The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-07
For the Central Presbyterian.
Are the Deliverances of the Gen
eral Assembly to be Regarded
as Authoritative Interpreta-
tionS of Church Law?
No:

mentioned, several others have occurred
to my mind, in connection with a negative
answer to the above question. Let it sut-
flee for the present to notice two of these:
4. II the Assembly's deliverances IN
3heS1 are not authoritative interpretations
of the Constitution, then it appears to be
unjust to our ministers and Sessions and
injurious to our churches for the Assem-
bly, to make such deliverances.
PROFESSIONALLY a number of ministers
and Sessions have hitherto regarded these
dehverances as authoritative. Unques-
tionably also the language adopted in
some at least of these deliverances has
been well calculated to foster this impress
sion. Now, if these deliverances are not
authoritative, then they are an injustice
to our ministers and Sessions. And for
the following reasons:
First, because they are liable to betray
them into positions at once painful and
awkward. Second, because they are liza
bic to weaken the arm of wise and
wholesome discipline by rendering Ses-
sions timid and church members factious
Third, because they have tendency to
weaken the confidence of ministers and
Sessions in the candor and Christian bold
ness of eur Church courts
Our ministers and Sessions fairly pre-
sumo that the courts of our Church are
above anything like an evasion. And
when they ask for instruction on con
troverted point of doctrine or discipline
they fairly expect that if the Assembly
has not the power to give them the de-
sired instruction it will plainly say as
much. Hence, when they receive di-
rect answer to the question asked, accom-
panied by an injunction" to resort to
discipline, they are excusable for trying
to carry into effect the lawful injunction
of the higher court But, if the deliv-
erance on which they base their action is
not authoritative, then they are likely to
find themselves in situation calling for
all our sympathy. In an honest effort to
do what seems plain duty-namely-to
give effect to what carries on its face the
appearance of a lawful ialae,,ctio1a =
they institute judicial process. This
they cannot bring to a successful issue
And they are reproached with trying to
lord it over Gods heritage Such is the
unpleasant position in which these de-
iverances are liable to place ministers
and that after they have honestly en-
deavored to know their duty and when
they are honestly endeavoring to do it,
Can any one doubt that the other two
consequences mentioned above will fol-
low? They must follow. They hare fol-
lowed
Moreover, on the supposition that the
Assembly's deliverances IN theSi, are not
authoritative interpretations of.law, they
must work injury to our churches. This
is evident from what precedes
Every abortive attempt at judicial pro-
cess must injure the Church in which it
is made. Sometimes the inquiry is all
but irreparable Then too, many of our
people have gotten it into their heads
(either from their minister's or from read
ing the deliverances for themselves
somehow-it matters not how-they have
gotten it into their heads) that these de-
iverances, if not law, are at least author
itative interpretations of law And it
are treated as dead letter that the law
has been treated as dead letter All
know what must be the result of this
1t will take not few disclaimers to con-
vince the great body Of dancing church
members that the Presbyterian Church
regards dancing as serious evil-a
grievous sin-a deadly gangrene in our
social system At any rate they are con-
hdent that they have all they want-lib-
erty to Judge of the sinfulness of this
practice and tn1paoalty to indulge in it.
Much of what has been said above pro-
ceeds on the assumption that the deliv-
erances in question have at least the APP
pearance of being authoritative This
will be the last point claiming attention
5. IF the deliverances of which we
speak are not authoritative, then the Ian
guage in which they are expressed has
been inexplicably unfortunate and mac
curate. And more, the language en-
ployed by some in speaking on the de-
Hverance of our last Assembly, in reply
to the overture from Atlanta Presbytery,
is equally inexplicable.
Our space will not permit us to cite in
full the language Of the deliverances
under consideration All that can be
done is to refer our readers to these de-
iverances and let them examine them for
themselves. Let any one then who feels
sufficient interest in the matter in hand
examine the deliverances Of the last Gen
eral Assembly, in reply to the overtures
i D.. r L