Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09


for conservative revision of the confession Of
faith. My objection to that symbol is urged
principally, though not entirely. against the
third chapter, and especially those sections
thereof which assert the election to reprObation
of men and angels, by a particular and un-
changeable designation. I consider this por-
tion of the confession in contradiction with the
spirit and general expression of the book itself,
and moreover, that it is contrary to the word OF
God. The Church does not preach it. Very
few ministers in the Church ever have preached
il, and in my judgment no congregation would
sit still under the preaching of such doctrine.
I cannot think it right tor the Church to de-
clare in its published confession what it neither
wishes nor wills, nor dares to utter from Its
pulpits.
accept honestly the doctrine Of predestina-
tiOn as 1t is properly and very fully limited In
the first article of this chapter and elsewhere.
In other words, that God has foreordained
things to come to pass either ny necessarily. W
freely, or (3) contngently. Those things which
are foreordained necessarily" relate to the
movements Of nature and immaterial things.
The predestination OF all that relates to ration.
al and immortal creatures must. of course, tai
underneath the limitations of the other two ad-
Verbs, viz: freely" and ''eontingently."
In the article of Chapter x, relating to the
elect infant, would simply drop the word
''elect' and leave the clause as it is There are
some other changes which 1 would like to see
made, but you do not care to have longer
opinion than have already expressed.
In addition to these changes, l would De
pleased to see short creed which can be con-
veniently bound up with our hvmn books and
used by our missionaries in home and foreign
fields as an alternate creed.
REV. DIR. BARRows, OF CHICAGO.
writes:
Revision may come. and be useful in some
respects in clearing our confession of faith of
faulty expressions and removing few OBJ
noxious sentences, but in my judgment revision
will be productive of less good than the con-
struction Of brief, irenical evangelical creed,
not metaphysical in its propositions and largely
Biblical in its statements, which will represent
what we deem to be the essential and necessary
Articles of the Westminster Confession. That
confession does not adequately and accurately
represent the thinking and preaching of the
Presbyterian Church of to-day. The old doc
trine needs new setting IN the knowledge and
life of our times. The Westminster theology
appears in some respects archaic. The essence
of Christian doctrine Is not changed, but men
see things In new relations and proportions.
Christianity has educated the feelings. There
is indefinitely more humanity in the world to-
day than in 1913 Men may sneer at the doc
trine of the Christian consciousness as a mod
ern compound of Ragel and Schleiermacher,
but the fact remains that the Christian con-
seriousness is the joint product of the Holy
Spirit and the Scriptures, and makes 1t imposs-
such pictures of 'the infants of Turks and
Saracens" tormented in hell-hre, or such por-
traitures of the damned
BOILING IN DUNGEONS
of everlasting birthstone and suffering under
the sharp-toothed forks of black and terrible
devils as were made BY some of the authors Of
the Westminster Confession. Few professional
theologians even find in the Westminster Con-
fession q complete and satisfactory expression
of their theological belief. Every man feels at
liberty to criticise and condemn it at whatever
point he chooses. Even If the substance OF
doctrine remain with few minor alterations
the Language is not conformed to modern hab-
its of expression, and the confession as whole,
is not fitted to be a manifesto or manual Of
instruction to-day. Scores of testimonials have
been published, showing that the confession,
as it now stands, is stumbling block in the
progress of the Church. The new creed should
state those things which we believed absolutely
and to the last drop Of our blood. And believ-
ing with DR.. Alexander. of New York, that the
nineteenth century is nearer to Christ than the
seventeenth century, believe that such
creed ought to be the benign and blessed out
come of the present discussion.
DIR. THOMPSON, OF NEW YORK.
Rev. DR.. c. L. Thompson, of New York,
ex-Moderator of the General Assembly,
writes:
There are differences Of opinion in our
church on the general question overturned by
the last General Assembly. Some, and from
present appearances. they are largely in the
minority, are opposed to any changes what
ever. Others would like q few verbal changes
to relieve the standards from misunderstand-
ing ana adverse criticism. Others desire few
changes of statement that will modify some of
the doctrines of the standards. Still others
are In favor Of more thorough and general re-
vision. Some are in favor Of a declaratory
statement to be appended to the confession of
faith as It now is. A few have expressed de-
sire for the revision of the catechism which
shall explain the light in which we hold the
confession, which shall remain unrevised, In
view of these various differences of opinion, it
seems to me 1t would be the wiser course, more
productive Of harmony in the church, more
satisfactory in its general results, to leave the
standards without special alteration, making
perhaps few changes in the third and tenth
chapters Of the confession Of faith modifying
somewhat the doctTinal views there stated, in
serting one or two other statements in which
the standards are regarded as deficient aud
then supplement this by the formulation OF
brief creed or new statement Of doctrine which
shall give the sense in which we hold our
standards,
A CONSENSUS CREED.
This new creed need not and should not
supersede the confession Of faith; but made
in the light of the present it should state the
present views of the Presbyterian Church or
rather give the light in which we hold the
standards Of our Church. While therefore
personally have no zeal for revision, while l
believe it is encountered with many difficulties,
and if thorough enough to give all the relief
that is desired, might imperil the harmony of
our Church. I consent to such moderate re-
vision of our standards as is suggested by the
Presbytery Of New York. in the hope and ex-
pectauon thar we will ultimately find our best
relief and our largest consent in the consensus
creed which have advocated 1t will give US
the essential points and will magnify them, and
those who desire fuller expression of theo-
logical opinion, can be referred to the confess
sion Of faith and the catechism. The indica-
tions are that this is the rising idea. Upon this
basis believe there will be ultimate and satis-
fed agreement
PRESIDENT PATTON, OF PRINCETON.
Rev. DR.. Francis L. Patton, President of
Princeton College, in his address delivered
before the Presbyterian Union in New York,
on December 2 last, took strong ground
against revision, concluding his eloquent re-
marks in this wise:
1t is because of my interest in maintaining
the common faith Of all Christians; do not
say Protestants. but all Christians, Roman
Catholic and Protestants, as well as because of
my desire to see the Presbyterian Church stand
true to her glorious history, that am opposed
to the proposition to revise her standards. l
am sorry that the agitation has occurred, but
trust that God in His good Providence may
make it the occasion of more emphatic
avowal of that system Of doctrine, in the main-
tenance Of which our Church has been so
greatly blessed. 1 do not anticipate storm:
only little breeze that will break the folds out
of the old blue banner of the Covenant. and
set it futteriRg with the promise of new
achievements as it heads the advancing column
of the Calvinistic forces which, / do not doubt
will keep the fame already won Of being among
the harvest and the best in the sacramentaI
host of Gods elect.
REV. DR.. NICCoLLs, OF ST. LOUIS.
Rev. DR.. Samuel J. Niccolls, of st. Louis,
writes: