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The Committee recommend the following answers to the questions proposed:

1st. That stated supplies should not preach in the pulpits of any Presbytery without its consent; and, when the consent is refused, the Presbytery to which such minister serving as stated supply belongs, being notified, should recall him within its own bounds.-Adopted 1874, p. 83.

A Pastor Elect not Stated Supply ipso facto.

d. A pastor elect is not stated supply by any virtue of the call in progress.-1880, p. 45.

[See also under Form of Government, chap. ix., sec. iii., below, and Digest, pp. 112, 113, par. 1 a-g.]

4. The Pastoral Relation Emphasized and Encouraged.

The following paper in reference to the pastoral relation was adopted:

The General Assembly deems it important to reiterate and enforce the doctrine of our Standards in regard to the pastoral relation, as the scriptural, apostolic, and permanent order for the edifying of the body of Christ and the extension of saving influences throughout the world. This was evidently the view of the subject held by those who laid the foundations of the Presbyterian Church, who drew the wondrous plan of its organization, and impressed upon it those features which give it so striking a resemblance to the churches presided over by the apostle John, by Timothy, by the venerable Polycarp, and others in those times of early development under the special guidance of divine inspiration. Nothing is more fundamental in our order than the law which calls for an educated, pious, ordained, settled, permanent ministry. Our Book recognizes no ministerial relation to the Church as thoroughly legitimate and vital but that of a regularly constituted pastorate; all besides this it regards as exceptional and temporary.

As an Assembly we feel solemnly bound to remind the Presbyteries and churches of these facts, and to express our deep sense of the danger which threatens us, in consequence of a very manifest decline from the law and the practice of our fathers on this subject, and the growing evil of frequent change of pastoral relations, in consequence of which we are somewhat losing a peculiarity which has given us distinction in times past, and are becoming more and more, in this respect, like those denominations among whom change is not exceptional, but an adopted principle and a confirmed habit. For Presbyterians this tendency is alarming. The Assembly would therefore warn all concerned to be on their guard against it. Since much depends upon the views of the subject with which young men enter the ministry, we would respectfully suggest, to the teachers in our theological seminaries, the importance of emphasizing their instructions in regard to the pastoral office, as one to be desired and sought as a divine and permanent institution, and as absolutely essential to the most healthful development and increase of the Church and the Christian cause. We would also earnestly call upon all our churches to co-operate with their Presbyteries in creating and extending a public sentiment favoring the formation of pastoral relationships which time and years shall only serve to strengthen and to hallow, and which may suitably represent in outward form the stable tendencies of our ancient and orthodox faith. Our people must be encouraged to call pastors with a view of keeping them; and our ministers must enter the pastorate to abide. When the two parties come together with such views and purposes, they will be so joined

together that man may not and only God can put them asunder. At the same time, the Assembly would deprecate undue haste in the consummation of pastoral ties as itself prophetic of speedy dissolution. We would advise the parties to take time to ascertain whether they have a proper liking and fitness for each other, and not marry under the first impulse of inclination, much less on account of what, at the moment, may appear the best or the only chance. Relationships designed to be lasting must be carefully considered and prayerfully entered into; then will the causes which so frequently unsettle or disturb be powerless, and the beautiful order of the pastorate will remain, to the praise of God and the glory of the Church, in the midst of changes which mar all other relations and vitiate so many of the works of man.-1877, pp. 542, 543.

5. Ministerial Rights unaffected by being Honorably Retired. From the Synod of Cleveland, inquiring whether those ministers whose names in the Assembly's Minutes are followed by the letters "H. R. have still the right to preach, to administer the sacraments, to sit in the higher judicatories of the Church, and to exercise other functions of the ministry, as in former times. The Committee recommend that the following answer be returned: The designation referred to in the overture does not affect, in any way, the status of the minister, or deprive him of any of the functions of his office.-Adopted 1875, p. 507.

[See also Digest, p. 163; Form of Government, chap. x., sec. viii., 42, 2 and 3.]

CHAPTER V.

OF RULING ELDERS.

[SEE Digest, pp. 115-118; also chaps. ix.-xiii., below; Digest, pp. 122133 and 337-352, for decisions as to both ruling elders and deacons.]

CHAPTER VI.

OF DEACONS.

THE Scriptures clearly point out deacons as distinct officers in the Church, whose business it is to take care of the poor, and to distribute among them the collections which may be raised for their use. them also may be properly committed the management of the temporal affairs of the Church.

[See Digest, pp. 118, 119.]

To

7. Deacons may Distribute the Bread and Wine at the Communion. a. Overture, asking, "Is it in accordance with Presbyterian law and usage that deacons distribute to the church-members the bread and wine in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper?" The Committee recommend that the Assembly answer "Yes," and refer to the Digest, p. 119.Adopted 1874, p. 84.

b. Is the action taken by the Assembly of 1874, p. 84 of Minutes, Over

ture No. 25, to be interpreted as directing that the serving of the elements at the Lord's Supper belongs indifferently to the elders and deacons?

Your Committee would respectfully recommend the following reply: The above question is answered on p. 119 of Moore's Digest, which says that, "Inasmuch as we have no rule in relation to the subject, the matter is referred to the discretion of the Sessions of the churches."-Adopted 1877, p. 516.

8. A Deacon may be also an Elder.

Overture No. 20, being a petition from Rev. Moses D. A. Steen, asking the following question:

When a deacon in any church is elected and installed a ruling elder in the same church, does he cease to exercise the functions of his office as deacon?-Answer. Not necessarily. See Digest, p. 119.-Adopted 1880, p. 56.

[For questions pertaining to the election and installation of deacons see below: Form of Government, chap. xiii. secs. ii., viii.-M.]

CHAPTER VII.

OF ORDINANCES IN A PARTICULAR CHURCH.

[SEE under Directory for Worship, chaps. iii., iv., v., vi., vii., viii., xiv., and xv. The subject of collections for pious uses has occupied much of the attention of the Assemblies for many years. In 1854 the Assembly, O. S., issued an address at once comprehensive and exhaustive. See Baird, pp. 174-180. See also under chap. xviii. sec. ix., on Benevolence and Finance.-M.]

CHAPTER VIII.

OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT, AND THE SEVERAL KINDS OF JUDICATORIES.

[SEE Digest, pp. 121-123.]

3. Judicial Authority cannot be Granted to Bodies other than those Established by the Constitution.

Overture from Rev. John H. Morrison, the moderator of the Second Council of the Presbyterian Alliance of India, asking the Assembly, in behalf of the Council

1. To recognize its judicial authority, so far as to authorize it to decide finally cases of appeal in matters of discipline referred to the Alliance by the parties concerned, in accordance with the rules of their respective churches, in regard only to native churches, office-bearers, and ministers. 2. To grant a part of the Church's outlay in India (the precise portion to be settled by correspondence with the Boards of other Presbyterian bodies concerned in its support) for the maintenance of an efficient theological college at Allahabad, which shall have a staff of at least three ordained professors, under the control of the Presbyterian Alliance of India, for the training of young men for spiritual work.

It is not asked, in behalf of the Alliance, that any legislative powers should be given them, or any judicial authority to deal with cases of her

esy, until such times as a common standard of faith and polity has been adopted by all the native Presbyterian bodies of India.

In response to these requests, and in view of the important statements made by the Council that the "twelve Presbyterian churches now represented in India are all Presbyterian in government and Calvinistic in doctrine,"

The Committee recommend

1. That this Assembly renew the approval, by the Assembly of 1879, of the confederation of the churches and ministers connected with the Synod of India, with other similar bodies holding the same faith and order, not only so far as regards periodical meetings for friendly consultation for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom in that land, and the promotion of brotherly co-operation among the Presbyterian bodies in India, but also for the purpose of forming organic relations with each. other, so soon as, in the providence of God, the way may seem clear for more united and efficient work in that great field of Christian evangelization.

2. That this Assembly renew, also, the judgment of the Assembly of 1879, that, for purposes of representation only, the ministers, both foreign and native, connected with the Synod of India, retain their connections with their respective Presbyteries, so as to be entitled to vote in the appointment of Commissioners to the General Assembly, and so as to be able to conduct all their ecclesiastical affairs in a constitutional and orderly manner, especially until such times as a common standard of faith and polity shall be adopted by the churches represented in the Presbyterian Alliance of India.

3. Inasmuch as the Synods have now been made judicatories of the last resort in all cases of appeal "not involving the Constitution or doctrine of the Church," the Committee recommend, that the Assembly declare, that the request to confer judicial authority on the Presbyterian Alliance, to decide cases of appeal in matters of discipline not involving cases of heresy, cannot be granted in accordance with the Constitution.-Adopted 1881, pp. 589, 590. (See 1879, p. 620.)

CHAPTER IX.

OF THE CHURCH SESSION.

[SEE Digest, pp. 123, 124.]

II. Of this judicatory, two elders, if there be as many in the congregation, with the pastor, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. 3. [See Digest, p. 125, for the case where an elder is, for any cause, incompetent or refuses to act-b and c.]

4. Official Acts of Session can be Performed only when it is Regularly Convened.-Prayer in Opening and Closing recommended,

The Committee on the Polity of the Church reported:

Overture from the stated clerk, representing the Presbytery of Boulder, inquiring

1. Wherein consists the distinction between an 66

a Session and a "regular" meeting?

informal" meeting of

2. Ought the acts of informal meetings to be entered on the records before they have been ratified in a regular meeting?

3. Is it regular to receive members to the church, especially on a profession of their faith, or to appoint delegates to the Presbytery or the Synod, at such informal meetings of Session?

4. Ought not the validity of an elder's seat in the superior judicatories to be determined by the record of his due appointment at a regular meeting of the Session; and in the absence of such a record might not an elder, in a test case involving important issues, be denied his seat constitutionally?

5. Ought a Session to send up its records for review without first reviewing them itself, and formally ratifying any informal acts at a regular meeting? In particular, is it proper that the last entry should be a memorandum acted upon at an informal meeting, which can be approved only after the Presbytery has adjourned?

The Committee recommends the following answer:

a. The acts referred to in this overture are properly official acts, which the judicatory is competent to perform only when regularly convened, and making due record of its proceedings. (See Form of Gov., chap. ix. secs. i., ii., iii., iv., v., vii., viii.)

b. While the act of opening and closing the meetings of a Session with prayer is not enjoined by the Constitution, this Assembly, in accordance with the views expressed by the Assembly of 1877, judges it to be in harmony with the spirit of the Constitution and the prevailing usage of the Church to observe this solemnity at all meetings of record, except that the opening prayer may properly be omitted after a divine service. Adopted 1884, p. 113.

5. Prayer at Closing the Meetings of Session. While we have no, law requiring the closing of the sessions of the church Session with prayer, yet by the deliverances of past General Assemblies, the omission to close any session of any of the judicatories of the Church with prayer has been pronounced out of harmony with the Form of Government (Moore's Digest, p. 194); but a recess does not imply the close of a session. (See Form of Gov., chap. xii., sec. viii.; and chap. xi., sec. v.; and chap. x., sec. xi.)—Adopted 1877, p. 575.

III. The pastor of the congregation shall always be the moderator of the Session; except when, for prudential reasons, it may appear advisable that some other minister should be invited to preside; in which case, the pastor may, with the concurrence of the Session, invite such other minister as they may see meet, belonging to the same Presbytery, to preside in that case. The same expedient may be adopted in case of the sickness or absence of the pastor.

A Pastor Elect not Moderator or Stated Supply by Virtue of the Call in Progress.

Overture from the Presbytery of Erie, presenting two questions: (1) When a minister has accepted a call to a congregation, said call having been placed in his hands by the Presbytery, is he ex-officio moderator of the Session of that congregation previous to his installation?

The Committee recommend this answer: A pastor-elect is not moderator ex-officio, as he yet has no official connection with that church. But he may become moderator, if a member of the Presbytery under whose care the church is, by invitation of the Session or by appointment of Presbytery.

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