The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-17
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Revision Of the Confession Of Faith
the Subject Of Most
Concern.
A Special Committee Reports q
Plan of Procedure In the
Matter.
The Report Vigorously Opposed by Presi.
don't Patton, of PrincetOM--D DIR. Van
Dyke to the Defense.

The Report Vigorously Opposed by Presi.
dent Patton, of PrincetOn--Dr. Van
Dyke to the Defense.
| SARATOGA, N. Y, May 16.-At the session
of the Presbyterian general assembly this
morning standing committees were mp
pointed. The committee on liquor traf6p
in the Congo state reported that they had
tried to get congress to use its influences
against the traffic, but as it was no party
to tho Berlin treaty action could not be se-
cured at present. It was voted that action
by the presbyteries on the question of 70
vision be referred to a special committee.
had favored the proposed revision, sixty
six had opposed it. and seven had declined
to vote: eight had not reported. The
committee on publication made two
reports, the majority in favor of the estab-
lishment of Presbyterian publishing house
as an economical measure. It was referred.
The committee on increasing the supply Of
efficient ministers reported that for every
three churches organized one had died.
This was mostly for lack of efficient men
and means to pay. The total number Of
these dissolutions being l 1,Os'6 since 1871. II
was recommen nded that schools for Bible
readers and other lay workers be organized
and fit laymen be licensed to preach, and
the theological saminaries were advised to
consider the expediency of providing special
courses for promising men who had not
had classical training. ltwas made spe-
cial order for Sunday. The following COM
mittee on canvassing the votes Of presby-
teries on revision. was appointed: Presi-
dent Patten, of Princeton college; DR., HI.
Nj. McCracken, of New York; Rev. DR.. Ed
wards and Elders Bradley and Thornton.
The committee on the method of effecting
stitution of the church reported unani-
mously, substantially as follows: The
church, speaking officially through the
presbyteries, can alone determine with au-
thority questions ut issue. Therefore, the
COMMITTEES co recommends that the questions
there shall be added to the forms Of
government, chapter XXIII Of amendments,
clause providing for the proposal by the
general assembly to the presbyteries Of
amendments or alterations for the govern
worship, but that these shall not be obliga-
tory unless majority of all presby-
teries approve in writing; that
alterations in doctrinal standards
sh,ill not be proposed to presbyteries un-
ORC year by committee of not Less than
fifteen ministers and ruling elders, not
more than two OF whom shall be from any
one synod. No alteration shall be made in
the provisions of this chapter for changes in
the general assembly submitting the pro-
posed alterations be transmitted to all pres
byteries to be approved in writing by two
thirds of them. The general assembly
must transmit to the presbyteries any over
ture submitted to it by one-third Of all
presbyteries. Any amendment so submit
ted and approved shall go into effect inn
mediately after the general assembly shall
have certified the fact.
The committee also recommended that
the presbyteries be directed to answer the
to be reported to the clerk in time to be
presented to the next general assembly.
President Patton. of the Princeton Iheo-
logical seminary, i'll opening the great de-
bate ON the report said he objected to two
features. First. il denies to this assembly
if not to legislate? Second, this takes
away from the assembly not only the right
to legislate, but also that of celebrating.
Suppose one-third of the presbyteries reject
the overture of the assembly for any given
change in doctrinal standards? This gives
the assembly no option. It must send
down an overture to the presbyteries, and if
two-thirds adopt or approve it the assembly
has no choice but to declare the change, no
matter how radical or revolutionary.
In moore QlReHt OF IreSDyCeflAn law We
read the following: "The assembly orders
that the Westminster confession is to con-
tinue to be our law unless two-thirds of tho
presbyteries propose change desired and
in that case the assembly is to enact that
tho change be made" It does not declare
it only but enacts it. You cannot make
change in any way that invalidates the
adopting act. In conclusion DIR. Patton
said:
II implore the assembly to move slowly
in these critical times, when single false
step may lead up we know not where, and
involve us in difficulties we dare not antici-
pate"
Kev. DR.. Henry Vandyke, of New York,
was delighted with the report, and did not
accord with the views of DIR. Patton. He
denied the Legislative right of the assembly,
and said there is no line in the digests that
confers that power. The presbytery existed
before the general assembly, and
never gave it legislative power. There can
be no action to change the standard, except
by mutual cooperation between the assem-
bly, and presbyteries. The report seemed
to him to prescribe fair and practical
method of coming to an understanding DR..
Vandyke added that for twenty-five years
he had been growing convinced that revis-
ion WAS sure to come. "You can no more
stop it than you can keep back spring by
piling up last winters ice."