Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-25
ESPECIAL rELroRAM TO rHE DISPATCH. /,

ESPECIAL TELEoRAk TO THK DIsPATCH.1
SARATOGA, n. Y, May 24-The revision
battle is lost and won. 1t has been won by
the revisionists, but their triumph is shorn
to great degree of the fruits of victory.
They have achieved their object in securing
revision, but thev have secured it under re-
strictions which in some respects pullifes
this result.
The Committee on Revision whose ap-
pointment is secured is limited to lines
which curtail changes greatly desired by
the ultra revisionists, but not by all.
"Thus far shall you go and no farther,
says the anti-revisionists, and their die
- tum is embalmed in the very act which au-
thoriEes changes in the Confession of Faith,
as on to-day the time occupied by the busi-
ness which took precedence of the all-ab-
sorbing topic was manitestly grudged by
the Assembly, although in this case an ad-
dress BY the venerable DR.. McCosh on
subject ordinarily had at heart, formed part
OF the preliminary proceedings.
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE SPEAKS.
There was q palpable expression of relief
when these were concluded, and the Rev.
DR.. Erskine, Chairman of the Committee
of Seven, to which had been confded the
three propositions of Prot. McCracken, DR..
Patten and Elder Day, in respect to the ap-
pointment of a revision committee, mounted
the platform. After announcing the pleas
ure it gave him to present the report the
committee had prepared, he sketched the
process of its preparation. Each member of
the committee, he said, first made out
statement OF his individual views, which he
submitted to tn. rest. After mutually
considering these several statements, the
nr11tf nrnTa rad 10 T1TOrN f1nn
of Drs. McCracken and Patton, and Elder
Day section by section.
After thorough comparison they con-
side~ed the alterations and eliminations
proposed and finally came to an unanimous
agreement as to every section of the report
he was about to present. He hoped the
General Assembly would be equally
unanimous and adopt it without dissent
ing voice. DR.. Erskine then read the re-
port, which is as follows:
THE RESOLUTIONS AS ADOPTED.
Resolved First That a committee composed
of one member of the Assembly from each
Synod. to-w1t: 19 ministers and 10 elders be ap-
pointed by the Moderator to nominate to this
Assembly committee consisting OF Is minis
tiers and 10 elders, which shall be called The
Assembly's Committee on the Revision of the
Confession Of Faith - which committee, when
constituted by the General Assembly shall
consider the suggestions made by the Presby-
teries IN their answers to the second of the
above questions and formulate and report to
the General Assembly of 1891, such alterations
and amendments to the Confession of Faith,
as in their judgment may be deemed desirable.
Second-ThIs Committee on Revision shall
meet at the call of a temporary chairman. to
be named by the Moderator, and shall, upon
meeting, appoint their own permanent chair
man, and shall have power to NIL vacancies.
Third-This committee is instructed to meet
at an early date. not later than October 81, 1890
ana diligently pursue its work, that it may
promptly report at the meeting of the General
Assembly of 1881.
Resolved, That this Committee on Revision
be and hereby are instructed that they shall
not propose any alterations or amendments
that will in any way impair the integrity of the
Reformed or Calv1nistic system of doctrine
taught in the Confession of Faith
THE ASSEMBLY BECOMES EXCITED.
The report was received with applause.
which was repeated when DR.. McCracken
saiG:
Il heartily move to accept and adopt the re-
port, and Join DR.. Erskine in the hope that it
will be carried unanimously" Cries of 'ques-
tion" were Immediately raised Without heed
ing them DR.. Erskine said I'm answer to our
prayers l believe the Divine guidance has |
been Vouchsafed to this Assembly in bringing |
us to a unanimous conclusion, or one nearly |
unanimous, as to the questions which have |
been brought before it. As, you see
by this report, while we took heed as |
TO the suggestions in the propositions 1
under consideration we have proposed
NO further instructions &c the Revision
Committee in addition TO those offered in 1he |
answers of the Presby teries than those con-
tanned in the last paragraph of the report. This
contains the only instruction to the committee
which the Assembly rs asked to adopt / hope
we will all unite in the adoption of this ICries
of question: When we do the answer will go
forth to the world that the Presbyterian
Church has not renounced the system of doc
trine which it has held from the beginning
IApplause mingled with cries ofquestion.r
A MINISTER BEATS A RETREAT.
'I move you, sir, the question be now
taken" formally said one delegate. Before
it was seconded the Rev. DR.. Booth arose to
q question Of privilege, aud the Rev. Will
lam Brenton Green, Jr., Of Philadelphia
mounted the platform to make speech.
He was assailed by such a storm of demands
for vote that ter looking doubtfully at
the shouting delegates he beat retreat.
DIR. Booth had sat down by this time and
the Moderator now put the adoption o. the
report to vote. The vote was standing Que,
SO Dr. Booth did not remain seated long.
He was almost the first 10 rise when the yeas
were called for. Everybody else except
perhaps DIR. Patterson, arose with him, and
as DIR. Patterson kept his seat when the
nays were demanded. There were no votes
in The negative. The "Doxology" was now
sung and Moderator Moore gave thanks Tor
the unanimity that continued to mark the
pTOceeOluss'
THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
The Moderator announced the following
committee, which will nominate the actual
Comm ttee o. Revision: Fl. Hambleton Hun
ter, Synod OF Atlantic; BENZ. f. BIttinger,
Baltlmcrp; William A. Alex anter, Cata-
waba; Frank V. Mills, China; RoCert
Douglass. Colorado; Curtis c. Strong, Col
umbia; William G. Roberts (TeB pordry
Chairman), DlInoIs; Thomas Tracy, In liza;
Henry b. Sayler, Indiana; john Edwards,
Indian Territory; William G. Donnan.
Iowa; Lewis ]. Drake, Kansas; James
Barbour, Kentucky; John T. Oxtoby,
Michigan; Daniel L. Moves, Minn,-
sofa; Frank j. Baird, Missouri; Samu,l
p. Davidson, Nebraska; Nathaniel W
Voorhees,, New JERSEY; Samuel d. Fultou
New Mexico; George Alexander, New
York; James NJ. Anderson, North Dakots;
Dane II. Evans, OHIO; Henry B. Gage,
Pacific; Ebenezer Erskine, Pennsylvania;
Elliott L. Dresser, South Dakota; Samuei
T. Wilson, Tennessee; Henry s. Little.
Texas; I. Werner Moore, Utah; Everett c.
Eastman, Wisconsin. The committee at
once went into session.
The Committee on Bills and Ove-tures
reported in favor of a consensus creed,
which was unanimously adopted. The As
sembIy then adjourned until Monday morn
ing.