The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-22
CREED OF PRESBY4ERIANS
Washington Ministers to Meet to
Consider Changes in 1t.
The Subject May De Presented to the
General Assembly mt the Coming
Meeting mt st. LOuis-Rey. Teunis
:. EnmIin and Rev. Wallace Rad
cIiGe Talk of the Movement

The Washington Presbytery will discuss
the necessity for a new and shorter creed.
and consider the preparation of an over
ture OF the subject to be presented to the
General Assembly, at a special meeting
called for May Z, at 10 a. m, in the Church
of the Covenant. The overture is for
presentation to the meeting of the General
Assembly at St. Louis, on the third Thurs
day in May.
Rev Dr. Teunis S. Hamlin, pastor OF the
Church OF the Covenant, and the originator
Of the petition. for the special meetingof the
Washington Presbytery, stated yesterday
that he designed, in the overture he wished
to have prepared by the Washington Pres
bytery for presentation to the General As
sembly, nothing further than a request
that the Assembly take up the subject OF
the need of a shorter creed, through the
channel of its regular order of procedure.
No accommodates as TO its character,
or for alteration or omission in the new
creed 10 be embodied in the overture,
were contemplated by him. He stated that
under the most favorable conditions a new
creed could not be adopted before 1902.
IF the General Assembly of 1900 con-
sents to take up the matter" he said,
"a committee would be appointed, as tee
usual course, to pass upon the need OF a
new creed, and this committee would re-
port to the Assembly of 1901. In the
event of a favorable report the Assembly
of 1901. il it saw fit would select a sec
ond committee TO devise and recommend a
satisfactory creed to the Assembly of
1902. This would be the earliest possible
date at which the adoption OF new creed
could be consummated. Opposition would
most likely defer this final action to
later meeting Of the Assembly"
DR.. Hamlin stated that at present the
Interpretation of the Westminster Con-
fession was left to the individual con-
sciences of its signatees. 4 most liberal
construction was now permitted.
Rev Wallace Radcliffe, pastor OF the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church,
said: Il am in favor of the contemplated
change in the creed
Replying to an enquiry as to the char
acter of the new creed. he said: The Few
creed will have TO be brief and evangeli-
cal. and Enthusiastically in accord with the
Calyinistic system of doctrine. There is
no condition of mind prevalent in the
Church which would belittle or weaken the
distinctive doctrines of Calvinism. The
Westminster Confession was written in
the seventeenth century and for that CEN
fury. In consequence, there are state
ments which, in present conditions are,
some of them. archaic, and others quite
susceptible to Misrepresentation. The new
creed viii be written for the twentieth
century and for present conditions. II will
adhere to the present definition of the
Bible, of atonement, and divine sovereign
ty. 1t will not have so much to say about
the Man of Sin. 1t Will not follow out log
teal deductions. II will be more explicit
on the doctrine OF the Holy Ghost. Ii will
emphasize the love of God and give large
place to the duty of missions"
Rev Asa 5 Fiske. rector Of Gunton Me
mortal Church. and formerly Moderator
of the Washington Presbytery. said that
ten years ago the subject Of new creed
had been aeitatei in the General Assembly.
Fully two-thirds of the Presbytery of the
then favored a change. The creed
reported, however was not in accord with
the views of the extreme reyisionists, and
they united with those members of the
Presbytery who were opposed to any al
ITERATION at all in the creed and in this
wise. the two extremes OF revisiouists and
defeated the project The
heresy charges against Or. Briggs came
I'M at this period. and it was then deemed
inadvisable to further agitate a revision
and it was allowed to pass out OF sight. !
In the present movement, it is found de-
sirable not to revise the present creed !
which Is a lengthy document and really
on theology but TO prepare new |
creed in brief from which shall be elimi-
mated the hyper Caivinistic character of |
the present creed. There is contemplated |
Ito revision along the lines OF higher criti-
cism. And those who defend the infalll !
bility of the Scriptures and their absolute =
and those who believe in the