Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-01
THE PRESBYTERY.


An 1 rtsrestinE Report From the Judioia
Committee Which Is Adopted.
The Presbytery of Dallas at its recent
session in this city adopted the folio u ing
report:
The judicial committee reports to Pres
bytery that the p .pers submitted to Its
examination contain representations by
three Elders of Broadway church in re-
gard to what they consider Irregularities
IN the adRiuistraIion Of the Affairs of the
church; snd asking for counsel on some
points of church order. The committee,
without afasmiug that there have been no
irregularities fad nothing in these papers
or in the information ootsined by calling
for persons and papers that warrants any
Judicial Investigation or procedure. Sew
eral ecclesiastical principles are referred
to which justify deliverance by Presby-
terry, and We recommend that Presbytery
affirm these principles for the genersl in
formation OF this and other churches.
l. According to the system Of govern
ment called Presbyterian, in which we
believe and under which we live, each
Ia which Is lodged original Jurisdiction
on all questions pertaining to the welfare
of that church, said court being composed
of the pastor and ruling elders and called
the session.
2. Our book Of church order makes no
provision for meetings of the copgregs
ton, except as called by order of the ses-
sion for election OF pastor, elders and
deacons.
8. The session may, however, find 1t
needful at tunes to test the sense OF the
congregation on other questions, and
may call the congregation together for
such purpose. In sucn cases the congre-
CATION must avoid exercising Jurisdiction
on any subject which belongs properly to
the session or board Of deacons.
In meetings Of the congregation the
Presbytery would advise that the minis
ter in charge Of the church witndrs "
from the house whenever matters are to
be considered touching his call or salary,
or other questions pertaining to himself.
3. This Presoytery regsrds the mode of
election for pastors and other church
Ulcers to be most judcIouslY conducted
by private ballot, 30 that every member
of the church may give expression to his
will without embarrassment.
l. is the law of the church thst the
moderator of the session should call that
body together whenever requested to do
so by two of the elders.
Z. This body regards the functions Of q
board of trustees IS limited to the mold
ing Of the property in trust for the use Ct
the church, and shy exercise Of authority
or jurisdiction beyond thst is contrary to
the principles of Presbyterianism.
8. The most suitable body to supervise
the financial concerns OF the church is the
board OF deacona, where such body ex-
lists; who as such should when practi-
cable be constituted trustees Of the
church property. The board CT descops
should keep the session informed of the
financial condition Of the congregation.
8. This PresbYtery does not regard the
selection or employment of q pastor or
stated supply in the light ofa civil con-
tract merely, and would advise 5 church
to avoid consumms sting sucn an arrange
ment by board of trustees as such,
leaving it in all cases to the session to
carry out the expressed will Of the
church.
TO- The pastor or stated supply of 8
church is not eI c leo chairman Of con-
gregstionsl meetings except in case OF
elections for elders and deacons.
II. Touching the collections made for
pious uses by form Of government, chapter
s, section 8, paragraph session is re-
CURED to order collections for pious
uses; and in chapter 4, section s, para
graph 2-the dsscoas are entrusted with
the collection and distribution of the
offerings of the people for pious uses
under the direction of the session. Pres
byteTy requires that these Laws of the
caurch be carried out.
IL. II shall always be the duty Of the
session to convene the congregation for
election Of persons to the office of pastor,
ruling elder and deacon when requested
by q majority Of the persons entitled 10
vote. See chspser 6, section 8, para
graph l.
[Signedl 81. r. RAYMOND,
Cnsirmsn Judicial Committee.
Attest: ROBERT 81. NALL,
Stated Clerk.