perverted, by any causes compatible with the existence of the human family. A total perversion of all 'the rules of morality, in any community of men, must speedily effect its own cure; the innumerarable disorders and miseries which must flow from such a state of things, could not fail to bring them back to some sense of reason and justice; otherwise their entire destruction would be the consequence.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Letter II.

Existing Evils.

Dear Sir,-According to my promise, I proceed to notice some of the evils connected with the present organization of the General Assembly.

The body itself is too large. This is the principal evil, and perhaps the origin of all which I mean to name. No complaints of this evil were heard until the spring of 1818, when there were one hundred and thirty-five members present in the Assembly. Previously there had been no cause of such complaints; the number had never much exceeded one hundred, and there had seldom been more than from seventy to ninety. But when the Assembly found an increase of thirty members at once, and a prospect of rapid augmentation, they took the alarm, and passed a resolution, requesting the Presbyteries to alter the ratio of representation, from six to nine ministers for every two commissioners. In the preamble to the resolution, the Assembly recognise the "great number of delegates" composing their body as the primary evil to be remedied -and an important object to be gained by the resolution was, "to facilitate the despatch of business."

Whoever is acquainted with the proceedings of publick assemblies, will need no argument to convince him that seventy or eighty members are as many as can conveniently and profitably engage in the deliberations. This is true of parliaments, congress, and legislaturesmore especially is it manifest in ecclesiastical assemblies. A body of men, unwieldy from its very numbers, will always be found doubly so, when composed principally of those in habits of publick speaking, and accustomed to exert an influence almost without contradiction. It is to be expected that such men will not only deliberate and vote, but speak their sentiments on all important subjects before them, and on many occasions give utterance to their impatience of opposition. The inevitable consequences of such a state of things will be, much useless debate, confusion, and delay, in the transaction of business.

An appeal to the recollection of those who have attended all, or any one of the last seven assemblies, would furnish proof that the evil exists, and calls for some immediate remedy. It has been a common remark, widely circulated, that our delegation is too numerous.

When this subject shall be well considered, it will be found that many evils grow out of the large representation of which I complain.

Waste of time in the mere political concerns of the meeting, is not too trifling to be noticed. The organization of so large a body must necessarily occupy much time-the examination of one hundred and fifty, or two hundred commissions and choice of the officers, are tedious. Calling the roll at every opening-taking the question on every division of the house-selection of committees and many questions of order, arising from the number and confusion of members, occupy no small part of each day.

Such loss of time must be considered an evil, when the sittings of the body are protracted to three weeks.

To all this, add the waste of time in useless debate; and no inconsiderable proportion of the hours appointed for business, from the opening to the rising of the assembly, may be reckoned as lost. It will probably be said, there may be useless debate in small as well as in large bodies; but experience proves that the same men are more inclined to protract debate in a large, than in a small assembly. The fact accords with the principles of human nature, verified in all deliberative bodies, civil or ecclesiastical.

I ought here, in justice, to add the whole time of nearly one half the members attending, as lost to the church. Some of them, it is true, may gain advantage to themselves, in health and mental culture, which they would not have gained at home, employed directly for the good of others. But it is extremely doubtful whether the loss is at all counterbalanced by any such gain.

Unnecessary expense is another evil, not to be forgotten in the present state of things. This was referred to by the Assembly of 1818, in the document already noticed, as one of the reasons for lessening the representation. The same consideration had its influence in the alteration of 1825. The majority of presbyteries considered this an evil, and sanctioned what was considered a remedy. Those who have access to the treasurer's account of the monies received for the commissioners' fund, will perceive that about two thousand dollars are annually paid to that fund, which probably defrays about one half the expenses of members. The whole expense is therefore more than four thousand dollars-one half of which is unnecessary. Here are two thousand dollars lost, which would enable twenty feeble congregations VOL. V. Ch. Adv.

to support a pastor, on the plan pursued by the Home Missionary Society. But I need not calculate the value of such a sum, expended in missionary operations-in educating young men for the ministry

in the endowments of literary or theological institutions, to prove it too much for needless expense. Only let it be shown that one half the number would answer all the purposes, and accomplish all the business of the Assembly, as well and more expeditiously than the whole-it is then proved, that one half the expense is needlessly incurred. This I do not despair of doing. Indeed I should be surprised to find one thinking, candid man, unwilling to concede, that 85 of the hundred and seventy, composing the last Assembly, would have been as competent to transact all the business which came before them, as the whole number—and I am very sure they would have done it with more despatch.

There is another evil of no small magnitude, rather delicate in its character, but which ought to be noticed. It is really an imposition upon the hospitality of the good Philadelphians. It is certainly very creditable to the Presbyterians of that city, to make the whole Assembly welcome to all the comforts of attention, kindness and home, for many successive years. Doubtless many of those kind people will continue to entertain numbers of the Assembly with great pleasure, but it ought not to be expected of them for three successive weeks, year after year, unless the number be diminished. In fact, it is an abuse of kindness, to quarter two hundred men upon the citizens so long, without remuneration; and the thought that this is to be perpetual-a legacy to future generations-is intolerable.

It has often been remarked, that the hospitable disposition, which has been so conspicuous throughout our republick, is diminishing. I

૨

am inclined to believe the remark is founded in fact; but the Philadelphians have hitherto sustained their primitive reputation in this case. But under the present regimen, I doubt not the disposition must lessen, until it will be difficult, if not impracticable, to obtain gratuitous accommodations for so large an assembly.

Inequality of representation is often mentioned as an evil of the present system. Although the constitution prescribes an equitable ratio, it must be remembered there is, and there will be, inequality in the fractions represented-and the more we lessen the delegation on the present system, the greater will be the fractional disparity. But the principal inequality is between the near and distant presbyteries -occasioned by the difficulties and expense of travelling a great distance. The extracts and journals of the Assembly, published for the last ten years, will show this disparity. Complaints of this evil have been made on the floor of the house. It was noticed in the preamble of a resolution to alter the ratio of representation, passed in 1818. It must be admitted that this is an evil, but not of the larger magnitude; because no part of the church has yet suffered in any important interest from the disparity. Union, fellowship, supervision, and all other purposes of the body are preserved. Yet it is desirable to remove the evil, and I flatter my self it may be done.

There is an evil far more injurious to the reputation and influence of the Assembly-far more adverse to the interests of the church; in the custom of choosing commissioners, in the different presbyteries, by rotation.

The object of this custom is to give every minister the privilege of attending that important judicatory. It is undoubtedly important to preserve ministerial parity, but this I think is a misapplication of

a good principle. There can be no invasion of this vital principle, in acknowledging that one minister is older, or more learned and discreet than another.

From this custom it often happens that more than half the ministers in the Assembly are young men, or unacquainted with the course of business; and what is worse, unacquainted with the constitutional principles of judicial proceedings.

To me it seems entirely wrong to send men to that body, for their own gratification, or instruction. Presbyteries and synods should furnish these, until the men are qualified by study and experience to deliberate and decide on the most important concerns of the church. It every year occurs, that some most difficult as well as important questions are discussed and decided in the Assembly; and it is often the fact, that a synod is more competent to decide them than the highest court; because there is more wisdom and experience in a large synod than in the General Assembly, thus organized.

The highest judicatory ought to consist of men well versed in ecclesiastical law, in judicial proceedings, and in scriptural truth; they should be intelligent, candid, judicious, business men. The court will then be competent to supervise the interests of the church and the proceedings of lower judicatories; its dignity, as a court of Jesus Christ, will be preserved, and its adjudications respected.

But in pursuance of the rotation system, the most important cases may be decided by men incompetent to investigate them, or to make an enlightened and judicious decision. Rotation in sending members to the Assembly, is about as wise as it would be in the highest civil court to supply the bench with judges, by annual rotation from members of the bar. The case is not perfectly analogous, but the ab

surdity of such a custom in civil courts, would not be more manifest, than in the prevalent custom of rotation in the highest ecclesiastical court.

It

may be said that there are always some of the fathers in the church present-and that it is not possible to have one assembly, not containing much wisdom and talent. This may be true; but I have a right to make a strong case to illustrate the absurdity of a system: and beside, all the wisdom and talent of those fathers may be overruled by an inexperienced majority. If such be not the case, still men of wisdom and experience are greatly impeded in their deliberations, and often needlessly perplexed, by those who are ignorant and inexperienced The latter are fully as apt to be confident and pertinacious as the for

mer.

My intention is not, however, to advocate a standing representation of all the same members, but a selection from the most judicious and experienced men. Some of the same men should undoubtedly be sent to several successive assemblies, but not perpetually. The details and despatch of business require, not only men acquainted with ecclesiastical concerns, but some men who have more than once or twice attended that body. Then would the Assembly answer all the purposes for which it was designed, and command the affectionate respect of all the judicatories below. But, if I mistake not, the evil now considered, is becoming more conspicuous as the church increases, and the business of the Assembly becomes more complex and important. For several years the proportion of young men in the Assembly has increased, while the business has become more difficult, as well as more interesting and important to the church.

I intend, my dear sir, to notice only two or three things more

Dear Sir,-Bear with me until I mention two or three more of the evils connected with the present organization of the General Assembly, which call for a speedy change in the system.

Connected with the last mentioned evil, you will recognise the complaints of decisions made by the Assembly. Perhaps it is to be expected, that litigious men, interested in decisions made against their wishes, will be dissatisfied. Occasionally a lower judicatory may be unduly influenced, and wrongfully complain of the Assembly's decision. But that judicious men and whole synods should be dissatisfied, is not to be expected. It ought also to be granted, that the Assembly may err, and give occasion for complaints; but that such cases should frequently occur, ought not to be expected.

I am persuaded such cases have occurred more frequently of late years, than was formerly known. Such complaints are certainly made, studiously propagated, and widely disseminated. I will not undertake to say they are all, or a majority of them, well foundedbut the fact shows a want of confidence in the Assembly among those who encourage the complaints. To me it seems most probable, under present regulations, such complaints will increase, and produce an unpleasant state of feeling toward the Assembly, in many parts of the church.

In the report of a committee on amendments to the constitution of church government, published with several resolutions sent down to the presbyteries for concurrence,

the last Assembly have sanctioned an intimation of this fact. That document warrants the conclusion, that there is an increasing dissatisfaction with the investigations and decisions of appeals and references in that body. So far as this representation is true, it discloses an evil to be deprecated-for which a remedy should be sought. Its tendency is to weaken the bond which connects the Presbyterian church. It cannot exist beyond a certain extent, without dissolving the bond. My hope is, that no such disastrous event may take place in the Presbyterian church.

The secular character of the proceedings in the Assembly has been observed by some, as not corresponding with the high and sacred responsibility, under which a court of Jesus Christ should act. I allude not so much to the order of proceeding, as to the spirit of debate, and manner of deciding questions. I am not disposed to say much on this subject, only to add, there is sometimes great want of gravity, much confusion, a contest for victory, and party interests, not allied to the church's good or obligation to Christ. The evil is, perhaps, inseparable from so large a body, constituted as is the General Assembly. But it is of no small magnitude, and calculated to produce disastrous results in the church.

The growing influence of technicalities over decisions in the Assembly, is the last evil which I shall mention at present. I now refer to the management and disposition of appeals and references. Not a few cases of appeal, faithfully and ably investigated in a lower court, have been reversed, or rejected, on the ground of some technical informality, which did not militate at all against the fairness or justice of the decision. I do not plead for irregularity in ecclesiastical judicatories, nor for the Assembly to sanction informality.

But it is manifestly wrong to reject, or reverse a case, on which a righteous decision has been made by a lower court, only because, through ignorance, or mistake, some technical informality has occurred in the proceedings.

In all cases, tried and carried up by appeal, reference, or complaint, which have no informality on the face, manifestly to prevent a full and fair investigation, I would have the Assembly act. I would have the merits of such cases examined -substantial justice affirmed-unjust decisions reversed-and such instruction, or censure, measured to the lower court, as the character of the informality might require.

I am aware this evil is necessarily connected with several others before named. In so large a body, with so many inexperienced minds, such diversity of views, and such multiplicity of business, it often becomes necessary to resort strictly to technical rule, as the only point of agreement. I have supposed this evil furnished the governing inducement for the last Assembly's recommendation, to alter the form of government so as to stop all appeals from coming up to that court. If this be the fact, it proves the evil is seriously felt.

Thus I have enumerated the evils which appear to me the most prominent, and which seem likely to increase, as long as the present system of organizing the Assembly shall continue. I have stated them plainly, because they are obviously such as ought to be removed, and such as I think can be removed. I state them not to injure the influence or reputation of that judicatory, which I love, notwithstanding its imperfections-but as an inducement to examine more carefully, the means of rendering that body more permanently and extensively useful.

It will be my next object to examine the remedies which have been