New-York tribune., 1900-05-14
THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
The Presbyterian General Assembly which
will begin its sessions in ST. Louis on Thursday
will probably be called upon to consider the adj
visibility Of revising the Westminster Confes-
sion of Faith or framing a new and simpler
creed. This question assumed a practical form
a few weeks ago, when DR.. Hills. of Brooklyn
who was a member OF the Chicago Presbytery
repudiated these two sections of the Confessions
B. BY the decree OF Cod for the manifestation
OF HIS glory. some men and angels predes-
tinated unto everlasting life, and others foreor-
dained unto everlasting death.
T. These angels and men. thus predestinated
and foreordained. are particularly and un-
changeably designed; and their number is so
certain and definite that it cannot be either in
creased or diminished.
AS result of that Reputation Dr. Hills with
drew from the Presbyterian ministry and
number of Presbyteries sent overtures to the
General Assembly praying it in some way to re-
lieve the Church of the burden of subscribing 10
these sections, which. it is declared are no
longer believed by the great majority of Pres
byterians. Such is the present state of the
question, The General Assembly nead not take
any action at all in the matter. Bun if it does
II viii do no more than appoint q representative
committee to report TO the General Assembly
of next year what is tes wisest course to
not generally considered feasible It is like an
arch whose stability requires the presence of
every stone. and in fact. the two sections criti-
cised may be regarded as the keystone of the
whole Calvinistic system The revisonists would
be content 10 retain the Confession ms an his
torical theological document, and have a short.
simple creed formulated as a test of Church
membership.
There are at present in the PRESBYTERIAN
Church 1872 ministers, 1857 churches and
nearly million communicates. The conribu-
uons FOR church work last year amounted to
Sl;'UII1I Much interest is felt in the report
of the Committee on Ministerial Educatiop Dur-
ing the last few years there has been serIous
decline in the number of candidates. which tbe
conservatives attribute TO the spread of Ubprnl-
ism, cutting the nerve of faith, bat which the
liberals say is due 10 the retention of consprva-
tive beliefs and traditions no longer held bv the
majority of Presbyterlans For some wears the
Union Theological Seminary OF this CITY has
been more or less under the ban because Of its
liberalism, and the report of the committee NAV
make some reference to it, Another question
that will come up will be the status of Herman
WarsZawiak. the converted Jew of this citv
whose case has been before the Church in ono
form or another for several years The with
drawal of Professor Mc(iffert from the ministry
OF the Church has probably averted another
heresy trial the consequences Of which at this
time would have been disastrous While there
is apparently truce between the liberals and
conservatives. a conflict may be precipitated al
any time, and should this be the case hoth
sides will go into the fight with all the sturdy
courage for which Presbyterians are noted
Among those who most prominently men
toned for the Moderatorship are the Rev. DR..
George B. Stewart, president Of the Auburn
theological Seminary; the Rev. Dr. Daniel
Fisher of Hanover Ind the Rev DR. William
Mchibbin, Of Cincinnati, and the Rev. DR..
Charles A. Dickey of Philadelphia These men
are all popular and have made their mark on
the history of the Presbyterian Church; but it
is possible that none of them will be able to
secure majority of votes. in which case some
DARK morse VIII be elected. The Presbyterians Of
~ LOUIS have been making elaborate prepara-
uons FOR the entertainment and comfort of the
commissioners, and 1t is believed that the meet.