St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-18
REVISION OF THE FAITH.
Its Advocates and Opponents
About Equally Divided.

Its Advocates and Opponents
About Equally Divided.
SARATOGA, N. Y, May 1.-THE
Presbyterian general assembly began
this morning by voting that fraternal
greeting be sent to the Southern church,
now in session at Asheville, N. c.; also
to the United church, which meets in
Philadelphia next week. The discus
sion of the report of the committee on
methods of effecting changes in the con-
Sttution this morning clearly indicated
the dividing line between the revision
lists and anti-revisioniStS. The applause
given the strong points of the speakers
on either side showed that the support
ers of each were about equal in num-
bers. The committee on the reviS-
sion of text in the large cate
chiSm offered its report. The question
whether willful deSertion is cause Suf-
ficient for dissolving the ties of marriage
was submitted to the decision of the as
Sembly without recommendation. The
committee was continued with instruc-
tons to report to the next assembly.
The standing committee on the board of
ministerial relief recommended the re-
port of the special committee for adop-
ton. The report shows 35S widows on
the relief roll and Is families cared for
at Perth Amboy institute, making a
total of 642 persons receiving relief.
Total contributions sos, 1863, little less
than tWo-thirdS of the sum asked for by
the last assembly. DR.. w. c. Cattell, of
Philadelphia. powerful speaker, made
an eloquent address in support of the
new rule, allowing all hOnorably retired
ministers to draw regular annuity.
The recommendations of the report were
adopted unanimously. Debate on the
report Of the committee on
methods of effecting changes in
the constitution was then in order. 1t
was resolved that speeches be limited to
ten minutes, the restriction to go into
force after the opening speeches by DrS.
Crosby and Patterson. DR.. Crosby took
the floor and spoke in favor of the re-
port: His peroratiOn was: There is
nothing in this strange, nebulous di-
vinity over US that binds our intelli-
gence and makes it impossible for us to
move" DR.. Patterson, of Philadelphia,
editor of the Presbyterian Journal, fol-
lowed Ill vigorous opposition to the
report. He prefaced his remarks with
the statement that he was not Influenced
in this matter by the special question of
revision of the confessions to come be-
fore the assembly. His objection to the
measure was that it is a proposed de-
parture from historical principles of
Presbyterianism, which is revolution
airy. Its adoption would make it
a possibility for minority of the church
to change the constitution. Gov. Beaver,
of Pennsylvania, lay commissioner.
then took the platform. He said he was
in perfect sympathy with the object to
be obtained by the overture but he could
not vote for it. He favored compton,
Use between the propositions represented
by Drs. Crosby and Patterson. DR..
Hoyt, of Philadelphia, said portentious
revolution stared the church in the face.
The adoption of this measure was de-
signed. as DIR. Van Dyke had admitted,
to make revision easy. DR.. Van Dyke
denied that such were his words. He
had said it would make revision possible.
Judge Hand. of BinghamptOn, spoke In
favor of the report. Elder Henry Day,
of New York, took the floor against the
report. He announced himself as an
s'Out-and-out revisloniSt," but opposed
to the proposed change in the constitu-
ton. Adjourned until Monday morn
ing, when the debate will be continued.
At the conclusion OF the session the
members of the assembly were photo
gra phed in front of the church, the
twelve ex-moderators occupying seats
in the front row.