The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-03-07
the hands Of DR.. Robinson, and can be sen
to such as apply for them.
THE BOOK OF cHuRCH ORDER.

mept and Book OF Discipline, as submitted
to the Presbyseriea by the General Assembly
of 1876.
2. Approve, even if in aeo 2, chap. l.,
touching the method of dealing with baptized
non-commuDieants, and the clause profess
ing faith in Christ, in chap. Ill, sec. 2 be
omitted.
3. Approve also, should the General As
sembly at the suggestion Of the PresbyserleS
or on It's own motion make verbal amend
ments not materially affecting the sense.
4. If there is such diversity OfopiniOp that
the Revised Book is not clearly approved By
a msiority, then let the Assembly arrange
fer convention of one member from each
Presbysery, to meet sometime this (sccleslaS-
ticall year, which shall receive all proposed
amendments, make careful revision, and
make report to the next Assembly, which may
send it down for final action by the Presby-
teries
In view of the Importance of the whole sub
ject, and the near approach of meetings Of
the Pcesbyteries, there arc few suggestions
which we take leave to submit to the judg-
ment of our brethren,
l. If any Presbyteries are fully satisfied
with the Revised Book as now sent down, of
course let them say so If the only choice
were between it and the present Book, our
individual preference would certainly be for
the one as Revised. But
2. The LAST General Assembly sent it down
L" for their action, not specifying what 1t
should be, Therefore they have their choice
to adopt, reject, or amend it.
8. Our decided preference is for the last /;
first, because the "criticisms and amend
ments" touching the Book of Discipline sent
up TO the Assembly of 1873 have never been
acted upon; and second, because it is believed
that the Revised Form Of Government is ca
pable of improvement in numher of partic-
ulars, some siFsCting its statements, Others
It's style. II is slso cue impression that there
is a general wish to have amendments made.
So far as we have information there is a
growing interest in the work of this Revision,
aud in its favor. AL the papers of our Church
are heartily for it, except one, whose oppOsi-
ton, however, from inability or some other
cause, does not extend beyond the point of
feeble captiousness. Bat it is wise to pro-
coed carefully in ali this work; it will thus
end the more safely and harmOniOusly.
4. DR.. RobinsOn's suggestion for con-
vention to revise, would be, we fear, impracti-
cable. Fifty delegates could not be gath
cred fer that purpose from so wide terri
tory; or if they could the expense would be
inconvenieps, and when assembled they
would be too many for practical use. II
strikes others Of Us that the same purpose
could be better answered another way. Sup
posing the reports sent up from the Presby'
teries this spring do not indicate the formal
adoption of the Book, but do present gen
eral approval of revision, together with vari
Gus criticisms and amendments; then let the
Assembly at New Orleans put them into the
hands of committee whose duty it shall be
to digest them, Incorporating such as ought
to be, and make report to that Assembly for
its action. That body can then send the
whole, in its approved form, down to the
Presby teries for their final action, either to
adopt or to reject. Thia course would enable
the Church to take such action next spring
the other would delay it year longer.
We hear from various quarters that CON-
mittees are diligently at work preparing re
ports to their Presbyteries. This is the case
in Richmond, where all the ministers in the
city, and some out of it, together with a
number of elders were appointed by East
Hanover Presbytery. II is great duty to
which the Church has been called by its su-
prems judica.ory, and ought to receive every
where an earnest study. The idea of making
it the occasion Of agitation, pickering and
division, is so unworthy that perhaps the
best way to treat it is to let it die of its own
emptiness and weakness. The venerable
fathers before us who repeatedly revised
what their Venerable g7and-fathers framed,
never imagined that any Of them were ag-
tors or restless iunovators, bus merely doing
what experience justifes and requires in re-
gard to al those things which, to large ex-
tent. are left to human discretion. It is to
be hoped, aud is confidently believed, that
our beloved Church will proceed 10 this mat
ter calmly and judiciOuSly; aud if the result
shall be general agreement in the work of
revision substantially upon the basis pro-
posed ia this Book of Church Order, our
firm persuasion is that it will be blessing to
our Zion throughout lis whole length ard
breadth.
AN OLD DoCUMENT.-Th way in which