, 1875-03-07

| contention to prevent which The densrA as
sembly OF 1879 recognized the constitutions
right Of every congregation to impose such lml'
tations Of time as might seem Wise
and e1pcdient; but the night OF the
General Assembly to make by Judlcaa
decision what WAS IN effect Il change OF the Form
Of Government has been disputed, and. to SET
| the question at rest, the last General Assembly
[ made this overture to the Prcsbyterles' As iat
a. has been indicated, the feeling among the
Chicago churches is decidedly in favor OF she
adoption Of the overture, even though shey na'e
not generally exercised the right which II see6s
| to define. To carry the overture ma
| iority OF the votes OF al the ffeeos'esaes
TX eichty. y.aieht Affirmative votes are
raonigits. Similar overtures have failed, not be-
| cause majority Of the frasbyter1es vas not IN
favor Of them, but because go many either 1alled
to take action or to send their answers to the
stated Clerk of tho Assembly within the pre-
scribed time. The friends Of the measure there
! fore feel some solicitnde in regard to It, NJ
! though believing it commands the support Of
the great majority Of Presbyterian consrega-
tons. ...
IL tho Interior for this week, the merits Of the
question are ably set forth by the nav. 6. ".
! Musgraye .. D. The points he makes IN its
favor ate briefly ~ follows: l) It VII
! settle the constitutional right OF churches
itsd timo, beyond dispute. (2) Tha PROPOSED
method Of electing elders to serve for limited
time is not imperative, but simply optional thus
preserving what Is practically the present status.
make the church sessions n1ore perfectly repre-.
sentative. C4) It would provide simple and
peaceable mode OF getting nd Of unacceptable
elders. {5) It would hare tendency to make
elders more digent and faithful in the discharge
Of their dutles. (G) The choice of adminiatra-
tive method thus provided would be best adapted
for the peculiar circumstances Of the Church. in
this country.
Upon each OF these points DR.. Musgave
makes soma suggestive and convincing rouarks.
Iu regard to the third. he shows that the lto-
tenure OF of,ics may defest that representative
character of church government which is the
essential spirit Of their poiity. Elders elected
by the fathers and grandfathers OF the present
generation cannot be aaid to repreaent the pres
ont members Of the Church as perfectly as
would be done by elders elected moro re-
Gently. The proposed change would bring
tue ;. spread and growth OF the Church
into harmonious relation With its governing
authorities. DR.. MusgraVe offers some pregnant
remarks upon the sixth point In Abe first place,
he shnwA that the Church is constantly recaiVlDg
accessions not from Great Britain alone, but also
from France, italy, Switzerland, Germany, and
Holland, and it is natural that they should pre-
fer the mode of periodical elections which are
universally customary on tho Couta-
nent Of Europe. The opponents OF the over
ture refer to the present practice Of the Church
OF Scotland This, DR.. Mus:raVe shows, grew up
from rastly diHerens circumstances than obtain
here. There the Church has long since covered
the entire field, aud its organization is CONSOLE
dated. Here there is an immense field yet to oc-
cupy. It is often found difficult to organize
churches, from the lack Of peraons qualified for
the eldership- # the term Of Office we're limit
ed, better material could afterwards be pro-
cured. When, from necessity, unqualified men
ara made elders, elected TO serve for
life, they frequently afterwards provo great
hindrance to tue growth and efficiency OF tho
Church. 4. Corresponding Secretary OF the
Board OF Domestic Missions, DR.. MusgraVe says
he had a practical acquaintance with the exist
ence Of this evil. His comments on all the other
points are extended and forcible, but the direc-
ton Of the argument may be gathered from the
propositions themselves.