New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-10
REVISION AND NEW CREED.
MILD CHANGES SUGGESTED IN THE PRES
ENT STANDARDS.
THE NETWORK PREsBYTERY ACCEPTS THE RE-
PORT OF ITS COMMITTEE AND DECIDES


PORT OF ITS COMMITTEE AND DECIDES
TO DISCUSS 1T IN JANUARY.
The Ncw-York Presbytery with unanmity yes'er-
day accepted and ordered 10 be printed the report
Of an equally unanimous committee on the seoon'
question I'm the General Assemllys overture WIN
regard to a revision OF the Confession Of Faith anu
agreed consider the suggestions made therein III
series of meetings for discussion the first to DC ne
on the third Monday in January. TWO hours am
half. from to 80 D. M. Will daily be deNo'o' "
the subject, until all who wish. have said their say
The Prcsbytery having By rs vote expressed neSro
for revision, unders andng the word revision ~ y.
used broadly comprchending any cOies'o'''
changes the question OF " I'm what respect ana W
what EXTENT committed TO committee OF wnich
the Rev. DR.. Thomas 5. Hastings. pres dent u 'n'
Union theological Seminary, was chairman ioi0
reading the report Dr. Hastings expressed MS s'",
cation at the earnestness and zeal with winch inc
members OF the committee had worked together i"o
report follows:
The committee which appointed TO prepare an an
the second question Of the General Asse"oS
and submit that to the PIesbytry' "
specially reports that carefully consideeu 'e
whole subject and have reached conclusion with u''
unity which deyouty thankful This unahihi-
ity resulted from concessions which were h'ne "
excellent spirit full and free pesentao" VI
different personal views Your committee felt ',
is necessary reduce TO the minimum the changes ""''
different minds desire and 10 unite In asking Only ~
notifications necessary from our Oo"-
fesson those mcns which have proved TO be summing
blocks many honest believers. Other changes III 'e
judgment the majority OF the committee. would oe an
improvement, prefer leave them to the Wisl"in
Of the General Assembly, whose province 1t j. 10 io
notifications. We think it wiser and SAFER 70 "'N
only that which the general desire desFna'e'
fore your committee recommends unanimously the f'o"I"s
the second question OF the General ASc"0'
overture:
hfa ehvtorv Oard Uit
attempts 70 remodel the Confession OF Faith as endansr
ing the integrity OF our system OF doctrine we u'p
earnestly all such changes a. would impair VI" -
sentlai articles Of faith contained In thai
which has ~ long served STANDARD. ana 10 VIM"
we are bound By historic and personal ties va
desire only such changes TO US urg hty hcVuO
and generally asked a.,
First We desire that third chapter after the nrs
section be include these things omy i"o
sovereignty OF God election. the general love oil u'1 u
all mankind the salvation Christ Jesus provided ioi m
and to Dc preached to every creature
Second We desire that chapter be- 50 revised
as not 10 appear discriminate concerning lhi w W.
I'm infancy or 20 a. to omit them tccto o.
and 30 to preclude that explanation Of section "h'h
makes IL teach the damna;ion Of all the heaen OF makes II
deny that there any elect heaihen who are reLe".
and saved by Christ through the Spirit ami VINO oni''
~ walk in pcnitnce and humility according " INC
measure OF light which Goa has been pleased TO grant c
while there are other points which the Pr'oy'ery
would be glad modified or chsnged-as' con'pi uou9S
CHAPTERS xxv and dorbiiting marriages " IIe
byterans with Roman Catholics and 'other doao''' ~
referring 10 the Pope AnChrsu nevertheless We pre-
fer connnc suggestions Tor revision 10 'hc ~- ~
tenth chapters above indicated
Furthermore as gcrmane TO the subject whiep inc
Assembly had in mind in referring the@ P"
lions TO the Prcsbyterics your committee feeomnd'
that this Pesbyery overture the General Assembly - III
vte the cooperation Of the Presbyterian and Reformed
Churches Of America and Of Great Britain and lean 10
formulate short and simple creed couched, 50 Far A. nay
be- in Scripture language and containing all the fSe'"
and necessary articles Of the Westminster OoheS''"
which creed shall be submitted for approval ana S1p'
as the common creed oil inc fIcsoy'eIi"i anu ~
Churches OF the world
we bolieyc that there is demand for such creed not
- substitute for our Confession but only 10 summarize
and supplement for the work Of the church we "u'
and we must retain our Standards which we have as our
family Inheritance and the safeguard OF our ministry
and Of our institutions But brief and comprehenay
creed al once Interpreting and representing those stand
AIDS would be welcomed by our churches as most hepu
and beneacen the exposition OF what We have meant
through all these years, by the system Of doctrine
Taught in the Holy Scriptures" We want new doe
rines but only statement the old doctrines made in
the light and spirit Of present Christian acuW
ties Of our high privileges ana Of large obligations
statement which the love of Gcd which Is IN Chlist
Jesus our Lord shall be central and dominant
motion having been made to print the report and
distribute ii in the Presbyery, the Rev. Dr. John Hall
advised that It receive wide publicity He would. he
said like to have IT reach the daily newspapers and the
organs of other religious denominations. that they
might have their minds relieved Of any impression that
d dne Of the PreSby terrain Church Ia was very
glad that the report had stated so plainly that they
did not want to make d or modify doctrine
but were simply TO deal with certain changes of
phraseology. Some world enlight"nns" editors had
becn writing a. II the Prcsbyteiy going 10 " 60
back on" the old Standards, and he wished that they
should have the opportunity TO study this report and
give their readers correct impressions about the matter