New-York tribune., 1890-05-23
ONLY ONE DISSENTING VOTE.
WONDERFUL UNANIMITY SHOWN IN THE
ASSEMBLY.

CONSERVATIVES AND RADICALS AGREE ON THE
METHODS FOR REVISING THE CONFESSION
THE RESULT COMPROMISE MADE IN
rHEINTERBsT OF PEACE AND UNITY.
Saratoga, Nav 22.-When President Patton rose
as chairman of the committee appointed 10 canvass
the answers to the Revision overture, to mead his
report he asked permission to allow DR.. w. II.
Roberts, the chairman of the Committee on Meth
DDS of Efecting Changes in the Confession OF
Faith and the Constitution of the Church, TO read
the report prepared by the enlarged committee.
DIR. Patton was a member of this committee also,
having been appointed after the long debate on
the former report presented by Dr. hoperts'
The revised report is as follows
Tho Committee on Methods Of Efectng Changes IN the
Confession Of and the Constitution OF the Church
respectfuy reports the General Assembly as follows
The committee was appointed by the General Assembly
q, 1887 was continued by the General Assemblies Of
and 1882 and enlarged BY the General Assembly o
1890.
Az now constituted the committee consists Of ministers
William H. Roberts James 7. Leftwich Everard Kemp
shall Henry j. Van Dyke. Francis l.. Patton, Robert
NJ Patterson Herrck Johnson; ruling eders-WhliaH
Strong Robert y. Wilson. George Junkin Henry D.
Saylcr and Henry Day.
bo committee has considered carefully the entire matter
AS preliminary to its recommendations;
l. That this Church has always emphasized doctEne
as being vital element in the body ecclesiastic and
that therefore alterations in the Confession OF
Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catcchism should be
made under greater restrictions than changes or aera
tons in the Form Of Government, the Book OF Discipline
and the Directory for Worship.
. That the provisions for the amendment or alteration
Of several Standards should be included within he
Form Of Government in definite terms.
In vew therefore Of these considerations, and also oi
the requirement Of the General Assembly (minute Of
1857 page s0) that this committee report what action
IL any. is in their judgment desirsble,"-
The committee recommends that the following overture
bo the Prcsbyteries for their action VIZ
l. Shall chapter added 70 the Form Of Government
making provision for the amendment and alteration OF the
COME sson OF Faith the Larger and Shorter Catechms
the Form Of Government the Book Of Discipline and the
Directory for Worship. and in the words following;
CHAPTER XXII1-oF AMENDMENTS
Section l. Amendments or alterations OF the Form o'
Government Of Discipline and Directory for Wor'hip
NAV proposed by the General Assembly to the Pfsby
teres but shall be obligatory the Church unless
majority OF all the Presbyteres approve thereof in writing
Sec. . Amendments alterations of the Confession
OF Faith and the and Shorter Caechsms may be
proposed the Pesbyteres by the General Assembly but
shall not be obligatory the Church unless they shall b.
approved in writing by twohirds OF all ue PresbyterieS
and agreed and enacted by the next ensuing General
Assembly and the written votes OF the Presbyeres snail
be returned to that Assembly
Sec 3. Before any amendments alterations Of tho
Confessions Faith. the Larger and Shorter Caechss
proposed by the General Assembly shall no Transmitted n
the Prcsbytcrcs. the General Assembly shall appoint 10
consider the subject q committee OF ministers and ruling
elders IN number not less fifteen. OF whom
than shall bo from one Synod, and the committee
shall report recommendations to the General Assembly
next ensuing for action.
Sec No alteration OF the provisions contained IN
this chapter for amending altering the Confession o
Faith and the Larger and shorter Catcchsms Of thi
Fourth Section shall bo made unless an overture from
the General Assembly, submitting the proposed alterations
shall be transmitted all the Prosbycries and he ap
proved In writing bv twothird Of their number and b.
agreed % and enacted by the General Assembly.
See. II shall be obligatory on the Geneial Assembly
10 transmit the PcsbytTes for approval dapproya
any overture respecting amendments alterations provide
for in this chapter which shall be submitted
General Assembly by oncthlrd q all the Prosbytcrlc
In the overture shall be formulated and trans
nt,cd by the General Assembly receiving the e
Prebytcrcs for their action subject a. to all subse
proceedings To the provisions Of the foregoing sec
tons.
Sec g. Whenever II shall appear TO the General Assem-
bly, that ans proposed amendments alterations of th
ro.m Of Government Of Discipline and Directory fo
Worship shall have received majority yote o. all th
Prcsbyteries the General Assembly shall declare sucl
amendments o. alterations to have been adopted. and IN
same shall Immediately 90 into effect.
Sec = Nothing in this chapter shall be so construo'
as to arcct the nights twohds Of the Frcsbytees
propose amendments alterations Of tho Confession
Faith and the Larger and Shorter Cacchisms or Of th
General Assembly 20 agree N ana enact the same.
| IL Shall Section 9. Chapter IL. Of the Form 0
| Government be stricken outl
Your committee would also recommend that the Pres
Your committee would also recommend that the Presby
tores be required directed 10 the overture
| a whole by a simple yea nay. and u report thci
answers 10 Stated Clerk IN time for the presentation
| the same 70 the next General Assembly.
EespectfuIly submitted In behalf the committee.
| WM II. ROBERTS. Chairman
| ROBERT y. WILSON,
HENRY j. VAN DYKE,
| I. J.. PATTON,
| Il. NJ. PATTERSON
HERRICK JOHNSON,
| GEORGE JUNKIN.
| HENRY Is. SAYLER,
HENRY DAY.
The other members Of the committee, eX-Judg'
William Strong and the Rev. DR.. Leftwich, wcr'
absent from Saratoga owing 70 sickness and othc
causes.