The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-23
CHANGES IN THE FAITH.
Those Recommended BY the Pres
byterian Committee on Reyis-
ion Of Creed.
A Radical Change In the Section
Relating to Infants and
Unfortunates.
Relating to FOreordinntion and Free VIII
Proceedings of the General As
sembiy at Detroit.

DETROIT, Mich, May 22.-Among the
changes recommended by the committee on
revision Of confession OF faith are: In
chapter ], "Scriptures." section five, are
inserted the words, 'end the truthfulness
of history, the faithful witness of prophecy
and miracle" !" as among arguments for the
inspiration Of scripture. Chapter three,
'of Gods eternal decree" has sections
three and four stricken ont. Section five,
which is portion of the present confess
sion relating to Reorganization. becomes
section three, and is amended to read as
follows: "God, before the foundation of
the world was laid, according to his eternal
and immutable purpose, and secret coun-
sci, and the good pleasure of his will, has
predestined some of mankind unto life,
and hath particularly and unchangeably
chosen them in Christ unto everlasting
glory, out of his mere free grace and love,
without any foresight Of faith, or good
works. or perseverance in either of them, or
any other thing in the creature as condi-
tions or causes moving him thereunto; and
all to the praise of His glorious grace"
Section six remains unchanged and becomes
section four.
Section seven was amended and becomes
section five, and is as follows: (5) ''The
rest of mankind God was pleased, accord
ing to the unsearehable counsel of His own
will, whereby He extendeth or withholdeth
mercy as He pleassth, not to elect unto ev-
eAlasting life, but to ordain them to dis
htAnor and wrath for their sin, to the praise
of His glorious justice; yet go as hereby
neither is any limitation put upon the offer
of salvation to all, upon condition OF faith
in Christ; nor is restraint laid upon the Of
faith in Christ; nor is restraint laid upon
the freedom of any one to hinder his &C
ceptance of this Offer"
The chapter on free will, now chapter 10,
is amended by the addition of these words
to the declaration of the insufficiency of the
his responsibility as free moral agent not
thereby impaired" In the pronouncement
upon lawful oaths, 'Popish monastic vows"
are described simply as 'monRstic vows"
Similar changes with regard to the term
"Papist'' are made in the chapter on mar
riage and divotce. and the pope of Rome
ceases. in the revision. TO b. described as
| anti Christ. II he sacrifice of the mass is
also referred to as a''Roman Catholic doc
trine" rather than ''popish." but it con-
tinues to be designated as abominably in
furious.
One clause OF CNapSer LW9lVe IL cuangeO
TO read as follows: "All infants dying in
infancy. and all other persons. who from
birth to death are incapable of being out
wardly called by the ministry of the world,
are redeemed by Christ, and reRenerated
by the spirit. who worketh when and where
and Low he pleaseth.'' This is radical
change, differing from the old confession
in the insertion of the words "all," ''from
birth to DEATH ''are redeemed" "and are
regenerated by the Spirit.'' An entirely
new clause is the following: "Cnapter 25
section 6. There is no other head of the
church but the Lord Jesus Christ, and tho
claim of the pope of Rome to be the vicar of
Christ and the head of the church universal
is without warrant in the scriptures, or in
fact, and is usurpation dishonoring to the
Lord Jesus Christi