The following paragraphs are taken from an editorial printed in the "Presbyterian Record" the national magazine of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, in February 1924...

"What Presbyterianism Stands for?

      1. The Presbyterian Church, of all ages and countries, stands, first and chief, for the Sovereignty of God. She puts God first, Supreme, in Doctrine, Creed and Work. In the conception and expression of no other great system has God been given the supreme place that He has been given in the Calvinistic system and in the Standards of the Presbyterian Churches of the world.

      2. The Presbyterian Church has stood pre-eminently for the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His vicarious atonement for sin. The doctrine is very prominent in our standards to which all are voluntarily pledged.

      3. It stands for the supremacy of the Word of God. It holds that the "the Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him." "To the Law and to the Testimony" is its final appeal.
      All other Doctrinal Standards of the church are but a setting forth of the truths contained in that word. This is but another way of saying that the Presbyterian Church stands simply and wholly and only for a Scriptural system of Doctrine.

      4. Presbyterianism stands for a Scriptural form of Church Government. When the Christian Church was first established, and the apostles had to provide for the well being of the churches which they founded in different countries, they chose elders (presbyters) in every church, to manage its spiritual affairs, and the central Synod at Jerusalem had a general oversight of the whole. That Apostolic system is the Presbyterian system of today throughout the world.

      5. Presbyterianism stands for the liberty and right of the individual member. It knows no privileged or titled or powered ecclesiastical classes who can impose their will upon the people, either in the intrusion upon them of a minister whom they have no called or in any other way.
      In every Presbyterian Church Court, from the lowest to the highest, the elders chosen by the people have an equal voice and vote with any minister.

      6. With the right of the individual member and the individual congregation, the Presbyterian Church stands for the Unity of the whole, so that the strong may help the weak, and guard their interests, and any member has the right of appeal to the highest court of the Presbyterian Church, for redress of any wrong that comes within the sphere of spiritual government.

      7. The Presbyterian Churches throughout the world are merely separate disconnected units but are banded together in The Alliance of the Reformed Churches holding the Presbyterian System -- which meets once in four years -- and is made up of representatives from all the Presbyterian Churches of the world.

      8. Looking out from herself to other branches of the Church of Christ, The Presbyterian Church stands pre-eminently for the unity of all true believers. While maintaining h er own system of Doctrine and government as in her judgment the best and most Scriptural, she sees, in all true children of God, members of the household of faith and brethren in Christ.
      It is not too much to say that in this respect the Presbyterian church is the broadest and most liberal, and the least sectarian of all the great religious families of the world. In all undertakings of an inter- denominational character, she has ever been in the forefront."

      Although this article was written 74 years ago, It is still valid and true.

Sincerely in Christ,
Floyd McPhee