The record-union., 1891-01-18

tee works within or outside OF the lines
of Confessional Calvinism, can be y mat
ter of small concern to q church that has
already deposed that Calvinism.' The
only effect of this statement Will be to
excite merriment ct the expense OF DIR.
Ecob. The animus of the whole article
is seen in the allegation that the last
General Assembly has already deposed
that Calvinism,' that is, the Calvinism in
the Confession of Faith. No doubt with
DR.. lscob tire wish is father to the thought.
The last General Assembly perpetrated
DO such nonsense, but did the very re-
verse of what DR.. Ecob says it did. Instead
of deposing that Caivinism,' it ordered
that that Calyinism' should not be de
posed and that nothing tending to this
end should oven be proposed"
The Eodagelist Pres.) says: "We are
sorry to differ from so good a man as DR..
Ecob OF Albany, for whose character and
ability we have, in common with the
| whole church, the highest respect. But
it seems to us that he emphasizes a little
too strongly the point which ne makes,
| that the work of revision is already done.
Ia one sense this may be true; that since
an overwhelming majority of the Presby-
| terian Church has declared in favor OF a
! revision it is 'Yirtnally,' or, as some peo-
pie say, substantially done. But there
is n great difference between being done
virtually and being done actually. Stir
ring arguments in popular assembly,
| and even the strongest resolutions passed
by overwhelming nlajorities, are of little
value until they are translated into deli
ominous silence that has fallen
upon the church in regard to revis-
sion. lie hears less about it in the
newspapers than year ago. But
that is no proof that our ministers
and churches though they may refrain
from much speaking do not do great
| deal of thinking about It; nor that they
do not know their own minds; nor that
they have weakened in their determina-
! ton to have what they want, Wis: a Con-
| feSsion, which they 90 not merely 'ac-
cept,' but one which they heartily be-
/ lieve. y year ago we were in the midst of
| the battle, when those who opposed re-
| vision fairly secuted the idea, represent
ing the movement as that of Il few mall
contents, whose insignificance would be
demonstrated as soon rs there could be a
show OF hands III y great assembly. This
illusion was rudely dispelled at Sara
toga, and the non-revisionists to their
honor be ii said, hsl the wisdom and the
| tact to bow to thoiwill OF the majority
So far well. Now all that the church
asks is that the work assigned to the com-
! lnittee shall be done. Ii presbyteries and
papers are silent for {, time, it is out of
deiicacy to the committee, that the many
voices OF an outside discussion should not
interfere with their deliberations. But
let not our honored brethren mistake this
reserve and forpearance. What the
church wants aud demands is that the
work be done, not virtually but actT-
ally; not in speeches and resolutions, but
in proper form; that it be done, and well
done, SO that it shall stay done for years
and for generations"
The Central Vest (Pres} saws: elias
anybody been telling tales out Of school :?
The Evangelist, in u late issue, with war
wrinkled front, demands of the Assem-
| bly's committee a revision that shall be a
revision. Our metropolitan contempo-
rary notifies the theological doctors that
it vii! not take sugar-coated pills. 1t de-
clares that the revision shall be reyis-
i ion, and not mere verbal emendation,
substituting for the harsh words OF the
| Confession some soft, vague phrases
| which may mean anything or nothing,
but which leaves the points of steel, how
ever mufiied up, just as sharp and pierre
! ing as before Has the EcanqeIist heard
anything about the trend Of revision in
the committee? There are some of us
whose knowledge of the present status of
revision is confined to DR.. Moores official
statement, but the Erdngciist perhaps en-
| joys exceptional opportunities for learn
ing how things are going Anyhow the
| great revision organ cracks the whip, and
! ii the revisionists on the committee fail
to toe the mark, they must be prepared
| like little men to take their punishment
in the shape OF a Journalistic thrashing' %