The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-16
PRESBYTERIANS IN COUNCIL.
MEETING or THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
or TIE CHURCH IN S4RATOGA.

Obligations, and Duties OF the Church
The Eey Moderator n Moderate KeVis-
IoniSt-RepOrt OF the Committee on the
Mode OF Revising the Standards.
SARATOGA. May 15.-At II o'clock, the hour
for tho meeting OF the Presbyterian Assembly,
nearly every Commissioner was present and
the church was crowded with spectators. After
an anthem by the choir, prayer was offered by
Rev. DR.. Herrck Johnson OF Chicago. All Hail
the Power of Jesus Name" was heartily sung
by the entire assembly. DR.. Patton OF Prince
ton read the twelfth chapter of First Corinth-
ians. and DR.. Howard Crosby followed with
prayer. GLORIOUS Things OF Thee are Spoken"
was sung. and tho Rev. William G. Roberts, d.
D.. LII D.. retiring Moderator began his dis
course. He said
The beloved Church which you and rep
resent ia undergoing q severe ordeal. 1t is
hard for the world to understand how
Church so hard and severe in its faith should
have grown to such proportions. and become
such a power in the world
His text was Luke xii. 4S: For unto
whomsoever much is given Of him shall much
be required" His theme was: The Priv
ileges aud Consequent Obligations of the Pres
byterian Church" He said. in substance:
The millions born in heathendom are not
to be held as responsible as arc those born in
spirit are shared alike by all denominations.
We as Presbyterians claim a fuller bestow-
ment and clearer appreciation Of those gifts.
The features OF our denomination are found in
the times and tho teachings OF the Apostles. Our
standards OF faith were formulated in troublous
timos. ard they arc the best compend OF truth
the world has ever known. God is recognized
In them as imparting 10 mon His eternal pur-
poses and revealing His justice and His love.
1t Is loudly proclaimed in these days
that tho doctrines OF our faith are
lacking in the spirit OF lore, but We
are not to mistake the iron frmness OF our
faith in the divine sovereignty as monstrosi-
ties Of belief but as our confidence in the in
flexible justice Of God. They have a grandeur
above goodness and entwine themselves about
the cross as 1t stands on Calvary. Foreordina-
ton Is only consistent with the forek owledge
of God. John Calvin was the founder of the
public school and the pioneer advocate Of
popular and liberal education. Our Church
has always held that 1t was part Of her great
mission TO educate the young In the doctrines
and faith ofPresbyterianism. We are the friends
OF secular as we'll as eccles iastical wisdom and
the progress and strength OF our Church has
been predtcRted OF education, Intelligence, and
iishment Of Presbyterian church Is a call 10
every want Of humanity Her system doesn't
wander to vitiated appreciation OF truth
"qG1 70 khow Snsf s Loo sa5s a9u n01 %of
fact by the use Of slecious, terms. II
alter alter, death. why should We seek to
formulate, what We cannot find TO exist? II
future az she has in tie past she must be- cal.
GUS Of whom she admits to the privilege Of her
sg H Stem @ns e h % be avoid bs
vicious system OF inc0nsiderate exchange and
uporthodox suppl. 1t Is the duty OF our
Our standards shout be understood to be the
means OF grace and not the end, Calvinism
Is S
The sense Of duty Is made 20 Dc the controlling
to G ask hims G Am 'a'E Just sn tT
all rather than to vary hairs breadth from a
" Her s sGnEo
duty higher than their duty to God. Calvin
was the founder. and our Church fosters the
meet and put to. route the religious and in
ildeI enemies Of our schools. and we must
quire the shedding OF blood our Church
Of education as II the Church o! Rome. How
oped? This Is the paramount question before
this assembly and should make any contest
us DO careful that no mishap befall us. The
world is WATCHING tS u and waiting to SEQ the
outcome OF this ecclesiastical assembly"
!" / Love Thy Kingdom. Lord" was sung and
recess taken until O'Clock.
Who would know by his sermon whether
was The common remark after, Its delivery;
and yet he favors revision and has written
pamphlet In support OF II.
After roll call in the afternoon. the Rev. DR..
johnson nominated the Rev. DR. William T.
Moore Of Columbus. Ohio for Moderator. and
sonist. but his election is regarded as tri-
nents OF revision. Nineteen standing COM
mittees were provided for
Changes in the Confession OF Faith ana the
Constitution OF the Church, reported unani- |
mously as follows:
Ply Of lrs ana was continued by the General Assem-
blies Of lss aud s The scope Of its duties Is indi
PAGE s6 The connies on Bills and 1veTtSres
OF I the yG% Of
% ns h % S Of h & Ep
SAGE SAGE for The appointment OF special COMMITTEES who
Assembly such rrcoinrhendatons as said com.
sSsHs.D fTR'F the the Of Gas s
.h9reh lie committee recommend that Tie
%insI:Is and two IanT d.I.
%.n Hs'sTny what action ii any in their judE
by Of Sss BY the addition q ono member and as
james LsftWth and ETsrSTd ReppsIa and RSImS
Idsrs VILLAIN %!rSax ana EoSsr1 Wilson Tns
intIaTsl to t. ana mas reached tho following conCIu
recommendations
lhhl the uihorence3 of opinion with reference 20
the nethous OF amendments OF tho Confession Faith
and me larger ana shorter cAtechisms so marked
VOWED therein in tho General Assembly.
:. That this Church has, always doctrine
as being the vltal element in tho body eccesastc and
that, therefore changes or IerRons In the ConfeB
EOn or FaitI ana tho larger shorter cateClisns
should he made under greater restrictions than
or alterations IN inc form of government tho book Of
discipline. and tho directory for wOr, hin
g. That tho provisions for tho amendment or Altera
t0n OF tho several standards OF do trlne
and worship should DO included within CONSTITUTION
In definite Terms
4 That the Church, Speaking officially through tho
Pres1yterles can alone determine WIN authority the
questions At issue 49,
In view, therefore Of these consider ions and also
of tho requirement. OF the General AsheInOy tEt this
committee report what action II any IS In their indy |
meni, desirable tho committee recommends that tie
following overture lie Transmitted to The presOyteries
viz:
l. Shall chapter he added To tho form OF government
making provision for llo amendnen aud alteration OF
tho Com esslOn of Faith and the Constitution uf Tho
Church, aud IN the words following
CHAPTER - AMENDMENTS
SRCIOS ! Amendments or alterations of the form Of
government book Of discipline, aud directory for wor
ship may be proposed BY the General Assembly TO Tie
preshyteries but shall not he obligatory the Church
unless majority OF All tue presbyteres approve there
OF III writing
SIC :. Amendments or alterations of the Confession
OF Faith and the larger aud shorter may 10
proposed to tho presbyteres by the General Assembly
but shall not be obligatory OH tho Church unless an
proved IN writing by two thirds of all the