New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-11
REVISION OR ANEW CREED ?
THE NETWORK PRESBYTERY DIVIDED ON
THIS QUESTION.
A MAJORITY SEEMINGLY IN FAVOR OF SETTING
ASIDE THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION
OF FAITH - MEMBERS OF THE
DIGEsTING COMMITTEE.

DIGESTING COMMITTEE"
Tho NewYork Presbytery last Monday decided
that committee Of called by one Of the members
The Digestng Committee should take all the papers,
resolutions, speeches and suggestions that had been
before the body during the day and prepare paper TO
DC considered December ., touching the revision
OF the Westminster Confession OF Faith. This COM
mlttee has been appointed by the moderator Of the
Prtsoytery, DIT. r. +. sample OF the pastors OF
the Westminster Presbyterian Church Of West Twenty
thlrd-st., and Is follows: President Thomas s.
Hastings, Of the Union Theological seminary DR..
Howard Crosby, Of the Fourth Avenue Church; Dr.
X. X. Booth. OF the Rutgers Riverside Church; DIR.
c. ii. Parkhurst OF the Madison square Church; Dr.
I. l.. Thompson, OF the Madison Avenue Church DR..
John c. Bliss OF the Washington Heights Church; the
Kew X. d. Harlan, OF the First Church; Henry Day
an elder in the Fifth Avenue Church Dr. John Halls
John C. Tucker an elder in the Brick Church Or
van Dykes, and Moses W. Dodd elder in the Uni
versiy Place Church (Dr George Alexander's.
As DIT Hastings Is named first on this important
committee, whose recommendations will undoubtedly
be adopted Influencing many smaller Presbyteres as
well as the General Assembly ITSELF It Is interesting
10 note his position the question OF revision OF
The Confession. The debate last week, which lasted
for more than SIX hours. was principally upon mo-
ton which he offered substitute for one submitted
by DR.. Crosby, and read thus:
Whereas The General Assembly has overturned
this Presbytery the following questions: % DO you
desire a revision Of the Confession Of Faith (2l If
so, in what respect and to what extent2 therefore
Resolved % That this Presbytery answers the first
question in the affirmative, understanding the wor
revision" 10 be used broadly, as comprehendmg
any Confessional change.
"C2 That this Presbytery answers the second ques-
ton as follows The Prcsbytery would regard with
apprehension any attempt to remodel the Comics
sion Of Faith likely " its integrity and create
new barriers to union with other branches OF the
Presbyterian Church The Presbytery, however. Oh
!ects to the Cd Sd and 4th sections Of the third
chapter ard to the last clause Of section Of the
same chapter. believing that they are capable OF
wrong interpretations. and stumbling block to
many people and do not belong 10 the essential ana
necessary articles OF the system having nothing to
correspond with them in the Longer and Shorter
Cahechisms.
Furthermore. IN the Judgment OF this Presby-
terry, there are some statements in the Confession
that are not in accord with the present faith OF the
Church Chapter Y. sections and A.. and there are
others that are IN doubtful propriety and need
leSsly offensive 10 other Christian people (chapter
xiv 3 and chapter XIV :6. 1t IS Also desirable that
the Confession should give clearer and fuller ex-
preston to the Biblical doctrine Of the love Of God
to all mankind the free and honest offer OF salvation
10 all men and the high calling Of the Church to
preach the Gospel 10 the world. The removal OF these
difficulties would however, involve so many changes
by omission and Insertion that In the opinion Of this
Presbytery II would be safer and less unse1ling TO
the mind OF the Church to formulate a new and
simpler expression OF the system of doctrine con-
tanned in the Confession. 1t IS desirable that the
churches which hold this Confession common in
heritance should cooperate IN changes that are
made.
Therefore. this Presbytery overtures the General
Assembly TO invite the cooperation of the Presbyterian
and Reformed Churches of Great Britain and America
in formulating a new and simpler statement Of the
essential and necessary articles OF the Westminster
Confession, which may be accepted as the common
reed Of the PIesbyt terrain and Reformed Churches OF
the wOrld7
DR.. Crosby and DR.. Booth favor revision, DIT.
Crosby being more conservative than his fellOW
presbvter Dr. Parkhurst and Dr. Thompson desire
a new Confession. DR.. Bliss is the principal rcpr-
sentative of the minority in the Presbyery Ot the
Law members Mr. Day was not member OF the
Prsbytery last week. and therefore could not vote
INIT n Is possible that his church win make him the
successor Of ex-Iudge Van Worst. He Is an earnest
advocate OF revision. II Is believed by some that
certaIn parliamentary rules rather than preference
for the views held by Of the committee influenced
DR. sample in making his choice. some surprise mas
been EXPRESSED because Dr. Shed, the leader OF the
minority, was not placed on the committee. II Is
probable that there Will not be minority report
although IL is known that some members OF the
Pra-bytery would not have voted for revision II
tbev had understood that any Confessional changes
meant the recommending Of a new Greed. by vote
Of 81 10 - the first resolution, ohered by Dr mast
ings was adopted. and the second one IS now before
the Digesting Committee