New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-14
SHALL THE CREED BE REVISEDr

The Presbyterian Church has no easy task
on its hands this year in deciding whether or
not the Westminster Confession Of Faith shall
be revised The Newly Orll PreSbytery, with
it's 165 ministers and nearly seventy churches
and chapels, will WELD a strong influence
whichever way its vote is cast, and will do much
toward solving the problem unless the ultra
conservative spirit shown last week succeeds
in keeping the public out Of the meetings where
the subject is to be discussed. The vote to
exclude all representatives. Of the daily press
and all other persons not members of this
PreSbytery or of neighbOnng PreSbyteries, will
strengthen the sentiment. expressed by one Of
the members, that the Presbytery has something
which it is trying to conceal. If member of
the body were on trial "clOScd doors" might
be justified in order to save the character of
the accused person, but in the discussion of
question involving the creed to which 1000
ministers in the United States have subscribed
and which contains the system of doctrine held
by million people in this country, no such
plea can be urged The more public the dis
cusSion, the more intelligently can laymen es-
pecially Judge Of the merits Of the question: on
the solution Of which so much rests, not only
for presbyterianS, but also for all evangelical
denominations.
That there are wide differences Of opinion
in regard to the proposed revision Of the Creed
is becoming more and more apparent as the
points at issue become more clearly defined.
Every minister and elder must know where he
stands. and be able TO give reason for
his faith. THE TRIBUNE this morning con-
tinues its series of interviews with men to
whom a respectful attention may we'll be paid.
For questions deeper, and more vital, than the
change of one or two chapters are involved in
The General ASScmbly'S overture, according to
Professor W. G.. II. Shedd OF the Union Theo-
logical Seminary whose clear-cut, logical and
earnest arguments in defence Of the West
minister symbols have long been the admiration
Of CaviniSts. For two score years and more.
in the class ROOM on the platform in theological
reviews, and in bookS-notably his recent
volumes on "Dogmatic TheoIogy'-he has
trained his guns against all opponents Of the
Book Of Faith and now he finds it necessary f.
oppose some Of the professed friends Of the
same standards which he has so valiantlv
defended. Unlike DIR. Schaff, he asserts boldly
that the symbols do not teach error. He also
finds in them abundant expression of the love
Of God fo, man. The time-worn phrase that
a." God created man in order to damn him, he
repudiates as a SANDER against the Creed
The three arguments which DIR. Shedd adj
vances for opposing revision are these: Since
Presbyterians have not changed materially in
this generation, why change the doctrines Of
the Church? TO revise the language of the
Confession implies error in the Book, and casts
serious reflection upon the Church Of the
past. The third objection is more to the point.
perhaps Revision may reopen old controversies
upon abstfuse doctrines, and so divert the at
tention Of the Church from its present health
full activihes-that the denomination may be-
come theological debating school.
The Presbyterian Church is not in danger, Of
course, and yet its advancement and usefulness