The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-04-22
Prominent Presbyterian Ministers
of England Express Opinions
on the Problem.
RESULT OF JOURNALS POLL
Two-Thirds of the Pastors Intes.
viewed Favor Il Revision Of the
Confession of Faith-Some
Are More Radical.
SPECIAL. EY z

SPECIAL Ey CABLE. y
London, April Z~.-tCopyright. 1919. by y.
r.. Hearst.)-The discussion conducted b2
the Journal on the advisability Of the re-
vision of the Westminster Confession OF
Faith is Attracting much attention here
Your correspondent interviewed two OF tho
best clerical authorities In Great Britain
ON the subject.
! The Reverend William McKaw. synod
clerk to the Presbyterian Church CT Eng
land. said:
The Westminster Confession was reo-
! ognized in 1880 by our church TO require adj
justmeTt. Complaints were made both by
preachers and elders that more liberty
than the confession prescribed was neces-
sary. The result was that the synod ap-
proved twenty-four new articles with an
appendix OF declarations on secondary mat
tiers, such as church politics. discipline in
the cHurch'and marriage and divorce. These
articles do not alter the fundamental doc
trines of the Westminster Confession. hut
rather adjust their theological perspective
Inc Confession was essentially Intended
for fighting times. and certain doctrines
had necessarily to be brought prominent,N
to the front and Insisted upon as a safe
guard. but the PRESBYTERIAN CHI -ch enio,a
comparative peace now. and did ten years.
ago. and it was felt that the pugil;stic attL
tude was a lever on progress. The SynooS
III u st-J.SlIf4tUt, ItOh the stand on ShaS9
things rather in a positive than n negative
Side. and has found that the change has
been accepted not only by the whole church.
but by new churches spriuging up.
The American church Is evidently finding
the same difficulties which faced the EnSe
lish church. There is danger in revision.
| cannot advise anythine more cautious
and effective than an adjustment on lines
approved in England"
The Reverend Professor Orr. who has re-
p~eateGly visited America and is well known
In both countries, was interviewed In Edso-
burgh. and said:
discussion regarding the Confession ws.
much more acute In Scotland years ago
than to-day. Considerable movement exc,
listed at that time in my own church In ia
vor of revision. | took an active part in
1t and favored the change. If the question
is no longer a burning one. isn't it because
theological opinion has come mora into
harmony with what may be called recuii-
aritieS of confession
y the same time there is no doubt that
a great revolution has gradually been taxi
ing place in theological thinking and that
any creed that was sought to express tina
living faith OF churches to-day would bs
cast in a very different mould from tho
Westminster Confession and would pc very
much simpler in character.
Why such n revision is not attempted
is probably that the theological crisis
through which we are passing has not yet
worked itself into perfect Clearness. and
that any cried which could at present he
makeshtfts and compromises To be salts
factory.
The best thinkers and historians havN
paid the grandest tribute 10 CalviniSm. Its
Influence Is not likely. therefore. to perish
under the attacks OF Doctor Hills and his
friends. But 7 am quite aware Of the limi-
tations of Calvinism and of the need OF en-
larSing its outlook by a more organized
view OF tho divine purpose and of divine
character which gives It's scr!ptural place
to the attribute of love"
TwO-TIfiEDs FAVOR REvISION<
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York, April 2-The Journals pom
nf Presbyterian ministers of Greater New
York ard the entire country on the ques-
tion OF the revision of the Westminster
Confession of Faith has developed aston
ishing results No loss than two-thirds OF
In" ministers Interviewed by correspondents
i'm different parts Of the country declare
themselves frankly in favor Of revision
and most of these think that mere revision
Will not be acceptable. and that an entirely
new creed. simp'" and direct, should ba
drafted.
IN" following table Is a mmar OF the
Vows nf representative Presbyterian
c!"'sytnFr Of the United States on the ques-