New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-06
CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS NEWS AND NOTES.
THE NEW WORKING ORDER OF THE PRESBYTERY
OF NEW YORK-EASTER ECHOES

There has long been in the New York Presbytery
deep seated desire for a greater fraternal bond'
unity that would the Church to present 3
united front to the world in all it's plans and pur-
poses and more spiritual service.
The danger OF abuse of power by the erstWHile
dominant faction the red scars of ancient battles
IN the heresy tits Of other days, tended TO make
possible divisions grow more acute. The FresOy-
terry has come to be such large body, and IN a
sense so unwieldy from it's very composite nature
under the regime of of its old standing rules
that 1t became difficult to control. or TO forecast
what some pious Tammany saint, with a twist Tor
politics and wires. might effect through Judlclous
manipulation
Many wise Presbyters have long held that there
should be greater concentration Of its forces and
some form of board of control for executive pur-
poses and the better dispatch of business. Inc
outcome OF this settlement was the formatlon OF
the committee the state of the Presbytery FOr
more than year it has been making new pans
for the guidance of the body and amending and
reamendng unsatisfactory suggestions Tor the more
efficient governing Of the Church.
Changes are to be effected by amending the pres
ent standing rules Of the Presbytery so that Rules
1 and aresto be combined and changed so as TO
make but four meetings during the year for the
transaction Of its customary business ana TWO
meetings for the deepening of the spiritual life OF
the Presbytery and the quickening of its evan
gelistc spirit. Rule T. which declares that a mod
orator be elected every six months, is TO be
changed to read as follows
The Moderator shall be elected year by year ra at
bytery so desire the same person may De eleo'eu
year after year.
Said a leading member of the Presbytery: Many
OF brethren have covetous eyes at the I'M
posing figure Of the Bishop Of the EpiScopaI
Church, his worldly. social and financial pronl-
hence and the big stick he is supposed TO he apie
to WELD and compel obedience. The foes OF the
episcopacy in the Presbyterian Church enamoured
OF the oldtime simplicity of their form OF gov
ernment its repubucanism. democracy and the
parity OF it's clergy where the humblest minister Is
named bishop in its standards and where one
is just good and has just as much power
as another. the only pre-eminence being that 81
intellect and character. look with increasing a'ar"
at this phantom of n One-Tnan power
They have no desire for king 10 rule over
them Capitalization and oliFarchy they deem
contrary 20 both the genius and the form OF the
PRESBYTERIAN Church. They claim too, that GER
tain OF their brethren have been charmed by
church millinery, and want bishop who can swell
UP with social importance and feast with million
aires and weave the spell Of august influence
20 draw golden stream toward the Golfers OF the
Church. II is money, money, money that is the
material cry Of a carnai and worldly Christianity
In the little phrase. The same person may be
elected year after year the crosier and
the mitre and the flowing robes Of the autocrat
who will change the simple rule Of the Presbytery
into the tyranny of a lord Gods heritage.
Then this bishop-moderator is TO be assisted in
the subversion Of the Church by six ruling elders
and six minister's TO be called moderator's cOun-
Gil. and for this council two-thrds vote shall be
necessary for election The rule of the Presby
terrain Church has been from time immemoral
rule of maJorities II has been the boast Of this
organization that It furnished the model for the
government OF the great Republic. Here again is
innovation that sounds the tocsin Of revolution.
Is the oIdtime majority TO be given up and two
fort bo for
certain men, once in and never Out?'
Such criticisms as the above were heard every
SIDE in private conversation and open discussion
But with patience. wisdom and discretion the com
mittee gathered up view presented sttted ar
guTnents and brought the pure gold out OF tons OF
meeting hailed at once by unanimous verdict
the long sought for goal and the working plan
which all could unite with enthusiastic and con-
scienttOus support.
The new rules that brought out this unanimous
action and perfect harmony IN one OF the most
remarkable meetings OF the Presbytery ever neld
acteF of the meetings OF Presbytery, the clyc-
ton Of Moderator and the election OF the Mod
orators Council. Simply three things There are
to be four business meetings and two for the deep
ening OF the spiritual life and the quickening OF
evangelistic efficiency. II may be well TO quote the
peculiar Language OF the paragraph dealing with
the book: The Moderator shall be elected year by
year at the April meeting OF the PTesbytery. by
majority OF the votes cast. II the Presbytery so
desires, the same person may be elected year oy
year The Moderator's Council consists in the
order of six ministers and six ruling elders
elected by Presbytery. This adds eight to the
Moderator It becomes representative and elective
The majority rule holds here also.
These conditions Will become operative at
the April meeting, which occurs on April s.