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ADJUSTING OUR MACHINERY.
There are many who believe that the Synod
is a fifth wheel to the ecclesiastical chariot.
This view is more prevalent among the Ruling
Eldership than among the Ministry, judging
by the attendance of these classes respectively.
Perhaps it is because in days past the Synod
seemed to have nothing specially to do. It re
viewed the minutes of Presbyteries, a necessary
ami safe proceeding, but not one fraught with
great enthusiasm. It seems to be ignored in the
matter of Commissioners to the Assembly and
in the matter of regard from the Assembly, in
the matter of overtures received or sent down.
Its Reports and often its addresses had the
aroma of age upon them. Anything new in a
Synod would start a revolution or bring out the
ecclesiastical fire engines to turn cold water on
such dangerous proceedings. Little wonder
that the Synodical meetings have shown in
creasing decrepitude and rheumatic ailments.
However, we believe a new order is proeeed
ing, and given a long enough time, Presbyte
rians may get a change for the better agoing.
The request of the Assembly that the Synods
precede the meetings of Presbytery has been
complied with.
This lias at once put the Presbyterian Pro
gressive Program 011 the Synodical map, and
will lead to a great consideration being given
to this matter, when once the long and dessi
cated reports are somewhat abbreviated, or
dead. Nothing could give more interest to a
Synod than a long and live discussion of this
admirable Program. Perhaps a breath of real
evangelistic fervor would again sweep over our
Church, and we would quit playing at Home
and Foreign Missions.
If we carry this adjustment a little further
and meet early enough to make Synod a part
of the summer vacation period, meeting at
some cool, refreshing place on the coast or in
the highlands, and spend a week in discussing
and praying over the interests of Zion, our
Synodical meeting would amount to much.
This plan has been adopted by some of the
Synods of the West, and as many good things
have come from that direction, it may be this
is one.
Would it not be well for the Fathers to con
sider this matter? The adjustment of the ma
chinery might give us a better balanced Pro
gram of Synod. More than once we have seen
some matter of inconsequence take up a whole
afternoon of debate, while the really important
matters were pushed through under whip and
spur at the last moment.
A good "Steering Committee" not made up
of Stated Clerks, who delight in the routine
and the usual, but of men who are not so much
concerned about the letter, as the spirit of
the Church's work, men who could say "No"
to the most imperious of the demands to be
heard, when the immediate interests of the Sy
nod ought to be paramount. Such a Commit
tee being changed gradually each year would
avoid the odium of a super-court.
We are hearing much of the balanced ration.
Would that we might have more of it in ec
clesiastical matters. Many of us are "fed up"
on certain things that might sink into the back
ground, for the nonce, "Organic Union," or
any kind of union, except that of the Spirit,
might easily be one.
The great Educational Movement of our
Church does much to bring the Synod into
its own. Yet there is danger. The attempt
to control the management of our Schools and
Colleges from the floor of Synod or Presbytery
will be fatal. The appointment of sane and safe
men to carry on these institutions, with a re
port and inspirational addresses on the floor
of the court is the only sensible method of wise
administration. But this very adjustment will
open the door lor many interesting and inspir
ing addresses that would enliven the session
greatly. The effort to make more attractive
these courts will and does meet with many ob
stacles.
The men who are bound to "red tape," who
like worms that feed upon musty books, will
oppose anything that will deprive them of their
musty reports. The cry of "new" will deter
others. The lack of vision resulting from too
close sight of the immediate will hold many
back. But "machinery " will not do. We need
the fire from on high. It will not come to us
through the letter that killeth, but through the
gracious gift of our Risen Lord.
A. A. I j.
Contributed
THE FEDERAL UNION INTO WHICH THE
SOUTHERN CHURCH HAS NOW ENTERED.
By Rev. Thornton Whaling, D. D.
It will be recalled that the Southern General
Assembly, at Birmingham in 1917, in response
to overtures from the Northern Assembly, in
augurated a movement for Federal Union of
the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in
this country. This action was as follows:
"1917 ? Birmingham, Alabama: 'While this
Assembly does not regard Organic Union as
practical at this time, yet it hereby appoints
the Committee of Conference on Union asked
for by the Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States of America, and
recommends to the proposed conference the
consideration of the federation of all the Pres
byterian Churches of our country upon some
practical and effective basis.' "*
For five years various committees represent
ing nearly every branch of the Presbyterian
sisterhood of Churches have been busy en
deavoring to formulate this "practical and ef
fective basis."
In 1920 the Constitution which these com
mittees prepared was approved by the South
ern General Assembly by unanimous vote.
In 1921, this same Constitution in substance
was adopted by the United Presbyterian As
sembly. It was also approved by the Execu
tive Committee of the Council of Reformed
Churches, which also recommended that when
established, the new body should take the
place of that Council.
It will be thus -seen that the work of these
committees in preparing this plan of Federal
Union was not in vain. In March, 1922, the
Council of Reformed Churches adopted a new
Constitution, entitled, "Plan of Federal
Union." They borrowed some of the chief
features of the Constitution prepared by the
aforesaid Committees.
While our General Assembly and the U. S.
A. Assembly both rejected the plan of Fed
eral Union proposed b? these committees,
they both adopted the plan of Federal
Union prepared by the Council of Reformed
Churches. This Plan of Federal Union rests
upon a preamble and basis of Union which
affirms the doctrinal agreement of our Re
formed and Calvinistic Churches, and makes
the doctrinal basis of the new body the con
sensus of doctrine set forth in the existing
standards of the constituent Churches. The
chief power conferred on this ecclesiastical
Council is found in the establishing and ap
pointing of administrative agencies to main
tain and conduct the work representative of
any one or more of the causes mentioned, as
consented to by the several supreme judica
tories concerned.
Several remarks may be made on this plan
of Federal Union adopted by the Southern
Church, the Northern Church , the U. P.
Church, the Reformed Church in America, and
the Reformed Church in the U. S.
First, ecclesiastical statesmanship and wis
dom will be shown by conferring upon the ad
ministrative agencies created by this Council
a large and increasing measure of power. Our
Secretaries, who are our wisest men- of course,
will hasten in the field of Foreign Missions.
Home Missions, Evangelism, Sabbath Schools,
Publications and Education, to co-operate in
this strategic way now made possible.
Second. The distinctive principle for which
the Southern Church stands, namely, the
spirituality of the Church, will be emphasized
more and more, with a view of enriching all
the other constituent Churches. Our own
Church needs enlightenment at this point. Our
venerable Moderator and another ex-Modera
tor, and a distinguished Theological Professor,
with other brethren, at the last Assembly, had
to dissent from action of that body, violative of
this distinctive principle. (See page 80 of As
sembly Minutes.)
Third. All of the Churches out to prepare
themselves in spirit to receive the riches that
may be communicated by each one of the con
stituent Churches to the common body, into
which they have now entered. For example,
the U. P. Church may have something of value
in the field of the relation of the State to
Christ. Dr. Thornwell would think so. (See
Volume IV of his collected writings, pages
549-556- on the relation of the State to Christ.)
The Reformed Church in America may have
something to communicate as to family discip
line and worship. The great U. S. A. Church
in many different fields, has something to be
stow.
In conclusion, all the Presbyterian and Re
formed Churches ought to be congratulated on
this splendid consummation which has been
achieved so quietly and unostentatiously that
many are not yet fully aware that this golden
goal has been reached.
A very judicious and discriminating account
of the last Assembly giving an admirably clear
statement as to this Plan of Federal Union,
may be found in the Union Seminary Review
for July, pages 280-281. The author is the re
tiring editor-in-chief of that quarterly.
Louisville, Ky.
HOME MISSIONS IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
Rev. George Summey, D. D.
The Assembly's Home Missions Advisory
Council held its third annual meeting at Mon
treal While not quite so largely attended as
last year's Council, it was intensely interest
ing. It was the testimony of the representa
tives of the Executive Committee of Home- Mis
sions that the Council is accomplishing the
ends for which it was organized. Its great aim,
as in the previous meetings, was that Home
Missions may "come into its own"in the
church.
Ten Synods were represented, and Drs. Mor
ris and McMillan of the Executive Committee
were present, and several Presbyterial Chair
men and Evangelists attending were invited to
sit with the body and take part in its confer
ences. Dr. George Summey, of Louisiana, was
re-elected as Chairman, and Dr. O. G. Jones,
of Mississippi, was made Secretary.
Inquiry was made as to practical carrying
out of last year's provisions, especially as to