Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-23

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May 22.-Anticipat-
Ing that the judicial committee would
make its report on the McGiffert case
at the afternoon session of the general
assembly, the commissioners and de-
nominationsl friends crowded the big
auditorium of the church to its utmost
capacity.
Additional to this interesting fea-
ture, the committee on bills and over
lures sprung a surprise on the as
semhly by submitting its report on the
revision of the creed of the Presbyter-
ian church. For this the assembly
was not prepared and the matter
caused intense suppressed excitement.
The committee on bills and overtures
recommended that the whole. matter be
referred to committee OF fifteen, COM
posed of eight ministers and seven ell
ders, to be appointed from the church
at large by the moderator, to consider
restatement of doctrine and report
10 the next assembly. The time was
extended for the discussion of the re-
port of the committee; no definite ac-
ton, however, was taken and the mat
ter was deferred until tomorrow.
T The first business OF the afternoon
session was the reading of an overture
relating TO terms of service, duties and
salary of the stated clerk On this
overture, the committee recommended
no action, which was approved by the
I cafc 81 H.
possible reduction of the salary OF
the stated clerk from $4,000 to s., 1000,
as some of the commissioners desired.
Rev. DIR. Herrick Johnson, aof Chi
! cago, OF the committee on bills and
oyertures, read the report, which show
ed that there were before the commits
tee SO different overtures on the gen.
eral subject of change of creed, and
that $50 Presbyteries had proposed no
change of confession of faith. OF the
SO requesting the change, one Presby-
terry asked for revision that would
not impair the Calvinistic system six
| Presbyteries were in favor OF a shorter
creed, three supplementary or fifth
! statement of doctrines, eight sum-
| mary of Christian doctrine; eight 9TH
ers desired a new creed as a business
+ proposition, and the nine remaining
1 Presbyteries suggested that the assem-
/ bly, appoint a committee to act and
report to the assembly. DIR. Johnson
said the committee deemed the over
/ lures of such varied nature and OF such
number as to justify some action on
! the part of the assembly. They were
1 so varied, he said, that no plan propos-
ed could be tried. The committee rec
commended that a committee of fifteen
| be appointed to consist Of eight min
| listers and seven elders from the church
at large, to consider a restatement OF
doctrines and report to the next assem-
| bly, what specific action should DO
| taken by the one hundred and thir-
| teenth assembly. II was also recon-
mended that the different Presbyteries
| take action on the matter of revision
at the fall meetings and report to the
next assembly. The report of the COM
mittee called forth vigorous discuss
sion.
The time having arrived for the sec
ond order Of business, the assembly
postponed further discussion on re-
vision until Wednesday afternoon.
Rev. DR.. McKibben, chairman of the
| judicial committee. read the report OF
! the judicial committee on the McGif-
fert case. The appellant was allowed
| to withdraw his appeal, which settled
the heresy case. The assembly then
adjourned until tomorrow morning.