The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-05-25
DEBATE ON REVISION.
Arguments For and Against 1t by
Presbyterian Iliyines.
DIR. KENNEDY's OPPOSITION.
-tliegheny Minister Says That When
the Church Is Under Fire Is
Not the Time For Max
ing Changes.

Philadelphia. May 24.-The debate on
creed revision was continued by the
Presbyterian general assembly. Rev.
nr. David S. Kennedy of Allegheny,
Pa, yielded the floor to Judge Il. w.
.C. Humphrey of Louisville, who signed
the minority report with DIR. Mckib-
ben.
Judge Humphrey urged the elimina-
ton from the committees report of the
clause recommending brief summary
of the reformed faith bearing the same
relation to tile Confession which the
Shorter Catechisn bears to the Larger
catcchism and formed on the general
model of the consensus creed. He
claimed it meant practically new
creed and should not lie conGurrcd in.
as tho preSbyteries did not desire a
new Confession.
lpr. Kennedy followed with a force
| FIJI argument against revision. The
WY to break down the Confession
finally, he said. is to 20 on making holes
| in it. In conclusion III. Kennedy said:
"0ur plan is that now is not the
| time for changes while the church is
under fire. We are not living in a CON
stitution making age. After a fair,
deliberate aud free discussion we find
ourselves all divided up. Let MS wait
until God i'll his providence brings us
to the time when we can agree on the
1 Questions at issue
pr. MoGatt For q Change.
Rev DR., ]. T. Motfatt of Cumberland,
Md, became eloquent in his appeal TO
tie assembly for Il change in the
confession that would give Il more
/ even balance of truth.
"fhe Confession" he said. sis man
made constitution. but is not the word
Of God. And we are not discussing
the word Of God III this question
is voted down by this assembly. ii will
come TO tile front again until we give
the church what ii demands. | want
t. see side by side two great truths
First, the sovereignty Of God and above
I'LL his election of men. and second.
~, the freedom Of man to choose. he.
lierc that God has elected all infants
10 salvation
hr. John Dewitt Of Princeton univcl.
silly was next recognized ny The mod
orator. There WAS il disposition by
Sanp Of The commissioners 10 close The
Eadahate. As pr. Dewitt took the plat
fntla there were cries Of "QucStion,''
Tho Princeton professor paid Il trih
tlig 10 tile high character If Tire debate
which has thus fan been entirely FREQ
frplu acrinony aud sarcasm. lie said
there was no danger Of Il division IN
thr church, and he wanted il to 90 out
may differ on the Westminster Confess
Sian they stand united on tile word Of
G0d.
Dir. Dcsvits Position.
i'hr speaker in referring TO the pro
nt sed creedal statement said that The
: committee proposed flat some one ht
given carte blanche to tell lis what W.
arr to do without further instruction
from The church. He regarded il u;
tite most nonStrous proposition eve
lGatr9unded 70 reformed church.
president i. j.. Motfa,t Of Washing
tap ana Jefferson university said Ii
belonged, like ~. Dewitt. 70 Ill" fourtl
! putty yet ~ was opposed 70 dismiss
: linz the entire matter. while nr. Dewitt
!, Wfla in FAVOR Ut such action lie Iii
nol know whether Ii WAS reSsions
or not. because there WAS no spcci!i
proposition before tile assembly. II
advocated The acceptance Of recon
: incubation Il. md until The committe