraw the complaint
Leave granted.
DIR. Hill chairman of the Judicial Committee
asked that that Committee be discharged, adding
that it was subject Of congratulation that there
were no complaints or appeals before the Assem-
| bly,.
The Committee was discharged
| Adjourned to 81 clock this evening.
EVENING SESSION.
The session was devoted agreeably to order, to
addresses upon the cause of Foreign Missions
The Assembly and congregation were addressed by
DR.. j. Leighton Wilson, Rev. Edward Lane and
DR.. j. L. kirkpatrick. Their remarks will be
published hereafter.
Adjourned with prayer, by Dr. John A. Todd
until to morrow morning.
FIFTH DAY.
TUESDAY, May %.
The Assembly met at o'clock, A. NJ. The
devotional services were conducted by Rev. Il. L.
Berry.
DISSENT
Rev. E. Cater presented the following:
The undersigned respectfully requests that his
dissent from the action the Assembly on the Report
of the Standing Committee on the official actions of
the Executive Committee of Foreign Missions, and
his reasons therefor, be placed upon the records of
the General Assembly.
l. If the Assembly performs the Foreign Mission
airy work of the Church by the agency of an Execu-
tive Committee, then surely the Assembly should
know by direct inspection the things done by that
Executive Committee by the examination of the