New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-20
PRESBYTERIANS AT WAR.
THE CONFLICT PROMISES TO BE A BLOOD:
LESS ONE.
CALvIN's FOLLOWERS TO DECIDE WHETHER
THEY SHALL LOWER THE BLUE FLAG
WILL A NEW CREED Bh
THE OUTCOME

|
For more than month the Presbyterians In this
city have been having rest from the Confession Of
Faith controversy. 1t Is that in the meantime
the learned professor OF Church history In the Union
| Theological Seminary has published an important
treatise history of Greed revision, and OF
the UNCONVENTIONAL papers has continued to hear from
this and that valued correspondent who holds the
true key" to the problem. but the rank and file Of
the army whom floats the blue standard OF the
Westminster dvines have been quietly enjoying their
holiday season, learning the lessons which Christmas
brings with it, observing the week Of prayer, and
continuing their church duties as though Calvin and
Augustine had never lived.
But now the conflict is on again, and the leaders
are marshalIng their forces for the opening skrmIs
this afternoon at p. BY vote OF the Presbytery
of New York daily meetings are to be held In the
lecture Of the scotch Church In West Fourteenth
1T. until vote is reached. That the seminary pro
fcssors may not any of the debate, the students
will have two Rotations daily instead Of three, and
these will both come in the forenoon. Already Pro-
fessors Hastings, Shedd, schaf and Briggs have been
heard in the discussion, and it is not unlikely that
one or more Of them will speak again.
AN EQUAL VOICE IN GOVERNMENT
This Presbytery is conceded by all to be the most
influential in the General Assembly, In iact' the
strongest in the United states, and many smaller
Presbyteries are waiting to see what New-iorh VIII
do Captlous critics intimate that the object Is 10
see how the leader goes that they may be on inc
winning side when the Assembly meets In saratoga
in May. But that this is an unfair charge Is 'p
parent to all who know that the weakest PreSDy~rJ
has an equal vote with the strongest on all ma'ers
relating to the government Of the Church. 30 lar
nearly fifty Presbyteries, little more than one'nith
pf the whole number, have voted on the overture
submitted by the last Assembly regarding changes IN
the Confession OF Faith. OF this number fully threc
quarters have voted to have revision ordered lho'c
who desire change are now trying to answer the
second question in the overture; " III So III "haS
respect and to what extent!' In November aftep
an animated debate lasting for several hours, TINS
answer was made to the Assembly's first question;
Do you desire revision Of the Confession OF fathf
Resolved That this Prcsbytery answer the first
ouestion in the affirmative, understanding the WORD
revision to be used broadly as compromising any
Confessional changes
Thi, resolution accompanied by another IN
which love for the Confession was mingled with ooIec
tions TO several sections in the third tenth, twenty
fourth and twenty fifth chapters and desire To nave
a consensus Greed prepared by the Presbyterian ana
Reformed Churches Of Great Britain ana America
In voting on the first resolution, several ministers
and elders explained that they voted in the ahrmatiVe
because they desired a Greed, and they under
stood ANY Confessional changes" to mean that;
Others who voted the same way, explained that they
were opposed to new Creed, but deslIed ie"
changes made in the one now in Use in nearly loooo
Presbyterian churches in this country. liard thss
against the Confession were said by those VINO by
their ordination VOWS had sincerely received ami
adopted II as containing the system OF doctrine Ufuss
in the Holy scriptures
CHANGES DESIRED IN THE Confession.
The second resolution and several papers speeches
and suggestions were submitted to Digestng Com
mittee with President Hastings as chairman. Last
month thi, committee submitted its report, which
has been printed and ordered 70 be discussed TINS
week beginning oday. The committee stated that
xtf-n q.
the changes which different minds desired ana 10
unite IN asking only such notifications as are
necessary to remove from Confession those state
ments which have proved TO be stumbling blocks 10
many honest believers while the majority OF inc
committee thought that other changes would be I'M
provements. The two changes suggested because
they are urgently needed and generally asked are
these
I've desire that the third chapter. after the first
section be 80 recast as to Include u9se oms11
only the sovereignty Of God In election, the general
love OF God for all mankind. the salvation Ia christ
Jesus provided for ALL and 10 be preached to every
We desire that the tenth chapter be 50 revised
not TO appear TO discriminate concern concerning ~
fantS dying IN infancy or - - 10 omit an rel.
oIv.oT ~ r''I1 ~ ertion Which makes il teach the
damnation Of all the heather, makes II deny that
.d ,v.d by christ through the spirit and who
deavor walk in penitence and humility accord,
ing 10 the measure OF light when "od has Deeh
While there are other points which the Presby.
terry would be glad to see modified chaneed-as
oon,picEotI~y chapter NNiv, section 3. and chapter
ANv section C-neverthecss We prefer 10 conine our
suggestions for revision 70 the tlId ana tehth 'ap
ter, above Indicated
The other points indicated in the report relate
to marriage and divorce. and the Roman Catholic
Church. These the sections:
st is lawful for all sorts Of people To marry
who are able with judgment 10 give tler consent !e'
il ], the duty Of Christians 20 marry Only IN the IoH
And therefore such "a, profess the true reformed ~
equally NOhcd. by marrying with such a, are
VIGOROUSLY wicked in their lie OF maintain damnaOle
6-Ihere &, no other head Of the Church but The
'rn,c he head thereof. but is that An,ichrst. that
man Of sin and son If pcidton, that eNaltet him>en
In the Church against Cnri, and all that Is called God
NEW CREED DEMANDED.
The committee recommend also that the PresbyterY
overture the General Assembly TO prepare the way
for a new creed. short and simple. couchcd 50 far
may he in scripture language. which shall contain all
the essential and necessary articles of the West
minister Confessions. ana >hhl be submitted iog ap
prevail and adoption tine common creed or inc
lresbyterans and Reformed churches OF the world
1t adds:
We believe that there , demand FOR snch
creed. not substitute for orr confession but
only to summarize and supplement- IL Tor the WORK
oi the Church. We would, and "c must retain oar
and a. the >afcguard of our ministry and oi our IN
-ttutlOn>. But brief and comprehensive creed, al
once Interpreting and representing those standard,
would be welcomed by our churches a. most helpiu
and beneiccnt Tor the exposition OF Mhdt We nave
meant through all these years by the system Of doc
trinc taught in the Holy scriptures" We want no
new doctrines but only statement Of the old doe
trnes made IN the light and IN the spirit of our
present Christian activities Of our high privileges
Of large ObligatiOn-a statement in which tho
love Of God which j. in Christ Jesus our Lord shall
be central and dominant.
II is this last paragraph that troubles most those
who are opposed 10 revision and those who desire -
moderate revision. What does the creed mean
VIII the old confession be shelvedl How far Will
the camel 20 when his nose his admitted VIII
proposed amendment of the standard begin at tho
title and dspacc all except that. The fear has been
considerably strengthened of late by article from
of the members of IhU committee in which ho