New-York tribune., 1900-05-23

rARrrY-cREED QUESTION TAKEN Up
HOME MISSIONS DEBATED.
~ -r1rGRArH TRIBUSE-l
-t ,ra,, o2-The Presbyterian General
$50 considered to-day the question OF
-, - -be Westminster Confession of Faith,
~. --onarsrion OF q new creed the McGifert
,,,-.~z- case the trouble or Dr. Patterson with
~ synod of New-York. the question Of per
s-arr clerk for tie body and the great work
- me Board Of Home Missions. Any one Of
.-ssa subjects would be considered an important
--s. taken altogether they make this a memo
.,ra 5av IN the history Of the present Assem-
,5v The question Of the creeds, the Patterson
use the Birch appeal. the McGirert case and
he permanent clerkship were too great ques-
lions 70 be settled in a day, and all went over,
.be Home Board report alone being settled.
There are two reports on the Confession. one
recommending that g committee be appointed
n consider the case a year and that the Presby-
-eries be asked TO tell the committee what they
want The alternative report dismisses the
whole subject
Before the McGiffert was reached the
Rev Dr. George W. F. Birch. the prosecutor of
D. AIcGirert and the Rev. Dr. George Alex
ander. who appears for the Presbytery which
dismissed the charges against Dr. McGinert,
each had fifteen minutes before the Judicial
Committee. The appeal had been distributed to
the members. and DR. Birch asked that 1t be
entertained by the Assembly. Dr. Alexander
opposed that view. asking that the case be
dropped The committee was in favor of recon-
rnending that as DR.. AIcGifert had withdrawn
from the Presbyterian ministry DR.. Birch
should be requested TO withdraw his appeal, but
this did not satisfy him. and he insisted that
while he did not wish to prosecute the case, the
Assembly should entertain the appeal. since the
papers We're IN order, and that then he would
not insist on prosecuting the case further
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
The Rev. DR.. William AIcKFobin. chairman of
the Judicial Committee. presented the following
report regarding the appeal OF DR. Birch:
Your committee finds said appeal regular but
inasmuch as the case raises difficult technical
questions as to procedure because through the
course that has been taken the situation created
IS unique and should not become a precedent,
and also, inasmuch as the Rev Dr. A c. Nc
Giffert has withdrawn from the Jurisdiction of
the Presbyterian Church in the United States Of
America therefore be II
Resolved. Without entering upon the constitu-
tiOnaI questions involved and without any preju-
dice whatever 10 the appellant. while entertain
ing the appeal as regular, this General Assem-
bly, deems II best, considering the peace and
prosperity of the Church, that the appellant be
given leave 10 withdraw his appeal
DR.. McKibbin added word in praise of the
spirit Of Dr.. Birch. by whose considerateness the
motion to adopt the report Of the committee was
carried unanimously. and the McGirert case
which had disturbed the peace Of the Church
for three years was apparently at an end. But
only apparently. Hardly had the applause died
away before Or. Birch requested permission TO
speak. and the floor was accorded TO him.
To the surprise Of everybody most Of all TO
Dr. McKIbbin. the presbyter from New-York
slowly and deliberately maintained his right to
tee. which should report II TO the Assembly. For
Z moment no one knew what TO say and in the
uncertainty that existed whether the McGifert
case was really ended, DR.. Birch left the floor.
apparently unwilling to avail himself Of the
opportunity which the body had given him to
withdraw the appeal
In interview after the adjournment Dr.
Birch said that he objected 70 the words the
appellant be given leave 70 withdraw his ap
peal" What he wished the committee 10 say
was that the appellant would not prosecute the
case" DR.. McKibbn Is a warm friend of DR..
Birch, and he tried 10 show him that the resolu-
ton just adopted upheld his action, and that it
would be wise TO let the matter drop The gen
eraI impression was that II DR.. Birch had not
had outside advice he would have yielded to his
friend from Ohio. and he may do so yet.
HOW DR. BIRCH Vas ADVISED.
Yesterday al his request the Assembly granted
him a fellow presbyter. the Rev DR.. Frederick
z Shearer. as counsel. and DR.. Shearer insists
that Dr.. Birch should not be satisfied with the
action recommended by DR.. McKibbin and ap
proved by the Assembly.
When Dr. McKibbin sat down at the close OF
the Assembly DR. Birch the most popular
man IN attendance at the Assembly. either
Commissioner or visitor When he himself sat
down. after making the technical objection and
intiTnating that ne satisfied with the
action Of the Assembly. DR.. Birch had fallen
several points. nights rest and good advice
his best wishers think may lead him TO see that
Ok McKibbin and the entire Judicial Committee
nS@e The interest Of the appellant az heart far
more than those who are advising him 10 con-
ttnue what is expected to prove a hopeless fight
Tor the Assembly appears TO be in no temper to
be trified with, and II may reconsider its action
in entertaining the appeal thus defeating the
very purpose for which DR.. Birch has come 70
St Louis
The overture from the Presbyterv OF New
Brunswick asking the Assembly 10 have plan
prepared by which heresy trials should be sim
pIihed and shortened was reported adversely bv
the Standing Committee Church Polty this
morning, and the Assembly approved its report
apparently preferrtng the present system to anv
other
SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR REVISION
The same committee presented a report on
nine. overtures relating 10 the revision Of Chan
ter XIII Of the Book OF Discipline on the sub
jeet Of judicial commissions. and the following
answer was given:
L Is the judgment Of the committee that there
s demand for revision Of the chapter on
JUDICIAL commissions, and that IL ought TO be
regarded. At the time il is tn1Drac fla