Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-17

| submitted by the previous assembly ''for a
more explicit statement of the love of God
| for the world ~ 'sfor the sufiiciency of the
| atonement and free offer of salvation 10 all
| men," for recognition of the church S
| duty to evaugeliZe the world, - for a state
| ment of individual responsibility for saliva
ton" and for a fuller statement respect
l ing the person and work of the Holy
l Spirit" The committee has seemed to
meet by the preparation of two new chap
! tiers, one entitled "Of the Work of the
| Holy Spirit" to follow chapter viii. ''Of
| Christ the Messiah and the other ''Of the
| Universal Offer of the Gospel" to follow
| chapter ix. "Of Free Will
These chapters, it is said, meet most of
| the suggestions in the answers of the
| presbyteries and make many of the
| changes asked for in other chapters unnec-
eSSary.
The conclusions reached by the commit
| tee were harmonious, and its report will
| be presented with the suggestion that the
work be referred TO the presbyteries for
| their consideration, but not rs an overture
for final action; that the Presbyteries be re-
| Quested to take up the report OF the COM
| mittee at their fall meetings, carefully
consider it, suggest any changes that they
may deem desirable and forward the re-
port of the same to the secretary of the
revision committee by December l of this
year; that the committee subsequently act
again upon these suggestions of the pres
byterieS and make final report to the as
sembly next year.
The committee appointed to revise the
confession was composed originally as fol-
lows: Seminary rofessors-William II.
Green, Princeton; Thomas S. Hastings,
Union; Matthew B. Riddle. Allegheny;
Willis J. Beecher, Auburn; Z. D. Morris,
Lane; Herric1 johnson, Mccormick; VIII
lam a1ayonIer. Troy
Observation-Disclosures L. Patton, Princeton;
William G. Roberts, Lake Forest uni
versity.
Pastors-Winiam e Moore, Columbus,
Ohio; Henry J. Van Dyke, Brooklyn, Eben-
ezer Erskine, MELVILLE, Penn; Jonas T.
Leftwich. Baltimore; Samue? J. Niccolls,
st. Louis; Edward r. Burkhalter, Cedar
Rapids, Iowa
Elders-Ex-Justice William Strong,
Washington; ex-senator j. R. Mcmillan,
ST. Paul; Judge Alfred Hand, Scranton,
Penn; Emerson E. White, Cincinnati;
Judge Henry B. Saylor, Huntington, Ind.
Winthrop S. Gilman, New York; Barker
Covington, KY; George Junkin. Philadel-
phia: Charles R Charley, Chicago.
Only two changes were made in the COM
mittee; President Hastings of Union SEM
mary declined to serve, and DR.. r. R
Booth of New York, an ardent reviSionist,
vas appointed 10 I'LL MS place. VII CuQ-
mere also declined TO serve. and his place
was flied by the appointment of Mr.. STRAIT
ton of the New Jersey synod.
While it is understood that there is to be
no final report presented, still this does not
prove that the committee are agreed abso-
lutely on the new confession, but that all
were willing that it should go before the
assembly without dissent. We're this the
final action of the committee, instead of
report OF progress, the result might have
been different.
DURING THE Discussion
in the presbyteries last year regarding the
revision of the standards it was urged that
a new concensus creed should be prepared
which should take the place as working
article of faith of the Westminster confess
sion. Twelty-six presbyteries sent up
overtures relating to this new creed, which
were referred to the committee on bills and
overtures, of which President w. c. Rob-
erts of Lake Forest university was chair
man. This committee reported the follow
ing answer, which was adopted:
'sAll overtureS on new and concencus
creed shall be referred to committee of
nine, who shall invite the cooperation of
the Reformed church throughout the world,
holding the Presbyterian system, to prepare
a short creed containing the essential arti
cles of the Westminster confession, TO be
used as the common creed of these churches,
not as q substitute for the creed of any pap-