of the Old and New Testaments, as the only infallible rule of faith and practice,* and the Augsburg Confession, as a correct exhibition of the fundamental doctrines of the Divine word and of the faith of our Church founded upon that word?"

2. 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 a Lutheran Synod? ‡

SEC. 6. These questions being answered in the affirmative, the President offers up a suitable prayer, delivers him his license, and concludes with a short address as directed in the Liturgy.

SEC. 7. All licenses shall extend to the time of the next annual meeting of the Ministerium, and shall be renewed as a matter of course, whether the licentiate be present or not, unless satisfactory reasons are known to the Ministerium, which render a renewal inexpedient. And if, for any reason, no meeting be held at the appointed time, the licenses granted by said Ministerium shall remain in force, until revoked at a subsequent meeting.

SEC. 8. If a licentiate, after some time of probation, does, in the judgment of the Ministerium, prove himself unqualified for the duties of the ministry, his license shall be withdrawn.

CHAPTER XIX.

ORDINATION.

SECTION 1. Whenever the Ministerium has decided that an individual shall be ordained, the 2 Tim. iii. 16. † 2 Tim. i. 13. +1 Pet. v. 5.

ceremony may be performed, either at the time, by the assembled Ministerium, or, if preferred, in the church by which he has been called, by the Special Conference, or by a Committee appointed for the purpose by the President.

SEC. 2. The ceremony of ordination, wherever performed, shall be as follows, viz.:

1. A sermon shall be preached by a person previously appointed, 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 Augsburg Confession is a correct exhibition of the fundamental doctrines of the Divine word, and of the faith of our Church founded upon that word?

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 prayer,* and the laying on of the hands of the ministry, 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. (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.)

CHAPTER XX.

INSTALLATION.

SECTION 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 congrega

tion:

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 toward him the duties which a Christian congregation owe to their pastor? *Acts xiii. 2, 3. †1 Tim. iv. 14. ‡ Gal. ii. 9.

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 other 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.

CONSTITUTION OF THE GENERAL SYNOD. ADOPTED AT WASHINGTON IN 1869.

PREAMBLE.

JESUS CHRIST, the Supreme Head of His Church, having prescribed no entire specific directory for its government and discipline, and every section of His Church being left at liberty to make such regulations additional to those found in the Scriptures, as are in harmony with the Word of God, and best 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, and for the accomplishment of the grand design for which the Church of Christ was established on earth,- We, the Evangelical Lutheran Synods connected with the General Synod, for ourselves and our successors, do adopt the following

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CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I.

The name, style, and title of this body shall be, "THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."

ARTICLE II.

SECTION 1. The General Synod shall consist of the Clerical and Lay Delegates from the several District Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States which are now connected with it, or may hereafter join themselves thereunto, and who shall be duly acknowledged as members thereof, in the following ratio, namely:

Each Evangelical Lutheran Synod, containing eight ministers, may send one; if it contain sixteen, two; if twenty-four, three; if thirty-two, four; if forty, five; if fifty-five, six; if seventy, seven; if eighty-five, eight; and if it contain one hundred and upwards, nine delegates of the rank of ordained ministers, and an equal number of lay delegates. Each Synod at present con