................ 398

399

400

at a time which would prevent a full course Disapproved. 3. A Pledge of three

years' Study, demanded by the Board, not Unconstitutional..

VII. The Questions to be Asked of the Candidates......

VIII. The Form of Licensure. A "like form" may be used.

IX. A Candidate, having pursued his Course Partially in one Presbytery, may be taken up

and Licensed by Another.......

400

X. Testimonials to be Furnished when a Candidate Removes from the Bounds of his Pres-

bytery.....
400

XI. License may be Recalled, if the Services of the Licentiate appear not to be to Edification

of the Churches. 1. License Limited to four Years; Presbyteries to Endeavor to

open the way for the Settlement of their Candidates. 2. The above Rule does not

abridge the Power of the Presbytery to License in Extraordinary Cases. 3. Licen-

tiates belong to the Laity, and are Subject to the Session of the Church to which

they Belong; b, But may Solemnize Marriage, where the Laws Expressly Authorize

them so to do...
401

4. The Discretion of Granting or Withdrawing License is with the Presbytery...... 551

CHAPTER XV.

OF THE ELECTION AND ORDINATION OF BISHOPS, OR PASTORS, AND

EVANGELISTS.

I. Order of Procedure in the Election of a Pastor; The Session to Convene the Congre-

gation. 1. Steps to be taken by a Vacant Congregation, looking to the Election of a

Pastor........

II. Session to Procure a Moderator, unless highly Inconvenient.............

III. Notice to be given on Sabbath from the Pulpit..........

403

404

404

IV. Mode of Procedure in the Election of a Pastor; Who are Debarred from Voting.

a, Those who Refuse to Contribute to his Support; b, The Right of Voting not to be

limited to Communicants, unless expressly so Limited by Charter; c, Overture to

confine the Vote to Communicants not Adopted..........................

d. All Communicant Members may Vote in the Election of a Pastor...............

V. Steps to be taken, in Case of a Minority Opposing.........

404

552

405

VI. Form of the Call. 1. Early Action in the Support of the Ministry, a; Glebe and

Parsonage recommended, b. 2. Adequate Provisions urged, a. b. 3. Liberality urged

in Supporting the Ministry, a, b. 4. Presbytery may Refuse to Install when the

Salary is Insufficient. 5. Congregations urged to procure Parsonages, a, b......... 405

VII. The Call may be Attested by a Committee, but the fact of its being Authorized must be

Certified to Presbytery.......
409

VIII. The Call given is a Petition of the People for the Installment of the Minister; Ac-

cepted, it is a like Request on his part; A Candidate Ordained on a Call, should at the

Same Time be Installed...........
409

IX. The Call must come through the Presbytery to which the Candidate belongs, and only

through the Presbytevy......

1. The Presbytery may Refuse to Permit a Call, a, b, c.................

409

552

X. How a Call may be put into the hands of the Licentiate of another Presbytery.......... 409

XI. Trials for Ordination; In what the Candidate is to be Examined; A Fast before the

Ordination Recommended. 1. Ordination on the Sabbath discouraged, but at the

Discretion of the Presbytery........

410

XII. Order of Exercises in Ordination; Questions. The Assent Embraces the Larger and

Shorter Catechisms.......

XIII. Questions to be put to the Congregation.........

410

411

XIV. The Ordination, by Prayer and the Laying on of Hands; the Right Hand of Fellow-

ship; Record to be made.....

412

XV. Ordination of an Evangelist, to Preach, Administer Sealing Ordinances and Organize

Churches in Destitute Places. 1. To Ordain Evangelists to labor in Feeble Churches

is Lawful and Right. 2. Case of Ordination of one who proposes to continue

Teaching. 3. Ordinations by Presbyteries to labor in the Bounds of other Pres-

byteries Discountenanced. 4. Ordination, sine titulo, a, b, c; Request Refused, d;

Granted, e, f, g, h. 5. Overture on, Rejected, a, b. 6. A Censure for Ordination,

sine titulo, not Sustained........
412

7. An Evangelist may not Ordain Ministers; 8. Nor Organize a Church within the

Limits of a Presbytery, without Leave.......
553

CHAPTER XVI.

OF TRANSLATION, OR REMOVING A MINISTER FROM ONE CHARGE TO ANOTHER.

I. No Bishop shall be Translated, or Receive a Call, but by Permission of Presbytery. 1. Re-

moval without Consent of Presbytery Censured. 2. The Irregularity Excused, but

Caution Enjoined.........
416

II. Mode of Proceeding in Calling and Translating a Settled Pastor. 1. Consent of the

Parties may Shorten the Process..

416

III. Order of Procedure, where the Minister Called, and the Congregation Calling him, are

in Different Presbyteries. 1. The Pastor to be Installed must belong to the same

Presbytery with the Church over which he is Installed.............................................

417

IV. Installment may be by Presbytery, or by a Committee; and in this Order :............... 418

V. On the Day Appointed and Published......

... 418

VI. When the Presbytery has met, a Sermon shall be Preached, and the Constitutional Ques-

tions put to Both Parties; A Charge shall be Given to Pastor and People.................. 418

VII. The Right Hand of Fellowship. 1. A Pastoral Relation without Installment

Recognized....

CHAPTER XVII.

OF RESIGNING A PASTORAL CHARGE.

418

The Steps to be Taken by Either Party Desiring to be Released. 1. Whether the Relation

should be Dissolved at the Time when the Request is made, left to the Discretion

of the Presbytery. 2. The Rule should be Rigidly Enforced. 3. Where the

Parties are Agreed, the Relation may be Dissolved at the First Meeting. 4. A

Meeting of the Congregation, without the Pastor, valid, where he had Requested

the Dissolution. 5. A Synod Sustained where, on Appeal, it Dissolves the Relation,

on Petition of a Minority................

6. Rule XVII. to be strictly Observed and Enforced......

CHAPTER XVIII.

ON MISSIONS.

419

554

The Duty and Power of the Presbytery, Synod and Assembly, in the matter of Providing for

the Supply of Vacancies. 1. The Standing Committee on Missions Appointed;

Enlarged. 2. The Board of Missions. 3. Powers Enlarged, a, b. 4. Number of

Members.........
422

I. THE BOARD OF HOME MISSIONS: Its Constitution, a; Rules, b; Charter, c; En-

abling Act, d..........................................
426

2. Principles and Rules. 3. The School Work. Organization of a Woman's Society, a;

The Schools in the Territories, b; The Woman's Executive Committee of Home

Missions, c..............
555

II. THE BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS. 1. Constitution of the Board. 2. Altera-

tions. 3. The Committee on Foreign Missions. 4. The Organization of the Board

of Foreign Missions, 1870. 5. Alterations necessitated by Legislation. 6. The

Charter, a, b...........
430

III. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. See under Chap. XIV., Sec. I., 3..........................................................
...... 433
IV. THE BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 1. The Board Established. 2. Alterations and
Enlargement of Plan, a, b. 3. The Publication Committee; Its Powers and Duties,
a, b, c. 4. Change of Name, and 5, Scope Enlarged. 6. The Trustees of the Presby
terian House to act as Trustees for the Committee. 7. The Board of Publication
Organized, 1870. 8. The Sabbath-school Work of the Board, a, b. 9. The Charter
of the Board. 10. Rules.........
433

11. Relation of the Missionary and Publishing Departments, a; the Plan Adopted, b.
12. The Sabbath-school Work of the Board, a, b, c; Secretary of the Sabbath-school
Work, d; Standing Committee of the Board on Sabbath-school Work, e; Bible Cor-
respondence School, f. 13. Blanks Printed by the Boards to be Approved by the
Proper Authority and so Endorsed............

558
V. THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHURCH ERECTION FUND. 1. The Organization in 1870.
2. The Plan. 3. The Charter. 4. The By-Laws.......
442

VI. RELIEF FUND FOR DISABLED MINISTERS AND THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF
DECEASED MINISTERS. a, The Plan Adopted by the Assembly, O. S.; b, The Plan
of the Assembly, N. S. 1. The Plan Adopted, 1870. 2. Rules and Mode of Distri-
bution

3. The Board Constituted. 4. The Charter Obtained. 5. The Charter....

...............

448

561

VII. THE PRESBYTERIAN COMMITTEE OF MISSIONS FOR FREEDMEN. 1. The Plan
Adopted in 1870. 2. The Rules......
451

3. Authorized to Apply for a Charter. 4. The Charter Obtained. 5. Relative Duties

and Authority of the Boards and of the Presbyteries, a, b, c.....
.... 564

VIII. THE SUSTENTATION FUND. 1. The Scheme Adopted 1870. 2. Conditions of

Aid...........

452

3. Sustentation Committed to the Board of Home Missions. 4. The Plan of Sustenta-
tion Pastorates and Mission Charges, a, b, c, d, e, f...........
564

IX. COMMITTEE ON BENEVOLENCE AND FINANCE. 1. The Plan Adopted in 1872.

2. The Rules..........
455

3. The Permanent Committee on Systematic Beneficence. Committee Appointed, a;
Enlarged, b; Expenses to be Paid by the Boards, c............
566

X. THE TRUSTEES OF THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE. 1. Act of Incorporation. 2. Char-

ter Accepted; Duties of the Trustees. 3. To Act as Trustees of the Publication

Committee. 4. Declaration of Trust. 5. Title Executed to the Board of Publica-

tion. 6. Trusts Transferred. 7. By-Laws of the Board............
456

XI. THE PERMANENT COMMITTEE ON TEMPERANCE. Report of Special Committee, a;
The Committee Appointed, b..............

568

The Committee Reorganized, c....................................................................................... ..................................................................................................
XII. THE BOARD OF AID FOR COLLEGES AND ACADEMIES. Report of Special Commit-
tee; Recommendations Adopted, a; Organization of the Board, b................................

858

569

CHAPTER XIX.

OF MODERATORS.

I. The Necessity of a Presiding Officer........

459

II. The Authority of the Moderator, and his Duties. 1. The Moderator not Necessarily a

Member of the Judicatory......

III. The Moderator to be Chosen at each Session of Assembly and Synod, and by Presbytery

at least Annually...

460

1. The Name of John Witherspoon, D. D., placed at the Head of the List of Moderators.
2. Vice-Moderator may be Appointed..

571

CHAPTER XX.

OF CLERKS.

I. The Clerk to be Chosen to Serve During the Pleasure of the Judicatory. His Duties.

1. The Clerk not Necessarily a Member of the Judicatory..........
461

CHAPTER XXI.

OF VACANT CONGREGATIONS ASSEMBLING FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP.

The Importance of Weekly Assembling of God's People; such Assemblies Encouraged for

Prayer, Praise and Reading the Scriptures, etc., and that Elders and Deacons Preside.

1. Vacant Congregations Encouraged to Meet. 2. Elders to be Interrogated as to

the Observance of the Rule. 3. Right of Ruling Elders, in the Absence of the

Pastor, to Explain the Scriptures and Exhort........

CHAPTER XXII.

OF COMMISSIONERS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

........ 461

I. Commissioners to be Chosen at the Stated Meeting of the Presbytery next before the Meeting

of the Assembly, unless the Interval be too Short. In that Case they may be Chosen at any

Stated Meeting not more than Seven Months before; Alternates to be Appointed. 1. The

Rule Relaxed in the Case of Missionary Presbyteries, a, b, c, d, e. 2. Where a Pres-

bytery Failed of a Quorum, the Assembly Refused to Receive a Commissioner, a;

but in a Similar Case of a Missionary Presbytery a Commissioner was Admitted,

on Request of Individuals, b, c, d. 3. Commissioners should Attend to the

Close of the Sessions. Presbyteries to Require a Report on this Point, a, b.

Presbyteries Recommended to Appoint only those who are Able and Willing to

Remain to the Close, c. 4. Commissioners from New Presbyteries, a, to Furnish

Evidence of the Organization of their Presbytery, b. 5. Commissioners, not Ruling

Elders, under the Plan of Union. 6. A Commissioner having taken his Seat may

not Resign to his Principal or Alternate. 7. Rule Dispensed with, under Peculiar

Circumstances, a, b, c, d....
462

8. The Right of Alternates to Sit is at the Discretion of the Judicatory......
............... 858

II. The Form of Commission. 1. Sundry Irregularities and Defects in Commissions,
but the Commissioners Received, a-l, the Usage. 2. The Assembly will not go
Behind a Commission.......

468

3. Commissions. Defective, a, b; Without, but with Satisfactory Evidence, c; Case of Dr.

Kerr, d...............

571

III. The Expenses of Delegates should be Borne by the Bodies which they Represent.

1. The Commissioners' Fund. Former Plans. 2. During the Separation, a, b, c.

3. The Plan as Adopted at the Reunion. 4. Presbyteries Enjoined to Secure the

Full Quota. Those Delinquent Censured......
470

.....

5. The Mileage and Contingent Fund, a. The Fund for Entertainment, b. 6. None

of the Church Judicatories have Power to Assess a Tax. 7. The Contingent Fund

provided for..
572

BOOK II.

OF DISCIPLINE.

INTRODUCTION.

1. Report of the Committee on the Revision of the Book of Discipline. 2. The Revis-

ion Overtured. Method of Voting. 3. The Revised Book Adopted. 4. The Com-

mittee Discharged. 5. Effect of Adoption of the Revised Book on Cases Pending.

6. Certain Sections again Overtured, a; The Vote on these, b. 7. Tables A and B, to

facilitate Reference to the former Book.....

BOOK OF DISCIPLINE.

CHAPTER I.

OF DISCIPLINE, ITS NATURE, ENDS, AND SUBJECTS.

575

I. Discipline is the Exercise of that Authority, and the Application of the System of Laws

which Christ has appointed in His Church. It includes the Care and Control maintained

by the Church.....
583

II. The Ends of Discipline. Its Exercise. Caution to Judicatories. 1. Prompt Discipline

best fitted to Secure a Happy Issue. 2. The Censure must be Proportionate to the

Offence, a, b, c, d. 3. The Decisions of the Civil Courts not Conclusive in the Judi-

catories of the Church. 4. Every one Entitled to a Fair Trial. 5. A Minister's

Name may not be Stricken from the Roll without his Consent, or by Discipline.

6. Great Tenderness Enjoined..
583

III. An Offence Defined. MORAL QUESTIONS. 1. Breach of Sabbath Observance.
2. Theatrical Exhibitions and Dancing. a, b, A Dangerous Amusement; c, Promis-
cuous Dancing calls for Discipline; d, Social Dances and Private Theatricals; e, Pro-
miscuous Dancing and Dancing Schools. Deliverances c, d, and e confirmed.
f, Theatres and Card Playing; 9, The Opera, Theatre, Dance and Cards; h, The
Theatre and Opera. 3. Gambling, Lotteries. Horse-racing, Betting, etc., a, b;
c, Circulation of Lottery Schemes through the Mails. 4. Duelists and Dueling.
5. Slavery and Slaveholding. 6. Intemperance, a, b; Abstinence from the Common
Use of Ardent Spirits, c, d; Day of Fasting and Prayer, e. 7. Entire Abstinence from
the Use of Ardent Spirits, a, b, c; Wines and Fermented Liquors Discountenanced;
Entire Abstinence Urged, e. 8. Manufacture and Traffic in Ardent Spirits, a, b, c;
May it be made a Term of Communion? d. 9. Manufacture and Sale of Intoxicat-
ing Drinks an Offence, a, b. 10. Prohibitory Laws, a, b. 11. Relation of Temper-
ance and other Moral Societies to the Church, a, b. 12. Authority of the Deliver-
ances on Temperance, a, b, c. 13. Willful Absence from the Ordinances, a, b, c, d.
Discipline enjoined, e; But not without Trial, ƒ, g. 14. Deliverances on Marriage,
Divorce, and Infanticide, a, b, c. 15. Deliverances on Polygamy and Mormonism,
a, b, c, d. 16. Cruelty to Animals.....

IV. Nothing an Offence, the Object of Judicial Process, unless Contrary to the Scriptures, or

to the Regulations and Practices of the Church. 1. New Terms of Communion will not

be Sanctioned. 2. Each Case must be Judged by its own Circumstances........... 609

V. All Children of Believers Members of the Church; to be Baptized; under the Care of the

Church; and bound to the Duties of Members............
610

CHAPTER II.

OF THE PARTIES IN CASES OF PROCESS.

VI. Process against an Offender may not be had without a Prosecutor, or by the Judicatory.

Judicial Cases should be Continued without Interruption........
610

VII. If the Offender plainly cannot be Convicted, Prosecution should not be Commenced... 611

VIII. No Prosecution of Personal Injury unless Matt. xviii., 15-17, have been complied with.

1. No Testimony may be Introduced injurious to Parties not on Trial, a, b, c...... 611

IX. When Prosecution is Initiated by a Judicatory, Section 8 does not Apply; but Effort

should be made to Avoid the Necessity of Actual Process.......

612

X. The Original Parties Defined............

612

XI. When Prosecution is Initiated by a Judicatory, it shall Appoint a Committee of Prosecu-

tion
612

XII. Investigation at the Request of one Slandered. Such Investigation at the Discretion

of the Presbytery.
612

XIII. Caution in Receiving Accusations from Persons known to be Malignant, of bad Charac-

ter, under Censure, Personally Interested, Litigious, Rash, or Imprudent. Admonition

to Prosecutors........

........ 613

XIV. Prosecutor to be Warned that if he Fail to Show Probable Cause he shall be Censured as

a Slanderer. 1. Failure to show Probable Cause for Charges involves Censure for

Slander, a, b. 2. The Character of one Absent, and not on Trial, not to be Im-

peached. 3. Censure for Slander may not be Inflicted upon a Private Prosecutor

unless the Case be fully Issued......

CHAPTER III.

OF CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

613

XV. The Charge shall Set forth the Offence; the Specifications; the Facts relied on; Time,

Place, Circumstances, with Names of Witnesses. 1. The Charges must be Specific, a;

Especially in Cases of Heresy, b, c.....................
616

XVI. A Charge must Allege but one Offence. Several Charges may be Presented and Tried

at the same Time, but each must be Voted on Separately.....
616

XVII. An injured Person Prosecuting must Aver that he has faithfully tried the Course pre-

scribed Matt. xviii., 15-17..........
617

CHAPTER IV.

OF PROCESS.-GENERAL RULES PERTAINING TO ALL CASES.

XVIII. Original Jurisdiction over Ministers is in the Presbytery. Over Others, in the Ses-

sion. But the Higher Judicatories may Assume Jurisdiction in Certain Cases....... 617

XIX. What shall be Done when the Judicatory enters on the Consideration of an Offence.

The Charges, etc., Read. Copies Furnished the Accused. Citations Issued. 1. Censure

without Trial Unconstitutional, a, b. 2. A Judicatory may not Suspend without

Trial. 3. Censure of the Absent, without Citation, Disapproved. 4. Exclusion

from the Pulpit, and from Communion, may not be without Trial. 5. The Accused

not Required to Declare what he Expects to Prove by his Witnesses....

XX. Citations, how Served. Proof of Service Required........

617

619

XXI. On Refusal to Obey Citation, a Second shall Issue, with Notice. If he still fail to

Appear, the Judicatory, assigning Counsel, may Proceed to Trial. Time for Appearance

on Citation. 1. Contumacy is not to be hastily inferred. 2. Contumacious Restored

on Submission. 3. Contumacy not to be Charged on First Citation. 4. To Proceed

in the Absence of the Accused, without a second Citation, is Irregular. But the

Right to Complain waived by Appearing afterward and Pleading. 5. In the Ab-

sence of the Accused, Counsel must be Assigned. 6. When the Judicatory has taken

the Testimony as above, it may Proceed to Trial and Final Judgment, as if the

Accused were Present....

.........

......... 619

XXII. Procedure at the Meeting at which the Citations are Returnable. Appearance of the

Accused. Pleading of Objections, etc. Decision of the Judicatory, to Proceed or not.

The Plea, "Guilty, or not Guilty." Procedure in either Case........
625

XXIII. The Examination of Witnesses. Evidence Discovered during Trial. The Parties

heard. The Judicatory shall sit in Private. Vote on each Charge and Specification Sep-

arately. Judgment Entered. 1. The Withdrawal of Parties, Counsel, etc., to be Con-

strued literally, a, b, c, d.......
626