The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-20
A CHECK TO REVISION.
THE MINORITY SUCCEED IN BLOCKING
1T FOR THE PRESENT.

inrRed and the Report Referred Back,
With Instructions 60 Make Another Re
port to tho Saratoga Assembly.
SARATOGA. May 19.-As was foreshadowed on
Saturday, the anti-revision minority OF the
Presbyterian General Assembly succeeded to-
day in blocking revision, at least for a time.
This was done by referring the report OF the
Committee on the Methods Of Constitutional
and Confessional Changes back to its makers
with Instructions after their number has been
Increased by seven. to make another report
which shall embrace everything emanatng
from the assembly which is germane TO the
subject. Although the enlarged committee
ia instructed to report as soon MS possi
ble," tho intended object Of its creation
Is believed by some to be that 1t shall
not report at all. Those who take this
view. think the committee will take so
much time in making its revised report. that
no time will be left for its consideration and
the matter will accordingly go over until tho
next General Assembly. On the other hand it
Is said that the committee can prepare its re-
port In short order. SO that the delay will not
be long Even II consideration as to the
methods Of revision. which is all the report
deals with. could be postponed until
toward the end Of the conventions
the question as to what tho revision
should be. which is really tho burning
come up in one other. II not several other.
forms. Although DIR. Patton. Chairman of the
committee csnvassing the vote OF the prcsby-
teries In regard to revision. and practically two
OF his colleagues, giving them majority. are
anti revisionists they cannot stihe thor re-
port. even IL they should be so disposed as tho
assembly directed them TO have it ready 10y
Thursday. and DR.. Patton is acknowledged to
10 too fair a man to father anything than II fair
II A. II
will not down. 1t is sure to como before the
assembly in DR.. Patton's report. IL in no other
shape. Consequently. although the anti-re-
visionists have thus far practically succeeded
ir electing a Moderator who. although a re-
puted revisionlst, has ruled so far in their in
terests, and have in other ways succeeded in
controlling the convention the tail won't con-
tinue to wag the dog much longer. The major
ity has some rights which the minority is
bound To respect, and In due course OF time 1t
will assert them.
The motion to refer the report OF the Com
mittee on the Methods OF Constitutional and
Confessional Changes back to its makers was
offered by the Rev. Dr. Kempshall of Elizabeth.
n j.. one of the members Of the committee.
and was eagerly seconded by DR.. Patton. This
was done at the opening Of the General Assem-
ply this morning, when other business was be;
the revision question in any form. SO when
motion to lay Dr. kempshall's resolution on
When tho time came for, the consideration Of
on tho Methods, OF :, Revision back to
The &c committee the Rev Dr. Thompson
port to an enlarged committee as proposed in
the motion. There tS were two ways: he ADDED
One was to discuss it in open assembly: sec
ond and shorter way was to refer It to an en-
%o9d bo6 sides TRs last
would also be n the Interests OF peace and
IN fSn that fHyps tame H
right TO be beard IN behalf Of the report should
be given to the Chairman OF the committee
floor. He intenaed, he said. to speak directly
enter into the consderatiSn Of the comm mi Tee
when i formulated i. The Chairman Of the
colleagues ,AqthorItatlye Interpretation, Of
longed to the General Assembly it could re- re-
verse the part if it SO pleased; 1t was its right.
ing act of i7ss. Of which he said, only the last
half had been quoted. and false impression
In full:
The synod having fny considered the draft Of the
and and The as
row altered ara ams"ea as the G0nstsqtion Of the
be considered an iNricly oGseryed as ne rue OF
oog Aa Hey y Op e
a. now altered, be prHtSa in full along with it. as
matinx "a p4rilot the G.nst.u,on. 49,, -. 49,.
AMI ;" the a SnGa e Z e %s o Fn
Snow T'u91 ' is t" ""n.aus be our sOnstit4ion
Sna the % our Hh sRS nns1 ire
care Of is General Assembly shall propose alterations
shall be agreed to an enacted by Assembly
Or. finishing his quotation Dr. Roberts said:
tains no statement as to tho Confession ,of
Faith being aqoptedf Why because, tho
ASse1y wneh met tn in
catechsms. Anything afierward, therefore.
synod Of i120 Simply approved Of the Comics
slon Of Faith. hat Of l7sS ALT. altered the Con ION,
We now have 1t. and in 30 doing 1t exercised its
right of alteration and amendment Surely it
OF the same privilege Had It so done would
have been ready TO undertake what might be
called revolution 10y Somo."
In calling attention to tho mode prescribed
IN the adopting act for amendments of tho
constitution and confession. he said that
The General Assembly had always acted other
they maintained tie liberty which had been
given 10 them as heritage from their fathers;
fqP he said but T. smry 9STnG
act providing for, the making OF changes
inlthe Confession, of Faith. No ono values peace
ana UNITY more IMAM N'. i DelOnH 10 neither
the old nor the new school. but belong to the
church OF the future the united Presbyterian
Church, which hope to see ultimately cover
the continent. ] here plead with YOU to ree-
gate private opinion to the Catacomhs Of the
past. and render an authoritative decision on
this point"
In answering the argument that under the
proposed procedure the minority might sOme-
times be able TO rule the Church. DR.. Roberts
said: We ought to be lace aceHstomed to the rule
popular vote is concerned"
Yes, and We are going 70, get rid OF him."
said Gov. Beaver in an audible aside
In conclusion. DR.. Roberts said This re-
.,ort proposes 10 put the General Assembly in
he saddle SO that it will be impossible to have
iuy steps taken for revision unless tho Gem
oral Assembly sees ht,"
,ize the prefgured destination OF this report.
20 / rise merely to ask why the discussion
about It has been confined to speakers east OF
lie Ohio Why hasn't the West, with her great
generous heart, been heard 70 lift up. her
;oice? / therefore move that the considera-
non Of this resolution be nOstponed. 80 that