New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-21
is CALVINISM ON TRIAL?
SHOW BOTH ITS STRENGTH
AND ITS WEAKNESS.
SCRIPTURE QUOTED ON ONE SIDE TO fRoN
THAT SOME MEN AND ANGELS ARE FORE
ORDAINED TO BE LOST AND ON
THE OTHER THAT THIS IS
FALLACIoUs DOCTRINE.

In It's history In November by vote OF W l" TO- !"
decided so far as IT can. that the old Westminster
Confession OF Faith should be changed 1cs'c'u"'
an attempt was made to indicate 10 inc "che'di 40
semby which alone has the power to authorize
change. in what respects and to what extent there
should be a revision. Not much progress was made
Two speeches were delivered in favor OF adopuhs
renort prepared by a committee which recommended
To the Assembly the changing of two chapters a'c
recommended 10 the Presbytery an overture a'hi'IS
for a new Greed. An attempt to reconsider 'h0 wy
on the simple question of revision f"lled' OeoauS'
was declared out OF order. ,u
Nearly an hour was spent in trying 10 octeri"iio
what rules should govern the BODY during 'ne O"n
,-oversv which nav continue all this week. In tls
honr there were numerous motions amendments
points of order, and at times personalities WIN" "
necessary the use of the moderators saNei Co
feature was disclosed during the 1lehdlN "'"nt0,
The conservatives do not intend to let their i"'o'l
brethren have all the say When the vote was ,"no"
In November the sentiment of the Presbytery judging
hv tho sneecbes and the ballot Overwhelmingly
I'm favor of revision of sort Yesterday ''o
Confession had many friends rallyng 10 us supPo''
before set speeches began
THE TWO POINTS DESIRED BY THE CONNlA LII
When once the time limit was hxed rreS '''l,
Thomas s Hastings, of the Union TheoioGicai sem
nary the chairman of the committee "ho9e i'PV'V
vas N he discussed spoke in behalf of revision on
&c rubltsbed in The Tribune YESTERDAY
mr. Hastings spoke slowly. distinctly enecuNeH'
declaring that no fippant nor hleVeleht NCi" 49,
ever escape his lips when speaking OF MS la'ioI I"
Professor william NJ Paxton. formerly pastor VI "'0
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN Church of this city. but now pro
fcssor in the Princeton Theological seminary uViN'
a clear-cut incisve logical argument against '"V
mort He declared in the most solemn manner ''i"'
The Dible teaches the doctrine of election "ihoh ~
that God has predeStinaed some men ana ansci' nv
everlasting life. and foreordained O'he's !" .,
DEATH lie quoted Jude, Peter, Johh' I"' "''H w
Saviour to prove his statement, ana 'ie maui I,
which has been denied again and again IN tll' rieS
h,orv and elsewhere that Presbyterian ministers 10
a.v nreach the doctrine Of election. whether "'c' ~
tend IN do so or not that ministers ana eue'N a0
pray election and sing elecuoh' e.i
phiin scbaG. of the Union Theological ee'i'
nary, replied to Dr. Paxton Ill d"
of the Eplste TO the Romans.
NO GAG.LAw TO BE APPLIED.
DrR.F. sample pastor of the Westminster Church
Is the moderator of the Presbytcry piace ho' d,
ALL enviable as was shown in the discussion " IVsu
20 the rules which should govern the debate. AeF
he had offered brief prayer DR.. Hastings reau uo
report of the committee and began to speak III IaNo
of its adoption. Before proceeding Win His a's
he offered resolution readoptlng the rucs VIM"
prevailed at the November meeting wheh ue Nv,
from the General Assembly was first brought OelorV
movers of resolutions in answer 10 the overture So"u
he allowed fifteen minutes. while all O'her SPEAKERS
should be limited to ten minutes. NO oio Gum
,peak more than during the dlscuSSoh' cN.oP'
Nh technical matters that might arise ana lot 'oso
three minutes only would be allowed Wheh 'he TO"
was called for the taking Of the vote every ihcOo'
who had not taken part in The debate csuIu H"''
three minutes in which 10 explain ms VOTE
DR. Charles S Robinson. rose TO point OF order
10 asked II Dr. Hastings had right to Interrupt
himself 10 offer a notion The moderator ahs'A''eu
that it was wise to fix umclnit AT tAe Outset
Tn 10 this time no motion had been made 10 anopt INC
committees report but, 10 bring the matter DeIo'o
the Presbytery in proper FORM Henry Day. an eluo'
n the Fifth Avenue Church, made such motion
HAS THE PREsBYTERY VOTED LEGALLY'
Here a new element OF confusion was Introduced
-secretary Mclean Of the American Bible society
asked 10 have the stated clerk inform the Presbytery
how il stood in respect to the whole matter. lie
said , =, 49,,
Have we voted on the overtures submitted by the
General Assembly. something entirely different
II understand Alright in November d. Ccsoy moIcI
that we answer the first question Yes, ana poce'ur4
to tell what the second answer should b.. d. h'o'n
seconded his motion. and amended II by adGlhR soe'S
else to the second answer Dr. Hastings made motion
hat we should send an answer related TO something
never asked by the Assembly. His paper showed us'
he desired not the Confession touched but "aha
q new Creed II this be the case, contend that We
DR. S d. Alexander, the stated clerk, picked up
a copv OF Yesterdays Tribune which lay on his desk,
and said:
7 will tell YOU what action took To the question.
"Do you desire revision Of the Confession OF Faith we
replied Resolved this Presbvtorv answer the hr-
question in the Affirmative. understanding the "oTa
revision be used broadly compfehendlng any Con-
fessional changes
DR.. Mclean made no response to this, and d.
Hastings explained that he offered the resolution
fha del
might be under the same nlcs the other speaker
DR.. G.. W. +. Birch. of the Wills Avenue church sac
important matter was under discussion 10 limit the
speakers to ten minutes Docs II iqoh "isT' ne
fest against il in the interests of right Of order and
Of history" Dr. G. l.. shcarer of the American Irac
Mr. 9av moved to amend TIE rule, allowing fifteen
minutes TO the speaker this was subsequently dmehde
the Harlem Church. had entered his protest against
the shorter time II was also decided thai every
man who desired TO speak second unc 'ooIu h"Nc
ten minutes for that purpose -.- , A.,
The Rev. Edward VI. Deems, associate pastor OF the
Westminster Church. moved a rccnnsldciatl N Oh INC
vote taken in November in order 10 have the answer
"Ycs' substituted for the resolution a19pted InGni
The Rev d. G. Wyle, OF the Knox Church sccohdeu
the motion, but it was declared out Of order.
WHY THE Confession sHcTLD BIZ REVISED.
Dr. Hastings in his speech supporting the report
referred to the admirable spirit peTvadlnG AL inc
discussion of the Confession In all the PIcSoNUics
and religious papers. lie thought this movement
was of God, and reioccd that the Church was on
higher plane to-day than it was IN le3' when lhc
snnroversv attending the separation Of the dcnOmina
ion was personal, bitter shameful: A!taonsh the
prcsby terrain Church today rich in leaders, born
leaders none had appeared in the revision eeut
This he considered prOvidental matter
Reference was made TO the proposed REVISION Oh
the proof texts of the Confession which has been
committed to an able company, who Or. Hastings
fhought would be unable 10 find texts. for some oil
the statements in the Westminster standard
There has great progress IN biblical scholaSitp
shall this progress be tied to posi- 20 years
behind us1'
WHY THE CONFESSION SHOULD DE LET ALONE
Dr. Paxton said that he was reluctant to speak on
the question he did not expect to convert anybody
he spoke simply for self relief lie objected to the
revison of the Confession because OF the position
In which it is likely to place the Presbyterian Church
The question 10 be asked is "Whithcr3' The dog In
the baggage car that ate up ms Tag uu not h, Nv
rrnS did IMr.nm Oh II: