Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-17

tion--The Narszawiak Case.
81. Louis Correspondence of Philadelphia Ledger.
"Shall we shelve or revise the West
minister Confession OF FAITH" This is
the query that is disturbing large
part of the Presbyterian Church, whose
General Assembly is to meet in st.
Louis the last two weeks of this month.
Beginning its session on Thursday,
May 18th, in the Washington and Comp
ton Avenue Church, it promises to be
one of the most important meetings
held in score of years. The variety
and interest of the topics on the pro-
gramme and the scope and possible
effects Of the overtures TO BIO presented
will make this memorable assembly.
The dissatisfaction over the failure
to revise the Westminster Confession of
Faith 10 years ago has been revived
recently by the sermon delivered in
New York few weeks ago by tina Rev.
DIR. N. n. Hills, who publicly repudi-
ated certain statements in the Presby.
terrain creed Although the pastor of n
Congregational church, DIR. Hills had
retained his ecclesiastical connection
with the Presbytcry of Chicago. So
violent was the criticism passed upon
.ha sermon by members of that presby-
'ery that DIR. Hills requested the pres
tbytery 10 drop his name from Its roll.
The request was granted, being ac-
compsnied by a resolution expressing
thigh appreciation of the attractive
personality, the brilliant intellectual
gifts and the useful ministry of DIR.
Hills, assuring him that he IS held in
affectionate esteem by his brethren OF
the presbytery. who will continue to
pray that upon his heart, home and
labors, the richest blessing Of God may
rest.''
This additional statement made by
the presbytery has done much to stimu-
lat5 the movement towards new creed
or the revision of the old one 10 which
the love of God shall be its GENITAL doc
trine. The presbytery admits that the
words of chapter 3, sections 3 and 4,
Of the Confession of Faith as quoted by
DIR. Hills are to certain minds source
of misunderstanding and embarrass-
ment. But it also calls attention to
the fact that subscription to the Con.
fession is simply subscription to it 'as
containing the system of doctrine taught
in the Scriptures. - That the words
quoted by DR.. Hills are not regarded by
the church as essential and necessary
to this system was indicated at the
time of the revision movement. The
General Assembly of 1890 appointed a
committee of revision, who ''shall not
propose any alterations or amendments
that will in any way impair the in
tregrity of the Reformed or Calvinistic
system OF doctrine taught in the Con-
fession Of Faith" The committee with
almost entire unanimity prepared and
recommended report of revision which
strikes out entirely fsectIons 3 and 4,
chapter 3. This report was adopted
by the General Assembly of 1882 and
transmitted to the presbyteries for
their action.
This fact indicates that neither the
revision committee nor the General AS
sembly regarded these sections Of chap.
ter B as essential and necessary to the
Integrity of the Reformed or CALVIN
istio system of doctrine"
The following are the sections in the
Confession to which execution is taken
iii. By the decree Of God, for the
manifestation Of His glory, some men
and angels are predestiued unto ever,
lasting life, and others fore ordained
unto everlasting death.
"lN, These angels and men, thus
predestined and fore ordained, are par
ticulariy and unchangeably designed
and their number is so certain and
definite that it cannot be either in,
creased or diminished. -
Several presbytel les have asked speci
fically that the assembly should an
point committee TO consider the
whole question OF creed revision, whilt
others desire simply that a new Greco
should be ordered, leaving the old ont
untouched, to be preserved intact as az
historical document, while the new
version shall he the working creed o
the church. These overtures will all b,
referred 10 the committee on bills ant
overtures, Of which the Rev. DIR
Robert f. Sample of New York will b
the chairman. A report will be pre-
sented to the assembly and steps ma,
be taken which shall lead to new OK
preston of Presbyterian faith.
A year ago the Presbytery of Chicag
sent an overture to the assembly, thel
in session in Minneapolis, whicl
caused considerable discussion and re
suited in tho appointment Of srecia
committee, to confer with the authcri
ties of the theological seminaries an,
other educational institutions, an,
with tho Board of Education, and &
Investigate thoroughly tho whole sub
ject of ministerial education.
Starting with the statement tina
within the last few years there has bee
such loss in the number of candidate
under the care of the presbyteries a
seriously to threaten the future suppl
of men qualified for the ministry, til
presbytery asked for the appointment
OF such a committee, men represents
tive of the different aspects OF the uues
tions involved, to constitute a CON
prehensiye inquiry Into the cause
ministerial education, and, in particr
lar, into the following questions, viz.
THE claims of the ministry upo
our consecrated young mon the COZ
dtions under which these young me
should be received as candidates fl
the ministry under the care of tn
church, including not only piety an
zeal, but their degree of SCHOLARSHIP
as we'll; the relation which cand;dat,
sustain toward presbyteries and IL
mutual duties involved therein; Il
wisdom of system of beneficiary edl
cation; the extent to which and ii
limit under which such a syste
should be operated; the effectivene
OF our present methods under this sy
TEN; the relation hetween this syste
and the system of endowed SCHOLARSHIP
In theological Summaries; the arrane
ment OF our course of training for Il
ministry as between study and practic
work; the proper method of introdu
ing candidates into the active work
the Gospel ministry and such 9th
questions as are mutually related