The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-12
DECIDED FOR REVISION
Baltimore Presbyfery Votes on a
Change in Greed.
Fsvors Alterations in the Confession,
But Wants the Catchism to Remain
Intaet-Inseresting Discussion by
the Frenehers at the Session.
The vote stood 10 to "a.

ionged discussion the Presbytery OF Balti-
more, which met yesterday. placed itself
upon record as faForiEg q revision of
the Presbyterian Confession of Faith.
Acting also upon the suggestion of the
committee appointed by the General AS
sembly to enquire into the wishes of the
individual Presbyteries. resolutions were
passed Indicating the direction aid ex-
tent of the revision desired.
William Reynolds. an ex-elder of the
First Church. presented the resolutions.
which were adopted with practical
unanimity. They are as follows:
THAT this Presbytery favor such re-
vision Of the text oethe Confession OF
Faith tsubstantialiy as recommended by
the overtures submitted by the General
Assembly in 1922 as will ehyiate the
necessity for any further explanation OF
the meaning of chapters and 10. and
viii also set forth clearly the belief of
the Church as TO the love OF God. The
Word of the Holy Spirit and our duty
TO preach the gospel 10 all nations
That the Presbytery believing the
Shorter Catechism, which is required By
the directory for worship to be taught
to the children of the Church, 20 answer
every purpose for which any b1iefer state
ment OF our faith than that contained in
the Confession thus amended could be
used. sees no necessity for the adoption
of any other supplementary or explana-
tory statement thereof
The decision in favor of revision was
passed by vote Of 45 to q.
Rev. J. =. Campbell, pastor of First
Church. precipitated debate by moving
that the vote on the revision be taken
judges he said not jurors The whole
matter has been so thoroughly agitated
that every level headed Presbyterian min
lister must have ccme to some decision.
We are not deciding on a question of or
ganie law, but on a question Of proce-
dure. If it were question of organic
law I would be willing to spend q century
, In discussion"
The Rev. DR.. ]. E. MofTatt. OF Cumber-
land, took exception 10 DR.. Campbeiis
statement that no question Of organic law
was involved at looks IN that direc-
ton" he said -And to say that our &C
ton is only tentative does not dispose Of
cur responsibility"
This is simply matter of procedure .
remarked Rev Frank Williams. Of Boun-
dairy Avenue Church, "aRd since the com
mittee has already met, we're little
bit slow
4 would rather stay here until the end
of the century and discuss the matter
than be mu1zled in this way It's con-
trary 10 tie spirit OF the Presbyeery,
the Rev Dr. W H PurneI added
Others added their protest, but the pro-
tests were followed by storms Of CUES
tionl question:" y large majority were in
favor of voting without further discussion
ard the voting began. Acting upon mo-
ton put by Rev E. II. Robbins, pastor Of
Fulton Avenue Church. the fourth ques-
= IN, ? Tszx-. 10 no
byteries by the specially appointed COM
mittee was voted upon first and was car
ried by the vote of 10 10 24-
These are the questions:
seFirst-Do you desire revision Of our
Confession OF Faith? Or,
Secondly, do you desire supplement
tai explanatory statement Or.
Thirdly, do you desire to supplement
our present Doctrinaf Standards with
briefer statement of the doctrines most
surely believed among US. expressing in
simple language the faith 81 the church
in loyalty TO the system of doctrine &C n
tanned in Holy Scriptures AMI held by the
Reformed churches? Or,
'FouTthly do you desire the dismissal
of the whole subject, so that our Docsri-
nal Standards shall remain as they are,
without any change whatever, whether re-
visional. supplementary. or substitution
alp
TIE votes on the first. second, and third
were as follows No. Ia ayes and II
nays No. - ayes and IS nays. No. s.
s ayes and 81 nays.
The decision in favor OF some change
was reached late il the afternoon and an
evening session OF the PFesbytery was
called 50 that the remaining three cues
tiens might be voted upon The attend
ance at the night session was appreciably
smaller than at the day sessions. account
Fno difference in he f0+af vaipS
cast
DR. Jennison. whose name was the first
called on the fourth proposition Of the aft
ernocH session. asked to be excused from
voting
Rev. r H. Williams. pastor Of the Wal
brook Cnuren. was opposed TO revision i
believe" he said "that before many years
the Southern Church VIII ask to be united
with ours. 4 revision OF cur Confession
of Faith would be barrier TO such I'M
ion And again. the time IS not ripe for
revision. You rarely find church chang
ing its creed during time Of indifference
to religion. 4 IS the poorest possible
time"
The Rev. DR.. Branch. the stated clerk,
voted for dismissal CT the whole subject
Of revision. Rev Oliver Hemstreet, his
assistant, voted in the same way. DR..
Moffat voted in favor OF revision. By re-
vision. he said. those things might be
eliminated which had been stumbling
blocks to many
The moderator OF the meeting Rev. 7.
r Dixon, of Frederick; Rev. z. II. Rob-
bins. Rev J. P. Campbell, Rev. Donald
Guthrie. Rev. De Witt NJ Bsnham. Rev.
E. z. Weaver. Rev. Howard. Taylor. and
Rev. Frank Williams, were among those
who voted in favor Of revision
Rev Mr. Allison said he believed in hav-
ing an explanatory statement touching
upon the clause relating to elect infants
creed does not lay enough stress upon
Gods love Rev o. w Zeigler, of Barton.
Nd. was IN favor OF revision He said
men who are to ali other respects CAL
yIuists are kept out of the Presbyterian
Church and the eldership by the present
Confession Of FAITH
When the names of ali the ministers had
been called request was made that as
Dr.. Jeanison had apparently naisunder-
stood the purpose OF DR.. CampbefFs mo-
ton be be given the opportunity of re-
eording his vote il he felt so inclined He
said that he had been afraid of snap judg-
ment OF the part OF the Presbytery. To
the surprise of many he recorded his vote
IN favor Of revision He stepped to the
centre Of The church so the ministers could
face him as ne gave his reasons for voting
as he did. a solemn hush fell over the
ministers as he continued:
'T would like TO ask IL any minister here
has stood before the members OF his cor
gregation and hiss told them that no mat
ter how they might order their lives the
to nor diminished" Rev Mr. PuIhsra. OF
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