Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-10

We fact thaS Ne committee in its report had
ssessd thas shey were opposed 10 any sweeping
changes or such ~ wonld eliminate from the
confession the system Of doctrine known -
Rev. Dr.. Hamlin again said that there was
no no aesire TO control the assembly in its action,
put the idea vas siwply to state what the pres
oytery thought Of the changes to be made. He
tnen went on 10 say that no member OF the
committee wanted 70 zee Calvinism, impaired
But ~ thought the question to be decided was
what belonged TO Calvinism and what did not
He quoted President Patton a. saying that CAL
vinism would not be injured il the doctrine Of
rsprobation was entirely omitted The speaker
said that he agreed with President Patton. and
this statement led 10 DEPRESSION caused BY
several questions fred at the speaker from all
parts Of the room. After this he resumed the
thread OF his argument and said that the idea
that God condemned for all eternity men to
everlasting damnation was not part OF CAL
vinism.
INFANT DAMNAT1oN
he placed in the same category and he thought
that the statement In the confession In regard
to infants was liable to be Misunderstood He
claimed that what was now being aimed at was
to define Calvinism and to determine whether
such statements were part OF the Calvinistic
faith or not
In the opinion Of Rev. Mr.. McIlvaine the gen.
eral assembly wanted information as to what
the presbyteries desired He thought that the
presbytery ought to furnish information. He
doctrine of reprobatiOn, and said that as it
reads at present one man understood 1t in one
way and another in some other way. The pro-
posed amendment did not cut into the heart
Of Calvinism, but simply allowed what their
doctrine meant
JUDGE BRAKES SUBSTITUTES VOTED DOWN.
A rising vote was then taken on Judge brakes
substitute and it was lost by vote Of II to 8.
Rev. DR.. Fullerton, who refused to vote at
the last meeting on the question of revision,
then gave general explanation of his position
In regard to the proposed changes as to the
recommendation OF the report, striking out
the clause which mentions desertion, together
with adultery, as cause for divorce. He
said that he believed that adultery was the only
scriptural ground for divorce. He was willing
to accept the change which involved the ques-
ton Of infant damnation, so that there would
no longer be any ground for the statement that
the church believed in infant dsmnation. As
70 Calvins belief in this doctrine he said that
there was only one statement in Calvin's writ
Westminster assembly believed in this doctrine
and others did not, hence the ambiguous ex-
preston in the confession. But he did not
think that Calvin for this single sentence ought
TO be severely condemned now, nor that re-
proaches should be heaped on the Westminster
that Calvin was in advance Of his age and
allowance should be made for the peculiarities
OF belief held by good men SO many years ago.
-. kev. DR.. Hamlin inquired II the speaker
thought that he intended to criticise or reflect
upon Calvin.
DR.. Fullerton said that he did not and DR..
Hamlin expressed his satisfaction, as he would
not be SO misunderstood. He agreed with all
that had been said or could be said in regard
to the greatness Of Calvin. His only point had
been that there was no reason to hold to the
error OF any man.
Rev. DR.. Bartlett took the same ground.
ELECTION IMPLIES REFRIGERATION.
Continuing Rev. DR.. Fullerton supported the
committee in their recommendation to omit
the controversial illusions to the church Of
Rome. He held, however, that the doctrine
OF reprobation was essential to the Calvinistic
system. He maintained that election implied
reprobation. Ali evangelical churches, he said,
believed that certain number OF men would
be lost and certain number be saved He re-
served the discussion of the doctrine Of the
bondage Of the will and the imputation Of
Righteousness until the committee had an op-
portunity to explain their position. Dr.. Full
lerton said that he was opposed to the motion
to consider the report seriatim.
In this particular Rev. NJ. Ramsdell agreed
with him. He said that he was opposed to
making any change in the confession. While
he was willing to unite in making new state.
msnt Of belief he was opposed to patching up
the old garment and allow men to strike out in
certain phrases and insert their ideas Of what
Calvinism Is.
He was reminded BY DR.. Bartlett that his
proposition to make . new statement Of doc
trine was voted down at the last meeting
The presbytery decided to consider the report
seriatlm, and the discussion was interrupted at
1880 by Q motion to take . recess until 2
O'Clock.
After recess the consideration Of the report
was resumed, and the prospect seemed to be
that most Of the changes proposed will be
adopted.