Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-05-18
WHAT OF REVISION?
THE QUESTION THAT AGIFATES THE GREAT
ASSEMBLY.
Interesting Discussion on the Methods Of Change
Yestsrday-RepOrts Of OOmmittees-Ths
Work ofRelief for INDECENT Min
iSterS-Southern Assembly.

SARATOGA, y. y, May 17-At this morn
ing's session of the Presbyterian Genera
Assembly, after devotional exercises led by
the Moderator, and the reading of the re
port of the Committee on Bills and Over
lures. the greetings Of the Assembly wert
sent TO the Assemblies of the Southern
Presbyterians. the Cumberland Presbyter
ians and the United Presbyterians Rev
j. Il. Smith, ID. D., reported for the Com
mittee on the Revision of the Text of the
Confession Of Faith and Catechisms, that
they had completed their work on the Con
fession and asked to be continued for that
on the catechiSm, which was done.
The Board of Relief for Disabled Minis
ters and the Widows and Orphans of De-
ceased Ministers presented its thirty-tifth
annual report The number of beneficiaries
on the roll is 62l-24l ministers. 35S widows,
a families of orphans, with one widow OF
a medical missionary At the Ministers
Home at Perth AmbOy, n. j., IS families
were cared for, making total of 642 fami-
lies-21 more than last year. Forty-four
persons on the roll have died, and - fami-
lies have been added tOit.
\ NUMBER OF LEGACIEs,
aggregating $SO.024, have added so much to
the funds Of the Board that no special ap-
peal TO the churches was needed. This is
given according TO a rule adopted by the
last Assembly, providing shat every hon
Orably retired minister over 20 years old,
who has served as missionary or pastor
not less than 20 years, shall be entitled 10
receive not more than $500 year without
an annual recommendation from his Pres
bytery, as heretofore.
The oldest minister aided is in his 9th
year: the average age is as, and the average
time in service is 40 years. Twenty-siX
veterans received s., $50, just three-fourths
the amount given each of the Judges of the
Supreme Court when retired at the age OF
20. The income of the Board from all
sources was Sl59, ,245 and the expenditure
Sl43, ,9S2 for the same period, leaving a
balance of S15, ,263 \ resolution was adopt
cd urging the churches to raise not less
than Sl50,0O0, and the ruling elders were
exOrted TO see that this was done
REVISION OR No REVISION.
In taking up the report of the Committee
on Methods, making changes in the Con-
feSSion and constitution, it was voted that
after the speeches of Drs Crosby and Pat
terson, speeches should be limited to ten
minutes DR. Crosby said there were two
questions: Can our Constitution be amend
ed, and if so. how. Is the adoption act a
high Olympian god that cannot be touched :
We have only two utterances that are ger
mane-the adoption act and that clause Of
the discipline that says that amendments to
the discipline and doctrines must be pro
posed by Presbyteries and endorsed by
them. But the constitutional rules and the
adoption act is nothing else, can be amend
ed by majority. 1t is therefore lower
thing than the constitution, it is mere
constitutional rule.
DIR. PATTERsON'S REPLY.
The Rev. r. NJ. Patterson, of Philadel-
phia, said he was not influenced by his
views on revision. His position was one he
had held for yegrs. Yhe pyes6yterieS as
well as the assembly have no Legislative
power that can set aside or modify the au
thority of the scripture. My whole aim is
TO discuss tine enacting power of the genera
assembly. He proposed 10 bring up rule
that hereafter any article asked for by two
thirds of the presbyteries or proposed by
the general assembly and approved by two
thirds of the presbyteries, or by the gen
eral assembly shall be thereupon enacted
by the general assembly before it shall b'
obligatory on the churches.
After some further ebate the Assembly
adjourned until tomorrow.