The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-23
HRESY CASE Is DROPPED
CELEBRATED CHARGES AGAINST
PROF. M'GIFFERT WITHDRAWN
IN ST. LOUIS
WERE AIRED IN MINNEAPOLIS
Then New York Became the Scene
of Action-NOw There viii BE {,
Pence-Change of Creed
Opposed.

report on the McGiffert case at the after
noon session of the assembly the commits
sioners and denominational friends
crowded the big auditorium of the church
to its fullest capacity
Additional to this interesting feature
the committee on bills and overtures
sprung a surprise on the assembly by
submitting its report on the revision of
the creed of the Presbyterian church For
this the assembly We're not prepared and
the matter caused intense suppressed ex-
c1tement. The committee on bills and ov-
ertures recommended the whole matter be
referred to a committee of fifteen, COM
posed of eight ministers and seven eld-
ers to be appointed from the church at
large by the moderator. to consider a re-
statement of doctrine and report to the
next assembly. The time was extended
for the discussion of the report of the
committee, no definite action, however,
was taken and the matter was postponed
until Wednesday.
WAS A COMPROMISE.
The bringing of the NdcGiffert case
before the assembly and the result of
the action of the judicial committee in
the matter were the greatest surprises
yet sprung upon the assembly
Ihe hnal action IS in the nature of a
compromise. 1t will be remembered that
DR.. George w. F. Burch d. D., of New
York charged that Rev A c. McGif-
fert, Phi. D., D. D., minister of the Pres
byterjan church and a member of the
Pr56oytery of New York, had publicly
denied the fundamental doctrine of the
immediate inspiration by God. and the
truthfulness and authority of the holy
scripture as set forth in the confession
of faith, and the scripture itself in a
book which he published, entitled "a
History of Christianity IN the Apostolic
Age. This charge was dismissed by
the Presbytery of New York before
which body it was tried DIR. Burch took
an appeal to the general assembly. The
appellant was given leave this after
noon to Withdraw his appeal.
In January, 1900 DR.. Burch was warned
by the Presbytery of New York that if
he failed to show probable cause for
the charge he must be censured for dis
turbtng the peace Of the church by in
stituting trial for heresy which was
not justified by the courts of the church
The assembly did not justify his action,
and DR.. Burch chose to remove the Ii
ability to censure by Withdrawing his
appeal
The first business of the afternoon
| session was the reading of an overture
| relating to terms of service, duties and
| salary of the stated clerk. On this over
| ture the committee recommended no ac-
ton, which was approved by the assem5-
| ly This action sets aside the possible
reduction of the salary of the stated
| clerk from $4,000 to $3,000 as some of the
! commissioners desired.
CHANGE OF CREED
| Rev. DR.. Herrick Johnson, of Chicago.
! of the committee on bills and overtures,
| read the report, which showed that there
We're before the committee thirty-eight
| different overtures on the general subject
| of change of creed, and $50 presbyteries
| had proposed no change of confession of
faith. OF the thirty-eight requesting
! the change, one presbytery asked for a
revision that would not impair the Cal
| whistle system; SIX presbyteries were in
! favor Of a shorter creed twenty desired
! a new and shorter creed, one an alter
native creed, three a supplementary or
| fifth statement of doctrines, eight sum
mary of Christian doctrine, eight others
! desired new creed as business of
! subscription, and the nine remaining
presbyteries suggest that the assembly
| appoint committee to act and report to
| the assembly.
Dr. Johnson said the committee deemed
the ovei ture of such varied nature and
of such number as to justify some ac-
! ton on the part of the assembly. They
were 81 fdIlSus odlu liC, llldl 1lO pau
proposed could be tried and to enter at
once upon either plan proposed was i'm
! possible to warrant the proper express
sion of the 112th general assembly.
The committee recommended that a
committee 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 to report
to the next assembly what specific action
should be taken by the 18th assembly.
It was also recommended that the differ
ent presbyteries take action on the mat
ter of revision at the fall meetings and
report to the next assembly
The report of the committee called
forth a vigorous discussion.
OPPOSED CHANGE.
DR.. Robert F. Sample, chairman of the
committee on bills and oVertures, was
the first speaker He deplored the prev
aIence Of the idea that a change of creed
was necessary. He admitted, with re-
gret, that some statements relating to
predestination should be considered care
fully, and declared that through the sac
rific:al blood os Christ infants were saved
at death. He closed with the words:
IF the creed should be changed we
would never see its like again"
Dr. George F. Pentecost, of New York,
| opposed the recommendation of the COM
mittee. He said the church needed no
simpler statement of the main truths
that Christ taught than is Incorporated
] in the confession of faith.
Among those who advocated the rec
| ommendation of the committee were Drs
! KempshaH of Elizabeth, n. j., and
! Suthphan, of Cleveland, o. DR.. William
McKibbln. DR. Graham, of Pennsylvania,
and DR.. Craig spoke against the resolu-
ton.
The time having arrived for the second
order of business, the assembly post
poned further discussion on revision until
Wednesday afternoon.
DR. William McKibbin, chairman OF the
committee on appointment OF permanent
clerk road the report of the committee.
Seven candidates were placed in nomina-
ton. They were: Rev Henry Branch'
of the synod Of Baltimore; Rev. william
! Noble. of Califo- MIA; Rev. BenJamln M
Gem1nilI. of Philadelphia; Kew. 4. L.
e,,.yie eert of Ohio; Rev. Ralston I. Smith
If New York: Rev j. H. Miller, of Mis-
So,,ri. Rev. C. S. Mcclellan, Of Pennsyl-
yania.
Tbe change of tenure of term service
| &c the nermanent and stated clerk, which
Iad ~ agita+ed the assembly for some
--aars was voted down without recon-
| mendation. 49,, !,
Rev DR.. Mex. .bbin. chairman of the Ju-
diciaf committee, read the report OF the
i,,aIcial committee on the McGiHert case.
The appellant was allowed TO "ithuram iN.
his appeal, which settled the hefesy
case.
CUMBERLAND PREsBYTERIANS.
Committee on Publications Presents