New-York tribune., 1890-01-28
REVISION STRONGLY URGED
SIX SPEECHES IN IT'S FAVOR MADE AT THE
PRESBYTERY.
ONLY TWO MEN DEFEND THE "ESIM4NSiLi'
CoNFEsSIoy-DR CROSBY, THE CoNsERVA-
TIVE. AND DR. VAN DYKE, THE
PROGRESSIVE, UNITE IN CON

PROGRESSIVE, UNITE IN CON
DEMNING IT.
The second week in the great Presbyterian eeoa'ins
,chool now in session in the Scotch Church was begun
yesterdav with eight speeches on the proposed re-
,sion ~ he Westminster Confession of Faith. Last
week the balance between the two sides was pretty
evenly maintained the conservative speakers number
Ing one more than their radical brethren. Dr bIlesS
romplained of so much time being consumed Oy INC
minority-the conservative sde-but yesterday '"o
pendulum swung to the other side, as two speakers
,poke against revision and six for H. so iar theio
have been twenty speeches in favor Of the COM
ittees report recommending that two chapters be re-
vlsed suggesting that two Others DC mOdned ana IN
tmating that Creed should be prepaleu' anu
nineteen speeches against the report.
The first speaker Yesterday the Rev. DR.. How
ara Crosby Of the Fourth Avenue Church. Ills con-
servatism and caution recognized by all VINO nave
heard him speak any subject and yet ne laVors
revision of the Confession because he does not hod e
doctrine of preteritiOnthat God passes by some men
In the besowment of grace. He holds the secohu P
of the doctrine of reprobation-that Goa oruaihS in
20 everlasting death for their sins Having HloNeu "'
the November meeting of the Presbytery the adoption
~ an answer TO the General Assembly recommending
the revision of one chapter he was made henner Vi
the committee whose report is now Dehs
discussed DR.. CrOsby's argument was 'hd'
the doctrine Of preterition is fearful ana ld'.'i
stic and against its continuance upon the pages Vi ~
Confession his soul revOs. lie took up inc he Poi
texts of the doctrine in question and showed how 70
his mind they do not the doctrine at all WIN
them he ouoted several texts bearing upon Gods oe
sire that all men should be saved, and the saviour
last commission to His disciples that they shouia
preach the Gospel 10 every creature
DIR VAN DYKE WANTS NEW CREED.
In his address. DR.. van Dyke said that the very
rentre of the debate the Greed was touched a'e
week by Professor Paxton, of Princeton 1t is' III
decd a oueston of the tag on the dog" "The Con-
fessionn he said, fixes upon the human race Tag
which means: Part of this creature is consigned 10
Heaven and part Of il is consigned to He'll no man eau
tell which is which: nor can anything DO uoho oS "'i
TO change their destination If were an eApresSHdh
on road where such parcel was offered Woulu uo-
cline to receive il for three reasons: FIRST inc III
structions are unintegibe, second, they are lhpos
sibe to execute; third, II they are uue NY rc"S" ~
not mako any difference"
Dr. van Dyke then discussed the doctrine oil repro
baton, which the report proposes 10 boV ou.' t'o
are four reasons, in his estimation, why ths shouu
be done. at is a superiuous doctrine hot essci'-
tal to Christianity nor to Protestantlsm' DccauSe
the vast majority Of Christians and Protestants nave
never accepted it, II can be dropped without sign
or tear with the confession that little modest ls-
norance is the first requisite Of sound theology ~
II is an unscripta doctrine. 90 1t is an uneVanee-
ica doctrine. "a 1t is horrible doctrine IN fesdIu
to the proposed Creed, he said:
And now word to the movement for new statement
Of doctrine 1t is curious fact that this very ola Coh'
fesson was once new that it grew out Of an attempt
TO revise the Thrtynne Articles 1t was TO make hs re-
vision that the Westminster Assembly was convened Ana
IT was while they engaged in 1t that the Iase'
ordered go further. We may take courage rom
the example And unless $50 years oil CHRISTIAN experience
md study of the Bible gone for nothing the Churh Is
better able TO report progress in the understanding OF
Scripture to-day than she then We want new state
ment of essential doctrine for four reasons
First-Because II will be simpler. We want something
that plain man can understand something that we can
put hands OF those who need instruction without
confusing their minds.
second-Iscause it will be more scrlptural. We want
something the tone and accent OF the New ea
ncnt; something less like lawpaper and more ike
creed which can be read the churches without chilling
the spirit Of devotion something that viii up and warm
the heart.
Thrd-Because it will be shorter. Eleven thousand
words is too much The substance OF our faith can be
put into half that space II leave out the nonssentas
we able put strength into our faith IN INC
essentials. And this will bring nearer to our brethren
and help to clear the way un alton OF Chrsendo
Fourth-Because it will have a better balance IN piac'
tcsl theology the important thing is the emphasis We
want creed that will lay massive emphasis upon te
love OF God the whole world, the aonement OF Christ
for all mankind and the free sincere offer Of the Gospel to
every creature.
But suppose we cannot get this suppose this Prcsbycry
and the Church large under the alleged influences Of this
Presbytery (Which perhaps we exageeTate declines 70
make this change and refuses either to leave reprobaon
out Of the Confession move in the direction OF new
statement OF doctrnel What will happen then! VINO
can ten9 One thing IS certain. This debate VIII not
leave Church where II found her She either gong
forward OF backward cannot admit that rerobaton
IS non-essenal system must declare practically
that 10 essential and abide by the consequences khO"
what others may pusuc, but Tor myself there Is
only one course. intend keep right ignoring that
doctrine and II necessary denying IT, hy teaching that
Gods desire intend 90 teach that His love
Is universal Christ is the Saviour Of the
world, and that whosoever will may come unto Him and
take Of the water life freely Is that Cayinm2 do
not know. / DO not care. II Is Christianity.
DIR. wYLIE DEFENDS THE OLD CONFESSION.
After four speeches had been given in succession
in behalf of the report, Dr. David G. Wylie, OF the
Knox Church, made earnest plea for the present
Standards OF the Presbyterian Church. Fl ', he
showed the interesting Of the world in whch the
Westminster Confession made: Everything wa
astir: the air full Of new life; modern civilization
was dawning. The great nations which were destined
10 shape modern Europe rising out Of the dark
ness and monarchy was gaining power fcndalism.
The slUmbcring world was beginning 10 wake up. The
master thoughts of the world which had been slum-
herring for ages. given t. the ages New life was
infused into art for the Reformation period was the
acc of Paphael and Michael Angelo, Of Leonardo da
Vinci and Albert Durcr. 1t was grand age, a won
derful age Next he traced the similarity OF the
Wesminser Confession to the other Reformation sym
bols-the Thirty nine Articles Of the Church Of Eng
land, the CanOns Of the synod OF DOrt the Lambeth
Articles the Irish Articles and others. In closing, he
said
Mr. Ingersoll been quoted in this debate. We are
10 give up Confession because cannot answer his
arguments against the doctrines OF the Confession Can
we answer his against the Bbc and the char
acter II cannot shall give up the Scrip
lures and The Arguments Of nldclS cannot be an
grounds OF pure The Christian re-
ncion faith its cornerstone Christian faith Is
stronger rraon-t IS not opposed to rasonbut 1t
carries beyond IL.
To my mind M Moderator, there Il no moro difficulty
I'm the doctrine prcterOn in Pro,id Every
man docs have a fair chance. What can We say or
the Justice of God when volcanic fires burst forth without
a moments warning, and desolate populOus towns and
elites or when a famine in China destroys hundred
thousand human beings. Can explain these things ?
By no means. In them brought face 70 face with
dark mysteries; greater mysteries uan find in
the Confession OF Faith. Where can We find relief from
don