The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-02
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
lContinued nom lst paqe.l

and multiplying judicial cases.
T. Because it is inconsistent with the following
express provisions of our conshtutlon; IL De-
longs to synods and councils ministerlally to
determine controversies of faith and cases Of
science: TO set down rules and directions for the
better ordering of the public worship OF God, ana
government of His Church which de-
crees and determinations, together with those
which are judicial and Just mentioned II conso-
nant to the Word of God are to be received with
reverence and submission, not only for their
agreement with the Word, but also for the power
whereby they are made, as being an ordination
of God appointed thereby by His Word" Con
fession Of Faith, chapter 3d. section ~ They
Church courts) may frame symbols OF faith, bear
testimony against error in doctrine and immor-
atty in practice, within or without the pale of
the Church, and decide cases of conscience"
"They have power to establish rules for the
government discipline, worship, and extension
of the Church" "They possess the right of re-
curing obedience to the laws of Christ" (Form
of Government chapter 5, section 2 Article 2.)
The General Assembly shall have power to bear
testimony against error in doctrine and immor-
atty in practice, injuriously affecting the
Church; to decide in all controversies respecting
doctrine and discipline" Form of Government,
chapter 5, section 6, Article 81
To this overture the committee on bills and
overtures made the following report:
This Assembly interprets the language com
planned of in the overture as by means de-
claring that all deliverances It Mesi uttered by
General Assembly are to be considered as
merely didactic, advisory and monitory,'' but
only as assuming that when any IN theSi deliv-
erance bears upon the law of offences and the
administration of discipline, it is not to be re-
garded furnishing a sufficient ground for
judicial process by the court of original urisdic
ton which has the power Of interpreting for
itself the law of offences as laid down in the
constitution of the Church.
9 This Assembly therefore declinas 70 raDaal
or modify the deliverance referred to, as thus
interpreted of the late Assembly.
The following minority report was offered by
the Rev. l.. H. Blanton of Kentucky Mr..
Blanton said that nothing but the conviction
that the wording of the majority report is mis-
leading and the report itself fails to present the
real issue before the Assembly would compel
him to present this minority report:
The last General Assembly adopted paper.
N answer to an overture from the Presbytery of
Atlanta, which delares that all IN hesi deliver
ances of the General Assembly are only didactic
advisory and monitory, and not of the nature
otJudlclal decisions. This paper was carefully
prepared and unanimously adopted by the AS
sembly.
The Synod of South Carolina, not satisfied
with this dehverance, sends up to this Assem-
bly, an overture asking us to repeal or seriously
modify the action of the last Assembly. The
minority report declines to grant this request,
and gives the reason, viz that the deliverapce
OF the Assembly of 1879 is a true exposition of
our constitution.
In reply to the overture of the SYNOD of South
Carolina requesting this General Assembly
either to repeal or seriously modify that part of
the delverance given by the late General As
sembly to the Presbytery of Atlanta which as
serts that no deliverance an heSi can be accepted
as law and to be enforcd by judicial process, but
tnat all such dellverances can be considered
only as didactic, advisory and monitory.
we recommend that this request be declined,
believing that that answer in this respect is a
correct Interpretation of the constitution.
DR.. Glrardeau asked the chairman of the com.
mlttee the exact meaning of the first part of the
report-lt he meant to say all deliverances of
Church courts were simply didactic advisory and
monitory
DIR. Wilson said that the committee had simplv
gone into an Interpretation of the answer of the
last General Assembly
The Rev. Mr.. Penick, in order to bring the
matter properly before the Assembly, moved the
adoption of the majority report.
The Rev. ). M. Neel rose to oppose the adon
ton OF the majority report, and to favor the &C
ceptance OF the minority report He would not
enter into the argument, but believed the minor
lty report brought the matter more clearly before
the Assembly. 1t reaffrms the action of the
Assembly OF 1879, and makes a clear and simple
issue OF the matter. The speaker. therefore
moved that the minority be substituted for the
majority report
Inc new. MI L CHICK asked for particular
case IN thest in which the deliverances of the
church courts can be other than advisory didac-
tic and monitory
DIR. Wilson then made very clear explana-
ton OF the reasons leading the committee to the
conclusion contained in the majority. It was q.
matter of simple Interpretation of the action Of
the Assembly, differing from the language of the
overtures from the Synod ofSouth Carolina and
does not need any explanation, modification or
Interpretation.
The Rev: S. l.. Leeper said that the SYNOD of
South Carolina does not care in what form the
answer is reached
DIR. Girardeau then rose and said that if the
General Assembly was unwilling to 90 into a
thorough consideration of the subject Re yon1d
prefer not to say anything
DR.. Girardeau after discussing tho oons+rr,o
it into the following syllogstio form:
All deliverances IN hesi are destitute of LEGAL
authority; these deliverances are in thesi. there
fore they are destitute of legal authority. The
conclusion depends on the major premise which
Is not sustained by law OF evidence. He main
tanned that some IN hesi deliverances are legally
authortative-w they are identical with the
utterances of Gods Word they are of legal AN.
thorlty-by express words, by necessary infer
ences. Ihey are also oflegal authority when tbev
are identical with the Constitution Of the Cbnrcb
which IS based upon the Word of God bv exnress
words or by necessary differences. It has been
the Old uniform doctrine of the PresbvterisD
Church tn rnuard eucI, JoI;,,o-.-..z- -