unity of the faith, and take from them all bitterness and unkindness, all needless divisions and misunderstandings. May grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Pour out Thy Holy Spirit upon all men, and hasten the time when every people shall be blessed in the knowledge of Thee, and of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the congregation shall be dismissed with this or some other BENEDICTION, the People still bowing down.

THE peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

¶ It is becoming, that, after the close of the Service, the Members of the congregation, especially the Elders and other Officers, should come forward and express to their Pastor their welcome and affectionate regard.

THE ORDER FOR

THE ORDINATION OF RULING ELDERS.

¶ Ruling Elders are properly the representatives of the people, chosen by them for the purpose of exercising government and discipline, in conjunction with pastors or ministers (Form of Government, Chap. v). When to the office of Ruling Elder, any person shall have been elected shall have declared his willingness to accept thereof, he shall be set apart to his office in the manner prescribed by the Form of Government (Chap. xiii).

¶ Divine Service having been celebrated according to the usual Order, the Persons to be ordained shall, after the Sermon, present themselves before the pulpit at the call of the Minister, who shall thus address the congregation:

DEARLY Beloved: As in the Old Testament the Elders

exercised an honourable office of government among the people of God, so also in the New Testament the Apostle ordained Elders in every church; commanding that they that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the Word and doctrine.

Therefore, this Church has from the beginning included in her government not only Ministers and Pastors, who are to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments in the Name of Christ and as His representatives: but also Ruling Elders chosen by the people to represent them, and to be joined with Pastors and Ministers in the exercise of government and discipline in the Church.

These Ruling Elders in each congregation, together with the Pastor, constitute the Session, to whom it is committed to admit and exclude members, to regulate the worship, guard the doctrine, direct the activity, and conserve the interests of the congregation. The Elders are also to represent their brethren in Presbyteries, Synods, and General Assemblies, when commissioned thereto. And it is the duty of the Elders severally to set the example of a godly walk and conversation, and to assist the Pastor in the visitation of the people, and in their spiritual guidance and comfort. These brethren here present [here the Minister

shall mention the names of the Persons chosen] having been chosen, in the mode most approved and in use in this congregation, to the office of Ruling Elder, and having signified their willingness to serve, we do therefore, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, now proceed to their ordination.

¶ Then the Minister, addressing the Elders-elect, shall say,

FORASMUCH as you have declared your willingness to take this office upon you, I now require you to answer the following Questions, appointed by the Church to be put to those who are to be ordained as Elders.

Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures ?

Do you approve of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in these United States ?

Do you accept the office of Ruling Elder in this congregation, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties thereof ?

Do you promise to study the peace, unity, and purity of the Church?

The Elders-elect having answered these Questions in the affirmative, the Minister shall address to the Members of the church the following QUESTION:

Do you, the Members of this church, acknowledge and receive these brethren as Ruling Elders, and do you promise to yield them all that honour, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord, to which their office, according to the Word of God, and the constitution of this Church, entitles them?

¶ The Members of the church having answered this Question in the affirmative, by holding up their right hands, the Minister shall proceed to set apart the Candidates to their office, by Prayer, (and if desired, the Laying on of Hands,) the Elders-elect devoutly kneeling.

Let us pray.

SET apart, we beseech Thee, O Lord, these Thy servants to the work whereunto Thou hast called them by the voice of this people. Endue them plenteously with heavenly wisdom. Grant them Thy grace, that they may be good men, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, ruling in the fear of God. Give them favour and influence with the people. Make them faithful unto death, and when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, may they receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Amen.

IN

Then the Minister shall say.

the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority committed to me in His Church, I hereby declare you duly constituted and set apart to the office of Ruling Elder.

I now charge you, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, to be faithful in this your office.

I also charge you, Christian people, to be faithful to these Elders whom you have chosen to rule over you in the Lord; and that you render them all due obedience, co-operation and support, and follow them so far as ye see them follow Christ.

Where there is an existing Session, it is proper that the Members of that body should here take the newly ordained Elders by the hand, saying in words to this purpose:

WE

E give you the right hand of fellowship, to take part of this Office with us.

If Elders who have been already ordained are to be installed at the same Service, the Order for their Installation may be here introduced.

Then the Minister shall say.

MAY the great Head of the Church so enrich us with His heavenly grace, that at the last we shall hear Him saying unto us: Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

THE ORDER FOR

THE INSTALLATION OF RULING ELDERS WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY

ORDAINED

-

When an Elder has terminated his connection with his Session by removal to another church, or by resignation, or when he is re-elected under the rotary system, he is to be reinstalled before he can regularly exercise the duties of his office. · Minutes of the General Assembly, 1878, 1882. When Elders are to be newly ordained at the same Service with the installation of those who have been previously ordained, the following Order may be introduced in The Order for the Ordination of Ruling Elders, immediately before the Benediction.

BELOVED Brethren: Having already been solemnly or

dained to the office of Ruling Elder, you do now present yourselves in response to the voice of this congregation, to be installed again for the discharge of the active duties of your office.

You will therefore now give answer to the following Questions:

Do you accept the office of Ruling Elder in this congregation, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties thereof?

Do you promise to study the peace, unity, and purity of the Church?

¶The Elders-elect having answered these Questions in the affirmative, the Minister shall address to the Members of the church the following QUESTION:

Do you, the Members of this church, acknowledge and receive these Brethren as Ruling Elders, and do you promise to yield them all that honour, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord, to which their office, according to the Word of God, and the constitution of the Church, entitles them?

The Members of the church shall answer in the affirmative by holding up their right hands.