The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-07
Confirming the Churches.


The Presbytery Of New York has taken
up this old apostolic rite as one of the
means of establishing and edifying the
churches which are under its Episcopal
supervision, and of drawing them into
closer communion with each other. The
plan adopted has been the appointment
of committees of ministers and elders.
who shall visit every congregation, bear
to 1t the loving salutations of the Presby-
terry, and the greetings of its sister
churches, and to seek by mutual PRAYERS
and counsels to awaken the people to a
fresh interest in their spiritual concerns.
There is nothing especially new in this,
as some Presbyteries have had the plan in
operation for many years, and these
visits have often been followed by great
spiritual blessings to the churches, and
have come to be anticipated by pastors
and people as occasions of deep interest
and profit.
The only wonder is that all our Pres
byteries have not long since adopted this
custom as a most important means of
grace, and as eminently fitted to bring the
churches to a stronger affection for, and a
more cordial appreciation of, the Presby-
terrain system.
A wise and earnest committee that
could spend not simply an evening, but a
day or more in counselling and praying
with a church and its pastor, may be Of
lncalculable service in strengthening his
hands and in uniting the people in fresh
and earnest work for the Master.
This is the apostolic rite of coDlf,uln-
ton, as is evident from the history of the
Acts. 1t was not the visit of prelate
to lay his hands upon few catechumens
gathered around the altar, but of two or
more bishops or elders joining together for
the purpose of helping the churches
already established, and of confirming
the souls of disciples already gathered
into the church of God Thus Paul and
Barnabas went forth to minister to their
brethren, and to comfort and help and
strengthen them in the Christian life.
exhorting them to continue in the faith
and that we must, through much tribula-
ton, enter into the kingdom of God. 3"
1t was on one of these pastoral or Pres
byterial visits to the churches that the
memorable dissension took place between
Paul and Barnabas, which resulted i'm the
organization of two committees instead
of one-Barnabas and Mark going one
way and Paul and Silas another. The
one committee went to Cyprus, the other
to Cllicia, being recommended by the
brethren unto the grace of God, and
going through Syria and Cilicia. confirm
ing the churches
In what that confirmation consisted is
very manifest from. the history of those
visits 1t was the rehearsal Of the old
story of the gospel, the teaching and
preaching Of the word of the Lord %
1t would be most admirable experiment
to try in all the Presbyteries Of our
Church this simple plan which has been
taken up by the Presbytery Of New York
Many Of our churches have hardly an
idea Of what a Presbytery is, or what are
its duties, especially in small country
towns, where it's infrequent visits are SO
far apart as to make but little impression
upon the people If, however, once a
year the church was to be assembled for
the purpose Of meeting with committee
Of the Presbytery, coming to bring them
the Christian salutations of their breth-
rem, and give them the benefit Of their
sympathies, their prayers and their coun-
sells, new bond of strength and union
would be thrown around them which
would be Of incalculable Value. Here is
the strength Of the Episcopacy as it is
used in Prelatical churches. And there