Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-25
Presbyterian Revision.
The Independent.

Out Of the PIG presbyteries there have
not yet enough uttered their decision on
the proposed revision of the Confession of
Faith to make anything else clear than that
there is no reyulsion of feeling. The pro-
posed revision will not be rejected or the
ground of its going too far. That is settled
Hardy voice has been lifted against the
action of the committee on the ground that
it has been too radical OF the two or three
score of presbyteries that have already
acted, nearly all have further amendments
to suggest.
There was considerable apprehension ex-
pressed at first that the outbreak of the
Briggs matter would seriously compromise
revision. That danger IS past Apart from
the fact that Professor Briggs did not him
self favor revision. and only gave reluc-
tant consent to it, believing that what was
needed was new creed, it is evident that
the feeling in favor of revision and the re-
ppgnance against some of the obnoxious
sections in the old confession were to
great to be overcome in any way. gFurther,
the debate in the presbyteries the past
year has been itself educating. and the
acceptance of the fact that there
must be a considerable revision encour-
ages those who believe in the revision to go
further.
They are not willing to have revision in
complete or farcical. There has been gen.
vision had more than their fair share in the
composition of the revision committee and
the fifty presbyteries that have thus far
spoken have been very free in their opin-
ions that the work should be carried fur
Their.
1t must be somewhat surprising to old
Presby.erians and will no doubt shed new
light into the dark corners of Penns ylvania
to have it made clear that a considerable
number of presbyteries absolutely wish the
entire sections on preterition dropped out.
They are not very particular about preserv-
ing the essential Calvinism of the Confess
ion. What they are interested in is its es-
sential evangelical character or Christian
character and many of them have long ago
ceased to have any interest in any essential
Calvinism that is not also essential Christi
anity.
That is what is had in mind by the pres
bytery of Albany and half dozen others,
who have declared that they want no re-
vision at all, but a new creed. The cheer
no backward step evident, put rather pro-
gress.
Many of the presbyteries have postponed
action until a December meeting. They
wish to consider the matter more carefully
We have not. perhaps, heard yet from
fair proportion of the conservative presby-
teries. Perhaps those that have acted are
those that have already made up their
minds positively, and wish the most radical
revision. 1t is not wise to be in too much
of a hurry. Discussion will do good The
more discussion there is the moro plainly
will the infelicities of the old Confession be
seen, and the clearer will appear the neces-
sity of some change.
If the Presbyterian church seems to be
living meanwhile without any confession at
all while it is being retired for amendment,
that is not the worst thing that could hap
Zen. It is still available as a standard in
trials for heresy; and we mag remember
that the church lived for some centuries
without any confession of faith except tho,
Holy Scriptures. and would live, perhaps.
with undininished vitality should creeds
cease to exist.