The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-22
CALVINISM FOR ALL TIME
It is the Spirit That Revolts Against
Untruth.
HILLS AND PARKHURsT SEVERITY SCORED
These Agtations Have Little Effect on The
Southern Presbyterian Church Which is
SoIidly United on The West
minister Standard.
To the Editor:

At the beginning of the present century
in many parts Of the North, Presbyterians
and Congregatonalists were found in
large numbers upon the same soil.
In 1871 the two bodies OF Christ ans
in New England came together under
what was known as the "Plan of Union. >
Presbyterian ministers might have pas
tOral charge of Congregational churches
and vice versa. Matters of difference
under certain conditions might be brought
before the Presbytery. under others, be-
fore the Congregational Conference.
The able DR.. Palmer has clearly shown
that oft OF this Union has emerged a
Presbyterianism very much modified both
in its Forn, OF Government and in it's Doc
'rnal Belief To this source, largely,
may be Il icer the lack of unity resulting
in the disruption of 1887 and in the for
nation of he tw great branches known
rs the Old School and the New School in
the Presbyterian Church in the United
States.
Each Of these bodies retained a pro-
foun reopect for the other. After thirty
three years of separation, they were re-
united in 1871, with mutual rejoicing. The
doctrinal basis of union was a subscrip-
ton to the Westminster standards (the
Confession of Faith, the Larger and
Shorter Catechisms). Every minister, at
his ordination, publicly declared that he
sincerely believes and adopts these
symbols as containing the system of doc
trine taught in the Holy Scriptures.
Very soon it became evident that the
old diversity CT view as to the sense in
which the subscription was made, and as
to it's binding obligations, still existed.
Some claim that the language quoted
above gives them great liberty. Others
seem to retain their old Congregational
notions and hold that they owe to church
courts only a very attenuated obedience.
The large element of conservatives hold
that inasmuch as the subscription is
voluntary, the language is to be accept
Bible; and that this in turn, has reacted
ed in its plain and natural import, and
puts the preacher under an obligation of
honesty to surrender the church'S name
and authority if he changes the basis upon
which she ordained him. 1t is urged that
this surrender of credentials, candidly
and voluntarily made, is hOnorable\to him
and but just to the church, infringing
upon the religious liberty of neither
1t is at least significant that this grow
ing diversity as to accepting the Con-
fession of Faith has been quickly followed
by a corresponding restlessness as to the
Bible: and that is, in turn, has reacted
upon the Confession. The conservatives
believe that the same spirit is at the bot
tom of both.
To many minds it is at least suggestive
that pari pussu with the disaiTection as
to the Confession has been the progress
of destructive criticism as to the Scrip
lures.
These two forces were found united in
the powerful attempt to revise the Con-
fesSiOn of Faith made by many in the
Northern Presbyterian Church few years
ago. he mo. ement was begun in 1889
and, after brood and deliberate considera-
tion was brought to an end in 1893 The
Gener II Assembly meeting in Washington
City that year found that not one of the
proposed amendments had received the
requisite vote of two-thirds of the Pres
byteries and, therefore, not one was
adopted.
The present agitation is the old at
tempt, revised and urged by a new i'm
pulse. 1t is not easy to estimate its
strength or to forecast it's success. One
may be pardoned, however. for not repos
ing unbounded confidence either in it's
most active organ the New York Journal,
or it's most conspicuous leaders.
All who nave followed the career of DR..
Hills must have seen that pulpit lectures
,pCn current literltu have left him
but little time and less taste for either
tie COME ion or tn, Bible. "All the
world wondered" when it recently be-
come known thar T'r T'arkhurst could for
ss Ike the police regulation of Greater New
York.
The editor CT The Chicago Interior is
not a Presbyterian miAister or minis
ter at I'll. md the edito. of the New York
fva .gelist is a .cman highly respected
and talented, but, it is said, not even a
communicate of the Presbyterian Church
1t may we'll be questioned whether the
authors of the sensational and political
harangues N our country's two largest
cities will ever give us a symbol of faith
comparable to the one for which their
undoubtedly different taste prompts them
TO utter such fine contempt.
1t is not to be denied however, that
there may arise in the Northern Church a
strong sentiment in favor of revision,
springng not from any admission that the
spirit of conciliation and from desire
to remove all uncertainty of express ION.
1t is extremely doubtful whether any re-
vision can be made that will be satisfac-
tory to those now clamoring for change. It
may be that a brief supplementary state
ment will be adopted.
These agitations have hut little effect
upon the Southern Presbyterian church.
tod tho :
minister Standards just as they are. Any
change in those standards, or the adop-
ton of any substitute for them, Will
widen and deepen the organic separation
of these two bodies. The Southern Church
denies that there is a syllable in the Con
fessicn of Faith which either makes God
the author Of sin o. teaches that anything
but sin can ruin the soul. The charge
that these symbols deny infant salvation