New-York tribune., 1890-05-23


TO THE REVISION OVERTURE
-uow SHALL THE CON.
M1rrEE on REVISION
BE APPoINTEDi
rraoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE:
Saratoga. MAY 2o-That a revision of the West
minister Standards is soon to take place has Decn
apparent for some time TO those counted most
conservative in the Presbyterian Church. when
the returns from the presbyteries were published
during the winter it was evident thai a large ma
ortv Of the presbyteries were not satisfied with
every statement in the present Confession. Inc
official returns, as tabulated by the Assemblys
Committee on Canvass and presented here TO-
day. show that 1873 of the 2l3 presbyteries wish
a change. and the question now before the AS
sembly is: How shall this desire be gratlfied?
The morning session of the Assembly was hlled
with interesting topics and greater interest is
promised for tomorrow. The committee appointed
to outline method Of efecting changes IN the
Confession and the Constitution reported again
this morning, and its paper was adopted WIN
only one dissenting voice. Dr. White, Of Summit
~ j. voted against it and resisted the aPpcaAS
of Mr. Day, of DR.. Halls church, who deslred 10
have the action of the Assembly unlt Oh 'hi'
matter. which DR.. Patton considers Of greater
81 revision itself. Dr. Patton, Mr.. Junkln' MI
Day and others who opposed the report last Sat
urday. as well as DR.. Van Dyke and others VINO
lsxorcd it, were added TO the committee anu
4aets considerable discussion the result was a
paper@ which every member was prepared 10 de-
feSfS hbut no defence was necessary TO-DAY III
Roberts, the stated clerk explained prlehS why
certain changes were, and asked the Assembly
TO adopt it, DR.. Patton expressed the same de-
sire. as did also DR.. Van Dyke. Each speaker
was applauded as be spoke for the
adoption of the report in the interest
Of peace and unity of the Church. There
were loud calls for the question as Dr. Van Dyke
took his seat, and only note of disapprovaf
was heard.
Will DR.. Crosby lead us in prayer Of thanks
giving? ?" said the Moderator.
Following the prayer came DR.. Patton's report
on the answers to the revision overture ii any
one felt last week that the Moderator had piaced
revision in the hands of its enemies, he nusu
have felt inclined 10 apologize to the pIesideh.
of Princeton when he heard the presentation OF
facts submitted by the chairman. The church
was crowded this morning in the body OF thc
house. On the platform, in the pulpit ana III
camp stools down every aisle sat leading frespS-
terians from every part of the country whose chel
interest in the Assembly centred IN the report
report? If so, it would doubtless be made by the
members of the committee representing the
majority in the Assembly Would DR.. Patton
force his well-known conservative view upon the
Assembly under the cover of this report? The
galleries were crowded, but the Moderator needed
no cavel to command order. The speaker and his
subject were each sufficient for this purpose
For moment DR.. Patton remained silent after
being recognized by the Moderator, and then he
began to read from the dozen sheets of notepaper
held firmly in one hand. Now and then slight
gesture emphasized an additional table IN which
the answers had been arranged, or new point
brought forward. The report was colorless
throughout. simply recital of facts, closing with
the modest recommendation that the revision
question be placed in the hands of committee
Dr. MacCracken alone dissented from the re-
port. and then only in minor matter that in no
wise affected the result. One Presbytery (Al
bany) reported that it declined TO vote on the
overture and vet il sent an overture TO the As
sembly as a part of its answer, asking for new
creed to be used with the old one. The commit
tee decided that Albany had declined to vote, and
stated that IL desired new creed. Dr. Mac
Cracken held that the expressed desire for a new
creed entitled il to be placed in the column with
those that asked for revision The Presbytery
of Sacramento voted against revision and yet
sent an overture asking that the word elect
should he dropped before " infants in the much
discussed phrase elect infants dying in infancy.
The committee decided that Sacramento voted
in the negative, and DR.. MacCracken held an OPP
posite view from his brethren on the committee.
Several commissioners objected because their
presbyterics were not placed in the column head
cd Those who object II any change that impars
the essential doctrinal articles of the Confession
Dr. Van Dyke, of Brooklyn was among the num-
ber Dr. Van Dyke is annoyed by the published
statement that he is radical rcvsionist; he in
sists that he is a conservative revisionist, and
has been from the first.
Unless otherwise ordered the Moderator will
appoint the committee entrusted with revision,
should Dr. Patton's report be adopted. But the
resolutions presented by DR.. MacCracken and DR..
Day show that there are those who desire 10 re-
lievc the Moderator Of the tremendous response
bility Of naming the men who shall prepare the
revised Confession 70 be submitted to the Prcsby
teries. Dr. MacCrackcn would have the synod
nominate eighty-four men from whom the Mod
orator may select fourteen ministers and seven
elders. Mr. Day would have the Moderator ap-
point five ministers and five elders TO nominate a
revision committee consisting of fifteen ministers
and ten elders. His resolution makes DR.. Moore
ex-oNicio a member Of both committees.
Among the prominent visitors to the Assembly
this week have been Principal Edwards, the
Welsh scholar who publicly received by the
Moderator this morning.
NOT SATISFIED WITH THE NICENE CREED