Evening star., 1901-05-24
Presbyterian General Assembly Still
on Question of Greed.
DEBATE ON SUBJECT
Indications That a Vote Will Soon
Be Taken.
ARG PRO AND CON

PHILADELPHIA, May 24,-Ine deDate
on creed revision was continued by the
Presbyterian general assembly today, and
as was the case yesterday Calvary Church
was unable to contain the throngs who
came to hear the discussion. Previous to
the devotional exercises Rev. DR.. John De-
witt of Princeton Theological Seminary an
nounced that arrangements had been COM
pleted for the reception to the commits
sioners at Princeton tomorrow.
After the disposition of few minor mat
ters Moderator Minton called for the un-
finished business of yesterday. The mod
orator said he had found the sentiment of
the assembly in favor of full, free and
fair presentation of the question, Dat Sug-
gested that the commissioners endeavor as
far as possible to adhere to the rule of
brevity, especially the great ground had
been staked out by the able speakers of
yesterday
Rev Dr. David S. Kennedy of Allegheny
Pa, yielded the floor to Judge E. w. c.
Humphrey of Louisville. who signed the
minority report with DIR. Mckibben.
Judge Humphrey urged the elimination
from the committees report of the clause
recommending a brief summary of the re-
formed faith bearing the same relation to
the confession which the shorter catechsm
bears to the larger catechiSm. and formed
on the general model of the consensus
creed He claimed it meant practically a
new creed and should not be concurred in
as the presbyteries did not desire d new
confession.
Also Against Revision.
Or. Kennedy followed with a forceful
argument against revision. The way to
break down the confession, finally, he said,
is to go on making holes in it,
I'VE stand united on the confession"
continued DR.. Kennedy. 1T is constructed
hatyf inp TO a,I l,a
entific purposes Ii Is the constitution of
our church organization. We are not con-
sidering a popular creed but the funda-
mental princirIle of our organization The
confession has been charged with failing ia
truthfullv present the belief of the church.
No one forced rs to sign that coufession
S,,ra ,,at o e. 80 -, - -, - 'I'i &; an am
II repudiate tbe stafe1ant that tbe con-
fession does not set forth the man side
and personality of the Holy Spirit
This brought Rev DIR HerricIt Johnson +o
his feet. II beg your pardon" he said
but IF Won refer TO me I did not aaE
that"
Dr Konped,, ra,1,od .h,+ -,;, T.,
haze mis,ndsrstnnd n, iohaan IN n0 s5 tii,sh.
he had received that impression
In conclusion Or KennedI said.
"Our plea is that now is nor the t,n,e for
changes while tho church ;s - ~ ~ NJ NJ
arc NOT ,;vinr in - cnnstit,t;or ~ 80 -, IL VIZ
After fair de,iherate and fran Ifan; age.
we find ourselves ali di,.idI ~, '7 -. VI.
wait until God In His nrovidence brines ,,s
to the time when we can agree on the
q"es''ois a' ISSUE
Dr. Moffatt Wants a Change.
Rev DR.. ]. E. Moffatt of Cumberland,
Md, became eloquent in his appeal to the
assembly for a change in the confession
that would give more even balance of
truth. The confession" he said, lis
man-made constitution, but is not the word
OF God And
woro OF GOD Ii this question Is .oted
GOWN py TINS assembly it will come to the |
front again until we give the church what
II demands. want to see side by side two
great truths-frst, the sovereignty of God
ana ABOVE all His election of men, and, sec
ondly, the freedom of man to choose 1 be-
!ieve GOD has elected all infants to saliva |
tlon.
". John Dewitt of Princeton University
was next recognized by the moderator |
dnere was disposition by some of the |
DeWitt took the platform there We're cries |
VI Questlon. Inc Princeton professor |
pau trlDute TO the high character CT the |
f,an euats, ~ whicn mas thus far been entirely |
tnere was no danger of a division in the |
, Snu,Sh ana ne wanted 1t to so ont in the |
"oria tnat no matter how they may differ |
on the westminster confession they stand /
the consistency Of the beltefs Of ne th sp3ke % OF
which has stuck closer to the doctrines of |
the reformation than any other church. |
Unity the Fundamental PrfncfnIe
Unity" he said lis the fundam mental |
principle Of the church. which stands as -.
pyramid pointing 20 the sky without a fis~
sure, without a crack,
Dr. Dewitt said he belonged to what ,s
known as the fourth marty Tho fSst ~,
+y ba s.id er,nh,s;.as 49, AN--l As. p''i
No DN' pA"'~es d new summary OF |
'he cohlessloh' the second emphasizes |
amendments to certain specific sections:
the third wants a Geclaratory or explana-
tory statement; the fourth empha sizes
Our noble deciaratory statement which is
now in our possession, and which will
solve the entire question"
The three elements. orthodoxy, liberty |
I've t nsiu ~ petter paiamce than at pres |