Telegram-herald., 1890-08-01
II FAVOR OF REVISION.
shs srssoytsst.as shs@I4 r.ss sts.
Ts-ss t-< ~ a-si.l~- % fhsfr $50
sas st-pisr GEs@a-A osx4
Abs.t Csasss sDsst.


4-s Dea4flE-A 60 l14 a residence o. tres-
p@et sssn1s, P9iasstoa, iso2iag eat
ca oas "a tzs dasst Efs@s IA New Jsr-
ssy There ~as soGst4izg absat the
Ersad sKPanss On whieh erss faEoas
faes ~as tarnsG that sssasd ia keeping
sith ths sreasith aud peri pasFy II miad
Tor which tAis dlstlag aishsd mstaphy-
siaian las been always sad especially
OF lats notsbls not only IN meatal
ssisacs but also in the eoaaeils of ths
church aad ths revision of hsr crssds.
Near by sat Afs. AeCosh, the niece of
the great pFssahss. Gathris, whose ma
tarnal interest "a sick au6 needy
studsats of ths Institution dur
iHz her husbands presidsnsy was
- blessed szd 8sausffaL Ihs stadents
h.d gone. TIE bell sss still Tn.
large slms bAat stretched down
the cool arcade of 'McCosh walk"
wsrs breathing lingering tarswells 10
tbs grsat class Of graduated men And
thsrs IN ths midst Of reminiscent elias
sies, As the san ~sas slowly down. sat
the silver haired scholar at The close OF
bis loRg and illustrioas PrOfsssioaAl
and Institutional career.
Doctor. said /, as soon - was
seated IN his study, do ron favor the
proposed revision OF yeur creedf'
''I san only ssy, replied the Doctor,
"that l did, and for some time have
been doing all that | could 10 smooth
down sons OF the severe expressions OF
d0ctrins in the creed, and TO have
shorter and simpler creed While l
vozld not take one iot or little from the
great sArdin OF religious truth as
they are formulated in our confession, |
would seek to give especial prominence
TO the love OF God for His children.
Crssds are fences. Taey are not fields,
or houses, or goods. Pher are dehni-
tive They mark of the great meaning
OF the Word OF God This pleased
Word was xiv-n TO elevate men. IL
must not be lowered 20 suit . mere
worldly sentiment. Al the same time
the formuls OF our faith should not
be bardsnsd with what the Romans
would call fnpediments' We should
see to 10 that our standards are made
1us. as perfect as possible. IL the
scholars OF the seventeenth century
have ms6e any imperfect statements il
IL for the scholars OF the nineteenth
century to correct the. 10 would DO
strsngs indeed IL creed had been
made whish shoaid be final for all
time A revision OF . confession care
fully and slowly made BY vise and
godly mea is never dangerous so long
"a such . consensus OF men beiisve in
that confession. In the formation of
new creed there Is need of great care
fullness, delicacy and tenderness
There are two all important points:
First-EIcessive care must be taken
that every article in thought and Ian
gusss b- ferndsd On shs Word Of God
and bs In strict accordance with 1t.
There mzst be no infssential theology,
no speculative process of interPrets-
tion. Seeond-Thoss who subscribe to
creed Anst do so IN good faith.
Ministers must be sbse 10 believe abso-
iutsly what they preach and teach.
They must feel the truth az IL vitality
in their own hearts, otherwise they
cannot DO nuch. IL soythfng, in max
ing others feel OF believe it, This is
earnsstnsss which nakss great, simple,
soulssving presohsrs. and marks a
successful ministry. IL is sacredly
soiemn thing TO sign . oreed- Ii is in
its way sort of marriage certificate
between ths soul Of the preacher and
che bride OF the Savior So much then
for erssdA The great truths of the
Gospel. the Sovereignty of God, the
Deity Of Chriss, a full and free atone
nsns, human freedom as the very
ground OF human responsibility, per-
ronsl holiness as the only evidence Of
saving faith. these truths are inds-
struesisls. Men may talk about oSseds.
thsologisn may differ about them
or dissent from them, but wers
th.oioxisns all dead and the
ology a tradition. instead of what it
s.. sacred science, were every gun on
the walls of our defsnsss silencsd. still
there would rise above those redoubts
the strong and blessed face OF the
chief among ten thousands and the one
altogether lovely crying out in voice
that shoald shake ths heavens and the
earth a. sksptioism and in6delity rear
pixmy forms before iti This fortress
is impr-gnabls ="
"Niu you say snything Doctor about
the federation - churches which you
have proposed with view TO visible
unity viii the movement be carried
ont e
u san only Say replied the Doctor.
''thst Nave dene all oould 30 help
.lon1 that movemsnt I started a
movement IN PhilsdelPhis years sgo.
which By the active cooperation Of
people In Europe and Amsries has cuI-
minated IN an alliance Of al Sd. Prssby-
seriaa churches IN England. scotland.
Ireland. ou the Continent Of Europe, in
Australia and the Brisish colonies, ia
the United States sad Csnada I crossed
tae ocean three or four tines in furth-
srsnce Of that great enterprise and met
with ministers In all parts Of the old
World The rrsnlt has been. 7 am con
need. great zood in nsny ways 20 the
church at large Further than this
Presbyterian Psn-Ailisnce. have aimed
A. and hoped for f.dsrstion % al the
Evangelical charches which, While Il
shall leave shsn ss they are in their own
eccls.issticsl doctrines On forms Of
polity. shall - blsnd them visibIy b-fors
men as On. great hoay u believers IN
shs anity - one faith. ere God. one
Cbr.ss snd ere ssmnen Brotherhood CT
Christian workers. to<sther, that
ir-sr and fsr nore elective preschinz
&C ths Gosuel nay - ne rssalt q such
rs cha highest f-vslcnuant - thst
~n~rer 81 snr~~ - fn-Tn. 1rnsl