The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-09-29
For the Central Presbyterian.
The General Assembly and the
Theological SeminarieS.

Inc dA1 G11O
Theological Seminaries.
l was a member of the General Assem-
bly, which recently met in Augusta, Ca,
but circumstances beyond my control
rendered it proper for me to leave before
the action in regard to the theological
seminaries and the removal of DR.. Wood
row was had. AS am unable to assent
to some of that action, and as l believe
the questions involved to be of great i'm
portance, l hope I may be excused for
taking this way of expressing my views.
The second and third propositions
adopted by the Assembly in regard to
all seminaries are as follows:
"That by the very genius of Presby
terianism the Assembly is bound to main
tain supervisory jurisdiction over these
and all other like corporations, and also
over all schemes for religious work 80 far
as hey affect the practice or doctrine of
the Assembly's constituencies, and espe-
cially the office-bearers of the Church.
Sd. That this jurisdiction must, in every
case, enable the Assembly through the
proper channels of authority, to keep all
such institutions free from anything in
consistent with the spirit of our system,
and, of course, free from all teachings in
consistent with the word of God as ex-
pounded in our standards
Under this assertion of power the AS
sembly claims the right either to direct
or recommend the removal OF Professor
from any of our theological seminaries
and passed the resolution in regard to
DIR. Woodrow. If it is meant by the
genius OF Presby terianism" that the
Assembly may look to any source other
than the constitution of the Church for
authority to do any particular act, it is
grave error. The Southern Presbyterian
Church, from its organization to the pre-
sent time, has maintained the doctrine
that neither the Assembly nor any other
church court has any power but what Is
conferred upon it by the constitution.
And if upon fair and legitimate inter-
probation of that instrument the power
sought to be exercised is not given, the
Assembly has no right to exercise it, no
matter what the "genus of Presbyterian
ism" may require.
Before the Assembly can exercise such
power it must be drawn from the reserve
of power by an amendment to the consti
tuition in the manner prescribed by it.
"The power which Christ has committed
to his Church, says the constitution,
vests in the whole body, the rulers and
the ruled" If therefore in the distribu-
ton of scriptural powers by the consti
tuition any power has not been granted
to some church court it still remains in
the whole body, "the rulers and the
ruled This view is fully sustained by
the provisions in the Form of Govern
ment, Chap. v, sec. 4, art 3, and Let
sentence and last clause OF % sentence Of
article A.
To the constitution, then, or to ar
rangements made in pursuance Of its au
thority, must the Assembly look for its
power over the seminaries. It's claimed
by some that as the power OF the whole
is over the power Of every part, and as
the Assembly is the highest court of the
Church, and represents in one body all
the churches thereof, it therefore has a
right to exercise authority over every
part. This claim seems to me to over.
look the important fact that the Assem-
bly, only has the power of the whole in
those particulars In which it 10 conferred
by the constitution.
This principle is more accurately ex.
pressed in Form of Government Chap
", sec. II, last clause art. 4, "These
courts are not separate and Independent
tribunals but they have a mutual rela-
ton and every act Of jurisdiction is the
act Of the whole Church, performed by
it, through the appropriate organ" And
The assembly IS only the appropriate or.
gam to the extent the constitution has
made it 80. The declaration Of the con
stitution that the Assembly 81 is the high
est court Of the Church" does not confer
upon it any power additional to that con.
ferred by the other provisions Of the con.
stitution.