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Vetch, James Edwards, a.b.

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Vevers, William

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an old form of the word fathom, a measure of six feet in length. Veto Act is the popular designation of the celebrated act on calls passed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, May 31, 1834, and which, being afterwards declared by the courts of law and the Supreme Legislature to be illegal and beyond the powers of the Church to enact, gave rise to a collision between the Church and State, and led to the formation, in 1843, as a separate denomination, of the Free Church of Scotland. The act originated in the motion of Dr. Chalmers, which was seconded by lord Moncrieff. This motion is given in full under the article NON- INTRUSIONISTS (See NON-INTRUSIONISTS) (q.v.). The act runs as follows:

The General Assembly declare that it is a fundamental law of this Church that no pastor shall be intruded on lay congregation contrary to the will of the people; and, in order that this principle may be carried into full effect, the General Assembly, with the consent of a majority of the presbyteries of this Church, do declare, enact, and ordain, That it shall be an instruction to presbyteries that if in the moderating in a call to a vacant pastoral charge, the major part of the male heads of families, members of the vacant congregation and in full communion with the Church, shall disapprove of the person in whose favor the call is to be moderated in, such disapproval shall be deemed sufficient ground for the presbytery rejecting such person, and that he shall be rejected accordingly, and due notice thereof forthwith given to all concerned; but that if the major part of the said heads of families shall not disapprove of such person to be their pastor, the presbytery shall proceed with the settlement according to the rules of the Church. And they further declare that no person shall be held to be entitled to disapprove as aforesaid, who shall refuse, if required, solemnly to declare, in presence of the presbytery, that he is actuated by no faction us or malicious motive, but solely by a conscientious regard to the spiritual interests of himself or the congregation." (See PATRONAGE); (See RIDING COMMITTEES); (See SETTLEMENTS, VIOLENT).