COPYRIGHT, 1388, 1895 1904, 1913, BY THE TRUSTEes of the PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION Published October, 1838. Re-issued Sept., 1895-May, 1904-February, 1913. PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION OF 1913. APPRECIATING the generous favor with which the previous editions of this Manual have been received, we are encouraged to hope that this revised and enlarged edition may prove still more acceptable and useful to those for whom it is designed the pastors, elders, and communicants of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. J Keeping in view its original design as a book of ready reference to the provisions of our Standards, and to the acts and decisions of our General Assembly, we have embodied in this edition the amendments recently made to the Confession of Faith, the Form of Government, and the Book of Discipline, together with the deliverances of the General Assembly, bringing them to the present time, inclusive of the year 1912. This edition also contains a new, enlarged, and carefully prepared analytical index with references concisely arranged, so that without laborious search and at a glance may be obtained the desired information respect MBIK ing questions of law and usage, and of subjects in general which pertain to the deliberations of our judicatories. We renew the expression of hope that the Manual, in its revised form, may commend itself to the officers and members of our Church, and encourage the study of our excellent Standards. BENJAMIN F. BITTINGER, WILLIAM HENRY ROBERTS. INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY THE STATED CLERK OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 'THIS Manual of Presbyterian law and usage differs from other similar works in that the topics or subjects are arranged in an alphabetical order. Such an arrangement greatly facilitates reference to any work, more especially one dealing with the intricacies of ecclesiastical law and procedure. Commendable in its plan, the Manual is also brief, compact and portable in its form. It is, in fact, an alphabetical index to the government and discipline of the Church and to the decisions of the General Assembly. It may be, in addition, regarded in the light of a supplement to the other excellent works in the same line published by the Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work. Side by side with these latter works, Bittinger's Manual is heartily commended to the ministers, ruling elders and members of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. This new edition has been revised and enlarged by me at the request of my life-long friend, Dr. Bittinger. WILLIAM HENRY ROBERTS. |