The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-22
MODERN THOUGHT IN THE PRES
BYTERIAN CHURCH.


The agitation within the Presbyterian
church for a revision CT the Westminster
Confession, particularly as to the third
and fourth sections Of the third chap er,
has latterly assumed a strength which IN
dicates that at the next general assembly
the revisionists will be sufficiently inf1u-
entail. to overcome the opposition of The
conservative element which has hitherto
dominated the church councils 1t is i'm
possible that the dignified protests of such
men as Drs. McGifrert and Hills can be
passed unnoticed, and, with the strong
support they have received, especially n
the West. 1t is not probable that the-e
two men can receive the treatment which
was meted to- DR.. Briggs and other pro-
testants of former years.
That part Of chapter 8 of. the Confession
which declares that for the manifesto ion
of Gods glory some men and angels ere
predestined to everlasting life and Others
are foreordained to everlasting death. has
proved stumbling block for many years
to many faithful and conscientious Pres
byterians. This declaration has been pro-
ductive of more anguish of mind, per-
declaration of Christian faith in any
Christian creed. Thousands of poor uIs
have suffered mental and spiritual tor
ture. not only on account of their own
the fear that those near and dear to them
might be foreordained to everlasting
death and punishment. that they might
be eternally damned for no fault of their
own. Many mothers tender heart has
been fearfully oppressed and torn with
sorrow and pain at the thought that her
offspring might not be Of the elect To
those who do not adhere to the Presby-
terian creed such a fear may seem gro
tesque and fanciful, but 1t has been ter
ribly real to many faithful member of
that church, and is so today. To disbe-
lieve that God, in His infinite justice. and
Christ. in His mercy and love. could so
deal with poor humanity, was to abandon
and discredit the faith Of their forefath-
ers. faith which the adherents of no
other creed more sacredly cherish and re-
tinue to believe In all its declarations has
been to suffer sorrow and fear unspeak-
able
Modern methods of religious thought
tn hyin
heve religion of the gloom and fanaticis1n
engendered by years of oppression and
strife. The stern teachings of the Mosaic
law; the narrow conceptions of the zeal
OTIS of the sixteenth century and The dar,,
views of Gods justice have given way
before the doctrine of Christ's love and
atonement The fundamental principles
of the Christian religion today are peace
forbearance, mercy and forgiveness. with
absolute, equitable and eternal justice as
their foundation
Year by year the spirit of Presbyterian
ism has grown brighter and leaned more
towards the teachings of mercy and
forgiveness for all men. and with this
there has been tendency to set aside the
stern declaration of the third chapter Of
the Westminster Confession until now
the heartfelt cry of large number Of
the church membership is for specific re>
lief from the anomalous position In which
they find themselves. They ask that these
sections OF the creed be expurgated. or
that a supplementary and explanatory
statement be added TO the Confession.
The Presbyterian church in America
has been slow in arriving at this stage
The Scotch Presbyterians have adopted
a supplementary statement. aud. the Eng
lish Presbyterians. have set the confess
SIGN asides and formulated a short. new
code. which inl both cases has furnished.
concise and satisfactory working creed