Newspaper Page Text
August 28, 1912 ]
meat" to * more spiritual ministry who
will preach a gospel of grace and peace
to troubled souls, and to a more spiritual
church which has not been "organized"
to death and has not become a
mere "collection agency," but has at
least some of the characteristics c'
"the household and family of God" and
is a true "harbor of the saints."
Russell Cecil.
Crystal Brook, L. I.
THE ASSEMBLY'S OVERTURES.
The following are the proposed
amendments to our Standards sent
down 'by the last Assembly bo the Presbyteries
for their advice and consent,
which we now publish again that our
ministers and elders maye carefully ex
amine tnem before the Presbyteries
convene:
1. Amendment to the Confession of
Faith, Ohap. X., Sect. 3, by changing
the adjective "eflect" Into the participle
"being elect;" and then set off the participial
clause with comma, so that the
section amended will read as follows:
"Being elect, all Infants dying in infancy,
are regenerated and saved by
Christ through the Spirit, Who worketh
wnen, ana wnere, and how He pleaseth.
So also are all other persons, who are
Incapable of being: outwardly called by
the ministry of the word." (Minutes,
page 38.)
2. Amendment to Form of Government,
Paragraph 87, so that beginning
on the fourth line it shall read, "Every
Presbytery shall be entitled to send one
minister and one ruling elder; but if
the number of communicants in Its
churches and ministers on its roll together
be over 4,000, it shall send an
additional minister and ruling elder;
and In like proportion for every 4.000
communicants and ministers." (Minutes,
p. 35.)
3. Amendment to Paragraph 94, by
striking out the whole of the first sentence
In the paragraph, and substituting
the following words In its place:
"The Synod and the General Assemtolv
may, at their own discretion, commit
any case of trial, coming before them
on appeal, to the Judgment of a commission,
composed of others than members
of the court from which the case
shall come up. Except that all cases
affecting doctrine shall he tried by the
wutt itseir. 'rne commission of a
Synod," etc. (Paragraph to continue
a* at present.) (Mlnntes. pp. 36 and
37.)
4. Amendment to Paragraphs 132-134
(Form of Government, Chap. VT, Sect.
6): 1?Strike out paragraph 4 as far aa
the -words "head in divinity" and substitute
the following, viz: "The Presbytery
shall examine each candidate on
theology, nature) and revealed, the
sacraments and church government. T*
shall also examine him as to his knowledge
of the Latin language, mental philosophy,
logic, rhetoric, ethics. *he natural
sciences and similar subjects, and
"uon the original languages of the
Holy Scriptures and ecclesiastical history:
or In Hen of the examination O"
"uv of these academic studies, it m?v
accept ? certificate from an approve'
college, and In lieu of the examination
on the orlgfalal languages of Scripture
uid ecclesiastical history, it may accent
a certificate from an approved theological
semlnarv. Moreover, the Pre*
"jiory snaii renin re a niscusaion 1"
TjatlTi or <n Wnellrh of a thesis on some
common head hi <fhrtntty.H
2. Strike ont the onenlne words of
paragraph 6 a* far as the words "teacher
of theolottv*' and substitute for the
B?me the following, viz: "No Presbytery
*ha11 omit any of the porta of trial erceet
1n extraordinary cases."
* At the end of naragraph * the fol'owtuar
words he added. yIjs: "That the
foregoing provision, mutatis mutandis,
THE PEESBYTEEIi
shall apply to the examination for ordination
of extraordinary oases."
(Minutes, pace 36.)
THE OVERTURE ON THE BASIS OF
REPRESENTATION IN THE
ASSEMBLY.
Rev. T. H. Law, D. D.
Ait its spring sessions In 1911 the
Prerfbytery of Enoree (adopted by a
unanimous vote the following overture
to the Oeneral Assembly:
"Whereas, according to the present
provisions of our Form of Government,
the distinctive basis of representation
in the General Assembly Is solely the
number of ministers on the roll of the
several Presbyteries, a provision which
appears to be unsound in principle and
inequitable in operation, the Presbytery
of Enoree respectfully overtures
the Assembly at Louisville, Ky., 1911,
to take steps for the amendment of
Paragraph 87, Form of Government,
wu mux it may reaa somewhat as follows:
Every Presbytery shall be entitled
to send one minister and one ruling
elder; but if the number of communicants
in Hs churches and ministers
on its roll together be over 4,000, it
shall send an additional minister and
ruling elder, and in like proportion for
every 4,000 communicants and ministers.'
"
This overture the Assembly at Louisville
received, and for more careful consideration,
referred to an ad-interim
committee, consisting of the Rev. Drs.
John P. Cannon, W. McF. Alexander and
Junius B. French, and Ruling Elders
Rutherford Lapsley and W. C. Branham.
To the recent Assembly at Bristol,
Tenn., this committee reported, unanimously
recommending, after careful
consideration, that the overture 'be
granted, and that the proposed amend
ment be sent down to the PreAyterles
for their action. The Assembly adopted
the report of the Committee, and so the
porposed amendment Is now before the
Presbyteries for their consideration,
and their "advice and consent" If they
approve.
As the author of this overture I have
given it much careful thought, and
therefore deem it proper that, before
the fall meetings of the Presbyteries,
when It will come before them for their
action, to present a brief explanation
of its meaning and effect.
1. Why should we make any change?
First, because our present rule Is not
sound In principle. What Is It? "Every
Presbytery shall be entitled to send
one minister and one ruling elder; but
If it consists of more than twenty-four
ministerial members, (ft shall send an
additional minister snd ruling elder."
Thus, the distinctive basis of representation
in the Assembly is solely the
number of ministers on the roll of the
Presbytery; nothing else. True, every
Prefrtwtery, no matter what its size. Is
entitled to two commissioners to the
Assembly; but when the question of
double representation arises, that turns
altogether upon the number of ministers
on the roll. Accordingly, to our
last Assembly, fifty commissioners were
elected nnretv An fhr> *-tl? mln
lsterlal membership of thdir Presbyteries.
Now. I contend that this prlncfple
ts nnsownd 1n onr government.
Tt savors of clericalism: and while it
might he verv proner for Bniscooalians
and Methodists, whose government 1*
professedly nrelatic, it does not belong
*o PreShyterian%m. which stands for
the complete eonalltv hi church mle an*
the organisation of oar ecclesiastical
courts between the mlrtister and the
ruling elder. No superiority nertalns to
the ministerial office except the function
of preaching; ss Panl pnts tt laboring
In word and doctrine; and none other
* ?
i N or TBI SOUTH
should be recognized in tbe composition
of our supreme conr*
Seoond, because the present rule is
Inequitable in operation. A single illustration
will shot? how unequally It
worke. According to the reports sent
up this year, one Presbytery had on its
roll twenty-six ministers, which entitled
it to four commissioners to the
Assembly, while its communicants were
3,669, and their aggregate contributions
393,487; whereas another with 64
ministers, and 12,106 communicants,
whose contributions amounted to $107.911,
had exactly the same representation.
If we admit art all increased representation,
ought we not to have a
rule that works more equally?
2. Why would the proposed basis of
represeutatlom be preferable?
First, because as the Committee's report
says, "it is 1n closer harmony with
Presbyterian principles and the teachings
of Scripture than the one now
recognized in our Form of Government."
According to Scripture the individual
believer (and as such ordinarily
a communicant In the Church),
is the aplrKual unit in the organization
of the Church, beting In his own person
a partaker of the divine life in Christ
Jesus and the agent of the indwelling
Spirit Thus the fundamental basis of
representation should be the communicant
in our churches.
Second, our Church courts, led as we
believe by the overruling Spirit of God,
have come to recognize almost universally,
the communicants ae the basis
of all appeals for the financial support
of the Lord's work; as we see In the
apportionments of the Committee of
Systematic Beneficence adopted by the
last Assembly, and the assessments of
the Assembly for it contingent and
mileage funds. If the principle of "no
taxation without representation" holds
in the church as In our republican form
of government, then the basis of representation
should recognize communicants.
But why add the number of ministers
on the roll of the Presbytery to the
communicants reported? Because thev
also are spiritual units; and holding
their membership in the Presbyteries
and not in the churches, they ought also
to be counted that they may have the
representation to which they are entitled.
3. Why fix the number for increased
representation at 4,000 communicants
pine the ministers enrolled?
<T had first suggested 3,000, but upon
an examination of the reports of the
Presbyteries, I discovered that this
would considerably increase the size
of The Assembly, which I deem undesirable,
for the reasons I need not now
discuss. The number named in the
overture, however, would, as the Committee
say. "keep the Assembly at about
its present size." To show exactly how
the rule as amended would work in this
respect according to the statistics of the
present year, T find that 65 of our 'Presbyteries
would still 'be entitled to but
two commissioners each, making 130,
that IS would be entitled to four com
nrlssloners each, making 72 more, while
Fayetfcevllle and Mecklenburg would be
entitled to six each, and Lexington to
eight, making 20 more; aggregating
222. Under the present rule, the Presbyteries
last spring were entitled to
exactly 220 commissioners. It Is thus
plain that the effect of the amendment
would not he revolutionary, but only
a more equitable adjustment of the
satme representation.
1 hope that these views will commend
themselves to the favorable consideration
of the Presbyteries, secure their
adoption of the amendment, and provide
a sounder and fairer basis of representation
In the Assembly.
(997) 15
TIME AND PLACE) OF PRE8BYTERIAI.
MEETINGS.
Synod of Alakuu.
Central Alabama, Fulton's Chapel, Hamner,
Oct.
East Alabama, Oabbett, near Mllstead,
Oot If. 7:10.
Mobile, Stockton.
North Alabama, Handley Mem., Birmingham,
Oct. 22, 7:30.
Tuscaloosa, Catherine, Oct. 16, 7:80.
Synod of Arkansas.
Arkansas, Cotter, Oct. 17, 7:30.
Ouaehlta. Worable, Oct. 22, 7:30.
Pine Bluff, Fordyce, Oct. 22, 7:30.
Washburn, Bethel oh., Cane Hill, Sept.
25, 7:80.
Synod of Florida.
Florida. Madison, Nov. 7, 7:80.
8t. Johns, Lakeland. Oct. 16. 7:30.
Suwanee, Riverside ch., Jacksonville,
Oct. 29, 8:00.
Synod of Georsta.
Athens, Comer, Sept 24.
Atlanta. College Park, Sept. 24, 8:00.
Augusta, Milledgevllle, Oct. 9, 7:80.
Cherokee, Ringgold, Sept 24, 7:30.
Macon, Vlnevllle ch., Macon, Oct 22, 7:30.
Synod of Kentucky.
Ebenezer, 1st ch., Mtllersburg, Sept. 24.
7:30.
Louisville, Bardstown, Sept. 17, 7:30.
Muhlenburg, Newstead ch.. Sept 24, 7:30.
Paducah, Marion, Sept. 17th.
Transylvania, Burnslde, Sept 24. 7:80.
West Lexington, Pisgah en., Woodford
county, Sept. 24, 7:30.
synod or Lonlnlana.
Louisiana, Lake Charles. Oct. 22. 7:20.
New Orleans, Prytanla St. ch., N. O., Oct.
16, 7:20.
Red River. Alabama St. ch., Choudrant,
Oct. 22, 2:30.
Synod of Mlaslaalppl.
Central Mississippi. Camden ch., Oct. 24.
East Mississippi, Walnut Creek ch., Oct.
22, 7:30 P. M.
Ethel (Colored).
Meridian, Eatonvllle. Oct. 22, 7:30.
Mississippi, Red Lick. Oct. 15, 7:30
P. M.
North Mississippi, Sand Springs ch.,
Taylor, Sept. 24. 7:30.
Synod of Mlaaonrl.
Lafayette. Walker, Sept. 17, 8:00.
Missouri, Concord ch., Callaway county.
Palmyra. Memphis. Sept. 3. 10:00.
Potosi. Clarkton, Sept. 17, 7:30.
St. Louis, Troy. Sept. 17. 7:30.
Upper Missouri, Barbee Mem., Excelsior
Springs, Sept. 24, 7:80.
Synod of North Carol I on.
Albemarle, Littleton, Sept. 26. 8:00.
Ashevllle, Mem. ch.. Macon county, Sept.
24, 8:00.
Concord, Concord (Iredell), Sept. 24. 2:30.
Fayettevllle, St. Pauls. Sept. 24. 8:00.
King's Mountain, Rutherfordton, Sept. 10,
8:00.
Mecklenburg, Hopewell ch., Mecklenburg
county, Sept. 24. 8:00.
Orange, Bethel ch., Guilford county,
Sept. 24, 2:00.
Wilmington, Clarkton, Sept. 24.
Synod of Oklahoma.
Durant, Colbert. Sept. 18, 8:00.
Indian, Sandy Creek ch., Sept. 11. 7:80.
Mangum, 1st ch., Duncan, Sept. 10, 8:00.
Synod of Sonth Carolina.
Bethel. Fort Mill, Sept. 24. 8:00.
Charleston. McClellanvllle. Oct. 1, 8:00.
Enoree, 1st ch., Spartanburgr, Oct. 1, 8:00.
Harmony. Beulah ch., Olanta, Oct. 8, 8:00.
Pee Dee, Kentyre.
Piedmont, Walhalla. Sept. 24. 8:00.
South Carolina. Donalds, Sept. 24, 7:30.
Synod of Tennessee.
Columbia, Fayettevllle, Sept. 24, 7:30.
Holston, Mooresburer. Sent. 25. 7:30.
Knoxvllle. 6th Ave., ch., Knoxvllle, Sept.
17, 7:30.
Memphis, White Haven. Sept. 24, 7:30.
Nashville.
Western District, Denmark. Sept. 24. 7:30.
Synod of Texas.
Brazos. Bryan. Oct. 1st.
Brownwood. Winters, Sept 27. 11 :00.
Central Texas, Mexla. Sept. 19, 8:00.
Cisco. Anson, Sept. 13, 11:00.
Dallas, Petrolla. Sept. 24. 8:00.
Kastem Texas. Tenaha. Sept. 27, 11:00.
El Paso, 1st ch.. Van Horn. Sept. 10, 8:00.
Fort Worth, Gordon. Sept. 26, 7:30.
Panhandle. Happy, Sept. 18. 8:00.
Paris. Center ch., Eldervllle, Sept. 26.
7:30.
Texas-Mexlean.
Western Texas, Westminster ch., San
Antonio.
Synod of Virginia.
Abingdon, Thomnson Valley ch.. Taxewell.
R. V. D.. Aug. 20. 8:00.
East Hanover. Emporia. Sept 30. 8:00.
Oreenbrier. Union, W. Va.. Sept. 17. 8:00.
Kanawha. 2nd ch., Huntington, W. Va.,
Sept. 24, 8:00.
T exington. Millboro. Oct. 8. 3:30.
Montgomery, Bramwell, W. Va., Sept. 10,
7:30.
Norfolk. Park Ave. ch., Norfolk, Sept.
17. 8:00.
Potomac. Mitchells. Sept. 17, 8:00.
Winchester, Piedmont, W. Va.. Oct. 1,
8:00.
Ebenexer?Laymen's Conference on
September 25, in connection with the
Presbyterv on Home Missions and "Assembly's
Plan."
Red Lick?Sessions will send up continarent
fund 7? no- ?i?
Greenbrier?Delegate* will get ticket* "
to Fort Spring 8tatlon and travel on
tralna No. IS and No. 14.
Holston?Convevanees will meet the
member* at Rusaellvllle on the arrival
of the local trains from the east and
west at 6:10 P. M., September 25.
J. B. C.
To be splritually-?T?inded is life and
peace, aald one who knows whereof he
spoke. The l'fe and peace come In where
there is union with God and the certainty
of its continuanoe.