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March 23, 1910.
analogies that it is unreas
result as flowing from the
byteries' formal choice c
Synod, and the important
generally insure a workii
of Synods. It would, th
vantageous to weak Syno<
4th, It would develop th
advantage of the Presbyt<
1 J ?
x ins cnaugc wouiu m
Svnodical body in the 1
against unwieldliness. It
the Synodical body in the
adequate attendance for ti
in all the Synods, an inc
for the proper accomplis
would come, in virtue
bers had been chosen as c
and because of the increa
odical work in the change
to suppose that this incre
ties would lead it to a c
Presbyteries, a closer gen
of which there is much nei
1 if 11 Ka liorrlKr ntiacf
^v., ... "o,u'; m ?* ??.
all overlook the work of
perficial way. The Synod
tion of Courts and cons<
much to elevate present
that the Presbyteries sho
pal power.
5th, It would relieve t
nierous petty jobs which
unworthily.
A great many overtures
This may be seen by tu
sent up to the last Assem
would have stopped the o
byteries, which asked ths
d i_ _ r r*i i- r
icipret duuk 01 v^nurcn v
cific reference as to whetl
may with propriety and
tion be executed by a Coi
any Sjmod would have sti
list which asked "the Get
Book of Church Order, in
6th, It would give the
of Synodical study on mj
Overtures coming witl
Synods would come witl
consideration of the Asse
7th, The necessity for
Dyteries, bynods, and As;
in our constitution, wouh
constitutional. John C. C
crnment, emphasizes the
to a truly constitutional 1
Synod into the hierarchy <
posed scheme, you have
reign of constitutional go
have created a power wl
great magnification of P
THE PRESBYTERI
onable to expect any contrary
: proposed scheme. The Pres>f
men to constitute a given
function of the Synod would
ng attendance in the weakest
erefore, probably be very adis.
e Synod's efficiency and to the
?ry's efficiency.
ake for the efficiency of the
arger Synods by providing
would make for efficiency of
weaker Synods by securing an
he work. On Synodical bodies,
reased sense of responsibility
;hment of the Synod's work
of the fact that the mem:ommissioners
to do the work,
sed importance given to Synd
Standards. It is reasonable
in oorl canca -v f ifc rncrvnn P1KII1
.ttOVU O V? 11. J V- Ui 1 lO i vopuuoi U 111rare
in its oversight over the
eral supervision of their work,
ed. Whatever the explanation
ioned that Synods now generthe
Presbyteries in a very suI
properly placed in the gradacious
of its dignity could do
Presbyterial life, e. g., to see
uld properly use their episco:he
General Assembly of nunow
consume not a little time
5 would never pass the Synod,
rning to the list of overtures
bly: Surely almost any Synod
verture from one of the Pres
at the Ueneral Assembly "m)rder,
paragraph 93, with speler
the installation of a pastor
with fidelity to the constitunmittee."
Surely, also, almost
opped the next overture in the
leral Assembly to amend" the
a specified particular.
General Assembly the benefit
any important questions.
h the endorsements of great
a vastly added weight to the
mbly.
the concurrence of the Presaemblies.
in OrHpr tr? n clianorp
i make our Church still more
alhoun, in his Theory of Govimportance
of checks in order
type of government. Put the
Df courts according to the protaken
a step tending to the
tvernment in our Church, vnn
lich will tend to prevent too
resbyterial power on the one
AN OF THE SOUTH.
hand and too great centraliz;
of the Assembly on the othe
8th, It is reasonable to beli<
abler set of commissioners
year after year, and conseqt
to the Church.
According to our theory
elect as commissioners to t
adjudged to be fittest to c
important work to be done
Christ and his Church. Bui
applied by the Presbyteries,
test for the work, they often
been to the Assembly, or w
sent for some personal rea:
little courage to vote agains
,go, and to do so in his prese
puts the election of commis:
Synod. The Synod has to e
byteries. It will be more d
by personal considerations,
commissioners under circu
choice of men on the sole g
Lord's cause. The Synod v
ing its mind over all the men
out the best men for the ser
next Assembly.
9th, The proposed plan is
of that advised by the We:
vines for the Presbyterian C
see set up in England.
The English Parliament
29, 1848, and ordered:
"That there be forthwith
throughout the kingdom of
Wales . . . There shall be
1 . ??
eiaersnip two eiders or more
of four, and one minister <
That the number of the m
shall be so proportioned as
bly shall be more in numbi
bytery, and to that end ther
isters and four ruling elders
The National Assembly shal
chosen by, and sent from, th
blies aforesaid; the numbe
Province to the National As
ters, four ruling elders, and
sons from each University,
bly shall meet when they sh
anient, to sit and continue a<
and not otherwise." (Que
Fresbyterianism, p. 72.)
Before this order could b
England, however, the Pr
England was brought to a
Cromwell and the Independ
authority in Great Britain.
10th, The French Reforme
Calvin, puts the Synod inl
scries of courts. Says Foot*
Reformed French Church, "
repiesentative body: The de
359
ation of power in the hands
r.
eve that it would give us an
to the General Assembly
lently increased well-being
r, our Presbyteries should
he General Assembly men
lo aright the onerous and
by the body for the Lord
: this theory is not rigidly
Instead of sending men fitsend
a man who has never
ho is known to wish to be
son. It would require no
it a brother who wishes to
nee. The proposed change
doners in the hands of the
lect men from all the Preslifficult
to sway the Synod
It will be able to elect
mstances less hostile to
ground of advantage to the
vill be relatively free, castin
each Presbytery, to pick
vices to be rendered at the
the almost orecise analogue
I ?
stminster Assembly of Di!hurch
which they hoped to
approved the plan, August
a choice made of elders
England and dominion of
out of every congregational
not exceeding the number
sent to every classis . . .
embers from every classis
that the Provincial Assemer
than any classical Prese
shall be at least two min^..4.
~r
UUl Ul CVC1)
r be constituted of members
e several provincial Assemr
of members from each
isembly shall be two minisfive
learned and godly perThat
the National Assemlall
be summoned by Parli5
the Parliament shall order
)ted in Briggs' American
e carried into execution in
esbyterian organization in
halt by the interference of
ents who had assumed the
d Church, the child of John
:o its logical place in the
in his, I'he Huguenots or
The National Synod was a
legates were sent from the