Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-03
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH.
Interesting, Discussion At Today's Meet
Ing ofthe Washington City Presbytery.


Interesting. Discussion at Today's Meet
Ing ofthe Washington City Presbytery.
A short and rather sharp but interesting dis
cussion took place at the meeting today Of the
Washington city presbytery. The subject
Of the revision of the confession Of faith was
the topic and the discussion was in some re-
spects . continuation Of yesterdays debate
when it was decided to come to . vote ON the
question Of revision at q meeting to be held in
April next. Before adjourning today the pres
bytery decided to hold another meeting on the
third Monday in January. The question,
as 1t comes before the presbytery
for the general assembly, is divided into two:
First whether O revision is desired; and sec
ond, what changes are to be suggested. To
answer the second question the matter was re-
ferred to q COMMITTEE consisting of Rev. DIR.
Hamlin, ex-Justice William Strong, G. w. N.
Curtis and Rev. DR.. Bittinger. The committee
having prepared its report it was read by DR..
uamlin. 1t was a. follows:
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL coMMrrTKR.
We recommend that the presbytery of WASH
ington city answer the second question of the
general assembly's overture on the revision Of
the confession of faith, as follows: We do not
desire any sweeping revision of the confession
OF faith, nor such as would eliminate from it
the system Of doctrine known Calvanism,
nor such as would throw it out Of harmony
with other Presbyterian churches We recog-
nize, with profound gratitude to God,
the immense service Of our confession
to a multitude of believers, to civil
freedom and to the world at large.
We appreciate its logical strength and SYM
metry and its unequaled statement of most of
the great doctrines Of our holy religion. We
ind In 1t, however, certain controversial utter
ances which do not properly belong in such a
document and certain unscriptural or extra
scriptural statements. These we desire to have
expunged. We find, also, lack Of just balance
and relationship Of truths which we desire
remedied by a change Of emphasis, and espec-
tally We find no adequate statement of the love
OF God for all mankind, His abundant provision
for the salvation Of all in the atonement of His
Son and His offer Of mercy and grace to every
creature. This we desire to see prominently
inserted.
CHANGES SUGGESTED.
The report then proceeds by chapter and Sec
ton to enumerate the changes which ought to
be made to carry out the ideas of the commit
tee as expressed in the report. There are
eighteen changes suggested and all of them
with the exception of six are approved by the
entire committee. From these six changes
Rev. DR.. Bittinger files his dissent Some Of
the changes so modify the confession
that it will not teach the bond
oso VI we VIII, 30 guard the lmputatlon
OF SIN and righteousness as to relieve it Of all
impressions of legal fiction, and leave out the
words ''papist or other idolatries" and also all
other controversial utterances in regard to the
church Of Rome. The report recommends that
clause be inserted giving the truth contained
In such verses OF the Bible as "God loved the
world" &C., and a statement Of the obligations
and privileges of the church of Christ to go
into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature. The report was ordered to be
printed, and it is the intention to act upon it
at the spring meeting.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROPOSED CHANGE.
In discussing the subject of revision Rev. DIR.
Bartlett said that the proposed change was
most important one in the history of the church.
1t seemed to him that there was a tendency on
the part of those opposed to any change to
think that they were the only true-blue Presby-
terians while the other side were the destroyers
OF the faith. But he said this was the spirit
that opposed itself to every reform and
every movement forward. To his mind
u y. A. was as, o prima facie evidence
prepared $50 years ago. The world has changed
since then. The age was a barbarous one COM
paratively when the book was prepared. The
arguments opposed to any change were ropes
OF logic fastened to the hind end of the train
of progress. The throttle of the engine
would be pulled and everybody would
were often quoted to show how much the
church was doing. They also might be quoted
to show how little was done compared with
what ought to be done. He favored all the sug-
gestions contained in the report. He was in
favor Of growth and a movement of this kind
was preparation for larger life and greater
activity. The Presbyterian church, he said,
had stood long enough with its back to the
morning piping p@ans to the sunset He be-
lieved that God was in this movement and that
the church was going forward to a glorious fu-
ture.
JUDGE DRAKE REPLIES.
In reply Judge Drake referred to the self
of those who favored the revision
because they believe that all the progress of the
world has been toward their way of thinking.
1t must not be imagined, he said, that people
who objected to having the foundations of their
faith overturned were hostile to the light
VIEWS OF DIR. SUNDERLAND.
The fundamental truths and principles which
underly all civilization and progress ought in
the opinion of Rev. DR.. Sunderland. the next
speaker, to be preserved while looking forward
and marching forward in the ranks of progress.
There is danger in the rebound from conserv-
atism, he said, in flying off to dreams and fam
tastes. He thought that the church should re-
main true to its principles, and spoke of the
teachings. Any movement looking to a change
in fundamental beliefs he thought ought to Ee
carefully considered.
Taking the floor again Rev. DIR. Bartlett cited
the conservative DIR. McCosh as in favor OF re-
vision, and in reference to the objection raised
by his opinion he spoke of the prehistoric ami
NAL the megatherium, which was provided with
catch ants. He thought the fears and objec-
tiOns of the OppOnents of revision rasayn hlad