New-York tribune., 1891-05-23
ing in the Westminster Presbyterian Church this
evening.
DEBATE ON REVISION.
DR. PATToN'S SPEECH FOLLOWED BY
rr PROMPT ACTION. I|.


ALv1NIsM NOT TouoHED'BY THE COMMITTEE
REASONS WHY THE CHURCH SHOULD WAIT
ANOTHER YEAR FoR FINAL JUDO
MENT ON THE CONFESSION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsEI
Detroit May 22.-The first order of business In the
Presbyterian Assembly to-day was the report OF the
Revision Committee which was published In full In
The TRIBUNE on Wednesday President W. G. Roberts,
OF Lake Forest University read the report
DR.. Smith, OF Baltimore, moved that the recon-
mendation of the committee namely, that the report
70 to the Presbyteries for their consideration, DC
adopted. DR.. smith said that all the commissioners
with overfowfng hearts of gratitude had listened to tho
report of the committee. He added "We recolect
the anxiety of year and Of two years ago. we all
love the system Of doctrine that we have held ana
that we have maintained before the world, ana that
we have consecrated with the blood OF so many
martyrs, and when the proposition was made not TO
change its integrity, but TO change its phraseology
very many OF us trembed lest there should be failure
In the changes that were made to maintain It's III
tegrts Now sure, as We listened TO this report
that we have felt that there is the old Cavinsm that
We have all loved and loved so ardently 1t Is there
in It's integrity Npphuse.) do not say that every
particular proposition of the committee you ana may
assent to. 1t would be n marvellous thing II we oio
But do say that we accept the report OF this COM
mites as IL is and yet feel that have been faithful
10 Gods truth and faithful to that inheritance that
has been transmitted TO u.s." Applause.l
Elder James. NJ Graham, Of Nebraska City, said :
"Mr Modepator and Gentlemen oppose this report be-
canse il has dictated to Presbyteres what thay shall
do ~ we receive this, why, II is dictation to us
have unda stood that IL to be handed down Wlth
out comment vote Of any kind for the Presoyteres
10 act upon ii in the future. Therefore, would put
an amendment TO this, namely, tnat It 80 70 tue Tres
byteries uncommented upon BY this General Assembly
4he
bly think So II live until July shall be eighty
Now went through this old and new schooi trouble
and l. for one, would not cross a I or dot an III
that old Confession of Faith daughter and applauseJ
tell you brethren this cid Confession OF Faith Is an
anvil that has worn out every hammer that has ever
ied to disgrace It, and up TO this day everybody was
al peace and everybody respected it, except few men,
/ tell you Armeniansm has got Into Presbytenanlsm'
i went through this new and old school contest hrty
wears ago. Who was the cause of that inerupdonF
1t was the ministers Of the Gospel 1t was not
tho elders. Qaughter.l ! say today II is the min
listers of the Gospel that have caused this tOube.
Renewed laughter.) Yes, brethrcn there are a good
many Briggses in the country. Why a few years ago
in the Presbytery belong to there was Presbyterian
minister got up and denied the whole doctrine OF eec
ton said he didn't believe 1t, and that when he was
ordained he told the Presbytery he didn't believe IT,
told him he ought TO go to the Methodist Church
The Moderator dnterpOsing)-I am afraid the brother
Is wandering from the subject
Elder Grsham-Wel, perhaps 1 am Excuse me-
air Moderator; only wanted show that Armenian
ism has got into the Presbyterian Church.
The Modemtor-The question is whether this report
of the committee shah be sent down TO the Prtsoy-
teres in the manner proposed.
Elder Grahan-Wel would put an amendment on
that that we send it down without instructions or
comment.
DR.. Patton then gained the floor and spoke as fol
lows:
rise, Mr.. Moderator, to support the res0acGY qc'H
0y ygronnds Would have preferred order to
avoid any possible mistake thaL thls report na' i1e
been accepted by the Assembly be recommitted to th3
send IL 10 the Presbyte and that tne frespS
be requested 70 send criticisms 10 the committee
and thai the Committee be further instructed 10 make
their final report TO the next eenerai AsseUS on ~
j intend to speak to the resolution as onere9 py d.
HAYS and / wish TO say in advance that an N
sympathy with this resolution, but II Is very Ror'SU
that THIS Assembly snoud understand Una. tng IN I No
ceptance Of report is purely formal tllhg ana III no
sense and by no implication direct OF remote n cdps
win il the approval of the sentiments IN the report
! am heartily in fayOr OF accepting this report.
am not pretending 10 represent ANYBODY Dut lysen:
But have duty 10 discharge TO my own conscichte ] 60
ana wish to do 30 in the rev words that lhUehu "
speak l wish to say that whatever dlheiehces o oi
nittee ana whatever differences Of opinion may
be expressed In the Church by ana by, Will Mth
reference " the report OF lils comhnltee or 70 o @
OF IL as have already listened 70, wish 70 bear my
testimony this trut, that notwithstanding be many
changes and tetdtons proposed IN ts TepoI'' 2 SE
far as my knowedgs OF the Cavinstc system goes ana
50 far as feel confident 10 express an opinion re.
speeding what il Of the essence Of Calvlnlsln not
solitary doctrine of the Cavlnstic system has Deen
touched in the report oil thus committee. ApPaascJ
If men in the Church, and "Hat Is ulyie Nely, u ie
outside OF the Church, who seem to be greatly inter
ested In proceedings, nave been under the impress
that the committee INTENDED to de-CaIrihLc tie
Confession OF Faith, and bat they were appointed ior
the purpose of giving expression 70 wi1espread as
satisfaction with The CaNinsNc system III the tlurch
they Will be most wottuly disappointed. (AppIause1
There has been disp, s'tion in that committee 70
alter substantially or 10 impair the INTEGRITY Oh tne
Cavinlstic system contained in that Confession, ana
not hesitate 70 emphasize the Wod Cavlnsuc, tol
am ashamed of II that is what IL Is ana tlat Is
what the hssby terrain Church means TO keep H. TAP
Now, your committee have made their report They
have made report OF prcsgess 1t Is very seri'
Gus thing TO revise the fGrnaes @ OF e,ed tae ShGS @
instructions to report finally 70 ths srr.G HSSelh sStS
fndelicacy In asking 10 be continued in order that
work OF such Importance nay nay Procefa pro rd & % H & I'VE
nope the Assembly will be willing to continue this
committee and win be ready to ACCEPT the suggestions
Syeres for criticisms and that this committee get the
benefit OF those criticisms before taey make ter hnai
report because the wsest ot US may change our
minds little bit between now and next december, or
between now and next May, aud think ~ wiz DC ths
better for the Church II this committee nave ntte
moro time TO consider of these changes-the more SO
wien you remember that although, as l nave sad
there great deal Of harmony IN tne cVmhlltoe,
there was some difference OF opinion that has been
recognized very properly In the report TheTe was
difference in opinion covering very wide area 50 la
as these Confessional changes are concerned 1Iieic
Was a difference Of opinion that concentrated Hsen
with emphasis upon certain points IN the confession,
Now the committee have made their report ano those
who diner from tho judgment OF the committee did not
feel called upon 70 enter their dissent or TO make
minority report. They wished 20 have the report oi
the committee 20 down the PreSbyteres for the crit
. csm of the Presbyteries. But we DO not want
fhe Presbyteries we 60 not want this Assembly
To get tie impression that we were unanimous
SvbeS We were not unanimous. This Assembly
is IN honest Assembly and this Church is an
honest Church, and we want the exact facts IN tle
case, as they have been given you very candldy oy
our chairman In his report ~. l.. 40.
Now let me say few things more Not to enter
into tbe merits of The question, think this committee
romposed as II was, OF those who prior to the As
senbly that appointed them were opposed TO revision
snd ~ those Who in favor OF revision, entered
anon their work as have said In the spirit OF tle
Sehiy and some of us who, before the Presby yteieS