The General Assembly [pp. 529-543]

536 THE GENERA~L ASSEMBLY. [July,
now, voters in Presbytery, eligible to the General Assembly,
yea, even to the Moderatorship of the same, and to every office
in the church except that of ruling elder, as now. Far more
plausibly might it be said that two vacant congregations or
their sessions become disfranchised if they join in having a
common pastor over both, according to our Form of Government, chap. x: 4, 5. But we will not dwell on such atomic
objections further than to say a word as to Presbyterian practice elsewhere.
In Scotland and Ireland, not ministers, but churches only
count as the basis of representation. Are the ministers therefore disfranchised? Ministers without charge, except theological
professors, there are neither eligible as, if they can ever vote for,
delegates to the Assembly in their simple capacity as ministers.
Yet they do not lose their franchises, as authorized to preach,
administer the sacraments, and do all other ministerial
work. They are, however, eligible to the office of ruling elder
in the congregations of which they are members, and if chosen
elders, eligible to the General Assembly and its supreme office.
Dr. McCosh, after having been sixteen years pastor of the
church in Brechin, Scotland, became a very active ruling elder
of the church to which he belonged in Belf~st, while Professor
in Queen's College. Did he thus suffer any degradation? How
many of our churches would be thrice blest if they could choose
some of the ministers in their congregations to the eldership?
And how much oftener would the latter find their way to the
General Assembly as elders, than now as ministers. ~Ve have
not yet heard of insuperable difficulties in the way of such
methods of utilizing a great power in our church, aside of the
indisposition on the part of the church itself to such a modification of its constitution and habits. Pe4~aps such objections
exist. We throw out this in the hope that it may awaken attention and excite a discussion that shall give us more light
on the subject.
SUSTENTATIC)N AND HOME MISSIONS.
Tbe committee on the report of the Home Mission Board,
Dr. James I. Brownson, chairman, stated:
That they "are convinced that at this time the attention of the Assembly
is called to the inherent difficulties connected with the management of Home