The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-23
.M'GIFFERT
HERESY CASE
is SETTLED.
Appellant Allowed to Withdraw his
Appeal BY the Presbyterian
Judiciary Committee.
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
VIII Hardly be Changed This Sos
siOn-oommittee of Fifteen
Recommended.


ST. LOUIS, May 22.-Anticipatlng that
the judicial committee would make Its
report on the McGlnert cast at the af-
ternoon session of the general assem-
bly,, the commissioners and donomlna-
tlonal friends crowded the big auditor
ium of the church to It's utmost capncl-
ty. Additional to this interesting fea-
ture. the committee on bills and over
lures sprung surprise on the assem-
bly, by submitting its report on the re.
vision of the creed OF the Presbyterian
church. For this the assembly was not
prepared and the matter caused intense
suppressed excitement, The committee
on bills and overtures recommended
that the whole matter be referred to a
committee OF fifteen composed Of eight
ministers and seven elders, to be ap-
pointed from the church at large by the
moderator, to consider a restatement Of
doctrine and report to the next assem-
bly,. The time was extended for the
discussion Of the report of the commit
tee; no definite action, however, was
taken and the matter was deferred un-
til tomorrow.
Clerks Salary Not Reduced.
The first business Of the afternoon
session was the reading OF an overture
relating to the terms OF service. duties
and salary Of the stated clerk. ON this
overture, the committee recommended
no action, which was approved by the
assembly. This action sets aside the
possible reduction Of the salary OF the
stated clerk from $4,000 to $4,000, as
some Of the commissioners desired.
Rev DR.. Herrick Johnson, Of the COM
mittee on bills and oyertures, read the
report, which showed that there were
before the committee thirty-eight DIFF
ferent oyertures on the general subject
of change Of creed and that 1870 Presby-
teries had proposed no change Of con-
fessiun of faith. OF the thlrty-elsht re.
auesting the change, one Presbytery
asked for a revision that would not i'm
pair the calvlnistlc system; six Presby-
teries we're In favor OF u shorter creed,
three a supplementary or fifth state
ment of doctrines, eight summary of
Christian doctrine; eight others desired
a new creed as business proposition
and the nine remaining Presbyteries
suggested that the assembly appoint a
committee to act and report TO the as
sembly.
On Revision of the Greed.
Mr.. johnson said the committee
deemed the overtures Of such varied ma
ture and of such number as to justify
some action on the part of the assem-
bly,. They were so varied, he said, that
no plan proposed could be tried. The
committee recommended that COM
mittee OF fifteen be appointed to con-
sIst of eight ministers and seven elders
from the church at large, to consider a
restatement of doctrine and report to
the next assembly what specific action
should be taken by the 18th assembly.
1t was also recommended that the DIFF
ferent Presbyteries take action on the
matter OF revision at the fall meeting
and report to the next assembly The
report Of the committee called forth a
vigorous discussion.
Seven Candidates for Clerk.
The time having arrived for the sec
ond order of business, the assembly
postponed further discussion on revision
until Wednesday afternoon. DR.. Will
liam McKlbben, chairman of committee
on appointment of permnnen; clerk,
read the report of the committee. Seven
candidates were placed in nomination.
They were: Rev. Henry Branch, of the
synod OF Baltimore; Rev. William d.
Noble, of California; Rev. Benjamin NJ.
Gemmlll, Of Philadelphia; Rev. Z. T.
swiggett, OF Ohio; Rev. Ralston t.
Smith, of New York Rev. ]. H. Miller,
of Missouri; Rev. C. S. Mcclellan, of
Pennsylvania.
The change Of tenure Of term service
OF the permanent and stated clerk
which had agItated the assembly for
some years, was voted down with re-
commentator. Rev. Or. McFibben,
chairman of the judicial committee,
rehd the report of the judicial commit
tee on the McGIfrert case. The appel
liant was allowed to withdraw his Hp-
peal, which settled the heresy case. The
assembly then adjourned until to-mor-
row morning.