PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. A Presbytery is a body composed of several presbyters, viz. of all the ministers, and one ruling elder from each church in a certain limit, over whom it keeps a general oversight. Its jurisdiction is that of an appellate judicatory to the sessions, and has original authority over them, as they have over the churches. It has also the exclusive power of examining and licensing candidates for the ministry, ordaining ministers, authorizing their transition from one church to another, and resolving questions of doctrine or discipline submitted to them. They are responsible to the Synod, a convention of ministers and elders, delegated from the presbyteries of a certain district; it receives appeals from their decisions, reviews their records, erects new presbyteries when necessary, and suggests to the General Assembly such measures as are supposed to require legislation. In the General Assembly, all the churches are represented by delegates, both ministers and elders, called commissioners, appointed annually by the presbyteries. It is the final court of appeal and reference, reviews the proceedings of the Synods, and has a general superintendence of the concerns of the church of which it is the organ. This body meets annually at such place as it may have adjourned to. In 1834 there were in connexion with the Assembly 2648 congregations, 1914 bishops, with 236 licentiates, making 2150 preachers, and 247,964 communicants. In that year, 5738 adults and 13,004 infants were baptized. This church has always considered missionary labours an object of importance. Before the General Assembly was formed, the Synods of New York and Philadelphia enjoined on all their churches to make collections for sending the gospel to the destitute. When the Assembly was formed in 1789, the missionary cause claimed their first and especial attention. The Gener Assembly is thus among the oldest my bodies in our land. The Presbyterian ch has had her missionaries among the part among the destitute of our own citizens, be many of the valuable institutions of our day hal existence. In 1834, about $114.687 were reported as collected for the cause of missions, and ax 230 missionaries ministered to upwards of w congregations. The education of young men for the greje ministry also claimed the early attention of t Assembly. In 1817, this business was comme to a board of education, which at this time t more than 64 candidates for the gospel ma Nearly $50,000 were collected for this board a the year ending 1835. In 1810, the Assembly resolved to establist a Theological Seminary. At that time there arm four hundred congregations without a The location was subsequently fixed at Princeton, in New Jersey, and the institution was opened there in August, 1812. The average r of students is about one hundred and Twenty-three scholarships have been endised in the principal sum of $2500 each, for the s port of that number of students, who are unbe to pay for their education; and funds for three professorships, of $25,000 each, are accumtates Another seminary was founded by the Assemb in 1825, at Alleghenytown, near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. There are several others which are supported and governed independentis. by various Synods. It should be mentioned that all the institutions connected with the Assembly, are supported by voluntary contributions; and that, consequently, their efficiency and permanence are dependent, wholly, upon the annual continu ance of individual support. 464 THE polity of the original Wesleyan Methodist question have they been so equally divided. No Societies rested upon the principle, that their changes, however, have been effected. The epis illustrious Founder had the right to ordain every copacy still maintains its prerogatives in their orithing, and to control every preacher and member ginal integrity. of his societies, in all matters of a prudential character. As he himself states, he had the exclusive power "to appoint when, and where, and how, his societies should meet; and to remove those whose lives showed that they had no desire to flee from the wrath to come.' And this power remained the same, whether the people meeting together, were twelve hundred, or twelve thousand." He exercised a similar power over the preachers, To appoint each of these, when, where, and how, to labour; and to tell any if I saw cause, 'I do not desire your help any longer.'' Most of the members of these Societies were members of the Church of England; some were members of the dissenting churches. Mr. Wesley was a minister of the Church of England, and as such he died. With very few exceptions, his preachers were laymen. He was their tutor and governor. He was the patron of all the Methodist pulpits in England and Ireland for life, the sole right of nomination being vested in him by the deeds of settlement. He was the patron of the Methodist societies in America; and is acknowledged by the Methodist Episcopal Church as its founder. That he is the author of the Episcopacy of that church, is questioned by some, for the following reasons, as well as many others: 1. It was not until some years after the institution of Episcopacy, (1784,) that Mr. Wesley's authority was alleged as its basis; but, without any mention of Mr. Wesley, the itinerant preachers declared in their first "Minutes"-" We will form ourselves into an Episcopal Church, &c." 2. Mr. Wesley alleged no other authority in himself to ordain ministers, but his right as a presbyter. 3. He solemnly forbade Mr. Asbury to assume the title of bishop. The Conference by whom the Methodist Episcopal Church was founded, was composed of itinerant preachers only, who assumed to themselves the same powers which Mr. Wesley had exercised over the societies; making their will the only rule of the church. Some of the first symptoms indicative of distisfaction with the new economy, were evinced by these preachers themselves, who were soon made to know the powers of the episcopacy. On no In 1824, memorials and petitions, from many sections of the church, were presented to the General Conference, complaining of the government being so constituted and administered, as to exclude the local preachers, and the lay-members from every sort of participation in their own government, as Methodists. Some of these petitioners were satisfied with the plea of expediency; but the most of them took the ground of right. All of them craved a representative form of government. The conference replied, that they "knew no such rights," nor did they "comprehend any such privileges." From that time the controversy assumed a new character. It was viewed as itinerant power against church rights. Therefore, as soon as the general conference had risen, a meeting of professed reformers was held; some of the members of which had been distinguished members of the recent conference. The continuance of the periodical was resolved upon, "for the purpose of giving the Methodist community a suitable opportunity to enter upon a calm and dispassionate examination of the subjects in dispute." In order to ascertain and increase the number of reformers, union societies were formed. These measures were the causes of considerable persecution, and in some places of excommunications. Secessions immediately followed. The expelled and the secedents united, temporarily, under the "General Rules" of John and Charles Wesley. In November, 1827, a General Convention of ministers and lay-delegates was held in the city of Baltimore; a memorial to the general conference to be held in 1828 was prepared, and a committer appointed to present it. This memorial asserted the right of the church to representation. But, instead of any concession, the conference denied the right altogether; and, on the high pretension of divine right, claimed for the itineracy the same exclusive and unamenable powers of making and administering moral discipline, which they had from the beginning exercised. This was a deathblow to all hope on the part of the reformers; and, therefore, at a convention held in Baltimore, No vember, 1828, a provisional government, under the form of Articles of Association, was adopted, to continue for two years. THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH. The third convention was also held in Baltimore, and continued its sessions from the 2d to the 23d of November, 1830. One hundred and twelve persons were elected as members, eightyone of whom attended. A Constitution and Form of Discipline were adopted. PREAMBLE. "XI. The church ought to secure to all her of ficial bodies the necessary authority for the par poses of good government; but she has no ght to create any distinct or independent sovereignties. On these principles, the CONSTITUTION AN FORM OF DISCIPLINE are founded. PROTESTANT CHURCH, comprising the Assoc Methodist Churches." This title is deemed able, because this church repudiates minstem supremacy, as did the Protestants of the six Article I. declares the title-"THE METHODST century. "WE, the Representatives of the Associated Methodist Churches, in general convention assembled, acknowledging the LORD JESUS CHRIST as the only HEAD of the Church, and the word of GoD as the sufficient rule of faith and practice in all things pertaining to godliness; and being fully persuaded, that the representative form of church government is the most scriptural, best suited to our condition, and most congenial with our views and feelings as fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God; Whereas, a written constitution, establishing the AND, form of government, and securing to the ministers and members of the church their rights and privileges, is the best safeguard of christian liberty; We, therefore, trusting in the protection of Al-cuits, and stations, by the representatives of the Art. III. Provides for divisions of distrira, or mighty God, and acting in the name and by the churches, in general and annual conferences authority of our constituents, do ordain and establish, and agree to be governed by the following elementary principles and constitution. ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES. "I. A Christian Church is a society of believers in JESUS CHRIST, and is of divine institution. "II. CHRIST is the only HEAD of the Church; and the word of God the only rule of faith and conduct. "III. No person who loves the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and obeys the gospel of God our Saviour, ought to be deprived of church membership. IV. Every man has an inalienable right to private judgment in matters of religion; and an equal right to express his opinion in any way which will not violate the laws of God, or the rights of his fellow men. V. Church trials should be conducted on gospel principles only; and no minister or member should be excommunicated, except for immorality, the propagation of unchristian doctrines, or for the neglect of duties enjoined by the word of God. VI. The pastoral or ministerial office and duties are of divine appointment; and all elders in the church of God are equal; but ministers are forbidden to be lords over God's heritage, or to have dominion over the faith of the saints. "VII. The church has a right to form and enforce such rules and regulations only as are in accordance with the holy Scriptures, and may be necessary, or have a tendency, to carry into effect the great system of practical christianity. a terms of membership, which do not differ in Article II. Fixes probationary privileges i those in the Methodist Episcopal Church, e as regarding "the children of our members and those under their guardianship [who] shall be held as candidates for membership; and may be cognized as enjoying probationary privileges and put into classes, as such, with the consent of their parents and guardians." sembled. 66 Art. IV. "On receiving churches, &c. vides the mode of receiving churches into the general association; declares what constitutes an individual Associated Methodist church, to wit 'Any number of members residing sufficiently near each other to assemble statedly for public worship, and to transact its temporalnesssmaller companies or classes, for the purposes of and provides for the division of churches into religious instruction and edification. No church can be continued in connexion with the gener body, but by conforming to the constitution and book of discipline. Art. V. Of "Leaders' Meetings" Art. VI. Constitutes quarterly conferences, to horters, stewards, leaders, and trustees be composed of all the ministers, preachers exthe latter have also the qualification of full church membership. This article also forbids the heening of any one "to preach until he shall have been of five, composed of ministers and laymen, chosen first examined, and recommended by a communistev by the quarterly conference." VIII. Whatever power may be necessary to the formation of rules and regulations, is inherent in the ministers and members of the church; but so much of that power may be delegated, from declares their powers and duties. They are cam Art. VII. Constitutes annual conferences, and The powers and duties of these bodies are of the posed of equal numbers of ministers and delegates utmost importance to the churches and the gener connexion. They are vested with powers to c president annually; to examine into the offical and preachers; to elect to orders; to bear and conduct of all their members; to receive masters decide on appeals; to define and regulate bounds ries of circuits and stations; to station minsten &c. To make such special rules and regulations time to time, upon a plan of representation, as as the peculiarities of their conference districts they may judge necessary and proper. IX. It is the duty of all ministers and members of the church to maintain godliness, and to oppose all moral evil. "X. It is obligatory on rainisters of the gospel to be faithful in the discharge of their pastoral and ministerial duties; and it is also obligatory on the members to esteem ministers highly for their works' sake, and to render them a righteous compensation for their labours. 466 may require, not inconsistent with the constitution to consist of an equal number of ministers and Art. VIII. Provides for a general conference, ter is permitted to have a seat in this body but laymen, to be chosen by the churches. No min election of the ministers and laymen. So that the members of this body will be, indeed, the re sentatives of those for whom they legislate one will have a seat in virtue of his own right, of ordination, nor ministerial order, nor office. THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH. Art. IX. Declares the powers of the general conference to be, "To make rules and regulations." It is the supreme legislature of the church. Art. X. Consists of "Restrictions on the legis lative assemblies," including the general and annual conferences. "1. No rule shall be passed which shall contravene any law of God. "2. No rule shall be passed which shall infringe the right of suffrage, eligibility to office, or the rights and privileges of our ministers, preachers, and members, to an impartial trial by committee, and of an appeal, as provided by this constitution. "3. No rule shall be passed infringing the liberty of speech, or of the press; but for every abuse of liberty the offender shall be dealt with as in other cases of indulging sinful words and tempers. "4. No rule, except it be founded on the holy Scriptures, shall be passed, authorising the expulsion of any minister, preacher, or member. of God, or the indulgence in sinful words and 3. For preaching or disseminating unscriptural Art. XIV. "Privileges of accused Ministers and Members.-1. In all cases of accusation against a minister, preacher, or member, the accused shall be furnished by the proper authorities, with a copy of the charges and specifications, at least twenty days before the time appointed for the trial; unless the parties concerned prefer going into trial on shorter notice. The accused shall have the right of challenge; the privilege of examining witnesses at the time of trial, and of making his defence in person or by representative; provided such representative be a member of the "5. No rule shall be passed, appropriating the funds of the church to any purpose except the support of the ministry, their wives, widows, and children; the promotion of education, and missions; the diffusion of useful knowledge; the ne-church. cessary expenses consequent on assembling the conferences, and the relief of the poor. "6. No higher order of ministers shall be authorised than that of elder. "7. No rule shall be passed to abolish an efficient itinerant ministry, or to authorise the annual conferences to station their ministers and preachers longer than three years successively in the same circuit, and two years successively in the same station. "8. No changes shall be made in the relative proportions or component parts of the general or annual conferences." Art. XI. Declares how presidents of annual conferences shall be elected, their time of service and duties. The term is one year; the same person may be chosen for three successive years. The duties of ministers, as pastors, &c., and of other officers of the church, are defined. Art. XII. Declares the right of suffrage, and eligibility to office. "2. No minister, or preacher, shall be expelled, or deprived of church privileges or ministerial functions, without an impartial trial before a committee of from three to five ministers or preachers, and the right of appeal: the preachers, to the ensuing quarterly conference; the ministers to the ensuing annual conference. "3. No member shall be expelled or deprived of church privileges, without an impartial trial before. a committee of three or more lay members, or before the society of which he is a member, as the accused may require, and the right of an appeal to the ensuing quarterly conference; but no committee-man who shall have sat on the first trial, shall sit on the appeal; and all appeals shall be final." Art. XV. "Discipline Judiciary.-1. Whenever a majority of all the annual conferences shall officially call for a judicial decision on any rule or act of the general conference, it shall be the duty of each and every annual conference to appoint, at 1. Every minister and preacher, and every its next session, one judicial delegate, having the white, lay, male member, in full communion and same qualifications of eligibility as are required fellowship, having attained to the age of twenty-for a representative to the general conference. The one years, shall be entitled to vote in all cases. "3. No person shall be eligible as a delegate to the annual conference, or as a steward, who has not attained to the age of twenty-one years, and who is not a regular communicant of this church. "4. No minister shall be eligible to the office of president of an annual conference, until he shall have faithfully exercised the office of elder two years." Art. XIII. "Judiciary Principles.-1. All of fences condemned by the word of God, as being sufficient to exclude a person from the kingdom of grace and glory, shall subject ministers, preachers, and members, to expulsion from the church. "2. The neglect of duties required by the word delegates thus chosen shall assemble at the place where the general conference held its last session, on the second Tuesday in May following their appointment. 2. A majority of the delegates shall constitute a quorum; and if two thirds of all present judge said rule or act of the general conference unconstitutional, they shall have power to declare the same null and void. "3. Every decision of the judiciary shall be in writing, and shall be published in the periodical belonging to this church. After the judiciary shall have performed the duties assigned them by this constitution, their powers shall cease; and no other judiciary shall be created until after the session of the succeeding general conference. "Resolved, That the judiciary tribunal provided for by the 15th article of the constitution of this church, shall publish as well the reasons of their opinion upon the part or provision of the constitution supposed to have been contravened by the THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH. law or laws, provision or provisions, considered to [ and candid reflection and discussion; and which be unconstitutional, together with their decision." is based, as is believed, on the clearest praciples Art. XVI. "Special call of the General Con- of the natural and religious rights of man. The ference.-1. Two thirds of the whole number of moral regulations have also been carefully and the annual conferences, shall have power to call studiously framed in view of the precepts and special meetings of the general conference. thority of the sacred canon, and will be fom! "2. When it shall have been ascertained that it is also believed, to be sustained by that begi two thirds of the annual conferences have decided sanction." in favour of such call, it shall be the duty of the presidents, or a majority of them, forthwith to designate the time and place of holding the same, and to give due notice to all the stations and circuits." Art. XVII. "Provision for altering the Constitution.-1. The General Conference shall have power to amend any part of this constitution, except the second, tenth, and fourteenth articles, by making such alterations or additions, as may be recommended in writing, by two thirds of the whole number of the annual conferences, next preceding the sitting of the general conference. "2. The second, tenth, and fourteenth articles of this constitution shall be unalterable, except by a general convention, called for the special purpose, by two thirds of the whole number of the annual conferences, next preceding the general conference. Which convention, and all other conventions of this church, shall be constituted and elected in the same manner and ratio as prescribed for the general conference. When a general convention is called by the annual conferences, it shall supersede the assembling of the general conference for that period; and shall have power to discharge all the duties of that body, in addition to the particular object for which the convention shall have been assembled. Whereas, It is declared by this convention, that whatever power may be necessary to the formation of rules and regulations, is inherent in the ministers and members of the church; and that so much of that power may be delegated from time to time, upon a plan of representation, as they may judge proper; therefore, Resolved, that all powers not delegated to the respective official bodies of the Methodist Protestant Church by this convention, are retained to said ministers and members." "The convention deemed it matter of unspeakable joy and gratitude, that, under the control and blessing of Almighty God, the deliberations were brought to so favourable an issue. The church is now sacredly confederated, in virtue of an instrument which had been the result of much intense 468 The Articles of Religion, means of grace, p lic and social, are the same in this church a the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Fate laries of Baptism and of ordination, are altered some particulars, so as to suit the new ecozy. the former of which is adapted to a probaanary relation of children; and, the latter reco no imposition of hands but in the ordination d deacons and elders. As this church has no new religious or mea doctrines, professed to be found in the scripts to offer to the public, but rests its pretensions to favour on the ground common to all orthod nominations; its superiority as a Methodist munity can be argued only in view of its gover ment. And in this view it is stated, "that m country distinguished by representation and s federation, it is of the highest importance that a the societies and associations, religious, literary or of whatever character, which have risen under the fostering care, and receive the continual tection, of its civil institutions, should, as far as cir cumstances will admit, be organized upon principles of equality and mutual confidence, and in respectful reference to the undisputed excellence and value of those institutions." If this reasoning be incontrovertible, of how inconceivably more importance is it for churches to conform to the precepts, principles, and examples of the New Testament, which forbid all masterdom on one hand, and all servitude on the other, in the relations of ministers and members of christian churches. The Methodist Protestant Church is, at present composed of churches and societies in sixteen of these United States, and in Lower Canadia There are thirteen annual conference disints. Vermont, Boston, New York and Lower Cach East Virginia, North Carolina, Tennesse, Ger Gennessee, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland gia, Alabama, and Ohio, districts, including being yet ascertained and about 100 itinera some thousands of members-the numbers not preachers, and some three hundred, perhaps, but itinerant, in the strict sense of that term. |