The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-24
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEM-
bly, DECIDES TO NOT IGNORE
PROTESTS MADE
COMMITTEE is TO CONSIDER
SOME OPPOSED GRANTING RE-
QUESTS FOR ACTION ON CON-
FESSION OF FAITH
M. E. TIME LIMIT ABOLISHED
Ministers May in Future Remain in
a Passionate So Long as Their
Congregations Are Satisfied
With Them.

ST LOUIS, Mo-, May Pat was an
expectant Presbyterian assembly that lis
tened with suppressed feeling for the
sound of the gavel of the moderator of
the general assembly at the opening Of
the session this afternoon.
Promptly at 2:3O o'clock DR.. Dickey
raped for order and announced the first
business to be the special order for the
consideration Of the recommendations in
the report Of the committee on bills and
overtures on the proposed revision Of the
creed.
Rev. DR.. E. Trumbull Lee, Of Cincin-
nat offered a substitute to the three
recommendations Of the committee on
revision, to the effect that the twenty
eight overtures which were before the as
sembly Of 1892 also be referred to the
committee to be appointed as provided
for in the report, the committee to Con-
slider the advisability of sending one or
all of the overtures to the assembly, and
through the assembly's stated clerk to
the Presbytcries.
Rev. William Steele of East Oregon,
attempted to offer another substitute,
which was intended, he said, to ignore
revision, but the moderator ruled it out
Of order.
DR.. James Gray Bolton was the first
speaker. He opposed the substitute. He
said:
Il strongly deprecate all inflammatory
schemes in relation to the Westminster
confession, whether from our pulpits OF
from any of our scholars. My reason is
such schemes are quite apt to alarm the
church and, in the end, the effort to re-
wise OF modify the confession would re-
suit in failure. Had there been more
temperate discussion during the last at
tempt at revision, it might have sue
ceeded, but think it is too late now to
hope for success"
NO DISSATISFACTION
Rev. DR. Abraham L. Latham, of Penn
sylyania, said:
The truth is there is no general dis
satisfaction in the Presbyterian church
with the Westminster confession of faith
as a whole; there are less than a half
dozen sections in the entire confession
that cause any serious disturbance, and
in one or two sections the change Or
omission Of a single word or phrase
would settle all the controversy that has
arisen over the historical confession.
This movement is the outgrowth of ra-
tionalism. 1t does not come from the
heart of the church. The effort of the
committee will be agitation"
Rev. DIR. Richard S. Holmes, of Pitts
burg, announced himself as a conserva-
tive. and spoke for the report of the
committee. The discussion of the ques-
ton, he said, would be honest judicial
and fair, and was due the church as
privilege.
Rev Hugh McCooper of Topeka, Kan,
made dispassionate protest against the
revision movement.
Rev. DR.. Samuel P. P. Sprecher, of
Cleveland, O., said he feared there was
panicky feeling abroad, and the Pres
byterles should have an opportunity to
declare themselves on the matter of re-
vision. l do not agree with some that
the confession IS keeping men out of the
church, or that it is driving them out of
the church. / say this as the result Of
my observations during MANY wears in
the ministry in which l receive hundreds
of members into the Presbyterian com
munion."
Then followed the vote on the amend
ments. DR.. Lees substitute was lost. also
the amendment of Rev. John Graham.
The report of the committee on bills
AliN ONCA lures was InSn ADOPTED bV an
almost unanimous vote.
Rev. DR.. McKibbin made motion that
the moderator, Rev. Charles A. Dicl1ev
be made the chairman of the COMMITTEES
and it was carried.
CHOICE OF A CLERK
The assembly then took up the matter
Oh appointing permanent clerk to sue
ceed Rev DR.. William E. Moore de-
ceased. Rev. George F. Penecost placed
in nomination the name of Rev. Ralston
Smith, of the synod of New York. Rev
Henry Branch, Of the synod of Baltimore
was nominated by Rev. DR. a Addison
Smith, of the same synod. Rev. William
G. Reegle, of Blairsville, Pa, nominated
Rev. Benjamin Mckee Mcmillan. of the
synod of Pennsylvania. Rev. Hugh X
Walker nominated Rev. Dr. Noble. of
the synod of California. Rev Edward II.
Swiggett, of the synod Of Ohio, was pre-
sented by Rev. William McKibbin, of
Cincinnati Rev. Richard S. Holmes. of
Pittsburg, spoke for Rev Charles S. Nc
CleIand, of the synod of Pennsylvania.
Rev I. Ross Stevenson, of Mccormick
seminary, nominated Rev. John H. Miller.
of the synod of Missouri
Rev. DR.. Branch received Is votes; DR..
Noble, III; DR.. Gemill, q; Swiggett, &C;
DR.. Smith, So; DR.. Miller, 110, and DR.. Nc
Clelland III
Under the rules of the assembly three
names were dropped, leaving the names
of Doctors Noble. Swiggett Miller and
McClelland in nomination. On the second
count DR.. Noble received 263 votes; DR..
SWiggett, 43; Miller, I02, and DR.. McClel-
land, 15S
This result left two candidates-Dr.
Noble and DIR. McClelland, in the field.
DR.. Noble received 4oS votes and on mo
tion of DR.. Richard s. Holmes, Rev. DR..
William B. Noble, of California, was de-
Clared unanimOuslv electad