Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-01
THE PREsBYTERlANs.



Adopted.
An adjourned congregational meeting
IF the Presbyterian church was held in the
lecture room of the church last evening,
about one hundred members being pre-
sent.
After singing the hymn commencing
I" My Soul be ON Thy Guard'' and an
prayer for Divine guidance, by
Rev. J. Y. Mitchell, D. D.. pastor, that
gentleman stated that the present was a
good time to give thanks for the many
mercies of Providence. and as all could
not audibly unite in prayer he proposed
that all should unite in singing praise to
God in the long metre doxology.
"Praise God from whom all blessings
flow" was then sung with much spirit by
the congregation, tho fine voice Of the
pastor ringing out richly and clearly above
the others, but blending harmoniously
with them.
DR.. Mitchell then quoted the beautiful
lines OF the inspired writer, commencing,
"How good and how pleasant it is for
Judge Patterson to the front remarked
had assembled for the transaction of spe-
W
lily gathering, not intended for the public
at large, but exclusively for members of
the church; a meeting of those only who arc
communicate members or who contribute
to the support of the church, and none
others should participate in it. Being
family gathering every member should
servedly as he or she would 90 at home.
NnvNnro Snna1 Sp,v,nrfav,f ac
they tend to bring brethren into closer
communion, to excite each others sympa-
thies, to secure the blessings ofeach others
prayers and the benefits of each others
wisdom and experience. Being Of a
strictly private and family character, the
public were not invited to them, and had
nothing to do with them. Their proceed
ings should not be reported the local
press should take no account of them,
though he would sanction and court the
widest publicity for the proceedings Of all
public meetings of the congregation. A
week ago there appeared in one of the
local papers a report Or pretended report
of the proceedings of our congregational
meeting. The report contained many
errors and Misrepresentation. The meet
ing being private, the public are not in
vited here and have no interest in nor
business with the procee dings. The rever-
end gentleman then gave an outline of the
government of tho Presbyterian church,
with its fouT courts-the Session, the
Presbytery, the Synod, and the General
Assembly-the powers and functions Of
each Of which he explained at some length.
He then gave resume Of the proceedings
of last weeks congregational meeting,
which were in brief that the meeting had
been called to elect five elders, that after
some Introductory remarks Brother Cara
moved to proceed to an election, but the
motion was not seconded. Brother Wiley
then asked how long the elders were to be
elected for, and DR.. Mitchell answered
'for life, if the present rules remain i'll
force. "and read that part of the constitution
which gives authority to any congregation
of the Presbyterian faith to elect elders
for limited term under certain conditions;
that Brother Moore then inquired" whether
brother, now an elder, would continue to
be an elder if he should not be reelected ::
and that DIR. Mitchell had answered that
he would continue to be an elder, but not
an acting elder-he would be retired from
official duty !; but having been once Or
dained lie was ordained for life. Finally,
after Brother Wiley had made motion,
which was not seconded, to elect elders
under the rotary system, the meeting had
adjourned to reassemble Tuesday evening,
the 3Oth, to consider the rotary system Of
electing elders. DR.. Mitchell! gave 4 brief
history of the incorporation OF this system
into the constitution Of the church, and
stated that of about $50 congregations lOG
had adopted the rotary system, 3G had re-
.iected it, and a few were divided. 1t is
now for this meeting to discuss the merits
of the system and decide whether to adopt
it or not. In conclusion he added that at
a meeting of the session it had been unan-
imously agreed that in case the rotary sys-
tenn was adopted, it would be proper for
the elders to resi- ign, and that they might,
if they chose, be candidates for rc-clec-
tion.
Judge Patterson then read the call for
the meeting.
Brother Peacock moved that the rotary
system of electing elders be adopted, and
Brother Thos. c. Wiley seconded the mo.
tion.
Judge Patterson said that since the last
meeting he had given the matter serious
consideration he had thought over it,
prayed over it. and got over it. He may
have appeared to be mad at last meeting
but he was not he was sad ; the proposed
innovation came upon like thunder stroke;
it was against all his teachings and against
all the traditions of old Donegal: but on
investigating the matter he sees that the
congregation has perfect right to adopt
it, and if they do adopt it he shall feel no
personal grievance. Under the old system
he was elected an elder by vote Of G7 out
of 69votes cast but he felt quite willing ta
give way to younger and ADLER brothers,
who had more ability and more time to
devote to the duties of the Office than he
had but he looked upon the proposed
system Of election as an innovation on
PreSbyteriaism and feared it would lead
to contention. Twelve years ago VIC were
regarded as a fighting church, but now all
is harmony. He believed that the fewer
congregational meetings were held the
better. Frequent election and contending
candidates are sure to produce enmitics,
rt-burnings and alterations. He was
sorry that the pastor had not expressed an
opinion On the merits of the system; had
he done so, he (Judge PattersoD would
feel like following his lead, Or at least
Offering no opposition tOi it.
DR.. Mitchell said that he had decided
views upon the question. and was not all
afraid to express them, but that being
moderator Of the meeting it would be i'm
proper for him to do so.
Brother Peacock said that il there We're
any emoluments pertaining to the Office of
elder, he would oppose the adoption Of the
rotary system lest there might be contests
for the spoiis, but as there are none, he
would vote for the system. L nder the rotary
system, ii brother elected an elder is in
efficient or falls frOya grace lie can he gent
1v GrODned while under the old system he