ilies the various religious bodies constituting the great "household of faith" in the United States.

CHAPTER V.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

and to have the general oversight of his flock as to their spiritual concerns. He is always chosen by the people over whom he is to exercise his office. It will appear, however, from the following account of the method pursued in the selection and installation of a pastor, that the choice of the people is subject to several important limitations. When a congregation is vaIn speaking of the Congregational church- cant, the people assemble, after due noes, we entered into a full analysis of their tice, to choose a pastor. This meeting organization, because they comprise most must be presided over by an ordained minof the great features of all the churches ister invited for that purpose, who must founded on what are called Independent endorse the minutes of their proceedings, principles, forming the basis of the church- and certify their regularity. If a majority es of several other denominations, partic- of the qualified members of the congregaularly the Baptists. For a like reason, in tion, i. e., of those who contribute to the speaking of the Presbyterian Church, we support of the minister, agree upon a canshall go into considerable detail in speak-didate, a call is made out in the following ing of its principles and church organiza- terms, viz. : tion, so as to save repetition when we come to notice other churches having the same principles and essentially the same organization.

"The congregation of A. B. being, on sufficient grounds, well satisfied of the ministerial qualifications of you, C. D., and having hopes, from our past experience of The Presbyterian Church is so called your labours, that your ministrations in the because it is governed by presbyters, and Gospel will be profitable to our spiritual not by prelates. The name, therefore, ap- interests, do earnestly call and desire you plies to any church organized and govern- to undertake the pastoral office in the said ed on that principle. Usage, however, congregation; promising you, in the dishas confined it in America to one of sev-charge of your duty, all proper supprt, eneral churches, who agree in believing that couragement, and obedience in the Lord. the government of the Church belongs to And that you may be free from worldly its elders or presbyters. The Dutch Reformed Church, the German Reformed, the Scotch Secession churches, are as truly Presbyterian as that denomination to which the name is now, among us, almost exclusively applied.

Presbyterians believe that the Apostles, in organizing the Church, were accustomed, in every city or place where a congregation was gathered, to appoint a number of officers for the instruction and spiritual government of the people, and for the care of the sick and poor. The former class of these officers were called presbyters, the latter deacons. Of these presbyters, some laboured in word and doctrine, others in the oversight and discipline of the flock, according to their gifts, or to their designation when ordained. As the terms bishop and presbyter were indiscriminately used to designate the spiritual instructers and governors of the congregation, in every church there came to be three classes of officers, which are denominated the bishops or pastors, or teaching presbyters, the ruling presbyters, and the deacons.

The Presbyterian churches with us are organized on this plan. Each congregation has its bishop or pastor, its ruling elders, and its deacons, except in cases where the duties of the last-mentioned class are assumed by the elders. The duty of the pastor is to preach the word, to administer the sacraments, to superintend the religious instruction of the young,

cares and avocations, we hereby promise and oblige ourselves to pay to you the sum of in regular quarterly payments, during the time of your being and continuing the pastor of this church. In testimony whereof we have respectively subscribed our names.

This call is taken to the Presbytery under whose care the congregation is placed, and the Presbytery decide whether it shall be presented to the person to whom it is addressed. If, in their judgment, there exists any sufficient reason for withholding it, it is returned to the people, who must then proceed to a new election. If the person called belongs to the same Presbytery to which the congregation is attached, or is a licentiate under their care, they put the call into his hands and wait for his answer to it. But if he belongs to a different Presbytery, they give the congregation leave to prosecute it before that body, who have the right to decide whether it shall be presented to the candidate or not.

It thus appears that no man can become the pastor of a congregation under the care of a Presbytery whom they do not deem to be a sound and competent minister of the Gospel. And in order to enable them to judge intelligently on this point, before proceeding to his ordination they examine him "as to his acquaintance with experimental religion, as to his knowledge of philosophy, theology, ecclesiasti

"And do you engage to continue to him, while he is your pastor, that competent worldly maintenance which you have promised, and whatever else you may see needful for the honour of religion and his comfort among you?"

cal history, the Greek and Hebrew lan- | his arduous labours, and to assist his enguages, and such other branches of learn- deavours for your instruction and spiritual ing as to the Presbytery may appear requi- edification? site, and as to his knowledge of the constitution, the rules, and discipline of the church." Should the candidate be found deficient in any of these particulars, it is the right and duty of the Presbytery to reject him. But if they are satisfied with his ministerial qualifications, they appoint a time for his ordination in the presence of the people. When the time appointed has arrived, and the Presbytery convened, a member appointed for the purpose preachThe elders are regarded as the reprees a sermon suitable for the occasion, and sentatives of the people, and are chosen then proposes to the candidate the follow-by them for the discipline of the church ing questions, viz. :

"Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

"Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures?

"Do you approve of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in these United States?

"Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord?

"Have you been induced, as far as you know your own heart, to seek the office of the holy ministry from love to God, and a sincere desire to promote his glory in the Gospel of his Son?

These questions being answered in the affirmative, the Presbytery proceed to ordain the candidate with prayer and the laying on of hands.

The

in connexion with the pastor. They must be male members of the church in full communion, and, when elected, are required to profess their faith in the Scriptures as the only infallible rule of faith and practice, their adoption of the Westminster Confession as containing the system of doctrine, and their approbation of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church; and the members of the church are called upon publicly to acknowledge and receive them as ruling elders, and to promise to yield them all that honour, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord, to which their office, according to the Word of God and the constitution of the church, entitles them. pastor and elders constitute what is called the Session, which is the governing body "Do you promise to be zealous and in each congregation. They are authorized faithful in maintaining the truths of the to inquire into the knowledge and ChrisGospel, and the purity and peace of the tian conduct of the members of the church; Church, whatever persecution or opposi- to admit to the sacraments those whom, tion may arise unto you on that account? upon examination, they find to possess the "Do you engage to be faithful and dili-requisite knowledge and piety; to call begent in the exercise of all private and personal duties which become you as a Christian and as a minister of the Gospel, as well as in all relative duties, and the public duties of your office; endeavouring to adorn the profession of the Gospel by your conversation, and walking with exemplary piety before the flock over which God has made you overseer?

"Are you now willing to take the charge of this congregation, agreeably to your declaration at accepting their call? And do you promise to discharge the duties of a pastor to them as God shall give you strength ?"

The presiding minister then puts the following questions to the congregation: "Do you, the people of this congregation, continue to profess your readiness to receive whom you have called to

be your minister?
"Do you promise to receive the word
of truth from his mouth with meekness
and love, and to submit to him in the due
exercise of discipline?

"Do you promise to encourage him in

fore them offenders, being members of their own church; to decide cases of discipline; and to suspend or excommunicate those who are judged deserving of such censure. It is their duty, also, to keep a register of marriages, of baptisms, of those admitted to the Lord's Supper, and of the death or removal of church members.

All the proceedings of the Session are subject to the review of the Presbytery, and may be brought before that body in several different ways. The Session is required to keep a record of their official acts, and this record is laid before the Presbytery, for examination, twice every year. Should anything appear on the record which, in the judgment of the Presbytery, is irregular, inexpedient, or unjust, they have authority to see the matter rectified. Or if any one feels himself aggrieved by a decision of the Session, he has the right of appeal to the Presbytery, where the case may be reviewed. any member or members of the inferior court, or any one affected by their decision, consider their action irregular or un

Or if

just, he or they have the right of complaint, which subjects the whole matter to a revision in the higher judicatory.

of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

"Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures?

The deacons are not members of the Session, and, consequently, have no part in the government of the church. It is their duty to take charge of the poor, to receive and appropriate the moneys col-purity, and unity of the Church? lected for the support or relief of the sick or needy.

"Do you promise to study the peace,

"Do you promise to submit yourself, in the Lord, to the government of this Presbytery, or of any other Presbytery in the bounds of which you may be called?"

A Presbyterian church, or congregation, has thus a complete organization within itself, but it is not an independent body. The Presbytery then proceed to his liIt is part of an extended whole, living un- censure in the following words, viz.: "In der the same ecclesiastical constitution, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by and, therefore, subject to the inspection that authority which he has given to his and control of the Presbytery, whose busi- Church for its edification, we do license ness it is to see that the standards of doc-you to preach the Gospel wherever God, trine and rules of discipline are adhered in his providence, may call you, and for to by all the separate churches under its this purpose, may the blessing of God rest upon you, and the Spirit of Christ fill your heart. Amen."

care.

This licensure does not confer the ministerial office, or give authority either to administer the sacraments, or to take part in the government of the Church. It is merely a declaration that the recipient, in the judgment of the Presbytery, is qualified to preach the Gospel and to become a pastor. It is from this class of probationers that the congregations select and call their ministers; and when a licentiate receives a call to a particular church, he is renewedly examined on all the subjects above specified before he is ordained.

This superior body, the Presbytery, consists of all the pastors, or ordained ministers, and one elder from each Session, within certain geographical limits. There must be at least three ministers to constitute a Presbytery, but the maximum is not fixed. Hence our Presbyteries vary from three to sixty or eighty members. It is the bond of union between the ministers and churches within it limits. Among its most important duties is the examination and ordination of candidates for the holy ministry. Every such candidate is required to place himself under the care of that Presbytery within whose bounds he ordi- It is by means of these examinations, narily resides. He must produce satis- and by requiring assent to the Confession factory testimonials of his good moral of Faith, that the Presbyterian Church in character, and of his being in full commu-America has endeavoured to secure comnion with the church. It is made the duty petent learning and orthodoxy in its minof the Presbytery to examine him as to istry; and it is a historical fact, which his experimental knowledge of religion, ought to be gratefully acknowledged, that and as to his motives in seeking the sacred since the organization of the Church in office. And it is recommended that the this country, a century and a half ago, the candidate be required to produce a diplo- great body of its ministers have been libma of the degree of bachelor or master of erally-educated men; and it is also a fact arts, from some college or university, or that no man who has avowedly rejected at least authentic testimonials of his hav-the Calvinistic system of doctrine, has ing gone through a regular course of aca- been allowed to retain his standing as a demic instruction. The Presbytery itself, minister of that Church. Its history conhowever, is required to examine him as to tains not the record of even one Arminian his knowledge of the Latin, Greek, and or Pelagian, much less Socinian, as an apHebrew languages, and on the subjects proved or recognised minister in its conembraced in the usual course of study pur-nexion. Some few instances have occursued in our colleges. He must also pre-red of the avowal of such sentiments, but sent a Latin exercise on some point in the- they have uniformly been followed by the ology; a critical exposition of a passage of Scripture, as a test of his ability to expound the original text; a lecture or homiletic exposition of some portion of the Word of God; and a popular sermon. If these exercises and examinations are pass-were not considered by their advocates as ed to the satisfaction of the Presbytery, the candidate is required to answer affirmatively the following questions, viz. :

"Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word

ejection from the ministry of those who entertained them. And more recently, the promulgation by a part of its ministers of doctrines supposed to be at variance with its standards, though those doctrines

involving a rejection of the Calvinistic system, was one of the principal causes of the separation of the body into two distinct organizations. So also with regard to learning, when a portion of the Church

in the western, and then more recently-settled parts of the country, insisted on introducing into the ministry men who had not received a liberal education, they were required to separate and form a denomination of their own. From their peculiar circumstances, such separations involve no civil penalties or forfeitures. If any set of men think that the interests of religion can be better promoted by an imperfectly educated and more numerous ministry, than by a smaller body of better-educated men, nothing prevents them from acting on their convictions and organizing on their own principles. By so doing, however, they of necessity separate from a church which makes a liberal education a requisite for admission into the sacred office. In like manner, if any man or set of men renounce the doctrines of the Westminster Confession, they are at perfect liberty to preach what they believe to be true, but they must not expect to remain ministers of a church in which that Confession is the standard of doctrine. External union has, indeed, been sacrificed by acting on this principle, but spiritual fellowship has been rather promoted than violated thereby, as neither party, in such cases, have excommunicated the other. And there is no hardship or injustice in the course above indicated, since the church is in one sense a voluntary society, whose terms of min-A Synod is, therefore, nothing but a larger isterial communion are known to the world; and those who disapprove of its doctrines need not, and in general do not, seek admission to its ministry. There are other dénominations within whose pale they can minister without objection or difficulty.

The Presbytery, then, is the court of review and control over all the Sessions of the several churches within its bounds. It is the supervising body, bound to see that the pastors are faithful in the discharge of their duty; having also authority to examine, license, and ordain candidates for the ministry; to instal them over the congregations to which they may be called; to exercise discipline over its own members; and, in general, to order whatever relates to the spiritual welfare of the congregations under its care.

It follows, from what has been said, that it is the duty of the Presbytery to exercise a watch and care over its own members. Every minister, at his ordination, promises subjection to his brethren in the Lord; that is, he promises to recognise the authority of the Presbytery, and the other ecclesiastical bodies, as exercised agreeably to the constitution of the Church, and to submit to their decisions. He receives his office from the hands of the Presbytery, and it is in the power of that body, on sufficient grounds, and after a fair trial, to suspend or depose him. It is, however, provided that no charge shall be received against a minister of the Gospel, unless on the responsibility of some competent accuser, or on the ground of public scandal. When a minister is accused, either of error in doctrine or immorality of conduct, he is regularly cited to answer the charge; he is informed of the witnesses who are to appear against him, and full time is allowed for the preparation of his defence. In short, all the formalities which are the safeguards of justice are scrupulously regarded, so as to secure a fair trial to any accused member.

With the Presbytery the organization of a Presbyterian church is complete. So long as the number of ministers and churches is so small that they can conveniently meet at the same time and place, there is no need of any superior body. The formation of Synods and a General Assembly becomes necessary only when the Church is too large to be comprised under one Presbytery. It is desirable that the governing body should meet at least twice annually. This cannot be done when the members of that body are very numerous, and scattered over a great extent of country. To remedy this inconvenience, instead of one presbytery embracing all the ministers and churches, several are formed, each exercising its functions within prescribed limits, and all meeting annually as a Synod.

Presbytery. Agreeably to this system, it must be composed of at least three Presbyteries. All the ministers within its bounds, and one elder from each Session, have a right to act as members. From 1705 to 1716 there was but one Presbytery. The number of ministers and churches had, at the latter date, so increased that three Presbyteries were formed, which continued to meet as a Synod until 1787, when convenience suggested the division of the body into four Synods, under a representative assembly, composed of delegates from all the Presbyteries. Under the present system, the Synod is a body that intervenes between the Presbytery and General Assembly. It has power to receive and determine all appeals regularly brought up from the Presbyteries; to decide all references made to them; to review the records of Presbyteries, and to approve or censure them; to redress whatever has been done by the Presbyteries contrary to order; to take effectual care that Presbyteries observe the constitution of the Church; to erect new presbyteries, and unite or divide those which were before erected; and, generally, to take such order with respect to the Presbyteries, Sessions, and people under their care, as may be in conformity with the Word of God and the established rules, and which tend to promote the edification of the Church; and, finally, to propose to the General As

sembly, for its adoption, such measures as, synod, or that shall hereafter be admitted may be of common advantage to the whole Church.