RULES FOR THE SPIRITUAL GOVERNMENT OF THE The Second Presbyterian Church CHARLESTON, S. C. AS REVISED BY A COMMITTEE, AND ADOPTED BY THE CHURCH, IN 1837. RULES FOR THE SPIRITUAL GOVERNMENT OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. PREAMBLE. Necessity for these Rules. ALTHOUGH this Church adopt "the Confession of Faith, and Form of Government, and Discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," as the rule of their faith and practice, yet inasmuch as there are several matters in the mode of government and discipline, left there undetermined, by which a variety of practice is introduced into the churches, under the care of the General Assembly, the following additional rules are adopted. RULE I. The Elders of the Church shall be elected by the male members, and shall be ordained with the imposition of hands, in the presence of the congregation. RULE II. All such elections shall be decided by a majority of twothirds of the members present, who shall have two weeks notice of the nomination of candidates for that office; which nomination shall be made by the Session then in office. RULE III. Admission to the Church. No person shall be admitted a member of this church who does not, on examination by the Pastor, or officiating minister, gives satisfactory evidence of a renewal of heart, and of faith and repentance towards God. RULE IV. Admission to the Church. All applications for admission to church membership, shall be made to the Session, through the Pastor. And notice of such intended application shall be given as long as possible before some regular meeting of the Session. RULE V. Admission to the Church. The Session shall examine every candidate prior to admission. RULE VI. Public Profession. All who may be admitted to membership, shall make a public profession of their faith, and enter into solemn covenant with Almighty God, in the presence of the congregation, on the morning of the Sabbath, on which the sacrament is administered. RULE VII. Form of Public Admission. The following shall be THE FORM OF PUBLIC ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH. ADDRESS TO THE CANDIDATES. You have thus presented yourselves* before Almighty God, with a view to dedicate yourselvest to his service, and to be received as members of his visible church. By a public contract you are about to surrender yourselves to your Creator: to avouch the Lord to be your God; Jesus Christ your Redeemer; and yourselves his servants forever. You are surrounded by witnesses who attest the compact into which you enter. The all-seeing eye of Jehovah is upon you: and his holy angels are spectators of this scene. Brethren, we trust you have not rashly come up hither. And in this confidence we invite you to approach, with a holy boldness, unto the great Head of the Church; casting all your anxieties and cares upon Him, and relying on Him alone for grace and strength, to fulfill your solemn engagements. PROFESSION OF FAITH. You believe that there is one true God constituting in his incomprehensible essence, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, three persons in one Godhead. You believe in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; and that they contain the only rule of faith and practice. You believe *The singular or plural may be used as required. Or to renew your dedication. This may be used when any one joins on certificate. |