New-York tribune., 1900-05-19
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.
SUBJECT OF CREED REVISION COMES Up
-OVERTTRES on THE SUBJECT IN
HANDS OF COMMITTEE.
inv rr1rcRspH 10 THE TRIBUNE. ]

little ado as if it were matter of importance
whatever whether the Confession Of Faith of
the Presbyterian Church remains as it is. is
amended or is shelved make way for a new
creed II is not probable that a third OF the
Commissioners in the church at the time,
dozen visitors in the gallery, knew the possbi-
ities that were bound UP in the little package
held loosely by the chairman of the Committee
on Bills and Overtures. the Rev Dr. Robert F.
Sample Of New-York A decade OF controversy
was suggested yesterday by one Of the speakers
as lying ahead Of the Presbyterian Church and
the beginning OF that discussion IL such there
be- was in the harmless looking overtures. which
the chairman requested permission to retain
IN the possession Of the committee. but not dis
cussion alone is threatened.
There are men in the East who are prepared to
begin legal proceedings. if the Church places the
old Confession on the shelf, basing their action
upon the terms Of reunion of the two
serrbles and the large sum which the boards of
the Church have received because Of that union
which was based on the Westminster standards.
but discussion and litigation combined
all that is threatened Should the ultra
servafive element Of the Church defeat the
vision again. II is possible that the Tlurmurs
of another storm. greater than that which pro-
duced the great division Of the Church in 1887.
will be heard so loudly that something viii be
still greater calamity
WHAT OVERTCRES CALL FOR.
The overtures from the twenty-five or thirty
Presbyteries ask for varied lines of action: some
desire revision Of the Westminster Confession
Of Faith. others ask for new creed others
still would Ike Il have the old creed revised
and new doctrinal statement added, which
they pleased to term q working creed, but
il is understood that the majority OF the over
rures ask only that the question of a revision
a new statement Of the Confession Of the
Church shall be considered, leaving the Assem-
bly, free 10 determine what form OF action it
shall take. This would indicate that the Church
itself is not prepared TO change its standards
although it is probable that now. as ten years
ago, majority of Presbyterians would be glad
- have some confessional statements modified
If that could be done without inpairing the
Pauline system Of doctrine. more popularity
known as Calvinistlc.
While the Moderator has taken no pronounced
position in the confession controversy. he is
understood not 10 be opposed TO slight modifica-
tions IN the creed if the restrictions just
served could be insured while the same time
members Of his Presbytery have said positively
when asked where he stood that the shelving
Of the confession or extreme changes in it would
not have his approval for moment. While
not against creed revision. he would be heartily
opposed TO creed emasculation, a distinction
with g vast difference.
PROSPECT OF REUNION
For generation there have been firtations
between the Two Assemblies. North and South.
In his happy address to-day DR.. Sneed told the
new Moderator that sometimes when a young
couple were not sure how much they loved each
other il was we'll TO sit down and talk the mat
ter over and the result often that they
each found that the other had a stronger at
tachment than had been suspected. The
pastor Of the St Louis church. who within the
last year or two had had such an experience
twtnkled an eye in approval of this suggestion
It is quito possible that in DR.. Samples
lures rest the beginnings of that union Of the
Presbyterian Church. for which many devout
men in all sections Of the country are earnestly
praying and for which many are working quiet
ly, bur effectively.
Thirteen special committees submitted their
reports to-day; several of them were adopted
and the rest placed on the docket for consdera-
ton later in the session. The Sunday question.
like the temperance question, seems to stir UP
al the bad blood that there is in the Assembly;
these two topics. which touch the family life
Of the Nation most deeply, cause more friction.
s rule. than any others that come up for dis
cussion.
SABBATH RESOLUTIONS.
James Yereance Of New-York. is the chair
man of the special Committee on Sabbath OBJ
seTvances Mr. Yereance was not present to-
day. and the Rev DR.. L " Hathaway a mem
Der Of the committee and secretary Of the Amer
lean Sabbath Union, presented the report and
urged its adoption. The resolutions as usual
condemned seven day journalism Sunday ex-
cursions and the appropriation of money for
expositions which were open Sunday. Two
Assembly could adopt. the feeling of the com
nittee toward corporations. Resolutions and
10. presented, read:
Resolved That We deprecate the rapidly in
ereasing Sabbath slavery Of corporate employees
IN this country: so that to-day by careful esti-
mate no less than four million thus
ensaved and robbed Of their inalienabe right
10 this day Of rest.
Resolved. That call upon the railroad COM
panies Of this land that engaged in running
Sunday excursions allowing their road and
rolling stock 10 be used for such purposes, TO
consider their action in this regard, to
cure the minimum OF transportation and service
or their employees on this day, both on economic
and moral grounds.
Slavery was softened TO employment and
"forcibly deprived" was substituted for "en-
shaved and robbed" in the first resolution, and
earnestly request" for call upon in the sec
ond- But these changes were not made until
Dr. Hathaway and DR.. McKibbin had expressed
Their opinion Of the terms employed by the
committee Dr- Hathaway and DR.. McKibbin
thought that they should stand; but others
wished TO modify them lest the st. Louis strikers
receive unintended announcement from The.
Church Of the Carpenter.
j ne committee also recommended and carried
their point. that the pastors should preach a
send coileetlon TO the American Sabbath
Union DR.. George F. Pentecost of Yonlxers
objected 70 the. second clause of this resolution
as did also DR. Cameron, Of Princeton hut II
went through with a rush The Rev T)r Tobn