“But the action complained of by the dissentients relates to a very different class of cases. The individuals in question have absented themselves from the church with which they are connected, and after diligent inquiry cannot be found. They are, therefore, beyond the reach of citation. They cannot possibly be brought to trial. Shall the Church, in such cases, be responsible for them? As they have placed themselves beyond the oversight of the Church, it is but reasonable that the Church should be permitted to secure itself against any reproach which might come upon it from the conduct of such absentees.

"In accordance with these principles, the Constitution of our Church makes provision (Book of Discipline, chapter xi), for the case of absent church members. It relieves the Church from the responsibility of sustaining a certificate of good standing when it has run on for more than one year. It implies that a church member may not absent himself a longer time from the ordinances, without a forfeiture of his good standing. In those cases, therefore, where individuals have absented themselves for years together, and after the most diligent inquiry cannot be found, it is but right that the Session of the church to which they are amenable should make entry of the fact on their records, and declare such persons to have forfeited their good standing, until they return and account for their absence. Such was the judgment of the Assembly of 1825, with which this Assembly perfectly accords."

The Rev. S. Holmes moved a reconsideration of the action of the Assembly in reference to the Records of the Synod of New York and New Jersey.

The motion was lost.-Minutes, 1853, p. 327.

8. Members who wish to be released from their Obligations.

The Committee on the Polity of the Church reported a paper, "asking what shall be done with certain Church members, against whose moral character no charges can be made, but who wish to be released from their Church obligations. The committee recommend that such cases be referred to the sound discretion of the Sessions to which such persons may be answerable; reminding the Sessions, that it is a fundamental law of the Church that no person can be suspended from the communion of the Church, or have any other penalty inflicted, without regular citation and trial, according to the form prescribed in our Book of Discipline."

The report was recommitted, "with instructions to report, that no new order be taken in the case."-Minutes, 1859, pp. 17, 18.

Subsequently, "The report of the Committee on the Case of Delinquent Church Members was taken up, and it was resolved, in accordance with their recommendation, that the provisions of the Book of Discipline are all that is needed.”—Minutes, 1859, p. 48.

CHAPTER II.

OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.

SECTION 1.-DEACONS.

1. Have no juridical power.-2. Their duty consists in distributing the charities of the Church to the poor.-3. To be ordained in the same manner as Ruling Elders.-4. The duties of Trustees and Deacons not identical, and Ministers not ex-officio members or Presidents of the Board of Trustees.

1. Deacons have no Juridical Powers.

"We need only represent unto you the ends and institution of Scripture Deacons, and that there is no juridical power allowed them in the Scriptures."-Minutes, 1716, p. 42.

2. Their Duty consists in distributing the Charities of the Church to the Poor.

The committee on Overture No. 4, viz., a reference from the Presbytery of West Tennessee, requesting an answer to the two following questions, viz., 1. What are the nature and duties of the office of deacon? 2. What is the Scriptural and appropriate mode of ordination ?-made the following report, which was adopted, viz.:

In answer to the first inquiry, "What are the nature and duties of the office of deacon ?" we reply: The answer we conceive to be explicitly given in our Form of Government, chapter vi. Their duties there. are plainly made to consist in distributing the charities of the church to which they belong, to the poor of that church. Over charities collected for any other purpose than those specified, their office gives them no control. In addition to this the temporalities of the church generally may be committed to their care.-Minutes, 1833, p. 405.

3. To be ordained in the same manner as Ruling Elders.

In answer to the second inquiry, "What is the Scriptural and appropriate mode of ordaining them?" we reply: Our Form of Government, chap. xiii, sec. 4, declares that such, whether Elder or Deacon, shall be set apart to their respective offices by prayer. The imposition of hands, however, we are aware, in many of our churches, is practised, and, as it is plainly in accordance with apostolic example, it is the opinion of the committee that it is proper and lawful. We conceive that every church in this respect may with propriety be left to adopt either of these two modes, as they think suitable and best.-Minutes, 1833, p. 405.

4. The appointment of Trustees, not inconsistent with Presbyterianism; their Duties distinct from those of Deacons. Ministers are not exofficio Members or President of the Board of Trustees.

"It is not inconsistent with the Presbyterian plan of government, nor the institution of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Trustees, or a committee chosen by the Congregation, should have the disposal and application of the public money raised by said Congregation, to the uses for which it was designed; provided that they leave in the hands and to the management of the Deacons, what is collected for the Lord's table, and the poor. And that Ministers of the Gospel, by virtue of their office, have no right to sit with or preside over such Trustees or committees.”—Minutes, 1752, p. 249.

SECTION 2.-RULING ELDERS.

1. The Eldership is essential to the existence of a Presbyterian Church.-2. Elders must be duly elected.-3. Mode of Election.-4. Who are electors of Ruling Elders and Deacons ?-a. Baptized persons only, legal voters.-b. No distinction is to be made as to the ages of the voters.-5. The office of a Ruling Elder is perpetual. Form of Government, chap. xiii, sec. 6. Election for a term of years is irregular, but not invalid.-6. An Elder may resign his office. Form of Government, chap. xiii, sec. 6.-7. In which case he has no seat in any Church court.-8. An Elder cannot hold office in two churches at the same time, nor adjudicate in a church in which he is not an Elder.-9. Elders censured for leaving, and also for non-attendance upon Church courts.-10. An

Elder who may sit in Presbytery, may sit in Synod by the same right.-11. Every church having a stated supply, entitled to be represented by an Elder.12. A Minister with one Elder, may form a Session, if there be but one Elder.13. Restoration to Church privileges, does not restore to office.-14. Elders are not to participate in the ordination of Ministers, by the laying on of hands.

1. The Eldership essential to the Existence of a Presbyterian Church.

"The report of the Committee to Examine the Records of the Synod of the Western Reserve was taken up and adopted; and is as follows, viz. : That the records be approved, with the exception of the sentiment on page 154, viz., that the Eldership is not essential to the existence of the Presbyterian Church. In the opinion of the committee, the Synod advance a sentiment that contravenes the principles recognized in our Form of Government, chap. ii, sec. 4; chap. iii, sec. 5; chap. v; chap. ix, sects. 1, 2."-Minutes, 1833, p. 404.

[This does not prevent the forming of congregations for religious worship, where they "may not have suitable persons among them to sustain the office of Ruling Elder." See ante, p. 37.]

2. Elders must be duly elected.

"The following inquiry was referred to the decision of the Assembly, by the Synod of the Carolinas, viz.:

"In what point of light are the Elders, nominated and ordained by Mr. Balch, to be viewed hereafter in Mount Bethel Congregation?

"It was determined by the Assembly that the Elders' mentioned in the inquiry, are to be henceforth viewed as private Church members only, unless they be duly elected and set apart as Church officers hereafter."-Minutes, 1798, p. 158.

3. Mode of Election.

"Every congregation shall elect persons to the office of ruling elder, and to the office of deacon, or either of them, in the mode most approved and in use in that congregation."-Form of Government, chap. xiii,

sec. 2.

a.

"And while the Assembly would recognize the undoubted right of each congregation to elect their elders in the mode most approved and in use among them, they would recommend that in all cases where any