Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-25
THE WARRINGTON rREsByrEKY.


Confession cf Path.
The freedom Of the human win furnished the
topic for long and very earnest discussion AZ
the meeting Of the Washington city presbytery
At the Fourth Presbyterian Church this morn
ing. IL WAS the third day OF the meeting 20
consider the presbyterial committee's report
on the revision Of the confession Of faith
In their consideration OF the report that
chapter that treats Of free will as an agent An
salvation was reached this morning and occu-
pied the attention Of the meeting for more than
two hours The question whether by his fall
into a state OF sin man has lost the inclination
Of viii for any spiritual good accompanying
salvation or whether il was the ability OF win
that was lost proved 10 be the subject for
lengthy debate.
The meeting begun this morning a. 10
o clock and after the transaction Of some unim-
portant business the presbytery took up the
Recommendation Of lite committee that a change
be made In the chapter on free will, with the
| object OF making IL more explicit The COM
| miitee offered n substitute for section of
the old ninth chapter the following:
God hath endued the will OF man with that
natural liberty which constitutes him a free
moral and responsible agent. having freedom
| aud power 20 choose between good and evil As
| such lac 10 neither forced nor by any absolute
evil "
The Recommendation was not accepted ON
the ground that the old statement WINS explicit
enough. Brief remarks were made on the sub
iect by various members OF the presbvtery.
Rev Mr.. Mynkoop especially characterizing
| the philosophy OF the committee ms being as
vicious as its theology.
The substitute FOR se-tion OF the same
chapter was then taken up for consideration.
Ii was Ne follows:
Man. by his fall into state Of ain. hath los,
Inclination OF viii Tor any spiritual good ac-
companying salvation. 90 that as natural man.
indispo-ed To that good and dead in sin. he
for regeneration IL dependent upon the Offered
grace OF God Yet, inasmuch as that grace il
offered freely TO all. hss full responsibility as
Tree moral agent is in nowise impaired"
Dr. hamlin, the chairman OF the committee
read the proposed change and spoke briefly IN
favor of it. Judge Drake said that tins uas
another case where a change was offered when
there was no reason FOR a change or anv i'm
provemeat % be gained from it, Remarks
Mere made by DIR. Cornelius. and Rev. Mr..
IAN No wac member of the commit
Tee, but who dld not concur in the majority re-
port gave up the moderator's chair 10 Dr.
cumberland. He then spoke in opposition 10
the use Of certain phrases in the
substitute, especially the word undivided" in
qualifying mans ability. He held that this ns.
OF the word implied that with aid man might
accomplish regeneration. Dr. HAmlin accented
the suggestion that the word be omitted. and
IL was then moved and carried 60 use the word
ablllty instead of the word ..inclination :"
Judge Drake then moved that the clause, '-he
Is not able by his own strength 20 reeenerate
himself" be substituted for he cannot re-
generate himself"
Inns motion was carried, but Judge brakes
MOTION that the word convert be used in
pace OF degenerate was lost At II 80 o clock
'ne presoy'ery adjourned 20 meet again at z
port