Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-24
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH.
Further Debate on the Subject Of Its Revision
by the Presbytery.


Further Debate on the Subject Of Its Revision
by the Presbytery.
The debate on the revision Of the confession
Of faith was continued at the meeting of the
presbytery of Washington city this morning at
the Ninth Street Church. The point about
which the entire debate revolved was
the report of the committee appointed
to consider the report of the committee Of the
general assembly. As each section of the re-
port was read there WAS more or less discus
sion as to the questions involved in the pro-
posed changes. Upon Rev. DR. Hamlin. who rs
the chairman Of the committee, devolved the
main burden Of defending and explaining the
recommendations
DIR. HAMLIN's EXPLANATIONS.
His clear, concise statements, coupled with
spirit of fair play, helped the presbytery along
materially iu the consideration of the rather
complex questions which came up. There
was one change which was proposed, and
that was the substitution Of the word .'in-
Vulnerable" for the word ''some' in de-
scribing the multitude Of the redeemed which
ELECTED an interesting statement from DIR.
Hamlin. He said that the recent great theo-
logical writers were of the opinion that the
proportion of the redeemed to the unredeemed
was well represented by that between the num-
cording to these authorities hell was only
small corner of the universe. With the addi-
ton OF the words, "agreat multitude that none
can number" the recommendation was adopted.
DIR. sUNDERLAND's POSITION.
While the discussion was in progress DIR.
Sunderland rose and stated that as it was
apparent from yesterdays discussion that
there is a radical and fundamental difference
of conviction in the presbytery to what the
rafn aA ~ N fnns M tna In 20.
very meaning of the important terms in
our own confession and even as to the
ten meanings Of particular passages of
Scripture-he felt that there are no
members OF the presbytery can debate the
questions on which they differ, and he there
fore would not for himself take up the time Of
the presbytery in such Improbable discussion.
but would content himself with simply voting
on the proposed changes.
One Of the members thought that DIR. sunder-
lands plan was a good one and he hoped that
there would be more voting and less debate.
For his part Judge Drake wanted il to be I'M
derstood that he was not ready to vote without
discussion.
DR.. Sunderland suggested that time might be
saved II the explanations given by DR.. Hamlin
OF the proposed changes were omitted and the
vote was taken at once.
This suggestion rather nettled Dr. Hamlin,
who said that if the presbytery did not want TO
n.
He would leave the question of the time to be
assigned to him to the decision Of the pres
bytery.
DR.. Sunderland replied that he did not want
to limit the time Of the chairman Of the COM
mittee, but there seemed to be a disposition 70
hear what DIR. Hamlin had to say and when
others arose to speak there was great restless
ness.
TIE MopERAroR's pEcIsIox.
1t was decided by the moderator that the
chairman Of the committee, DIR. Hamlin, was
expected to state the reasons for the action
taken BY the committee and DR.. Hamlin was
ruIs aesion on 'ns the "s various on
sections Of the report was by a
yea-and-nay vote, but occasionally . rising
vote was taken, and the proportion Of the two
hides was about eighteen in favor Of the re-
vision report and six opposed.
TEE DOCTRINE OF PRKrERITIoN.
The proposition on the part Of the commit
tee to omit entirely section s. which in the
present confession IL section 2. drew from
Judge Drake the criticism that this change was
an indication Of the desire to drop out entirely
the doctrine Of preterition or the passing BY Of
the COMMITTEES he had agreed to this omission.
Personally he Was In favor Of the section be-
cause, logically, IL there was . saved man there
ID also . lost man. He was willing, however,
that the confession should be % modified that
II would not represent the non-elect man any
more fully than the Bible does.
The omission Of this clause WAS favored BY
Judge Strong, who made an earnest speech
maintaining that his desire was that the con-
fession should contain nothing contrary TO the
idea that the gospel was freely offered 70 all
In the opinion Of Judge Drake the action Of
the man in accepting or rejecting Christ de-
terminsd this qusstion Of election. II Christ
vas accepted then the man knew that he was
among the elect
The debate was interrupted by motion 10
adjourn for lunch. The presbytery at oclock
resumed il session.