The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-05-24
Votes to Ascertain Sentiment of
Presbyteries on Revision
of Creed.
VIGOROUS DEBATE ON THE QUESTION.
Two Substitutes Are Defeated by Over
whe!ming Majorities-W. B. Noble Is
Chosen Permanent Clerk.

Every suggestion tending to prevent def
mite action on the question Of revision of
creed was voted down by the Presbyterian
General Assembly yesterday and the report
Of the on Bills and Oycrtures.
referring the matter TO a special commit
Zee. was adopted by an overwhelming major
itv. This was accomplished only after a
prolonged renewal of the discussion OF Tues
day. and an exhibition of feeling which was
entirely absent from Tuesdays debate.
The action of the assembly in making the
matter the first order of business for yester-
day afternoon resulted in tie presence Of
an unusually large number Of spectators.
who, falling to find seats. ranged themselves
along either side of the auditorium. These
participated In the applause with which tell
ing points for and against the committees
proposition were received. and in the out
burst of enthusiasm which followed the an
nouncement OF the vote by the moderator.
Immediately after this the assembly N'c-
ceeded to the election Of a permanent clerk.
which resulted In the choice of tho Reverend
". q. Noble of California. The suppressed
excitement which had attended the consid-
Grafton Of the question of creed gave way
10 the usual dignified soiemnity which espe-
c.ally had characterized the morning ses-
sion. while the report of the Committee on
Foreign AiissicnS was being considered.
Doctor Lees Substitute.
The first step in the debate was the pres
entation by Doctor E. Umbu Lee OF On
cinnati of a substitute 10 that oHered by
Mr.. Graham OF Philadelphia. who on Iues-
day proposed a vote of no action IN heu
of the committees recommendations Doc
tor Lees substitute provided Tor the APP
~pointment of a special committee put ui-
rec;ed that IL consider the twehty-eiehS
overtures sent to the presbyterles by the
assembly of 1892, ana report TO the next as
semhly whether any one or all CT these
oyertures should be sent again 10 tie pres
byteries.
In presenting the substitute and opposing
the commentators Of the committee, DOG
Tor Trurnbuil heatedly replied TO the adj
dress made by Doctor Suiphim OF t1ncia-
matt, declaring that in asserting that the
veraCity Of the church WAS involved IN the
Question OF creed, Doctor Suiphirn could
speak for himself alone. Doctor Lee further
characterized the remarks Of Doctor sui
phim as exhibiting Il tendency toward IA
tionalisns. At this there were cries or or
der from some parts Of the assembly and
objections that Doctor Lee was invading she
tabcoed subject OF the merits OF the Con-
fession OF Faith and revision.
Further feeling was engendered when the
Reverend A. l.. Leighton OF Phiiadeiphla
vehementiy attacked the supporters OF re-
vision and Of the committees report. de-
clarinr that no demand hal arisen from
the churches, but that revision was pro-
posed only by some preachers Ike one Ne"
York clergyman ana a Brooklyn minister,
whom the speaker characterized as seekihs
afrer notorIety and lacking inteinsehcc;
FACTOR Lee was interrupted repeatedly, anu
when he declared that the fniidd ocipprad
against revision. several arose TO correct
him. His time had almost expired ~hen a
commissioner on The right OF the mouse
arose TO d point OF order, objecuns that ths
speaker had traDscended the prohioiuo"
against discussion OF revision. s1Ne as ~,
piled to the committees report, anu .H.n
arose 10 a question of privilege, requesting
that Doctor Lee refrain from nilsreireseh
The gentleman has only half a minute
left" said the Moderator. lie canno' No
much harm" an
titled to the time Of the interruptions u.
ferrupted Doctor Lee. but Just theh i'octul
Dsckey's gavel fell and the speaker CAV"
Committee Report Gains strength.
That mature consideration OF the ON
mittee's report had added 10 tue se,Slsr.
of its support In the assembly was eViuenI
as soon as the assembly. reconVetisa !es
terday afternoon. The fact that IL was
one members of the assembly VINO had
heen appointed on the mi on Biils
and Overtures because OF their h.nsss hau
considerable weight as evidenced ~ az
dresses in favor OF the report, while lhe
sentiment seemed TO prevail thaI ~ rus
action on q question which had been aglI
tating the church for several years WouLu
be to increase the agitation anc enlpaI.asS
the presbyteries rather than TO restore
oriet This was dwelt on especially. by
hector James Gray Bolton Of philadelphia,
who said that there was no douot tndt Ger
Tain elements, especially in certain sections,
were disturbed and Ill at east ever the Cd
5ections arrayed, against the creed.
The hour for the regular order iiaa passed
when the debate was closed by the Rev
eren,I Doctor Berrick Johnson OF chicago
and Doctor Lees sn6sIitufe was put 10 a
feat of Mr.. Graham's substitute TO the COM
mittee's recommendations being less SIG
nal, while only a few noes were heard on !
the proposition for the adoption of the COM
mittee's report. Before the last question
substituted, on behalf OF the committee, the j
word invited for requested" in the last
clause Of the report. SO that presbyteries will |
be at liberty TO refrain from any EXPIRES |
sion on the subject of creed revision If
they prefer to be silent.
Yesterdays action necessitates the ap-
pointmeHt of a committee of fifteen by
Moderator Dickey. wh6. by special motion, |
the entire matter of a restatcment of the
Confession of Faith and report to the next
General Assembly with recommendations. |
In furtherance OF this. the presbyteries, il
they so desire, Will, at their fall meetings. !
take action on the subject and communicate
with the special committee through the
stated clerk of the assembly. 1
Foreign Missions Considered.
All of the morning session yesterday was
taken up with the consideration Of the re-
port OF the Committee on Foreign Mis-
Charles Cuthbert Han Of New York. A
feature of the report was its reference TO
youngest of the Presby terrain foreign mis-
sions. The chief obstacles to mission work
there were cited as ignorance ard the rum
traffic, and the greatest need in the work
as church buildings. schools and additional
efficient missionaries. The assembly was
addressed on the subject of foreign mis-
sions by Doctor A. Woodruff Halsey, HUI
bert. ". Brown of Mexico. Joseph p. Ora
ham of India and Doctor J. S. Thomas OF
Laos. China, missionaries who are here
on furloughs. /
n SESSION.