Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-02
TIE ENGLISH CREED
Suggested as Compromise on the
= Presbyterian Discussion.
LAYMIN AND CLERGYMAN TALK.
They Have Opposite Opinions on the Qu.s-
ton of Revision.
TUE POINTS OF THE PROPOSITION

James A. Fetzer, of Sharon, this county
has grown tired cf the discussion regarding
the revision of the Presbyterian Confession
- of Faith and wishes ia, offer as a compro
mise the ARTICLES OF The Faith" as adopted
by the Synod of the Presby terian Church
of England final form. Mr. Fetzer says he
is not a religious authority, but he says he
thinks it unfortunate that there should be
so much division in the bodies that rever,
ence the great theological doctors of Geneva,
Zurich, Strasburc and Edinburgh.
He even thinks there might be stimula-
ted in short time enough of brotherly toll
Grafton to allow the fus;ng of these bodies
with the prelatical establishment of Great
britain, as lie thinks their differences of
opinion consist more in the latitude of
terms than in actual disagreements in mat
tiers of faith. Mr.. Fetzer agrees with Mac
arlay that the doctrinal confessions and
discourses OF the Anglican church set forth
principles of theology in which CALVIN or
knox would have found scarcely word to
disapprore.
A Differspc. Of Opinion.
But some people think Mr.. Fetzer has
undertaken difficult task, and one requlr-
ing considerable faith to support it 20 a
successful conclusion. Rev. Charles Buck
said: The appellation Presbyterian, in
England, is appropriated to a body Of dis
scntcrs who have not any attachment to
the Scotch mode of church government any
more than to episcopacy among us; sand
therefore, the term Presbyterian is here i'm
properly applied. How this mlsapplica-
tion came to pass cannot be easily de-
termined English Presbyterians, as they
are called, adopt nearly the same mode of
church government with the Independents
Their chiet difference from the Inde-
pcndents is that they are less attached to
Calvinism.''
Article MI, on Election and Regenera-
tion, of the English Presbyterian Church
reads: eve humbly own and believe that
God, the Father, before the foundation Of the
world, was pleased of His sovereign grace
10 choose unto Himself in Christ people
whom he gaveto tie Son and to whom the
Holy Spirit imparts spiritual life by
secret and wonderful operation of His
power, using as His ordinary means, where
wears of understanding have been reached,
'he truths of His Word in ways agreeable
to the nature Of man; thar, being born
from above, they are the children OF God,
Little Difference in Doctrine.
This and the 18th article, which treats of
sanctihcation and perseverance, seem in let
ter and spirit to agree SO nearly with the
fourth and fifth points of Calvinism, that
though Rev. Charles Buck saw a distinc-
tion, laymen nigh: be pardoned if unable
to substantial difference in doctrine
between English and Scotch Presbyterians,
and Mr.. Fetzer, who. is descended from
long line of Coyenanting ancestry, seems to
think that the English Presbyterian form
of expression may ne found to have the
power of cohesion, and as there is talk at
present of the United Presbyterians letting
down the bars to admit members of the G.
A. L. and the il. o. U. A. NJ, he thinks 1t
good time to push his propaganda.
a meeting of the Pittsburg Presbytery
had been announced to be held in the First
Church on Wood street Yesterday, but it
failed to convene. as there was no business
OF any Importance to be transacted.