pointed, on the nature, duties and responsibilities of the ministerial office.

2. The President of the Ministerium, or the Chairman of the Conference or Committee, shall then, after a short address, such as is contained in the Liturgy, propose to the candidate the following questions:

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

2. Do you believe that the fundamental doctrines of the word of God, are taught in a manner substantially correct, in the doctrinal articles of the Augsburg Confession?

3. Do you promise, by the aid of God, faithfully to perform all the duties enjoined on you in this Formula, and to submit yourself to its rules of Government and Discipline, so long as you remain a member of any Lutheran Synod?

4. Do you believe that in seeking the ministerial office you are influenced by a sincere love to God your Saviour, and desire to promote his glory in the welfare of men?

5. Do you promise faithfully and zealously to preach the truths of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as contained in the Holy Scriptures?

SEC. 3. These questions being answered in the affirmative, the candidate shall kneel down, when the President or presiding minister shall ordain him after the apostolic example by prayer1 and the laying on of the hands of the ministry2 i. e. presbytery. The candidate shall then rise, and the officiating minister, and after him the ordained ministers present shall take him by the right hand and welcome him to take part in the ministry with them.3 (The ceremonies may then be concluded by the benediction. But if the ordination was performed in a church to which he is called, the presiding minister shall proceed without any interruption with the ceremonies of installation.)

1 Acts 13: 2. 3.

21 Tim. 4: 14.

3 Acts 1: 25.

CHAPTER XX.

Installation.

SEC. 1. He shall then propose to the minister just ordained this question: viz. Are you willing to take charge of this congregation, and do you promise by the grace of God, faithfully to discharge the duties of a Christian pastor to them?

SEC. 2. This question being answered in the affirmative, the President shall ask the congregation :

Do you desire to receive as the regular pastor of your church (or churches) to which you have given him a call? And do you promise faithfully to discharge towards him the duties, which a Christian congregation owe to their pastor?

These questions being answered in the affirmative; The presiding minister shall solemnly pronounce the individual installed to be the regular pastor of said charge; and conclude with the benediction.

SEC. 3. If a minister already ordained, is to be installed, the ceremony of Installation shall be preceded by a sermon on the relation between a minister and the people of his charge, or on some suitable subject, by a person previously appointed. The minister shall then be formally installed, according to Sec. 1. 2., after which, a charge may be delivered by a minister previously appointed, to the pastor and his people on their respective duties, and the whole be closed with the benediction.

P. S. As different Synods might differ in opinion relative to matters of a minor nature, so many particulars only as are necessary to general uniformity, and harmony of operation among the churches, were introduced into this Formula. Each Synod adopting this Constitution, has the power to form such by-laws, as may seem proper to itself.

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

GENERAL SYNOD OF THE EVANG. LUTHERAN CHURCH

IN THE UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA.

[Translated from the original German copy.]

JESUS CHRIST, the Supreme Head of His Church, having prescribed no entire specific directory for government and discipline, and every section of his church being left at full liberty to make such regulations to that effect, as may be most adapted to its situation and circumstances, therefore-Relying upon God our Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit in the Word of God, for the promotion of the practice of brotherly love, to the furtherance of Christian concord, to the firm establishment and continuance of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace-We, the Deputies of the "German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Pennsylvania and the neighbouring States," of the "German and English Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the State of North Carolina and the bordering States," of the "Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium in the State of New York, and the neighbouring States and Countries," and of the "Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Maryland and Virginia, &c." for ourselves and our successors, do adopt the following fundamental articles: viz.

ARTICLE I.

The Name, Style and Title of this Convention shall be: "The Evangelical Lutheran General Synod of the United States of North America."

ARTICLE II.

This General Synod shall consist of the Deputies from the several Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conventions in the United States, who may join themselves thereunto, and be duly acknowledged as members thereof, in the following ratio, namely:

Every Synodical body, or Synod (whether of Ministers only, or of Ministers and Lay Deputies together) containing six Ministers, may send one; if it contain fourteen, two; if twenty-five, three; if forty, four; if sixty, five; and if it contain eighty-six Ministers or upwards, six Deputies of the rank of ordained Ministers, and an equal number of Lay Deputies.

Each Deputy, appearing in the General Synod according to this ratio, shall, except as is hereinafter provided, enjoy an equal right and vote with all others. Every Synod may choose its Deputies in such a way and manner as to them may seem proper; and shall pay the travelling expenses of the same to and from the General Synod, until the General Synod shall have established for itself a treasury from which the future expenses may be discharged.

ARTICLE III.

The business of the General Synod shall be as follows, namely: SEC. 1. The General Synod shall examine the Proceedings of the several Synods and Ministeriums belonging to this association, in order that they may obtain some knowledge of the existing state and condition of the Church. The several Synods, therefore, shall transmit as many copies of their proceedings to the General Synod, as there shall be members contained in the General Synod.

SEC. 2. With regard to all Books and Writings proposed for public use in the church, the General Synod shall act as a joint committee of the special Synods and Ministeriums, after the following manner, viz.

1. The General Synod shall examine all books and writings such as catechisms, forms of liturgy, collections of hymns, or confessions of faith, proposed by the special Synods for public use, and give their wellconsidered advice, counsel or opinion concerning

the same. No Synod, therefore, and no Ministerium, standing in connexion with this General Synod, shall set forth any new book or writing of the kind above mentioned, for public use in the church, without having previously transmitted a full and complete copy thereof to the General Synod, for the purpose of receiving their said advice, counsel or opinion.

2. Whenever the General Synod shall deem it proper or necessary, they may propose to the special Synods or Ministeriums, new books or writings of the kind mentioned above, for general or spe cial, public use. Every proposal of the kind, the several or respective Synods and Ministeriums shall duly consider, and if they, or any one of them, shall be of opinion, that the said book or books, writing or writings, will not conduce to the end proposed, then, and in such a case, it is hoped, that the reasons of such opinion will be transmitted to the next convention of the General Synod, in order that the same may be entered on their journal.

3. But no General Synod can be allowed to possess, or arrogate unto itself," the power of prescribing among us uniform ceremonies of religion for every part of the Church;" or to introduce such alterations in matters appertaining to the faith, or to the mode of publishing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, (the Son of God, and ground of our faith and hope) as might in any way tend to burden the consciences of the brethren in Christ.

SEC. 3. If hereafter twenty-five ministers, dwelling together, within a certain marked boundary, fifteen of whom, being ordained ministers, shall apply to the General Synod for permission to create within themselves a Special Ministerium, and the Synod or Ministerium to which they have previously belonged, do not, upon due notice given of their intention so to apply, make any serious or important objection, then the General Synod shall have power to grant the permission; and if within the bounds of a whole state no special Synod or Ministerium shall yet have existed, and six ordained ministers residing therein shall apply for permission to create within themselves a special Ministerium, the General Synod shall authorize the establishment of a new Synod and Ministerium within the said State. But until the permission or authority be