years in unknown places, are by no means to have their names erased from the churches to which they respectively belong, but are to be held responsible to their respective churches; and if they should ever return, or be heard from, are to be regularly dealt with according to the word of God and the principles of our Church; and although great caution and tenderness ought to be exercised toward those whose withdrawing from Christian privileges may be occasioned by the unavoidable dispensations of Providence, without any material fault of their own, yet in all cases in which a church session has good reason to believe that any of the church under their care have absented themselves with design, either from a disregard of Christian privilege or from a wish to escape from the inspection and discipline of the Church, they ought, without unnecessary delay, to declare such persons suspended from the privileges of the church until they give evidence of repentance and reformation, and of course, in making their statistical reports, ought to enumerate such among the members under suspension.-1825, pp. 138, 139.

[See also Form of Government, chap. ix., sec. vi. (Appendix), 1880, p. 45, a decision on the duties of the Session in case of certain irregularities confirming 1825, above.--1872, p. 89; 1868, p. 58, N. S.; and 1839, p. 24, N. S. See also Digest of 1873, pp. 626-628.-M.]

CXVII. Prosecution for an alleged offence shall commence within one year from the time of its alleged commission, or from the date. when it becomes known to the judicatory which has jurisdiction thereof. [XI. 5.]

1. Limitation not to be Plead against the Order of a Superior Judicatory.

[In a case carried by complaint to the Synod of Mississippi, the Synod referred the whole matter back to the Presbytery. The Presbytery entered upon the case; but, finding that two years had elapsed since the act was committed, declined to proceed further, on the ground of the limitation above.] The Assembly declared:

That the Presbytery of Louisiana erred in pleading the limitation of time for their noncompliance with the resolution of Synod, referring this whole case to them for a full investigation.-1850, p. 481, O. S.

2. The Plea is Good where the Offence was Known to Members of the Judicatory more than a Year before Process was Begun.

Overture No. 19 was then taken up from the docket, which is as follows:

When a church session has tabled charges against a church member for falsehood, and summoned the accused with the witnesses, is it competent for the session to dismiss the charges on the plea of the accused that a prosecution is barred by the limitation of time in chap. xi., sec. xv., of the Discipline ("Process in case of scandal, etc."), the alleged crime having been committed and "become flagrant," and known to members of session more than twelve months before process was instituted?

The Committee recommended that this inquiry be answered in the affirmative. Adopted.-1857, p. 42, O. S.

CHAPTER XIII.

OF JUDICIAL COMMISSIONS.

CXVIII. THE General Assembly, and each Synod under its care, shall have power to appoint a Judicial Commission from their respective bodies, consisting of ministers and elders, in number not less than a quorum of the judicatory appointing.

All judicial cases may be submitted to this Commission, and its decisions shall be final, except in matters of law, which shall be referred to the appointing court for final adjudication; and also, all matters of constitution and doctrine, which may be reviewed in the appointing body, and, upon final adjudication by the General Assembly, this Commission shall sit at the same time and place as the body appointing it; and its finding shall be entered upon the minutes of such body.--Adopted 1885, p. 637.

Special Reports of Judicial Decisions by Synods to be Sent up. Resolved, That in view of the importance of the Judicial Decisions made by Synods and Synodical Commissions, the Synods are enjoined to send up to the Assembly, in special communications, all records of such decisions.-1885, p. 662.

[Judicial Commissions, with consent of parties, have been appointed by the Assembly as follows: 1864, N. S., in the case of Mrs. Maria Hill vs. the Synod of Albany; its report was adopted as the action of the Assembly, 1864, p. 477, N. S. In 1865 the Assembly, O. S., as an extraordinary measure (see Digest of 1873, p. 564), appointed a commission to hear the case and report to the Assembly (1865, p. 538, O. S.). In 1867 the Assembly, O. S., appointed a commission in the case of appeal of Lewis R. Lockwood vs. the Synod of Iowa (1867, p. 327, O. S.). By the same Assembly two other cases were referred to commissions (1867, pp. 355 and 360, Ổ. S.). Since the Reunion commissions were appointed (1870, p. 27; 1874, pp. 24, 30 and 37; 1876, p. 29; 1878, pp. 22 and 29.). The usage has beer formulated in the law above. See Digest of 1873, pp. 564, 565.-M.]

BOOK III.

THE DIRECTORY FOR WORSHIP.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE LORD'S DAY.

1. It is the duty of every person to remember the Lord's day; and to prepare for it, before its approach. All worldly business should be so ordered, and seasonably laid aside, as that we may not be hindered thereby from sanctifying the Sabbath, as the Holy Scriptures require. 1. The Assembly Petition Congress against Carrying and Distributing the Mails upon the Sabbath.

a. The petition of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, to the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled:

Humbly Sheweth-That your petitioners view with deep regret the infractions of the Lord's day, occasioned by the opening of the mail on that day, and the circumstances accompanying such opening.

A variety of considerations, temporal and spiritual, combine, in the judgment of your petitioners, to produce this regret. The institution of the Sabbath by the Creator and Ruler of the world, whilst it clearly proves his benevolent regard for men, imposes upon them the reasonable obligation of devoting this day to his service. He makes it their duty to rest from the toils and labors of six days, and requires from them that they should statedly assemble together for his worship on the seventh. Both these objects contemplated by the institution of the Sabbath, the opening of the mail on that day and the circumstances accompanying it, do contravene and oppose. They who carry the mail and they who open it, together with those to whom letters or papers are delivered, under the sanction of civil law, neglect the public worship of God in part or whole. Besides this, the noise and confusion attending the carrying and opening of the mail in post towns, too frequently in a most painful manner disturb the devotion of those who prefer their spiritual to their temporal interests. Moreover, the carrying of the mail encourages persons to hire out their carriages on the Lord's day to those who have no fear of God before their eyes, thus adding to the open violation of the day; and to say no more, the brute creatures are made to work on this day over and above the six days, and thus are deprived of the rest to which they are entitled by the authority of God, whilst they are forced to administer to the cupidity of those who forget the truth, that "the righteous man is merciful to his beast."

Your petitioners are the more deeply impressed with the importance of observing the Sabbath, on account of the influence which such observance has in promoting true morality and social happiness.

On this day all classes of men assemble together in the presence of God on terms of perfect equality, for in his presence the ruler is not more important than the ruled, since both meet as sinners needing the exercise of sovereign and free mercy.

On this day they are taught from the Scriptures, the only source of truth, their duty, their interest and their happiness.

On this day they unite according to the direction of God, in prayer for all men-for magistrates as well as subjects for the nation as well as individuals for every description of persons.

On this day they manifest the gratitude which they owe to God for benefits received, thanking him for his mercies, and supplicating his grace.

The effects arising from the duties in which they engage, the instruction which they receive, and their assembling together before God, are all calculated to produce such a state of heart and such a line of conduct, as directly promote individual and social happiness.

Your petitioners are aware of the plea which is used to justify the infractions of the Sabbath, of which we complain. Works of necessity, such as arise out of extraordinary circumstances, or such as are unavoidable for the support and comfort of life, together with works of charity, are admitted to be lawful, for God delighteth in mercy rather than sacrifice. But your petitioners cannot conceive that the ordinary occupations of life, in ordinary times, or the exercise of charity, require such infractions of the Sabbath as are occasioned by the carrying or opening of the mail on that day. For the cases of sickness, to take one of the strongest and most plausible facts included in the plea of necessity, which are communicated by the mail, are too few, and happen at intervals too long, to justify the habitual breach of the Sabbath. As to the ordinary business of life, any prospect of gain, or fear of loss, cannot be admitted as legitimate causes for disobeying the command of God to keep the Sabbath holy. No one ever yet has suffered, or will suffer, in obeying God, rather than his cupidity, his ambition, or his lusts.

Your petitioners, moreover, feel themselves constrained in their office as rulers in the Church, to exercise the discipline of that Church against those of their members who break the Sabbath in the carrying or opening of the mail on that day. In doing this they are not conscious of any dis respect to the civil authority of the land. They wish to render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, but must, at every hazard, render unto God the things which are God's. In thus honoring God more than men, they trust their motives will be respected, and their conduct approved.

Your petitioners are the more deeply impressed with the importance of a strict observance of the Sabbath, and the necessity of an alteration in the existing regulations of the post-office, as far as they relate to the Sabbath, from the prospect of a war. As they firmly believe in the special providence of God, and that this providence is exercised according to those principles of truth and equity revealed in the Scriptures, they fear, and have just reason to fear, that the infractions of the Sabbath allowed by civil law, will draw down upon our nation the divine displeasure. God honors those who honor him, and casts down those who forget him. Obedience to his will adds dignity to rulers, and enforces subjection in those who are ruled.

From all these considerations which have been given in detail, your

petitioners pray for such an alteration in the law relative to the mails, as will prevent the profanation of the Sabbath, which now takes place in conveying and opening the mail. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

Ordered, That this petition be signed by the moderator, and attested by the clerk, and be committed to the moderator to forward to Congress.1812, p. 513.

b. Dr. Flinn, to whom was committed the petition of the last Assembly to the Congress of the United States, on the subject of carrying and opening the mail on the Sabbath, reported that he put the petition into the hands of Mr. Cheves, a member of the House of Representatives, who afterward informed him that the prayer of the petition was not granted. 1813, p. 519.

c. In 1814 a petition on the same subject was prepared, and the Presbyteries directed to take order for circulating the same, and forwarding it to Congress.-1814, p. 566. For like action see 1815, pp. 597, 601.

II. The whole day is to be kept holy to the Lord; and to be employed in the public and private exercises of religion. Therefore, it is requisite, that there be a holy resting, all the day, from unnecessary labors; and an abstaining from those recreations which may be lawful on other days; and also, as much as possible, from worldly thoughts and conversation.

Deliverance on the Profanation of the Sabbath.

a. The Committee to whom was referred the overture respecting the profanation of the Lord's day, presented the following resolutions, which were adopted, viz.:

1st. Resolved, That this Assembly regard with pain and deep regret the profanation of the Lord's day, which exists in our country in various forms, and which is calculated in an alarming degree to create a neglect of public worship, a contempt of the authority of Almighty God, a corruption of morals, and eventually to bring down the judgment of God on our land.

2d. Resolved, That the Assembly repeat the warnings which have heretofore been frequently given on this subject, and do solemnly and earnestly exhort the churches and individuals in their connection to avoid a participation in the guilt of profaning this holy day.

3d. Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the ministers of the Presbyterian churches who have pastoral charges, frequently and solemnly to address their people on the subject of the sanctification of the Lord's day, and to urge its vital importance to our moral, social and civil, as well as religious welfare.

4th. Resolved, That it be solemnly enjoined on all the Presbyteries and church sessions in our connection to exercise discipline on their respective members whenever guilty of violating the sanctity of the Sabbath; and that an inquiry should be annually instituted in each Presbytery relative to this subject; and that each pastor should at the earliest opportunity practicable present this subject in all its solemn importance to the session of the church under his pastoral charge, and invite the co-operation of its members in all proper and prudent measures for the suppression of Sabbath-breaking:-and further, that it be recommended to all our ministers and church members when traveling, to give preference to such livery es