The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-18
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.
THE DEBA1E ON THE MODE OF RE-
VISION CONTINUED.
DR.. Crosby Warmly Favors the Committees
HepOrt-Dr. Patterson, Gen. Beaver. and
Others Oppose II US Revolutionary.

HepOrt-Dr. Patterson, Gen. HEAVIER, and
Others Oppose ~ US Revolutionary.
SARATOGA. Nav 1.-THE first half hour OF tho
morning session OF the Presbyterian General
Assembly to-day was devoted to religious exor-
cises led by the Moderator. and were engaged In
with much forvor. In anticipation OF the ex-
citing discussion which would take place OF
questions involving the absorbing subject OF re-
vision great congregation gathered. The
Chrstian greetings OF the bly, were voted
10 be sent to the Southern Church and to the
United Church.
The Committee on the Revision OF Proof
Texts and OF the Larger Catechlsm 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
final report to the next General Assembly.
The report OF tho Committee on Ministerial
Relief was read by the Rev. Dr. Van Dyke. Its
statement OF facts awakened much sympathy.
There are 642 families on tho relief roll. Tho
contributions and distributions for their sup
port last year were slO53G9. a falling of Of
$4,000 from the funds devoted to this purpose
the previous year.
The report having been read. the Rev. Dr.
W. G. Cottel OF Philadelphia presented ut length
to the Assembly the claims OF veteran INDECENT
and inflrm ministers and their families upon
the generosity OF the Church. The Presby-
terian Church" he said. does not raise enough
| money to give decent support to the needy
and deserving dependents upon her bounty"
and he related many touching instances of the
patient suffering of destitute and dependent
pensioners Three Thousand five hundred
| churches made no contributions to this cause
| last year.
| Elder William T. Dodge followed and urged
80
listers, ministers widows. and their families
upon the especial attention OF the elders in the
Assembly and in the Church. And beg the
elders who are here" said Mr.. Dodge. ito go
home feeling that this is their special and
charming duty"
One hundred and fifty thousand dollars for
ministerial relief was asked for and pledged
by resolution. and every church called upon to
contribute to this fund.
The discussion of the report OF the Commit
tee on Methods of Revision continued as the
special order from yesterday was resumed.
Yesterday it was agreed that DR.. Howard
Crosby, to be followed by DR.. Robert NJ. Pat.
terson. begin the discussion to-day. 1t was
moved that after they had spoken other
speakers be limited to ten minutes.
Il move" said u Commissioner. that the |
ten-minute rule take effect Immediately"
Amid cries of No and Yes" tn. amend
ment was declared lost and the original mo- |
ton carried
TIE DEBATE on REVISION.
DR.. Howard Crosby WAS greeted with ap- |
plause. He said: The report of your COM
mittee on the methods of revision brings before
us Just two questions namely, Can the consti- |
tuition of the Presbyterian Church and Its Con-
fession OF Faith be amended and il so. how" |
All constitutions and all fundamental laws can |
be amended. To say they cannot is simply to
give utterance to nondescript absurdity.
Section Of chapter II Of the digest of the dis
cipline makes provision for this very purpose.
The adopting act is simply constitutional
rule, and therefore hold that as an assembly,
according to constitutional rule. we have the
right to alter and amend. Being simple con-
stitutional rule IT is not even as binding as tho
constitution Itself. 1t is preposterous folly
an Ollympan, god that cannot be moved
or ds,nrIed As an Assembly, we
have anythns 10 PROPOSE It Is Only thus thst
any change III Church standards can ever be
ask Of them that they Shall propose to ns. The
adoption or ;eJeetion OF this Leport should not
lou upon the question OF revision. which Is tho
main question. Let US ADOPT this report and
and tendency OF the Church. The Church is
not t RdI making d S9ntrart with one another
70 nn4 a
action. There is no arbitrary power over us
that oinds our Intelligence and makes it im-
DR.. Patterson followed. saying: Il am not
influenced hSa % on thS question by any views
prove that the General Assembly has egs-
said lies as the bnss OF this report. very well.
propose to oller amendments that will make
and therein is embodied tho
force and m Eb OF what shall say this
rainn ls'I q MI md |
l. not the enacting, power Legislative power7
Precedents show that even when two thirds OF
General Assembly instead OF ratfying. has re-
!ected and by Indefinite rostponement an
show that where the reslyteries only adopted
Assembly refused to ratiiy the I'VE, and mise sent nj
he whole subject back to the rresbyteries."
Was 1tnot because OF some irreEularity?" 9
mo" SHOUTED DR.. Patterson, and he called {
lpon the Moderator to sustain his declaration f
oral Assembly cannot make any change in the 6
onstuom TIE oa FSnoft is pEGn%sed de;
would threaten the stability Of the Church, II J
Soss0o for a Of = he S GSreh to champs
h d, creed. the Book Of Disgpine and tho n
9ossbe that wo.th2ds Of the @'G pfesbyteres
gritty Of this great body. TO take away from
eject makes it possible for one-third Of
ne pretsbbyieres to rey9lqlGnze tho Church.
nore readily thHp the form of government. II
beiore this Assembly adopts this report il that n
$ It's purpose let mo caution you OF its danger o
ma I OF its GuoyeIsIQn OF lresDytorian princi-
, les stLlke out the dangerous. features ana y
ave yourselves and tho Church from the evils v
'o9slDle II II De adopted as II now reads" "
nder the ton minute rllIo GOV. Beaver. sup L
,IementlnR his one leg with II crutch. took tile n
platform anu argued against the adoption of H.
he repor! Of tln Commltteo on Methods OF Re- O
sion. lie said - 'o IT
" am in perfect sympathy with the object to a.
10 attained py the overture. and yet ! cannot &c
ote LOT u. 40 not believe that the adopting m
ct binds this Assembly or any Assembly hard
nd fast; The right to control and shape the
oiiloy q Tb hhe nufch must rerose In the ma;
g tho committe9 and he 80 amended as that In
The next speaker, The Rev. DR., Hoyt. said: ie
TWAS once said TO Napoleon. when he had al
emarked that certain historic act was re- In
ellion, No, sire; It e revolution This re- -
r and the effort ior its adopion is both re- NJ
,hich eonfronts US to day, This report, il is