MINUTES OF THE FIRST GENERAL SYNOD

of

THE BIBLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

- - -

Collingswood, New Jersey

September, 1938

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 P.M. on September 6, 1938, in the tabernacle of the Bible Presbyterian Church of Collingswood, N.J., by the Rev. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., D.D. Dr. Buswell offered prayer. He then read the Articles of Association of the Bible Presbyterian Synod and the call for the present meeting which are as follows:

For the sake of fellowship in the principles for which we stand, and as a testimony to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and because of the official apostasy of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., and because of the departure of the Presbyterian Church of America from the historic position of American Presbyterianism, we, a group of ministers and ruling elders do associate ourselves together in the Bible Presbyterian Synod.

We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice. We reaffirm our faith in the system of doctrine set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms in the form in which they stood in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. in May, 1936. We propose to amend these standards in any particular in which the pre-millennial teaching of the Scriptures may be held to be obscured. We reaffirm our belief in the fundamental principles of Presbyterian Church polity.

We appoint as a convening committee for the next meeting of the Bible Presbyterian Synod the ministers in the Philadelphia area who are signers of this document, and this committee shall have the power to represent and act for us, ad interim, in ecclesiastical matters, such as the receiving and organizing of presbyteries connected with the Synod, the receiving and disbursing of funds, and other related matters, with the provision that their acts in this capacity shall be subject to review at our next Synod.

We heartily reaffirm our faith in and support of the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Mission, and join in the vigorous testimony of that Board against modernism and unbelief of all kinds.

We are persuaded that the great battle in the world today is the faith of our fathers against modernism, compromise, indifferentism, and worldliness. With all our hearts we throw our strength into the great task of winning lost souls to Jesus Christ by the Gospel of the Grace of God.

To all members of the Bible Presbyterian Synod and Presbyterians who have come out of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. because of its modernist apostasy, greetings:

A general meeting of the Bible Presbyterian Synod will be held in the Bible Presbyterian Church of Collingswood, N.J., beginning Tuesday, September sixth, nineteen thirty-eight and continuing if necessary through September ninth. At that time the Synod will be solemnly constituted and may at its discretion receive any present who may adhere to it and desire to become members.

For the Temporary Committee on arrangements:

Harold S. Laird M. Stanley Black

Carl McIntire Ruling Elder

J.U.S. Toms

H. McAllister Griffiths

July 28, 1938 Ministers SIGNED: H. McAllister Griffiths

On motion the Articles of Association and the call for the present meeting were ratified, and the meeting constituted itself into a General Synod. Dr. Buswell offered prayer. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was then dispensed, with a sermon by Dr. Buswell from II Cor. 5:17 to 7:3

After a recess Dr. Buswell called the Synod to order, and the roll was formed as follows:

*Arcularius, Philip du B.

Brown, Benjamin Micklo

*Buffler, M. Nelson

*Buswell, J. Oliver, Jr.

Campbell, Charles L.

Dieffenbacher, Arthur J.

*Faucette, A. Franklin

*Geisenheiner, Fred A.

Gillan, Oscar T.

*Griffiths, H. McAllister

Hamilton, Frank

*Hanna, James W.

Harris, H. Laird

Heydenburk, Frank H.

Hunter, Adam

Jamison, Milo F.

*Jones, Desmond

Jorgenson, Delbert P.

Kelley, Alford

Laird, Harold S.

Laman, Clarence

*MacRae, Allan A.

*McIntire, Carl

*McIntire, H. Blair

Monroe, Wayne A.

*Pearson, M.A.

*Schaeffer, Francis A.

Simpson, J. F. Minor

Sterling, Charles G.

Sterrett, Charles C.

Sterrett, T. Norton

Thomas, Martin Luther

*Toms, J.U. Selwyn

*Vining, Robert L.

Wall, Peter, F.

*Welben, Henry G.

Winkfield, O. W.

*Wortman, Verne V.

*Young, John M.L.

Batey, Clarence

*Black, M. Stanley

Haywood, A.L.

*Hodge, Thomas L.

Jones, M. M.

Mower, Anson L.

*Ruo, J. Herbert

Schiffmann, Fred W.

Sibley, W. R.

Stam, Peter, Jr.

Young, Lowell

Those marked with an asterisk were present at the first sederunt.

The Rev. J.U. Selwyn Toms was unanimously elected Moderator of the General Synod.

The Rev. H. McAllister Griffiths was elected Clerk of the Synod.

On motion the docket was adopted as follows:

Tuesday

2:00 P.M. A Service of Worship

Sermon by the Rev. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., D.D. (Chairman of the meeting at which the Bible Presbyterian Synod was formed.

Observance of the Lord's Supper

3:30 Recess

3:45-5:00 Election of the Moderator and other Business

8:00 Popular Meeting for Foreign Missions

Address: Rev. James R. Graham, Jr.

Wednesday

9:30 A.M. Devotional Service--Rev. M. Nelson Buffler

9:45 Consideration of Amendments to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.

11:00 Synod Prayer-meeting--Rev. Robert L. Vining

11:30-12:30 Consideration of the Form of Government

2:00 P.M. Continuation of Consideration of the Form of Government

3:00 Popular Bible Study--Rev. J.U.Selwyn Toms

3:00-5:00 Christian Education

8:00 Popular Meeting for National Missions

Address: Rev. Carl McIntire

Thursday

9:30 A.M. Devotional Service--Rev. Henry G. Welben

9:45 Consideration of the Book of Discipline

11:00 Synod Prayer Meeting--Rev. Frank Hamilton

11:30-12:30 Continuation of the Book of Discipline

2:00 National Missions

3:00 Popular Bible Study--Rev. Charles C. Sterrett

3:45-5:00 Miscellaneous Business

8:00 Popular Meeting for Christian Education

Address: Rev. Harold S. Laird

Friday (If Necessary)

9:30 A.M. Devotional Service

9:45 Unfinished Business and Adjournment

A Number of resolutions were offered and it was directed that they be mimeographed for the members of the Synod and considered on Wednesday at 3:45 P.M.

On motion it was decided that the Moderator should appoint a committee to suggest standing committees. The Moderator appointed the Clerk, the Rev. Allan A. MacRae, Ph.D., and the Rev. Carl McIntire.

On motion the Presbytery of Philadelphia was granted permission to meet immediately following adjournment of the sederunt.

On motion the Synod adjourned at 5:00 P.M. with prayer by the Moderator, to convene at 9:30 A.M. Wednesday morning.

The Synod was called to order Wednesday, September 7, 1938, at 9:30 A.M.

The clerk called the roll.

The Rev. M. Nelson Buffler conducted a devotional service.

The Moderator opened the business sederunt with prayer.

The proposed changes in the Confession of Faith and Catechisms were read.

Chapter VIII, Section IV of the Confession was adopted in the following form, to wit:

This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake: which, that he might discharge, he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfill it; endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died; was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day he arose from the dead, with the same body in which he suffered; with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father, making intercession; and shall return to judge men and angels, at the end of the age."

Chapter XXXII, Section II of the Confession was adopted in the following form, to wit:

"At the return of the Lord Jesus Christ such living persons as are found in him shall not die but be changed, and all the dead in Christ shall be raised up with the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever."

Chapter XXXII, Section III of the Confession was adopted in the following form, to wit:

"The bodies of the unjust shall, after Christ has reigned on earth a thousand years, be raised by the power of God to dishonor."

Chapter XXXIII was, on motion, given the following title, to wit:

"Of the Last Things."

On the motion of the Rev. H. S. Laird, the Rev. Colin Weir was received and enrolled as a member of the Synod.

On the motion of the Rev. Francis A. Schaeffer, Elder S. J. Glen, of Grove City, was received and enrolled as a member of the Synod.

On the motion of the Rev. Carl McIntire, the Rev. Charles Dana Chrisman was received and enrolled as a member of the Synod.

On motion a recess was taken for the Synod photograph.

On motion Chapter XXXIII, Section I was adopted in the following form, to wit:

God hath appointed a day (which word in Scripture in reference to the last things may represent a period of time including the thousand years following the visible, personal, and pre-millenial return of Christ), wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, to whom all power and judgement is given of the Father. In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged; but likewise all persons, that have lived upon earth, shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds; and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil."

A service of prayer and devotion was conducted by the Rev. Robert L. Vining.

On motion, the changes to the Confession of Faith were adopted as a whole.

On motion of the Rev. M. A. Pearson it was determined that the changes to the Larger Catechism be considered and voted upon seriatum.

Question 82 of the Larger Catechism was adopted as follows, to wit:

"What is the communion in glory, which members of the invisible Church have with Christ?

"A. The communion in glory, which the members of the invisible Church have with Christ, is in this life, immediately after death, and at last perfected in the resurrection."

Question 84 of the Larger Catechism was adopted as follows, to wit:

"Shall all men die?

"A. Death being threatened as the wages of sin, it is appointed unto all men to die; for that all have sinned. However, believers in Christ who are alive on the earth at his return will not die, but will be caught up to meet him in the air."

Question 85 of the Larger Catechism was adopted as follows, to wit:

"Death being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death, seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ?

"A. The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at the return of Christ, and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it; so that, although they die, yet it is out of God's love, to free them perfectly from sin and misery, to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory, which they enter upon."

Question 86 of the Larger Catechism was adopted as follows, to wit:

"What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible Church enjoy immediately after death?

"A. The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible Church enjoy immediately after death, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, and received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory; waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, which even in death continue united in Christ, and rest in their graves, as in their beds, till at the return of Christ they are again united to their souls and live and reign with him upon earth a thousand years. Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness; and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, until the resurrection and judgement of ungodly men, after the millennial reign of Christ."

Question 87 of the Larger Catechism was adopted as follows, to wit:

"What are we to believe concerning the resurrection?

"A. We are to believe that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust: when Jesus Christ returns the just that are then found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the selfsame bodies of the dead in Christ which are laid in the grave, being then again united to their souls forever, shall be raised up by the power of Christ. The bodies of the just, by the Spirit of Christ, and by virtue of his resurrection as their head, shall be raised in power, spiritual, and incorruptible, and made like to his glorious body in the first resurrection. The bodies of the wicked shall, after a thousand years, be raised up in dishonor by him as an offended judge in the second resurrection."

Question 88 of the Larger Catechism was adopted as follows, to wit:

"What shall immediately follow after the resurrection?

"A. Immediately after the second resurrection shall follow the final judgement of men and angels, the destruction of the earth by fire, and the ushering in of the new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Question 89 of the Larger Catechism was adopted as follows, to wit:

"What shall be done to the wicked after their resurrection?

"A. After their resurrection, the wicked shall be judged, and, upon clear evidence and full conviction of their own consciences, shall have the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them; and thereupon shall be cast out from the favorable presence of God, and the glorious fellowship with Christ, his saints, and all his holy angels, into hell, to be punished with unspeakable torments both of body and souls, with the devil and his angels forever."

Question 90 of the Larger Catechism was adopted as follows, to wit:

"What shall be done to the righteous after their resurrection?

"A. After their resurrection, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds; shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted: shall join with him in the millennial reign, and the judging of reprobate men and angels: and shall be received into heaven, where they shall be fully and forever freed from all sin and misery; filled with inconceivable joys; made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and angels; but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God, the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity. And this is the perfect and full communion, which members of the invisible Church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment."

On motion of the Rev. H. McAllister Griffiths it was determined as follows:

That the Confession of Faith, in the form in which it appeared in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. in the year of our Lord 1936, and as amended by this Synod, adopted as a doctrinal standard subordinate to the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice, including Chapters I to XXXIII only, but restoring the original for of Chapter XVI, Section VII as follows: "Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the matter of them, they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others; yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the word; nor to a right end, the glory of God; they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace fro God. And yet their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God."

On motion it was appointed that a committee be appointed to draft and propose to this Synod an acceptable form of words to cover the subjects embraced in Chapters XXXIV and XXXV of the Confession of Faith in the form in which it appeared in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. in the year of our Lord 1936, and the Declaratory Statement appended to the same; and that this committee be the Committee o the Constitution and that it report tomorrow.

On motion the Synod recessed, until 2:30 P.M., with prayer.

The Synod reassembled at 2:30 P.M. and was constituted with prayer by the Moderator.

On motion it was determined that the changes to the Larger Catechism be adopted as a whole.

On motion the Synod adopted the Larger Catechism, as amended, and the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Assembly as doctrinal standards subordinate to the Word of God.

On motion it was determined to consider the Form of Government section by section, having heard read changes recommended by the Committee on the Constitution. This was done.

Business was suspended while the Moderator, the Rev. J.U. Selwyn Toms, conducted a period of Bible Study.

On motion the Synod adopted the following resolution:

"WHEREAS as believing Christians God has commanded us to preserve a constant and clear witness to His truth and to proclaim it free from all surrender to, or compromise with, unbelief in any form; and

"WHEREAS the body known as the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, which for generations maintained a true witness to the revelation given by God in His Word, has now become dominated by that form of unbelief commonly known as 'modernism', so that believers are unequally yoked together with unbelievers (contrary to God's command and to the peril of souls), and so that those who deny the necessity of doctrines which lie at the heart of the faith of the Church Universal are honored by being placed increasingly in positions of honor and power, while those who love the historic Christian faith have become an impotent remnant within it; and

"WHEREAS the General Assembly of that body has, by solemn and final judicial action, required submission of men's consciences to its own orders, and has in so doing denied that right of appeal to the Word of God which is the inalienable refuge and defense of all true Protestants, thus placing obedience to its own command above and contrary to that of obedience to God's Word as a condition and test of remaining within its communion; and

"WHEREAS such action is a sinful usurpation of the Crown and Covenant rights of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only Head and King of the Church, setting the servant above his Lord, and is an attempt to bring into intolerable bondage the souls of those who hold dearer than life itself the precious doctrine that 'God alone is lord of the conscience' as the essence of spiritual freedom; and

"WHEREAS we view with inexpressible sorrow this action of a once-faithful Church as nothing less than official and judicially confirmed apostasy from the great Scriptural principle of the Reformation that the Bible and the Bible alone is the supreme and only infallible rule of faith and practice, from which high doctrine the whole doctrinal fabric of our faith derives its authority:

"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this General Synod, conscious of human frailty and weakness, but in humble submission upon God alone, declares its firm intention to maintain until our Lord appears in glory the spiritual succession and witness which has been so tragically abandoned. To that end we earnestly pray the great Head of the Church to give grace and strength for this task which is inescapably laid upon us by simple loyalty, and by love for Him.

"AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we invite all Christians who find themselves unequally yoked together with unbelievers to join with us in testimony to the Gospel."

On motion the Synod adopted the following resolution:

"WHEREAS the 148th General Assembly of the body now claiming to bear the title of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (which body this Synod holds to have abandoned its true and lawful spiritual succession as a Church of the Protestant Reformation) did, in Judicial Cases one, two, three, four and five pretended to be adjudicated by it, violate the express commands of the Word of God and the provisions of its own constitution; and

"WHEREAS such pretended adjudications are unlawful and void, ab initio; and

"WHEREAS certain ministers now under the jurisdiction of this General Synod did, before the pretended execution of the pretended censures ordered in consequence of the pretended adjudications aforesaid, sever altogether their relationship to the body named, such severance being the inalienable right of those belonging to a voluntary religious body; and

"WHEREAS judicatories of the body named did unlawfully pretend to inflict censures upon other ministers now subject to the jurisdiction of this Synod simply because they renounced its jurisdiction as being a body unfaithful to the Lord Jesus Christ;

"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this General Synod declares that all persons under its jurisdiction having had inflicted upon them the aforesaid pretended censures are ministers in good standing in this Church, subject to no other ecclesiastical authority, and accountable to the courts of this Church alone."

On motion the following resolution was adopted:

"WHEREAS, we have declared it to be our purpose to continue the true spiritual succession of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., which we hold to have been abandoned by the body now bearing that name; and

"WHEREAS in so continuing the true spiritual succession of evangelical Presbyterianism we believe it our solemn duty to dissociate ourselves from certain acts taken by the body to which we formerly belonged, which acts were contrary to its true spiritual witness, beyond the power of its courts lawfully to adopt, and unjust to a great body of fellow-Christians; and

"WHEREAS we ourselves have recently experienced a similar usurpation of unlawful power;

"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Synod repudiates as unlawful and un-Christian the actions of the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. taken against our Southern brethren in 1861, 1865, 1866, and 1867 in requiring them to submit their consciences to the General Assembly, expressing our sorrow and regret for them, and declaring that for us and for all those who do or shall adhere to us, the aforesaid actions are repealed and annulled as having no basis or warrant in Holy Scripture. And

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be transmitted by the Clerk of this General Synod to the Clerk of the General Assembly of our sister Church, the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and to the Clerk of each Presbytery thereof, and that this General Synod appoint a fraternal delegate to convey in person the sentiment of this body, and to express our fellowship, to the next General Assembly of our brethren in the South."

On motion it was determined that the Moderator, the Clerk and the Rev. Harold S. Laird be a committee to choose the fraternal delegate authorized in the resolution preceding.

On motion the following resolution was adopted:

"In conformity to the Word of God an without adding thereto any rules binding the conscience we do hereby urge our membership to lead a holy life separated from worldly sin. We held that the participation in games commonly used for gambling acts a snare for our young people, introducing them to the gambling associates and leading themselves into this evil practice. We hold that the patronage of the commercial theater is not conducive to the development of the spiritual life. We hold that the promiscuous familiarity between the sexes in modern society in the modern dance and in other modern social customs sets dangerous temptations before the young. We urge all ministers and Christian leaders among us to discourage these an other worldly practices among the Lord's people, and to give their Christian testimony uncompromisingly against all forms of sin."

"On motion the following resolution was adopted:

"We, the members of this Synod, in the interest of making clear our position on this particular matter, namely the question of a Christian's relation to the use of intoxicating beverages, and with no slightest intention of setting ourselves up in judgement on the conscience of any man where the Word of God has not bound him, do desire to declare that we deem it wise to pursue the course of abstinence; and furthermore, we lament the widespread tendency of the American people toward intemperance, and we are unalterably opposed to the modern saloon and the liquor traffic in general, which, as now carried on, is associated with and leads to sinful abuses, and is subversive of the general welfare of society."

The Rev. James W. Hanna presented the following petition:

"WHEREAS the undersigned ministers and elders of the Bible Presbyterian Synod feel that the time has come for the establishment of a presbytery of the Great Lakes region for the more efficient prosecution of the work of the Synod;

"BE IT RESOLVED that we petition the Bible Presbyterian Synod to establish "The Great Lakes Presbytery" and to terminate our responsibility to the Presbytery of the Philadelphia Area.

"A. F. Faucette, F. A. Schaeffer, Jr., S. J. Glenn, Oscar T. Gillan, James W. Hanna."

On motion, the prayer of the petition was granted.

On motion the following resolution was adopted:

"WHEREAS this General Synod has adopted changes in the Confession of Faith and the Larger Catechism which bring our doctrinal standards into harmony with the pre-millenial view of that blessed hope, the second coming of our Lord; and

"WHEREAS although we hold this view to be taught in God's Word, we yet recognize that there are sincere Christians who hold to other views of the events which shall accompany our Lord's return but who nevertheless are one with us in receiving the system of doctrine taught in the Bible and stated in our doctrinal standards;

"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this General Synod declares that subscription to our doctrinal standards upon the part of all office-bearers shall be understood as leaving them and our churches and members free to hold any eschatological view which includes the visible and personal return of our Lord to earth, and which is not otherwise inconsistent with the system of doctrine of the Bible and the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of this Church."

The Synod resumed consideration of the proposed Form of Government.

On motion the Synod adjourned until Thursday at 9:30 A.M. The sederunt was closed in prayer by the Moderator.

The Synod met on Thursday morning, September 8, at 9:30, pursuant to adjournment. A service of prayer and praise were led by the Rev. M.A. Pearson.

The Moderator formally constituted the Synod with prayer.

The Clerk called the roll.

Consideration of the Form of Government was continued.

On motion the Clerk was directed to convey the greetings of the Synod to the Rev. Alford Kelly, prevented by age and infirmity from attendance, and to the Rev. R. Laird Harris, prevented by illness from attendance.

After discussion and amendment seriatim, the Synod adopted the Form of Government of the Bible Presbyterian Church in the form in which it is appended to these minutes. The Moderator then declared this Synod to be the First General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church.

A communication to the General Synod from the Great Plains Presbytery was read as follows:

"To the Bible Presbyterian Synod.

"Greetings in the name of our Saviour:

"We, the Great Plains Presbytery, have fellowship with you and with all who walk in the light and have this fellowship which, according to the Apostle, is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

"We have voted in this first organizational meeting of the Great Plains Presbytery, the evening of the 15th of August, 1938, respectfully to address you in your next, or first, gathering as a Synod, which occurs after this date, this night, requesting, if you please, that you consider the matter of the doctrinal standards of the Synod, looking forward to possible alterations which can make it possible, the Lord willing, for us to apply to you as a particular Presbytery for membership in your body.

"Our desire is to be squarely based as a Presbytery upon the old time Presbyterian Faith standards as they existed in the form of the Westminster Confession of Faith as they were used in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., prior to 1903.

"If you see fit so to alter your Synod standards so as clearly to revert to these standards you may then, on that basis, at your stated meeting consider this communication an application for membership as a Presbytery in fellowship united organically with and in the Bible Presbyterian Synod.

"With prayer for God's guidance and blessing upon you

"Passed by action of the Great Plains Presbytery

"David K. Myers

"The Stated Clerk

"The Great Plains Presbytery."

An application from the Covenant Presbyterian Church of Grove City, Pa., to be received as a particular Church, was read.

On motion the Covenant Presbyterian Church of Grove City, Pa., was received as a particular Church and assigned to the Great Lakes Presbytery.

After devotional services conducted by the Rev. V. V. Wortman, the Synod recessed, with prayer, until 2:15 P.M.

The afternoon sederunt was opened at 2:15 with prayer by the Moderator.

On motion the Book of Discipline as proposed by the Committee on the Constitution was adopted provisionally until the next meeting of the Synod.

The committee on temporary committees reported that no action in this respect is necessary. On motion the report was adopted.

On motion the Synod adopted resolutions concerning the passing to be with Christ of the Rev. R. Jackson Vaughn, as follows:

"Resolved that we, Ministers and Ruling Elders of the First General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church do hereby express our deep regret and sorrow in the passing away of our fellow minister of the Gospel, R. Jackson Vaughn, and instruct the Clerk to convey our sympathy to the bereaved wife and mother."

On motion a Declaratory Statement, to be appended to the Confession of Faith, was adopted as follows, to wit:

"In adopting the Confession of Faith this General Synod declares:

"First, its firm and glad belief in the reality and universality of the offer of the Gospel to mankind. We believe that Christ's atonement is sufficient for the sins of all, adapted to all, and is freely offered to all men in the Gospel. We believe that no man will be condemned except upon the ground of his sin.

"Second, with regard to the salvation of those dying in infancy we do not regard our Confession as teaching or implying that any who die in infancy are lost."

On motion the Great Plains Presbytery was received as a Presbytery of this Church.

On motion the Presbytery of California was erected, to consist of our ministers in that area.

On motion the Committee on National Missions was empowered to erect and/or receive Presbyteries in the interim between this and the next meeting of Synod.

On motion, the following ministers were assigned to presbyteries:

C. D. Chrisman New Jersey

A. J. Diefenbacher Great Plains

D. Jorgansen New Jersey

A. Kelly Philadelphia Area

C. Lamen Great Lakes

W. Monroe Philadelphia Area

M. A. Pearson Iowa

R. L. Vining Philadelphia Area

C. C. Wier Philadelphia Area

J. M. L. Young New Jersey

On motion the Committee on the Constitution was thanked for its work and discharged.

On motion the Moderator and Clerk were authorized to prepare and send to all evangelical churches of the world a letter, explaining the situation that had arisen in this country, announcing the existence of this Church, the causes that have brought it into being, and expressing fellowship, said letter to be signed by the Moderator and Clerk in the name of the Synod.

On motion it was determined that the next meeting to be held at some time and place to be chosen by the Committee on National Missions within the next thirteen months.

On motion the Committee on National Missions was authorized to print the minutes of the Synod.

On motion a vote of thanks was extended to the Bible Presbyterian Church of Collingswood, and to its pastor, for the hospitality extended to the Synod.

On motion the Synod received and noted with appreciation the resolution of the Presbytery of the Chicago Area, which is as follows:

"The following articles were approved by the Chicago Bible Presbytery at its meeting on April 9, 1938 as a suitable expression of fundamental principles for adoption by the Bible Presbyterian Synod in connection with its form of government:

"1. We affirm our acceptance of the doctrine of the visible church and the principles of its government set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith as founded upon and agreeable with the Word of God.

"2. We believe that the essential principle of Presbyterian Church government is supervision of the Church by presbyters (also called elders, or overseers) and that this principle is founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God.

"3. We believe that government by two kinds of presbyters, ministers and ruling elders, who are to be joined in the oversight of the church, is founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God.

"4. We believe that Synods and Councils as set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the powers which are solely 'ministerial and declarative' are founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God.

"5. We believe that in exceptional conditions and in times of ecclesiastical distress of confusion true Presbyterian government may be maintained in local churches governed by presbyters without connection with any Synod or Council then existing, and that this view, recognized by the Westminster Assembly in its 'Form of Presbyterial Church Government', is founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God."

The Synod was addressed by Mr. Edgar E. Strother, Evangelist.

The Clerk reported orally for the ad interim committee which had been carrying on the affairs of the Synod, including an account of its meetings, ministers received, presbyteries erected and general activities. On motion the Synod voted to ratify the actions of the ad interim committee.

On motion it was determined that the Synod elect a Committee on National Missions to function ad interim of the Synod meetings, to receive and disburse moneys for the promotion of the Church, with power at its discretion to appoint a field secretary and to act as agent of the Synod in receiving ministers and presbyteries.

On motion the following were declared members of the Committee on National Missions: Ministers, Laird, McIntire, Toms, Buffler, Thomas and Griffiths; Ruling Elders, Black, Stam and Glen.

On motion the Synod urged each Presbytery to erect a committee on National Missions to cooperate with the Synod's Committee.

On motion the Synod adopted the following resolution:

"The Bible Presbyterian Church wishes to express its thanks to Almighty God for the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions. It rejoices in the testimony of this Board to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, expresses its desire to support the Board in any way possible, and prays for the blessing of God upon its missionaries and members.

"Believing that the Independent Board is an agency faithfully representing the Gospel in all its fullness, and in loyalty to Presbyterian doctrine and polity, the General Synod commends it to the confidence, the support and the prayers of Christian people."

On motion the Synod adopted the following resolution:

"WHEREAS there is no greater need in the Christian world than the training of ministers able to present the Gospel of Christ and to defend and expound the Word of God faithfully and truly; and

"WHEREAS such an institution must be scholarly, able to deal fairly and comprehensively with the best thought of modern times and also uncompromising in its attitude toward unbelief and uncleanness whether of doctrine or of life; and

"WHEREAS Faith Theological Seminary with its splendid corps of highly trained and consecrated teachers is admirably meeting this need;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church, give thanks to God for the establishment of Faith Theological Seminary and for the way i which His signal blessing has rested upon the institution;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we commend Faith Theological Seminary to Christians everywhere in order that it may receive that support both in prayers and in gifts which will enable it to continue to grow."

The Rev. Oscar T. Gillan led the Synod in a period of Bible study.

On motion a committee consisting of the Moderator and Clerk was authorized to confer with the brethren from a distance as to their travelling expenses, and to pay out available funds on a basis proportionate to distance traveled.

The minutes of the Synod were read and, on motion, approved.

The vote to dissolve the First General Synod having been taken, the Moderator offered prayer and then said:

Let this General Synod now be dissolved, and I do hereby dissolve it, and require another General Synod, constituted according to the Form of Government of the Bible Presbyterian Church, to be held at a time and place within the next thirteen months to be determined by the Committee on National Missions", and pronounced the Apostolic Benediction.

ATTEST:

H. McAllister Griffiths