New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-05
REQUESTING A NEW CREED.
THE PRESBYTERY SENDS AN OVERTURE
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
1T rs NOT ENOUGH THAT THE WESTMINSTER
CONFESSION BE MISREPRESENTATION
REGARDING THE NEW STATEMENT.


REGARDING THE NEW STATEMENT
After twelve days Of earnest debate the Presbytey
Of New-York adjourned It's special session, In which
Creed revision has been thoroughly and exclusively
discussed in all It's features; IL single feature ~
mains untouched II Is fault OF the hundred men
who took part In the discussion. Two or three things
have been settled this week: The Presbytcry want,
two chapters Of the Westminster Confession Of Faith
revised, and two ii would like 10 modified n also
wants a new Greed. The first decision was made on
Monday; the second yesterday.
Professor c. A. Briggs moved the adoption Of that
part of the committees report which recommended
the Presbytery 10 overture the General Assembly "a
take the initial steps toward the preparation Of
new Creed.
DR.. T.. N. White, secretary Of the Board Of Church
Erection amended the report by throwing the recon-
mendation into the form Of overture TO the A.
sembly
Professor Philip schaa wanted to have the Assembly
invite the Alliance OF Reformed Churches throughoa
the world holding the Presbyterian System, populary
known as the Pan Presbyteria Alliance. TO cooperate
in formulating the proposed Greed.
DR.. Schah's amendment was lost. AT this point
Dr. John Hall TO ask what action had been taken
the section in the report referring to the Roman
Catholic Church and the Pope. DR.. c. L. Thompson
informed him that it had been adopted on Monday.
This seemed wholly impossible to DR.. Hall, who said
that he had watched with the greatest interest every
section that had been read and voted upon. Several
members agreed with DIR. Hall that they had not
heard the section in question read while Others were
equally positive that II had been adopted In the dis
cusSion which followed DR.. Hall ntmated that In the
protest be presented 10 the Pesbytery against the
report taken Monday he should feel justified in In
Guiding the sentiment that he and others did not hear
the section voted on.
1t was proposed TO cut of the last part Of the COM
mittees report, but the members who had voted for 10
came to its defence and 1t spared only three words
being stricken from the entire paper. DR.. ID. c. Wylie
OF the Knox Church, moved that slight change should
be made for the sake OF consistency, aud 1t adopted
DR.. Charles 5. Robinson has fought the revision
movement from the first, and he was consistent yes
erday. In his calm penetrating speech he said that
the language Of the report was Indefinite; what ne
wanted to know whether when the rev Greed
was formulated 1t to be returned TO the Pres
byteries for approval. TO be sent anywhere dnde
the heavens. lie told OF a controversy many yean
ago in the General Assembly between DIR. William
Adams and DR.. Herrick Johnson over matter some
what similar to the present one ana ser a 1 tes, a
word pastors" be substituted for the word " min
istcrs,' and the committee went of TO consider tie
change and that was the end OF all The agitation.
do wish the seminaries would stor trying To- rnn
the Church. added DR.. Robinson, in burst OF elo
quence. lie then referred TO his hrst speech On he
present report, when he pleaded with the brethren
till the YiecChanceor Knocked his tears
statement that missionaries in India find II diicub
to get the native Christians to understand the West
American ministers and elders found so much difficulty
in agreeing upon them. 80
After considerable difficulty in getting the minutes
Of the special session in form 10 suit all the mem
bers thanks returned 10 the Moderator for his
painstaking and impartallty during the debate
and TO the officers OF the scotch Church for allowing
the Presbytery 10 meet there. DR.. Wylte suggested
that the parting hymn be
'Best be the tic that binds"
rba e. yras adOnted HYMN started
by Dr. Wylie. Dr. Hall offered the closing prayer,
and the Presbytery adjourned until its regular meet
ing next Monday. The following Is the final action
Of the body in regard to the new Greed;
Furthermore as germane to the object which the A.
semby had in mind in referring these questions 70 the
Prebytere your recommends that this Presby
terry send to the Assembly the following. VIZ
The Presbytery OF NewYOr respectfully oNertures the
General Assembly invite the cooperation OF the Presoy
terrain and Reformed Churches OF America and OF Great
Britain and Ireland TO formulate and simple creed
couched may be in Scripture language, and con-
tanning all the essential and necessary articles Of ms
Westminster Confession which creed shall be submitted
for approval and adoption the common creed Of nc
Presbyterian and Reformed Churches.
We believe that there Is demand for such creeo
not as substitute for Confession but only 70 sum
Marie and supplement it for the work OF the Church
We would and we must retain Standards. which we
have family inheritance, and as the safeguard Of
our ministry and of our Institutions But brief and
comprehensive creed at Interpreting and representing
those Standards would be welcomed by churches "
most helpful and benecen for the exposition OF what We
have meant through all these years by "the system "a
doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures" We want no
new doctrines but only statement Of the old doctrines
made in light and the spirit OF present Christian
activities OF high privileges and OF large obga
tons-a statement which love Of God, which in
Christ our Lord shall be central and dominant
DR.. Robinson said that his protest mentioned %
Monday was not ready yet.