Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-07
SHAPING THE CREED.
The Presbyterian Revision Commit
fee Ready to Begin Work.
DISTINGUISHED DIVINES HERE.
The Members Stand Two to One in Favor
of Making the Changes.
HOW FAR TO 60 is THE HARD PROBLEM

All the members of the committee ap-
pointed to revise the confession of faith OF
the Presbyterian Church will arrive this
morning, and the meeting begins promptly
at 10 o'clock. The action of the committee
can hardly be surmised. At the last meet
ing of the Presbytery changes in the con-
fession of faith were offered by almost every
Synod, and these suggestions have been in
corporated into book for the reference OF
the committee at this meeting. The proba-
bilities are that the proposed changes will
be taken up by section and thoroughly dis
cussed. Then if any member of the COM
mittee has any suggestions to make they
will also be heard.
The first business on the programme will,
of course, be the election of officers. Rev.
William c. Roberts, D. D., Ii. D., of the
Synod of Illinois, is temporary Chairman,
and will probably be elected permanent
Chairman Rev. Matthew B. Riddle, D.
D., of this city, is Secretary. The meeting
to-day will be held in the Western Theo-
logical Seminary on Ridge avenue, but the
other meetings may be held in the lecture
room of one OF the city churches.
The work of the committee NAV be finished
in three days. and it may be carried over to
another meeting. If it is not finished in
that time, this meeting will be adjourned
and another called for some time In the
future at any place the committee may Sc
lect 1t has until next MAY to finish its
work but at that time must report to the
General Synod, which meets at Detroit.
The committee may decide to hold its re-
port over TO the General Synod before max
ing it public. and go in a body to that meet
ing to submit the report.
URGENT DEMAND FOR MORE HOTELS.
Some difficulty is being experienced in
finding places of entertainment for the Wis
iting clergy and elders. The hotels are en-
gagged for the iron and steel workers, with
the exception of the Anderson, and that
cannot accommodate all. Those who fail to
find rooms at the Anderson will either be
taken to the Allegheny Central or members
of the different Presbyterian congregations
will be asked to entertain them. The crowded
condition of the hotels makes it rather unpleas-
ant for the noted divines who are to be here,
and it will also put the private families to
disadvantage to entertain them.
Should the committee decide to remain until
next week they will probably be given a recep-
ton in the parlors of the First Church of Pitts
burg. A meeting of the Presbyterian Union
will be held Wednesday and arrangements will
be made for the proposed reception. This will
be more OF social affair than anything, but
speeches will OF course be made, and it is
highly probable that members of the committee
Will let out some of their ideas on revision.
On next Sunday the pulplts of the churches
of PIttsburg and Allegheny will doubtless be
f1a1h hrr+ ?, ,-5cS-s, al
of Princeton College, seems TO be the prize,
and there is considerable friendly rivalry
among the churches to secure his Sunday SER
n IN Rev. DIR. Purvis of the First Church, of
Pittshurg, would greatly like to have DR.. Pat
ton till his pulpit; but he will probably be dis
appointed, as one of the East End churches
seems TO have prior claim. DR.. William c.
Roberts, of Illinois, is also in demand as are
indeed all the visiting ministers. However
there are enough to supply all the churches
and the PreSbyterianS of the two cities will all
have the opportunity of hearing the gospel
preached by minister from abroad.
LAST NIGHTS ARRIVALS HERE.
Among those who arrived last evening were
ex-Jusuce Strong, E. E. White, Cincinnati;
William Ernst, Covington; Judge H. B Saylor,
Huntingdon, Ind; DR.. Henry ]. Vandyke,
Brooklyn, who registered at the Anderson.
Judge Alfred Hand. of Scranton, is at the
MOnOngahela House. Prof. Green of the
Princeton Theological Seminary got in on the
limited. He is a relative Of Mrs. James B.
Scott, and will be Mr.. Scott's guest during his
s av.
.The venerable Judge Strong is now 81 years
old but his mind is as clear as the MONDAY
sun. He bears a striking resemblance to the
late Simon Cameron, and speaks with the quiet
dignity and soft tones which the Justices of
the Cnl'ed States Supreme Court always ac-
Quire. He Is IN favor of revision, but declined
10 speak in advance. He stated that the COM
miutee was expected to formulate the changes
that have been suggested in the confession of
faith, and then submit it to the General As
sembly He anticipates much discussion and
some disagreements.
REVISION HAS BEEN DECIDED UPON.
Mr.. Ernst said the question was no longer
revision or no revision. That has been settled,
and it was now to be determined how far it
Shall 60. He is liberal IN his ideas but not
radical, and is anxious to keep within the
bounds of truth.
Another member of the committee said:
The members OF the committee are two to one
for revising the creed, and all the pig iron in
Pennsylvania can't stop it, The general effect
of revision viii he to solidify and strengthen
the church. l don't think it will occasion a
split, and the chances are it will drive other
branches Of the church farther away from u.s.
The majority Of Presbyterians in the country
favor a change, and the will of the majority
will be obeved. We are making creedS for the
present. and shouldn't be surprised if future
generations made more changes"