Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-18
ESPECIAL TrLEeRAN TO THE DrsPArcH.I

SARATOGA, May 1.-THE first half hour
ofthe morning session of the Presbyterian
General Assembly was devoted to religious
exercises. In anticipation of the exciting
discussion which will take place of ques-
tions involving the absorbing subject Of re-
vision great congregation gathered. The
Christian greetings of the Assembly were
voted to be sent to the Southern Church
and to the United Church.
The committee on the revision Of proof
texts and Of the larger catechism made re-
port that they had nearly completed the re-
vision of the confession Of faith. With the
revision Of the creed itself they had nothing
to do. They reported progress, asked for
the continuance of the committee and will
make a full and final report to the next
General Assembly.
THE WORK OF RELIEF,
The report of the Committee on Minister
al Relief was read by Rev. DR.. Van Dyke.
It's statement of facts awakened much sym
pathy. There are 642 families on the relief
roll. The contributions and distributions for
their support last year were sos, 369, fall
ing Of of $1,000 from the funds devoted to
this purpose the previous year. The report
having been read. the Rev. DIR. NJ. c. Cot
tel, Of Philadelphia, presented ct length TO
the Assembly the claims OF veteran INDECENT
and infrm ministers aud their families
upon the generosity OF the Church.
- THE Presbyterian Church." he said,
"does not raise enough money TO give a de-
cent support TO the needy and deserving de-
pendents upon her bounty" and he related
many touching instances Of the patient suf-
fering OF destitute and dependent pension
ers. Three thousand five hundred churches
made no contributions TO this cause last
year One hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars for ministerial relief was asked for and
pledged by resolution, and every church
called upon to contribute 10 this fund.
THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR
The discussion Of the report OF the Com
mittee on Methods Of Revision, continued
rs the special order from yesterday, was re-
sumed. Yesterday it was agreed that DR..
Howaard Crosby, to be followed by DR..
Robert M. Patterson, begin the discussion.
DR.. Howard Crosby was greeted with ap-
plause. He said, in part: 1.-THE report of
your Committee on the Methods of Re
vision brings before us just two questions,
namely, Can the constitution OF the Pres
byterian Church and its Confession of Faith
be amended, and if SO, how?' All consti-
tutions aud all fundamental laws can be
amended. To say they cannot is simply to
give utterance to a nondescript absurdity.
There is no arbitrary power over us that
binds our intelligence and makes it impos-
sible for us TO move"
DIR. Patterson declared and quoted from
the discipline passages to prove that the
General Assembly has legislative authority.
Under the ten-minute rule Governor Beaver,
supplementing his one leg with a crutch,
took the platform and argued against the
adoption of the report of its committee on
methods of revision. He said: 81 am in
perfect sympathy with the object to be OBJ
tained by the overture, and yet cannot
vote for it. / do not believe that the adopt
ing act binds this Assembly or any Assem-
bly, hard and fast. This overture should be
recommitted to the committee and be so
amended as that all danger shall be elm
mated from il. ;"
AN OPPOSING OPINION.
The next speaker, the Rev. DR.. Hovt.
said: This report, il is claimed, is in
tended to make revision easier, but think
revision ought not be made easier. The age
in which we live is too apt to make changes
easy. Shall il be made easier to change the
confession of faith than II is to amend the
Constitution of the United States, which
requires three-togrths of the States to ratiiy.
while we require only two-thirds of the
Presbyteries. If we adopt this report, then
there will be no end of the changes that will
be made in the future. Adopt this report
and the Presbyterian Church will be
launched upoB sea Of troubles Let us go
slowly II is not matter Of life aud death
that this report should he adopted row. Let
ne be cautious how we put 6uf hand upon
the ark which contains the faith and form Of
this great church founded by the inspired
wisdom Of OUT fatheis,'
With the suggestions Of some amend
meHts Judge Hand, Of BihghamteH, moved
that the report be feeemmittsd 10 the com
inillee, This was surprise and caused
eeHiusi6n, The enemies OF the report, see
ing their advantage, were prompt 10 second
ihe motion aud TO call Tor the question, As
q vote was about 10 be taken, ID was diseeV-
cred that the hour of adjournment had ar
rived aud, the Moderator's attention being
called TO the Isot, he declared the assembly
adjourned until Monday morning.