New-York tribune., 1891-05-21
OPINIONS ON THE REPORT.
HOW THE COMMITTEES WORK Is RE-
CARDED.
pREspYrBR1AN MINISTER'S DISCUSS THE PLAN
OF REVISION.

PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER'S DISCUSS THE PLAN
OF REVISION.
The exclusive publication yesterday by The Tribune
Of the complete report Of the General Assembys Com
mttee on Revision OF the Confession OF Faitn was
pleasing surprise all Presbyerans, who enloyed 'ne
privilege OF reading IL. The unanimous opinion VI
those who talked upon the subject was TO the eneo'
That a most dificut and delicate task had been wei
performed by those charged with the WORK. 'houe"
oppions vary as to the probable adoption oil tht
changes recommended Following will be found the
views OF few prominent olerymep in this city whose
interest in the recent discussions is well kno~n
The Rev.-pr. r. r. Booth, member Of the Con''
mittee Oh Revision, said:
am startled by this exhibition Of the enterprise 4
~ me Tribune and can imagine no way In S, wnlen
~. rsnort was procured in advance OF the Detr9ll
meeting. Certainly my copy mas never Oeen Se'n "
oi course as member Of the committee, regarSn
the rsnort with favor. While 1t did not sausly az
Ine an ximation TO a result which we
thought would be acceptable 10 the % com
mittee IL is unQnesionably true, also, that te II IN
port adheres TO the Instructions Gi te ho aIr limits
of which ought not 70 be tfansgressed. tee - sich
ing In tho report transgessng those ieatuIeS res pan
inc or scriptira II ought therefore to be approved
Dy the General Assembly, so tar as IL Is asAed 70 ~N'
ANY There are @ some features especially in the third
cb,nier which no doubt those in favor Of revision
would have preferred 20 see s1 no true in logical
point OF view, but they stand Chey may 4e ,ba
enfh chapter there is section in regard to tDe non,
elect and their fate hereafter, which is mOdned anu
vet which might in the judgment OF some have neeL,
altogether omitted as not being called for in view OF
previous statements. These. however, are mere ln-
dentai opinions However. think those who no have nave
ers result that they Will be likely 10 ask OILY io'
W. rt;cn,orlv pleas~6 with the cha pter on tho
Holy spirit and the Gospel. Very many, also an an
aned at the proposed insertion Of the words y n 5m 1s
which was threatening few DAYS ago tlan II i
now since DIR. Briggs has fully explained himself OF
Of miracle and prophecy ii you ask to the prob
ability of its Gnal adoption, reply that IN my iuue
pent IN view G OF Chances e eeef o reyo are greatly i'm
proved believe that this Is an ahuievlson ns -
sembIy in the strctest sensethat is, is composer o.
men Tot very ardentiy in favor OF revision. and the
effect OF the s2eS e Assembly Rs quite in
different in the direction OF progress untl bno,e aues
tons were settled; but now that Dr. Bllgss mas eA
aRed that what he has has S Sen nEs and thai
he agrees with the standards OF the ChurGh anu ut
me that the clouds have disappeared
Dr. Briggs when seen at his home, had Just returned
from the meeting in Brooklyn He said in part
have not read the report in full; therefore can
not pronounce Judgment upon H. can of peosni 90 .h
Westminster Confession is practicable stl am VIII
ing 10 hear and 10 give caTeful consideration III per
fectly friendly spirit nythng the revsors propose
Put as student Of the Westminster Confession 90 not
see how they patch IL up successfully therefore
must adhere to my first position, namely, that wish
the Westminster Confession be retained as an his
torca movement of the Puritan faith and wish new
Greed will express the faith and life OF the Chureh
Of our own day and that will limit itself to essen;
tia doctrines. | would be opposed TO the adoption OF
any new Greed that would stand in the way Oh Chuic
unity.
The Rev. DR.. c. II. Parkhurst said;
The Revision Committee have succeeded In doing me
impossible as well perhaps as any ooanter Of
the document is transparent. 1t IS tHe sich tllus
rt G the S@ sos dSa
paste Is not yet dry tDS we the S fSsIfe e
and the spirit of our Church in these latter days
The lib of the matter Is in the thiid chapter Inc Inc
fatal thing about it IS that it Sye the bnTe So Goen
I'D Of the obnoxious element BY saying tnat zoo wa
pleased not 10 elect unto everlasting NE uley nav
asiinH DEATH sS The snevsonss on the committee
their doctrine nd 1T hw e SesnSe Se @ when
have been told that God was pleased not 10 elect sor
everlasting e it Is no relief s 10 e aten from beS
saved but their accursed depravity Ihere Is Diach \
spot in that third chapter ana a. te u uOP o6 ibS 70
ii and Just enough to let the black spot snow an tit
baer by contrast d Od ecpe nSve may br nG Vii vii
over the work Of the revisers as stndy ~ mort.
hope so. They have evidently worked Win sincere
purpose.
II
Union Theological Seminary. preparing TO start
for his country place at oceanic, N j. when the re-
porter called. lie said
think the committee deserves great deal Of credit
for earnest and careful labor and that the result OF
their work will be received with great respect ana
consideration From the composition OF the committee,
however, IL perfectly evident from the irst that
| the result would be compromise, ana, IKE most
compromises. unsatisfactory 10 the majority OF tnOse
who either desire oppose revision There are some
things which one can see at glance are very much
| improved by the changes and omissions The new
chapters valuable acquisitions. in my judgment,
they give the spirit OF the Gospel which, IN great
stood There are things sti in the third chapter
which would change II had my way but with the
seemed wanting in the old Confession as 1t
! they have given us the best II was possible
| TO give under the circumstances. They were bound
| not TO change the system Of doctrine in any way,
but to retain the essentials Of Cavinism AS Cal
whist 1t to me they have retained some
things that might have been omitted and yet be-
10 the advantage of the Church both in the present
and in the future. Personally / am quite as much
interested in the report of the committee 10 form
brief Greed am in the report Of this committee for
never could consider the Westminster Comics sion as
Creed. 1t is system Of dOctrnean elaborate dis
ousition theoOgy-th0n anything so brief and com
pact as a Creed Is always understood TO be. In my
Judgment the Church has been greatly In need OF a
Greed consistent with this confession and yet without
| its eabOrateness
l believe that the discussion within the Church
will result in great good. There is good deal OF
suppressed feeling that is wholesome. IT IS better
In my Judgment, 10 meet these wants in the Church
than to suppress the spirit longer: do not think IL
is fair to let another century think for this be-
| lieve In advancing ourselves in everything.
APPLAUDTNG DIR. BRIGGS.