Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-20
How the Presbyterics Have Voted.

I1he Independent OF April lith.l
We are glad TO be able to lay before our
readers this week the returns from ma
iority of the presbvteries of the Presbyte-
rian Church on revision of the Confession
of Faith. Including the Presbytery or
Flint, in Michigan, which we suppose to
be "a new presbytery az we do not ind It IN
the Minutes of the General Assembly,"
there are 212 in all. We give the vote of
100. Four Others have either declined or
failed TO vote. SO that eighty-six presbyte-
ries are now to be heard from. The re-
turns Of the l22 show that they have voted
two TO one in favor of revision. As the
effect of not voting - really 10 vote against
revision, the four Presbyteries OF Albany
(Which desire new creed, Zacatecas,
Alaska, and Urumia must be added to the
negative vote, thus increasing it to forty
four. Forty-four Is one third of 1872, con-
seouentlv the affirmative vote is six short
of being two thirds.
But is a two-thirds vote necessary /?
Some contend that it il. Others say that
only majority OF all the presbyteries is
required. Section of the Form of Gov
eminent requires majority for alterations
in the constitution as follows:
"NI. Before any overtures or regulations
proposed by the Assembly to be establish
ed as constitutional rules shall be obliga-
tOTy on lLt buhli Dt utCcSSaIy
| to transmit them TO all the presbyteries,
and to receive the returns of at least ma
jority of them, in writing, approving
| thereof"
Tire is no other provision between the
| lids of THE Constitution of the Presby-
terrain Church relating TO this matter. 1t
is claimed. however, that any alteration in
the Confession OF Faith requires q two
thirds vote.
The General Assembly will determine the
question, and doubtless in accordance with
| precedent.
The presbyteries are not voting formally
to amend tho Confession. That question
has not been submitted to them. They are
simply expressing their. opinion. in re-
Spouse to request of the General Assem-
bly,, as TO whether il is desirable to amend
| the Confession and as TO the extent to
which revision should go. The result of
| the present vote, whatever il NAV be. will
not change q single chapter in the Con-
fession OF Faith. That must be done,
if at all. by another overture sub
mitted by the General Assembly. Thepres-
| ent vote OF the presbyteries is of special
value as indicating their desire respecting
revision. Whether two thirds Of them will
ask for revision no one can positively pre-
dict. Eighty-slx presbyteries are vet TO be
! heard from. Ii sixty of these vote for re-
| vision there will be q two-thirds vote. The
returns which came in this week were from
fifty-two presbyteries. OF these thirty
seven voted afirmatively and fifteen mega
lively. Ii the remaining presbytaries vote
in the same ratio We shall have the sixty
votes needed to make up the two thirds.
But of tho. presbyteries to be heard from d
dozen ere in foreign lands, and II Is doubt
full il many of them go for revision.
One thing IS clear. whatever may be the
decision as 70 the question of a majority
or two snras iha ~ the presbyterian Church
satisfied with its Standards as thev are n
desires that its Confession be Amended
Something must be done. Eracfiv maj
will DO done is not clear. Il NAV ha revi
zion; It may be short new cree3 Soore,
or later It viii be one or the other.