The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-24
Why Chicago Prosbyterinnn arc
Much Disturbed
OIL REVISION OF THE CREED.
II the Revision Iinpalrs Calvanism n
Noted Chicago Divine Says that the
orthodox May Wlthdraw.--Import.
ant Results Looked for at the Meet.
ing of the prcsbytcry.

Vt the lirst meeting hold three weeks
ago, all 0! d.. Breeds and DR.. Stryker's
propositions land they represent tho
two controlling elements OF the prcsby.
;rry, both tho conservative and tho lib.
e.GU were rejected, and DR.. Patterson's
paper was approved as far as tho pres.
bytcry proceeded 10 act upon It A
week later several OF Dr. Breeds suggcs.
lions were approved, DR.. pGtterson's
paper was rejected and DR.. Strykcr's
paper would probably have been
adopted had it como 10 n vote. Judging
from these prccclents, whatever may
be the attitude and action OF tho
lrcsbytcry ut its meeting tomorrow
only omniscience can predict. Two
years ago when tho revision OF
the Westminster Confession OF
Faith' was first mootcd many OF
tho most profound Presbyterian theolo-
glans objected to its contamination on
the general grounds that this was not
tho age in which crccds were made;
that this was an irenic ago wherein re.
lgious thought was more occupied
with the work OF extension and up-
building-in short, Il missionary age.
At that time Prof. Dewitt, OF the Me-
Cormicl Theological Seminary, entered
his protest against revision in an article
published in the Presbyterian Rsric,c.
Since that timc Prof. DeWitts opinions
have changed but little. lie thoroughly
understands the question in all its
phases, and was not surprised when
DR.. Strykcr arose ut tho close OF the last
meeting and offered the following reso.
luton, which will be the basis Tor dis
cussion ut to-morrow's meeting:
R9S0'ccd, That the presbytcry oil Chi
cago, holding the present results or re-
vision to be unsatisfactory, and not be.
llcving that any results likely to be
obtained under the present theory and
process OF revision will be satisfactory
10 the mind and heart OF our church,
does therefore hereby overture the gen.
craI assembly to turn entirely from the
projec. OF revising tho Westminster
Confession and TO take such diligcnt
steps to have proposed to tho church
such simple and scrlptural declaration
oil these things which are most surely
believed among US. rs shall DO for the
practical help and cdilication OF all our
members and for II testimony 10 tho
world OF the faith that was once for all
delivered to TIE saints; and further
RtSo',rd, That 4 copy OF this overture
be furnished rs the reply OF this presby-
terry to tho assembly's committee on
revision.
This resolution" said Prof. Dewitt,
sis admirable SO far rs it goes, and I'M
der the peculiar circumstances means
great deal. Whs: action the Presbv-
terry will take upon it rs 4 whole no one
can foretcll. Drs. Patterson and Her
rick johnson will work hard TO defeat
it and secure from the Presbytery II
commentator OF the report OF the rs.
sembly's revision committee--a COM
mcndation, however, with some changes
suggested.
DIR. STRIKERS resolution" continued
Professor Dewitt, "a regard us good
one in both form and matter, for If the
church is going to do anything abo ut
its creed have always thought itwould
do better to make new than to mutt
late the old one. The temptation in
pursuing this method OF revision, to
modify one doctrine by tho other, is
too strong to be resisted, and tho gcncr-
al dissatisfaction with tho language, at
least, OF the committees chapter on the
gospel would seem to indicate that the
committee had yielded somewhat to
this temptation. My own opinion is,
and for the last year has been, that it
would DO better to embody tho new tes-
lament revelations in y now, distinct
and additional symbolical book
OF equal authority with our pres
cnt books. These revelations can be
better stated apart from that artic-
ulated system OF doctrine which is
the product OF scientific reflection upon
what the Bible asserts about Gods and
mans natures and characteristics, and
about the relations between God and
man. When ministers preach these
new testament revelations in their pull
pits, they, Us rule, preach them by
themselves, and do not either modify
them or attempt 20 show their harmo-
ny with the system OF doctrine organ
lied by the doctrine OF the divine de-
cree. And wha. Tor $50 years our min
istry has thus been doing in the pull
pit, l should like our learned and able
aascmD!y'a committee OF revision to do
for tho church. Because DR.. Strylers
resolution would permit this, even II it
IS not designed TO secure 1t, shall vote
for the resolution most heartily"
DR.. Marquis, also OF the Mccormick
seminary, and who has generally sup.
ported DR.. Breed, speaking OF revision
in general, said that on this question
tho Chicago presbytcry would be class
ed with the liberals, land" said DR..
Marquis, profound as our deliberations
arc, do not anticipate that
the action OF tho Chicago prcsby-
terry will have any great weight with
tho general assembly, for this presbv-
terry does not, and Tor that matter,
neither docs the New York presbytcry
or both OF them put together. represent
any considerable part in the church.
They represent only themselves"
Dr.. Marquis was also asked whether
there was possibility OF split in the
church over the question OF revision.
Replying ho said: "a possible split
may occur in the church from ono Of
two causes. First. if the church, by its
highest court at the end OF 4 judicial
process, by acquital OF q party charged
with heresy, should commit herself to q
position which the orthodox consider
unsound, they might bear thor tcsti-
mony against the error by withdrawal;
and second, ii the church at the end OF
judicial process. by condemning II
party accused with heresy, should com.
NIT herself to position which the libc-
ralista consider oppressive they might
Nam. IL, Z