Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-25
PRESBYTERY TO MEET
THIS WEEKS SESSION OF THE
nopY OF SPECIAL INTEREST.
PRESBYTERIAN CREED.
r,. and a Half Centuries Since the
Adoption of the Westminster 0on-
<, n, Faith and Catechisms-
Mr.. Henry and DR.. Hoge 10 speak

fe..ion Of Faith and C"techisms-
Mr. Henry md DR.. Hoge TO speak.
The meeting OF the Presbytery Oh bas'
Hanover. which Will begin In Dr. her'
| church tomorrow night at ooiooN'
with the holy communion ana seinion
by the Rev. 4. 7. Jones, ID. De- VIII 10
n memorable one. because II Will De inc
occasion for celebrating the goth ami
| versary of the Presbyterian creed' WHICH
is called The Westminster Confession OIL
Faith and Catechisms."
The name of this body OF doctrine Is
derived from Westminster Abbey whefe
sat the assembly which framed 1t. Inc
work was done in what is still known
as the Jerusalem Chamber" the same III
which the revised version Of the Bioie
was made in our own time 1t Is useH
now as the place of assembly for the au-
tborities of Westminster Abbey. the Ia
nous mausoleum Of Englands mighty
dead.
THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY.
The Westminster Assembly Of divines
was called by act of Parliament, in the
DAYS Of the great upheaval-civil ana re-
ligious-which marked the latter part VI
the reign Of Charles l., King OF Eneidhu'
TO prepare a statement of doctrine, syS-
tenn of Church government, and direc-
tory Of worship for the churches or the
realm. Scotland was invited to send com
missioners to this assembly, and these
Scotch members exercised a powerful IN
huence in all that was done. Inc as
sembly convened In 1913, and the COMES
sion Of Faith was completed I'm loii. w men
first submitted TO Parliament IN LONDON
the Parliament sent it back TO the as
sembly, with instructions TO add to every
statement of doctrine such texts of Scrip
ture as would prove each declaration.
This was done, and the whole was adopt
ed bv Parliament, and Presbyterianism
was the established religion or England
for twenty years On the restoration or
the monarchy under Charles III. Episco-
macy was again established, and so con-
tines to this day.
The Westminster Confession OF Faith
was adopted for Scotland by the General
Assembly of that country. August I, 1911.
Presbyterianism had been made the es-
tabIished religion OF scotland long Dc
fore. in the time Of John Knox whose
creed. called 1.-THE Scots Confession
was adopted by the Scottish Parliament
in 1850. The Westminster Confession
took the place of the Scots Confession
In 1e47 and is still the creed Of the
Church Of Scotland.
John Knox. in 1860, not only gave Scot
land its creed, but also liturgy. callei
.rrhe Book Of Common Crdsr.' or
"I<nox's Prayer Book" which, never co n-
nuIsorv. but optional. was used more or
less for nearly one hundred years. BIT
Tho attenpt of the English Church 10
force Episcopacy upon the scotch. the
visible symbol of which was the English
Roolx of Common Prayer which attempt
acvvovs resisted, cost the lives OF lo'"D
Scotch Presbyterians by food and ak
a,d e,vord caused the Scotch to detest.
for the time, the sight and name OF a
nrover-book. so that they not only re-
iected the English Book OF Common
PRAYER. but they also threw aside their
own.
ARE STILL THE STANDARDS
The Westminster Assembly adopted the
Confession of Faith, the Form OF Govern
mont and a Directory Of Worship, which,
with very slight changes, continue 10 De
The constitution of all English-speaklng
Presbvterians to the present time.
The Presbyterians study these stand
or1s of their Church more than most
, denominations study their creeds, and
,oroa degree of the intelligent loyalty OF
presbvterians Is due 10 the fact that
in their childhood they are taught thai
part of the confession which Is sum,
mary of the whole. and which IS calied
the "Shorter Catechism," in distinction
l
the use Of adults.
,rbe Westminster Assembly took time
and Mains TO prepare these standards or
church doctrine The work began in 1913
and concluded in 1871 1t is said that
when. in the preparation Of the shorter
cs.achisno." the assembly was about 10
Frame an answer 80 the question, "What
| 10 Cod9' Il was agreed to call on the Rev.
| c,aorqe Gillespie Scotch member. to
lead the body in prayer. and that he be-
gan his supplicaton with the words 20
| cod who art n Spirit, Infinite, eternal,
and unchangeable in Thy being, wisdom,
mower holiness. justice. goodness. and
| truth" After the prayer was ended the
assembly at once decided to take Gil
Iespie's opening declaration as the answer
70 the question, "What Is God?"
USED ALL OVER THE WORLD.
This famous catechism Is used by eng
| 1ish-speal<ing Presbyterians all over me
world and often by others than Presoy-
| terians Mr.. Spurgeon. the great Baptist
| NJ London. had an edition of IT printed
for use in his Church, only emitting the
part about baptism. .
The Presbyterisns are justly proud OF
their Westminster Confession or Faith,
for II IS a strong and logical statement
of their doctrlnal beliefs and In this TWO
| hundred and fftieth year OF ITS history
will. in all parts of the world. by suitable
| ceremonies celebrate its adoption In the
seventeenth century. as well as the dis
| tinguished scholarship. piety, and ablli-
| ties Of the eminent men who gave IL 10
| the Church and the world.
HAVE TWO SPECIAL ADDRESSES.
The services of the celebration will be
held by the East Hanover Presbytery in
DR.. Kerrs church on Tuesday and We'd
nesday nights Of this week. On Tuesday
| night the Hon. w. w. Henry will deliver
an address on the personnel OF the West
minister Assembly ana the events which
| led up to it; and on Wednesday night
| the Rev. NJ. d. Hoge, ID. D.. will speak
| on the Influence of the Westminster As
sembiy Upon the Religions of the World"
| II is authoritatively stated that these
meetings, and. indeed, all of the meetings
| of the presbytery which will continue
| through the week. will be open 10 the
| public.