Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-14
THE CONFESSION 0. K.
No Disposition on the Part Of Local
Presbyterians to Change.
THEIR REASONS FOR KEEPING IT.
A Paper of Rev. DR., Purves on That Point
Heartily Supported.
GENERAL CHURCH NEWS AND GOSSIP

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States, at its last
meeting, sent down as an overture to the
Presbyteries two questions for them to vote
upon: Do you desire any change in the
Confession of Faith?" If so, to what ex-
tent?
This overture is the subject which attracts
attention among all Presbyterians, as there
is sentiment largely prevailing that it
could be improved by certain changes in its
wording, not to affect its doctrines, but to
make palmer to some minds what is meant
to be taught. At the meeting of the Pitts
burg Presbytery, in the Hazelwood church,
on Tuesday last, the Rev. G. T. Purves, D.
D., pastor of the First Church, this city,
presented paper, which, after being discussed
pro and con, was adopted as the sense OF this
Presbytery. His paper reads:
"In reply to the Assembly's overture on the
revision of the Confession of Faith the Pres
bytery OF Pittsburg declares that it does not
desire revision.
'First-We are sincerely attached to the sys-
TEN of doctrine contained in the Confession,
and would oppose any movement likely TO i'm
pair the integrity of that system.
"Second-We deem the proposal to revise the
phraseology of the confession, even though
made with the intention of preserving the sys-
TEN of doctrine unchanged, inexpedient l.
Because the confession as it stands has proved
through years of strife and growth adequate
for the purposes for which the church needs
confession; has been found fully consistent
with revivals and missions, and has served hap
PLY to unite in an ecclesiastical household Cal
Tl,.1
that it IS perfect we regard it as the most cor
rect, complete, moderate and carefully drawn
summary of Scripture doctrine which has been
produced by the church, and fear that changes
in its language might hinder rather than help
its future usefulness. 2. Because the possible
improvements which might be made in its Ian
guage do not promise to be worth the risk
which an attempt at revision would incur. 3.
Because popular misunderstanding of one doc
trine are not likely to be removed by the mere
change or omission of peculiar phrases in the
Confession and therefore, constitute no sufh-
cient reason for Its revision while the effort to
remove them may lead to supposed or real de-
clension from the doctrines themselves. 4.
Because, finally. the terms of subscrip-
tion required of our office bearers binds
no one to the exact phraseology of the Comics
sion, but allows ample liberty, within the limits
of essential Calvlnism, for those who dissent
from the details of its statement. Revision
could not secure more uniformity OF belief than
now exists, for the terms OF subscription would
remain the same. 1t would IN no way increase
the practical efficiency of the Church nor make
her testimony stronger to the truths of evaIl-
gelical Christianity, while it might raise serious
obstacles to future union with other branches
of the Presbyterian family. If any doctrines
seem inadequately expressed by the Confession
we are of the;opinion that declaratory state
ment, similar to that adopted by the United
Church of Scotland in 1879, would
be preferable to any revision OF our honored
and hereditary symbol"
The Allegheny Prespytery also voted on the
overtures at the same time, and by vote OF 81
to decided that any change is not desirable.
*xs
'.If wisdomS ways you wisely seek,
Five things observe with care;
Of whom you speak, to whom you speak,
And how, and when, and where"