The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-23
WITH THE PRESBYTER|ANS.
MATTER OF REVISION OF CREED
UNEXPECTEDLY BROUGHT UP.
Precipitates n Discussion in the
General AssembIy-Win BE Con-
sidered Thursday-McGinert Case.

ST. LOUIS, May 22.-Anticipating that
the judicial committee would make It's re-
port on the McGiffert case at the afternoon
session of the general assembly the com
missioners and denominational friends
crowded the big auditorium Of the church
to its utmost capacity
Additional to this interesting feature, the
committee on bills and overtures sprung
a surprise on the assembly by submitting
its report on the revision of the creed of
the Presbyterian church. For this the as
sembly was not prepared and the matter
caused intense suppressed excitement me
committee on bills and overtures recon-
mended that the whole matter be referred
to a committee of fifteen, composed OF
eight ministers and seven elders, to be
appointed from the church at large, by the
moderator, to consider a restatement OF
the doctrine and report TO the assembly
The time was extended for the discussion
Of the report OF the committee. No definite
move, however, was taken and the mater
was postponed until Wednesday afternoon
McGfHert Case Brought Up.
Tho bringing I'D Of the McCiffert case
and the result of the action OF the judicial
committee in the matter were the greatest
surprises vet sprung upon the assemhlN'
The final action Is In the nature OF COM
promise II will be remembered tnat Ut
George w F.. Burch, DID. of New YORK
charged that Rev. A. G. McCiirert. IN ~,
n minister OF the Presbyterian church ana
a member Of the presbytery of New YORK,
had nublieiy denied the fundamental doc
,r,na of immediate inspiration by God ana
the truthfulness and authority OF the Holy
ocripture as set forth in the confession
= faith and the Scripture itself. in book
which ne published. entitled "A History OF
IA L., tx. A
This charge was dismissed by the pres
bvtery of New York. before which body
II was tried DIR. Burch took appeal to
the general assembly The appellant
was given leave this afternoon 700, TO WIN m
draw his appeal In January. 1900 DE-
Rurch was warned by the preabytery OF
New York that, II he failed to show prob
able cause Co. for ns nnat re peace Of the
church ~ instituting trial tor herssy
which was not justified by the higher,
courts of the church. The assembly did
not justify his action and Dr. Burch
chose to remove the liability to censure
by withdrawing his appeal
Confession of Faith.
After today the proposed revision OF
the Westminster confession OF faith
promises to be the principal topic OF dls-
cussion among the delegates and com,
missioners of the Presbyterian general
assembly, although the matter Will not
come up formally before next Thursday
The COMMITTEES on bills and ovsrtures:
which has before 1t sundry requests, ana
suggestions relative to revision, VIII ne
engaged with the consideration OF the
subject until taken up by the assembly:
The opinion seems to prevail among ,ne
members OF the assembly that the matter
will not be dismissed by this session with
out definite action Overtures on the
subject from about forty presoyteIrl ties
of the overtures oppose any revision.
while thirty eight favor various forms OF
revision.
Reports of Committees.
At the morning session of the Assembly
Rev Daniel - Fisher, D. D., chairman
OF the committee on policy. reported a
long list of overtures. on each one the
committee recommended no action, when
was Endorsed by the assembly.
Rev Or. Il $. Holmes. OF Pittsburg.
read the report of the standing commit
tee on the work of home missions. follow
ing II with speech.
The second address was made by Rev
John Dixon, u. D., secretary OF the board
DR. Dixon said among other things that
the financial obligations of the debt for
tine past fiscal year had been met and
there was a balance in the treasury. He
presented in brief the needs of the home
mission department.
The assembly adopted the report of the
committee on home missions as whole
and then adjourned until afternoon.
Soon after the opening of tho afternoon
session Rev. Or. Herrick Johnson, OF Chi
cago, of the committee on bills ana
oVertures. read the report. which showed
that there were before the committee thir-
ty-eight different oyertures on the general
subject OF change OF creed and 100 pres
byteries Ind proposed no change of the
confession OF faith.
OF the thirty-eight requesting the change,
one preshytery asked for n revision that
would not impair the Calvinistic system;
six preshyteries were In favor OF q short
er creed; twenty desired q new and shorter
creed. one an alternative creed three
supplementary or hfth statement of doc
trinrs eight n summary 81 Christian doc
trine; eight others desired "a new creed
has Of atli IN ~
remaining prosbytericS suggest that the
assembly appoint a committee TO act and
rcpnrv Ia the assembly.
Tho committee recommended that
committee OF fifteen he appointed to
consist of eight ministers and seven cl-
ders from the church Al large. 90 con-
slider "A restRtcmen ~ doctrine and re
port to the next assembly what specific
action should he taken by the one hun
drCd and thirteenth assembly. II was
also recommended that the different Pres
bVtcrics take action on the matter ~ re
vision at the fall meetings. and report
to tho next assembly
The report of tho committee called
forth vigorous discussion
Rev Or Mckihhin. chairman of the
judicial committee. read the report ~
the judicial committee ON the McGinert
case The appellant WH. allowed tO with
draw hts appeal. which settled the her
esN case.
\ popular meeting was hold tonight IN
dresses were made hv Rev Dr r s
ltolmes of the home missionary board
Rev Hugh X Mako. Loo AVcelrs Rev
pr Holt oregon Elder McCIellaud. 90
Alaska and Charlie g.. Thompson Sec
rctnry ~ the hnarj