The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-10-06
Pan-Presbyterian Council.
The Discussion ON creeds Continued
FIFTH DA'

The Discussion on Creeds Continued.
The proceedings of the Presbyterian Council
on Tuesday, the 9th ult., were not only in
terestlng but notably impressive. The papers
were able and entertaining. and the concluding
debate on creeds excited considerable feeling
The features of the day were the devout and
impressive manner in which Dr. Lang presided
the papers of Drs. Cairns and Hodge, and
most eloquent prayer by DR.. Ormiston, of New
York, during the morning session. The audi
ence was smaller In the morning than at any
previous session on account of the rain. On
the platform with the distinguished Presbvte-
rians sat Rev. Dr. Tiffany, Rev. DIR. Morrow,
and Rev. Mr.. Bailey of the Methodist church
DR.. Lang called the Council to order few
minutes late and made the opening PRAYER.
His petition was a most feeling one When
DIR. Blalkle finished reading the minutes DR..
Jenkln asked that the reason why the Council
had concluded not to meet until 1884 be in
serted. After DR.. Hutton and DR.. Rainy had
spoken. Judge Strong arose and said the min
utes should only contain facts and not the
reason for any action of the Council and the
delegates voted down DIR. Jenkins motion.
Professor Calderwood, from the Business Com
mlttee, reported q resolution extending the
evening session from $50 to 10 o'clock. the
half hour to be devoted to the popular five
minutes discussions on the papers read When
the order of the day was reached the Chair in
'AONu|eu LIlnClPdI Calrns, VINO read tenn
perate and mastery paper on The Vcarious
Sacrifice of Christ. DIR. A. A. Hodge, of Prince
ton followed on the same subject. DR.. Lang
took DR.. Hodge by the hand as he in.
troduced him and very highly complimented
him as an author and scholar. These two
papers forcibly presented the doctrine of the
atonement, and from a purely theological
point OF view are the most important that the
Council has heard. An entirely different paper
was that of Rev. DR.. T. D. Witherspoon, of Peters
burg, on Future Retribution. He discussed the
Interpretation of some Greek words and de-
molished position taken by Canon Farrar to
the great delight and amusement of the foreign
delegates. DIR. Witherspoon is a young man of
rather delicate appearance His paper indicated
a good deal of study and acumeni The Chair
announced that five-minute discussions were in
order and DIR. Sloan of Allegheny, forcible
speaker, took the stand. He said creeds were
necessity formulated for those in the Church as
bulwark against outside errors. They unity
the Church, and for them the Church has con-
tended unto death. Rev. Mr.. Wilson, of New
.Hebrides, followed, and he was succeeded bv
DR.. Murkland of Baltimore, one of the ELOQUENT
young men of the Church He thought man
should descend from the pulpit if he cannot
subscribe to the conditions. Rev. Mr.. McCrea
of New Brunswick, a rapid and pointed speaker,
was In favor of a simple unified creed and the
revision of the Bible and he thought that if
there was progress in this direction there could
be progress IN theology Dr. Burns, of Halifax,
held to the creed out and out, and he did not
think any of the eighteen delegates from his
section of the world held to any other opinion.
except the three who had spoken. He told a
story about man who was a good deal of a
Llturglst who said to his preacher: az don't
lh9 preaching anyhow and as yours is next to
nothing am satisfied with it." This excited
great laughter and the Doctor left the stand
Principal McVicar, of Montreal, argued that
creed should not be too short. Let those who
want change say what should be cut out.
Mysterious hints often conceal more than thew
express. Professor Calderwood said fidelity to
the Church was above the liberty of the in
dlvldual, and the responsibility of the Church
was above that liberty. Men who teach must
teach IN harmony with the creeds The cues
ton OF revising the creed was an entirely diff
terent one and was to be met in the regular
way. A proposal for change should be made
in the Church Courts, if it was desired. No in
dlYldual can shorten or alter a creed which be-
longs to the Church. DIR. Read thought it un.
fortunate that at the second meeting of this
Alliance there should be any suggestion as to
the alteration of a creed. If there was anv
such proposition 1t might tell against the great
good which will come out of this meeting. DR..
Van Nest of this city said creeds grew in the
tires, and one hundred thousand martyrs of
Holland produced the confession. DIR. skinner
OF Cincinnati, thought the desire for change in
the creed grew out of misunderstanding Of the
object Of creed. DIR. Wallace, of Wooster,
closed the discussion He spoke of Young
man, " with down on his lip" who will saw q
creed is false after his examination of it as IRE
ssumptuous., DIR. Boggs, of Atlanta, was about
to go on the stand, but the Chair said debate
would have to be arrested to hear DR.. Schaf's
report of the action of the Committee on Creeds.
The report was laid over to be discussed to-mor.
row and the Council adjourned
STXTH nav