line drawn due north from the mouth of Kentucky river be attached to the Synod of Kentucky.

Sect. 10. The Synod of Kentucky divided in

1817.

The committee to whom was referred the petition of the Synod of Kentucky, praying for a division of said Synod, reported; and their report being read, was adopted, and is as follows; viz.

That, agreeably to the request of the Synod of Kentucky, the Presbyteries of Union, Shiloh, West Tennessee, and Mississippi, be constituted a Synod; to be known and called by the name of THE SYNOD OF TENNESSEE. That they hold their first session at Nashville, on the first Wednesday of October next; and that the Rev. James W. Stephenson, or, in case of his absence, the senior Minister who may be present, open the Synod with a Sermon, and preside till a new Moderator be chosen.

Sect 11. Presbyteries to be divided by Synods.

The committee of overtures laid before the Assembly an application from the Presbytery of Huntingdon, for a division of their Presbytery.

Resolved, That the Presbytery make their application to the Synod to which they belong, being the most proper judicature to decide in the case.-1808.

Sect. 12. An Elder from a Vacant Congregation has a right to sit in Synod.

The committee also overtured this question, Has an elder, whom the discipline of our church autho

rises to sit as a member in Presbytery, from a vacant congregation or united congregations, a right, by that discipline, to sit in Synod, as a representative of such congregation, or congregations?

The vote being taken, the question was determined in the affirmative.-1808.

Sect. 13. The Powers of a Commission of Synod.

A Member of the committee appointed to pre1774. pare an overture respecting a commission of Synod, brought in a draught, which being read, and amended, was put to vote and carried by a large majority, and is as follows:

Whereas, there have arisen doubts in the minds of some members respecting the utility and powers of what is called by us The Commission, the Synod proceeded to take this matter into consideration; and after due deliberation, in order to remove any scruples upon this head, and prevent all future difficulties in this matter, do determine that the commission shall continue, and meet whensoever called by the Moderator at the request of the first nine in the roll of the commission, or a major part of the first nine ministers; and when met that it shall be investted with all the powers of Synod, sit by their own adjournments from time to time: and let it also be duly attended to that there can lie no appeal from the judgment of the commission, as there can be none from the judgment of the Synod; but there may be a review of their proceedings and judgments by the Synod; and whensoever this is done

those who were members of the commission shall be present and assist in forming all such judgments, as the Synod may think proper to make upon any such Review. By the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, p. 274.

CHAPTER II.

OF THE DUTIES OF SYNODS.

Sect. 1. Synod Books.

ON Motion, Ordered, That the minutes of the respective Synods be laid, yearly, before the General Assembly, to be by them revised. Vol. I. p. 4.-1789.

It is recommended to the Synods of Virginia, and the Carolinas to send attested copies of their minutes, by their delegates to the General Assembly, yearly, whenever they find it inconvenient to send their books. Vol. I. p. 15.-1790.

Sect. 2. Case of Order.

On reading the minutes of Saturday respecting the report of the committee for examining the min

utes of the Synod of Philadelphia, the Assembly resolved, That the Synod be informed, that the Assembly disapprove of the proceedings as represented in their records, in recommending a candidate to be received as in full standing, before they had given a decision upon the allegations against him. Vol. I. p. 36.-1791.

Sect. 3.

Unconstitutional Act of the Synod of

New York and New Jersey.

A remonstrance was presented by the Synod of New York and New Jersey against a decision of the Assembly of last year, by which they determine that it is unconstitutional for the Synod of New York and New Jersey to enact, that in future candidates who have the gospel ministry in view, shall be required to attend to the study of divinity at least three years before licensure:"-Whereupon, it was resolved, That this Assembly reconsider the above decision; which was agreed to. And, whereas, it appeared that there was no appointment made by the Synod of New York and New Jersey, of any particular persons to advocate their cause, the Assembly, desirous to receive all the light they can on the subject, resolved, That every member of that Synod who may be present shall have liberty to offer what he may think necessary for or against the remonstrance: At the same time it was resolved, That this act of the Assembly ought not to be used as a precedent.The members of the Synod who were present having been fully heard, the Assembly adjourned.

The Assembly resumed the consideration of the remonstrance from the Synod of New York and New Jersey; When a motion was made and seconded, as follows; viz. Resolved, as the sense of this house, that the decision of the last General Assembly, which is the subject of complaint ought not to be altered. On the question to agree to the above motion, it was unanimously determined in the affirmative. Vol. I. P. 79.-1793.

The following request was overtured by the Committee of Bills and Overtures.

That the Synods of Virginia and the Carolinas have liberty to direct their Presbyteries to ordain such candidates, as they may judge necessary to appoint on Missions to preach the Gospel; Where

upon,

Resolved, That the above request be grantedThe Synods being careful to restrict the permission to the ordination of such candinates only as are engaged to be sent on Missions. 1795.-Vol. I. P. 108.

Sect. 5. The duty of a Synod in receiving a Presbytery under their care, not formerly in our connexion, prescribed by the Assembly in 1800.

The committee to whom was referred by the General Assembly, the consideration of an application from Charleston Presbytery in South Carolina, to be taken into connexion with the Assembly, made their report; which being corrected, was adopted, and