Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-09
PROGRESSIVE RIGHTS
Entertainingly Discussed by Laymen
and Pastors in a Quiz,
AMENDING CONFESSION, OF FAITH
Is Set Forth as PrerOgative Of Advancing
Christianity.
CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES OF THE DAT

There was a large attendance at the
"Quiz' meeting of the Presbyterian Minis
terial Association on Monday morning.
These meetings are growing in interest, as
many of the questions asked concern mat
tiers that are constantly being brought to
notice in church work.
j. H. Baldwin. Esq, although last on the
list of questions, spoke first, as be had other
engagements. He presented, in terse but
forcible language, the legal view as to. the
revision of the Confession of Faith, saying
that much interest is felt in regard to the
question; not only broad one, but all i'm
portant. The two Assemblies united on the
basis of three articles in 1869, giving them
all the legal and corporate rights of the
Assembly of 1888, in which the Confession
of Faith was to be sincerely received,
adopted and continued as the policy of the
church. This was ratified by the two Assem-
blies IN Pittsburg in 1862 thus giving them pre-
cisely the same powers as before. Is there any
thing in this to prohibit revision? The right to
change is certainly most valuable one Prior
to 1869 the right certainly existed. As far the
surroundings are concerned. there is nothing
to limit. In the common standard the right to
amend the confession is very clear. No dis
satisfied minority can lay any legal claim to
property if the change be made according to
the spirit of the standard. The civil courts
would take no jurisdiction, because it is an
ecclesiastical question. and courts are very
chary of interfering in such matters. The
right to make change then is certainly in
herent. To strike out any of the doctrines.
such as for instance that of election or per-
severance of the saints would be an entirely
different matter and would present an entirely
different phase, but to revise as proposed,
would not give the minority any legal claims
to the property now held by the General As
Sembly.
In answer to the third question Rev. =. j.
Fisher said: 'sThree parties are to be con-
sidered: ordination does not give man un-
limited authority: the former pastor may have
been brought into special relationship;
most fitting often that he should be
called in to bury the dead. The unwritten
law is that the bride shall choose the one to per-
form the marriage ceremony, and who more
fitting than the one VINO had been her pastor2
How far the present pastor should be recog-
nized at such times is a matter of courtesy be-
tween the three parties, the family, the former
pastor and the present. But the former pastor
is doing nothing unministerial when he consents
to officiate at these services.
DR.. Holland thought that there could be none
better fitted to nominate officers than the ses-
sion; there is a manifest proprietY in their
choosing who shall sit with them in council.
This idea did not meet with favor from several
ministers.
Rev. J. NJ Duff thought there are terrors
enough to the candidate for licensure. without
adding to them the shorter carechism.n
Every minister undoubtedly would find it a
help, but there are practical objections to its
being compulsory. The power to think is essen
tial, to memorize is not; the candidates power
to reason should be tried: the time could be bet
ter employed in the meeting of Presbytery.
Rev. 1. N. Hays, D. D., said the greater in
cluded the less; what teaching elder NAV do,
a ruling elder surely may; lay committee has
no right to baptize, administer the sacraments,
or to organize church; but a comittee of Pres
bytery appointed to do this work would have
the right to administer the sacraments.
So
s'Lord, giYe me light to do Thy work,
For only. Lord. from Thee
Can come the light by which these eyes
The work of truth can see.
SO send me light to do Thy work.
More light, more wisdom give
Then shall work Thy work indeed
While on Thine earth live.
'The work is Thine, not mine, o Lord,
1t is Thy race run;
Give light and then shall all do
Be well and truly done.n