The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-18
Fresbytery ani its Vacant Churches.

in The papers within the bounds of Presby,
terry:
"But when he saw the multitudes, he
was moved with compassion on them, be-
cause they tainted, and were scattered
abroad rs sheep having no shepard."-
Matt. *; SO.
The figure of our text is one tbst would
enlist the sympathes If every Jew.
Scarcely any thingwould be more expressive
to an oriental mind of exposure to certain
destruction than flock of sheep scattered
over the mountains without shepherd to
defend them from the wild beasts. as well
as the thieves and robbers which abounded
in that land. Such thoughts filled the
rrind of out compassionate Savior as he
saw the multtudes of people surround him
on the hills of Galilee, and knew the cer-
tain and awful destruction awaiting them
unless brought into the true fold. AS this
sight of men, with no one to care for their
souls, touched the heart of opr Savior, so
the spiritual desti.ution which exists in
our own land and all around us should
move us TO compassion. if we have the spirit
of Christ, and if not, we are none Of His. y
This thought leads very naturally to the
sufjec which PTesbyterv has assigned for
sermon at this time viz: "The Duty Of
Presbytery towards the Vacant Churches
under its care"
This subject is one of great importance
on account Of the growing tendency
towards Congregationalism in many Of our
churches. Ii is question which involves
some of the fundamental principles of
Presbyteranism,
Our s'FOrm of Government" gives the
following as the reasons for The existence
of the Preshytery as a church court, that.
"The church being divided into many
seperate egations. these need mutual
counsel and assistance, in order TO preserve
soundness of doctrine and regularity Of
discipline, and to enter into common
measures for promoting knowledge and re
lgion. and for preventing infdelity, error
and immortality.
If all the churches "need mutioI counsel
and assistance" surely the vacant churches,
those that have no pastor to look after
their interests-hocks without a shepherd
have an especial claim on presbyteTy for
aid and assistance, just us weak or in,
valid member of family has on that ac.
count stronger clair on the other mem
bers for care and protection
l. In achat does the duty which Pres
bytery owes to these vacant churches con.
s'sJ Every vacant congregation has cer-
tain duties to prefo m for itself, and being.
when vacant directly under the care of
Presbytery, it is the first duty of Presby-
terry, to see that these churches prstorm Their
own duties which are thus set forth in our
Form of Government"
considering the grea, importance of
weekly assembling thepeople for the public
worship of God, in order thereby TO i'm
prove their knowledge, to confirm their
habits of whrship and their desire Of the
public ordinances; TO augment their rever-
ence for the most hi gh God. and 10 promote
the charit able affections which unite man
most FIRMLY in society, it is recommended
that every vacant congregation meet to
gether, on the Lords day. at one or more
places, for the purpose of prayer. singing
praises, and reading the holy Scriptures
together@with the works of such approved
diviues as the Presbytery within whose
bounds they are may recommend and they
be able to procure. and that the elders or
deacons be the persons vino shall preside
And select the portions Of scripture and of
the other books to be lead, and too see
that The whole be conducted IN becoming
aid orderly Manner
The 0. s. General Assembly Of 1S47, de.
c!ared il to be the duty of Presbytery to in
terrogate the ruling elders representing
such congregation concerning the ohser
vance of this recommendation.
This decision makes the duty of Pres
bytery clear on this important mater
The elders repre- 'enting these vacant
churches should be require to report at
every regular meeting Of Presbytcry
whether their churches meet for worship MS
recommended, and in case ANY vacant
church fails to send representative for
one year presbytery should, by committee
or otherwise ascertain the reason OF such
falllr as well IS its general condition.
IL But in the ueIt place 1t is the duty
OF Presbytery to furnish as much preaching 2
as possible to these vacant churches, ana
see that the ordinances of the gospel are
regularly administered. In order to &C
compish this in the best way Preshytery
should appoint standing committee on
Vacant Churches, who SHOULD have control
OF the whole matter. with power to act Ia
the interim of the meetings OF Presbyiery
and report in full at each regular meeting
This committee would take the place oflhe
committee apcinled .'on supplies" at each
meeting, and be able to discharge their
duties far more efficiently AS hitherto
managed the matter of supplies by Preshy-
terry is very unsatisfactory 1t savOrs tar
more OF CongresaIlonallsm that Presbyter
ianism. Nominally, they go to Presby.
terry but practically, they control the mat
ter themselves The majority of vacant
churches that apply to freshytery simply
ask leave to supply themselves, and their
request is granted. usually. without asking
any questions When ASKED 10 report at
the neat meeting if they have done So
there will probably be no representative
present, or if there is Presbytery is salts
fed with a simple affirmative answer With
cut iuquiriDg by whom or to what exteut
they have been supplied But the-e are
some churches that do not honor P -eshy =
terry even with the formaliIy OF asking per
mission They will employ whoever they
please without recognizing tle right OF
Preshytery to know who is supply in them
This is not consistent with the prime pies
of our church poliiy We should either & We
up some Of our Presbyterian principles, or
enforce the right Of Presbytery having the
light of all he churches under its care
If the Standing Committee suggested
above were appointed it would then be the
duty of every church as soon as it wOnld
become vaca.,t to apply TO this committee
stating how often they wished TO be sup
piled, and how much they were willing to
pay for such service They should also
have the privilege of suggesting the
name Of any unemployed minister OF
student whom they wished to supply them
On the other hand all ministers and licen
tiales that wish to preach in any of our
vacant churches should apply 10 this com
mittee for work, stating their preference
for any particular church If this plan
was cordially adopted, 1t would secure
loyalty to Presbytery from both ministers