New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-20

Ssry artIclc. good forms sound words and system
Of Christian doctrine. and 30 also aHopt IN" said Con
Sow X" have i,So adopting acts. 1870
for doctuai standard, ana The Other Of i.r7 Tor tho
standard. ~ government We VIII now tax" up the
matter Of methods OF amendment ! have shown
YOU What the true adopting act are, ana mat the
a form OF government and, further, while IA session,
As Indicated by the Adopting act, exercised the right
intend 10 deprive the Church III the future Of this
power Of alteration and amendment which they had
rrs s0naLIe men had they done. They would have
failed Of that outlook into the future which all large
hearted aud bcralmiu men ever taHc. Having
themselves adopted a new form Of government and
altered the Confession OF Faith, they would not have
shut up The church Of tlc future 10 an e9'ie iach
81 power Of action IN these Particular II they SO
did. alcgo. then, for one, would be ready
10 undertake what some brethren mere nave calied
revolution. applause The pb't gchcFhu"hs nave no
right 10 bind the present In such way mat We
cannot toach even the details Of church government
or the phrascOogy Ia which IN" 'hurch may choose
% cNps.s. her doctrine But the synod did not act
has hccn alleged hy some one on the moor. The
synod provided I'm the Form OF Government secoh D.
Chapter H. "a way OF amending the Form OF Govern
ncnt and the Boob Of Discipline and then having
thus pro, idcd way for the amendment OF the al
quosion: We have altered the confession. how shall
We provide that the Church IN the fnurg may 90 luz
exactly that which nave done :" III" synod an
swercd the question b. adding 10 the doping az
was provision made hy the General synod bv when
the Church might at any tim" I'm the future alter
and amend tho Confession Of ia.th. hppan'eJ Let
Resolved. That the truc intent and meaning oi
the above ratification by the SYNOD i that inc Form
If C,ovcrumcnt and Discipline. and the Confession
Of Faith. "a ratified. continue u De our ION
situation and the confession % our faith ana pia'uoc
uuAlic.ahlc' .
Wat comes now, TIE word miles and That
word q, tto pivot 4 n- Whole resolution. aud "i-
ia fan light anon the intent and meaning ~ TIE
resolution for after the word "unc,. We find ti,
| statement. ~Tu,c-- twofhr'- If the IRE .bNt'Fea
urgcf the care nf tr General Assembly shall propose
alterations or amendments. aud such alterations or
amendments -h.l, b, a-,crd ana enacted bN tine Gen
cgal t.-emilg.r insist tlOt right reason applied 10
teer r,i d., YOU - the Adopting act not such Int
il simply . provision bN which the Church can alter
,r amend The & ,nic..lou II Faith AprIuso.J
piif some persons viii saw that the Adopting a't
gptil.s Ia ne Form Of Government. Yes. II doe, .
lui IA what way J am simply giving You my
opinion uuon the matter. but ] hope that II VIII
/ enable many ~ Won 10 l1oI ~ this question IN a
urh other than that in which You have hitherto
seen H. The act .ay~ that iwot thirds ~ the prcShy.
Inc Form Of Government already contained pro-
81 ou for II. own amendment What follows thi, J
- ! understand the mnitcr-that the General synod
Intended Ia keep up. even iu this matter of amend
J rncn,s or alterations the difference whic! Church
has aiwavs made between doctrine aud detail, u Id-
/ n,nstrailDn. Even when ministers pledged at
ord nation Willie they required 10 adopt the Con-
fcssion Of Faith they are simply asked II they ap-
prove the Form Of Government They are not re
uuircd o. adopt the Form Of Government. II 10
simply approval This j. The position our Church
/ has always held. thus making sharp distinction
between details Of administration and statements Of
dortrinal truth. And M, Distinction comes out, a.,
/ under. tie resolution ~ the Adopting art. ia
this panncr: that TIE provision In the Form Of