Down to 1824, new pastors indicated their adherence to the Confession of Faith by signature.  In 1824, however, signature was replaced by a solemn promise.  “Since that time different formulas have been used at the will of the pastors performing the ordination, without any one of them having the sanction of a synod, and without the manner of adherence having been expressly stipulated.”

“Since the Synod of 1872, in ordinations over which pastors attached to the Synodal Church have presided, candidates are required to conform formally, in the presence of the congregation, to the declaration of faith adopted by the Synod.  Article 2, of the complete law, declares:  ’Every candidate for holy orders must, before receiving ordination, affirm that he adheres to the faith of the Church as stated by the general synod’.”

Theological professors were sometimes appointed without conditions.  Still they were not permitted to teach doctrines in glaring contradiction to the general belief of the Churches.  For example, in 1812, M. Gasc, professor of theology at Montauban, attacked in his lectures the doctrine of the Trinity, whereupon several consistories required him either to retract his opinions or to resign his post.  M. Gasc retracted his opinions.

“The Evangelical Churches of France, composed of members who have made an explicit and individual profession of faith, and who recognise in religious matters no other authority than that of Jesus Christ, the only and sovereign head of the Church,” accept the Old and New Testaments as directly inspired by God and so constituting the only and infallible rule of faith and life.

[Churches of Switzerland.]

The Churches of Switzerland have the pre-eminence in the relaxation or disuse of Tests.  The following is a summary of their practice:—­

The Reformed Church of the Canton of Vaud.

According to the ecclesiastical law of May 19, 1863 (slightly modified by a decree of December 2, 1874), the National Church of the Canton of Vaud “desires chiefly that its members should lead a Christian life,” and “admits no other rule of instruction than the Word of God contained in the Holy Scriptures”.  Every candidate for the ministry is required by the ecclesiastical law of December 14, 1839, to “swear that he will discharge conscientiously the duties which the National Reformed Evangelical Church imposes upon its ministers, and that he will preach the Word of God in its purity and integrity as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures”.  “When accusation is brought against any minister on the ground of doctrine, the proceedings are distinctly marked; but in reality it is simply required that ’the jurymen give a conscientious verdict’.”

The Free Evangelical Church of the Canton of Vaud requires that candidates for the ministry be examined as to their religious life, their calling to the ministry, their doctrine and their ecclesiastical principles by a committee of the synodical commission, with pastors and elders.  After examination the candidate must “declare his cordial adhesion to the doctrines and institutions of the Free Church”.  This pledge is verbal.