VI. Proceedings against a Minister charged with scandal or heresy.

1. An offending brother in the association, is to be first dealt with privately accordingly to the rules of Christ in Matt. XVIII. 15, 16.

2. When the accused brother is a pastor of a consociated church, the association is to inquire whether the charge is of such a nature, in respect to the matter alledged, and of so much probability in respect to the grounds on which it rests, as to require a trial; and then, if they see cause, they are to direct to the calling of a council of the consociated churches, where such offenders may be duly proceeded against. (Sayb. Art. XIII.)

3. When the accused brother is pastor of a church not consociated, the association, having found upon inquiry sufficient cause to proceed against him, may bring the matter to the church of which he is pastor; and that church may call to its aid, as in the case of the ordination of its pastor, a select council of neighboring churches.

tion is called a license, and the candidate is called a licentiate. But the association by which candidates are licensed, is not the body by which ministers are ordained; and therefore an association knows nothing about dismissing a licentiate in order to his ordination. The license is itself a sufficient dismission and recommendation to any ordaining body to whom it may be presented, and is valid for the term of four years from its date, unless otherwise limited in express terms.

Presbyterians have sometimes been perplexed in conse quence of not understanding this distinction.

4. When the accused brother is not a pastor of any church, and is not by some special rule amenable to the consociation, or when being pastor of a church not consociated, that church refuses to submit the charges against him to a proper council, the association may proceed to investigate the truth of the charges, and if they find him guilty of any scandal or heresy for which he ought to be deposed from the ministry, they may expel him from their fellowship, and declare him to be no longer in communion with them, as a minister of Christ.

5. When a minister of the Gospel, residing or performing the work of the ministry among our churches, but not connected with the association as a member, is charged with scandal or heresy, it is the duty of the association to examine the matter as in the case of one of their own members, and (if they find just occasion,) to present the matter to the proper ecclesiastical authority, with which the accused is directly connected. But if it be not known, that the individual is connected with any ecclesiastical body competent to try the case,- -or if he be connected with an ecclesiastical body too distant to act seasonably and intelligently upon the matters alledged, or if the ecclesiastical body with which he is connected, refuse to do what is required by the laws of Christ, the purity of the ministry, and the safety of the churches,― then the association may proceed to investigate the charges, and finding him guilty of any scan

or heresy for which he ought to be deposed m the ministry, may declare him to be out this fellowship, and may warn the churches ainst him as a deceiver.

PART FOURTH.

OF THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION.

1. Its Constitution and Order of Proceedings.

1. THE general association consists of delegates from the several particular associations of Connecticut, (Sayb. Art. XV.) and of delegates from the congregational bodies in other states with which the general association is in fraternal correspondence. It also receives delegates from each of the two bodies entitled "The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church," who partake in the deliberations of the general association, but give no vote.

2. The general association for each year, meets at the place appointed by the general association of the preceding year, on the third Tuesday in June, at 11 o'clock, ante meridiem.

3. The objects for which the general assocition meets are, to learn the general state of re

ligion, to promote unity and order in ecclesiastical affairs,—and to recommend to the district associations such matters and things as they shall apprehend will be for the general welfare.

4 The general association has no legislative or judicial power over ministers or churches. It is nothing else than a meeting for consultation and advice, and for co-operation in the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom.

5. The district association within whose bounds the last but one preceding general association was held, appoints one of its own members to preach a sermon before the general association.

6. Each district association appoints three delegates to the general association; and it is recommended that one delegate at least from each district association, be of the number of those who attended at the general association last preceding.

7. A preacher is appointed by the general association, on the nomination of the district association within whose bounds the general association is assembled, who delivers a concio ad clerum in the chapel of Yale College, in the evening of the commencement day.

8. The meetings of the general association are held from year to year within the several districts, in the following order,-Hartford North, Litchfield North, Litchfield South, Fairfield West, Fairfield East, New Haven West,

New Haven East, Hartford South, Middlesex, New London, Windham, Tolland.

9. The rules of order for the general associ ation are as follows.

SYSTEM OF RULES,

FOR THE REGULATION OF BUSINESS BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.

1. THE minister at whose house the association is to meet, when the hour of meeting is come, provided a majority of the members be present, shall call them to order, and call for, receive and count the ballots for a scribe, and declare the person chosen. If there be not a majority present, he shall wait one hour and then proceed.

2. The person chosen scribe shall call for, receive and count the ballots for a moderator, and declare the person chosen.

3. The moderator shall take the chair and direct the members to ballot for an assistant scribe.

4. The moderator, after the certificates of membership are read, shall open the association with prayer; he shall also open and close the association, each day, with prayer, except at the termination of the session, at which time he may request some other person to pray. 5. As soon as the association is opened, a committee of overtures shall be chosen to prepare business for the association.

6. Every morning and afternoon, at the time to which the association is adjourned, the moderator shall take the chair, and the scribe shall call over the roll of the