The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-06-12

position or those VINO have not Deen Oapll1eu Suu
not hopefully converted. This is carefully guarded
1t does not rest with the man himself to say
whether this shall be done it rests with the SEES
sion upon his application; and even the session is
required to use great care to ascertain that 1t Is
not under the delusiOn of Satan or In an hour OF
spiritual darkness. | am also glad OF the restrc-
ton, lit is one of the new restrictions introduced
in the last emendation that this rule Is not to De
understood to apply, where the person has volun-
tarily absented himself from the communion
That is an offence, and ought to be dealt with as
an offence.
These are few, and only a few of the points in
which, | think this Book Incorporates what has
become the settled conviction or practice OF the
Church. In that it has the character OF one OF
those sound steps in advance. 1t is an improve
ment in the way In which our best constitutions
have always been improved
One other improvement to which would dlreet
attention, is a recommendation to send down TINS
book. Ii is a new rule-new to me-and yet It
strikes me as meeting one OF the necessities OF the
Church-oue that | have often felt. There are
members who 60 from one church to the bounds OF
another, and ministers who remove from the
bounds of one PreSbytery to another, and Tor an
indefinite length Of time do not apply Tor dlS'
mission Now, in the case OF private members
as a pastOr. / have sometimes found that when,
after a suitable time, l have asked them to take
dismissiOn they have in a few instances at least,
been rather offended They thought that we
wanted to push them of-as if we were In too great
hurry about the matter There is minister Of
our Presbytery, who has been residing tor two or
three years without our bounds. When the ques
ton was asked at the last meeting where is heH-
only one man could answer. 10 the question,
what is he doing 2-We could get no satisfactory
answer at all. The new rue provides La case
a church member or officer shall remove his resi-
dence beyond the bounds of the court to which ne
belongs into another, If he shall neglect Tor twelve
months, without satisfactory reasons given to both
these courts to transfer his ecclesiastical relations,
the court, whose bounds he has lett, shall be re-
suired to transfer the same. And should that
court neglect this duty, the one into whose bounds
he has removed shall assume jurisdiction, giving
due notice TO the other body"
You will notice a special provision that when
there is good reason the court shall not be required
to dismiss him, nor can the court into whose
/ bounds he has removed take hold OF him.
/ These are only specimens. do not propose to
\ take the time, nor do | think it would be advsa
/ ble to 90 into a minute examination OF the whole
/ book but on these grounds alone, l would be
willing to send it down, in accordance with the
recommendation of the Committee, that the Pres
byteres may either adopt it, if they are prepared
to do so or if they desire to make still further i'm
4 proyements, let them criticize the book and send
/ it back to the next Assembly.
/ DR.. s. r. Wilson, have paper which wish
/ to offer. | do it, of course, with great deal OF
difhdence, and yet under strong sense OF duty to
| the church of which L am permitted to be min
ister-regarding the subject before us as one OF
vital import. Two years ago, when this same sub
/ iect was sent down to the Presbyteres strong
/ effort was made to have the book passed In Its
I then formr-the whole book, Form of Government
l and Book of Discipline l strongly objected, not
only to the Book on account OF some of It's details
/ but on the general ground that we did not need a
new Book had hoped that the discussion which
\ had occupied the Church for some time, and the
recommitment Of this Book, under the circum-
stances under which it was committed had relieved
/ the Church from further controversy over this
matter but as this is not the case, now desire to
offer paper, with the view of drawing the atten-
ton of the Assembly to what l consider the vital
point now before us, and expressing in this paper
my own mature judgment IN regard to the whole
matter. offer this as a substitute for the motion
to send down:
The General Assembly having heard and con-
sidered the report Of the Committee of Revision,
/ upon review of the whole subject which has now
for so long time agitated the mind of the Church
and occupied the attention Of successive Assem-
bies, do adopt the following as their final Minute
in the premises, viz:
! l. They approve Of the care and diligence with
which the Committee have prosecuted their labors,
I and to each and all the members.Of said Commit
/ tee would express the thanks of the Church for
the assiduity and fidelity with which they have dis
/ charged the duty laid upon them.
! 2 The Assembly expresses no opinion in regard
to the Rules of Discipline as now submitted by the
\ Committee, either as to the general principles or
/ the details contained therein.
I 8. In full view of the facts bearing upon this
matter Of the Revision of the Constitution of the
/ Church. the Assembly deem it iRexpedient to send
down to the Presbyteries the Rules OF Discipline
reported by the Committee, or further to continue
the agitation Of this subject in the Church
1t is therefore, resolved, That the Revision of
the Form of Government and Book of Discipline
be indefinitely postponed, and that the Committee
of Revision be aud they are hereby discharged
from the further consideration of the subject.
[ will only say, Just at this moment, that trust
that the Assembly will guard themselves from
misapprehensiOn which is likely to take possession
of our minds by the phraSeOlogy, which observed
the last speaker employed more than once. 1t is,
sir, 'the Old Book 1t is not the "Old Book"
vet | beg the Assembly to remember that. L
do not suppose that the brother or those who have
fallen into this way of speaking, have thought OF
theslept unsuspected impression that takes hold of
our minds when we begin to talk OF thing that Is
bygoue and its place supplied by something else,-
This is not 1.-THE old Book" it is 1.-The Book.
There is no other book and think it is as new
and as living as it has been since it was formed,
and as capable of meeting all the necessities of our
church. This is all | have to say by way of intro
6ucng this paper for the consideration OF the As
sembly
Or. Pllme-I was truly gratifed when the
brother from Kentucky introduced this paper
With these resolutions l fully concur. With all
that is said in the first part touching the Commit
tee, l very fully concur; and if anybody will sug
gest anything stronger, more courteous, and Pres
byterial toward that Committee, will vote for 1t.
/ suppose the brother intended it to be strong
as our usage allows in such a casa sincere vote
of thanks for fidelity and diligence. l accord to
this Committee all the honor thatany person wish
ing their paper sent to the churches, would &C
cord.
The second remark have to make is that this
whole subject of a change OF our Form OF Govern
meut, Discipline aud Directory, brought before
the Church the last ten years. Is, In my judgment,
inopportune 1t is unfortunate. If there ever
was a church called on by the providence of God
TO look about her and see what she ought to do,
and do it. l think it is the Southern Church.
Now, sir, instead of doing what We ought to do
instead Of making our meetings of Presbytery glO.
riOus revival meetings, they are made meetings
for the discussion OF points, which, whether re-
ceiVed or rejected, will probably never convert
sOul-pOints that our people generally otinter-
ested in. | do think 1t unfortunate. My father
had neighbOr who never made good crop, but
he could at any time give you five or six reasons
why he did not His practice was, when the grass
was gaining on the corn, to 90 and make new bars
for the cOrn6eld, or a new gate, or put new rails
on the fence, but not to get out the grass. Our
business, l think is far different from the work of
Constitution making. 1t is peculiarly inOppOr-
tune to occupy, in changing our fundamental laws,
a people who, as citizens, have bread and meat
ION the brain, and as ecesiasties, have to keep
the church from extinction.
Again, [ wish to observe that this proposal is
part Of the system which is to change our funda
mental law in government. This is not upon the
Form Of Government, but it is part of the plan
to change it. Now one of the most difficult thing