The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1900-07-11
"Foot-Note-ing the Westminster Confession.
By THE REV. CHARLES N. VAN HoUrEN.

BY THE REV. CHARLES N VAN HoUTEN
In recent article June 27th) of the CENTRAL Dr.
Daniel has raised a question to the wisdom at
least II not the constutonaity, of the action of the
last Assembly touching this matter
The Assembly adopted the following: Overture
No. SIS and w. E. fitzpatrick from Presbytery of
Brazos, praying amendment to the Confession of
faiul chapter X, paragraph 3, towit All dying in
infancy are elect infants and are regenerated' etc
dHS5rer: We recommend that the PRAYER of the
overture be declined, nasmuch the present lam
guage of the Confession cannot by any fair inter-
probation, be construed teaching that anv of those
who die in infancy are lost"
There seemed to be very general desire on the
part of every commissioner to avoid as rAeh as nos
sble anything that would precpitate debate on the
question of the revision of the Standards and as one
OF the commissioners the writer felt that the above
would operate as quietus in the whole matter
But when at late hour of the Assembly, and near
the close OF protracted session. when the whole AS
sembly was weared with great burden Of important
work DONE the following resolution was offered:
ReSol0ed That in every edition of the Confession
of Faith published hereafter the Committee of Pub
LEGATION be instructed insert as an explanatory foot
note the action of this Assembly regarding elect in
fants dying in infancy"
The writer must confess that he was not prepared
for so important matter 1t seemed to him to come
AS he had been compelled be before the Assembly
on matters which he had been requested to represent
he therefore felt hestancy this was his first As
Sembly and he a young man, of standing up and
questioning the wisdom of the resolution
We feel that not alone in the opinion
that the action questionable and it was because
OF having been frequently before the Assembly and
the unwlllngness OF the Assembly to hear a pro-
tracted debate at that time and the fact that there
were wiser men and older men in the Assembly
whom we felt would have sounded the alarm if the
action were wrong, that we remained silent Never
theess we felt then and do that the action comes
very near to making addition to the Confession
although it be only foot-note and that an nterDre-
tation.
1t opens the door for the same action touching the
other sections referring to Gods eternal DEGREES"
etc
The writer only speaks for himself as an indi-
Wdual and hesitaes to write this communication in
criticism OF the action of body Of which he was
member as not in good taste and trusts that the
Committee Of Publication will 60 slow.
1t occurred to him at the time of the action of the
Assembly that possibly we had on hand a good stock,
OF CONCESSIONS and that the committee would not be
called upon to issue new edition until after the
whole matter had been thoroughly discussed, and
then the wisdom of the action seen.
These are the reasons why it seems to him that
TINS question did not receive more consideration
than was given it at the time AS Dr. Daniel rightly
says, it is worthy of more consideration than if
could have received