The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-12
PRESBYTERY Votes Yes.
Pastor Hathaway's Substi-
tute In Favor Of ReVis-
ion Accepted.
SPEECHES OF THE MINISTER'S.
Some Of Them Were Unusually
Able---The Vote and the
Text Of the Presby-
tery's Answer.


overtures handed down by the General
Assembly, asking il revision of the
Westminster Confession Of Faith was de-
sired. and before adjourning adopted the
Rev. Mr.. Hathaway's substitute for the
adverse report Of the committee by vote
of "a TO IA. The substitute favors revi-
sion, and is as follows
To the first question in the overture Of the Cen
eral Assembly (see minutes of 1889, p. 70)-"Do
you desire revision Of the Confession of
Faithsn-the Presbytery Of Jersey City answers.
To the second question-''If so in what re-
spect, and to what extent!'' the Presbyt cry
makes the following reply
We desre.-
L That the system Of doctrine as contained in
integrity.
II. That the Confession be made to contain a
definite and full expression OF the love of God
for all mankind and of the salvation in Jesus
Christ provided for all, and to be preached to
every creature
Ill That certain forms of statement, particu-
larly in the third and tenth chapters. which con-
vey, or are understood by many TO convey, erron-
eous and unscriptural implications, be changed
stricken out.
We prefer, however that the extent and def
mite form OF these changes to be submitted to
the. Presbyteries for constitutional ratification
shall be left to the wisdom of such large and
& representative committee as the General Assem-
bly, shall appoint.
this question we respectfully, but most earnestly,
overture the General Assembly to invite the CO.
operation of all other Presbyterian and Re
formed Churches in the world, to formulate
short, simple and devotional creed, containing
all the essential and necessary articles of our
system Of doctrine, in which the love OF God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, shall be cen
tral and dominant, and whichlshaH commend it.
self to every mans conscience in the sight Of
God. This creed shall b3 submitted for approval
aud adoption as the common creed Of the Pres
byterian and Reformed Churches of the world.
THE FINAL STRUGGLE.
An unsuccessful effort was made to
table the substitute, and some sharp par
liamentary tactics were resorted to on
both Sides The roll was called for the
vote on the first point in the substitute,
and the ministers recorded themselves as
follows
For Revision = Ministers = E. A. Buckley,
Rutherford;J J. G. Egbert, West Hoboken; A. Nc
shaw Paterson; e. ssiuter, ter 80 Carlyle, 8. A.
Kingsdale, A. E. Wanderer, Paterson; L.
Rynasky, Carlstadt; w Hathaway, Jersey City;
fly. Elders-G. Hoster, w. Nelson, 7. Cum
mings J johnson. J. Neafiie, j. Weyman, W.
German, E; ". Ketchum, J. A Bell, NJ. Feisch-
Against Revision Ministers: F. Leyans Pas
sale; E. Mitchell, Jersey City; J. B. Kuegler,
: .Hoboken; D. vermiiyea Hackensack; H M
Hanle, Passaic; 6. R. Garretson, Jersey City; J..
B. Galloway. Paterson; 7. B. Haskell, Ruther-
II. " H.
J. Haring, H. Jones.
A rising vote was taken and carried on
the adoption of the substitute as whole.
Moderator f. E. Miller, who has pre-
sided over the TWO meetings during the
discussion with a degree of ability that
led both revisionists and non-revisionists
to look forward to his vote with much
interest, said, in the five minutes al
lowed him and all others to explain his
vote, that he was panied to have heard
some of the expressions given utterance
to by those opposed to the present Con-
fession. He recorded his vote as against
revision.
DIR. MITCHELL OPPOSED.
The Rev. DR.. Mitchell. of the Scotch
Presbyterian Church, was the first to
obtain the floor yesterday. The doctor
seemed to be in favor neither of defin-
ition nor OF revision. but wanted a de-
claratory act passed by the General As
sembly containing number of articles
that might be required for subscription
by office bear rers.
II would have this prepared by the
next General Assembly and sent down to
might be reached in 1891. / have faith in
our church to bring out Declaratory
Act that would be her own and worthy
of herself.
But to get at the proper idea of the
thing, :, urged the Doctor. Il would refer
byterian Church of Scotland and the new
confession of the Presbyterian Church of
England as examples Of what am aim
ing at. The old Confession has its place
in the very question for ordination.
DO you acknowledge the Westminster
Confession of Faith and the Larger and
Shorter Catechisms as an exhibition of
the sense in which you hold the Scrip
lures?
1T would be the true preparation for
that millennial concensus of opinion
which each brother fondly anticipates
when there will be one creed for all the
churches.
The Doctor thought that Not stone
should be left unturned to give an hon
ored place to our Confession of Faith 1t
is easy to throw epithets at it, but we
should not forget its history. 1t has been
accepted during the last two centuries
and a half as the symbol of our ehurcn
1t has given us a distinctive theology that
has not been opposed to progress. We
have felt that ii there be deep things in it
that are hard to be understood SO there
are in Scripture, and so there are in
science, in everyday life and in nature.
1t has never put the brakes on learning
or progress. So far as we can see, excep-
tion is being taken to certain number
OF passages. How many alterations may
be brought before the Assembly, who can
tell? By the time the Confession is thus
dealt with from so many quarters who
will recognize this old historic standard?
Once begin with such changes the revIs-
ion would call for other revisions, till at
length the entire fabric shall have dis
appeared or be seriously altered from the
original" +"
NO SPLIT FEARED.
/, The Doctor, however, gave no credence
4 to the thought that revision would cause
split in the church. Three-fourths of
all the Presbyteries had declared In favor
of revision.
The Rev. Mr.. Hanle, of Passaic, also
took the stand against revision. sit was
no time" he said, 'for the trumpet to
give an uncertain sound. There was no
need or desire for further definition The
ministers understood the Confession.
The barbarians outside the Presbyterian
Church understood it, The reasons
given by the committee against revision
We're enough TO consign the substitute to
oblivion.
NO FOOT VOTE WANTED.
DIR. Carlyle of Paterson spoke in favor
of the Revision. He had somewhat
changed his mind since the discussion
began 'The Confession of Faith,n he
said, lis not infallible. I am opposed to
declaratory act or a foot vote. We
want this verbiage which has grown in
the last 200 years eliminated. 1t will re-
move all those expressions which call for
80 many explanations"
DR.. Kuegler, Of Hoboken, defended the