in each Presbytery, or for each fractional number of ministers not less than twelve.-M. G. A. 1885, pp. 629, 630.

240 In 1886 an amendment was adopted giving permission to each church, by a vote of members in full communion, to elect deacons for a limited term of years.-F. G., chap. xiii., sec. viii.; M. G. A. 1886, p. 109.

241 In 1884 the Directory for Worship was amended by the revision of Chapter X. (now XI.); and in 1886 further amended, by the insertion of a new chapter, VI., entitled "Of the Worship of God by Offerings."—M. G. A. 1884, p. 31; * 1886, p. 106.

242 In 1887 the Assembly instructed the Board of Publication and Sabbath-school Work to place on the title-page of all future editions of the Constitution or of the Form of Government the following words—viz.: “As adopted by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia in 1788; amended by the Presbyteries and ratified by the General Assembly, 1821-1887."—M. G. A. 1887, p. 138. (See Sec. 253.)

243 In 1893 a constitutional rule, No. 1, was adopted making it lawful for a Presbytery, after proper examination as to piety, knowledge of the Scriptures, and ability to teach, to license as a local evangelist any male member of the Church who, in the judgment of the Presbytery, is qualified to teach the gospel.

244 Such license shall be valid one year, unless renewed, and may be withdrawn at any time.

245 The evangelist shall report to the Presbytery at least once a year. He shall not be ordained, however,

* The words "Form of Government," in the declaration of the moderator, in M. G. A. p. 31, are a misprint for "Directory of Worship."

until after serving as a local evangelist at least four years, and shall have pursued and been examined in what would be equivalent to three years' course of study in Theology, Homiletics, Church History, Church Polity and the English Bible under direction of Presbytery.-M. 1893, p. 200. 246 For form of license of such evangelist, see Sec. 565.

247 In 1891, Sec. vi. of Chapter xii. of Form of Government was striken out and an amendment adopted for the insertion of a new section as follows: Before any overture or enactment proposed by the Assembly to be established as rules regulative of the constitutional powers of Presbyteries and Synods shall be obligatory on the Church, it shall be necessary to transmit them to all the Presbyteries and to receive the returns of a majority of them in writing approving thereof, and such rules when approved shall be appended to the Constitution of the Church."-M., pp. 141, 142.

248 In 1894 the Form of Government was amended as follows: In Chap. x. Sec. viii., after the word "appeals" insert " complaints and references." After the words "church Sessions," strike out the words "and references." After the words “in an orderly manner" insert the following clause: "and in the trial of judicial cases the Presbytery shall have power to appoint and act by a judicial commission."-M., 176.

249 In 1894 the Assembly declared adopted an overture substituting the following Chapter xiii., entitled "Judicial Commissions," for Sec. 118 of the Book of Discipline, viz. (See Secs. 1115-1128.)

250 The General Assembly, each Synod, and each

Presbytery under its care, shall have power to appoint Judicial Commissions from their respective bodies, consisting of ministers and elders, in number not less than eighteen (18) from the General Assembly, not less than twelve (12) from any Synod, and not less than seven (7) from any Presbytery.-B. D., 118. Amended, see Sec. 1115.

251 All judicial cases may be submitted to such Commissions, and their decisions shall be subject to reversal only by the superior judicatory or judicatories, except in matters of law, which shall be referred to the appointing judicatory for adjudication; and also all matters of Constitution and doctrine may be reviewed in the appointing body and by the superior judicatory or judicatories.-B. D., 119. Amended, see Sec. 1115.

252 Such Commissions shall sit at the same time and place as the body appointing them, and their findings shall be entered upon the minutes of the appointing body; provided, however, that a Commission appointed by a Presbytery may also sit during the intervals between the meetings of the appointing Presbytery. The quorum of any such Commission shall not be less in number than three-fourths of the members appointed, and shall be the same in all other respects as the quorum of the appointing judicatory.-B. D., 120. Amended, see Sec. 1115.

253 In 1888 the Assembly ordered the title-page of the Constitution to be in the following form, viz.: “The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America; containing the Confession of Faith, the Catechisms and the Directory for Worship, together with the Plan of Government and Discipline—as ratified and adopted by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia in

the year of our Lord, 1788, and as amended in the years 1805-1888.-M., p. 59.

254 In 1894 the Assembly ordered new proof texts for the Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, in the place of those hitherto used.-M., p. 160.

255 No change of the text of any of our standards of Doctrine, Discipline and Worship, shall be made unless by due constitutional procedure.-M. G. A. 1891, p. 37.

256 Subscription to our standards by all who enter office in our Church involves the recognition of the Sacred Books as the only infallible rule of faith and practice.-M. G. A. 1892, p. 179.

257 If any shall change their belief on this point, Christian honor demands their withdrawal from our ministry.—M. G. A. 1892, p. 180.

258 If any shall disseminate their errors from either the pulpit or the chair of the professor they shall be dealt with by their Presbyteries for violation of their ordination vows.-M. G. A. 1892, p. 180.

259 The vow taken at the beginning is obligatory on the party taking it until he is honorably and properly released, and the Assembly enjoins all ministers, elders and Presbyteries to be faithful to the duty here imposed.-M. G. A. 1892, p. 180. See Secs. 1175, 1177.

260 Corresponding Members.-Ministers in regular standing in other Presbyteries and Synods may be invited to sit as corresponding members, also ministers in sister-denominations, the privilege allowing them to deliberate, but not to vote.-F. G., chap. x., sec. xi.; xi., sec. iii.

261 In the General Assembly the privilege is granted

to the secretaries of our Boards in discussions bearing upon the interests of the Boards which they severally represent.-M. G. A. 1870, p. 85.

262 The privilege is also granted to the permanent officers of a judicatory in matters touching their several offices.-G. A. R. xlii.

263 Deacons.-The Scriptures clearly point out deacons as distinct officers in the Church whose business it is to take care of the poor and to distribute among them the collections which may be raised for their use.-F. G., chap. vi.

264 To the deacons may be properly committed the management of the temporal affairs of the Church.-F. G., chap. vi.

265 Deacons shall be elected in the mode most approved and in use in a particular congregation. But in all cases they must be males in full communion in the church in which they are to exercise their office.-F. G., chap. xiii. sec. ii.

266 A deacon shall be set apart in the following manner: After sermon the minister shall state in a concise manner the warrant and nature of the office of deacon, together with the character proper to be sustained and the duties to be fulfilled by the officer-elect. Having done this, he shall propose to the candidate, in the presence of the congregation, the following questions—viz. :

1. 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?

2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the confession of faith of this Church as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures ?