The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-19
THE DOCTRINE OF CALVIN.
Presoyterians' Views on the Revision
OF the Confession OF Faith.

OF the Confession OF Faith.
The revision Of the confession Of faith
now under discussion 10y the presbyteries Of
the general assembly Of the northern Pres
byterian church, is a subject that is at-
tracing general attention among all inter-
ested In religious topics, and especially
Presbyterian
The adoption Of several changes in the
confession by the New York presbytery in
It's recent session has been made the subject
Of general report in the press OF the country.
This revision Of the Confession OF faith has
been regarded by many, who only gave the
question superficial attention, as a de-
parture from the doctrines Of
Calvinism, aud an attempt rather to toe
them down on the part OF the northern
Presbyterian church. This, however. is
not the case, g. say the Presbyterian minis
ters who have been spoken TO upon the sub
ject.
Rev. DIR. Vass Of the First Presbyterian
church, In talk with a MORNING NEWS
reporter, said that the revision simply
means some slight alterations in it's phrase
ology and expression, to simplify it and
make clearer its true meaning and inten-
ton.
The wording Of the sections referring 10
elect infants and the doctrines of election
and predestinstion. said DR.. Vass, sis such
that persons not members Of the Presby-
terrain church often misapprehend their
4 true meaning and accuse PresbYterians of
holding doctrines which they do not hold.
Presbyterians understand very well what is
meanE by these sections, but when attacked
on account Of them they have
might appear from the wording of
the section upon elect infants that we be-
lieve In the dsmnation OF some infants,
which is not true. Neither are we fatalists,
though we believe in the doctrines OF cleo
tion and predestination. The revision is
simply to make clear the real meaning of
the confession Of faith"
DR.. Vass said that the three principal
alterations proposed are the changes in the
wording of the section with regard to
| ELECT infants" aud that expressing
the belief III the doctrines OF
| predestination and election, and the inser-
4 ton or clause expressing more fully the
belief in the love of God. Some persons
nave thought that too much emphasis is
laid upon the wrath Of God while too little
is said OF the love of God."
DIR. Vass said he is NOT opposed to these
| changes, and he does not regard them as
making any fundamental change in the
confession of faith, but he is very well salts
fed with the confession Of faith as it stands
at present.
Rev. ]. r. Drpps, pastor Of the Inde-
1
for his views with reference to the revision
OF the confession of faith.
| There ara separate systems of religion"
said DIR. Dripps, land what is known as the
Caivinistlc system rs one of these. The
Calvlnistic system is the most consistent Of
these In our. opinion. II you accept
one part Of it you must ac-
cept the whole. and YOU cannot
give up one part without giving up the
whole. Therefore no change is likely to be
made In the revision of the confession of
faith, looking to the giving up or lessening
the Importance OF any part of this system.
The general assembly Of the northern Pres
byterian church decided two years ago that
some changes in the wording of certain
sections we're necessary to better express
the meaning which they intended
to convey. To this end a com
mittee was appointed to confer and
recommend such changes in the confession
as they thought necessary to accomplish
this end. They were instructed, however,
that no change In the system was intended.
AT the last meeting Of the general assembly
of the northern church this committee re-
ported the changes which it thought desira-
BILE. There was no discussion Of the pro-
posed changes in the assembly, but they
| were given to the Presbyterians with in
| seructions TO pass upon them in
| their separate meetings and to rec
ommend that these changes be made
| IL they so decided, or such changes as thew
thought best. Since then these proposed
| changes have been under discussion in the
presbyteries The discussion in the New
| YORK presbytery attracted more general at
| tention because 1t is an important presby-
tory, and naturally attracted more general
attention from the newspapers, being held in
New York. DR.. Briggs being member of
this presbytery also was one reason that
4 CanSnd IN a pf
are probably hundred other
presbyteries that have passed
or will pass upon the proposed changes
The recommendations of the presbyteries
will be considered by the next general as
sembly, and il the general spirit
Is IN favor OF these or SINH
lar changes they will doubtless
be adopted by the general assembly. The
changes viii then come again before the
| presbyteries for their adoption, and after
they have been adopted by the presbY teries
will come before the general assembly for
final settlement. The earliest possible set
Element of the question will be at the gen.
eral assembly Of 1894. 1t may be 80 that
| 1t will be two or three years longer before
| the revision is settled upon"
Dr. Dripps said the proposed revision
OF faith simply amounted to a change in
phraseology in the sections referring to elect
infants, and election and predestination
| ana the addition OF clause setting forth
more fully the love of God, with some
minor changes in phraseology and express
sion OF other sections the object being to
convey more clearly the actual belief of the
| church.
In response to a question as to whether
the confession of faith had ever been re-
vised before, DIR. Dripps said that 1t had not,
| with the exception OF certain local changes
with regard TO the duties of government,
the position of the church In this country to
the government being different from that
OF the church In Scotland. Otherwise
the same confession of faith that is used by
the Scotch Presbyterian church is used BY
Presbyterian churches all over the world.
DR.. Dripps sand it is not strange that a
document $50 years old should need some
little change in its phraseology, the mean
Ing of many words having changed greatly
in that time. DIR. Dripps thinks the pros
posed changes advisable. As he is very
strict adherent TO the Calvinistic system it
is not likely that he would approve any
change tending to put a different face upon