The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-21
For the Central Presbyterian.
Deliverances of the General
Assembly


The Central Presbyterian has lately
furnished to its readers a number OF
well-written articles on the above named
subject, which appeared over the sigma
lures Mare and Luke" and which
exhibit far wider differences in opinion
and sentiment between the writers who
have adopted these venerated names.
than existed between the Mark and
Luke of the holy Scriptures. The
question of Church-law discussed by them
is of great Importance and may we'll JUS
tify few additional words.
Marc" argues that the General AS
sembly has power, by mere deliverance
IN thesj-that is a deliverance of opinion
not in a judicial case, but upon the APP
pllcatlon of La1O to supposed outward
act or series Of outward acts, to bind au-
thoritatively the consciences of officers
and private members of our Church. The
views held by Marc" are evidently those
Of many in the Church; and from them
have arisen the repeated attempts in the
shape of overtures from Presbyteries or
OF petitions and addresses from ministers.
elders, or private members to Synods or
General Assemblies to induce these bodies
to pronounce eek cathedra' that the out
ward acts of dancing or attending parties
where dancing is permitted, or drinking
splrtuous liquors, or retailing ardent
spirits or other outward acts fall into
some analogous category, are in them
selves SINS. And that these repeated at
tempts have in the past been attended
with some success, and have caused even
a h IL "a
away from the true course of religious
freedom, is plain enough. Hence appear
the incongruities which "Marc" has point
ed out.
But we are happy in believing that
our last General Assembly reached con-
clusion which ought to give final rest to
the Church on this subject. In answer
to the overture on Worldly Amuse-
ments' sent up by the Presbytery of At
lanta, the Committee on "Bills an Over
lures" made report which after some
discussion and slight amendment was
unanimously adopted by the Assembly.
That committee consisted of fifteen Pres
byteries coming from all parts of own
territory, and embracing much of the
learning ability, and deYout spirit of our
Church It's chairman was the Rev. Pro
fessor Thomas E. Peck, who is believed
to be the writer of the answer although
it was presented to the Assembly by the
Rev. Mr.. Kennedy, OF Arkansas
This deliverance, thus unanimously
adopted, clears away all the errors on
this subject which might possibly be
charged against the hasty action of pre-
vious General Assemblies, and places our
beloved Church on the only ground which
secures to her members that liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us free.
1t declares or implies that the General
Assembly has no power either to make
L0aOS or to interpret La108 so as to extend
their operation beyond the fair meaning
of our Constitution which is found in the
Holy Scriptures, the Confession of Faith,
and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
Any claim of power, beyond this, turns
us over at once to a system like that of
Popery. And it would be far better for
us to go at once to Rome and submit to
the infallible dictation Of cae single Ro-
man Pontiff than to submit to many
headed monster Claiming and holding
authoritative power over the conscience5
in the shape Of majority of ministers
and elders in General Assembly
Moreover this deliverance decides that
the General Assembly has no power by a
deliverance IN thesi to make any merely
outward act whatever sin. No outward
act, whether it be that of dancing, or
drinking ardent spirit or wine, or selling
by wholesale or retail alcoholic spirit or
chewing or smoking tobacco, or p,ltti,,q
q human being to death, or any other out
ward act is (in itself alone) sin. 1t
may be an innocent act 1t may be a
meritorious act. Itmay be a si,-a very
great sin Whether it is a sin depends
on all the circumstances preceding, ac-
companying, and affecting ESPECIALLY
on the n1otjUe-the subjective state Of the
soul under the influence of which the
will consented to it. Therefore General
Assemblies and Synods have no power
before hand and in supposititious case
to pronounce such acts to be sins. No
| Church courts can take cognisance of
them save courts of original Jurisdiction
viz, the Presbytery and the church
Session. These can deal with each case