The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-04-18
DR., ]. F, CANNON
OPPOSES REVISION.
Views of the Moderator of the Gen
crai Assembly us TO the West
minister Confession.
CRITlClSES DR.. PARKHURST,
Declares That the Remarks .Aitrlh.
utrd to Him Are Il Slander
pom The Presbyterian
church.

The Reverend Doctor John y. cannon.
moderator VI :hr General Assembly az 'he
pr r.shytrrian church IN the United states
and pastor Of the Grand Avenu" if.Sbs
r.rian church "f this city. was asked y"s-
t,riay for his views ON the question OF a
revision of the Westminster Confession "f
Faith. and II II. f,vorci such revision.
what substitute he would suggest for the
pr"drstiuatIou clause.
Doctor cannon sad: Il am opposed t"
revision Of tho Confession of Faith. ana ''''
| opros. revision "f course. have II"
substitute" to- Suggest for any 'lauSe.
y I'm inclined to think that all this aGl-
tati"n is much ado about n",hinR. ana
tie men who are bnhhinG mp mere an"
th,rc ;hruus hout the country win Il u
rad" against tn" Westminster Confession.
are either seeking not"ricty or 'is' '"!' /"
comp. herd tho relation between that CON
fession and the Presbyterian thufch'
"Th. Westminster Confession is not ac-
ccpicd ipsissi:na v.rha by the if'S''N'et'""
Church. II j. nov ana has always p''''
merely 4 system of doctrine. and as -ach Is
subscribed to by every minister 81 '"e
church when h" takes his crH'nau"h >""N'
There are MANY Things IN tn '"'i'Ss'"''
of Faith That are no; subscribed t" h' mil
listers ut the timc Of taking their vows
and the various prcsl.yt"ri"s nave a''""o"
great latitude OF individual thought anu or
Ga!r,d Inaay mon entertaining views 'p-
parcutiy Al yar'auc. with tn" logical Sl2-
rlrrarcr or certain clauses vet in perfect
accord with the general doctrinai sNS''"
Il reveals
The Westminster confession Is not 'h'
exclusive work Of rr- sbyt"rianS. l ne l"S'
Is. there were very few Prrshytefians III
the assembly. Tn" graf majority "nf'
members of the church of i.nglan.i. He-
ijg:ors for'rG ran high al tn" TIME ~
curs.v .vu,ncc Of vhirh harsher language was
employed than may seem necessary l" US
IL this sober thoughtful ace. yet 'ha' h"'N
not .:otr:,rt one j5t or tirtlc from th' ilVli''
truths iuculcat,d or the correctness OF the
system of doc:rin. ii disclos's.
Again. this is the West minister 'oh''S-
sion. not t5o product Of the Freshs t"rIan
church Some one might think ne coHId
improve, ON Shakespeare. revise certain pas
snccs Of his works. aad $" forth. p'it alter
h. had finished his work il wouldn't be-
Shak. Speare 30 To me il * nonsense 10
talk about revising the Westminster Con
fasSiou. If men cannot subscribe To II. let
them abar.Gon II and adopt such system
of faith rs conforms to their views. nut
.u'I EIll = IN " tSl minister I'm '''''''
revised Let 1t bear tn" name of its au-
thors or such Is tlIry choose 10 give 1t.
doctor Pari.hurst is reported I" h've
said in New York few days ago that
ur,lcr the. Confession Of Faith certain
babes ,yer" foreordain.d to everlasting
damua ti.n Doctor I'arkaurst ISLANDERS the
church aud the Confession Of Faith when
H.. makes any such declaration. and H..
ought tn know il. No such dOctrine Is
taught by it, nor by anv Presbyterian min
ist.r in the world. No accepted !'rsshy-
t.riau Theological writer on the Nt-tiniii-
ster Confession has eyer 50 interpreted II.
and the rlca who do 80 now are departing
from tn" orthodox Interpretation by tn"
church ami then trying /" drag III" church
down by impTtinS 20 Ii doctrines II docs
not entertain.
The Westminster Confession in my oIin-
ion - the most logical. coherent ami Won
derful tract that ever sHlana'cd from ii
body OF men. 1t has its faults. as all hu-
man products have. but III. doctriiia. sys-
ten disclosed is correct. because Ii IS
founded on the Eihie, and. Therefore, can
no: he otherwise. l, stands for thu SOW
rr.tgutv ot God. and tn. freedom of man.
and the Presbyterian church stands for the
same doctrines. 1t is not necessary for me
to enter upon any dis y'ssinn nf that great
Theological question 0f the reconciliation OF
Gods sovereignty and mans ire" agency.
Suffice Il to say Tat the Billie teaches
both. and the Presbyterian church rests on
the Bible.
II am opposed to any revision of In.
should Toe made to adopt an official inter
rretation of its various clauses | am at
thiS TIM. inclined to h,l"v. | would ia
ycr il "