New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-01
DR. HALL AND DIR. HASTINGS.
DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH BECOME PER
SONAL IN DEBATE.
THE EARNEST DISCUSSION IN THE PRESBY
Terry CLOSED WITH ARGUMENTS CLOWN"
WITH WARMTH AND ELooUENCE-THE
SPEECHES INTERRUPTED WITH
DISCLAIMERS AND Tx
PLANTATIONS.

SPEECHES INTERRUPTED WITH
DISCLAIMERS AND tx
PLANTATIONS.
For argument eloquence. personality ana intensity
Of feeling the tenth day of the great discussion over inc
-, o,.,.ioD of the Westminster Confession OF
raith ovceeded all It's predecessors. Ihe last hour
1yas ono memorable in the history of the PresbytcrY
Of New York and one not soon to be forgotten ny
the audience that packed the scotch 'hu''" " '''
doors In the rear Of the room ana III 'le edlo'''
ror neonlc standing eagerly listening TO the earnest
words of two representatives OF freNDNleriahNIh III
New-York The pastor of the leading chui'" vi
tho denomination in America stood opposing the report
of committee headed by the president OF one OF
us leading theological schools; later the CHAIRMAN VI
the committee responded in a Speech eoq"o"''
graceful personal. Hoth speeches were ih'e'r"P'o'
nv member, of the body, who rose To correct '''
nressons thought to be false, or to defend absent
hrethren At the close prayer was offered that Wheh
,ho prcshvtery convencS on Monday It's hehio''N
may he cudcd into wise decision upon the moneh'o'
question before them. -, .toh
For two hours the free expression OF OPINION VIM
had been given for nearly a fortnight WIS ''''
Not many new arguments made; by the COMICS
in 90 tho sneakers not much that was new renidiheu
IN no said and their conclusion seemed To DC ""
ranted Ten members placed themselves on rc'o'u'
hut tho audience waited patiently for the oo'l"s
speeches - - no
a
corded the opportunity of summing up Tor inc con"
i,.oo aud il. rcnori favoring revision and new
creed Bv similar vote Dir. Hall was asked to speak
for the conservatives in opposition To inc report
Dr. HALLS EARNEST WORDS.
stepping to the platform with copy VI 9oh""
It Creed~ of ChristcidOm" and few notes III MS manu-
DR. Hall spoke for twenty-five minutes WIN great
warmth and fervor. once or twice ne was NJ
rupted in his address. which was in substance aS io
lows: .,, .,.
In the brief space allotted to this speech snail MAKE
my appeal TO the and judgment OF tho'' "h'm
am TO address 1t is alleged by those VINO desire re-
vision of the Confession Faith that the conditions uhd'
,,,i We are uvine are greatly changed and Improved
that missionary being organized in these day 10"
which no provision is made in the confession Oh I'''
put IT is Confession Of Faith OF which we are SpeahH
a. is not Confession Of Duty. 1t il what the Chuf'h
h.,oves II IL j. 70 be Confession Of Duty. let new
chapter be added section for each OF inc b"siu o
the Church. with possibly one on "fiohpuoh' ""'" -
certainly 'n the air in the trues sense ana one on
which instruction needed. Let u have section u
voted 10 the Evangelical Alliance. and one on ne HoNp's
Sunday etc. We could understand TINS II an e''l''l
statement OF the duty o the Church was 70 be presented
10 the world i not the end Of the confession"
which is witness against error and the bulwsN
NJ zlon 1t would better add chapter dsciaimns
second probation and Christian consciousness a. run
Of faith: that would be ineligible and IN the inc OIL
confession 1870 .....,, ,r,,
the non elect is stuwhlrP-bock and so We should put
II out OF the wav question the facts Notwithstanding
oil that has been said And | raise this question; Are
Gods servants ever told the Bible to modify doctrine
lost it be stumbling block In the WAY OF the weak
No only matters Of Christian discretion IN PRAGUE
Two references this word "sunbllhE-bo'h may ~
given In Romans xiv. 10. We read Let u not mere
a. nd, ono another any more: but judge this rather
that no man nut stumbling block or an occasion to iS h
his brother way" \ ">tumhlnc-blocA a. I" "'"'
Meats offered o. idols And again in Corinthians VII =
.But tskc heed by means this liberty oil YOURS
1,1insr.fI lock To a
in meat. With two or three exceptions all the oth'I
uses Of word either describing tod Iud'c$I u'
ing with men, referring TO mems actual treatment oil
Christ. This argument FOR the change IN the Coh77o'
Of Faitl, has WEIGHT in my mind
IL f. proposed by report before Us TO leave ont Of
Chapter Ill the sections indicated and to D" 'ohS'N'
you must omit modify in Chapters ' Sections anu
g. the latter being stronger and harder than 'he SEC
tons I'm Cbautcr III To DE consistent you must omit OF
modify ia Chapter VIII. Section : in Chapter " Sec
tons l. and Chap.'r Nl. section and in th'ptl
XXXIII. section % whore read Of God' justice ID
the dannston Of uc r,moDsc. who are wicked and di-.
obedicnt" Ey the way int is the only use Of the word
rcprohato / in the Confession. The speakers
have mad hard words in discussing this ques
ton
Dr. Hall next compared the report with the eoc-
trine held bv the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
and suggested that if the General Assembly should
change the Westminster standard, a. here proposed
il would De it, duty to 20 70 the Cumberland brcthrch'
apologize fox all that had been said and AK for re-
The Presbyterian Church would be in danger of pac.
Ing itself i'll Il false position a. to the atonement OF
Christ and the work Of the Holy Ghost. In speaking
of Dr. Hamlton's speech of last week, Dir. Hall said
that he was sorry to he made the argument that
"Chri,tan consciousness. being God given, must de-
eide on any point Of religion, truth
DR.. Briggs interrupted DR.. Hall to say in DR. Ham
iton's absence that he did gain such an impress
sion from the address
DR.. Hall referred to the plausible but misleading
theory which DR.. Hamilton had advanced, a. it
seemed to him, and then answered the Rev Dr. Wal
Merle smiths criticism Of his Inconsistency III not
supporting the report winch he MAD publicly com
nended month before. ne had wOrd also 10 say
in reference u DI. smith giving an Armlnan
bate DR.. Hall was sorry that The poor man, who
was inst a. bad under the Armnian hope or the Cal
whist fear. had not had a better teacher
how free will could be used by men la>hed to The mast
he understood not answered by the Instructor Dr.
Hall thought perhaps the professor said TO himself
ference between moral and physical inability
DR.. Mcllvaue rose 10 dsclam the statement in the
viii or lis love.
DIR. HASTINGS SPEAKS FOR THE REPORT
Al hslfpas; five Dr. Hastings began the closing
Argument for the report lie denied That he stood a.
The representative Of Union seminary he represented
merely the Presbyterys committee The debate just
closing ne considered The ablct and the best tempered
debate on both sides ever held in this city
He paid "A deserved compliment to the patient, court
cons Moderator. and then remarked That he would
nav bccp giad to have had more In Dr. Halls
spcech to answer. /. difficult u answer heat and
rhctoiic Dr. Hail. reference to the Confession bcin,
one of faith and of duly seemed IL them >trsnG'
one A. 1t impossible for him 10 separate ialtl
and duty.
d.. Han spoke Of the improperly OF insisting on
having proof texts for the Objectionable sections III
the Confession the speaker wo9d be glad to see thc
texts from which they cOuld be properly deduccd
lie felt bonnd also to that he did not think Dr.
Hall had quite fairly stated DR.. HauhCn'S position III
regard 10 the individual Christian consciousness.
Dr Hall al TN, point 10 say that hc had not
used The phrase ind vIdual consciousness.
but consensus Of Christian consciousness which T.
vital element but IT Is not 10 take the place OF the
Word of God.
Dr. Hastings thought great mistake had been
made by Of the opponents Ia the report who had
cOuiOundcd revision Of the Confession with re
modelling OF the committee would dcpTccatc ~.
1atte he ~ IL. 10