The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-20

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nation of ana one to the "sacred office who
has not been previously licensed "proba-
toner to preach the Gospel" Thus XIV,
sec. 1, "Presbyteries shall license probation
ers to preach the gospel, that after com
petent trial of their talents, and good re-
port from the churches, they may, in due
time, ordain them to the sacred Office. And
in the prescribed form of record of icensure
sec. s, the Presbytery is declared to have
''EcenseG the candidates to preach the gospel
of Christ as a probatiOner for the holy min
istry." Now it will scarcely be controyerted
that when constitution, or statute law,
minutely describes the mode in which thing
is to be done, that it is tantamount to pro-
hibition of any different meth Hs eco
| plishing the same end
In vindicating its course the Presbytery
of South Carolina says in its minute, "the
Form of Government provides for such ex
traordinary ordinations. The Form of
Government will be examined in vain for any
such provisions. 1t takes no note of extra
ordinary or exceptional cases: makes pro
vision but for one mode of ordination; and
that after careful examination. And this
mode is limited to "licensed probationers.
The Minute of the Presbytery proceeds:
''But in regard to trials both for hcensure
and for ordination, the limit set is, the Pres
bytery being satisfied of the qualifications of
the candidate. 1t would seem to follow that
the whole matter is left with the judgment
of the Presbytery, and that in extraordinary
cases the usual routine of trials, and the very
licensure itself, may be dispensed with. "
OF course the Presbytery is to be satisfied !;
but in what manner? Why clearly in the
mode prescribed in the Form of Government;
that is, by subjectiDg the candidate to all
the required trials. This is the only method
recognised in the Constitution of the Church
for ascertaining the qualifications of candi-
dates for either hcensure or ordination
And it being the prescribed method, it of
necessity excludes all other modes. In sup
port of the view that Presbytery may, at its
discretion. dispense with trials and licensure,
Chap. XIV, sec. 5, is quoted as follows:-
those or similar exercises, at the discretion
of the Presbytery, shall be exhibited" &c.
Now what is the discretion conferred upon
the Presbytery by this clause? is it authori-
! " to dispense with trials, and licensure too,
at its pleasure. I think not. 1t appears to
me that the discretion conferred upon the
Presbytery is simply that of choosing be-
tween the four parts of trial just previously
enumerated viz, Latin exegesis, critical
exercise, lecture, and popular sermon, and
other 'simular exercises" to be prescribed
by the Presbytery. In support of this in
depreciation l quote the imperative language
of this same clause, thus "these exercises
shall be exhibited until satisfaction is obtain
ed" If dispensed with they cannot be ex-
hibited Chap. XIV, sec. 7, is next quoted
as follows, eff the Presbytery be satisfied
with his trial, &c. This surely implies that
the candidate must be subjected to a trial.
The Minute next quotes the concluding part
of sec. II, chap. XIV, as follows, "the Pres
bytery being fully satisfied with his qualii
cations for the sacred Office shall appoint a
day for his ordination. Now sec. II, from
which this extract is taken, commences thus,
trials for ordination shall consist. &C.,
then follows minute enumeration of the
subjects upon which the candidate is to be
examined Then comes the passage above
quoted, "the Presbytery being fully satisfied
&C." How satisfied? Why clearly by th'
trials just described, the only constitu
tional mode in which Presbytery can be
satisfied of the qualifications of candidate
for licensure or ordination. Chap. XIV
sec. 6. quoted as referring to extraordinary
case" is in reference to hcensures: and re
commends to Presbyteries to license no one
except in extraordinary cases., who afte
completing his academical course, has no
studied divinity at least two years. This
gives no warrant, for dispensing with "trials,
and the only discretion it cOnfers is in refer
ence to the time which ought to be devoted
to the study of divinity
Chap. XIV, sec. 10, authorizes the ordina
ton of probationerS that they may be ap
a pointed to the work of an evangelist, and i
entirely regular aud ordinary. In referenc
. to "trials" for licensure and ordination tn
/ only discretion, it seems to me, that tn
s Presbytery can exercise is as to the manne
: in which the candidate sustains himself III
der this testing process, And as there ar
t 'diversities of gifts" the Presbytery mus
: exercise sound judgment and wise di8cretiO
e as to what constitutes satisfaction. -
e The South Carolina Presbytery in cor
8 cludiug its minute, endeavors to guar
# against " this case being abused hereafter q
a precedent, and says, "we propose there
y fore to deal with this case throughout as a
d extraordinary one, dispensing with the usu'
examinations, and with the licensure also.
The Presbytery is entirely impotent to pr
d vent its action being plead hereafter as
5, precedent. And as it has dispensed with a
the trials required by the Form of Cover
'r ment for ordination, as we'll as with the
i censure, it furnishes to other Presbyterie