CHURCH DISCIPLINE. The means em ployed by the Christian Church, besides the ministration of word and sacraments, to secure on the part of its office-beare•s and members a faithful adherence to their profession and a corresponding blamelessness of life. It rests upon the authority of Christ, and at the same time necessarily arises, in sonic form, out of the very constitution of the Church as a so ciety. Among the early Christians it soon as sumed forms of great severity toward offenders, especially toward the //ipso/ (q.v.). At a later period the discipline of the Church was chiefly exercised with respect to persons accused of heresy and schism. The penances of the Church of Rome have long formed an important part of its discipline, and therewith its indulycnces (q.v.) are closely connected, as well as its doc trine and rule of auricular confession. (See CONPEssle:N.) In the Protestant churches, pub lic confession of sins by which public scandal has been given, and submission to public rebuke, are sometimes required. Practices more analo gous to those of the primitive Church were established in many churches after the Reforma tion, but in general have fallen greatly, or en tirely, into disnse. The power of exelusion
from the Lord's Supper. and from the rights and privileges of tic membership. is. however, generally reMined and exercised, until. by pro fession of repentance, and by reformation of life, the cause of such exclusion is removed; and ministers or other office-bearers are, upon offense given in their doctrine or conduct. suspended from their functions. or altogether deposed from their (A•e. The exercise of church discipline belongs more or less exelusively to a hierarchy, or to the olliee•hea reTS assenblcd in church courts, or to the members of each congregation. aecording as the church is Episeopalian, Presby teriall. or independent in its church government. There is an increasing tendency among Ch•is tians in general to scrutinize closely the claim of right to exercise church discipline, and the limits within which it may be exercised.