because they meet in their own synods, and carry on their ecclesiastical affairs, in their own way; unless they refuse all communion with other denominations, and reject them, as though they were not real members of the body of Christ. Those denominations, who pursue this exclusive course, do in fact excommunicate, as much as in them lies, all other Christians. But the existence of different denominations who hold all the essentials of Christian doctrine and worship, no more breaks the unity of the Church, than the existence of different presbyteries or congregations in the same denomination, whose customs, in indifferent matters, and also whose opinions in non-essential points, may be considerably different.

The intended bearing of the preceding remarks is to show, that the present organization of the Presbyterian Church, in these United States, is not essential; but that, in many respects, there might be a new-modelling of the body, without the least interference with the radical principles of Presbyterianism. And it is our purpose, in this paper, to suggest some alterations, which, we are of opinion, would tend not a little to the peace, unity, and prosperity of this large section of the Christian Church. We wish it to be understood, however, that we mean not to propose the smallest change in the constitution and form of church sessions, and presbyteries: the alterations which we think desirable, relate entirely to the synods, and the General Assembly.

There are two weighty reasons, and others of minor importance, which clearly demonstrate that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church ought to be new-modelled; and that there is urgent need for something to be done speedily. The first is, the unwieldy size of the body, which renders it impracticable to transact business with that calm deliberation, which is essential to the dignity of the Assembly, and the welfare of the Church of which it is the representative. And this inconvenience, instead of being diminished, is greatly increased every successive year. Several attempts have been made, by altering the ratio of representation from the presbyteries, to keep the body within moderate size; but so rapid has been the increase of the Church, that notwithstanding these measures, the number of members has gone on increasing; and unless something more effectual can be done, will continue to increase rapidly, until it will be found absolutely necessary to adopt a new organization. In legislative bodies,

a large number of members is not attended with so great inconvenience; but in judicial bodies, when the number of judges becomes very great, it exceedingly retards the progress of business, and obstructs the impartial administration of justice. In so great a number, the responsibility is too much divided, and a large proportion will feel too little the importance of paying a short and unremitting attention to all the evidence and arguments, which should have an influence on the decision. Besides, in such a crowd, it is impossible, on account of the noise and confusion, incident to such large assemblies, to hear the half of what is said; and retiring, modest men will not be forever complaining of not hearing, or calling for a repetition of what has been said; so, that when a complicated case has been gone through, and a vote is expected from every member, it would be found, if the trial were made, that a large number of the judges were not fully in possession of the merits of the cause. For it is a matter of fact, that members are often absent from the house, during the most important part of the trial; and surely they are not competent to give an intelligent vote. Others are so situated, in the midst of commotion, from persons going out and coming in, that they cannot possibly hear, or be composed, though ever so desirous of understanding what they are about. But I need not dwell on the inconvenience of transacting judicial business in a court consisting of between two and three hundred members. The thing is notorious to every person who enters the room in which the General Assembly meets. The evil would not be quite so great, if there was a room commodiously fitted up for a meeting of this sort; but the members are crowded together, on narrow benches, without desks or tables, and with scarcely room to pass from one part of the house to another, without creating disturbance. It is only the members who sit around the clerk's table, who have the convenience of writing-materials, or an opportunity of committing to writing any motion or resolution which they may wish to propose.

Another serious inconvenience of this overgrown body is, that it imposes an annual and unequal tax upon the Presbyterian population of Philadelphia, which, upon the most moderate calculation, cannot be less than two thousand dollars. Now, we profess, that we never heard any of the good citizens of Philadelphia utter a word of complaint on this subject; but the burden is not the less unjust on that account. Many of those who entertain a member, or members of the Assem

bly, for two weeks, are in very moderate circumstances, and are only able, with strict economy, decently to support their families. And to say the least, these persons could afford to give more to the pressing calls of benevolence, if they were relieved from this burden.

It is also a known fact, that the making provision for the comfortable and gratuitous boarding of so many persons, of various habits and manners, is a matter of much embarrassment to those ministers and elders, who feel it incumbent on them to attend to the subject. And after all that can be done, a large number are obliged to be located, so far from the place of meeting, that it is exceedingly laborious, and not unfrequently injurious, to travel so far on the hard pavements, through sun and rain; especially if members are old, or in feeble health. We know that this is rather a delicate subject, especially as it relates to the hospitable citizens of Philadelphia: but we are of opinion, that it is one which the Church should look at, and provide such remedy as the case admits of; which, in our opinion, is no other than the reduction of the body to less than one-third of its present number.

Another evil produced by the number of ministers who attend the Assembly, not less than any which has been mentioned, is, that hundreds of pulpits are left vacant, during the period of its sessions, and some of them are deprived of the customary means of grace, on the Sabbath, for two or three months. Now, we ask, can any candid man persuade himself, that these ministers do as much good by appearing and giving their vote, in the Assembly, as by continuing their wonted labours in regions which are exceedingly destitute? We know that the business of the Church must be transacted, but we insist, that this can be done more speedily, and in all respects more judiciously, by fifty or sixty men, than by three hundred. If there was any probability that justice would be more impartially administered by three hundred than by fifty, we would cease from all objections; but to us the probability is entirely on the other side. The only reasonable ground on which an appeal is admitted from one court to another, is that the superior court is supposed to possess more wisdom or more impartiality; or because it is desirable to have the voice of a majority of the whole body. But in nine cases out of ten, a respectable synod is possessed of fully as much talent, and as much wisdom, derived from experience, as the General Assembly; and, in most cases, they are as impartial; and

always enjoy an opportunity of judging what is expedient, and what course is adapted to the character of the people, superior to that which can be possessed by the Assembly. It has been remarked by many, that of late our General Assembly contains an undue proportion of young, inexperienced men, many of whom have never been pastors, but have received ordination as evangelists, to labour in the extensive missionary field on our frontiers. We do not censure the presbyteries for sending such delegates, nor the young men for accepting the office. It is in fact the only thing which can be done, unless those distant presbyteries should consent to remain entirely unrepresented. But the constitution of a high court of appeals, so as to include a large number of persons who are almost entirely ignorant of ecclesiastical jurisprudence, and some of them not even accustomed to the laws and usages of the Presbyterian Church, cannot be favourable to the wise and impartial administration of its affairs. We wish every intelligent reader to consider, whether the General Assembly, as constituted, furnishes a better court for the ultimate decision of any cause, than many, perhaps all of our synods. When we give as a reason for making this body a court of appeals, that we thus come at the opinion of a majority of the whole Church, we do but impose on ourselves by a fallacious appearance. In matters of a judicial kind, and in cases of doctrine, we have in the General Assembly no more than the judgment of just so many persons as are there convened; and it never can add any weight to their opinion, that they are the representatives of the whole or a greater part of the Church. They can but express their own judgment, individually; and we do not see why an equal number of equally able and impartial men, located in the same district, would not possess just as much weight as the General Assembly. That is, we do not see that, except in peculiar cases, there is any real benefit in an appeal from a synod to the Assembly. Suppose the members of a synod to be as numerous as those who compose the General Assembly, and as honest and wellinformed, we are at a loss to see why their decision is not likely to be as correct as that of the higher court. It will now be seen, that our object is to propose an organization of the General Assembly, which will take from that body the character of a high court of appeals; but of this we can speak more clearly, when we have proceeded further in the developement of our project.

The second reason for new-modelling the General Assembly is, that the existing and increasing spirit of party in our Church, requires some change in its organization, to prevent the supreme judicatory from becoming a mere arena for fierce contention. We mean not, in this paper, to appear at all as partisans. We do not, therefore, cast any reproaches on any party, or on any set of men. We are considering things as they exist, and inquiring whether any thing can be done to remedy the evils which are felt, and to prevent those which are feared.

That there exists a difference of opinion in the Church relative to certain doctrinal points, and as to the precise import of the act of adopting the Confession of Faith, by candidates, at their licensure and ordination, cannot be denied or concealed. It is also apparent, that the numbers who choose to range themselves under the one or the other of these parties, are pretty nearly balanced. Hitherto, in all questions which put the strength of the Old and New School, as they have been called, to the test, the majority has been found on the side of the former, until the meeting of the last General Assembly, when a decided majority appeared on the other side. It is true, indeed, that the points on which a division took place between them, on that occasion, were not doctrinal points, but certain ecclesiastical transactions, relative to missionary operations, and the training of candidates for the ministry; yet, it is understood, that, generally, the respective parties were agreed in their views of theology. This difference may be considered, therefore, as having its foundation in a diversity of theological opinion. But, whatever may be the origin, or true cause of these parties, it falls not within the scope of our design to inquire: the existence of the fact, is all that is necessary to be established, to answer the purpose for which it is adduced. And of this no one pretends to doubt. And it is also evident, that this state of things is not likely to subside. Every thing indicates, that the persons who take the lead in these parties are not only determined to maintain the ground which they have assumed, but are becoming more and more ardent; and sometimes even acrimonious, in conducting the controversies which have arisen out of the proceedings of the last Assembly. Nothing can be more probable, than that the next General Assembly, like the last, will be a scene of contention; and contention in such a body, and in so conspicuous a situation, will not only be accompanied with disorder, and