New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-07

compromise between the spraap sarian minority and
the nfralapsarian majority
How do laymen, In general, regard the movement
for revisOn!'
They hail it with Joy. and It is q significant
sign Of the times that two Of the abcst articles in
the present discussion favoring revision have been
written by an elder in DIR. John Halls church."
Some people talk of new creedi'
1t would be better TO have q new creed, shorter
and more popular to which every elder we'll every
minister could heartily subscribe without any mental
reservation. The old creed has too much meta
physical and polemical theology In 10 to suit the
needs Of tho Nineteenth Century. work can
be prepared which shall retain all the essential
features OF the present book and lack its rcpclant
features. The English Prcsbyterians in advance
Of us in this particular
"Who should make the creedln
IL should be undertaken by the Pan-Presby torlan
Council which is based upon the consensus Of the
Reformed Confessions
SEVERAL WAYS or RELIEF SUGGESTED.
How the relief sough by the advocates for a
revision be obtained ?"
Several ways are open Some change is certain
AS l have said elsewhere, Revision is bound to
come. We live in an age OF research, discovery and
progress and whosoever refuses to 60 ahead must
be content TO be left behind and be outgrOwn What
ever lives, moves; whatever ceases to move, ceases
to live. 1t IS impossible for individual Christians
churches to be stationary they must either go for
ward backward The pressure is upon us, and the
easiest way to find relief Is 10 widen the terms Of
subscription, allowing distinct reservation from
those particular doctrines from which any person
dissents."
"What is the objection to that"
"Ths prac IDEALLY does away with the subscription
altogether. A better way is to add a supplementary
statement the United Presbyterian Church Of
Scotland has already DONE but this has the objection
that they haze not one, but two confessions, the
contradictlng the other. Still a better way to
solve the problem revise the book ITSELF emitting
modifying adding according to the views OF The Church
OF today II these plans not practicable, the
alternative is a now Confession and this is the horn
OF the dilemma chosen by the English Presbyterian
Church."
(which OF tho four modes suggested do you
approve?"
The third, because It is more in harmony with the
tradition of the American Presbyterian Church. and
because It will solve present difficulties; others may
be taken up when occasion requires. The opponents
OF a revision, who cry out against change in the
Standards forget that they have already been revised
not In one article but in five and that to-day there is
a committee appointed by the General Assembly. who
arc charged with the revision OF the proof OF the
book
GREAT HUE AND CRY RAISED
"No one in the American Presbyterian Church would
like to have the Westminster reading restored Tho
Confession was changed also by striking out en-
Ir section relating 10 the calling Of Councils by mags-
hateS within year another change has been made
STRIKING out the prohibition against marrying the Sis
ter Of deceased wife. There Is great hue and cry
against disturbing the Confession II IS but II Is made
FOR The most part by those who forget that the revision
OF crceds runs all through the history of Christian
doctrine; And tho cutlery made against the revision
OF the Presbyterian symbols does not compare with
inat stirred up when ii was proposed TO revise the
English version Of the scriptures. After fourteen
years OF dillgent labor, that revision was accom-
pllNhed without harm TO the Scriptures or 10 the read
eS OF the Bible so 1t VIII be to-day with the Creed
II am glad TO sec that the EpiscOpalians are re-
yising their prayerbO0k, and this conservative
church Is undertaking formidable task than
les before u.s. because the prayer book enters into the
daily life Of the people far than our creed does"