The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-09-29

formal trial by the Board Of Directors. y
We have read with care the constitu-
ton of Columbia Seminary (1SS1-S2)
to which Judge Armstrong refers and
find not one word about trial by the
Board of Directors" 1t is mere in
ference, and we think (and so think a
majority of the ministers in the con-
trolling Synods) wrong inference.
The article (sec. 2, art. 12) does not
say the trial was to be by the Direc-
tors. Such a thing is unknown to the
constitution of the Church or the ge-
MUS of Presbyterianism," and there are
no rules or provisions made for any
such trial, at least in the sense of an
ecclesiastical proceeding.
The article, moreover, does not make
it imperative that in every case of re-
moval there shall be a formal trial by
any court. A case may occur in which
it would be proper, and then the Di-
rectors must only suspend until the
trial before the proper court may be
had, and, from the history and language
of the. successive constitutions of Co.
lumbia Seminary, we are inclined to
doubt whether that tribunal is, as
Judge Armstrong supposes, the Board
of Directors. See the Extracts from
the Constitution" published on our first
page.
The writer of the present article
was a member of the Assembly and
voted against the action taken in re-
gard to Columbia Seminary, not be-
cause he questioned that it was in the
province of the Assembly to recon.
mend what it did, but because he
thought that under the circumstances
the end aimed at could best be accom-
plished without it.
In conclusion we remark that full
reply to all that Judge Armstrong has
alleged in his paper is to be found in
the language of the following sections
defining the powers of the Assembly
and which we quote, the first from the
Form of Government of the Southern
Presbyterian Church, and the second
from the Constitution of Union Semi
nary Columbia now stands on the
same footing precisely as Union.] Here
are the extracts, which any plain man
can interpret for himself:
Form OF GoVERNMENT-CHAP. XII, : B.
V. To the General Assembly also belongs the
power of deciding in all controversies respecting
doctrine and discipline of reproving, warning
or bearing testimony against error In doctrine
or immortality IN practice, IN any church, pres
bytery, or synod of erecting new synods when
| it may be judged necessary of experimenting
the concerns of the whole church of correspond
ing with foreign churches, on such terms ss may
be agreed upon by the Assembly and the cor
responding body of suppresSing schismatical
contentious and disputations; and, in general
manners and the promotion of charity, truth
and holiness, through all the churches under
their care.
| CONSTITUTION OF UNION SEMINARY
ART. l., 3.
" The General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States, shall have the
lghI OF general supervision over the interests ol
this seminary, and for this purpose the directors
shall lay before the Assembly, at it's. annual
meetings, report setting forth the existing con.
ditions of the institution and the Assembly can
advise and recommend measures for its welfare
Should the Assembly see reason, at any time, to
object to any of the acts of the directors, OF
other authorities of the institution, it shall send
down in writing, to the Synods its opinions in
the premises. but shall have no controlling me-
gative. nor the right to originate any measures
for the management of the seminary"
WE have received as we were get