The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-22
CREED OF PRESBY9ERIANS
Washington Ministers to Meet to
Consider Changes in 1t.
The Subject May BE Presented to the
General Assembly Mt the Coming
Meeting Mt ST. LOuis-Rey. Teunis
= HnmIin and Rev. Wallace Rad
cIine Talk of the Movement.

The washington Presbytery will discuss
the necessity for a new and shorter creed,
and consider the preparation Of an over
ture OF the subject to be presented TO the
General Assembly, at a special meeting
called for May :. at 10 a. m, in the Church
Of the Covenant. The overture is for
presentation to the meeting Of the General
Assembly at st. Louis on the third Thurs
day in May.
Rev Dr. Teunis S. Hamlin, pastor Of the
Church OF the Covenant, and the originator
Of the petition for the special meetingof the
Washington Presbytery, stated yesterday
that he designed. in the overture he wished
to have prepared by the Washington Pres
bytery for presentation to the General As
sembly. nothing further than a request
that the Assembly take up the subject Of
the need Of a shorter creed, through the
channel of its regular order Of procedure.
No recommendations as to its character,
or for alteration or omission in the new
creed TO be embodied in the overture.
were contemplated by him. He stated that
under the most favorable conditions new
creed could not be adopted before 1902.
If the General Assembly Of 1900 con-
sents to take up the matter" he said,
"a committee would be appointed, as tee
usual course. to PASS upon the need Of
new creed, and this committee would re-
port to the Assembly Of 1901. In the
event Of a favorable report the Assembly
Of 1901. il il saw fit. would select a sec
Oud committee to devise and recommend a
satisfactory creed to the Assembly Of
1902. This would be the earliest possible
date at which the adoption Of a new creed
could be cOnsummated. Opposition would
most likely defer this final action TO
later meeting Of the Assembly.
Or. Hamlin stated that at present he
Interpretation Of the Westminster Con-
fession was left to the individual con-
sciences Of its siguatees. A most liberal
construction was row permitted.
Rev Wallace Radcliffe, pastor Of the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church,
said: Il am in favor of the contemplated
change in the creed
Replying to an enquiry as to the char
acter of the new creed. he said: The Few
creed will have to be brief and evangeli-
Calvinistic system Of doctrine There is
no condition Of mind prevalent in the
Church which would belittle or weaken the
distinctive doctrines Of Calvinism. The
Westminster Confession was written in
the seventeenth century and for that cen
fury. In consequence. there are state
ments which, in present conditions are,
some Of them. archaic, and others quite
susceptible TO representation. The new
creed will be written for the twentieth
century and for present conditions II viii
adhere to the present definition of the
Bible. of atonemeHt. and divine sovereign
ty. 10 Will not have 50 much to say about
the Man Of Sin. II Will not follow out log
teal deductions. II viii be more explicit
on the doctrine OF the Holy Ghost IL viii
emphasize the love Of God and give large
place to the duty of missions
Rev Asa ;. Fiske. rector Of Guutou Me /
mortal Church, and formerly Moderator 1
Of the Washington Presbytery said that I
ten years ago the subject Of a new creed I
had been agitated in the General Assembly. T
Fully two-thirds of the Presbytery of the /.
country then favored a change. The creed .
reported. however. was not in accord with
The views Of the extreme rcvisioEists. and +
they united with those members Of the I
presbytery who were opposed TO any al /
-eration at all 10 the creed. and in this
wise. the two extremes or revisiOuists and .
defeated the project The
leresy charges against Dr. Briggs came
Nd at this period. and il was then deemed
nadyisablC to further dgitate a revision
and it was allowed TO pass out Cf sight
In the present movement it is found de
.irable not 10 revise the present creed
which Is a lengthy document and really
treatise on theology but TO prepare new
freed in brief from which shall be elimi-
mated the hyper CHlvinistic character Of
he present creed. There is contemplated
no revision along the lines Of higher criti-
ism. And those who defend the infalll
oiity Of the Scriptures and their absolute
and those who believe in the