New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-25
TO REVISE THE STANDARDS.
pREsBYTERIANS NOT AFRAID.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SEEKING ADVICE
FROM THE CHURCH.

WILL MAJORITY oF An"
tS1rp IN ASKING FOR REvIsIoNi-A
LIVELY DEBATE ON THE QUESTION
or susMrTT1Ns THE OVERTURE
10 THE LOWER BoDIEs-co.
OPERATION WITH THE
SOUTHERN ASSEMBLY.
The General Assembly placed itself on record
,esterisy ON two great subIectS-cO -operation with
the Southern Assembly, and the revision of the
Confession of Faith. Either debate would seem
snfs,oieut for one day, In view Of the issues in
VOWED. The Northern Church has now pledged
Itss TO cooperate with the brethren in the South
ON certain lines, which action must, il faithfully
carried OUT sooner later result in organic dnon
It has also avowed itself in favor Of revision OF
the Standards IN case the members OF the Church
throughout the land desire 1t. The hudiences 10
hear the discussion came early and stayed late
The moment the doors were open there was rush
for the front seats in the galleries among inc
visitors On the ioOt who listened with evident IN
terest to the speeches, were DR.. Taylor, OF the
Broadway Tabernacle, DR.. Lyman Abbott. OF
Plymouth Church. Brooklyn; DR.. Kitttedge. of the
Reformed Church In Madison-ave.; Or. Henry NJ
Tield Editor Of The Evangelist" , DR.. Scott Mrs.
Harrison's father and Colonel Elliott f. Shepard.
The discussion throughout, on both questions
was aood. naturcd, though Intensely earnest at
times. There was no attempt to shirk response
bility even when standing In the minority. III
Charles L. Thompson, of this city, opened tne
debate on the Standards by reporting from th'
Committee on Bills and Overturcs the eoopuon
OF this resolution:
Resolved That this General Assembly overture %
he Prcsbytccs ths fol fo%Tns of fahi
co. In what respects and to wj.at extent
The first speaker was Dr. Howard Crosby, who
was popularity supposed, before the proposeu
revision was suggested, TO be irrevocanIy com
mitted 70 the Standards His manly dclence OIL
the Heidelberg and Westminster caoechisms'
eoup,ed with his desire to show proper spirit
~ Cbyis,an courtesy to his brethren in The dehom-
nation who are seeking q revision OF the Con
feesion of Faith, won deserved applause Df'
puffiela. OF Princeton College, desired TO refuse
a general revision to the Presbytery that had
aslEcd for IL and 70 ask the other fourteen Pres
bvtaries II they approved the appointment OIL
n committee 70 consider the language OF tne
Confession OF Faith in reference to the non
elect After q spirited contest over this substl-
tution. which occupied the greater part OF the
afternoon, it was laid on the table, ana Ut
Thompson's resolution WINS almost UNANIMOUSLY
adopted.
There is no possibility that the STANDARDS VIII
be changed now for number Of years. The next
A.ssnblv will have to discuss the question In all
ia astails, but Il is not probable that any de-
c,sive action will be taken. The Westminster
assembly. which made the Book, consisted OF
ial divines ard thirty loymen from England
ana % five commissioners from Scotland. IL
convened In l645, hy order Of the British fsriia-
mont. IN n rart Of the celebrated Westminster
Abbev, IL was composed Of Episcopalians, In
arpendeuts or Congregationalists, aud Prespy-
tet,ans. the three principal denominations In Great
ns,tsIn NJ that time The Assembly wus engAged
more than five years and a half in preparing as
cussjnn and adopting the Confession OF Faith, the
Longer and Shorter Catcchisms, Directory for
worship aud the Form OF Churcn
Government: which with "a few alterations, per-
,s,n,ns 10 civil government, nov form The Con-
stitution Of the Presbyterian Church in the Unlted
States Of America" Richard Baxter, VINO was
personally acquainted with most OF the members
but was not himself one OF them, says: lhe
divines there conreguted were men OF eminent
learning, eodiness ministerial abilities. ana huei
ity." . As lar as au S"Ie =, !"UhI'
bv all history OF that kind and by any other evil
6suee left ma the Christian world, since the DAYS
Of fhs APOSTLES, had nevet Synod OF more excel
len, diyines than this and the Synod OF Dort'
The Standards thus framed by that Assembly were
anproved by the House OF Commons in l6A7 and
IN Gas they were adopted by the General Assembly
40 the Church OF Scotland. The Episcopal and
Independent Churches OF England did not adopo
them but their dissent did not relate TO scripture
doctrines. but TO church government; ana aIso
With regard 70 Episeopalans, TO the Directory LOT
Worship. The Celvinistc creed was at that tn'
the common faith Of the Protestant CHRISTIAN
world. ,,., -n,.o.,o,
the mart of the Confession TO which objection
"a made relates TO the Eternal DEGREES OF Cod
These are the sections which many seek TO have
revised:
a, IT'S glory some men and angels are pLedeslneo
INTO tvsIssans life, and others foreorda'ned 10 ever
,oscsd aRss sTe particularly and ancS.9ssaEly a
% ana th.r number 90 Q, e smTs fsS osn0'"
hath sDRSn,sda the e. slsct TD'0 1S ssrS u
is % sS who arc elected being fallen L Adam
ore redeemed Christ ere sf5A S SsG season. sn1?
e sustScd. adopted sahctcd and Kept by III: power
through faith unto sslv1tT1 NTh ssc s S saed
.Sonisd. sanrtiied. and saved but the elect only
III The 'rcst Of mankind Cod vas pleased S
.asan1 10 the unsearc halle counsel OF HIS own WIZ,
Yersfv f1e sxtendoth or withboldeth as lie pcaSeh
for the glory Of MS sovereign power owe, s cr nss
wrath for their SIM to the praise OF Ills glorious Jus
Scarcely less Important tnan UNIV '"h'" v" .''
s,andards OF the Church was that which the AS
sennby took in adopting the report OF the Commit
tee IL Conference with the Southern Assembly
Both bodies have now pledged themselves to ex'
tend al proper MD, comfort and encouragement IN
spirit OF kindly Christian sympathy, brotherhood
and confidence % the educational and evangclizine
EFFORTS OF the other for the colored race. win
vllw 70 the enconra cement Of every laudaoe enort
ID this end on both sides. 1t Is to be hoped thar
the slight amendment not 10 the resolution OF 'he
joint committee hut 10 the history OF the northern
church will not interfere with the friendly CO.
operation so necessary in Christian work.
To-Day a pilgrimage to Princeton will follow
the short business session, when sabbath OBJ
servanee" will be discussed