The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-26
Essential Feature of the Majority Re
port of the Revision Committee
Thus Approved by the Assembly.
FEATURES OF THE DEBATE
MODERATOR MINTON on RECORD
AGAINST CREEDAL REFORM.
Views of Drs. Mckibben, johnson and
Others-Com mmissioners mt Prince
ton University.

| PHILADELPHIA, May 25.-The Presby-
terian General Assembly to-day took an
| other step toward revising the Confession
| of Faith by rejecting the minority report.
| which has been offered as a substitute
amendment for the majority report The
vote was 271 to 23L The recommendation
| follows:
I'VE recommend that a committee be
| instructed to prepare a brief summary or
| the reformed faith bearing the same re-
lation TO the Confession which the shorter
catechsm bears To the larger catechism AMI
formed on the general model OF the con-
census creed prepared for the General As
sembly of 1892, or the Articles OF Faith OF
| the Presbyterian Church OF England, both
| OF which documents are appended 10 the
| committee report and submitted TO the
| Assembly to be referred TO the COMMITTEES
appointed
With the consent of the Assembly the mo-
| tion was changed so that the vote was
taken on the question OF striking out the
recommendation from the majority report
| instead of accepting the minority report as
| a substitute.
| During the discussion Of the subject
| Moderator Minton gave the gavel to Vics
Moderator Pitcairn, while he addressed
the commissioners in favor of the amend
ment. DIR. Minton said the recommended
ton meant simply the establishment OF .
| new creed.
After the announcement Of the vote Rev.
DR.. ]. G. Moffat informed the Assembly
that Monday he would present an
amendment with the object Of uniting the
commissioners, in order that a unanimous
| recommendation might be sent to the pres
| byteries.
Rev. DIR. Herrick Johnson presented a
| logical Amendments iavoring the retention
Of bk dof
fession of Faith. demonstrating the neces,
| sity for changes in certain clauses andv
showing the benefits to be derived there
from. Numerous doubtful commissioners
were brought over TO the ranks Of the
revisionists by DR.. Johnson's address.
CHEERS FROM REVISIONISTS.
An effort was made to postpone the vote
until Monday, but the commissioners were
impatient and insisted on the putting OF
the question. The moderator was unable
to decide by a viva voce vote. and, a divi-
sion being called for, a rising vote was
taken. When the result was announced
the revisionists cheered heartily and called
for vote on the adoption OF the majority
report. On the advice of the moderator
however, it was decided TO postpone con-
sideration of this important matter until
Monday.
When the Assembly convened to-day IL
proceeded to discuss the first amendment
to the revision committees report, offered
by Rev. DR.. James l.. Moffatt OF Cumber-
land, Nd. This amendment substitutes the
minority report, which agrees with the
majority report in all but Recommendation
Is, suggesting the preparation of a sum-
mary OF the reformed faith. Rev. Dr. VIII
liam Mcklbben, OF Cincinnati, who, with
l.. W. &. Humphrey, of Louisville, submit
ted the minority report, stated his reasons
tor disagreeing with the majority on Rec
concentration Il. In the minority report
he said, we have chapter on missions
chapter on the love OF God for men a
chapter on the Holy Spirit. We gave relief
IN relation 10 elect Infants, relief in the
matter or oaths, relief regarding the Popa
and the misleading statements concerning
good works Is this not the relief the As
sembly asked for when the battle for dis
mlssal was fought? Cannot we get to-
gether? We hear many say that we cannot
agree JI anything, and others say we can
no. agree on everything. Cannot we make
DIR. McKibben referred to the committee
on revision OF 1892 and said the members
OF that committee We're careful 10 40 nofh-
ing that would endanger the orthodoxv
unity and liberty of the church. Have
you considered, queried DIR. McKibben
odnated 6Iat the summary hy statement must be
III other words. you must draw thirtv-txxo
propositions so that not one will be OH
Jectionable to ogle-third OF the nresbvferieS
You cannot adopt the statement seriatim''
DIR. McKibben said he thought the minority
report would be satisfactory 10 a larger
report.
PLEA OF A LIBERAL.
George b. Stewart. president of Auburn
On. " Theological Seminary, who il
classed as a leader Of the liberal party Of
the church. made strong plea for the ma
5ority report He Sid he signed the re-
port though it does not represent his
views. He had signed IL because IL was
a compromise and was the best he could
get. Ii did not offer the necessary relief
The sentiment for new creed. he said
is growing yearly. He pointed TO the facf
that In 1889 there was not one voice lifted
Tor new creed. At the last Assembly
there was marked sentiment for such a
proposition President Stewart said he sifd
not want a declaratory statement but he
would take IL II he could get nothing better
Rev. DR. Marcus A Brownson. OF this
city, opposed both minority and majority
reports, because, he said. the membership
and wealth Of the church had increased
under under the old Confession, and ne feared Il
Assembly IS tugged into the revision move
n.ent / viii sever my connection with the
twentieth century fund. said Or. Brown
son. This threat ELECTED reproachful erie.
OF "Oh!" and MOI" from the commis-
sioners
Rev. f. c. Hubbard, OF Buffalo. advocated
the rejection OF the minority report ON ths
ground that IL commits the Assembly to a
definite position on the question OF a sum-
mary statement. while the majority renort
merely asks the Assembly 10 continue con-
sideration OF the subject.
At this point Vice Moderator Pitcairn
took the chair and the door was given TO
against Recommendation y OF the majority
report. He said the issue before the
the one that has been before the Assemhiv
during the two preceding days He MAIN
tanned that this Assembly had broken al