St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-23
The Presbyterians Adopt a
Sort of Compromise Re-
port on Revision.
A Committee Is Appointed to
Report to the Next Gen
eral Asse mbly.
Mutual Concessions, Without
Surrender of Opinions on
Either Side.
The Committee to Begin It's
Work Not Later Than
October Next.

SARATOGA, N. Y, May 22.-In the
Presbyterian assembly this morning DR..
NeilI, of San Francisco. offered a reso-
luton that the special committee on leg
lslation be continued another year, in
order that it may meet and confer with
the reference committee in the matter
Of the board of publication reports; also
rendering vote of thanks to the spe-
cial committee for their faithful work
ers clamored for the floor. A motion
was made to strike out all of the resolu-
ton except that part returning thanks.
1t was defeated by roar of nays, and
DR.. Neill resolution was adopted.
The special order of the day was the
report of the committee on methods of
effecting changes in the confession and
constitution. DR.. Roberts, of Cincin-
natl, read the report and addressed the
assembly in its support. He said sec
ton of the report was compromise.
The committee was a unit on that sec
ton. Three methods were recon-
mended by which the changes in the
constitution might be made. Section
is practically recognition of the adopt
ing act, and provides the shortest pos
Sible method of amending the doctrinal
constitution. DR.. Roberts said the COM
mittee was practically unit on the re-
port. Great applause. In these crltl-
cal times the committee had stood
shoulder to shoulder for the good of the
church.
81 ask nothing more, brethren. than,
with the church of God in your hearts,
you adopt this report and send it down
to the presbyteries as one man."
DR.. Patton, of Princeton, said there
had been mutual concessions without
surrender OF opinion on either side.
DR.. VanDyke, of Brooklyn, said:
''This report is the result of COM
promise of opinion-not of truth. 1t is
peace measure and it clears the way
for conservative revision-not radi-
cal revision-as have been falsely re-
ported as saying of the confession"
He closed by quoting:
There is fount about to stream,
There is light about to CLEAN.
There is a morning twilight broadening into
day;
Men of thought and men of action, clear the
way.
DR.. Patterson so heartily approved
the report that he did not think an ex-
PLANTATION of his position necessary.
The question of adoption was put and
brought up prompt and emphatic yea.
To the question of contrary there was
solitary nay from the rear of the church.
There was a shout of laughter and long
continued applause. Whilst the assem-
bly, stood DR.. Crosby offered fervent
prayer of thanks to God for the result,
and when the assembly sat down again
it looked like Mrs. Fezziwig-"one vast,
substantial SMILE"
This vote settles the question of the
adopting act and paves the way for re-
vision.
DR.. Patton read the report of the COM
mittee on OVertureS to the preSbyterieS
on revision. Then DR.. Patton finished
reading the list of presbyteries which
objected to any changes. that would
affect the system of doctrine, DR.. Van
Dyke said that Brooklyn had been
omitted.
"They can't include us among the
radicals" remarked the doctor, soto
voce, as he resumed his seat.
The example was infectious and Jer-
sey City, Morris, Orange, Idaho, Day
ton and a dozen other presbyteries were
named by commissioners as having
been omitted from the list. The mod
orator requested the commissioners
wishing to make changes to meet with
the committee this afternoon. The re-
correction. DR.. McCracken, of New
York, offered the following resolution:
Section 1. 1t is resolved by the general as
sembly to provide for the appointment of
committee of revision to present to the next
general assembly report embodylng SUCH
changes in our confession of faith in form
ready to be overturned to the presbyteries. as
will meet the present needs of our church.
Sec. 2. The mode of appointment of this
committee shall be as follows: First, the
commissioners to this assembly of all presby-
teries OF each synod are instructed to get to-
gether in a committee in May. under chair
man to be named by the moderator. and at a
place assigned by the assembly. Each COM
mittee is instr ucted to report to the assembly
the lame of such minister or ministers, and
of such ruling elder or ruling elders, belong
ing to their own synod as they deem best
qualified to serve upon the committee of re-
vision.
But no committee shall report names to
exceed in number one-sixth of the number
of commissioners to this assembly from with
in their synod. Where this rule allows but
one name to re recommended by the com
mittee it may be the name of a minister or
elder, as the committee may decide. Where
more than one is reported, they shall be the
names OF ministers and elders in the proper
ton of two TO one, as nearly as possible. Any
committee may excuse itself from reporting
any name. Second-From among the whole
number of names thus reported by the 20
committees, composed of commissioners
from the Presbyteries of the % synods, the
number to be ABOUT 81 the moderator of this
assembly shall select IA ministers and z
elders to act as the committee of revision.
Sec g. The committee of revision thus
constituted shall meet at the call of a tenn
porary chairman to be named by the modera-
tor and shall, upon meeting, appoint their
own permanent chairman.
Sec. t. To the committee of revision thus
appointed are to be referred all the answers
respecting revision presented by the general
assembly of 1889 which have been received
by the assembly.
Sec. 5. The committee of revision is in
structed to meet at an early date, not later
that Oct. 81, 1890. and diligently to pursue
its work, that it may report promptly at the
meeting of the general assembly of 1891.
DR.. Patton moved to make the reSolu-
ton the second order for tomorrow
morning, and this was carried.