Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-23
OVERTURE FIXED.
D0CTRINAL CHANGES IN PRESBYTERIANISM
PRELIMINlZED.
A Series Of Statements Setting Forth the Various
Discussions Likely to Arise-The Work
Of the Council Now Convened
at Saratoga.


mornings session of the Presbyterian
General Assembly after the transaction
of routine business, DR.. Edwards, presi-
dent of a college of Welsh Presbyte-
rianS, was invited TO deliver an address.
The special committee on the publi-
cation board was continued another
year and instructed to consult with the
commission of seven appointed yester-
day, and thanked for the faithful labor
they have already done.
The chairman of the committee on
amendment of the confession of faith
and constitution reported that it has
been continued from year TO year since
1867; that this church has always en-
phaSized doctrine as the vital element,
and changes in it shall be made under
greater restrictions than those in disci-
pline and that alterations should be in
definite terms. 1t is recommended that
the following overture be transmitted
for their action, viz;
FirSt-Shall Il chapter be added 10 the
form of government making provision
Tor the amendment and alteration OF the
Confession of Faith, the larger and
shorter catechiSm, the form of govern
ment, the book of discipline and the
directory for worship, and in the fol-
lowing: Chapter NNIII. of amend
mentS; Section 1, amendments or alter
ationS of the form of government, book
of discipline and directory for worship
may be proposed by the General Assem-
bly, TO the PreSbyterieS. but shall not be
obligatory on the church, unless ma
iority of the PreSbyteries approve there
of i'm writing; section ,, amendment
or alterations of the Confession of
Faith and the larger and short
er catechiSms may be professed
to the PreSbyterieS by the
General Assembly, but shall not
be obligatory on the church, unless they
shall be approved in writing by two
thirds of all the PreSbyterieS, and agreed
to. and enacted by the next ensuing
General Assembly, and the written votes
of the Presbyteries shall be returned TO
that Assembly.
Section 3-Before any amendments
or alterations of the confession of faith
or the larger and shorter catechiSms
proposed by the General Assembly, shall
be transmitted to the PresbyterieS, the
General Assembly shall appoint TO con-
slider the subject committee OF. Minis
ters and Ruling Elders in number not
less than fifteen, of whom not more
than two shall be from any one synod,
and the committee shall report its
recommendations to the General Assem- !
bly, next ensring year for action.
Section mo alteration of the pro-
visions contained i'm this Chapter for
amending or altering the confession of
faith and the larger and shorter cate
chiSm. or this 4th section shall be made. !
unless an overture from the General As
sembly submitting the proposed altera-
tionS shall be transmitted TO all the
PresbyterieS and may be approved in
writing by two-thirdS of their number
and be agreed TO and enacted by the
General Assembly.
Section 5.-It shall be obligatory on
the General Assembly TO transmit TO the
Presbyteries for approval or diSapproval,
.anv overature respecting amendments
or alterations provided for in this chap
ter. which shall be submitted to the
same General Assembly by one-third OF
all the PreSbyterieS. In such cases the
overtures shall be formulated and trans.
mitted by the General Assembly recelv-
ing the same of the PreS6yterleS for
their action subject TO all subsequent
proceedings TO the provisions OF the
foregoing sections:
Section 6.-Whenever it shall APP
pear to the General Assem-
bly that any proposed amend
ments of alterations of the form OF gov
ernment book of discipline and direc-
tory for worship shall have received a
majority of all the PreSbyterieS, the
General Assembly shall declare such
amendments or alterations TO have been
adopted. and the same shall Immediate
ly 90 into effect.
Section 7.-Nothing in this chapter
shall be construed as to effect the rlght
of two-thirdS of the PresbyterieS to pro-
pose amendments or alterations OF the
Confession of Faith and the Larger ana
Shorter CatechSmS of the General AS
sembly to agree to, and enact the same.
Second-Shall Section 6, Chapter II,
be stricken out? Your committee would
also recommend that the PresbyterleS
be REQUIRED and directed TO answer 10 the
overture as whole by simple yes ana
nav. and to report their answers to the
stated clerk in time for the presenta-
tiOn.
Respectfully submitted on behalf OF
the Committee,
TSirned WM. II. ROBERTS.
Chairman of Committee.
DR.. Roberts said that there are three
modes of alteration, that of proposal
after committee has considered a year.
The second mode is in Section ,. II
one-third of the PresbytereS propose
alterations i'm either the doctrine or DIS
culinary standards the assembly must
formulate and transmit the proposed
alterations to the Presbyteries for APP
nroyal. The third mode is stated In
Section 6. which provides for alterations
by simple majority vote of the Pres
bvteries. All the members of the com
mittee are unanimous, having made con-
cesSionS on both sides.
The desire for harmony was shown al
the beginning of the Assembly IN the
election of our Moderator, and l wlsh
that the adoption of the report could De
equally unanimous.
DIR. Patton said that those OF the
committee who were opposed TO the re-
port at the beginning agreed in support
ing this report which concerns the
right Of the Presbytery to overture the
Assembly, and the need of two-thirds
for alteration. We hope it may pass
with absolute unanimity. Inanswer to
question DR.. Roberts said you could not
drop the Westminster edict by two
thirds vote.
DIR. Matterson, of Philadelphia, eX-
pressed his warm approval
The report was then passed with but
one dissenting vote, and DR.. Howard
Crosby led in prayer of thanksgiving,
DIR. Patton, of Princeton, Chairman
of the Committee for canvaSSing the
answers of the PresbyterieS in revision,
-, l;.,ooort There were 1873 that